June 2007 Epian Ways

June-July 2007

Echo Park Improvement Association newsletter

Volume 14 Issue 3

Introducing the Griffith Park Adult Community Center by Stephanie Vendig

It’s happening. The portables are ready for moving. The sewer lines and the utilities are almost ready to be connected. There is even a walkway from Riverside Dr. onto the parking lot, so we won’t be competing with cars to get to the facility.

Chi, Strength Training and Life Story Writing • Volunteer program to match people wanting to volunteer with appropriate places. • Computer Lab • A library • A nutrition program • Card and Table games • Interest and Support groups • Classes provided by community and university programs • An extensive travel program • Social services assistance provided by Hollywood Multipurpose Center

In case you haven’t heard, the Griffith Park Adult Community Center, the latest addition to the LA Department of Recreation and Parks network of facilities dedicated to the 50+ population, will be on the scene, expecting to begin operations in September. The new facility will be on the parking lot of Friendship Auditorium on Riverside Drive just south of Los Feliz. The swimming pool and the tennis courts will be our neighbors. Facility Director Mark Wilson will be working with all of us to provide the best programming possible. For more information contact Stephanie Vendig at (323) The facility will serve the neighborhoods of Atwater 667-3043 or [email protected] or Mark Wilson at Village, Los Feliz, Franklin Hills, East Hollywood, Echo (213) 485-5652 or [email protected] Park and Elysian Valley, and Silver Lake. What will this Center Offer? The Griffith Park Adult Community Center will naturally start small as we get off the ground. The two portables will have only 5200 square feet configured into large, medium and small rooms. The key will be scheduling a variety of activities throughout the day and sometimes in the evening. Some of the plans and ideas so far: • Fitness programs (Fitness equipment has been ordered) • Collaboration with Griffith Park Rangers and staff to organize hiking, nature walks, swimming and tennis classes • Lectures, Forums, Community meetings • Art and craft activities • Collaboration with LAUSD to continue classes such as Yoga, Thai

Portables Waiting to Move to the Parking Lot of Friendship Auditorium on Riverside

Echo Park Improvement Association Meets at 7 p.m. the 1st Thursday of each Month in Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital 2000 Stadium Way in Elysian Park Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Message Phone (323) 882-4835

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June-July 2007

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Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Message Phone (323) 882-4835

Page 3

June=July 2007

Council Member Tom LaBonge on Griffith Park June 1, 2007 Dear Friends:

threats in the bases of tree trunks remains a concern as does the danger of falling trees.

We are continuously receiving emails of support and concern regarding Griffith Park and its recovery. It is encouraging to hear so many voices speak up about wanting to be back in the park hiking, riding and biking.

In regard to replanting, over 95% of the park will be left to grow back on its own without any intervention. Non-natives plantings that have long distinguished the shady gardens such as Dante’s View, Captain’s Roost, Amir’s Garden and the Bird Sanctuary will be allowed.

Department of Recreation and Parks officials’ key concern is for the safety of park users as well as park crews working in the burn zones. We ask for your patience while daily assessments are made to evaluate whether affected areas remain closed to the public.

We have an ever-growing list of people who would like to volunteer for the recovery effort. As soon as the burned areas are deemed safe, we will organize volunteer days to start the restoration process of Dante’s and other unique park treasures. We will notify you of the dates. We are looking at a multi-year effort and welcome your involvement.

There are certain issues that have become prominent in your queries and I thought it would be worthwhile to answer those of greatest concern:The Vermont Canyon Tennis Courts remain closed and no date has been set for reopening. The area directly adjacent to the complex is where the fire began and it suffered from severe fire damage that crews are still working to clear. The city’s Forestry Division has cleared more than 800 dead or damaged trees in the burn zone, which remain off-limits until further notice. Lingering fire

If you would like to make a donation toward the restoration efforts, please go to www.laparks.org and click on the Griffith Park link. The Rec. and Parks website also contains the latest updates about park openings and the remaining closures. I look forward to working with you as the restoration process moves forward! Sincerely, TOM LABONGE Councilmember, Fourth District

BROCK BROCK REAL ESTATE (323)

