Help Keep Cultural Creative Space HM157 Alive

We first visited HM157 -- Historical Monument #157 on the California Historical Landmark list -- in 2011 (check out our post here). The aging Victorian house in Lincoln Heights that has become the home to quirky music shows, art showings, movie screenings, discussions and other events. But now it's in trouble.

"It's so or die for HM157," the organization says. "We must become a sustainable organization. In the interest of continuing our commitment to nurturing artists & showcasing the arts.. we have embarked upon the challenging process of becoming a non-profit... for we are far to legit to quit... we will not go the way of the DIY-nasaurs."

To celebrate its 5th anniversary as a DIY community creative space, HM157 is holding a "Mega Extravaganza" this Saturday, July 20, from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. The nonprofit donation is $20. Kids are welcome. It's a fantastic space, check it out as performers do their thing all afternoon and evening!

HM157
3110 N Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90031

CicLAvia Returns to L.A. In April; Launches Kickstarter Campaign

One of our favorite local events, CicLAvia, returns to the streets of L.A. on Sunday, April 15, once again shutting down 10 miles of L.A. streets for biking, playing, strolling and enjoying the city. But CicLAvia also needs our help. The event has launched a Kickstarter campaign in an effort to raise $12,000.

“People love CicLAvia because it is incredibly fun, and there is a sense of camaraderie and community that is rare for a city as large and diverse as ours,” says Aaron Paley, CicLAvia’s co-founder and executive producer. “Los Angeles is undergoing a transformation, and CicLAvia gives people a chance to enjoy the benefits of the city’s improved walkability, public transit, and vibrant street life while also changing how we use our streets on a daily basis.”

CicLAvia's Kickstarter account can be found here. And we hope to see you out on the streets next month -- the Franklin Avenue Crew will be there! Here's the map for the April 15 event:

Get a Taste of L.A. and Help a Good Cause

Yesterday we mentioned the No Cookie Left Behind bake sale, which benefits Share Our Strength. Also this Sunday in Culver City, the annual Taste of the Nation Los Angeles will raise funds to help end childhood hunger in Los Angeles and across the country.

Participants include Jose Andres of The Bazaar at SLS, Mary Sue Milliken of Border Grill and Ciudad; XIV’s Michael Mina; Fred Eric of Tiara Café; Ben Ford of Ford’s Filling Station, Erin Eastland of Cube Café and Marketplace, Animal’s Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, Grace and BLD’s Neal Fraser, and many more.

Some info on the day's events:

On-stage cooking demonstrations by Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger and Michael Mina of XIV; a “Mole Cookoff” hosted by food critic Jonathan Gold; special appearances by Food Network TV personalities; a VIP area and exciting live and silent auctions. Chef Nancy Silverton of Mozza will be honoured at the event for her outstanding contributions to nutritional education and philanthropy.

Taste of the Nation Los Angeles takes place at Culver City’s Media Park on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. General Admission is $125; more info at www.tasteofthenationla.org.

Bake Sale-A-Palooza

It's apparently bake sale season, or at least it seems. (Hey, nothing wrong with that!)

This Sunday marks the return of No Cookie Left Behind, which is once again part of Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale. (Share Our Strength focuses on ending hunger -- and proceeds from the Great American Bake Sale go toward fighting childhood hunger here in the U.S.)

Blogger Tannaz, who is organizing the event, sends us details:

Our bake sale will take place a week from Sunday, at SCOOPS Ice Cream Shop in East Hollywood, from 2 to 6 pm. This year, in addition to delicious sweets prepared by home bakers, we're also really excited to feature baked goods provided by Lark Cake Shop, CakeMonkey, Kiss My Bundt Bakery, Spork Foods (vegan!), Laurel Avenue Bakery, Whisk LA, Taste on Melrose, and more! We've also got small-batch jams (strawberry balsamic with rosemary and blood orange marmalade are two of the varieties) and handcrafted No Cookie Left Behind onesies (because onesies are adorable).

More info can be found at the No Cookie Left Behind Facebook page.

:: Another Bake Sale/Fundraiser takes place at the VIE boutique on 3rd (next to Quality) on Saturday, June 20 starting at noon.

The fundraiser is for rocklovepeace -- a small, green, women owned company.

"We believe one person can make a difference but sometimes is overwhelmed by where and how to begin. Our goal is to create those starting points with every project and product we produce," the organizer emails. "VIE is an awesome eco boutique that is sadly closing and having an all store sale, so come get great deals and yummy baked goods."

More details here.

Charity Bake Sale: As If You Needed A Good Cause To Enjoy Some Sweets, But Here's One

L.A. blogger Tannaz fills us in on the second annual No Cookie Left Behind bake sale, which is part of Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale. She writes:

This year's offerings include banana caramel cake, homemade chocolate peanut butter cups, chocolate Guinness cake, cupcakes by the dozen, lemon bars, zucchini bread, sweet almond bread, a wild mushroom tart, many mini banana bread loaves, Spork Foods vegan cookies, Paulette macarons, Lark Cake Shop cakes, and much, much more.

What's even better, the event takes place at our beloved Scoops.

As you can see, it takes place this Saturday from noon to 4. Scoops is at 712 N. Heliotrope (off Melrose, next to L.A. City College).