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Green Beacon Foundation Workshop Saturday

We just received word of a new organization called the Green Beacon Foundation. Located in Elysian Heights, it focuses on environmental educational and teaches people how to lead more sustainable lives through workshops and lectures.

They’ve got a workshop coming up this Saturday, April 17 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm entitled “PLASTIC: The Good, The Bad & The Deadly.”

Our homes are filled with plastics, and most of us don’t really know what they’re made of – or whether they’re safe.  Nancy Astid Lindo of Astrid Design Studio is back again to enlighten us on just how we can effectively reduce or eliminate the use of plastic inside the home and in our bodies. More than a workshop, this is a call to action. We must take a stand for our health and that of the planet and begin to eliminate the use of plastics as much as possible.

Cost is $10, you can pay online by clicking here. To RSVP and for address and directions, email Julie at contactgbf@gmail.com

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Sports and Recreation in Echo Park

via timothy.steingraeber's Flickr

We recently received a lovely letter from one of our readers:

I would love to be a part of a softball team in our area but there is little or no info out there.  I know Los Angeles has a recreational sports website but they don’t really offer anything local.  Elysian Park has fields that are usually open and if there is enough interest around town, maybe we could organize a Sunday league.  Do you have any thoughts, info, suggestions?

Why, yes, dear reader. We do have some thoughts, info and suggestions! The Echo Park Recreation Center is located at 1632 Bellevue Ave (across from the lake, on both sides of the 101 freeway). It has tennis courts, a baseball diamond, basketball courts and a lot more. The center is under construction, so some of its facilities (such as the outdoor pool) are not accessible at the moment. They also offer a bunch of classes and leagues for kids, but adult teams and leagues are a little more scarce. I recommend checking out their Facebook page for announcements. You can also call them at 213-250-3578 (the phone number on their Facebook page is incorrect) or drop in. Don’t let the scaffolding fool you, they are open right now. Their hours are 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday through Friday, Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm and Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:45 pm.

If aquatic activities are more your bag, I suggest checking out the Echo Park Deep Pool. There is a full-sized indoor pool and offer swimming and water exercise classes. It’s located at 1419 Colton St. The cost for adults is $2.50 to swim, but with your Library card it’s only $2.00.

Another suggestion we have is to look outside the borders of our neighborhood. The Silver Lake Recreation Center has an indoor gym, basketball courts and a baseball diamond. However, they offer mostly classes for kids.Your best bet for adult and senior classes is the Griffith Park Adult Community Center. They offer yoga, tai chi, cardio classes and more.

Another fun thing that you more adventurous types might want to check out: the Los Angeles Dodgeball Society. There’s a Silver Lake league that starts up on April 25th.

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826LA’s Dead Author Readings at Upright Citizens Brigade

This Friday, April 16 at 7:00 pm, 826LA will be hosting a show entitled “Dead Author Readings” at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. About the show:

Thanks to the miracle of science, very famous, extremely dead authors time travel to the present and are brought together to discuss their lives and works! But mostly, these dead authors fight like dead cats and dead dogs! And the audience gets to ask questions! That’s you! YOU are the audience! YOU get to ask questions! INTERACTIVE!!!
Moderated monthly by H.G. Wells (played by Paul F. Tompkins)

Tickets are $5 and all proceeds benefit 826LA. RSVP and learn more about the show here.

The UCB Theatre is located at 5919 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles 90028

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Summer Drumming Classes for Kids at Bedrock Studios

Bedrock in Echo Park is offering basic drumming classes for kids age 9 to 16 this summer. Presented in association with Dixon Drums, the two-week course is led by studio/live drummer John Montgomery, and takes place  from July 12-24. There is a morning group (9:00 am – 1:00 pm) and an afternoon group (1:30 – 5:30 pm). The classes themselves are not free, but a limited number of scholarships are available courtesy of the Los Angeles Performing Arts Foundation.

Bedrock is having a free open house on Saturday, April 24 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm for those interested in the summer session to meet the staff, play drums, and take part in a demonstration.

For more information, call Bedrock at 877-6BEDROCK (ext 7), 213-673-1473 (ext 7), or email them at lessons@bedrockla.com

Bedrock Studios is located at 1623 Allesandro St.

Here’s the full flyer:

Read more

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Echo Park Film Center April Screenings (Part 2)

Friday, April 9 @ 8:00 pm – INSIDE TWIN PEAKS WITH ROBERT ENGELS
TWIN PEAKS NIGHT! Writer-Producer Robert Engels will show his favorite episode of the TV series plus numerous extras and surprises, and will be there in person for an insider’s take on what when on during the making of this cult and critical favorite. $10 admission. All proceeds benefit EPFC’s free youth workshops.

