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Stadium Preps for Dodgers vs. Yankees Series Tomorrow

The much-anticipated Dodgers versus Yankees series starts tomorrow, and the Stadium is preparing for the crowds and some unusual start times. Neighborhood Relations Manager Noel Pallais just sent out an email to community members about some of the steps the stadium is taking to “minimize the impact on our neighbors”:

Dear Neighbor:

As has been our commitment to inform the surrounding community of upcoming events, we have listed below updated information for games to be played this weekend at Dodger Stadium against the New York Yankees. Please note that in an effort to minimize the impact on our neighbors due to the starting times being different than our regularly scheduled weekend games we are working very closely with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (DOT); additionally, as was the case during this past Opening Day and last year’s National League Division and Championship Series, all of our parking gates will open 2 ½ hrs prior to the start of the games:

Friday, June 25th – 7:10PM

Parking gates will open at 4:40PM and Stadium gates will open 5:10PM.

Saturday, June 26th – 4:10PM

Parking gates will open at 1:40PM and Stadium gates will open by 2:10PM.

Sunday, June 27th – 5:05PM

Parking gates will open at 2:40PM and Stadium gates will open by 3:10 pm.

Do note that for all three games LAPD and DOT are treating this weekend series as 3 separate Opening Days. To this end, DOT will have an earlier deployment of officers in an effort to keep arteries open for community members to access their neighborhoods. Additionally, LAPD will, also schedule an earlier deployment, as well as deploy an increased numbers of officers, to proactively patrol the surrounding community, especially the area in and around the park. Also, the City of Los Angeles will enact street a closure for Lilac Terrace between Stadium Way and Lookout Way from 12:00AM on Friday, June 25th and continuing to 11:00PM on Sunday, June 27th for staging purposes and game preparations. During this closure emergency access will be maintained at all times.

Also, we are actively encouraging all fans to arrive early, carpool and take the Dodger Stadium Express shuttle from Union Station to help alleviate parking congestion. We recently sent out a press release that noting that the Dodger Stadium Express picks up fans at the Patsaouras Bus Plaza adjacent to the east portal of Union Station and drops them off in the parking lot behind left/center field.

Finally, since safety is of paramount importance, all necessary traffic controls will be in place. Additionally, (323) 224-1363 is the 24-hour number you should use to report any security concerns.

The Scott gate will be open for exiting traffic for all games. I’ve asked Noel to see if DOT will provide assistance on the corner of Sargent and Scott Avenue at the stop sign to help with the traffic.

As for fans – don’t expect to walk up on game-day to get tickets. The Dodgers didn’t sell individual tickets to the Yankees series, but reserved tickets for fans buying season seats or packages of 14, 21 or 28 games. It looks like you can get tickets on StubHub, but they won’t come as cheap as all the other games (right now, top deck prices are around $27.00 – ouch!).

I’ll be happily enjoying the game from home or at El Compadre myself. See you there!

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Hello Summer in Echo Park!

Monday marked the first official day of summer! We’ve been lucky with the mild weather lately, but soon enough it’s going to get hot outside. If you’re like me and live in an old house with no central air, you’ll be looking for a place to cool down soon enough. Here are some good local places to go cool off:

Echo Park Deep Pool:

Not to be confused with the Echo Park Shallow Pool by the Rec Center, the deep pool is located at 1419 Colton St. It’s super cheap too – adults get in for $2 with your library card (regularly $2.50)! Children and seniors are free. Some Yelp! reviews say the pool is pretty crowded, but I haven’t personally been yet so it’s worth a shot!

Website
Download PDF flyer of events/services, hours and pricing for 2010 (there are swimming lessons!)

Through September 3, hours are:
Monday-Friday: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Monday – Thursday: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Edendale & Echo Park Libraries:

Edendale: Located at 2011 West Sunset Boulevard, the library is a nice (and quiet!) place to go sit under an air conditioning vent and read a book. Unfortunately, city cuts have reduced library hours. So while you can’t go on Sundays, or before noon on some weekdays, the library is available. Click here for the website and hours.

