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Music video: Can you spot Echo Park?

We’re pretty sure – pretty sure – Echo Park is in Pharrell’s music video, “Happy,” quite a bit. After all, there’s definitely Atwater Village, Downtown Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Highland Park…. And while we’ve only watched the short version of the music video shown below (there’s a 24 hour long version), a few months ago the video shoot was spotted in at least one spot. Here’s a couple from Baxter:




See if you can spot any Echo Park locations on the video below, and do share all your finds in the comments!


h/t The Urban Hillsides

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8th Annual Frogtown Artwalk on Saturday

Frogtown Artwalk 2013

The Frogtown Artwalk returns on Saturday, September 28 for its eighth year in a row.

One of our favorite annual events, the artwalk is family-friendly event in neighboring Elysian Valley, just a hop, skip and a jump from Echo Park. It’s never crazy crowded, you meet lots of neighbors, and there’s always a little bit of wine and local craft beer flowing.

This year, the “river pavilion” will feature live music along with info on the river restoration efforts. Creator of the “LA River Catz,” Leo Limon, will be at RAC Design Build along with Mary-Austin Klein (the artist whose work is featured at the top of the The Eastsider LA website). There are a lot of youth events, including a youth art show on River Ecology. And for the first time at the Artwalk is Bookshow LA at the NOMAD art complex, featuring a selection of books in an interactive retail space.

There are a ton of great events throughout evening, click here to view the Frogtown Artwalk map with full event details.

We posted some photos of past Frogtown Artwalk events on our Facebook page, click here to check it out!

8th Frogtown Artwalk
Elysian Valley – Coolidge Avenue to Blimp Street
Friday, September 28 from 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Visit frogtownarts.com for more info.

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You’re invited: Grand opening of Echo Park Lake

More exciting news about Echo Park Lake – the official grand opening is happening this weekend on Saturday, June 15.

On Saturday the crew will start removing the fence that has encircled the lake during the past year and half of construction. While it will take a few days to have the fence fully removed, there will be a full day of celebration hosted by Mayor-Elect Eric Garcetti, the Department of Rec and Parks and the Bureau of Engineering for the Lake’s reopening ceremonies.

Featured speakers and performers will gather at the corner of Logan Street and Park Avenue just before 10:00 am.

Several businesses in the area of taking advantage of the opening with some great specials and celebrations – like Lot 1 Cafe’s “love & lotus – a free day/night of music” ($2 PBRs and bottomless mimosas!).

Also read: 5 awesome things about the new Echo Park Lake

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Author of The Madonnas of Echo Park coming to Stories

Have you read The Madonnas of Echo Park yet?

If not, do! It’s a magical book that takes place in Echo Park, where author Brando Skyhorse also grew up. Many view it as a commentary on the gentrification of the neighborhood – which is the direction that HBO is taking on developing a series of the novel. But if you’re tired of the overuse of the “g” word (gentrification), there’s a lot more to the novel.

Fans of the novel will have an opportunity to get some insight into the book in its original location next week. Skyhorse will be reading excerpts of the novel at Stories Books & Cafe in Echo Park on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 starting at 7:30 pm. He will also join authors Joseph Mattson of Los Angeles and Carlene Bonnivier of Echo Park.

 

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Echo Park Art Walk map!

Click for map

Today is the 4th annual Echo Park Art Walk!

Starting at noon today, there will be art exhibits, sidewalk chalk, workshops, kids activities, live music, food, special discounts in stores, and live performance art all over Echo Park.

Additionally, this year Art Needs Freedom is collaborating with Elysian Heights Elementary School, so there will be a lot of stuff going on there!

So much great stuff going on – the map is dizzying! Click here to download your own map of the festivities.

See you there!

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Crazy color: An incredible front yard installation in Echo Park

I put together some photos and copy for the latest issue of the Echo Park Improvement Association (of which I am a member) newsletter, EPIAn Ways, on this brilliant Echo Park art installation.

Called Randyland/The Giant Glass Virgin of Guadalupe and located on the 1600 block of Lemoyne Street, this work of art consists of thousands of bottles filled with water and strung together using wire and rebar. It’s flexible, sways in wind and looms 24 feet high over the artist,’s Randlett Lawrences, front yard.

It’s truly dazzling. Check out my full article on the EPIA website!

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Echo Park Spring Egg Hunt on Saturday

A couple of weeks ago we met the new director of the Echo Park Recreation Center. We are very excited that he is on board, and he seems very eager to reach out to the community about everything going on at the Rec Center.

First up, the FREE Echo Park Spring Egg Hunt. Families will be delighted with this event, taking place on Saturday, March 30 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at the play area.

