There are several theories about how Solano Avenue near Dodger Stadium got its name. Alicia Brown, founder of the Historic Cultural Neighborhood Council, says a family named Solano once lived in hills where the street is now. But Solano Avenue is also near the spot where, in 1769, Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola took a break on his trek through California.

"In Spanish, in Castilian Spanish, it's supposed to mean a shady place where you can rest; a place to rest."

There's another explanation: One of Portola's traveling companions was a Franciscan friar. Just prior to the exploration of California, another Franciscan missionary, Francisco Solano, was canonized for his work in South America. He had a gift for languages, and Father Solano was rumored to have another gift: The ability to predict earthquakes.

(Airdate for this story: 10/14/07)