After 30+ Years, It's Time to Say "Good-bye"

It's time to say "Good-bye" to John Mason and Dave Gy, fixtures in the Silver Lake community for more than thirty years. The pair have decided to leave Silver Lake for "greener pastures" and have purchase a home in the desert community of Palm Springs.

The couple have been active members of the Sanborn-Venango Community Group, in what I described in one of my articles written for the Los Feliz Ledger as one of the "best neighborhoods in Silver Lake You've Never Heard of". John and Dave have been active in their little pocket of Silver Lake for decades, banding together with their neighbors to fight gang activity and improve the community. Real pioneers in my book!

Over the years, we formed a friendship based upon our love for our neighborhood.
About a year ago, they made the decision to sell their home on Venango Avenue and move to a new home in Palm Springs. We have had the pleasure of listing their home for sale; it's due to close this coming Thursday, April 9, 2009. It's a bittersweet time, we have grown to love these guys and will hate to see them go, but we wish them well in their new surroundings in the desert!

An Authentic 1923 CA Bungalow Price at $429K!

With all the talk about doom and gloom, why not focus on the opportunities out there? Here's one to investigate: A 1923 Classic CA Bungalow in a great little pocket neighborhood (Glassell Park, a few minutes from Silver Lake)with 3 bedrooms, period details including hardwood floors, character fireplace and classic front porch. Over 1660 sq. ft. of living space on a flat, almost 7500 sq. ft. lot! Check it out!

LA Cowboy: Last Of The South Coast Cowboy Life!

LA Cowboy: Last Of The South Coast Cowboy Life!

Julius Shulman: Still Going Strong at 98!

This past week (March 9-15, 2009), I had the joy of seeing Julius Shulman on two occasions; visiting him at his home in the Hollywood Hills, and on Sunday, March 15th attending an "Ides of March Scotch-Tasting Bacchanal" at the home of (L.A. Magazine Executive Editor) Mary Melton and her husband Ed Leibowitz in Eagle Rock.

Apparently Julius has been wanting to do this for years, according to our hosts. For the occasion, they brought in one of the city's top Scotch experts from the Seven Grand bar in downtown Los Angeles. Guests mingled around the pool, sampling Middle Eastern delicacies before adjourning to the family room for the Scotch-tasting. I had no idea there was such a variety of unique single malt Scotch whiskeys! Afterwards, we were invited to stay for dessert, a medley of three cakes, spelling out the words, "All Hail Julius".

Among the guests were many old friends we originally met through Julius, including Designer Ron Fields, Woodbury University's Rose Nielsen, L.A. Magazine's Chris Nichols and his lovely wife, Charlene, Chris Alexander from the Getty Research Institute, Linda Dishman, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Conservancy, Jim Heimann, Executive Editor of Taschen America (Julius' publisher) and his wife Rolleen, Neutra Scholar Barbara Lamprecht, our neighbor Guy Vidal (DesignVidal) and of course, Julius' daughter, Judy McKee. Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge dropped in for a "Hail Julius" salute.

Besides our hosts, we were introduced to Michael Stern from Palm Springs (Michael hosted last year's Palm Springs Modernism event) and Craig Krull, owner of the gallery in Santa Monica that exhibits Julius' work.

On the Town with DesignVidal

During the six years Donna Jean and I lived in Silver Lake, we became friends with many of our neighbors, including Guy & Karen Vidal (DesignVidal) and their two beautiful children, Ginger and Levi. The Vidals invited us to attend a reception for Glass Artist Andrew Thompson held at Blackman Cruz in Hollywood on May 5, 2009. We had the privelege of meeting the artist and many of his friends. Thompson has masterfully "altered the perception of glass designed as fine art. His exploration of complex technique incorporated with organic design creates the ultimate synergy", according to Adam Cruz, the gallery's owner.

Located in the old PROBE Night Club (836 N. Highland Avenue in Hollywood, L.A.s equivelant of Studio 54), the Blackman Cruz showrooms are on many levels, and something special to experience. Besides Andrew Thompson's beautiful art glass (on nearly every conceivable surface), there are many fascinating one-of-a-kind collectable objects to enjoy.

