THE    DA    CAMERA    SOCIETY  10  CHESTER  PLACE  –  LOS  ANGELES,  CA  90007  

 4  February  2013    Dear  Friends,    All  of  us  at  The  Da  Camera  Society  look  forward  to  seeing  you  this  Sunday,  February  10th  for  the  Eagle  Rock  Festival,   including  self-­‐guided  walking  tours  of  Colorado  Boulevard,  receptions  with  wine  tastings  at  both  concert  sites,  restaurant  suggestions  for  lunch  or  dinner,  and  two  CHAMBER  

MUSIC  IN  HISTORIC  SITES  performances  featuring    the  JACK  Quartet  with  guitarist  Mak  Grgic  (3:30  PM  at  Women’s  Twentieth  Century  Club)  and  guitarist  Mak  Grgic  &  cellist  Jay  Campbell  (1:00  &  6:00  PM  at  the  Center  for  the  Arts  Eagle  Rock).          Many  of  you  have  tickets  for  BOTH  concerts,  and  a  number  of  you  have  tickets  to  only  one  of  the  concerts.    Please  double-­‐check  your  tickets  for  details.    Please   take  a   few  moments   to   review  the  enclosed   festival  packet.     Identify  what   interests  you  and  plan  your  day.      DIRECTIONS,  PARKING  &  SHUTTLE  Directions  with  parking  and  shuttle   information  may  be  found  attached  to  this   letter.    Read  the  attached  directions  carefully  and  most   importantly,  allow  extra  time  for  driving  and  shuttling  to  your  concert(s).    FESTIVAL  TOUR  PASS  Use  the  enclosed  tour  pass  to  access  the  shuttles,  concert  sites  for  interior  tours  and  receptions.    Additional  tour  passes,  along  with  extra  tour  packets,  will  be  available  at  the  Box  Office/Will  Call  Table  located  near  the  main  entrance  to  Center  for  the  Arts  Eagle  Rock  starting  at  11:30  AM.    BOULEVARD  WALKING  TOUR  The   enclosed   tour   packet   includes   several   stops   along   Colorado   Boulevard,   mostly   between  Center  for  the  Arts  Eagle  Rock  and  the  Women’s  Twentieth  Century  Club  (6  blocks)  —  there  is  also  the  option  to  walk  farther  east  (ca.  4  more  blocks),  beyond  the  clubhouse.    Allow  yourself  at  least  30   minutes   to   take   a   casual   stroll   down   Colorado   Boulevard   between   the   two   concert   sites,  referencing  the  tour  pack  along  the  way.        WINE  TASTING  &  RECEPTION  After   each   concert,   you’ll   enjoy   a   reception   featuring   a   specially   curated   pairing   of   wines   and  cheeses,   along   with   other   hors   d’oeuvres.     The   Colorado   Wine   Company   (see   “A”   in   the  Restaurant  Guide)  has  curated  our  own  “As  the  Crow  Flies”   flight  of  wine   in  honor  of   the  World  Premiere  of  composer  David  Crowell’s  new  work  by  that  name  on  JACK  Quartet’s  program.    Your  tour  pass  will  gain  you  access  to  the  receptions  at  both  concert  sites.    Remember  —  these  wine  tasting/receptions  follow  each  of  the  three  concerts.    Feel  free  to  join  us  at  any  or  all  receptions.      

HISTORIC  PHOTO  DISPLAY  &  DOCUMENTARY  A  collection  of  historic  photos  will  be  on  display  throughout  the  afternoon  at  Center  for  the  Arts  Eagle  Rock  (the  1:00  &  6:00  PM  concert  site).    A  short  documentary  full  of  images  of  Eagle  Rock  over  the  last  century  will  be  playing  throughout  the  afternoon  at  BOTH  concert  sites  —  Center  for  the  Arts  Eagle  Rock  AND  Women’s  Twentieth  Century  Club.    Keep   in  mind  —  access  to  each  of  these  sites  will  be  limited  to  concert  attendees  during  the  concert  times.    LOCAL  RESTAURANTS  &  CAFES    When  planning  your  day,  you  may  wish  to  have  lunch  or  dinner  in  Eagle  Rock.    We’ve  included  a  list  of  places  ranging  from  a  chili/sub  shop  to  a  traditional  Italian  steakhouse,  to  a  gourmet  “fast-­‐casual”  joint  featured  on  the  Food  Network.  

 Throughout  the  afternoon  “keep  your  eye  on  the  clock”.    Doors  to  the  Center  for  the  Arts  Eagle  Rock   will   open   at   12:30   PM   for   the   1:00   performance,   and   5:30   for   the   6:00   performance   (30  minutes  before  each  concert).    Doors  to  the  Women’s  Twentieth  Century  Club  will  open  at  2:30  (one  hour  prior  to  the  concert).    The  concerts  will  last  about  70  minutes,  with  no  intermission.    Throughout  the  afternoon,  Da  Camera  Society  staff  and  volunteers  will  be  posted  at  the  entrance  to  the  Center  for  the  Arts  Eagle  Rock,  the  Women’s  Twentieth  Century  Club  and  the  Eagle  Rock  Elementary  School  Parking  lot.      We  suggest  you  wear  comfortable  walking  shoes.    Please  do  not  hesitate  to  call  our  office  if  you  should  have  any  questions  (213-­‐477-­‐2929).    We  look  forward  to  seeing  you  this  Sunday  in  Eagle  Rock!    The  Da  Camera  Society  213-­‐477-­‐2929          

