South LA

Riding down Crenshaw Blvd. yesterday, I was surprised to see every single tree had a flyer attached to it.

One of the great things about the rise in riding events in South L.A. and the surrounding areas is that they are starting to take on the feel of a family reunion for me.

It's going to be hot this weekend.

When election seasons heat up, politicians are often quick to assure constituents that they represent Main Street, not Wall Street. But they way they conceptualize of "Main Street" has very little relation to an actual urban Main Street, such as ours. Wouldn't you love to see Mitt Romney getting a bacon-wrapped hot dog from a street vendor? Or stopping in a 99-cent store in the heart of South L.A.? Or Obama popping into the soul food place that bears his tagged-up visage? Where are those photo ops?

"Only a nobody walks in L.A." blared at me as I strolled into the grocery store.

It's been hot lately.

Have you ever stood in front of a piece of public art and thought your experience would be all the awesomer if you had some context for the work? Or maybe you passed by a public artwork every day and it didn't register with you until someone engaged you on questions of its value and meaning?

Change is in the air for CicLAvia, the gigantic car-free party that has changed the way Angelenos think about their streets.  First, the date for this October's CicLAvia V has been moved forward from the original date of October 14 to October 7.  With the city planning to bring a space ship through the streets on the weekend of October 14, CicLAvia obliged the city and space fans by agreeing to move this event to October 7.  The streets will open to bicyclists, pedestrians and all non-motorized road users at 10 am and remain open until 3 pm on the 7th.  Details of the spaceship's parade route have yet to be announced.

Yesterday, the Peace, Love, and Family Ride rolled through South L.A., ably led by the Real Rydaz.