Tomorrow (Sunday, June 5, 2011), Echo Park resident Katherine Gladwin will embark on a seven-day, 545 mile bicycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The ride is in support of AIDS/LifeCycle, where participants raise money to help support the organization that provides HIV testing and treatment.

The timing for this event is perfect and purposeful: The start of the fund raising/informational tour on Sunday marks the 30th anniversary of the discovery of HIV/AIDs. Also, June is national LGBT month, and Los Angeles is kicking off the first ever LGBT Heritage month.

Katherine works at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center doing HIV testing and counseling, so it’s a very important cause for her. “I’ve been working in the field of HIV Prevention for over a year and I’ve been an avid cyclist for 7+ years now, so doing this ride is an awesome opportunity to raise life-saving money while doing something I love,” she says on her AIDS/LifeCycle profile page.

The ride ends in Santa Monica on June 11 for the closing ceremonies.

You can donate to our fellow Echo Park resident’s cause by clicking here. Also check out her fundraising video sent to us by director Car Nazzal. Notice all the great Echo Park shots!

KATHERINE AIDS.LIFE.CYCLE FUNDRAISING VIDEO from Car Nazzal on Vimeo.

 

Flickr photo via mikeywally

 

We ran an article late last week announcing the closure of 24-year-old Echo Park/HiFi club Dinner House M. Today, the LA Times reports the closure is due to one of two (or maybe both?) factors: A revoked liquor license, and/or increased and unaffordable rent.

Apparently, the liquor license issue revolves around multiple citations for serving after 2:00 am. Sgt. Fernando Garcia of the Rampart Division told the LA Times: “It was well known as an after-hours club. They had their license revoked, they appealed, and they lost the appeal.”

However owner Miki Saito denies the license is being revoked, and told the LA Times that a rent increase is the issue.

Either way, the final send-off (with a four-piece jazz band and Miki at the mic) is next week on Wednesday, June 8.

Local school performs at the 2010 holiday parade

As were are upon the end of May, I’m reminded that the deadline is approaching for everyone to submit their theme ideas for this year’s Echo Park Community Parade (aka Holiday Parade).

The parade will take place on Saturday, December 10th, 2011 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm along Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park.

Last year’s theme was “Echo Park: We Are the World.” The deadline for your recommendations and creative ideas is Friday, June 17, 2011. Tell your ideas to: Cindy Ortiz at (323) 664-2412, Maryanne Hayashi at (213) 241-0908, Robert Aguayo at (213) 483-6335, ext. 101.

For the week of Monday, May 30 through Sunday, June 5

Monday
Monday Night Residency: The Bixby Knolls, Cannoneers, Wake Up Lucid, The Icarus Line @ Echo
Ark Sano (Jazz Piano) @ Dinner House M
Maniac, Y Luv, Hello Vegas @ Bootleg Theater

Tuesday
Oh My Rockness Presents: Eternal Summers, The Beets, Seapony @ Echo
Iheartcomix, Media Contender, LA Record present: Check Yo Ponytail 2 with Stereo Total, Giant Drag, Batwings Catwings, Scarlet Casanova @ Echoplex
Eternal Summers @ Origami Vinyl
Shinya Kano (Piano & Vocal) @ Dinner House M
Them Howling Bones & Santoros @ Lot 1

Wednesday
Gruff Rhys, Y Niwl, DJ Andy Votel @ Echo
Dub Club @ Echoplex
Echo Park Juke Joint @ Lot 1
Eastern Block Party Featuring Ak and Her Kalashnikovs, The Shpil, Plotz!, Shoestring Trio, DJ Jason Savvy  @ Bootleg Theater
Live Jazz Every Wednesday Night at 7:00 pm @ Downbeat Cafe

Thursday
Echo, Part Time Punks & Club Underground Present: The Undertones, Sweater Girls, Exploding Flowers @ Echoplex
Woodsman, Tape Deck Mountain, White Hinterland, Kissing Cousins @ Echo
Sister Rogers Residency @ Taix Lounge
Professor Calculus, Twin Steps, Wild Pack of Canaries, Vacation Dad @ Lot 1
Givers, Family of The Year, Caddywhompus @ Bootleg Theater

