A few ideas for your “Día de los Muertos” party and outfit

¿Como que hay un boom de Halloween este año, verdad?  But in LA we do it DOUBLE con la fiesta de “Día de Los Muertos”.

It’s amazing how people in LA embrace and celebrate both Halloween and Día de los Muertos back to back, and you don’t even have to be Mexican or Hispanic to appreciate this. Cada vez hay más fans de esta fiesta que celebra la vida después de la muerte, and there’s no better place to witness this than the annual Self Help Graphics Día de los Muertos event. It will be held in Boyle Heights this year, on Nov. 2, and they’ve got a cool procession starting from Union Station (Gold Line) at 4 pm and Mariachi Station at 5pm. (Check the link for more details.) The event is free! But you have to get a metro ticket.

I had a chance to go 2 years ago and it was fabulous. It’s a grand scale event with families, artists, music, local vendors, tamales, champurrado, churros and la vendedora de frutas all rolled into one great night. I blogged about it then (you can read it by clicking here) and  was so impressed with the way this traditional fiesta mexicana crossed the border and became such a big event, it was súper concurrido. It captures the spirit of the celebration in México, where it’s a happy occasion, a true celebration of all our loved ones “que se nos adelantaron” y que están en el afterlife muy contentos y en paz.

So these pictures below are from the photo vault from 2009. Maybe some of you calaca aficionados would like to see them again, in case you need any ideas for your altar or for your disfraz. There’s still time to get one.

¡Feliz Día de Muertos amiguitos!

Altar de familia, con flores de cempasuchil, la tradicional flor que se usa para adornar el altar de muertos.

Estas veladoras están padres para decorar en estas fechas.

Ahi viene la Calaca Ranchera. I’d be scared if I ran into this guy!

Calaca face painting at Self Help Graphics event (2009) was a popular theme.

Colorful calaca magnets on sale at the event.

Las gringuitas también se vistieron de Catrinas. ¡Muy bien!

Louis XV inspired calacas.

Very creative! “His and Her” calaca skeletons.

Little trastecitos de calacas with a Mexican Revolution twist.

Isn’t it interesting how something as dreary as death is exalted to become a happy occasion? Aqui la calaca se pone guapa con mucho glitter.

Art in the streets of Los Angeles

A funny thing happened the other day when I did the AIDS Walk. Me percaté de muchos murales y cool art in the street popping all around us. How come I hadn’t noticed this before?

I guess it takes a good walk around town to become aware of how much talent surrounds us. Los Angeles is an amazing hub of designers and artists, in addition to the Hollywood industry folks, and you can enjoy the scene and vibe if you just start looking closer and observing the little gems artist leave for us here and there. Aproveché la vuelta por el West Side y alcancé a tomar unas fotos.

Y ahora this has become a new fascination of sorts, and with this in mind I set out to DTLA (my fav place) for a little street art inspiration. And there was something cool and photo worthy on every street!

You’d be surprised how many shots did not make it to the list, since it was the magic hour and my car was running on only 1/4 tank of gas, so I had to apurarme y editar on the fly. No fue precisamente un walking tour, but it helped that it was a Monday night and I found street parking here and there.

Here are a few of my observations around LA. Hope you feel inspired to do a little street art tour yourself.

West Side:

"Ignite the Imagination, Awaken a Dream." From one of the windows at a gallery on La Cienega Blvd in West LA.

Los Angeles is in my heart. I ADORE LA and this mural spoke to me like you have no idea. Found it on Melrose Avenue.

Dennis Hopper was one of the coolest people ever, in addition to being an amazing artist and photographer. This mural is on Melrose.

DTLA:

Peace out James Dean. This mural is in DTLA.

So much sentiment going on here. Mural on a Los Angeles St. parking lot.

Looks a little Roy Lichtenstein inspired. "Vargas didn't paint me". On 3rd street DTLA.

"I always feel like... somebody's watching me.." On Spring St. DTLA.

This seems to be inspired from the "Obey" series. I've labeled it as Woman Rebel Commie in Black and Red (the artists probably has another name for it.) Found it on an undescript alley on Olympic Blvd. DTLA Fashion District.

The Arts District in DTLA is worth a trip.

Mural collage and phone booth on Traction St.

Enlightened floating Ghandi on Traction St. ( Had a little help from Photoshop.)

Entrance at 800 Traction St. Does the artist Mondrian live here?

Lost Angels on 4th Street.

Spartacus points to Downtown LA.

Must See Documentary on OWN: “Miss Representation” and the ways women are portrayed by the media

Thank God somebody finally made a documentary about the  sexist, manipulative, and derogatory ways women are featured in the Media in this day and age.

On Thursday night, OWN TV (Oprah’s Network) will premiere the film “Miss Representation” at 8 pm. It was directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. I took one look at the trailer and I’m hooked and telling everyone I know to see it.

