"Eagle
Rock: Where land use and planning is a contact sport"
THE EAGLE ROCK
ASSOCIATION
TERA
-- e.letter
--
July 5, 2001
Please
encourage interested friends to send their e.mail addresses to us at artburn@earthlink.net
so we can keep them informed, too.
1. EAGLE ROCK EDITION OF ARROYO SECO JOURNAL
IS OUT NOW!
2. BEAUJOLAIS BOULANGERIE AND EAGLE ROCK GET
GREAT WRITE-UP IN LA WEEKLY!
3. COLLABORATIVE
EAGLE ROCK BEAUTIFUL PLANTING EVENT -- JULY 7
4. ABSOLUTE CHALK
2001 STREET PAINTING FESTIVAL -- JULY 7 AND 8
5. YARD SALE TO BENEFIT EAGLE ROCK COMMUNITY
CULTURAL CENTER -- JULY 7
6. GRAFFITI
PAINT-OUT -- JULY 11
7. EAGLE ROCK HIGH
SCHOOL JAZZ BAND -- CORRECTION
8. LAPD
"NATIONAL NIGHT OUT" -- AUGUST 7
9. ROCK'S SUMMER
ACTIVITIES NOW UP ON WEB SITE
10. NORTHEAST
VOLUNTEER SURVEILLANCE TEAM
11. ERVHS "MY
FAVORITE TOY" AND ICE-CREAM SOCIAL -- JULY 17
12. HATE CRIMES
RESPONSES
13. EAGLE ROCK
FARMERS MARKET -- EVERY FRIDAY
14. LETTERS AND
E.MAILS
15. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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1. EAGLE ROCK EDITION OF ARROYO SECO JOURNAL
IS OUT NOW!
Arroyo
Seco Journal publisher Eddie Rivera has come up with a
great idea. There is now and will be
each month an Eagle Rock edition of the Journal! It's out now, so pick up your copy at
various business venues around town, and help support this most worthy
publication!
Eagle
Rock needs a good local newspaper, and your readership of The Arroyo Seco
Journal will help make that happen!
For advertising rates and more information, please call (323)
258-1441 or send your inquiries to The Arroyo Seco Journal at P. O. Box
41985, Eagle Rock, CA 90041. Also visit
the Journal's Web site at http://www.arroyosecojournal.com.
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2. BEAUJOLAIS BOULANGERIE AND EAGLE ROCK GET
GREAT WRITE-UP IN LA WEEKLY!
Eagle
Rock fans, check out this recent LA Weekly restaurant critique on our
very own Beaujolais Boulangerie!
Paradise Found
by Michelle Huneven
Thirty years ago, when the 134
freeway became the main artery between Glendale and Pasadena, it bypassed the
small foothill community of Eagle Rock, which became a town time forgot. To this day, the main commercial corridor is
virtually devoid of chains and franchises, and boasts mostly merchants and
local businesses in modest storefronts.
Meanwhile, the quiet Old California appeal of the residential neighborhoods
with their wood-frame bungalows, Craftsman cottages and wide streets has caused
property values to ascend like virtuous souls.
And if the business district is still sleepy and a little sad, there are
some telltale signs of a demographic shift to the hip.
One such sign is the Beaujolais
Boulangerie on Colorado Boulevard.
This charming new bakery and lunch spot is the offspring of Cafe
Beaujolais, a small French restaurant that opened several years ago on the
south side of the street. The cafe never
caught my fancy; after several murky if inexpensive meals there, I gave
up on it, and was slow to try the new boulangerie precisely because the two
were affiliated. But the bright,
cheerful Beaujolais Boulangerie is delightful or, as one friend happily sighed,
paradise.
There are a few tables outside on
the sidewalk, where you can sit in the shade of small trees, watch the traffic
and catch a whiff of the tomato sauce simmering across the street at Casa
Bianca, whose pizza is an excellent reason to drive to Eagle Rock. Inside is a pretty room with tables,
counters, green wood beams, and rubbed terra-cotta walls hung with framed
posters for French liqueurs, chocolate, biscuits. A central display case of desserts lures you in with jewel-toned
fruit tarts, miniature cheesecakes and glassy-topped creme brulee. In another case are baskets of pain au
chocolat, pain aux raisins and croissants.
