,

Elf Café expanding, plans to serve beer and wine

Five years ago, Elf Café opened its doors to Echo Park vegetarians and vegans seeking gourmet Mediterranean themed cuisine. Until a couple of years ago the small, 700 square foot restaurant on Sunset Boulevard barely had a kitchen; they were using hot plates and convection ovens to churn out plates just a few nights a week, but still managing to convince even the heartiest of meat-eaters that vegetarian food can be good – like, really good.

Owner and chef Scott Zwiezen has been planning for over two years now to expand and “evolve” the restaurant into the adjacent space, plans which are now finally in motion. In the summer of 2012, the hot plates were replaced by a real kitchen that currently serves 20 seats. The expansion will add 448 square feet to the restaurant, including an additional bathroom, office and storage space, and eight more seats for the restaurant.

On top of taking over the empty “Branche Boutique” space next door, Elf Café has applied for a beer and wine license. Aware of the concentration of alcohol licenses in the area, Zwiezen has been doing outreach in the immediate radius since January. They told the Neighborhood Issues Committee of the Echo Park Improvement Association last night that the majority of the input has been favorable.

They’ve also got some neighborhood interest in new free cooking classes starting July 17, which will focus on introducing vegetarian cooking to Spanish-language speakers on Tuesday nights when the restaurant is closed.

And it’s a good time for the restaurant to start expanding its services – food critic Jonathan Gold lists Elf Café as one of his favorite restaurants in Los Angeles, recently recommending the restaurant for vegans and vegetarians in an online chat for the LA Times.

Currently, Elf is open just Wednesday through Sunday from 5:00 pm to about 1:00 am, but they will expand those hours under the beer and wine license. They are currently asking for 7:00 am – 2:00 am so that they have some flexibility should they want to start offering brunch and lunch service (which neighbor Mohawk Bend also offers). It’s unclear whether or not the expansion will now require them to provide a certain number of parking spaces.

A public hearing on the beer and wine license is expected to be in August this year, construction will start that same month but the restaurant should only be closed for a few days.

Elf Café is located at 2135 W Sunset Blvd.

/245 Comments/by
,

Green Works “art installation” under 2 Freeway Terminus in Echo Park

Underneath the 2 Freeway overpass at the Echo Park/Silver Lake borders, and along my daily commute to Atwater Village for work, is some almost unnoticeable “graffiti” along with a noticeable Green Works brand logo. Called “The Reverse Graffiti Gallery,” the installation is exactly that – instead of painting on the walls, artist Mr. Kiji used water and a power washer, essentially washing off the pollution and leaving behind the artist’s designs to prove “that cleaning can be beautiful, natural and inspirational.”

While I’m not a fan of these corporate ad campaign (Green Works is owned by Clorox in some ironic way), it was unexpected and got me Googling when I got to work…. Watch the video of how they did it after the jump.
Read more

/221 Comments/by
,

The Echo Park LA Pizza Company location is now OPEN!

The soft opening of LA Pizza Company happened just today! We swung by earlier this evening for a couple of slices, chatted with owner Oscar Arce, and took our warm slices of pizzas over the Sunset Beer Company for a classic dinner of pizza and beer.

Pizza and beer is a natural combination, like wine and cheese, beets and carrots, coffee and sugar (okay, now I’m just reaching). But for crying out loud, it’s Echo Park – and we’ve needed beer and pizza for eons.

Enter: LA Pizza Company, next door to Sunset Beer Company. A match made in heaven – this unexpected love relationship has made beer and pizza now a regular thing for Echo Parkians. For a meager $10 we got four slices of pizza, two cheese and two pepperoni. Took it next door to Sunset Beer (where they even offered us napkins), and enjoyed a Craftsman beer with our pizza slices. Lunchtime at LA Pizza Company will get you two slices (cheese and pepperoni) and a soda.

It’s also important to mention they do have vegetarian and vegan pizza options, which they also offered at their previous Chinatown location. And we think these guys have a perfect mix of Echo Park hipster versus Echo Park old school. Check it out at 1498 W Sunset Boulevard, in the same shopping center as Beauty Box and Sunset Beer Company.

