SURREAL ESTATE: A Los Angeles Gazetteer

If you’ve ever gotten lost somewhere in the index of your street atlas, sometimes Los Angeles street names can evoke a playfully scary Monopoly game. What roll of the dice lands us on Charm Acres or Klump Avenue? How do we end up on Adonis, and not Cyclops, Blimp or Dork?

In Los Angeles, you could live on Mt. Olympus or Seclusion, Hill or Dale, or Both. They’re all here and they’re all real.

You’ve Arrived

Babbitt

Bank

Cash

Country Club

Croesus

Gentry

Golf Club

Polo

Cashmere

Cologne

Velvet

Tuxedo

Corvette

Cadillac

Ferrari

Tiffany

Tiara

Rich

Silver

Gold

Crystal

Tweedy

Enterprise

Industrial

Royal

King

Prince

Princess

Monarch

Duke

Duchess

Countess

Emperor

Empire

Success

Superior

Cosmopolitan

Patrician

Queen

Sterling

Paramount

Sunshine & Noir

Utopia

Paradise

Shangri-La

Valhalla

Eden

Wonderland

Bleakwood

Shady

Graves

Hemlock

Hazard

Huh-huh-huh-huh

Stoner

High

Rush

Fry

Speed

Malt

Muscatel

Normal

Distinguished Neighbors

Napoleon

Bonaparte

Waterloo

Nero

Attila

Caesar

Casanova

Lincoln

Churchill

Carnegie

Merlin

Mesmer

Tesla

Achilles

Hercules

Atlas

Apollo

Zeus

Vulcan

Venus

Beethoven

Mozart

Shakespeare

Balzac

Zola

Verdi

Adjective Avenues

Young

Strong

Loyal

Elusive

Fierce

Superior

Coy

Shy

Pleasant

Hasty

Fleet

Spry

Prudent

Gallant

Gay

What, No Grindstone Street?

Sale

Price

Shoppers

Market

Security

Work

Produce

Service

Toll

Commercial

Best of the West

Western

Roundup

Cattleman

Sombrero

Stetson

Chaparral

Calico

Butte

Pinto

Arrowhead

The Canyons of Orange County

Fox

Parrot

Camel

Crane

Bobolink

Bluejay

Puma

Finch

Flicker

Fox

Peacock

Robin

Plum

Pine

Grape

Quail

Caribou

Fawn

Deer

Elk

Bird

Swallow

Sloat

Thrush

Wren

Osprey

Pheasant

Tanager

Jacaranda

Jasmine

Juniper

Tigertail

Starbird

Spruce

Hedges

Olive

Pecan

Flower

Garden

Oriole

Orchard

Zoo

The Gods Must Be Local

Pantheon

Mt. Olympus

Arcadia

Athens

Delphi

Eden

Eve

Romulus

Hercules

Apollo

Mars

Hermes

Atlas

Juno

Mercury

Zeus

Ceres

Isis

Achilles

Pandora

Ganesha

Orion

Minerva

Vulcan

Argo

Higher Powers

Holy

Revere

Pope

Abbott

Vicar

Druid

Shrine

Chautauqua

Sage

Dryad

Pagoda

Puritan

Advent

Chapel

Parish

Priory

Mission

Pilgrim

Church

Vesper

Like Nature

Avocado

Carob

Clover

Coral Tree

Apricot

Banyan

Birch

Briar

Cherry

Chestnut

Dahlia

Elm

Eucalyptus

Elder

Hickory

Heliotrope

Myrtle

Larch

Laurel

Lime

Magnolia

Lupine

Mimosa

Ivy

Marigold

Violet

Cedar

Ash

Bayberry

Lilac

Sequoia

Nectarine

Rose

Moss

Oak

Tulip

Rew

Iris

Lemon

Begonia

Fir

Foxglove

Sycamore

Tamarind

Teak

Sumac

Peach

Spruce

Strawberry

Olive

Pecan

Pine

Plum

Poplar

Primrose

Poppy

Grape

Lichen

Minerals ‘n’ Gems

Jewel

Gem

Silver

Gold

Pearl

Topaz

Turquoise

Ruby

Opal

Sapphire

Amethyst

Amber

Garnet

Greiss

Onyx

Quartz

Pyrites

Emerald

Jade

Jasper

Cinnabar

Flint

Moonstone

Granite

Rock

Pebble

Stone

Boulder

Clay

Science, Space and Aviation

Marconi

Tesla

Electric

Magnetic

Sparks

Ampere

Radio

Alpha

Motor

Siphon

Hook

Block

Mound

Cone

Contour

Hammer

Eureka

Galaxy

Sky

Ave. of the Stars

Astral

Star

Stardust

Polaris

North Star

Nova

Aurora

Solar

Mars

Mercury

Ganymede

World

Globe

Moon

Crater

Flight

Aviation

Pilot

Jet

Spad

Blimp

Bombardier

Cloud

And Finally, Bright, New, Shining, Future, Hope, Wish, Joy, Harmony, Rosy, Easy, Friendship and... Cloy.