DIRECTIONS,  PARKING  &  SHUTTLE  INFORMATION    EAGLE  ROCK  FESTIVAL  —  Sunday,  10  February  2013    CONCERT  TIMES:  Mak  Grgic,  guitar  &  Jay  Campbell,  cello    1  &  6  PM  at  Center  for  the  Arts  Eagle  Rock,  2225  Colorado  Blvd.    JACK  Quartet  with  Mak  Grgic,  guitar  3:30  PM  at  Women’s  Twentieth  Century  Club,  5105  Hermosa  Ave.  (at  Colorado  Blvd.)    -­‐  Wear  comfortable,  flat-­‐heeled  shoes.  -­‐  Allow  extra  time  for  parking  and  taking  a  shuttle  to  the  concerts.  -­‐  Wine  tastings/receptions  follow  each  performance.    

PARKING  WITH  SHUTTLE  SERVICE:  Eagle  Rock  Elementary  School    (enter  parking  area  on  Maywood  Ave.)  2057  Fair  Park  Ave.,  Los  Angeles,  90041    FROM  THE  5  FWY  NORTH  (South  of  the  2  FWY):  Merge  onto  the  2  FWY  North.    After  3.8  miles,  take  the  exit  for  Colorado  Blvd.  and  turn  right  onto  Colorado.    After  1  mile,  turn  right  onto  Maywood  Ave.    After  about  2.5  blocks,  the  entrance  to  the  school’s  blacktop/playground  will  appear  on  your  right.    A  Da  Camera  Society  Volunteer  will  be  on  hand  to  direct  you  to  your  parking  space.    Shuttles  will  transport  you  to  the  concert  site(s),  as  well  as  running  between  the  concert  sites.    FROM  THE  210  FWY  EAST  &  WEST:  Merge  onto  the  134  FWY  West.    Take  the  exit  for  Colorado  Blvd.  and  continue  going  straight  onto  Colorado.    After  2  miles,  turn  left  onto  Maywood  Ave.    After  about  2.5  blocks,  the  entrance  to  the  school’s  blacktop/playground  will  appear  on  your  right.    A  Da  Camera  Society  Volunteer  will  be  on  hand  to  direct  you  to  your  parking  space.    Shuttles  will  transport  you  to  the  concert  site(s),  as  well  as  running  between  the  concert  sites.    FROM  THE  134  EAST:  Take  the  exit  for  Harvey  Dr.  and  turn  right  onto  Harvey.    Take  the  first  left  onto  Broadway.    After  about  0.5  miles,  Broadway  becomes  Colorado  Blvd.    Continue  on  Colorado  for  0.8  miles,  and  turn  right   onto   Maywood   Ave.     After   about   2.5   blocks,   the   entrance   to   the   school’s  blacktop/playground  will  appear  on  your  right.    A  Da  Camera  Society  Volunteer  will  be  on  hand  to  direct  you  to  your  parking  space.    Shuttles  will  transport  you  to  the  concert  site(s),  as  well  as  running  between  the  concert  sites.  

The Eagle Rock Festival and concerts are made possible in part by a grant from

The JACK Quartet concert is cosponsored by Eric & Nancy Garen.

The Da Camera Society acknowledges our Community Arts Partner,

Center for the Arts Eagle Rock.

EaglE Rock FEstivalWalking touR

Sunday, 10 February 2013

The Da Camera Societyof Mount St. Mary’s College

Special thanks to our hosts for this afternoon’s festival and concerts: Women’s Twentieth Century Club and Center for the Arts Eagle Rock for their gracious hospitality. Additional thanks to the following for their gener-ous assistance and support: Linda Allen & Anne Wolf of Women’s Twentieth Century Club; Julia Salazar, Brian Martinez & Renee Dominique of Center for the Arts Eagle Rock; Eric Warren and the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society; Jennifer Nugent, owner of Colorado Wine Co.; Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry and her staff, including Pamela Huntoon.

Index of Tour STopS

The Boulevard

1. Center for the Arts Eagle Rock former Carnegie Library 2225 Colorado Blvd. ConCERt sitE 1 & 6 pm Receptions: 2:15-3:15 pm & 7:15-8:15 pm Historic Photo Exhibit & Documentary stop in & tour, see exhibit, enjoy receptions

2. Edwards & Wildey Building currently Swork Coffee 2160 Colorado Blvd. (at Eagle Rock Blvd.)

3. st. Barnabas Episcopal Church 2109 Chickasaw (at Caspar)

4. United Church currently Los Angeles Filipino-American United Church of Christ 5080 Maywood Ave. (at Colorado Blvd.)

5. sentinel Building currently Jose Vera Fine Arts Antiques 2012 Colorado Blvd.