Echo Park Library: Located at 1410 W. Temple Street, the Echo Park Library always has something going on. There are lots of activities for kids, volunteer opportunities for high school students, computer classes, book sales, and more. Click here for the website and hours.

Echo Park Rec Center

While the shallow pool looks like it’s closed for a while, the Rec Center still has barbecue pits and picnic tables, a really awesome playground, baseball diamond, basketball courts, football field, indoor gym, soccer field, and tennis courts. There are a ton of classes (from ballet to free kickboxing to cooking), adult and children’s leagues, and even an after school club. Click here for the PDF flyer of the 2010 program.

Any other brilliant ideas on how to cool down for summer in Echo Park? Let us know!

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Local Government & Activism

City Government

Council District 1:
Ed Reyes
163 S. Ave 24, Room 202, Los Angeles, CA 90031 (Field Office address)
Phone: (213) 485-0763
Fax: (213) 485-8908

Council District 13:
Eric Garcetti
5500 Hollywood Blvd., 4th Floor
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: 323-957-4500

Neighborhood Groups

Echo Park Chamber of Commerce
Echo Park Improvement Association
Echo Park Historical Society
Echo Park Advisory Board (covers Echo Park Lake and rec center)
Edendale Library Friends Society

Neighborhood Council

Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council
GEPENC Meeting Calendar
Echo Elysian Neighborhood Council Yahoo! Forum

You can view some boundary maps by checking out our About Echo Park page.

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Week In Music

For the week of Monday, June 21 through Sunday, June 27th.

Monday
Rainbow^Arabia, Abe Vigoda, Aska, Demo Team, DJ ORO11 at The Echo (free!)
Desktop Rulers, Nightmare & The Cat at Bootleg Theater
Nu Sensae, Shearing Pinx, NASA Space Universe, Bad Party at Pehrspace
Totally Serious, Witt, Rats, Snuffaluffagus at Echo Curio

Tuesday
Seasons’ EP release, Tenlons Fort, Death to Anders, Magick Orchids at The Echo
Gemma Ray at Origami Vinyl (free! Early Show; 7 PM)
Space Waves at Bootleg Theater
Nude Beach, Fim at Echo Curio

Wednesday
Matmos, So Percussion, Lexie Mountain Boys at Rec Center Studio
Hot Hot Heat, Eulogies, Links at Bootleg Theater
No Babies, Hawney Troof, TEARIST, Signals at Echo Curio

Thursday
Benefit for Musicares Nashville Flood Relief Fund feat. Carlene Carter, Dave Alvin, Exene Cervenka, Syd Straw, Tony Gilkyson, Seaspin, The Damn Sons at The Echo
Family of the Year, The Steelwells at Bootleg Theater
Learning Music, Rats, Donut at Echo Curio

Friday
Joe Pug, Jim Hanft, Sonny Pete at The Echo
Head Like A Kite, Smoosh at Bootleg Theater
Lemuria, The Monthlies, Roman Candles at Echo Curio
Moses Campbell, Aerial Stereo, Record Year, Watercolor Paintings at Pehrspace
Travie McCoy, Tay Dizm, Tiron, Ayomari, 82 Stuck Up Kids at Echoplex

Saturday
Lou Barlow, Sarah Jaffe at Bootleg Theater
Giant Drag at Echoplex
Bowery Beasts’ 7″ release at Origami Vinyl
Gabriel Sullivan, Maquiladora, Alina Cutrono, The Fragile Gang at Echo Curio

Sunday
Grand Ole Echo feat. Dan Janisch, Chris Latero & Buffalo Robe, Vanish Valley at The Echo (free! Early Show; 5 PM)
Part Time Punks feat. Fuxa, LSD & The Search For God + Suki Ewers at The Echo
Holy Rolling Empire, The Sea of Cortez, The Atlantic Line, Freddy Fudd Pucker at Echo Curio

Thanks to LAist

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Adopt a Cat/Dog: Father’s Day Discount Days

Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 20th! Give a Cat or Dog a much needed home and surprise Dad with a cuddly companion at the same time!

