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Blood Drive and Health Fair tomorrow

Before you head off to Sunset Junction this weekend (and especially before you hit the beer garden), stop by the Doll Factory in nearby Historic Filipinotown and donate some blood!

The L.A. Derby Dolls and Eric Garcetti’s office have teamed up to host a FREE Blood Drive and Health Fair tomorrow, Saturday, August 21, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Get there early – they expect over 500 residents!

Besides the blood drive, they will be offering free services, including:
Mammograms (email questions@derbydolls.com for an appointment)
Blood Tests – St. Vincent’s Hospital
Diabetes Testing – St. Vincent’s Hospital
Body Fat Testing – St. Vincent’s Hospital
STD Testing – Planned Parenthood
Birth Control Information – Planned Parenthood
Referrals for Clinical Breast Exams and Gynecological tests – St. Vincent’s Hospital
Bone Marrow Registry – Be The Match
6 massage therapists – Royal Thai Massage
Doll Repair Team – medical staff of Chiropracters, Physical Therapists and Acupuncturists, led by Dr. Rick Fox
Self Defense Workshop – Johnathon Blank
Body image Workshop – Hollywood Chapter, National Organization for Women
Proper Dental Care workshop – Western Dental
Nutrition Workshop – YMCA
Making Healthy Tamales Workshop – Mama’s Hot Tamales
Free Food and Refreshments – Brooklyn Bagels, Masa, Mama’s Hot Tamales, La Guerra Tamaleria, Ex Drinks, Tropical Cafe, Gigi’s Cafe
MediCal Enrollment and Low Cost Insurance – St. Vincent’s Hospital and Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic
Information on Free/Low-Cost Services – Department of Mental Health

The Derby Dolls will also give you a half-off coupon for the all-star bout on September 11 when you come to the Fair!

Second Annual Free Health Fair
Saturday August 21, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Doll Factory located at 1910 W. Temple St.
email questions@derbydolls.com for more info

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Upcoming EPFC Filmmobile Screenings

Friday, August 20 @ 8:00 pm – KILLER OF SHEEP
Killer of Sheep examines the black Los Angeles ghetto of Watts in the mid-1970s through the eyes of Stan, a sensitive dreamer who is growing detached and numb from the psychic toll of working at a slaughterhouses. It was shot on location in Watts in a series of weekends on a budget of less than $10,000, most of which was grant money. Finished in 1977 and shown sporadically, its reputation grew and grew until it won a prize at the 1981 Berlin International Film Festival. Since then, the Library of Congress has declared it a national treasure as one of the first fifty on the National Film Registry.

Friday, August 27 @ 8:00 pm – INTOLERANCE
For the last event of the 2010 Filmmobile Summer Screening Series, we’re excited to present DW Griffith’s 1916 silent epic. “Professor Theodore Huff, one of the leading film critics of the first half of the twentieth century stated that it was the only motion picture worthy of taking its place alongside Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the masterpieces of Michelangelo, etc. as a separate work of art.” –Wikipedia. LIVE MUSIC BY DUBLAB.

All screenings are free and open to the public. The locations are secret until a few hours before the screening. You can call (213-484-8846), email (info@echoparkfilmcenter.org) or follow them on Twitter (http://twitter.com/EPFCfilmmobile).

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Machine Project Gives Plants a Vacation

Photo by Machine Project

I had the pleasure of visiting Plant Vacation at the Hammer a few weekends ago. Machine Project has been doing all sorts of wonderful things at the Hammer recently as part of the artist in residency program. This new adventure is a month long vacation for your houseplants. I bet a lot of these plants came from Echo Park. The plants are spending the month of August being cared for and entertained by volunteers and artists. You can join in on most of the fun by checking the schedule below. I was surprised by how many people actually brought their plants. We even witnessed plant triage on the museum stairs when one couple’s plant broke. The pot shattered but they created a makeshift home out of newspaper. It was a wonderful act of plant love. The plants look beautiful on the Linbrook terrace in the museum against a long wall of windows. If you find yourself in the UCLA area you should check it out. Thursdays are free! If you go on a Saturday be sure to stop by the coat room near the entrance, also one of the world’s smallest theaters known as the Little William Theater. The music wafts through the lobby and into the courtyard of the hammer. For such a little theater, the sound is amazingly large. These performances are also brought to us by the wonderful minds that orbit Machine Project.

