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Thanksgiving in Echo Park brings sounds of… fireworks?

July 4th, 2011 fireworks

Thanksgiving dinner with the family last night was accompanied by an unusual noise this time of year – loud popping sounds coming from somewhere nearby in Echo Park. I immediately concluded the sounds were fireworks, not having the heart to tell my family it maybe, perhaps, could have been gunshots (I’m apparently not so good and telling the difference right away).

We figured it wasn’t the latter, but resident Jeanne did some digging of her own, and apparently the dinner-time fireworks we heard weren’t the only ones. Jeanne emailed us the official word this morning:

Bizarrely, per northeast division desk sargent: some adolescent thought it would be entertaining to light fireworks in the wee hours of the morning in the 1300 block of sunset.

So for once, the large explosive noises were not gunfire-that-sounded-like-fireworks, but actually fireworks.

A relief i guess for it not to be shooting…

Here, here!

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Giving thanks to Echo Park Fire Station 20

I recently had a great opportunity to help organize the Thanksgiving Day “adoption” of the Echo Park Fire Station 20 as a member of the Echo Park Improvement Association (EPIA). We sent out a call for help recently to our EPIA subscribers, asking for donations of Thanksgiving meal dishes to take to our local fire station, since they all had to clock in for work today while most of us get the holiday off.

And we had a great response! Echo Park is a community full of caring people, and everyone came together at the fire house today bearing cranberry sauce, rolls, pies, turkey, and all the fixin’s. A few families came out to hang out with the crew as well, and the kids had a great time climbing in the fire trucks.

Thank you to everyone who brought the food, and to Andrea Barbosa and family for the idea and making it happen! Thanks also goes to Echo Park Patch and The Eastsider LA for helping spread the word about the event.

More importantly, thank you firefighters! With all the budget cuts going on, we know you’re working very, very hard to keep us safe. Happy holidays!

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

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Holiday parking tips for Echo Park and Los Angeles

Holiday parking regulations get a little relaxed on days like Thanksgiving Day! While you may have noticed no tickets are being doled out for those street cleaning sides, and the 1-2 hour parking rules relaxed, Friday is back to business so park appropriately!

Here’s the low-down from the LA City Department of Transportation, click the image below for the full PDF:

Bottom line: Park longer than that 1-2 hour time limit and don’t feed the meter (at most meters – look out for the “holidays excluded” signage).

Happy holidays!

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Pet adoption spotlight: Cutie

This adorable pup came up on the Echo Elysian Neighborhood Council forum today – he’s so cute his temporary name is Cutie, and we just had to share his story with the hopes he’ll find a permanent home. Here’s the story of how Cutie was found:

I rescued this sweet young boy last Monday night in Echo Park. He was emaciated, starving and scared. He’s been at the shelter and no one has come to claim him. I’ve been visiting him everyday so now he recognizes my voice. He’s young (1-2 years old), healthy, super affectionate and sweet, and a quick learner! The staff are taking good care of him, giving him extra food and being very gentle with him.

This poor boy needs a home! His only draw back is that he is not leashed trained. But, I’ve been working with him, and he’s getting the hang of it. He wants to please, he wants affection – he loves to snuggle, get hugs, and he gives the sweetest kisses.

I’m going out of the country this Friday and I’m terrified that this cutie will be killed while I’m away.

Cutie is currently at the North Central Animal Shelter located at 3201 Lacy Street.

For more information about Cutie, all you need to do is visit www.laanimalservices.com and click on “ADOPT.” Enter his animal ID number, A1264972.

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Allston Yacht Club scores with the city, plus new fall menu

Figgy Pudding. Photo courtesy of AYC.

Allston Yacht Club recently won a bit of a battle with the City of Los Angeles – a permit hearing on Thursday, October 27, 2011 ended in the restaurant’s favor, granting it an exemption from the city’s strict parking requirements. This means you won’t find a valet posted out front, and while you might have to look for your own parking, there’s usually plenty of it around.

In addition to the change in parking conditions, they also received a conditional use permit to serve food on the patio, extend hours to 2:00 am on Friday and Saturday, legalize happy hour and the advertisement of alcoholic beverages, and limited entertainment inside the restaurant.

But not a whole lot will change around AYC just yet (they are still tying up some loose ends), except of course for its new fall menu. We missed the holiday cocktail tasting, but LAist got a stab at the libations, which included the Accursed Fruitcake (Applejack, ginger beer, apple cider and “inebriated fruits”), Hot Spiced Cider (two types of rum, Canton Liquer) and the Figgy Pudding (fig infused bourbon, egg white, egg nog, cinnamon simple syrup, nutmeg). If you don’t get a chance to try these before the holidays, you might impress some Turkey day guests by trying some recipes AYC provided last year.

