CicLAvia is returning to Wilshire Boulevard on Sunday, April 6. They had a huge turnout last year when the route followed Wilshire and it's the same course — between Grand Avenue downtown (in front of the One Wilshire telecom switching building) and Fairfax Avenue. Streets will be closed to cars and buses from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organizers bill this as the last heart of Wilshire route until completion of the surface work for the Purple Line subway construction to the Miracle Mile, which is to say for a long time.. The downtown route returns Oct. 5 and CicLAvia is going into South LA on December 7.

Before last year's Wilshire CicLAvia, I put together a bit of a guide to the boulevard from my book research. LA Observed's interesting places on Wilshire Boulevard.

From CicLAvia's flackage for April 6:



CicLAvia – Iconic Wilshire Boulevard includes elements designed to provide participants with a deeper look at the architectural history of Wilshire Boulevard. Radio broadcasts by noted architectural researcher and commentator Edward Lifson will be available for participants to download and listen to as free podcasts. The radio series will tell stories that run quickly through Wilshire’s beginnings more than a century ago and its pre-WWII boom years, to focus on the modern era, with stories and sounds. A link to the podcasts can be found here.

Catherine Gudis, who is an Associate Professor of History at the University of California at Riverside and is the school’s Director of the Graduate Program in Public History, has prepared “The Modernist’s Guide to Iconic Wilshire Boulevard” for Iconic Wilshire Boulevard. The guide, designed by Colleen Corcoran, will allow people to appreciate and understand the context for modernism and the role the Wilshire Boulevard built environment has played as the city’s cultural and demographic makeup has changed. CicLAvia participants can use the guide to design their own interactive experience.

Many businesses along the CicLAvia route will offer special deals for participants. In addition, all CicLAvia hubs will offer food truck options as well as the opportunity to purchase CicLAvia merchandise. Note: the Koreatown hub will not have food trucks, but there are many great local restaurants for participants to enjoy. Hubs will also have restrooms, free water (bring own bottles to fill), bike repair and first aid available. People showing Metro TAP cards or Metro employee cards at the MacArthur Park Hub will receive a 15% discount on t-shirts in the CicLAvia merchandise tent.

HUBS:

Miracle Mile Activities: Craft and Folk Art Museum – music from KCHUNG Radio, macramé keychain and printmaking workshops by artist Jim Olarte, yarn decorating for bikes; Wende Museum – pop music from former Eastern Bloc countries in front of Berlin Wall segment at 5900 Wilshire Boulevard, photos with cut-out figures from museum collection; Zimmer Museum – fun for kids: pool noodles, bubble machine and temporary tattoos; Petersen Automotive Museum – crafts for kids, vehicle displays; Safe Moves – offering kids bike safety lessons; For Your Art – “Free Feminist Water!” and stickers featuring images of one of the 300 posters from the (en)Gendered (in)Equity: The Gallery Tally Poster Project exhibition; Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – photo op backdrop featuring giant movie stills from some of the most famous bike scenes in film history, flip book station; LACMA – regular gallery schedule, bike-themed art workshops for kids on campus grounds; CicLAvia – CicLAvia video tent where people can share their CicLAvia stories; photo booth where friends and families can capture the day’s memories and share online.

The Mid City West Community Council will also hold their Miracle Mile Art Walk during CicLAvia. Galleries along Wilshire Boulevard and on surrounding streets will be open during the event.

Mid-Wilshire Activities: music by MYfm 104.3; picnicking.

Koreatown Activities: LA Historic Theater Foundation at Wiltern Theater; "The Ktown Experience" at the Korean Consulate parking lot - 3243 Wilshire Blvd., 90010 (on the northeast corner of Wilshire Blvd. & New Hampshire Ave.) featuring Korean cultural games and prizes, food sampling, entertainment (Choco-pie Eating Contest, Karaoke Contest, Ktown Pop Quiz) free Choco-pies and free I Love Ktown Fanny Packs for cyclists; Wilshire Boulevard Temple will open its doors to show off the newly renovated sanctuary and will offer guided tours.

MacArthur Park Activities: Charles White Elementary School near hub will feature the work of LA-based artist Kaz Oshiro to encourage kids to make their mark by contributing to a collective painting on the Mobile Mural Lab; DJ at school; Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust Seed Bomb workshop where people can build their own balls of seeds and dirt to spread around and beautify the city.

One Wilshire Activities: Active zone featuring REI rock wall, photo booth and yoga.

Food Trucks (Hub locations TBD): Bool BBQ, Waffles de Liege, Don Chow Tacos, Coolhaus, India Jones, Del’s Lemonade, Slammin’ Sliders, Surfer Taco, Yalla, Cambalache’s Gourmet, Mandoline Grill, Mambo Juice, Crepe'n Around, Greasy Weiner, Luckdish, Belly Bombz, CJs Wings, Cousin's Maine Lobster, Dogtown Dogs, Farmer's Belly, Fluff Ice, Game On Gourmet, Grilled Cheese Truck, King Kone, Me So Hungry, Melt Truck, No Jodas, Postcards Central American Soul, Pie n Burger, Schmuck with a Truck, Urban Oven.

