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Re: arleta, ca? L.A. looping scene
Arleta is down here in So. Cal. It's in the San Fernando Valley and I
believe
that technically it is officially part of the city of Los Angeles, though
it
is perhaps 20-25 minutes from downtown L.A. It's not nearly as beautiful
as
Papa Dave's neck o' the woods but California in general is fantastic -
I'm
originally from PA. Don't know much about the Arleta neighborhood in
particular but the Valley is very family-oriented and your Guatemalan
daughters should have little if no trouble assimilating into the
multi-cultutral social make-up. The area is mostly Latino and there are
plenty of folks here from So. America including children. One downside is
this confluence of cultures can produce a non-typical-American aesthetic -
litter, less orderly appearance of homes and yards and cars, etc. -
basically
more like life in poorer Southern Hemisphere countries. But all that is
merely appearances.
There's quite a few of us L.A. loopers here on the list, and it seems that
we're gaining some new clubs that encourage experimental and/or ambient
and/or improvised live music. Most notably the famed Knitting Factory
(from
NYC) is setting up shop in Hollywood (about 15 min from Arleta) and should
be
up and running this Spring. Also a few smaller clubs and some coffee
joints
where you can just show up with a loop rig and do your thing. I became a
performing musician only after coming to L.A. 12 years ago (started
playing
in '92) and this is due to the kind, wonderful, capable players who I met
and
learned from and were encouraged by.
There is plenty of lousy stuff being made and displayed in L.A. (so many
want
to be something they're not), and it can be hard to avoid, but after maybe
two years you learn to filter or not be bothered with that stuff, and you
can
dig very deep into the interesting things that are happening - and there's
just about something for everyone, and if there isn't there seems to be
the
resources to start something.
It just takes discipline to drive past these cool music shops without
pulling
over and busting out the credit card...
OK that's enough for the list... Please email me privately and we can talk
some more. Good luck and maybe we'll see you soon? I'll be in the grand
canyon until the 28th so no email for a while...
eric p
echo park
In a message dated 12/23/99 12:12:46 PM, moorelab@hotmail.com writes:
>i may be relocating to (near) arleta, ca from cincinnati, oh. being a
>midwest native, i am absolutely clueless about ca. anyone know anything
>about the area? decent area to live w/family? (fwiw, i have a wife and
>two
>adopted guatemalan daughters) places for live music? etc? any info at all
>greatly appreciated! thanks and happy holidays!
>tony