,

Echo Park Lake Christmas Bird Count on Sunday

EchoParkLake11

Join fellow bird lovers on Sunday, December 29 for the annual Christmas Bird Count at Echo Park Lake!

Bird lovers in Echo Park have identified over 70 species of birds over the last ten years. You can expect to find species such as mallards, great-tailed grackles, robins, American coots, sparrows, finches, great egrets, black-crowned night herons, green herons, blackbirds, hawks and various gulls and doves, and more.

Beginning birders, including children, are welcome to the free bird walk. Binoculars are strongly recommended along with a bird guide if you have one.

Meet at the Boathouse at 8:00 am for the two-hour count.

Following the Echo Park Lake bird count, at about 11:00 am, is the Vista Hermosa bird count. Vista Hermosa is a small park just a little west of downtown Los Angeles. Meet at the parking lot at 100 Toluca Street, just north of First Street. Time about 1.5 hours. Terrain mostly level, some slight elevation.

/2,047 Comments/by
,

Holiday guide to parking, trash and street sweeping in Echo Park

Coming from someone who just paid a very expensive expired meter ticket (a rare thing in my household), there’s nothing better than finding those sweet, sweet parking spots. Since today is Christmas Eve, you can avoid some tickets by parking a little smarter over the holiday – just not today. Official observance is on Christmas DAY – so be aware!

Meters

Always look at the signs – certain city parking regulations (such as state parking laws) are not enforced on national holidays. However, consider yourself free and clear on Christmas Day when there’s noone working to give you that ticket. Since this year Christmas Day falls on Wednesday, the holiday is observed that day. More info here.

The parking regulations/signs that are not enforced are:

  • Time Limit (ie one hour, two hour, four hours, etc.)
  • Parking Meters (unless posted to include holidays). Exceptions include, but are not limited to, areas around Venice Beach and in West Los Angeles. In these areas, the signs reflect “Including Holidays.”
  • No Parking Signs with specific time limits (i.e. 9:00am to 4:00pm, 8:00am to 10:00am)
  • No Stopping signs with specified time limits (i.e. 7:00am to 9:00am, 4:00pm to 6:00pm). This includes Peak Hour parking restirionts.
  • Preferential Parking (unless posted to include holidays)

The following safety violations are enforced on all days, including National Holidays:

  • Red zones, including bus zones
  • Yellow/White zones (on request only)
  • Alleys
  • Sidewalks
  • Handicapped Zones (also known as Blue Zones)
  • “No Parking Anytime” zones (including “Tow Away” restrictions
  • “No Parking Anytime” zones
  • “No Stopping Anytime” zones
  • All temporary “No Stopping” or “No Parking” zones
  • Requests for service, including, but not limited to, blocked driveways

Trash

Trash service will not commence on Christmas Day (December 25), but there will be a one day delay. So, in essence, Wednesday collection day will now be on Thursday. If you’re throwing away your Christmas tree already, consider recycling it.

Street Sweeping

Once again, Christmas Day (not Eve!) is the name of the game – as long as the sign says “Holidays Exempt” or something along those lines.

 

/1,253 Comments/by
, ,

Snow Day in Echo Park Friday

WinterWonderland

Get your snow gear ready – winter is coming to Echo Park!

Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell is bringing Winter Wonderland to the Echo Park Farmers’ Market TOMORROW, Friday, December 20 from 3:00-5:00 pm. Free snow play area for the kids – and for the kid in you!

/1,329 Comments/by
, ,

35 trees slated for removal on Sunset Boulevard

Tree removals in Echo Park

Trees are indicated in the green are to be saved, if they have a yellow dot they are to be removed and replaced.

Sunset Boulevard along Echo Park is getting a makeover. As part of the $750,000 grant for the Echo Park Beautification Project, Sunset Boulevard from Rosemont Street to Everett Street will get some well-deserved attention when it comes to some much-needed sidewalk repairs, and more, including (but not limited to):

  • Removing and replacing trees along Sunset Boulevard
  • Improving sidewalks (including adding
  • Adding new trees
  • Adding Big Belly trash receptacles
  • Adding benches
  • Adding bike racks
Ficus_Stop

Ficus tree on Logan near Walgreens back in March 2013

For some, that “beautification” comes with a price – removal of the leafy green ficus trees that provide shade for the sidewalks along the main drag. So why remove the trees? The sidewalks.

Some of the larger trees that are being removed, the ficus in particular, are causing sidewalks to buckle and crack, making it difficult for pedestrian (especially handicap) use. Which is why two ficus trees on Echo Park Avenue were removed in March 2013 – which noone knew about (not even Council District 13) until it was done.

