Tag Archive for: echo park

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Cookbook to open on Echo Park Avenue this summer

Cookbook set to open at 1549 Echo Park Avenue

If you’re like me and don’t always make it to the Echo Park Farmers’ Market on Fridays (generally speaking, Fridays are often spent seeking out happy hour spots), a good alternative to the Market for good grocery shopping is opening up hopefully later this summer in Echo Park.

Located at 1549 Echo Park Avenue, near Chango and Chicken Corner, Cookbook is the creation of Echo Park residents Marta Teegan (author of Homegrown, gardener, trained chef, and teacher) and Robert Stelzner (who has experience working at green grocers in Southern California). Once open, you’ll be able to shop for seasonal fruits, vegetables, kitchen utensils and other basics like milk, butter, eggs, bread, as well as a small selection of prepared foods.

“Not only will we offer delicious ingredients to cook with, but we will also have a great selection of cookbooks to choose from, along with a beautiful selection of fresh cut flowers each day,” says Martha. “Organic herb and vegetable starts will be available each spring and fall. We will further offer a variety of events at cookbook, including classes, readings, and tastings throughout the year.”

Cookbook was offering a limited number of “subscriptions” through the end of last week. Contrary to an LA Magazine article and the LA Times/Daily Dish article today, the subscriptions will not solely fund the day-to-day operations of the store, but will more serve as an “opportunity for friends and neighbors to earn free groceries and to support a green grocer in our community,” she says.

So just to make sure the information is cleared up for anyone who had purchased subscriptions, here’s how it will work:

  • A $250 subscription will earn you a $300 tab at the store
  • A $500 subscription will earn you a $500 tab at the store
  • A $1000 subscription will earn you a $1200 tab at the store

The tabs have not set time limit, but are non-renewable once spent in full. Cookbook will email your balance at the end of each month, and it’s easy to sign up – just email them at info@cookbookla.com

Cookbook
1549 Echo Park Avenue
Open daily from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Everyone is welcome to shop at Cookbook

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Photo: Dodger Stadium Fireworks

Echo Park residents watch the Dodger Fireworks from afar

I was impressed to see how many neighbors came out last night seeking higher ground to watch the Dodger Stadium Independence Day fireworks. Last season the Stadium put on a fireworks show every Friday home game, this year the fireworks are minimal. The next show this season takes place on Labor Day weekend on Friday, September 3, 2010.

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Independence Day in Echo Park

There are a couple of things going on in Echo Park for Independence Day tomorrow. Keep checking back, I’ll be updating events if we find more!

Echo Country Outpost
2:00 – 7:00 pm
Cost: $5 Door, $5 Cups, $1 Dogs, $2 Burgers

Lineup:
2:30 – Amy Blaschke, Jihan Lee and Spencer Lee (website)
3:45 – Fort King
5:00 – Eagle Winged Palace
6:15 – Verb the Adjective Noun

Now Showing new/old drawings by the Outpost”s own Brendan J. Missett. Also showing new photos by C. Hajek and E. Forneret.

Feeding Birds

30% off sale items. Click here for more info.

Closed

Masa, Allston Yacht Club and The Park restaurants are all closed on July 4th (AYC will be back on the 6th, Masa and The Park will reopen after July 6).

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Echo Park Crime Updates

At last night’s Echo Park Improvement Association’s Town Hall meeting, we had a rep from both the Northeast and Rampart Divisions to provide us with an update on crime in the Echo Park area. Some notes worthy of mention are:

  • Officer Hill says the Yankee Game weekend enforcement went well, that they were citing people for public drinking as early as 10:00 am in Elysian Park. Northeast also had a DUI task force in place near stadium exits for drunk drivers.
  • Two significant arrests were made Wednesday in relation to recent burglaries (one on Clifford by the elementary school). Approximately four or five people retrieved their stolen property from that bust.
  • From the Rampart Division, there are no new updates on the robbery at the Higher Path Dispensary last week.
  • July 4th is on Sunday, and we were reminded that fireworks are illegal in Los Angeles. Anyone who has lived in Echo Park during a 4th of July knows the havoc that goes on at the Lake. Officers will be responding to calls if residents notify 311 (or 911 if it’s an emergency) of any illegal activity.
  • Update on the shooting at the Echo a couple of weeks ago: the Rampart officer at the meeting last night says apparently someone had been denied entry into the club, so he came back and shot at a security guard.