Plant Vacation Schedule:
* Saturday July 31st 11am to 5pm: Drop off at the Hammer Museum and plant portrait photography
* Saturday August 7th 1-4pm: Musical performances, dramatic readings, and psychic plant healing
* Friday August 13th 11pm-Midnight Plant Pornography screening (no humans allowed, sorry)
* Saturday August 14th 1-4pm: Musical performances, poetry, and psychic plant healing
* Saturday August 21st 1-4pm: Musical performances, historical accounts of botanical exploration and psychic plant healing
* Saturday August 28th 11am to 6pm: Plant pick up at the Hammer Museum

The Hammer Museum is located at 10899 Wilshire Boulevard.

Here are the numbers for Machine Project this week:

1) Plants lucky enough to be on vacation at the Hammer Museum will receive their second straight week of poetry, music, and psychic healing. From 1-5pm the plants will enjoy tarot card readings by Kristina Faragher, poetry by Anthony McCann and Kirsty Singer, a performance by ing, and an artist talk from self-proclaimed plant pornographer Jonathon Keats, more info here.

2) The Little William Theater Festival of New Music continues with duo accordion performances by Daniel Corral and Isaac Schankler. Each piece is under two minutes in length and takes place in the Hammer Museum coat room, 1-4pm.

3) The gallery-sized Camera Obscura by j.frede is currently on view at Machine through August 18th. The camera is on view 4-7pm on Saturday and Sunday, 12-6pm weekdays, or by appointment (only during daylight hours) by contacting machine@machineproject.com.

4) Rachel Schmeidler will be offering a presentation on 3D Photography Sunday August 15th at 1pm. She’ll be showing examples of her work, and answering questions about 3D Photography.

5) Machine presents a hands on Pinhole Camera Workshop taught by j.frede in conjunction with his Camera Obscura installation. The workshop will cover the mechanics of pinhole camera construction, as well as developing positive prints. This will be offered on Sunday August 15th from 4-7pm. Space is limited, register for the class here.

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International Playground Opening Party Tonight!

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Mohawk General Store departed Echo Park for Sunset Junction recently. Luckily, their old digs won’t become another for lease tragedy of the economy. International Playground, Johnny Pizzolato and Virginia Craddock’s New York boutique, has moved in.

Welcome International Playground to the area this Thursday (tonight!) from 5pm to 9pm. Enjoy Bandit wine, Babycakes Bakery yummies and a 20% discount.

Mention Style Section LA to get 25% off through August 21st.

International Playground is located at 1102 Mohawk St.

Mohawk General Store lovers: visit the new shop at 4011 West Sunset Blvd.

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Last chance to donate to Spelling Bee for Cheaters

Spelling Bee for Cheaters, a fundraiser for 826LA’s many programs that help kids in Los Angeles get free tutoring (among other things), is just two days away! Last chance to get your donations in to help the teams out – the money raised helps each team order from a menu of cheats, helping them do better in the competition and helping 826LA raise more money!

We do have some Echo Park residents participating in the event: Ashley Atkinson, along with two other Echo Park residents, belong to the group called “Marmoset There’d Be Days Like This.” So far, the team has raised almost all of its needed funds, but still needs a little bit more. To donate, you donate to an individual on that team, so to help our Echo Park residents I suggest you donate to Ashley by clicking here. A little bit goes a long way, so $10 or $20 will help!

The spelling bee will take place on Saturday, August 14 from 2:00 to 6:00 pm at Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica. This year, Spike Jonze, John Krasinski, Judd Apatow, Dianna Agron, and others are scheduled to appear.

Click here to buy tickets to the event (admission is $25.00 plus online fees).

