Villa Sombrero, the Highland Park Mexican restaurant with the supersize margaritas on York shut its doors last summer. The restaurant's original owner, Felipe Nunez - who sold the name and business, but not the property twenty years ago reclaimed the space and re-opened his own restaurant - Felipe's. It has taken some time, but the liquor license was finally issued, and the supersize Margaritas are back.  Outdoor dining tables have been added.   And Felipe is gradually building up the menu items, and lowering some of the menu prices. For anyone that dropped in earlier this year, before the liquor license was issued, please go back and give Felipe's another try. The staff is friendly and attentive.  The service is fantastic.  The fajitas are excellent. Jesse delivers a platter of sizzlin... 05/27/2009

New listings entered Price reductions Reported pending Reported sold and closed  These zip codes include the Northeast Los Angeles communities of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Sycamore Grove, Garvanza, Montecito Heights, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Monterey Hills, and Hermon. 05/25/2009

Listing of Sunday's Open Houses from I-Tech MLS Listing of Sunday's Open Houses from Combined L.A. Westside MLS Featuring Open Houses in the Los Angeles communities of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Sycamore Grove, Garvanza, Montecito Heights, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Monterey Hills, and Hermon. 05/24/2009

New listings entered Price reductions Reported pending Reported sold and closed  These zip codes include the Northeast Los Angeles communities of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Sycamore Grove, Garvanza, Montecito Heights, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Monterey Hills, and Hermon.   05/18/2009

New listings entered Price reductions Reported pending Reported sold and closed  These zip codes include the Northeast Los Angeles communities of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Sycamore Grove, Garvanza, Montecito Heights, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Monterey Hills, and Hermon. 05/11/2009

OK.  We all know the Dodger's Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games because of a failed drug test. And he must forfeit 7.7 million in salary. My question:  What happens to the 7.7 million?  Do the Dodgers just get to keep it in their pockets?  Maybe they should donate it to charity? Or how about a "give-back" to all the citizens of Los Angeles?  Hey, I'd like to get my hands on a share of that.......   05/09/2009

Tonight, MAY 9, NELAart presents:SECOND SATURDAY GALLERY NIGHTWHEN: Every Second Saturday 7:00-10:00p.m.WHERE: Highland Park and surrounding neighborhoods.NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night is a free self-guided tour of the galleries, non-profits and artist run project spaces located in Northeast Los Angeles (NELA). NELA has a tradition in the arts that dates back to the early 1900's when the USC College of Fine Arts was located in Highland Park and characters like Charles Lummis and Antonio Corsi were living in the area. The tradition continues with new spaces opening regularly. NELA is now one of L.A.'s most exciting destinations to view contemporary art.    05/09/2009

It's fun, it's festive and it's only one day a year! Join us for the 20th anniversary of Museums of the Arroyo Day, where the six museums located along the Arroyo Seco in Los Angeles and Pasadena open their doors free of charge from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 17, 2009.Each year, thousands of Angelinos have experienced the diverse mix of art, architecture and history of the Arroyo Seco area found in the six unique history-based museums that preserve and perpetuate early Los Angeles life.The public can visit the MOTA museums during the day at no charge. More info: http://www.museumsofthearroyo.com/ 05/07/2009

 5 - 7 - 9 Consecutive ODD Numbers.   Which happens only six times per one hundred years. This is the third odd day of the 21st century, one in six. The reason it's called an Odd Day is because it features three consecutive odd numbers: 05/07/09.   See http://www.oddday.net /   The next ODD Days: 7 - 9 - 11 9 - 11 - 13 11 - 13 -15 Then oops, we run out of months   05/07/2009

Opening Night Reception: Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 7-10 pm   Avenue 50 Studio is proud to present "Bodies Mapping Time: New Portraits of Women" by artist J. Michael Walker.  Known for mapping the soul of L.A. in his well-received project "All the Saints of the City of the Angels" the artist now explores another chart of navigation - the female body and the spirit that animates it.  "A woman's body is a map of her life's journey, a reflection of her experiences, and an expression of her spirit" - J. Michael Walker Focusing on ten women ranging in age from thirty-two to seventy-eight, J. Michael worked collaboratively with his subjects to create empathic images wherein each woman's revealed body reveals her inner essence.   Like many figurative artists, J. Michael has long used photograp... 05/06/2009

Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR) is pleased to announce that they are partnering with the Blake Lofts and the Frogtown Artwalk for a new clean up site along the Los Angeles River behind the lofts, 1839 Blake Avenue, in the burgeoning Elysian Valley neighborhood, often referred to as Frogtown, after the frog population that once thrived in the adjacent LA River.  Frogtown became a clean-up site after Blake Lofts resident and noted local photographer Paul Redmond ran into FoLAR founder Lewis McAdams walking along the river. They determined that the Frogtown area was a perfect clean-up site as the area is bordered by the river and many of the area's artists, business owners and residents are concerned environmentalists. Redmond is now the site captain for the Frogtown river clean-u... 05/06/2009

