I love the L.A. arts festival. The printed schedule of events is as stimulating as it is unreadable. The events themselves are as exotic as they are unpronounceable. L.A. could have used the

festival to propel itself to the heights of civic and cultural empowerment in this country. It’s almost denying that part of itself for a change. L.A.’s reputation as a mainstream cultural

mecca will not be really served by its presentation of Wayang Kulit or Kings of Kambuja copulating with heavenly dancing nymphs. One of the great things about L.A. is that _ everybody _ is

here. One of the worst is that it’s geographically, economically and culturally segregated. We never get to see each other, much less that elusive _ everybody, _ except at Dodger games. The