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Time to get fit: Echo Park Avenue gets new Pilates studio

Echo Park has recently become quite the beer destination, but who knows – maybe it’ll turn into the Yoga/Pilates/arts destination!

13-year Echo Park resident Tannis Kobrinsky saw the “for rent” sign next to the Yogala Echo Park space (in Peter Shire’s building) and, as she told us in August when construction started, “I knew this was the time and place. I’m extremely excited to be able to make this happen this year!” She wanted a place for Pilates classes as well as a dedicated art space, so that when you think about the studio, you think of it as a “wellness and cultural Salon.” Thus was born Pilates & Arts!

Tannis gets major kudos for her long-time residency in Echo Park, for opening the new studio, and for her major Pilates bod which you can check out on her website, HealtHabitravels.com (she’s inspiring me to get in shape!). While a grand opening party is planned for November (with a joint block party on November 13), this weekend she’ll be hosting a soft opening with a free “meet the machine” event so that any Pilates newbies won’t feel intimated trying out those machines like Pilates reformers, springboards, wunda-chair, and other exercise props with equally funny names.

You can expect traditional Pilates classes on the apparatus only in private, partner and group sessions, while Tannis will continue teaching Pilates mat classes at Yogala next door. Additionally, there will be a dedicated art wall in the studio along with intimate art gallery opens, art-related workshops and events during the studio after-hours.

You can sign up for the free “meet the machine” event on Saturday and Sunday, October 15 and 16, by calling (323) 913-9460 or email info@pilatesandarts.com. Classes will be held every hour between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, and are limited to six people per hour.

Tannis wants to keep us budget-conscious folks in mind – Meet the Machine workshops will be held after the opening at $30 for three sessions. October is also a great month to sign up with Pilates & Arts – she is currently offering a discount on cash or check payments this month – 3 private session for $150, 3 partner sessions for $90, and 3 group sessions for $75 (must have prior experience practicing Pilates on the apparatus).

Pilates & Arts
1844 Echo Park Avenue

Reserve a spot: 323-913-9460 and info@pilatesandarts.com

Website

Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Rates run $30 a person for a group class of 3-4 people max (or a series of 10 for $270), $40 per person for a partner class (or a series of 10 for $350), and $65 for a private class (or a series of 10 for $600)

Check the Facebook page for detailed hours on classes, and costs.

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Crawl along Sunset Blvd. for cold beer and Echo Park music – it’s Beer Week!

LA Beer Week (or “weeks” really) is like Christmas to me, the most important holiday of the year – but we don’t mesh with the whole drinking and driving thing, so we prefer to hang local and support the ‘hood!

So strap on those beer drinking/dancing boots for the Echo Park Musical Beer Crawl Tuesday, October 11, 2011. More than a handful of Echo Park businesses and venues are participating, including Backside, City Sip, El Prado, Grill ‘Em All Truck, Lot 1 Cafe, Masa, Mohawk Bend, Origami Vinyl, Sunset Beer Co., Taix 321 Lounge, The Echo/Echoplex, and Two Boots. Yeah!

Each place is offerings special discounts or rare keg tappings, be sure to check out what each place is doing by clicking here.

How do you take advantage of these discounts and special gatherings around Echo Park? “Passports” are now available for you to print out and flash at the participating venues. Click here to get your own! (Oh, yes, and it’s free!)

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Echo Park rules: LA Weekly’s Best of LA list

We all know it: Echo Park is the raddest. But it’s nice to get a little acknowledgment – LA Weekly’s Best of LA 2011 is out, and once again, we’ve got quite a few locations in our ‘hood to celebrate.

Keep reading what Echo Park businesses and locations made the Best of LA cut:

Spitfire Girl: Best Ironic Baubles for a Best Friend

Located along our stretch of Echo Park known as antique row, Spitfire Girl gets kudos for being a “more authentic version of Urban Outfitters’ indie accessories department.” From horses and owl-themed products to art books, jewelry, and woodcut wall art, LA Weekly recommends a stop as “you should have no trouble finding a unique gift for any lover of irony or beauty.” We have to admit we’ve never been to Spitfire Girl… we will definitely go now!