Tengo años quejándome  de cómo mujeres como la Kim Kardashian and her clan, or any of the “real housewives”, or any number of latinas on Hispanic Television who love to show cleavage as they read the news, are portrayed or portray themselves as mere objects of desire. They’re abusing their physical appearance to get ahead. “It’s all about the body, not about the brains,” like one of the testimonials says in the film. Look at all the “encueratrices” on b-list magazine covers that adorn the newsstand. Look at how the magazines antagonize women against each other. Frankly I’m tired of it and that’s why I’m so excited to see this.

Take a look at the trailer and I think you’ll be hooked as well.

I went so far as to take a pledge on their website to tell everyone I know about this.

So here’s my part: Mujeres, VEAMOS ESTE DOCUMENTAL. Apoyemos esta causa, let’s support each other and the younger girls coming to age so they won’t be affected by this messed up view of women and female roles.

I went online at www.missrepresentation.org to sign up. Here’s the response I got from the team behind this film:

Thanks for joining our movement to end sexism!

Now that you’ve taken the MissRepresentation.org pledge, here are some actions you can take immediately to make a difference:

1. Tell 5 people about the film and share one thing you learned from watching it.

 2. Parents- watch TV and films with your children.  Raise questions like “What if that character had been a girl instead?”

 3. Remember your actions influence others. Mothers, aunts and loved ones- don’t downgrade or judge yourself by your looks. Fathers, uncles and loved ones—treat women around you with respect.  Remember children in your life are watching and learning from you.

 4. Use your consumer power. Stop buying tabloid magazines and watching shows that degrade women. Go see movies that are written and directed by women (especially on opening weekend to boost the box office ratings). Avoid products that resort to sexism in their advertising.

5. Mentor others! It’s as easy as taking a young woman to lunch. Start by having open and honest conversations with a young person in your life.

You are now dialed into a national movement to stand up to sexism and challenge the media’s limiting portrayals of gender. Together we will make a huge impact on contemporary society.

 So COUNT ME IN! Ya era hora. About time we all did something about this. Arriba las mujeres!

The Other PB

Fall is here! So is Pumpkin Butter. I love this so much, I can substitute the original PB (peanut butter) for a while.

It only happens once a year. Presto Change-O! De calabaza a pumpkin Butter del Trader Joe's.

Walking the AIDS WALK LA 2011

The annual AIDS WALK Los Angeles took place last Sunday October 16th and it had an impressive turnout. I’ve done this walk for 3 years in a row and this year I noticed people were happier and much more spirited. Maybe it had to do with the weather, which was Biu-Ti-Ful…a bright, crisp, spotless LA Sunday morning, perfect for a 6 mile (10K) walk on the West Side.

I walked as part of the Macy’s Team, thanks to the invitation of my friend Olivia. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, Macy’s is committed to the community and especially to the AIDS cause, donating millions of dollars each year. (So think of that every time you shop and know somehow it comes back to benefit someone else.)

It was fun to rediscover the neighborhood most of us drive through but never really notice when we’re on Santa Monica Blvd., or Melrose, or La Brea. We got to see all the little shops, restaurants, art galleries and murals at a walking pace, and we did a little window shopping and dreaming too.

Here are a few pix from the event and if you want to support this wonderful organization, please visit the AIDS Project Los Angeles website at apla.org

The Macy's Team at AIDS Walk LA 2011.

Meeting point was the Pacific Design Center.

The Abbey, the famous spot in the West Side, was the site of the VIP breakfast before the walk.

Congresswoman Linda Sanchez from the U.S. House of Representatives during her speech at the VIP breakfast. She promised to continue the fight for equal rights for homosexuals.

The starting line at Santa Monica Blvd.

Walking past the Marc Jacobs Store on Melrose.

The Paul Frank store is hot pink!

Around 30 thousand people showed up. This is 3rd Street and La Cienega, looking west.

 

Certificate of completion, another 10K under the belt!

 

Two FREE photo & art exhibits for your weekend in LA

In case you’re in the mood for art and photography and you happen to be in LA this weekend, may I recommend two very noteworthy places to visit and enjoy GRATIS. (“Free is my favorite price” como dice mi amigo Xesus Naranjo.) And parking is only $1 dollar if you validate at each location. YAY!

Así que vayan, ok.

1. “A Nation Emerges: The Mexican Revolution Revealed” at the Los Angeles Public Library, Central Library in DTLA (5th and Figueroa)

You can never go wrong with the LAPL Central Library. It’s a fabulous place to spend a Saturday afternoon. From now until June 3, 2012 (yes 2012), the LAPL is hosting a fabulous collection of photos and pop art to commemorate the Mexican Revolution, which began on Nov, 20, 1910 and lasted for a decade.

