NELA Live

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report

Well, I have been really remiss in getting my farmers market reports out in the past few weeks. I have a hundred excuses (the heat, work, out of town, etc. etc.), but I have really missed the market and can't wait to get back. I'm going tomorrow and am dying to get my hands on some delicious fresh cherries. I can eat them like candy all day long. Other treats I'm on the hunt for: apricots and nectarines (they perfume the air of the whole market!).

Of course, I need my healthy green veggies, too. I'll be looking for fresh asparagus, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, artichokes, eggplant, onions, herbs.... All the good stuff for tossing together in salads, topping pasta or filling an omelet on those days when it's too hot to cook, but you still want to eat well. I've read several articles lately extolling the virtues of organic product. They think it contains much higher levels of nutrients than non-organic produce..... Luckily for all of us, most of the produce at the Old L.A. Farmer's Market is certified organic.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there,
ML

Charles Fletcher Lummis High School

The Highland Park Heritage Trust is conducting a petition gathering all this week to emphasize the importance of naming HS #13 for a person who is significant to the Northeast of Los Angeles, our own Charles Fletcher Lummis.

Petition gathering started at the HPHT booth on Lummis Day, June 1, and the first round of signature gathering will continue until June 11th when the ground breaking ceremony will be taking place at the location on San Fernando Road, at Division Street.

Historian, Charles Fisher, author of "Highland Park", the book that chronicles the history of the community, was the one who had the brilliant idea of naming it Charles Fletcher Lummis HIgh School. Can you imagine the motto? "Can Do!"

To help with the signature gathering, send your email request to:

Carmela Gomes
President of the Board of Highland Park Heritage Trust
hphtpres@gmail.com

Signed petitions can be returned during the HPHT meeting on Monday, June 9, from 7-9PM at Ramona Hall, or to the Community Booth at the Farmer’ Market on Tuesday, June 10, at the Avenue 57 Gold Line Station.

Instructions for returning the signed petitions at other times, before June 11, will be given along with the Petition attachment.

Thanks for your continuing community spirit.

Stamp Out Hunger - U S Post Office Food Drive

Need to clear a few items out of your pantry?  Do it early Saturday morning, May 10th, and place the items in a bag outside by your mailbox.

Postal carriers will  be collecting donations of non-perishable food items as part of their national "Stamp Out Hunger" campaign.

The 16th annual food collection put on by the National Association of Letter Carriers is the largest one-day food drive in the nation, organizers said. Last year postal service employees in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands collected more than 70 million pounds.

Letter carriers will take the donations to pantries, food banks and shelters for distribution to the estimated 35 million Americans who face hunger each day, organizers said.

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 4/29/08

One thing we tend to take for granted, those of us who live in Southern California, is the abundance of delicious, fresh and healthy produce that is available to us all year 'round. This was brought home to me when we had family in town from the midwest last week.

They had come here for a birthday celebration and were able to spend a couple of extra days hanging out in our fantastic weather. On one of the hottest days we've had so far this year in NE LA, we piled into the car and headed out to Malibu. But being at the beach makes me hungry, so I packed up some sandwiches and fresh fruit to take along with us.

You cannot imagine the impact a cucumber can have on someone! I had picked up some fresh cucumbers at the farmers market a few days earlier. Without giving it too much thought, I sliced them up and popped them on some bagels with a smear of cream cheese and some smoked salmon. Delish! But the cucumbers were the talk of the trip from that point on..... How fresh, how delicious, how sweet and crunchy... Nothing else our relatives ate on their entire trip inspired as much conversation or compliments. Of course, I basked in the attention and got all the credit for the making the most amazing sandwich (which really just boils down to having the good sense to buy a few cucumbers at the market - who would've thought?).

Now, I have to say that I myself do love these cukes. They are small, have few seeds and a thin skin that is NOT waxed, so they are yummy unpeeled. I find myself putting them on everything (they are especially good with egg salad).

The other big impression on our out-of-town family was made by juicy, ripe strawberries on homemade waffles for breakfast one morning. They add color and vitamins, as well as flavor and sweetness to an otherwise only marginally healthy breakfast. Fresh squeezed juice (from citrus from the market, of course) is the prefect compliment.

