Stories Books & Cafe here in Echo Park got a great shout-out in the LA Times online today. The article features the cute bookstore as the “Bookstore of the Week.”
We love Stories for the $5 Mac ‘n Cheese Mondays, the free wi-fi, and its close proximity to a coin laundro-mat as well as 826LA.
Why do you go (or not…) to Stories?
Click here for the full story at LATimes.com
Fix Coffee is gearing up to apply for a wine and beer license for its location all the way up Echo Park Avenue in Elysian Valley. A quiet neighborhood, it will definitely be a different place to grab a beer than the other jam-packed locations along Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park.
No official applications have been submitted, and the owners aren’t quite ready to go on record about anything, but it’s possible the coffee shop will be open as late as 11:00 pm. For the neighbors living amongst the narrow streets, fight for parking as it is, and who enjoy the quiet area, this might not be a welcoming change. There’s a part of me that welcomes a more “chill” place to grab a drink, especially since there are few locations in Echo Park to enjoy a beer outside in the warm Los Angeles air. But I also feel compassion for the neighbors who really value quiet evenings at home.
Vintage shoppers get look inside Echo Park store Lemon Frog Shop located on Alvarado and Sunset today on NBC LA!
Lemon Frog is located at 1202 N. Alvarado St.
A lot of changes over the past few months for Lot 1 at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Laveta Terrace – they’ve added tables outside, beer and wine, and now some live entertainment.
According to the Lot 1 Facebook page, the cafe received its entertainment license last November. It was also granted a beer and wine license last year, and now serves up the neighborhoods best deal for mimosas (only $4). Combine food, booze, and live entertainment, and then add late night hours (open until 1:00 am most weeknights, and 3:00 am on the weekends), the establishment that once had those precarious business hours may draw a crowd to that little corner.
The cafe’s first live show coming up on Friday, January 7 is an indie-themed set of performances by some local bands, such as The Black Jesus from nearby Mt. Washington. We’re not sure what kind of music or if local musicians will be the focus for the location (the owner of Lot 1 declined to comment for now), but with the Echo Curio gone many are wondering if the cafe will help fill that void.
Will you go to a show that promises booze, dancing, and no LAPD busting down the doors?
Click here for event info, and check out Lot 1 Cafe’s page on Echo Park Online.
Bigmistas Barbecue
At the Echo Park Farmers’ Market most Fridays
562.608.8498
Website
The Echo Park Farmers’ Market starts up again this Friday (since the last two Fridays were holidays), and it’s a great chance to get some barbecue at the Bigmistas booth. We suggest the pulled pork meal – it’s delicious!
Flickr photo by Rachel Carr
Allston Yacht Club
Three wines and four courses for $50. Seatings at 6:30 and 9:00 pm. Reservations recommended. Check the AYC Facebook page for the menu.
With DJ Paul V., DJ Shyboy, Lady Tigra, and R.A.I.D. Dance Crew. Balloon drop, champagne toast at midnight, photobooth, oisemakers, hats, and mashups. “Best of Bootie 2010” CD give-away for the first 300 through the door.
9:00 pm – 3:00 am. 21+, $10 cash before 10:00 pm, $20 after. View website.
$25 gets you bottomless bubbly! Reservations recommended for parties of 4 or more. Designated Drivers drink non-alcoholic beverages for FREE!
9:00 pm to midnight, $25 per person.
Hang the DJs plus Club Underground New Year’s Eve Bash hosted by Scarlett Casanova with live performances by Nite Jewel and Kenan Bell. DJ sets from Hang the DJs/Club Underground selectors, with guest DJ DJ Alex Transistor (AM/FM).
$10 presale ($15 at the door) gets you free champagne! 9:00 am – 2:00 am
Two six course menus, one vegetarian and one omnivore, for $60 per person, including a glass of champagne. Menu includes items from butter poached lobster to griddled pecorino with truffles and walnut agrodolce. Contact The Park for the full menu and hours. Reservations recommended.
Regular menu items will be served along with specials,such as jumbo shrimp cocktail, crab cakes with lemon aoili, Alaskan King Salmon, and more. Click here for the full menu.
Serving from 4:00 – 11:00 pm. Reservations suggested.
El Compadre and Barragan’s are doing business as usual on New Year’s Eve (probably same goes for the Gold Room and Little Joy).
A lot of shops and restaurants will be closed for the holiday, and others will close early so make sure you call ahead:
Keep checking back as we update you on New Year’s Eve, Echo Park style!
