Recreation and Parks staff has put the finishing touches on the reconstructed Echo Park Lake Bridge, completing their work an entire week before the 29th Annual Lotus Festival.
Deteriorated to the point where it was unsafe to cross, the bridge and island were closed to park users. In the interim, with the exception of the occasional filming or special event, the island has become a de facto bird sanctuary. (more…)
The Right Site Coalition is encouraging the community to help stop the needless destruction of the historic homes on the proposed elementary school site known as Site 9A. The neighbors may have been run out of their homes with illegal threats and intimidation by real estate contractors working for LAUSD, but the historic fabric of this abandoned community still stands. (more…)
Finally, after years of trying, Echo Park is getting its very own certified Farmers’ Market! Join your neighbors for the Grand Opening Carrot Cutting Ceremony on Friday, October 13th, at 3pm.Fresh fruits and vegetables direct from farmers can be found in city parking lot #663 at Logan 1/2 block south of Sunset Blvd. 3-7pm.Artwork by Katrina Alexy with Holly Hampton
The closest Michael Conney will get to Echo Park to promote his new mystery Echo Park is South Pasadena… Maybe, just maybe we can convince him to stop in at the Eden dale Library for a reading.
Perhaps an early copy of Echo Park will show up in my mail box for a review too, especially when all the Connolly fans start Go ogling “Echo Park” and they end up here and only find quotes from James Ellroy books! (more…)
Good news for those addicted to Harry Bosch.
Very soon we will read the Spanish edition of Echo Park, the penultimate novel by Michael Connelly. Roca Editorial, which has been made with publishing rights, announces the release for 11 February. The price 20,19 €. The translation of The Overlook still take months to arrive.
Moreover, according to his official website, Michael Connelly travel to Spain to promote their works between 24 and 29 February.
Visit Woodrow Wilson Drive to read more about Echo Park and Harry Bosch.
Have you seen the new 2002-2003 Silverlake (sic) Chamber of Commerce Directory of Members? Well what they say above is true, turn to the Map of Silverlake and look, all of Echo Park, Frogtown, Chinatown and East Hollywood have been absorbed by Silver Lake and only Atwater Village has been spared a similar fate!
Here’s some background on the 9A site from the Right Site Coalition:
Margarita Reyes came to the U.S. in 1949, from Managua, Nicaragua and saved to buy her home in Echo Park 5 years later. She was 23 years old.
Gilbert Joves’ Grandmother came from the Philippines in 1976 and bought 2 tiny cottages in Echo Park that now house 2 generations of her family.
The Villanueva’s have 12 family members, 3 generations, living in their 4 unit house on Mohawk St., a cherished family home that was purchased with sacrifice and patience. (more…)
The Los Angeles Times reports on declining enrollment in neighborhoods where rents and property values have been soaring. Unfortunately this news is a little late for those who owned homes on the proposed Los Angeles Unified School District’s 9A Site. Even though LAUSD was well aware of this downward population trend long ago the school district used fear and intimidation to cajole these longtime residents from a total of 50 housing units. Now Echo Park has boarded up homes where a vibrant community once existed. Previously.
On Thursday morning Echo Park lost one of its hero’s when Ron Emler passed away. Founder of the Echo Park Security Association, cofounder of the Echo Park Improvement Association and co-author of The Ghost of Echo Park, Ron was a tireless advocate for Echo Park. We’ll all miss Ron and his great travel postcards.
Update: Per Ron’s request no formal memorial will be held.
Hum, Man dies after jumping into Echo Park Lake fully clothed.
This could come in handy in the neighborhood, Hipster Bingo!
Personal note: One of the reasons I attended a school formerly housed in a leaky warehouse in Santa Monica.