Comments on: cherry blossom festival bringing little tokyo together

By: celia

celia — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:36:24 +0000

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.

By: Marc Caldwell

Marc Caldwell — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:18:31 +0000

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.

By: wonton

wonton — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:21:04 +0000

maybe marc can start his own blog and then get back to us…

By: celia

celia — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:18:03 +0000

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?

By: Marc Caldwell

Marc Caldwell — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:21:10 +0000

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…

By: celia

celia — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:56:38 +0000

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.

By: Marc Loresto

Marc Loresto — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 21:17:02 +0000

tofu fest was awesome! come on rich! thats why we had to end it! haha

By: Rich Alossi

Rich Alossi — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:16:08 +0000

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.

By: Marc Caldwell

Marc Caldwell — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:03:09 +0000

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).

By: Stephen Friday

Stephen Friday — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:46:53 +0000

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.