The board of public works is holding a public hearing on the removal of 35 trees along 1300 to 2100 West Sunset Boulevard (that’s from Alvarado to Elysian Park Drive) as part of this beautification grant. The hearing takes place tomorrow, on Wednesday, December 18 at 9:30 am (see below location). There are other items on the agenda, so we’re not sure exactly what time the Echo Park issue will be address.

To replace the 35 trees removed (there are various species, including ficus), the city will place 38 Chinese Pistache and 75 Australian Willow trees.

The Echo Park Improvement Association website has two documents available that both outline the locations of each tree removal and replacement – the color version (a small portion of which is shown above) is a version dated from April 2013, but the latest version should be the most reliable in terms of final construction plans.

Hearing on Echo Park tree removals
Wednesday, December 18 at 9:30 am
City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works Public Hearing Room
200 N. Spring Street in room 350
Los Angeles, CA 90012

/852 Comments/by

Pet photos with Santa on December 8

One day only this year!

All proceeds support the Echo Park Animal Alliance.

PetPhotosSanta

/946 Comments/by
, ,

Villainy General Store closing for good

villainy_storefront

This is a bit sad news because we’ve gotten to know owners and Echo Parkians Erich Schlieske and Ellen McAlister (eEvil Ink Design) quite well. Villainy General Store opened in the former Echo Curio space almost exactly two years ago, taking on the challenge of renovating the space and that terribly tiny bathroom. Erich announced the store’s closing on the store’s Facebook page, saying:

THANK YOU ECHO PARK !!! We have met so many very cool and gracious people here. We met lots of neighbors, old-timers, new-timers and for the most part we’ve been well received and we’ve always appreciated that kindness.

Who knew that a Villainy General Store could last for 2 years? More importantly, what is a “Villainy General Store”? It was an experiment, what can I say? I’ve always been intrigued by junk drawers, misfit accessories, vintage curios and funny, odd gifts.

And a curious store it is – but we’ve always found something to take home. Since the store won’t be closing until the end of December, you can still pick up some great and unique gifts, including cheeky greeting cards and (my favorite) t-shirts with hipster sayings like “Echo Park: Where Silver Lake Comes to get Drunk.” After December you can always check them out online at villainyla.com.

What will be next for the storefront on Sunset Boulevard and Laveta Terrace? Perhaps another boutique?

/760 Comments/by
, ,

Rumor Mill: Cortez in Echo Park closing? (UPDATE)

cortez-echo-park

Could it be true? Only a year and week (to the day) after Cookbook owners Marta Teegan and Robert Stelzner opened Cortez in Echo Park, our rumor mill reports that it could be closing for good.

It seams like yesterday the culinary duo took over the 1,000 square foot upscale, American restaurant on Allison Avenue near Sunset Boulevard. The reviews over Yelp! are pretty darn fantastic, but perhaps it could have been the January 2013 review by the esteemed Jonathon Gold that did them in when he wrote in the LA Times:

Tiny portions are great in principle and on tasting menus, but there may be a reason so many of the regulars at Cortez fit nicely into skinny jeans. And by the time you finish ordering, you are going to have spent a shocking amount of money.

Pricey, perhaps –  but delicious from what we’ve heard. Echo Park Now has reached out to Cortez for comment and to confirm the rumor… in the meantime, we hope it’s not true and we wish Cortez nothing but the best!

UPDATE:

You’ll have a chance to check out Cortez after all – Owner Marta Teegan responded to our email, saying it is NOT closing. Glad to hear!

/777 Comments/by
,

Flashback Fridays: Birds eye view of Echo Park in 1903

Yes, we love maps – especially old ones of Echo Park and Los Angeles. The latest publication on the Big Map Blog is a nice display of Los Angeles circa 1903, so we zoomed in nice and close on Echo Park (of course!).

The map shows a sprinkling of homes with lake views and some in “Angeleño Heights,” as well as neighborhood by the name of Sunset Blvd Heights on what appears to be Laveta Terrace (near now Scott Avenue/McDuff Street), and current-day Glendale Boulevard going north into Edendale.

On the Big Map Blog website you can zoom in and out while scrolling through Los Angeles, all centered around a surprisingly well-developed Downtown.

h/t CurbedLA

EchoPark-1903map2

EchoPark-1903map-edendale

/287 Comments/by

Blessing of the Animals on Saturday

blessing-of-animals

The annual Blessing of the Animals is coming up this weekend on Saturday, October 5 at 4:00 pm. Make your way to the Silver Lake “Polka Dot Plaza” (Sunset & Edgecliffe Drive) where Franciscan Friar Thomas Carey will preside over the Blessing.