Friday
Gayngs, Dirty Beaches, Funky Sole DJs @ The Natural History Museum
KCRW, Echo, Club Underground present Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Ema, Oregon Bike Trails @ Echo
Abe Lincoln Story, Rough Church @ Taix Lounge
Rock Concert Teen Island, Socorro, The Seizure! @ Lot 1
Future Dancing Record Release, The Lonely Wild, Handshakes, Sea Of Cortez @ Bootleg Theater

Saturday
Bootie LL 6 Year Anniversary! @ Echoplex
Funky Sole @ Echo
The Globes @ Origami Vinyl
Bumtech and Guests, Seeing Thingz @ Taix Lounge
The Bird and The Bee, Alek Fin @ Bootleg Theater

Sunday
Grand Ole Echo, Part Time Punks (14 Iced Bears, Phil Wilso, Aberdeen) @ Echo

Visit the venue website for more information on the cost and times of shows. This list may not represent all the musical events happening in Echo Park this week – feel free to add more events in the comment section. All events listed are subject to change at any time. New events announced for the week after this posting may not be included.

So we’re at the Echo Park Night at Dodger Stadium on the Reserve level, enjoying talking to locals like Bennett Kayser (who just won a School Board seat the other day), neighbors, and other EPIA members when all of a sudden this plume of smoke comes barreling down on us. Not too long after, an officer announces to our section that we should all move seats toward the other part of the stadium.

As it turns out, a “cinder block storage room away from public” on the upper level had caught fire, according to the LA Times. Thankfully, there was a helicopter nearby to shine its big bright light on the smoke. Soon thereafter, firefighters arrived – but at the 7th inning, the crowd was distracted, confused, and the Dodgers were losing 6-1 to the Marlins.

According to the announcement at the Stadium (just before we left due to the choking burnt plastic smell), the fire was under control. Thankfully, no panicking, no evacuation, but the Dodgers couldn’t pull it through. Hopefully the next Echo Park night out will be more successful!

Flickr photo via mikeywally

A long-time Echo Park/Historic Filipino Town establishment has just recently announced it will be closing it’s doors in June after 24 years of service to our neighborhood. If you’re a late-night kind of person, you’d be here (and I mean LATE) amongst a mixed crowd of hipsters and long-time neighbors for jazz and well-known DJs. Know the bartender and you might be able to stay after they “turn off the lights.”

Founded in April of 1987 by jazz singer Miki Saito and her sister Maya, it’s not necessarily an attractive frontage (shady renters peering at you through curtains of the Knights Inn, and some unwelcoming patio furniture probably as old as the establishment out front), but inside is some surprisingly attractive 80’s decor you’ll enjoy as you sip an $8 cocktail from a plastic cup. It’s those little details you’ll probably miss a little, so make sure to get in some good times before the doors close.

Closing party is on June 8, check out the Dinner House M website for more details.

h/t LA Times Daily Dish

The Park burger

Forget meat-free May, Groupon reminds us that it’s National Burger Weekend (you know, Memorial Day weekend and all), so this is one of those articles that makes you way too hungry. Check out some of our favorite Echo Park locals for a little meat action:

The Park

Definitely a favorite spot for a burger – Wednesday night is $5 burger night for a 7 oz. sirloin burger or homemade veggie burger with a side (this is a build your own kind of thing, with additional charges for some toppings). You can get a burger off the dinner menu any other night as well.

The AYC Burger

Allston Yacht Club

The Echo Park Avenue establishment just added a new burger to the menu called the Elysian Burger: 1/4 lb of wild boar and Niman Ranch chuck with onion jam and cheddar on a Portuguese egg bun. A friend of mine said the onion jam made this burger one of the most delicious and unique ones he’s ever had. The $8.50 price tag is darn affordable, but you can also sneak in on Wednesdays for their $5 plate specials.

