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From our Neighbors: Stairways and Beer tour

Bob Inman, who is not a stranger around Echo Park, will lead a “Stairways and Beer” tour around Eagle Rock this Sunday, September 19, 2010.

Inman is the author of  “Guide to Public Stairways of Los Angeles” as well as a veteran of the annual Big Parade LA in Echo Park and surrounding neighborhoods. He’s the perfect guy to take you on a tour of stairways anywhere in LA!

The tour starts at Verdugo Bar in Glassell Park, and explores four public stairways in an eight mile loop, along with great views and little known jewels of the LA scene.

After the tour, return to Verdugo Bar for music, special beers, and gourmet food trucks.

For more information, contact Bob Inman at LASTAIRWAYS@pacbell.net

Verdugo Bar is located at 3408 Verdugo Road

Sun 9/19 Stairways and Beer

Led by Bob Inman, author of
“Guide to Public Stairways of Los Angeles”
and veteran of June’s “Big Parade LA”

Meet at Verdugo for an exploration through the highlands of Eagle Rock including 4 public stairways, lovely streets with great views, and little known jewels of the LA scene.

Return back to Verdugo to hang on the patio with tunes, special beers, and treats from the gourmet food trucks!

For more information contact Bob Inman at LASTAIRWAYS@pacbell.net

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Townhall meeting with new LA Planning Director

Only two more days to register for the September 21 Townhall meeting at Mayberry Elementary School. You’ll have to chance to “meet” Michael LoGrande, LA’s new Planning Director, and/or “bring your questions via Twitter, Facebook, or online via email. All social media enthusiasts welcome.”

Mayberry Elementary is located at 2414 Mayberry Street

Click here to register for the town hall.

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Spotted: Fox 11 News in Echo Park

Journalist Susan Hirasuna covered the Summer Fling Truck earlier tonight in front of Origami Vinyl in Echo Park. We’re not sure what the story is about (it couldn’t be the perpetual food truck debate, Summer Fling Truck only serves up fashion), but she tweeted that the story would air tonight on Fox 11 at 10:00 pm.

Check out that broadcast tower/pole/thingy!

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In case you missed it: Maria the Goose Video

Maria the Goose takes a walk around Echo Park Lake. Video caption says, “Dominic had asked, ‘Have you seen Maria,’ to the female jogger you see in the video (she of course had not, or at least had not known that she had.) This time around, she notes that he has indeed found his beloved Maria.”

Check it out:

Makes you wonder… where will Maria the Goose go when the lake is drained next year?

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Art Time Punks party and signing at Stories

Stop by Stories Books and Cafe on Saturday for a party and signing for “Art Time Punks,” the 98-page “fanbook” that covers five years of Part Time Punks (every Sunday at The Echo), including original artwork by Michael Stock from the past few years.

More info from Stories:

Promoter, artist, troublemaker Michael Stock creates flyers that use the dada/punk rock aestetic and are still done in the real time cut and paste format. Expect DJs, live music, kids in skinny jeans and Zola Jesus t-shirts and hearing The Fall’s “Totally Wired” or Wire’s “12XU.”

Echo Park Books will also be debuting a new book published by Echo Park Books called “Can’t Stop Winning,” a limited-edition “chapbook of psycho-philosophical meanderings by Sweaters.”

Art Time Punks signing and party
Saturday, September 18 at 8:00 pm
Stories Books & Cafe is located at 1716 Sunset Blvd

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Get your piece of historic Angelino Heights

This AMAZING historic home in Angelino Heights has been on my radar for at least a year now as a fun fixer-upper project. We noticed a little “for sale” sign a while back while I was showing off Carroll Avenue to some family, and I was curious to see how much we could buy this little bit of Angelino Heights paradise.

According to a Big Orange Landmarks website post last May, this seven bedroom, two bath, approximately 2,700 square foot house (as described by Zillow) is going for $1,750,000. We’re not sure what it’s up for now, the sales flyers were no longer there, but you can expect it’s going to be a high price for that crazy neighborhood (there are 51 Victorian residences and carriage houses in the area!).

Located at 1325 Carroll Avenue, the house is known as the Irey House, named after original owner and gardener Hiram B. Irey. It was built in 1887 but originally located at 1123 Court Street, and moved in 1978 as part of the Carroll Avenue Restoration Foundation’s efforts to restore Carroll Avenue.

Architecturally, the house is known as a nearly pure Eastlake style (that’s the Victorian style) like its neighboring houses but with a dash of “Stick” style – meaning it has those extra ornate features like gingerbread trim or other geometric patterns.