And from Captain Bill Murphy, we have some information to share from the Northeast Division E-Policing Newsletter we received yesterday:

National Night Out will take place in Echo Park at the Walgreens on Tuesday, August 3 from 5-8:00 pm. “National Night Out is a fun and informative event with entertainment provided at each site.”

Dodger Night: “On Wednesday July 28, 2010, from 6-9:00 pm at the Dodger Stadium Stadium Club overlooking the right field and first base lines. The Dodgers recently renovation the Stadium Club and it now has an overhang deck with a spectacular view of the ballpark. Everyone is invited to this event and free parking will be provided in lot L. Come hear from your Captains, SLOs, and elected officials regarding the ‘State of Northeast Area.’ Make sure you get there early as last year several hundred people attended this event.”

Neighborhood Crime Update:

Echo Park

Over the last week the crime looks good. Over the past 28 days there are some property crimes occuring along the Sunset corridor mostly from late PM hours through daybreak (a few car break-in and GTAs). We had a bad burglary problem that I spoke about in the last newsletter. This has been cleaned up tremendously with several arrests of burglars over the past four weeks.

Elysian Valley

Very clear over the past week – only a few property crimes over the past 28 days.

You can contact Captain Murphy at 26152@lapd.lacity.org. To sign up for the E-Policing Newsletter, go to lapdonline.org. Then click on E-Policing in the navigation. All you have to do is provide your email address and you’re set!

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EPIA meeting tonight to address lake swap meet

The Echo Park Improvement Association Town Hall meeting tonight is an important one – there’s been a recent surge of conversation about the Echo Park Lake Sunday swap meet/vendors on the Echo Elysian Neighborhood Council forum, and the EPIA is addressing the issue tonight with some special guests to speak to residents about the issue. Come get informed!

Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 7:00 pm

Barlow Hospital – Williams Hall at 2000 Stadium Way

TOWN HALL AGENDA

  1. Welcome and Introductions
  2. Council District 1 & 13 reports
  3. Northeast & Rampart Police Reports
  4. Select Patrol
  5. Town Hall discussion on Echo Park Flea Market
  6. Elections
  7. Annual meeting review – goals and future agendas
  8. Treasurer report
  9. Fundraiser – EPIA Dodger night
  10. EPIAn Way – next issue – articles needed
  11. Neighborhood Issues committee report (NIC)
  12. REPORTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS: To make an announcement, sign a card when you come in, giving your name and topic.  Cards are collected and given to the moderator.
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Fix Coffee’s Local Artisans Bazaar Sunday

Fix Coffee is holding a free Local Artisans Bazaar the last Sunday of every month, starting this Sunday (June 27)!

Local artisans will be selling their wares, sidewalk chalk artists will be coloring up the area, and band African Cowboy will be playing starting at 4:00 pm. Bring your families, friends, and even doggies are welcome. They will provide chalk for the kids to join in.

The Bazaar goes from 2:00 – 7:00 pm.

If you are interested in playing or vending at the venue, please email Veronica Hunt at screamingchica@mac.com

Fix Coffee is located at 2100 Echo Park Ave (at Baxter)

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Trouble near Elysian Park Ave. and Sunset Blvd.

Tweets started coming in not too long ago about road closures and traffic building up on Sunset Blvd., and The Eastsider LA is now reporting that police are searching for a gunman following a possible shooting.

Photo via resident and business owner Justin Warwick

The photo above, taken by Warwick owner Justin Warwick, shows that LAPD are diverting traffic on Sunset Blvd.

In addition, ABC7 is reporting the following:

LAPD officers were on the scene of a reported shooting near Echo Park on Sunset Blvd. Thursday afternoon.

The shooting occurred on the 1300 block of West Sunset Blvd. at about 4:13 p.m. Thursday, according to the LAPD.

One person has been transported by firefighters.

No suspects were arrested.

Police did not immediately release further details.

Los Angeles Police were investigating the incident.

We’ll keep you posted! Follow us on Twitter!

UPDATES:

LA NOW reports that one man at the pot dispensary, The Higher Path, where the robbery took place was killed, while another is in the hospital. The Echo Park robbery occured at around 4:15 pm, and hours later at 9:15 pm another dispensary was robbed El Centro Avenue in Hollywood, leaving another employee dead. The LAPD have not yet determined whether or not the two events are linked.

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Hello Summer in Echo Park!

