Road closures in Echo Park for Ciclavia

Ciclavia

For the first time since its start in Los Angeles four years ago, CicLAvia (a free, open streets event in which streets are closed in favor of bicycles and pedestrians) will be coming to Echo Park this Sunday.

The No Parking signs are already posted for the street closures along Glendale Boulevard and Bellevue, just south of Echo Park Lake. At the corner of Glendale and Bellevue is the “Echo Park Hub,” where there will be a DJ, a KPCC booth and food trucks like Fluff Ice, the Grilled Cheese Truck and Mandoline Grill.

Ciclavia will speak Thursday night at the Echo Park Improvement Association Town Hall on the street closures and what else to expect. The major concern with the event is cyclists making their way into Echo Park Lake, where skating and cyclists are not allowed.

The meeting will be held at Barlow Hospital in Williams Hall at 7:00 pm. All are welcome.

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Movie Night at Echo Park Lake

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Please join Council District 13, the Department of Recreation and Parks, and the Echo Park Historical Society for a free screening of the classic Hollywood film “Sunset Blvd.” compliments of Paramount Pictures.

The Echo Park Film Center will start the evening with a few of their student shorts and then the feature production.

Pack a picnic, bring a blanket and chairs, and enjoy the movie under the stars by the magical Echo Park Lake.

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Echo Park Lake Lotus Festival is back!

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This is very exciting for Echo Park… the Lotus Festival has returned!

The 34th Lotus Festival takes place this weekend, July 12 and 13. This year’s host country is the Philippines.

This is not only the first year since the park was closed and renovated, it’s been a few years since there have been actual Lotus flowers blossoming at the lake. There will also be the return of the Dragon Boat races, as well as some delicious food, entertainment, performances, music and dancing.

To kick off the festivities, Council District 13 is hosting Echo Park Night on Friday, July 11 with a film screening and live music. Picnic baskets and blankets encouraged!

Opening ceremony for the festival starts at noon on Saturday, July 12. Check back on this post for schedule updates as we get them!

UPDATE: Lotus Festival Schedule after the jump!

Echo Park Night at the Lotus Festival  10372972_10152087444751277_3429644353491145789_o

Read more

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Questions about city services? Ask Councilmember O’Farrell on Saturday

Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell presents:

“Councilmember in your corner – Echo Park”

Join business and community leaders, meet with neighbors and learn about city services.

Councilmember O’Farrell and will also walk the neighborhood, going door-to-door to speak with residents about important city services.

Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 9:30am-Noon
Echo Park Lake (Glendale Boulevard & Park Avenue)

Questions? Contact Silvan de la Cruz at sylvan.delacruz@lacity.org

Councilmember In Your Corner - Echo Park web

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All that’s left of this Echo Park ficus tree is a pile of sawdust

Echo Park ficus

The facade of the building at 1501 W Sunset Boulevard has not been seen in quite some time now – until this weekend. The huge ficus tree covering the front of these buildings was cut down over the weekend, leaving nothing but a pile of sawdust behind.

The ficus was removed as part of the Sunset Boulevard beautification project, as well as the overall need to repair sidewalks. Approximately three dozen trees will be removed along the Echo Park corridor, but will also be replaced by 100.

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Easter activities around Echo Park start this weekend

The Easter holiday is upon us, and there are some great family friendly activities happening around Echo Park. Although Sunday, April 20 is the official holiday itself, events start this weekend.

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Egg Hunt at Echo Park Rec Center

The Spring Egg Hunt takes place this Saturday, April 12 from 2-5:00 pm at the Echo Park Recreation Center playground (1632 Bellevue Avenue).

Egg Hunt start times are:

5 years & under: 3:00 pm
6-8 years: 3:30 pm
9 years & older: 4:00 pm

Activities include arts and crafts, face painting, music, egg hunts and a visit from The Spring Bunny (all are free).

For more information email echoparkrc@lacity.org

Echo Park Farmers’ Market Egg Hunt

The healthiest egg hunt in town! The annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Echo Park Farmers’ Market takes place on Friday, April 18 starting at 4:00 pm.

The craft table will be set up for Easter arts and crafts, and the Easter Bunny will be on hand to take photos (bring your cameras!).

Toddlers ages five and under will start at 5:00 pm, ages six and over at 6:00 pm.

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Festival of Childhood

Although not technically an Easter event, the Festival of Childhood on April 26 from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm is a great spring event for families.

The annual event, hosted by Echo Parenting & Education, is a free outdoor community day of play and creativity for families from all over Los Angeles. There will be a rock climbing wall, face painting, crafts, story time, street painting, children’s dance groups and live musical performances. Reservoir street closure begins at the Echo Park Methodist Church, where the event is taking place.