IDA POTASH knows the neighborhood [ph] 323.644.9081 [fx] 323.644.9387 [cl] 323.662.7656 2235 HYPERION AVE LA, CA 90027

Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Message Phone (323) 882-4835

Page 4

June-July 2007

conceptual craftsman—over twenty years experience

Mon — Sat 11 am — 7 pm Sundays — Group of 10 or more by

Saturday Special Typical Haitian Food Echo Park • Since 1949

Wood Burning Rotisserie We Roast our own HAITIAN Coffee

309 N. Glendale Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026 www.tigeorgeschicken.com Email: [email protected]

Read the EPIAn ways online at http://echoparkimprovement.googlepages.com/home

1911 SUNSET BOULEVARD LOS ANGELES, CA 90026 (213) 484-1265 Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Message Phone (323) 882-4835

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June=July 2007

Echo Park Lake’s 3rd Annual Fun Bird Walk Sunday, August 12, 2007, 9:00 a.m. During recent years, Echo Park Lake Birders have identified more than 60 birds that call Echo Park their home for all or part of the year. Summer birds at the lake tailed grackles, robins, sparrows, finches, great night herons, green and various gulls and identify many others.

include Mallards, greatAmerican coots, egrets, black-crowned herons, blackbirds, hawks doves. We will surely

This is a fun walk, and beginning encouraged to participate. Parents are their children. And it’s free! Take your binoculars, and a bird guide, if you

birders are encouraged to bring have one.

Sign up by telephoning (323) 663-6767. Or send an email to [email protected]. Write “summer bird walk” In the subject line. Please include your name and phone number. Meet at Echo Park Lake Boathouse (Echo Park Ave. & Laguna Ave.) Park along Echo Park Ave. or Laguna Ave

+ MEDIMEDI-CAL

Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Message Phone (323) 882-4835

Page 6

June-July 2007

ECHO PARK CALENDAR Date

Event

st

Location

Comments

Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital, 2000 Stadium Way in Elysian Park Call (323) 882-4835 for location

Call EPIA message phone for additional information.

LAPD Stop-In Center, Echo Park Avenue and Sunset Boulevard Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital, 2000 Stadium Way in Elysian Park

Hosted by Echo Park Security Association. Call (323)666-3228 for more info Call 213-666-9651 for meeting location

EPIA Meetings

1 Thursday, 7:00 pm July 5, Aug 2

EPIA Steering Committee Meetings Community Safety Meeting

2nd Monday, 7:15 pm June 11, July 9

Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park

1st Wednesday, 7:00 pm July 4, Aug 1

Echo Park Chamber of Commerce Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council Meeting

3rd Thursday, 7:00 pm and every Wednesday 1:30 pm

Taix Restaurant.

Call 213-630-3032 for further information.

4th Tuesday, 7 pm June 26, July 24

Logan Street School Auditorium, 1711 W. Logan Street

Call (213) 413-3196 for info or visit www.GEPENC.org

Edendale Library Friends Society >=> ELFS <=<

2nd Wednesday, 7 pm June 13, July 11

Edendale Branch Library Join the library’s support group Community room and find out how you can help 2011 W. Sunset Blvd. your neighborhood’s branch.

2nd Thursday, 2:00 pm June 14, July 12

Positive Energy 4th Wednesday , 6pm 7 pm Group of Echo June 27 , July 25 Park and Silver Lake Area Deadline August EPIAn ways

Take an active part in EPIA. Join the Steering Committee

Edendale Public Library For info : e-mail -2011 W. Sunset Blvd [email protected] or our blog www.positiveenergygroup.blogspot.com

Or call (213) 417-8816 Send submissions to EPIA, Attn: EPIAn Ways Editor

Saturday, July 20

SPECIAL EVENTS Lotus Festival

July 13, 14, 15

Echo Park Lake

Echo Park Lake’s 3rd Annual Fun Bird Walk

Sunday, August 12, 9:00 am

Meet at Echo Park Lake Boathouse (Echo Park Ave. & Laguna Ave.)

Please sign up by telephoning (323) 663-6767. Or send an email to [email protected] Write “summer bird walk” In the subject line.

