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International Day of Peace picnic in Elysian Park this weekend

In celebration of the annual International Day of Peace, Echo Parenting and Education (formerly the Center for Nonviolent Education) is hosting a free and very family-friendly Peace Day Picnic. Connect with other Echo Parenting and local families and celebrate a world-wide event in Elysian Park!

They will bring water, and noncompetitive games, you bring your picnic food. Art activities will be provided by the Art Zone.

The International Day of Peace provides an opportunity for  individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly.

Visit the Echo Center website for more info, or email info@echoparenting.org

Peace Day Picnic
Sunday, September 25, 2011
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Elysian Park near Grace E. Simon Lodge, 1025 Elysian Park Avenue

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Businesses collaborate to celebrate shopping locally in Echo Park

Saturday is a day to celebrate Echo Park businesses by shopping locally for the fourth (at least the fourth since its inception n 2009) Echo Park Art Walk and Shop Hop: A Celebration of Community At and Culture. Coordinated by 826lLA, Stories Books & Cafe, and Origami Vinyl, the event promises a ton of local discounts on your meals, wine, and other purchases. But if you or your wallet aren’t in the mood to buy, there are plenty of free art and music-related events along Sunset Boulevard (between Mohawk and Laguna) and even up Echo Park Avenue.

Why the Shop Hop? “By taking advantage of special discounts offered by Stories LA, the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, E.P.I.C., and others, you’ll support the thriving economy of a uniquely-creative Los Angeles community. And by making contributions to neighborhood non-profits who are opening their doors to participate in the Art Walk & Shop Hop on the 24th, you’ll continue their great work (which you’ll be able to see all day long).”

Make sure to visit the event website and Facebook page for a full list of discounts, events, and activities to participate in! The website will be updated live as there are new activities to share.

Echo Park Art Walk & Shop Hop
Saturday, September 24 from 12:00 noon to 10:00 pm
Between Mohawk & Elysian Park
For more information and/or questions, contact Shannon at shannon@826la.org
Website: www.echoparkartwalk.com

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Chinatown celebrates harvest moon with a festival this weekend

Don’t let the morning marine layer keep you from thinking it’s still summer, but we’re gearing up to saying goodbye to 100 degree weather. Chinatown is celebrating the coming of Fall (which is September 23) and the Harvest Moon with its 73rd Annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival on Saturday, September 17, 2011.

Apart from the art activities, food trucks, and a craft beer garden (yes!), the best part is the moon viewing via telescope provided by Griffith Observatory. Although the full moon was officially on Sunday, it will still be a nice night to check out the brilliant moon.

Full schedule after the jump:

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The newly revived Los Globos takes on a different crowd

Chromatics performs in the revived Los Globos. Photo by Taylor Kephart

Last Friday night, we made our way a little it outside of Echo Park to the soft opening of the revived Los Globos to see our friends Chromatics and Glass Candy take the stage, becoming quite possibly the first Indie group to perform at the traditionally Latino venue (just read the Yelp reviews, you’ll know what I’m talking about).

The booking by Echo Park Records and a fresh coat of paint on the outside indicated to us all that Los Globos had changed hands – in fact, the owners of El Cid just down the road purchased it just a couple of months ago (not Echo Park entrepreneur Mitchell Frank as we had thought).

But good news for fans of the venue before these changes: the ground floor remains the same, and will continue to host the Salsa and merengue nights Los Globos has traditionally had. But the ground floor was pretty empty (and smoke-filled), bringing up the question asked by LAist: Can hipsters and merengue fans co-exist?

Echo Park Records will continue to book bands as well as manage the venue. Be prepared with some cash at the cash-only bar (there’s an ATM if you forget), and $6 Coronas, $5 valet parking (don’t bother looking for street parking). They’ll continue to make changes to the building, and hopefully install a Las Vegas-sized air conditioner (man it was HOT in there). The grand opening is bound to be grand!

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An Echo Park artist’s submission to the LA vs. War show

Echo Park resident Mike Fisher is a seasoned vocalist in hardcore/metal bands, a graphic designer, and multimedia artist (he’s done skateboards, album covers, t-shirts, websites of course, commissioned artwork… the list goes on). Lately he’s been working on a piece for the upcoming LA Vs. War show in Downtown Los Angeles, and his piece certainly fits the theme.