LA Weekly link
2203 Sunset Blvd. • (213) 989-1977 • spitfiregirl.com

Rewind Audio: Best Electronics That Don’t Fit in a Pocket

Audio geeks rejoice: “This is not the insanely priced stuff sought by audiophiles but great, quotidian, mainstream electronics…” says The LA Weekly.

Even better? “Their pristine little Echo Park shop attracts a steady stream of people in their 20s seeking a retro look and electronic equipment that’s fun to touch, as well as a 40s-and-up clientele who miss the richer sounds often lost to digital.

LA Weekly link
1041 N. Alvarado St. • (213) 273-8904 • rewindaudio.com

Read more

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Tidbits from around Echo Park

Photo by Martin Cox via The Eastsider LA

Rain fills just-emptied Echo Park Lake

The Eastsider LA published a photo by Martin Cox taken yesterday after a downpoor of rain filled up quite a bit of the just-drained Echo Park Lake. As the clouds separated, Cox captured a beautiful and dramatic photo of the lake with all that rain collected.

City hearing held on Fix Coffee’s beer & wine application

Yesterday (Wednesday) morning was the hearing for Fix Coffee’s application for a beer and wine license. While no official recommendations by the zoning administrator have been made (it’s expected in the coming weeks), Eric Garcetti of CD13 opposes the permit, as indicated in a statement issued by spokeswoman Julie Wong and published today on The Eastsider LA:

“After listening to community members on both sides and giving the issue careful consideration, Council President Garcetti decided to oppose the permit because he feels it is not quite right for the location at this time.”

Read more about the controversial application by Fix Coffee.

Echo Park Artist in the NY Times

The NY Times visited artist Lecia Dole-Recio in her Echo Park studio recently. Dole-Recio uses cardboard and paint to create collages of geometric shapes and strong colors. She has a show through October 15 at Richard Telles Fine Artin LA and an exhibit in December at the Secession in Vienna. Click here to read the full story.

High five! Flickr photo via falafelicious

Did a Dodger invent the high five?

Writer Jon Mooallem investigates the origin of the high-five, an investigation which led him to Dodgers outfielder Glenn Burke in 1977. After a home run by fellow Dodger Dusty Baker, Burke “thrust his hand enthusiastically over his head to greet his friend at the plate. Baker, not knowing what to do, smacked it. ‘His hand was up in the air, and he was arching way back,’ says Baker, 62, who’s now managing the Cincinnati Reds. ‘So I reached up and hit his hand. It seemed like the thing to do.'”

Of course the origins of such a thing are highly debated – read the article on TheWeek.com and decide for yourself!

Culture Collide Festival kicked off

The annual Filter Magazine’s Culture Collide Fest kicked off yesterday, and end Sunday with the Toyota Antics block party at Reservoir and Sunset. Click here to get more info about the Festival.

 

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Culture Collide Fest starts Wednesday in Echo Park

The annual Filter Magazine’s Culture Collide Festival descends on Echo Park this week, with dozens of performances at The Echo, Echoplex, Taix, 826LA, Origami Vinyl, Echo Park Independent Co-Op, Echo Park Methodist Church, and Reform Academy. The four-day fest brings artists from over 24 countries, along with live music there will be food, film screenings, and happy hours!

Along with musical performances, the International Happy Hour includes drink specials at Taix from 4-6:00 pm on Thursday and Firday, and 6-8:00 pm on Saturday, October 8. Click here to RSVP. The full schedule and lineup is also now available, click here.

Lineup includes artists like Ximena Sarinana from Mexico (who happens to have a new song titled “Echo Park”), along with headlines CSS, Clap Your Hands Say Yea, Avi Buffalo, and more. Echo Park always has some music events going on over the weekend, so if you don’t want to pay the $20 for the whole fest keep your eye out on the many music venues in the neighborhood for shows.

And finally like in past years, the festival ends with a free Toyota Antics block party event in Echo Park on Sunday, October 9. The party takes place at Reservoir and Sunset Boulvard, and often includes live music and family-friendly activities (we’ve seen bouncy castles before).

See you around!