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Learn about album production at Origami Vinyl

Ever wondered about how to make picture discs, custom vinyl or specialty record jackets? Plan on releasing a vinyl record soon? Origami Vinyl is offering up a FREE panel discussion on the basics of album production on Sunday, August 15 from 7:00-9:00 pm.

“Getting Your Record Made: A Step-by-Step Look at Album Production” is a panel discussion with Q and A led by Origami Vinyl owner Neil Schield. On the panel is: Christian Dwiggins (mixing and mastering engineer from Engine Rooms Studios), Pet Lyman (owner and chief mastering engineer from Infrasonic Sound Recording), Kevin Smith (owner of Bill Smith Custom Records), Jennifer Freund (owner and CEO Dorado Music Packaging), and Benjamin Heywood of Summer Darling.

Along with beer, the event will also include some special offers and discounts from panel speakers on their record production services.

You do have to RSVP no later than TODAY, August 12, by emailing RSVPOrigami@gmail.com

Origami Vinyl is located at 1816 W. Sunset Blvd.

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Free For All Festival at Echoplex This Sunday

Free For All Festival

Sunday, August 15
4:00 pm – 12:00 midnight
Echoplex
All Ages
Free! (Donations accepted)

RSVP for priority entrance if there are lines.

Live performances by:
Akron/Family || Listen
Langhorne Slim || Listen
Active Child || Listen
Old Man Markley || Listen
Roadside Graves || Listen
Sean Hayes || Listen
Frank Fairfield
Bad Weather California || Listen
Dustbowl Revival || Listen
Hi Ho Silver Oh || Listen
The Smart Brothers
Don Juan Y Los Blancos
Dreamcatcher
Mouse Heaven

Food by Chef Brian’s Comfort Truck and Lake Street Creamery.

Read more

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Workshop on the Business of Music

Hey Echo Park musicians! Need a little help with the business side of music? Bedrock Studios is hosting a workshop that can help you make sense of it all. The workshop is being presented by Josh Sanderson of Black Sand Music (a music placement agency).

Film and TV Licensing Workshop
What you need to know to get your music placed in Film & TV

Sunday, August 22nd
1:00-4:00pm

What will be covered:
DIY Pitching, Music Libraries, Placement Agencies & Publishers
The pros and cons of each, Exclusive vs. Non-Exclusive, and negotiating a great deal
Writer, Publisher and Master Splits & Copyright Ownership
You’ve written, produced and recorded a song. Who deserves to own what?
Master & Sync and Deal Points
The “Two Sides” of music licensing, and making sense of all the paperwork
License Fees vs. Performance Royalties
How are they different and how much should I expect to get paid?

The cost:
Save on course fees by registering by Sunday, August 15
Single: $99 (Save $50.00)
2-for-1: $149 (Save $75.00 each)
Three: $195 (Save $84.00 each)
Four+: $59 each (Save $90.00 each)
After August 15th all tickets are $149 each. Purchase with pay pal prior to event.

Click here to sign up.

Bedrock Studios is located at 1623 Allesandro St.
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Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Monday, August 9 through Sunday, August 15

Monday, August 9
Peter’s Pool Boys & Sean Carnage Presents: Essay, Aunt Dracula, Amir Coyle, plus a very special appearance by Jamaica Man @ Pehrspace
Monday Night Residency: Fol Chen, Learning Music, Lesands @ The Echo
New Music Monday With Devin Sarno, Bobb Bruno, Kandyce And The Killdozer, Howardamb @ Echo Curio
Zoe Muth And The Lost High Rollers, Vagrant Valley, Erin Mclaughlin @ Bootleg

Tuesday, August 10
Smog Sessions: Truth, Machete, Deco, Kemst @ The Echo

Wednesday, August 11
Dub Club: Dub Club DJs, Viernes 13, The Hashishans @ Echoplex and The Echo
The Joy Formidable, Division Day, The Arkells @ Bootleg

