Photo taken minutes ago in Lincoln Heights. Threat of lightning present.
This evening’s lightning, thunder, rainbows and warm rain brought the neighbors out of their houses for an impromptu celebration of the change of weather.
I would put up with another day of brutal, mind-numbing heat if it was followed by the gorgeous, bruised looking skies we have right now.
Bonus photo!
September sky view from Angelino Heights. Photo by Jon
From the website Coaliton for Economic Survival:
LA’s Rent Control law is in danger of being undermined, resulting in tenants receiving major rent increases and potentially losing their homes. Turnout is greatly needed this Wednesday, SEPT 29 at 7:00 am, Room 350, City Hall at the City Council Housing, Community & Economic Development (HCED) Committee. We encourage you to get there at 7:00 am to ensure getting in the hearing room. Landlords will try to pack the room.
The HCED Committee hearing on the new rent control proposals could result in major rent hikes to tenants. Please attend this hearing to help SAVE RENT CONTROL!
For more information regarding this proposal, please follow this link: Coalition for Economic Survival Action Alert
Wednesday, SEPT 29 at 7:00 am
Room 350, City Hall at the City Council Housing, Community & Economic Development (HCED) Committee.
PDF link to proposal here.
Ah, so I missed commemorating Los Angeles’ birthday this past Saturday, September 4th. Ooops! Well, happy belated birthday great City of Los Angeles! I am your daughter by four generations, my body is filled with traces of your asphalt, the smog of your skies and the dust of your palm fronds. I am truly of this city.
Anyways, I’m here to remind you of another celebration, and this one I only remembered because a co-worker asked me “Chimatli, vas a ir a el desfile en East LA este domingo?” “Huh, cual desfile?” I told you in my last Botanitas post that I’ve been hopelessly removed from the social scene. “El desfile de 16 de Septiembre” she shakes her head and smiles slightly, the same disappointing gesture she makes when my tongue turns Spanish all mushy. Well, in case you don’t know either, this year Mexico turns 200 years old. There are grand celebrations being planned all over the Mexico but you don’t need to travel very far to take part in the commemorations because the Eastside is having it’s very own Mexican Independence Day Parade!
Don’t miss the Bicentennial Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival showcasing celebrity grand marshal operatic tenor Plácido Domingo on Sunday, September 12 in East LA. Watch top Latin stars’ performances, play games, ride attractions and enjoy delicious food. The parade begins 11am at Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and Indiana Street and travels to Mednik Avenue, ending adjacent to at Belvedere Park with a festival.
-from the Metro LA site
Placido Domingo is the grand marshall which is pretty impressive for East LA. Though nothing can compare to the spectacle I witnessed when Juan Gabriel was in the parade. Hordes of fans mobbing his float, filling the sidewalks and streets so that even us spectators were crushed in the crowds. That was pure insanity and madness the likes of which I will probably never see again.
Read more about Mexico’s bicentennial celebrations here.
Chinatown grocers offer the most inexpensive and tastiest produce in the area, like this sidewalk stand on North Broadway and Ord. Buy your oranges in Chinatown! (click for larger photo)
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!
Thank goodness for Random’s Rundown because if you counted on my Botanitas posts to keep your social calendar full, you’d probably end up spending most of your nights at home (like me) due to their infrequency (damn you full-time job with no internet access!)
Time to click ahead for weekend events and Eastside news…
Hardly iconic
Lincoln Heights is proud home to a new youth center creatively placed in an inspired adaptive re-use of an historic church. I have yet to go inside but I hear it’s on the smallish side. No matter, the neighborhood needs more places where consumer consumption is not involved and youth are allowed.
I have one small bone to pick though, and I will digress a moment to let you know I have at times, been labeled an “aesthetic tyrant” for my critical proclamations of design, but what’s up City of Los Angeles with these tired old park signs? They might’ve looked good in the 80s or 70s or whenever they were first put together but nowadays they look just plain fuddy-duddy. The outdated thick italic font, the faux wood with pale mustard trim, it’s so…uninviting. It’s time for a make-over. I know, I know, the city is in one of the worst financial crisis in it’s history but still, graphic designers can’t be that expensive. I know a few that need work…
The mild summer temperatures have been the perfect weather for frontyard Lincoln Heights gardeners as evidenced by these prolific yard long beans growing on Ave 26.
“En ese edificio trabajo…” (click for larger size)
What caption would you give to this photo?
Downtown skyline as viewed from the appropriately named Vista Hermosa Park.
LAFD misting attendees at Fiesta Broadway, 2008. Photo by El Chavo!
We recently asked our readers on our LA Eastside Facebook page to give us some tips on staying cool through this heat spell of ours. We received some helpful and interesting responses (I’ve already tested a few myself.)Â The suggestions were so entertaining I decided to share them here.
The well worn path (just under the sign) that runs along the Arroyo Seco proves people cannot be willed by signs, especially when there are journeys involved.
Came across this promotional video for East Los Angeles cityhood. If this new city is created, I hope they’ll be smart enough to keep out Wal-Mart…just sayin’.
Get your huaraches on and join the rest of the Walking Class for a cool tour of Boyle Heights!
Getting to Know LA: Boyle Heights
Sunday, July 11
11:30am – approx 1:00pm | | FREE (transportation and lunch not included)
Explore Latin American cultures in Boyle Heights beginning with a visit to our partner, La Casa del Mariachi, a shop that produces colorful and sparkling mariachi garments. We’ll then head on a walking tour led by urban planner James Rojas and explore the many creative ways in which the residents of Boyle Heights animate their front yards and streets to make this a truly distinct corner of Los Angeles. Directions to the meeting spot will be provided when you RSVP. Please RSVP by July 9th to (323) 937-4230 x50 or workshops@cafam.org
Tour details:
Walking tour begins at La Casa del Mariachi (1836 E. 1st St. – across from Mariachi Plaza)
We will view art work that has been placed at La Casa through the Folk Art Everywhere project. Then we will hear about the art of mariachi garments from the owner of La Casa. From there, we’ll move on to explore the neighborhood on foot: from murals and architecture to porches and fences.
The tour will involve walking approx. 1 mile roundtrip.
More info: www.folkarteverywhere.com
Mexican Americans on Fourth of July, 1923. Photo courtesy of LAPL
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!
So where will you be this weekend with all your illegal fireworks? Hopefully that wasn’t your uncle’s house that got busted with all those cuetes in El Monte, what a waste…tsk, tsk..won’t someone think of the children?
As my Chicana mother always told me, California wasn’t part of the U.S. when the U.S. got independence from England so we don’t really gotta put our heart and soul into celebrating Fourth of July. But what Mexican is gonna give up a good reason for drinking and bar-b-queing? Dang, we invented bar-b-que, the word comes from the Spanish barbacoa, so however you feel about this “independence day” of ours, make it a good time!