(Oct. 29, 2007, initial coverage with further to follow) -- A crowd exceeding organizers' expectations (initial estimates between 1,500 and 3,000 people) came to downtown LB's Pine Ave. on Sunday Oct. 28 to see the momentarily exhumed Jergins pedestrian tunnel, hear presentations on topics from the histories of Rome's Republic to LB-rooted rock music and attend a street festival at the first-ever University by the Sea festival.
The multiple-venue event created connections linking LB's present and future with its past (via the Jergins tunnel) and brought ELB residents to downtown, produced a CSULB volunteer/brass/tenured presence on Pine Ave. and generated online ticket sales from 80 cities.
Re-opening the tunnel was a major draw for the one-day event accomplished by University by the Sea co-organizers Ryan Smolar and Rachel Potucek.
Mr. Smolar, a high-energy journalist, marketer and internet whiz, teamed with...
Ms. Potucek, a calmly organized former legislative aide to LB Council member Suja Lowenthal.
The pair managed to get City Hall and property owner permission to re-enter the tunnel for a day...and arranged for an attention-getting preview that brought LB and L.A. media market attention.
The effect was catalytic, drawing a large crowd who sought an opportunity to enter the long-entombed, tiled Jergins pedestrian tunnel.
2nd district Council member Suja Lowenthal indicated that she favors exploring possibilities for restoring some type of access and public use for the city owned asset (means and parameters not yet clear)...as well as exploring other connections adding to its present-day relevancy. LBReport.com has detailed coverage coming.
University by the Sea co-organizer Smolar estimates 1,200 to 1,500 paid attendees entered the tunnel over just the few hours of the event.
Many were visibly stunned at the sight of the tile-lined passageway that connected Ocean Blvd. at Pine Ave. with LB's formerly bustling downtown beachfront and Pike amusement area. LBReport.com has on-scene audio coverage coming of some of the reactions we heard.
The "University by the Sea" had multiple moving parts. Downtown LB Associates (DLBA) provided support. Pine Ave. businesses provided "University by the Sea" venues. CityPlace parking was miraculously free. 200+ CSULB college-age volunteers (wearing eye-catching blue-event T-shirts) provided an army of event day assistance.
And VIP's said yes.
LB Mayor Bob Foster taught a "class" on the Roman Republic showing its links to America's system of check and balances.
In a scholarly tour de force delivered without a script for nearly an hour (using only a hand scribbled outline), Mayor Foster discussed the Roman Republic's governance and the lessons learned by the framers of America's constitutionm citing The Federalist essays (well-worn copy in hand) by Hamilton, Madison and Jay). LBReport.com has detailed coverage coming.
Down the street, LB writer Steve Propes lectured on local rock music roots, noting (among many factoids) that the 1950's hit Tequila (one of the few from that era still heard on L.A. airwaves) originated down the street at a club called "Hollywood on the Pike" (just inside the Ocean Center Building's entrance to the former Pike).
Other "classes" were taught by (among others) LB Police Chief Anthony Batts and CSULB President King Alexander.
CSULB Professor and Straight Talk TV Exec. Prod/Host Art Levine taught his "class" atop Smooth's roof. His topic: Ethics in America.
At the end of the day, sounding exhausted but upbeat, co-organizer Smolar told LBReport.com that although he didn't yet have exact figures, he roughly estimates that in addition to about 1,200-1,500 people who paid (sold out) to enter the Jergins tunnel, an equally large number paid to attend the "University classes" (many sold out) in addition to at least 1,000 others who attended a free street fair along Pine Ave.
"We were sold out on tickets to the Jergins tunnel and several of the 'classes' days ago," Mr. Smolar said...adding that he ended website sales days early to avoid overselling events (selling more tickets than spaces).
Further to follow.