It is easy to overlook how lucky we are to have such a variety of fresh, healthy and delicious produce available to us at any time of the year. To see this bounty through the eyes of visitors really brings it home and makes me grateful to live in CA and also to have a great farmers market to shop at within just a few blocks of home.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers Market - April 3, 2008

Comparing apples and oranges..... Well, maybe you are not "supposed" to do this, but it sure tastes good if you do. Last week, the farmers market was bursting with apples of all kinds and citrus of all kinds, including oranges, kumquats, grapefruit and -- my personal favorite -- blood oranges. I brought home a bag of each to snack on through the week. The apples are sweet and crunchy. The citrus is tart an juicy. There's no need to choose between them -- you need some of each!

This time of year, I love to add chopped up apples to salads. In our cool but not cold, warm but not hot, Southern California spring climate, big, meal-sized salads are really satisfying for lunch or dinner. I love adding chopped fruit and nuts to them to make them even more substantial and filling. The apples that dominate at the farmers market right now are called Pink Ladies -- even the name is delicious! -- and they are crisp and sweet. These are perfect in a salad along with some walnuts, chopped celery and leafy greens -- all of these items can be found at the farmers market within just a few yards of each other.  You can whip up a complimentary dressing using walnut oil and cider vinegar to add layers of nutty fruitiness to the flavors.

The fabulous citrus available this time of year brightens the longer days with intense flavor and color. Blood oranges, with their ruby colored fruit and juice, look at wonderful as they taste. The juice is refreshing to drink when fresh squeezed or it can be reduced down to a light glaze on the stovetop to use as a sauce on poultry or even ice cream! Kumquats are my personal favorite. This time of year I carry around a small bag of kumquats wherever I go and pop them in my mouth whole for a juicy, zingy snack. The peels are so thin and have so much flavor, it's like eating candy with an edible wrapper. I can easily eat a dozen in a brief amount of time. Grapefruits are also abundant at this time of year and add another dimension to the fruit bowl. You can sprinkle some sugar on the cut side of a halved grapefruit and then stick it under the broiler for a minute or two until the sugar carmelizes into a sweet and cruchy crust on the fruit.

In addition to apples and citrus, the market is bursting with other produce, such as asparagus, broccoli, eggplant and green beans, as well as nuts, cheeses, oils and vinegars. There is a week's worth of groceries right at your fingertips on Tuesday evenings from 3 - 7 p.m. on Avenue 56, between Figueroa and Marmion Way, right next to the Gold Line station. Parking in the lot is FREE after 4 p.m., or save some gas money and take the train or a bus.

See you there!
ML

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 3/11/08

The market was hopping last week due to the warm weather, long days and – apparently – big appetites for all the new produce.

I scored a large bag of goodies – all of it organic – for what I thought was a great bargain. This week, my acquisitions included:

• 2 bunches of asparagus (both the thick and think versions were available – I chose thick, which are better for grilling).
• 1 bunch of carrots (tops on –the greens go into my compost bin)
• 3 cucumbers
• 3 zucchini
• 3 small eggplant
• 1 bunch of celery
• 3 Gala apples (Fuji were also available)
• 1 gorgeous Asian pear
• 1 plump pink grapefruit

All of the above were organic and all of it cost me a grand total of $15. As of today, we’ve eaten about half of it (there are 2 adults in my house, no kids). The asparagus and eggplant went on the grill (to go on a bed of cous cous from Trader Joes for a quick dinner ready in about 10 minutes). The zucchini was grated and mixed into pasta sauce. The celery was chopped up to add crunch to egg salad and tuna salad. I have some leftover to put into soup, along with some of the carrots. The apples, pear and grapefruit have been great just for snacking throughout the day, when my sweet tooth hits.

This is only the beginning of what promises to be a great year for locally grown fruits and veggies! All of the rains we endured over the winter will really begin to pay off now.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers Market

Hi, everybody! It's been a long time since I've written in.... I got very busy with work (I'm sure many of you can relate) and then I was out of town for a bit. But now I'm back. The weather is gorgeous and as of this weekend, the days are even longer. That means that it's still light out at the market in the evenings, up until almost 7, so it's easy to get there after work and you can actually see the produce you are selecting.

And there are so many good things to buy right now! Citrus, of course, is king this time of year. The lemons, oranges, tangerines, tangelos and grapefruit are abundant, juicy and delicious and packed with vitamin C. Other good things to indulge in right now are eggplants, broccoli and asparagus.

