Stories Books & Cafe here in Echo Park got a great shout-out in the LA Times online today. The article features the cute bookstore as the “Bookstore of the Week.”
We love Stories for the $5 Mac ‘n Cheese Mondays, the free wi-fi, and its close proximity to a coin laundro-mat as well as 826LA.
Why do you go (or not…) to Stories?
Click here for the full story at LATimes.com
Fix Coffee is gearing up to apply for a wine and beer license for its location all the way up Echo Park Avenue in Elysian Valley. A quiet neighborhood, it will definitely be a different place to grab a beer than the other jam-packed locations along Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park.
No official applications have been submitted, and the owners aren’t quite ready to go on record about anything, but it’s possible the coffee shop will be open as late as 11:00 pm. For the neighbors living amongst the narrow streets, fight for parking as it is, and who enjoy the quiet area, this might not be a welcoming change. There’s a part of me that welcomes a more “chill” place to grab a drink, especially since there are few locations in Echo Park to enjoy a beer outside in the warm Los Angeles air. But I also feel compassion for the neighbors who really value quiet evenings at home.
We received an email from one of our readers yesterday, asking the question on many local’s minds:
I live on Belmont ave. above the lake. How much is the upcoming rehabilitation expected to impact quality of life for nearby residents?
The answer is unfortunate but simple: It’s not going to be pleasant.
While the Prop O funded project is meant to clean up the ridiculous amount of pollution and debris, the next two years of the rehabilitation are going to be a little smelly, noisy, and not very enjoyable. Better enjoy it while it lasts, because in just three months things will get a little messy.
First, they’ll have to drain the lake in order to clear out around 50,000 feet of icky soil. But before they can haul that out, they’ll have to let the dirt dry out, and you can expect some pretty nasty smells (think rotten eggs) in the contaminated dirt. As the trucks roll in and out, there’s a strong fear that the contaminants (including ammonia, copper, and possibly some carcinogens) will disperse into the air, but there’s no solid proof of if and how it will affect nearby residents (besides the smell) as of yet.
If you’ve ever lived next door to a major construction zone, the noise from 2,500 trips to haul out the dirt, interruptions in street tracking, and an overall lengthy process over two full years will definitely be disruptive to residents. Let’s hope they’ll at least take a day or two off on the weekends to give everyone a break.
Nearby property for sale will also be affected – it might take a little longer to sell. But in the end, those properties will have a great view. And we’re all hoping the end result will be a cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable public space in Echo Park.
Vintage shoppers get look inside Echo Park store Lemon Frog Shop located on Alvarado and Sunset today on NBC LA!
Lemon Frog is located at 1202 N. Alvarado St.
On Tuesday, the trucks will start rolling in with hundreds of tons of dirt to cover the usually green baseball field for a couple of events new to the Stadium – Motocross and Monster Trucks.
On Saturday, January 22, Dodger Stadium will host the first of two off-road shows, starting with the Monster Energy Supercross.
A total of 550 truckloads of dirt will replace the baseball greens. Eric Hansen, Assistant Director of Turf and Grounds at Dodger Stadium said in a press release, “All we have to worry about is replacing the actual grass once the dirt is removed and from what I’ve been told, (Feld) is the best in the world at what they do so my anxiety level is extremely low.”
Saturday’s event will start at 12:30 pm and end around 10:00 pm. They expect the event to sell out, and all parking gates will open for inbound and outbound traffic. Dodger Community Relations manager Noel Pallais released the following information:
As such, will be handled like all other major games/events at the Stadium, therefore, to minimize the impact on the community a complete complement of LAPD/LADOT officers will be deployed in the community
Finally, as has been our standing offer, we have a limited number of tickets available for members of the Echo/Elysian Park and Solano Canyon residents who are interested in attending the event. Therefore, if you are a resident of either community and are interested in attending as our guest, please contact me at noelp@ladodgers.com with interest, your address and telephone number (additionally, since these tickets will be left under your name they are not-transferrable). Note that tickets will be available for pick-up from our front desk starting from noon on Wednesday to noon on Friday (the day before the event). Will-Call will not be available on the day of the event. Our Club-Level offices are located in parking lot D. Additionally, your request must be received by 9:00AM on Wednesday, January 19th. Please understand that these tickets are on a first-come, first served basis.
