Ciclavia 2012, around Macarthur Park

L.A., as a city, is known mostly for expensive extravaganzas like the Oscars or the Rose Bowl parade, but I think the city really shines at its "cheap fun", like the LA Marathon and the biannual Ciclavia. People know how to make something out of "nothing".

That's not to say it's "nothing" - Ciclavia is the result of thousands of hours of volunteer work to coordinate the entire event, work with the city to get the streets blocked, and to have attractions along the route. "Thank You" to all the people who make these great things happen!

It looks like May 1, May Day, is, this year, going to morph into a real DIY festival of fun. There are going to be militant labor actions at the airport, a recycling plant, and possibly a strike started by the janitor's union. There are a few immigrant rights marches, a converging series of marches by Occupy LA, with an end-of-day bicycle ride by Critical Mass. Rather than the one or two huge marches, it's an all day event downtown. The logistics are a little weird, but the downtown will probably be shut down due to all this activity, creating a "free space" where people can roam on foot more easily.

Old timers will remember the Street Scene festivals, which nationally are remembered as a giant riot that was spurred on by rumors of the Ramones appearing, or not appearing. What locals remember was the plethora of local talent, ranging from jazz and classical to funk and punk. The lesson is to keep it low-pro, and local, and make it more participatory and less consumerist.

Ciclavia, Great Leap, Cycles of Change by wg2k1

RAC, Revolutionary Autonomous Communities... by wg2k1

Ciclavia, Crossing at 7th and Alvarado by wg2k1

Ciclavia, lowriders by wg2k1

2012 Ciclavia, May 1 General Strike at stoplight by wg2k1

2012 Ciclavia, food trucks by wg2k1