Stop by Ballard’s Artwork Framing & Gallery tonight for the opening of their three-week long group show of “Local Music Photographers.” The show will feature portraits and performances, long with candid photos by Sterling Andrews, Jeff Koga and Laurie Scavo. The exhibit ends October 16.
The show opening show starts at 8:00 pm, and will include performances by Ferraby Lionheart and the Parson Red Heads (owner Aaron Ballard is a band member)
Ballard’s is located at 1568 Sunset Blvd.
The Center for Nonviolent Education and Parenting is gearing up to announce a new name at the 10 year anniversary and fund raising event this weekend at the Rec Center Studios in Echo Park.
The Center, now called The Echo Center, opened up 10 years ago in Echo Park to help teach nonviolence to parents, children, and families. They’ve become a pioneering, leading institution in the Nonviolence Movement encouraging parents and professionals to establish/generate/create a world in which all children are raised free from physical and emotional harm. From their website, their philosophy is as follows:
Nonviolent parenting offers an optimal relationship and the conditions in which children can thrive and grow into healthy adults. By building a tight emotional bond of understanding, nurturing, support, trust, warmth and compassion, a child reaches a high level of emotional development. The tools of nonviolent parenting respect the science of early brain development and are grounded in the knowledge that to raise healthy children, adults must be in relationship with children through the giving of unconditional connection. Respecting the science of brain development fosters a deep respect of the life force of all living creatures. It teaches connection and support between adults and children in the most profound way possible.
You might also know The Echo Center as running the annual Festival of Childhood in Echo Park.
Tomorrow night, Saturday, October 2, is the fundraiser at the Rec Center Studios from 6:00 pm – midnight. Actor Adam Scott (“Party Down” and “Parks and Recreation”) will be attending (commence starry eyes!) to help support the cause.
Highlights of the event include: silent and live auctions, dancing, live circus acts, sparkling cocktails and delicious cuisine prepared by private chefs. Inside the VIP Lounge, special guests will be entertained by magician Dave Cox, Photo Fund Celebrity Portrait Studio, Violeta Meyners Make Up Artistry, and receive exclusive VIP goody bags.
Tickets range from $60 all the way up to $1,000, but you can always donate at any time. It looks like you can still purchase those tickets, so get on it! Click here to purchase tickets.
RecCenter Studio, in the Historic Jensen Building, is located at 1161 Logan Street
Learn more about The Echo Center at www.theechocenter.org
Edward L. Doheny (Source: LAPL photo #00028209)
You might know that Los Angeles has a long history of oil (there’s those, you know, La Brea Tar Pits, in case you forgot), but did you know Echo Park is the site of the first Los Angeles oil well?
It was Edward Doheny and Charles Canfield who dug this well in 1892. The story goes, Doheny was in downtown when he saw some guys pushing a heavy cart full of this black, sticky stuff called “brea” (Spanish for “pitch”). The driver told him he had pulled out of a hold near Westlake Park. Learning that the pitch was a fuel replacement for coal, he and Canfield raised money to buy a three-lot parcel at the corner of Patton and State streets, and started digging by hand.
Months later and after 155 feet, the fumes were making everyone sick. They built a crude drilling rig, using a eucalyptus tree trunk, which broke and delays the drilling for weeks until they got the broken rig out of the hole and fixed it. Finally, in March 1893 after 225 feet, the site became the first free-flowing oil well ever drilled in Los Angeles.
“I had found gold and I had found silver and I had found lead,” wrote Doheny, “but this ugly-looking substance… was the key to something more valuable than any or all of these metals.”
They produced 40 barrels per day, selling it for $2 pr barrel (50 cents below market rate). The well pumped for three years, and eventually, Doheny and Canfield expanded their partnership around Los Angeles, making a fortune.
You can read all about it in The Dark Side of Fortune.
Flickr photo via The Eastsider LA
Why show a picture of the Echo Park pool, you ask? Well, the parking lot is the exact site of the oil well. If you are interested in checking out the long history of oil wells in Los Angeles, you might want to read about the urban oil wells bus tour from Spring 2010 led by the Center for Land Use Interpretation (CLUI) – there are some interesting sites you might want to visit some day!
September 14:
sunset & alvarado, thursday 10:30pm, you were on a bike, me a red vw – m4w – 26 (Echo Park)
I was in my red vw with a black top on, waiting at the light to make a left turn. You were on your bike with a friend at the right hand corner. You looked to me and gestured with your hand, and I shrugged and made the “I don’t know” look and smiled. You smiled back and we just kept signing at each other until the light turned. You kept looking back as you biked off and I wanted to somehow say hi. You were wearing a red outfit, I think a dress? Who knows if this will actually work, but that smile’s worth a try.
September 18:
today at fix – m4w (echo park)
you were wearing jean shorts and a tank top, sitting at a table outside with two other people, saturday in the late afternoon. i noticed you when you came inside to order, and again when i came outside to make a phone call. i wish i had said something to you!
