Vidiots is finally opening this month after years of work to restore Eagle Rock’s historic Eagle Theatre! And the Vidiots video rental store opens today!
TERA took a sneak peak at the new video store, movie theater, and community space that Eagle Rock worked so hard to make happen:
With Vidiots open, there is no better time to support this amazing local theater with an annual membership. Vidiots memberships start at $100 for the entire year and include with great perks:
Exclusive members-only screenings
Access to members-only event pre-sales to ensure you don’t miss the most popular movies
Discounts on all regular screenings
Extended rentals and no late fees at the Vidiots rental store
Free popcorn!
It’s so exciting to have this amazing arts non-profit right here in our community. We hope you’ll join us in welcoming Vidiots to Eagle Rock by becoming an annual member:
Colorado Wine Co opened in 2005 as the brainchild of Jennifer and John Nugent. After Jennifer passed away in 2014, the wine bar was sold to new owners, but sadly saw decline in its upkeep and popularity. Another nine-year period has passed, and the space has once again changed hands, but thankfully remains as a local wine and beer tasting room.
New owners Brian Girgus and Ashley Berry are Eagle Rock locals that have paid homage to the Nugents’ original vision of a community-centered tasting room with a thoughtful refresh, expanded hours, and a rebrand as Western Station Beer & Wine.
Read on for an interview with Eagle Rock residents and Western Station’s new co-owner, Brian Girgus:
What is the story behind Western Station?
Well, we’ve lived in the neighborhood for a long time and we’d stop by the Colorado Wine Co, which existed in the same space, as our friend Dan worked there. It was easy to see the place was in need of some attention and was being neglected by the previous owners. We were fortunate to be able to buy it and give it the attention it needed to be a cool place again. We were well aware of the business that original owners Jennifer and John had created many years ago and we felt like we would be able to give it some of that life that it had where the owners are available and present enough to create a more vibrant place.
What made you want to open a wine bar and bottle shop in Eagle Rock?
Well, being that we’ve lived here for 10 years it wouldn’t make too much sense to try and do business in another neighborhood. I own and operate The New California Barbershop in Echo Park and it’s hard enough to drive four miles down the 2…… haha. An old wise man told me a long time ago that it was very important to work where you live. Especially true in LA.
How do you feel that Western Station fits into the Eagle Rock community?
We have so many friends from the music/arts/film community that we’ve been part of over the years that live around Eagle Rock and Highland Park, La Canada, Glassell Park etc. It’s a natural position for us to offer them all a place to stop in and take it easy for a little while.
After an extended cold and rainy season, what are some of Western Station favorites to enjoy as we move into the Summer?
Chilled wines and cold beers, no doubt about it! I like ice cold beer year round, but the Craftsman1903 Lager or a nice Sauvignon Blanc on a warm sunny day is beautiful thing!
🦅 🍺 🍷 Western Station Beer & Wine 2305 Colorado Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 westernstationbeerandwine.com (323) 274-4801 Sun – Thurs: 1pm-10pm Fri + Sat: 1pm-12am
Over the past three months, the City of Los Angeles has presented three implementation options for bikeway infrastructure of TERA’s Rock The Boulevard project on Eagle Rock Boulevard. TERA prefers Option 2 as the concept that best works towards Rock The Boulevard’s goals of a safer, greener, and more pedestrian-friendly Eagle Rock Boulevard. Option 2 is the option that not only provides the safest and most comfortable space for pedestrians, but also preserves the most on-street parking and most well distributed on-street parking to provide access to our existing local businesses.
TERA further encourages Streets LA to study the community generated “Walkable Boulevard” concept, which would fine-tune Option 2 to allocate portions of unusable median space towards expanded sidewalks, space for new sidewalk trees, and space for Al Fresco dining for local businesses.