Here's a fantastic and simple way to eat farm fresh, spring asparagus... Snap off the hard ends and simply boil or steam it until is is bright green and still crisp (maybe 5 minutes, if it's thin), then just toss it with a little bit of butter, a squeeze of lemon juice (see citrus, above) and salt and pepper. The whole operation takes about 10 minutes and this is a nice side dish with any kind of protein you like or maybe just for a healthy snack or even with an egg and toast for breakfast (and don't forget the fresh squeezed orange juice!). Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and a great time to get in a few servings of fruits and vegetables.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML

Highland Park Booksigning February 9

Join in with proud Highland Park community members to celebrate the publication of "Highland Park" at La Casa Blue, 5930 York Blvd. (90042), on February 9, 2008 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM.  Author Charles J. (Charlie) Fisher will be selling and signing copoes of his book "Highland Park".

The new book captures the history of Highland Park, and is part of Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America" series.  Charlie Fisher, community leader, professional historian, and local author compiled the pictorial history of Highland Park's fascinating past.

Situated between Los Angeles and Pasadena, and the first town to be annexed by Los Angeles, Highland Park boasts a history of over 100 years.

Purchase Charlie's book online from Arcadia Publishing here

Don't Forget To Vote - February 5!

Are you an "independent" voter, who selected "decline to state" when you registered to vote and are thus unaffiliated with any political party?

California currently has a "modified" closed primary system which took effect on January 1, 2001. A "modified" closed primary system permits unaffiliated ("decline to state") voters to participate in a primary election if the individual political party has authorized it for the particular election and has duly notified the Secretary of State.

Today, February 5, in California, both the Democratic and the American Independent Party are allowing "cross-over" voting.

Simply ask the pollworker for a Democractic or American Indepedent ballot, and mark the party name as indicated at the top of the ballot.  (Democratic ballot used as sample.)

More information:

California Democratic Party

American Independent Party

California Secretary of State

Highland Park: A Photo Collection

Waltarrr, creator of the local Highland Park blog, 90042 just finished an amazing project of labeling and mapping a collection of 500 Highland Park Photos.  Do take a look:  http://highlandpark.wordpress.com/2008/01/24/it-is-finished/

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 1/8/08

Well, after several weeks “off”, due to holidays and weather, the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer’s Market was back in action on Tuesday afternoon. It was a quiet day at the market, without as many vendors as usual, but it was nice to have it back. I am getting my new year started off on the right foot by stocking my kitchen with healthy and tasty foods.

At this time of year, citrus abounds at the market. Oranges and grapefruits overflow the boxes placed on the tables. I love freshly squeezed juice and citrus is so easy to do whether you have a fancy, electric juicer or an old-fashioned, hand-operated one like mine (inherited from a grandparent and still in great working order!). My favorite thing to do is mix up whatever citrus juices I have for a custom-made blend that is always unique and refreshing. I often mix oranges, grapefruit and even throw in some lemon. The ratio doesn’t matter, except for personal preference. If it’s too tart, a little bit of honey will smooth it out. And guess what? Honey is also available at the market!

I was tempted into buying a three-pack of strawberries at the market this week. I know that I should know better. To be honest, they were not the best strawberries I’ve had and nothing like the fabulous ones we get in summer. They were beautiful red on the outside, and even had a nice fragrance, but were sadly white and hard when cut into. Nevertheless, they are not wasted! I cleaned and chopped them up, then put them in the freezer. Now, in the mornings, I blend up smoothies with the frozen berries, some fresh squeezed citrus juice and whatever else I have on hand, whether it be a banana, yogurt, soy milk or even – why not? – a little vanilla ice cream. Not a bad start for a new day and a new year.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML

Mt. Washington

Mount Washington, which was once a retreat for the rich and famous, is also steeped in history. San Rafael Avenue is notable for its turn of the century homes, while the Mount Washington Hotel, now the world headquarters for the Self Realization Fellowship, was once known as a favorite destination for silent film stars and other celebrities of the day. The Southwest Museum is a familiar hillside landmark, while Elyria Park and Rainbow Canyon are local parks owned by the Santa Monica Conservancy.

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 12/17/07

Hello Highland Park!

Unfortunately, the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers Market was rained out last week, so nothing to report. I'm very glad that we all got some much needed rain and started to build up the snow pack in the mountains. The farmers will need the water to irrigate their crops so they can continue to bring fresh, nutritious and beautiful produce to market for all of us.

