Tracy Hepler degreed in Anthropology and Communications at UC Santa Barbara, but that didn't prepare the young publisher for the "where is the Eastside" debate, revived by her co-founding "The Official Eastside Green Guide."
The shopping publication is slated to promote businesses in Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Atwater Village–– featuring those with sustainable product and goods.
Hepler was musing a name change after a series of emails with Will Campbell, who wrote her to point out neighborhood identification.
"I then did my own research on the historical boundaries," said Hepler by phone. The interview that sealed the deal was a quick survey with "Grampa Frank," a lifelong Angeleno and patriarch of a friend of Hepler. When asked where he thought the Eastside was Hepler got this response: "I always thought it was the other side of the L.A. River."
"We don't want to give out false information," says Hepler. "So having the public, the internet and the wisdom of an elder's thoughts on the matter, I knew the right thing to do would be to correct the guide."
Of course, by the time she got back to Los Angeles the debate was on––even before it reached L.A. Eastside. Hepler adds "Being that I was out of town until Tuesday of this week, I wasn't able to make the changes until yesterday."
Hepler making the name change may be cultural precedence, as there have been other publications who maintained that the eastside is west of Downtown for the sake of branding.
When asked if she would do the same sort of guide for the Eastside, she admitted she liked the idea. Just drop in a new photo, I say, and the cover is good to go.
Above: New cover art detail for "Neighborhood Green Guide: Atwater Village, Echo Park, Los Feliz & Silver Lake" Below: Old cover art.
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