Circuit City Ruins to Be Reclaimed for 'Parking Day'

Friday is the fifth annual Parking Day: The event asks artists to take back the streets with installations and other events in metered parking spaces along the curbs of Los Angeles. This year’s theme is “Streets Are for the People.”

Organizer Stephen Box has put together quite a program, which includes a couple of sites in Echo Park/Silver Lake, though the won’t be participating this year.

But Silver Lake’s restaurant is again in the swing of things. It will be hosting a topiary installation that references the iconic Hollywood sign.

Deisigned by Silver Lake architects Standard, four large topiaries will spell out the work P-A-R-K. They’ll stand out against the restaurant’s already existing LOCAL sign to give a message that the event’s Facebook page explains this way:

“The sign might be read as a cheerful request to park your vehicle, and as an expression of the need for more green space in the city. The sign reverses the manmade vs. nature relationship of the Hollywood sign and turns the lettering into a landscape within the urban context. The letters are ballasted with sandboxes to create a temporary space for relaxing, expanding the space of the sidewalk."

The installation will be up from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Local is at 2943 Sunset Blvd.

Access the event’s Facebook page here.

Farther west up Sunset Boulevard--at the so-called "Circuit City Ruins,” which appeared—will be the site of  a “revisioning event.”

Artificial grass will be put down just outside the fences around the site. A jazz band and astrologer will be on hand.  But, most of all, it’s a chance for people to give their input on what the site could be.

"We want to make it an ecological utopia,” said Autumn Rooney of , who is co-producing the event.  “We want people to help us brainstorm and give us ideas for the space.  Maybe we can take it to the owner and it could become a reality.”

The Time Bank and film director Charles Herman-Wurmfeld—who helped bring the community garden to Micheltorena School--are collaborating on the project.’

It will also go from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. The former Circuit City site is located at 4400 Sunset Blvd.

See the event’s Facebook page here.

And read more about Parking Day events here.