WAHA E-News 5-22-2009

WAHA's Annual Preservation Meeting, PLUS Spring Architecture Tour, Costumes Galore, Vintage Song Stylings, Marathon Monday – SO MUCH TO DO!

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1). WAHA's ANNUAL PRESERVATION MEETING

Sunday, May 31 11 a.m. brunch * Noon program Heritage Square Museum, 3800 Homer St. (Avenue 43 exit on the 110 Freeway, Highland Park)


Please join WAHA at its annual Preservation Meeting, an event held in celebration of National Preservation Month. This year WAHA is taking a field trip to Heritage Square Museum in conjunction with the museum's exhibit, "Lost To Progress: the Modernization of Los Angeles." The exhibit focuses on three representative neighborhoods: Chinatown, Bunker Hill, and Palo Verde (Chavez Ravine), and runs through June 28. At WAHA's event, people will have an opportunity to view the exhibit, listen to a brief yet informative presentation about the subject, and enjoy brunch provided by WAHA. WAHA will also present the Martin Eli Weil Historic Preservation Award to a noteworthy recipient. All are invited, and the event is free.


(WAHA members only please note: The general membership meeting and conversation previously slated to take place during our Preservation Celebration has been re-scheduled for Monday evening, June 8 at 7 p.m. at the Eureka Cafe, 4053 West Washington Blvd. Details to follow. The Annual Preservation Meeti ng at Heritage Square will be the formal presentation described above.)



2). LANDMARKS OF WEST ADAMS

Saturday, June 6
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Early Bird pricing until May 31; tickets also sold day of tour until 1 p.m.


Tour Los Angeles's ONLY Greene & Greene residence, plus a half dozen other historic homes and buildings!


WAHA celebrates its quarter century of historic preservation by opening the doors to some of West Adams' diverse historic treasures, ranging from small private homes, impressive manses, ornate religious institutions, and one of West Adams' best known estates, the Guasti Villa.


Among the tour highlights is a visit to the Lucy Wheeler House, designed in 1905 by architects Greene & Greene. Please join fellow architecture buffs for this rare opportunity to tour this private Craftsman style residence (the former home of noted restoration architect Martin Eli Weil), which has never before been opened to the public.


In addition, visitors will tour the interiors of a charming Queen Anne Victorian cottage built in 1893, an 1887 farmhouse, currently undergoing a major top-to-bottom restoration, and a unique 1911 Arts & Crafts manse, with a one-of-a-kind curving window. Doors will also open to St. John's Episcopal Cathedral, a stunning 1925 Italian Romanesque house of worship that is both a local20and national landmark (from Noon to 4 p.m.) and to the equally beautiful St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Cathedral, designed in the Byzantine/Renaissance style in the form of a crucifix (Noon to 3 p.m.)


As a special treat, visitors are invited to a buffet luncheon at the Guasti Villa/Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens (advance reservations plus an addition fee of $15 required).


Purchase tickets in advance and save money. "Landmarks of West Adams" tickets are $25 general admission, $20 WAHA members, paid in advance (by May 31st). Log onto WAHA's website, www.WestAdamsHeritage.org to pay now; we are also distributing postcards and flyers. Day of tour/pay at the door: all tickets $30.

This is a self-guided, driving tour. Tour visitors will receive tickets, a tour brochure and map at check-in/will call. We ENCOURAGE bicyclists, and have prepared a special bicycle route/map for those who'd like to tour under their own pedal power. You may drive to the tour starting point and leave your vehicle, or ride in.


We will e-mail confirmations and check-in location to tour guests who register and pay in advance, and who provide us with e-mail contact information. The last ticket will be sold at 1 p.m., and most tour properties will close promptly at 4 p.m.


Of course, we do need volunteers! (How can a WAHA tour event be complete without our won derful members and friends, after all?) We try to plan it so docents can each work half-day shifts (morning or afternoon) and still have time to tour the properties. If you are available on June 6 – or if you can lend a helping hand in advance with the myriad tasks that come with putting on a tour – please write tours@westadamsheritage.org and let us know your volunteering interest(s).


To register and for more information/check-in location, write tours@westadamsheritage.org, call 323-732-4223 or visit www.WestAdamsHeritage.org. Tour at your own pace, but please do set aside several hours to enjoy the Landmarks of West Adams.



