We’re sad to inform you that the Eagle Rock Talk Podcast is officially “off the air.” We’ve had three great years serving the community and have really appreciated all your support.

The ER Talk message boards will remain live so keep on talking!

Take care, everyone…and thanks….

We’ll see ya around town!
Laurel and Apryl

Saturday, August 22 from noon to 4 pm
2222 Laverna Avenue, Eagle Rock
Tickets are $25.00/adults, $10 for children 6-12, and children under 5 are free

Click here for more info and click here to purchase tickets or call GLAD at 323-478-8000.

Participating restaurants:
• Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizzeria
• Colombos’s Italian Steakhouse
• Colorado Donuts
• Dave’s Chillin’-N-Grillin’
• Jamba Juice
• Lemongrass
• Marty’s
• Senor Fish
• Swork
• The Capri Restaurant
• The Oinkster
• Tommy’s
• Trader Joes

Once voted LA’s Best New Bar, The Chalet on Colorado Boulevard just west of Townsend is no more. The Swiss-Alps ski lodge has transformed into an English Pub called The Black Boar.

Judging from the pics, the interior decor is not much different than before, tho it looks like the comfy sofas have been replaced by tables and chairs, the lighting isn’t quite as dim, and there’s a flat-panel above the fireplace.

From Thrillist:

“Opening today from the guys behind Laurel Tavern and The Library Bar, The Black Boar’s a 1400sq ft bar patterned after timeless British pubs, with a fireplace presiding over a nearly all-wooden interior featuring banquette-abetted booths, simple bartop wood stools, and rectangular farmhouse tables imported from Jolly Ol’ England, all run by an extra-friendly staff — as the owner says, “no a**holes allowed,” so… see you outside! The boozy focus’s on beers, with eight $5 taps dedicated mostly to across-the-pond goodness: Old Speckled Hen, Strongbow, Fullers ESB, Fullers London Pride, Harp, and Murphy’s Stout round out the Brit suds, while Belgian Hoegaarden and Humboldt’s Lost Coast Downtown Brown Ale sit to the side, making orthodontist jokes under-their-breath. The brewy goodness doesn’t end there: bottles include Samuel Smith Lager, Fullers London Porter, and Wells Bombardier, all of which can be downed while watching soccer on the hard-to-find European sports channel Setanta on one of the three flat screens, or, more likely, while ignoring soccer from Setanta on all three of those flat screens.”

No pub fare, though patrons are encouraged to BYOPizza from neighboring Casa Bianca.

Photo credit: Thrillist.com.

Saturday, August 8 from Noon to 9 pm

All kinds of fabulous freebies:
• Rockin’ Kid tattoos & face painting
• Live DJ sets at Oinkster
• Free workouts at Curves
• Free massages at Backbenders
• Lots more!

Participating businesses hang illuminated Eagle Rock Block Party lanterns outside their doors and offer special promotions, discounts and entertainment. Start at the corner of Eagle Rock Blvd. and Colorado Blvd and pick up a map in any participating store.

The Eagle Rock Block Party takes place every month on the 2nd Saturday to coincide with NELA Artwalk. The purpose of the event is to provide a local business stimulus and reinforce community spirit so that small town walking areas remain a part of the Los Angeles experience.

Follow the Block Partiers on twitter this Saturday! http://twitter.com/ERockBlockParty

www.eaglerockblockparty.com

And by Peekaboo Playland. The Playground just moved to 2030 Colorado Blvd. Peekaboo now has three times as much indoor space for open play and birthday parties. It will also serve as a family resource center, offering parenting classes, morning workout sessions, summer camp and more! www.peekabooplayland.com

In this episode you’ll hear about the new businesses that have opened recently: Blue Dot Yogurt, Eagles Landing Coffee House, and the brand new farmers market. You’ll also hear about GrowFriend.org, an organization that teams gardeners up with local land owners to grow produce, The Make Art Not Trash project, possible future plans for The Beverage Shop, what’s going on at a couple of area construction sites, and Eagle Rock High’s ranking on Newsweek’s annual list of the Top 1500 Public High Schools in America. Finally, Tana March from Comadres Supper Club introduces us to the guys at Figueroa Produce in this episode’s Meet Your Neighbor. Figueroa Produce is offering 10% off to Eagle Rock Talkers - just tell the guys you heard them in the podcast!