For the 90026 area code, the closest center is North Central, located at 3201 Lacy Street. For all others out there, go to www.laanimalservices.com to find a center near you!

Masa loves animals too! When you adopt, make sure you bring your paperwork to Masa and get 50% off your next visit!

Click here to download the above flyer to print out.

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Laker Fans Come in Many Shapes and Sizes

Milo and Willow, owners of Echo Park resident Jennifer, are representing the Lakers today for Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

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Week In Music

Sorry this is late. Tuesday, June 15th – Sunday, June 20th

Tuesday
Alex Bleeker, Julian Lynch @ Origami Vinyl (FREE! Early Show; 5 PM)
Woodsist Festival w/ Real Estate, Woods, Kurt Vile, Abe Vigoda, Art Museums, The Mantles, Nodzz, Sun Araw, All Saints Day, The Baths @ Echo & Echoplex
My Education, Nohow On @ Bootleg Theater
The Rooftop Vigilantes, French Exit, Horse Marriage @ Echo Curio

Wednesday
Hot Hot Heat, Eastern Conference Champions, The Janks @ Bootleg Theater

Thursday
Loch Lomond, Hey Marseilles @ Bootleg Theater
Vato Negro, Skinwalker, Unfact, Technology @ The Echo
bikos, Hot TV, The Modlins @ Pehrspace
Falcon Eddy, Abe Marber, Night Control @ Echo Curio

Friday
Active Child, Rocco Deluca @ Bootleg Theater
Division Day @ Origami Vinyl (FREE! Early Show; 7 PM)
Pantha Du Prince, Delphic @ The Echo
Hi Ho Silver Oh, Tenlons Fort, Olentangy John, Judson & Mary @ Echo Curio

Saturday
Freestyle Fellowship, Busdriver, Nocando @ Echoplex
The Blasters @ The Echo (Early Show; 5:30 PM)
OBSCURER, Warm Climate, Dubumba @ Pehrspace
Bebe Buell @ Origami Vinyl (Free! Early Show; 4 PM)
Ovideo @ Origami (FREE! Early Show; 7 PM)
Gypsyhawk, Lungbutter, Professor, Tap This (all girl tribute to “Spinal Tap”!!!!) @ Echo Curio

Sunday
Part Time Punks w/ Warlocks, The Meek, Green Eyes @ The Echo
Chrome Wings, Italic Indians, BARR, PROTECTME @ Echo Curio

Thanks to LAist

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Exploring Native Plants in Elysian Park

A passion vine flower blooms in Echo Park

The next time you take a walk, hike, or picnic in Elysian Park, take a look around at all the different types of trees and flowers (both native and non-native) that decorate the landscape around the park. Next time you go, you might know a few of the names!

Echo Park resident Michael O’Brien, a horticulture expert who frequently updates us on blooming trees and flowers in the neighborhood, recently wrote on the Echo Elysian Neighborhood Council forum about a website he contributes to documenting plantlife in Elysian Park.

“The botanical survey is ongoing,” he writes, “and far from complete, but you can look up the 159 species currently identified on CalPhotos. (Just enter “Elysian” in the search box.) There you will find photos of all the species.”

The purpose of his post on the forum, however, was also a warning about the future of about two dozen native species in Elysian Park. The Los Angeles Planning Committee recently voted in favor of developers to build a 120-unit condo complex on what is known as the “Menlo Property” in Silver Lake on Riverside Drive (near the Fletcher intersection). Many residents (in Silver Lake, Echo Park, and beyond) are concerned that the condo complex will basically block an important thoroughfare for both animals and plants from the Los Angeles river to the Echo Park/Elysian Park area.

“The Menlo project on Riverside Drive has closed off any possibility of gene flow to the Park from the Santa Monica Mountains, so there are approximately 2 dozen native species in the park that will go extinct in our lifetime,” O’Brien explains. Read his full post on the forum here.

If you’re interested in the Menlo Property history, politics, and future, I suggest reading through Diane Edwardson’s blog called Corralitas Red Car Property by clicking here.