Egg hunt start times/schedule is as follows:

5 years & under: 10:30 am
6 years & 8 years: 11:00 am
9 years & older: 11:30 am

Activities include: Arts n’ Crafts , Face Painting, Music, Egg Hunts, and a visit from The Spring Bunny.

The Echo Park Recreation Center is located at 1632 Bellevue Ave. For more information, call or email 213-250-3578 echopark.rc@lacity.org

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Echo Park Craft Fair this weekend in downtown

If you’re shopping locally like we are for the holidays, the Echo Park Craft Fair this weekend is a required shopping destination. Although featuring many Echo Park artists, the fair has grown out of its backyard diggs of the past and to a new location in downtown.

Started three years ago by Beatrice Valenzuela and Rachel Craven, it has now grown to over 40 vendors. We know Echo Park’s Tavin will be there, along with lots of local vendors and exhibitors selling home goods, fashion, jewelry, pottery, an candles, and more. Check it out!

The Echo Park Craft Fair
Saturday, December 15, from noon to 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 16, from noon to 5:00 pm
The Storefront Bazaar is located at 821 E. 3rd Street

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Mohawk Street mural removed

Original mural alongside The Hedgehog at Mohawk Street & Sunset Boulevard

What the wall looks like now

Colorful murals are not only a common sight in Echo Park, it’s something the neighborhood takes a lot of pride in (depending on the artwork). While we’re not sure the erasure of a mural along Mohawk Street at Sunset Boulevard will capture the protests from the community like the Quinceañera mural did earlier this year, the whitewashing of the wall is a dramatic difference.

Erin West, who own The Hedgehog cafe on which the mural was located, planned on putting up a new, Echo Park themed mural when the wall was painted over, but business got a little busy. Prior to the election, Erin added the Yes on Prop 37 paintings, but some recent graffiti markings by, the tagging claims, the artist themselves protests the “hipster politics” on the wall. “I actually tried to track the crew down to give them a heads up,” Erin wrote in an email, referring to painting over the original mural, “but they didn’t exactly leave a forwarding address when I took over the lease.”

Erin is currently working on hiring a sandblaster to remove all paint from the brick wall. In the meantime, they are asking for any artists who may be interested in the new project to touch base via email at TheHedgehogLA@gmail.com

We have to ask all our readers: Did you like the original mural? Would you like to see a new mural, or is a brick wall cool with you?

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Twin Peaks resoundtracked at Echo Country Outpost

If you’re a fan of the ’90s David Lynch TV series Twin Peaks like I am, Echo Country Outpost is the place to be on Thursday night. Here are the deets via LA Record:

There’s a bucolic little town called Twin Peaks, where nothing is as it seems and even the cherry pie carries secrets. Laura Palmer was found by the river wrapped in plastic. WHO DID IT?

Brooklyn based electronic duo Silent Drape Runners will resoundtrack the first episode of “Twin Peaks” live. Join us in a world of mystery and deception. Strip away the veneer of respectable gentility to expose seething undercurrents of illicit passion, greed, jealousy and intrigue in a population of unusual characters. Try and resist the enchantment of Kyle MacLachlan’s chin.

Freshen up your Twin Peaks expertise. See some excerpts from previous performances of “Twin Peaks: The Beginning.” Listen to more Silent Drape Runners music.

Silent Drape Runners will also DJ an eerie dance party after the show.

$5 at the door.
Thursday, November 15 at 9:00 pm.
Click here to RSVP
Echo Country Outpost is located at 1770 Glendale Blvd.

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Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Monday, October 22 through Sunday, October 28, 2012

Monday
The Moth GrandSLAM @ The Echoplex
Monday Night Residency with Superhumanoids, VUM, Cayucas @ The Echo
Kera and the Lesbians, Summer Twins, Jeans Wilder @ Bootleg Bar
Motown Mondays @ The Short Stop

Tuesday
San Cisco, Tom Lark, Miner @ The Echo
Shiny Toy Guns with MNDR, MNDR, Of Verona @ The Echoplex
ARTEQUE Latin Digital Art/DJ Experience with Peligrosa All-Stars @ Los Globos
Midnight Sixes, Programmed for Pleasure, Dignitary Los, The Shadow Fire @ Lot 1 Cafe
Jason Lytle (of Grandaddy), Sea of Bees, Mr. Barrington, Louis Cole and Genevieve Artadi @ Bootleg Bar/Theater