Thursday, August 12
Hit + Run presents: Soundcrash with Blu, Blackbird, Thavius Beck, Ras G, Zackey FOrce Funk, Kofi, Teebs, and surprise guests @ The Echo
Social Studies @ Origami Vinyl

Friday, August 13
Club Underground with Torches in Trees, Go West Young Man, Waterlaso @ The Echo
Rooftops @ Origami Vinyl
Opening of the Photobug Exhibition plus the works Of Styles Wolff Baker @ Echo Curio

Saturday, August 14
Ema and the Ghosts Birthday Show @ Pehrspace
Hercules and Love Affair, DJ Paul V. @ Echoplex
Funky Sole @ The Echo
Heather Woodbury’s As the Globe Warms, followed by John Hearts Jackie, The Clouds, Children Of The Kai, Alyssyndra and the Day Makers @ Echo Curio

Sunday, August 15
When You Awake presents Free For All @ Echoplex
Part Time Punks with Swahili Blonde + Black Flamingo @ The Echo
From Vision To Vinyl: A Step-By-Step Look At Album Production. Panel Discussion + Q&A. To attend email RSVPOrigami@gmail.com by August 12th @ Origami Vinyl
Echo Obscura Presents Andy Warhol Films @ Echo Curio

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. Venue information can be found in our community resource pages.

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.

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Ballard’s and Raven-Lily Grand Opening on Saturday

We wrote recently about Ballard’s Artwork Framing re-opening at its new home on Sunset, and we now know it is sharing the retail space with a fair trade gifts and accessories organization called Raven + Lily.

The grand opening event is coming up on Saturday, August 7 and includes drinks and cupcakes from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm followed by wine and cheese until 10:00 pm.

Ballard’s is located at 1568 Sunset Blvd.

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Date a Dodger Fan – Singles Night at the Stadium

You’re single in Echo Park and a Dodgers fan – god forbid you end up dating a Giants fan!

As part of the Stadium’s “Group Theme Nights,” Singles Night takes place on Friday, August 6 while the Washington Nationals play the Dodgers.

The pre-game party goes on from 5:15 pm – 7:10 pm at the Loge Terrace (check in oustide in Lot D). The $25 ticket gets you a free Miller Lite at the party.

Click here to buy tickets, and make sure to use the promo code SINGLES.

Call Dodgers Representative Charlie Brooks at 323-224-2630 for more information.

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Echo Park Meetings to attend this week

There are a couple of things going on this week that I recommend you, as interested and super excited Echo Park residents, attend this week. See you there!

Must-go-to Meetings:

Echo Park Lake Rehab Project meeting:

  • Wednesday, August 4 at 6:30 pm at Barlow Hospital (Williams Hall)
  • Big items are: the Draft EIR and the accomodations being made for the Lake birds.
  • There will be a shuttle, picking up at 5:00 pm at the corner of Park Avenue and Echo Park Avenue (departure times are 5:30, 5:50, and 6:10). RSVP with the number of people in your party to Olga Morales at (213) 978-0329 or olga.morales@lacity.org by Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.

Echo Park Improvement Association meeting:

  • Thursday, August 5 at 7:00 pm at Barlow Hospital (Williams Hall)
  • This is a potluck! Bring your favorite dish or dessert and share with our council district and police division representatives.

Optional:

GEPENC Budget and Finance Committee meeting:

  • Thursday, August 5, at 7:00 pm at the GEPENC Office and Community Center
  • Agenda items for the month of August include:
    • Discussion and/or Possible Action for Budget & Finance Committee to recommend Board approval of a one page letter with the concerns of the community regarding vending at Echo Park Lake, acknowledging the vendors rights as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by article I, section 2 of the California Constitution,  and include Sec.42.14.1 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code on the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council letter head to distribute to the vendors of Echo Park Lake and take an account of the names, addresses and any other contact information provided to the members of the Budget and Finance Committee by the vendors to relive congestion and ensure public enjoyment of Echo Park Lake where those vendors are currently set up with out restriction.
    • Discussion and/or Possible Action for Budget & Finance Committee to recommend Board approval for the modification of the fiscal 2010-2011 budget to be consistent with the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment’s request and call for a special meeting of the General Board approving the modified fiscal 2010-2011 budget.

