Word from the Street*

Edited from Joel Bloom memorial organizers:

Just wanted to let you know some event info. "Tom and Katy" are throwing a party for the Beckhams and 500 of their closest friends at the Geffen –– at the same time of The Memorial Event (3pm). That means STREET CLOSURES for those of you trying to get to the Arts District. Affected Streets will be:

Judge John Aiso  (Temple to 1st Street)

1st Street (Alameda to Judge John Aiso)

Temple (Judge John Aiso to Alameda)

Alameda ( Temple to 1st Street)

Central ( Traffic to be diverted from 2nd since 1st will be closed)

 

These closures will be in effect from 11:00am Sunday until 3:00 am Monday

 

Please check your maps, and make alternative routes.
For Mapquest address, use Bloom's General Store at 716 Traction Avenue, Los Angeles,90013

* I re-arranged this post from the afternoon to give the pertinent information first. I may have been caught up in how this community was feeling the last few days. A slightly edited version of "the bottom line" is after the jump:

 

                         

Pictured is Tom, a former Art District resident who once lived in the Americana Hotel that houses Bloom's General Store. He was in the South Side of Chicago in 2005 when the White Sox won the World Series, and brought home evidence of victory for a friend. He brought framed newspapers shouting headlines "SOX WIN" and they still hang on the walls of the general store.  He's wearing a t-shirt made for the day of services in memory of Frankie Arana, smartly designed by street artist "Mr Cartoon". Tom also sports a Route-66 tattoo on his arm that was inked after a group motorcycle run to Arizona that included the late Frankie.

He was out from New York for a job when on July 12 his friend Frankie was struck by a drunk driver while riding his custom bike on the 101 near Highland. The next day, Joel passed away from a long fight from cancer. Yesterday, Tom slipped away from the memorial being held at the local boxing gym for Frankie to write in the sidewalk in front of Bloom's "Hey Hey, Good-Bye"; the tribal song heard at White Sox games. Frankie spent time at Blooms as well.

A neighborhood isn't created just by opening a supermarket or building a loft condo that promises artistic inspiration.

It's made by people who make a community active, sharing ideas, planting trees, and the occasional bout with City Hall, MTA, LAPD or a developer. And many of those paths have crossed at what is Joel Bloom Square.

I met Eric's father and mother Thursday across the way from this corner, and I saw how he turned out to be who he is.  I told them about my father (and mother)  who for 50 years has been active in their own neighborhood and still do it with enthusiasm.

Tomorrow, July 22, the Arts District, Little Tokyo, the City of Los Angeles, LAPD, and other friends of Joel Bloom will together celebrate a life. In a way, it's about all those who passed in and through the Arts District, and those who influence them.

And I just called my parents to invite them. I want them to meet the people of Downtown I have come to know. It's a tribe worth knowing.

EF/repost/