The new 10.9.2011 south spur is an asombroso look at some parts of L.A. that many of us don't see every day. The spur extends from 7th and Spring in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. It goes two blocks south on Spring Street, then turns east on 9th Street. Around Central Avenue, 9th Street become Olympic Boulevard. At Olympic, the spur turns south on Central Avenue and extends to 14th Place. It's 1.5 new miles - and there's a lot of great stuff to see there.

The upper part of the south spur (9th Street from Spring Street to around Stanford Avenue) is part of Downtown L.A.'s Fashion District (map.) The Fashion District has nearly a dozen kinds of mini-districts: accessories, men's wear, women's wear, and more. Ninth Street, where CicLAvia will happen, is the textiles area of the Fashion District. When you walk or ride at CicLAvia on October 9th, you'll see block after block of rolls of brightly colored fabrics. If you enjoy walking or biking this stretch, you might also venture a block south to Olympic Boulevard, which is the even-more-bustling heart of the Fashion District.

Just east of the Fashion District (on 9th Street/Olympic Boulevard from Stanford Avenue to Central Avenue) is an area called the Piñata District. Hundreds of bright piñatas hang in dozens of open storefronts, spilling onto the sidewalks. Piñata stores also carry all sorts of party supplies, candies, toys, decorations, etc. to go with your piñata. With all that there are bulk chile peppers, spices, supplies y mas! There are a handful of fast affordable restaurants and food vendors serving the piñata buyers. Their Latin American specialties include pupusas and barbeque.

There are two great architectural highlights at the end of the south spur: the 1936-37 Coca-Cola Bottling Company building and the 1913 Fire Station No. 30, now serving as the African American Firefighter Museum.

The 1936-37 Coca-Cola building (1334 South Central Avenue) was a creation of architect Robert V. Derrah, who also did Crossroads of the World (6671 Sunset Blvd) and the Gas Company Building (now lofts, 820 S. Flower.) The Coca-Cola building is designated a city of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Landmark No. 138. The building was actually a conversion of five existing buildings, that were made into a ship! You gotta see it to believe it. The building looks like an ocean liner. It features porthole windows, ship railings, painted waterline and more. Definitely check it out! It's one of the most wonderful and unique buildings on the entire 10-mile route. Special bonus: at CicLAvia 10.9.2011, Coca-Cola will be at the corner of 14th and Central, giving out free beverage samples! (above photo of Coca-Cola building copyright Pat Wang Photography Redondo Beach, used by permission)

The African American Firefighter Museum (1401 South Central Avenue) inhabits the building that historically was Fire Station No. 30. This is one of the oldest fire stations in the city of Los Angeles. It was among the first where African-Americans served, beginning in 1923. The station was segregated through 1955, when it (and the LAFD) became integrated. It closed as a fire station in 1980, and opened as a museum in 1997. AAFM has all kinds of great documentation of the history of African American men and women firefighters who've served the city for more than a hundred years. There are two floors of photos, uniforms, and other paraphernalia... including the station's authentic fire pole and an early wooden-spoke-wheeled horse drawn firetruck. Tours of the museum will be available throughout the day during CicLAvia.

The AAFM is one of the six hubs on the 10.9.2011 CicLAvia route. The hub is being produced by the South Los Angeles Host Committee, who are working to bring CicLAvia to South Los Angeles. The AAFM hub will feature South L.A. musica, food, and activities. This includes a special tricked-out bike show featuring the Real Rydaz Lowrider Bike Club. There will be tasty South L.A. eats:

• Yucatecan cuisine from Chichen Itza
• Delicious Tacos from Tacos Cafe Tijuana
• Fresh-squeezed juices from Oaxacalifornia
• Savory veggie & carne options from Earlez Grille Food Truck

Feast your ears on live reggae sets by Umo Verde and Stoll Rockers, and groovin' DJ music all day - a musical prelude to the November 5th 2011 CicLAvia South L.A. fundraiser party called Free The Streets. Like all the hubs, there will be information, bike repair, first aid, water, bathrooms and t-shirts for sale.And if you're interested in getting involved in bringing CicLAvia to South L.A., come meet the community groups that are working with CicLAvia to make it happen!

And if all that wasn't enough... Keep an eye out for a percussion Sound Forest (on 9th near Santee), 10 Mile Bodies dance performance (dancing its way through the south spur), un especial CicLAvia piñata smashing in honor of CicLAvia's first cumpleaños, and probably more great fun things that we don't event know about yet!

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