“Perfect Echo” photo exhibit presented by resident Martin Cox

Echo Park resident and photographer Martin Cox has taken some pretty stellar images of our neighborhood lake over the years, and now he’s sharing it with us all! Through November 2, you can check out his gallery of images in a show titled “Perfect Echo” at a Silver Lake gallery. According to The Eastsider LA, along with other Los Angeles neighborhood images, the exhibit will display the beautiful Echo Park Lake juxtaposed with sullen images like sunken shopping carts. While the show opened in early September, you still have time to check it out!

The Gallery is located at 3517 West Sunset at the Silver Lake/Echo Park border (enter through Dustmuffin)

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Just head north through… Enendale?

Bing Maps has us scratching our heads when we searched for our Echo Park neighborhood. Is “Enendale” code for something? Last we checked the historical name for the area is Edendale, but even that isn’t really used. Does Bing know something we don’t know…?

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A happy weather weekend for Echo Park

Some weird weather the past week, eh? There’s been a little bit of humidity in the air as of late (I’m not complaining, having just come back from Virginia a few days ago), causing some “monsoonal” rains in the dessert and bulbous (cumulus?) clouds over the mountains.

Nearby neighbor Will Cambell posted this photo of the Silver Lake sky the other day on his blog, and there was even a report of drops of rain Elysian Heights/Echo Park on Tuesday. This weekend promises some nice, sunny, and cooler weather with a high of 80 degrees. Sounds like a perfect weekend for some Elysian Park BBQs?

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Map: How walkable is Echo Park?

Apparently, very walkable!

With an average “walk score” of 75, Echo Park is #19 of 95 neighborhoods scored by the website walkscore.com. The green highlights in the map shown above indicate a high walkability zone (where “daily errands do not require a car”), while the red areas are less walkable (where “almost all errands require a car”).

Now, we love the walking thing – in a beautiful neighborhood like Echo Park, it’s wonderful, free exercise and we get to explore the many hidden stairways.

You may notice that the map, however, doesn’t show ALL of Echo park, missing the neighborhoods west of Alvarado and south of the 101, but you get the picture.

Click here to check out the full map and details from the Walk Score website.

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Vandals versus an Echo Park lobster

A giant lobster sculpture isn’t exactly your typical “pizza place, enter here” type of signage, but what the heck – it’s Echo Park. Unfortunately for this lobster, which has taken up residence outside of Two Boots on Sunset Boulevard for some time now, not everyone appreciates its grandeur.

Last November, the sculpture appeared spic-and-span in the following photo:

Mr. Lobster, November 2010

Last night, it’s obvious there are few appendages missing. Perhaps the work of vandals? I suppose noone appreciates true art…

Mr. Lobster, present day

Poor lobster…

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Mohawk Bend to open in Echo Park soon, “very soon”

You may have noticed yesterday (hopefully you didn’t drive all the way from the West side) that despite reports from various news sources, Mohawk Bend did not open its doors yesterday. But last week we did get a sneak peak at the space, the food, and the ever so delicious booze at a pre-opening party for press and friends.

Owner Tony Yanow has had great success with Tony’s Darts Away in Burbank – with an extensive and really great beer list paired with an equally delicious vegan and non-vegan bar fare. He’s clearly doing something right, because Mohawk Bend is impressive. Plus it really helps that he’s a really nice guy, has an equally awesome family, and has done a great job with the former Ramona Theater after over 20 years of collecting dust.

Spacecraft Group designed the interior of the building (the exterior is protected by historical guidelines), telling the crowd at the pre-opening party that they were inspired by a ’70s bar vibe, hence the vintage neon bar signs decorating the second story of the large main room. Polished concrete floors, exposed brick (the formal dining room is all original), a two-story glass wall, and lacquered panels of wood are features of the recreated space.