The service is French and good-natured, so good-natured that the waiters
let me practice my rudimentary Berlitz French on them. When the place fills up, which it's doing
regularly, the room gets very noisy indeed.
Breakfast is a continental affair:
coffee, baked goods, juice. But the
lunch menu, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offers an appealing selection of soups, quiches,
sandwiches and meal-size salads. The
cult favorite appears to be the croque monsieur; we watched any number of these
open-face toasted cheese sandwiches sail past, and finally asked the man at the
next table, How is the croque monsieur?
He closed his eyes and smiled
gently, the very image of bliss.
Wonderful, he murmured, adding incongruously, a kind of French version
of chipped beef on toast.
A dubious recommendation. But he was absolutely right. A thick, square slab of bread is topped with
thin slices of ham, drenched in a rich, fluffy bechamel and finished with
Gruyere cheese, then toasted until blistered.
This is comfort food deluxe, exactly what you'd want to eat after a good
long cry. The accompanying salad --
your choice of mixed greens with a vinaigrette, or the excellent house caesar,
or pasta salad -- provides necessary color and roughage.
The rich and luscious quiches seem
almost dietetic in comparison to M. Croque, but the individual egg pies are
exceptionally good in their own right, the crusts buttery, the fillings cooked
soft-to-trembling. Try the spinach
quiche with its touch of nutmeg or, my favorite, the classic quiche Lorraine
with that sharp Gruyere. These come
with a choice of salad.
It's hard to find really good meal-size
salads in a restaurant, and this little bakery has three. The Caesar is bold with garlic and anchovy
and bright with lemon. The mountainous
nicoise is topped with a hefty tuna steak and anchovies; tossed with the greens
are haricots verts, boiled potatoes, hard-boiled egg, delicious pitted
olives. The warm goat-cheese salad has
strips of grilled eggplant tossed in among the greens -- a truly inspired
touch.
Since the aforementioned items are
such attention grabbers, it took me several visits to get around to the more
basic sandwiches, all of which are made with the house-baked baguette. The Brie with tomato, red onions and
cornichons is exceptional. The soup du
jour seems to be an ongoing puree, usually in some shade of orange, whose name
more or less reflects the days most prominent ingredient -- celery root,
tomato, carrot.
What's the glitch? Well, remember that display case of
desserts? Pretty as they are, they're
just not very good. The tiramisu is
dull and coats the mouth oddly; the fruit tarts have tough shells, too much
pastry cream, flavorless fruit and too much gelatinous glaze. The best is an individual white-chocolate
cheesecake, which is sweet with a nice hint of salt, and creamy with a nice bit
of crunch in the crust.
I enjoyed eating at the Beaujolais
Boulangerie so much, I went back to Cafe Beaujolais for dinner and found it
decidedly better than before. In Eagle
Rock, it would seem, more than the property values are improving.
1661 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock;
(323) 255-5133. Open Tues. to Sun. for
breakfast and lunch. Nothing over
$7.50. No alcohol. No credit cards.
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3. COLLABORATIVE
EAGLE ROCK BEAUTIFUL PLANTING EVENT -- JULY 7
There will be a Breakfast Meeting of the Collaborative Eagle
Rock Beautiful Planting Committee this coming Saturday, July 7, 2001. We will meet at Brick's Restaurant from 8:00
to 9:00 a.m. followed by a two-hour planting and weeding at the Cultural
Center to finalize the project. Please
join us and help make our community beautiful.
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4. ABSOLUTE CHALK
2001 STREET PAINTING FESTIVAL -- JULY 7 AND 8
Dear Women in Design/L.A. Members and Friends Interested in Art!
This is a reminder that this coming Saturday and Sunday (July
7th & 8th from 10am-7pm) is "Absolut Chalk 2001," the
"World's Largest Street Painting Festival" over in front of Pasadena
City Hall (100 N. Garfield Ave, Centennial Square). Women In Design (WID) has participated in it
for a number of years, and even gotten our murals on TV! There's a farmers
market, food, music, and family chalking area.
Entrance fee is $5 a day or $7-weekend pass). It's really quite fabulous, for those of you who want to see
street art on a large scale!
For WID members who would like to participate, the Allen Family
team will be there about 9am on Sat. to set up, and will continue working
throughout the day.(We probably won't be there on Sunday).