 

/207 Comments/by

Attention sports fans: The much-anticipated Vin Scully Bobblehead design

Image via LAist

Of all the Dodgers promotional nights, we have a feeling the Vin Scully Bobblehead night is going to be the one to get. LAist has the scoop on the just-released design for the famous announcer’s much-anticipated bobblehead. The give-away takes place on the Thursday evening, August 30 game versus the Diamondbacks.

Unfortunately for most of us, they are un-attainable unless you’ve got a 10 game Flex Plan. Smart move, Dodgers…

/3 Comments/by
, ,

Blogger says friends were stabbed in Echo Park last night

The blogger of “Your Friend, Savannah” has a startling post today about two friends who were stabbed on the corner of Echo Park Avenue and Montana Street last night:

Two friends of ours were out last night and were on their way home. On MONTANA and ECHO PARK they were approached by a man (possibly 2?) who is described as a gang member. He began yelling at them and calling them “faggots” and saying really awful homophobic slurs. (Neither are gay, but are straight allies, are vocal for gay rights, and wear rainbow patches and buttons on occasion.)

They were both stabbed and all of their stuff was stolen.

My friend Brian is a bike rider in LA and his bike is BLACK, has a predominate RAINBOW STICKER down the side of a tube, and it has a BIG, FAT SEAT. His back pack is orange and his helmet is grey. (He is sometimes known as BRAINZ LA)

Brian was stabbed in his stomach, right above his belly button. He is alive and discharged, as this luckily didn’t hit anything vital. Our other friend (name withheld) was stabbed in his hip, so hard, it fractured his pelvis. He is still recovering in the hospital.

We’ve inquired for some more information, including the time of the incident. One of our Twitter friends heard a multitude of sirens last night at about 12:30 am, so we’re wondering if it’s related.

Stay safe out there!

/637 Comments/by
,

Echo Park Avenue street paving completed, no lines painted (yet)

Intersection of Echo Park Avenue and Scott Avenue

It’s like déjà vu from last year’s Sunset Boulevard street paving project, in which the asphalt was laid down but it took about three weeks to get street lines painted. This time – it’s Echo Park Avenue.

The Bureau of Street Services paved the long strip of Echo Park Avenue a couple of weekends ago, and while there are markers placed in the center lanes and cross walks, it’s for the most part a free-for-all.

Residents complained on the Echo Elysian Neighborhood Council forum recently, mainly in regards to stop sign at Effie Street and Echo Park Avenue. Those residents have noticed more people blowing through the stop sign, probably because they can’t see the sign and there are no lines painted for the intersection.

Representatives from Council District 13 told me they are keeping an eye out. Director of Communications Julie Wong said:

The re-striping is typically done within 2-3 weeks of the completion of the resurfacing project, which means that it will likely be done in the next week or two.  Our office is monitoring the situation and will continue to push DOT to make sure it gets done in a timely manner.

In the meantime, drive slowly and carefully along Echo Park Avenue.

 

/40 Comments/by
,

Singer takes on Echo Park hipsters in music video

Singer Meg Myers has taken on hipsters in Los Angeles in a recent music video for her song “Tennessee.” Armed with a toy gun, she takes to the streets of Silver Lake and Echo Park blasting all the hipsters. A transplant from Tennessee, the song lyrics say it all:

Oh my god
Is that a mustache tattoo on your finger?
I’ve never seen that before
Psych
Wait what
You wanna go to Little Joy on your vespa?
I don’t think so
God I miss Tennessee

You’ll recognize some Echo Park spots like the Brite Spot in the music video.

/69 Comments/by
,

Gun Buy-back Program today in Los Angeles

Leftover gun parts at La Fonderie in Echo Park hat were used for the 2011 Peace Angels Project award

The fourth annual Gun Buyback Program takes place today at six locations across Los Angeles. Held the day before Mother’s Day each year, the program promises “no questions asked” for turning in guns in exchange for a gift card. Assault weapons are credited $200 worth of Visa or Ralphs gift cards; shotguns, rifles and handguns receive $100.