The Blessing is “a gift to the Los Feliz/Silver Lake/Echo Park communities from Holy Spirit, progressive Episcopal community in Silver Lake.”

All donations benefit the Echo Park Animal Alliance.

This tradition is attributed to the ability of St. Francis to preach to animals, which resulted in his becoming their patron. For more info contact Nick Cuccla at (323) 663-0633 or nacinla@gmail.com.

/1,069 Comments/by
,

Echo Park’s Missed Connections

Flickr photo via Erica Farglow

Flickr photo via Erica Farglow

Big smile in a fierce camo green polo – m4m – 25 (Echo Park Lake) – September 23

This is so embarrassing, I really should have approached you. I feel like such a coward.
But yesterday around 5 I was strolling around the lake, half-heartedly walking my dog, Mr. Buttersworth.
You are white, tall, and had a deep and charismatic voice. Your whole self was charismatic. Your friends were a little rough around the edges- there were two other guys and a girl. One was wearing a hat, I think. The other was small with a mustache. The girl had dark hair. You have dark hair, and a wide smile. Oh, that smile.
You were a roudy bunch, so I think I was a bit scared to approach you. But you seem really put together, clean, confident… just my type. I’d love to go dancing with you. I’m a bit of a homebody, but I’d L-O-V-E to see you again…

 

taco truck at vons – w4m – 26 (silverlake / echo park) – September 23

i was wearing a dodgers jersey at the taco truck
you were with a guy and a girl, your complexion was darker
you had two line tattoos on your arm
i wanted to say hi because your laugh made me feel safe
like i was slowly covered in a bean and rice burrito
sinking into it
i couldnt say anything because i was with my brother
who does not like me talking to other boys

 

my romeo in echo park by the boathouse – w4m – 34 (Echo Park Lake) – September 23

You were with some friends having a weird loud conversation. I was captivated by your presence. You had your hat on backwards. I liked your arm band tatts. I feel like our stars are aligned, do you?

Me: skinny… long dark hair… full sleeve. Did you see me?

w/b with what your friends looked like so I know its you.

-juliet

via Craigslist

/626 Comments/by
, , , ,

8th Annual Frogtown Artwalk on Saturday

Frogtown Artwalk 2013

The Frogtown Artwalk returns on Saturday, September 28 for its eighth year in a row.

One of our favorite annual events, the artwalk is family-friendly event in neighboring Elysian Valley, just a hop, skip and a jump from Echo Park. It’s never crazy crowded, you meet lots of neighbors, and there’s always a little bit of wine and local craft beer flowing.

This year, the “river pavilion” will feature live music along with info on the river restoration efforts. Creator of the “LA River Catz,” Leo Limon, will be at RAC Design Build along with Mary-Austin Klein (the artist whose work is featured at the top of the The Eastsider LA website). There are a lot of youth events, including a youth art show on River Ecology. And for the first time at the Artwalk is Bookshow LA at the NOMAD art complex, featuring a selection of books in an interactive retail space.

There are a ton of great events throughout evening, click here to view the Frogtown Artwalk map with full event details.

We posted some photos of past Frogtown Artwalk events on our Facebook page, click here to check it out!

8th Frogtown Artwalk
Elysian Valley – Coolidge Avenue to Blimp Street
Friday, September 28 from 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Visit frogtownarts.com for more info.

/843 Comments/by
,

Last chance to sign up for the Echo Park Community Parade

EPCP_Facebook_Cover_8-19-13

The annual Echo Park Community Parade is just around the corner, but before we get to enjoy the holiday jingles along Sunset Boulevard on December 14th, the deadline for submitting your application is on Monday.

Some general guidelines to follow when considering what super awesome Echo Park-themed float you’re going to have in the parade:

  • Entries will be allowed to perform a 2-minute routine (maximum).
  • Printed materials and items will not be tossed from the parade route.
  • Megaphones or personal amplifying devices (except for performance music) are not allowed.
  • The final parade lineup is thoroughly discussed and meticulously assembled by the parade committee. Unfortunately, there can be no changes.
  • Remember: This is a family event – please dress participants appropriately.

The parade is on Saturday, December 14, 2013, starting at 11:00 am and runs along Sunset Boulevard from Elysian Park Avenue to Park Avenue. The theme this year is “Neighbors Make Echo Park Beautiful.” Visit the Echo Park Community Parade website for more information and to submit your application!

Last year we had a blast at the parade – check out the photos!

/363 Comments/by

Echo Park’s Missed Connections

Flickr photo by LuisAHHH!

Flickr photo by LuisAHHH!

