April 18, 2011
Downtown News 19
DowntownNews.com
EASTER Show Me the Bunny There’s Not Much Love For a Holiday Rabbit in Downtown by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR
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photo by Gary Leonard
The Easter Bunny found very little love in Downtown. photo by Gary Leonard
Downtown resident Virginia Elwood-Akers was the only person who asked if she could take her picture with the Easter Bunny.
and a basket of candy-filled eggs. Two women smiled right away. “Oooohh, how cute,” one said, her voice rising an octave. “They’ll all love me,” I thought to myself, imagining that I would be swarmed by people and lines would form just to take a
picture with the bunny. Instead, after that initial response, I got a string of smirks. Many people just looked away. I’m not sure if it was in fear, pity or repulsion. While a photographer asked people if they wanted a free picture with the Easter Bunny, I shook my tail, waved and pointed to my basket full of eggs. No use —Downtowners just don’t seem to have much bunny love. Finally, I got some affection from Alicia Romo, a banker at Union Bank. She was the first to agree to take a picture and get an egg.
“Sure, why not,” she said, as I put my arm around her for the photo. This was good, but before we finished, someone walked by and yanked my puffy tail — yes, they goosed a bunny. My visibility was really poor in the outfit, so I couldn’t tell who did it, but a bunch of rough-looking corporate suit types had just passed by. I’m assuming they were anti-bunny. That wasn’t as bad as another suit-clad man. He walked by, reached into my basket, see Bunny, page 20
“Everyone is invited, Everyone belongs”
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e’s furry, always happy and carries a big basket of colorful eggs wherever he goes. No, not Councilman Tom LaBonge — he totes around pumpkin bread (he’s not furry either). I’m talking about the Easter Bunny, and one day last week, he was spotted in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. And he was me. And I was him. Allow me to explain. In the effort to generate a little pre-holiday excitement, and because I thought it’d be funny for a story, I dressed up as the Easter Bunny and strolled down Fifth Street. I was curious to see how much holiday spirit Downtowners have. I must admit, I was shocked by the response. Most people ignored me, while someone assaulted my tail and I was even the victim of temporary theft. What, haven’t people ever seen a giant rodent with big teeth and bigger ears wandering near the Central Library before? It all started on a positive note. I exited a car in a full bunny costume that included light blue overalls, a large, heavy and excruciatingly hot bunny head with a yellow cap,
EVERYONE IS INVITED EVERYONE BELONGS
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