Maria (left), Dominc Ehrler (center) at L.A. Zoo. Photo by Christine Peters
A gaggle of reporters (last bird pun, I promise) turned out this afternoon to view the new home of Maria, the famed Echo Park Lake goose that was relocated to the Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park in Feburary. Also on hand was Dominic Ehrler, Maria’s companion, who was recovering from a recent fall. Maria (who was named before zoo employees determined the she was he) spent some time in quarantine after first being moved to the zoo. Maria can now be visited at the Winnick Family Children’s area of the zoo.
Echo Park
Preparations to begin next month on a cleaner, greener version of Echo Park Lake.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Echo Park Lake before (top) and after (bottom). Images from EchoParkLake.org
Expect fences to begin encircling the park and lake during the week of July 11 as part of a two-year-long lake clean up, according to a new city website dedicated to the $64 million project. That website also provides a gallery of before-and-after photos, including images of how the lake will look when its planted with wetlands. Officials had previously said that work would begin after the Lotus Festival during the second weekend of July but had not provided a specific time line until now. After the fence goes up, “temporary trailers will be set up, along with water and power lines,” according to a notice on the website. “Earth moving and other construction equipment will show up at the site soon after these facilities are in place.”The actual draining of the lake, however, won’t begin until next spring.
A public meeting has been scheduled for July 20 to update residents on the lake closure and clean up.
The wetlands, which are intended to help filter the water, will cover a significant portion of the 13-acre lake, dramatically altering its appearance. Engineers have said there will still be plenty of open water for paddle boats – if they ever return – and have promised to restore the lotus bed in the northwest corner of the lake. The before-and-after image at the top shows the view of the wetlands and lake from north to south. Click on the link below for a south-to-north view. What do you make of Echo Park Lake’s shaggy new look?
Related posts:
- New website launched for the Echo Park Lake rehab project. Echo Park Now
- Noses needed for Echo Park Lake odor patrol. The Eastsider
- Will cleaning up Echo Park wipe away its historic landscape? The Eastsider
- Cleaning up Echo Park Lake will be a big mess for residents. The Eastsider
- Less lake and more wetlands for Echo Park. The Eastsider
- What will the lotus look like when they return to Echo Park? The Eastsider
- Will Echo Park Lake be twice dammed? The Eastsider
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By Alfred Montez
The Echo in Echo Park tonight, June 30, presents a record release from Johnny O’Donnell and Sacramento. O’Donnell, formerly of the Holy Ghost Revival, will be leading a night of psychedelia and rock and roll perfectly suited for the little Sunset Boulevard hipster haven. The show marks the release of the group’s four-song, EP, which was scheduled to come out on White Noise Records on June 28.
Also performing are John Carpenter, Corridor, and Residual Echoes, all a mix of neo-psychedelic sounds coming from Echo Park’s own current mix of music. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. It’s 18 and over and only costs $5.
There’s a lot of music out there. Eastside Mix will help guide you to noteworthy shows and keep you up to date on Eastside venues, bands, artists and labels. Did we miss something? Send an email to hello@theEastsiderLA.com.
An update on sales, specials & news from Eastsider advertisers.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Feeding Birds
Sales & Specials
New Merchandise & Services
- Sprout Creative Arts: Summer Performing Arts Camp begins July 5-15: Musical Theatre Dance Camp. July 18-29: Sleeping Beauty Ballet Camp. August 1st-12: End of the Summer Dance Camp.
- Overnight Pet Sitting for July & August: Artemis Pet Service helps you enjoy your getaways by offering $45 overnight pet sitting at your home (regularly $60 per night). Included is pet care for all your animals, dog walks, and home services.
Potted
- Potted: The Garden Tarts at Potted have been die hard fans of local Echo Park jewelry artist Ronni Kappos for a long time. Now they carry her deliciously colorful necklaces(pictured). Stop in to take a better peek.
- Rosebud Marketing: 72 mugs with your company’s name or logo $180.