The theme, of course being the state of the nation – and how we as individuals are processing – in a post-9/11 world. This weekend marks 10 years since that horrific day – and one curator John Carr will never forget. Which is why he and partner Estee Ochoa started LA Vs. War in 2008 (which around 6,000 people showed up for), an exhibit of live art demonstrations, workshops, fine art, street art, and more. The show asks the question of its artists: After 10 years of the Global War on Terror, where do we now stand as a nation? Is the world a safer place? Where does the Peace movement go from here?

For Mike Fisher, his piece for the show expresses his frustration with the politicians and those in power who got us to where we are today:

I decided to participate in the show because I truly believe we were lied to about starting these current wars. I’m not even an anti war guy. I just think these wars are criminal. Started by criminals. The painting is my 10 years of frustration with the fact they essentially have ruined our country. Everyone points fingers at each other but, it’s all the Bush family and their cronies that are directly to blame.

His piece is a combination of hand painting and multiple layers of silk screening. You can check out more of his artwork by visiting his website.

Mike is probably not the only Echo Park artist to submit a piece to the show (we have such a creative neighborhood!) – there is a mix of local artists along with out-of-towners, you can find a complete list on their Facebook event page.

The LA Vs. War exhibit (curated by Yo! Peace, Center for the Study of Political Graphics, Political Gridlock, and Ad Hoc Art) goes on from Friday, September 9 through the 11th from noon to midnight. The Vortex is located at 2341 E. Olympic Blvd. Entry is a $5 suggested donation.

Other cities should keep an eye out for this popular exhibit, they are hoping to expand the show to other cities under the “Vs. War” name.

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Echo Park Film Center back in town with new classes/events

The Echo Park Film Center is back in town after its 2011 Summer Tour, during which they took the film mobile from coast to coast offering classes and workshops in dozens of cities. Now they are back with a new schedule of classes and screenings for all of Echo Park (and Los Angeles) to enjoy.

First off, Friday, September 2 is the launch party for the EPFC Audience Photographs book – a series of photos taken at every one of their film screenings and events at the Echo Park location over a couple of years (we wrote about it last December). The book has 180 pages of these color photos, which you can get for $20 (for $30 they’ll give you a copy of the Sound We See DVD, the summer youth film workshop taught by EPFC Summer Artist In Residence, Merv Espina). Be there at 8:00 pm!

Upcoming Classes

All students must pre-register. Call or email for more information on participating. Space is limited.

EPFC Fall Youth Class: City of Angels
Thursdays 4:30 – 6:30 pm; September – December 2011
A 12-week after school workshop where students will learn the fundamentals of documentary filmmaking while creating individual short films celebrating family and community stories.Open to local youth ages 12 – 19; no experience necessary. All equipment and materials provided free of charge by EPFC.

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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’s own Sunset Junction replacement: Echo Park Rising

 

Since Sunset Junction will no longer function this weekend, it became clear yesterday that Echo Park would be absorbing some of the acts meant for the weekend-long festival. Silver Lake residents and business owners have also organized the No Function Junction in the area where the festival would have taken place, and now the Echo Park organizers have a name for our very own Sunset Junction replacement – Echo Park Rising.

From Saturday, August 27 through Sunday, August 28, Echo Park businesses and venues will host many of the performers (some we are sad won’t be booked, like Ozomatli). According to the website, Echo Park Rising is “weekend long festival celebrating life, art, music and culture.  Located in Los Angeles’ Echo Park neighborhood, EPR brings together local businesses on and around Sunset Blvd, creating an open environment for the enjoyment of live music, independent art, local cuisine and all around good times.”

The Eastsider LA posted a great summary of what performers are going where this weekend, the following is a list of Echo Park venues:

Saturday:

Sunday:

Click here for the full list.

