In charming Glassell Park! I’m just going to get this naming business out of the way and agree that its an unfortunate name for the brewery, considering its location. The owners have a reason for the name, but its kinda weak. And they say they thought about changing it, but it would have been too much red tape. That’s fair enough. But still, this should be a warning to all you would be re-namers of places: the people of Los Angeles are not so keen on such a casual re-purposing of geographical names. Seriously, take that into consideration. If I were from Glassell Park I think I’d put up a storm of protest, and with good reason. But I’m going to leave that business to others as I have enough tasks on my plate. At least it’s not as moronic as fools from Echo Park trying to claim that’s the Eastside.

Out of the way.

We found the place using math skills, cuz 3056 Roswell is on a non-descript street, and doesn’t even have a number. Not that I could tell. This be the brewery and tap room.

There was a whole pedal bike gang that beat us to the place, even though we were there a bit after 4:30 and the place only opened at 4pm. Bikers are like the new nerds. They’d taken up all the tables though most of them were on a tour of the brewing area. Luckily one of them was nice enough to clear some space for the rest of us. (Thanks Ubrayj!) They had 3 beers on tap, one of which was a Belgian Wit, a favorite style of mine. It’s traditionally a mix of barley malts, wheat, oats, cilantro seeds, and Curaçao orange peel.  Their version wasn’t as tart as I like my white beers, but this was still very good.

It’s a very basic room in which to drink a beer, with a view of the brewing area. But it works.

A bit of talking and drinking was done, then time for refills.  The black beer, which is their version of a mild and which they’ve titled “Solidarity”, is very roasty, almost like a porter. I think it was my favorite. The “xpa” named Revolution was interesting and tasty, though it seemed a bit flat, it could have used a few more psi’s. We asked Jeremy Raub, one of the brewers, about the inspiration for the naming theme/scheme and he said it was based on some previous design work, but also that it fit because they were trying to bring a new beer culture to the people of Los Angeles, something to overthrow the current reign of bad beer. It’s a gimmick but if ordering a beer lets you mention Solidarity, Revolution, or Manifesto, then I’m okay with it. I’ll toast to a day when these terms aren’t just beer names.

We were told a tour of the brewery was about to start, but first a requisite stop at the ceramic bushes. This urinal was placed low enough even for a 4th grader, though he might not be smart enough to get into this place.

Brewery tours tend to be geared towards the casual drinker. As a homebrewer that’s bought a few sacks of grain in my day, it’s not terribly interesting to hear the story of how a barley seed gets turned into malt although I did like how malting was described as hijacking the plant growing process. Plant pirates in pursuit of liquid pleasure.

There were a few annoying folks towards the back that kept making stupid jokes and seemed disgusted by the idea that LA water was being used to make this beer. They were the kind of people you just want to punch.

The malt mill.

Brewing boots.

Drinkers behind a glass.

The hot water tank and a bunch of kegs ready to be cleaned.

Inside of the mash tun, where the grains and hot water work their magic.

The brew kettle.

Jeremy teaching the brewing process..

..and showing an example of an active fermentation. Yeah, making beer is quite easy, it just takes a long time.

The heat exchanger. Hot wort flows one way, cold water flows the other. They exchange heat to get the wort down to a safe yeast pitching temperature.

Wyeast 1056? Why, that’s my favorite yeast as well! It’s known as the Sierra Nevada yeast, very clean and bright.

Old milk tanks turned into beer fermentors. WWVD?

Bottling machine for when they start bottling. Let me tell you, bottling sucks. It’s lots of labor for not a whole lotta love. Plus, this doesn’t even include the capping! Good luck ERB.

Will you be doing cask conditioned ales? We hope so, but his is an experiment depending on the results.

They got these casks from the San Antonio Winery in “Downtown” LA. Ugh, cringe. That winery makes a concentrated effort to be associated with Downtown, though they are instead located in fabulous Lincoln Heights. I boycott them for that very reason. They don’t need my dollars but they’ve earned my enmity. I’m telling you, changing your neighborhood name to seem more, or less, ghetto is just a bad idea. Just be honest about where you are.

