LA Commons
4343 Leimert Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90008
phone: 213.705.4457
fax: 323.938.5584
info@lacommons.org

a project of
Community Partners

Events




Season Opening June 25th

with GOODMagazine and Mercado La Paloma

Global Feasts on Local Streets

Our host El Mercado La Paloma, once a sweatshop, now converted into a community project that serves as an incubator for small businesses, features some of the best street food in the city. On June 25 from 6pm to 9pm vendors from South East Mexico, Thailand and Peru will be on site as well as music from Veracruz Mexico and a street art installation and workshop. Don’t miss it!

Space is limited so please RSVP as soon as possible to Good Magazine events.

Mercado La Paloma:
3655 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90007.



Directions can be found at: www.mercadolapaloma.com/directions.html



Trekking LA: Street Food- Tour to Highland Park June 28, 2009.

Global Feasts on Local Streets

Our first event of the summer season starts with a tour of Highland Park on June 28 (12:00 to 4pm). Tourgoers will have the opportunity to sample unique street foods from the regions of Mexico and Central America. Highlights will include a stop at the famous Blue Taco Truck and tasting cemitas (little sandwiches from the region of Puebla) at an old local haunt. The tour will include a guided walk around the neighborhood, complete with historical trivia (do you know which donut-maker originated in Highland Park?) peppered throughout and conclude with an introduction to Chicken Boy by Amy Inouye, tour guide, gallery owner and mom to Chicken Boy. The tour has an optional visit to the “smokin’” Highland Park car show, where art meets the street.

Meeting Point: Southwest Museum of the American Indian. 234 Museum Drive. Los Angeles, CA 90065 Ticket: $20.00.

Please RSVP here reservations or contact us at (323) 640 2625 or e-mail us at lacommons@aol.com



LA Commons' Annual
UNCOMMON ANGELS CELEBRATION

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008
Festivities begin at 5:00 PM
Museum of African American Art
located in Macy's (3rd Floor) at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza
4005 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008

How often do people from across Los Angeles' diverse neighborhoods come together to celebrate? Uncommon Angels 2008 is a unique opportunity for angelenos from all over to connect and to experience in one evening the rich culture to be found in communities around the city: blues and barbecue from Leimert Park, dancing from Thai Town, art from Highland Park and delicious desserts from world famous Panos Pastry in Little Armenia. Also discover a hidden gem inside the Macy's in Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, the Museum of African American Art. The evening's sponsors include Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, the California Community Foundation, and the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles.

Tickets for the event are $100, including a tax deductible donation to LA Commons.

To RSVP and for additional info contact: rsvp@lacommons.org or (213) 705-4457.



*** OUR PAST EVENTS ***




Trekking Los Angeles
Barbecue Adventures in a Global City

Tour Stop #4: Little Armenia

On September 21st, LA Commons led an exciting afternoon in Little Armenia. Tourgoers experienced the taste of Armenian style BBQ and learned kebab and other secrets of this unique cuisine during our culinary demonstration. We also learned a lot about the history of this culture and how it traveled to the United States from local community leaders. The group even attempted a traditional dance and then savored delicious baklavas and other treats during a behind-the-scenes tour at Panos Bakery.




Trekking Los Angeles
Barbecue Adventures in a Global City

Tour Stop #3: Leimert Park

A BBQ and Music adventure in Leimert Park
in conjunction with the World Stage Jazz Festival

On August 10th LA Commons toured Leimert Park and tasted secret BBQ recipes handed down from generation to generation and heard the fascinating stories behind the sauce. And, we ate our “Q” and cobbler while enjoying the multi-textured rhythms of Leimert Park at the World Stage Jazz Festival. Artists and musicians guided us through the neighborhood visiting galleries and gift shops with unique objects, collectibles, jewelry and clothing imported from locales throughout the African diaspora. As part of the experience, we also had the opportunity to be stimulated by the amazing murals and other colorful expressions found in all the nooks and crannies of the neighborhood.




Fear-Less in MacArthur Park

SATURDAY MAY 10th, 2008 (Opening) - 1PM to 3PM

Mama's Hot Tamales Cafe
2122 W. Seventh Street, Los Angeles, CA 90057
**Corner of 7th and Alvarado in MacArthur Park**

A public art installation designed by artist Reyes Rodriguez and young people who live in the neighborhood surrounding MacArthur Park. In developing the art work, the team focused on creating a place where people, particularly the Central American and Mexican immigrants who populate this community, could transcend their everyday fears, i.e. gang activity, violence and the current wave of anti-immigrant feelings. Shoppers, diners, park-goers and those driving by will all have the opportunity to find sanctuary from fear in the vivid images that reflect the joyful stories of the neighborhood and the beauty of the enhanced physical space.

