Large Variety of Fireworks Shows to Take Place in Greater Los Angeles Area

 

There will be fireworks shows occurring in various cities throughout the greater Los Angeles region, including a 20-minute show in Marina del Rey starting at 9 pm. (Thinkstock)

Organizers are promising the largest fireworks event in Southern California history at the Rose Bowl Friday night, and downtown Los Angeles’ biggest rooftop fireworks display is planned to mark Independence Day.

More than a ton of explosives will be used in thousands of special effects fireworks for the 88th annual edition of Americafest at the Rose Bowl, producer Paul Souza said.

What is billed as Southern California’s longest-running Independence Day fireworks show will begin at 7 p.m. and also include a motorcycle stunt show and musical performances by the Mariachi Divas, the 17-year-old Belgian teen pop idol Ian Thomas and the Liverpool Legends, a Beatles tribute band selected by Louise Harrison, the sister of the late George Harrison. The fireworks show will begin at 9:05 p.m. The stadium gates will open at 6 p.m

The Rose Bowl parking lots will open at 9 a.m. A festival with food vendors, entertainment, craft-making and inflatable rides for children will begin at 2 p.m. outside the stadium.

The second annual Fourth of July Block Party at Grand Park will include a 16-minute fireworks display from atop the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at 9 p.m.

The size of the party has been tripled from last year, encompassing all 12 acres of the park as well as the area from Temple to Second streets between Grand Avenue and Main Street. It will feature two entertainment stages, one featuring DJs presenting soul, funk and disco dance sounds and emerging indie rock bands on the other.

Marina del Rey’s 20-minute fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m., synchronized to music played over loudspeakers throughout Burton Chace Park and broadcast over KXLU-FM (88.9). Burton Chace Park and Fisherman’s Village are considered the best spots to view the fireworks, which are shot from a barge across the marina’s main channel.

Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. for the 16th annual Fourth of July Fireworks Festival at CBS Studio Center in Studio City. Paperback Writer, a Beatles tribute band, and Rhythm Section will perform.

Fireworks will also follow the Los Angeles Galaxy-Portland Timbers Major League Soccer game at the StubHub Center and the concert by Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell at the Hollywood Bowl.

Fireworks shows are also scheduled for the following locations in Los Angeles County, all beginning at 9 p.m., except where noted:

– Barnes Park, 350 S. McPherrin Ave., Monterey Park;
– Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro;
– Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 3911 S. Figueroa St. (dusk);
– Lynwood City Park, Lynwood;
– Rosemead Park, 9200 Mission Ave., Rosemead;
– Shepherd of the Hills Church, 19700 Rinaldi Street, Porter Ranch;
– Van Ness Recreation Center, 5720 Second Ave, Los Angeles (dusk);
– Warner Park, 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills; (9:08 p.m.); and
– Willow Springs Park, 2745 Orange Ave., Long Beach (after sundown).

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Player Sues Group Formerly Known as Lingerie League

A former player is suing the Legends Football League (formerly the Lingerie Football League). (Courtesy Image)

A former member of the Los Angeles Temptation is suing the all-female Legends Football League (formerly the Lingerie Football League, or Lingerie League) alleging she and other former and current players are wrongly classified as independent contractors and wrongly denied overtime.

Melissa Margulies filed the lawsuit on June 30 in Los Angeles Superior Court against the league and its owner and founder, Mitchell Mortaza. The suit seeks unspecified damages.

A representative of the league did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.

According to the suit, Margulies was a member of the league, formerly known as Lingerie Football League, from 2010-13. She is seeking to include in her suit all players dating back four years from the time a judgment is reached in her case.

According to the suit, the league “willfully misclassified” players as independent contractors rather than employees despite having a significant say over their job duties.

“Indeed, it is difficult to imagine how players in a team sports league could ever qualify as independent contractors,” the suit states. “The nature of team sports demands that players follow league and team rules or face discipline or termination.”

Players are ordered to be at practices and promotional events, to avoid outside activities in which they could be seriously hurt and must give all publicity rights to the league, the suit states.

The suit also alleges Margulies and other players were not given wage statements, were denied reimbursement for expenses related to their work and were not paid wages owed within the proper time period when they left the league.

Margulies, 27, is a former member of the USC women’s track team.

The Lingerie Football League began as a Super Bowl halftime show, but after its name was changed it expanded to 10 teams in the United States as well as a total of nine other squads in Canada and Australia, the suit states.

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