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Echo Curio nixes BYOB

When you go out this weekend to see some awesome shows in Echo Park, don’t forget that the Echo Curio is no longer allowing patrons to bring their own booze to the gallery’s shows. Last week the curiousity shop tweeted “changes they are a-coming – ECHO CURIO is going to go dry for the time being… no byob in or out of the shop… sorry for inconvenience.” This week they confirmed the news with a blog post, saying:

We’re now an alcohol-less venue, neither selling nor allowing byob anymore. It is for the greater good, according to the LAPD, so all we can suggest is get your freak on before or after you visit us. Or maybe sneak out in the middle for a quickie… My word!

It seems they were visited by the LAPD on August 9 during a show, and were cited for being a “bottle club.” Co-owner Grant Cape told the LA Times music blog Pop & Hiss: “Funny thing was, we had no one drinking outside, no loud music playing, and maybe five adults drinking inside.” Either way, patrons had to poor out what drinks they did have (for quite a few months now, the Curio hasn’t allowed drinking outside).

So is this the future of venues like Echo Curio, where BYOB or a cooler of Colt 45 will be a critical concern of neighbors and the LAPD? It’s becoming such a common (and expected) part of the “speakeasy” shows in LA, especially in areas like Silver Lake and Echo Park. What once started as an innovative way to bring customers into an art gallery or a record store, now might be a problem. The Echo Curio isn’t as concerned, Cap told the LA Times, “[This] will make it harder to get a crowd, I think, but we’ll see.”

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Sobriety checkpoint tonight in Echo Park

It may not be a holiday weekend, but tonight (Friday, August 20) is another Sobriety/DUI checkpoint in Echo Park, this time on Glendale Blvd. at Berkeley (thankfully not on Sunset Blvd. this time, which usually holds up that outgoing Stadium traffic we all love to hate).

Expect the traffic stop to occur from 7:00 pm to around 12:30 pm. We will have to find out after they set up whether or not it’s directed at north-bound or south-bound traffic (or both) on Glendale Blvd.

Be safe out there!

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Flashback Fridays – The Foursquare Gospel and Aimee Semple McPherson

Aimee Semple cutting herself a slice of Angelus-Temple-shaped birthday cake.*

Echo Park might not immediately strike people as an evangelist hot spot, but in the 1920s, it was the home base of fiery female evangelist and radio sensation Aimee Semple McPherson. She is the woman behind the Angelus Temple at the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (that giant, white amphitheater-looking building at the intersection of Park and Glendale).

Aimee was born into a farming family in Ontario, Canada in 1890. It was a religious household, but Aimee came to evangelism of her own accord. She began preaching in 1913, traveling throughout Canada and the United States and holding tent revivals. She became known as a faith healer, and became so popular that her gatherings began to fill to over capacity.

In the late 1910s, Aimee decided to settle in Los Angeles with her mother and her two children. She bought a plot of land next to Echo Park Lake which she described as “heaven on earth.” It was here that she decided to build a church from which she would spread the Foursquare Gospel, the name that she gave to her teachings after experiencing a vision.

While preaching in Oakland in 1922, Aimee had a vision similar to the one in the first chapter of the book of Ezekiel. She saw a cup, a dove, a crown and a cross and believed they symbolized (respectively) healing, baptism, the Savior and the Second Coming. She believed that these four symbols corresponded to everything that was important in society and in one’s own life. She named her teachings, with their focus on these four pillars of life, the Foursquare Gospel.

It took less than two years to build the church (1920 to 1922), and it was dedicated on January 1, 1923. It was built entirely with donations that Aimee collected from her followers which is believed to have amounted to 1.2 million dollars.

Read more

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Echo Park Pool closed temporarily

Tweetphoto via brookiescookies

Just when the heat is starting to get to us all, it looks like the Echo Park Pool is closed for at least today. The message phone (and the sign pictured above) says the pool is closed for safety reasons – the pool pump and filtration system is broken, and the water is so cloudy they can’t see the bottom of the deep part of the pool. No word on when the pool will reopen, but definitely not today.