6. Eagle Rock City Hall currently LA City Councilman José Huizar’s field office 2035 Colorado Blvd.

7. Bell Block Commercial Building currently The Coffee Table 1958 Colorado Blvd. (at Shearin)

8. Women’s twentieth Century Club 5105 Hermosa Ave. ConCERt sitE 3:30 pm Reception: 4:45-5:45 pm Historic Photos & Documentary stop in & tour, see exhibit, enjoy receptions

9. Piller’s store currently Renaissance Arts Academy 1800 Colorado Blvd.

10. Dahlia Motors Building currently Fatty’s 1627 Colorado Blvd.

A. Colorado Wine Company 2305 Colorado Blvd.

B. Dave’s Chilin-n-Grillin’ 2152 Colorado Blvd.

C. Camilo’s California Bistro 2128 Colorado Blvd.

D. the oinkster 2005 Colorado Blvd.

E. Lemongrass 1952 Colorado Blvd.

F. Colombo’s italian steakhouse and Jazz Club 1833 Colorado Blvd.

G. Eagle Rock italian Bakery 1726 Colorado Blvd.

H. Café Beaujolais 1712 Colorado Blvd.

i. Fatty’s 1627 Colorado Blvd.

reSTauranTS & CaféS

About Eagle Rock

Early Indian settlers, Spanish explorers and missionaries and Mexican rancho landowners preceded the beginnings of the town of Eagle Rock, a pastoral suburb of Los Angeles in the first years of the 20th century. Surrounded by hills, the Eagle Rock Valley was a rural respite far removed from the bustling city. At the time, the Gates Strawberry Ranch, worked by Chinese laborers, covered much of the area, replacing the grazing pastures of the great Rancho San Rafael once owned by the Verdugo family.

Eagle Rock became more than bucolic ranchland with the arrival of the Los Angeles Railway streetcar system in 1906. The tracks came from downtown Los Angeles along Central Avenue (now Eagle Rock Boulevard) and they extended to the intersection of Townsend Avenue and Colorado, the heart of town at the time. Another route came into Eagle Rock from Glendale and featured the “Dinkey” trolley car. The late single-track “toonerville trolley” was known locally as the “galloping goose” for its swaying movement and occasional track-jumping. A circular waiting station structure dubbed “the merry-go-round” stood at the center of the Colorado-and-Central intersection and became the social center.

Festival Prologue

It’s not by accident that we chose Eagle Rock for our festival in celebration of American chamber music. From its civic organizations and bustling businesses to its corner coffee shops, this town, like many small towns peppered through these United States, is a microcosm of distinctly American values as reflected in the actions of its citizens throughout the last century of its existence.

The pioneering spirit is evidenced in the stories of the early ranchers and prospectors, brought to life in the historic photos on display at the concert sites. These American pioneers, explorers in a new world, full of immigrant drive and ambition, settled the land and paved the way for future development. Their wives and daughters founded and organized the first civic institutions, such as the Women’s Twentieth Century Club (stop 8) and the original Carnegie Library (stop 1), that helped shape the cultural fabric of the town and have gone on to champion the social causes of the day. Visionary leaders of commerce both past and present have built, rebuilt, restored and repurposed the buildings and structures that have housed a colorful, surprising, and ever evolving parade of local businesses along present day Colorado Blvd.. From the restored and renovated Edwards & Wildey Building (stop 2) built by the “Godfather of Eagle Rock” to the repurposed Renaissance Arts Academy (stop 9), one can experience the indefatigable spirit of American enterprise and innovation percolating along this distinctly American “main street”.

As we listen this afternoon, in this quintessentially American town, to the music of a new generation of American composers, our chests can’t help but swell a little with pride as we marvel at the bright future of the musical arts in this country – where entrepreneur and inventor, engineer and artist, civic leader and common man, live peaceably with one another, and sometimes, make music together.

1 Center for the Arts Eagle Rock, former Carnegie Library (1914; W.E. Kleinspell) 2225 Colorado Blvd. ConCERt sitE 1:00 and 6:00pm. Wine tasting/receptions: 2:15-3:15 pm & 7:15-8:15 pmHistoric Photo Exhibit & DocumentaryStop in & tour the interior, see exhibit, enjoy receptions

aStart your tour here at the Northeast corner of Colorado Blvd. and Rockland Ave.

This Mission-style building overlooking Colorado Blvd. has been a cornerstone of cultural development in Eagle Rock throughout its 100 year history, serving as Eagle Rock’s first library and later as its Center for Arts.

The library had its beginning in 1914, when a group of Eagle Rock citizens concerned about the need for a library met and decided to write the Carnegie Foundation and request that a library be established in the City. The foundation responded by providing a grant of $7,500 to the City of Eagle Rock. A lot on

the Boulevard

Eagle Rock was incorporated as a city in 1911. Its gentle slopes were dappled with grand Victorian farmhouses, many exquisite Craftsman homes in charming neighborhoods, and Occidental College, designed by Myron Hunt in the Mediterranean revival style and built between 1911 and 1913. The building boom really came between the wars. The 1920’s saw an upswing of subdivision and building of “modern” homes, including many in the Spanish colonial revival style and smaller bungalows modified by such prevalent styles as Colonial revival and English Tudor.

Many other notable structures had come into being in the early part of the century, such as the Craftsman-style Women’s Twentieth Century Club, the Eagle Rock Carnegie Library, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union home, various lovely churches, and many attractive brick and stucco commercial buildings along the main boulevards. In 1923, not long after the Eagle Rock City Hall was erected, the people of Eagle Rock voted to become part of the City of Los Angeles under the threat of an inadequate water supply and the promise of an upgraded school system.