(more…)

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Car wash Saturday to benefit Echo Park family

Unfortunately this story is a sad one, but Echo Park neighbors are coming together out of love tomorrow to raise money for resident Rebecca Zamarripa, who lost her battle with cancer on July 1, just three days before her 39th birthday. Fellow Echo Parkian Becca Dorman wrote about her beloved neighbor in an Echo Park Patch article last week before Zamarripa passed away, calling on the neighborhood to help support the family on Saturday, July 9 at an all-day car wash.

The car wash is still on to help support the family and her children with the financial burden for her treatment. If you’re like me and have been neglecting your car for quite some time now, this is the perfect excuse and the perfect place to spend your dollars. They’ll also be selling an assortment of delicious homemade baked goods.

The car wash starts at 8:00 a.m. at El Centro del Pueblo, located at 1157 Lemoyne St. We haven’t confirmed if there is a suggested minimum donation or not, but there’s certainly no maximum! If you can’t make it tomorrow, there will be another car was at Elysian Heights Elementary School on Saturday, July 16, 2011.

You can also drop off some bills in the many donation jars around Echo Park, including Allston Yacht Club.

Checks can be made out to Ronald C. Tafoya and sent care of El Centro del Pueblo, 1157 Lemoyne St., Los Angeles, CA 90026.

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The Warehouse patio hosting brunch on the weekends

Tomorrow (Saturday, July 9) marks the first of weekend “Brunch Jams” at The Warehouse. Feeling the need for some more brunching variety in Echo Park, owner Justin Warwick was inspired to team up with a food truck to host the morning fiestas from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays on the vintage store patio in Echo Park.

Here’s the scoop: Grab some brunch from the food truck (especially useful on those hangover mornings), stir up a Bloody Mary or Mimosa, and enjoy the serenades of a live Beetles jazz trio. Yep, it all starts tomorrow!

And lastly, your sneak peak of The Jade Chef menu:

SWEET MORNINGS

• The Classroom Cakes: (2) blueberry pancakes, organic maple syrup, sweet cream butter
• Hot Red Velvet Cakes: (2) cream cheese drizzle, sweet cream butter, fresh seasonal berries
• Yogurt sweetened with agave (add $2.00 fresh fruit)
• Toast and artisanal jam choice breads, Laura Ann’s Jam of the day, sweet cream butter
• French Quarter Beignets: (3) dusted with confectioners sugar (add cup of hot coffee or tea for $2.00)

FI”EGG”STA

• Breakfast Burrito -scrambled eggs, monterey cheese, black beans, potatoes, salsa (add $2.00 bacon or veggies)
• Breakfast Quesadilla – scrambled eggs, monterey cheese, salsa, sour cream, (add $2.00 bacon or veggies)

WHICH WAY DO I EGG? omelet-scramble-fried

• Three eggs served with toasted artisan bread ad country potatoes (add $2.00 for artisanal jam)
• Sammy bacon, fried egg, cheese, choice bread
• The Warehouse: peppers, basil, tomato, onions, cheddar cheese, Jade pesto

Sounds great! We’re already in the mood for a tasty Bloody Mary!

The Warehouse is located at 1197 W Sunset Boulevard. Check out their Facebook page for event details and updates.

UPDATE:

The Warehouse announced Friday night that brunch has been canceled this weekend due to permitting issues.

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Beauty Box makes Living Social’s list for best quick manicure

Last week, the coupon website Living Social featured Echo Park’s own Beauty Box salon on its website as the “Best place for a quick manicure” for the website’s “365 Things To Do” Los Angeles series.

We couldn’t agree more! There are a lot of great salons in Echo Park, and Beauty Box deserves a nod.

Check ‘em out at 1498 West Sunset Boulevard.

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Echo Park laundromat returns from the dead

You may be familiar with the tragic closure of my favorite Echo Park laundromat on Sunset Boulevard and Lemoyne Street. Well it looks like yesterday may have been the day it reopened – we snapped this photo of the grand opening sign announcing a Thursday, June 29 re-opening under new management.

Hopefully the new “managment” can spell better than the makers of this sign – I’ve never heard of “Echo Friendly” laundry!

We’ll check it out and let you know how it goes!

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