By the time the brewery tour was over, a whole new crew of folks had jammed the tap room. This is going to be a popular place, with beer drinkers and fad followers alike. Until the fad dies down, expect it to be crowded. But those fools will move on to the next shiny thing and soon enough it will just be a fine watering hole for everyone.

Here’s a crappy shot of the beer taps.

On our way out, the place was much darker. We will be back.

Eagle Rock Brewery  323.257.7866
3056 Roswell St.
Los Angeles, CA 90065
http://eaglerockbrewery.ning.com/

On Saturday morning I had coffee with a Los Angeles city worker, who (among other of his colleagues), is disturbed at the direction city leadership is laying out the LA Game-‘o-Life board. This week Mayor Villaraigosa said regarding the economic crisis fueled job cuts, “I don’t do this because I want to, I do this because I must.” Within this “a man must do what a man must do” blanket statement are also choices. In a city of approximately 40,000 city workers, there are 10,000 police and between 5,000 & 6,000 in the fire department, making them 40% of the city workforce. LA city workers have been appraised that Villaraigosa wants to focus on public safety first, translated means that other services in the city will suffer, but not the police forces.

Across my desk this week were dialogues about student actions being planned regarding the cuts in education, the closing of more parks in the city, the dissolution of the city’s Cultural Affairs Department (I got somewhere around 50 email petitions, which helped overturned this plan—gracias artistas!), an alarming price increase menu on traffic tickets with added rules (drivers beware!), gentrification plans to mow down more eastside historic buildings, and Pearl Art Store selling everything at 75% off (looks like they are going down).

As the students have noted in their various cries for continued funding, this city spends more on prisons and those who can imprison us, than things that can uplift us as a humanity, such as community spaces, art and education. I cringe to think what sort of summer we are headed for in LA. More negative places to be pushed into, armed monitors of humans to catch you erring, climbing prices on everything, mom and pops closing all around us, polluted city drinking water, no jobs, gas that cost more than a blood transfusion and no light at the end of the tunnel. My free-thinking art friends say “let the whole thing crash, we have survived worse.” I am starting to picture myself teaching an impromptu class to eager students on the street corner where they have been locked out of their schools.

Go directly to jail. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

With the city on the brink of anarchy and devastation, here is your chance to do something about it. By joining your local neighborhood city council. Fellow Boyle Heightian, “Rob” notified me about the  elections that are going to be taking place from March through June all over the city. How cool is that ? Neighborhood councils act as the eyes and ears of the the City council and of the council members in keeping up with what’s going on in the streets, but from the looks of things you would think that community blogs, like this one, are the new eyes and ears of the city. Anyway, having covered council meetings at school, I have some grasp and understanding as to how the councils work, the power they have and the positive changes they can make, with the right people in place. That and having utter contempt for Roberts rules of order. I motion to stick it where the sun don’t shine. I digress from my point, which is why you should join your neighborhood council or at the very least, be more active and show up to meetings.

Since I live in Boyle Heights, I will stick to what I know, but for everyone else who is interested in being active in their barrio council, look them up online and at your local library. They post up meeting times and days once in a while to notify residents. Here is a link to the pdf file that shows when each barrio is going to be holding their own election, BH is on April 29 from 2 to 8 p.m. With 35 different positions available, from President, vice, treasurer ect. any one can be part of council and know what is going on in their community. The requirements are “stakeholders who live, work, own property or who declare a stake in Quadrant 1 and affirm a
factual basis for it and who are 18 years or older.”

There are 7 main positions that have 4 year term limits. From there you got quadrant positions. Each barrio council is broken up into quads, here in BH there are 4 quads and someone from each quad can be that quads rep or rep at large. For quad reps there are 3 seats open and for quads at large there are 4 seats available, both with 2 years terms. That’s pretty much the jist of it. Anyone that wants to run has to go through the city clerks office, fill out the paper work and tell people to vote for them. I myself and seriously considering being part of the council for the seat of Special Events Officer aka dude who puts the parties together.