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Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Monday, October 3 through Sunday, October 9, 2011

The annual Culture Collide fest is upon us, but the schedule hasn’t been posted quite yet. In the meantime, there are plenty of musical events all over Echo Park for the next few days:

Monday
Screening Of “Fix”: The Ministry Movie @ Echoplex
Monday Night Residency: Swahili Blonde, Crooked Cowboy & The Freshwater Indians, Raw Geronimo, Dreamtapes @ Echo
Little Red Lung, Mind The Gap, Jim Hanft, Irontom @ Bootleg Theater/Bar
Stephanie Rearick, Eric Potter Ambient Guitar Project, Daniel Ahearn @ Lot 1 Cafe

Tuesday
Peter Bjorn & John, Big Search @ Echo
89.9 KCRW Presents: Jolie Holland, Mr. French, Locksley, Italian Japanese @ Bootleg Theater/Bar
Emperor X @ Origami Vinyl
Sketch Monster, Hank, Odd Modern @ Lot 1 Cafe

Wednesday
Dub Club @ Echoplex
Live Jazz Every Wednesday Night at 7:00 Pm @ Downbeat Café

Thursday
Filter Magazine’s Culture Collide Festival Featuring: Liam Finn, Rainbow Arabia, Guineafowl, Handshakes, DJ Larry (Underground) @ Echo
Liam Gerner, The Americans, Patrick Park, Maxim Ludwig @ Bootleg Theater/Bar
Roll The Tanks @ Origami Vinyl
6 Foot Peter, The Mo Odds, Blac Jesus & The Experimentalists, Empty Echoes @ Lot 1 Cafe

Friday
Yacht, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, The Morning After Girls, The Gift, Hands @ Echoplex
Cymbals Eat Guitars, Hooray For Earth, La Sera @ Echo
Mucca Pazza, Timur And The Dime Museum, AK and Her Kalasnikovs @ Bootleg Theater/Bar
Hooray for Earth @ Origami Vinyl
Stars At Night, Blood Buddies, Black Leg @ Lot 1 Cafe

Saturday
Css, Young Liars, The Yellow Dogs, Deskartes A Kant, De Staat, DJ Jason Bentley @ Echoplex
Funky Sole @ Echo
Chamberlin, Olin And The Moon, A B & The Sea, The Oregonian Film Screening @ Bootleg Theater/Bar
The Go Round @ Origami Vinyl
Pick Up Sticks, Radars To The Sky, George Glass, Dona Nicha @ Lot 1 Cafe

Sunday
Chad Vangaalen @ Culture Collide Festival
Part Time Punks With Big Troubles (Slumberland Records), Young Prisms, Kids On a Crime Spree @ Echo
Eagle Rock Gospel Singers, Sarah Winters, Doran Danoff Release Show, The Oregonian Film Screening @ Bootleg Theater/Bar

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.

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Tugging at heartstrings: These kitties need a home

Echo Parkian Amanda found a mother and her kittens in her yard a month ago, and since the only no-kill shelter only takes cats over one-year old, she is searching for a home for them.

“I think the black and white one is a male since he is bigger than the other one; he is very curious and really adorable. The other one is a multicolored kitty who seems like she would be happiest living her life on someones lap. It’s only a matter of time before they start breeding, so the clock is ticking!… They are cute to an insane degree and I wish I could keep them, but I have an elderly cat who despises all non-human creatures.

Please email EchoParkKitties@gmail.com if interested.

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A sunset performance about Sunset Boulevard at Mi Alma

Flickr photo via Andy Sternberg

On Saturday, October 1, 2011, Echo Park’s own nursery slash lighting store will be the host of 24 Hours on Sunset, an evening of short plays written by the talented Sharon Yablon and music by Thomas Chan. The scenes and monologues performed are about those eccentric characters that populate the long stretch of Sunset Boulevard from east LA all the way to the beach.

But don’t worry, the play doesn’t last 24 hours – “They don’t state what time it is, but the language, setting and tone is suggestive of a certain time of day or night.  The show is somewhat of a ‘day in the life’ of Sunset Blvd., and the variety of people who populate it,” Yablon told the LA Writers Examiner.

The performances feature Adrian A. Cruz, Jacqueline Wright, Eugene Butler, and Michael Bonnabel. It will start on the street outside of Mi Alma, then move into the space where each short play is set in a different spot (so there will be walking and standing).

Along with the play itself, tamales and sangria are complimentary – but donations are accepted!

Please RSVP by emailing Sharon at syablon22@gmail.com

24 Hours on Sunset
Saturday, October 1, 2011
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Mi Alma Gardens at 1901 Echo Park Ave.

