Silverlake ...
is a variegated neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, California, located about ten minutes north west of Downtown, and east of Hollywood. Silverlake's terrain is hilly, with corresponding valleys that define two main water basins. The upper basin was named Silver Lake in 1906 for Water Board Commissioner Herman Silver, and in turn lent its name to the neighborhood. The lower body is named after the novel Ivanhoe (1819) by Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. Silver Lake's population is ethnically and socio-economically diverse, and is well-known for its eclectic gathering of "east-side" hipsters, artists and musicians. In many ways Silverlake is the very definition of "East-Side LA". Silverlake Community Church was established here in the 1920s when the neighborhood was reportedly somewhat different from what we know now.

During the 1930s, Walt Disney built his first large studio complex here in Silverlake at the corner of Griffith Park Blvd. and Hyperion Ave., occupying the current site of Gelson's Market. A few blocks away the studio of cowboy star, Tom Mix graced Glendale Blvd. It's rumored that Mix buried his steed "Tony, the Wonder Horse" on the property. One of Mack Senett's two studio sites still stands further down Hyperion Avenue from the church toward Sunset Blvd, from where, as inventor of the slapstick comedy, he directed virtually all the silent comedy stars in various films, and also his Keystone Cops in their ramshackle adventures. The famous flight of stairs in Laurel and Hardy’s film The Music Box is located between lower Descanso Drive and Vendome Street, as it winds up and around the hill. Many movie studios set roots early on in the area and have bequeathed us a wealth of movie history asa result.

Architecturally, Silverlake is also abundant in 20th Century "mid-century modern" architecture. Architect Richard Neutra, designer of many homes in the area, built his own home on Silver Lake Boulevard. The house still exists, and is visited by architecture fans and students. Neutra's offices were nearby on Glendale Boulevard. The building signage bears the name of his firm. A block east of Silver Lake Blvd. and near Neutra's home is Neutra Place, home to several homes he designed. John Lautner also made his home in Silver Lake, and, Silver Top one of his most famous homes can be seen when viewed from the east prospect of the lake

In recent years, gentrification of the neighborhood has intensified, propogating scores of indie boutiques, coffee shops, fitness studios, and restaurants. Since the 1990s, Silver Lake has become the center of the alternative and indie rock scene in Los Angeles. The Sunset Junction Street Fair, a major event in August, is held here. Silver Lake is — or has been — the home of many musicians: Autolux, Beck, Beth Hart, Darker My Love, Eels, Elliott Smith, Jane's Addiction, Joey Waronker, My Imaginary Friends, Pavement, Moving Units, Henry Rollins, Rilo Kiley, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Tom Waits, to name but a few. The band Silversun Pickups took its name from the strip mall at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Silver Lake Boulevard.