The WID free tickets have been spoken for on Sat., but we do
have 4 free tickets for Sun. The rest
of you expect to pay the $5 (which is a bargain). Parking is available in the Ramona/Marengo parking structure and
is free over the weekend. For those of
you participating, expect it to be hot probably, bring a hat, knee pads if
possible, wear old clothes, bring gloves, sun block, a towel, and even a chair
if you wish. The festival has H20, and
food courts, and treats their artists well.
Give us an email at: candaceallen@earthlink.net or call the
studio (818/242-5303) if you are coming, and
the approximate time (morning, noon, early afternoon, late afternoon,
etc). Come and help, or for you
art-lovers and friends, come and see!
WID organizers Linda, Candace, and Mindy Allen
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5. YARD SALE TO
BENEFIT EAGLE ROCK COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER -- JULY 7
On Saturday, July 7, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., come to a
YARD SALE to help Eagle Rock Community Cultural
Center. 20% of all proceeds will go to
the Cultural Center. 5204 Ellenwood
Place (north of Colorado, east side of the circle).
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6. GRAFFITI PAINT-OUT
-- JULY 11
The Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful Graffiti Abatement Group
are going to be having a 'Paint-Out' on Wednesday, July 11, 2001. We will meet at the Eagle Rock City Hall
parking lot at 6:00 p.m., and go as a group till sunset to paint out some of
the graffiti that has been plaguing our town.
Anyone interested in helping with this worthy cause may contact Heather
Cunz at heather.cunz@mortenson.com, or just show up, 6:00 p.m. at the City
Hall parking lot on Colorado Boulevard.
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7. EAGLE ROCK HIGH
SCHOOL JAZZ BAND -- CORRECTION
Junior saxophonist David Traiger wrote and set us straight:
Thank you for the very flattering
comments published in the TERA e.letter about the ERHS Senior Jazz Band;
however, there are a few inaccuracies that I would like to correct.
We enter a lot of competitions and
usually do very well, however, if winning means to get first place, we actually
haven't won any. We have placed in the
top three, for example at the Cal State LA Jazz Festival where we placed
second. In regards to the Monterey High
School Jazz Festival, we were one of ten bands in the nation to make it to the
final competition, an honor in itself.
Although we placed seventh out of ten, getting there was an honor
because the festival was open to the entire nation. We competed against several prestigious private and performing
arts high school bands with far more resources than we can even imagine.
Two of our graduating seniors this
year, Ermuelito Navarro and Krischelle Qua, made it to the Monterey All Stars,
a band composed of students from all over the country who auditioned especially
for that ensemble. This band will be
traveling to Japan as well as performing at The Monterey Jazz Festival in
September. I believe that this is
Ermuelito's third or fourth time in this ensemble.
Support for the band from the
community is always welcome. I can pass
along information to you next year about performance dates and venues for both
the big band and the jazz combo. Thank
you.
-- David Traiger,
Junior, Alto Sax
We welcome David's willingness to apprise us of
future Senior Jazz Band performances, and we will certainly post them. Please note that in spite of our
misinformation, this jazz band is truly an inspiration and well worth a
listen. What exists right here in Eagle
Rock is no less than amazing!
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8. LAPD
"NATIONAL NIGHT OUT" -- AUGUST 7
Every year the LAPD and other police departments throughout the
nation present "National Night Out," an event that encourages contact
and mutual support between our police departments and those they serve. On Tuesday, August 7, 2001, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Eagle Rock City Hall, the LAPD will hold a potluck gathering and
candlelight vigil to demonstrate this mutual support between our men and women
in blue and us, the citizens they work hard to protect. Everyone is invited. Please gather up your family and bring a
favorite dish to serve 10 to 20 people.
We'll see you there! For more
information, please call the Northeast Division Community Relations desk at
(323) 485-2548.
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9. ROCK'S SUMMER
ACTIVITIES NOW UP ON WEB SITE
Check out http://www.rockids.org
for a full schedule of summer activities at Reach Our Community Kids (ROCK),
1597 Yosemite Drive, Eagle Rock, (323) 257-6102.
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10. NORTHEAST
VOLUNTEER SURVEILLANCE TEAM
What is VST? The volunteer surveillance team is a group
of trained citizen volunteers from the community, working in partnership with
the police by observing possible criminal activity. They radio their observations to on-duty patrol officers who
effect the arrest of the criminals.
How do I become a VST member?