Eagle Rock Talk is going to be on hiatus for the rest of the summer. If any big news comes up we’ll post it to the blog, and the Message Boards are busier than ever with your latest news and discussions. But the ERT podcast is taking a much-needed vacation and will return in September. Until then, have a great summer and see ya around town!

In this episode you’ll hear about the new plans for the Chalet, as well as what’s up with the closing of Regeneration, and the relocation of vintage furniture store Sniveling Sibling. You’ll also hear what’s opening in place of Swanky Blanky on Eagle Rock Boulevard — Angelissimo Angel Shop. Plus, we tell you about possible plans for the extension of the 710 freeway under York Valley — you can find out more information and dates of upcoming meetings at 710tunnelstudy.info. And we let you in on a very useful LAPD site to find out about crime in our neighborhood:  the LAPD crime maps site.

Finally, in a new series, we check in with Bob Arranaga, co-chair of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council Land Use & Planning Committee, to learn the process of opening a business in Eagle Rock.

See ya around town.

Date: Tuesday June 2nd, and Tuesday June 9th
Time: 2pm both days
Place: BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, EDWARD R. ROYBAL HEARING ROOM 350, CITY HALL, 200 NORTH SPRING STREET,90012

For more info, check out the Eagle Rock Talk Message Boards’ Events section.

In this episode you’ll hear about plans for a new restaurant — Indochine — on Colorado Boulevard, what’s up with Yogurt Haven, and news about what’s going on at the old flower shop on the corner of Maywood and Colorado — PeekAboo Playland is moving in. You’ll also find out the deal with Panang (the Thai Restaurant on Colorado in the old Bob’s Big Boy building) and their signs, and hear about a couple of cool things happening in the neighbs — the Eagle Rock Block Party and the 3/50 Project.

We also take you on a tour of the roses at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada, and Dan Kaufman, our Uncovering Eagle Rock correspondent, tells what it’s like to get acupuncture at Eagle Rock Community Acupuncture.

See ya around town!

And by the loft hair lounge, located at 5112 Townsend Avenue. The Loft is now offering Nails by Nina. Check out their website to find out more.

There’s a whole lotta news going on this month! In this episode you’ll hear an update on the DHM property — the abandoned loft development on Colorado across from the 134 entrance. You’ll also hear about a proposed development for a restaurant and conference space on Eagle Rock Ridge. If you have something to say about the development, we have phone numbers for you for Councilman Huizar (323) 254-5295 and Mayor Villaraigosa (213) 922-9777.

We also have news about some new businesses coming to town: Kumquat Baby Clothes on Eagle Rock Boulevard, Good Girl Dinette on Figueroa and Avenue 56, and Anatomy LA workout studio on York.

Plus we have some local events to tell you about: Peekaboo Playland’s Pilates & Play classes, Orecul 77’s Porchlight Storytelling Series, Society of the Spectacle’s Frances Klein eyewear show, and a community tree planting along York Boulevard on Saturday, April 4. Interested volunteers can contact Margaret Cashion at 310-795-2200 or TreePeople at 818-623-4875.

You’ll also get the dish from our Daily Nosh guy, Dave Klotz, about Felipe’s Restaurant on York. And you’ll meet your neighbor — Professor Wes Weasley from Eagle Rock’s own E-Sion Institute of Sound.

Happy April Fool’s Day! See ya around town.

Clothing store Lady, (mostly) used bookstore Read Books, and Toros Pottery are staying open late for an evening of live music, food, drink and discounts!

In this episode you’ll find out about another Eagle Rock business closing — That Yarn Store. You’ll also find out what’s going on with condo development Rock Row, get the latest scoops on Blue Dot Yogurt and Green Goddess, and hear about how the BigLots on York Boulevard is becoming Latino market El Super. You’ll also get an earful from our Opinion Guy David Spancer about one of Eagle Rock’s blights — Colorado Plaza.