Patra Burgers on Sunset

Patra is a long-time establishment of Echo Park, and might look a little run-down on the outside but it’s a required eatery for Echo Park residents. One Yelper recommends this place as a quick, cheap and easy place to grub on a burger and chili fries, writing, “…if you’re just looking for a good hamburger before heading over to the area bars, or you wake up the next morning still drunk and you’re within walking distance of this place – you’ll thank me for my recommendation.” There you have it!

Grill ’em All Truck

This winner of “The Great Food Truck Race” frequents Echo Park, which is a huge bonus. They’ll be at the Spring Beer Fest at the Echoplex on Saturday starting at noon. Check out some favorites like the Blue Cheer (yep, blue cheese!) and the garlic aoili dip with the fries.

And of course there are many more spots for you meat-eaters to enjoy a burger – Happy Tom’s, Rodeo Grill, Masa, The Brite Spot, etc. But the question is… what’s your favorite?

Today we received an email from a beloved friends of Echo Park – the Echo Park Film Center. As of June 15, the EPFC is losing a rented space they call the ANNEX located in Glendale Blvd. In the email, they say, “This presents a bit of a crisis for our organization.” And they need your help:

We have spent the past 14 months building out the space to create a “living and breathing” film workshop, lab and studio. We have accumulated a 2,000 title Super 8 and 16mm print library. We have animation stands, 16mm editing flatbeds, 35mm projectors, cinema chairs, props, sets, lights, and other assorted film paraphernalia. It has become our second home.

In the next few weeks we will ask for volunteers to help us catalog and move the bulk of the important and critical items to another location. However, this is where we need your help. We have nowhere to move the stuff to and would hate to simply rent a storage unit where the community would have no access to the gear and equipment.

Thus, we are looking for an alternative space.

If you know of a 1000-2000 square feet of space available to help store their archives, please let them know.

In addition, the EPFC, is also holding a rummage sale this weekend on Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30, each at different locations. Here’s the info:

Sunday, May 29 at the ANNEX
From noon – 4:00 pm in Atwater Village
at 1821 Tyburn Street in Glendale

Monday, May 30 at the Echo Park Film Center
From 9:00 am – 4:00 pm in Echo Park
at 1200 N Alvarado Street

They are partnering with Machine Project for the block-wide sale. Some of the items for sale include cameras, projectors, older computers, films, DVDs, VHS tapes, etc. The Sunday Sale will feature items they longer need or don’t have room for: furniture, costumes, props, sets and some film/video-related items. Anything not sold Sunday will be available at EPFC for Monday’s sale.

PS click here for the Film Center screening schedule, which is awesome and amazing and totally worth it!

Last year’s Echo Park Night at Dodger Stadium (aka Community Night) was a lot of fun – we got to meet new friends who live in the community and watch a Dodgers game. This year’s community night is coming up fast – Saturday, May 28 at 7:10 pm.

Hosted by the Echo Park Improvement Association, Community Night is an annual tradition you shouldn’t miss out on! Plus, half of the proceeds to the Echo Park Historical Society to aid in the restoration of the Jensen’s Recreation Center sign.

Tickets are just $10 for reserve seats.

Click here to contact the EPIA to reserve your tickets, or email epiamail@yahoo.com. You can also call the message line at 877-860-EPIA.

Please provide your full name, phone number, email address, and the number of tickets you’d like to purchase. The EPIA will follow up with directions on how to pick up/receive your tickets.

See you there!

For the week of Monday, May 23 through Sunday, May 29

Monday
An Evening with The Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Echoplex
Monday Night Residency: The Bixby Knolls, Harlan, Future Ghost @ Echo
Love Inks @ Origami Vinyl
White Arrows, Milo Greene, Eulogies, Gardens and Villa @ Bootleg Theater
Captain Ahab, Dreamgoatz, Phaxanation & The Dust Kickers, Greenlander, Craig @ Pehrspace
rk Sano (Jazz Piano) @ Dinner House M

Tuesday
CB Brand, Robert Ellis, The Reflectacles @ Echo
Elizabeth Cook, Leslie Stevens @ Bootleg Theater
Shinya Kano (Piano & Vocal) @ Dinner House M