Wednesday
Unicorn Kid, Jerome LOL, Teams @ The Echo
Dub Club @ The Echoplex
The Withers, Hands Like Bricks, Dream Homes, Spaceships @ Lot 1 Cafe
Jazz night ever Wednesday @ Echo Lake Coffee Co (formerly Downbeat Cafe)
Here We Go Magic, The Dig, The We Shared Milk @ Bootleg Theater

Thursday
White Arrows, Kitten, Blondfire, Labyrinth Ear @ The Echo
PopShop West 005 with Goldroom + Special Guest Headliners, Ghost Beach, Carousel @ The Echoplex
inc. with KELELA & KINGDOM @ Los Globos
Madness for Sadness, Charlie Clark, Mitchell Schaffer, plus guests @ Taix Lounge
Paper Route, Trails and Ways, Faded Paper Figures @ Bootleg Bar

Friday
Spaceland, Levitt Pavilion LA, Origami Vinyl and 89.9 KCRW present Church Sessions with Lost In The Trees, Midtown Dickens, Dana Buoy (Akron/Family) @ First Unitarian Church, Los Angeles
Moon Block Party, Future Eyes, The Echo present Beyond The Witching Hour in Crystal-Vision with Peaking Lights, Lumerians, Dahga Bloom, Guy Blakeslee (Entrance Band), Golden Animals, Juju, Supertall Paul, Diva Dompe, Blackfeet Braves, Mr. Elevator & the Brain Hotel, Runson Willis, Cosmonauts @ The Echoplex
FIDLAR Record Release Show, Pangea, The Shrine, Meat Market @ The Echo
James Supercave, M31, Jack Littman, Snow Wite @ Pehrspace
Ollin, Rough Church @ Taix Lounge
War Tapes, Jutty Ranx, Last American Buffalo, Strange Tongues @ Bootleg Bar
Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders @ Origami Vinyl
Donna Jo, Emily Lacy, Jo Cool, Bloody Death Skull @ Echo Country Outpost

Saturday
Halloween Booootie LA @ The Echoplex
Funky Sole @ The Echo
The Ukulady’s Halloween PartyShowFun + Slap Some presents Whats Cookin’: CAPTIONS, Twin Owl, Big Fly @ Lot 1 Cafe
Peelander-Z, Electric Eel Shock @ Bootleg Bar
The Stripminers and friends @ Echo Country Outpost

Sunday
Converge, Torche, Nails, Kvelertak, Dangers @ The Echoplex
Dignan Porch [Captured Tracks], Catwalk [Captured Tracks], Grmln @ The Echo
French Toast Comedy @ Taix Lounge
Mark Mallman, Transfer, State to State, Hustle and Drone, Palace Ballroom @ Bootleg Bar
No Paws @ Origami Vinyl
Super Soul Sunday @ The Short Stop
Safari So Goody, Kitchen Hips, Blackwater Jukebox @ 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. Visit our Weekly Events page for more neighborhood events, shows and specials.

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Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Monday, October 15 through Sunday, October 21, 2012

Monday
Monday Night Residency with Robert DeLong, LA-EX, Five Knives, DJ DLX @ The Echoplex
Monday Night Residency with Superhumanoids, James Supercave, Gothic Tropic, Kisses (DJ Set) @ The Echo
Motown Mondays with Ohmega Watts, Sloe Poke, DJ Jedi @ The Short Stop
Kera and the Lesbians, Sister Ruby Band, Kind Hearts and Coronets @ Bootleg Bar

Tuesday
Hospitality, TEEN, Pageants @ The Echo
Check Yo Ponytail 2 with Riff Raff, Kitty Pryde, Lil’ Debbie, Brrrang-A-Dang, Fat Tony, Tom Cruz @ The Echoplex
My Heart is an Idiot: Found Magazine’s 10th Anniversary Tour with Davy and Peter Rothbart @ Bootleg Theater
Peace (+ free pizza!) @ Origami Vinyl
Elektro-PR Presents: Tyler Gregory, The Mishaped, & more @ Lot 1 Cafe

Wednesday
Dub Club meets Blue Beat Lounge @ The Echoplex
Garrett Pierce Album Release Show with Tall Tales, Irvin Dally @ Echo Country Outpost
Wendesday night residency: Zoom-B @ Mohawk Bend
United Ghosts, The Ross Sea Party, Doña Nicha, Spaceships @ Bootleg Bar
Garrett Pierce @ Origami Vinyl
The Withers, Betty White, The Yams, Precious @ Lot 1 Cafe
Jazz night ever Wednesday @ Echo Lake Coffee Co (formerly Downbeat Cafe)