Must be 18 years of age or older
Have a valid California drivers
license or ID card
Pass a background check
Be in good medical condition
Have plenty of patience
Types of surveillance: Vandalism
(graffiti), BFMV (burglary from motor vehicle), burglary, robbery, grand theft
auto, and other special assignments.
How safe is it?
Before a VST member can go out on surveillance, each volunteer must be
adequately trained. VST members will
always have a police radio with them. A
police car, often called a "chase car," with two uniformed patrol
officers will always be assigned to each surveillance and will effect the
arrest.
Remember: By joining
VST, you will make a difference in our community.
For further information, please contact Officer Blanpied or
Officer Roussett, VST officers in charge, 3352 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles,
CA 90065, (213) 485-2566.
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11. ERVHS "MY
FAVORITE TOY" AND ICE-CREAM SOCIAL -- JULY 17
"My Favorite Toy" is the topic when the Eagle Rock
Valley Historical Society meets on Tuesday, July 17 at 7;30 p.m. in the
Cultural Center at 2225 Colorado Boulevard, Eagle Rock.
Kids from nine to 99 are encouraged to bring their favorite fire
truck or teddy or tool box or ??? and share the story of this much-loved
childhood object. Price guides will be
available for those who want to check collectibles value and history of these "artifacts."
An Ice Cream Social follows.
ERVHS will provide the ice-cream and an assortment of toppings. Your own exotic toppings or cookies are also
welcome!
For further information about ERVHS 2001-1002 membership, call
Pat at (323) 256-4258.
To order ERVHS t-shirts for delivery at the meeting, call Melody
at (323) 258-1647. Please leave a
message specifying size (M/L/XL/XXL), color preference (gray or white), and
your name and phone number. Tees are
$11 each.
For information about summer archive hours, call Virginia at
(323) 258-3421.
ERVHS celebrates its 40th anniversary this fall. Look for information about this special
event soon!
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12. HATE CRIMES
RESPONSES
"Thanks for your
response. We have seen the comments in
the subsequent e.letter and we were very encouraged and grateful for TERA's
unequivocal comments. In a few words
........
BRAVO!!! and THANK YOU!!!!
Best thoughts --"
-- Steven Bjerke and
Loren Mark, Eagle Rock residents and TERA members
"Thanks for
getting the word out about this disturbing episode in our Home Town's history
through the Eagle Rock Association Newsletter.
In an effort to halt future hate crimes from occurring in our little hamlet
of Eagle Rock and elsewhere, I will donate the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian
History Map we produced for every 4th and 11th grade CA History and Civics
classes for schools in Eagle Rock. We
need to raise the awareness that this behavior isn't acceptable and that Eagle
Rock and Northeast Los Angeles has a long history of being a tolerant haven for
all, including lesbians and gays.
Through your contact with the schools could you let me know how many
maps may be needed and to whom they should be directed?
Next Sunday's edition of the LA
Times will have a cover story on the development of the map and its
implications for future historians trying to understand the broader context of
our cultural history. I only hope that
those who perpetrated these acts of vandalism feel ashamed about their
actions. My seven-year-old niece made a
point of asking her Mom why people would do that after passing the City Hall
the morning it happened. She's never
seen such hate before and was genuinely scared that people may hurt her uncle
for being who he is. Hopefully this
will teach her a lesson to be vigilant against such mentality for the rest of
her life. Besides, she's always
associated the word 'Fairys' as something positive!
Best regards --"
-- Jeff Samudio,
life-long Eagle Rock resident, founding TERA Board member, and lifetime TERA
member
"Dear UGLA --
I am very sorry to read of your
troubles with the banner at Eagle Rock City Hall. Many of you know that I celebrate the diversity of our hamlet and
feel that this lends to the special personality of Eagle Rock -- hence our
proud name, the Eclectic Eagle Rock Home Tour, which we feel is representative
of not only our architecture, but our people.
I hope that the small-minded vandals will be ashamed of their actions --
but even more, I hope that the population of Eagle Rock will stand up and
declare our support for all the people who live here of all the life-style
choices, gender preferences, and ethnic backgrounds that we are.
Our strength lies in our diversity,
and our ability to reach out to each other and share our common goals for a
good, clean, beautiful community for all our residents.
Also, I would be happy to find out
how many 11th grade history students there are at Eagle Rock High for you. I'm the PTSA co-president next year. My guess is that it's about 400."
