Vendors make last stab at unloading Jackson items
At the corner of Flower and 11th streets in downtown Los Angeles, the stream of crowds exiting the Nokia Theatre and Staples Center had to pass through a block-long gauntlet of desperate vendors making their last pitch.
Forming something of an impromptu swap meet in an almost carnival-like atmosphere, vendors were selling all things Michael Jackson-related as well as plenty of other oddball items. Available for purchase were Michael Jackson hats, buttons, T-shirts (for half price at $5), posters, high-definition DVDs, key chains, plastic horns, clocks, cellphones, roses and carnations, hot dogs, ice cream, churros, plastic cups filled with orange juice fresh-squeezed on the spot, tiny live rabbits ($25) and turtles ($8, plus an additional $3 for a small yellow plastic turtle carrier).
Vendors had long abandoned the sidewalk and set up shop in the middle of the street, most of their carts and boxes full of unsold items.
“Water, $1!” shouted a woman holding chilled bottles of water over her head for attention.
“T-shirts! $5!” shouted a man a few feet away, waving his product like flags in the faces of existing crowds. Some stopped briefly and took out cash but most herded on, intent on getting through and back to their cars.
-- Louis Sahagun
Photo: T-shirt vendor Roberto Mendez, 50, plays the harmonica as he waits for potential customers outside the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center. Credit: Ann Johansson/Getty Images