At the same time The Adelante Eastside Project Area Committee (PAC) here in BH are also having elections. Everyone talks about stopping gentrification, well put your money where your mouth is. There are various projects already happening here in BH and community input is needed in helping the CRA make these projects happen. If anything, this is the one one that counts and for sure I’ll be going to the meetings to seriously run for a position. If elected, I’ll tell everyone what’s going on because I was there

How do I get more information?
Visit our website at www.crala.org/projects/Adelante or contact Carlos Alvarado at 323.307.8807

“Get Involved! Make Your Voice Count. The Adelante PAC is looking for leaders with passion and commitment who are concerned about economic prosperity. As a spokesperson for your project area, your voice will help shape the future of your community. Candidates are needed from within the Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project Area to represent each of the following categories:

• residential owner occupants
• residential tenants
• business owners
(non-manufacturing/non-industrial)
• manufacturing/industrial
business owners
• established community organizations

The Adelante Eastside Redevelopment Project was developed in partnership with the community as a 30-year plan designed to bring back the vitality of Boyle Heights and portions of El Sereno and Lincoln Heights. Since CRA/LA will be working in collaboration with your community until 2030, your input is indispensable to us. As a potential new PAC member, you will be directly involved in laying the groundwork for economic prosperity for generations to come. ”

Meetings will be at Boyle Heights Senior Citizens Center
2839 E. Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, except on Tuesday, February 9, 2010*.

Adelante Eastside Pac Pre-Election Procedures Meeting & Registration Session For Candidates & Voters

Tuesday, January 26, 2010
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Registration Session for Candidates & Voters
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Registration Session for Candidates & Voters*
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

El Sereno Senior Citizens Center
4818 Klamath Place, Los Angeles, CA 90032
Final Candidate & Voter Registration Session,
PAC Election Day
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. (Registration only)
Election meeting will start immediately following
the close of the final registration session

The Mesoamerican Society at Cal State L.A and co-sponsor the Art History Society at CSULA are sponsoring a Maya Epigraphy Workshop on February 19-21. The three-day workshop will be taught by Dr. Bruce Love, one of the world’s main epigraphers and translator of The Paris Codex: Handbook for a Maya Priest (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1994). These workshops generally cost hundreds of dollars but thanks to Prof. Love — who will be teaching this workshop for free — students can enroll for a minimum fee that will help defray the cost of workshop materials.

(click to enlarge image)

I saw a preview of a few pieces this past Monday and there’s some amazing sh*t that is above and beyond the usual prison art. DON’T MISS OUT. If you don’t make the opening then for sure make it out to see this show before it bones out.

GO TO CREWEST.COM FOR MORE INFO

**** “ Not recommended for a younger audience, but then again neither is prison.”- Man One aka Man Uno

I didn’t call for a furlough day because then none of my students would have gone to campus, unless they had other classes, and they would have missed the march and teach in.

The weird thing about it all was that very few of the students knew what to do at a rally or march. Most had never been to a march. They grew up in an era of grotesque lies, conservativism, fear mongering and resistance to dehumanization but had never participated or seen what people did in the streets.

I met with my later class and asked “what will it take to get you angry and into the streets?” none could answer. I hope they come back with something on Wednesday.

Mexican American woman with her dead baby in Los Angeles 1950. This photo from the Los Angeles Public Library photo collection speaks volumes about not only a grieving mother but also about our shared humanity and a repudiation of racism and stereotyping of any ethnic or racial group as being inherently violent and immoral, as is becoming so common with xenophobes and racists in the press and on the internet blog sites, even evident here sometimes at “LA Eastside”.

This racist demonization of a people seems especially popular nowadays as the terrible Narco Wars continue unabated in Mexico and innocent people are not only being murdered and traumatized, but to top it off castigated as genetically amoral and prone to violence and depravity.

Hopefully some day, the corruption and violence visited on the Mexican people by the wealthy ruling classes, Drug cartels, arms dealers, and avaricious police and military personnel, who all worship at the altar of the almighty dollar, will end.