Contact: Karen Mack at (213) 705-4457 or lacommons@aol.com.



TREKKING LOS ANGELES:
LOCAL ADVENTURES IN A GLOBAL CITY

Trekking Los Angeles A summer 2007 program of LA Commons Little Armenia, Thai Town, Highland Park, Leimert Park.

a Summer 2007 Project of LA Commons

Voted Best Tour in 2007 by Los Angeles Magazine!

THANK YOU FOR TREKKING LA WITH US THIS SUMMER! LOOK FOR MORE NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS AND TOURS COMING SOON!

Dancing Angels: Touring Thailand's 77th Province
Thursday October 18th - 7:00PM to 11:00PM
Thailand Plaza Restaurant: Dinner! Dancing! Awards!

On Thursday Oct. 18th LA Commons and our neighborhood partners and friends shared a very special evening celebrating Thai culture, the four incredible neighborhoods we have explored this summer through our Trekking LA series, and the Uncommon Angels who make these places the vibrant cultural districts that they are! This fundraising event featured delicious Thai food, traditional Thai Dancing, and the soulful sounds jazz vocalist Dwight Trible and his band. We look forward to making this an annual event.

Dancing Angels: A Celebration in Thai Town was the concluding event of our summer series, Trekking Los Angeles: Local Adventures in a Global City, in partnership with the Thai Community Development Center and UCLA. This project gives visitors and Angelenos the chance to experience the city's diversity while supporting local economies in places where culture is a highly valuable asset.

15th Annual Thai Culture Day &
Free Neighborhood Walking Tour
Sunday September 23rd - 2:00PM to 7:00PM

A great group of experienced and new "Trekkers" joined LA Commons at the 15th Annual Thai Culture Day on Sunday, Sept. 23rd and had a one of a kind tour of Thai Town through the eyes of world-renowned Thai chef and celebrity, Jet Tila and East Hollywood Neighborhood Council President, Elson Trinidad. In between neighborhood facts and insights we sampled some incredible food at Hollywood Thai, Red Corner Asia and Bhan Kanom Dessert Shop.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

For more information contact LA Commons at (213) 705-4457
or email us at rsvp@lacommons.org

* * * * * * * * * * * *

August 12th - A Music Lover's Paradise:
Sunday in Leimert Park Village


Over 1,000 Angelenos made their way to Leimert Park on Sunday August 12th for a sunny, summer afternoon of incredible jazz, local crafts and food, and a one-of-a-kind neighborhood tour with LA Commons. LA Commons kicked of the day with a free tour of the neighborhood which started at World Stage - one of the long-standing neighborhood jazz venues. Three local musicians served as our incredible tour guides, offering stories and insights into both the history of Leimert Park and the activities that thrive in the community today. The tour gave participants a framework to enjoy the foot-tapping music that followed.

A highlight of the day was a presentation of certificates by councilman Bernard Parks to the talented youth and mentors who participated in the latest LA Commons public art project. The team spent many Saturdays creating and filming "Sankafa Project: Leimert Park The Heart of Crenshaw." A special screening and reception will be coming up this fall - check back soon for more details!

A Music Lover's Paradise was the third event of our summer series, Trekking Los Angeles: Local Adventures in a Global City, in partnership with World Stage, KAOS Network and UCLA. This project gives visitors and Angelenos the chance to experience the city's diversity while supporting local economies in places where culture is a highly valuable asset.

Many thanks to the Office of Councilman Bernard Parks, MTA, Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers, The Gas Company, California Arts Council, UCLA and the Leimert Park community for making this event possible!

July 21st - A Taste of Pomegranate:
Sampling Art in Little Armenia


A Taste of Pomegranate: Sampling Art in Little Armenia was the 2nd event in our Trekking LA series. It was open to the public and centered at the Rose and Alex Pilibos School in East Hollywood as a celebration of Armenian culture, art, and food. The Armenian Center for the Arts, LA Commons and UCLA presented "A Taste of Pomegranate: Sampling Art in Little Armenia.” The afternoon included: displays of hand-woven tapestries and lace work, traditional and contemporary Armenian music, dance performances, tours of Noah's Ark library, and opportunities to view local art works on display throughout the neighborhood and interact directly with the artists. In addition, a public art project of LA Commons created with artist Gregory Beylerian and students from the Rose & Alex Pilibos School was unveiled.