WWW.GEPENC.ORG Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Message Phone (323) 882-4835

Page 7

June=July 2007

POLICE

CLEAN-UP

Police Emergency: Need Police Car

911

Abandoned Vehicles

1-800-222-6366

Spanish Line

213-928-8222

Cars Parked in Yards

1-888-524-2845

Narcotic Hotline

1-800-662-2878

Fire Hazards

1-310-412-5350

Child Abuse Hotline

1-800-540-4000

Police Non-Emergency

1-877-275-5273

Hazardous Waste Disposal Information

1-800-988-6942

Overflowing Dumpsters

310-412-5350

LAPD Air Support Division

213-485-2600

Parkway Maintenance

1-800-996-2489

Storm Drains

213-485-5391

Trash and Bulky Item Pick Up

1-800-773-2489 FAX 213-847-2261 818-374-1111

RAMPART DIVISION Rampart Police Division Desk

213-485-4061

Rampart Vice Unit

213-485-4080

Rampart Division Watch Commander

213-485-4062

Senior Lead Officer Ford

213-793-0775

Community Relations China Town Sub-Station

213-847-1903 213-621-2344

NORTHEAST DIVISION Northeast Desk

213-485-2563

Northeast Report Unit

213-485-2563

L. A. Fire Department Brush Clearance

GRAFFITI RELATED ISSUES Central City Action Committee

213-241-0908

Free Paint 1st District)

213-485-0763

Free Paint 13th District)

323-957-4500

CITIZEN COMPLAINTS Department Building & Safety

888-524-2845

Senior Lead Officer Sonia Rimkunas

213-793-0760

Senior Lead Officer Al Polehonki

213-793-0763

Department of Health

1-800-427-8700

Northeast Detectives

213-485-2566

Department of Transportation

213-580-1177

Northeast Community Relations

213-485-2548

Department of Water & Power

800-342-5397

Northeast Gang Detail

213-847-4263

Parking Enforcement

866-869-2929

Northeast Youth Referral Program

213-847-3375

Loose/Stray Animals/Barking Dogs

888-452-7381

Northeast Records

213-485-2568

LA County Department of Consumer Affairs 213-974-1452

Release of Impounded Vehicles

213-485-2566

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Legal Aid Client Referral

1-800- 399-4529

Operation Bright Lights

1-800- 303-5267

Copies of Crime and Traffic Reports

213-485-4193

Street Lighting Repairs

1-800- 303-5267

Concerned Citizens Echo Park/Youth Empowerment Council — CCEC/YEC El Centro del Pueblo

323-662-2081

Professional Helicopter Pilots Association

213-891-3636

Echo Park Library

213-250-7808

1st District Ed Reyes

213-485-3451

Echo Park Recreation Center

213-250-3578

13th District Eric Garcetti

323-957-4500

Echo Park Chamber of Commerce

213-630-3032

Congressman Xavier Becerra

213-483-1425

Dodger's Security

323-224-1363

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard

213-628-9230

Dodger's Comunity Focus

323-224-2636

Dodger's Public Relations

323-224-1435

State Senator Gil Cedillo

213-612-9566

Central City Action Committee

213-241-0908

Assemblyperson Kevin de Leon

323-258-0450

North Central Animal Shelter

213-847-1416

LA County Supervisor Gloria Molina

213-974-4111

L.A City Department of Aging

800-834-4777

Mayor’s Office

213-978-0600

Los Angeles City Information website

www.lacity.org

City Attorney, Rocky Delgadillo

213-483-6335

POLITICAL

Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026

[email protected]

Message Phone (323) 882-4835

213-847-8045

Page 8

June-July 2007

ECHO PARK LIBRARY HAPPENINGS LIBRARY COMPUTER CLASSES Computer Comfort Thursday, 4pm, 6/12, 7/17 Learn to use the Library’s electronic catalog to search for materials, renew items, and place your own holds. Learn the basics of surfing the Internet. Introduction to various databases and search engines. For adults only. Familiarity with the keyboard and mouse is recommended but not mandatory. Reservations required. Please arrive 10 minutes before class begins. Computer Class for Improving Your English Tuesday, 4pm, 7/10 “Rosetta Stone” An introductory self-paced class to begin or improve your English language skills. Computer experience is mandatory. Introduction to Basic Web Design Tuesday, 4pm 6/19, 7/24 Learn about HTML codes to create a simple web page. Computer experience is mandatory.

