cherry blossom festival bringing little tokyo together
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This Saturday and Sunday is the 7th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival of Southern California.
In Los Angeles, home of every half-assed cultural event under the unforgiving midday sun, festival burnout is commonplace. But with the same forgettable chicken satay, omnipresent Wells Fargo booths, and the glaring lack of real public gathering space, how could we not?
This year’s Cherry Blossom Festival, however, has a lineup meant to set it apart from the rest: Booming taiko drums, a “Hawaiian Village,” martial arts stage, ondo dancing, cultural pavilion with a WWII internment photo exhibit and Japanese art, and the Cherry Blossom Food Court will come together at 2nd and San Pedro and should make for a fun experience.
Just no more satay, please.
Cherry Blossom Festival of Southern California
Saturday-Sunday, April 5-6, 2008
Intersection of 2nd & San Pedro
Free admission
cherryblossomfestivalsocal.org
14 comments
“In Los Angeles, home of every half-assed cultural event under the unforgiving midday sun”
Well, guess not everyone appreciates diversity. If that’s such a blemish on this city, then what other city can have even half as many cultural events? As for the Wells Fargo booths, it’s a necessary evil. These events cost money to organize and produce, and so many of them - run by non profits - have to resort to corporate sponsorship. Or would you rather pay $10 at the gate to go in? Didn’t think so.
The last cultural festival the Militant went to, there was no chicken satay, so you might want to expand your scope a bit.
Sure, not every cultural festival is half-assed. But really, many are. I’d love for them to be a little more imaginative, or they’re just going to end up being wastes of time. Too often you can breeze through these things in ten minutes or less.
And I love the diversity of Los Angeles more than anyone — by far. I just don’t think the street-closure throw-aways are the best way to celebrate the many cultures that call this city home.
“Well, guess not everyone appreciates diversity.”
I’m incredulous at your suggestion here, MA. It would be more intellectually honest for you to make your charge candidly. But, you won’t because there is no evidence to support your accusation.
Rich is simply saying can these events be more engaging and worthy of what is being celebrated. To read anything more into his comments is unfair and invidious.
i can attest that rich appreciates diversity. for chrissake, he even tried ‘gina once and if i remember correctly he licked his bowl clean.
Rich definitely appreciates diversity and culture, anyone who reads this blog should know that. To his defense, many of those festivals are half-assed - you’ve been to one you’ve been to them all.
Still, I’m thankful for what we have.
Which of all the cultural festivals that Los Angeles has are “half-assed”? If you’re going to make such a blanketed claim—and then backpedal a bit in a follow up that actually not ALL, but MANY are—maybe you could own up to what you actually mean. I’m going to assume that those you find half-assed have no cultural connection to your and your family’s culture(s).
Come on, Marc, I never said they were ALL half-assed, but all the ones that are half-assed, you can find here in LA.
And believe me, the tamale festival (I’m latino) is just as bad as the Tofu Festival.
Or maybe I’m supposed to just shut my eyes and not wish for something beyond the mold these festivals have set for themselves.
tofu fest was awesome! come on rich! thats why we had to end it! haha
as someone who judged the best tamales contest at the tamale festival, i can attest that it was… just as rich said it was. don’t get me wrong, overall the tamales were awesome and i loved tasting all 35 entries and still managing to make my dinner reservations later that night, but the festival itself needs help.
O.K., Rich…which of “EVERY half-assed cultural event” is half-assed? I seriously would love to know as I can’t think of one that is “half-assed”. But perhaps we have a different understanding as to what half of an assed cultural festival would look like?
You can wish all you want for something more from these festivals. Be part of organizing one first and then get back to us…
so are you suggesting that only those who have organized a festival can critique it? what about restaurants? only those who have tried to open a restaurant can critique them? what’s next, only those who have run for public office can critique politicians?
maybe marc can start his own blog and then get back to us…
Celia, gosh, to use your analogy, food critics have an education in the culinary arts, world culture, restaurant management, etc. Wonton, never was I criticizing angelic.com, I’m a regular reader, and so I am surprised the life this has taken…
But I am totally belaboring *the issue* now: The festivals of Los Angeles are one of the things that make life in Los Angeles so amazing. I must have a low set of standards as I can’t think of one, of the many I go to every year (which of course is to say I’ve not been to all) that is half-assed.
Maybe I’m reacting to the difficulty that surrounds putting one on and how easy it is for any of us to be a critic. Plus in my perspective it can be a touchy situation when it’s a cultural festival in light of our country’s history with non-anglo cultures.
actually, to use your logic, then you’re saying that rich can’t criticize a festival unless he’s been part of organizing one. take that to its end and you have what i suggested, which is of course, erroneous.
i’d rather have an half-assed cultural festival than not at all, which is why i attend and support as many of them in any way that i can. i agree with you that they are one of the many things that make life in los angeles amazing. that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement, but that’s what i took to be at the heart of rich’s snarky remark.