In past years, local art studio La Fonderie in Echo Park has participated in the program (along with other at-risk youth programs), helping kids melt down the guns from the buy-back program into a sculpture for the 2011 Peace Angels Project award.

The nearest drop-off location in Echo Park is at the LAFD Training Academy located at 1700 Stadium Way. The drop-off is happening today until 3:00 pm. Click here for a list of other locations.

/4 Comments/by

Honda commercial: Unrealistic portrayal of parking at The Echo

A recently aired Honda EX-L ad, filmed in Echo Park last October, shows our main character “Tim” gallivanting around the neighborhood, and then pulling up to a nice, open spot in front of The Echo. As if!

A more realistic portrayal would show the characters taking up resident parking along Echo Park streets, and returning at 3 am shouting obnoxious things like, “I could have TOTALLY gotten her number!” Not that we have any experience with this kind of thing…

/648 Comments/by
,

Cuban Music Festival postponed second year in a row

Flickr photo by Max Santa Cruz, May 2010

Around this time of year, our email inbox gets flooded with questions about if there’s going to be a Cuban Music Festival at Echo Park Lake. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’ve confirmed with official organizers that there will not be a Cuban Music Festival this year.

The Cuban Music Festival is usually held annually at Echo Park Lake – this year would have been its 18th year. It celebrates Cuba’s Independence from Spain on May 20, and Cuban poet José Martí (you may have notice his statue at the corner of the park).

Last year’s festival was canceled due to funding issues. A representative from Duval Productions says they hope to come back next year when the lake rehab has completed.

/11 Comments/by
,

Echo Park Art Walk needs volunteers and ideas

We’re thoroughly looking forward to yet another successful Echo Park Art Walk this year – taking place on Saturday, May 19 all around Echo Park. Planning stages are in full force, and organizers are asking for the community’s help. This event wouldn’t happen without the participation of the community – it takes a village!

Echo Park Public Displays of Art’s (PDA) annual art walk started as a small event involving businesses and artists along Echo Park Avenue. Now it’s expanded to Sunset Boulevard, as far as Alvarado. The Art Walk is a community event filled with music, art exhibits, store sales, film screenings, food trucks, workshops, and even sidewalk chalk and bubbles for the kids.

Get involved by going to a community meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, April 24 at 7:00 pm. Share your ideas for the Art Walk, and just learn more about how to get involved. Meet at the Echo Park Time Travel Mart at 1714 W. Sunset Boulevard. RSVP here!

 

/722 Comments/by

Photo: RIP Dick Clark

A couple of candles and flowers decorate the Dick Clark mural on Glendale Boulevard, under the Sunset Bridge, in Echo Park.

/1 Comment/by
, ,

Tomorrow is Record Store Day – Celebrate in Echo Park

Hipsters rejoice! Tomorrow is the annual Record Store Day – where independently owned record stores across the country celebrate music with special vinyl and CD releases. Echo Park’s Origami Vinyl and Mono Records are participating this year with some special events of their own:

Origami Vinyl

Open at 8:00 am with coffee and snacks from Stories Books & Cafe. Shoppers will be allowed in ten at a time, and the first 300 people get an Origami Vinyl/Generic Surplus Record Store Day tote bag free with purchase. They’ll also have some more special give-aways, and you even go to The Echo patio to listen to your purchases or check in your bag at the “vinyl valet” while you enjoy the show.

Starting at noon on The Echo patio will be eight bands and guest DJs – but if you can’t make it to the show check out the live stream at radio.magicmonsterrecords.com. Bands include:

Big Black Delta @ 7:00 pm
Henry Clay People @ 6:00 pm
Electric Guest @ 5:00 pm
Races @ 4:00 pm
Zammuto @ 3:00 pm
Electric Flower Group @ 2:00 pm
Jenny O @ 1:00 pm
All Tiny Creatures @ Noon

Guest DJs spinning in Origami Vinyl:

Jason Kramer from KCRW
Shaun Koplow from Anticon
Jason from Dub Club/Punky Reggae
Matt & Patrick from Light in the Attic
Alyssa Bailey from KXLU
Angela Asistio from KXSC
Jen Ferrer from KXSC
Cristina Ramirez from KXLU
Chris Ziegler from LA Record

Check out the store’s Facebk page for more info.