Of note is the angled bay window and “unusual asymmetrical arrangement of windows and roof line,” reads a description from a 1978 publication on Historic Angelino Heights. “Also of interest is the window that illuminates the interior stairwell on the second floor.”

The last I heard, the house was being repaired a while back by its current owner, but only foundational elements leaving the restoration of the aesthetic elements to the new buyers. So if you have a knack for Eastlake-Stick style restoration, drop by the house on Carroll Avenue and check it out for us!

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La Gran Fiesta Viva Los Dodgers on Sunday

This Sunday, September 19, at Dodger Stadium is the annual Viva Los Dodgers “La Gran Fiesta.” Throughout the season, every Sunday, the Stadium has hosted a smaller version, but this weekend is the big fest. The Dodgers are playing the Colorado Rockies.

From 10:00 am-2:00 pm (with a sound check starting at 9:00 am) in Lot 6 of the Stadium parking lot, you can expect some booths by sponsors Hyundai, Coca Cola, and Time Warner Cable, along with a beer garden and other fun activities for families. There will also be some live musical events, and last year there were even some former players signing autographs.

Viva Los Dodgers started in 1998 to “help more Hispanic fans come to Dodger Stadium.” Last year about 10,000 fans attended the festival, so get your tickets soon!

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Echo Park’s Week in Music

For the week of Monday, September 13 through Sunday, September 19

Monday
Monday Night residency: Pacific Hurt, Vanaprasta, Black Apples, My Pet Saddle @ Echo

Tuesday
An Bell, Will Scott, The Driftwood Singers, Judson and Mary @ Echo Curio
Smog Sessions with Chefal, Cringer, Austin Speed, Kemst @ Echo
KROQ Locals Only presents: The Funeral Party, Deluka, Dahga Bloom @ Bootleg Theater

Wednesday
Dub Club presents: The Fully Fullwood Band Performing “Tosh Meets Marley”, Robert French Backed By Cualli @ Echoplex & Echo
Us Royalty (Washington, DC), Chasing Kings, Line and Circle, The Smiles @ Bootleg Theater

Thursday
Pillars and Tongues, Metal Rouge, Up Died Sound, Team Brick @ Echo Curio
The Chapin Sisters, The Finches, Hi Ho Silver Oh @ Echo
Sam Amidon, Miracle Parade, Il Gato @ Bootleg Theater

Friday
Smithfield Bargain, Bikos, The Sunshine Factory, Tommy Santee Klaws @ Echo Curio
Pantha Du Prince, The Sight Below @ Echoplex
Club Underground with Men @ Echo
KXSC presents Yoya, Ana Caravelle @ Origami Vinyl
The Silver Lake Chorus, Rose Rossi @ Bootleg TheateR

Saturday
Heather Woodbury’s As The Globe Warms, followed by Dangerously Sleazy, Spider Problem, Bastidas @ Echo Curio
Bootie La With Tranzkontinental, DJ Paul V., R.A.I.D. @ Echoplex
Funky Sole @ Echo
Dirty Sweet, The Binges @ Bootleg Theater

Sunday
Echo Obscura presents: Turkish Appropriation Cinema @ Echo Curio
Grand Ole Echo: Blues Guitarist Pete Anderson, Gwendolyn, The David Brothers, Walter Spencer & The Azusa Street Revival @ Echo
Part Time Punks Mexican Summer Record Label Nite with Tamaryn, Puro Instinct (Formerly Pearl Harbor), Dunes @ Echo
Judgement Day @ Origami Vinyl

For more information on weekly musical events like club nights, see our community resource pages.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.

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Flashback Fridays – Timothy Fonseca

This story can not really be considered Echo Park history as it is still not over. Timothy Fonseca was convicted and is still serving a 35 years to life sentence for murder based on shaky evidence. But I wanted to post something about him, and this seemed like the best way to do it.

On April 23rd, 1995 at about 4:00 am, Arthur Mayer was coming back from a party with his wife, Roxana, when he stopped to buy cigarettes at the Mobil Station on Scott and Glendale. While he was walking back to the car, Mayer was shot and killed. Roxana would later state that the shot was fired by a man standing at the 1900 block of Scott Ave. She identified Fonseca in a police lineup as the shooter. This is pretty much the only evidence the police had with which to convict Fonseca. However, Roxana had identified a different man in an earlier lineup as the shooter and even admitted that he and Fonseca looked very much alike. Also, the 1900 block of Scott Avenue (where the shooter was standing) is about 300 yards away from where Roxana was sitting in the car. That’s a big distance from which to make an identification, especially when it’s dark outside. Her story also changed several times. Details that varied included the number of shooters, where they were standing and what kind of firearms they were brandishing.