Library Hours Mondays 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Tuesdays 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Wednesdays 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Thursdays 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Fridays 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Saturdays 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Sundays CLOSED Library Address Echo Park Branch Library 1410 W. Temple Street Los Angeles CA 90026 Phone 213.250.7808 FAX 213.250.3744 World Wide Web Address http://www.lapl.org 24 Hour Renewal: 888-577-LAPL

ASTROLOGY CLASS FUN FOR KIDS by astrologer, Malcolm Schenot Knitting Club Tuesdays 4 - 5pm Saturday, June 16 1pm 6/12, 6/19, 6/26 Sign-up by June 12. All birth information required for chart – I Spy Mondays Reading Club Monday 7/2, 7/9, 7/23, For questions about this free program, call Nadine Flores at 7/30 3:30PM - 4:30PM (213) 250-7808 Join us for a different weekly Summer Reading Club storytime, performance, activity or craft program. Who responds to your alarms? I Spy Magic with Rafael and Katia Monday 7/16 3:30PM – 4:30PM Children will take a magical ride into books, culture, Experience does matter. magic, and reading. Mother Goose Storytime Tuesday 5/1 2:30 - 3:30 PM With so much at risk why take chances? Father’s Day Storytime Saturday 6/15 2:30—3:30pm Art with LACMA Friday 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 7/27 4 - 5:30pm Count on the experience of Select Patrol. Kids will learn about art from a local artist and create something new each week

For more information about our 24 - hour alarm response service, call us today.

SONIC ROOTS ATHENA LEGRAND Hairstylist 323•308•9417

Select Patrol A superior level of service since 1984 323.644.1014

Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Message Phone (323) 882-4835

Lic. PP0-9229

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June=July 2007

EDENDALE LIBRARY HAPPENINGS Adult Events: Monday, June 18th, 6:30 p.m. The Book Club will hold a potluck and discuss Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe. Beginning computer classes are held once a week on a variety of topics. Call to find out what’s coming up. Children’s Events Rafael & Katia the Mariachi Magicians return Monday, June 25, 6:30 p.m. Readers Theater and other patriotic fun Monday, July 2, 6:30 p.m. Canine Detectives meet a real snoop hound Monday, July 9, 6:30 p.m. Opera Kadabera A hilarious, magical introduction to classical opera Monday, July 16, 6:30 p.m. Harry Potter Party games, prizes, refreshments Saturday, July 21, 2-3 Ernesto de la Loza, artist spy local sights in the library mural Monday, July 23, 6:30 p.m. Disguises spot the spy behind the disguise & the animal in the camouflage Monday, July 30, 6:30 p.m. Weekly Children’s Programs Infant & Toddler Story time Tuesdays, 10-10:45 Knitting & Craft Club, especially for elementary school kids Tuesdays, 4-5pm June 5, 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24& 31. Read-a-Ton Book Club Improve your reading skills, have fun, & help your friends meet the library’s goal of reading 1,000 pounds of books this summer. Starts June 14. Thursdays, 3:30-4:15

Library Hours (starting March 1, 2007) Mondays 10:00 am – 8:00 pm Tuesdays 12 noon – 8:00 pm Wednesdays 10:00 am – 8:00 pm Thursdays 12 noon – 8:00 pm Fridays 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Saturdays 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Sundays CLOSED Library Address Edendale Branch Library 2011 W. Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90026 Phone (213) 207-3000 FAX (213) 207-3097 24 Hour Renewal: 888-577-LAPL

Summer Music Concerts Edendale is one of LAPL’s few branch libraries to offer live music. Following the concerts, the musicians are available to answer questions and chat with the audience. This year the series welcomes back some of Edendale patrons’ favorite orchestras and introduces a presentation new to the audience. The Observatory Orchestra Brass Quintet and The Avenal Chamber Players Saturday, June 9th, 1 p.m. Aztec Stories The culture of ancient Mexico is explored through music, spoken word, and audience participation. Saturday, June 16th, 3 p.m.

MOCA ART WORKSHOPS Thursdays, July 5, 12, 19, 26 & August 2, 9 5-6:30 pm Join artists from the Museum of Contemporary Art for this 6 part series of hands on creative art workshops.

