It is with GREAT sadness that I share the following news with supporters of BloomfestLA. Officially, BloomfestLA will be postponed this summer, according to a LARABA board report at the April 2013 meeting. The decision was made two months after we, event producers Edgar Varela and Melissa Richardson Banks, informed LARABA that we were unable to produce the event this year. There are a multitude of reasons, which we’ve outlined in our official statement below. We don’t know the future of BloomfestLA as it currently stands, but do know that LARABA stated its plans included rescheduling it to the fall (October 16 was mentioned during LARABA’s May 2013 board meeting) and changing the format of what we created, which was a large community festival, that they intend to transform into a series of decentralized music events hosted by local businesses (a streamlined format that we embrace).

LARABA President Joseph Pitruzzelli and Councilmember Jan Perry with BloomfestLA producers Melissa Richardson Banks and Edgar Varela (photo by Rush Varela, 2011)

For updates on BloomfestaLA, visit LARABA’s website. To keep posted on other DTLA events produced by Varela and Richardson Banks, follow @DTLAevents on Twitter or sign up for the Downtown Muse mailing list HERE.

RELATED STORY ONLINE at –> BuzzBandsLA

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM EVENT PRODUCERS: As Arts District stakeholders, one of our shared professional and personal achievements includes proudly producing the 2011 and 2012 BloomfestLA. We are unable to produce this amazing community event again in 2013 for a variety of reasons, including an increase in projects and clients for our own successful full-time businesses, the impact of local construction on the area’s available parking for a large-scale event, and escalating costs of presenting a free community festival on the streets of Los Angeles. For the past two years, we were in a position to donate our expertise and services that resulted in BloomfestLA becoming such a resounding success. Unfortunately, with heavy hearts, we came to realize that it was not the case for 2013. Happily, we know that our legacy to the community is a solid foundation on which others in the community, including LARABA, can carry forward henceforth this year and in the future.

We are so very grateful to the Arts District community, local business owners, artists, residents, volunteers, vendors, performers, sponsors, event staff and suppliers, media representatives, and countless others for supporting our work to help showcase our beloved neighborhood. Most important, we thank the LARABA board for allowing us to join them for the past two years in making a difference in our neighborhood and for transforming what was formerly a small neighborhood party to a widely anticipated citywide community event. We look forward to helping out in the future as we are able and to perhaps identify other ways in which we might work together to benefit residents and businesses in the Arts District. We also encourage those who wish to stay in touch with us as we launch other local events and projects that benefit the community to sign up for our mailing list by clicking HERE.

~ Edgar Varela and Melissa Richardson Banks

The Daily Dose is hosting its first coffee cupping on Sunday, March 10 starting at 10:00 AM (until, according to chef/owner Sarkis Vartanian, everyone gets cranked out on caffeine). Beans imported from all over the world and roasted by Augie’s Coffee Roasters will be featured for this inaugural event by brewmasters Robert Rybak and Austin Amento, who share that “you can drink your coffee any way you like it so long as you ENJOY it … milk, sugar, and honey available in abundance!”

I’m always happy to learn about great things happening in the Arts District, especially when they involve people who have long believed in the neighborhood. Word on the street is that two commercial spaces along 3rd St. were recently acquired separately by long-time business owners.

Factory Place Arts Complex owner HBK Investments confirmed its purchase of the corner building at 707 E. 4th Pl., Los Angeles 90013, which formerly housed Shojikiya Bookstore and offices for Dale K. Ogawa Accounting. According to Matt Klein, the decision on how the space will be utilized is not confirmed as of yet. Since this project is being developed with the assistance of Creative Space (which recently moved to the Arts District), I’m looking forward to whatever is conceived since the firm’s motto is “urban transformation should serve its community” and since HBK Investments is known for recreating amazing spaces. As a side note, let’s also hope that the murals surrounding the property survive the transformation. On the 3rd St. wall, the stunning black-and-white “Celebration of Elephants” mural by artist Damon Martin was created in 2012 to heighten awareness of the plight of elephants with the support of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). On 4th Pl., an otherwise dismal-looking wall was given a much-needed vibrant palette of color and life this past July through an untitled East Coast/West Coast collaboration by artists SEEN and RISK organized by the L.A. Freewalls project.

According to the realtor representing the property, Mosaic Artspace is not renewing the lease for its Arts District location that ends this coming May. The good news is that a local business owner (who asked to be unnamed for the time being) has taken over the lease for use as either office or retail space.

Details on both newly announced ventures will follow as they become available. P.S. Of course, I’m among the many locals eagerly awaiting the Spring 2013 opening of Urban Radish, an eco-conscious grocery store located at 660 Mateo St. owned by residents Carolyn Paxton and Keri Aivazis.

Word on the street is that Zinc Cafe & Market will open its fourth Southern California location in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles during 2013. According to founder and third-generation vegetarian John Secretan, his organic eatery will open late this fall at 580 Mateo St., a building that formerly housed a packaging company, across Willow St. from Handsome Coffee Roasters. Expanding on the aesthetics and menus of other Zinc locations in Laguna Beach, Solana Beach, and Corona del Mar, the Arts District location will start by offering breakfast and lunch only, eventually dinner. It will also offer take-out meal options and retail items through an onsite marketplace. Plans also include having a pizza oven, an afternoon beer garden, and hopefully, a full bar.

Known for using only the finest in-season fruits and vegetables at his cafes, Secretan says, “It’s just how I eat.”

P.S. Why the name Zinc? Apparently, sometimes European corner cafes are called “le zinc,” referring to their zinc-covered tables and counters.

MORE ABOUT ZINC
Stu News Laguna article
Coastline Pilot article
Corona del Mar BID newsletter article