Category Archives: Eastside

Tortas de Camaron!

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(El Huarachito’s version.)

Do you all know what today is? It’s the beginning of Tortas de Camaron season! If you look around town, most respectable Mexican eateries will have a sign taped on their window announcing this customary dish that’s mostly seen during Cuaresma aka Lent. Whereas most give up eating land animals and turn to the seas during this period, I give up not eating sea animals and partake in these delicious tortitas of egg and ground shrimp, smothered in a spicy chile sauce and covered with nopalitos. (Yeah, my Veggie god will disown me, but fuck him too!) Consider this a suggestion on what you should have for lunch today.

I’ve reviewed a few examples of this dish at some Lincoln Heights restaurants over on my blog so I’m not going to repeat those efforts here, but if anyone finds a place with a good version of this dish, let me know! Click ahead for some more cruddy pictures of tortas de camaron.

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Audition for the LA River

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For those who have love for our beautiful concrete oasis better known as the LA River and would like to show off your theater skills, check this out.

The Cornerstone Theather Company is holding audiitons this Upcoming Saturday for a LA River based production called “Flow” written by Julie Herbert and directed by Juliette Carillo.

Being a fan of the LA River I though this was a very unique concept for a play. If anybody is interested here is the information.

***AUDITION***
for a play about the LA River
with Cornerstone Theater Company!

FLOW

Written by Julie Hébert
Directed by Juliette Carrillo

We are looking to cast people who live in, work near, play at and love the Los Angeles River. Are you a friend of the LA River? An activist? Do you live or work in Elysian Valley/Frogtown? Play in Atwater Village or Glendale Narrows? Or thrive in another community along the LA River?

No experience necessary. Only an adventurous spirit.

Saturday, February 28 (10 am – 5 pm)
or
Sunday, March 1 (10 am – 5 pm)

At

Cornerstone Theater Company
708 Traction Ave, LA 90013

To make an appointment to audition, call Ramy Eletreby at 213-613-1700 x20. Visit www.CornerstoneTheater.org for more information. See you there!

Why are “you people” so protective and uptight?

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the-flats-before-aliso-village

Top: Slum houses on Mateo St,
The Flats before being torn down for Aliso Village
outhouse and Clover St. 1940’s
Art’s Market, DogTown 1950’s

The question is often asked by people who didn’t grow up on the Eastside, “what’s the big deal about the Eastside? “Why is it that you people are so uptight about changes and gentrification, and all the concern about Echo Park, Silver Lake, or whoever, claiming they are Eastside?

Well the photos (from the archives of the LA County Housing Authority), show some of the reasons why the people of and from the Eastside are so thin skinned and protective. None of these neighborhoods (and many, many, others), as poverty stricken and rough as they were, exist anymore except in memories.  Some of the destruction happened because there were people with good intentions who felt that tearing down neighborhoods and building housing projects was a positive step in alleviating poverty.
Some of the destruction was just an easy way to create wealth at the expense of the poor powerless people of the Eastside.

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LOVE THAT HAT!

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Thank you PATT MORRISON for telling it like it is in your usual style. Your OP-ED:In L.A., East is East was as refreshing and welcomed as an ice-cold Horchata drink on a summer day.  I would like to make an open invitation to you to please accept lunch on me, at the Taco Truck of your choice, anytime, anywhere, in the true East side of L.A.

On the LA Times Map and Patt Morrison

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rivercrack

On the LA River, a tear in the fence.

There’s been lots of mention today of the LA Times map, a work in progress that attempts to define the various neighborhoods in this city. Of particular interest to many of us on this blog, and of course, many people East of the river, was their designation of the region known for a long, long, time as the Eastside. I have to hand it to them, they did the smart thing and stuck with a safe approach, with only Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, and Boyle Heights making the list. Mind you, we all know that East Los Angeles (the unincorporated part of the County) is also part of the Eastside, but it’s not part of the city proper so that makes sense. But Eastside it is, through and through. To the map makers, I raise my glass and toast you some light praise.

