Originally published in The Quarterly, Spring 2016 issue In the heart of historic Los Angeles, across from Union Station, lies a charming burst of colors, culture and cuisine. Olvera Street is one of the oldest streets in LA, a shoppers delight and a snapshot into history. This living museum is home to some of…
Category: The Quarterly magazine
“Hollywood” Sign of the Times
The “Hollywood” Sign inspires dreamers, welcomes starry-eyed visitors, is a familiar friend to locals and has a life of its own with stardom and tragedy. For nearly a century, the Southern California icon represented in movies, TV shows, advertisements, books, music and more, has stood tall on Mount Lee, which is located in Griffith Park….
Authentic Asian Cuisine: A Unique Food Culture in the 626
Venture east, not Far East, but much closer for some palate pleasers. East of Los Angeles and into the San Gabriel Valley (SGV) is where a vast variety of authentic Chinese food outmatches any outside Asia…
Dangerous, Common And Treatable
An ad from the San Francisco Hep B Free Campaign. Source: SFHepBFree.org Originally published in The Quarterly Magazine, Spring 2015 issue A deadly disease lurks in the blood of nearly 1 in 50 people in Los Angeles. The silent killer is the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). And a simple blood test for those who are…
Olympic Freeway Murals Come Alive Again
Originally published in Fall 2014 Quarterly Magazine Larger-than-life faces, a child frozen in a handstand, flying mythical columns, and colorful cartoon cars stream by on concrete walls as commuters and visitors from around the world speed or crawl by restored murals. This is Los Angeles, “mural capital of the world,” and home to the 10…
The Magnificent and Mysterious Monarch Migration
The moment I laid eyes on a chunky yellow, black and white-striped monarch caterpillar (larva), I was hooked. It is colorful, peaceful and eats a lot. It’s mesmerizing to observe. But all this munching is in preparation for something profound, a phenomenon known as the monarch butterfly migration, a fierce journey of up to 3,000…
Raising Monarchs
This past spring I witnessed the beauty and mystery of monarch butterflies in my garden. At first, I was skeptical any would flutter by. How would they find my two small milkweed plants? When they did find it, I was concerned about my lack of ability and time to raise them. Now that I’ve come…
Rose Parade Self-Builts Add Sense of Community to World Event
Originally printed in The Quarterly magazine, Winter 2013 As numb fingers and eyes droop in weariness, a lively spirit keep volunteers going through the night and into the following year… year after year as another self-built float for the Rose Parade receives its finishing touches. The volunteers are the key ingredient in the self-built floats. “Exhausted…
Tattoo Art: More Than Skin Deep
Originally published in The Quarterly magazine, Fall 2013 Tattoos may symbolize rebellion to some, and to countless others, it expresses creativity, freedom and even love beyond words. Whatever your leaning, the rich history and overall artistry of tattoos demands a more thoughtful look into an entirely unique realm of beauty and intrigue. Today, we find tattoo art on…
Summer Sleep-Away Camps: A Tradition of Fun and Growth
Originally published in The Quarterly magazine, Summer 2013 5 AM. There was a biting chill in the air at the edge of a wood-planked pier on Catalina Island. But fighting against common sense, I dove into an even more frigid Pacific. Every nerve ending was jolted to attention as a rush of exhilaration forced my limbs to…
Ann Suk Wang, Author 