A Hot, Hot L.A. Summer

Gotta get out, gonna get out, haveta get outta my . . . head. It’s easy for us L.A.’ers to cocoon ourselves within our cars, within our homes, within our frantic desires for fame, fortune and material objects. Sometimes you’ve just got to break the “work to be free” rut you’re in.

Getting out of town can only help one appreciate coming back. As this article heads to the printing press, me and my best pal, Ryan, are heading to New Orleans in hopes of recharging our batteries. We’ll be driving back west, perhaps passing through Long Beach just in time for the 12th Annual Cajun and Zydeco Festival at Rainbow Lagoon Park.

I’m curious to see how L.A. Cajun holds up to the real Cajun. And what better way to shake off those bucket seat blues than dancing to some zydeco?

But if you can’t get outta town, you can still get out of your own private Idaho and explore new towns within our big town, just as steeped in culture and savory as Cajun jambalaya. For starters, I think I’ll explore my new ‘hood, Los Feliz (Spanish for “The Happy”).

In June, there’s the Los Feliz Village Street Fair. Maybe I’ll actually see one of my reclusive neighbors walking on the street. Can you imagine? And if you’re going to the annual Lotus Festival at Echo Park in July, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair. For the follically challenged, lotus leis are recommended.

Beautiful flower arrangements and beautiful people of eclectic skin tones merge during this two-day fest. Don’t miss the dragon boat races across the lake. But on the top of my must-be-there-or-be-square list is the Sunset Junction Street Fair this August in Silver Lake, my old ‘hood. (I haven’t missed one in the past 10 years.)

Maybe the theater group Fabulous Monsters will be appearing at the local creative watering hole, Glaxa. Don’t miss this festival of fun rides, fun food and even funner people. Everyone comes out of the woodwork. Straights, gays, families, leather men and local clergy come together in this multicultural love fest as they listen to live music and dance their fannies off. And what a treat, all the above is absolutely free.

Since most of my friends are in the arts, at least once a week I’ll trek off to a local theater or performance art space. And although it’s not free, it warms the cockles of my heart to know my patronage supports these spaces, most of which survive on shoestring budgets. But if you can drag a friend along, maybe they’ll pay.

I’ll be sitting front row center for Michael Sargent’s “Steel Town,” co-starring Leena at the Actors’ Gang in Hollywood. Leena must be seen to be believed. And, of course, it’ll be easy to get a gaggle of groupies to the Cast Theatre for the premiere of Justin Tanner’s new play, “Coyote Woman.” That should be a howl.

And I’m not missing “Melody Jones” at Theater/Theater. (Sadly, developers will soon be tearing down the building; hey, that’s theater in an industry town.) But, sigh of relief, they plan on relocating. And it doesn’t get much funner than the Uncabaret at LunaPark. Hosted by the inimitable Beth Lapides, you can see the likes of Taylor Negron on stage. In the past, I’ve laughed so hard, I’ve become incontinent. The staff is very understanding.

Summer, schmummer! I’ve got some work to do. As part of the A.S.K. Common Ground Festival for 1998 at Macgowan Hall, UCLA, artists such as Rachel Rosenthal & Co., Chris Wells, myself and others will be presenting new works each night of the week. It all culminates with a big party on June 28.

And, yes, it’s all free and open to the public beginning promptly after the premiere of my new piece titled “Dirt.” (A shameless plug.) Other performance art events I wouldn’t miss are LACE’s 20th anniversary benefit on July 30 at the Hollywood Athletic Club. And Beck and Al Hansen’s “Playing With Matches” at the Santa Monica Museum of Art sounds like a hot time.

And it can’t get much hotter than Annie Sprinkle in “Her Story in Porn: From Reel to Real” at Highways Performance Space (June 18-28). It’s just too darn hot. To cool myself off, I’ll head downtown with a friend and grab a seat outside the Watercourt in California Plaza--yet another free event. I’m especially looking forward to Diavolo Dance Theater, July 10-11.

And what better way to break outta a summer rut than with live music under the stars. I’m talking about the Hollywood Bowl for the Gipsy Kings as well as “Tango Magic.” It’s great having a box, but it’s just as much fun sitting way up on the hill with a couple of friends, sipping bubbly, letting the music wrap itself around us like a warm blanket. Que romantica!

Sounds like an eclectic, spicy brew is bubbling in Los Angeles. I can’t wait to get back home. Oh, L.A., you’re one hot, saucy town when it comes to summer.