West Hollywood Ca Celebrations

Linette Vasquez saw her first policewoman at age 5 and knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. "Now I have to put an application in and hope for the best," Vasquez, now 21, said after meeting with Los Angeles police recruiters Saturday. "It's a big step." Her dream isn't unusual. What is extraordinary is that Vasquez is pursuing her goal as an openly homosexual woman with the help of openly homosexual police officers.

Music and singing replaced jackhammers and bulldozers Sunday as West Hollywood residents celebrated the grand reopening of Santa Monica Boulevard after a two-year rebuilding and beautification effort. "It's just been a mess," said Kristin Rey, an art gallery owner who brought her 6-year-old daughter to the party. "I don't think people really believed that it would ever be done, but I'm glad it is."

Not quite three weeks ago, he got less than 30% of the gay and lesbian vote. But on Sunday, mayor-to-be Richard Riordan got an enthusiastic welcome as he rode in the 23rd annual Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade.

Never mind the million or so expected to take in the Halloween parade in Greenwich Village. Forget the crowded haunts of New Orleans. The real party capital tonight is here in California. In fact, two West Coast towns lay claim to throwing the biggest, brashest adult Halloween party in America.

Several came to be honored. Some came to dance. Others came to sit. And everybody went for the marble cake. "You have just witnessed the madness of serving dessert to seniors," said West Hollywood Senior Center Activity Director Ron Celona, sidestepping the rush. "Everybody takes two and three pieces." The occasion Wednesday was Golden Couples Day, an afternoon tea dance for couples who have been together for at least 50 years.

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of West Hollywood on Sunday for the annual Christopher Street West Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival and Parade. The festival, featuring a kaleidoscope of costumes and floats, was expected to draw about 300,000 over two days. It marks the anniversary of the 1969 New York City police raid on a gay hangout, the Stonewall Inn.

Music and singing replaced jackhammers and bulldozers Sunday as West Hollywood residents celebrated the grand reopening of Santa Monica Boulevard after a two-year rebuilding and beautification effort. "It's just been a mess," said Kristin Rey, an art gallery owner who brought her 6-year-old daughter to the party. "I don't think people really believed that it would ever be done, but I'm glad it is."

A record crowd estimated at about 300,000 cheered the 21st annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade in West Hollywood on Sunday, to celebrate past activism and achievement as well as look forward to a brighter future for people with AIDS. Parade watchers stood 15 deep on Santa Monica Boulevard, basking in brilliant sunshine, and cheering, dancing and straining for a glimpse of some of the more zany floats, marching bands, motorcycle clubs, rodeo riders on horseback and baton twirlers that passed by.

It was clear from the clinkety-clink of the traditional just-married cans strung behind the white convertible. It was clear from the melody of "Goin' to the Chapel," as a singer belted it from atop a flowery purple float. And it was clear even through the crackling static of a loudspeaker, from an intersection where two men were joined in holy--albeit officially illegal--matrimony Sunday.

West Hollywood will be crammed with party-goers and parade-lovers this weekend at the annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration. The celebration includes a festival featuring more than 300 vendors and entertainment and the popular parade. There will be more than 300 groups marching in the parade and about 400,000 spectators are expected to line the route. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, winding its way along Santa Monica Boulevard from North Crescent Heights to Robertson Boulevard.

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of West Hollywood on Sunday for the annual Christopher Street West Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival and Parade. The festival, featuring a kaleidoscope of costumes and floats, was expected to draw about 300,000 over two days. It marks the anniversary of the 1969 New York City police raid on a gay hangout, the Stonewall Inn.

It was clear from the clinkety-clink of the traditional just-married cans strung behind the white convertible. It was clear from the melody of "Goin' to the Chapel," as a singer belted it from atop a flowery purple float. And it was clear even through the crackling static of a loudspeaker, from an intersection where two men were joined in holy--albeit officially illegal--matrimony Sunday.

West Hollywood will be crammed with party-goers and parade-lovers this weekend at the annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration. The celebration includes a festival featuring more than 300 vendors and entertainment and the popular parade. There will be more than 300 groups marching in the parade and about 400,000 spectators are expected to line the route. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, winding its way along Santa Monica Boulevard from North Crescent Heights to Robertson Boulevard.

For weeks now, in preparation for Sunday's Gay Pride Parade in West Hollywood, Leonard Dootson and Mark Lane have pored over old rosters of the Great American Yankee Freedom Band. They're trying to lure drummers, clarinet players and baton twirlers who performed with the group in its heyday but have fallen away in recent years as membership has dwindled from 120 to a sorry dozen.

Several came to be honored. Some came to dance. Others came to sit. And everybody went for the marble cake. "You have just witnessed the madness of serving dessert to seniors," said West Hollywood Senior Center Activity Director Ron Celona, sidestepping the rush. "Everybody takes two and three pieces." The occasion Wednesday was Golden Couples Day, an afternoon tea dance for couples who have been together for at least 50 years.

Not quite three weeks ago, he got less than 30% of the gay and lesbian vote. But on Sunday, mayor-to-be Richard Riordan got an enthusiastic welcome as he rode in the 23rd annual Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade.

Garlic gourmets gleefully sampled delicacies ranging from spicy garlic dumplings to garlic fudge sundaes at the seventh annual West Hollywood Garlic Festival. Despite the sweltering heat, more than 15,000 people feasted at the bulb-inspired buffet Sunday on San Vicente Boulevard, between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. By all accounts, this was no ordinary food festival.

Brent Bonfiglio is a 23-year-old student who left his native Ohio to attend nursing school in Cerritos. On Sunday, he dressed up as a mermaid and sat atop an ersatz dolphin on a float called "Motion on the Ocean," thus marking his debut in the annual Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade. "I think it needs to be done," he said, explaining his decision to participate. "There's a lot of really nice, normal people who are gay. I was asked to be on this float yesterday and I'm kind of glad.

Brent Bonfiglio is a 23-year-old student who left his native Ohio to attend nursing school in Cerritos. On Sunday, he dressed up as a mermaid and sat atop an ersatz dolphin on a float called "Motion on the Ocean," thus marking his debut in the annual Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade. "I think it needs to be done," he said, explaining his decision to participate. "There's a lot of really nice, normal people who are gay. I was asked to be on this float yesterday and I'm kind of glad.

Linette Vasquez saw her first policewoman at age 5 and knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. "Now I have to put an application in and hope for the best," Vasquez, now 21, said after meeting with Los Angeles police recruiters Saturday. "It's a big step." Her dream isn't unusual. What is extraordinary is that Vasquez is pursuing her goal as an openly homosexual woman with the help of openly homosexual police officers.