Saturday, April 10 @ 8:00 pm – FOLK NIGHT: LES BLANK MEETS 1921A
Join us for a very special evening as we rummage through the archive to bring you a double header of experimental folk music and films. Come for short films by Les Blank (Gap Toothed Women, Garlic Is As Good As Ten Mothers) and stay for the music, with a live set from The 1921A, featuring a screaming banjo and songs inspired by the old that sound nothing but the new.

Thursday, April 15 @ 8:00 pm – SOUTHERN EXPOSURE #2
A recent survey of short films from the American South curated by local filmmaker and EPFC teacher Will O’Loughlen. Topics include a filmmaker’s relationship with his mother through a recorded conversation between 8th grade students and astronauts aboard the international space station, a group of students who return to New Orleans after Katrina to graduate from high school with their friends, a student’s Oscars nominated story of a young couple who confront a burglar in their neighborhood in the midst of a hurricane, and much more!

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Echo Park Film Center Workshop: In-Camera Editing

On Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25 the Echo Park Film Center will be teaching a new class called “In-Camera Adventures.”

This two-day workshop will introduce students to the history and theory of in-camera editing as it has been utilized by the avant-garde through screenings and discussions, as well as basic camera operation and hand processing. Each student will conceive and complete their own 3-minute, in-camera edited Super 8 film. All materials and equipment supplied by EPFC.

The limit class size limit is 6 students, so call or email them to reserve your spot. Cost is $100 or $80 for EPFC members.

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The Nervous Breakdown’s Literary Experience at the Echo

Flyer from TheNervousBreakdown.com

In celebration of National Poetry Month, The Nervous Breakdown’s Literary Experience is taking place at The Echo on Saturday, April 10th, 2010.

If you’re a fan of Stories Books and Café in Echo Park, looks like they’ve helped make this event happen. Here are the details:

  • The Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd.
  • Saturday, April 10th
  • Doors at 6pm, show goes from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
  • $5 Admission
  • Music by 50 Cent Haircut
  • Live readings by: Janet Fitch (White Oleander), Steve Abee (Great Balls of Flowers), Ellyn Maybe (The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry), Rich Ferguson (with Butch & Edan Mason).
  • Hosted by Milo Martin (Poems for the Utopian Nihilist) and Lenore Zion

TheNervousBreakdown.com is an online culture magazine featuring the work of writers and artists from around the world.

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826LA: Exclusive Screening of “Drones”

On Tuesday, April 13, 826LA will be hosting an exclusive screening of the film Drones at the Egyptian Theater (6712 Hollywood Blvd.).

Drones is full of 826LA volunteers! It was written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker, directed by Amber Benson and Adam Busch, and stars Marc Evan Jackson, Paul F. Tompkins, Samm Levine, James Urbaniak and Dave (Gruber) Allen.The exclusive screening will be followed by a Q&A with cast and crew, moderated by Kevin Pollak. Tickets are priced at 3 levels: $15 balcony, $30 general admission, $100 preferred seating with VIP after-party.

We hope you will join us to celebrate this film and help raise vital funds for 826LA in the meantime. If you like science fiction and love, you must see this movie!
Click here to purchase your tickets!
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In Honor Of The Art Walk: Echo Park Themed Art

Greetings From Echo Park by Dale Dreiling. 18 x 24 Screen print on paper.
Signed & numbered edition of 55. Printed by 2 Rabbits Studios. Sold at Echo Country Outpost. $35.

Elysian Park No. 2 by AmandaEFriedman. 9″ x 12″ photo print. $40.

A Shady Retreat in Echo Park. All Posters. Giclee print. Various sizes, $34.99 – $64.99.

Pampas and palms. All Posters. 18″ x 12″ art print. $19.99.

Echo Park in mid winter. All Posters. 18″ x 12″ art print. $19.99.

Sunset in Echo Park. All Posters. Giclee print. Various sizes, $34.99 – $64.99.

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Behold the Black Light at 2HeadedHorse tonight

Behold the Black Light at 2HeadedHorse
Friday, April 2, 2010
9:00 pm, $5 at the door, 21+

Green & Wood
MOAB
Red Octopus
Owen Schmidt Light Installation

2Headed Horse is located at 1770 Glendale Blvd.

