#244: The Echo Park Time Travel Mart

Whenever You Are, We're Already Then

If you could travel to either the past or the future, which would you choose? I have a weakness for australopithecines named Lucy, so I'd choose the past. Brad is a closet Trekkie and perks up at the mere mention of Armageddon, so I think he'd pick the future.

There's only one place in L.A. that can take you to both the past and the future in one trip: The Echo Park Time Travel Mart. The Time Travel Mart is a convenience store where robots and cavemen can shop side by side for everyday household wares like Mammoth Chunks in a can, Barbarian Repellent, Big Bang in a Jar, and Robot Emotion Chips. All proceeds benefit 826LA, a non-profit organization that supports students ages 6-18 with their writing skills by offering free tutoring and workshops. Dave Eggers and many other influential writers are on the Board of Directors!

The store is small but it's packed full of merchandise. Take the time to browse every square inch of this place--you'll have a laugh and feel good about yourself for supporting a great cause.

The Echo Park Time Travel Mart

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#38: Pehrspace

Photo from radiofreesilverlake

A night at Pehrspace in Echo Park is what I would imagine an art school dorm party to be like: BYOB, small room, and edgy music. There's no sign outside of this nondescript art / music house, so just look for a crowd milling around outside and you're probably at the right place.

If you are a hipster into the L.A. indie music scene, I can safely vouch that Perhspace wins the "Indie-st of the East Side Indie Music Venues" Award.

The first night I went, a guy was performing who can best be described as a one-man-band/rapper/performance artist. By the end of his set, he was on the floor spinning in circles while the crowd (50 people or so) clapped, chanted, jumped in unison, and passed around a stuffed unicorn. Anyone who stepped into the room would have thought we were in a cult. Awesome night.

Pehr Space

#37: Machine Project

Photo from makezine

When I lived in Echo Park, Machine Project was right down the street from my apartment. The first time my friend and I went, we weren't even sure we were at the right place; the space is very unassuming. We hesitated at the door for a second, but the laughter inside lured us in.

For the next hour or so, we caught some delightful free musical performances, poetry readings, and an artsy film that made you say either "Wow!" or "Huh?". We were also entertained by a cool vacuum machine that sucks up your donations and whirls your bill around the room through a series of maze like tubes.

Machine Project is East Side intellectual indie culture at its finest, and I would recommend this place to anyone who is in need of intellectual stimulation. Past classes and workshops included "Make Your Own Pizza Dough," "Beginning Tabla," "Programming Your iPhone 101," "Introduction to Crochet," and "Instrument Invention Workshop". Go with an open mind; you won't be disappointed!

Photo from http://notacornfield.com/farmlab/2007/01/farmlab-salon-mark-allen-of-machine.html

Machine Project