WEST ADAMS : Boulevard to Be Scene of Festival, Art Walk

Eager to expose the little-known treasures of West Adams’ art and club scene, a group of business owners is staging the West Adams Artwalk next weekend.

The event, described by business owner Royce Tarleeb as a community block party, will be held 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days on Adams Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Redondo Boulevard.

Activities will center around Tarleeb’s Black to Jupiter club and the West Adams Multimedia Center at 5170 Adams and Club Fais Do Do at Adams and Redondo.

The family-oriented multicultural event will feature 50 vendors, food, musical performances, poetry and literary readings, and entertainment for children. Saxophonist Cal Bennett will perform at Black to Jupiter after the close of the festival at 8 p.m. next Sunday.

The art walk is sponsored by the West Adams Council, a group of 10 business owners located at the west end of Adams Boulevard who say that too few Los Angeles residents--even those right in the neighborhood--have discovered the presence of artists, studios, music clubs, antique stores and other cultural attractions just off the Santa Monica (10) Freeway.

“We want to draw attention to this part of the city,” said Tarleeb, who is co-chairman of the council along with Club Fais Do Do owner Steve Yablok. “We’ve been talking about doing something like this for a long time.”

Tarleeb said the event grew out of a series of seven weekly meetings among area merchants. Tarleeb, Yablok and others say they are confident that their corner of the district is coming into its own.

Said Tarleeb: “We’re putting our goals down on paper, and we’re doing it.”

Information: (213) 295-0404.