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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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Weird weather watch in Echo Park

Today was a another gorgeous, breezy, cool day in Echo Park – a great break from the recent heat that keeps the kitchen activity at a minimum and the window AC on high. Tonight we got another rainbow (and even sightings of a double rainbow), and now as we are enjoying the after dinner glass of wine there is plenty of lightning and thunder flashing through the windows. Although this is my favorite kind of weather, it’s a little eerie that it’s not 85 degrees and clear skies – but the weather girls keep saying we are getting “monsoonal moisture” in the foothills, creating those big thunderheads we’ve been seeing a lot lately and now the lightning bolts.

It was about a year ago that it was literally 90 degrees outside at 9:00 pm (unusual for Los Angeles, not the central valley!), and we had an incredible storm producing some amazing shots all around Echo Park. Although we’ve been living here for more than a few years now, it’s always a pleasant surprise.

Makes for a beautiful sunset!

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FYF Fest pre-show with Glass Candy at Los Globos

We’re excited for a just-announced FYF Fest pre-show to take place just a night before the start of the hipster festival – on Friday, September 2 our friends Glass Candy and Chromatics will take the stage at Silver Lake night club Los Globos. DJs GODDOLLARS, Chris Cruse and Doctor Golden are also included on the bill.

Now, this brings a question to mind – why Los Globos? This is not a venue I see FYF Fest scoping out, in fact, just perusing the Yelp reviews (and knowing the venue’s reputation) this is a salsa and merengue venue, not exactly the indie type.

Perhaps this is the new work of entrepreneur and Echo Park resident Mitchell Frank (the Echo, Echoplex, El Prado, etc.) – whose split with partners at Spaceland opened up the search for a new venture in this part of LA. And although there are no official confirmations of new ownership yet, there is a rumor of new owners and some renovations made to the interior. We’ll have to check it out on Friday night at the show!

Tickets are $10 advance, $12 at the door. Click here to purchase ahead of time, and here for the event info.

Los Globos is located at 3040 W Sunset Blvd.

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North Central Animal Shelter’s new Facebook page

Even though Echo Park has our own wonderful animal services group (the Echo Park Animal Alliance), the nearest animal shelter is the North Central Shelter located on Lacy Street. And they can come in handy if you’ve found someone’s (or lost your) best buddy late at night.

We can now welcome the shelter into the 21st century – because they now have a Facebook page!

But here’s your fair warning – it will tug at your heartstrings. I mean, just look at those kitty photos!

Click here to visit and like the Facebook page.

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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.

Read more

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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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New Echo Park gallery to open with ’80s gaming inspired art

A new art studio space is opening in Echo Park, actually just around the corner from the new Mohawk Bend, is starting things off with a bang – tomorrow night, the new iam8bit Productions is hosting an art opening for fans of 1980s video game artwork. The group show is hosting over 100 artists “re-imagining” their 1980s era gaming fantasies via painting, sculpture, plush, and some interactive displays.

The super grand opening party starts at 7 pm and ends at 11 pm, music by DJ R-Rated along with Leeni and A_Rival. The show runs through September 10, 2011.

iam8bit took over the space a while back in November of 2010, spending their time renovating the 4,500 square foot space since then. In an email, owner Jon Gibson told us about the renovation: “We’ve been working rather stealthily, dramatically transforming what was a pretty dumpy space.”

And they are excited not just for the opening but also for the neighborhood: “We’re rather intent on bringing the local businesses in the neighborhood together, as one of the things we specialize in (and the reason we initially got the space) was for our marketing boutique and production company, in which we’ve become known for our community programs (i.e. engaging fans of brands).”

iam8bit is located at 2147 W. Sunset Boulevard

Looking forward to the show – see you all there!

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A happy weather weekend for Echo Park

Some weird weather the past week, eh? There’s been a little bit of humidity in the air as of late (I’m not complaining, having just come back from Virginia a few days ago), causing some “monsoonal” rains in the dessert and bulbous (cumulus?) clouds over the mountains.

Nearby neighbor Will Cambell posted this photo of the Silver Lake sky the other day on his blog, and there was even a report of drops of rain Elysian Heights/Echo Park on Tuesday. This weekend promises some nice, sunny, and cooler weather with a high of 80 degrees. Sounds like a perfect weekend for some Elysian Park BBQs?

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Timelapse video shows the beautiful side of Los Angeles lights

The following video “LA Light” was created by Los Angeles native and photographer/videographer Colin Rich. It’s simply stunning!


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Map: How walkable is Echo Park?

Apparently, very walkable!

With an average “walk score” of 75, Echo Park is #19 of 95 neighborhoods scored by the website walkscore.com. The green highlights in the map shown above indicate a high walkability zone (where “daily errands do not require a car”), while the red areas are less walkable (where “almost all errands require a car”).

Now, we love the walking thing – in a beautiful neighborhood like Echo Park, it’s wonderful, free exercise and we get to explore the many hidden stairways.

