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Elysian Park’s “Avenue of the Palms” trees are dying

You wouldn’t know by just looking at them, but the 100+ year old palm trees, a rare species of wild date, that make up “The Avenue of the Palms” on Stadium Way are dying.

Planted in 1895, the palms are now dying from a “combination of disease spread by using uncleaned chainsaws,” as well as old age.

The Citizen’s Committee to Save Elysian Park is addressing the issue, and will be discussing replanting the trees during their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday.

Avenue of the Palms, 1950. Photo from the LAPL archives.

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deLaB hosting self-guided Echo Park home tour in March

Photo credit: Laure Joliet/Sunia Homes (via deLaB)

Join deLaB (Design East of La Brea) on March 24, 2012 for its first-ever Echo Park home tour. Home tours are a popular event here in Echo Park – the Echo Park Historical Society hosts a popular one every year or so, and Dwell on Design usually includes at least one of our neighborhood’s architecturally significant homes on its annual city-wide tours. And it’s no surprise we’re so cool when it comes to homes – Echo Park is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, and is well-known for its diverse, artsy, and rebellious residents who create unique homes and gardens.

The tour features four different Echo Park homes within walking distance of each other for the self-guided tour, including:

  • John Oddo’s 495 square foot house designed by Good Idea Studio
  • Simon Storey’s 960 square foot “Eel’s Nest”
  • The Dick+Jane 1600 square foot townhouses on Echo Park Avenue
  • The new and green, 2,000 square foot “Sunia Homes” designed by Jerome Pelayo  (pictured above)

Click here to read more features about each house.

Be sure to purchase tickets now – early bird purchases are $30 instead of $35, but only through March 10.

The post-tour starts at 4:00 pm at Red Hill, 1325 Echo Park Avenue, for happy hour (even if you’re not a ticketholder, you’re welcome to join)

deLaB Echo Park House Tours
Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 12:00 non to 4:00 pm
Click here for tickets, must be purchased in advance
$30 per person early bird special (through March 10) / $35 per person after March 10

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Flashback Fridays: The sandstone cliffs that make up “The Cut”

Echo Park resident, historian, and contributor to The Eastsider LA Rory Mitchell explores the history behind the sandstone cliffs that make up the west end of Echo Park as you drive into Silver Lake on Sunset.

Apparently this section has a pretty interesting history – in 1887 an ostrich farm decided to build a railway to its new Griffith Park location. Apparently the landowner of the section they blew threw, who knew about the project and initially supported it, was left “unsatisfied” with the work, sued the railroad company, and won. This landowner was lawyer George H. Smith, former Colonel in the Confederate Army and the grandfather of General George S. Patton.

Here’s a little video about the project, via the Echo Park Historic Society:

The Cut is now home to some unique vendors selling various items on the weekends, and is often plagued by landslides, especially after the “big” rains we had a couple of years ago.

Click here to read the entire write-up by Rory on the My Historic LA website.

Related articles to also read:

  • A look into landslides reveals Sunset Boulevard’s rocky past. The Eastsider LA, February 26, 2011
  • “The Cut” digs into the geology and history of Echo Park & Silver Lake. The Eastsider LA, February 24, 2012
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Celebrating 50 years on the job at Taix

Bernard Inchauspe, Fernando Gomez, Jose Fragoso

Wednesday night, Taix employees, family and long-time patrons attended a special celebration featuring three of the restaurants long-time employees and the 50 years they’ve dedicated to the job.

The flyer for the event reads, “This is NOT a retirement party,” but it was a party indeed! We stopped by to say hello and congratulate the trio, which included Bernard Inchauspe (dining room waiter), Fernando Gomez (bartender), and Jose Fragoso (banquet waiter). They’ve seen the restaurant change so much over the years – which actually started out near downtown Los Angeles, serving family-style dinners, until moving to its existing location in Echo Park in the early 1960s.

Taix used to be one of those places we’d only go to if our roommate’s mother was in town, treating us to a fancy dinner at the window-less, old-school style restaurant. But now we’ve frequented Taix, usually once a month, to grab an Eagle Rock Solidarity from the tap and nosh on a basket of fries. A little flirting action with Bernard, and we’re set!

If you’ve never been, go! Taix hosts music events throughout the week in the lounge, and even stand-up comedy on Sunday night. They have great happy hour deals, and fabulous staff. And in case you’re wondering, it’s pronounced “tex.”

Related articles:

  • Taix Employees Celebrate 50 Years of Service. Echo Park Patch, March 1, 2012
  • After 50 years on the job, Echo Park restaurant workers still ready to serve. The Eastsider LA, February 22, 2012
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Long-time Echo Park resident claims winning lottery ticket

The Eastsider LA reports this morning that the $15 million winning lottery ticket purchased at our very own House of Spirits has been claimed by an Echo Park resident!

Victor Caube, a sushi chef, just learned on Monday he had the winning ticket when he stopped at the House of Spirits to buy another ticket. The long-time resident will be sharing his winnings a friend.

Congrats!

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Elysian Heights Elementary celebrating Dr. Suess’ birthday

Elysian Heights Elementary School is celebrating the birthday of Dr. Suess tomorrow with a special guest – DJ Lance Rock from Yo Gabba Gabba!

The Read Across America event will involve parents and volunteers reading Dr. Suess books throughout the day (volunteers can still sign up in the main office).

Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration with DJ Lance Rock
Friday, March 2 from 1:00-4:00 pm
Elysian Heights Elementary is located at 1562 Baxter Avenue
Call 323-665-6315 with questions or for more info

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