Every year the Sunset Junction Street Fair comes around and every year I feel its pull of its music, food and people but then dismiss it. Too far, too crowded, too much stress. It’s easy for me to dismiss since I live in West L.A. but now that my friend Julie has opened up my eyes to the urban artsiness that is Echo Park and Silver Lake, I’m inclined to check this year’s street fair out. Plus she has her circle of friends and their hangouts and parties AND free, convenient parking, so how can I resist?
From AOL City Guide:
Sunset Boulevard, one of LA’s busiest arteries, is closed to traffic and transformed into a neighborhood playground for all ages and persuasions, from Latino families to Asian drag queens, from Silver Lake scenesters to nouveau bohos.Â
This year’s two-day affair promises music from the likes of Ashford and Simpson and Hank Williams III. I know. Huh? I kid. There will also be the freaky stylings of the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Eels, The Cramps and The Elected.
It’s summertime and all of L.A. turns out for this shindig. Enjoy the food, enjoy the local vendors, get yourself some local art, ride the ferris wheel, and people watch to your heart’s content.
PS: Visit my friend at the Yelp! booth. Hi, Stephy S.! Apparently they’re giving out Yelp sticks, whatever THAT is. But it’s freeeeee!
EVENT: SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 to SUNDAY, AUGUST 27 from 10am to 11pm
Tickets: $12, $15 after 4pm
3600 – 4400 Sunset BoulevardSilverlake, California 90027 (323) 661-7771
Somebody’s been listening to Schoolhouse Rock.
Yeah. And? ;)
You’re going east of the 101?
Sure! I’ve been venturing there a lot lately.
well maybe I’ll see you this weekend.
“And?” Is that really proper use of a conjunction?
I sent this email to the organizers of SJ Street Fair and a bunch of friends. Most have written the organizers in disgust of this year’s admission charge. Not to mention, the embarrassing idea of the VIP lounge
– dino dinco
Feel free to forward it:
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Shame on the organizers (and the sponsors) of Sunset Junction for continuing to use the motto: “To live in harmony with our neighbors,” while charging a mandatory $ 12 – 15 admission fee.
From the festival’s launch, the Street Fair for many years was a true community event, open to all, regardless of income, and a noble attempt to bring harmony between the gentrifying neighbhorhood with the long established Latino community, including the gangsters who resided there. The gays, the gangsters, the gay gangsters, the hipsters, and plenty of stroller-pushing family units let their collective hair down, ate some grilled corn, got drunk on draft beer, rode carny-staffed rides and listened to indie bands or danced in one of the several dance areas. The admission was typically a “suggested donation” usually around $ 5 – 8, yet a donation still. It was the event where you saw friends you’ve had for over a decade – or met new friends, and their friends. It was the annual event you didn’t think was really possible – gays & heteros of all colors, the poor, the monied, junkies, trannies, 12-steppers, lawyers, couples, the waitresses from Millies, singles, nuns, your ex-boyfriend, your new wife, homegirls making out with nerds, rock stars, kids, gangsters trying to still flex some muscle, movie stars, the guy who hung out in front of Cafe Tropical with the fucked up guitar, people visibly ill from HIV / AIDS, the Silver Lake Walker, that guy who was in the movie you just saw at the Vista….They were all there and you thought, “This is why I’m in Silverlake.”
Smells like this $ 12 – 15 admission fee is an accurate reflection of how Silver Lake is headed and the organizers of the festival should be looking for another motto. Something like “To live in harmony ONLY with our neighbors who can afford it. But definitely not the rest of you. This is the new Silver Lake. Another ‘hood of exclusion.”
I’m sending this to the organizers of Sunset Junction. If anyone feels the same, feel free to write them at:
SunsetJunction@SunsetJunction.org
Dino Dinco
A resident of Silver Lake for 13 years
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I heard about the VIP lounge and thought that was weird to have for laidback Sunset Junction. Makes it seem like the Hollywood scene is encroaching on the Junction.