We’ve also heard on the grapevine that they’ll be expanding their beer selections, which seems natural as there’s a lot of beer competition in Echo Park these days.

If you’re hungry, AYC’s fall menu includes some delectable updates, including: Warm mushroom salad, double fried Korean style wings (pictured), Dashi whitefish stew, mussels and house made sausage with white wine and garlic. While we normally enjoy the Wicked Wednesday deal (plates are just $5), write this might require a little date night tonight!

Double Fried Korean Style Wings. Photo courtesy of AYC.

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7-Eleven still vying for Echo Park strip mall

We’ve been following a story for quite some time now about a proposed 7-11 for the vacant storefront on the corner of Glendale Boulevard and Berkeley Avenue. The chain has been eyeing the space since the start of this year, having also applied for a license for the sale of beer and wine for the new store.

The possibility of the new 7-11 has raised many concern amongst residents. In addition to its close proximity to other existing convenience stores (just across the street is an AM/PM), a 7-11 already existing in Echo Park, and the sale of beer and wine (always a controversy), the space itself is a challenge. There are few parking spaces available, and the intersection is a disaster – with traffic consistently backed up on Berkeley as it is, a high-traffic store could contribute to the current traffic headaches of nearby residents.

Despite some pretty vocal opposition by residents, the Greater Elysian Echo Park Neighborhood Council (GEPENC) approved the 7-11 in late October (with conditions), but only serves as an advisory position to the city’s planning department. A recent zoning hearing with the city was postponed, but will be rescheduled likely for February of 2012.

The representatives of 7-11 seem optimistic and pretty open to neighborhood concerns – at last night’s neighborhood issues committee meeting of the Echo Park Improvement Association, representatives spoke about working with the current landlord on signage and lighting issues, and are in the process of developing design concepts that meet our concerns, amongst other issues. They’ve also limited the hours of beer and wine sales, along with banning the sale of single bottles and cans (also a condition recommended by GEPENC). Additionally, they’ll be cleaning up the parking lot, hoping to remove the unsightly brick wall, repainting/repaving the parking lot, and improving signage.

Which brings to mind: Also unfolding are the issues with the lot as a whole. This year the little flower/bike/tobacco kiosk was dismantled, the salon disappeared, and it looks like La Pizza Loca and the flower shop are vacating (no word on if it’s by choice) by the end of this month. The fate of the Tacos Mexico restaurant is also uncertain – and even the 7-11 reps admitted at last night’s meeting the strip mall is about 60% vacant. We’re a little worried that these places are being squeezed out because 7-11 is planning on making improvements (that little flower shop is amazing), and any new applicants will likely be paying much higher rents.

We’ll be keeping an eye out for that next zoning meeting with the city in early 2012. Otherwise, our crystal ball says 7-11 will likely be a new neighbor on Glendale Boulevard.

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Gil Cedillo running for Council District 1 seat

CD1 borders in Echo Park

Looks like we’ve got another candidate for the First District of the LA City Council – Gil Cedillo announced his aspirations two days ago in a press release to fill the seat of soon-to-be termed-out Ed Reyes in the 2013 elections, joining Reyes’ chief of staff Jose Gardea. Cedillo is currently our state assemblyman in the 45th district, a seat which he can’t run for again due to term limits.

Cedillo has a couple of good things going for him, including the California Dream Act, which was recently signed by the Governor. We also saw him rubbing elbows with the general public and press in September at a Northeast LA foreclosure fair. Mostly, we hope if he wins the election, he’ll be an involved and responsive representative of the First District, which includes parts of Echo Park, Elysian Park, Highland Park, Mt. Washington, and other surrounding neighborhoods (click here for a full map).

In the press release, Cedillo said he was running “because we need bold and experienced leadership to strengthen and protect the Los Angeles Dream.”

“Gil began his crusade for change and social justice over three decades ago as a young student leader right here in Los Angeles,” said El Centro del Pueblo Executive Director Sandra Figueroa in the press release. “Since those early days, Gil has remained one of the most effective and passionate progressive advocates in Los Angeles.  Now is exactly the time to bring Gil Cedillo’s determined and forceful leadership to City Hall on behalf of the diverse neighborhoods that comprise City Council District 1.”

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Tuesday is Echo Park Time Bank karaoke night

Are you a karaoke fan? The Fun and Games Committee of the Echo Park Time Bank has organized a little Tuesday night social event at Home in Silver Lake. Everyone is invited to this free, all ages event full of karaoke, socializing, and snacks. Bring your friends!

