Location
Bordered By
- Atwater Village in the North
- E. Hollywood in the West
- Los Feliz in the Northwest
- Echo Park in the East
- Historic Filipinotown in the South
- Virgil Village in the Southwest
Silver Lake: A Brief History
During the 1800s, the area that is now Silver Lake was called Ivanhoe, named after the Scottish novel. Scottish overtones are also frequent in the area’s street names. Examples include St. George and Rowena.
The area’s current name, Silver Lake was taken from its central reservoir, the Silver Lake Reservoir. The upper section of the reservoir is still called Ivanhoe while the lower section is known as Silver Lake. The lake was actually named after Herman Silver, a member of the Los Angeles Board of Water Commissioners.
Throughout the 20th century Silver Lake (and its nearby sister neighborhood Echo Park) became a small center for early film studios such as The Mack Sennet Studios, Disney and Talmadge/ ABC.
Laurel and Hardy’s short film The Music Box was filmed in Silver Lake along with other popular screen works of the day. Silver Lake naturally also attracted actors, directors and other film industry people as residents.
In the '20s and '30s, developers such as silent actor Antonio Moreno came in and built by the city, in the hills. Moreno constructed the Moreno Highlands in the spirit of Mediterranean towns he had visited on his honeymoon.
Silver Lake also attracted some renown architects like Rudolf Schindler and Richard Neutra who took up residences in the area and grew practices and built structures there during the ‘30s, ‘40s and so on. Today it boasts many desirable modernist dwellings.
Silver Lake Today
The urban sprawl of the past decade moved more artists, musicians, and film industry people into Silver Lake making it nationally synonymous with the cool urban Bohemian lifestyle. But make no mistake, real estate in the area--especially in the charming and more private hillside enclaves--continued to go up, up, up.
Even in the wake of the real estate downturn, Silver Lake retained much of its allure, especially with creative types and young hip Angelinos (likely renting, this time around). Today, it is home to many colorful bars, clubs and restaurants.
Like its adjacent sister quarter of Echo Park, the area seems to foster a real sense of neighborhood solidarity (rare in spread-out LA). In that vein, in 2001, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and his childhood friend Keith Barry launched the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a non-profit whose main focus is supporting music education for youth in the community.
Famous Residents, Past and Present, of Silver Lake
- Kenneth Anger
- Flea
- John Frusciante
- Crispin Glover
- Ryan Gosling
- Charlie Kaufman
- Eva Longoria
- Rose McGowan
- Cassandra Peterson (‘Elvira’)
- Christina Ricci
- Giovanni Ribisi
- Henry Rollins
- Scott Speedman
- Gloria Swanson
- Kiefer Sutherland
Silver Lake Restaurants and Bars
- Akbar
- Allegria on Sunset
- Cafe Stella
- Casbah Cafe
- Cha Cha Lounge
- Cliff’s Edge
- Cobras and Matadors (vicinity)
- The Coffee Table
- Cru
- Dusty’s Bistro
- El Cid
- El Conquistador
- Gingergrass
- Malo
- Michelangelo Ristorante
- Mixville Bar
- Red Lion Tavern
- Silver Lake Lounge
- Spaceland
- Tantra
Local Businesses and Organizations
- Curves for Women Silver Lake
- Ghetto Gloss Gallery and store
- Junior Arts Center
- La Luz de Jesus Gallery
- Silver Lake Improvement Association
- Silver Lake Independent Jewish Community Center
- Silver Lake Neighborhood Council
- Silver Lake Recreation Center
- Silver Lake Residents Association
- Silver Lake Wine
- Silver Lake Yoga
- Steve Allen Theatre (vicinity)
- Trader Joe’s Silver Lake
Schools in the Silver Lake Area
- Clifford Street School
- Holy Trinity Academy
- Ivanhoe Elementary School
- John Marshall High School
- Los Angeles City College
- Lyric Preschool
- Mayberry Street Elementary School
- Micheltorena Elementary School
- Occidental College (general vicinity)
- Our Mother of Good Counsel
- Silverlake Conservatory of Music
- St. Teresa of Avila School
Real Estate Facts
- Population: 270,503
- Overall school district performance: 672 (below statewide target of 800)
- 87% of other LA area houses are less expensive
- House prices: $440 per square foot
- Crime index (measures violent crime reported - lower number is better): 26, approximately 44% higher than the LA County average
Facts pulled from: LA Life: Silver Lake