Wednesday
White Denim, Rabbits Rabbits Rabbits, The Allah Las @ Echo
Dub Club @ Echoplex
Shane Alexander, Rie Sinclair, The Makepeace Brothers @ Bootleg Theater
Melody In The Round @ Taix Lounge
Live Jazz every Wednesday Night at 7:00 pm @ Downbeat Cafe
Grown with Total Freedom, S.F.V. Acid, DJ. Ashland @ Dinner House M

Thursday
Mia Doi Todd, Blank Blue, Janitor @ Echo
Agent Ribbons @ Origami Vinyl
The Red Paintings, Antenna The End @ Bootleg Theater
The Big Death Scene @ Taix Lounge

Friday
Gangi, SFV Acid, Baron Von Luxxury @ Echo
Joan As Police Woman, Rachael Cantu @ Bootleg Theater
Moris Tepper, Marcus Watkins Quintet @ Taix Lounge

Saturday
Spring Beer Fest with The Dustbowl Revival, The Silent Comedy @ Echoplex
Dub Club Presents: Saturday Night Rub-A-Dub @ Echoplex
Funky Sole @ Echo
Lingonberries @ Pehrspace
Alias Means, Lovers and Poets @ Taix Lounge

Sunday
Grand Ole Echo @ Echo
Part Time Punks: Smiths/Morrissey Nite with guest DJ Jose Maldonado @ Echoplex
2nd Annual Fish Fry Jamboree: Matt Van Winkle, Kevin Killen, Judson, Tall Tales & The Silver Lining, Evan Aproberts, The Driftwod Singers, Hi Ho Silver Oh, Yellow Red Sparks, Stone Darling, Amanda Jo Williams, The Blank Tapes @ Echo Country Outpost
Walter Meego, High Highs, Seven Saturdays @ Bootleg Theater
Pro’s Jam Session, Zene Musa (Sax) @ Dinner House M

Visit the venue website for more information on the cost and times of shows. This list may not represent all the musical events happening in Echo Park this week – feel free to add more events in the comment section. All events listed are subject to change at any time. New events announced for the week after this posting may not be included.

Grown with Total Freedom, S.F.V. Acid, DJ. Grown with Total Freedom, S.F.V. Acid, DJ. Ashland Ashland

We didn’t get a chance to tell you about this ahead of time, but the Big Parade III is going on right now and through the rest of this weekend.

The 35-mile, two day excursion covers 100 stairways of beautiful Echo Park, Downtown, Silver Lake and Los Feliz, and is led by Bob Inman, nicknamed the “stairway god.”

While the tour has started as of the publication of this post, the tour is organized by “loops” and you can join in at any time. The best part? You can find out where they are, real time, by checking out their Twitter page (right now they are on the Downtown LA segment).

Some of the highlights for today’s tour include an Echo Park loop, meeting at Fix Coffee at 3:00 pm for a 5.5 mile historic stairways loop. At 6:00 pm is the final loop of the day in Angelino Heights, meeting at Lot 1 Cafe for a two mile tour of the Victorian architecture of the neighborhood and Echo Park Lake. Check out the map below and visit the website for more details on timelines:


Sunday’s tour covers Silver Lake and Los Feliz, all the way up to the Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood sign.

Along the way, you’ll discuss historical points of interest, nature, and architecture – all things which make our neighborhoods awesome!

Big Parade III
May 21-22, 2011
Follow on Twitter
Visit the website for timetables and more info

Flicker photo by A.C.Thamer

Help maintain this beautiful memorial garden by pulling weeds, tagging native plants, and picking up trash in the area.

Meet at the Marion Harlow Grove on Sunday, May 22 (tomorrow!) at 8:30 am to noon.

RSVP by e-mail to Sallie Nuebauer at beachy2004@yahoo.com, or call 323.666.9651 the day of event.

The Grove is located at the top of the hill by the DWP Water tower and Horse Corral off Park Drive and Avon Terrace.

Flickr photo by Max Santa Cruz, May 2010

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been get a lot of questions and emails about the fate of this year’s Cuban Music Festival, held annually at Echo Park Lake.

