Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Tuesday, December 27 through Sunday, January 1, 2011

Tuesday
Violent Vickie, Hanin Elias (Atari Teenage Riot), Miata @ Pehrspace

Wednesday
The Growlers, Tomorrows Tulips, The Abigails @ Echo
Dub Club @ Echoplex
2nd Annual Holiday Pehrgeant and Open Bar Mitzvah @ Pehrspace
Monte Mar December Wednesdays with Spencer Livingston @ Lot 1 Cafe
Live Jazz every Wednesday night at 7:00 pm @ Downbeat Café
Upground, Lilo, Fernanda Ulibarri @ Bootleg Bar

Thursday
We Did It Fest With Shlohmo, Jonwayne, Groundislava, Rl Grime, Juj, D33j, Melonious Drunk, hosted by Zeroh @ Echoplex
The Growlers, Dante vs. Zombies, Thee Rain Cats @ Echo
Franklin Bruno @ Origami Vinyl
Programmed2thrash, The Obsidian Fortress, Rabble/Rabble @ Lot 1 Cafe
Yo Mammas House – Holiday Edition Pt. 2 @ The Short Stop
Snuffaluffagus, Korey Dane, Joey Dosik, Maston @ Bootleg Bar

Friday
Matthew Sweet Performing “Girlfriend” – 20 Year Anniversary @ Echoplex
The Growlers, Allah-Las, Trmrs @ Echo
Weyou, Nate Wood Band, TBA @ Pehrspace
Mack Marquard & The Slim Pickins’ play Rebecca Balin’s Residency @ Lot 1 Cafe
Mini Mansions, Deap Vally, Harriet @ Bootleg Bar

Saturday
Bootie LA NYE 2012 @ Echoplex
Funky Sole NYE with Breakestra @ Echo
Italians do it Better Dance Party: Glass Candy, Chromatics, Desire, and DJ set from Goddollars @ Los Globos

Sunday
Nothing on the calendar yet, we’ll all be recovering from New Years.

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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Echo Park Community Parade in photos

We hate to admit this is only our second Echo Park Community Parade that we’ve been able to attend, but so far it’s our favorite!

There were over 60 entries in this year’s parade, themed “‘Tis the Season.” In addition to local schools, drill teams, cheer squads, and elected officials, there were a few Echo Park businesses and organizations participating in the parade lineup. Amongst those were The Echo Park Time Bank, Edendale Library Friends Society (ELFS), The Warehouse and The Classroom, Mi Alma, 826LA, and others. Maryanne Hayashi of the Central City Action Committee was accompanied by three generations of her family – her daughter, grand-daughter, and her two-year-old great grand-daughter!

Community members that have greatly contributed to our Echo park were give special recognition as ambassadors. Mitch O’Farrell from Eric Garcetti’s Office was honored as the Grand Marshal. Parade Ambassadors included Holly Calhoun of the Echo Park Farmers’ Market, the Echo Park Improvement Association, Masa of Echo Park Bakery & Café, and Albert Torres of Recreation & Parks.

And, as parade committee members told me today, everyone was a winner! All entries received a trophy for participating. It would have been hard to pick any winners, all the entries were fabulous!

Check out our photos below:

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer


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Echo Country Outpost’s holiday hoopla on Saturday

Once you’ve thoroughly enjoyed your time at the Echo Park Community Parade, and supported some businesses for Echo Park Shop Hop tomorrow, be sure to stop by the Echo Country Outpost’s new location on Glendale Boulevard for its annual Holiday Hoopla!

The holiday party promises food, drink, music, games, and “psychic comfort” (bet you’re wondering what that means).

Here’s the lineup for the party:

Jenny Luna And The Moondogs (6:00 pm)
Matt Van Winkle Band (7:00 pm)
Olentangy John (8:00 pm)
Matt Taylor & His Laurels (9:00 pm)
Ghiant (10:00 pm)
Tommy Santee Klaws (11:00 pm)
Rt N’ The 44$ (12:00 midnight)

A Very Outpost Holiday Hoopla
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 3:00 pm
$10 donation, all ages
Echo Country Outpost is located at 1770 Glendale Boulevard

There are ton of Echo Park neighborhood holiday parties over the weekend, be sure to check it all out!

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Echo Park Community Parade on Saturday!

It’s time for the annual Echo Park Community Parade! The parade takes place on Saturday, December 10, and starts at 10:00 am (ending at about 1:00 pm) and goes along Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park, starting at Elysian Park Avenue and ending at Park Avenue.