Lots of new businesses opening and reopening in Echo Park the past couple of months. Here’s what you’ve missed:
New restaurants and businesses:
Other news:
Ongoing/Weekly Specials
AYC's Spicy Margarita
Hopefully things are starting to wind down at the office as the Christmas holiday approaches, so it’s time to start taking out your employees, employers, and/or clients for some holiday libations. Allston Yacht Club in Echo Park has a great selection of not just wine and beer, but also spirits.
Take, for example, the most excellent jalapeño margarita, which I wrote about in my best-of margarita article last September. Starting tonight, AYC is adding Tequila Tuesday to its weekly specials, where you can get any tequila beverage for just $6 all night.
The spicy margarita is included with the special, along with the Basement Window (tequila, Kahlua, pomegranate and lemon) and their newest concoction, the Hipster’s Holiday (tequila, pomegranate molasses, almond syrup, bitters and ginger beer). Or you can try the “TT combo,” a shot of tequila plus a housemade sangrita chaser, also for $6.
If tequila isn’t your thing, try the Baci (“kiss” in Italian), a cocktail with vodka, chocolate liqueur, Frangelico, chocolate-covered hazelnuts, and rimmed with a sugar/cinnamon/cocoa powder/allspice mix.
There’s also the Accursed Fruitcake, served on ice but will warm your tummy with brandy, gold rum, apple cider and “inebriated fruits.”
If you prefer to stay at home, you can try mixing up those last two on your own by checking out the recipes after the jump. Just make sure you give AYC the credit.
The flood has gotten too bad! We’re going to have to close early today to try and figure something out! Sorry for the inconvenience : (
The dressing room floor and walls are soaked, and water is trickling down from the back toward the front of the store, as well as from a corner near the mail slot. As they try and mop things up, Feeding Birds will be closed for the public, but they are taking private appointments by email.
Though we can expect rain through Wednesday, we’re hoping they will be able to open back up on Tuesday. Good luck guys!
Feeding Birds is located at 1825 Echo Park Ave.
Flickr photo via Hane C. Lee
Here’s a story so strange I had to do some research to make sure it was true.
Today is the official Burrito Day in Los Angeles. Okay, maybe that’s not entirely too strange – Mayor Villaraigosa did bet El Tepeyac’s “Manuel Burrito” for the first series of the NLDS last year (is that still considered LA’s best?), so burritos are amongst LA’s finest. But 25 years ago, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley announced December 19 as the official day, two years after Loyola Marymount’s college station KXLU declared it unofficially.
Here’s the proof (or possibly the proof, there is a seal on it after all):
So now we search for the best stuff wrapped in a delicious tortilla in Echo Park.
As a non-meat eater, I simply can’t call this one. But whether it be a meat burrito, breakfast burrito, from a truck or a restaurant, it’s your call Echo Parkians. Where do you get the best burrito in Echo Park?
Check out the Central City Action Committee (CCAC) rummage sale in front of the old fire station and help support all its great youth programs. The rummage sale started today at 10:00 am and goes until 6:00 pm.
Today isn’t your only chance to check out the sale, other days include Friday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, at the same times.
CCAC is located at 534 East Edgeware Road, at the old Firestation No. 6.
Delilah Bakery cupcakes. Yum! Flickr photo via LoveByte
Today is National Cupcake Day! Thankfully there are plenty of ways you can indulge in the unofficial celebration. We have a couple of favorites around Echo Park we’d like to share:
Delilah Bakery: Simply the best cupcakes around- try the Chocolate Orange Jack Daniels or the Red Velvet, particularly delicious. They cost about $3.25 (I think) and are totally worth it. The Bakery was also highlighted on the Huffington Post for the Best Cakes in Los Angeles.
Soul Cups: Echo Park resident Celeste Alleyne is the master chef behind this cupcake catering company. They are, indeed, cupcakes with soul: made from down home, soulful and natural ingredients. “Pound O’ Butter” and “Lemon Drop” are just two of the flavors she offers at $40 per dozen (check the website for more info on pricing).
Let us know in the comments section below where you get your favorite cupcakes in Echo Park!
Flickr photo via ebogjonson
We were a little worried last August when The Eastsider LA wrote that the local Haitian food restaurant, Ti George’s, wasn’t making much progress in terms of repairs since a fire broke out in the restaurant. But construction did eventually start in late September, and today, Eater LA reported that Ti George’s opened its doors for business on Thursday for the first time since the February 2010 fire.
