Lafayette Square Evening Stroll, Neon Lights and Frank Lloyd Wright!

By Laura Meyers

1). EVENING STROLL IN LAFAYETTE SQUARE Wednesday, July 13 6-8 p.m. Espresso Cart will be placed on the St. Charles median (Lafayette Square is located west of Crenshaw between Venice and Washington - it is a gated community, so please enter from St. Charles Place)
Please join WAHA in the parklike-setting of Lafayette Square for our July Evening Stroll. As you walk through these tree-lined streets filled with stately Mediterranean residences, you'll discover homes of many prominent early Los Angeles citizens, including theater impresario Alexander Pantages, university founder George Pepperdine, boxer Joe Louis, architect Paul Williams, and Princess Conchita Pignatelli, former society editor for the Herald Examiner newspaper.
As always, the coffee is on the house! Come meet new neighbors and friends, bring the kids and the dogs (on leashes, please) and get a close-up look at one of West Adams' best-known neighborhoods.

2). FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT CONFERENCE IS COMING TO L.A. Volunteers Meeting Sunday, July 10 2 p.m. Olive Hill (Barnsdall Park), 4800 Hollywood Blvd.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy is holding its 2005 conference, "Wright in Hollywood: Frank Lloyd Wright and his Los Angeles Progeny 1917 - 1941," at the historic Biltmore Hotel on Octobebr 19 - 23. Along with the conference itself, there will be a series of architectural tours and events, all as part of "ArchiFest," a month-long celebration of the architecture of Los Angeles. West Adams will host one of these tours, a walk-about Kinney Heights on October 15 (watch these "pages" in the future for more information.)

Many private homes and buildings designed by Wright and other important architects will open their doors for this conference. Volunteers are needed as docents and in other capacities for the conference and its related activities. You'll get an insider's view of all things Wright!
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer is invited to attend an information meeting to be held this Sunday at Barnsdall Park, location of Wright's Hollyhock House and other cultural facilities. There will be signage telling volunteers exactly where the meeting will be held.

Please note: the time (but not the date or location) of this meeting has shifted several times. PLEASE contact Robert Leary if you intend to attend this meeting! 323-732-7767.

3). NEON MARQUEE RELIGHTING CEREMONY Sunday, July 10 5-7 p.m. Union Theater, 1122 West 24th Street (just west of Hoover)
You are invited to the Velaslavasay Panorama Neon Marquee Relighting Ceremony, relighting the sign at the historic Union Theater in University Park. With assistance from CRA and the Neon artistry of Ray Neal and Standard Electric Services, the long dark neon marquee will be lighted again. There will also be a slide show on historic Los Angeles neon by Nathan Marsak. Free.

4). VOLUNTEER FOR THE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW Friday, August 12 4 p.m. Saturday, August 13 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Los Angeles Convention Center (Downtown)

KCET is actively recruiting volunteers to help with logistics for "The Antiques Roadshow," which is coming to Los Angeles on Saturday, August 13.
Volunteers will help in all manner of logistics, from monitoring lines to "triage" (which person goes where). There will be an opportunity for volunteers to have their precious items appraised.

What you need to know to be a volunteer at the Antiques Roadshow:
* You must attend a mandatory training and orientation on Friday, August 12 at 4:00 p.m. at the Los Angeles Convention Center. * Parking will not be validated, so you must pay for own parking ($10.00). * Be physically able to be on your feet for long periods of time.
If you volunteer your valuable time, you:
* Will receive an Antiques Roadshow polo shirt that you must wear at the event * Can have 2 items appraised (sorry, no storage or help available for carrying items) * Will be provided refreshments (light breakfast and lunch)
If you are interested in volunteering, please respond to Marjorie Davenport, Volunteer Coordinator at 323-953-5366, or e-mail: mdavenport@kcet.org, no later than July 15.

5). HOMESTAYS NEEDED FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS
If you have a spare bedroom AND are willing to provide meals (plus some guidance and slight parenting) to a young person, this may be an opportunity for you. Accommodations are needed for foreign students. $750 per month. Call Peter Lownds, 213-386-1634.

6). SUBMIT YOUR NEWS
We welcome your contributions to the WAHA E-News and West Adams Heritage Association's monthly publication, "West Adams Matters." Please understand that we do have deadlines. Material for the print newsletter should be submitted no later than the 1st of the prior month (i.e.: April 1 for the May issue). If your event is scheduled for early in a month, we suggest you request coverage for the prior month (i.e.: May issue for a June 3 event), because it's entirely possible that not all of our members will have received their newsletter by then (we do try hard…). We reserve the right to edit submitted material. For the WAHA E-News, we prefer to only send it out once or twice a month, circa the 5th and the 20th. Please don't wait until two days before an event to let us know about it. It may not be sent out. EXCEPTION: If you suddenly hear of an important city hearing or other public meeting that is important to West Adams, we will endeavor to send out a special bulletin. Submit your material to Laura Meyers, editor, lauramink@aol.com