-- Tracy King, Eagle
Rock resident, TERA member, and Chair, Eclectic Eagle Rock Home Tour 2000-2002
"Dear UGLA friends,
As an UGLA member and supporter, I
want to share in our community's outrage at the terrible display of ignorance,
fear and vandalism that has occurred.
We must remember that such acts are desperate cries of isolated and
fearful people who need education as well as appropriate criminal charges. If we can ever find who did this, I
recommend that the penalty be community service as well as carefully structured
consciousness raising about human diversity and human rights.
I know we will all continue to
educate EVERYONE so that someday no one will feel the sentiments that caused
the hostile acts of vandalism of our UGLA banner.
Sincerely --"
-- Mona Field, Eagle
Rock resident, TERA member, and UGLA member
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13. EAGLE ROCK FARMERS MARKET -- EVERY FRIDAY
At the intersection of Caspar and Merton Avenues just south and
east of Colorado and Eagle Rock Boulevards, Eagle Rock's Farmers Market
takes place every Friday starting at 5:00 p.m. and ending at 9:00 p.m. Lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, bakery
goods, cut flowers, potted plants, ready-to-eat foods, crafts, and gift items
are offered. A wide array of
organically grown produce as well as foods prized in the Philippines are also
featured.
A visit to the Farmers Market is a terrific way to end a long
work week and help prepare for that weekend dinner party. Come see friends and neighbors, and enjoy
live music with it all!
Sponsored by the Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce. For more information, please call Michael
Nogueira at (323) 225-5466.
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14. LETTERS AND
E.MAILS
"Count me in on
TERA. What do I need to do [to join],
etc.? I'm all about the l'Eagal
Rock."
-- Fred Eric, Eagle Rock resident
and enthusiast (he very publicly said in Los Angeles Magazine that Eagle
Rock is the "coolest place in the city"), owner of one of the homes
on TERA's Eclectic Eagle Rock Home Tour 2001; visionary, owner and chef of
highly-regarded restaurants Fred 62 and Vida in Los Feliz; and, soon-to-be TERA
member
"Thank you and
TERA for all you do in our Eagle Rock community. I would like to know how we can become a member of TERA. Thank you."
-- Dan Jordinelli,
Jordinelli & Associates Realtors, and (since) new TERA member
"Thanks a
million for keeping Eagle residents well informed of local events and
activities through your great newsletter.
Keep up the good work.
As a long-time Eagle Rock/Highland
Park citizen -- I attended Toland Way, Irvine Junior High,
then Franklin High -- I'm concerned over the the future of the
Eagle Theater. What is the state of the
Eagle Theater? Is it closed
temporarily? Will movies ever be
screened again? Has it become a
church? Does TERA have a 'save the
Eagle Theater' action plan?
Along with other long-time Eagle
Rock residents I have many memories and a sentimental attachment to the Eagle
Theater. With the new opening of Swork
and Fatty's, having a neighborhood theater makes sense for Eagle Rock similar
to the Rialto in South Pasadena and the Vista in East Hollywood/Los Feliz area.
As one of the last remaining
single-screen theaters, I want to see the Eagle Theater stay alive screening
new releases or perhaps classic movie titles.
Please help to re-open the Eagle Theater. Let me know how I can help.
Thanks."
-- Manuel Montano,
Eagle Rock/Highland Park resident
[Editor's note: We have been in contact with certain parties
who are in negotiations to purchase, rehabilitate, and reopen the theater and
the adjoining 99 cent store as something this town could really use. If we think what might happen actually
happens, it will be very exciting!
We will forward any information when we receive it.]
"Anne Wolf [manager,
Occidental College Bookstore] has forwarded to me the June 21 e-mail letter
that you sent her, which I appreciated having for my own interest as well as
for preservation in the Eagle Rock box in our archives. I would appreciate being on your mailing
list for future issues. Thank
you."
-- Jean Paule,
Occidental College Archivist
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15. QUOTE
OF THE WEEK
"To the dull
mind all of nature is leaden. To the
illumined mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light."
-- Ralph Waldo
Emerson
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We welcome your comments.
Please include your name.
Please encourage interested friends to send their e.mail
addresses to us at artburn@earthlink.net so we can keep them informed,
too.
----------
Joanne Turner <artburn@earthlink.net>
President, The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)