Eagle Rock in the news:  Read the LA Times story on area marijuana dispensaries.

See ya around town!

** UPDATE **
Comments for this episode have been moved to the Message Board

Also, watch for a new episode of Eagle Rock Talk to be posted tomorrow.

Also wanted to let everyone know the New York Times piece about Eagle Rock that was supposed to run this Sunday has also been postponed.

Just wanted to let everyone know that this Saturday, February 7 is the Los Angeles Mayor’s Day of Service. There are about 60 projects going on in Northeast LA — from making breakfast for firemen to beautifying the Eagle Rock Library to a home makeover in Highland Park.

Check out the list of possible things to do:
http://www.dayofservicela.org/projectlist.html

And by Post and Beam Real Estate.  Focused on design and architecture in Northeast LA and based in Eagle Rock.  Read Post and Beam’s blog about noteworthy homes for sale. 

In this episode you’ll hear about the owner of The Bucket’s new venture — The Bucket Beer and Wine Company. You’ll also hear about Eagle’s Landing Coffee House, Yogurt Haven, Caribbean Dreams Texas BBQ, Fill in the Blank Gallery, and the Eagle Rock Brewery. You’ll also get updates on Blue Dot Yogurt, Butter Tart Cafe, Regeneration, what’s going on at the old florist shop on Maywood and Colorado — as well as some other bits of news around town. And you’ll meet the sister owners of Society of the Spectacle, the groovy eyewear store on York Boulevard.

Be sure to check out Eagle Rock in the news. We got an update that this coming Sunday, February 8, the New York Times is publishing an article about Eagle Rock written by local Scott Timberg. We’ll post a link as soon as the piece is out. And Huell Howser visited Occidental College to talk to one of President Barack Obama’s classmates. You can check out that interview here.

See ya around town!

In this episode, you’ll hear about a couple new businesses that have opened up on York Boulevard in Highland Park: Orecul 77 and The 4th Quarter Shop. You’ll also get the scoop on Corner Pizzeria and some changes at Dave’s Chillin’ and Grillin’ — tho in the podcast Apryl mistakenly calls the sandwich shop Dave’s Grillin and Chillin — sorry, Dave — guess she was reminiscing about that old Bobby Flay show. We also let you in on some sad news about Lucy Finch.

Times are tough right now for everyone — and Eagle Rock businesses are really feeling the pinch. In the spirit of the holiday season, Laurel gives us her Top Ten List of gifts you can buy right here in Eagle Rock — most for under $25! Please shop locally — it’s good for our community.

And, finally, a treat — We Tell Stories, the Highland Park-based storytelling troupe, tells us about their shows and presents a holiday reading of a classic Christmas poem by A.A. Milne.

You can see We Tell Stories at a couple of upcoming shows:

Sunday, December 21 at 3:30 p.m.
Hanukkah Stories
Temple Etz Chaim
1080 Janss Road
Thousand Oaks 91360

Sunday, January 4 at Noon
“A Feast from the East”
Folktales from Asia and the Middle East
Japanese American National Museum
369 East First Street, Los Angeles 90012

Happy Holidays Everyone! See ya around town in 2009!

Butter Tart Cafe — named by owner Karena Higgens after a popular Canadian treat — opened about a month ago on the border of Eagle Rock and Glassell Park on Verdugo, near the iconic Polka Restaurant. Her best-selling items are the pistacio cherry scone and the egg, bacon and parmesan tart.

The Lunch Lady is a delivery only lunch place, featuring all sorts of healthy, gourmet salads and sandwiches. Owner Celia Oliver was once the catering chef for Auntie Em’s. Most of the meats and veggies Celia uses are organic. This month’s sandwich special is called “Thanksgiving Love” — turkey, cranberry, and havarti. Delivery in Eagle Rock is free, but you have to order the day before.

