Atwater Village is for Lovers

Top Ten Reasons to Love Atwater Village (culinary edition)

1) The Gourmet Chicken Sandwich at L.A. Bread on Los Feliz. I'm not exaggerating in the least when I say that this is my favorite sandwich of all-time. It's grilled chicken, melting brie, pears, and pesto on walnut raisin bread. Everything I've had there has been great, but that sandwich takes the cake. Ooh! Try their cakes! And the farmer's market salad! Perfect!!

2) A big heaping spicy incredible heap of steaming hot vegetarian curry from India Sweets and Spices. While the Bollywood movies blasting in the background are rad, this place gains no points for decor. Having said that, it's wonderfully inexpensive and fast. And really, really tasty.

3) The Prime Rib at The Tam O'Shanter. This is their specialty, and you really can't go wrong. I love their chocolate soufflé and lunch time sandwich board as well.

4) The Asia Roll, the Crazy Roll, and the Loster Truffle Mac n' Cheese at Asia on Los Feliz. Wow.

5) The Serrano ham plate, the heirloom tomato salad, and any beef dish at Canelé. Plus, the actual canelés that they give you on the way out are pretty amazing. I think it took some time for them to find their footing and live up to the great hype, but I believe they have. It's a great, cozy, fun, delicious place for dinner.

6) Pho Tai at Indochine Vien on Glendale Blvd. I've already written about how much I love the pho tai at Indochine Vien. It's, like, A LOT.

7) The spinach burrito, potato burrito, steak burrito, and street tacos at our local taqueria, Tacos Villa Corona. This place is what Atwater is all about.

8) Just walking by and smelling the amazing smells coming out of Baracoa Cuban Cafe is enough to get a mention here. Rice and beeeeans..ahglahglahglahgahalghghgla... [/Homer]

9) The cinnamon bun latte at Kaldi Coffee.

10) The crunchy, melty paninis from Toni's Bakery and Cafe. This place reminds me of some of the long-lost cafes of my childhood in Grand Forks, ND. What they lack in decor they make up for in taste.

What did I forget? What did I leave out? Tell me!

photo of Tam O'Shanter from the Tam O'Shanter site, Tacos Villa Corona photo from here.

Art Crawl this weekend

Northeast LA gets artsy fartsy this weekend, with the tenth annual Art Crawl! Our awesome Atwater Village galleries will be participating, so check them out.

J Ferrari Gallery - hey, J Ferrari, how about an Atwater Village shout-out on your About Page?

Little Bird Gallery

Black Maria Gallery

Pounder Kone Art Space - did you know that CCH Pounder has a gallery in Atwater? Did you also know that CCH Pounder has the coolest name in the history of Hollywood?

On your stroll, how about checking out some beautiful and funky kids' clothes at Mila Children's Boutique on the west (south?) end of Glendale Blvd, just a few storefronts down from Amelia Fitzwater, my go-to giftery. Hey, stop in there too! The really do have the cutest, whimsiest stuff around.

Show these independent merchants and galleries that Atwater Village supports small business and the arts. These are the businesses that care about Atwater Village and the people who live here. Support them! Keep Atwater Village a village!

I won!

I won! I won!

Looks like it'll be a great council with great people doing great things.

I'm excited to get started and get my hands dirty. Amazing things are in store for beautiful Atwater Village, and I can't wait to be a part of it.

Congrats to all the candidates - I hope each and every one of us stays involved!

The Candidates Speak

Last night was the AVNC's candidates' forum at Glenfeliz Elementary School. I'll echo Caroline Netzorg, my fellow candidate, and say that I was really moved and humbled by the other candidates. Hearing everybody's plans and hopes for Atwater Village made me smile so hard that my jaw hurt.

The evening was hosted by Stephen Box, the city election supervisor, who brough his infectious energy and warmth to the proceedings. I must say that the election board has really done a fabulous job getting the word out about both the election and the forum. Special shout-out to Pamela Burgess, who has been tireless in keeping us all informed and up-to-date.

There were eighty-five friends and neighbors at the forum to hear us out, and I was lucky enough to meet many of them after the forum at the chat and chew.

And what good chews! We had food from all my faves: Tam O'Shanter, Indochine Vien, LA Bread, and Tacos Villa Corona. Deeelish!

Here is what I said last night:

Hello. I’d like to thank the election committee and Glenfeliz Elementary School for hosting tonight’s forum.

First, a little about myself. My name is Leonora Gershman. I grew up in Grand Forks, ND, graduated from New York University, and lived in New York for eight years, until I came to Los Angeles a little over four years ago. I am an actress, singer, dancer, and writer, and my fiancé and I just got engaged a couple months ago.

Although I’ve only lived in Atwater Village for a year and a half, I have never been so passionately in love with any other neighborhood I’ve lived. When I bought my condo here, I finally felt like I was home.

I grew up in a small city in North Dakota. My mother is a professor and my father is a small business owner and is the president of the Grand Forks city council, so growing up, my parents taught me that education was paramount that and civic pride and service were a right, responsibility, and privilege. I really believe in progressive and grassroots involvement, and that’s why I’m here.

I’m running for the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council because I believe that Atwater Village can only get better and better.

I will work hard to encourage our residents to shop with and support our local businesses. I believe that communities flourish are strengthened through their small businesses. Our local merchants are what give Atwater Village its flair and personality.

I will work with the city and the parks department to improve our green spaces and parks. As I look forward to having a family in the next few years, I know that I will want them to enjoy playing in Atwater’s playgrounds. I also hope to see the LA River Project and Atwater Village Greenway completed, and will work with the city to ensure that our river walks and bike paths are safe and beautiful.

As an artist, I will also work hard to nurture the arts here in Atwater. Events like Artwater and the mural projects bring neighbors together, get the residents involved in their community, and remind us all why we love to live in Atwater.

Above all, I will listen to what the residents of Atwater Village have to say. Your concerns will be my concerns, and I will work hard to resolve those concerns.

Everyday, I take my Scottie dog on a walk along the river and I marvel at my luck that I get to live here. I’m proud to be an Atwater Villager. I hope you will give me your vote.

Photo courtesy of Atwater Village Newbie