A Taiwanese modern dance company will makes its Los Angeles debut on Saturday with a performance at Cal State L.A.’s Luckman Center in El Sereno. Cloud Gate 2, founded by choreographer Lin Hwai-Min, is the first of three dance companies – from Australia, Taiwan and the U.S. – that will take the stage at the Luckman Center this season. Cloud Gate 2, according to a Luckman press release, has been hailed as presenting “some of the most innovative and creative contemporary dance to come out of Asia in decades.”
In March, Melbourne, Australia’s Chunky Move arrives at the Luckman with a “technology-driven and genre-defying dance performance,” and the Robert Moses’ Kin Dance Company from San Francisco will perform on May 5.
Click on the link below for more details about the shows.
Photo courtesy Silver Lake Arts Crafts & Vintage Fair
The big news at this Saturday’s Silverlake Art Craft Fair & Vintage flea market is not about a new vendor or food truck. It’s the introduction of “swanky valet parking for the rich and lazy.”
Brazilian Yoga & Pilates - which offers pre-natal yoga, Capoeria, mat pilates and yoga workshops – at the Atwater Village Crossing complex is offering a $69 unlimited monthly membership. “Take as many classes as you like,” said yoga teacher Stefani Manger.
Tavin boutique in Echo Park celebrates Valentine’s Day with bubbly, chocolates and a 10%-off sale on lingerie and gifts this Saturday, Feb. 11.
Soul Cup Cakes of Echo Park will selling Muddy Water Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cup, Lemon Drop and Strawberry Swirl cupcakes on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Say Cheese Cafe in Silver Lake.
The Silver Lake Jubilee, an indie music and street festival, had set itself apart from the much larger and controversial Sunset Junction Street Fair – which was cancelled last year – by keeping it simple and cheap; admission had been only $5. But the third annual Jubilee, scheduled for May 26-27, will cost a lot more to attend: $20, which equals Sunset Junction’s much criticized pricing. In an interview with Buzz Bands, Jubilee Executive Director Mark Martinez said he expects complaints:
“That’s something that going to happen naturally,” he says. “But all the complaints people had about Sunset Junction — I feel like we’ve stepped up and addressed them. We’re a very transparent organization as far as where the money goes, and what we contribute to the community. We’re really proud of that.”
Martinez said the price hike is necessary to make sure the festival The group provided a break down of where that $20 will go. In addition to the higher ticket prices, Martinez said the festival, once located on Myra Street, will move to Santa Monica Boulevard.
* Correction: A previous version of this story said the Jubilee announced this year’s musical line up. That’s wrong. The musical acts won’t be announced until March.
70+ unit retirement apartment complex at Glendale Blvd. and Park Ave.
544-space Angelus Temple parking garage
Residents, urban planners and neighborhood leaders gathered in Echo Park last Saturday to toss around ideas and share their dreams about how to remake Glendale Boulevard, the wide, often-congested and noisy street that is lined with neighborhood landmarks – Angelus Temple and Echo Park Lake – as well as shabby warehouses, recycling centers and strip malls. Under his ideal scenario, Councilman Eric Garcetti, said he would turn Glendale Boulevard into a winding road and expose the underground streams that flow into Echo Park Lake. Others dreamed of a boulevard with petting zoos and skate parks. But no one had to attend a workshop to imagine the future of Glendale Boulevard. New and recently completed projects along Glendale show that more big buildings and traffic congestion is on the way – especially in light of existing zoning.
Carlos Almaraz at the Centro de Arte Publico. Circa 1977. Courtesy Avenue 50 Studio
The artistic legacy of Highland Park included a period in the 1970s when it served as a center for young Chicano artists. An exhibit focused on that period opens on Saturday, Jan. 14 at Avenue 50 Studio in Highland Park. Resurrected Histories: Voices from the Chicano Arts Collectives of Highland Park includes a variety of paintings, photos and other materials to tell the story of two neighborhood art collectives Mechicano, located at Avenue 54 and Figueroa, and the Centro de Arte Publico, located near Avenue 57 on Figueroa. Avenue 50 teamed up with KCET’s Departures to produce two online programs about Centro de Arte Publico and Mechicano.