The EPIAn ways newsletter can now be seen on the web at

http:// echoparkimprovement.googlepages.com/ home

Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Message Phone (323) 882-4835

Page 10

June-July 2007

Red Hill to be Shown in July by Ross Plesset

Echo Park’s long and impressive tradition of activism is celebrated in the 2006 documentary Red Hill. According to the film, the community became known interchangeably as Red Hill and Red Gulch between the two world wars because of its activist population, which included communists. The documentary consists primarily of interviews (about 17 altogether), conducted by teenage students of the Echo Park Film Center. “It was actually suggested to us by Jesus Sanchez at the Echo Park Historical Society,” says instructor Lisa Marr. “They had just started documenting, through oral histories, the Red Diaper Babies [i.e., children of communists]. It sounded like an interesting project.” One interviewee, Suzanne Kimbrough, recalls being “very active” in protesting the Vietnam Invasion, “and then came the farm workers’ [movement],” she says, “and a lot of us here supported the farm workers in the lettuce boycott and the grape boycott. Their movement was to unionize, and with it came boycotts of head lettuce. At that time I had fundraisers at my house, spaghetti dinners, and we’d go and pass out flyers trying to educate people and get them to boycott the lettuce. That went on for a while, and there was the grape boycott, and we did pretty much the same thing.” Also profiled is Ruth Beaglehole, whose pathbreaking work in child daycare is depicted through a recent inter-

view and impressive historic footage circa the early 1970s. Ruth recalls : “What did we want? Free, universal, quality childcare, and the most important word was NOW! We were really passionate. . . . We broke down gender: we had a volunteer man every day working with the kids, and that didn’t happen back then. We had dolls with penises. That just about freaked everybody out. We really pioneered an activist curriculum to children.” Ava Hess was the filmmaker for this segment, and she attended the daycare center decades after its founding. “Thirty years later, the co-op seems to have lost its active mentality towards the community,” she observes. “Although it still provides free daycare to working parents, it’s missing the very ideologies it was founded on.” Even though Red Hill is two hours long, quite a bit of information had to be edited out. ”Everything was really interesting,” says Hess, “so it was hard to decide what to cut and what not to, but you can’t make a seven-hourlong movie.” One segment that required a lot of condensing concerned activist lawyer Art Goldberg, who moved to Echo Park in the ‘60s, partly because of its tradition of activism. Among the topics dropped was his involvement in the Food Conspiracy, an Echo Park-based food co-op circa the early ‘70s. “It was like a farmer’s market,” explains filmmaker Lucien Unruh. “People would bring their produce, and they would exchange food, and make food for each other, and make group meals.” Fortunately, the Film Center tells me that they’ve saved all the raw footage for Red Hill, a potentially valuable resource for historians. (Also, The Echo Park Historical Society has oral histories by other activists, including, reportedly, one made some years ago with Luba Perlin, formerly of the Echo Park Communist Club.)

Red Hill will be shown at the Edendale Library on July 20 at 6:30pm. More information: www.Neighborsforpeaceandjustice.org. The film can also be purchased from the Echo Park Film Center (phone: 213/484-8846).

PERON ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES Open Seven Days One To Five 2213 Sunset Blvd.

Echo Park

Mon– Mon–Thur 11am– 11am–11pm • Fri 11am– 11am–Mid • Sat 8am– 8am–Mid • Sun 8am– 8am– 11pm Brunch served 8am– 8am–3pm Saturday & Sunday

Free Delivery for Echo Park on $15 minimum order 1800 West Sunset Blvd • 213.989.1558

Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Message Phone (323) 882-4835