We are quite happy the restaurant is back up and running – owner George LaGuerre has had that restaurant on Glendale Boulevard for 12 years, and he’s deeply committed to his Haitian roots, hosting a dinner earlier this year to raise money for the Haiti relief efforts after the earthquake.
I am looking forward to FINALLY trying some delicious Ti George’s Chicken!
Ti George’s Chicken is located at 309 N. Glendale Blvd.
(Author’s note: In all honesty, the restaurant isn’t located in the prettiest part of Echo Park, which is probably what makes this place such a great find. I lived right around the corner for a little while but never went out to eat at the time, so I am really looking forward to trying it for the first time. I’m sure you’ll hear about it when I do!)
There are soooooo many Echo Park holiday parties going on in the next couple of weeks, we thought we’d bring it all together into one article. Keep checking back as we’ll update the post as we hear more! And, of course, don’t forget about the Echo Park Holiday Parade on Saturday, followed by local shopping and great deals along Sunset Boulevard and beyond!
Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 12 from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
15% off of everything in the store, homemade chocolate chip cookies, festive beverages and surprise treats!
Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 12 from 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm
15% off everything, spiced cider, kettle corn, live music and lots of great gifts and dresses starting at $20. Click here for the flyer.
Sunday, December 12 from 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm
Celebrating one year of LAB at Fix. Original gifts by local fabulous and talented crafters and artists. African Cowboy will be performing from 2-4:00 pm. Buy a raffle ticket to win many amazing gift certificates to local boutiques and restaurants, all while supporting the music department at Elysian Heights Elementary School. Click here for the flyer.
Saturday, December 11 from 12:00 noon – 7:00 pm and Sunday, December 12 from 12:00 noon -6:00 pm
Holiday White Elephant Sale: The store will take over the side walk with all kinds of wonderful merchandise!
Monday, December 13 from 5-7:00 pm
Hosted by the Children’s Institute, there will be arts and crafts for kids, music and food for everyone. 2121 West Temple Street. Click here for the flyer.
To RSVP, go to www.tiny.cc/cd13holidayparty or call (323) 957-4500.
Saturday, December 18 from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Music, treats, toys, give-aways, free food and spirits! Get 15-20% off all Holiday items. Also, please bring a blanket, towel, or toy to donate for the animal shelters – they need help! 1533 Echo Park Avenue. Click here for the flyer.
We will take over the side walk with all kinds of wonderful merchandise!
The second annual Echo Park Holiday Shop Hop is coming up this Saturday, December 11! After the Echo Park Community Parade, Join 826LA, The Echo Park Time Travel Mart, City Sip, The Echo and Echoplex, EPIC, Masa, K9 Loft, Origami Vinyl, Stories, Two Boots, and other Echo Park neighbors for a day of shopping and fun.
Echo Park Time Travel Mart: All proceeds from the store go directly to support 826LA, so your generosity instantly doubles this holiday season.
Stories Books: Eggnog and Holiday Newsletter Writing Workshop with J. Ryan Stradal at 4:00 p.m. Plus get 25% off of holiday cards for all workshop attendees who donate $10 or more! $2.50 special holiday drinks, $5 mac n’ cheese, andmore.
Origami Vinyl: Get 10% off plus Infantree vinyl release party + Sunday: PHYSICAL FORMS in the loft
Masa: All day at Masa, everyone who comes in (8am – midnight) can fill out a ticket for raffle drawings (certificates for five large Chicago deep dish pizzas) throughout the night! Also will be collecting donations of old towels and blankets for the North Central Animal Shelter – donate and receive 25% off our Masa meal excluding beer and wine.
K-9 Loft: 15% off all products (food excluded), 15% off grooming and 25% off daycare.
Ballard’s Artwork Framing: Extra 10% off custom framing and 50% off ready made frames.
Raven + Lily: 10% off all merchandise.
Echo Park Independent Co-Op: Everything in the store is an extra 15% off the lowest prices. All menswear is 20% off the lowest price.
Two Boots Pizza: $1 off Slices from 3-6:00 pm and a drawing for a $25 gift certificate.
IKO IKO: Smart offerings for entertaining, home ornamentation and personal adornment with a special evening of pickled edibles by artist Jen Smith and wine jellies homemade by MOM for tasting and for sale. New Ceramic work by artist Katy Krantz.
City Sip LA: Something involving wine and/or beer.
Rec Center Studios: The photography studio and event space will let us know what they have up their sleeves soon!
Let us know in the comments section below if we’ve missed anything, or drop us an email: info@echoparknow.com
