LA Eastside

I see this mural and I feel nothing. No connection to the history it has, the images depicted on it and what it means to the community and t artist responsible for creating such a beautiful work of art. It’s been there longer than I have been alive and seen Boyle Heights change and grow over the years. Everything I feel and see in that mural nowadays I learned to appreciate it. I walk by it almost everyday and I understand the history behind the streetscapers and the legacy muralist are continuing since the  ’20s. My thirst for knowledge has shown me the rich legacy murals have in all of East Los and around the world for that matter, but that’s the trick. I wanted to know more about it. Then there are other residents that could careless about what they are, but appreciate it for what it is, art. At least that’s what I realized after Willie Herron III explained it to me from his point of view. He told me that even though I may not feel a connection to the images in the mural or understand it, we can all appreciate it. Murals like the “Corrido of Boyle Heights” may be the closest some residents will ever get to art. That alone merits appreciation in the murals, but mocosos still fail to grasp that. It’s the same arguments over and over again: If kids had a proper outlet they wouldn’t be doing shit like this or if the city had more arts programs for youth, taught them more history and appreciate their heritage etc. So does this post have a point? Maybe and maybe not. Maybe I just wanted to post up a picture of HOW STUPID PEOPLE ARE or ramble about a conversation I had today with Herron. Whatever the reason, the mural will survive. As Brandy Healy succinctly put it, “Well, at least its graffiti coated thanks to the restoration skills of Paul Botello & crew with support from CD 1 Councilman Ed Reyes. I hope the clean up folks come soon. Not only is this particular defacement completely void of any meaning or aesthetic, it’s just insultingly stupid.” And so the mural wars continue.

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Piolin, the excitedly animated morning radio host, loved by many and hated by just as many, picked up the tab at the pump on Monday at Pronto Gas station in Boyle Heights.

The line of cars waiting for their free prize was like the line of people waiting to get their free $1 dollar bill from that priest in Downtown on Christmas - endless and not worth the wait, but entertaining to deliberate what people would do for free things and why.

Pronto Gas Station - Soto y Wabash

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East LA school playground

Botanitas is an ongoing feature bringing you stories and news from various sources, upcoming events and other bits of ephemera that might be of interest to LA Eastside readers. Suggestions welcome!

Click below for Eastside punk podcasts, online river representation, sea monster slides, mixtapes and fun music events!

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First impressions are everything and let me tell you, Tierra Mia Coffee left me wanting more. It just sucks that it’s in South Gate, not that there’s anything wrong with South Gate lol, it’s a little too far off my regular route here  Boyle Heights. So how did I end up in South Gate in the first place ? Well I was on my way to malandrinas show a few weeks back, which was totally awesome and I ended up going to go check out the coffee house with my date. And because my friend works there and he would hook it up. You know how I do. While I only took a quick pic of my chocolate chip muffin and Horchata Frappe, the place was awesome. I was joking with the bartistas that I was glad to be in  a coffee house where grande meant large. The place just had a great vibe to it. I didn’t outta feel outta place or like I was getting the stinky eye, like when I roll with friends to a crapbucks or shitty bean. It reminded of my P3000’s post about not having certain foods in the barrio. I WOULD LOVE for Tierra to come to Boyle Heights and East Los. Then I wouldn’t have to go to Highland Park to Antigua for free wifi. There is a need for a great coffee house here on the East side and after visiting Mi Tierra, I WANT MY COFFEE and WIFI. Hold the gentrification.

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It’s about time. Piñatas finally achieve a structural advancement that is worthy of note for all Party People and Pachangeros alike. Maybe this has been around for some time but I didn’t get the memo, I found out about it by accident and by paying attention to all the significant things that happen in the world around me. Err, maybe it wasn’t an “accident”, let’s just call it approved-but-focused-violence. Above we see some weak kids crying about the fact they are going to have to bash and destroy their piñata friend, cuz that’s how they learn to grow up to be strong individuals that can take on the world. Rites of passage, they just need to be done.

Oh yeah, click ahead for the break-through (har har!) innovation that will turn parties upside down!

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Three people including a ten-year-old girl were shot in their Southern Arizona home by vigilante Minuteman racists. The little girl and her father died. If this happened to a black family in Alabama or a Jewish family anywhere in the USA what would be the consequences?
With the US economy in shambles and unemployment at record levels will the Mexican American population be the whipping boy for the countries ills? Will the FBI and Justice Dept now take a second look at these right wing militias and racist goons who seem to be turning more violent as their frustration with an African American President and a more multi-cultural society turns to rage and terrorism.

From the New York Times today:

New Border Fear: Militia Violence By JESSE McKINLEY and MALIA WOLLAN
“I had to take an oath, and part of the oath was that I couldn’t eat Mexican food,” he said. “That’s when red flags went up all over for me. That seemed like prejudice.”

Minutemen American Defense, a Washington State-based offshoot of the Minutemen movement, in which citizens roam the border looking for people crossing into the country illegally. Former members describe the group’s leader, Shawna Forde, 41, as having anti-immigrant sentiments that are extreme, at times frightening, even to people accustomed to hard-line views on border policing.”

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(you might want to bring along a bike better than this one!)

One of our readers sent this info along via our contact us page. See, even you can get something posted here!

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“LIVE TO RIDE, RIDE TO LIVE”

EASTSIDE BIKE CLUB CELEBRATES 1ST YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH
COMMUNITY BIKE RIDE, OUTDOOR MOVIES, MUSIC AND FIREWORKS

On Saturday June 27th, the EASTSIDE BIKE CLUB will be celebrating our 1st
Year Anniversary with a community bike ride thru the streets of Northeast
Los Angeles.

The event starts at Lincoln Park in Lincoln Heights, just 5 minutes
Northeast of Downtown LA. Bike riders are invited to join our celebration
by arriving at Lincoln Park at 3pm to start to decorate bikes RED, WHITE
and BLUE (Weekend before the 4th of July), check air pressure on tires and
make minor adjustments to bikes.
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About 75 people are mourning Michael Jackson’s passing by watching over MJ’s temporary Eastside resting place from the parking lot of the Jack in the Box across the street from L.A.’s coroner’s office.  The Eastside fans (and their veladoras) are joined in their grief by 11 television trucks and an army of sheriffs.

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So who wants to go see the Derby Dolls this weekend ? for free ? Yeah that’s what I figured. Now that I have your attention, I am more than happy to give away tickets to the dolls bout this Saturday to LA Eastside readers because I’m a giving kind of guy. They hooked it up with 2 pairs of tickets for both the baby doll brawl and the main bout. You have to be 21 in order to get the tixs because it’s a 21 and only show. Another thing I would like to put out is that if you have gone to a bout, please don’t try to win the tickets. I would much rather have someone who has never experience the Derby Dolls go and have an amazing time like I did the first time I went. So I’m trsuting you guys and putting you on the honor system ok ? Ok puez. So here’s the million dollar question, what is the name of the derby doll I mention on my derby dolls post for being a bad ass jammer ? Send your responce through the contact page and be sure to include your EMAIL so we can hook you up with the information. A big heart felt gracias goes out to the LA Derby Dolls for hooking it up with tickets for their bout this Saturday.

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