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Echo Park Animal Alliance Event Tomorrow

The Echo Park Animal Alliance is having a fundraiser yard sale, pet supply giveaway, and pet adoption!

From 9:00 am – 4:00 pm tomorrow (Saturday, June 12) you can purchase items at the yard sale to benefit the EPAA, pick up some free dog food, collars and supplies.

From noon – 4:00 pm, there will be some adorable puppies for adoption!

They are also looking for play yard for the puppies, if you have one to donate for the day please contact the EPAA by emailing info@echoparkanimalalliance.org

Check it out at 1850 Echo Park Ave.
Visit echoparkanimalalliance.org for more information about the EPAA.

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Restaurant and Business News Roundup

New restaurants and businesses:

  • Xoia Vietnamese Eats may open up sometime soon this month (they recently posted Craigslist ads hiring staff). The restaurant took over the old Par Paint location on Sunset Blvd. and Lemoyne Street.
  • Montana LA, a “paint boutique” selling spray paint, is opening later this month in the 1500 block of Sunset Blvd. The Eastsider LA has the full story.

Closed/Moving

  • Haute Olive is moving downtown from its Echo Park location under the Sunset bridge on Glendale Blvd.
  • Warwick closed up its location at 1461 ½ W Sunset Blvd and is now at a much larger space at 1205 Sunset Blvd.

Ongoing/Weekly Specials

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Prince And Michael Jackson In Echo Park!

Footlong_Development & Keistar Productions Present

SOUL SLAM VI: PRINCE & MICHAEL JACKSON

Friday, June 11th

Echoplex
9pm
$11 advance, $15 at the door
21+

Celebrating The Life & Legacy Of Our Greatest Icon!
THE KING OF POP!
MICHAEL JACKSON (1958-2009 R.I.P)
&
Honoring Our Most Prolific & Influential Artist
PRINCE

This event centers around the honoring of two of the most eclectic and innovative artists to date, Michael Jackson and Prince! From the inception of this concept back in 1999 the response for SOUL SLAM has been enormous. DJ Spinna sets the tone of this event as he lays down track after track from both MJ’s and Princes extensive music catalogues along with tracks of their cohorts, i.e.; Jermaine Jackson, Vanity, Janet, Sheila E., J5, The Time etc. Soul Slam returns to LA this June!

Last years visit to LA brought out 1100+ people….That night’s event filled with LA’s top taste makers, fashionistas and music fans hit capacity in an hour and a half of the doors opening.

What: A dedication to Michael Jackson & His Royal Clan and Prince & His Disciple. Featuring one of New York’s finest, DJ Spinna. Also, opening set by LA’s own MonaLisa. This is a world-wide event that originated in New York and has reached San Francisco, Japan, Los Angeles & Europe.

DJ SPINNA:
Regarded as one of the most versatile and talented producers/DJ’s/Remixers in today’s musical arena. With so much studio work, it’s a marvel Spinna travels as much as he does. The constant globe-trotting performances he’s become equally famed for having brought the DJ as far as Iceland, Australia, and South Africa as well as countless jaunts through England, Europe and the U.S. Not to forget, his hugely successful tours of Japan, where Spinna is held in the highest regard throughout the country for his craft in music. He has produced numerous tracks and remixes for notable artists such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, De La Soul, Mos Def, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Pharoahe Monch, George Michael and many more.

MonaLisa:
Monalisa Murray has been an independent grassroots promoter of quality music and events across the country for the last 20 years. She supported various DJs and musicians in the Los Angeles area before taking her love of music to the tables. She is a member of the KPL All Stars DJ crew and has previously shared bills with DJs such as Spinderella, Garth Trinidad, Vikter Duplaix, Al Jackson, Jeremy Sole, Dam-Funk, Kiilu, Mr. Choc, Babu, Rhettmatic, Coleman, Gomez Warren and Lisa J.

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Get Organized at Bneato Bootcamp

Bneato is having another Organizing Bootcamp for the disorganized on Saturday, June 12 from 2:30-4:00 pm.

