The last decades of the 19th century were years of upheaval in Los Angeles–cultural transition, phenomenal urban growth, economic change. Griffith’s gift was an early volley in the crusade of municipal reform known as Progressivism: a movement addressing the needs of the average individual, and targeting political corruption. Los Angeles was one of the first cities to adopt the concepts of initiative, referendum, and recall into its City Charter (1907). It was home to the nation’s first Department of Playgrounds. (more…)

At the end of the 19th century, when Los Angeles was still a small town, one man, Griffith Jenkins Griffith, envisioned a city of a million or more people, people who needed”… a place of recreation and rest for the masses, a resort for the rank and file…” As a Christmas gift in December 1896, he deeded five square miles of rancho lands to the City of Los Angeles, to be used for a public park in his name. (more…)

The Silverlake Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary action agency designed to meet both business and community needs. They believe that if the community does well and prospers, businesses in that community will also prosper. Among other things it is a civic clearinghouse, a public relations counselor, a human relations promotion medium. they are interested in total community development which matches community needs with community resources. The Chamber seeks to work harmoniously with its membership and other responsible constituencies in the community as an organization with a special role of leadership in their area. (more…)

Skylight books is one of the premier independent bookstores in Los Angeles. A member of the American Booksellers Association and Southern California Booksellers Association, Skylight is locally-owned by a small group of people who love books. Located in the fashionable Los Feliz neighborhood, Skylight Books specializes in Contemporary Literature and Poetry. (more…)

The Echo Park Historical Society was founded in the Fall of 1995 to promote interest in Echo Park’s heritage, to preserve and protect natural sites and buildings of historic significance within their community, to document and collect materials pertaining to the rich and eclectic history of our neighborhood, and to chronicle the lives of our past and present residents whose deeds and contributions lend pride and substance to their  lives here today. (more…)

This year’s Echo Park Artists Festival–which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10– will expand its offerings to include dance and spoken word performances. Local writers SteveAbee and GordonHenderson are working on a line-up of 10 writers to present their work during a two hour, outdoor performance. In addition, entertainment coordinator SonyaMims is working on adding a flamenco dance group as well as a live theatrical performance that will take place on Lemoyne Street at Sunset Blvd. (more…)