On Saturday, we went to check out the Echo Park art walk. I was perplexed while looking over the event map: it pointed to shops, bakeries, pet stores, restaurants, and just a couple of art studios in between, sprinkled over three+ miles of Echo Park Boulevard. The “walk” aspect was clear enough, but what of the art?
A and I never quite figured out why the happening wasn’t simply called, “Get to Know Your Local Businesses”, but that’s exactly what we ended up doing, and it was long overdue. Even though we’ve lived in this area for almost exactly 1 year now, we haven’t spent much time exploring, so on Saturday we discovered all manner of fun and useful stuff, just a few blocks away from home.
The experience left me feeling like maybe Echo Park Boulevard will flourish eventually. Right now it’s still in the beginning stages, a post-barrio netherzone with a few small businesses and a handful of hipsters and hippies trying to make the area into a bohemian hotspot. I kinda like it just the way it is.
We managed to avoid street food, came home, cooked dinner, and had what’s become the signature desert around the base: sorbet topped with absinthe. Also, in this case, yellow raspberries.
In unrelated excitements, we received a very large package from India yesterday.
It was alarmingly aromatic, sewn into a safety sack, and took a little convincing before we got it open.
Inside, treasure wrapped in plastic bubbles.
Nine sorts of incense, vitamins and supplements, sari, scarves, a T-shirt, antique Ganesha head, books, pop-chant CD, bags, notepad, soaps, facial masks, change wallets – all courtesy of A’s mother, who spends about half her time in India and likes sending care packages. SCORE.
Wow. Love the care package! What a great collection of goodies from afar.
I’m in India right now and that package looks like what I’m going to bring back. Except I was thinking a whole Ganesh. ;)
i so wanted to go on the walk, but i had to work…in that very neighborhood. i didn’t know we were so close in proximity. perhaps i will see you one of these days by the lake.
ohh I adoooore absinthe! though I rarely get an opportunity to enjoy it. epic dessert combination!
we have a massive Indian influence here, so all that stuff is more than easy to find. do you know how to wrap your sari? it took me some practice lol Divali is my favourite holiday by far :)!
“but what of the art?”
My friend/housemate Heather (Art Needs Freedom) runs the event solo, so she leaves the actual quantity of art to whomever participates. There was actually an installation at the walk, too (the one Danny Devito twittered about), but unfortunately it was a ways up the hill. Hopefully you and Ales will have fun at the next one : )
Mariah – mhm, very sweet of her to put all this stuff together for us.
Lucie – where in India are you?
Ricke – I’ve only been to the lake once so far, but it was pleasant enough. Perhaps!
Zane – where is “here”? And no, I have no clue as to how to tie this beautiful thing! Bedspread? Mega-scarf?
Tom – I think you misunderstood, because we had a great time! A neighborhood like this only benefits from any type of walking-based event, and big ups to Heather to putting it on. I hope she keeps it going, and will be returning!
That said, I think that calling it an “art walk” in a city that holds so many actual art walks is misleading. Imagine driving over from, say, Santa Monica, expecting three miles of art. I would have been disappointed, had I done that.
oops my bad Zo! here, is Trinidad and Tobago lol
and about the sari, there are many ways it can be worn but it’s usually an every day dress (like how it’s done in India). here’s a link most of my friends and I used to figure it out:
http://www.utsavsarees.com/saree/wearsari.htm
In love with everything in that box! So fantastic!