September 20:
Me: Girl in line with the tequila – w4m – 26 (Vons Echo Park)
We were both in line this past thursday the 16th. I struck up a conversation with you because you were buying “Modelo” beer and I was buying tequila. We made each other laugh and after you were done paying, as I was getting rung up you told me to have a good night…I wished you would have asked me to hang out some time! As I stepped outside of the store I was hoping you’d be there waiting to ask for my number but you weren’t…you seemed funny and sparked my interest and if for some crazy reason you read this and want to hang write me me back:)
September 20:
Find me – w4m – 30 (Metro line 4/downtown)
I got on the line 4 in down town about 2:15pm and got off in echo park. I’m in nursing uniform, petite and have the long black hair. You’re in a black cap, black tshirt, and black jeans and sitting at the front of the bus. You are absolutely gorgeous and notice me noticing you. If you are at all interested the way it seemed, PLEASE find me!!
h/t Craigslist
The following crime report about Echo Park comes from Captain Bill Murphy of the Northeast Division in an email today:
Echo Park
Had a few property crimes last week (BTFV/Car break-in). This week looks real good – only two BTFVs associated with Dodger Stadium. Pay attention to tow trucks. We have arrested several tow truck drivers who have taken vehicles without having proper paperwork/permission (say from an owner of a parking lot who posts no parking signs). This is a scam as the charge the vehicle owners $300 to get their car back.
Elysian Valley
Very clear since September 12th – no crimes.
Historical Crime Data:
Captain Bill Murphy’s email address is 26152@lapd.lacity.org
Other Northeast Division news:
Check out Waved Out 2 coming up on Saturday, September 25!
Aquarium Drunkard, in conjunction with the Echo, is holding its second all ages festival here in L.A. in Echo Park. Dubbed WAVED OUT, after Justin Gage’s favorite Robert Pollard solo album, this is the second recurring event featuring emerging national, local and international artists.
Featuring:
Dungen
The Entrance Band
Sharon Van Etten
Shannon And The Clams
Lord Huron
John Carpenter
Summer Darling
Hanni El Khatib
Origami Stage:
Gestapo Khazi
So Many Wizards
Young Prisms
Victoria Noll
The Zig Zags
Bowery Beasts
Plus Food Trucks, Tamales, Tarot card readers, Hit & Run silk screening on site, and more!
3:00 pm, $13, all ages. The Echoplex is located at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Want some free tickets? TheSceneStar.com is having a contest for free tickets, all you need to do is email them with you name and contact info at oscar@thescenestar.com before Friday, September 24 at 10 a.m. for your chance to win!
2008 Flickr photo by Pixelflip
Last night I noticed the moon was crazy huge as it rose over Echo Park right around Sunset. Families have an opportunity check out this phenomenon close up – bring everyone out to Vista Hermosa Park for Double Delight: Sunset and Moonrise on Friday, September 24 at 6:30 pm.
Meet at the Grotto Amphitheater for the FREE 1.5 hour program. You’ll get to look through a telescope to see the differences between the sun and the moon right as the sun sets and the moon rises.
Sponsored by the Santa Monica Conservancy and presented by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.
For information contact Judy Perez Soto at (213) 250-1100 and judy.perezsoto@mrca.ca.gov
Vista Hermosa Park is located at 100 N. Toluca Street (near Glendale and Beverly Blvd.)
1650 Gallery in Echo Park will be hosting a charity event in October called “DOGS, DOGS, DOGS!” I have hundreds of photos of my cats, so I’m sure you have them of your dogs – this is your chance to submit those lovable photos to the gallery for the exhibit and help support Dogs Without Borders.
Make sure you submit your photos by Thursday, September 30, 2010. It costs $25 for up to five images, with $5 each for additional entries. 25-30 works will be chosen for the exhibit, with additional works for an online gallery. Opening Night Gala is October 23, 2010, 7:00 pm (exhibit ends November 27).
Dogs Without Borders is a 501(c) non-profit dog rescue that is dedicated to saving homeless and abandoned dogs from high-kill shelters in the Los Angeles area and to find them permanent and loving homes.
Click here for more info, submission guidelines, etc. 1650 Gallery is located at 1650 Echo Park Avenue.
If you’re interested about Echo Park pets, click here for our past story about Sonia Paulino’s photos of Echo Park’s dogs and their owners/walkers.
Oh yes, and if you’re an animal lover, discount days are going on now at the animal shelter through September 26. Dog adoption fees are only $78.50, cats are $50.50. The closest animal shelter for us is the North Central Animal Shelter at 3201 Lacy St.
Spiraling Orchard is one of those hidden secrets you never knew existed. Its colorful entryway stands out amongst the compact residential homes along Court Street in Echo Park, but what is it?
What used to be a big empty lot is a park once owned by LASUD, it was taken over and in 1996 made it into an outdoor classroom, and generally a place where kids can go to do homework, arts and crafts, and other programs through ACLA (Arts… Community… Land… Activism…). According to its website, “ARTScorpsLA (ACLA) projects teach people to care for their places: by actively engaging the parks – making them and then using them – people attain a genuine connection with these urban places.”