Today is Christmas Eve. I wish all of you and your families a happy holiday and bright, fun, healthy new year!!

I'll resume market reports in January when the market is back and I'll need to cook some healthy meals full of fresh fruits and vegetables to battle the aftermath of the holiday indulgences.

See you soon,
Maggie

NELA Flickr Groups

There are several Northeast Los Angeles groups on http://www.Flickr.com   If you love taking photos of the local community, you might want to consider joining Flickr and sharing your photos, too.

Highland Park:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/highlandparkla/

Highland Park, Eagle Rock and Pasadena:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/highlandpark/

Mt. Washington: http://www.flickr.com/groups/mt_washington_90065/

Glassell Park:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/glassellpark/

The Arroyo Seco:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/85187525@N00/

Los Angeles River:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/lariver/

El Sereno:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/elsereno/

Greater L.A. area:

MetroRiderLA:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/metroriderla/

MetroBlogging L.A.:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/mb_la/

Los Angeles Grafitti:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/losangelesgraffiti/

Los Angeles Street Art:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/losangelesstreetart/

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 12/4/07

This year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I’ve decided to avoid the mall at all costs. All of my holiday shopping, what little I do, will be done at small, independent shops, hopefully right in my neighborhood (who can afford to buy gifts if you have to spend your money on gas driving all over town?). Luckily for me, Highland Park and other nearby neighborhoods have an abundance of resources for a discriminating shopper.

My very first shopping spree of the season took place at the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers Market last week at Uncle Berch’s stand. They have my favorite salad dressing and marinade ingredient in the world – avocado oil blended with a touch of blood orange. It is deliciously fragrant and elegant. It happens to be very healthy, too – all that mono-unsaturated fat to keep your cholesterol in check. Although I’ve been buying it for myself all year, now is the perfect time to share this treasure with those I love. I bought half a dozen bottles to spread around to members of my family. Uncle Berch’s has an amazing variety of gourmet products that make ideal gifts for anyone on your list who likes to eat (and really, who doesn’t?). The avocado oil comes blended with other flavors such as key lime and toasted garlic. There is a variety of gorgeous olive oils as well as balsamic vinegars of different ages and with different flavorings, such as berries. There are also homemade jams in range of unusual and delicious flavors, which vary weekly. A small collection of oil, vinegar and jam, all placed together in a pretty basket or box, tied up with a bow makes a beautiful gift.

If you want to do an even more elaborate gift basket, consider adding some dried fruits and nuts from the stand right next to Uncle Berch’s. At this time of year, when everyone is inundated with chocolates and cookies, a basket full of healthy and tasty treats is most welcome.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 11/20/07

Last week, we (my husband and I) hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house for the first time ever. And we survived it! We had nine people for dinner, including siblings from both sides and their respective families.

The group includes: a quasi-vegetarian, a more serious vegetarian, a bunch of carnivores, a couple of picky kids and someone who doesn’t like onions. My hub did a great job with the turkey. There was a sausage stuffing and a mushroom stuffing, a “real” gravy and a vegetarian gravy (surprisingly delicious, made with a roux and homemade roasted vegetable stock). We did some zucchini on the grill at the last minute, while the roasted sweet potato fries were coming out of the oven and the white potatoes (well, Yukon gold) were being mashed. The salad was dressed (romaine, pears, walnuts and gorgonzola – what’s better than that???) and everything pretty much hit the table all at the same time. Remarkably lucky for our first try at this dinner, but we had lots of help in the kitchen.

The stand-out dish of the entire meal was the mashed potatoes with a pear puree. Everyone loved it, no matter what the individual’s dietary preference or habit. The pear puree was made the day before and kept in the fridge, to be heated slightly in the microwave and then swirled into the potatoes just before serving. The best part? Every ingredient came from the farmers market – the potatoes, the turnips (optional, in my opinion), the pears, the lemon, even the honey! I think that is the reason it tasted so good. The recipe can be found here, on the Epicurious website:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/231102

We will definitely be making these potatoes again and again through the chilly winter months. An added bonus: the pears make the house smell delicious when they are roasting.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML

Old L.A. (HP) Farmer's Market Report

It’s always a little sad when it starts getting dark so early this time of year, but it makes me crave warm, comforting, homemade food… and that means shopping at the farmer’s market for all the right ingredients.

