The Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association (BKBIA) officially took over the monthly planning and promotion of the event when I took the job as executive director at the end of 2007. I figured, “Let the business owners focus on their business, and we will build the event to show off those businesses. It was an obvious way to build on what was already happening among our business members.
The philosophy has always been “expect the unexpected” and get the people out for some fun by trying anything and everything. The BKBIA continued to reach out to local artists and musicians to activate business interiors and the newly RDA-purchased Expo building. Things were sparse and there were big gaps between participating businesses, but the enthusiasm was there every month to try to make something happen.
As the event grew and more businesses participated, it was apparent that the BKBIA needed some additional help with the monthly coordination. First through a grant from the Knight Foundation’s “Connected Corridor” project, there was money awarded to have a First Fridays coordinator take on the task of organizing the businesses’ promotions as well as the placement of individual artists and musicians that helped to draw people up and down the street. The BKBIA then went to the redevelopment agency, who approved funds for First Fridays as part of the Bixby Knolls Work Plan. First Fridays was not necessarily looked at as an “event” per se, but as a critical way to get more attention for the district. The BKBIA has received funding to sustain this position ever since as part of its contract with the city. For the last four years Tokotah Ashcraft has been responsible for the growth of the artist pool that sets up in the Expo Arts Center, the “Allery” at Burlinghall and Atlantic and at specific business locations. Tokotah also sifts through the numerous submissions each month and programs the live music that pairs music to businesses and such locations as the Allery and platforms at 3939 Atlantic.
To help get people to see all the action early on, the then councilmember, Rae Gabelich, sponsored a trolley for a few months, which helped to get people from one end of the pedestrian zone to the other. This was critical during the early years, while there were still gaps in the participating businesses between San Antonio and Bixby Road. Now the trolley has become a family favorite as a fun way to get an overview of all the activities going on. More music was added to the event to attract people from one location to another. And the BKBIA works diligently on making sure the corridor is lighted well because safety and comfort are critical components to the event.
To really describe what First Fridays has evolved into beyond a business showcase takes a bit of wordsmithing. Always family-friendly, First Fridays is a mash-up of sounds and styles with a full spectrum of our city’s diversity, people of all ages, a music showcase for Long Beach talent, a testing space for CSULB art students and the rise in the sense of neighborhood pride. It is not quite replicated in other neighborhoods anywhere in the city.
Where else can you listen to a Fleetwood Mac tribute while kids and adults do double-dutch jump rope next to you, while inside of the Expo Arts Center men in lab coats and gas masks perform improvisational-sound experimental music with Long Beach City College dancers, while kids perform musical numbers while DJs play reggae, soul, old-school hip-hop while you pass your neighbor on the sidewalk while the trolley bell rings as it goes by while you stroll with a dessert?
The BKBIA has partnered and hosted city officials and departments such as Mayor Garcia, Councilmembers Austin and Uranga, the city auditor, the city clerk, LBPD, LBFD, Homeland Cultural Center from MacArthur Park and Public Works, who recently installed temporary separated bike lanes for the event. The event also highlights and showcases the Bixby Knolls area schools, nonprofits, youth groups, Rancho Los Cerritos and religious institutions. It’s all things Bixby-centric.
Highlights of First Fridays over the years have included: walking a horse into the Expo Arts Center; Sirena Serpentina fire dancers; petting zoos; a “Thriller” flash mob; creating of “The Allery” as a public art space; spoken-word and hip-hop poets at Elise’s Tea Room; the Knolls Ranger and Bixby Belle; wandering improv theater troupes; the Sexy Sax Man; s’more stations; DJs and bands in unusual locations; Grand Prix vehicles; Little Owl Preschool’s art shows; First Books story time (which returns this month after a two-year time-out); Day of the Dead altars; themed music performances of Pink Floyd, Prince, Neil Young, David Bowie, The Clash and Bob Marley; the annual Mardi Gras Parade with king and queen; the annual Long Beach County Fair; an Olympic Torch Run; live tattooing at Long Beach Clothing; Black History Month “Forgotten Images” exhibit; “the Sussex Clown” ; a stilt walker dressed as a wide range of characters; street magicians; and the annual tree and menorah lighting ceremony in December.
The BKBIA continues its focus and energies on the event as it draws from other parts of the city each month. It’s fun to see someone I know say, “Meet Joe. He came all the way here from Belmont Shore!” In the beginning, if we had 20 people out on the street and into our office, we thought it was a success. Now it’s a matter of managing some of the issues of success. The BKBIA also has a Clean Team picking up trash during the event and back again on Saturday morning for a once-over.
Immediate plans for the future include connecting the businesses on Long Beach Boulevard to the action on Atlantic via a second trolley. Moving people around to get an even bigger and great Bixby Knolls experience is the goal.