Thursday
Woods, White Fence, Randy Randall @ The Echo
Echoplex Speakeasy, DJ E13 @ The Echoplex
The Whigs, The Record Company, Criminal Hygiene @ Bootleg Bar
Madness for Sadness, Charlie Clark, Lael Neale, plus guests @ Taix Lounge

Friday
Ultraísta, Matthewdavid @ The Echoplex
Jump N Funk, Rich Medina, DJ Destroyer @ The Echo
Chris Cohen, Ashley Eriksson (LAKE), DIVA @ Pehrspace
Tomas Barfod, Young Adults, Suzanne Kraft @ Bootleg Bar
Hélène Renaut @ Origami Vinyl
Greg Da Ponte, Cap Gun Hold Ups @ Lot 1 Cafe

Saturday
The Soft Pack, Crocodiles, Heavy Hawaii @ The Echoplex
Funky Sole @ The Echo
Happy Box 15th Anniversary @ Bootleg Theater
Magic Trash @ Origami Vinyl
Women Warriors II Benefit Show @ Lot 1 Cafe

Sunday
The PolitiCool Party, Overdoz, Polyester The Saint, Iman Omari, Yonas Michael @ The Echoplex
Thieves Like Us, Geneva Jacuzzi, Violet Tremors @ The Echo
Kat DeLuna @ Los Globos
SWAP-A-RAMA (and bands) @ Pehrspace
Peachy Keene, Dark Furs @ Bootleg Bar
French Toast Comedy @ Taix Lounge
Super Soul Sunday @ The Short Stop

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. Visit our Weekly Events page for more neighborhood events, shows and specials.

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Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Monday, October 8 through Sunday, October 14

Monday
Monday Night Residency with Robert DeLong @ The Echoplex
Monday Night Residency with Superhumanoids, Mr. Little Jeans, Carousel @ The Echo
Dirty Three, Stab City @ Bootleg Theater
Kera and the Lesbians, Kitchen Hips @ Bootleg Bar
Buzzband LA’s SecondTuesday with Troup, Paper Pilots, Mighty Forces @ Lot 1 Cafe
Motown Mondays @ The Short Stop
Immanu El @ Origami Vinyl

Tuesday
The Corin Tucker Band, Summer Twins, Branden Daniel & The Chics @ The Echo
Check Yo’ Ponytail 2 with DIIV, Violens, Cold Showers, Deathday @ The Echoplex
Trash and Treasure Night Market
The Balconies, Heroes and Heroines, Future Ghost @ Bootleg Bar
Spence Presents: Metalachi @ Los Globos

Wednesday
VUM, Kissing Cousins, Hepa-Titus @ The Echo
Dub Club @ The Echoplex
Saint Vitus, Weedeater, Sourvein, Spilth @ Bootleg Theater
Matt Bauer @ Origami Vinyl

Thursday
Giant Giant Sand, Russ Tolman Band, Brian Lopez @ The Echoplex
K.Flay, Michna, Air Dubai @ The Echo
Northern Youth, The Union Line, Jarrett Killen, Young Empress @ Bootleg Bar
L.A. is Burning… Vogue! @ Los Globos

Friday
Strange Talk, Hundred Waters, Wildcat! Wildcat! @ The Echo
White Mystery, Crazy Band, Heller Keller, Palm Reader @ Pehrspace
Busdriver, NoCanDo, Open Mike Eagle @ Bootleg Theater
Dustin and the Explosions, Starskate, Mystery of Iniquity, Rot @ Lot 1 Cafe
The Exclusive Ska Clash, Stranger Cole, Eric Monty Morris @ Los Globos
The World Record @ Origami Vinyl
Moris Tepper, Mecolodiacs @ Taix Lounge

Saturday
Sock Puppet Sitcom Theater – The Golden Girls (1985), Funky Sole @ The Echo
Bootie LA Request Night @ The Echoplex
Fink, Simone White (solo) @ Bootleg Theater
Jhameel @ Bootleg Bar

Sunday
Grave Babies, Ghost Wave, The Golden Awesome @ The Echo
Onuinu, Feeding People, Cayucas @ Bootleg Bar
Super Soul Sunday @ The Short Stop
French Toast Comedy @ Taix Lounge

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. Visit our Weekly Events page for more neighborhood events, shows and specials.