Another piece of evidence was the testimony of a young Echo Park gang member who said that on the day of shooting he had seen a gang member named Sniper carrying an AK-47. He later said that “Sniper” was Tim Fonseca. When the case went to trial, the young man recanted everything he had said stating that the police officers had threatened him into making an identification. Furthermore, he did not even witness the crime.

There was never any physical evidence linking Tim Fonseca to the murder. A possible murder weapon (an SKS rifle) was found behind a house on Scott Ave. There were prints on the weapon, but they were not Tim Fonseca’s.

Tim has been in prison for fifteen years and still proclaims his innocence. He says that he was in San Bernardino on the night of the shooting. Tim’s wife, Lynn, is still fighting to free her husband. Ironically, she used to work for the Indio and Palm Springs Police Departments. His case has gained the interest of high-profile legal organizations such as the Innocence Project. In 2008, he was also written about in the AIDWC (Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted) Journal (the article is in the Spring 2008 issue). Check out Tim’s website if you’re interested in learning more.

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David Yow invites you to closing reception at DIY Gallery

This is a crazy video, don’t view while hung over – it will make you dizzy.

FYI that closing reception at the DIY Gallery in Echo Park is on Saturday, September 11. It’s been going on since August 14, click here to read our previous post about what it’s all about!

DIY Gallery is open Tuesday-Saturday 12:00pm-6:00pm and is located at 1549 West Sunset Boulevard

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Sunset Beer opening in Echo Park

Good news! Echo Park is getting a new beer store early next year! John Nugent and wife Jennifer, along with partners Jenna Miller-Vonah and Andrew Vonah (also investors in Eagle Rock Brewery) are opening up Sunset Beer Company in Echo Park, which will stock bottled beer for sale, as will as sport a tasting room as well (pending a liquor license approval).

The new space is located in a mini-mall along the 1400 block of Sunset Blvd, taking over the approximation 2,000 square foot ladies gym space next to Beauty Box. Nugent told us to expect everything from Unibroue Blanche de Chambly (a Belgian-style white ale from Canada) for $2.50, all the way to the fancy schmancy (and $22 a bottle) Russian River Consecration for those special occasions.

“California craft brews and Belgians are covered really well in Los Angeles and beyond,” said Nugent,” but we feel there is a gap in the market to carry obscure beers from all over the United States. The amount of new, upstart breweries from the Midwest and Southeast alone popping up at craft beer festivals is hard to keep up with. That’s exciting to us.”

So why did they choose Echo Park? Nugent and his wife have always wanted to open another wine or similar store in Echo Park – they have many friends in the neighborhood, and they couldn’t pass up the chance at this location. They plan having the “best” craft beer selection in Los Angeles, not necessarily the largest, because “our priority is quality over quantity.” They also want to make sure a majority of that beer is available in the cold coolers, so it will be ready to go.

An article on The Eastsider LA sparked some debate between some residents about introducing another alcohol establishment to Echo Park (arguments similar to those made against Tony Yanow’s new bar/restaurant at the old El Camino theater) – arguing that the establishment will increase those “rowdy drunks” in the neighborhood. Nugent responded to some of the comments, saying: “I will say that after almost six years of selling wine/beer/sake to-go and in-house in Eagle Rock from our wine store, Colorado Wine Company, we have never had an issue with our neighbors regarding excess noise or rowdy drunks.”

Nugent and partners plan on attending community meetings like the neighborhood council soon, so feel free to share your support (or opposition) by attending one of these meetings and get to know the people behind the concept.

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Free cooking class at Echo Park Farmers’ Market

Get some great cooking tips at the Echo Park Farmers’ Market tomorrow from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm.

The Good Cooking/Buena Cocina cooking class is free, and will teach you how to prepare delicious, quick and affordable recipes.

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Just in from Northeast Division: Robbery in Echo Park

This just came in from the Northeast Division E-Policing Newsletter, and it’s a little scary. Be careful out there!

On September 7th, 2010 at approximately 12:05 AM a street robbery occurred in the Echo Park area. The victim, a female, was walking near Laveta Terrace and Scott Avenue with a male friend. Two suspects appraoched on foot, one armed with a baseball bat. They demanded the victims property then struck the victims friend on the leg with the bat. The victim complied and surrendered her property. The suspects then fled the area by vehicle.

Approximately 50 minutes later near Ames Street and Ben Lomond in the Franklin Hills area, a lone male was walking home when he was approached by two suspects that were armed with baseball bats. The suspects demanded his property. When the victim refused and began to scream for help, he was struck on the head with the bat. The suspects fled on foot.