Additionally, restaurants and other businesses are contributing with some great deals:

  • Allston Yacht Club: Happy hour all night Saturday, $5 drink special, the AYC Cooler (ginger watermelon lemonade, vodka)
  • Anejo Duddery:- TBA discounts/specials
  • 8-Limbs: Discount Yard Sale
  • Backside: 25% off all apparel and accessories
  • Bobbie: 20% off select apparel
  • City Sip: TBA discounts/specials
  • deKor: TBA discounts/specials
  • Echo Park Independent Co-Op – up to 70% off stock
  • Gentlemen’s Breakfast – 15% all stock
  • iam8bit – 5% charitable donation to 826LA for all original art/product sales and live music
  • Lot 1 Cafe: live music
  • Mohawk Bend: FREE Secret Dessert for patrons who mention Echo Park Rising this weekend
  • Origami Vinyl: 10% Everything Sale
  • Stories Books & Cafe: 20% off all used books, cafe specials and live music
  • Taxi CDC: 30% off regularly priced merchandise
  • Two Boots: Live Music on Patio
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Tonight’s Echo Park Jazz at Lot 1 to benefit 826LA

Multimedia Journalist Drew Tewksbury started booking jazz shows at Echo Park music venue Lot 1 Cafe on Thursday nights earlier this year, but tonight is a special installment of Echo Park Jazz as a benefit for 826LA.

The show features Andrew Lessman Trioo, with special guest saxophonist Joe Santa Maria (Andrew on drums, Joe Santa Maria on sax, Emilio Terranova on bass and Clinton Patterson sitting in on trumpet).

The Clinton Patterson group will also present the soulfully imaginative keyboard explorations by Rhodes player Clinton Patterson with Andrew Lessman on the drums.

Come hear some incendiary underground jazz and help support 826LA’s wonderful efforts to provide tutoring services for kids in Echo Park.

Doors open at 9:00 pm, the show starts at 9:30

21 and up

$5 at the door – all proceeds go to 826LA

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Echo Park may absorb some canceled Sunset Junction gigs

You’ve probably heard the news already, but it looks like the 2011 Sunset Junction may just actually be canceled due to permit issues (yep, just three days before!). However, there hasn’t been a final confirmation from the event organizers – the website is down, The Eastsider LA says they’re still waiting, and even though both LAist and LA Weekly seem to have given up, the LA Times just posted a statement from the organizers without a clear green light/red light confirmation.

Should it get canceled… (we mean officially of course) Origami Vinyl, which has had a role in this year’s Sunset Junction, got us thinking about how Echo Park can help absorb some of the gigs meant for the now-canceled Sunset Junction this weekend. The vinyl records shop tweeted today:

We think @theechola + Stories Books/Cafe + Echo Park Independent Co-Op + Us should book these SJ bands and get a lil block party goin…

Echo Park Independent Coop is down to host a block party as well.

I say, do it! Would be great for the businesses and the artists involved.

UPDATE:

If Sunset Junction does end up not happening, locals have already started organizing an alternative: The First Annual No Function Junction (and they have a Facebook page!).

What can you expect? Performances by The Ukelele Orchestra of the Western Hemisphere, former Sunset Junction bands at the 4100 Bar and the Living Room, and magic by Christopher Wonder. Also, “Don’t forget to pick up your complimentary compliment at the ‘Complimentary Compliments’ booth with Sirocco Research Labs. Stop by ReForm School at Sunset and Hyperion to find out more details….Spread the word.”

h/t The Eastsider LA

MORE UPDATES:

The Echo announced that The Butthole Surfers and 400 Blows will be playing there on Saturday.

Origami Vinyl will host Barrio Tiger on Saturday and Manhattan Murder Mystery on Sunday.

Stories Books and Cafe have the Damselles and the TC4 on Saturday.

E.P.I.C. will have the Black Apples on Sunday.

