Many non-profits are hurting for funding right now, including a wonderful, local after-school program where a few TACO contributors have worked and met. Inside Out Community Arts offers a free nationally-awarded after-school arts program to junior high students across our city at schools like Drew, Nightingale, Holmes, Clay, and Carver, among others, in addition to joining with programs like A Place Called Home and its own Neighborhood Arts Program in Venice, where some of you probably skate on the Lincoln half-pipe or have seen that purple REVOK piece. I.O. also has a mentoring program and several upstart programs for high school students. Unfortunately, due to the drying up of funds in the aftermath of Goldman-Sach’s big swindle, Inside Out is currently facing severe cuts, threatening the programs it offers free to kids. The organization is doing its best to raise a needed $28,000 to continue offering its programs, which were awarded with the “Coming Up Taller Award” from the White House.

Juvenile crime and violence triple in the after-school hours and the dropout rate for students involved in regular arts programs is 90% lower than the general population. Not only are those hours the most critical ones to the success of young people , but this writer has personally witnessed phenomenal transformations in the talented youth of Los Angeles through Inside Out’s free workshops, field trips, events, and theater performances, just as I’ve seen adult artists grow through its support network. We are currently trying to get $10-$20 donations from as many people as possible towards the kids’ involvement in the L.A. Marathon. If the arts, youth education, and the future of our city are important to you, please consider making a donation to a very important program though the student’s Marathon Page. Thanks!

“The World’s Shortest Railway” has re-opened after nine years of repairs and restructuring after a fatal accident. Above and below, historic pictures of Angel’s Flight from the UCLA archives.

1962

1955

In yet another example of how dangerous it can be to walk in LA, The AP reports:

A Swedish hip-hop artist who ran down and killed a man at a Hollywood crosswalk was sentenced Thursday to 15 years to life in state prison. David Moses Jassy, who also uses the name Dave Monopoly, was sentenced in Los Angeles County Superior Court for the Nov. 23, 2008, death of John Osnes.

Judge Michael Johnson denied defense motions for a new trial and to reduce Jassy’s second-degree murder conviction to manslaughter.

“In my mind, there is no question that this is a murder” and Jassy “deserves every bit of punishment,” the judge said.

Defense attorney Alec Rose said he planned to appeal the sentence.

Osnes, a 55-year-old musician and pedestrian activist, banged on the hood of Jassy’s rented sport utility vehicle after it nearly struck him in a Hollywood crosswalk, prosecutors said.

Jassy got out, punched Osnes in the face and then gave him a brutal kick in the head as he bent to pick up his glasses so that he toppled to the ground, prosecutors said.

OPA!
L.A.’s ONLY Gypsy-spiced International Dance Party returns on February 25th, bringing you the best in Balkan Brass, Psychedelic Cumbia, Russian Disko, Shotgun Wedding Coceks, Gypsy Punk, and enough BOMBA dance party madness to cripple a horse! We are tremendously excited to present FISHTANK ENSEMBLE at the Bordello Bar on Thursday, February 25th!

That’s right, on Thursday, February 25th, come shake it to what the LA Weekly calls “one of the most thrilling young live acts on the planet.” Tackling everything from French hot jazz to wild Serbian and Transylvanian Gypsy anthems, Flamenco, and oddball originals, Fishtank Ensemble performs an intoxicatingly high-energy blend of music from around the world certain to astound your senses and rattle your bones.
For more information about these madcap mavens, see: http://www.fishtankensemble.com

This multi-culti sweat-fest also features CD giveaways from JDUB RECORDS, the label dedicated to innovative Jewish music, and home to MALABOMBA! favorites like Balkan Beat Box and Golem.

As always and ever, your gracious hosts DJ Jason Savvy and DJ Cat Hair will also be on the decks dropping musical dervish madness for the dance floor.
They’ve been traversing the sonic globe searching for the best music you’ve never heard and will be bringing it loud!

FREE admission before 9:30
Only $5 cash after
FULL BAR
FULL BOMBA!

Thursday February 25th, 9 PM – Last call
Bordello Bar
901 E 1st St
L.A. 90012
http://www.bordellobar.com

http://www.malabomba.com

Event RSVPs:
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=317371504044&ref=mf

Myspace: http://tinyurl.com/y86wmft

Going: http://losangeles.going.com/malabombafishtank

Fuck borders, let’s dance!
- The MALABOMBA! Crew

While the average Angeleno may be more familiar with a different New Year’s parade celebrating an entirely different New Year, the Chinese version is no shabby affair. The 111th annual Golden Dragon Parade and Festival was held in Chinatown this past Saturday, a splendid procession featuring ferocious pantomime tigers, smoke-puffing magic dragons, urban Tai Chi masters, freelance contortionists, martial arts enthusiasts of all stripes, a maybe-maybe-not-Scientologist sheriff (Lee Baca), and at least one lonely jobs-slashin’ mayor (you-know-who). Firecrackers blasted, the air flowed heavy with smoke and confetti, passing strangers threw wild karate chops at each other, and everyone had a decidedly good time.

The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D ~ Exposition Park ~ Los Angeles

Raimana, legendary Tahitian surfer and co-star of The Ultimate Wave

The Red Carpet

Post party at The Science Center

The Quicksilver team rider bus

Everyone knows that putting up posters or paint on public property without permission is illegal. If you pay to place your message on specific spaces, it is advertising. But what if you don’t pay, and put your ad under someone’s windshield wiper? The Supreme Court will decide if what you’re doing is protected by the first amendment later this year.

The Daily Beast has consulted experts around the nation and come to the conclusion that our very own 101 Hollywood Freeway is the nation’s worst commute. An excerpt:

#1, Hollywood Freeway, Los Angeles
Weekly hours of bottleneck congestion: 686
Worst bottleneck: Southbound, Vermont Avenue
Length of worst bottleneck: .64 mi
Weekly hours of congestion on worst bottleneck: 77
Speed of worst bottleneck when congested: 14 mph

The expert opinion: “I recall they would say things like it’s a 20-minute trip downtown on the Hollywood Freeway, recalls Metropolitan Transportation Authority chief executive Art Leahy on traffic when he was growing up in Los Angeles. “No one anticipated the congestion that would emerge.”.

Photo by Luv to Travel

CORAZON DEL PUEBLO presents…
Flowers of Fire: Poesia de Lucha y Amor

Join Boyle Heights Bards:
BUS STOP PROPHET, KRISTY LOVICH & JOHN CARLOS DE LUNA
for a FREE Bi-Monthly Poetry, Performance, & Open Mic Event

January 13th
8:00pm-Midnight
Early Sign-Ups for Open Mic: 7:30pm-8:00pm

@ Corazon del Pueblo
2003 E. 1st St.
Los Angeles 90033

JANUARY 13th
Featured Poets:
Matt Sedillo
John Carlos de Luna
Luluminous

Featured Musician:
Calix Reneau

JANUARY 27th
Featured Poets:
Abel Salas
Christy Ramirez
Dora Magaña

Featured Musicians:
City Terrace’s own Original Rock Sons
I.A.M.U.
Willie Herron lll (Los Illegals)
Sid Medina (The Brat)

FLOWERS OF FIRE scheduled for January 13th & 27th
EVERY 2ND & 4TH WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH @ CORAZON DEL PUEBLO