Screenshot from echoparklake.com
Tonight is a meeting of the oversight committee and odor monitoring group of the Echo Park Lake rehabilitation project. All are invited to attend to get updates about the project, and share information on how you think things are going.
Echo Park Lake Rehab Meeting
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 6:30 pm
St. Paul’s Cathedral, located at 840 Echo Park Avenue
We don’t normally write a whole lot about real estate here in Echo Park, but it’s on our minds all the time since we got married and have started to think we could buy a place in Echo Park. This particular piece of property caught our eye because, well, it’s just so COOL! There aren’t that many places that are so self-sustainable in Echo Park that you could hide out through a zombie apocalypse.
Although a zombie apocalypse isn’t why this home is super green – owner Michael Jacob Rochlin told Echo Park Patch he spent $100,000 converting the 1922 bungalow into a “green” home. The property features a tankless water heater, gray water appliances, an organic vegetable garden, drought-tolerant landscaping, rainwater harvesting, ten composters, and a plant nursery. The property is 10,000 square feet total, and in addition to all the delicious fruit trees is a certified farm and wildlife habitat.
I can also see why the current owner, who is an author and historian, wrote three novels and compiled two photographic essays while living there – there’s a gorgeous 225 square foot yurt retreat in the far corner amongst the trees. Though the place is only a 1 bedroom/1 bath at 700 square feet, there’s a studio in addition to the main house, and plenty of porch space to chill. Oh yes, and it’s listed at only $399,900 – which, for safe and quiet Lake Shore, is a good deal.
Enough with the sales pitch, there’s an open house tomorrow, Sunday, January 15, hosted by listing agent Darren Hubert from 1:00 – 5:00 pm. The address is 2006 Lake Shore, and you can view more photos of the place (yurt and all) by clicking here.
From the placeit.org website
SATURDAY, January 14, 2012
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
@ The Echo Country Outpost, 1770 Glendale Blvd. in Echo Park
Echo Park Improvement Association member and activist Josh Post, who organized the recent Glendale Boulevard community cleanup, has put together a great event this weekend that will help further the efforts to get fix up the historic Echo Park corridor for good.
Urban planner James Rojas is leading a workshop on, you guessed it, urban planning! Using props, blocks and salvaged items, workshop goers will create individual 3-D models reflecting how members of the community would like to see Glendale Boulevard used and changed. Ideas will be presented to the group and discussed, and results of the workshop will be shared with local government and organizations.
Rojas was just featured in the LA Times for his work on his project in Long Beach. The event is free, and everyone is welcome to come share ideas for change and have some fun!
RSVP is recommended. Email echopark@patch.com to rsvp or with questions.
Amish journey from homespun to hipster – LA Times
How Refuge salon and Form Academy owner Miriam Jones went from an Omish upbringing to Echo Park.
Capping an era of L.A. oil exploration – LA Times
This week the city started plugging an old oil well just south of Glendale Boulevard and Rockwood Street to make way for a 45-unit apartment complex. Just up the street, where the Echo Park Pool is now, was the first oil well in Los Angeles.
Robert DeLong’s electronic dance music residency, Monday nights at Los Globos – Examiner.com
If only we didn’t have to work on the weekdays! The Examiner.com gives out rave reviews for Echo Park resident Robert DeLong’s Monday night residency at Los Globos: “He is salvaging what is left of everything great about electronic music and creating something fresh and so immediately appealing that you can’t help but start moving to the music as soon as he starts playing.”
Planning board supports Elysian Heights coffee house plan to serve wine and beer – The Eastsider LA
Fix Coffee in Elysian Heights is one step closer to serving beer and wine after an appeal failed to convince the planning board to block the application. The coffee shop will still need to obtain a state beer and wine license from ABC.
Driving along Glendale Boulevard just got a lot more colorful!
LAist got the story on who’s behind the new colorful mural on the wall of Alfredo Market on Glendale Boulevard, between Alvarado and Berkeley. Street artist and Echo Park resident Kophns One (aka Koffinz) painted the mural at the end of December. According to The Site Unseen website, “Kophns is well-known within the LA street scene for his distinct and bold artistic style, dynamic characters and his always engaging art placement.” Hopefully a city-wide mural ordinance being debated won’t interfere with local art like this!
The Site Unseen uploaded this video of the mural process. Enjoy!
Kophns One: Kophenjoy from The Site Unscene on Vimeo.
This week is National Pizza Week, and what better way to celebrate than with a gallery of Echo Park’s most delicious pizzas? It should, after all, have its own food group.
Masa's Chicago deep dish (vegan style). Flickr photo via veganbakesale
Masa of Echo Park lures people from all over Los Angeles with its authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza. In addition to the amazing service and ambiance at Masa (we love you guys!), the kick-ass owners and great food, they offer a hearty selection of vegan options (which includes a vegan deep dish option).
Every ten years, the city takes a look at the borders of each district to ensure those commmunities are getting fair representation in the city. That’s the idea anyways – and that’s why we’re getting involved. There have been rumors about combining Echo Park into one council district instead of two – a very small but not forgotten portion of Echo Park is represented by CD1, which is Reyes’ district. The redistricting process could affect Echo Park, and it’s up to the members of the community to make sure any changes in the borders are in our best interest.
