[dropcap size=big]L[/dropcap]owriders started lining up on Stadium Way on Saturday in Elysian Park, a couple of hours after sunset the night before, perhaps the largest organized cruises in Los Angeles after the pandemic. By the time Fernando Carillo pulled his 1948 Chevy Fleetline into a spot at around 3:45 AM, just south of Scott Avenue on Stadium Way, most of the prime parking spots had already been claimed.
By noon on Sunday, the palm tree-lined section of Stadium Way down the street from the entrance of Dodgers Stadium was packed with hundreds of classic cars, motorcycles, trucks, and bikes, along with the vehicles prideful owners and their families.
Monday through Friday, Carillo works his day job. Sometimes, on Saturdays, he slings his L.A. Times-approved smoked brisket and ribs out of his apartment, but Sunday is fun day. “Today was probably the most packed I've ever seen it in a very long time,” Carillo told L.A. TACO Sunday evening. Carillo has been coming to car shows in Elysian Park for decades. “Before, you'd just show up like at 3 AM or 4 AM but not fucking camp the way they did this time!”
While meetups never entirely stopped during the pandemic, some enthusiasts like Carillo took a step back from the scene when the coronavirus hit. Following a year of tremendous loss, for many people, the sight of hundreds of lowriders teeming through the Elysian Valley evoked pleasant memories of the past. The convivial vibe of everyone also gave a glimmer of hope of L.A. life returning back to normal.
GIF by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.GIF by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A pink lowrider. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A blue lowrider with one wheel up in the air. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A red lowrider. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A red lowrider and yellow lowrider cruise by each other. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.An orange lowrider with the engine hood open. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A dark blue lowrider. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.Fernando Carrillo's 1948 Chevy Fleetline.A yellow lowrider parked next to a dark blue one. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A blue lowrider parked next to an orange one, both hitting switches. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.Lowriders and palm trees. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.Spectators look at lowriders in the air. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.A man looks at the line of lowriders as far as the eye can see. 35mm Photos by Lexis-Olivier Ray for L.A. TACO.
Photos by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO
A lowrider steering wheel with a face masks dangling. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A woman smiles in her lowrider. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A man smiles and points at the camera. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A couple wearing Dodger attire and sunglasses. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)An illustration of men playing cards displayed on a lowrider. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A car with "Pineapple Gold" and weed leaf illustrated on it. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A woman looks out from her lowrider. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A French bulldog in a Dodger jersey. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A Mexican flag draped over a car seat. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)A purple airbrushed truck. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)Two men looking for tools. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)Mini lowrider novelty toy on top of lowrider. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)Felix the Cat antenna topper. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)Lowrider in the air. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)Man holds lowrider as it jumps up and down. Photo by Brian Feinzimer for L.A. TACO.(Brian Feinzimer)
Despite online articles showing photos and videos and videos shared by influencers of the purported firefighters appearing at LAX or singing on their way to extinguish fires, L.A. TACO has verified that those videos are inaccurate and that firefighters have not arrived in Los Angeles.
Kevin McGowan, Director of L.A.'s Office of Emergency Management, encouraged people not to disable emergency messages on their phones. “These alert tools have saved lives during this emergency. Not receiving an alert can be a consequence of life and death,” McGowan said. You can verify to see if you’re in an evacuation zone through alertla.org, lacounty.gov/emergency, or by dialing 211 for assistance.
Horrendous fires have tragically ravaged Altadena, the mountainside city of 42,000 residents, leaving more than 5,000 structures burned and lost, including neighbors' homes, businesses, cars, RVs, homes, and sheds. Entire blocks have been obliterated in this devastating, unbelievable tragedy, leaving multiple generations of families of all backgrounds without homes. Local photographers Maks Ksenjak and Suitcase Joe ventured into its streets in the aftermath.
Not only are these among L.A.'s best when it comes to serving great food, they're run by some of L.A.'s best people who are kindly offering famous tacos, mariscos, pozole, and more to those doing their best to help the city.
“L.A. County and all 29 fire departments in our county are not prepared for this kind of widespread disaster,” said the L.A. County Fire Chief Marrone. The County was prepared to respond to one or two brush fires, but not four. “There are not enough firefighters to address four separate fires of this magnitude," he said.