This week I’m on an eggplant kick. I picked up some darling “baby” eggplants at the market. They are about the size of a small orange, beautiful dark, smooth skins and very plump. Bigger eggplants can occasionally get bitter, but there was no danger of that with these cuties, and they had very few seeds (which can also lead to bitterness).

We ate some that very evening on top of a homemade pizza (whipping up a pizza is so easy to do with dough, sauce and cheese from Trader Joe’s – just top with your favorite farmers market finds that week).

Afterwards, I found a very clever idea for eggplant on www.chowhound.com -- lightly breading and cooking in your waffle iron! If you have kids, this may be a new way to get them to eat veggies. No joke; check out this link (and I’m going to try it for dinner tonight myself):

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/446954

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML

Old L.A. (HP) Farmer's Market Report

For those of you who may have missed my farmers' market report, please accept my apologies and know that I have missed them, too! My fridge is empty and the cupboards are bare. I've had to survive on pantry staples and frozen entrees for the past couple of weeks.

Sadly, I've not been able to make it to the market recently due to working later than usual, and being away makes me appreciate it all the more. I can hardly bring myself to buy produce from the supermarket -- the prices are higher but the quality is not!

I can't wait to get back to the market this week to stock up on apples, pears, broccoli and greens, the remaining summer tomatoes and zucchini. I'm really looking forward to seeing squashes and other cool season favorites. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Now that there's a distinct chill in the air (are the Santa Ana winds finally behind us?), I can't wait to make soups and stews and turn the oven back on for roasting. Just about everything tastes great roasted (with a little olive oil and seasoning, nothing could be easier or more satisfying)!

So I found out that it's true what they say, absense does make the heart grow fonder, and I'm looking forward to shopping tomorrow.

The Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers Marktet is located on Aveune 58, between Figueroa and the Meridian Way, next to the Gold Line station. There is free parking in the adjacent parking lot after 4 p.m.
See you there!
ML

Halloween Night At Rock Rose

Halloween Night at The Rock Rose Gallery

for a special fundraiser

With Brandon Mayer and Special Guests

The Pretentious Pidgins

Costume Contest

Doors open at 8PM

Food, Beer & Wine Cash Bar

4108 N. Figueroa Street, Highland Park 323-222-4740

Donation:  $10 for 2 guests

New NELA Blog Debuts

Check out a new blog  braging about NELA to the rest of the world. It's called YORK BLVD.  http://yorkblvd.com/

One thing for sure, you can't go wrong with the Pub Crawl recommendations!  http://yorkblvd.com/2007/10/22/highland-park-pub-crawl/

Los Angeles Times Discovers Highland Park

The eccentric neighborhood of Highland Park sits in a compact valley stretching between downtown L.A. and Pasadena, along the Arroyo Seco.

http://www.calendarlive.com/printedition/calendar/cl-gd-go25oct25,0,5929446.story?coll=cl-calendar

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report

his is what I love about the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmers Market – not having to cook dinner! Well, I do love to cook, but some days, it’s just not going to happen. Just because I don’t want to cook doesn’t mean I don’t want to eat something tasty and satisfying. That’s where the market comes in, conveniently scheduled around dinner-time.

This week I picked up tamales – chile / jack cheese for me and chicken and pork for my husband. Along with a green salad (greens from the market, of course), they made a great, light supper and took no time at all to prepare (just unwrap the corn husks). Other good options for dinner on the go are tacos and roasted chickens. There are still stone fruits to be found, even at this time of year. Try slicing some fresh peaches or nectarines on top of vanilla ice cream for a (relatively) healthy finale to your quick and easy dinner.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report

More new vendors at the market this week: now we have kettle corn!

Now that fall is here, I am in the mood for soup. Each week I visit the market, I am on the hunt for soup ingredients. This week it is potatoes and leeks procured from the market. I make the soup in my slow cooker and let it simmer all day while I work, run errands and otherwise ignore it until it’s ready to puree with a stick blender and then eat. It’s smooth, creamy and satisfying on these days that are getting shorter and cooler in the evenings.

I am also making an attempt to try at least one new thing every week, so this time I bought persimmons, which I admit to never having eaten before… I am not sure what to do with them, but I did find these recipes on the web:

http://www.seasonalchef.com/persimmonrecipes.htm

If any of you have favorite recipes or ways of eating fresh persimmons, please let me know! I could use some help.