Haley Solar’s eponymous brand of unique and environmentally friendly fashion is all designed, sourced, cut, and sewn within a five mile radius of Eagle Rock. The designs can be found, along with a curated selection of women-owned, sustainably made, and vegan or locally crafted brands, at her charming shop on Eagle Rock Boulevard.
Read on for an interview with Eagle Rock’s own fashion icon, Haley Solar, about the workshops, her store, and her love for Eagle Rock:
What is the story behind your career in fashion? How did you come to open up a shop in Eagle Rock?
I have been sewing my entire life. I made all the costumes for my high schools theater and dance teams and headed straight to design school at 18. I started as a design assistant for a contemporary label in LA and pivoted to the retail world as a buyer and store director for mid size boutiques. I spent about 6 years at Anthropologie before leaving to start my own label in 2011. After spending most my time in factories or at trade shows I was really struggling and took some time off, took a serving job while I planned my next step and decided I missed the customer interaction and wanted to be part of a community so I decided to merge my two careers… fashion design and retail, and to open a store in my neighborhood, Eagle Rock, in 2016. I opened my shop with a little cash I had saved and a $2,000 loan from a friend. I kept my waitressing job for a year, working 15 hour days until I had established a customer base. I moved to a larger space a few blocks down Eagle Rock Boulevard in 2019 next to Muddy Paw coffee and opened our second store in Silver Lake in 2020 (I know!).
What led you to start offering fashion courses? What are your goals for the program?
I started sewing at 6 years old and I’m still mastering my craft. I learn new skills every day, it’s a very skilled and challenging job. I wanted to start offering classes to educate people in my community on how apparel is made. Garment work is something our society has really lost respect for with so much fast fashion flooding into our closets and instead of being depressed and feeling that my craft is being devalued I thought I’d do something about it and show people one by one how challenging and rewarding this work is.
What is the process to develop designs from concept to a wearable line?
Lol that’s a long process. It’s like building a house, you need the idea, materials the blueprints the execution the details. We teach all of those things, from sourcing to pattern making, cutting, sewing, fitting scaling production and getting your collection to market. We offer an intensive package that can crash course a semester at a fashion school in a weeks time and consulting for fashion businesses. I have 34 years of knowledge and I love sharing it.
Who are these courses for and how can interested people apply?
Our courses are taught by working fashion designers and are designed to teach beginners who are looking for a fun hobby all the way to people who are trying to launch their own line. Classes are by appointment and can be booked online here: https://haleysolar.com/collections/courses
🦅 🪡 👗 Haley Solar 4606 Eagle Rock Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 (323) 381-5502 haleysolar.com Mon – Thur: 10am-7pm Fri: 11am-8pm Sat: 10am-8pm Sun: 10am-7pm
TERA is spotlighting Eagle Rock small businesses to support our neighborhood’s recovery from the pandemic. For February 2023, we are highlighting Talon Tap & Wine, Eagle Rock’s spectacular craft beer taproom and wine shop.
Below is an interview with Talon’s co-owner and wine expert, Tom Anderson:
What is the story behind Talon? How did you come to focus on craft beer and why did you land in Eagle Rock?
My wife, Nicki, and I bought Talon Tap & Wine a little over three years ago. Years of living and working in the Pasadena area led me to develop many wonderful relationships in the restaurant/wine world. When the opportunity to purchase Talon Tap & Wine, formerly named Craft Beer Cellar, presented itself, we were thrilled to embark on this adventure.
We concentrate on loading our shelves solely with smaller, specialty microbrews and avoid the mass production beers. By encouraging our guests to snap off single cans, they can choose, taste & experience a much larger variety. Of course, we a have terrific staff, who can steer you through the constantly changing choices in our bottle shop. Ben & Joe are very “beer savvy” and will help guide one through our weekly new arrivals. Our tap room draft beer selections also change frequently.
My real expertise is rooted closer to the wine world. There is a tremendous similarity to the early days of boutique California wineries and currently microbreweries that are opening. The explosion of so many local craft breweries, we expanded both beer & wine offerings to satisfy more guests.