Later decades brought other architectural styles to Eagle Rock homes and commercial structures, like streamline modern, International, post-war traditional, and mid-century modern. Diversity still reigns supreme, and it is this eclectic mix of architectural character that has made Eagle Rock a unique and fascinating place while evoking the qualities of small-town America.

Eagle Rock today is filled with culturally rich, ethnically diverse neighborhoods and businesses and is largely a haven for those working in various creative fields. The community possesses a feeling of shared appreciation for historic significance, and enjoys an older commercial district with the vast potential to develop its own unique appeal.

– Courtesy Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society

Colorado near Eagle Rock Boulevard adjacent to the commercial center was purchased. W. E. Kleinspell was chosen from among several architects to design the new library, and he chose the popular Mission Revival style for Eagle Rock’s first library.

The library was a center of the community from its earliest days, patronized by a large segment of the Eagle Rock populace. It had displays of the numerous Rose Parade awards won by the City of Eagle Rock, and the children’s room displayed artwork by the local school children.

In 1923, the City of Eagle Rock was incorporated into the City of Los Angeles and the library became a branch of the Los Angeles system. The library continued to be one of the most heavily used and, in 1927, plans were formalized to expand the library building, Architects Henry C. Newton and Robert D. Murray were chosen to redesign the building in 1927. They incorporated an ecclesiastical scheme into the building and remodeled its exterior in the Spanish style. The new building featured a cruciform plan, unusual for a library, with a central reading room (the nave) flanked by bookshelf areas. The architects added an additional roof so that light would illuminate the reading room through clerestory windows. The reading room featured a series of arches with cast stone columns set between it and the side, bookshelf areas. A ceiling with wood trusses was the distinctive feature on the interior. An unusual part of the remodeling was the creation of an outdoor reading area on the rear roof of the building.

The architectural team of Newton and Murray were prominent local architects who specialized in ecclesiastical designs. Some of their important commissions include the Church of the Precious Blood in the Mid-Wilshire area, Saint Peter and Paul Church in Wilmington, Saint Paul the Apostle Church in West Los Angeles and the La Cañada Thursday Club Building.

In 1998, after a new, modern library was erected at 5027 Caspar Avenue, the old library building was reopened as the Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center. It was a place where local artists could display their works and young people could learn about the arts. The Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center later changed names to Center for the Arts Eagle Rock. With a mission to be innovative in providing multidisciplinary, arts-inclusive programming to the diverse communities of northeast Los Angeles and beyond, the Center offers after-school art programs to local elementary schools, onsite workshops and classes, six art exhibitions per year, concerts, readings, film screenings, an annual Art Auction Benefit, and last but certainly not least, the widely recognized Eagle Rock Music Festival.

For more information about Center for the Arts Eagle Rock please visit www.CFAER.org

a From the Center for the Arts, head East on Colorado, crossing Eagle Rock Blvd. at the cross walk. From here, you’ll get a good view of the Edwards & Wildey Building and Swork Café (stop 2). Cross Colorado to the South side of the street to continue your tour. Take care in crossing the streets at this busy intersection.

You’ll notice that both Colorado and Eagle Rock Blvds. branch here into two opposing one way streets, a necessity for the trolley tracks that once ran through town up until 1955. The circular hub/waiting area structure dubbed the “Merry-Go-Round” once stood in the middle of intersection until it was demolished to make way for increased car traffic after the trolley tracks were removed. The trolley’s final stop in Eagle Rock was to the East at Townsend Ave. (literally the town’s end at that time).

2 Edwards & Wildey Building (1915-16)2160 Colorado Blvd. (at Eagle Rock Blvd.)currently Swork Coffee

Simply by virtue of its location, the Edwards & Wildey Building is an Eagle Rock architectural landmark. Its existence is a classic tale of Southern California’s not-so-distant land boom and the saga of two visionaries—Godfrey Edwards and Otto G. Wildey—who capitalized on monetizing the dreams of aspiring homeowners. Otto Wildey was a first-generation American, born in Oregon to British immigrant parents. In 1895, his family came to Southern California, where he attended Whittier College before joining a San Francisco-based wholesaler and jobber of upholstery supplies. He was employed in the firm’s Los Angeles branch office until the company was sold in 1904. Returning to Los Angeles, Wildey found lucrative possibilities in the expanding market for homes and buildings in Southern California. He joined with Godfrey Edwards (“Godfather of Eagle Rock”) in founding the Edwards & Wildey Company, with Edwards as president and Wildey as secretary and treasurer. Their stock in trade was in buying, selling and developing property. The entrepreneurs set up shop to sell property in the then-independent community of Eagle Rock City to a willing populace. “Nearer than Hollywood, Higher than Highland Park, More Beautiful Than Either,” exhorted their hyperbolic 1907 sales pitch.

The two were contracted to build the Women’s Twentieth Century Club of Eagle Rock (step 8) on Hermosa Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, which was completed in 1914.

By 1916, they had christened the glazed brick building that bore their names. They made Los Angeles history in 1923 when they joined with engineer L.E. Dixon of San Gabriel as “Edwards, Wildey and Dixon” to build two of Los Angeles’ signature buildings: The massive Los Angeles Coliseum and The Shrine Auditorium.