Some residents might remember Spiraling Orchard as the site where four-year-old Roberto Lopez was shot and killed while standing in front of the park in January of 2009. But things are still going on at the park, and we thought we’d update you on a few things to keep your eye out for.
Every Tuesday from 2-5:00 pm, kids can stop by for the graffiti club or homework help. This fall, ACLA started hosting art and drawing workshops led by Ayumi “SANO” Chisolm. Though the first workshop started in September and ends in November, the second section of the workshop starts in January and ends in the beginning of May. The workshop “utilizes elements of classical drawing methods with contemporary elements of Hiphop style graffiti art for at-risk youth and young adults.”
Fall 2010 will see the return of Lisa Nuñez’s “Food Justice & Culture” workshops for elementary school-aged kids. They also have an annual Dia de los Muertos dinner and celebration in October, but no date has been scheduled yet. This fall they also hope to dedicate the mural that Spiraling kids along with families from all over California have been painting for almost a year under lead artist Wenceslao Quiroz, located on Court and Bixel.
And of course, anyone can always use the space for youth bands to practice, or to host your workshops.
I really recommend going and checking it out, it’s a really interesting part of town and the park itself is just an incredible gift to Echo Park.
For more information about anything I mentioned above, you can contact the ACLA at ACLA213@gmail.com or (323) 474-6905.
Spiraling Orchard is located at 1246 Court Street.
I will definitely be marking my calendar for this event – the Fifth Annual LA Archives Bazzar is on Saturday, October 23 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
L.A. as Subject and hosted by the USC Libraries will host the FREE event at the Doheny Library at USC, and will feature 70 collections of “rare and unique archived materials” related to LA history.
This year’s highlights include: screenings of Bridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race and the Legend of Pancho Barnes (a legendary stunt pilot from the early days of California aviation) and panels on L.A. newspapers, blogging, and the legacy of muralist David Alfaro Siquieros. Patt Morrison from KPCC will also be a guest speaker.
See you there!
With all this talk about beer with the Sunset Beer Company moving in and Tony Yanow’s Mohawk Brasserie, I haven’t been thinking too much about wine. But after reading yesterday about D’Augustine Vineyard on The Eastsider LA and Chicken Corner, I really want on in this grape pickin’ and wine drinkin’!
Joe and Heather D’Augustine bottled their first wine (a Syrah) in 2006, and even won a bronze medal at the California State Fair. They don’t sell their wines, but each year rely on the help of volunteer laborers consisting of family and friends to pick and sort the fruit (in 2008 they picked 500 pounds of Shiraz grapes).
Sunday was the annual grape picking and crushing, and laborers were treated to fresh oven pizza and some 2008 wine; the 2009 harvest was hampered by the Station Fire smoke.
I don’t know exactly where in Echo Park the winery is located, but I will be keeping an eye out on those hills to see if I can find it!
I’ve been by the new Montana Cans store a few times and have yet to see it open, so now it makes sense! The Grand Opening for the store takes place on Friday, September 24th starting at 5:00 pm.
There will be a special live painting with Germany’s Ma’Claim team (AKUT, TASSO, CASE) and some of LA’s finest street artists. There will be a taco truck, a special event sale, and free giveaways.
Montana Cans is located at 1528 1/2 Sunset Blvd
Hours are Thursday through Monday 12-00 noon pm – 7:00 pm
Flickr photo by Menetnashté
Echo Park resident and novelist Tempany Deckert is offering a Beginner’s Novel Writing Class on Wednesdays, starting October 6. While the class isn’t free, you will get to:
Learn to write your very own novel in this fun, informative and inspiring class. Taught by eighteen time novelist, T. Deckert, you’ll learn how to develop characters, plot, structure and most important of all, have the discipline to complete your very own work of art. Anyone can write, but not many people can navigate their way through the entire novel writing process. In this class you’ll not only learn the tricks of the trade, but you’ll complete your very own book over the course of 8 weeks.
Cost of the class is $260, and class size is restricted to so sign up fast!
To reserve your spot, email tempanydeckert@gmail.com
Tonight is the Town Hall meeting where residents can meet and speak to the new LA Planning Director, Michael LoGrande. Echo Park has some stake in this meeting – at least two developments in Echo Park are being criticized by neighbors for developing buildings that breach our community planning guidelines: Avalon Street and the Sunset Flats development on Sunset and Rosemont.This is a great opportunity to find out what the city has in store for our community.
If you’re not planning on attending tonight’s meting, you can still submit questions online by clicking here.
Mayberry Elementary is located at 2414 Mayberry Street
Click here to register for the town hall.
Flickr photo via The Fretted Frog
Fretted Frog will be hosting an acoustic concert with Anthony Da Costa, a talented 19-year-old folk/rock/Americana/pop musician, on Saturday, September 25 at 7:30 pm.
Opening acts include Micah, who has played twice in the open mics at Fretted Frog, and Elliot Smith (inspired rock/folk songwriter).
The show goes until 10:00 pm, is all ages, and FREE! (donations, however, are accepted).
RSVP by emailing info@thefrettedfrog.com
Fretted Frog is located at 1200 N. Alvarado St.