Every year the whole West Hollywood celebrations take me sort of by surprise. For those of you who’ve never heard or attended, West Hollywood is the city that is directly East (and North) of Beverly Hills. It was unincorporated LA County until local activists fought to incorporate as a city, which it did in 1984. It was founded on rights for renters, gays and the elderly and to this day is at the vanguard of the sort of progressive ideas that some hold as proof that lunacy has run amok.
When I moved here in about 1927 I specifically chose my part of Beverly Hills (just to the left of the lower Western right-angle of WeHo) so that I could walk to the party in Boys Town and weave home knowing that the party wouldn’t be following me. There are two days however when they spill over, Gay Pride and Hallowe’en.
When I first moved here the Samhain celebration was not even worthy of a street closure. As time went by, it became larger. There were incidents of gang activity at other celebrations, and some families decided that West Hollywood was the safer alternative. After a while the mix of drag queens and leathermen in a$$less chaps was nearing 50/50 with people with prams. It sort of became Gay Country Safari, only you didn’t need to keep your windows rolled up.
I haven’t been in years since it’s just too damned crowded. I have no interest in Times Square on New Years Eve either. Our local paper is stating that it’s going to have 400,000 people and that it might not be the best place to take the kiddies. To be honest, I think that there’s more on basic cable I’d be worrying about my children witnessing than a bunch of guys and gals dressed up as Zombie Steve Jobs and certainly New Orleans makes it look like Disney.
What I could do without? ActionMcNews and 14 cohorts hovering over my house for the entire night to get entirely unnecessary aerial shots to show that there are people there.
I’m coping with some white wine, melatonin, hearos and for scent, Annick Goutal Musc Nomade. Of course I’m thankful that I’m nor dealing with downed trees and no power..
Comments are closed