If you’ve been a long-time reader of Echo Park, or you just like browsing through our Archives, you may be a fan of the Echo Park Missed Connections. We pull from the good ol’ section of the Los Angeles Craiglist and republish the stories of those who are pining away about a lost potential love from around Echo Park. Echo Park’s Missed Connections will post as long as the content is rated… let’s say, PG. Hey, maybe someone will get lucky in love!

Glasses Boy at Tacos Arizas – w4m – 26 – September 17, 2013

We were both eating tacos Monday night at the Arizas truck – mine was carnitas, but I don’t know what yours was. Their carnitas is really the best, so I hope it was carnitas.

I smiled at you. You smiled at me. Anyway, maybe we can watch each other eat tacos again, less surreptitiously.

Cute Waiter at Sage Vegan Bistro – m4m – September 16, 2013

You greeted me when I came in. You were wearing a nice fitting green V cut shirt. I was waiting for my friend to arrive. You have such an awesome smile, and adorable body.

I was wearing a gray/green tank top and thick black rimmed glasses. If by some chance you see this, please email me!

Pink haired princess seeks Echo Park epic Prince – w4m – 30 – September 13, 2013

Me: champagne car, pink hair, cat-eye sunglasses, mint vintage coffee cup. Echo Park and Sunset. Rolled down the window and told you how beautiful you are. You asked for my number. Twice. The light turned. I laughed. I drove off. Wtf is wrong with me?! You’re the most gorgeous man I’ve seen this year. Such great energy. Contact me~ for full contact origami ha

You: white truck, brown hair. Perfect everything. Tattoo of cowboy steer on left forearm.

I wolf-whistled as you were crossing the street, you got knocked down – m4w – 30 – September 12, 2013

Blonde girl, blue pencil skirt, black heels, white with blue patterned shirt. You were crossing Sunset Blvd in Echo Park last Friday morning. You had a folder under your arm and looked in a rush. I was the guy with the ponytail who whistled and shouted ‘yeah baby’. You turned and looked like you were about to shout something back when a Knudsen Milk truck knocked you about six feet in the air. I waited with you until the ambulance arrived. As you slipped out of consciousness, I’m sure that you winked at me. Fate works in mysterious ways. Drop me a line if you see this. Hope that you are back on your feet soon.

Missed Connections pulled from Craigslist

/231 Comments/by
,

Support Echo Park Historical Society with a pizza at Mohawk Bend

Getting hungry? We are! All through the month of August, Mohawk Bend is supporting the Echo Park Historical Society by selling you delicious pizza.

Through the restaurant’s monthly fundraising campaign, Piece of the Pie, Mohawk Bend has created a custom pizza called the Historical Ramona. A portion of the proceeds from each pizza sold will directly benefit the Historical Society. On top of the pie: rapini, red onion, cerignola olives, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, and an olive oil drizzle.

The Echo Park Historical Society is a group focused on the preservation of the community, including fantastic things like the Jensen’s Recreation Center sign, and even the Ramona Theater that now houses Mohawk Bend. Support history in Echo Park by stopping into Mohawk Bend through August 31!

This is also a chance to celebrate a bit of history in the amazing theater-turned-Mohawk Bend. The Ramona Theater (also once galled the Garden Theater and Studio 1) remained vacant for about 30 years until owner Tony Yanow came in with the restaurant just a couple of years ago. But the theater was opened in 1914, so Mohawk Bend is celebrating the building’s 100th birthday and its own 2nd birthday with some special events.

From August 8 through 13, Mohawk Bend will be tapping special, limited-release beers, and guests are invited to play beer bingo to win prizes. On August 14, there is a special reservation-only anniversary party featuring the unveiling of a collaboration beer with Golden Road Brewing.

/924 Comments/by
,

Outdoor yoga classes at Echo Park Lake starting Sunday

Echo Park resident Steven Arcos is bringing outdoor yoga classes to Echo Park Lake starting this Sunday, August 4.

Yoga Echo Park (aka YEP) is starting with Sunday and Wednesday classes, with more that may be added soon. According to founder Steven, here’s what you can expect:

YEP is Echo Park’s community outdoor yoga group! We are local certified yoga instructors looking to share the benefits of yoga. We come together for about an hour for a fun and challenging vinyasa flow hatha yoga class. Experienced yogis and newcomers welcome.

If you’re interested, drop by the northeast corner of the Lake (Echo Park Avenue and Park Avenue) on Sundays at 10:00 an and Wednesdays at 7:00 pm. A $5 cash donation is encouraged. Bring a mat, towel, water, and “positive intentions.”

For more information, visit the Meetup page, or email founder Steven Arcos at skarcosjr@gmail.com.

/1,525 Comments/by