It’s a bit late, and other people have covered it but here’s a few pics I took of the recent LA Anarchist Bookfair at beautiful Barnsdall Park. Yes, when we’re not burning and looting, we do take some time to catch up on the latest theories and practices to be found in print, its ammo to fuel the anger. Haz click para la rabia!

Under the shadow of the Hollywood sign, an invitation to Anarchy. I prefer the orange one.

Anarchist Bookfairs have a long and historic tradition. I think. In any case, for many years anarchos here in LA have been traveling north to go to the Frisco @ bookfair. It was only recently that people in Los Angeles decided to do their own and this latest one was quite well organized. Please, no stupid jokes about anarchists organizing something, cuz that’ll only show how ignorant you be. Besides, your jokes will pale.

The main point of these bookfairs? Distributing books. Or acquiring books. Or magazines. Or zines. Or pamphlets. Or flyers. And meeting up with individuals that think beyond the Democrat/Republican dichotomy.

All kinds of groups come down to showcase their latest publications. Here we see one insane member of a dialectical posse, calmly going thru his notes. Mild looking agitators put out some provocative analysis, like this here essay titled “Crisis in California.”

Fairly new, PM Press has already published quite a few items.

They have an updated edition of “Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism.” Put this on your desk at work and people will leave you alone.

Before the bookfair started a group of Aztec dancers gave a blessing to the bookfair proceedings. You ain’t going to see that in SF. Los Angeles really does have a diverse @ scene that other cities might not understand.

The Catholic Worker table had this nice basket of candies that somehow made it on to the LA Times story and in their photo caption. It’s just a basket of free candies, why did they make such a big deal about it? I assume its a not-so-subtle way to make this event seem ridiculous. They also used the most hippie photo ever by which to showcase the bookfair. Of course. If I had some free time I would start covering all those shitty DNC and RNC events just for laughs as well, cuz that would be super easy. One of you radical leaning liberals should get me a pass, I will do your dirty work for you.

Strange that right next to the dumpstered candy table, Cucci set up their own table. Why not pick on their rubber wares? Or are dildos not safe enough for the LA Times public?

Here we see a full-knuckle fun toy being demonstrated as to its proper usage.

Yes, even though Anarchists are against commodity consumption, a few commemorative t-shirts were for sale. Contradictions are our stock and trade, we ain’t beyond going beyond them.

A schedule of events for the day. With enough empty space for others to fill in their own activity.

Some pro-sex publication, with a pro-reproduce this zine message. Thumbs up! And other things.

Anarcha LA had a bunch of leaflets.

And they provided childcare so parents could go check out the panels and books.

There’s some kids playing now.

Outside of the space, someone was making healthy juice from veggies.

Ala Brava Vegana were offering papa-chorizo tacos to the crowd for a suggested donation.

It was food. I’ve had better.

A crowd shot. Even though there were lots of people you could still easily get around to see all the different tables, not like the previous bookfair at the So Cal Library that was too packed to actually see any of the books.

A close up of the AK table.

Ideas in action.

Part of the interactive exhibit Actions, Conversations, Intersections. You should check it out, it runs until April.

I liked this one, I think its called “The Passage of Time” as defined by all the cassette tapes one collects.

I was helping a friend with a table and got a chance to read a few things. This nicely printed zine had a pretty silly argument against phones. It was worth a few laughs.

There was another food booth with much better eats but I forgot to take a pic of my quesadillas. Here we see the plate of one attendee neatly organized to look like a circle A. Its all about aesthetics.

Hmm, whats this? Is that a beer? Oh yeah! The Gallery Theatre has a small concession stand including a few decent beers (like this Sierra Nevada Pale Ale) at $5, not bad at all.

It was a great way to relax while listening to a panel that included discussions on the takeover of factories in Argentina, Greek riots, Korean labor strikes, and the current occupation movement in the universities. You know, the usual Sunday afternoon chat session.

