LA Eastside

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~A message I read on my way to work on the bus ~

A poem by Abelardo “Lalo” Delgado

stupid america, see that chicano
with a big knife
on his steady hand
he doesn’t want to knife you
he wants to sit on a bench
and carve christfigures
but you won’t let him.
stupid america, hear that chicano
shouting curses on the street
he is a poet
without paper and pencil
and since he cannot write
he will explode.
stupid america, remember that chicanito
flunking math and english
he is a picasso
of your western states
but he will die
with one thousand masterpieces
hanging only from his mind.

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One of the first lessons I learned about life back when I was a wee little Random Hero was that you had to rock the right shoes. I have two distinct memories etched in my psyche about this. I was in the third grade and my mom bought me a new pair of shoes from pay less. They were a pair of Raider shoes. They had the team colors, logo and everything and I remember friends telling me, “Aww cool. Raider shoes.” Later on in junior high I learned that you got clowned on for having pay less shoes because it implied your ass was po’. I remember being in gym class in junior high and these two guys were making fun of people for their looks and/or clothes. I was sitting down next to them minding my own business and one of the guys starts eye balling me. He looks me up and down and thinks about making fun of me, but the guy next to him looks me up and down too and stops at my feet. He see’s that I have some Jason Kidd Nikes and says, “nah he’s cool.” As shallow and materialistic as it is, having the right kind of shoes makes or breaks a person sometimes. For some of us, sneakers are way more than just things we wear because we need to, it’s an extension of who we are and what we represent.

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I don’t know why I care. It actually makes me look bad, a so-called vegetarian succumbing to eating ground up shrimp powder? I mean, why not just go for some dolphin or tuna or shark or lobster instead of the roach of the sea? Cuz I’m an idiot, that’s why.

Yet here I am once again excitedly reminding you that during these few weeks of cuaresma you might consider trying that odd and irrelevant plate of Tortas de Camaron, a dish that will disappear for another year once the zombie Jesus squirms his way out of that tomb. It’s a strange seasonal option: the dish consists of tortas (or tortitas) which are fried shrimp-powder infused egg batter, topped with nopalitos and doused with a red chile sauce. Its the poor persons way of not eating land animals as an act of sacrifice (oh please!) meant to appease some Catholic tradition or other. I used to know, now I don’t care. It’s just a time of year with much more food options at Mexican restaurants for vegetarians. And bad vegetarians as well.

There’s something satisfying about the simplicity of this plate, its humble origins, and the pleasing contrast of textures. It just works.

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My uncle ray was a true veterano, a varrio legend. He escaped the oppressive climate that mexican indians endured in New Mexico in the 1930’s, as a young boy literally clinging to my grandma’s back. My abuela was his older sis, and she has  many a tale involving him being a baby tied to her back as they worked the fields in Nueva Mexico, then the central valle, then around the LA area.

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Something different to do this weekend and it’s free!

Dos Lunares is excited to present Calé Rachi a weekend of exploration into the world of Flamenco through film, discussion and interactive rhythm making/palmas in conjunction with Actions, Conversations and Intersections an exhibition of participatory art by 60 Los Angeles artists and organizations, January 24 – April 18, 2010 at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery.

Our Flamenco weekend will kick off with a film night, discussion and tapas on Friday, March 5 at 7:30pm. We will be screening the wonderful documentary El Turista Soy Yo about Flamenco singer Luis Agujetas, the youngest son of the well-known and highly regarded Flamenco cantaor Agujetas el Viejo. This documentary by Trina Bardusco, follows Luis Agujetas through his daily rituals which include his nightly job singing at the famous Flamenco tourist mecca La Carbonería en Sevilla, Spain.

Palmas, the art of Flamenco hand clapping will be featured in our Sunday presentation, March 7 at 2pm. Join us for a lively afternoon of interactive, participatory rhythm making with Los Angeles bailaora, Cristina Lucio.

The name of our presentation, Calé Rachi or Gypsy Night is a nod to the intersections of Chicano and Gitano culture that took place along the Mexican-American border during the early 1900s.