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Case cracked: The mysterious, hanging red-glitter shoes

Photo by Emma Cunningham

From Manny Castro's Facebook page

The Eastsider LA first brought this to our attention last week: just up the street from where we live, a mysterious pair of glittering red high-heel shoes and a trophy cutout were noticeably hanging from power lines. Then they popped up in Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Hollywood -the trophy cutout bearing the words: “This Hollywood Life.”

And before you think it, it’s not one of those signs of gangs and drug dealers marking their territory (unless they really love Hollywood glitz and glam). Nor is it the genius ad campaign for Wicked returning to Los Angeles. In fact, we think the case has been cracked.

It’s the work of artist Manny Castro, basically an ad for his upcoming show at new Echo Park Gallery iam8bit. The gallery started off with a bang last month with its show featuring 80’s video game inspired artwork, and with all the guerrilla art going on, this new show is bound to have the same effect. We’ll share more info about the show once we learn more!

Manny’s show, This Hollywood Life, starts September 29, 2011 at iam8bit, located at 2147 W. Sunset Boulevard

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Assemblymember Gil Cedillo coming to Echo Park Tuesday

Assemblymember Gil Cedillo is coming to Echo Park for his 2011 End of Session Tour tomorrow – Tuesday, September 13, 2011 from 6:00-8:00 pm at El Centro del Pueblo (the first of many in the district he represents).

The community is invited to attend the session to hear from our representative about what’s been accomplished this year, and the goals for the upcoming legislative year. The 45th district he represents covers parts of Atwater Village, Hollywood, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Highland Park, Lincoln Heights, and El Sereno.

To RSVP, contact Fredy Ceja at (323)225-4545 or Fredy.Ceja@asm.ca.gov

El Centro del Pueblo is located at 1157 Lemoyne Street.

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Echo Park projects seek GOOD LA funding – with your vote

GOOD magazine and EPIP LA (Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy) are holding a competition of sorts for $2,500 to go to a deserving community project. Any project or organization that is “good for our city” and needed funding submitted their ideas to the website, and the winner determined by the number of public votes received. Applications were accepted up until August 24, and there are only seven days left to vote!

Lucky for you, there are two well-deserving Echo Park projects on the ballot for the funding – Peace in the Garden, submitted by the Echo Park Time Bank, and Echo Park Public Displays of Art, a local art walk/community event/neighborhood cleanup.

Peace in the Garden is sponsored by the Echo Park Time Bank and the Micheltorena School Community Garden, a partnership aimed at “peacemaking program for elementary school kids to learn non-violent communication and conflict resolution.” They’ll accomplish this by hiring a conflict resolution instructor for the school. Additionally, the funds will purchase a “buddy bench,” sashes for Peacemaker participants, and copies of the book Jadyn and the Magic Bubble: I Met Gandhi. Click here to vote!

The Echo Park WedPDA project will fund the one-day event where Echo Park becomes a “fun, playful and engaging artistic landscape to connect and celebrate COMMUNITY!” The funds would support artists and participating attendees for supplies, sidewalk chalk, etc., the costs of permits/insurance, design and printing costs for all the advertising/marketing, volunteer costs (water, t-shirts, snacks) and the neighborhood clean up. Click here to vote!

Now there are a total of 47 great ideas, but you have until Wednesday, September 7 by midnight to vote! You can only vote once, so make it count!

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Echo Park live/work building future home vegetarian restaurant

It’s been almost a year since Echo 1030 opened its doors for leasing its 20 loft-style, LEED Certified units, and now it looks like the retail/commercial space on the first floor is getting a new resident.

According to Eater LA, the eco-friendly building located at 1030 Alvarado is the future home of an unnamed vegetarian restaurant run by DJ Goura Chandra and Raffi Roumdikian of Seven Bar. Opening hopefully early next year, the restaurant joins nearby vegan restaurant Elf Cafe and newly opened Mohawk Bend. The Eater LA article describes what the new restaurant will have to offer:

Chandra, who has been a lifelong vegetarian, says that dishes served at the unnamed restaurant are based on “all my crazy and tasty food creations,” and while he will definitely oversee foodstuffs, he will most likely not serve as the day to day chef. In addition to a conventional dining room and lounge, the restaurant will also encompass a to-go counter selling wraps, sandwiches, and salads “in our mini Whole Foods-type convinience store which will be a part of the restraunt (no dividing walls).”