Who knew revolt could be so civilized? And refreshing!

There were lots of booths I kept meaning to revisit for a pic, like the fine wares at Little Black Cart, but somehow I got stuck “helping” way longer than anticipated. Oh well, mutual aid and all that. Over all, a very well run event, at a perfect location, and certainly one to top.  See ya’ next year!

Check out www.laanarchist.org to keep up to date on the latest @ events in LA.

Over at my personal blog, I’ve been doing a series of posts based on a book I’ve been reading called Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco. I was fascinated to read the chapter on Hi-NRG or what I’ve come to call “Chicano Disco” (my nod to the moniker “Chicano Oldies”) and the music’s influence on a generation of Eastsiders.

In Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco, author Peter Shapiro explains how the influence of the European musicians’ love for synthesized music fundamentally changed the essence of dance music. Whereas disco used to be based on funk, live beats and real drummers bands like Kraftwerk showed there was another way to create a rhythm. The synthesizer with it’s fake handclaps, hi-hats and bass drums helped create a whole new genre of disco music: Hi-NRG.

Hi-NRG had a huge following amongst Mexicans and Chicanos in the Los Angeles area in the 1980s. It was the musical fuel for an amazing DIY scene of DJs, backyard parties and dance clubs that ruled over large sections of the city. It’s a movement that isn’t well known outside Chicano circles in Los Angeles, back then most people could not care less what was going on in our communities.

I wasn’t part of this scene but my brother was a DJ and a member of Boyz in Kontrol, one of the hundreds, if not thousands of party crews that existed at the time. The crews were responsible for organizing parties, dance contests, DJ battles and cruising (cars) spots. While punk may get a lot of credit for being a DIY scene, the disco scene of 1980s rivaled punk in it’s “let’s organize ourselves” philosophy. Unlike punk it wasn’t a political choice, the self organization was done out of sheer necessity. Our neighborhoods offered very few forms of entertainment or diversions for youth.

Towards the late 1980s, the backyard parties started attracting the attention of the authorities, and by using the excuse of minor incidents of violence, these authorities begin to systematically shutdown and target the parties. Some involved with the scene said this heavy handedness by LAPD and the sheriffs department helped to create the revival of cholos and gangs on the Eastside. During the height of the disco scene, to be a gangster or cholo was the epitome of being uncool. Kids would snicker at the site of old veteranos riding on the bus with baggy pants like some anachronistic figure of the past. The disco scene had Latino kids going from neighborhood to other neighborhoods across the city to attend parties and to battle each other on the dance floor. The rivalries that existed and any tension were quickly diffused through dancing and partying. The violence that occasionally happened at these parties was mostly due to fights over girls/boys and the usual love dramas.

When the authorities started cracking down on the party crews and cruising, the essentially were forcing teenagers with lots of energy to stay home. And who was waiting for them? The old gangs who provided them with diversionary outlets. Many of us saw this process play out in front of our eyes. I’m not saying this was the only catalyst for the upsurge in gangs but it was a significant one and gives us a few clues to how we can deal with our current gang problem. The more you try and control youth, the greater the eruption of chaos. Young people need something to do, they have a lot of energy and excitement for their new world that cannot be bottled up and funneled into a path that adults approve of. Let the kids party!

Hi-NRG is still popular among successive generations of backyard partygoers. Go to any baptism, quinceañera, wedding or birthday party on the Eastside or in the San Gabriel Valley and there will be at least one DJ set devoted to the pantheon of Chicano Disco aka Hi NRG.

Please see Pachuco 3000’s post: 30 Years of DJ Culture from East Los Angeles for further reading.

These votes don’t actually choose the plans, but, they will poll the stakeholders to get a sense of what they want to see at their schools. The school board makes the final decisions.

LAUSD has a web page with all the proposals. On that list are several eastside schools: new Esteban Torres HS, Garfield HS, Lincoln HS,

What do people think about this whole thing about bringing in outside management? Have you read any of the proposals? Are you voting?

[I added a link to the proposals and clarified who will run schools.]