Should you have any questions, require additional information on this event, you may contact our Neighborhood Focus line at 323.224.2636.
While our local Community Advisory Board (made up of residents surrounding Dodger Stadium) flat-out rejected the proposal to bring these events to Dodger Stadium earlier in 2010, it doesn’t seem like anyone is expecting an issue. Because noone knows for sure what to expect in terms of noise and traffic, we’ll play it by ear for now and hope for the best.
The Monster Energy Supercross at Dodger Stadium will take place on January 22, 2011, and prices range from $40 all the way to $230.
The Monster Jam event takes place on February 19, 2011, prices range from $32-75.
A Facebook update Saturday on the Echo Park Cycles page is hinting at the possible closure of the bicycle repair and sales shop on Echo Park Avenue. “closeout sale 50% off everything must gooo” reads the update, but no specific information has been given as of yet. We’re hoping it’s not true – we’ve gotten a few bike repairs there and would like to keep it local.
We have called the shop and will hopefully hear back soon on the fate of Echo Park Cycles!
UPDATE:
It’s true – EP Cycles is closing its doors. They’ve got a clearance sale going on, open every day except Tuesdays. February 10 will be the final day, and it’s unclear whether or not they’ll relocate or close permanently.
There are rumors of another restaurant being planned for this stretch of Echo Park Avenue – could the closure of Echo Park Cycles be an indication of where it might be located?
“I am not a hipster!”
It’s literally quite gorgeous outside, but I’m stuck inside with my second cold in the past month. Since I can’t concentrate long enough to write a decent article, the website is on a bit of a hiatus for a couple of days.
But have no fear! Here’s all the great stuff I’m working on to keep an eye out for:
Stay tuned! And feel free to share your best cold remedy in the meantime.
This adorable dog named Mijo almost had a sad ending at the animal shelter, but was saved by the Echo Park Animal Alliance. Thankfully the dog is now being fostered and is waiting for you to take him home!
I am sweet and lovable although a little rough around the edge since I am just a little over a year old and my training needs a little reinforcing to adapt to a new environment.
Please email info@echoparkanimalalliance.org to adopt this cutie.
For the week of Tuesday, January 11 through Sunday, January 16
Tuesday
Tuesday Night Residency: Olin & The Moon with Paulie Pesh, Coyol and Bingo! @ Echo
Iheartcomix, Media Contender, & LA Record present Check Yo Ponytail 2 with Pictureplane, Teengirl Fantasy, Terminal Twilight, Killing Spree DJs, Franki Chan @ Echoplex
Open Mic Night @ The Fretted Frog
Wednesday
Wednesday Night Residency: Foster the People @ Echo
Dub Club @ Echoplex
Quick Hellos (feat. Dan Crane), Heather Porcaro & The Heartstring Symphony, Whispertown, Jake Bellows (Neva Dinova) @ Bootleg Theater
Live Jazz every Wednesday Night at 7:00 pm @ Downbeat Cafe
Thursday
Gary Lucas’ Captain Beefheart Symposium plus special guests @ Echoplex
Old Man Markley Record Release Party, Roses Pawn Shop, Cooper Mcbean (from Devil Makes Three), Dustbowl Cavaliers @ Echo
Seeing Thingz, Brian Buckley Band @ Taix Lounge
Friday
Echo & Club Underground present The Black Ryder @ Echo
Nazcar Nation, James & Evander @ Lot 1 Cafe
Satellite Sky @ Taix Lounge
Saturday
Ozokidz @ Echoplex
Smash Appeal @ Echoplex
Tumbleweeds @ Taix Lounge
Ponce De Leon @ Origami Vinyl
Vanaprasta, Mariah Mcmanus, John Isaac Watters, John Carpenter @ Bootleg Theater
Sunday
Funky Sole @ Echo
Bridges School Event @ Bootleg Theater
For more information on weekly musical events like club nights, see our community resource pages.Visit the venue website for more information on the cost and times of shows. This list may not represent all the musical events happening in Echo Park this week – feel free to add more events in the comment section. All events listed are subject to change at any time. New events announced for the week after this posting may not be included.