We did track down the official organizers of the event for more info, but we have some bad news: The Echo Park Lake Cuban Music Festival is indeed canceled this year.

According to the event organizers (which Echo Park Now is not affiliated with), Duval Productions, lack of funding has caused enough issues to postpone the event until next year. They told us, in an email:

We had planned to have it on Sunday May 22, but encountered a number of obstacles with the production this year, from the unavailability of the park to the loss of valuable donations. We have exhausted our efforts to raise the necessary funds to support the event but have not been successful.

With the Echo Park Lake renovation starting in July this year, and lasting for two years, we’re not sure where next year’s Cuban Music Festival will happen, but hopefully nearby!

Visit the Duval Productions website for more information.

For the week of Monday, May 16 through Sunday, May 22

Monday
Monday Night Residency: The Bixby Knolls, Tes Elations, LA Font, Queen Kwong, Harlan @ Echo
Brand X Presents LA Unheard, featuring: Airlines, Yoya @ Echoplex
Roses Jade Camellia (Goth Trannies), Penelope Edmund, David Liebe Hart Band, Dream Being @ Pehrspace
Stephen Kellogg, Tift Merritt @ Bootleg Theater

Tuesday
This Will Destroy You, Pure X, Sleepover @ Echo
Check Yo Ponytail 2 with Drop The Lime, Classixx, Mndr, Bosco Delrey, Samo Soundboy @ Echoplex
Cab 20, Moondog Orchestra, Them Howling Bones @ Lot 1 Cafe
The Death Set, Win Win, Hello Girls @ Bootleg Theater

Wednesday
Johnny Flynn & Sussex Wit, Caitlin Rose, James Mathe @ Echo
Dub Club @ Echoplex
Patrick Park, Sara Lov, Vinnie Fera, Swimming in Trees, Nostalghia @ Bootleg Theater

Thursday
Tommy Santee Klaws, Rachel Goodrich, Daniel Ahearn @ Echo
Cody The Band, Count Fleet, Future Dancing @ Lot 1 Cafe
Julie Cain @ Taix Lounge

Friday
Love Inks, Black Elephant, Sister Crayon @ Echo
Bearracuda – One Year Anniversary @ Echoplex
The Lonely Wild, Liz Pappademas, Doña Nicha, Coyote @ Lot 1 Cafe
Art Opening @ Pehrspace
Vicky Hill, Pete Fahey @ Taix Lounge

Saturday
Houses, The One Am Radio @ Ech0
Bootie LA Prom with DJ Paul V. and DJ Shyboy @ Echoplex
Funky Sole @ Echo
Rival Schools, Suedehead, Nations Afire @ Bootleg Theater
The Zermatts, Amanda Jo Williams, The Damn Sons @ Taix Lounge

Sunday
Grand Ole Echo @ Echo
Rhythm & Soul For Relief: Concert For Japan, Haiti & The World featuring: Dilated Peoples, Breakestra, Very Be Careful, Boogaloo Assasins, The Good Times Featuring Black Shakespeare, and more @ Echoplex
Part Time Punks – Krautrock Nite With Neu!, Can, La Dusseldorf cover bands @ Echo
Steve Earle (Reading) @ Bootleg Theater
Dunes (Mexican Summer), Turkks, Cold Showers (Mexican Summer), Night Control @ Bootleg Theater
Big Dick’s Final Show @ Dinner House M

Visit the venue website for more information on the cost and times of shows. This list may not represent all the musical events happening in Echo Park this week – feel free to add more events in the comment section. All events listed are subject to change at any time. New events announced for the week after this posting may not be included.

There’s a lot going on this weekend, like A LOT. The Echo Park PDA (Public Displays of Art) Art Walk and the Echo Park Shop Hop on Saturday, lots of Big Sunday events on Sunday, and the first annual Taste of the Eastside also on Sunday.We’ll try to make sense of it all in your following to-do list (of which there are MANY):

Friday:

EPCAP party:

Tonight is the opening party for the Echo Park Community Art Project. Bring your checkbook if you’d like to purchase some awesome artwork made by local high school students and artists, but don’t forget your dancing shoes. In the totally incredible backyard Origami Vinyl is curating the sounds, with DJs Chris Ziegler (LA Record), Mahssa Taghinia (Finders Keepers), Sean Stentz (Origami Vinyl), and Matt Eagleson (Origami Vinyl). See you at Sancho Gallery (1549 Sunset Blvd.) from 7-10:00 pm.

