Doomie’s Home Cookin’: A New Veggie Option in Chinatown

I read about this new veggie spot called Doomie’s recently at To Live and Eat in LA and was quite surprised to find out about some veggie/vegan options in Chinatown, that’s a pretty close by. On the way back from the LA Archives Bazaar we took a detour to check out this new veggie spot, and I’m glad we did because this is going on my short list of regular joints to visit!

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Archives Live! The 3rd Annual L.A. Archives Bazaar


It used to be called the Westside – my grandmother at Echo Park Lake, 1957.

This Saturday the 3rd annual LA as Subject Archives Bazaar will be taking place at the USC Davidson-Conference Center. I’m sure you can find an old-timer there that will corroborate my statement above, as well as inform you of thousands of other historic facts about this great city of ours. I’ve attended every year and often discover new sources for research and different perspectives on our city’s history.

More on the bazaar:

What Is L.A. as Subject?

Hosted by the USC Libraries, L.A. as Subject is an alliance of research archives, libraries, and collections dedicated to preserving the rich history of the Los Angeles region. L.A. as Subject is working to increase the visibility of local archives and improve access to them for students, researchers, K-12 educators, and everyone else with a stake in Southern California history. L.A. as Subject promotes tools and mentoring to help its members with everything from preserving and cataloging materials in their collections to fundraising and public outreach.

To support this mission, L.A. as Subject organizes an annual Archives Bazaar and bimonthly Archives Forum. These events raise public interest in local history while providing opportunities for educators, community archivists, librarians, and historians to share ideas and help one another preserve the L.A. region’s diverse cultural heritage. The research alliance publishes an online directory of 288 local archives–organized by topic–guiding students, researchers, and the public to resources that can help them explore the complex subject that is Los Angeles.

Building on the USC Libraries’ commitment to preserving Southern California and Los Angeles history, L.A. as Subject is developing a variety of new resources to support L.A.-area historical collections and strengthen the involvement of local communities.

Book signings by Jonathan Gold, Jervey Tervalon, William Estrada, J. Michael Walker, Carina Monica Montoya and Icy Smith.

Film Screenings: Chicano Rock!, Chinatown Remembered, The Eastsiders and The New Los Angeles.

See you there!

Just added: Schedule—->>>
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Sunset at Chavez Ravine

In Antonio’s country, where there were many natural beauties, the sunsets were ordinary and predictable. Here in Los Angeles, nightfall was often a sweeping and multihued event, with a majesty that suggested the coming of the millennium, the end of a planetary journey.

Someone once told Antonio it was the pollution in the air that made the evening sky this way. Like everything else in Los Angeles, even the beautiful sunsets were man-made.

From The Tattooed Soldier by Hector Tobar

(Same photo, different words.)

Eastside 101: That Stupid Nut and Bolt Sign

It’s silly. Stupid. Juvenile. Crude. And maybe just a bit wrong, but I still get a kick when I catch a glimpse of this sign of a bolt chasing a screw nut (or are they both just running to help out at some new construction project?) from the 5 freeway, near the corner of Telegraph and La Verne, technically in City of Commerce. It’s been there for as long as I can remember, since back when I was an esquincle and much more of a mocoso. I bet you’ve all seen it.

Man, that’s such a dumb advertising sign. Thumbs Up!

Click here to see all the Eastside 101 posts.

El Pan de Muerto

Pan de Muerto from El Pavo Bakery, $2.50

It’s that time of year, Pan de Muerto is now available at your local panaderia. Every panaderia seems to have different kinds, although the bone symbolism tends be the most prevalent. Sometimes you can find some with names of the departed – a few years ago I spotted a piece at the King Taco bakery in Lincoln Heights with the name “Bush” on it. A baker with sense of humor, nice!

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A look back

With the Dodgers so close in the playoffs, Angelenos are anticipating for their beloved team to bring home another World Championship!

It was 1988 when the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Oakland Athletics four games to one. It was by far an exciting time in Dodger history, but that was well over twenty years ago it’s time for for another well deserved victory!

Photo

I got to thinking what ever happened to the old Dodger Championship Mural that was located next door to The Original Texas BBQ KIng on N Cesar Chavez and Figueroa. I remember always looking and seeing the old faded mural when ever I passed by. Artist Peter Quezada painted the mural in 1988 shortly after the Dodger victory.

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What’s Wrong with this Picture?

Artist Harry Gamboa, Jr. said when he was a boy in East Los Angeles, all the streets were filled with beautiful trees, but in the 1960’s they were cut down to accommodate the Los Angeles Police’s helicopter surveillance program.  Remnants of what the trees may have looked like still exist on Cesar E. Chavez boulevard, on a strip between Evergreen and Indiana, which by the way, is flanked by a jogging path and the oldest cemetery in Los Angeles (see the first picture above).  These non-native Ficus Trees, a distant relative to Fig Trees, provide a great source of nutritional support to the wildlife in the area, cool fresh air during the hot summers and somewhat of a sound barrier from the traffic, to us residents.  I have lived here for a few years now, and have noticed the diligent pruning of the trees on my corner, several times a year.   On further investigation, it appears that the City of Los Angeles maintains the Ficus Trees on my corner excessively stubby year long, to give traffic visibility to a privately owned billboard situated between four trees (see the second picture above).  When the whole nation is looking at ways to keep our country “green”, I wonder why the community of Boyle Heights has to relinquish nature to corporate commercialism.

Grillos

I was near El Centro recently and seen these treats at the check out counter at the local AM PM. I only really seen edible crickets for sale at El Mercadito or sometimes at swap meets, and they are usually in big tambos sold by the pound. I know in some places in Mexico they are a common snack (or maybe its grasshoppers?). I am not sure if they are being sold at any LA am pm yet, but maybe just maybe I might get the nerve and try them.

They got a variety of flavors too; bacon and cheese, salt and vinegar, sour cream and onion yum!

I Googled  the company Hotlix and  to my surprise they been in the business over 20 years! and got tons of other insect treats.

The Fan and Fernando

I like to think I was destined to be a lifelong Dodger fan. I was born just before Fernando “El Toro” Valenzuela was called up to the majors in September 1980. Of course, I don’t remember that. Nor do I remember Fernando Mania and his awesome 1981 season which resulted Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards. In fact, I really don’t remember much about Fernando during his prime years except for listening to Jaime Jarrín announce over the radio, “¡Lo ponchó!”

Fernando made many people fans… or at least increased their love for the Dodgers. Still, I can’t say Fernando made me a fan. My dad gets all the credit for that.
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