Grand Opening: Eagle Rock Brewery

Three types of beer., originally uploaded by ubrayj02.

JUST THE OTHER side of San Fernando Road from Atwater Village comes a welcome addition to northeast Los Angeles. Eagle Rock Brewery has been serving at area establishments a while, and now opens its own doors:

Grand Opening Celebration
Eagle Rock Brewery
Friday, Feb. 26, 4:00pm to 10:00pm
3056 Roswell Street, LA, CA

They'll tap 8 of their own beers, along with a few special guest beers, and the french fry truck Frysmith will be on hand to help soak it in. (And maybe some of the All My Children kids; Andrita Studios is a block away.)

One Thing to Eat in Atwater Village Before You Die

EVERY SUNDAY at the Atwater Village Farmers Market (3250 Glendale Blvd.) is a chance to try one item from Jonathan Gold's 99 Things to Eat in LA Before You Die. Bigmista's Pig Candy is from Bigmista's Barbeque, of course, a mainstay at our neighborhood's Sunday market. Here's what Gold says in the LA Weekly:

"Pig candy is the vernacular name for a snack made out of smoky, thick-cut bacon baked with lots and lots of brown sugar until it transforms itself into demonically fragrant slabs that bear more than a passing resemblance to pork-belly terrine. You want some of this stuff. Really you do. And if you should happen to be in Atwater on a Sunday morning, you should probably swing by the barbecue concession 'round the back, because Bigmista and Mrs. Mista will set you up with the best."

New Reviews of The Mews Housing Development

AFTER ITS grand opening last weekend, The Mews housing development in Atwater Village (4254 - 4310 Perlita Avenue) is getting some rave reviews.

Housing Watch reports, "A weekend open house brought out not only young couples but empty-nesters looking to downsize."

About the design: "Clean lines define the Mews' boxy shape outside; inside, the townhomes are light filled from numerous clerestory windows and large sliding doors that lead to small courtyards. Green building attributes include solar power panels that provide up to 1,000 kilowatts of electricity, bamboo flooring and driveways that are paved with grasscrete that allows for rainwater to return to the ground rather than into storm drains."

Any downsides? Maybe price: "List prices at The Mews start at $599,000, for the 1,500 to 1,600 square foot, three bedroom, two-and-a-half bath homes, with attached two-car garage, and reach up to $669,000, which is above comparable prices within the surrounding area."

And perhaps some of the immediate neighbors would deter homebuyers: "The neighborhood is dotted with 1920s bungalows, some behind iron bars and gates, some restored and updated. While close-in to Griffith Park (Beacon peak is in view), the neighborhood is mixed with well kept and tidy homes sited next to shoddy, stuccoed multi-family units."

• LA's New Modern-Home Subdivision (Housing Watch)
• Modular Green Solar Homes Open in LA (Jetson Green)
• The Mews Indoor/Outdoor Housing (official site)

Swirling, Smelling, Slurping at Canele Bistro

IT'S NOT TOO late to plan to attend this rich and delicious "friends cook" event tonight at Canele Bistro, 3219 Glendale Blvd. No reservations required (or taken). Tonight the Renaissance personas behind Swirl Smell Slurp wine blog take over the kitchen with wine pairings from Vintage Wine Marketing.

• Frisée aux lardons (with Riesling, Vieilles Vignes, Lucas et Andre Rieffel)
• Steak frites (with Lussac St. Emilion, Chateau du Courlat 2005)
• Profiteroles (with Madeira, 15-year-old Bual, Henriques & Henriques)
• Prix fixe: $37 per person (plus $5 per wine course)

This menu is available one night only, Feb. 23, 5:30pm to 10:00pm. And rumor has it there will also be one-night-only accordion music in the joint. Ooh la la.

Tuesday: Chamber Mixer on Casitas Avenue

THE ATWATER VILLAGE Chamber hosts A Night on Casitas:

• Atwater Village Chamber Mixer
• "A Night on Casitas"
• Tuesday, Feb. 23, 6:30pm
• Atwater Playhouse
• 3191 Caistas Ave.

Estate Sale via Paranoid Craigslist Ad

AN ESTATE SALE planned for Feb. 26-28 in Atwater Village has all the hallmarks of a conspiracy manifesto. All caps. No periods. Ominous motives, like "WE NEED TO START FRESH" and "MOVING FAR" and "WOULD NOT WANT YOUR CHILDREN HURT." Not to mention the "under cover" security. Get the Craigslist ad while it's hot. Location to be announced Feb. 25.

Where the Wild Things Are in Atwater Village

THANKS TO an alert reader, check out this behind-the-scenes look at the making of a segment of "Where the Wild Things Are." It was shot here on Edenhurst Avenue in Atwater Village, fog machine and all. And that's director Spike Jonze in the white shirt and tie who eventually goes skateboarding by (at around the 4:20 mark) trying to inspire the canine actor behind the fence. WTWTA comes out on DVD March 2.