The Bootcamp is designed for those who don’t have the time to organize by themselves, can’t afford to hire a professional organizer but need one, and just want a better understanding of organizing and filing. From Bneato owner and Professional Organizer Beth Zeigler:

Scheduling time to organize is half the battle. But once you finally set aside time to get organized you have no idea where to begin (not to mention being overwhelmed). Plus-rounding up supplies that the professionals use is a process of its own. Enter Bneato Organizing Boot Camp. The first of its kind, Boot Camp offers accountability, the trusted help of a pro and tips and tricks to help you reach your goals (all at a price you can afford). Participants bring their own disorganized paperwork to class by placing piles (or files) in a file box.

Email Beth to sign up, or check out the website.
(There’s also a $5.00 off coupon on the website if you refer a friend! Click here)
Saturday, June 12th 2:30-4:00 pm

1226 N. Alvarado Street (in the community room of the United Methodist Church)
Cost is $30
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Echo Park Crime Update

At last week’s Echo Park Improvement Association meeting, officer Robert Hill provided us with an update from the Northeast Division Police Department. Here are some notes from that update:

  • The Northeast Division made three arrests made last week, including a 19-year-old on Valentine Street and two juveniles breaking into a house. Since those arrests, Officer Hill says there haven’t been any similar break-ins since (as of the meeting date, which was on June 3).
  • Since residents cleaned up the Lucretia stairway on May 15, Officer Hill says there are no more “kids” hanging around anymore.
  • Kids and teenagers have been recently experimenting with these plants called “trumpet flowers,” and two or three students (Hill said three, The Eastsider LA is reporting two) were recently found skipping school and appeared to be under the influence of this poisonous plant (by ingesting the plant, some people believe it has hallucinogenic properties, but is actually quite deadly). The Eastsider LA has the full story here.
  • Car break-ins are still occurring around Dodger stadium, especially on Laveta Terrace.
  • There was a narcotic arrest off of Scott Avenue near Portia, in which first responders were responding to a domestic dispute and drugs were found in the residence.

Here are some of the crimes that have occurred since June 1:

June 1: Two violent robberies, one theft from vehicle

June 2: two thefts from vehicle, three personal/other thefts

June 3: one theft from vehicle, one violent robbery, two aggravated assaults

June 4: four thefts from vehicle, one personal/other theft

June 5: One theft from vehicle, two aggravated assault

June 6: One aggravated, one personal/other theft, two thefts from vehicle, one violent robbery

June 7: Two thefts from vehicles, one aggravated assault, and one property burglary.

June 8: One theft from vehicle

Be safe out there! Keep any “stuff” out of sight in your cars as the usual electronics (iPods, phones, computers) seem to always be the target.

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Roller Derby this Saturday: L.A. vs AZ

You think there’s gonna be a protest against Arizona’s new immigration law?

This Saturday, June 12, the Los Angeles Aftershockers face off against the Arizona Derby Dames at 1910 W. Temple St. Cost of admission is $17.00 online and $20.00 at the door. They suggest that you purchase your tickets online as they “WILL SELL OUT.” Doors open at 6:00 pm. Cash only at the door. Event is 21+. Parking is $8 at the Silverlake Medical Center.

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Dodger Stadium’s Tourist Photos Mapped

Photo by Eric Fischer via Flickr

You may or may not know that when you upload your photo(s) on Flickr, you can “geo-tag” them, providing a location for each photograph. Photographer Eric Fischer has taken the geo-tagged information and turned it into maps that indicate tourists that have posted photos (the red lines and dots) versus the locals (the blue lines and dots). The resident photos are determined by those who posted photos in the city “dated over a range of a month or more,” while the tourists are “people who seem to be a local of a different city and who took pictures in this city for less than a month.” The yellow dots and lines are those who can be either tourist or a resident, and it couldn’t be determined which was which.

The map above shows a zoomed-in view of the “Los Angeles and Pasadena” map. Quite a few tourist shots going on there! Click on the map to view the full map and more of Eric Fisher’s geo-tag maps for other parts of Los Angeles.

Also – shoutout to LAist for its article today on the maps!

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