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Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Monday, August 15 through Sunday, August 21

Monday
Monday Night Residency: Active Child, Robotanists, Electric Guest, Corridor @ Echo
Robert Francis, The Lonely Wild, Jack Littman @ Bootleg Theater
Bird Mad Girl, So Wrong, Pastilla @ Lot 1 Cafe
The Wilderness Of Manitoba @ Origami Vinyl

Tuesday
Tuesday Night Residency : The Allah Las, Strangers Family Band, Crooked Cowboy, Peace (featuring Jeffrey Davies) @ Echo
Iheartcomix, Media Contender, LA Record Present: Check Yo’ Ponytail 2 Featuring Pictureplane, Ooooo, Javelin, Holy Other, Hollagramz, Tri-Angle Record Djs, Franki Chan @ Echoplex
Richard Buckner, David Kilgour, Wheelhouse, Olentangy John @ Bootleg Theater
Stab City, Mothers of Gut, Backseat Bingo @ Lot 1 Cafe

Wednesday
Jaxart & KSPC Present Candy Claws, Races, Moses Campbell, Masxs @ Echo
Dub Club @ Echoplex
Soko, Marlon Rabenreither (Sister Ruby Band), Psychic Friend @ Bootleg Theater
Heidi Beth Farelle, Blaise Smith, Aftergloam, Pegleglove @ Lot 1 Cafe
Alias Means @ Taix Lounge
LA Font @ Origami Vinyl

Thursday
Spaceland Under The Stars With Spirit Vine, Black Flamingo @ Pershing Square
The Happy Hollows, Pek Pek, Dirt Dress, Gentle Hands @ Echo
Galaga 2331: Open Mike Eagle, Gel Roc, K-The-I-???, Bizzart, Alwayz Pro @ Lot 1 Cafe
Harmony Merloni & Mark Macandili @ Taix Lounge

Friday
Sailor Jerry Presents Wooden Shjips, The Night Beats Plus Club Underground DJs @ Echo
Bearracuda @ Echoplex
Flashlights, Kuhrye-Oo, Steffaloo, The Neighborhood @ Lot 1 Cafe
Judson Mckinney, The Other Boys, Steph Brown @ Taix Lounge
Hyena @ Origami Vinyl

Saturday
Mucho And Echoplex present 2011 Visionary Sounds Music Festival Featuring: Torreblanca, Upground, Nina Dioz, Orlando And The Shantelles, Master Blaster, Street Spirit, Viirey, Andrea Balency, Josh @ Echoplex
Ganglians, Cuckoo Chaos @ Echo
Funky Sole @ Echo
Walk The Moon, Airlines, Future Dancing @ Bootleg Theater
Sketch Monster, Deadly Weapons, Bikini Thrills, Manix, Annatommy @ Lot 1 Cafe
Lee Ferris, Rocky Neck Bluegrass Band @ Taix Lounge
Flashlights @ Origami Vinyl

Sunday
Grand Ole Echo with The Get Down Boys, Rose’s Pawn Shop, Claremont Voodoo Society @ Echo
Part Time Punks – 4ad Records Nite with Black Flamingo performing a Set Of Cocteau Twins covers @ Echo
Hot TV, My Parade, The Cosmic Telegraph Company @ Lot 1 Cafe

Visit the venue websites for more information on the cost and times of shows. 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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Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Monday, August 1 through Sunday, August 7

Monday
Monday Night Residency: Active Child, Therapies Son, Letting Up Despite Great Faults, Cassettes Won’t Listen @ Robert Francis, Boots Electric, Taylor Locke @ Bootleg Theater
Mikki And The Mauses, Stab City, Nana and The Happy Cats @ Lot 1 Café

Tuesday
Tuesday Night Residency: The Allah Las, Bleached (members of Mika Miko), Neverever, Dream Homes, DJ Tuna @ Echo
KXLU presents: Woods, The Fresh & Onlys, White Fence @ Echoplex
The Orion Experience, Think Alike, Random Patterns @ Lot 1 Café

Wednesday
IPO presents: New Maximum Donkey, Light Fm, Kingsley, Jon Lindsay, Garland, Backnbloom @ Echo Dub Club @ Echoplex
Count Fleet @ Origami Vinyl
The Swamp Coolers @ Taix Lounge
Live jazz every Wednesday night at 7:00 pm @ Downbeat Café

Thursday
Spaceland Under the Stars With Bixby Knolls @ Pershing SquareHeavy LA @ Echoplex
Jaxart: Basement Babies, Wild Ones (features members of Typhoon), Pageants @ Lot 1 Café
Grievous Angels, Bobkat @ Taix Lounge