An Armenian play was shown at the neighboring Fountain Theater at 8PM.

As always we thank al those who participated and made this event a success. It is always our hope that you will continue to explore the Armenian culture further!

This evening was part of our summer series, Trekking Los Angeles: Local Adventures in a Global City, in partnership with UCLA. This project gives visitors and Angelenos the chance to experience the city's diversity while supporting economies in places where culture is a highly valuable asset.


Highland Park

On the evening of June 9th, 2007 LA Commons sponsored the Highland Park Arts & Culture Shuttle to connect Angelenos to local galleries, artists, neighborhood events, and of course great food as part of "Artists in the Arroyo: An Evening in Highland Park"! The evening included a lively dinner with local artists at el Arco Iris followed by the opening of an LA Commons public art project, "Highland Park Stories" created by artist Poli Marichal and youth from Franklin High School in partnership with Avenue 50 Studio. This was followed by some incredible puppet shows at Future Studio and a puppet exhibit at Acorn Gallery, both part of the Arroyo Arts Collective Puppets! Puppets! Puppets! festival (see www.arroyoartscollective.org for more info on participating galleries, artists and future events). This was also a Second Saturday NELAart Gallery Night and our shuttle connected people to openings and collections at the many varied local gallery venues. For more information on upcoming Second Saturday nights, please check www.nelaart.org.

Thank you for participating and making this evening a success! We hope the evening will inspire you to return to the neighborhood and explore the galleries further! This evening was part of our summer series, Trekking Los Angeles: Local Adventures in a Global City, in partnership with UCLA. This project gives visitors and Angelenos the chance to experience the city's diversity while supporting economies in places where culture is a highly valuable asset.





Chinatown

Beginning at 8 pm on Saturday, October 21, 2006 at Bamboo Lane Gallery 418 Bamboo Lanein Chinatown (see map below), LA Commons will host Out of the Box, a fashion fundraiser catwalk to showcase distinctive creations emerging from the culturally diverse city of Los Angeles. The fashion show will get underway at 9:00 pm.

The designers present wearable art drawing inspiration from Los Angeles’ unique streets and neighborhoods Highland Park, Leimert Park, and Chinatown to name a few.

Designers will include Cindy Suriyani's, Forbidden City, whose paintings on silk have been transformed into dresses; Annatarian, by Anna Mkhitarian, an eco-couture designer who creates environmentally conscious, one-of-a-kind pieces influenced by global traditions; and, Lavish on Melrose, a showcase of creative designer apparel and accessories from the artistic design minds of Los Angeles. Also featured in the show will be jewelry by LU.PA, Lucia Pasquinelli's line that reflects the time-honored craft, found in many cultures, of turning organic materials into pieces that transmit the power of the metal or stone to the wearer.

In a gallery setting, art will be on display by artists Luis Becerra, Long Nguyen, and Cindy Suriyani. The attendees will experience the unique designs of some of the city's best talent and the opportunity to support LA Common's ongoing programs to uncover the diverse cultural offerings available in Los Angeles neighborhoods. There is a $20 admission price in advance and $25 at the door for an evening that includes food, drinks, music, a raffle and one-of-a-kind boxes made for purchase especially for the evening by artists from throughout the city. All proceeds will go directly to LA Commons where artists partner with local youth to create artwork that tells the stories of their neighborhood and communities are empowered through their participation and the recognition of their rich cultural legacy.

Please confirm your attendance by rsvp@lacommons.org. To purchase tickets in advance, make checks payable to "Community Partners fbo LA Commons" and send to Community Partners, 1000 N. Alameda Street, Suite 240, Los Angeles, CA 90012 or for credit card purchases call 213-705-4457. Those paying in advance will get $5 off admission and one free raffle ticket. Even if you can't come, donate the price of your ticket to support the work of LA Commons.</P>



MacArthur Park

No events currently scheduled.





Koreatown

No events currently scheduled.





Mid-City

No events currently scheduled.





Sylmar

No events currently scheduled.





Leimert Park

See Trekking Los Angeles event schedule for details on August 12th Music Lover's Paradise: Sunday in Leimert Park Village.





Thai Town

See Trekking Los Angeles event schedule for details on September 20th gala event at Thailand Plaza, "Dancing Angels: A Celebration in Thaitown."