Echo Park Time Bank Holiday Social
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
@ HOME Silver Lake, at the corner of Riverside and Fletcher (not the one on Hillhurst!)

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Countdown to Thanksgiving: Local volunteer opportunities

Gobble Gobble Give

This annual tradition brings lots and lots and lots of families in need out to The Echo for free turkey dinners, and they need lots of help. Bring a dish already heated (they’ll take any ‘giving sides but also need turkeys), five small toiletry kits, clothing and/or blankets on Thanksgiving Day starting at 8:00 am. Volunteers can show up starting at 7:30 am. Families in need start arriving at 10:00 am.

Go to gobblegobblegive.org for more information, or to donate just a few bucks to help buy turkey dinners for those in need.

A Place Called Home in South Central LA

Donate pies for the A Place Called Home Thanksgiving Dinner in South Central Los Angeles. Drop off pies on Tuesday, November 22 between 12:00 noon –  6:30 pm at 2830 South Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90011. Click here for info.

One Incredible Family in Playa Del Rey

Prepare and deliver meals for the homeless (along with other volunteer duties) at One Incredible Family in Playa Del Rey on Saturday, November 26. You can also volunteer to cook large turkeys the day before and deliver to the project site the day of. Click here for info.

Union Station Homeless Services

Thanksgiving Dinner-in-the-Park volunteers are needed both the day before and the date after Thanksgiving, at Union Station in Pasadena. Activities include event set-up, registration, food preparation, clean-up and more. For more information contact dinnerinthepark@unionstationhs.org. You can register online www.unionstationhs.org.

More opportunities

You can search for more volunteer opportunities on the LA Works website.

Did we miss anything? Please let us know in the comments below and we’ll be sure to add the information!

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Donate canned food items in Echo Park

The Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council is collecting canned foods for the Cathedral Center of St. Paul’s Food Bank program.

“The state of the economy has had a negative impact on the ability for many of our neighbors to provide basics, such as food, for their families during this holiday season,” GEPENC states in the flyer, “Please help us make this holiday season a little better for our neighbors in need here in Echo Park by dropping off any donated canned or non-perishable food items.”

You can drop off those items at the GEPENC office, located at 1572 Sunset Boulevard (behind the Bank of America). The office will take your donations on the following Saturdays:

November 12, 19  and 26 from 9:00 am -12:00 noon
December 3, 10, and 17 from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon

For more information or to arrange for a pick-up of donated items, please contact Jose Sigala at (213) 308-2826 or by email at jose_sigala@yahoo.com

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Dear Echo Park Now: Enough with the construction noise!

Fellow Echo Parkian Adrian is having some problems with the Durbin Project construction lately – the condo project once known as “smurf village” at Chicken Corner on Echo Park Avenue and Delta (right by Chango). The blue treated wood that stood as the skeleton for a project that stopped dead in 2009 is now gone since D.R. Horton bought the property and started construction just recently.

Unfortunately for Adrian and his family, the new construction isn’t exactly a 100% a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Construction starts at 6:00 am despite city noise ordinances that require quiet hours for construction through 7:00 am. To make matters worse, Adrian has called the LAPD non-emergency line to complain, with promises to send officers left unfulfilled.

We’ve recommended to Adrian to call 311, or continue to call the LAPD non-emergency line (1-877-275-5273) and file a noise complaint if possible – and Adrian would like to invite all of his neighbors to do the same. “My family,” he told us in an email, “can’t be the only one in the area missing some much needed sleep.”

We also recommend contacting Council District 13, Eric Garcetti’s office, particularly because they should have direct contact with the developers and the project as a whole.

And, just for good measure, it doesn’t hurt making a complaint to the project manager on duty during those wee hours – who cares if you’re still in those PJs?

UPDATE:

The Eastsider LA just reported the new, new name for the project will be “36 on Echo” (this is third name, third owner), and that the Senior Vice President of D.R. Horton said he’ll be looking into noise complaints.

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Echo Park in the News

At the bottom of Echo Park Lake with KPCC

KPCC joins Eric Garcetti to explore the bottom of the now-drained Echo Park Lake (well, before the rainy weekend we had). “We’ve polluted this lake, it’s lost its character,” Garcetti told them, “It’s time to bring it back to something that’s healthy for the next hundred years.”

Listen to the radio segment (there’s a funny moment where Senior Adviser of Garcetti’s office Mitch O’Farrell loses a shoe in the lake’s muck), and watch the video at on the KPCC website.

