By Edward Chiao
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
echiao@media.ucla.edu
 Fireworks light up the sky during a Fourth of July
celebration last year. Daily Bruin File Photo
The Fourth of July is only three days away, but it seems
Westwood hasn’t taken notice.
This year, the holiday falls on a weeknight when students have
to study. It’s also illegal to set off fireworks without a
permit in California. And in Westwood, there are still more Lakers
flags being displayed in storefronts and on passing cars than
there are American flags.
In fact, the closest event resembling an Independence Day
celebration was last week’s premiere of “Men in Black
II,” starring Will Smith.
For the restaurants in Westwood, July 4 means business as usual
““ if that.
“We’ve got nothing planned (for July 4),” said
Fila Jones, manager of BJ’s Pizza and Grill in Westwood.
“I expect it to be extremely slow, because people would
rather go to the beach and barbecue.”
BJ’s isn’t the only restaurant in Westwood which
slows down during the night of fireworks. Jerry’s Famous
Deli, Acapulco and Maloney’s On Campus all reported
consistently less business on July 4, according to their
restaurant managers.
Of the three, only Acapulco plans to do something about the
traditionally slow holiday.
“I wish we would be busy, and that the students would come
in, but no,” said Rod Soriano, manager for Acapulco.
“So we’re having happy hour prices and half-price
appetizers to try to bring them in.”
Westwood Brewing Company decided to take a completely different
approach to the holiday.
“We’re closed on July 4 to show honor and respect to
the fallen veterans who fought for our country’s
independence,” said Joey Ramirez, restaurant manager.
Westwood Village has no planned events for Thursday evening,
outside of normal business operations.
Even the Los Angeles Fire Department’s 37th precinct,
which serves Westwood, isn’t on special alert, according to
Captain Armando Jaimes. The fire department is on alert “for
events like midnight yell and other events, but the Fourth of July
is not one of them,” Jaimes said.
The fire department, however, is wary of illegal fireworks,
which can start fires if they are improperly set off.
“Every fire station will remind people that fireworks are
illegal,” Jaimes said. The fire station has a banner outside
its building reminding residents that fireworks are illegal.
“While we don’t normally confiscate fireworks
““Â the (Los Angeles) police department does that ““
we can assist them,” Jaimes said.
 ANGIE LEVINE/Daily Bruin
Fireworks, like the ones above, are illegal in Los Angeles
without a permit. But there are other forms of entertainment
available for students.
A university police sergeant declined to comment on whether
students in the past had illegally set off fireworks or caused
disturbances. UCPD also declined to comment on any additional
staffing or special alert their patrols might be put on for July
4.
Students, however, were open about their plans on Thursday
night.
“I’m going to study,” said fourth-year
psychology student Marry Soakhavong. “I don’t really
celebrate the holiday, but I guess it’s a good excuse to go
party and have family gatherings, and to go to the
beach.”
Fifth-year student Devon Huff agrees. With the holiday coming on
a Thursday night, many students can’t stay out late and
celebrate into the weekend.
“I’m going to be working on my lab reports,”
Huff said. “I have lab on Fridays, so I haven’t really
thought that far ahead. But I don’t plan on anything that
big.”
While the Independence Day spirit may not be readily apparent
from Westwood Village and UCLA students, Huff believes that
patriotism is at a high point for American citizens.
“It’s always a day where you feel a lot of
patriotism and pride for the country, especially if you go
somewhere and watch the fireworks,” he said. “Then you
think about how the country has come together since Sept. 11, and
it makes you even more proud to be an American, as the cliche
goes.”
For students who are looking to watch the fireworks this
Thursday night, Culver City High School will have an hour-long
fireworks show. Marina Del Rey will have fireworks on the harbor,
which can be seen from nearby Fisherman’s Village. Both shows
start at 9 p.m. and admission is free.
For students willing to travel beyond the city lights of West
Los Angeles to see the fireworks, Universal City Walk will have a
“Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular” with guest stars
and country music. Entertainment starts at 4:30 p.m. and fireworks
begin at 9 p.m.
The Burbank Starlight Bowl will feature the Tonight Show Band at
6:30 p.m., with pyrotechnics starting at 9 p.m. Admission is from
$6-$25.
Huff urges students who are fortunate enough to participate in
the celebration to go out and enjoy themselves.
If it weren’t for his morning lab class, Huff said he
would have found “a place that has good fireworks, and
probably go home and hang out with friends. And then we’d go
party, drinking, etc., etc.,” he said.