Saturday:

Echo Park PDA Art Walk

When: Saturday, May 14 from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm

Where: Echo Park Ave. from Curran St to Sunset, and along Sunset to Alvarado. There’s a PDF map, click here to download.

What it is: A one day sidewalk celebration to connect, inspire, and create community through the arts. Local businesses, galleries, and neighbors of Echo Park are coming together to showcase art, music, performances, workshops, special promotions, and sidewalk chalk art. This is a FREE event, open to the public, for all ages.

Click here for a list of participating vendors, but there are some notable highlights:

Feeding Birds: 1825 Echo Park Ave.

The Eastsider LA is giving out screen-printed shopping bags, and Feeding Birds will be screen-printing your shirt (bring one in) with the “Echo Park” logo or “The Eastsider LA” logo for just $5.00 per shirt.

Music lineup includes: Mo Bel, Hayley Taylor, Soundmasons, Tinylittle, and LA Font

Giveaways, prizes, snacks, drinks, sales and much more going on at Feeding Birds! (PS: Creator of the Echo Park Art Walk, Heather, will be there and she was once a Feeding Birds intern!)

826LA and the Echo Park Time Travel Mart

They are unveiling a brand new interactive window display at 12:00 pm. David Barnes, the art director behind Of Montreal, will be reading from his new book, What’s Weird?, at 4:00 pm at 826LA.

REWIND The Recycled Electronics Store

Live music refreshments, door prizes & discounts all with a neighborhood vibe.

Tavin Boutique

On site machine knitting & spinning wheel, colorful organic knits by Kerry Regan, shear aplaca wool by Anna Schwartz, live piano music by Nathan Stein, and sales on merchandise. From 12:30-6:00 pm.

EPCAP Workshops

Free animation workshops led by Echo Park Film Center on Saturday from 2-5:00 pm

Interactive Exhibit Tours led by Negative Space Curation on Saturday from 1-4:00 pm

Echo Park Shop Hop

Participating businesses will be offering discounts throughout Saturday, including Masa, Two Boots, Origami Vinyl, Stories, and more!

Click here for the flyer!

Sunday:

Big Sunday with GEPENC:

The Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council is partnering with Big Sunday, parents and students of Logan Street Elementary School, along with neighbors and friends, for a day of service at Logan Street Elementary and neighborhood clean up in Echo Park.

The event is scheduled for Sunday, May 15th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

There will be a number of projects at Logan, including the painting of a mural, the building of vegetable gardens, the planting of flowers and landscaping.

Cleanup and garden boxes with Garcetti and friends:

Eric Garcetti’s office has partnered up with Assemblymember Gil Cedillo’s Office, Senator Kevin de Leon’s Office and Kaiser Permanente for some events on both Saturday and Sunday. Volunteers will building small boxed community gardens on Saturday, and delivering them on Sunday to some our neediest families, schools and organizations. They will also be leading a community clean up on Sunday, May 15th around Echo Park Lake.

The box construction project will be taking place Saturday, May 14th and the delivery of the boxes will be taking place Sunday, May 15th.

Meet at El Centro del Pueblo located at 1157 Lemoyne St. Both days will start promptly at 9:00 am and will wrap up at 12 noon. Lunch will be provided.

Taste of the Eastside

Lots of Echo Park restaurants participating in this event on Sunday from 1-5:00 pm at Barnsdall Art Park, located at 4800 Hollywood Blvd. Click here for the full story we published the other day!

EPCAP Workshops

Creative Writing with Contemporay Art with Lauren Strasnick (YA Fiction author) from 1-2:00 pm

Exploring Light and Photography with David Starkopf (official photographer for Mayor Villaraigosa) from 2-3:00 pm