Results tagged “sunsetjunction”

There might have been a pornstar (or just some naked chick) fingering herself in front of photographers behind the walls of Sunset Junction (link is a video taken from afar), but over in Venice Beach, there was a parade of topless Raëlians protesting the 14th Amendment. Xeni Jardin at boingboing captured some video and describes the group as "a religious cult that basically gets you in the door with promises of free sex, then brainwashes you with a bunch of garbage about UFOs and cloning and giving all your money to the church, hosted a 'topless rights' parade in Venice Beach [on Sunday]."

            

As Sunset Junction Day 2 starts to wind down, everyone gets a relief from the sun with a slight breeze and some cloud cover. Bands like Build an Ark and Arrested Development make the corner of Santa Monica and Sunset Boulavard just a bit more cooler with their east coast brand of funk.

Tonight marks the second night of the 29th year of the annual street fair that we all hold dear to our hearts: the Sunset Junction Street Fair. Legendary San Franciscan psychedelic rock band Jefferson Starship are poised to grace the Greek Theatre for Heroes of Woodstock. And, lastly, LA-based rock outfit the Widow Babies will be ringing in their latest disc at the Echo. But we strongly suggest heading over to Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock to catch Brooklyn-based experimental pop act High Places.

       

Sun-drenched hipsters meet local families as they collide onto Sunset Junction for indie music and danger dogs. Day one photos.

Tonight Nashville-bred alternative rockers Kings of Leon will be taking on the Forum with Athens' own garage rock revivalists the Whigs. Seattle's own alternative rock outfit Harvey Danger will be performing at Largo at the Coronet. And, lastly, Oakland-based pop punk act the Matches will be performing their final show as a band in Los Angeles to a sold-out crowd at the Troubadour. But we strongly suggest heading over to Sunset Junction to catch the 29th year of the annual street fair that we all hold dear to our hearts: the Sunset Junction Street Fair. Local favorites Miss Derringer, War Tapes, Warpaint, Rumspringa, Dengue Fever and Nico Vega will be performing today, as well as prominent, national acts like the Submarines, The Delta Spirit, Islands, Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band, Sa-Ra, Sly & Robbie.

              

As you may have heard, the 29th annual Sunset Junction Street Festival is this weekend. "I've only attended the last three years, and never knew the festival back in [its] free days," says Brad Roberts from Radio Free Silver Lake. "So, frankly, the cost isn't as much of an issue for me as it is for others. The days of expecting a bankrupt state and federal government to provide something as ephemeral as a music festival, are, unfortunately, relics of the past. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself at the last three, all of which introduced me to many of the local bands who are regular favorites of mine. The cultural mix is a Los Angeles specialty and in spite of occasionally resembling a frying pan, everyone seems to really enjoy themselves, the variety of food available is impressive and the atmosphere remains laid back and So Cal."

The loved and hated Sunset Junction Street Festival is this weekend and as part of the deal with the city to get the event permitted was to give free admission for immediate neighbors of the area. Residents must stop by the Tsunami Cafe tomorrow and Wednesday between noon and 7 p.m., present a California's ID or driver's license plus a utility bill proving residence in the blocks surrounding the festival (list below), according to the LA Weekly via the Silver Lake Improvement Association. "Residents who cannot make it to Tsunami Cafe during those times can contact SJNA "no later the Monday, August 17" to make arrangements. SJNA can be reached at sunsetjunction@sunsetjunction.org or 323-661-7771," explains the Weekly.

After nearly a year of grueling and dramatic meetings between Sunset Junction Festival organizers, the city and local neighbors and businesses, the festival will be likely be permitted for August 22nd and 23rd after addressing concerns, according to City Council President Eric Garcetti's office.

As mentioned yesterday, the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council has a motion before them tonight about making the Sunset Junction Street Festival free for all those who live in the three surrounding zip codes. LAist inquired with the post office on how many deliveries are made in the zips and here's what they told us:

Unless Sunset Junction Festival organizers address local resident concerns and businesses, the festival is unlikely to be permitted by the city. So far, the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, who represents the area at a grassroots neighborhood level, has voted against the festival in its entirety. For their meeting tomorrow, the agenda (.pdf) lists has a motion for consideration that seeks to alleviate some of those concerns:

Even with big name acts like Conor Oberst and Built to Spill announced by the Sunset Junction Festival organizers this week, it doesn't mean the festival is happening. "We've asked the organizers to come back with a written proposal that addresses the concerns raised by local residents and businesses," said Julie Wong of Councilman President Eric Garcetti's office. "If they don't, it's unlikely they will be permitted." But imagine they do get permitted, here's more of the line-up: Nico Vega, Nortec Collective, War Tapes, Arrested Development, Rumspringa, Warpaint, Miss Derringer, Gran Ronde, Fool's Gold, Local Natives, Nico Stai and Love Grenades. Add to that this rumour: "I’m also hearing that ’60s proto-punks the Sonics are on board to play the festival," says Kevin Bronson on his blog Buzz Bands. (thanks to torrmoz for the tip)

A special Silver Lake Neighborhood Council meeting scheduled for tomorrow night will focus on the controversial Sunset Junction Festival. A board member from the non profit festival's producer, the Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance, will make a presentation addressing changes for this year's fete, set for the weekend of August 22nd. Among other nitty gritty detail that community members have concerns about, they will discuss parking problems and the wristband/handstamp policy that in the past has sometimes left employees at local businesses paying to get into the festival to access their jobs. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at Micheltorena School Auditorium and the council hopes the public will join them. The meeting's full agenda is embedded below:

Not content with how the organizers of Sunset Junction have handled themselves over the past few years, two business owners are sending around a petition to make the festival go away.

An e-mail sent out from an online ticketing vendor today advertised this year's Sunset Junction, but city officials say no street closure and event permits have been granted to the festival. TicketWeb lists admission for the popular and longstanding event at $15 each day for August 22nd and 23rd confusing attendees who thought the festival was gone or should be free of charge.

At a meeting last night of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, the board voted to "oppose the Sunset Junction Street Festival in its current format [i.e., fees, street closure location, etc]," reports the LA Weekly. Of concern is that festival organizers are not working with the community and businesses affected by the popular and well-attended event, which is scheduled for August 22 and 23 this year.

              

SantaCon happens once a year in cities all around the world with Santas coming out in all manner of Santa Claus dress and celebrating the holidays in their own way...usually with a crazy-long barhop. This year's L.A. SantaCon kicked off on Saturday at Echo Park. It started at 1pm and promised to run through 2am. The Santas were going to tie one on in a major way: 11 hours of drinking and many stops. Since I'm a wussy Santa, I only stayed through the first two stops. Hey, the sleighs got a late start and I had places to be.

"It's like your invited to the party but you have to stay in the bathroom," explained Gareth Kanter, owner of Cafe Stella and the properties at Sunset Junction (the red ones like Intelligentsia and The CheeseStore of Silver Lake). As the festival was in progress north of Sanborn St., south of it, where Kantner's and a plethora of other businesses are located, was empty with no booths, stages or any kind of festivity, even though it was blocked off and considered festival grounds. Kantner compared his side of the festival to the movie "I Am Legend."

                                   

Today: The Henry Clay People, Gram Rabbit.

As the postal worker delivered mail yesterday to businesses along Sunset Blvd., he apologized to Joe Keeper of Bar Keeper for not delivering mail on Saturday. He said that Sunset Junction Street Festival security and staff would not let him inside the festival, even with his USPS issued ID and uniform, to deliver mail to the businesses, according to Keeper.

      

Yup, one week after the big police bust, they're back (first three photos).

As with years past, the Sunset Junction Street Festival has been somewhat of a contentious point between the community and well, let's face it, the small part of the community that puts this event on.

Snow & Voices, Facts About Funerals, Name of the Moon @ Spaceland

     

There are more photos to come soon by Koga, but here's some of what happened on the Bates Stage yesterday, which was booked by Spaceland.

Naturewell will host their grand opening next week, but they're offering free samples this afternoon, they said earlier today as they prepped their signs and storefront.

Malo has created a special drink for this weekend's festival called the Sunset Junction Margarita ($8). Made out of El Jimador, Cointreau, a simple syrup and lime juice, it's got a quite a nice spritzy and refreshing kick to it and soothes your quench for thirst (and alcohol) easily. Additionaly, they have some very good specialty cocktails).

     

It's about 85 degrees here in Silver Lake and the streets of Sunset Junction are starting to fill with music and the fans that love it. Here are some shots from this early afternoon as things were getting started.

For the past three years, public transit has been our guiding way to the Sunset Junction Street Festival. To try to find reasonable parking is just not very realistic. Still, we've felt alone on the subways and buses when en route to the fest. There's maybe only a handful of people with us heading to or from the event (one LAist friend asked us if hipsters hate public transit? Now that's a debate, if ever).

This weekend is one of Los Angeles' most popular and well known music festivals out there. Sunset Junction takes place both on Saturday and Sunday.