This year’s theme is “‘Tis the Season.” Each year, young students from the area participant in art contests held at different venues such as the Central City Action Committee (CCAC) and the Echo Park Farmers’ Market, and a panel of judges chooses three winners from varying age groups to have their artwork displayed on the parade flyer, poster and banner. So keep your eye for all the different contributions from area students on these pieces!

In addition to local schools, drill teams, cheer squads, and elected officials, we’ve got a few Echo Park businesses and organizations participating in the parade lineup. Amongst those are The Echo Park Time Bank, Edendale Library Friends Society (ELFS), The Warehouse & The Classroom, Mi Alma, 826LA, and more!

We know that Mi Alma will be bringing in a lot of color to the parade with a piñata-themed float. And The Warehouse LA/The Classroom LA will be sporting a nice big trailer with a live jazz singer and back up dancers. And of course there will be Santa!

Also in the parade lineup, Mitch O’Farrell from Eric Garcetti’s Office is this year’s Grand Marshal. Parade Ambassadors include Holly Calhoun of the Echo Park Farmers’ Market, the Echo Park Improvement Association, Masa of Echo Park Bakery & Café, and Albert Torres of Recreation & Parks.

You might find us sipping mimosas at either The Park Restaurant at Douglas and Sunset, which has a reallllly pretty brand new look to the patio, or keeping a seat warm at Lot 1 Cafe drinking mimosas, where they’ll also be offering hot chocolate and cinnabons.

After the parade, be sure to support your local businesses and shop local! The annual holiday Echo Park Shop Hop is going on, as well as lots of holiday parties at Mi Alma, Tavin, and more!

And lastly my shameless plug: We are so excited to be participating a little bit this year by designing all the new graphics for the flyer, parade program, and all those festive, red posters in the windows around town (hey, it’s our day job!).

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Echo Park holiday shop hop, weekend sales, and more

The holiday Echo Park Shop Hop is the big shopping event this weekend, in which Echo Park businesses are offering killer shopping deals along with libations, live music, and other fun events for the family. So before, during, or after the annual Echo Park Community Parade along Sunset Boulevard from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 10, make sure you support local businesses and do all your shopping locally!

Some of those businesses include (more may join up later):

  • Ballard’s Artwork Framing
  • The Echo Park Time Travel Mart
  • Rewind Audio
  • Bluecollar Working Dog
  • Origami Vinyl
  • K9 Loft
  • Echo Park Independent Co-op
  • Masa of Echo Park
  • Two Boots Pizza
  • Stories Books & Cafe: 15% all used books, 25% off Christmas cards, PLUS Laura Ann’s Jams
  • Backside
  • iam8bit
  • deKor
  • Lemon Frog Shop
  • Villainy General Store
  • Kellygreen Home
  • Anejo Duddery
  • PIlates & Arts: discounts, art, and holiday treats

In addition to the promise of “killer” deals, more Echo Park businesses are offering up some holiday parties and sales this weekend. Here’s the low-down:

Read more

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New Echo Park boutique focusing on female designers

Echo Park isn’t lacking in boutiques and independent stores, but there’s plenty of retail space for all!

New boutique Myrtle is celebrating its grand opening tomorrow, Wednesday, November 30, 2011 after taking over 2213 Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park (once occupied by Bobbie Boutique).

The name Myrtle refers to the store owner’s great-great-grandmother, and great-great-great grandmother, according to the website. The store will feature vintage goodies like bags and clothing from independent female designers (Alexandra Grecco, Kathryn Whyte, Scout and Catalogue, and Kelly Bergin are amongst the many designers).

While the store is opening tomorrow, you can also check it out during the Echo Park Shop Hop on Saturday, December 10 from 5-10:00 pm, where they’ll have cocktails to enjoy and fashion to shop for.

h/t LA Racked for the heads up!

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Holidays bring the traditional Elysian Park tumbleweed snowmen

Flickr photo via Non Paratus

Hard to believe it’s Christmas time again, and the only thing that really makes us feel like it’s the holiday season are the neighborhood Holiday decorations!

The Eastsider LA reminds us that Elysian Park staff members are ready for yet another season, and are organizing volunteers to help put together the traditional tumbleweed snowmen/women for the park’s entrance on Stadium Way. We almost didn’t have the decorations last year when city budget cuts left Elysian Park without the money for staff and decorations. But volunteers stepped in and the snowmen were up!

While we do miss the snowman that frequented the corner of Scott Avenue and Stadium Way, but we know it takes a lot off effort – volunteers help to trim and put together the whole outfit made from recycled materials for each one.

If you’re interested in volunteering, snowman assembling is on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 10:00 am at the park maintenance yard (Academy Road and Solano Canyon Drive). Email hello@TheEastsiderLA.com for schedule changes.

