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Lot 1 Cafe now serving up late-night music

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.

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Tell the City about those pesky potholes

Rainy days definitely help out road damage

I don’t know about you, but swerving around that pothole (that’s been there for probably over a year now) day after day gets a little tedious. Since the rainocolypse, those potholes have gotten bigger and have increased in numbers. Well now’s your chance to tell the city about it, and hopefully the city will fix it this weekend during the “Operation Pothole.”

From January 8-9, City Council President Garcetti along with the Board of Public Works and the Bureau of Street Services have dedicated about 50 crews to plug up those potholes, cracks, and other damages caused by recent storms. This more than doubles the usual number of crews to repair the estimated 10-15,000 potholes.

Garcetti’s office is asking anyone who experiences these rascals should notify the city before the weekend. Call 311 with the location, email bss.boss@lacity.org, or tell Garcetti on his Facebook page.

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Blue Collar accepting donations for animals in need

Blue Collar Dog Supplies here in Echo Park is asking for your help – LA Animal Services is in desperate need of supplies for its shelters. Blue Collar is accepting donations through January 9th, and is asking you to donate. Here’s what they need:

old blankets
old towels
old yet intact toys
laundry detergent (hypo-allergenic
fabric softener
dry food
dog/cat shampoo

We’ll be headed there tomorrow with some old blankets and towels, you should to!

Also, Blue Collar offers a lot of dog obedience classes locally if you’re in search for some help with your dog, including some new classes starting this month. Classes in Tracking (teaching your dog to follow a scent trail), and Training with Tugs (training for dogs who is crazy for toys) start soon, so check out the website for more info.

This website and the franchise sales information on this site do not constitute an offer to sell a franchise. The offer of a franchise can only be made through the delivery of a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).  Certain states require that we register the FDD in those states. The communications on this web site are not directed by us to residents of any of those states. Moreover, we will not offer or sell franchises in those states until we have registered the franchise (or obtained an applicable exemption from registration) and delivered the FDD to the prospective franchisee in compliance with applicable law.

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Roundup: Restaurant and Business News in Echo Park

Lots of new businesses opening and reopening in Echo Park the past couple of months. Here’s what you’ve missed:

New restaurants and businesses:

  • Tony Yanow’s new restaurant at the old Ramona Theater has changed names a couple of times (from El Camino to Mohawk Brasserie), but it seems they have settled on Mohawk Bend. Click here for the new Facebook page.
  • Haitian cuisine restaurant Ti George’s on Glendale Blvd. opened its doors again on December 9 after February 2010 fire.
  • Chinese food is back in Echo Park: Chinatown Express, also closed after a fire broke out in the mini-mall, held a grand reopening December 4.
  • Pop-up shop Blood is the New Black will remain open down at 1825 Sunset Blvd. through December 30 for your holiday shopping needs.
  • Vintage store TИSEN opened up in the former Millenium Thrift Shop at 2118 Berkeley Avenue in late November. The owners have a great eye for vintage picks from clothes, antiques, jewelry, vinyl, and furniture.

Other news:

  • The Echo Curio will close its doors for the last time on Sunday, December 19 after its final Echo Obscura Movie Night.
  • AOL’s hyper-local news website Echo Park Patch launched December 16.

Ongoing/Weekly Specials

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Support the CCAC at its annual rummage sale

Check out the Central City Action Committee (CCAC) rummage sale in front of the old fire station and help support all its great youth programs. The rummage sale started today at 10:00 am and goes until 6:00 pm.

Today isn’t your only chance to check out the sale, other days include Friday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, at the same times.

CCAC is located at 534 East Edgeware Road, at the old Firestation No. 6.

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Miss the Elysian Park snowmen? Help bring them back!

Flickr photo via Non Paratus

This year was almost the first time since the project started a few years ago that the Elysian Park snowmen would not decorate the park’s entrances. But thanks to a few ambitious volunteers, the park might just have these happy recycled tumbleweed decorations after all!

The problem with installing the snowmen was due to, you guessed it, cutbacks. Put together by the Recreation and Parks staff, they face a 15% budget cut leaving them no time to put together the holiday decorations.

Last year we noticed the financial cut backs when the corner of Scott and Stadium Way (on our way home) went without its usual snowmen. Hopefully the volunteers will help bring a little cheer back to that corner as well!

Volunteers are meeting on Friday, December 10 at 10:00 am at the Elysian Park maintenance yard (between the Police Academy and Solano Canyon). They have already started collecting tumbleweeds and will teach volunteers how to make them. Just bring gloves and clippers, and wear long sleeves!

Maybe if you learn how to make these you’ll be able to have some inexpensive and recycled decorations for your own yard!

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Echo Park Animal Alliance pet(s) of the week

These four male, 8 1/2 week old kittens are available for adoption! They are super adorable and are local in Echo Park. They are in the process of getting shots and will be neutered prior to adoption. Contact the Echo Park Animal Alliance at info@echoparkanimalalliance.com for an application or to foster.

Learn more about the Echo Park Animal Alliance (EPAA) on their website.

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Echo Park Craft Fair this weekend

Shop this weekend at the semi-annual Echo Park Craft Fair, organized by leather shoe crafter Beatrice Valenzuela. There will be jewelry, organic beauty products, belts, handbags, and other locally made goodies. Pick up your holiday gifts and even some homemade granola to snack on!