Some call them Danger Dogs, others (like me) avoid it all together, and even more Angelenos stumble in an altered state of mind out the doors of a bar late at night and are greeted by glorious smells of none other than bacon-wrapped hot dogs.
Others write poems about their favorite bacon-wrapped hot dog stand near the Short Stop on the “reviews” section of the … Hot Dog Lady Yelp page??
Yes, Hot Dog Lady has a Yelp page. According to the website’s business info, the stand offers plenty of outdoor seating (the curb), is not good for kids, and is super affordable (but she doesn’t accept credit cards, in case you’re wondering). And the service is excellent. “There’s nothing like binge drinking at Little Joy Shortstop or Gold Room (or my house, conveniently located around the corner) and then mumbling ‘dos mas por favor, con todo’ to my sweet sweet love, The Hot Dog Lady. Ay, mi amor….” writes one reviewer.
How Hot Dog Lady got a Yelp page, or if she even knows about it, is a mystery. But she’s got 4.5 stars, and hot dog that’s pretty good.
We choose not to glorify gang graffiti, so here's the kind of artwork we prefer. Flickr photo via KellyLA.
Once upon a time, there was little to no city-funded programs to help clean up graffiti in Echo Park. Residents and activists involved in the Echo Park Improvement Association (EPIA) would drive around with paint in the trunk of their cars to paint over any new graffiti on the spot. Other residents could join a $10 per month program that would help Central City Action Committee (CCAC) pay for graffiti removal on the weekends.
It’s been a while since those days, but a recent proposal from the Mayor’s office to cut funding to graffiti abatement program has a few people worried. How will crime, safety, and the quality of life be affected if the streets are covered in graffiti?
According to an LA Times article, the budget cut would save the city $1.5 million per year (out of a total of $7 million spent on eradicating graffiti city-wide). For Echo Park and the CCAC (which is one of 14 contractors in the city with the same directive), the cut would actually reduce our anti-graffiti forces by 50%. Right now the non-profit has six teams out there for around 20 Los Angeles neighborhoods from Highland Park to Venice. A 50% reduction would be drastic.
Opposition to the budget cut isn’t without reason – everyone is fully aware of the budget issues on our communities and our city. It’s about prioritizing, as we all know, and for most of us our safety and the overall quality of life is affected by graffiti. When those gang names are crossed out and written over by a competing group, it’s concerning. And if it stays up, the crime could worsen. It’s not a risk we’re willing to take.
“What happens once the graffiti starts going up,” said CCAC director MaryAnne Hayashi, “you would never catch up…. I really think it’s a quality of life issue. People really deserve to have a clean neighborhood.”
The good news is, the everyone seems to be rallying against the graffiti budget cuts, even Eric Garcetti of CD 13. Spokesperson Yusef Robb told us, to our relief, that Garcetti’s office was fighting the graffiti cutbacks. “When it comes to graffiti,” he said, “the return that we get in terms of quality of life as well as financially makes it a worthy investment.
And what an investment – CCAC removed 3.5 million square feet of graffiti in CD1 and one million from CD13.
Over the past five or six years, Garcetti’s anti-graffiti program UNTAG (Uniting Neighborhoods to Abolish Graffiti) has seen a 70% decrease in graffiti district-wide. The program recruits block captains to oversee and organize neighborhoods to report graffiti for city crews to then clean up. If the city cuts the anti-graffiti budget, the simple fact is there will be less money for painting over graffiti and revitalizing neighborhoods.