Even though Highland Park and some other nearby neighborhoods were appropriately placed in the Northeast region it could be open to some interpretation of it sorta being on the Eastside. I don’t really think so, but it’s possible. But the Northeast and Highland Park are not having an identity crisis, so there’s really no need to figure out if it is or isn’t.

But speaking of identity crisis…

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The Garden, a Film on the South Central Farmers Nominated for an Academy Award

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Kenneth Turan, Times Movie Critic says in his review (August 28, 2008) “‘The Garden’ is a case study in how hardball politics is played and why it is so difficult to take on the system. Not that anyone has given up the fight. As a story in the L.A. Times this week pointed out, the battle over this piece of land is far from over. What ‘The Garden’ does is demonstrate what it’s all about and why it’s important.” Turan’s title of this piece on The Garden, a 2008 academy award nominated documentary on the 6-year struggle of the South Central Farmers is “The Garden, Turf wars flourish in South-Central L.A.” Ouch! Here we go again—diminished from urban ecological pioneers and community healers to gang banging discontents. (sigh)

I haven’t seen The Garden yet, but have heard many good things about it and the director, Scott Hamilton Kennedy, especially from friends involved in the film, Gabriel Tenorio and Domingo 7 of East LA who co-wrote the musical score with seasoned soundtrack composer Doug DeAngelis. One of the reasons the film has been difficult to catch up with for me is that it seems to be on tour, rather than part of the usual distribution schedules in local movie houses. Daryl Hannah even hosted a screening of The Garden as part of the National Democratic Convention programming. Continue reading →

New Design for Sixth St Bridge

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Sixth St Bridge – photo courtesy of LAPL.org

According to the Los Angeles Times, the unveiling of the new design for the Sixth St bridge was met with disappointment by Boyle Heights residents and the 6th Street Viaduct community advisory committee. Many feel the bridge is too modern and spare looking and lacks historical continuity.

“I said as far as I am concerned, if you are going to put this bridge with cables there, you might as well not put a bridge there at all. I would rather not see one there,” said Victoria Torres, a board member of the Boyle Heights Historical Society. “It’s very disappointing when the city is trying to push something on you that you didn’t agree with.”

The bridge is in a state of irreversible decay and is plagued by some kind of “concrete cancer” that can lead to a collapse in a heavy earthquake.

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Eastside Greasers

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Lincoln Heights Greasers

El Chavo originally spotted these youngsters a few months ago. Today they were out and about looking for something fun to occupy their time.

Me: Can I take your picture?
Them: Sure!!!
Me: What do you call your style?
Them: Greasers
Me: How long have you been into this style?
Them: Four years
Me: Thanks! Have a great day!
Them: You too!

If you look carefully, you’ll notice they are chomping on Flaming Hot Cheetos, the #1 snack on the Eastside.

Breed Street Shul Update

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A tip of the hat to Upstream, Downstream for pointing out this link regarding the repair progress at the Breed Street Shul in Boyle Heights. One good idea mentioned:

“The youth need to be taught about the historical value of Boyle Heights,” said Yolanda Hernandez, 73, who was born in the area. She thinks the building could function as a kind of historical library for the neighborhood.

Actually, that sounds like a great idea. Imagine that, history meaning something to people. The newcomers to Los Angeles keep trying to act like our history across the river doesn’t matter, you know, because of some vague point of reference “fluidity”. But we know better.

Click here to read the article from Jewish Journal

South Central Farms comes to Northeast LA

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Apologies for the poor quality of the flyer. I carried it around folded in my bag before I actually read it.

I was pleased to discover this flyer at Figueroa Produce this past week. It’s an idea other independent grocers would do well to emulate: team up with local growers and farmers to deliver low cost produce to urban areas. I know we already have farmers markets but I think this idea might be easier to implement on a smaller scale.
I’ll try a box next week and get back to you with the results.
For more info: South Central Farmers Cooperative