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Lincoln Heights: Thanks to Mark Salvaggio for sharing the 1918 wedding photo of his grandparents, Giovanni Salvaggio and Carmela Buccelato.
Giovanni and Carmela emigrated from Sicily and met each other as children in Lincoln Heights on Lamar Street across from the San Antonio Winery, said Salvaggio, an activist and former Bakersfield City Councilman and Vice Mayor.
"They met over their backyard fences," he said. "Grandmother Carmela lied to the priest who married them at the historic St. Peter's Italian Catholic Church on North Broadway. She said she was 16, but her real age was 15."
Go here to share your neighborhood photos or just reply to this newsletter, attach your photo and include details about the image. You can also tag your Instagram photos with #theeastsiderla.
Jarvis Johnson, a YouTube star with nearly 2 million subscribers, has bought a brand new house here for just under $2.2 million, Dirt reported. The four-bedroom at the north end of the neighborhood features two large balconies and a garage roof deck, according to the sales listing. Johnson, whose videos have had more than 226 million views, is known for his light commentary on other creators and internet stars.
Los Feliz
Joey Soloway, the creator of the Amazon series "Transparent," has listed a four-bedroom Mediterranean Revival on the edge of Griffith Park for just under $4 million, Dirt reported. Designed almost 100 years ago by acclaimed architects Sumner Spaulding and Walter I. Webber, the 3,391-square-foot mansion was remodeled by Barbara Bestor in 2020. Soloway bought the house in 2016 for $2,350,000, according to the real estate listing.
Eighty years ago next month, American servicemen swarmed into Latino neighborhoods and attacked and stripped anyone wearing a zoot suit.
Though the Zoot Suit riots tended to happen Downtown or in East Los Angeles, the soldiers themselves came from here -- the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center at 1700 Stadium Way, down the road from Elysian Park and what is now Dodger Stadium.
This was back when the Art Deco building was only a couple of years old, built between 1938 and 1941. By 1943, it was serving as an induction, separation, and training center for sailors during World War II, according to California Historical Landmarks.
At the same time, the loose, high-waisted zoot suit had come to be identified with Latino youths and gangs. Law enforcement had been targeting zoot-suiters at least since August 1942, when the body of a Mexican American teenager was found in a reservoir in Maywood, KCET said.
The L.A. Times on June 2, 1943, did take care to note that “although many gang members wear ‘zoot suits,’ thousands of zoot suit wearers are non-delinquents.” But that distinction was crushed underfoot as the riots spread.
So what brought out the sailors in the first place?
Tensions had been building between rowdy soldiers on leave and L.A. civilians, PBS said. Civilian youths might roll the drunken sailors, or sailors might insult Mexican-Americans while passing through their neighborhoods. Rumors spread through the barrios about sailors seeking out Mexican American girls, PBS said - while rumors spread through the naval barracks about attacks on servicemen and their girlfriends, KCET said.
Different histories cite different confrontations that finally triggered the organized attacks. But from about June 3 to June 7, “sailors roamed the streets with makeshift weapons, beating anyone they found wearing a zoot suit,” KCET said.
“We’re out to do what the police have failed to do,” a naval petty officer told the L.A. Times on June 6, 1943. “We’re going to clean up this situation to the satisfaction of ourselves and the public.”
Somehow, no one was killed, the History Channel said. The attacks began subsiding on June 8, when military officials banned soldiers from Los Angeles.
Earlier this month, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously condemned these attacks as “one of Los Angeles’ most shameful moments in history,” the L.A. Times reported. As for the old naval center, it has found a different use -- as the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center for the L.A. Fire Department.
🗒️ Notebook
Photo by Jesus Sanchez
What a mess
Boyle Heights: A broken water main Thursday morning forced a block-long closure of Mott Street south of Cesar Chavez Avenue. Water inundated the crosswalk and flowed through a restaurant patio. An LADWP spokesperson said no one was without water but more than 80 customers experienced low water pressure.
Photo Courtesy Greek Theatre
Summer Fun
Memorial Day is the unofficial kick off to Summer, and there's no shortage of events to enjoy across the Eastside and nearby. A few highlights:
All Summer
Atwater Village: Cool off with some wine and laughs at Oeno Vino’s comedy happenings in the wine store’s basement bar.
East LA: Bring your family and friends for free concerts, movies and other activities for teens and seniors at Summer Parks After Dark. The county parks program will be held on Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights from June 15 to Aug. 5 at Belvedere Park, City Terrace Park, Salazar Park and Saybrook Park.
Elysian Valley: The L.A. River is opening for kayaking and other recreation on Memorial Day — this Monday, May 29. It will be the 10th season for the L.A. River Recreation Zone, which will remain open until Sept. 30. Check the Recreation Zone’s website for updates.
Griffith Park: There’s a little bit for everybody this summer at the Greek Theatre, from Garbage, Le Tigre and Darius Rucker to Ziggy Marley, Tori Amos and Ringo. Check out the full lineup here.
Elysian Valley: Explore some Eastside neighborhoods on a three-hour LA River Eco Tour and Secret Stair hike on May 31. Visit the LA River, the secret stairs, and the abandoned trolley paths. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes.
June
Lincoln Heights: The House Issues Festival is a five-stage music festival at Plaza De La Raza in Lincoln Park that celebrates the diversity of the house music scene. The festival will feature over 50 artists, various food and drink vendors and art installations. June 3.
East Hollywood: Don’t miss the summer kickoff for the East Hollywood Community Garden on Saturday, June 10, 11 am – 1 pm at 1177 N Madison Ave, behind Madison Avenue Park. Music by DJ Strange Cadence. Free plant-based food while supplies last. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. RSVP or just show up.
Echo Park: The 42nd Lotus Festival is back at Echo Park Lake on July 15 and 16. Celebrate Indonesia and enjoy free entertainment, view handcrafted work, and engage in plenty of fun activities.
Griffith Park: The Independent Shakespeare Co. annual free Shakespeare festival is back for its 20th year starting July 5. This year, enjoy “Julius Caesar” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Montecito Heights: Outdoor Movie Nights are back at Heritage Square Museum, featuring classic films "Sunset Boulevard" (July 8) and The Big Sleep (July 22).
August
Highland Park: Check out the LAPD Northeast Division’s National Night Out with a “get-to-know-your-neighbor” open house at the Los Angeles Police Museum from 4 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 1.
Historic Filipinotown: Catch Real Men Have Chichis at the Teatro Frida Kahlo. The comedic play will center around four Latino men who play fantasy football and indulge in carne asada.
Los Feliz: Enjoy a night of Bach, Rock & Shakespeare at the Greek Theatre, featuring Marshall High's Orchestra, Shakespeare Troupe, Dance Class, Jazz Band, and finalist from the Battle of the Garage Bands
Saturday, May 27
East LA: Sign up for Make a Move East L.A., an all-ages chess tournament in which participants will compete for prize money. Slots at the tournament, which takes place at East Los Tacos, are expected to fill up quickly.
East Hollywood: Come and celebrate your skin at a self-love dance party. Dress on theme and show off your body at The Body Party!
Echo Park: Come and learn about electric vehicles (EVs) at the EV Ride n Drive & Cultural Celebration Festival. Participate in drive sessions, and enjoy a vibrant indigenous cultural celebration with food, music, and much more.
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