Edwards, who was a member of the Eagle Rock City Water Board in 1922 and also a member of the library board, vacationed with his family of five adopted children in Fawnskin, a mountain community near Big Bear. He did not live to spend his presumed fortune as he died in the late 1920s.

Wildey departed on a lengthy cruise of the South Seas from 1926 to 1931, aboard his private yacht constructed by the Blanchard Boat Company of Seattle, WA. In 1931, the Edwards & Wildey Company declared bankruptcy. Wildey died in Riverside, CA, in 1942 at age 62.

Meanwhile in Eagle Rock, their signature building became the possession of the Duffy family (who renamed it “The Duffy Building”) and it housed a drugstore with a soda fountain that became a much-loved teen hangout.

In 2000, Swork Coffee opened at 2160 Colorado Blvd., a welcome harbinger of Eagle Rock’s emergence as an art and culture capital. Listen as Swork owner Patricia Neale Vuagniaux reminisces about her first encounter with the building:

“The whole scene propelled me to imagine what the building was like in its infancy. I imagined the pharmacy and it’s patrons sipping ice cream floats as they waited for tonics and tinctures for their ailments.

This was a time when people were genuinely trusted, smiles were free and a bike could stay safely parked on the sidewalk. A simpler time, when we really talked to one another instead of staring down at our smart phones in silent conversation with cyber space.

No doubt the lovely ladies of the Women’s Twentieth Century Club of Eagle Rock, wearing their cloche hats atop bobbed hair, frequented the place. And the men, dipped in derbies, bowlers and rounded fedoras, taking fashion seriously in their high-waisted jackets and cuffed trousers. The corner carousel bustling with children and spinning in an indefatigable happiness.”

(Excerpted from Dan Kimpel’s article “Plot by Plot in Eagle Rock: The saga of Edwards & Wildey, South-ern California’s preeminent developers, Eagle Rock Patch, Jan. 1, 2011; and Patricia Neale Vuagniaux’s article “Buying an Architectural Landmark on the Boulevard: A plea—and a reflection—to rescue a matri-arch of Eagle Rock history, Eagle Rock Patch, Sept. 1, 2011)

a Continue East on Colorado Blvd., to Caspar Avenue. Turn right and walk 2 blocks South on Caspar past the new public library building. St. Barnabas will appear on your right.

3 st. Barnabas Episcopal Church (1924; William t.Major)2109 Chickasaw (at Caspar)

Take a side trip off the Boulevard to visit the charming St. Barnabas Episcopal Church at Chickasaw and Caspar across from the street from the Eagle Rock Elementary School’s North parking lot. The church was built in 1924 and is named for an early Christian convert referenced in the Acts of the Apostles. Major interior renovations were completed in the late 1930s, including the addition of custom stained-glass windows designed and installed by Judson Studios in nearby Highland Park.

Since 1950, the church’s adjoining parish hall has been a hub of community activity, fundraisers, dinners, choir rehearsals and an annual children’s Christmas play.

The church recently marked the installation of the Rev. Frances French Cantella, the congregation’s first woman rector.

Karen Morgan—the church’s current parish administrator, who has been attending services at St. Barnabas since the age of 6 (her brother Jimmy Mangone is the creator of two of the church’s stained glass windows)—notes the encompassing character of the congregation and its renewal. “This church is doing a rebirth,” she says. “We’re getting younger families in and we hope to keep growing. Women are taking on major roles, and we are accepting of the gay community.”

(Excerpted from Dan Kimpel’s article, “Then & Now, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church”, Eagle Rock Patch, Nov. 8 2010)

a Walk back to Colorado Blvd. and continue another block East to N. Maywood Ave. The United Church (stop 4) will appear on your right followed by the Sentinel Building (stop 5). Eagle Rock City Hall (stop 6) can be viewed across the street from the United Church. Take care when crossing Colorado at the crosswalk if you want a closer look at the Eagle Rock City Hall.

4 United Church (1924) 5080 Maywood Ave. (at Colorado Blvd.)

An expanding congregation required more room, and in 1924 this church was built in the Revivalist style for the Congregational church. After the federation, it became the United Church and remained for years the largest Protestant denomination in Eagle Rock. An aging and dwindling congregation finally required a change, and a growing Filipino population needed a church, so the building now houses the Los Angeles Filipino-American United Church of Christ.

The Church is one of many symbols of a strong Filipino presence in Eagle Rock. Nearby Eagle Rock Plaza, located on Colorado Boulevard where it intersects with the 2 and 134 freeways, has been nick-named the “Mall of Manila” due to the large number of shops and restaurants that cater to the Filipino community, including Seafood City (a Filipino specialty grocer) and Goldilocks (bakery & restaurant). Radio Manila, the first and only Filipino-American radio station, broadcasts live from their Eagle Rock studio.

5 sentinel Building (1937)2012 Colorado Blvd.

Eagle Rock’s main newspaper, the Sentinel Daily, was published from 1910 to 1997. Built as the headquarters for this flourishing business in 1937 by Harry Lawson, this art deco building also housed an associated job printing business and, for a little extra income, H.I. Du Vol’s real estate office.