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Screenings and celebrations for the Echo Park Film Center 10 year anniversary weekend

“Sell your TV and come to the cinema” is the defining phrase on the Echo Park Film Center website, and while we’re keeping our TV (just got rid of cable) we are very excited for its upcoming 10 year anniversary weekend, which takes place from Friday, December 9 through Sunday, December 11. In celebration, the Film Center is organizing some live music, food, receptions, speeches, selling new merchandise, and of course hosting a lot of film screenings in various locations (including the Vons parking lot!).

Here’s the scoop from the website:

Friday, December 9 from 8–11:00 pm
Libations, live music and films at Stories Books & Cafe, 1716 Sunset Boulevard.

Saturday, December 10 from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Family filmmaking workshops and open house at Echo Park Film Center, 1200 N. Alvarado Street.

Saturday, December 10 from 7–10:30 pm
Filmmobile silent films screening in the Vons Parking Lot, 1342 N. Alvarado Street.

Sunday, December 11 from 2–6:00 pm
Punk Rock Songs & Cinema at The Smell, 247 S Main Street.

Sunday, December 11 from 6:30–10:30 pm
Reception and the Premiere of City of Angels 11: An EPFC Youth Film Project at Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main Street.

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Get your holiday cards from local Echo Park businesses

As newlyweds, the hubby and I are going to be furiously writing a lot of Christmas cards this holiday season. And with December just around the corner… it’s time to get started! Luckily, we’ve run across quite a few options for these holiday cards locally – that’s right, here in Echo Park!

826LA holiday cards

First up: 2011 Holiday cards from 826LA are letterpress, blank on the inside, and include a green moss envelope. Designed and hand-printed by 826LA volunteer Mary Peterson on high quality, sustainable paper from Waste Not Paper. $3 per card or $24 for a 10-pack. Click here for more info and to buy online (except you’ll walk there because you live in or near Echo Park).

Cheeky holiday cards from Villainy/eEvil Ink Designs

A quick stop into Villainy General Store will get you a few great packs of holiday cards (also sold individually) made by the owners’ design company, eEvil Ink Designs. You can preview and buy them online, but they are right on Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park so spend that $14 per pack wisely.

Not picture because we were too busy shopping, Kelly Green just moved into Echo Park and carries a few eco-themed holiday cards that will certainly impress!

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Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Monday, November 28 through Sunday, December 4, 2011

Monday
Rock and Roll Exposed (a documentary on the photography of Bob Gruen) @ Echoplex
The Chain Gang of 1974, American Tomahawk, Hot as Sun, Cassettes Won’t Listen @ Echo
Lianne La Havas, Little Hurricane, Driftwood Singers, Count Fleet, LA Font @ Bootleg Bar
Sexting, Cave, Jealousy, Bachsung @ Pehrspace

Tuesday
Downtown/Union, Tumbleweed Wanderers @ Echo
Sonos, John Gold, Liz Pappademas @ Bootleg Bar

Wednesday
Cass Mccombs Band With Lights By Jake & Mollie, White Magic @ Echo
Dub Club @ Echoplex
Duniven, Broadcast Station, Liquid Love Letter, Bixby Knolls, Lost And Found @ Bootleg Bar

Thursday
Jamie Woon, Oregon Bike Trails @ Echo
Kick off party for The Echo Ten Year Anniversary month with Dan Deacon, Xbxrx, Juiceboxxx, Freezepop, DJ Franki Chan @ Echoplex
The Entrance Band, King Tuff, The Abigails @ Bootleg Bar

Friday
Allen Stone, Zz Ward, Thee Rain Cats @ Echo
Indie1031.Com presents Girl in a Coma, The Dead Ships, Fences, Kate Crash @ Echoplex
Nick Waterhouse, Allah Las, Ana Egge @ Bootleg Bar
Org Music Presents: First Fridays @ Lot 1 Cafe
Saint Motel @ Origami Vinyl
American Clit Legend, I Hate You Just Kidding, The Wind Chasers Club, My Brother My Double @ Pehrspace

Saturday
KCRW’s “Are Friends Eclectic?” Holiday Show With Iron and Wine, Jimmy Cliff, Brett Dennen, Other Lives, The Belle Brigade, White Denim, The Secret Sisters, Anna Calvi, Mia Doi Todd, Zee Avi plus special guests @ The Orpheum Theatre
The Echo Ten Year Anniversary with: Extreme, Irregular, Unidentified Wine-Tasting Object @ Echo
Bootie La Holiday Mashup Party @ Echoplex
Funky Sole @ Echo
Swahili Blonde, Siddhartha, Lady Lazarus, Crooked Cowboy & The Freshwater Indians @ Bootleg Bar
Feed Your Head Presents: Seasons, Azaliasnail, Now, The Happy Casualities @ Lot 1 Cafe
Fonda @ Origami Vinyl
Derde Verde, Fern Lane, Sanglorians, College Kids @ Pehrspace