What are some of Talon’s favorite breweries that you regularly feature in the shop or at the bar?
We love local breweries and of course Eagle Rock Brewery, Ogopogo from San Gabriel & Paperback in Glendale are all featured. Other huge fan favorites are Radiant Brewing from Orange County, Harland Brewing in San Diego, as well as Enegren & MadeWest from Ventura.
How do you see Talon fitting in the Eagle Rock community?
We’re excited to offer a casual place for everyone to taste exceptional craft beers & boutique wines in our Taproom and Patio. Sports has always been a passion of ours and the addition of multiple TVs gives our fans a place to enjoy baseball, football, hockey, golf and soccer. Our spacious, shaded outdoor patio is a great spot to host birthdays, showers or graduation celebrations.
🦅 🍺 🍷
Talon Tap & Wine 1353 Colorado Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 (323) 274-4369 talontap.com Sun – Mon: 11am-8:30pm Tue – Thur: 11am-9:30pm Fri – Sat: 11am-10pm
The Milkfarm team (left to right): Andrew (Cheese Buyer), Sam (Beverage Buyer), Kelly, Mike, Davey, Alyssa (General Manager), Devra (Lead Trainer)
TERA is spotlighting Eagle Rock small businesses to support our neighborhood’s recovery from the pandemic. For December 2022, we are highlighting Milkfarm and it’s brand new sibling store on Eagle Rock Boulevard, Parchment Paper.
Below is an interview with owner, Leah Park Fierro, and Milkfarm’s general manager, Alyssa Trulson:
What is the story behind Milkfarm? What made Leah want to open a cheese shop in Eagle Rock?
Alyssa: Leah started her career as a pastry chef. After years of baking and working in kitchens, she decided to quit her job, sell everything she owned, and travel the world for a year. During her travels, she visited many European cheese shops (and ate a LOT of cheesy goodies, of course!). Leah returned to LA, and after googling “cheese shops near me”, she found her way to the Cheese Store of Silverlake. One year turned into six; during those six years, Leah dove headfirst into all things cheese, wine, & business. She’d always wanted to own her own business, and a cheese shop seemed like the most natural and exciting avenue! We at Milkfarm focus on American artisanal cheeses and locally made goods (only products that are meant to go with cheese), which is all part of the original vision. Leah wanted to create a neighborhood shop within a smaller community, which led her to Eagle Rock!
How did you come up with the concept of Parchment Paper after Milkfarm? Had you always planned to branch out and do something different?
Leah: Parchment Paper is a concept that we’ve been talking about at Milkfarm for quite some time. A place where you can buy 100% culinary-inspired greeting cards, trinkets, washi tape, kitchen wares, homegoods, and sundries. At Milkfarm, we started with a little cheese-centric greeting card shelf and it slowly morphed over to an entire table full of salami bandanas, cheese plates with mice on them, and a wonderful collaboration with Mister Parmesan to make custom caps and totes with words like “Gouda”, “Ham”, and “Butter”. Over the past 8 years, we’d constantly joke by saying “When we open Parchment Paper, this is going inside…”
Here we are today, finally open!
Parchment Paper is sure to be a invaluable source for holiday shopping and gift wrapping. What are some of your Milkfarm favorites for holiday gatherings and gifts?
Alyssa: Oh man, where do I begin?! We have so many gift-able items here. I think our Boska Fondue Pots make an excellent gift (plus a few hunks of cheese, of course), as they’re perfect for entertaining or for a solo night in. We have a foolproof recipe here at the shop, so be sure to ask us! As for entertaining, we are cheese board building machines these days. We can typically customize a cheese board to your and your guests’ preferences (except for our specific holiday boards). We ask for 24 hour notice for board orders, which gives us ample time to make it beautiful and flawless (we’re perfectionists over here!).