The best part about non-profits like the CCAC is that they don’t just paint a white block over the graffiti, they make it look good and maintain the beauty of the neighborhood. They also follow certain safety procedures for when they might feel threatened by removing gang graffiti.
While the programs may indeed see some cuts, we’re hoping far less that what’s being proposed. And hopefully we won’t have to drive around with paint in the trunk of the car.
You can help by writing to your Council District representative along with making sure graffiti is reported as soon as you see it. If you see graffiti, call 311, visit the anti-graffiti website at http://anti-graffiti.lacity.org, or use a 311 ap if you have an iPhone or Android phone.
If you’re available during the day to help support the graffiti abatement work, there’s a City Council meeting on the subject on Wednesday, January 12 at 10:00 am.
This year’s Annual Christmas Bird Count at Echo Park Lake brought almost 20 people to the boat house early on Sunday, January 2. All in all, 41 species of birds were counted, a new record for Echo Park Lake (the fall bird count saw 16 species). Bird lovers in Echo Park have identified over 70 species of birds over the last ten years.
The American coot took the crown with the largest population of 110, and the Western gull at second place with 104. Read the full list of the 41 species found at Echo Park Lake after the jump.
The next bird count is the Great Backyard Bird Count in February.
You can read about Jenny Burman’s account of the early morning bird count on her Chicken Corner blog.
Flickr photo by freeloosedirt
It starts with the helicopter sounds we are all too used to, sirens down Sunset Blvd., and residential street closures for hours. Echo Park is no stranger to crime, but even though LA has the lowest homicide rate in 40 years, residents are still worried.
Things are definitely different than they were even ten years ago, a sentiment not just reflected in the statistics but also felt by long-time residents. December felt like a pretty active month for crime and gang-related shootings in Echo Park, and there’s Christmas Day gang-related shooting that left one person dead. But while over half of the city’s homicides are gang-related (according to a recent NPR article), the reduction in overall homicides may be due to the reduction in retaliation after a shooting.
Mayor Antonion Villaraigosa told NPR that former gang members- turned-interventionists have helped, those “who immediately after a shooting make sure they are calming the waters in communities where otherwise there may have been a retaliation.” While there’s nothing specific about this in relation to Echo Park, you have to wonder.
Tonight, the Echo Park Improvement Association (which I am a member of) town hall meeting will focus on the issue of crime and shootings in Echo Park. Representatives from both the LAPD’s Northeast (north of Sunset) and Rampart Divisions (south of Sunset) come to these meetings regularly, and are a great resource. These guys even give our their cell phone numbers and emails for you to have on hand if you ever need to report anything.
Show your support for the community, come to the meeting!
Echo Park Improvement Association Meeting
Thursday, January 6, 2011, 7:00 pm
Williams Hall, Barlow Hospital, 2000 Stadium Way
A lot of changes over the past few months for Lot 1 at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Laveta Terrace – they’ve added tables outside, beer and wine, and now some live entertainment.
According to the Lot 1 Facebook page, the cafe received its entertainment license last November. It was also granted a beer and wine license last year, and now serves up the neighborhoods best deal for mimosas (only $4). Combine food, booze, and live entertainment, and then add late night hours (open until 1:00 am most weeknights, and 3:00 am on the weekends), the establishment that once had those precarious business hours may draw a crowd to that little corner.
The cafe’s first live show coming up on Friday, January 7 is an indie-themed set of performances by some local bands, such as The Black Jesus from nearby Mt. Washington. We’re not sure what kind of music or if local musicians will be the focus for the location (the owner of Lot 1 declined to comment for now), but with the Echo Curio gone many are wondering if the cafe will help fill that void.
Will you go to a show that promises booze, dancing, and no LAPD busting down the doors?
Click here for event info, and check out Lot 1 Cafe’s page on Echo Park Online.