Click here for more info or email aortiz@echoparenting.org

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Echo Park Neighborhood Council upcoming candidate forums

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Get involved, vote informed! Neighborhood Council elections for the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council (GEPENC) takes place on Saturday, April 12, 2014. The Echo Park Improvement Association is hosting a candidate forum on Thursday, April 3 where all those running for a position have been invited to introduce themselves.

When to vote: Elections are Saturday, April 12, 2014, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Edendale Branch Library (2011 West Sunset Boulevard).

How to vote: Bring TWO copies of documentation, such as a drivers license and a utility bill. For the full list of acceptable forms of documentation, click here. For more information on the elections, click here.

To view a list of current candidates, click here.

All are welcome! Bring yourself, your neighbors, your input, and join us at Barlow Hospital, located at 2000 Stadium Way, in Williams Hall.

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Angel City Brewery hosting Echo Park street cleanup Saturday

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As part of a series of community events and cleanups, Angel City Brewery is organizing a cleanup in Echo Park this weekend on Saturday, February 8.

The cleanup area will focus on Sunset Boulevard and adjacent streets in the area around the Short Stop (toward the eastish end of Echo Park).

Want to help out? Meet at 1:00 pm at Sunset Beer Company to pick up trash bags, gloves, trash grabbers, and a volunteer t-shirt. Angel City staff members will also be providing Trash BINGO boards for you to mark off what you find on the streets – the winner gets an Angel City gift certificate and goodies.

The cleanup will go until 2:30 pm, at which time we’ll end up at the Short Stop for some post cleanup up beer and snacks.

Email Emily at Emily@angelcitybrewery.com to register, and let her know your t-shirt size.

See you Saturday!

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Snow Day in Echo Park Friday

WinterWonderland

Get your snow gear ready – winter is coming to Echo Park!

Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell is bringing Winter Wonderland to the Echo Park Farmers’ Market TOMORROW, Friday, December 20 from 3:00-5:00 pm. Free snow play area for the kids – and for the kid in you!

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35 trees slated for removal on Sunset Boulevard

Tree removals in Echo Park

Trees are indicated in the green are to be saved, if they have a yellow dot they are to be removed and replaced.

Sunset Boulevard along Echo Park is getting a makeover. As part of the $750,000 grant for the Echo Park Beautification Project, Sunset Boulevard from Rosemont Street to Everett Street will get some well-deserved attention when it comes to some much-needed sidewalk repairs, and more, including (but not limited to):

  • Removing and replacing trees along Sunset Boulevard
  • Improving sidewalks (including adding
  • Adding new trees
  • Adding Big Belly trash receptacles
  • Adding benches
  • Adding bike racks
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Ficus tree on Logan near Walgreens back in March 2013

For some, that “beautification” comes with a price – removal of the leafy green ficus trees that provide shade for the sidewalks along the main drag. So why remove the trees? The sidewalks.

Some of the larger trees that are being removed, the ficus in particular, are causing sidewalks to buckle and crack, making it difficult for pedestrian (especially handicap) use. Which is why two ficus trees on Echo Park Avenue were removed in March 2013 – which noone knew about (not even Council District 13) until it was done.

The board of public works is holding a public hearing on the removal of 35 trees along 1300 to 2100 West Sunset Boulevard (that’s from Alvarado to Elysian Park Drive) as part of this beautification grant. The hearing takes place tomorrow, on Wednesday, December 18 at 9:30 am (see below location). There are other items on the agenda, so we’re not sure exactly what time the Echo Park issue will be address.

To replace the 35 trees removed (there are various species, including ficus), the city will place 38 Chinese Pistache and 75 Australian Willow trees.

The Echo Park Improvement Association website has two documents available that both outline the locations of each tree removal and replacement – the color version (a small portion of which is shown above) is a version dated from April 2013, but the latest version should be the most reliable in terms of final construction plans.

Hearing on Echo Park tree removals
Wednesday, December 18 at 9:30 am
City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works Public Hearing Room
200 N. Spring Street in room 350
Los Angeles, CA 90012

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Villainy General Store closing for good

villainy_storefront

This is a bit sad news because we’ve gotten to know owners and Echo Parkians Erich Schlieske and Ellen McAlister (eEvil Ink Design) quite well. Villainy General Store opened in the former Echo Curio space almost exactly two years ago, taking on the challenge of renovating the space and that terribly tiny bathroom. Erich announced the store’s closing on the store’s Facebook page, saying:

THANK YOU ECHO PARK !!! We have met so many very cool and gracious people here. We met lots of neighbors, old-timers, new-timers and for the most part we’ve been well received and we’ve always appreciated that kindness.