3). COSTUMERS' SPRING CLEANING SALE (TWO EVENTS)

Saturday, May 23
2 to 5 p.m.
Private residence at 669 East Villa St. (Pasadena, off North Lake Street)


Saturday, May 30
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Western Costume Company, 11041 Vanowen St. (North Hollywood)


Some local costumers, including Social Daunce Irregulars committee members, are getting together this weekend in Pasadena to sell some of the treasures from their closets. This includes historical and fantasy clothing from any and all periods and genres; costumes and vintage; fabrics, patterns, supplies accessories and books. No early birds please.


A week later, the Western Costume Company cleans out its closets at its secon d annual Spring Cleaning Sale. Expect to find vintage clothing and costumes of the Victorian, Renaissance, and Medieval eras, along with uniforms of all types. View some of what will be offered for sale at http://www.westerncostume.com/springsale09/.



4). I REMEMBER YOU! AN EVENING OF MUSIC FROM THE 1920s AND 1930s

Sunday, May 24
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Vintage Hollywood, 4000 West Washington Blvd. (east of Crenshaw, on 10th Avenue, Arlington Heights)


Step back into 1930 at VINTAGE HOLLYWOOD and listen to LIVE music of the `20s and `30s, including Dianne Lawrence AKA Storm Taylor and Her Ex Husbands.


> 6:30 p.m. Earnie Andrews' documentary, "Blues for Central Avenue"
> 8:00 p.m. Live music from the `20s and `30s: Scintillatin' Suzy Williams, the Sultan of Stride Brad Kay, The Gorgeous Guitar Boys, Richard Halpern (Al Jolson's gorgeous brother), and Storm Taylor and Her Ex-Husbands.


Appetizers and bar available. If you RSVP you will only pay $15 at the door, otherwise it will cost $20. RSVP by e-mail to dvlknc@yahoo.com or phone 323-871-8580.


This is a fundraiser for the Neighborhood News newspaper.



5). 8TH ANNUAL CITYWIDE HPOZ CONFERENCE

Saturday, May 30
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Angelica Lutheran Church, 1345 S. Burlington Avenue, in the Pico Union HPOZ


You're invited to a day of workshops, tours, and networking to learn more about how to protect the unique character of your historic neighborhood. Open to anyone interested in the city's Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (HPOZs), or historic districts, the 2009 HPOZ conference will include:


> The first-ever HPOZ Awards Luncheon, honoring outstanding projects within the city's 24 HPOZs
> Pico Union Walking Tours, including the Alvarado Terrace National Register District
> Updates on activities in all HPOZs citywide
> Hands-on workshop on window repair
> Breakout sessions addressing:
-- Introduction to the basics of HPOZs for homeowners and residents -- Advice for new and proposed HPOZs
-- Advanced sessions for current HPOZ Board Members


This conference may be of interest to you if:
> You live in an HPOZ and want to learn more about how it works
> You're on the Board of an HPOZ (all Board Members are expected to attend)
> You're in the process of forming an HPOZ
> You're interested in forming an HPOZ to protect the historic character of your neighborhood


Cost
$20 (includes continental breakfast and lunch) . To register, please visit: laconservancy.org/neighborhoods or contact Flora Chou at (213) 430-4211 or fchou@laconservancy.org or (213) 430-4211.




6). MARATHON MONDAY

Monday, May 25


For our West Adams friends and neighbors, we'd like to remind you that not only is Monday Marathon Day – but also West Adams is nearly completely encircled by the Marathon Route and therefore street closures. Plan to stay in the neighborhood through the morning (or face traffic jams and detours.) You can see the entire route and look up expected street closure times at www.lamarathon.com.



7). SUBMIT YOUR NEWS


We welcome your contributions to the WAHA E-News and West Adams Heritage Association's monthly publication, "West Adams Matters." Please understand that we do have deadlines. Material for the print newsletter should be submitted no later than the 1st of the prior month (i.e.: April 1 for the May issue). If your event is scheduled for early in a month, we suggest you request coverage for the prior month (i.e.: May issue for a June 3 event), because it's entirely possible that not all of our members will have received their newsletter by then (we do try hard.) We reserve the right to edit submitted material. For the WAHA E-News, we prefer to only send it out once or twice a month. Please don't wait until two days before an event to let us know about it. It may not be sent out.

EXCEPTION: If you suddenly hear of an important city hearing or other public meeting that is important to West Adams, we will endeavor to send out a special bulletin.

Submit your material to Laura Meyers, editor, lauramink@aol.com.