June=July 2007

Page 11

Central City Action The last few months at Central City have been prosperous at our rummage sales. These rummage sales have helped finance a lot of “extras” for our youth. In March we were able to take about 15 kids to Arrowhead Lake for three days. We stayed in a super huge chalet owned by one of Maryanne’s long time friends, Liama. The chalet has 8 bedrooms, recreation room, dining room, huge kitchen, three bathrooms and a hot tub. It also comes with a big screen TV, pool table, video games and lots of space for just lounging around. There was no snow but the kids were treated to a boat ride around the lake. The tour guide gave everyone a brief history of the area while showing them the beautiful dwellings around the lake. They also went hiking somewhere up in the mountains (can’t get a precise location) along a creek (or river). The view was outstanding. They went into town to spend some money on souvenirs. The kids enjoyed the little shops all around the

town. Most all agreed they would love to spend more time up at the chalet. Looks like we will be planning a few more trips to the mountains. Our kids participated in the Keep America Beautiful kick off in Echo Park. We all met at the

by Gloria lake and then CCAC groups, along with Susan Borden, went up to Sunset to weed around the tree wells. After we pulled the weeds and got to know

Susan a little better, one of our staff planted seeds. The seeds were native California wild flower mix. Still waiting for the flowers. Perhaps they will bloom next year, or perhaps we will plant more flowers. Anyway, all of us had a great time with Susan. We are starting to make plans for the summer. It appears we will be having a few kids help us out with the graffiti program for the summer. We are also planning an art exhibition for sometime in June. Our kids have been taking an art class with Nancy Lissaman from Echo Park. She is an accomplished artist and has been instructing our kids how to use different mediums to express themselves. Some will have their own section to display their art work. We hope to invite the community and parents to this exhibition. Yes, for those who want to know, we are going to have a booth at the Lotus Festival. We will continue our tradition of making hakus and leis. Hope to see some of you at the festival.

Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Message Phone (323) 882-4835

Page 12

June-July 2007

LOTUS PAD NOTES NEWS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM ECHO PARK & ANGELINO

HEIGHTS

by E.P. Lagoso

"I don't eat out. I don't shop. I even had to cancel WHUMP! Does that noise sound familiar? If so, you might be standing at the corner of Echo Park my cable. But I love it," the bakery owner explained to Avenue and Grafton Street, just south of the brick Del New York's big daily. Mor apartment building. *** That's because right next door to the Del Mor is – WHUMP! -- a gray industrial shed that houses a ring for Lucha Libre, the Mexican-style of wrestling where fellas wear masks, capes and tights while tossing people onto the mat. Lucha Libre is a pastime of Sergio, the Del Mor's building manager, who uses the ring to train would-be wrestlers in the sport.

Echo Park got a glimpse of something that has been hidden for decades on Sunset Boulevard. The owners of the Echo nightclub, working hard to create their newly expanded Echoplex disco, pulled away some plastic 1960s signage in preparation for a new pizza parlor and found the original 1920s brick storefront – complete with terra cotta arches!

Sergio has even been known to hand out a few free passes to Mexican wrestling matches to tenants in the Del Mor. SPEAKING OF ECHO PARK AVENUE, the bakery known as Delilah has gotten plenty of play in the news media. Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez devoted an entire column to the bakery's The brick still looks beautiful. Here's hoping the nightmare in dealing with the Building and Safety Echo keeps going, showing off the building's original Department, which pushed her to install a grease features. Photos of the old storefront, located on trap, underground parking, etc., etc. before it Sunset just east of the Brite Spot, can be found in the opened. news section of www.historicechopark.org. *** WHAT ONE HAND GIVETH in Echo Park, another hand taketh away. Further west on Sunset, the owners of American Apparel building recently uncovered their own brick façade, including a modest arch doorway. Last week, they decided to cover it all up – Delilah also showed up in the New York Times style section in a story on L.A.'s newfound fascination sealing it in under a smothering layer of stucco. with cupcakes. In the style story, Delilah owner *** Genevieve Ostrander said she found baking after Where have all the Lotus gone? Just when you realizing she no longer wanted the "soul sucking" life thought last year's showing at Echo Park Lake was of a publicist. discouraging, this year's crop of lotus looks even That decision led to a new career and some more anemic. Is it really just the dry, dry weather? considerable debt. In other, equally weird Echo Park news, a group of artsy types decided to float a large boat made of wax – essentially, one big boat-sized candle – out into Opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the writers the lake. The boat, sent out into the water on a and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Echo Park Sunday night, quickly burst into flame. One of the Improvement Association many spectators standing onshore quickly dubbed it the "Echo Valdez."

Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Message Phone (323) 882-4835