I am also trying to put into practice the old adage “An apple a day….” I’m stocking up each week and trying to eat a whole apple every single day, as a snack or as part of a meal, chopped up in a salad or thinly sliced on a grilled cheese sandwich. There are several varieties to choose from; they are super portable and last all week long in the fruit bowl.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. There is FREE PARKING after 4 p.m. in the lot adjacent to the market.

See you there. ML

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 9/11/07

What a nice surprise to go to the market last week and finally find it in its new location! There are now two spokes emanating from the corner of Marmion Way and Avenue 58. One leg runs along Marmion Way, alongside the Gold Line tracks. This is the “non-certified” section of the market with crafts and goods such as jewelry, clothing, soaps, etc. The other leg runs from Marmion Way to Figueroa, along Avenue 58. This is the “certified” section of the market, with fresh produce, plants available for sale and prepared foods such as tamales and roasted chickens. The market is now nicely visible from both the Gold Line station and from the main drag of Figueroa Blvd. Maybe this will encourage new visitors to check out the market and become regular shoppers!

Now that the weather is getting cooler – finally – I’m ready to turn on my oven again and make some hearty comfort foods. I stocked up on healthy staples such as fresh broccoli, Peruvian purple potatoes, green beans, various onions – all of these are great for roasting with a little olive oil and sea salt. This time of year, I love a nice roasted vegetable warm salad and can make a meal out of that alone, with a nice Asian pear (from the market, of course) for dessert.

The market will now be found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. on Avenue 58 and Marmion Way, between the Gold Line station and Figueroa Blvd. In Seth’s words: “Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.”

Oh, and let’s see if we can avoid any more accidents involving the Gold Line…. Those lights and guard rails are there for a reason. Please be careful!

See you there. ML

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 9/11/07

I was surprised once again to find the Farmer’s Market in its “old” location last week. I wonder if it had anything to do with the sad collision between the Gold Line and a truck very near that location…..?

The market was very quiet last week, but it was the perfect opportunity to grab some delicious, crisp Gala apples and a jar of sage honey with which to celebrate Rosh Hashanah the following evening. Of course, I couldn’t resist scooping up a few more jujubes – my new favorite late summer fruit and a great companion to the apples to launch a sweet new year!

Is this the week the market will finally be in its new location on Avenue 58? The anticipation is building….Stop by tomorrow afternoon and we’ll find out together.

ML

Garvanza ICO: Update

Last week at City Hall, Garvanza residents had another sweep of votes, from the PLUM committee, for approval of the Garvanza ICO. We are now going forward to the city council, which will be scheduled  shortly. CM Huizar has championed for our community at a much needed time. We nearly had an illegal demolition just last week over a property still in mitigation with the community. Luckily we were able to stop such an act and work to continue to resolve this issue. We are very happy with our progress so far!

Posted on behalf of:  Tina Gulotta-Miller
Garvanza Improvement Association

Good Shepherd Lutheran School

Good Shepherd Lutheran School has limited enrollment for Pre-K & Kindergarten. Find out what everyone is talking about! Check out the newly remodeled PreK classroom. Find out why lots of parents are clammoring to get into Good Shepherd Lutheran School.

Good Shepherd Lutheran School
6338 North Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90042
323-255-2786
Website: goodshepherdla.org

Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festival

Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festivall is back for the 2nd year. Join the Old L.A. Farmers Market in Highland Park for a scary night on the town. Teusday, Oct. 30 from 3-8 pm at North Figueroa & Ave. 58.
We Tell Stories will have three performances, Puppets & Players Little Theater will be performing also.

The Haunted House will scare you. definately not for younger kids. Enjoy trick or treating, face painting, a costume contest and a raffle.

Enjoy Hot & Prepared Foods, Fresh Produce and arts & crafts.

Event is free and open to all.

Old L.A. Farmers Market is every Tuesdays from 3-8 pm.

40th Anniversary - Summer of Love Celebration at Heritage Square

Heritage Square Museum remembers a watershed year in recent history when Flower Power was in full  bloom, hippies hung out on the Sunset Strip, and there was a Love-In in Griffith Park. The "happening" is Saturday August 25th from 4:00 until 7:00 PM.

Tickets for this fundraising event are $25 per person. There will be food, face painting, dance contests, hippie "costume" contests, give-aways, and of course, music. K-EARTH-101 radio will be there,  broadcasting all the "oldies", while special musical guest "The Ravelers" put their own spin on the 60s.