Monday marked the first official day of summer! We’ve been lucky with the mild weather lately, but soon enough it’s going to get hot outside. If you’re like me and live in an old house with no central air, you’ll be looking for a place to cool down soon enough. Here are some good local places to go cool off:

Echo Park Deep Pool:

Not to be confused with the Echo Park Shallow Pool by the Rec Center, the deep pool is located at 1419 Colton St. It’s super cheap too – adults get in for $2 with your library card (regularly $2.50)! Children and seniors are free. Some Yelp! reviews say the pool is pretty crowded, but I haven’t personally been yet so it’s worth a shot!

Website
Download PDF flyer of events/services, hours and pricing for 2010 (there are swimming lessons!)

Through September 3, hours are:
Monday-Friday: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Monday – Thursday: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Edendale & Echo Park Libraries:

Edendale: Located at 2011 West Sunset Boulevard, the library is a nice (and quiet!) place to go sit under an air conditioning vent and read a book. Unfortunately, city cuts have reduced library hours. So while you can’t go on Sundays, or before noon on some weekdays, the library is available. Click here for the website and hours.

Echo Park Library: Located at 1410 W. Temple Street, the Echo Park Library always has something going on. There are lots of activities for kids, volunteer opportunities for high school students, computer classes, book sales, and more. Click here for the website and hours.

Echo Park Rec Center

While the shallow pool looks like it’s closed for a while, the Rec Center still has barbecue pits and picnic tables, a really awesome playground, baseball diamond, basketball courts, football field, indoor gym, soccer field, and tennis courts. There are a ton of classes (from ballet to free kickboxing to cooking), adult and children’s leagues, and even an after school club. Click here for the PDF flyer of the 2010 program.

Any other brilliant ideas on how to cool down for summer in Echo Park? Let us know!

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Newest Echo Park Business – Montana Cans

It took me a while, but I finally figured out who’s moving into 1528 1/2 W. Sunset Blvd after finding this post on the Eastsider LA. The newest addition to Echo Park’s businesses will be Montana LA, a boutique spray paint store. The brand Montana has been around for a while (at least ten years)* and offers high end spray cans as well as markers, black and sketchbooks and apparel. As well as selling products, the company also sponsors artists, projects, events and does charity work. The store should be opening soon as its website announces that it will open in early 2010.

*Montana Cans (or German Montana) is not to be confused with Montana Colors (or Spanish Montana). The two companies seem to have a long and sordid history. See this PDF.

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Shooting Outside The Echo Spooks Residents

According to several news sources, a man parked out front of The Echo opened fire on a few people who were leaving the nightclub last night at around 2:00 am. Two of the men were injured but released from the hospital, but the third was shot in the torso and is still hospitalized.

Rampart Police have not yet determined why the gunman opened fire or if there’s any connection to the victims, but the thought of such random violence has some of us Echo Park residents a little spooked.

“Scary stuff. I may have made an error in judgment in moving to this neighborhood,” wrote resident “Chris L” on The Eastsider LA comments section about the event.

But Lt.Wes Buhrmester of the Rampart Patrol Division is trying to be reassuring, responded to the comment: “You did not make an error in judgment in moving to Echo Park. And I say this being a resident of LA (Montecito Heights) myself. This was not borne out of any activity by the victims, or by the establishment. We are trying to establish motive. While it is not apparent as those of many crimes, there was some reason for the suspect to fire at the group, and we will ascertain it. Echo Park is still an excellent place to live, work, visit and do business. Unfortunately, no areas are immune to violence.”

We are hoping for a connection so that this doesn’t end up being some random violence that we could all be subject to. Be safe out there!

UPDATES:

  • It’s possible the suspect may have been standing in the street when the shots were fired, rather than parked on a motorcycle out front. The investigation is ongoing.
  • The Echo is beefing up security. From the website: “We are deeply saddened by the events that occurred outside of our venue last night and are concerned about the well being of those injured. As the investigation is on-going, we are unable to make any further statements regarding the details of the incident at this time. Please be assured that safety is our first priority and to ease the concerns of our patrons, The Echo will have additional security and street patrols in place for upcoming shows.”

Related Articles:

  • “Three injured in shooting outside Echo Park nightclub.” The Eastsider LA, June 21, 2010
  • “3 men outside popular Echo Park club wounded after gunman opens fire.” LA Now, June 21, 2010
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SurveyLA and the History of Barlow Respiratory Hospital

Barlow Hospital in 1910

This Thursday, June 24 at 7:00 pm, SurveyLA and the Los Angeles City Historical Society are teaming up to raise awareness of their mission and to give a talk on the history of Barlow Respiratory Hospital.