Para aquellos a los que nos pasó de noche este dato en la clase de historia de México, or if you’re a history buff with a curiosity for the first decades of the 1900′s, this is a treat. I’ve always thought the Mexican Revolution images are extremely powerful and convey such bravery by humble men and women who stood up for change back then.

Click HERE for more info.

Cool graphics, great art at the exhibit, at the Getty Gallery in the downtown Central Library.

Know your Mexican Historical Figures... y a ver si la "revolución nos hace justicia" como dicen por ahí.

Pancho Villa y sus cuates, aka his "Staff".

Pop art, Mexican Revolution style.

Love the photographs from the Mexican Revolution.

2. “Beauty Culture” at the Annenberg Space for Photography (Century City)

As any woman knows, we have a complex relationship with beauty. Who or what defines it? This is a question that comes to mind as you look at this fabulous compilation of images taken from beauty and fashion editorial magazines. There is also a thought provoking documentary by Lauren Greenfield and other photographers showing each hour, and it is not to be missed!

You are not allowed to take pictures, but I sneaked a few of them anyway… Click HERE for more info. This one ends November 27 so you should go soon.

¿La reconocen? It's Salma Hayek by Matthew Rolston, 2008.

Hundreds of magazine images, beautiful women, interesting analysis.

The video documentary exhibit at the central lounge.

Is gray hair beautiful? The model Carmen certainly makes you think so.

Wordless Miércoles: It’s VW Bug Luv

¡La pulga te pica! I keep bumping into VW pulgas all around town. "Pulguitas"/"vochos"/ "Beetles" have a special place in my heart.

Martes de NPR: History of Latinos on TV

You know we’re in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month when even NPR’s homepage features Ricky Ricardo, Dora La Exploradora, and Salma Hayek…plus a front page feauture on Obama and Immigration. Nice going, NPR!

From Npr.org, Dora and Salma, plus a great link to the history of Hispanics on TV.

Check out the page today and browse through the history of Latinos on TV link, “From Ricky Ricardo to Dora.”

Está muy interesante, if you like these sorts of things. They did a good job of recapping the most popular latinos on TV, from I Love Lucy to Modern Family. Aunque no mencionaron las Spanish TV Networks como Telemundo y Univision. (That’s another article, I guess.)

I especially enjoyed the Jackie Kennedy video of her tv spot in Spanish trying to get the Latino vote way back in 1960.

Here’s the video link. Enjoy!

Oaxaca on my mind!

Sometimes an idea pops out of the blue, in the middle of the night, and suddenly reinforcements start appearing all over the place. Has this ever happened to you?

A few weeks ago I casually said, “Se me antoja ir a Oaxaca otra vez.” It’s been a while since I last visited.

All of a sudden, Oaxacan culture, food, Mezcal, and colors have begun manifesting (to use a “new agey” term) in my realm of thoughts and materializing in photos and invitations.

Case in point: I was just casually browsing the October issue of Condé Nast Traveler and found it has a beautiful 6 page spread/ article of los mercados de Oaxaca.

It includes photos and tips for the well traveled traveler, someone who appreciates the mundane, the everyday experience en un pais diferente and understands cultures that are not her/his own. (Did I just make an advertisement for the magazine? Les juro que no me pagan, pero es de mis favoritas para soñar con viajes fuera de lo común.)

If you want to take a look online, go to cntraveler.com and it will be under “Mercado Madness.”

"Mercado Madness" is the name of the article by Conde Nast Traveler. (Spanglish spoken here!)

Great photos. Se me antojó una quesadilla de flor de calabaza.

Quiero ir a Oaxaca a comprar textiles, sarapes, arte, color.

Los bordados de Oaxaca y Chiapas, y tips para donde encontrar mercados y artesanías vienen en la revista.

I’m also pleased to hear that Bricia Lopez, the most influential advocate of Mezcal and Oaxacan cuisine in LA (and also one hell of a cool lady) is opening up a new bar at her family’s “Guelaguetza” restaurant in Koreatown. 

I just read this link from Urban Daddy and suggest you do too: “Mezcal of the Wild. A Legit Mezcalería in Koreatown.“

So Sign me up to try the Mezcal, Bricia! Mucho éxito!

Mezcal from "La Mezcalería," the new bar at La Guelaguetza. Photo link from UrbanDaddy.com, Photo by Alen Lin.

Great article from the NYT on Immigration

Hey… it’s Monday.

Perdónenme el San Lunes but I just want to post a link to a great article I read this morning on the metro (I’m not done reading it todavía, but it’s great reporting as usual from the NYT and worth a read.)

Here comes 2012 and the elections and the never ending conversation/debate/issue that is Immigration. Brace yourselves, people. There’s more to come.

To read: “Crossing Over, and Over” from Damien Cave for the New York Times, click HERE.

Screen shot from NYT.com