40 years ago, young people converged on Los Angeles and San Francisco in a social experiment that  changed society. Victorian houses were a backdrop for the activities and events of that era. At that time, no one was interested in Victorian architecture--it was not considered chic or desirable, but it provided cheap housing for the hippies, who embraced its uniqueness as part of their counterculture ideals.

From the Monterey Pop Festival, the publication of Rolling Stone Magazine, the first airing of Laugh-In, to the Vietnam and 6-Day Wars, 1967 was a year that saw strangely diverse events. Against a backdrop of war protests and rock and roll music, the youth of America tried to maintain a vision of free-spirited idealism. Although the Summer of Love marked both a beginning and an end, it is remembered as a milestone of hippie culture. Forty years later, the hippies have become the "Establishment" and the Summer of Love a distant memory of youthful idealism. There are many parallels between then and now. Get out your love beads and be sure to wear some flowers in your hair!

Heritage Square Museum
3800 Homer Street , Los Angeles,90031

Admission: $25.00
For more information call: 323-225-2700 ext. 224
http://www.heritagesquare.org

PROPOSED GARVANZA INTERIM COUNTROL ORDINANCE (ICO)

PROPOSED GARVANZA INTERIM COUNTROL ORDINANCE (ICO)
CASE NO. CPC 2007-3447-ICO
ENV-2007-3460-CE
COUNCIL DISTRICT NOs. 14, 1
NORTHEAST PLAN AREA

On August 23, 2007, the City Planning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing regarding the proposed Garvanza Interim Control Ordinance (ICO).

CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
Date: Thursday, August 23, 2007
Time: after 1:00 p.m.
Place: Van Nuys City Hall
Council Chambers, 2nd Floor
14410 Sylvan Street
Los Angeles, CA 91401

PROJECT LOCATION
The proposed Garvanza ICO is generally bounded by Pasadena City limits to the north; Metro right-of-way bridge to the south; Eastside of Avenue 66 to the east; and Eastside of Figueroa proceeding to the  Westside of Avenue 63 at York to the west.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The establishment of an Interim Control Ordinance (ICO) to temporarily prohibit the issuance of building and demolition permits for the erection, construction, demolition, addition to or alteration of any  building or structure located in the Garvanza neighborhood. The ICO shall include an Urgency Clause  making it effective upon publication and shall run for one year with two six month extensions by Council Resolution or until the adoption of appropriate land use regulatory controls.

Rogelio Rodriguez
Field Deputy

First Council District
Office of Councilmember Ed P. Reyes
163 South Avenue 24, 202
Los Angeles, CA 90031

213 485 0763 Of
213 485 8908 Fx

Old L.A. (HP) Farmer's Market Report

This week at the farmer’s market, I picked up my usual favorites: avocados (back at the market in abundance!), tomatoes, fresh beans, huge bunches of scallions and cilantro, and tree-ripened summer stone fruits. In addition to the usuals (fragrant tangerines, peaches and pluots) I discovered an entirely new fruit that I’d never heard of before. It’s called sapote and is apparently popular in South America. I turns out that parts of Florida and California provide excellent growing conditions for this fruit. This type is a white sapote (the flesh inside is white, but the skin outside – which is thin and perfectly edible – is bright green, mellowing to yellow as it ripens).

The vendor (who also had delicious avocados, by the way), described the fruit as something like a cross between a pear and an avocado. I bought the fruit while it was still hard, but let it ripen over several days. It is ready when it gives slightly to pressure from your finger, just like avocados and pears. Others describe the taste as custardy, creamy, buttery and silky, like a cross between a banana and a peach. It does indeed have a very smooth, creamy texture. The flavor is very, very mild, with a hint of pear. It is delicious with a little squeeze of lemon or lime – the acid is a nice contrast to the richness of the fruit.

It is not easy to find recipes for sapote. Epicurious (my usual go-to website for recipes) comes up short. But… Google to the rescue. Here is a paraphrase of a recipe for a sapote shake, to help you cool off this summer:

A cup of sapote, peeled and seeded (the fruit has very few seeds)
A cup of yogurt (plain or vanilla would be good)
3 T of honey
½ cup of milk
dash of ground cinammon
cracked ice (to taste)

Put all in the blender and blend until smooth – drink immediately.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. near the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way, between Avenues 57 & 58 (one block west of Figueroa). In Seth’s words: “Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.”

