Thousands came out to party in the Rainbow District on Saturday night, giving WeHo a preview of what its first post-pandemic Halloween night will look like.
Breathing room was in short supply for the throngs of people crowding the sidewalks, constricted even more so by the city’s OutZones, which cede sidewalk space to restaurants for outdoor seating. Partygoers waded shoulder to shoulder back and forth in front of Micky’s as dozens stood in line for the club.
The city decided not to hold its annual Carnaval festivities this year, and thus Santa Monica Blvd. will not be closed to traffic the night of Oct. 31, nor will any restroom facilities be provided. The city’s business community banded together to promote their individual parties and events in order to capitalize on the crowds.
“I’ve never seen it this packed,” said Audrey Rodriguez, a 21-year-old from Compton who comes to the Santa Monica Blvd. bars frequently but has never been to a previous WeHo Halloween.
By midnight, a line of cars heading westbound stretched from San Vicente Blvd. all the way to La Cienega. Pedestrians wove their way through the cars as drivers sounded their horns in frustration.
Randy Dittmer was growing agitated as he sat in traffic on his way home to Santa Monica.
“What the hell were they thinking not closing the street?” Dittmer said. “Somebody’s going to get run over.”
Sirens blared as authorities tried to calm the chaos.
But some chaos is to be expected around Halloween — and for club kids like Audrey Rodriguez, it’s what they came for.
“I f***ing love it,” Rodriguez said.
Hey Randy Ditmer- what the he77 were you thinking that SMB through boystown would be a zippy way home to Santa Monica on a regular Saturday night, never mind one on Halloween weekend? Honestly, pay attention and take Beverly.
I re-read this article to see if there were any updates,but I didn’t see any.This sentence did catch my eye: “Sirens blared as authorities tried to calm the chaos”.
How do you calm any chaos in West Hollywood on Halloween or any weekend for that matter? I think it would be best to stay out of the nighttime maelstrom for now until Halloween is over.
You would do better if you go out in the afternoon to meet friends for a few hours for eating and drinking.It would be calmer and you can take advantage of happy hour prices.
Well first of all RIP Leslie Jordan. met him years ago while waiting in line somewhere and he was the sweetest ever. Now down to business, with no bathroom facilities, Thank the Lord for depends. What were The officials thinking about this and what were they thinking about not closing off the street to those deadly things called cars? I can only imagine, Well actually I can’t imagine because it makes no sense whatsoever. I would like to know why they canceled carnival! With the liberals in charge, We just don’t seem to be making progress here people! Things have… Read more »
There were so many sirens blaring last night, all stopping, from what I could tell, in the Rainbow District (first time I heard it was called that).Though I live just 1/2 block off Santa Monica Blvd. behind the old 24 Hr. Fitness, the sirens kept me from wandering up to see the activity. I heard the serenade of horns. Thought it was some protest/celebration/parade. Surprised to hear it was simple driver frustration. Before WeHo incorporated, Halloween was an organic and spontaneous happening. When the bars were overflowing out to the street, plus the celebrants just showing up to promenade in… Read more »
I’ve been saying for years that we should go back to the way it was before the city created this Halloween mess every year. The mistake that was made this year is that they didn’t simply close of the block between Robertson and San Vicente. Given what happened in Seoul this year this should indicate to the City Council that we cannot go back to the way it was pre-pandemic.
When I first moved to the area in the late 90’s the city always closed the streets. At first it was just San Vicente to Robertson and then it was expanded. This was before the city turned it into a circus with the stages and food vendors. It’s a huge mistake not to block Santa Monica off on Halloween night and the “council” should be held accountable for anything that happens.
I commented a couple weeks ago that canceling the carnival is one thing — and I’m sure the council has their reasons — but ignoring the basic infrastructure needs (traffic control, portajohns, trash collection) for the inevitable crowds that were coming no matter what was incredibly irresponsible. I’m really hoping we add a few more adults to the city council in November. This current body seems to lack some of the macro thinking needed to make our city actually work— as it did for decades until recently.
The rideshare drivers should make some money off the confusion,but with traffic crawling on the boulevard,it will be slow.I think any rideshare driver who tries to get through the bedlam will give up picking up any passengers.
I hope everyone has a good time,but do not make any unexpected moves in front of cars.All will need patience for the next two nights.
Patrons from Compton who frequent Weho…..what could possibly go wrong?
BARF. They couldn’t go, oh, anywhere else?? That is so tyranny of the majority annihilating the minority spaces.
Another ingenious decision by the City Council to not close the streets.
Idiots.
I saw a company unloading dozens of traffic barricades this morning on Santa Monica between San Vicente and Robertson. I wonder if the city is going to block some streets tonight because it was crazy last night. The was too much mixing if cars and pedestrians last night and the sidewalks were hard to move through because of the outzones and the lines to get into the bars.
No thanks.
Another reason to finally get rid of the OutZones. Time to stop surrendering the Public Pedestrian Environment (the sidewalk) to private for-profit businesses. People should be able to safely stroll and enjoy the Rainbow District’s wide public sidewalks without having to pay $25 for a martini.
Exactly. Something is wrong when our public sidewalks, that serve all, paid for with West Hollywood property owner property tax money, get commandeered by private for-profit businesses for the privileged few.
Yup.