The Cult of Youth

 Loud screams and chants of “ole, olee, olee, ole” filled my tiny studio apt just off Main St. in Santa Monica. I wandered out of my apartment and ran right into throngs of drunk people parading down the street. I asked someone dressed up as a dog what the deal was and they yelled back at me, “It’s the Urban Iditarod!”

The mass of people, dressed as doctors, firemen, the village people and other random charcaters, flocked O’Briens Pub and Rick’s Tavern. They left their spruced up shopping carts, which served as their makeshift dogsleds, lying in the street and sidewalk. It only took a few minutes for the police to make their way to the scene

The police grew in numbers. At one time I counted about 12 cars blockading Main ST. Soon the police were making announcements declaring the assembly unlawful and threatened arrest anyone refusing to vacate the scene. Onlookers were also threatened with arrest.

The main spot of  activity was O’Briens Pub. Decked out in riot gear, the police formed a line on Main. St. ready to move into the bar if things got out of hand.

The crowd of people dispersed and made their way to other bars lining Main St.

“It is the 2nd annual Urban Iditarod. It takes place all over America.” one drunk man told me. “It is a peaceful gathering, and we give money to the humane society.”

UPDATE:

Later that evening, while at Coffee Bean, a fight broke out on the sidewalk between two Uraban Iditaroders. One of the participants took cover in Coffee Bean when three police cars showed up. Main St. was popping on Saturday!