Mono Records

This will be a great opportunity to finally get our butts over to the new Glendale Boulevard record store, which just opened a few months ago. They’ll have the STAX “Flipside of Stax” 45 boxes available, and of course a sale: All wax under $10 is 20% off, over $10 is 15% off the entire day. Store opens at 10:00 am.

There are a ton of other Los Angeles record store locations celebrating the day, check out LAist for the details.

/by

How many 7-11s can you fit in Echo Park?

Apparently a lot!

Glendale Boulevard at Berkeley is getting a new 7-11, and a presentation at the last week’s neighborhood council Planning & Land Use Committee revealed plans for another location at Alvarado Street and Beverly Boulevard. The map above is a screenshot of several 7-11 stores in Echo Park and the immediate area, with the purple dots showing locations for the  twonew stores.

The Beverly Boulevard and Alvarado Street 7-11 location will be part of a larger demolition and rebuild of a service station at 2041 Beverly Boulevard. It sounds like the state of the existing building is pretty bad, and could use a serious boost. But even committee members at the Planning & Land Use meeting asked if there would be alternative vendors other than 7-11, especially since there’s one on Beverly Boulevard just down the road. A quick search on the franchise’s website for our zip code, and there are at least six 7-11 stores within a two mile radius (not including the new ones).

However, it looks like the deal is done, and the property owners have already negotiated the establishment of a 7-11 store at the revamped location. But permits still need to be granted, and the neighborhood council has asked for hours of beer and wine sales to be reduced just as the Glendale Boulevard location has done.

/2 Comments/by

Young Echo Park bicycle activist hits the road

Echo Park student Jackson Huang at CicLAvia (wearing the white shirt and white cap)

Jackson Huang is Echo Park’s newest bicycling activist – at 13 years old (soon to be 14), he’s taken up a cause that will be beneficial to the neighborhood and beyond.

Jackson, who also happens to be our neighbor, gained some notoriety recently with a letter he wrote to Councilmember Ed Reyes (CD1) after his class at Nightingale Middle School in Cypress Park was visited by CicLAvia and Flying Pigeon LA Bike Shop representatives. The visit taught kids about bicycling, including how to fix a flat and stay safe, but also inspired the kids to write letters encouraging politicians to support a new bike plan that would lead directly to the school. Jackson’s letter reads:

The LA City bike Plan of 2010 states that bicycle lanes of Ave 28 and Cypress Ave will be added. The reason why we need bike lanes is because there are kids in this area that are overweight or obese. Kids can get exercise while riding their bikes home and lessening the risk of obesity.

Councilmember Reyes responded (quote via The Eastsider LA):

I grew up riding my bicycle in Lincoln Heights and Cypress Park and agree that bicycle lanes are critical for the health and safety of our neighborhoods. I have been working very hard with City staff and community members like you to ensure that the 2010 Bicycle Plan is implemented as quickly as possible.

Jackson and his bike team were amongst the 100,000 participants in yesterday’s CicLAvia event in Downtown Los Angeles, where the city announced the new Los Angeles Bike-Sharing program, which will allocate 4,000 bicycles to 400 kiosks around the city for everyone with $6 (the daily charge) to use. Even though Ed Reyes’ office hasn’t provided a date when the bike plan will be implemented, Jackson isn’t discouraged, telling us:

I feel like he [Reyes] is doing a great job in helping us get bike lanes and bridge project because it is safer to go on the bridge than going around to get to the LA river route.

And the council wants kids to be safe, right? We’re proud of our young neighbors who are getting involved and taking action!

Check out Jackson’s letter below!

/216 Comments/by