AFRO ALERT: Neighborhood Festivals For Family Fun This Morning!

It's Saturday, Afronauts! For those of you hardcore thespian, film mavens and performance artist types, I'll see you later on. You are probably just rolling over anyway at 10 AM after all the art-magic at DanceCamera West, Los Angeles Film Festival, Grand Performances, Hollywood Fringe Festival, RADAR Theater Festival, and TCG conference. If you want to see how the critics enjoyed some of the work, check out engine28.com for NONSTOP coverage. I kid you not. I went to the REDCAT Lounge after Sheetal Gahndi's "Human Nature" and engine28 was setting up at 9:30. Setting up! I love it. 

But right now, family fun for everyone! Yes! Hustle your bustle to any of these events today and you will be quite happy with yourself. I am headed to Baldwin Hills for the 2nd Annual Parade and festival. They kick off at 11 AM with a giant puppet march! Hope to see some of that. Waedao Sirisook & Michael Sakamoto will be performing, among others, beginning at noon. FREE. Wear your sneakers. It is really a HILL. No disposable water bottles. Bring a reusable bottle. Awesome. 6300 Hetzler Road, Culver City, CA

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In Leimert Park, the first of a two-day Juneteenth Celebration began at 10 AM. My money is on Noon. Their invite recommends you shop for your pop with their vendors and enjoy the music and performances. KJLH is the radio sponsor, so this will be a large event, and according to Leimert ParkBeat, Texan! Have a look at their coverage of last year's event. It will be a great time. Be prepared to walk a bit for this one, too since it is set up in the parking lot for the area, behind the Vision Theater. https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/195755_211294518893999_...

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In Oxnard, CA (yeah, I said Oxnard) their 21st Annual Juneteenth Celebration kicks off at 11 with Ijoya Drum & Dance Ensemble performing at 1:30 

http://gallery.mailchimp.com/76359758f0ac5cc69d920d1ee/images/ROL3.1.jpg Juneteenth Festival

June 18th at 1:30pm
5th street /Plaza Park,  Oxnard

 

What is Juneteenth? Africans who were being held as slaves in the state of Texas did not find out that they had been declared free September 22, 1862 by Abraham Lincoln until June 18th & 19th, 1865. From the wikipedia entry: 

Though Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, it had minimal immediate effect on most slaves’ day-to-day lives, particularly in the Confederate States of America. Texas, as a part of the Confederacy, was resistant to the Emancipation Proclamation, and though slavery was very prevalent in East Texas, it was not as common in the Western areas of Texas, particularly the Hill Country, where most German-Americans were opposed to the practice. Juneteenth commemorates June 18 and 19, 1865. June 18 is the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. On June 19, 1865, legend has it while standing on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa, Granger read the contents of “General Order No. 3”:

So it became quite the celebration, with a parade that always ended with those who had been enslaved closing the parade in a solemn walk. Today, it is a festival that celebrates the tenacity and creativity of people of African descent. 

 

Heading out west to the beach:

The Neptune Festival is being revived. Yo Venice is reporting the rules of engagement and the bar for the after party. This event was an annual parade waaay back in the day, rather segregated judging the photos from Venice Paparazzi's site (they appear to be the organizers), which is odd given who used to live in Venice--historically it had a  black core, though the "Negro beach" was Manhattan Beach. Nonetheless, this event has the modern Venice Vibe on it: free your mind and your backside will follow. Sounds invigorating in that Pacific-Ocean-without-a-wet-suit kind of way.

Venice High turns 100 next weekend! The movie Grease will be projected on the side of Venice High for free sing along. Venice High, on the corner of Venice & Walgrove, was the site for Rydell High in the movie! This will be a complete freakfest of a scene, so come early to stake out your patch of grass. I plan to dance along. Are you interested? http://theopendaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Screen-shot-2011-05-26-at-...

 

And finally, let's go east to Atwater Village, where an up and coming arts colony has taken root along the river. The second Artist Bailout begins today at 3 PM. The Bailout is part of an internaitonal movement of "Soup Kitchens" where artists come together to support ech other's work through an instant micro-grant. The grant is generated by charging a small amount for a bowl of soup $5. The purchaser is then given a ticket to use as a secret ballot for the anonymous project s/he likes the most, which are circulated in advance or posted at the dinner site. I helped itch dance journal's Sarah Wolf run a soup kitchen which was hosted by Nehara Kalev back in 2009. We had  great time. The twist on the Artist Bailout at Atwater Village is that there are only two projects up, and you will know who they are, plus, there are donors for things beyond the soup. This creates a large possibility for the artists who have their work up! Head over to the event today at 3PM. $10 to eat, $5 to vote only. Or, start your own! Atwater Crossing 3191 Casitas Avenues, L.A. CA 90039

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Well, my family has voted down a run to Baldwin Park, so I hope to make it to Leimert Park! Have a wonderful Emancipation Day!