Sunday
Part Time Punks Presents: Siouxsie & The Banshees Nite With Guest DJ Boss Harmony (Punky Reggae Party/Dub Club) @ Echo
Judson McKinney, Count Fleet, The Lonely Wild, Fort King @ Bootleg Bar
Foolproof Four @ Origami Vinyl

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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Will Echo Park benefit from a city ordinance regulating murals?

"Cine de Oro" by Ernesto de la Loza on Sunset and Mohawk in Echo Park

Last month, City of LA committees and departments held a public hearing on a possible new city-wide mural ordinance – one that would hopefully protect/preserve the city’s murals from land-use issues and graffiti, as well as foster an environment where new murals can be created. Long story short – the mural thing has been an issue for a long, long, long time in Los Angeles, involving law suits and billboard laws and unhappy artists. Echo Park has been a wonderful hub for colorful murals and activist art, including new artists like the French street artist JR, Cache, Banksy, and others (we even got a tour earlier this month of some of the city’s best and oldest street artists decorating the walls of Keystone Studios on Glendale Boulevard). And because Echo Park is historically a friendly environment for these murals, the new mural ordinance will definitely affect our neighborhood (and hopefully in a good way!).

Last week, Open Culture released nice summary of the mural issue (link via Curbed LA), along with a short documentary by Oliver Riley-Smith on the sad state of murals in Los Angeles in the face of graffiti and the white-washing of neighborhoods in the name of “redevelopment” (aka gentrification). The documentary features artist and activist Ernesto de la Loza, who has been fighting for years to save the city’s murals (of the 42 murals he painted over the last four decades, on nine remain). We believe he still lives in Echo Park (at one point his studio was also located here) and he once had several murals in the neighborhood – you can see his remaining piece, called “Cine de Oro,” on Sunset Boulevard and Mohawk Street (pictured).

Read more

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Tonight: Stories Books & Cafe anniversary party

If you’re out an about tonight in Echo Park, stop by Stories Books & Cafe for its third year anniversary party! (Happppy Anniversary!)

The pre-Thanksgiving celebration includes complimentary turkey chili and “other surprises.” Tonight only (Wednesday, November 23) starting at 7:30 pm.

If you miss it tonight, swing by stories on Saturday, November 26 at 7:00 pm for live music by Graham Lindsay and Daniel Ahearn.

Also on Tuesday, November 29 at 7:30 pm, on hand will be Joseph Mattson, James Greer and Jerry Stahl (The Speed Chronicles) and Gary Phillips, Jervey Tervalon and Susan Straight (The Cocaine Chronicles). Susan Straight is one of our favorite LA writers, so we’re looking forward to the event! Click here for the info.

Stories is located at 1716 West Sunset Boulevard.

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Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Monday, November 21 through Sunday, November 27, 2011

Monday
The Chain Gang of 1974, Lesands, Tic Tic Boom, Kflay @ Echo
M31, The Tleilaxu Music Machine, So Wrong, Creepy Marbles @ Pehrspace
Rock & Roll Dance Party @ Lot 1 Cafe
Little Hurricane, The Peach Kings, Rachael Cantu, The Janks @ Bootleg Bar

Tuesday
A House for Lions, Torches, Dandelo @ Echo
Raw Geronimo @ Origami Vinyl
Francisco the Man, We Are the Pilots & Heflin Fox @ Lot 1 Cafe
The Cooling Time, The Chromium Heart, Square On Square @ Bootleg Bar

Wednesday
Dub Club Meets Angel City Soul Club @ Echo & Echoplex
Pyramid Vritra @ Origami Vinyl
Blac Jesus & The Exps Residency with Audia & Karma The Mirror @ Lot 1 Cafe
Red Circle Underground, Franco Near Death, Programmed For Pleasure @ Bootleg Bar
Live Jazz Every Wednesday Night at 7:00 pm @ Downbeat Café
Morse Code, Killer Cam, Dirty Dave, Mark Mareclo, Partytime@ The Short Stop

Thursday
Closed for Gobble Gobble Give 2011 – Help feed the Homeless on Thanksgiving Day @ Echo
Yo Mammas House Thanksgiving Spectacular with DJs Velocity B & Nate Day @ The Short Stop

Friday
Aquarium Drunkard Presents: Crooked Fingers, Strand Of Oaks, Graham Lindsey @ Echo
Leftovers @ Lot 1 Cafe

Saturday
Funky Sole @ Echo
Ghiant and Friends @ Taix Lounge
Hello Echo, The Californian, The Dead Ships, Heroes And Heroines @ Bootleg Bar

Sunday
Melt Banana, 400 Blows, Retox @ Echoplex
Part Time Punks Minimal Synth, Coldwave Nite with The Present Moment, Continues @ Echo
Wreck of The Zephyr, Greenhorse, Nathan Flom @ Bootleg Bar
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.

