A community united by tacos

 With the inception of the newly formed Asociación de Loncheros L.A. Familia Unida de CA.taco truck owners and workers banned together to fight for their rights to sell tacos. The community forum hosted by the union was held at the Casa del Mexicano and everyone and there mother showed up to support the trucks, the union and to bask with fellow taco lovers under a full moon and a full plate. During the meeting, the union reassured everyone in attendance that the union is organizing and working with both city and state officials to find a solution to the harassment the trucks face. The one of the biggest priorities mentioned during the forum was that taco truck owners and workers have rights that cannot be ignored and have to be respected. The trucks all operate with city and health permits that require rigorous regulations that require trucks to be within 100 feet of a public restroom and to house their at a commissary.

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Calavera Fashion Show and Walking Altars 2008



Founder and co-director of
Tropico de Nopal Gallery-Art Space, Reyes Rodriguez said that he was first inspired to have a Dia de los Muertos inspired fashion show after seeing people in the Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights celebrating Dia de los Muertos and dressing up in home made outfits.
“I would always see people getting decked out [for Dia de los Muertos.]
“It was never an attempt to recreate a calavera (skull) or specific image, it was always very contemporary, it was always very East L.A. and Chicano and I would say, ‘that stuff belongs on a run way.”

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Piñata Dangers

It’s a terribly dangerous world out there: salt shakers with loose tops, roses with prickly thorns, soymilk that goes bad after 10 days, it’s like someone is out to get you! And now I find out even the simple act of bashing a Piñata is full of potential peril, not just to the crazy kids swinging around a broom but also to the poor sack tasked to swing said paper monster round and round. Unlike newcomers to this celebratory tradition that seem content to just let the object of rage hang mid-air, most Mexicans and Chicanos like to swing it around to create a challenge, and maybe just to whack a kid or two. (Heh, heh, not that I would ever do that!) But if you look at the pictures on this van I spotted in El Sereno, the traditional way of taunting mocosos could lead to comical failure, and as the website states That’s No Fun! Thank you Piñata Jackstand for simultaneously warning us of hilarious accidents and for selflessly offering a solution! Play safe kids!


Some Stuff I Saw on Halloween

The great thing about Halloween is that it’s a non-commital holiday; everyone loves the day but you don’t have to spend it with your boring family, unless that’s your decision. Religious and traditional holidays were you can’t really escape, now those are a chore, but this one you get to decide what you want to do! I didn’t have any set plans but I did have some stuff to do, so I brought my camera along and took some pics. Wanna see what I saw? Click ahead fool!

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Hallowin Is Here!

Last year I was lucky enough to be in Mexico around this time and got to see many of the Dia de Muertos festivities AND their incorporation of Hallowin (jaja!) into the season. If Frankenstein’s Monster can get into the spirit by sharing a big ass Pan de Muerto with his ghouly friends, then surely we can do a little cross cultural pollination of our own, que no? Have fun mixing it up this weekend!