Footbridge Square Celebration Marks its 40th Year in Studio City

About 700 men, women, children and dogs walked the parade route.

It was the first of two parades going on within a few blocks of each other in Studio City (and another in Valley Village) on this Independence Day.

This one started off in the Footbridge Square area at Valley Spring Lane and St. Claire Avenue and circled around the area led by trucks and Los Angeles Police cars. The trucks circled around the bloc in the area bordered by Whitsett Avenue on the east and Laurel Canyon Boulevard on the right with Moorpark Street at the north and Ventura Boulevard to the south.

The pancake breakfast and barbecue grill potluck was a neighborhood party that has been going on for four decades. 

Charlene and Art Howard began helping with the parade in 1972. "Don't feel bad about not bringing anything for the potluck, there's a donation box, come on and have some pancakes," Art Howard said as onlookers watched the parade passing by.

The parade stops in front of Art Altounian's house who is one of the people who helped put the parade on for the last six years, and helps hold the barbecue. Other families brought bagels, flipped pancakes and there was a band playing patriotic songs in the driveway.

This potluck also encouraged donations of money or certified canned food for the Valley Food Pantry.

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