Call the pool phone at (213) 481-2640 before you go to the pool this weekend and make sure it’s open!

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Blood Drive and Health Fair tomorrow

Before you head off to Sunset Junction this weekend (and especially before you hit the beer garden), stop by the Doll Factory in nearby Historic Filipinotown and donate some blood!

The L.A. Derby Dolls and Eric Garcetti’s office have teamed up to host a FREE Blood Drive and Health Fair tomorrow, Saturday, August 21, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Get there early – they expect over 500 residents!

Besides the blood drive, they will be offering free services, including:
Mammograms (email questions@derbydolls.com for an appointment)
Blood Tests – St. Vincent’s Hospital
Diabetes Testing – St. Vincent’s Hospital
Body Fat Testing – St. Vincent’s Hospital
STD Testing – Planned Parenthood
Birth Control Information – Planned Parenthood
Referrals for Clinical Breast Exams and Gynecological tests – St. Vincent’s Hospital
Bone Marrow Registry – Be The Match
6 massage therapists – Royal Thai Massage
Doll Repair Team – medical staff of Chiropracters, Physical Therapists and Acupuncturists, led by Dr. Rick Fox
Self Defense Workshop – Johnathon Blank
Body image Workshop – Hollywood Chapter, National Organization for Women
Proper Dental Care workshop – Western Dental
Nutrition Workshop – YMCA
Making Healthy Tamales Workshop – Mama’s Hot Tamales
Free Food and Refreshments – Brooklyn Bagels, Masa, Mama’s Hot Tamales, La Guerra Tamaleria, Ex Drinks, Tropical Cafe, Gigi’s Cafe
MediCal Enrollment and Low Cost Insurance – St. Vincent’s Hospital and Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic
Information on Free/Low-Cost Services – Department of Mental Health

The Derby Dolls will also give you a half-off coupon for the all-star bout on September 11 when you come to the Fair!

Second Annual Free Health Fair
Saturday August 21, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Doll Factory located at 1910 W. Temple St.
email questions@derbydolls.com for more info

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Upcoming EPFC Filmmobile Screenings

Friday, August 20 @ 8:00 pm – KILLER OF SHEEP
Killer of Sheep examines the black Los Angeles ghetto of Watts in the mid-1970s through the eyes of Stan, a sensitive dreamer who is growing detached and numb from the psychic toll of working at a slaughterhouses. It was shot on location in Watts in a series of weekends on a budget of less than $10,000, most of which was grant money. Finished in 1977 and shown sporadically, its reputation grew and grew until it won a prize at the 1981 Berlin International Film Festival. Since then, the Library of Congress has declared it a national treasure as one of the first fifty on the National Film Registry.

Friday, August 27 @ 8:00 pm – INTOLERANCE
For the last event of the 2010 Filmmobile Summer Screening Series, we’re excited to present DW Griffith’s 1916 silent epic. “Professor Theodore Huff, one of the leading film critics of the first half of the twentieth century stated that it was the only motion picture worthy of taking its place alongside Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the masterpieces of Michelangelo, etc. as a separate work of art.” –Wikipedia. LIVE MUSIC BY DUBLAB.

All screenings are free and open to the public. The locations are secret until a few hours before the screening. You can call (213-484-8846), email (info@echoparkfilmcenter.org) or follow them on Twitter (http://twitter.com/EPFCfilmmobile).

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Bird lovers club returns to Echo Park Lake

Flickr photo via Zeus Of HollYWOoD

The Echo Park Ornithology Club used to meet every other Sunday at Echo Park Lake to, well, watch the birds! It seems that it has been a while since those Sunday meetings have occurred, possibly because of the swap meet that used to take place every Sunday. It should now be a welcoming place for bird watchers on the weekends since the swap meet was shut down a couple of weeks ago. The Facebook events page reads, “The cops kicked all the vendors out of the park, so it’s time to watch some birds again! GO BIRDS!”