Silver Lake's "Art Cans" Pre-Installation Exhibit at M&A

On Sunday, February 22, 2009, Materials & Applications in Silver Lake hosted a pre-installation exhibition of the "Art-Can Project", sponsored by the Beautification Committee of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council. The "Art- Cans" are concrete trash cans that have beautiful mosaic panels designed by local artists.

Artists Julie Bagish, Yuriko Etue and Tabitha Fronk are veterans of the project. Julie's work, "Four Seasons of William Crite" honored Crite, a brilliant artist and fellow art-can contributor. She wrote and read a lovely poem dedicating her work to his memory. The "Path Pals" of the CSSLR (Comittee to Save Silver Lake's Reservoirs) also contributed an art can "The Reservoir Pathways", working with Bagish. CSSLR veterans Lori Oddino and Carla Lazzareschi were on hand for the ceremony. The can will be installed in front of Monkey House Toys on Silver Lake Blvd.

Artist Yuriko Etue has contributed to the "Art Can Project" in each of its three installations. Her current contribution, "Forever Beginning" is reminiscent of her earlier work. Tabitha Fronk created "Cats & Butterflies- for Lulu", working with Silver Lake Kids and an untitled art can with the help of Calderons Silver Lake Kids. Artist Lorraine Heitzman, a newcomer to the project, worked with Girl Scout Troup 730 and created "It's a Dog's Life". The art can will be installed at Silver Lake Dog Park; the Silver Lake Dog Park Association adopted the can.

I am extremely proud of these art cans! As Founder of the Silver Lake Beautification Committee, I would like to personally thank Noah Stein Project Coordinator and Laura Dwan Project Developer/Coordinator, who have kept the project alive. It takes a huge amount of (volunteer) time to bring such projects to completion.

Silver Lake's "Villa Togneri" is L.A. Times "Home of the Week"

The "Villa Togneri", a Classic Mediterranean Villa designed by I. Palombo in 1927 in Silver Lake was recognized as the "Home of the Week" in the Los Angeles Times on January 4, 2008. The Villa has been in the Togneri Family for more than 60 years. To visit the property is to take a step back in time; virtually nothing has changed since the villa was first built. To read the article, please click on "Villa Togneri"

Rembembering Yvon Docker Lincoln 1921-2008

Yvon Docker Lincoln arrived in Los Angeles when she was barely 6 onths old, coming with her parents Mytris Evalina Burns and Malcolm Docker Lincoln from Tucson, Arizona. She remained ni Southern California the rest of her life.

During WWII, she served as an air raid warden and as a U.S. Naval truck driver, building landing strips. Peacetime work was primarily in transportation, especially transcontinental truckign of heavy machinery and later, air freight. She was the first woman Western Regional Vice President of Delta Nu Alpha, a national transportation society. An activist in Silver Lake, her home community, Yvon, in retirement was also a volunteer and contributor to many non-profit organizations. Yvon's greatest gift was making friends and they are legion.

In a nursing home with failing health for the past three years, she succumbed to cancer on November 26, 2008. She is survived by her companion, Lucile Jones and her cousin Laura Burns. UCLA Donated Body Program accepted her remains and there will be no services pursuant to her wishes. Those wanting to remember her may do so by making a new friend, as she would, or by giving to her favorite charity, St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, c/o St. Vincent Foundation, 2222 Ocean View Avenue, Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90057.

Silver Lakers Dedicate the New Pathway Circumventing SL Reservoir

Saturday, December 20, 2008 marked an historic happening in Silver Lake, the Ribbon-cutting ceremony dedicating the pathway circling Silver Lake Reservoir. A host of dignitaries, neighbors and reservoir advocates were on hand for the long-awaited path to finally open.

I arrived just before 10 a.m., and already there were a lot of familiar faces in the crowd. I spotted Bea Gold, along with L.A. Councilmembers Tom LaBonge and Council President Eric Garcetti, who were definitely pumped for the occasion. Bea was greeting CA. Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (43rd Dist.) while LaBonge was introducing Assemblymember Curran Price (51st Dist.).

Fine speeches by Eric Garcetti and Tom LaBonge were followed by addresses from Paul Krekorian, LADWP CEO H. David Nahai, L.A. City Engineer Gary Moore, Board of Public Works Board Member Julie Gutman and Committee to Save Silver Lake's Reservoirs President Shelley Marks. It was a special day for many of us who have been advocating for Silver Lake's open reservoirs.