Who knew that a Villainy General Store could last for 2 years? More importantly, what is a “Villainy General Store”? It was an experiment, what can I say? I’ve always been intrigued by junk drawers, misfit accessories, vintage curios and funny, odd gifts.

And a curious store it is – but we’ve always found something to take home. Since the store won’t be closing until the end of December, you can still pick up some great and unique gifts, including cheeky greeting cards and (my favorite) t-shirts with hipster sayings like “Echo Park: Where Silver Lake Comes to get Drunk.” After December you can always check them out online at villainyla.com.

What will be next for the storefront on Sunset Boulevard and Laveta Terrace? Perhaps another boutique?

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Rumor Mill: Cortez in Echo Park closing? (UPDATE)

cortez-echo-park

Could it be true? Only a year and week (to the day) after Cookbook owners Marta Teegan and Robert Stelzner opened Cortez in Echo Park, our rumor mill reports that it could be closing for good.

It seams like yesterday the culinary duo took over the 1,000 square foot upscale, American restaurant on Allison Avenue near Sunset Boulevard. The reviews over Yelp! are pretty darn fantastic, but perhaps it could have been the January 2013 review by the esteemed Jonathon Gold that did them in when he wrote in the LA Times:

Tiny portions are great in principle and on tasting menus, but there may be a reason so many of the regulars at Cortez fit nicely into skinny jeans. And by the time you finish ordering, you are going to have spent a shocking amount of money.

Pricey, perhaps –  but delicious from what we’ve heard. Echo Park Now has reached out to Cortez for comment and to confirm the rumor… in the meantime, we hope it’s not true and we wish Cortez nothing but the best!

UPDATE:

You’ll have a chance to check out Cortez after all – Owner Marta Teegan responded to our email, saying it is NOT closing. Glad to hear!

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Take a ride on the waters of Echo Park Lake

The pedal boats are back in business on Echo Park Lake! It’s been around four years since the city shut down pedal boat operations at the Boathouse due to budget cuts. Yesterday the operators of the pedal boats, Echo Park Lake Pedal Boats, Canoe & Gondola, greeted lines of people renting the bright yellow boats on the newly renovated Echo Park Lake.

The boating company is operating on a 90 day pilot program for the summer, after which the city will review whether or not it was successful. The cafe vendor will also operate under the same trial period – Square One Dining is expected to start serving on August 1.

Cost is $5 per child and $10 per adult for both the pedal boats (up to one hour) and canoe rides (the latter includes two laps around the lake with a guide). A gondola ride sounds like a nice date night – a half hour for one couple will cost you $50.

Wednesdays will be a great day to head down and rent a pedal boat – called “90026 day,” local residents can rent a pedal boat for just $10.

Hours right now are Monday through Friday, 11:00 am-7:00 pm, and weekends open at 9:00 am until 30 minutes before sunset. We imagine hours will fluctuate depending on the season.

The menu for the cafe has not yet been released, but according to The Eastsider LA will include “park fare” such as hamburgers, hot dogs, juices, and brunch items. Currently the sample menu on the Square One Dining website looks pretty delicious – gourmet cold and hot sandwiches, salads, soups, and more. Hopefully the price tag at the new Echo Park Lake Boathouse won’t reflect that menu – the cheapest lunch sandwich is listed at a whopping $10.50.

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Third gun among list of items found in Echo Park Lake

Image via The Eastsider LA

In November 2011, we published the list of items found at the bottom of Echo Park Lake. Of the various items beyond the usual toys, trash and debris there were skateboards, office chairs, shopping carts and even a pay telephone. But the two guns, a hand gun and a rifle, were items of interest as the public pondered over what they would find in relation to criminal activities that the lake was once notorious for.

But after a recent article published by Los Angeles Magazine, which states there were a total of three guns found in the sludge, we got curious. A representative from the Bureau of Engineering confirmed that there was indeed a third gun found later on – a gun that was so rusted (like the others) that is was not “considered to be useful for any investigations” by the LAPD.

It had been since the 1984 Olympics that Echo Park Lake was last drained and dredged, leaving many to ponder the items that sank to the bottom of the lake. Despite that cleaning, even an 1880s-era wagon wheel was found in this last cleanup, and many of us all wondered what else was under there. No dead bodies, just three guns, a parking enforcement booth, a toil, and lonely 20 frisbees.

Now that the lake is all filled up, Saturday morning is the grand opening after a year and a half of construction. Make your way to the corner of Park and Logan at 10:00 am for the festivities!

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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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