The pandemic has been so tough for local businesses and yet you have not only kept Milkfarm going but also found time and energy to open Parchment Paper. What is your secret?
Leah: The secret is a strong team of dedicated Cheesemongers who believe in the products and the service we offer. There’s no way Milkfarm would have survived without my core crew who have been with me 2-8 years. The pandemic was extremely hard and stressful for my team mentally, physically and emotionally. We would work 10+ hour days, then jump in our cars and deliver phone orders all around town. Alyssa’s watch clocked us at walking 10 miles in the shop, running between the phone, behind the counter, and out to cars for curbside delivery. We washed our hands SO MUCH, that the water damage around our hand sink literally took the hinges of our cabinet door right off! The 1st year of the pandemic was the hardest I (personally) have ever worked in my life, but failing was not an option. I’m extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish and grateful for the team who stuck it out in order for us to be here today. I feel like Milkfarm is stronger and more organized than ever for surviving these past couple of years.
As far as the time and energy to open Parchment Paper? I’m writing this at 11pm on a Sunday night. My days are 20 hours long and I’m surviving on caffeine. HA! Again, the only reason I am able to open Parchment Paper is because my SUPER DUPER AMAZING TEAM is running Milkfarm. The transition and implementation for me to step away from Milkfarm took about a year, but we are here now and I’m thrilled to open another business in the neighborhood that I live in.
🧀 🍷 🦅
Milkfarm 2106 Colorado Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 (323) 892-1068 milkfarmla.com Tue – Sat: 11am-7pm Sun: 11am-5pm (check online for extra holiday hours)
🎁 👩🏻🍳 🦅
Parchment Paper 5054 1/2 Eagle Rock Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 (323) 607-1007 parchmentpaperla.com Tue – Sat: 11am-6pm Sun: 11am-5pm
In a recent television interview on ABC7, Councilmember Kevin de León stated, “If it is my constituents’ decision that I move forward and step down then I’ll accept that.”
TERA—with the broader Eagle Rock community—unequivocally urges that the Councilmember resign. The time has come for him to stand by his word, accept this call, and resign.
Click below to read TERA’s open letter to Councilmember Kevin de León:
As the lead organization behind the Take Back The Boulevard initiative that is focused on Colorado Boulevard, TERA objects to the use of Take Back The Boulevard funds to downgrade the walkability of Colorado Boulevard.
Click below to read TERA’s letter to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation:
TERA is spotlighting Eagle Rock small businesses to support our neighborhood’s recovery from the pandemic. For October 2022, we are highlighting Feverfew, a relatively new Low-Toxic and community-centered hair salon located in a brightly colored building across the street from Eagle Rock Plaza. Owners Lauren and Danny Chaidez are lifelong Southern California residents who met while each were in bands that played shows in former NELA venues, including Mr. T’s Bowl and All Star Lanes.
Below is an interview with Feverfew co-owner, Danny Chaidez:
What is the story behind Feverfew and what made you want to open a hair salon in Eagle Rock?
We ran a pretty successful salon, Stag Hair Parlor, on Melrose Ave for 10 years. We have been long time residents of NELA and during the shifts of 2020 we just couldn’t see ourselves commuting across town any longer. We wanted to be a part of the community we live in. We found our location and decided we would do the rebrand we had been planning for years and take a big risk and start fresh. Feverfew is a flower but it also has some wonderful medicinal properties and can be used to treat migraine headaches and infertility, two things Lauren had struggled with for years. Shortly after opening the salon and closing our first location we were able to conceive our first child.
What do you like best about doing hair?
Human connection. The energy and conversation you have with another person can’t be replaced with technology. Our clients are like family. It’s such an honor to share space with them. Hair is such an incredible medium. Its wearable art. It’s personal.
Could you talk a little about your community giving program and why that is a part of your business?