Take a Flight, Support the Kids

THIS SUNDAY Friends of Glenfeliz Elementary host a wine-tasting event in Atwater Village to benefit Glenfeliz Kids, a new after school program. The event, Meet Your Neighbor Night, sends half its proceeds to the learning enrichment program. It promises to be a friendly night in the 55 Degree Wine cellar.

Meet Your Neighbor Night

• 55 Degree Wine
• 3111 Glendale Blvd.
• Sunday, Feb. 21
• 5:00pm to 10:00pm
• $18 for flight of 3 wines
• 50% of proceeds benefit Glenfeliz Kids

Project Kickoff: Glendale Narrows Riverwalk

A NEW RIVER project just around the bend from North Atwater Village kicks off tonight with a community meeting.

LA River: Glendale Narrows Riverwalk
Community Meeting
Thursday, Feb. 18, 7:00pm
Pacific Community Center
501 S. Pacific Ave., Glendale

Design of Phase I of the Riverwalk is underway, with construction scheduled to begin late 2010. Highlights of Phase I include:

• Half-mile recreational trail for pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Half-acre pocket park at the west entry of the LA River at Paula Avenue and Garden
• Street with parking for 6 cars
• Equestrian staging area open to the neighborhood
• Equestrian ramp that will provide access from the parking area to the trail
• Staging area in the park for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Picnic and recreational area east of the I-5 crossing
• Entry trail head at Flower Street

Last Chance to Run for Neighborhood Council

THE DEADLINE to declare as a write-in candidate in the March 20 Atwater Village Neighborhood Council election is Feb. 18. Download and complete the AVNC candidate filing packet.

What's the difference between write-in candidates and the candidates who declared at last month's deadline? Basically, the City of LA won't post the statements of write-in candidates, and voters will have to, naturally, write the names on the ballot.

Learn more at the next AVNC meeting, Thursday Feb. 11, 7:00pm, Christ's Church Griffith Park.

Saturday's Rainbow Over Atwater Village

Rainbow over Atwater Village., originally uploaded by Jory ..

Tweet Me Like a Newbie

STUFF THAT'S important enough for the Atwater Village Newbie Twitter feed:

• Yummy pics and words about vegan jackfruit noodle bowl at Viet Noodle Bar in Atwater Village
• Garcetti requesting $6,766 for 2009 Atwater Village holidays lights "to help the Chamber and Neighborhood Council"
• Photo of "butts" in Atwater Village
• Well spent! CD13's Street Furniture Revenue "slush" fund spends $6,766 for Christmas lights in Atwater Village
• Sitting two tables away from Michael Cera at Indochine in Atwater Village
• 15 photos of actress Rachel Bilson (and her mom) enjoying Atwater Village Farmers Market
• Video: KCAL 9 Best LA Wine Bar? 55 Degree Wine, Atwater Village

Local Biz Update: Atwater Village Moms & Pops

NOTICED TURMOIL amongst local businesses lately? This recession has meant bad news for many mom-and-pop shops in Atwater Village, but the neighborhood's not all gloom-and-doom.

Thumbs Down:

• Yoga Lab, 3362 Glendale Blvd. - Closed
• Silver Lake Video, 3206 Glendale Blvd. - Closed
• Pounder Kone Art Space, 3407 Glendale Blvd. - Closed, now Dance Garden LA
• Movements Boutique, 3125 Glendale Blvd. - Closing soon
• This or Die Boutique, 3205 Glendale Blvd. - Closing soon
• Importante Gifts, 3149 Glendale Blvd. - Closing soon (or just a rumor?)
• Sattdown Cuisine, 3050 Los Feliz Blvd. - Relocated from local Chevron station to Studio City, 11320 1/2 Ventura Blvd.

Thumbs Up:

• Revo Cafe, 3134 Glendale Blvd. - Now open
• Dance Garden LA, 3407 Glendale Blvd. - Now open where Pounder Kone Art Space once lived
• Indochine Vien, 3110 Glendale Blvd. - Now open 7 days a week, up from 6 days (with occasional celebrities!)
• Tacos Villa Corona, 3185 Glendale Blvd. - Now open 7 days a week, up from 6 days
• The Mews Housing Development, 4254-4310 Perlita Ave. - Grand opening Feb. 13, 1:00pm
• Village Bakery & Cafe, 3119 Los Feliz Blvd. - Expanding in March into adjoining space for more counter space, more tables

Don't Say Neigh to Unique Valentines Dinner in LA

SEEKING A UNIQUE Valentines date in the City? Look no further than the 2.5-acre urban farm on Rigali Avenue, right here in North Atwater Village. Taking the Reins, a nonprofit org that teaches girls horseback riding, gardening and creative arts, hosts a Valentines Day dinner fundraiser each year in its working, 100-year-old barn. This year, neighborhood fave Canele bistro caters:

• Taking the Reins Annual Valentines Dinner
• When: Saturday, Feb. 13, 6:30pm
• Where: 3919 1/2 Rigali Ave., LA, CA
• Price: $100 per person
• Catering: Canele Bistro
• Tickets: Paypal or (323) 906-1560

The nonprofit promises the horses will be looking on, "but no, it doesn't smell. Our barn is very cozy and clean!"