Friday
Iron Room Presents Yob, Dark Castle, Ancestors, Of The Horizons @ Echoplex
The Donkeys, Red Pony Clock @ EchoClub Underground @ Echo
J. Irvin Dally, Naive Thieves, The Spires @ Lot 1 Café
Abe Lincoln Story, Kevin Killen @ Taix Lounge

Saturday
Bootie LA @ EchoplexFunky Sole @ EchoTouché @ Origami Vinyl
High Places, Sun Araw, Matthewdavid @ Bootleg Theater
Vum, Thurlow, Sue Scrofa @ Lot 1 Café
Jezzebelle, Toni Burke And Guests @ Taix Lounge

Sunday
Grand Ole Echo with Drunk On Crutches, Gal Holiday, The Vaquetones @ Echo
Smiths/Morrissey Nite with Guest DJ Jose Maldonado (from Sweet & Tender Hooligans) @ Echoplex
Jaberi & Deutsch @ Origami Vinyl

Visit the venue websites for more information on the cost and times of shows. 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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Tonight: Art show and music at Ballard’s in Echo Park

Check out a new show at Ballard’s Artwork Framing tomorrow, Saturday July 30, from 8-11:00 pm. They’ll be featuring new works by Diana Creighton, and performances by The World Record at 9:00 pm.
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An LA Weekly view of Echo Park fashion

While we’re pretty used to the Echo Park stereotypes by now, it’s still funny to read these breakdowns on how to spot an Echo Park hipster. And while I have been known to wear torn jeans and attend The Echo on occasion, I don’t necessarily subscribe to any specific “look.” Like my style, don’t take the following article too seriously.

LA Weekly takes a stab at the Echo Park “look” in an article titled, Six L.A. Neighborhoods With the Most Distinctive Fashion Styles. The purpose:

Why do we always see the same aviator shades on guys driving SUVs in Glendale or clusters of cupcake tattoos on pink-haired Culver City art tarts, for example? Is it the tipping-point effect? A subconscious monkey-see, monkey-do thing? And how does it evolve within certain places?

Here, we present some of these familiar neighborhood looks. Yes, some are stereotyped composites, but we’ve included a peppering of emerging trends that are moving these looks to new places.

On to our neighborhood stereotype, deemed the Echo Park Shagster (what happened to hipster?):

Uniform: Beards are for bears (big boys), but shadows and fuzz imply “I don’t care” best; retro-referencing T-shirts and tops in surfer, skateboarder or preppy style (Op, LaCoste shirts); pants cut off into Bermuda shorts; vintage white belt; street-beat black Chuck Taylor shoes; Ray-Bans with lenses punched out; script tattoo featuring words to favorite song or inspirational motto; beanie to cover up the greasy grow-out

Shops at: Origami Vinyl, Rose Bowl Flea Market, Salvation Army, legal marijuana dispensary

Hangs at: The Echo, Cha Cha Lounge, the Gold Room, Taix, Chango

Listens to/watches: Every band on the FYF Fest bill

Trending: Carry-alls of all kinds, from fanny packs (for the weed) to big manbags (to carry records or laptop for that DJ gig)

Fashion philosophy: Too cool to shampoo

Click here to read more LA neighborhood looks, including the “East L.A. Greaser/Goth” from LA Weekly.

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Mohawk Bend to open in Echo Park soon, “very soon”

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

You may have noticed yesterday (hopefully you didn’t drive all the way from the West side) that despite reports from various news sources, Mohawk Bend did not open its doors yesterday. But last week we did get a sneak peak at the space, the food, and the ever so delicious booze at a pre-opening party for press and friends.

Owner Tony Yanow has had great success with Tony’s Darts Away in Burbank – with an extensive and really great beer list paired with an equally delicious vegan and non-vegan bar fare. He’s clearly doing something right, because Mohawk Bend is impressive. Plus it really helps that he’s a really nice guy, has an equally awesome family, and has done a great job with the former Ramona Theater after over 20 years of collecting dust.

Spacecraft Group designed the interior of the building (the exterior is protected by historical guidelines), telling the crowd at the pre-opening party that they were inspired by a ’70s bar vibe, hence the vintage neon bar signs decorating the second story of the large main room. Polished concrete floors, exposed brick (the formal dining room is all original), a two-story glass wall, and lacquered panels of wood are features of the recreated space.

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