Echo Park Craft Fair
Saturday, December 4
1719 Sargent Place

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EPIA Holiday Potluck on Thursday!

Instead of a regular town hall meeting tomorrow, the Echo Park Improvement Association will hold its holiday potluck! It’s a great chance to meet people in your community, have some delicious food (the last one we went to was soooo good!) and mingle. We will be making chocolate chip cookies stuffed with Rolo’s, so make sure you come try some of those.

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Sign up for the LA Scavenger Hunt

‘Tis the season for giving! Help out the Union Rescue Mission and the LA Food Bank this weekend – the FYF Fest is sponsoring the annual LA Scavenger Hunt to help beneft those organizations.

The Scavenger Hunt is an all day event that covers the greater Los Angeles area. It’s only $10 to be a part of, and you will help gather the goods needed for the benefitting charities. There are also prizes involved, including a grand prize of $2,500 flight credit to Barcelona, Dodgers tickets, record shopping with Keith Morris, and more.

In past years the event has had over 1,000 participants bringing together over $10,000 worth of material goods for the mission. This year they expect 5,000 participants – but don’t let that keep you from signing up!

Sign up in advance at Origami Vinyl here in Echo Park, Headline Records, Family Bookstore, Fingerprints and Vacation Vinyl. You can also sign up online through ticketweb.com or the day of between 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm at the Stadium.

For more info visit www.lascavengerhunt.com

LA Scavenger Hunt
December 4, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Meet in the Dodger Stadium parking lot 1000 Elysian Park Ave.

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Echo Park Holiday Parade theme, grand marshal announced

The Echo Park Community Parade committee announced today the theme, grand marshal, and parade ambassadors.

The theme for Saturday, December 11 is “Echo Park: We are the World.” Parade-goers can view the event all the way from Elysian Park Avenue to Park Avenue (near Alvarado) along Sunset Blvd. from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.

Reverend David K. Farley of the Echo Park United Methodist Church will serve as this year’s Grand Marshal. Parade Ambassadors are Peter L. Lassen (who we just adore!), Walter and Sumiko Elmer, Dr. Fredy Perez, and Sallie W. Neubauer.

The Echo Park Community Parade Kickoff is this Friday, December 3 from 5:00 – 6:30 pm at the EcHho Park Farmers’ Market. Clifford Street School, Gabriella Charter School, along with salsa band On Time Quintet, will provide entertainment, and winners of the Echo Park Community Parade Art Contest will be recognized.

The parade takes place on Saturday, December 11, 2010 starting at 10:00 am, rain or shine!

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Echo Park Animal Alliance Fundraiser: Pet photos with Santa!

Bring your precious pets and well-behaved humans down for some fun, shopping and entertainment for the Echo Park Animal Alliance’s annual fundraiser.

Saturday and Sunday, December 4-5
1:00 p to 5:00 pm.
Echo Park Pottery, located at 1850 Echo Park Ave.

Glossy prints in festive cards $10 each or three for $25.00. Dog Cookie stockings, filled with home baked cookies, $10.00. Also, pick up some pottery from Echo Park Pottery!

All proceeds go to the Echo Park Animal Alliance! Click here to download the full flyer.

In the meantime, check out our little friend Frankie who really needs a home!

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Changes for the Flea Market at Dodger Stadium

It looks like the short-lived LA Flea Market at Dodger Stadium is no longer – after just a few Sunday flea markets, the LA Flea Market partners split. In its place is the newly-named Flea Market at Dodger Stadium, a similar concept as the prior market now on Saturdays and featuring live bands, food trucks, a kids area, up to 600 sellers, and more.

The Flea Market was set to debut tomorrow (Saturday, November 20), but with rain on the forecast it looks like the event will be rescheduled for next month on December 18. We were sort-of looking forward to the opening tomorrow – they have teamed up with Homeboy Industries for the Flea Market on a regular basis, but had also planned for a charity drive with the non-profit organization for tomorrow. “Not Another Toy” drive, as it’s being called, is just that – instead of gifting toys, they’ll help anyone who has fallen on hard economic times and help with getting food, clothes for job interviews, and other everyday needs. We expect that the December debut will also feature the holiday charity drive.

When it does happen, parking is $5, you can enter through Downtown Gate (adjacent to the 110 south exit/Stadium Way) or the Sunset Gate (Stadium Way /Elysian Park Avenue). Click here for info about tickets, times and vendors.

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Stick around this Thanksgiving and volunteer

This year marks the 12th annual Gobble Gobble Give – what started out as a couple of Echo Park residents cooking Thanksgiving meals for a few homeless in the neighborhood has turned into a huge community effort where 2,000 people in need are fed, clothed, and just helped out in general.

The organizers need your donations of money, food, clothing, water, shoes, blankets, soap, toothbrush kits, or whatever you can offer to help. Sign up to volunteer on their website (and do it soon!).

Gobble Gobble Give
Thursday, November 25 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
The Echo, 1822 West Sunset Blvd.

Ana Calderon will be DJ’ing. With special thanks to American Apparel, At The Echo, and everyone involved.

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