July Fourth Rediscovered

July 5, 2005 at 10:01 am in Uncategorized

I never thought that fireworks were really a big deal in Los Angeles. One, because they’re illegal here, and there doesn’t seem to be a very convenient border to drive across to get them. And two, because I just never really saw any. In all the parts of town where I’ve lived, the night sky on the Fourth has been relatively staid compared to other parts of the country. In small-town Iowa, for example, anyone that’s old enough to flick a Bic is busy for the week before and after the Fourth shooting off illegal fireworks smuggled across the Missouri state line.

But I realized last night that I just never looked in the right parts of the city. Historic Filipinotownóand pretty much anywhere close to downtownówas crazy with fireworks. Big, huge flaming balls of fire that lit up the whole block. One family down the street had to have spent hundreds of dollars, because they were setting off A-list stuff for at least an hour and a half. And I never figured out where it was coming from, but there were five seriously huge explosions throughout the evening as well. The kind that makes everything else go quiet for a few minutes. That’s some serious contraband.

I’ve been feeling pretty over the Fourth for a long time, but now I remember why I loved it so much as a kid. Viva la Boom!

5 Comments »

http://www.phoblographer.com cd

Hells yeah, fireworks rule!

Though, I’m not sure in which part of the city you live that you can’t find a border to cross to get some Red Devil wares.

In the South Bay, at least, every city that ISN’T Los Angeles has booths, so it’s usually about a 10 minute drive to secure your own bit of pyrotechnic contraband.

Of course, this also means that Torrance charities and organizations make a lot of money off booths while LA orgs are stuck with candy sales and Christmas tree lots. That seems a little unfair. Granted: starting a grass fire and burning down your or a neighbor’s home is even MORE unfair, but it seems like the ban could be more regional and less blanket since we all know the problem fire areas (foothills, Malibu, I’m looking at you . . . )
http://thepeevery.com Peeved Michelle

You can also get them in Fillmore off of the 126, but that is really only convenient for people in the San Fernando or Santa Clarita Valleys.
http://citlalli31.diaryland.com cindym

I think you just gotta know where to look. I grew up in an unincorporated suburb of LA County and we always had our own set of stuff to set on fire.
http://zedh.com/dh The Daniel

Speaking of small-town Iowa, don’t forget the South Dakota border was also a hotspot for smuggled independence day arms! I live on the eastish side of downtown, and the thunder rolling in from every direction (but mostly from the northeast, it seemed) combined with the gurgling fountain outside my window convinced me that LA was having a miracle thunderstorm each time I awoke.
http://fivethousand.net 5000!

Are fireworks only illegal in the city of LA? I thought it was the whole state of California. Damn! If I had known that I’d have joined in the fun years ago.

You’re talking about real fireworks right? Not like, sparklers and snakes and that kind of bull?

July Fourth Rediscovered

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