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Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Tuesday, October 2 through Sunday, October 7

Tuesday
Deerhoof, Buke and Gase, Raleigh Moncrief @ The Echoplex
Sonnymoon, Jonwayne, B Lewis, CVLTS @ The Echo
Mount Eerie, Bouquet, Hungry Cloud Darkening @ Pehrspace
Cate Le Bon, Ryat (Brainfeeder), The Moor @ Bootleg Bar
Open mic night @ Tribal Cafe
Super Disco Freq with Human Life @ The Short Stop
Dona Nicha, Heroes & Heroines, Heart of the Dinosaur @ Lot 1 Cafe

Wednesday
Tashaki Miyaki, Babies On Acid, LA Witch @ The Echo
Dub Club @ The Echoplex
A Show for Mayla: Father John Misty, Daniel Lanois, Inara George, Becky Stark, Great Northern @ Bootleg Theater
Open mic night @ Tribal Cafe
The Withers October Residency @ Lot 1 Cafe

Thursday
Filter Magazine’s Culture Collide: John Talabot, American Royalty, The Balconies, Boxeur the Coeur @ The Echo
The World Record Double LP Record Release Show, Francisco The Man, Seasons, Geronimo Getty, The Damselles & The TC4, Adeline & The Philistines @ The Echoplex
Patrick Wolf, Woodpigeon @ Bootleg Theater
Open mic night @ Tribal Cafe
Garrett, The Kid, and Maslansky @ Echo Country Outpost
Huntress @ Los Globos
Money Son, Slow Learner, Dennis Robicheau & The Sophisticates, Novi Split @ Lot 1 Cafe
Colorfeets, The Standards, Coldair, Touchy Mog, Immanu El @ Taix Lounge
Go Back to The Zoo, Monster Cat, Touchy Mob @ Origami Vinyl

Friday
Filter Magazine’s Culture Collide: The Big Pink, School of Seven Bells, Royal Teeth, Moss, Optic Yellow Felt @ The Echoplex
Filter Magazine’s Culture Collide: Zola Jesus, Ewert and The Two Dragons, Sudden Weather Change, Terminal @ The Echo
The Fuxedos, The Mike Penny Orchestra, Art of Bleeding (Film Screening), Lost Moon Radio, Quazar and the Bamboozled @ Bootleg Bar
Pirupa, & [a]pendics.shuffle @ Los Globos
Eekis, Vs Colour, Palace Walls, Frownes Van Can’t @ Lot 1 Cafe
The Balconies, The Moog, Resplandor, Immanu El, Huddle @ Taix Lounge
Kyst, Coldair, The Trouble with Templeton @ Origami Vinyl

Saturday
Filter Magazine’s Culture Collide: Of Montreal, Icona Pop, Gold Fields, Ewert and The Two Dragons, Go Back To The Zoo @ The Echoplex
Funky Sole @ The Echo
MONO, Chris Brokaw (of Codeine) @ Bootleg Theater
Belmont High School Arts Festival @ Tribal Cafe
Alex Anwandter, Technicolor Fabrics, Santi, Muarice de la Falaise, Ané @ Los Globos
Vision, The Pocket Rockets, Horrorscopes @ Lot 1 Cafe
Moss, The Kavanaghs, Monster Cat, The Lighthouse and The Whaler, Young Buffalo @ Taix Lounge
Moss, Ewer and The Two Dragons, Efrat Ben Zur @ Origami Vinyl

Sunday
Culture Collide After-Party @ The Echoplex
Part Time Punks The Cure Tribute Nite @ The Echo
Six60, Tempest (Gabrielle Wortman), Mono/Poly, ELOS, Fat Albert Einstein, Kone, Jincallo, Dave Betamax, Heru @ Bootleg Bar
Super Soul Sunday @ The Short Stop
Morning Parade, Gold Fields, Half Moon Run, terminal, Kyst, The Standards, Monster Cat, Marit Larsen, Efrat Ben Zur, Mimes of Wine @ Taix Lounge

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. Visit our Weekly Events page for more neighborhood events, shows and specials.

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The Warehouse re-opening Saturday with a “high end vintage” focus

The Warehouse LA is re-opening after a few weeks of renovations of the Echo Park vintage store. The redesign focuses on “one-of-a-kind Estate Vintage, a high-end collection available for Stylist pulls and rentals, and an improved community Art Gallery and Event Space.”

And why not celebrate with a little party? The Warehouse is introducing its new changes to the public on on Saturday, September 29 at 7:00 pm with a DJ and refreshments.

Eleven97 is on of the new spaces located within The Warehouse, showcasing new and emerging artists based in Los Angeles. The first exhibition features artist Joshua Mark Logan, which  will be his first solo exhibition of this new body of work, Bald Eagles.

The LOFT is a collection of estate vintage with designers like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Valentino, and Lanvin. It’s by appointment only available to stylist rentals and the public. Call The Warehouse LA at 213-361-0021 for appointments.

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