Announcements
News & items from other parts of the blog and beyond:
A three block of West Silver Lake Drive near Tesla Avenue was closed late this morning after utility crews broke a nearby high-pressure line, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Silver Lake Drive was closed between Bright Lane on the south and Angus Street on the north. No evacuation or injuries have been reported.
East Los Angeles
The fate of an East L.A. landmark is up in the air following the departure of its main tenant, Self Help Graphics
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Former Self Help Graphics building. Photo by Edgar Lopez
By Edgar Lopez
The end of June normally saw collectors and fans of Latino art head to East Los Angeles to crowd into the mosaic-covered home of Self Help Graphics & Art for its annual print fair and exhibit. This year, however, the two-story building at the corner of Cesar Chavez and Gage avenues was mostly quiet and empty as Self Help hosted the annual print show last weekend in its new Boyle Heights building. Self Help moved out of unincorporated East Los Angeles last April after the City of Los Angeles’ redevelopment agency was able to find the arts institution a new site in what officials hope will become a Boyle Heights arts district that runs along First Street. Meanwhile, back on Cesar Chavez in East L.A., it’s unclear what will happen to the former Self Help Graphics building, which is up for sale and being touted as a possible historic landmark by the Los Angeles Conservancy and other preservationists.
“We did not want our departure from this beautiful building to signal its demise,” said Jim Gatewood, a Self Help Graphics board member has been working to preserve the 1927 building. “We worked for its preservation because it is an important symbol of the Chicano movement, the arts movement and the myriad contributions that immigrants have made to the surrounding community.”
[Read More…]
Two new Sunset Boulevard establishments – Sunset Beer and Mohawk Bend – have promised to leave Echo Park awash in new artisan beers and specialty brews. But opening those businesses has taken longer than expected. On the west end of Echo Park, Mohawk Bend, a large new restaurant and bar with 72 taps of beer, cancelled plans to open this week and is now scheduled to open next month, according to Echo Park Now. Meanwhile, several blocks east on Sunset, new signs have been erected above the minimall where Sunset Beer will eventually stock 1,000 bottles of brew and host beer tastings. But co-0wner John Nugent, who also owns Colorado Wine Company in Eagle Rock, is not quite ready to set an opening date. Sunset Beer, which had planned to open in early 2010, has completed the alcohol licensing process but must undergo final city building inspections, he said. In the short term, however, Echo Park beer lovers are invited to attend a beer tasting on Saturday, July 9 at the Colorado Wine Co. with Alex Macy, who will manage the Echo Park. That tasting will serve as an intro of what to expect at Sunset Beer, Nugent said.
Photo from Cottage Enrichment Preschool
Cottage Enrichment Preschool will host an annual art show and fundraiser tonight, June 30, featuring paintings, drawings and mixed media collages created by the students at the Echo Park school. Proceeds from the event will be used to buy supplies for the school, upgrade existing books and for other materials, said a school parent named Jenny. “It’s also a great time for prospective parents to take a look – the yoga teach and violin teacher will be there as well,” she said.
The show and fundraiser begins at 6 p.m. Click here for details.
Waiting for the train, Highland Park | Photo by Paul Bailey/Flickr
- The L.A. Zoo to show off the new home of Maria the Goose (formerly of Echo Park). Chicken Corner
- Mount Washington Assoc. leader not on friendly terms with the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition. Patch
- Silver Lake Neighborhood Council to give Ivanhoe Elementary $3,500 to help replace a 16-year-old photocopy machine. Los Feliz Ledger
- Echo Park neighborhood council budgets $1,500 to install bike racks, benches and signs. Los Feliz Ledger
- Atwater prepares for this year’s Summer Nights on the Boulevard event. Arroyo Seco Journal
- Will the closure of the 405 freeway slow down traffic on the Arroyo Seco Parkway? Not really. Patch
- Happening Today: Summer Nights & Art on the Boulevard, Atwater; Cottage Enrichment preschool art show-fundraiser, Echo Park. Save the Date
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