Arlington Heights Coffee Stroll THIS SATURDAY, Frightful and Haunted Halloween events, Historical Archives Bazaar - and more October Happenings!
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1). WAHA's COFFEE STROLL IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
Saturday, October 18
3-5:30 p.m.
Meet at the Eureka Cafe, 4053 West Washington Blvd. (three blocks east of Crenshaw Boulevard)
Please join WAHA on a Stroll through Arlington Heights, which is located between Arlington Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard, north of the Santa Monica Freeway to Pico Boulevard.
Arlington Heights encompasses an area of Historic West Adams that was, at the turn of the 20th century, outside of the Los Angeles city limits. The Arlington Heights Township was perched atop a perfectly level mesa that offered, according to real estate promoters of the time, pure water, perfection of climate, rich loamy soil, easy access from the heart of the city ("a twenty minute ride to the Plaza") and magnificent views "from Catalina Island to San Jacinto Peak and down again over the broad acres, orchards and vineyards, of fair Los Angeles Valley to the blue waves of the Pacific Ocean beyond the coast of Santa Monica."
As you walk through these streets, you'll discover a variety of architectural styles, from Craftsman to Spanish and Art Deco, to Atomic Age Googie. You'll see a church designed by famed architect John C. Austin, a school building designed by Roland E. Coate, and a residence that was home to Fred E. Pierce, co-owner of Pierce Bros. Mortuary. And you'll learn about a Catholic-run military academy whose most famous former student was the actor Gregory Peck.
Electric railways and then "flivers" (autos) played an important role in how Arlington Heights was settled. Washington Boulevard was laid out as Los Angeles's first major "Grand Avenue to the Sea." It was 100 feet wide, and accommodated trolleys along with, at first, carriages, and later, cars. On WAHA's Stroll through the neighborhood, you'll see a home owned by the president of the Pacific Electric Railway, and another owned by the proprietor of an automobile dealership for luxury "REOs," the high-end brand designed by Ransom Eli Olds, inventor of the Oldsmobile.
The Espresso "cart" will be handled a little bit differently from previous WAHA Strolls. The coffee/espresso drinks are still on the house, but will be served up by Eureka Cafe, West Adams' newest eatery. Eureka will also be selling refreshments off its menu (cash only, please). Neighborhood homes and buildings can only be viewed from the outside -- no open houses.
The Stroll is from 3 to 5:30 p.m. We will have a walking tour brochure and map available for you at Eureka Cafe. Say hello to neighbors, meet new friends, bring out your (leashed) dogs for a walk, and get a close-up look at wonderful Arlington Heights.
2). AUGUST WILSON'S 'TWO TRAINS RUNNING'
Now through November 9
Nate Holden Performing Arts CenterNate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 Washington Blvd. (Mid City)
Ebony Repertory Theatre presents "Two Trains Running" as its inaugural production.
Winner of the New York Drama Critics' Circle Best Play Award and from the mind of one of America 's most important dramatists, August Wilson's "Two Trains Running" reveals a world where money is short and justice an afterthought. Set in 1969 in Pittsburgh 's Hill District, "Two Trains Running" is one of Wilson's most overtly political and often humorous plays. This is the 1960s chapter of the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright's century cycle chronicling the lives of ordinary African Americans in the 20th century.
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays 8:00 p.m. Saturday Matinees at 2:00 p.m.
Sundays Matinees at 3:00 p.m.
Tickets:
$50 Center Orchestra
$45 Side Orchestra
$35 Mezzanine
Discounts
20% off full priced ticket for seniors, groups of 15 or more, current entertainment union card members (AEA, AFTRA, DGA, SAG, WGA).
Better yet: Half price tickets are available through Goldstar.
For Goldstar tickets, log onto:
Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT), a newly formed Equity Company, is the resident company and operator of the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, under the leadership of Founder/ Producer Wren T. Brown and Artistic Director Israel Hicks. ERT's commitment is to bring diverse, high standard, professional performing arts to the Mid-City community, as well as the greater Los Angeles area, to engender business development along the Washington Boulevard corridor, and to make the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center Los Angeles' newest cultural destination! Learn more at www.ebonyrep.org or call 323-964-9768.