THE DICHOTOMY OF HOPE Lewis Mauk uses found items and collected ephemera-both personal and tertiary-to explore compulsion, addiction, self-doubt, and the search for inspiration. Lewis works primarily in photography, printmaking, and digital media. ARTIST'S OPENING:SATURDAY, MAY 9    Future Studio Gallery5558 N. Figueroa St. · Los Angeles 90042 (aka Home of Chicken Boy on Historic Route 66)(323) 254-4565 · futurestudio@sbcglobal.net  * * * * * GRAFFITI: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLYUnderstanding the Phenomenon of Modern Graffiti:a presentation by Steve Grody, followed by Q&A      TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2009 · 7:30 PM Ebell Club · 131 S. Ave. 57 • Los Angeles 90042  Free for members of Arroyo Arts Collective and Ebell Club, or $5 at the door (public parking lots available nearby; please note t... 05/04/2009

New listings entered Price reductions Reported pending Reported sold and closed  These zip codes include the Northeast Los Angeles communities of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Sycamore Grove, Garvanza, Montecito Heights, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Monterey Hills, and Hermon. 05/03/2009

It always seems to me that the U S Post Office's Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive never gets enough press coverage.  Honestly now, did you know about it? It's always the Saturday before Mother's Day, and for me, it has become the one morning each year that I clear out my pantry.  :-) Just bag up your oversupply of cans and packaged foods, put the bag out by your mailbox, and that's it.   05/01/2009

Closing Reception for the artists - May 3, 2009 from 6:30-10:30 This is also a party to celebrate the success of the show, the LA Times review http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/04/los-inbetweens-artists-sin-barrios-at-avenue-50-studio.html  and to hang out and chat for a bit. Los Inbetweens: Artists Sin Barrios "Untitled Self Portrait" - Stephanie Mercado Curated by Armando H. Torres Nena AmslerAlix GonzalesMarvin JordanaRigo MaldonadoStephanie MercadoAlbert ReyesGuadalupe RodriguezSandy RodriguezShizu SaldamandoRainbow UnderhillAngel Villanueva   *A Catalog of the exhibition is available for purchase. Avenue 50 Studio, Inc.a 501(c)(3) non-profit art gallery131 North Avenue 50Highland Park, CA  90042323-258-1435 http://www.avenue50studio.com 04/30/2009

Exclusive Mother's Day Jewelry Event at the Avenue 50 Studio   Participating Jewelers/Artists: Consuelo Campos, Jaime Sabatté, Diane Gamboa, Raquel Soto Escobar, Imelda Gutierrez, Stormie, Jack Fenn, among others Thursday, April 30, 20096:00 PM - 9:00 PM Avenue 50 Studio, 2 Tracks Studio, HiTree and She Rides the Lion present a unique opportunity to honor Mother Earth, Mother's Day and our Mother Gallery, Avenue 50!   Buy handcrafted jewelry and original artwork directly from the artists at trunk sale prices for the Mother in your life! Free Workshop @ She Rides the Lion Printshop!DIY: Make your own Mother's day card!Also available, gift wrapping services Live Entertainment:  Jarocho Music by No Que No, Fire Dance Performance, and Refreshments! Avenue 50 Studio, Inc.a (501)(3)(c) non-pr... 04/29/2009

New listings entered Price reductions Reported pending Reported sold and closed  These zip codes include the Northeast Los Angeles communities of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Sycamore Grove, Garvanza, Montecito Heights, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Monterey Hills, and Hermon.  04/27/2009

Listing of Sunday's Open Houses from I-Tech MLS Listing of Sunday's Open Houses from Combined L.A. Westside MLS Featuring Open Houses in the Los Angeles communities of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Sycamore Grove, Garvanza, Montecito Heights, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Monterey Hills, and Hermon. 04/26/2009

New listings entered Price reductions Reported pending Reported sold and closed  These zip codes include the Northeast Los Angeles communities of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Sycamore Grove, Garvanza, Montecito Heights, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Monterey Hills, and Hermon. 04/19/2009

Listing of Sunday's Open Houses from I-Tech MLS Listing of Sunday's Open Houses from Combined L.A. Westside MLS Featuring Open Houses in the Los Angeles communities of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Sycamore Grove, Garvanza, Montecito Heights, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Monterey Hills, and Hermon. 04/19/2009