Singer takes on Echo Park hipsters in music video
Singer Meg Myers has taken on hipsters in Los Angeles in a recent music video for her song “Tennessee.” Armed with a toy gun, she takes to the streets of Silver Lake and Echo Park blasting all the hipsters. A transplant from Tennessee, the song lyrics say it all:
Oh my god
Is that a mustache tattoo on your finger?
I’ve never seen that before
Psych
Wait what
You wanna go to Little Joy on your vespa?
I don’t think so
God I miss Tennessee
You’ll recognize some Echo Park spots like the Brite Spot in the music video.
Gun Buy-back Program today in Los Angeles
Leftover gun parts at La Fonderie in Echo Park hat were used for the 2011 Peace Angels Project award
The fourth annual Gun Buyback Program takes place today at six locations across Los Angeles. Held the day before Mother’s Day each year, the program promises “no questions asked” for turning in guns in exchange for a gift card. Assault weapons are credited $200 worth of Visa or Ralphs gift cards; shotguns, rifles and handguns receive $100.
In past years, local art studio La Fonderie in Echo Park has participated in the program (along with other at-risk youth programs), helping kids melt down the guns from the buy-back program into a sculpture for the 2011 Peace Angels Project award.
The nearest drop-off location in Echo Park is at the LAFD Training Academy located at 1700 Stadium Way. The drop-off is happening today until 3:00 pm. Click here for a list of other locations.
Honda commercial: Unrealistic portrayal of parking at The Echo
A recently aired Honda EX-L ad, filmed in Echo Park last October, shows our main character “Tim” gallivanting around the neighborhood, and then pulling up to a nice, open spot in front of The Echo. As if!
A more realistic portrayal would show the characters taking up resident parking along Echo Park streets, and returning at 3 am shouting obnoxious things like, “I could have TOTALLY gotten her number!” Not that we have any experience with this kind of thing…
Cuban Music Festival postponed second year in a row
Flickr photo by Max Santa Cruz, May 2010
Around this time of year, our email inbox gets flooded with questions about if there’s going to be a Cuban Music Festival at Echo Park Lake. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’ve confirmed with official organizers that there will not be a Cuban Music Festival this year.
The Cuban Music Festival is usually held annually at Echo Park Lake – this year would have been its 18th year. It celebrates Cuba’s Independence from Spain on May 20, and Cuban poet José Martí (you may have notice his statue at the corner of the park).
Last year’s festival was canceled due to funding issues. A representative from Duval Productions says they hope to come back next year when the lake rehab has completed.
Echo Park Art Walk needs volunteers and ideas
We’re thoroughly looking forward to yet another successful Echo Park Art Walk this year – taking place on Saturday, May 19 all around Echo Park. Planning stages are in full force, and organizers are asking for the community’s help. This event wouldn’t happen without the participation of the community – it takes a village!
Echo Park Public Displays of Art’s (PDA) annual art walk started as a small event involving businesses and artists along Echo Park Avenue. Now it’s expanded to Sunset Boulevard, as far as Alvarado. The Art Walk is a community event filled with music, art exhibits, store sales, film screenings, food trucks, workshops, and even sidewalk chalk and bubbles for the kids.
Get involved by going to a community meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, April 24 at 7:00 pm. Share your ideas for the Art Walk, and just learn more about how to get involved. Meet at the Echo Park Time Travel Mart at 1714 W. Sunset Boulevard. RSVP here!
Photo: RIP Dick Clark
A couple of candles and flowers decorate the Dick Clark mural on Glendale Boulevard, under the Sunset Bridge, in Echo Park.
