The Editor’s Notebook contains fun things to do, important things to know, ways to get involved and events to put on your calendar.
Poetry to Ease Your Mind
The L.A. Country Department of Mental Health is sponsoring a WE RISE Poetry Contest to mark Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Children up to age 14 and young adults ages 14 to 24, are invited to enter poems that express the experience of living with mental illness, supporting family members with mental illness and related issues. Prizes and certificates will be award to winners at a WE RISE 2019 event in downtown L.A. in May. Entries must be submitted by May 1, should be 400 words or less and will be kept anonymous at the poet’s request. For more information on how to submit your poem, visit dmh.lacounty.gov/we-rise-poetry-contest
Resources for NELA Veterans
A dozen organizations that serve veterans will participate in the first-of-its kind Northeast Veterans and Family STAND DOWN, a resource fair for veterans and family of active-duty military living in Highland Park, Glassell Park, Lincoln Heights and other parts of Council District 1. The participating organizations can help veterans and military families with housing, health, employment and other issues. The fair, sponsored by CD 1 Councilmember Gil Cedillo, the El Rio De Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative, the L.A. Fire Department and the L.A. Police Department, will be held at the LAFD Frank Hotchkins Memorial Training Center / 1700 Stadium Way / Saturday, Apr. 13 / 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, email: ricardo.x.flores@lacityorg.
Pitch In to Clean Up the L.A. River
Each April for the last 30 years, the nonprofit Friends of the L.A. River (FoLAR) has organized The Great L.A. River Clean Up/La Gran Limpieza, mobilizing thousands of Angelenos to remove tons of trash that would otherwise pollute the L.A. River and Pacific Ocean. The clean up takes place over three Saturdays at three different river locations: Upper River on Saturday, April 13; Middle River on Saturday, April 20 and Lower River on Saturday, April 27. Most of the locations in and around NELA are in the Middle River area, including the Bowtie Parcel on Fletcher Drive and the Arroyo Seco Confluence. For more information and to register, visit: folar.org
Listen and Learn
The Kizh Nation, historically known as the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, is recognized by the State of California as the original tribe of the Los Angeles Basin. On Tuesday, April 16, Timothy Poyorena-Miguel, a member of the Kizh Nation, will be at the Eagle Rock Center for the Arts to tell the story of the Kizh Nation. Sponsored by the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society, the event is free and open to all. Swork coffee and light refreshments will be served. Tuesday, April 16 / 7 p.m. / Center for the Arts Eagle Rock / 2225 Colorado Blvd.
A Blessing for Your Pet
The Blessing of the Animals, a centuries-old tradition to recognize all of the benefits that animals provide, is celebrated in Los Angeles with a colorful procession on Olvera Street led by the city’s Archbishop. There’s also food, live entertainment and pony rides. Saturday, April 20 / Noon to 5 p.m. / Olvera Street, 125 Paseo de la Plaza / Downtown
Are you a TimHead or a GreggHead?
Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington, the creators and hosts of the hit AdultSwim.com series “On Cinema At The Cinema” have added the Lodge Room in Highland Park as a stop on the tour of their multi-media stage show. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. Saturday, April 27 / Lodge Room / 104 N. Avenue 56 / Tickets at Eventbrite.com for early and late shows / $35
Eastside Eateries
The 9th annual Taste of the Eastside, a food fest highlighting eateries in Atwater, Eagle Rock, Echo Park, Highland Park, Los Feliz, Silver Lake and beyond, is your chance to sample signature dishes and new creations from dozens of eastside restaurants. Tickets for unlimited food tastings are $50 pre-sale and $60 on the day of the event (no alcoholic beverages included) or $85 pre-sale and $90 on the day of the event, including three drink tickets and other perks, such as early entry (at 3 p.m.) and priority parking. Tickets for kids ages 2 to 12 are $15 (under age 2 is free). All proceeds are donated to nonprofit groups. Sunday, Apr. 28 / 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. / L.A. River Center and Gardens / 570 W. Avenue 26 / Cypress Park / For more information and to buy tickets: tasteoftheeastside.com.