Fed up Echo park resident starts the popular “Bank Transfer Day”

When Bank of America announced it would start charging $5 per month debit card fees, 27-year-old Echo Park resident Kristen Christian took it to the social media streets. Bank of America has since retracted the planned fees, but after tens of thousands of people pledged to transfer their banks by Saturday, November 5. Kristen has been all over the media, making television appearances and talking about her cause. If you’re still interested in a credit union, Echo Park Time Bank recommends the California Credit Union near Echo Park.

Read about it on the LA Times and Echo Park Patch.

More hidden stairways

We’ve huffed and puffed our way up these stairs before, but the views are worth it! The Eastsider LA posted a video today of the Loma Vista stairway between Echo Park and Silver Lake. Hopefully the rain will hold off long enough this week for you to check it out!

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Echo Park group holding meeting in response to Temple Street accident

Photo via KTLA

You may remember a traffic accident on September 27, 2011 at around 8:00 am in Echo Park, that left three girls ages five, ten and six injured. According to The Eastsider LA at that time, the accident was cause because the driver was blinded by the sun.

If you’ve ever driven down this area – Temple Street and Laveta Terrace – you’ll know that 1) people drive that road like it’s a freeway, and 2) that sun can, indeed, be a problem, depending on the time of day. Well folks, time to slow it down!

Since this is not the first pedestrian accident along that stretch of Temple, improving pedestrian and traffic safety has been a priority for many community members, and especially the Patton Allianza Coalition, which has in the past asked for improved safety on that same stretch. Thankfully in this case, the girls who were injured were okay (according to Echo Park Patch).

Which is why you should join the Coalition and other neighbors for a Community Safety Meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 6:30 pm, at the Betty Plasencia Elementary School. Help neighborhood organizations and city representatives identify problem spots and work through how to solve them, making our neighborhood and its corridors a safer place. Perhaps the LAPD will monitor speeding with a motorcycle cop to help slow things down?

Community Safety Meeting
Betty Plasencia Elementary School at 1321 Cortez Street
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 6:30 pm

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Your Saturday guide to Echo Park festivities

Lots of cool stuff going on today – grand opening parties and other festivities all around Echo Park. Here’s the calendar breakdown in case you missed something:

Día de los Muertos celebration

Holiday altars and vendors along with the Echo Park Mariachi Festival. From 4:00 – 6:00 pm at El Centro Del Pueblo.

The Warehouse Anniversary Party

Starts at 7:00 pm. Live music, beverages, and Delilah’s Bakery cupcakes.

Villainy General Store Grand Opening

Music and refreshments from 7:00 – 10:00 pm.

Sunset Beer Company Grand Opening Party

Music and beer from 6:00 – 10:00 pm

Weekend Music

Origami Vinyl, The Echo, Bootleg, Lot 1 and Taix have some great music tonight and tomorrow.

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below!

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Echo Park beauty salon volunteers makeovers for job-seekers in need

Beauty Box in Echo Park is a great example of the giving spirit of our local businesses. Since 2006, just a few months after opening the store (its original location is where Rock Paper Scissors is now), owners and sisters Vanessa Arce-Mendez and Lydia Guido were inspired to give back to their Los Angeles community by doing what they do best: Beauty!

After the makeover, with Erica (at right). Photo courtesy of Beauty Box

After chatting with a client who was working at Homegirl Industries, they all came up with the idea to donate their time to young teenagers and women who needed a little pick-me-up, inside and outside.

Homegirl Industries, a part of Homeboy Industries, provides at-risk and gang-involved youth with a chance to “contribute” to their communities by getting jobs, experience, and education. Beauty Box gives the girls makeovers, an opportunity for Lydia and Vanessa to help give them a day where they would “just feel good!”

Since Homegirl Industries helps with job placement, Vanessa and Lydia started with volunteering their hair and makeup services once a month to two women from the organization to help them prepare for job interviews. As the shop grew, and they moved to its current location across the street on Sunset Boulevard, they were able to add one more volunteer service with each additional staff member that was hired.

Vanessa wanted to give back, especially to women in Los Angeles, because she was a teen mom. While she had lots of family support, Vanessa knew a lot of girls her age, in her same circumstance, who didn’t have the same support. “I thought, one day when I can,” she said, “I will help other people as soon as I could do it.”

Beauty Box just recently decided to switch things up a bit, and is now going to start volunteering with a client who helps women develop interview skills and get appropriate clothes for job interviews. In addition to volunteering their services for hair, the women will leave with a goodie bag to help them maintain the new look.

Keep up the great work!

Beauty Box Salon & Nails
1498 W Sunset Blvd.
213-250-1515

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