Make plans for the Hippodrome at LA Art Walk Thursday

October 9: THE HIPPODROME, Esotouric's Curated Downtown LA Art Walk Shuttle

WHAT: The Hippodrome, a rolling curated salon on a custom vintage school bus

WHEN: Every Second Thursday (October 9, November 13 etc.) during downtown LA Art Walk, 6-10pm nightly

WHERE: The shuttle route circles Gallery Row (Main and Spring Streets between 9th and 2nd Streets)

COST: Free shuttle and entertainment

FEATURING ON OCTOBER 9:

1) Hosts Kim Cooper & Richard Schave of Esotouric bus adventures sharing tales of historic downtown vice and answering visitor questions;

2) PROF. WES WEASELY offering interactive theremin instruction.

3) LUCAS GONZE with acoustic tunes trashpicked from the dustbin of American history.

4) Folk rock in the spirit of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith from Minneapolis singer-songwriter BRAD SENNE.

5) Tarot card readings by PAULABROUSSARD and ZELLA GRANT.

6) Comic magic from ERIK TAIT.

7) Sweet and silly tunes from THE UKULADY.

7) Magic by Raul.

8) MIKE THE POET rockin' poems about L.A. authors and the city's underground.

INFO: http://www.esotouric.com/hippodrome, 323-223-2767

The Downtown L.A. Art Walk, held every second Thursday year round, is one of the great success stories of the neighborhood's revival. Launched in 2004 by a small group of independent gallery owners in what was then the western edge of Skid Row, the event now draws upwards of 4000 people, and includes live music, a thriving bar and restaurant scene, book signings, and of course art exhibits.

October 9 sees the fifth month when Kim Cooper and Richard Schave of Esotouric -- the eclectic bus adventure company whose tours reveal L.A.'s secret history -- transform what's been a sleepy free city DASH bus shuttle into something more appropriate to the Art Walk: The Hippodrome, a curated rolling salon. Art Walk visitors can still use the Hippodrome to get from Bert Green Fine Arts to The Hive -- but with so many interesting things happening on the bus, they may find they don't want to disembark when they arrive.

October's is also the last Art Walk before the Hippodrome is Transformed with a new design scheme inspired by the raunchy historic world of Main Street. For contest info and a sneak peak at the winning designs (but shhhh, please wait for the full press release about the winners which is pending) by Alex Feliciano and plastic muse, visit http://www.esotouric.com/transform

The Hippodrome shuttle is named in honor of promoter Adolph Ramish's legendary Hippodrome Theater, formerly located at 4th and Main. With 3000 seats, it was the biggest theater west of the Mississippi when built in 1913, and featured Toddles the Elephant on opening night. In 1952, the theater was demolished for a parking lot, and the site is now under development as the mixed-use Medallion project.

The new Hippodrome is a customized former school bus brightly painted on the outside with lively graffiti-style scenes of beautiful women. Inside, passengers and performers sit face-to-face in a comfortable nightclub-style setting, with checkerboard flooring, cocktail tables and softly blinking lights.

The Hippodrome Art Walk shuttle bus is sponsored by DLANC and the tour guides by the Historic Downtown BID. Every month the Hippodrome features interesting performers channeling the spirit of the neighborhood's storied past.

Appearing during the October 9 Art Walk:
PROF. WES WEASELY (6pm-6:30pm ) invites you to make your own music with his wonderful wandering Theremin, that ooo-eee-ooo instrument beloved by brainy Russians and horror film composers everywhere. Hop aboard to interact with this friendly mad scientist and his fascinating instrument from the safety of your bus seat.

Back by popular demand, LUCAS GONZE (6:30pm-7pm) plays acoustic tunes trashpicked from the dustbin of American history, which exist outside of copyright and which reflect the genial strangeness of our great nation. If you're lucky, he'll show you his Jake leg.

Enjoy dreamy acoustic folk rock in the spirit of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith from Minneapolis singer-songwriter BRAD SENNE (7:15pm-8pm), making a rare L.A. tour stop on the Hippodrome.

Bring cash, since you'll have an opportunity to receive a mystic tarot cardreading by PAULA BROUSSARD OF LOTUS HENNA (7:30pm-8:30pm) for this hour on the Hippodrome.

The return of comic magician ERIK TAIT (8:15pm-8:45pm), who combines sassy, snotty and dashing into one mystically amazing package. Hide your daughters, but bring your mom. Erik will be making his Magic Castle debut in December, and offers a sneak preview on the Hippodrome.

Here comes a short stack of comic tunes from THE UKULADY (9pm-9:20pm), aka Thessaly Lerner, whose delightful repertoire includes ukulEighties,ukulOriginals and ukulIndies.

Be prepared to be Amazed, Baffled and Confused by the MAGIC OF RAUL (9:20pm-9:40pm).

Dig MIKE THE POET (9:45pm-10pm) and an open mic for the roaming poets of downtown Los Angeles.

And at various times throughout the evening Mystical tarot readings from Hippodrome favorite, Miss ZELLA GRANT.

Link for PROF. WES WEASELY: http://www.markwenzel.com/theremin.html

Link for LUCAS GONZE: http://soupgreens.com/

Link for BRAD SENNE: http://www.myspace.com/bradsenne

Link for PAULA BROUSSARD: http://www.lotushennaonline.com

Link for ERIK TAIT: http://myspace.com/delusionmasters

Link for THE UKULADY: http://www.theukulady.com/

Link for MIKE THE POET: http://www.myspace.com/mikethepoet

Hear The Hippodrome Song (by ZonaLilly): http://esotouric.com/hippodromesong

Link for general Hippodrome info: http://www.esotouric.com/hippodrome