We are very aware of the backlash communities can have towards new businesses opening and changing the neighborhood. It’s important to us as locals that our community feels we are necessary and want to support our small business and watch us grow. Giving back to local organizations has allowed us to connect with our neighbors on a new level. We feel you have to give to receive and decided it would be a mandatory quarterly contribution moving forward. We also feel that people do like to vote with their dollars and we’d like them to know that aside from keeping our low toxic salon open, they are also helping to donate to causes in need. Our hope its that the community can feel great about who we are and the overall culture of our business.
What is the most memorable haircut that you’ve given?
Lauren has been a hairstylist for nearly 2 decades- that’s a lot of hair! The most recent memorable cut was the first cut she did at Feverfew in late September 2020 for a long time client who was pregnant with her first child. Lauren wanted to make sure she got a big cut before the baby was born and brought in the client before the salon was finished. That motherly energy must have lingered cause exactly one year later Lauren was very pregnant. Our son is just one year and a couple days younger than this client’s son.
🦅 🌼 ✂️
Feverfew 2775 W Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90041 www.feverfewhair.com Tues: 9am-6pm Thur: 10am-8pm Fri – Sat: 10am-6pm
TERA is spotlighting Eagle Rock small businesses to support our neighborhood’s recovery from the pandemic. For September 2022, we are highlighting Max City BBQ, Eagle Rock’s mouth-watering barbecue joint on Eagle Rock Boulevard.
Below is an interview with Max City’s co-owner, Melanie Blair:
What is the story behind Max City? What made you want to open a barbecue spot in Eagle Rock?
We started making BBQ in our back yard in 2008. By 2010 we had our first “real” customer and created a catering business. People were trending away from extravagant, costly parties and weddings, and they saw Max City BBQ as the perfect alternative. BBQ is inherently casual, and a wedding or other event catered by Max City BBQ is simply a better value than a sit-down, coursed, formal affair (if you’re OK with a more casual vibe, of course!).
Our business grew so quickly that we were turning down more jobs than we could accept, due to lack of space, staff and resources. We started construction on the brick & mortar restaurant in Eagle Rock in 2013 opened our doors to the public in 2014. I live just a few minutes away from Max City BBQ and wanted to be part of our community in a more meaningful way. We love being a neighborhood spot for locals and a destination BBQ restaurant for aficionados from all over the country.
What are some must-try menu items for someone who has never visited Max City before?
Brisket. Slow smoked for 16 hours, it is our #1 menu item and we do sell out! Also, our Mac & Cheese is amazing! We’ve been featured in Time Out LA’s best Mac & Cheese multiple times.
How do you feel that Max City fits into the Eagle Rock community?
It has always been our dream to feed people. Jason [Max City co-owner and chef] thrives in the kitchen and I’m happiest when serving a big meal to a crowded table. We love being able to do that for the entire community. Max City is a great place for a casual dinner. It’s super easy to drop in and quickly grab a family meal on your way home from work. We love when there’s a line of folks sitting at our long bar, watching the Dodgers play over fresh smoked ribs and craft beers.
The pandemic has caused so much strain on local restaurants over the past 2+ years. How have you weathered the storm thus far and what are you optimistic about for the future?
The pandemic and its aftermath have been BRUTAL on small businesses, especially restaurants. We’ve had to completely change our business model several times over in the past 2 years. We went from a busy dine-in restaurant with weekly catering events to pick-ups and deliveries only. We expanded our patio space and re-opened to a hesitant public at ½ capacity. And now that we’re finally back to “normal” capacity, the increased cost of food has hit everyone hard. We’ve thrived and expanded in difficult times before. We’re still here. We’re still persevering. And I hope that the value we bring – both with our food and the intrinsic “good fun” nature of BBQ – shines through!
🦅 🍖 🔥 ♨️ Max City BBQ 4729 N Eagle Rock Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 (323) 254-4225 www.maxcitybbq.com Sun, Tues – Thurs: 11:30am-9pm Fri & Sat: 11:30am-10pm Closed Mondays
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