Expected to open within the next 4 months is Cacao Mexicatessen at 1576 Colorado Boulevard, next to Trader Joe’s. In addition to serving traditional Mexican food, brother and sister Andrew and Christy Lujan will also serve Mayan coffee and Mexican hot chocolate — which is laced with cinnamon. They’ll also sell Mexican imports like olive oils from Baja’s wine region, honey from Veracruz, and Mexican vanilla. Along with homemade tortillas — check out the chocolate ones! Have a favorite salsa recipe? Submit it and your entry just might make it onto the menu.

Villa Sombrero, the classic Highland Park Mexican restaurant with the supersize margaritas on York shut its doors over the summer. The original owner, Felipe Nunez - who sold the name and business, but not the property twenty years ago - has reclaimed the space and is opening his own restaurant - Felipe’s. He’ll be bringing back some specialties from the original menu, which was more of a continental, upscale Latin cuisine. Dishes will include swordfish, scallops, lobster, chicken mole, and grilled steak.

We also have some opening updates on Cardio Barre, Blue Dot, and Cafe de Leche. And we take you on a ride over to the Flying Pigeon bike shop and introduce you to neighbor Rachel Fine, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus.

We want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!
See ya around town!

In this episode of Eagle Rock Talk you’ll learn more about CardioBarre, the ballet-based workout studio going in on Colorado and Townsend next to Pollen. You’ll also hear what’s up with Blue Dot Yogurt, Cafe de Leche, Big Mama’s and Papa’s Pizzeria, and a new green-friendly development on Yosemite called Rock Row.

We’re starting a brand new feature called Uncovering Eagle Rock. Correspondent Dan Kaufman introduces us to those places in Eagle Rock most of us probably zoom past every day. In this first installment, Dan takes us to meet Brandon.

It’s that time of year again — time for the Eagle Rock Music Festival. Saturday, October 4, from 5 pm to Midnight. More than 40 bands are slated to play. For more information and to find out who’s playing check out the Music Fest’s MySpace page.

See ya around town!

Apryl and Laurel

In the meantime, we heard a rumor about what might be going into the once Townsend Gallery/ex-Fat Dog/no longer Local 79 space (yep, they pulled out) — something called “Cardio Bar.” We’re not sure if this is the aerobic/ballet craze “Cardio Barre” or some other kind of workout, cardio-type place, but we plan to find out for you by next episode. If it is Cardio Barre, here’s a link with more information about what it is:

http://www.cardiobarre.com/

And we have an event to tell you about:

The Taste of Eagle Rock
Saturday, August 23, noon-6 pm
GLAD Building, 2222 Laverna Avenue

Come check out the beautiful, but ailing GLAD building — which has been deemed a historical landmark — and munch on food from your favorite area restaurants, like Dave’s Chillin and Grilllin, The Oinkster, Marty’s and many more. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for children aged 6-12, and free for kids under 5. Proceeds benefit GLAD — the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness. For more information visit gladinc.org.

Check out Episode Eight of Eagle Rock Talk to hear from GLAD’s CEO, Patricia Hughes.

Have a great summer and we’ll see ya around town!
Apryl and Laurel

You’ll also meet one of Eagle Rock’s most notable neighbors — René Escamilla, also known as the Rock-n-Roll Mailman. And Daily Nosh guy Dave Klotz shares his favorite Eagle Rock taco.

See ya around town!

In this episode you’ll hear about the Eagle Rock Canyon Hiking Trail. And local restaurant Spitz is branching out. You’ll also hear from Mary Tokita and her Weeding Wednesday crew at the Eagle Rockdale Community Garden. You can check out the garden on July 14 at their Bastille Day Celebration and Artists’ Reception. See the post in the Happenings section of the Eagle Rock Talk Message Boards for more information. And if you’re interested in renting a garden plot, building one of your own, donating time, or have an idea for an art project for the garden you can contact Mary Tokita through TERA or by calling 323-344-8426.

Finally, you’ll learn about the history of that huge mansion on the corner of Hill Drive and Dahlia in our “What Is That?” segment. Remember, if you have a question about something in Eagle Rock – or anywhere in Northeast LA, write to us at what@eaglerocktalk.com.

Well, that’s it for this episode of Eagle Rock Talk.

See ya around town!

Apryl and Laurel