But back in the mid-1990s, an artist's loft was just that: a cavernous, dilapidated place for creative types to splash paint and host epic parties. It was more than likely a spot nobody else could make good use of, which is why the whole thing was such a practical idea in the first place.
Anyone who has ever spoken with Chicken John, the alarmingly voluble owner of the Odeon Bar at 3223 Mission St., can affirm that he's a guy who gets things done. When Chicken wants something, he's likely to get it, through hard work and the twin powers of repetition and volume. And right now, Chicken John wants artists' lofts to return to their former glory, starting with the building he and his playmates currently inhabit.
In order to bring the place up to code, the residents have met and overcome many obstacles and have spent thousands of dollars. The ragtag band of artists faces future hardships, too, like needing to spend even more. But the stakes are high: Apparently, City Hall is considering ending its moratorium on live-work zoning, using this case as a precedent. To support this move, C.J. and partner Anna Fitch have assembled an evening of what Chicken John calls "the best fucking shit anybody's ever seen." He's almost certainly talking about the impressive roster of bands and other performers scheduled for the "Live-Work Benefit": the Bike Rodeo, eXtreme Elvis, Black & Blue Burlesque, and more. Support the effort to return the phrase "live-work loft" to its rightful owners -- artists.