Eagle Rock and Echo Park have already hosted their holiday shopping events. This Saturday, Dec. 17, it’s Silver Lake’s turn with the second annual Holiday Night Out. In addition to sales and deals on holiday merchandise and services, merchants along Sunset and Silver Lake boulevards are also sponsoring live music, caroling and other family-friendly activities. There will also be free hot chocolate and cider at two location in addition to Artist Bazaar & Marketplace featuring the work of local artists.
It was 15 years ago this month that Scott Craig and Peter Alexander took ownership of a bar at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Fountain Avenue. Two weeks after they took the keys, the reopened the bar on the border of Silver Lake and Los Feliz under a new name: Akbar. In a short while Akbar established itself as a bar and night spot popular with gay and straight patrons. Craig, in an email, said the bar will celebrate this coming New Year’s Eve with an Akbar version of a quinceañera to celebrate their bar’s 15th anniversary.
We got the keys to that bar (called Joly’s 2) on December 12 and we were determined to open by December 31st since we thought New Year’s Eve would be a good opening night and we wanted to be able to say that we were “established in 1996.” Seeing how this will be our 15th anniversary we decided to turn it into a quinceanera of sorts. No limo, but lots of drinks.
And a band of mariachis. Click on the link for more details of the festivities.
Drawing by Jesus Campos/Courtesy Echo Park Community Parade
The Santa appearing on the Echo Park Community Parade poster looks a bit crazed. But let’s just assume that this Santa – drawn by seven-year-old Jesus Campos – is excited about Saturday’s holiday parade, which will send a long line of drill teams, bands, floats and classic cars down Sunset Boulevard through the heart of Echo Park. Neighborhood merchants will also be celebrating with a holiday-themed Echo Park Shop Hop, featuring deals, discounts and free entertainment. On Sunday, the Lincoln Heights Christmas Parade will make its way on North Broadway as HM 157 hosts a handmade crafts fair and sale. Meanwhile, in Silver Lake, a Festival of Lights promises family-friendly live music, a holiday boutique and potato latkes.
Several Northeast L.A. galleries will host art openings as part of Second Saturday Gallery Night, and the Echo Park Film Center celebrates its 10th anniversary. More to do in Save the Date.
Volunteers took over a bakery kitchen in Echo Park this week to bake up enough doggie treats to fill 140 Christmas stockings that will go on sale during this weekend’s Pet Photos With Santa, a fundraiser for the Echo Park Animal Alliance. The first weekend in December also brings several other holiday-related events, including arts and craft sales in Angeleno Heights and Boyle Heights, a Lamplight Celebration at Heritage Square, Lincoln Height’s tree lighting ceremony and the Northeast Holiday Parade in Highland Park.
Meanwhile, French singer Jane Birkin will perform at the Luckman Center, Triple Chicken Foot presents a Winter Square Dance in Lincoln Heights and there’s a book sale at the Edendale Library. More to do in Save the Date.
Churches, schools and other groups across the Eastside are collecting food and preparing feasts for those who may not be able to afford a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal. On Tuesday, for example, members of 30 families arrived at Luther Burbank Middle School in Highland Park to pick up boxes of holiday food items in addition to a turkey as part of a volunteer effort organized by students, according to Patch. Late this afternoon, the Silver Lake Community Church Food Pantry will be providing Thanksgiving meals – complete with sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce and veggies – to about 70 families. On Thanksgiving Day morning, volunteers will descend on Echo Park to drop off homemade meals, toiletries and blankets that will be distributed during the 13th annual Gobble Gobble Give.
Can’t donate or help out in time for Thanksgiving? The Echo Park neighborhood council is holding an ongoing canned and non-perishable food drive through Dec. 17 to benefit the Cathedral of St. Paul Food Pantry.
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Eagle Rock and Echo Park have already hosted their holiday shopping events. This Saturday, Dec. 17, it’s Silver Lake’s turn with the second annual 
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The Eastsider publishes stories and news from the northeast corner of the City of Los Angeles and neighboring East Los Angeles. Who is the Eastsider? Where does the Eastsider roam? 