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Echo Park Art Walk Events List

Here’s the low-down for the second Echo Park Art Walk on Saturday, April 3 from noon to 6:00 pm:

Feeding Birds

  • Guitarist Miles Moore (1-3:00 pm), indie-folk rock ensemble Sons Of August (4:00 pm), guitar and harmonica player Smokey Miles (5:00 pm).  Sidewalk print sale (1-5:00 pm) with Feeding Birds and Dan Schmidt from Evil Monito. Workshop:  Bring a light colored t-shirt for $1.00 printing/stenciling a Feedings Birds design.
  • 1825 Echo Park Ave

Mishka

Blue Collar Supplies

  • Pitbull Rescue Event: Every dog adopted will receive free food, free training sessions and a free dog walker coupon.
  • 1533 Echo Park Ave

Fix Coffee

  • Featuring 20+ artists from around the globe presented by Phone Booth Gallery.  In conjunction with the PDA art walk, this new opening will carry into the night with the ComfortTruck food truck (7-10:00 pm)
  • 2100 Echo Park Ave

Echo Park Cycles

Read more

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Saturday: Family Spring Event in Echo Park

Join community members and families at the Annual Spring Event on Saturday, April 3, from 9:00-12:00 noon at Vista Hermosa School.

There will by family-friendly events such as Easter egg hunts, arts and crafts, carnival games, moonbounce, and more!

For more information contact Cassandra Bruno Reyes at cassandra.bruno@lacity.org

Vista Hermosa School is located at 100 N. Toluca Street

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Echo Park Film Center Adult Animation Workshop

Beginning on Monday, April 12 and going through the end of May, the Echo Park Film Center will be hosting a new workshop: Animation for Adults!

This six week workshop will guide students through animation production, including storyboarding, shooting, and editing. Each student will produce a short animation that will then be a part of a screening at the Film Center. Basic Mac skills are required for this class. All students must bring a 2-sentence description of an animation idea to the first class meeting. Class will meet Mondays 8:00 to 10:00 pm (April 12 & 26, May 3, 10, 17 and 24).

Class size is limited so call or email them to reserve your spot. Cost is $100 or $80 for EPFC members.

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Lotus Festival Rumored to Return

Militant Angeleno is reporting that the Lotus Festival will indeed return again despite another year of, well, a lotus-less lake. Last year the Lotus Festival was canceled due to budgetary cuts, and instead turned into the first Echo Park Community Festival.

According the Militant Angeleno blog, L.A. Lotus Festival, Inc. filed the paperwork for the event, which is scheduled for the weekend of July 10-11, 2010. While this year’s festival won’t coincide with the blooming of the lotus flowers (once the largest bed outside of Asia) since the flowers have stopped growing, it will as always be a great opportunity to celebrate the Asian/Pacific Islander culture, eat some food, and enjoy fireworks.

This may be the last chance for a Lotus Festival before the Echo Park Lake Rehab project shuts down the park in April 2011; hopefully the revived lake will bring the lotus flowers back!

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Silverlake Jubilee Vendor Deadline

Thursday (April 1)  is the last day for vendors to apply for a space at the Silver Lake Jubilee – a music and arts festival coming up on May 22-23.

The Silver Lake Jubilee will include musical and community performances, comedy, local food, interactive booths, and art and literary installations. The event will have a very strong focus on the environment, including the implementation of “Zero Waste initiatives with the goal of 90% land fill diversion and sourcing power from alternative energy resources.” There will be several interactive “villages,” including a Children’s Village, Literary Village, Arts Village and Eco Village along Myra Avenue (from Santa Monica Boulevard to Fountain Avenue).

Spaceland, Origami Vinyl, buzzbands.la and El Echo Parqeuño are curating music for the event.

They are looking for businesses and non-profits to purchase booths for the event (non-profits are encouraged to share booth space if affordability is an issue). You an click here to download the vendor application PDF.

Silver Lake Jubilee
May 22-23, 2010
silverlakejubilee.com

About the event:
The Silver Lake Jubilee bridges cultural diversity through social interactions with the goal of stimulating community involvement. The Los Angeles Arts and Athletics Alliance (LAAAA), a non‐profit organization promoting and educating arts and athletics through events and programs in Silver Lake and surrounding neighborhoods is the driving force behind the festival. Leading up to the Silver Lake Jubilee is a series of monthly showcases, known as Serenade Sunset, occurring the last Wednesday of each month. The showcases raise awareness for the Silver Lake Jubilee. Serenade Sunset is held at El Cid(21+) and the outdoor garden at Mi Alma Design (All Ages).

The Silver Lake Jubilee is an all ages event. The success of the event is contingent upon the support of the local residential and business community, Council District 13‐President Eric Garcetti, Council District 4 ‐ Councilmember Tom LaBonge, Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, corporate sponsors, private donors, non‐profits organizations in the area and the City of Los Angeles.

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