See you there. ML

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report 7/31/07

It’s Tuesday evening and, as per my usual habit, I hit the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer’s Market to stock up on fresh produce for the week’s lunches and dinners. Although some vendors are m.i.a. this week, there is a new one worth noting – a student group from Pierce College in the San Fernando Valley has been growing pesticide-free herbs and veggies on campus and they have brought them here to share with us. I score some plump, juicy plum tomatoes from them. They are also selling fresh basil (which goes oh, so well with the tomatoes!) and the largest summer squash and zucchini I’ve ever seen. Judge for yourself in this photo.

The squash are not the only overgrown edibles at the market this week. The strawberries are abundant and for $5.00 we get a three-pack of the biggest, reddest, most fragrant berries I’ve seen all year. They will make a perfect strawberry shortcake with some freshly whipped cream and a bit of fresh mint from the garden. There are also several kinds of delicious grapes to add to the fruit bowl. High in iron and antioxidants, they make a tasty and healthy treat on a hot summer day. Try freezing the grapes and eating them while still frozen for a refreshing antidote to the blazing summer temperatures. Cool agua frescas are another way to chill out and hydrate while strolling through the market.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. near the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way, between Avenues 57 & 58 (one block west of Figueroa). In Seth’s words: “Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.”

See you there. ML

Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer's Market Report

On my weekly visit to the Old L.A. (Highland Park) Farmer’s Market, I get to pick up delicious, fresh produce to satisfy physical needs and visit with friends and neighbors to satisfy social needs, too! I recruit my friend Kim as a shopping buddy and we hit the market, empty canvas bags in hand, ready to be filled. A neighbor from my very own Highland Park street – Al Strange – is manning a community table laden with flyers and announcements for local events and activities. Greetings and chitchat duly exchanged and we are off to procure this week’s goodies.

Kim scores on tree-ripened, fragrant peaches the size of softballs. These would be ideal in a cobbler – the official dessert of summer. Even better, try a peach-strawberry cobbler, such as this recipe from epicurious.com. You can use all fruit from the market (strawberries are still going strong, but who knows for how much longer?):

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/101825

The bounty of stone fruits is compelling, especially with all the samples available to taste, but this week is all about the avocados for me. I scoop up several medium-sized Haas for $1 each (another vendor has larger ones for $1.50 each) and 3 lbs of vine-ripened, scarlet colored tomatoes that are near bursting with juice. I have plans for both guacamole and a quick, fresh tomato sauce to use these up (with garlic and onion from the market, natch), but I’ll set aside one or two of each for salads with fresh spinach. The finishing touch for the salad is a light vinaigrette made with blood orange scented avocado oil, purchased at –where else? – the farmer’s market. The oil is a splurge at $12 for a bottle, but in addition to its great taste (you can taste before you buy at the market!), it is a mono-unsaturated fat that is good for your heart. Who can put a price on good health?

Need some protein to balance out all the rabbit food? The roasted chickens are back at the market this week. Buy a whole one or two to take home and give your oven a rest during these hot summer evenings.

The market is found every Tuesday from 3- 8 p.m. near the Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way, between Avenues 57 & 58 (one block west of Figueroa). In Seth’s words: “Please stop by the market for fresh, field-ripened, high quality produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and other community members.”

See you there. ML

another way to see the coyote

Originally posted by Shauna Turner (aka the Tipi Lady on Marmion) on Nela List

I have noted a number of 'coyote sighting' posts over the past couple of months. Seemed appropriate,  given my place in the Mt Washington community to share this American Indian elder's view 'seeing  coyote'.

Shauna Turner (aka the Tipi Lady on Marmion)

Elder's Meditation of the Day - July 25

"People need to wake up. They can't hear God's voice if they're asleep."  --Vernon Cooper, LUMBEE

Black Elk, a Sioux, talks about the hoop of many hoops. He says that above the people is a hoop, a  conscience, the total belief of the people. If the hoop is sick, meaning dysfunctional, co-dependent, a lot of alcoholism, family abuse, violence, racism and sexual abuse, the people can get used to this and think this is normal. In other words, the people are asleep. If we have left the spiritual way of life, the people are asleep. If we are giving our power to another entity, the people are asleep. In most tribes, there are Coyote