Ride Esotouric's shuttles during LA Art Walk Thursday

January 8: THE HIPPODROME and HAZARD'S PAVILION Esotouric's Curated Downtown LA Art Walk Shuttles

WHAT: The Hippodrome and Hazard's Pavilion, two rolling curated salons on customized party buses

WHEN: 6-10pm on January 8, and every second Thursday during downtown LA Art Walk

WHERE: The Hippodrome shuttle route circles Gallery Row (Main and Spring Streets between 9th and 2nd Streets); Hazard's Pavilion route includes 7+Fig, Ralph's, 7th Street Restaurant Row, FIDM and Gallery Row

ROUTE MAP: Online at http://www.downtownartwalk.com/map/DAW_map.html

COST: Free shuttle and entertainment

FEATURING ON JANUARY 8:

1) On Hazard's Pavilion: Hostess Kim Cooper with "Windy" singer-songwriter RUTHANN FRIEDMAN, the mournful acoustic picking of FORT KING, seductive sleight of hand magic from ERIK TAIT, a set of shimmering pop confections from the reclusive craftsman known as WAXFLIGHT and THE UKULADY's hilarious tunes and oversized personality.

2) On The Hippodrome: Host Richard Schave with the mystical and beguiling MADAME PAMITA, a set of rousing ditties (including "The Hippodrome Theme Song") from folk troubadours THE HATS, guitarist LUCAS GONZE trashpicking the early American song book and MIKE THE POET who ends the evening with poems of civic pride and memory.

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

The Downtown L.A. Art Walk, held on the second Thursday of the month 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.

January 8 sees the eighth month when Kim Cooper and Richard Schave of Esotouric -- the eclectic bus adventure company whose tours reveal L.A.'ssecret history -- provide free downtown transportation and curated entertainment during Art Walk. Now passengers can choose from the popular Hippodrome shuttle and the new Hazard's Pavilion shuttle, connecting Western downtown with Gallery Row.

Art Walk visitors can hail the Hippodrome and Hazard's Pavilion to get tothe 7th and Fig Metro Station, Bert Green Fine Arts, The Hive, Ralph's or FIDM -- but with so many interesting things happening on the bus, they may find they don't want to disembark when they arrive.

The Hippodrome shuttle is named in honor of promoter Adolph Ramish's legendary Hippodrome Theater, formerly located at 4th and Main. The 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.

Hazard's Pavilion, named for the late, lamented historic performance space at 5th and Olive, is sponsored by Brookfield Properties and 7+ FIG at Ernst &Young Plaza, Downtown LA's Premiere Shopping and Dining Destination. The bus is a customized giant limo, stealth black on the outside and cozy within with luxurious leather seats, intimate performance spaces, and big screen TVs showing vintage Los Angeles scenes.

Every month the Hippodrome and Hazard's Pavilion feature interesting performers channeling the spirit of the neighborhood's storied past.

Appearing during the January 8 Art Walk:

ON THE HIPPODROME:
(6:45pm-7:30pm) She's Mystical, Musical and Utterly Beguiling -- The One and Only MADAME PAMITA.

(7:30pm-8:15pm) Climb aboard to enjoy a set of rousing ditties, including "The Hippodrome Theme Song," from folk troubadours THE HATS.

(8:15pm-9pm) Trashpicking the early American songbook, with an eye for the oddities, we welcome guitarist LUCAS GONZE.

(9:15pm-9:45pm) Dig MIKE THE POET as he puts a lid on the evening with poems of civic pride and memory.

ON HAZARD'S PAVILION:
(6pm-6:45pm) Legendary singer-songwriter RUTHANNFRIEDMAN transforms Hazard's Pavilion into a beat-era cellar where all ears are tuned to the razor-sharp insight of the hippest chick in the room.

(6:45pm-7:30pm) Sweet and mournful acoustic picking from the captivating FORT KING.

(7:30pm-8:15pm) A rare set of shimmering pop confections from the reclusive craftsman known as WAXFLIGHT.

(8:15pm-8:45pm) Be seduced by thecomic magic of ERIK TAIT, as he uses the ancient arts of conjuring to relieve grown women of their telephone numbers and grown men of their dates.

(8:45pm-9:30pm) Until you've heard THE UKULADY's hilarious repertoire, you just don't know how hard a uke can rock. Be prepared to giggle, guffaw and gape.

ON THE STREETS: And don't miss the Hazard's Pavilion "human bus stops," fascinating performers who can provide you with printed information about the Hazard's Pavilion route and performers.

(6pm-9pm) See original art created before your eyes and get information about Hazard's Pavilion and the Art Walk from the fascinating JOHN of LET'S PAINT TV, the living bus stop at 5th & Spring.

(6pm-9:30pm) Downtown art world ambassador TERRY ELSWORTH guides patrons between the 7+Fig Art Space and Hazard's Pavilion bus.

IN THE GALLERY: 7+FIG Shopping Center & Art Space presents Collage Dance Theatre's A MATERIAL WORLD in residency from January 5-February 17 with free performances February 18 at 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm. Collage Dance Theatre's Artistic Director Heidi Duckler collaborates with painter and multimedia artist HK Zamani to create a site-specific public art project culminating in a performance by the company leading the downtown community through the winding architecture of 7+FIG. Presented and Commissioned by Brookfield Properties in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

LINKS FOR HIPPODROME PERFORMERS available at
http://esotouric.com/hippodrome

LINKS FOR HAZARD'S PAVILION PERFORMERS available at
http://esotouric.com/hazardspavilion