On Saturday, May 7th, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., small businesses throughout the Miracle Mile area will hold their second monthly Miracle Mile Small Business Stroll, to re-introduce shoppers to the unique shops and services in the area, and to remind people to shop local, despite current inconveniences caused by nearby subway construction.
The Miracle Mile Small Business Stroll, which started in April and now repeats on the first Saturday of each month, is the brainchild of Runway Boutique owner Fatima Dodson (featured in a Buzz story last fall). Â Dodson was raised in the area and opened her popular shop at 807 S. La Brea more than a decade ago, but says she has seen business fall off lately, as customers are inconvenienced by the nearby subway construction at Wilshire and La Brea. Â Dodson says customers are intimidated by the resulting traffic congestion, and also by the lack of parking, since the construction removed a parking lot that used to lie behind the old Bank of America building, which has now been turned into a construction staging area.
The first Small Business Stroll, last month, was a big success, and this month it features some new special events.  First, there will be a special Miracle Mile “Kids’ Mile“ architectural walking tour, starting at 9 a.m. at the La Brea Tar Pits. The tour, designed especially for kids ages 5-10 and their parents, “will feature the iconic architecture and historical sites in our neighborhood.  We’ll have several stops with activities for kids and we’ll engage kids in the ideas of architecture, urban design, and city living.” The tour will last about two hours and will include a full mile walk, so bring a water bottle and wear comfortable shoes.  The tour will include discussions of buildings and transportation, as well as a stop for a private cookie party at Milk Jar Cookies, a fun nature activity at Miracle Mile Toys and Games, and a bus ride back to the Tar Pits.
Another big event will be a special Animation Station activity, courtesy of Steve and Kate’s Camp at Miracle Mile Toys and Games, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..  “Animation allows kids to translate their wildest visions onto the big screen,” say the organizers, who have created custom animation stations for kids to work with legos or their own favorite toys to direct stop-motion films recorded on the animation app. They can embellish their movies with soundtracks and voiceovers and email them home instantly to share and enjoy.
The Small Business Stroll itself, which officially begins a bit later in the day, is more free-form – you can start at any of the participating businesses, including those mentioned above or Muse Cafe, at 8th and La Brea, and they’ll give you a map and information about other participating shops and events.