The current resident, Jose Vera Fine Arts Antiques, specializes in important, rare cultural and architectural pieces, including original period pottery, tiles and decorative arts, lighting, furniture, art & textiles. Here you’ll find Arts & Crafts, Mission, Art Deco, Spanish Revival, Native American, plus Mexican & Chicano Art by top-tier artists.

6 Eagle Rock City Hall (1922; William Lee Woollett)2035 Colorado Blvd.Currently Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar’s field office.

This was designed by architect William Lee Woollett to house the city services of Eagle Rock City. Annexation to Los Angeles won by 15 votes out of 600 a year later. The grand old hall was refurbished and rededicated in 1971 at the urging of the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society and Councilman Arthur K. Snyder. It became the councilman’s office, the historical society museum and a public meeting hall. Earthquake strengthening necessitated another closure, and afterward, the building was taken over entirely for city offices. It presently serves as the field office for Councilman José Huizar (District 14).(Courtesy Security Pacific Collection, Los Angeles Public Library)

Inside the Old City Hall building, a series of history-themed murals adorn the walls, thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of the Highland Art Guild. A Los Angeles Bicentennial project, the murals showcase the evolution of Eagle Rock from an Indian village to a bustling American suburb.

7 Bell Block Commercial Building (1929)1958 Colorado Blvd. (at Shearin)currently The Coffee Table

Billed in the Eagle Rock Advertiser as “one of Eagle Rock’s most artistic structures”, this graceful art deco building has housed a variety of businesses over the years, including MacMarr Market, the Roy J. Weaver Radio Shop and the Roosevelt Grill. The grill offered full meals for 25 cents. The building housed Williamson Auto Supply before being refurbished and designated as a City of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument.

The current tenant, The Coffee Table, is full of surprises and Bohemian charm. Hung throughout with abstract art, the vividly inviting mosaic tables lead you on a winding path through café to the lounge next door where they serve a variety of imported beers. Continue down a long corridor to find a cozy hidden courtyard in the back.

While there are no records to indicate the significance of the name Bell, it’s possible that it is associated with James George Bell, one of the founders of Occidental College. A dormitory on the college’s campus named Bell-Young Hall offers another piece to the puzzle (although the connection between Bell and Young appears to be lost in the annals of time). Bell was a rancher and businessman who came to Los Angeles in 1875 at the bidding of his friend and fellow Freemason, John E. Hollenbeck.

Bell purchased 360 acres of land surrounding the Los Angeles River which would eventually become the city of Bell in Los Angeles. His son, Alphonzo Bell, Sr. was an oil millionaire, real estate developer and champion tennis player. He established the Bell Petroleum Oil Company and used oil revenues to develop Bel-Air Estates. James G. Bell’s grandson, Alphonzo E. Bell, Jr. was a popular 20th century California congressman. The Bell family also gave their name to Bell Gardens.

(Excerpted from Wiki pedia article, “James George Bell”)

a Continue three blocks East on Colorado to Hermosa and the Women’s Twentieth Century Club (stop 8), which sits on the Northwest corner of Colorado and Hermosa. Enjoy a little window shopping along the way. Take care in crossing Colorado at the crosswalk for a closer look at the clubhouse.

8 Women’s twentieth Century Club (1914)5105 Hermosa Ave. (at Colorado Blvd.) ConCERt sitE 3:30pmWine tasting/reception 4:45-5:45 pmHistoric Photos & Documentary Stop in & tour, see photos, enjoy reception

This large classic craftsman-style building housed the movers and shakers of a dawning century when the Women’s Twentieth Century Club of Eagle Rock built it and made it their headquarters in 1914. The earliest social organization in Eagle Rock, outside of the church, the club aimed to improve the community and society at large, championing woman’s suffrage, the arts, and the social graces. The ladies worked to support the troops in America’s wars, cared for and educated young mothers during

the Depression years, and contributed to saving the redwoods by purchasing a grove in what is now Redwood State Park.

In 1913, the club secured a grant of $7,500 from the Carnegie Corporation for a public library, which opened in 1915 and is now the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock (the site of our 1:00 and 6:00 concerts!). Petitioning Occidental College to accept women as students, the club subsequently established a scholarship to support deserving women in their education.

Completed in 1914, the clubhouse was appropriately christened with a musical performance by cellist Madame Elsa von Grafé Menasco. Her son was Ferdinand von Grofe, Americanized as Ferde Grofe, arranger and composer of the Grand Canyon Suite. Her brother Julius Bierlich was concertmaster of the then Los Angeles Symphony. The three occasionally played as a trio for private parties in the area.

While many women’s clubs have disbanded due to societal changes, the Women’s Twentieth Century Club of Eagle Rock has evolved with the times. The building, lovingly dubbed “The Grand Old Lady” by club members, survived the 1994 Northridge earthquake and remains one of Eagle Rock’s most significant architectural treasures. “It’s our heritage,” says member Lois Lowrey. “We want to keep up what these women started.” Membership under current president Anne Wolf is now more than 100 women strong.

a Depending upon the time of day, you may choose to stop in at the Women’s Club for the concert reception or to view the historic photos and documentary. If you have time, and want to keep walking, continue East on the South side of Colorado one block to Renaissance Art Academy (stop 9).

