For that reason, Time says, all parties are now "donation-based," meaning that folks can chip in to help cover the costs of the event (or the beer) if they'd like. The Dublab soiree, for example, is advertising a "$10 donation for admission," with proceeds to benefit the nonprofit organization putting it on. (The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control also permits sponsored open bars, which appeared at Freak City in the summer of 2011, when Vitamin Water and the Fader hosted a free concert for Bay Area rapper Lil B and served mixed drinks at no charge.)
The Hollywood officer says the department is tipped off to illegal parties through Internet promotion and calls from citizens, and Time speculates that complaints have been phoned in from "jealous" owners of nearby clubs, though this can't be verified. The cop adds that the donation-based modus operandi is something of a gray area. "If it's a 'mandatory' donation, that's not a donation," he explains.
In any case, what everyone can agree on is that, brushes with the law aside, Freak City has been a smashing success, achieving its mission of becoming one of the city's beacons for graffiti artists, musicians and creative types. "Freak City's about freedom," Time says. "[That's the] key element that makes it cool. You're not being monitored or controlled."
As for the cops? Well, even they aren't always mad. Ross recalls Freak City's New Year's Eve event at its old West Hollywood location as 2009 was becoming 2010. "Two huge, gay WeHo cops came in. We were all like, 'Oh no.' They ended up in the middle of the floor, dancing."
As some of the commenters below have noted, the Dublab party slated for Freak City on Saturday night has been moved to the Echoplex. http://www.laweekly.com/2012-09-20/music/freak-city-hollywood-justin-time/
It's unclear what role this story played in that, but if it played one we are sorry.
Hey LA Weekly -- perhaps you should focus on articles that are in better taste. This article is incredibly immature, from the bloated folks at Freak City to the writer bored enough to cover them. And indeed this has forced Dublab, whom weren't intending to utilize the space illegally, to move their event elsewhere.
Now you may say that this isn't directly your guys' 'fault' -- but journalism entails responsibilities that perhaps are not within your publications' intelligence grasp.
Really disappointing to see that these are the kinds of stories that have been gracing the LA Weekly pages as of late, and a true bummer to the readers you take for granted. Just as flaccid as world news talking about Kate Middletons' tits.
@InBadTaste "Journalism is the investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience." Now. What's your problem, again?
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I see dublab has had to move their party to the Echoplex. I thought LA Weekly was supposed to foster and support culture in LA?
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It sounds like Freak City is doing a lot of cool and artistic things. It's refreshing to see the Weekly publishing these types of inconclusive allegations about their business to nip that in the bud! We wouldn't want to see a bunch of performance spaces fostering creativity allowed to flourish in this town... that would be a damn shame.
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