Silver Lake: Fixies take over the streets.

Notice anything about the bike riders passing you lately? More than likely they are riding a fixie (see above) a snazzy fixed gear and usually no brake bike popularized by SF bike messengers, now the bike-du-jour. The teenage boys I know are fixated on them; if you saw Saturday night's Crank Mob fly by, you probably saw hundreds. My son's came via the Internet from Bikes Direct. We're already good customers of Safety Cycle since these bikes seem to require TLC.

Fourth Frogtown Artwalk this Saturday 9/19

Fourth edition of the Frogtown ArtWalk is this Saturday. More than 30 artists participate with dozens of open studios. Great combo of local art (images above are from 2008) and tacos (let's hope the taco lady and table returns to RAC Design Build). The boundaries of Elysian Valley (Frogtown) are the 2 freeway to the north, the 110 freeway to the south, the Los Angeles River to the east, and the 5 freeway to the west. The studios will be open from 5-10 PM. There's free street parking but I've ridden my bike in past years as the L.A. River bike path is one of Frogtown's borders. Party and music are at NOMAD at 1839 Blake Ave.

Vintage view of Atwater: Postcard of Hyperion Bridge c. 1937

Postcard of Hyperion Bridge c. 1937

August was a busy month--with assignments (see links) and two trips out of town. First trip was Santa Barbara

where I tend to visit the same places: La Super Rica (who can resist those al pastor tacos) and several really great thrift stores.

Found this c. 1937 postcard of a vintage view of the Hyperion Bridge at State St.'s Antique Alley.

Check out the Red Car on its way to Glendale. Notice the absence of 5 freeway or Glendale office towers.

The river has a somewhat natural state--none of those gruesome cement embankments.

The Red Car bridge trestles are still there today.

A must see documentary: "The Cove"

"The Cove's" Ric O'Barry

Without a doubt one of the best films of the year is "The Cove." (Variety's review is here.) I interviewed the film's protagonist and famed dolphin activist Ric O'Barry recently. Growing up in Miami, I spent many hours at the Seaquarium where O'Barry worked training dolphins. In fact, he helped train the first orca in captivity. He's since had a major change of heart after holding the original "Flipper" dolphin (named Kathy BTW) as she died in his arms. "The Cove" follows O'Barry as he targets a terrible dolphin capture and slaughter in the small seaside village of Taiji, Japan. Without giving too much away, the documentary is structured like a thriller and covers O'Barry and a team of activists as they work to expose the dolphins' plight.

Don’t miss “The Cove!”

Echo Park: Fallen Fruit cooks up a public fruit jam on Alvarado.

Expect a sticky mess this Sunday August 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. when art collective Fallen Fruit and Machine Project put on the fourth annual public fruit jam. Pictures above are from last year's event which was very popular (300 jam makers). My suggestions: arrive early and mix up basic fruits. I was a little too creative last year: no takers yet for my fig, kumquat and mixed fruit melange---the more sedate plum and strawberry jam was a keeper.

Santa Monica: La Monica Ballroom redux

The 25th annual Thursday Twilight Dance series continues at the Santa Monica pier. This Thursday, organizers are re-creating (kind of) the famed La Monica Ballroom (rendering above) which would have been 85 years old had it not been demolished in the 1960s. A major call went out to local dance troupes and vintage types--expect them all on the 100' dance floor this Thurs. Swing music by the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

I covered the event and more for the LAT Summer Hot List.

Silver Lake: The new library exposed.

Curbed LA (top photo from Curbed) got an exclusive sneak peek at the Silver Lake Library. It's looking rather clean, bright and modern; an homage in part to nearby Neutra houses and the Neutra Office building on Glendale. Looking forward to opening day which should be sometime in September though there's no official date. I wrote about the design back in 2006 for the Los Feliz Ledger. Here's an excerpt:

Coming in 2008 (that didn't happen) to the corner of Silver Lake and Glendale Boulevards: a new branch library that will not only be a community and cultural hub but also an inventive “green” building at one of the most traveled gateways to the area.

After investigating several alternate sites in the neighborhood, the city’s library construction department selected the vacant corner, once a gas station and most recently, the seasonal home to a Delancey Street Christmas tree lot. Previously, both Burger King and Walgreens had also considered the tract. In addition to the empty parcel, the adjacent mustard-colored auto shop will be demolished (that happened, thankfully), contributing 7000 square feet to the library’s future home.

Similar in size to the Edendale branch library, Silver Lake’s 13,200 square foot state-of-the-art library will include a public meeting room, a glass box reading room, welcoming plaza, and will be “green” – utilizing sustainable building practices such as solar power. (Panels are installed). Parking will be underground with the garage entrance lined up with Brier Avenue and Gingergrass’ main entrance. There will be no public driveway off congested Silver Lake Boulevard.

Architectural firm M2A Architects worked closely with the community developing the Silver Lake branch, their fifth library project. The Arroyo Seco Regional Branch Library is one of their designs, as are the Allessandro Apartments in nearby Echo Park. “We tried to take architectural cues from modernist Silver Lake,” explains architect Barry Milofsky of the design. “There is a sense of light, air and space and an indoor/outdoor relationship.” Stone and glass will be the branch’s primary construction materials. A glass spine extends through the building that will provide natural light in the day and a dramatic glow to the plaza at night. Mature sycamore trees will frame the library’s entrance. Low planters, benches and landscape finishes to the curb are part of the plan from landscape architect Mia Lehrer.

Construction is expected take 18 months and is slated to start by the first quarter of 2007. (Start date was later; construction still ongoing). Budget for the building is $9.5 million, with funding from library bond funds. A non-profit Friends of the Silver Lake Library has been established to help further the library’s collection as well to support and generate enthusiasm for the long-awaited branch.