The commission in charge of redistricting is holding a series of public hearings where we can share our thoughts and opinions on the redistricting. As Echo Park residents, we should be attending both CD13 and CD1 meetings, which are on Saturday and Monday, respectively:
Council District 1
Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 11:00 am
St. Peter’s Italian Catholic Church
1039 N. Broadway 90012
Council District 13
Monday, January 9, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Los Angeles City College Theatre
855 N. Vermont Avenue 90029
Click here for the full schedule PDF, which includes all council districts and the meeting dates. Public comments can also be submitted ahead of time by downloading this PDF, and email the form to redistricting.lacity@lacity.org
You can also follow the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission on Facebook and Twitter.
h/t Cindy Marie Jenkins for keeping us informed!
We’ll see you tomorrow!
Photo via the LA Stormwater website
This is the second neighborhood cleanup organized by the Echo Park Trash Abatement Program (TAP) in the past couple of months – the last one on December 3 collected more than 60 bags of trash (according to the LA Stormwater Blog).
This weekend, treat yourself to some sunshine, pack your bottled water and work gloves, and join Echo Park neighbors for the first neighborhood cleanup of the year!
Saturday, January 7, 2012 from 8:00 am – 11:00 am
Meet on Sunset by Metro Bus Stop between Echo Park Avenue and Logan
Dress for weather. Bring water as needed.
For the week of Monday, January 2 through Sunday, January 8, 2012
Monday
The Echo and LA Underground present Monday Night Residency with: Seasons, One Trick Pony, Count Fleet, Torches @ Echo
Princeton, Lesands, Red Pony Clock @ Bootleg Bar
Sean Carnage Monday Nights: Manhattan Murder Mystery, I.E., Nicole Kidman + Pawko, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and more @ Pehrspace
Motown Mondays @ The Short Strop
Tuesday
Beer and Bingo Tuesday with Olin & The Moon and Maxim Ludwig, Willoughby, Jeff Crosby @ Echo
Bikos, Lovers Drugs, Son Ark @ Bootleg Bar
Ray Argyle of Sunken Ships, Craig Elkins, Davd Shane Smith @ Lot 1 Café
Wednesday
Hepa, Titus with Virginia Reed, Dead Dawn, Kill Kill Kill @ Echo
Dub Club Featuring: Anthony B with His Band @ Echoplex
Hi Fashion, Professor Possessor, Actually, Waterlaso @ Bootleg Bar
Live Jazz every Wednesday night at 7:00 pm @ Downbeat Café
Thursday
Summer Darling, Birds & Batteries, Vice Cooler, The Hunting Accident, Baron Von Luxxury @ Echo
Stonefeather, King Devil, Bad Lamps @ Bootleg Bar
Friday
Backbeat- Northern Soul Dance Night with DJ Mark Morales @ Echo
Echo, Origami & Kxlu Present: Black Flamingo, No, Crooked Cowboy, Batwings Catwings @ Echoplex
Jacuzzi Boys and Hanni El Khatib, Marcus Very Ordinary @ Bootleg Bar
Chuck Dukowski Sextet, Voodoo Merchant, and more @ Lot 1 Café
Kate Earl, Patrick Park, Ema and Her Lady Parts, Tenlons Fort plus special guests @ Pehrspace
Saturday
Bootie La @ Echoplex
Funky Sole @ Echo
Salon Music Night with members of Shadow Shadow Shade, Henry Clay People, Jail Weddings, Square On Square, Just an Animal @ Bootleg Bar
Tenlons Fort, The Wildbunch, Avi Of Avi Buffalo, Will Courtney @ Lot 1 Cafe
Dream Homes, Foot Foot, Pek Pek, Dali’s Rose @ Pehrspace
Sunday
Echo, Grand Ole Echo & Art Fein Present: Elvis Presley Birthday Party @ Echoplex
Part Time Punks presents: David Bowie Nite with guest DJ Jose Maldonado (Sweet & Tender Hooligans) @ Echo
Coyol, Molly Marlette, The Mowgli’s @ Bootleg Bar
Elvis Brunch: Celebrate Elvis Presley’s Birthday With An Elvis-Themed Brunch, Karaoke, Live Music, Games, Special Guests, Bloody Marys, crazy surprises, and more @ Echo Country Outpost
Visit the venue websites for more information on the cost and times of shows. Feel free to add more events in the comment section. All events listed are subject to change at any time, and new events announced for the week after this posting may not be included.
Join fellow bird lovers on Monday, January 2 for the 112th annual Christmas Bird Count at Echo Park Lake! Even though the lake is drained and undergoing construction, it’s important to keep track of what and how many bird species are still hanging around. Bird counters will be able to enter the construction site (with hard hats!) rather than just stay on the periphery.
Over 70 bird species have been counted at Echo Park Lake over the years – the last Christmas Bird Count saw 41 species (winter is usually a popular month for the migrating birds at the lake).
Meet at the Boathouse at 8:00 am for the two-hour count. Bring $5 to participate (make checks payable to the National Audubon Society)
For more information contact judycalifornia@yahoo.com, or call (323) 663-6767.