If you’re interested in joining the Ornithology Club,

Some info about the Club:

The Echo Park Ornithology Club is a small group of naturalists, bird-loving hipsters gone wild, animal friends, cute scientists, radical artists, and nerdy city punks. We organize nature hikes, bird watching parties, science lectures, natural history field trips, community outreach and conservation activities, etc. Come out and join us, dude!

We meet roughly every other Sunday afternoon at Echo Park Lake. Join the mailing list or watch Facebook and MySpace for event announcements. Propose an event of your own!

Email them at echoparkornithology@yahoo.com for more info, or visit the group’s Facebook page.

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Echo Park’s Missed Connections

“Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart.”

– Washington Irving

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August 9:

redhead at el prado – m4w – 32

hello there..

we locked eyes like a million times but you were sitting with some dude.

i moved behind you, you turned and i said hello.

you. are. hot.

i sure hope you see this.

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August 3:

Dan of Echo Park! Dance Right at La Cita on 07/29 – w4m – 23 (Echo Park (where you said you lived))

Oh, Dan of Echo Park, who works for the LA Times blog section (?)

You wore a black t-shirt with red horizontal bars and I wore a blue and white button down with a pencil skirt. You had cute glasses; I had black stilettos. You were walking by the bar, when I spotted you fretting and I told you to smile and cheer up a bit. A while later, you came out and told my friend that you wanted to talk to me. She told you to ask me to dance. So we did. It was great. You got my number, but you might have heard it wrong? I’d like for you to call me.

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August 13:

Bank of America?! (Echo park)

Now i regret i wasnt brave to Talk to this dressed in red girl…but there was somebody sitting next to you And i want to ask you now: do you want to have a Coffee?

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August 18:

Patras/Echo Park – w4m – 26

Hello, I was at Patras with my cousin her man and her kids. We were waiting for our food and I noticed a guy on his cell phone. When I looked at him he smiled. Since he was on his cell I just smiled back. Then once again our eyes connected and we smiled at eachother. I wanted to say hello but since he was on his cell I did not want to interrupt anything. He was so adorable with his colored eyes and light hair.

If this message reaches you let me know what color your eyes are and what I was wearing so I know it’s you.

h/t Craigslist

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“WonderDreams” Art Exhibit at Chango

“WonderDreams” is an art exhibit about to launch at Chango here in Echo Park. The exhibit features paintings by singer/songwriter and actress Carmen Perez. According to the press release, the series is “inspired by dreams and the unseen. Dreams and journeys through other dimensions, realms, and the subconscious of the Universe expressing wonderment in worlds of color.”

Carmen’s background includes not just singing, painting, and acting, she was also in the Army and was a Sergeant by the age of 22. She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Government and International Politics from George Mason University. With over 50 acting credits, she also had two songs in both the Top 50 Billboard Dance Club and Top 10 UK Commercial Pop Charts.

Curated by Heather Mendoza, the opening date for the free exhibit takes place on Sunday, August 22, 2010 from 4-7:00 pm at Chango, located at 1559 Echo Park Avenue.

Empanadas from Nonna’s and wine will be served, and there will be live performances by musicians/artists Lee Whittaker, Byron Gore and Carmen herself.

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Learn more about the Echo Park Lake Rehab Project

We are just a few short months away from the start of the Echo Park Lake Rehabilitation project, and just a few days away from the end of the comments period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). Not sure what’s going on with the DEIR or the rehab project as a whole? There is a meeting this weekend you can attend to help you learn more about the 86 million dollar project and what to expect when they gate up the whole lake come January 2011.

Echo Park Lake Project discussion with Michael Jacob Rochlin

Saturday, August 21 , 2010 at 2:00 pm

Edendale Branch Library Community Room located at 2011 W Sunset Blvd.
Call 323-661-2703 for more information.

What role does the lake play in our city’s water system? What will happen if it is fenced off for two years or longer? How will the money be spent and how does this project relate to previous city water projects?