Oh yes, and tonight is also National Night Out in Echo Park!

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National Night Out – Tonight in Echo Park

The 5th annual Echo Park National Night Out block party is tonight, Tuesday, August 3. The event takes place at the Walgreens parking lot from 5:00 to 9:00 pm.

FREE stuff includes: kids activities, cotton candy, eye mobile eye screening, hot dogs, kids face painting, and a bouncer/jumper. There will also be an Echo Park Community Parade drawing contest, and voter registration through Central del Pueblo.

Participating organizations include:

826LA
Barlow Respiratory Hospital
Central del Pueblo: Voter registration
Echo Park Animal Alliance: Dodger give-away
Echo Park Community Parade: Contest drawing
Echo Park Historical Society
Echo Park Improvement Association (EPIA)
Echo Park Farmers Market (SEE-LA)
Echo Park Recreation and Parks -face painting
Echo Park Security Association and Select Patrol
Gariella Axelrad Education Foundation
George D. Lim, DMD, Inc.
Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council
Innate Intelligence Works
L.A. Host Lions Club, Eyemobile eye screening
LAUSD: Mayberry School
Los Angeles Police Department: Northeast Police Division
Los Angeles Fire Department, Station 20
Student-International Travel Experience (SITE)
The Echo/Echoplex/Prado Food Area

See you tonight!

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August Library Programs and Fun

Both the Echo Park and Edendale Libraries have some FREE special programs for kids, teens, and even some for adults all summer long. Here are the August events for both libraries:

For Kids

  • Knight Time Reading at Echo Park Branch: Every Wednesday from 3 – 4:00 pm. Stories of dragons and other magical creatures. Create a fire-breathing dragon to take home.
  • Knight Time Reading at Edendale: Stories, jokes, crafts and snacks. Thursdays from 2:30-3:30 pm.
  • Summer Film Fest at Edendale: Mostly family-friendly films, plus popcorn! Tuesdays from 5-7:00 pm.
  • LA Kings Hockey Mascot Storytime: Thursday, August 12 at 2:30 pm at the Edendale Library.
  • Medieval Faire: Juggler/jester/magician Jeff Fredricksen at the Edendale Branch on Thursday, August 26 at 2:30 pm.

Other great activities:

  • Family Playtime at Echo Park Branch: Mondays from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • Bilingual Baby & Toddler Storytime at Echo Park Branch: Tuesdays from noon – 1:00 pm
  • Making Books Fun at Edendale: Bilingual. Every Tuesday at 2:30 pm
  • Book Buddies at Echo Park Branch: Thursdays from 3 – 5:00 pm
  • Infant & Toddler Storytime at Edendale: Nursery rhymes, songs, and finger plays, for children 1-3 and their special grown-ups.  Wednesdays from 10-10:45 am.

Read more

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Echo Park’s Annual National Night Out

The 5th Annual Echo Park National Night Out block party is coming up on Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 5:00 pm in the Walgreens Parking Lot.

The free event will host activities for kids, free eye screenings (the Lions Eye Mobile will be present), free hot dogs, and more family-friendly activities.

Click on the graphic to the right to download a flyer to distribute in your neighborhood.

Organizers are collecting funds to purchase backpacks and school supplies for  give-aways to children and teens. If you would like to contribute, contact Rosie Betanzos directly at rcbetanzos@yahoo.com

Volunteers are also needed for helping: in the kids area, maintaining control on passing food, supervising the jumpers (I’m assuming for a bounce house), clean-up and set-up tear down, information booth, and ambassadors to direct crowds. If you are interested, please email Rosie at the email address listed above.

The event is hosted by the Positive Energy Group/Crime Prevention.

Representing Northeast Police Station

Sponsors are: City Council District 1 and 13, Echo Park Trading Post, Select Patrol, The Echo/Echoplex, El Prado, GEPENC, LA Host Lions, Dodgers and many more…

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