9 Piller’s store/Renaissance Art Academy (Kenneth & Robert Gordon)1800 Colorado Blvd.

Soon after the trolley cars disappeared and Colorado Blvd. was opened to automobiles, this mid-century two-story structure opened as the family-owned Piller’s department store, selling clothing and shoes to Eagle Rock’s growing population. Giant picture windows along building’s façade filled with enticing displays were designed to reach out to customers in cars cruising along the boulevard. This building has been completely repurposed and now serves as the Renaissance Arts Academy, a small music and performing arts charter school that provides an integrated classical education for middle and high school students. The wall-less, open classrooms within offer “a very different kind of set up,” admits PK Candaux, executive director and co-founder of school. “We have 360 kinds in middle and high school in essentially one room. Music and dance classes are around the periphery and everything else happens in little moveable groups in the middle of the room.” Ren Arts was recently recognized by Los Angeles City Council for outstanding student achievement. The Academy’s 360-plus students will enjoy a series of Da Camera outreach performances at their school in the coming weeks.

(Sources: James Famera and Ajay Singh’s article, “Renaissance Arts Academy Breathes New Life into Public Education”, Eagle Rock Patch, Oct. 6, 2010; Eric H. Warren’s book, “Eagle Rock: 1911-2011”, 2011)

a Continue East along Colorado three blocks to the Dahlia Building (stop 10), which is also Fatty’s Restaurant (I). Satisfy your sweet tooth along the way at the Eagle Rock Italian Bakery (G) or Café Beaujolais (H).

10 Dahlia Motors Building (1931)1627 Colorado Blvd.currently Fatty’s

From motor oil to fondue, this historic location has come a long way. Now a City of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument, this art deco building began it’s life as the property of Wayne Nutting who christened it The Dahlia Motors Building. An avid motoring enthusiast, Nutting was the proud owner of a Stanley Steamer, a car that as its name suggests, ran on steam power generated by igniting kerosene or gasoline. Unfortuneately, a propane retrofit on Nutting’s car malfunctioned near Knot’s Berry Farm in 1969, killing both him and his wife and injuring other passengers.

Another local resident, La Dell Stapp, then occupied the building, where he established a multi-mechanic cooperative called Stapp’s Auto Shop. He sold the properly to Kim Dingle in 2000.

A well know artist whose work appears at MOCA, the L.A. County Museum of Art and the Smithosonian National Museum of America among other galleries, shows and collections, Dingle originally purchased the building as a place to set up her studio. Because she needed a caffeine fix earlier than local restaurants were putting out the pot in those pre-coffeehouse days, Dingle considered renting a coffee cart. But when the formerly blocked front windows were opened, she began to envision other possibilities, and when co-owner and chef Aude Charles joined Dingle, they ended up with the present restaurant which opened in 2001. A tribute to Dingle’s irreverent humor, Fatty’s delights health-conscious Eagle Rock epicureans with vegan and vegetarian fare, delectable desserts and an enviable list of fine wines. (See “H” in the restaurant guide for more details on the restaurant and the cuisine.)

(Excerpted from Dan Kimpel’s article “Eagle Rock: Then & Now: The Dahlia Motors Building, Eagle Rock Patch, Nov. 12, 2010)

A. Colorado Wine Company 2305 Colorado Blvd. (232) 478-1985 Sunday hours 11 am-9 pm; Wine Bar

two blocks west of Eagle Rock Blvd. on the north side of the street, just West of Bank of America.

Colorado Wine Company debuted in February of 2005, and when the owners ran out of glasses on the first night, they knew they were on to something. CoWineCo is owned and operated by John and Jennifer Nugent who wanted to create an environment where anyone, no matter what level of wine knowledge they had, could enter the store, receive personal service and recommendations, try a sip or two of the daily selections at the bar, and leave feeling more comfortable and educated about wine (and hopefully more relaxed after a hard day at work). Enjoy a specially curated Da Camera “flight” of wine at your concert’s reception today, courtesy of Jennifer Nugent and CoWineCo.

B. Dave’s Chilin-N-Grillin’ 2152 Colorado Blvd. (323) 490-0988 Sunday hours 12 pm-8 pm; Sub Shop

This popular Eagle Rock sandwich stop consistently garners five-star ratings from all over. The menu is simple and unpretentious—hot and cold subs, grilled sandwiches and wraps—but the food is “awesome,” according to lots of satisfied customers. Of particular interest are their fresh fruit smoothies, especially the “Everything Nice”—a delectable strawberries-blueberries-bananas-peaches-and-raspberries combo.

From earliest days, this location has served the Eagle Rock community. It was the first brick structure built in the town’s center. In its westernmost wing was the College Inn, a soda fountain bedecked with a variety of brightly colored college flags, offering Occy students a fun and festive place to meet and “hangout”.

C. Camilo’s California Bistro 2128 Colorado Blvd. (323) 278-4644 Sunday hours 8 am-3 pm & 5-10 pm; California Contemporary

Camilo’s serves all three meals, but the breakfasts and lunches are really the big bang. In honor of their own neighborhood, they offer the Egg Rock Omelet, with brie, basil and sun dried tomatoes, and the York Boulevard Omelet, loaded with ham, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, avocado and a whole lot more. There’s also a whole breakfast menu of South of the Border Classics. Then it’s on to the griddle masterpieces, like the Bananas Foster Waffles, with bananas done up in butter, brown sugar, cognac and caramelized pecans. All finished? Not yet! The Breakfast Classics feature everything from steak and eggs to homemade granola. Lunch items include a wide variety of salads and sandwiches, and dinner entrees include pastas, chicken, salmon and steak.