Funded by a grant from the J. Paul Getty Trust, SurveyLA’s goal is to more thoroughly identify and document Los Angeles’ historic landmarks. At the end of its six-year survey (the second year of research includes Echo Park), the organization will present its findings to the city, homeowners, preservation groups and neighborhood groups so that both developers and property owners are not “surprised or exasperated by eleventh-hour preservation efforts.”

On Thursday, Flora Chou from the Los Angeles Conservancy will be giving a brief talk on the history of Barlow before Janet Hansen discusses the SurveyLA project (“what it is, where it’s happening and how all of us can contribute“).

The talk will be at Williams Hall at Barlow Respiratory Hospital (2000 Stadium Way) at 7:00 pm. Parking is free. Light refreshments will be served.

Click here to download the flyer.

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Echo Park Books Publishes “Art Time Punks”

Front and back covers of Art Time Punks book

Newly formed Echo Park Books has just launched its first release. Titled “Art Time Punks,” the 98-page softcover book is an original “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.

First Art Time Punks flyer circa 2005

Echo Park Books consists of Andrew Pogany (Echo Park resident, self-proclaimed “cultural instigator” and former Flaunt Magazine Editor-in-Chief) and Michael Stock (writer, DJ, and part-time professor). “For now, Echo Park Books will focus on publishing limited-edition books, chapbooks, and fanzines,” says Andrew, “But the plan is for it to evolve into just one of several imprints offering a variety of literary and arts services to an intimate community of creative peers.”

Art Time Punks books is a limited edition (only 250 books will be published), is black and white, soft cover perfectbound, 98 pages, and dimensions are 8 x 8 inches. All books come wrapped in Kraft Butcher paper.

You can purchase the books in person at:

  • Tonight! Punky Reggae Party at La Cita on Friday, June 18.
  • Tiger Beat at La Cita on Saturday, June 19.
  • Part Time Punks at The Echo on Sunday, June 20.

Or starting today, you can purchase a book online for $14 plus tax and shipping/handling at www.echoparkbooks.com and www.parttimepunks.com.

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Sewer Rehab Projects in Echo Park

Source Department of Public Works

Summer 2010 in Echo Park will be filled with sewer pipe “rehabilitation” as the Department of Public Works repairs or replaces about 3.4 miles of small diameter sewer pipe, some of which are 70 years old. The overall construction could last an entire year.

Glendale Blvd. at the intersection of Scott Blvd. is supposed to have started on June 16, and while we’re not sure what intersection will be next, the Bureau of Engineering report indicates construction will last until June 2011.

Here are the “Quick Facts” provided on the Department of Public Works / LA Sewers website:

  • Construction period: Summer 2010 through summer 2011. Weather or other circumstances could shift the work schedule. Neighbors will be informed as conditions warrant.
  • Construction will generally take place Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and on major streets from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. to minimize traffic impacts.
  • Estimated Cost: $3.8 million.
  • Construction methods include sewer pipe lining (rehabilitates defective sewers without excavation and surface disruption), and sewer pipe removal and replacement (performed by “open cut” or trenching, a method that is typically used where sewers are shallow).
  • In order to minimize disruption in the streets, most of the construction work at each location will be completed in about 5-10 business days.
  • Trucks and other equipment such as pipes will be used during construction, and you may see open trench excavation and debris removal.
  • Dust control will be provided in all project areas.
  • Enclosures or other barriers will be used in construction areas wherever necessary for public safety.
  • Flaggers will be used where traffic is impacted. Traffic will be restored to normal when construction has been completed at the end of each workday.
  • Trash pickup, deliveries, access to businesses and residential driveways will be maintained.
  • Parking may be temporarily restricted in some areas, and signs will be posted in advance telling you where and when.
  • You will be notified 24-48 hours in advance whenever sewer services may be temporarily interrupted.
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Finally! Durbin Project Gets a Little Facelift

Photo via The Eastsider LA

Huzzah!

Residents have been complaining for a while now about the weed build-up in and around the Durbin Project on Echo Park Avenue and Delta Street. We recently received an update from Eric Garcetti’s office that the developers were going to clean up all those weeds – and the Eastsider LA is reporting that they finally have!

According to the article, “a small crew of workers returned to the long-delayed Durbin condo project in Echo Park this morning.” Let’s hope they got all the weeds around the sidewalks, and maybe even fixed the buckling fencing along the property’s border.

Click here for the full article.

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Monday Menus: Mooi Vegan Restaurant

Mooi
Gourmet Raw Vegan
1700 W. Sunset Blvd. (in the Jensen’s Rec Center building, right on the corner)
213-413-1100

Daytime menu

Juices
Smoothies
Nut milkshakes
Read more

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