And because vegetarians do like to drink, expect plenty of booze. For the most part, the alcohol program centers around micro-brews and boutique wines, but cocktails will be available as well. Chandra says that he’s a big fan of craft beers and has a big hop craving 🙂 (his smiley face, not ours). For both food and drink, he plans to source locally and seasonally. Right now the space is raw and a full build-out is to come. Oh, and because Chandra hails from a music background, he intends on lining up DJs to play “cutting edge alternative music” in the restaurant’s lounge area.

The question is… can we have this many craft beer joints in Echo Park? Between Sunset Beer, Mohawk Bend, Red Hill (upcoming), El Prado, and the many restaurants with their own great beers on tap – my wallet might suffer. Echo Park is certainly becoming a hub for craft beers and restaurants!

 

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Tonight: Neighborhood Potluck with the EPIA

Tonight is a very delicious meeting hosted by the Echo Park Improvement Association (which I am a member of) – it’s the annual potluck!

Bring your favorite dish and join us at Barlow Hospital in Williams Hall, 2000 Stadium Way at 7:00 pm tonight!

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Tuesday: Echo Park’s 6th annual National Night Out

Tomorrow (Tuesday, August 2, 2011) is the 6th annual Echo Park National Night Out. The theme: “Our Community, Our Future, The Power of Choices.” The purpose: To provide a safe community event with the goal of preventing drugs and crime in our neighborhood. From the EP National Night Out website:

The National Night Out is a program promoting neighborhood spirit and police-community partnership in our goal for a safer nation. The annual National Night Out (NNO) event, is unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TOWN WATCH (NATW). The purpose is to promote and strengthen community involvement, partnership with police and community, it is a positive tool used to enchance the quality of life, for a crime and drug free town.

Stop by and say hello from 5:00 – 8:00 pm in the Walgreens parking lot located at 1625 W. Sunset Blvd.

Free entrance, hot dogs, crafts and activities for kids and adults, and free give-aways. There will also be free eye examinations, chart reading and checkup for Glaucoma, along with check-ups for blood pressure, diabetes check-up and oxygen.

Master of Ceremony is Leonel Ledezma, which special appearances and speakers by:

Captain Williams Murphy from Northeast Police Division, Senior Lead Officer Bobby Hill from Northeast Police Station, the office of City Council President and Member Eric Garcetti of District 13, Alana Yanez (deputy for the office of Senator Kevin de Leon), District 1 City Council Member Ed Reyes, and Mitchell Frank (Echo Park Chamber of Commerce President and Owner of the Echo/Echoplex Club, El Prado, and Malo).

Visit the Echo Park National Night Out website for details on participating booths, sponsors, and how to get involved.

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Mohawk Bend opening tonight – for realsies

A Facebook announcement by the people behind Echo Park’s (and Los Angeles’) most anticipated restaurant opening has the words we’ve all been waiting for – “We are opening this evening – for real!”

There was a bit of confusion out there on the ‘nets about when Mohawk Bend would open – dates went from end of June to early July, to July 27, which was last week and was obviously not happening. As we’ve mentioned before, if you’ve ever worked or opened a restaurant, there’s a lot of kinks to work out (especially with the city permit office).

While we are confirming the exact time doors will open, expect to have dinner out tonight with an incredible selection of vegan (and non-vegan) dishes, cocktails, and of course over 70 beers on tap.

Be sure to read up on our past stories about Mohawk Bend:

UPDATE:

We just received the official press release for the grand opening, which gives us the restaurant/bar hours as:

Open daily from 5:00 pm. to 11:30 pm Sunday through Thursday, and 5:00 pm to 1:30 am Friday and Saturday. Dinner will be served first upon opening — lunch and brunch will follow in the coming weeks.

In the press release, owner Tony Yanow says, “We’re so excited to open in Echo Park and be a part of the Eastside community. With Mohawk Bend, we are really hoping to create a neighborhood restaurant and bar and one that shows our commitment to California with all of the California-based products we use, from our 100-percent California beer, wine and cocktail program to the local, organic ingredients in the kitchen.”

Looking forward to checking it out again!

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