Southwest Museum
Prodded by Northeast L.A. residents and groups, the City Council today voted unanimously to review a city parks commission decision to allow the Autry National Center to expand and renovate its Griffith Park museum. The vote is part of the most recent skirmish between the Autry, which owns the Griffith Park museum and the Southwest Museum on Mount Washington, and groups that say the Autry is only interested in expanding its Griffith Park complex at the expense of the Southwest.
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Origami Vinyl makes efficient use of its narrow Echo Park storefront, with the Sunset Boulevard shop not only crammed with vinyl records but also a stage set atop a small second-floor loft reached by a narrow spiral staircase. What’s it like up there? Performer and song writer Andy Creighton, in a story on Echo Park Patch, describes what it’s like to on the Origami stage, which he calls one of his favorite neighborhood spots:
Ascending the tight spiral staircase with anything more than a small guitar amp is clearly impossible. When you do start up it and face your first one or two dicey moments, it dawns on you also that there’s no turning back. But it is only at the top (which you do reach intact) that you truly understand the glory of the Origami stage. A treacherous, unprotected eight- or nine-foot drop yawns before you as you gaze down upon the crowd of record-buyers below, none of whom seems particularly interested in catching you when you make that misstep that results in your most memorable performance.
Creighton said he thinks a safety rail will eventually be installed on the stage, at which point “Echo Park will lose something special.”
Photo by Susan Borden
Susan Borden of Echo Park was walking with a group in Elysian Park this morning when their stroll was interrupted by the sight of the large snake slithering across their path near Angel’s Point overlooking Dodger Stadium. It was “possibly the largest I’ve seen in the park,” said Borden.
Echo Park restaurant wants strict conditions lifted; New house proposed for Highland Park historic zone; Charter school has plans for Lincoln Heights site.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
By Christine Peters aka The Planning Lady
Here’s the latest batch of notable city planning filings and notices:
What’s Brewing
Echo Park
Allston Yacht Club, 1320 Echo Park Ave. The owners of Allston Yacht Club are seeking to continue operation of the existing 1,600 square-foot restaurant and bar without having to provide on-site parking. What can we say about AYC? Except that it’s a Planning Lady favorite. Planning Lady remembers the days when it a pupuseria known as “La Paz,” and, well, she’s a bit partial to its new inhabitant. Okay, enough with the favoritism. All that being said, AYC inherited some pretty strict conditions from the previous tenant, a restaurant called 15. Based on community concerns about the previous owners of 15, the city’s zoning officer placed strict conditions regarding parking, specials, live music, etc. on restaurant 15. AYC, after two years of operation, is seeking to have some of the stricter conditions lifted based on the goodwill they have developed with the community. La Paz never had to provide off-street parking in the old days days and AYC is hoping to keep it that way. Case No. ZA-2011-1260-CUB-ZA
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Photo from Angeleno Heights resident
A woman named Staci from Angeleno Heights reports being awakened early this morning by a crashing sound on Kensington Road between Marion Avenue and Douglas Street. She looked out her window to see a car on its side:
Just about 15 minutes ago I heard a crash so loud that I woke up jumping out my skin. I looked outside my bedroom window and saw a car completely on it’s side, perpendicular to the road, and one or two people who seemed to be running out of their houses. As I scrambled to find my cell I saw more and more people come out into the street. An ambulance came up from the west and a firetruck from the east just about 6 minutes after that, at about 1 am. Hope everyone is okay.
The incident took place at about 1 a.m. The Eastsider is checking with authorities for details.
* Update: The driver responsible for the crash was driving too fast and lost control, hitting packed cars, said Lt. Wes Buhrmester with the Rampart Division. The driver passed a sobriety test but his license has been revoked, Buhrmester said in a comment to this post.
“Kung Pow Beef,” Atwater Village| Photo by Ray Woods/Flickr
- Silver Lake Trader Joe’s creates memorial fund for employee killed in Echo Park shooting. The Eastsider
- Car flips out in Angeleno Heights. Eastside 911
- Where did the Dodger fans go? L.A. Times
- Pictures from Highland Park’s Memorial Day ceremony. Patch
- Family-friendly Shakespeare in Historic Filipinotown. Patch
- Is Elysian Park’s $110 million reservoir project worth the price? City Watch
- Happening Today: Farmer’s markets, Highland Park & Silver Lake. Save the Date
- Notes: Is it Christmas yet? Suggest a theme for Echo Park’s Community Parade in December.
The Silver Lake Trader Joe’s is collecting contributions for the children of former employee Michael “Micky” David, who was gunned down May 7 in Echo Park as he was being chased down Sunset Boulevard by his attackers. The Silver Lake store, where the 30-year-old David worked for 2-1/2 years, set up a trust fund to collect donations from fellow employees as well as customers. Anyone who is interested in making contributions should make checks payable to the “Michael David Memorial Fund” and leave them at the “Captain’s Desk” near the entrance, according to notices posted in the store. The notices, which feature a photo of David and the words “In Memory of Mickey,” say:
The senseless loss of this charming, giving and fun-loving member of the Trader Joe’s family has left us deeply saddened and his young children bereft of a future with their loving father. You may also know Micky as your neighbor. He lived in this area and truly enjoyed being a part of the this community during his two and a half year tenure at Trader Joe’s Silver Lake.
David had a daughter and son, according to family members and others who left comments on The Eastsider posts. Jeffrey Cardona, 23, has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with David’s killing. However, Cardona is not believed to be the shooter and police continue to search for other suspects.
Family members are planning to hold a memorial service in Los Angeles for David in June. Details are pending.
“Oranges in the City,” Highland Park/Garvanza | Photo by Tom Fassbender/Flickr
- Dodger Stadium catches fire – again. ABC7
- Police investigation in Elysian Heights. Eastside 911
- Former Santa Monica resident now sings the praises of Silver Lake. Patch
- Found: Black & white terrier near Echo Park Vons. Eastsider Forums
- Lost: Cypress Park dog named Rufus. Eastsider Forums
- Echo Park school to hold arts festival & fundraiser. School Yard
- Happening Today: Memorial Day observance, Highland Park; Echo Park Film Center & Machine Project rummage sale, Echo Park. Save the Date
Plasencia Elementary School and Math/Science Magnet on the southern edge of Echo Park will hold its annual Arts Festival, featuring live music, dance and art workshops on Friday, June 3. The afternoon festival will also include a silent auction and art and book sale to help raise funds. “We are raising funds for the fifth graders to go to science camp and for enrichment programs for the school,” said Rhonda Ortiz.
Click below for a full view of the flier for details.
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Meg from Cypress Park is looking for Rufus, a German shepherd who was last scene Sunday afternoon near Pepper Street and Cypress Avenue:
My dog bolted from my yard yesterday afternoon (because of the windstorm, I think), and I have posted him on facebook, craigslist, twitter, and findtoto; I posted flyers last night and am heading out again this morning.
Click here for more details and a photo.
Lost & Found is part of The Eastsider Forums, where Eastsider readers can post announcements or start a conversation on neighborhood news, issues problems & ideas. Click here to find out how to share your news & views.
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