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Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Monday, October 14 through Sunday, October 20, 2011

Monday
The Chain Gang of 1974, Races, Polaris at Noon @ Echo
Empires @ Origami Vinyl
The Basketball Jones Tour: Los Angeles @ Lot 1 Café

Tuesday
Son Ark, Daniel Ahearn and The Jones, Aaron Embry, Marcus Very Ordinary @ Echo
Y La Bamba, Death Songs, Teeth of Turquoise (feat. Hale May), Fiore @ Bootleg Theater/Bar

Wednesday
Dub Trio, Mast @ Echo
Dub Club Presents Ras Michael and The Sons Of Negus, Dubiterian The Dub Club Selectors @ Echoplex
White Murder @ Origami Vinyl
Champagne, Jokers of the Scene, Franki Chan, Nycpartyinfo @ Los Globos
Company of Thieves, Kissing Cousins, Motopony @ Bootleg Theater/Bar
Live Jazz Every Wednesday Night at 7:00 pm @ Downbeat Café
Blac Jesus, The Experimentalists @ Lot 1 Café
Carolina Chickadee Presents… @ Taix Lounge

Thursday
LA Record & Echo present: Hunx & His Punx, Bleached, Fidlar @ Echo
Future Islands, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat, Xbxrx @ Echoplex
Batwings Catwings @ Origami Vinyl
Monster, Alyssa Graham, Kevin Earnest @ Bootleg Theater/Bar
Girls Night with Julia Holter, Emily Lacy, Dark Furs, Fishwives @ Lot 1 Café
Pine Mountain Casket Presents… @ Taix Lounge

Friday
Kimya Dawson, Your Heart Breaks @ Echo
Bearracuda @ Echoplex
The Static Jacks, Kitten @ Echo
United Ghosts @ Origami Vinyl
Interface LA feat. Lucky Dragons, Mike Gao and more @ Bootleg Theater/Bar
Sunshine Factory, Charmkin Rebellion @ Taix Lounge

Saturday
Back To School: Digital Distribution, Media, Promotion (Blogs Blogs Blogs) @ The Echo
Hit+Run Presents “Repeat Offender 666″ With Live Performances by Cut Chemist, Dam Funk, Master Blazter, Mono/Poly, Zackey Force Funk, Jonwayne, Contact Field Orchestra, Tully, hosted by J-Logic, visuals By Strangeloop @ Echoplex
Funky Sole @ Echo
Bright Light Social Hour, Jones Street Station, with special appearances by Danny Pudi and Alison Brie of “Community,” Gaby Moreno @ Bootleg Theater/Bar
Artichoke, The Evil Twins @ Taix Lounge

Sunday
Echo & Grand Ol’ Echo Present: Lucky Tubb Plus Guests @ Echo
Part Time Punks with Soft Metals, Animal Bodies, Feathers @ Echo
Bikos @ Origami Vinyl
Naama Kates, Valente @ Bootleg Theater/Bar
Sunken Ships, Holy Rolling Empire, Wires in the Walls @ Lot 1 Café

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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Pilates & Arts grand opening celebration Saturday

If you haven’t checked out the new pilates studio on Echo Park Avenue, Pilates & Arts, now is your chance!

Join Echo Park resident and owner Tannis Kobrinsky, along with friends on Saturday, November 12 for a grand opening celebration. She’ll be hosting Pilates demos, a chance to “meet he machines,” Tarot readings, and an art exhibit with live music. Refreshments will be served and prizes give out!

The art show will feature “The Falling” group show, with live music by Little Red Lung and others.

Please RSVP to tannis@pilatesandarts.com or (323) 913-9460

Pilates & Arts Grand Opening
Saturday, November 12 · 4:00pm – 8:00pm
1844 Echo Park Avenue
Website, or check the Facebook page for detailed hours on classes, and costs.

Related links:

  • Time to get fit: Echo Park Avenue gets new Pilates studio. Echo Park Now, October 11, 2011.
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