3rd Annual Armenian Festival Today & Tomorrow in Laguna Hills!

Here's an event that you probably shouldn't miss: an Armenian Festival in the OC! The festival, now in its third year, features food, dancing, arts and crafts, merchants, and other fun stuff!

Have a look at their photo gallery to get an idea of what to expect.

I'm no way affiliated with the festival, but it sounds like a fun way to spend one's weekend.

Here are the essentials:
Date & Time: October 13, 12PM to 10PM and October 14, 12PM to 8PM.
Address: 25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills
Phone: 949-309-2900
Admission: $3, 12 and under free.

For more information, check out the website: ArmenianFestival.org

Yerevan & Los Angeles Become Sister Cities!

Also known as twin cities, this link provides mutually beneficial interactions.

The twin cities agreement between Yerevan and Los Angeles will give an impetus to further bilateral cooperation, Los Angeles Mayor Anthony Villaraigosa stated...

In his speech, Villaraigosa stressed Armenia's valuable contribution to the development of Losd Angeles as a city of many nations and cultures. In his turn, Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharyan pointed out that the agreement envisages closer cooperation in high technologies, public management, economic, cultural and educational relations.

I only wish this meant that we could exchange food simultaneously between the two cities. Nothing beats Armenian food!

Source: Arka

New "Armenian Town" Being Built in California

It seems that there was some problem by other news outlets in translating this release correctly. The few that I saw made it seem that a city was being built by Armenians for their sole inhabitation! Here are the facts:

The 10-acre redevelopment project is becoming reality as the first building rises from an area once filled with the modest homes of Armenian immigrants. This will be the new home of Fresno's 5th District Court of Appeals. It will also be the anchor of the 'Armenian Town' redevelopment project, envisioned as a mix of office and retail, as well as public open space and parking.

Jeanette Jurkovich, Friends of Armenian Town, says, "Cities across America embrace old and new development. They know it's not an either/or." Jurkovich says these five homes from the old Armenian Town were to become part of this project. Jurkovich says this area on the 10 acre site across from the Armenian Church would create a bridge from the past to the present. And once restored, could become home to retail, restaurants or art galleries...

So you see, it's merely a re-development project. The reason it was called "Armenian Town" was because of the large number of Armenian immigrants who settled there. In fact, William Saroyan grew up near there in Fresno!

Source: PanArmenian