Hobo Alley

Went to "Change Please Long Beach", a CSLB Visual Communication Class of 2007 "Collaborative Mixed Media Art Show". Wrote about the unusual ad here. Awesome is all I will say as I wrote an article about it for AC and will post URL at a later date. The show was presented in conjunction with the Arts District, 2nd Saturday Art Walk at the new and tiny Arts Park on Elm Street. The park was under construction for the longest time and was not open when I lived "next door" (separated by a Con-Edison transformer).

After leaving, cutting through allies as I am wont to do, came across a free concert in what a band member called "hobo alley". What a treat! "Big Harmonica Bob and the Outsiders" bill themselves as a blues band, but they played some jazzy-swing dance numbers, too.

There was not a big turn out for the music, but homed and homeless enjoyed it together. Some sat on a curb, while others sat on white plastic garden chairs. Due to all the reconstruction going on in Long Beach, "hobo alley" will probably soon be a thing of the past.When it was more hidden, homeless set up mini-camps and some still sleep along the building between wall and trash cans. Do not know how they stand the cockroaches!

posted @ gypsywoman May 14, 2007