3). LOS ANGELES ARCHIVES BAZAAR
Saturday, October 25
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free admission
USC Davidson Conference Center, 3415 S. Figueroa St. (at Jefferson Blvd., University Park)
Southern California history comes alive in exhibits by 65 historical collections and archives -- including L.A.-area universities, libraries, and community organizations. Browse rare collections, consult with experts, and learn about family genealogy, online research tools, preserving your own history, and numerous other topics. Presented by L.A. as Subject, the bazaar offers a wealth of resources for exploring Los Angeles history. L.A. as Subject -- an association of archives and collections hosted by the USC Libraries -- is dedicated to improving the visibility, access, and preservation of archives and documenting the rich history of the Los Angeles region. Educational programs, discussions about
history with local authors, and documentary films about the hidden stories of Los Angeles neighborhoods are scheduled throughout the day. Parking is available for $8 at USC Parking Structure D next to the Davidson Center. Enter campus via Gate 4.
4). WAHA's Frightful Halloween Fest
Sunday, October 26
3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Gramercy Park
(Located between Adams Boulevard and 24th Street, west of Gramercy Place, in a small, private park)
Hear ye, all you little ghosts and goblins! And ghoulish grown-ups. Come one, come all, to the 2008 thoroughly frightful and fabulously fun West Adams Halloween Festival!
Just like previous years' events, this year's Halloween Fest will be held in Gramercy Park on the Sunday just before Halloween. There will be face painting, fun games to play, sweets to eat, a bouncer (of course!), and we'll be grilling up those famous Wa-Hot Dogs.
And, for kids and kids-at-heart, we'll have a costume contest.
We are asking people to bring a dish to share - make it as ghastly as you wish! No fingers in the finger food, please.
So, put on your Halloween best, and come on down! The festival promises to be a fun time for all ages! For further information, contact Karen Woodward, karen.woodward@sdma.com.
(Editor's Note: Some of you may have received a WAHA newsletter indicating this event is cancelled. Well, oops! Not true. Please share this info with friends and family.)
5). MORE HALLOWEEN - HAUNTED SOUTH SEAS HOUSE
Friday, October 31
7 to 9 p.m.
2301 West 24th Street (at Arlington)
The scary folks at the Haunted South House are planning an evening of spooks, thrills and lots of fun for the entire family, with games and ghoulishly good surprises.
They've slated a harvest festival in the park and a haunted house inside the residence. BUT they do need your help with donations of flame-resistent decorations (new fire department regulations mean new décor for the haunted house), candy, etc. Donna Jones of West Adams Avenues is trying to coordinate that effort. Please contact her at kidogo@aol.com or the folks at South Seas House directly at southseashouse@yahoo.com.
6). MILLION DOLLAR SPOOKTACULAR!
A Halloween/Day of the Dead Celebration Benefitting the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation October 31 to November 1 Million Dollar Theater, 307 S. Broadway at Third
Enjoy Halloween and support a good cause at L.A.'s first Movie Palace. On Stage: George the Giant along with a (g)host of other characters, Halloween cartoons and shorts. On screen: Night of the Living Dead (Friday, October 31) and Re-Animator (Saturday, November 1)
Even if you've seen them, you haven't seen them like this, on a giant screen, in a 90-year-old theater, in the dark, with strangers...The theater will be terrifyingly transformed -- dramatic lighting, special effects, and surprise appearances by ghosts, skeletons, ghouls, and other surprises too horrible to mention!
Shows begin at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person.
Also, for the little goblins, the Family Matinee: Costume Contest and Parade, Stage Show, Cartoons and Shorts, on Saturday, November 1 at 3 p.m. Adults $5, Children under 12, $2.
Help protect and sustain historic theaters. For more information and tickets, go to www.LAHTF.org
People will be dying to get in...
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.