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For us there is no better LA street fair than the Sunset Junction annual event in the Silver Lake stretch of Sunset Blvd. One can enjoy eating chicken on a stick and drinking a beer while peoplewatching the hipsters, the kids, those of alternative lifestyles, and the random tourists who don't really know what they've stumbled into. The volunteer "donation" is now a hard $15 admission, but for all the good music, good food, and fresh air, it's pretty hard to beat. Tonight's highlights include a rare set by LA's own Redd Kross, along with sets from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Eels, The Elected, Millie Jackson, and Ashford & Simpson among others. Don't forget your sunscreen!
Smokey Robinson @ Greek
The Blasters @ Vine Street Lounge
Aimee Mann, Jenny Lewis, The Mountain Goats @ Royce Hall
The Sound of Animals Fighting @ House of Blues
Richie Havens @ The Troubadour
Scary Kids Scaring Kids @ Key Club
Aloe Blacc @ Amoeba
Air Supply @ The Canyon
Sean Hayes @ Largo
Mick Flower @ The Smell
Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys @ Safari Sam's
Just a Theory, Blue Sky Reality, Innocent Korruption @ Roxy
Bad Kitty, AWOL, Smooth Operator @ Lighthouse Cafe
Sky Parade, The Moon Upstairs, The Antarcticans @ Spaceland
The Little Memphis Blues Orchestra (Taylor Hicks' original band) - Viper Room
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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, it's the first year for a 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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So ironic to see a couple of articles on gentrification in the laweekly during the same week of sunset junction. Anyways, the "street" festival has turned into some sort of mini monster coachella. I don't think I can stomach watching early 20 something chick with oversized shades and an urbanoutfitters purchased cbgb T with pre-shredded sleeves walking around with thier digital cameras taking pics for the flickr picture blog. Think I will pass on SJ from now on.