You may notice that the map, however, doesn’t show ALL of Echo park, missing the neighborhoods west of Alvarado and south of the 101, but you get the picture.

Click here to check out the full map and details from the Walk Score website.

 

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Headline of the day: “Giant Blue Penis Appears and Disappears in Echo Park”

Shield your mothers from the computer, this might be the most graphic thing we’ve ever posted on EPN… (scandalous!!).

We can’t help it, this is one of those headlines that makes you wonder. Curbed LA posted this little tidbit today along with the following head-scratching photo:

Photo from Curbed LA

A tipster sends in this photo of what we’re pretty sure is not a Smurfs promotion and writes: “As if Echo Park isn’t strange enough, this blue penis sculpture was just merrily sitting on the hellstrip on Allesandro at Whitmore this afternoon. It disappeared in just a few hours. Who put it there? Who picked it up? How strange is this place?” Pretty damn strange, EP! Your move, Silver Lake.

Perhaps this is a replica of the murder weapon used in A Cockwork Orange? Oops, I mean A Clockwork Orange?

Curbed LA, you are a cheeky and clever internet friend. We dig it.

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Tuesday: Echo Park’s 6th annual National Night Out

Tomorrow (Tuesday, August 2, 2011) is the 6th annual Echo Park National Night Out. The theme: “Our Community, Our Future, The Power of Choices.” The purpose: To provide a safe community event with the goal of preventing drugs and crime in our neighborhood. From the EP National Night Out website:

The National Night Out is a program promoting neighborhood spirit and police-community partnership in our goal for a safer nation. The annual National Night Out (NNO) event, is unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TOWN WATCH (NATW). The purpose is to promote and strengthen community involvement, partnership with police and community, it is a positive tool used to enchance the quality of life, for a crime and drug free town.

Stop by and say hello from 5:00 – 8:00 pm in the Walgreens parking lot located at 1625 W. Sunset Blvd.

Free entrance, hot dogs, crafts and activities for kids and adults, and free give-aways. There will also be free eye examinations, chart reading and checkup for Glaucoma, along with check-ups for blood pressure, diabetes check-up and oxygen.

Master of Ceremony is Leonel Ledezma, which special appearances and speakers by:

Captain Williams Murphy from Northeast Police Division, Senior Lead Officer Bobby Hill from Northeast Police Station, the office of City Council President and Member Eric Garcetti of District 13, Alana Yanez (deputy for the office of Senator Kevin de Leon), District 1 City Council Member Ed Reyes, and Mitchell Frank (Echo Park Chamber of Commerce President and Owner of the Echo/Echoplex Club, El Prado, and Malo).

Visit the Echo Park National Night Out website for details on participating booths, sponsors, and how to get involved.

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Mohawk Bend opening tonight – for realsies

A Facebook announcement by the people behind Echo Park’s (and Los Angeles’) most anticipated restaurant opening has the words we’ve all been waiting for – “We are opening this evening – for real!”

There was a bit of confusion out there on the ‘nets about when Mohawk Bend would open – dates went from end of June to early July, to July 27, which was last week and was obviously not happening. As we’ve mentioned before, if you’ve ever worked or opened a restaurant, there’s a lot of kinks to work out (especially with the city permit office).

While we are confirming the exact time doors will open, expect to have dinner out tonight with an incredible selection of vegan (and non-vegan) dishes, cocktails, and of course over 70 beers on tap.

Be sure to read up on our past stories about Mohawk Bend:

UPDATE:

We just received the official press release for the grand opening, which gives us the restaurant/bar hours as:

Open daily from 5:00 pm. to 11:30 pm Sunday through Thursday, and 5:00 pm to 1:30 am Friday and Saturday. Dinner will be served first upon opening — lunch and brunch will follow in the coming weeks.

In the press release, owner Tony Yanow says, “We’re so excited to open in Echo Park and be a part of the Eastside community. With Mohawk Bend, we are really hoping to create a neighborhood restaurant and bar and one that shows our commitment to California with all of the California-based products we use, from our 100-percent California beer, wine and cocktail program to the local, organic ingredients in the kitchen.”

Looking forward to checking it out again!

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Flyover and parachute jump performance at tonight’s Dodger game

Flickr photo by reddawg31

In conjunction with Navy Week in Los Angeles, tonight’s Dodgers game against the Arizona Diamondbacks will feature a flyover and parachute jump performed by the US Navy team, the Leap Frogs. The demonstration is also part of the Navy Appreciation theme that will be taking place at the Stadium this evening.

The game starts at 7:10 pm, so keep your eyes on the sky around 6:50 pm.

Also, in preparation for tonight’s event there will be a similar flyover and parachute jump earlier in the day between 10:30 am to 11:30 am.

Call the Neighborhood Focus Line at (323) 224-2636 with questions or concerns.

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