D. The Oinkster 2005 Colorado Blvd. (323) 256-6464 Sunday hours 11 am-10 pm; American

They were featured on Guy Fierri’s Food Network hit, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” which makes them eligible for restaurant immortality. The Oinkster is famed fine-dining chef Andre Guerrero’s concept of “slow fast food” with a gourmet flair in a casual setting with a whiff of upscale. Some of their more renowned fare includes the premium house-cured pastrami, rotisserie chicken and “sloooow roasted”

Restaurants & Cafés

pork—and oh yeah, those irresistible Belgian Fries, made from hand-cut fresh Kennebec potatoes and twice fried. And you can get most everything for ten bucks or less.

E. Lemongrass I and II: 1948/1952 Colorado Blvd. (232) 258-8050 Sunday hours: 11 am-9:30 pm; Vietnamese

Located on a stretch of Colorado Blvd. where a number of Vietnamese restaurants are all within a block of each other, Lemongrass Vietnamese Restaurants are diamonds in the rough. Lemongrass has set itself apart from the rest with not only its superior recipes and fresh ingredients but also outstanding vegetarian menu options. Lemongrass favorites include Barbeque Beef Ribs, Lemongrass Tofu over Vermicelli, the Charbroiled Pork Banh Mi and a variety of Pho soup dishes. Having garnered a variety of rave reviews for its exceptional traditional Vietnamese delicacies and family friendly environment, Lemongrass has been awarded a Certificates of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles and The Eagle Rock Association. The big draw - Happy hour is everyday from 6-8 pm!

F. Colombo’s Italian Steakhouse and Jazz Club 1833 Colorado Blvd. (323) 254-9138 Sunday hours 8 am-10 pm; Traditional Italian

Are you provolonely tonight? Then cruise on down to Colombo’s for their Colombo Special—a signature sammy piled high with mortadella, provolone, roasted peppers, pepperoni and Genovese pesto. Located across from the Women’s Twentieth Century Club, this old-timey Italian restaurant and jazz club has been a traditional Eagle Rock haunt since 1954, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. For breakfast, the three eggs and Italian sausage will definitely kick off your day. The warm goat cheese and roasted pepper bruschetta turns lunch into an event. Dinners feature all the old favorites, from the chickens—cacciatore, piccatta, parmesan and marsala—to a full selection of steaks, rack of lamb and pork loin. Prices are up there, but you’ll sure leave satisfied.

G. Eagle Rock Italian Bakery 1726 Colorado Blvd. (at La Roda) (323) 255-8224 Sunday hours 9 am-1 pm; Italian Bakery

One of the hallmarks of suburban towns that take pride in preserving their history is arguably the enduring presence of mom-and-pop shops that sell baked goods. From old-fashioned short breads to cutting-edge cupcakes, bakeries are our link to the past—experienced here and now, organically.

One of the best in town in the venerable Eagle Rock Italian Bakery & Deli. It’s aromatic, old-country charm is all encompassing when you walk through its doors. It is warmly lit, well-stocked and service is always with a smile. Here you can find a half-dozen brands of Panettone, including one in a pastel, reusable tin that seems an homage to Audrey Hepburn and her ilk. Many a Da Camera dessert reception has been graced with this bakery’s decadent treats.

(Excepted from Ajay Singh’s article Reader’s Choice: Which Bakery is your Favorite?, Mar. 19, 2012)

H. Café Beaujolais 1712 Colorado Blvd. (323) 255-5111 Sunday hours 5-9 pm; French Bistro

OMD—that’s O Mon Dieu! A cute little French bistro with great food, no waiting, and bread, butter, water and lemons on the table? Diners rave about the Magret de Canard au Miel et Citron (oven baked breast of duck in a honey lemon sauce), Poulet aux Morilles (chicken in a cognac and morelles sauce), and Truite Bretonne (pan-fried trout in lemon butter with shrimp and baby scallops), to name a few of

the delectable entrees. Two more perks: they’re “gluten free and vegan friendly,” and the prices are just right.

I. Fatty’s 1627 Colorado Blvd. (323) 254-8804 Sunday hours 6-9 pm; Vegetarian

Don’t expect to see too many fatties at Fatty’s; although the name conjures up visions of humongous greasy burgers, hot dogs dripping with cheese and chili, and all things fried, they’re foolin’ with ya. Fatty’s is actually a superb vegetarian/vegan restaurant. For an appetizer, try the Walnut Croquette, a pan-fried pate of organic walnuts, butternut squash and cumin, served with fennel slaw and orange vinaigrette, or the Cleopatra Balls, a savory mixture of smoked brown rice, mushrooms and legumes. Other popular menu items include the paella, spinach pasta, moussaka and pizzas. For dessert, there are inventive choices like the Cotton Candy, made with pure Vermont maple sugar, or the Organic Peanut Butter Gelato, served with chocolate brandy sauce. Who knew going vegan could be so much fun?