hey there folks~ WHOOT!
so here we are in Los Angeles! serious.
ECO VILLAGE, LA
we arrived here Friday afternoon after a funny night in the middle of nowhere, the Lost Hills. the drive into the city wasn't as crazy as we expected. we found our oasis the Eco Village, in Korea Town. the Eco Village is amazing. kind of like a communal house, 1920's colonial style with a courtyard in the centre. (www.laecovillage.org/) the people here have been great. we have been staying in an area of the Village, like our own apartment. we have two balconies looking out on the street. the courtyard is a lovely garden, with chickens. actually they are still chicks but will soon live in the courtyard. there are two very tall and big avocado trees. taller than the roof. !!
Lois & Tara, Somerset & Aurisha & Joe who live here have been really excellent. THANKS!
THE BIG LEBOWSKI RIDE - Fuck It Dude
okay this was the name of the ride. we came to LA to go on this ride and to perform. the ride was in the theme of the Big Lebowski (film by Coen Brothers). part of regular rides by the Midnight Ridazz, there were about 300-400 people. it was a long fast ride all over LA. really it was busy streets and scenery that all looked the same. the folks we met were great and the Clettes were the main attraction, after the Dude that is, and people had no idea what to expect from us.
we performed in the back of a community centre outside. the show was going so well until we saw lights on the hill and a cop over the PA telling us to ride on. (we were in the park after hours). the cops gave us 5 minutes and we performed one more number. as we started into Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake a cop chopper came circling down on us with spot light and all. An LAPD cop CHOPPER!!! For friggin real....
So the chopper circled over head as we pack up and rolled. we were freaked and laughing our heads off.. the LA PD. quote from audience member "we really appreciated how the chopper lights lit up Sexy Back" and one from our own, Leanne "i think the [LAPD] chopper really upped our street cred".. so as the cops ushered us out of the park we all rolled over to Shatto Lanes to bowl. in true Dude fashion, we donned sweet bowling shoes and bowled.
it was an epic night. so fun.
SATURDAY in LA
so today we woke after little sleep, ate some pancakes and then performed for the Eco Village residents. our show Friday night on the ride was late and not accessible for all to see, so we rocked it out on the street for the Eco Village and neighbours, about a dozen or so people. "car retraining" as autos had to wait for us to finish or slowly go around. afterwards we rolled on and checked out the Bike Kitchen (www.bicyclekitchen.com) and Orange20. Aurisha & Somerset (from Eco Village) are both involved in the Kitchen. cool to check out another community bike shop, which started in a room at the Eco Village.
a crew of us set off for Venice Beach. we had two local guides, friends of the Clettes. it was a long 1.5 hour ride out to the beach. Venice Beach!! we cruised the strip, got our fortunes told, watched some amazing Venice Beach roller skate dance posse. they were amazing! some of the girls went and giggled at the weightlifters at Muscle Beach and others rolled out to Santa Monica. a good day at the beach.
and here we are....
back at the Eco Village, eating and packing up to head north. sadly we are parting ways with Bini, our great road tripping partner in crime. she has been with us a week and it was been fun as she's really helped us out, making us yummy food and making us laugh. we are driving out early to make it to San Luis de Obispo for a morning show at a Bike Swap.
LA you have been an experience. we are happy to roll out and see some more of California.
- Fish
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3 comments:
Oh my goodness! I'm reading all the blog entries and it sounds sooooo lovely!
It also sounds like you ladies are doing a good turn for Vancouver, representing the best parts of this area to the rest of Cascadia.
I'm astounded that there are so many simultaneous breakouts of awesome bike and community culture in all those towns and cities -- you just have to look in the right places -- it's like it's an evolution whose time has come!
Anyhow, I'm in total seclusion here from my usual peers, including y'all, all of whom are not in town most of this week.
Missing you all is just made more sharp by reading about the awesome people and places you're all encountering. Part of me wishes I could be there too, and the other part of me knows it had to be this way for the sake of my mental health. (I've been doing very well these past few days -- even got out to midnight mass and to say hi to Conrad -- but I swear: even though my body has been here since August 1st, I only feel like I "arrived" in Vancouver yesterday.)
PS - It was me. I totally tipped off the LAPD. Sorry 'bout that.
PPS - Crank it up to ELEVEN!!!
Thanks for coming to LA.
If you don't mind I posted some videos of your performance last night on youtube including the one under the LAPD lights.
B:C:Clettes in L.A.
thanks again for coming and performing. your performance was excellent in all its bike form and it definitely makes me want to visit vancouver later this month.
my brother and i both were amazed at the size of the ride and the amount of enthusiasm that everyone had. we definitely hope to make the next one even more grand.
good luck, ladies.
abe
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