The suspects are described as being male hispanic, approximately 16 to 20 years of age and wearing dark colored hoodies. In one incident their vehicle was described as a white 4 door sedan, possibly a 1980’s model.

While both crimes occurred miles apart , they have a variety of similarities that have led us to believe that they were committed by the same suspects. The investigations continue, and at this time there is nothing that indicates that the victims were chosen based on sex, descent, race, or sexual preferance. It does appear that the most common factor is the location of each crime and time of day. Both areas were dark with little vehicle or foot traffic. It has not been determined if the incidents are gang related.

Anyone with any information on these two incidents is urged to contact the Northeast Robbery Detectives at ( 213) 485-2566 or after hours, the Northeast Watch Commander at (213) 485-2563. (DR#101119069 and 011119139)

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The Best Margaritas of Echo Park

As mentioned in my sneak peak the other week, I am in love… with Echo Park’s margaritas! A little disclaimer: I did not go to margarita school, I am just a self-proclaimed aficionado because I have had and created a lot of margaritas. There are several spots in Echo Park you can sit and enjoy my favorite mixed drink, but these are the best ways to enjoy margaritas in our small neighborhood:

Barragan's Margarita

#3: Barragan’s made the top three, but isn’t really my favorite. It’s a very, very popular spot and the best deal in town with the $2.50 margaritas served up every Wednesday night. The back patio is cozy and service is great, but the margarita snob in me keeps it from taking a number one spot. They have the necessary variety of tequila options, but the margarita mix was a stock margarita mix from a plastic, labeled bottle, so the margaritas end up being a lot sweeter while I’m more partial to enjoy a more tart mix.

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t go for a margarita at Barragan’s, as one of our readers pointed out in the comments section of my first post agrees with a commenter who doesn’t like a high price tag: “I agree, $8 and waaay west of Alvarado doesn’t count. I’m all for Barrigan’s very LARGE and VERY TASTY margarita on the rocks WITH SALT at a decent price. And I can walk there…!” It’s completely true – margaritas can certainly get expensive! But it seems Wednesdays are the time to go to Barragan’s – we spent $9-10 for each margarita plus tip for mid-shelf tequila.

#2: Allston Yacht Club serves up a lot of delicious mixed drinks, wines, and recently added a couple of taps for craft beers. As an ex-bartender myself, I always sit at the bar and chat with the always friendly and well-versed bartenders.

AYC's Spicy Margarita

At AYC, order the Spicy Margarita. It’s mid-shelf tequila, fresh lime juice, agave syrup, and muddled jalapeños – but not too much. The jalapeño leaves a little heat in the back of your throat, and gets a tiny bit stronger and you drink it down. Overall, it’s refreshing and delicious, and worth the $9. But with happy hour prices Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30-7:00 pm, the $5 you’ll spend is more than worth it! Did I mention they also have a cozy back patio?

#1: El Compadre. I’m pretty sure you knew this was coming – El Compadre is a given. The ambiance is well-matched for margarita drinking, Dodger games are always on, and the bartenders are the best. At a dining table, margaritas come in their famous style (flaming), while at the bar they come sans flame (which is fine with me!). I always order a Cazadores Reposado margarita on the rocks with salt, knowing the good tequila will be more expensive, but boy is it worth every penny.

El Compadre

Cazadores Reposado is my favorite margarita tequila. Aged in oak casks, it’s certainly not a tame tequila and becomes well-balanced in margaritas. It’s particularly delicious when you have a good margarita mix, which El Compadre definitely does. They’ve had the recipe for 30 years, and try as I might I could not coax any ingredients out of the bartender.

Why pay more than a few bucks for a good margarita? Well, let’s put it this way: one margarita and you’re feeling good, two and you’re set (plus no hangover)! Why drink the several of the cheap stuff when you can have just a couple good margaritas, and enjoy it in the process?

Hopefully this helps your margarita choices in Echo Park. Remember, the bottom line is this: Good margarita mix, good margarita! And I don’t want to leave out the other guys, so the other spots you can get margaritas include the Short Stop, and, once the license goes through, even Rodeo Grill. Enjoy, and remember to walk home if you can!

Note: I pay for all of my drinks to ensure there’s no favoritism involved.

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Filmed in Echo Park: State Farm commercial

I know there are a lot of commercial shoots in Echo Park, but I just like sharing them with you all. Here’s a State Farm Insurance video at Magic Gas Station and the Chicken Corner businesses nearby. You can even catch a glimpse of the Durbin project skeletons in the background, weeds and all!

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