Echo Park / Silver Lake: Attractions and Stuff to do

THE STAIRS OF ECHO PARK

There are over two dozen sets of stairs all over Echo Park, with some dating back to before automobiles and even paved streets. Keep in mind, Echo Park is one of the oldest neighborhoods in all of Los Angeles. Some stairs were built as the only means of pedestrian access for new homeowners in the area. You might want to check some of them out, including the more popular and historic ones, such as:

Music Box Steps/ Music Box Loop: 705 Steps

music box steps

music box steps

Located in Silverlake and separated into parts, famous as the "Music Box Steps" (featured in the 1932 Oscar winning Laurel and Hardy short film) where the guys tried to push a piano up these stairs between Vendome St. and Descanso Drive. It’s the only officially designated set of stairs in Silver Lake.

Baxter Street Stairs: Baxter Street, Echo Park: 231 steps

(on a remote hillside, beginning near 1501 Baxter St. and ending at 2101 Park Drive)

Baxter Street Stairs

Baxter Street Stairs

Known as the steepest staircase in all of Los Angeles, these steps will give you a sweat and getting you huffing and puffing by the time you reach the top but the breathtaking view of downtown will be well worth it…Thanks to their ultra-high vantage point, the Baxter Street Stairs provide some of the most breathtaking views in Los Angeles. Beginning at 1501 Baxter St. and ending at 2101 Park Dr., the 231-step ascent will treat you to views of Downtown L.A., the Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign. If you want to continue your urban hike, there are numerous walking trails at Elysian Park, located across the street.

Though not nearly as famous as the "Music Box Steps" located on Vendome Street (featured in the 1932 Oscar winning Laurel and Hardy short) the Swan Place Steps have a particular notoriety amongst serious exercisers, leaders of scavenger hunts, and a certain sadistic, yet gorgeous, private trainer. Silver Lake and Echo Park are teeming with public staircases nestled into the hills but the Swan Place Steps are perhaps the most difficult to navigate: three levels of aerobic hell. At the bottom of the first level you think to yourself, "No problemo, dude." When you've reached the second level you say, "I can probably do this," and once you look up at the third level you exclaim, "Holy crap!" Please consult your physician before even thinking about walking up these stairs.

Address: Westerly Terrace & Swan Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90026

There are over two dozen sets of stairs all over Echo Park, and in addition to those already listed, we’d like to note a few more worthy of exploration:

Cove Stairs: Allesandro St. to Alvarado St.198 steps

Avalon Stairway: Avalon East Stairway, Echo Park: 192 steps (two blocks away from Baxter Street, starting at 1550 Avalon St. and ending at 1893 Lucretia Ave.)

Landa Stairs: Whitmore Ave to Walcott Way.151 steps

Donaldson East: Echo Park Ave to Princeton Ave.143 steps

Loma Vista East: Allesandro St. to Lake Shore Ave.140 cement steps and 39 wooden steps.

Ewing: Lake Shore Ave to Alvarado St.129 steps

Delta Stairs: Delta to Lucretia Ave. 125 steps

Peru Stairs: Walcott Way to Whitmore Ave.114 steps.

Innes Stairs: Sunset Blvd to E. Kensington Rd.100 steps.

Resource: http://laclimbingthehiddenstairways.blogspot.com/2013/05/staircases-in-echo-park.html

---

The Echo & The Echoplex

Established in 2001 above its sister venue, The Echoplex, The Echo is a 350-person capacity music venue that showcases independent rock acts from near and far, as well as big name performers such as Beck and The Pixies. (It also was the ‘secret venue’ for the Stones’ “50 and Counting” tour dress rehearsal a while back.) The Echo’s entry prices are reasonable, and you can order food at the bar via Two Boots Pizza, which is located next door. Up-and-coming local bands call the Echo stage home for a one-month stint, honing their stage presence and giving various opening acts a chance at the spotlight as well. If you're worried that the night will fill up to capacity, you can RSVP on the Echo website for VIP entry.. Music-lovers flock to this often-jammed duo of clubs for all flavors of indie, dub reggae and electronica.

Resource: Timeout Los Angeles

#happeningneighborhoods #SilverLake #EchoPark #farmersmarket #investor