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall Park 4804 Hollywood Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90027-5302 – (213) 485-4581

www.doslunares.org

www.actionsconversationsintersections.com

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The event celebrates the women of color ARTivist collective’s 13th Anniversary and 8th poetry and arts publication, and is in honor of International Women’s Day, and Women’s Herstory month.  Mujeres de Maiz has a month of events that will also include two group art exhibits, a poetry night as well as possible workshops and other events happening throughout March 2010.  The event is also part of an other Month long series of events; “A Prayer for Juarez.”

Sunday, March 7th

Schedule of Events
3pm – 5pm
Public Live Art Show (FREE)

Mariachi Plaza
E 1st St & N Boyle Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90033

featuring all women performers: Danza Azteca, Cihuatl Ce, Guerrilla Queenz, In Lak Ech, Las Ramonas, Raquel Salinas, and The Sirens.
3pm – 9pm

First Street “Mujeres de Maiz”
Art Walk Exhibitions (FREE)

Exhibit at Primera Taza
1850 East 1st Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033

Mujer Mercadito Vendors
Primera Taza back parking lot

Mujeres de Maiz Live Art Show

Casa Grande Salon
2708 East Cesar Chavez Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90033

Limited Seating available 6:30 p.m.
$20 General Admission
$15 for Students w/ ID

Performers include:
D’Lo, Happy Frejo, Hermanas Canto Cura, Indigie Femme,
Josefina Lopez, Las Bomberas de la Bahia, Martha Gonzalez from Quetzal, Claudia ‘Cava’ Gonzalez from CAVA, La Santa Cecilia and Special guest of honor SUSANA BACA

MdM Anniversary Celebration

Eastside Luv
1835 East 1st Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033

Parking is only on local streets at this time.
We strongly recommend you take the Metro Gold line
(Mariachi Plaza stop is right in front of the 1st event).

Muchisimas Gracias… (special thanks to…)
The Peruvian Community, Supervisor Gloria Molina’s office, Casa0101, Corazon del Pueblo
Primera Taza, East Side Luv and the Local First St. businesses & community organizations. Also thanks to our Comadre Circle CSULA Chican@ Studies professsor: Professora Dionne Espinoza, CSUN Professoras: Sirena Pelarollo (Spanish), Marta Lopez Garza (Womens’ Studies), Mary Pardo & Lara Medina (Chican@ Studies), Mujeres Activas En Letras Y Cambio Social de CSULA andMECHA de CSUN.

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Defend Public Education

• 3 pm Rally @ Pershing Square (5th & Hill) in downtown L.A.
• 4 pm March from Pershing Square to the Governor’s office
• 5 pm Rally @ Governor’s office (300 Spring St.)

UCLA
• 10 am Pickets
• 11:30 am Walk Out
• 12 pm Rally @ Bruin Plaza
(UCLA invites high schools and community colleges in the Westside area to join)

Cal State Los Angeles
• 9:30 am Rally @ the USU area (Free Speech area)
• 2 pm March to Los Angeles Regional Rally (See regional listing above)

Long Beach: Wilson High School
• 4 pm Rally @ Wilson High School Gymnasium (4400 E. 10th St.)
• Music by Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman)

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Here are some shows to check out this weekend. Note: First show is on Thursday. If you into hardcore (and powerviolence), then this is like a damned potty. Apoplectic to announce the return of Stapled Shut. I saw em at No Que No years ago, and some drunk punks stumbled in and almost puked on my shoes. One looked at me, while SS played, and blurted, “Are these guys from Finland?” Uh, no. According to their myspace they sound like “puro desmadre.” Who doesn’t like that? Check out their lovely anthem, “Kill The Corporates.” How you like them drums? Endless Demise (-ex Excruciating Terror, -ex Nausea LA) also playing and more.

Kill The Corporates

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One thing we can all agree on. In this edition of the rundown I’m walking 18 miles, 40 years of Chicana/o History and other events that I won’t be attending because I’m pretty sure I won’t be doing much of anything after walking 18 miles. Anyone wanna give me a foot massage later ?

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