There’s also a public hearing on the DEIR for the proposed Echo Park Lake Rehabilitation Project. Learn about the proposal and submit your written comments about the DEIR (the deadline for your comments is Monday, August 30).

DEIR Public Hearing

Monday, August 23, 2010 from 6:00-8:00 pm

St. Paul Cathedral Center, Grand Hall, located at 840 N. Echo Park Avenue
Click here for the flyer (which also contains a Spanish-language page) so you can distribute info in your neighborhood.

See you there!

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Open Mic Nights at Fretted Frog

Fretted Frog, the acoustic guitar shop that opened recently near Sunset and Alvarado, recently threw its first in-store concert and is now hosting an open mic night!

Starting Saturday, August 28 from 7-9:00 pm, the open mic night will host singer/songwriters and acoustic bands for the evening. You can sign up to strut your stuff (pun intended) two hours prior to start at 5:00 pm at the store. Email them at info@thefrettedfrog.com for more info.

Fretted Frog is located at 1200 N. Alvarado St.

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New Rules For Watering Your Lawn

sprinkler21.gifThe Los Angeles City Council has approved changes to the City of Los Angeles’ Water Conservation Ordinance. Following approval by the City Council, the Ordinance just needs to be signed by the Mayor. If and when this happens the new rules will go into effect the following week.

Instead of the entire city being stuck watering on the same limited days, the week is getting split in half. This new plan is partially a result of last summer’s epidemic of water main breaks.

If your address ends with an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) you may water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays before 9:00 am or after 4:00 pm.

If your address ends with an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 ) you may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays before 9:00 am or after 4:00 pm.

If your address has a fraction, use the last full number. For example, 1234 ½ ends with a 4 and is considered an even numbered address.

Different types of sprinklers will be subject to different time limits. Spray head sprinklers and bubblers (non conserving models) are limited to 8 minutes per cycle and one cycle per day per area. Rotors and multi-stream rotary heads are limited to 15 minutes per cycle and up to two cycles per day per area.

Hand-watering using garden hoses fitted with shut-off nozzle devices is allowed any day of the week before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. This does not include watering your driveway!

Not sure what type of sprinkler you have? Check out the pictures and descriptions on Clemson.

Photo via getwithgreen.com

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EPIA Neighborhood Issues Meeting Tonight

Tonight is the Echo Park Improvement Association Neighborhood Issues meeting. There’s a lot of buzz revolving around this meeting as there will be a discussion about the new restaurant being installed in the old Ramona Theater, which we just learned today will likely be called Mohawk Brasserie.

The meeting takes place at 7:00 pm in Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital.

Come a little early to get your seat!

Click here for tonight’s agenda, posted on the EPIA website.

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Mishka Fall 2010 Release Party

Mishka of Echo Park is throwing its Fall 2010 Release Party on Friday, August 20 at the Echoplex.

The lineup for the 8-11:00 pm time slot includes: Pictureplane, Blessure Grave, Puro Instinct (formerly Pearl Harbor) and Tearist.

From 11:00 pm – 2:00, there will be DJ sets from Acid Girls, The Captain and Star Eyes (of Trouble & Bass), and Killing Spree (Zane & Gibby).

The party is free if you RSVP in advance, and only $5 at the door if you don’t RSVP.

Visit Mishka of Echo Park’s blog or the Facebook event page for more info.

Friday August 20th, 8pm-2am
The Echoplex located at 1154 Glendale Ave.

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A Shipwrecked Boat Inside Machine Project

Beginning on Sunday, September 5 (opening reception from 5:00 to 10:00 pm) and running through October 8, Machine Project will be transformed into the site of the shipwrecked Sea Nymph. The wreck is being built by artist Josh Beckman and will “act as an environment for a whole series of events, performances, workshops, and operas made by and for for dogs. Inside the capsized hull of the ship there will also be a crystal cave.”

They are currently looking for volunteers with steady sea legs to help them build the wreck.  Email them at machine@machineproject.com if you’d like to help out!

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