Archive for March, 2008

How to build a lowrider

What does it take to build a modern lowrider? How much does it cost? What are the latest technological break-throughs? What are the must-have parts? How do you create a vehicle that glides, bounces, dances, and moves like it’s alive?

Learn the answers to these questions and more at the Petersen Museum on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 10am when the museum presents ”How to Build a Lowrider: From Essential To Extreme“. This one-day celebration of lowrider culture will feature a talk at 11am on building lowriders by award-winning customizers including Ted Wells, Fonzy, Albert De Alba, Doc, Bob Mercado, and Hernan D’Aloia. A hopping demonstration will take place immediately after the talk. The Petersen Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles.

The other part of the celebration will be a car show from 10am till 2pm. Lowriders from all over will converge at the Petersen museum and bring it bajito y suavecito on museum row.

The festivities are free with admission (10 bucks for adults; 3 bucks for children ages 5-12; kiddies under 5 are free).

The lowrider exhibition, La Vida Lowrider: Cruising the City of Los Angeles, will run till June 8, 2008

For more information on the Lowrider Exhibition:
Petersen.org

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Zócalo presents a talk by Luis Valdez at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre

Published March 17, 2008 Chicana , Chicano , Chicano Cultural Treasure , Easy on the pocketbook , Events , Food , Free , Good for the soul , Great deal , La Bamba , Latina , Latino , Los Angeles , Los Feliz , Mexican American , Must see , Southern California , Speaker Series , Stuff Chicanos Like , Zocalo cultural forum , Zocalo lecture series , culture , free - oh yeah - free , great place to meet friends after work in los angeles , history in the making , hollywood , not to be missed , once in a lifetime event Leave a Comment
Tags: Zocalo lecture series

Image from the Zócalo website

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL LECTURE

A Great talk with Luis Valdez in a cool theater. Afterwards, delicious food and drink, great people hanging out in a comfortable environment, and the chance to meet one of your heroes – all for free.

We are describing a special program to be presented by Zócalo on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 7:30 pm at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre. The Zócalo forum is an incubator for magic. We have seen some inspirational, shocking, and hurt-your-sides funny talks that will stay with us forever.

Luis Valdez is one of the most important Chicano artists alive today. What’s more, he will be speaking at the 30th anniversary of the premiere of his landmark film, “Zoot Suit.” The talk will be moderated by Oscar Garza, Editor-in-Chief, Tu Ciudad Magazine.

Reserve a seat ASAP by CLICKING HERE. Try to get to the theater doors about a half hour early (trust us on this one; your RSVP doesn’t guarantee a seat).

Barnsdall Gallery Theatre is located at 4800 Hollywood Blvd.

More about Luis Valdez and Zoot Suit from the Zócalo website:

Thirty years ago, the Mark Taper Forum presented the world premiere of “Zoot Suit,” a musical about a dark chapter in 1940s L.A. Written and directed by Luis Valdez of El Teatro Campesino, the groundbreaking production marked the first time a major American theater had explored the Mexican-American experience. The Taper was rewarded with record-breaking crowds, including many Mexican-Americans who were setting foot on the Music Center grounds for the first time. The play went on to a brief run on Broadway, and then was filmed for a theatrical release. Valdez went on to direct the highly successful “La Bamba” (1987), which showed Hollywood that there was an audience for Latino stories.

For more information about this and upcoming events, visit Zocalo.org

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Share your thougths on everything tamal – tamal memories, tamal stories, and the ultimate tamal

Published March 16, 2008 Chicana , Chicano , Food , For Lovers , Good for the soul , LA , Latina , Latino , Mama's Hot Tamales Cafe , Mexican American , Southern California , Stuff Chicanos Like , Tamales Liliana , culture , dining , lunch , tamales , the best tamale , the top 10 best places for tamales 1 Comment

We need your expertise, faithful readers.

We want to know your favorite place for tamales. What are the top 10 best places for tamales? What makes up a great tamale? Is Liliana’s or Mama’s the Queen of Tamales? (Did you know about Mama’s Pasadena location?) What is your favorite type of tamal? We are looking for tamal stories, tamal antidotes, and tamal experiences.

Un-wrap the husk and let the masa fly!

To share your tamal thoughts, CLICK HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page.

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Tu Ciudad magazine – A year’s subscription for free

Published March 15, 2008 Art , Best Dinner Los Angeles , Best Lunch Los Angeles , Best Restaurants Los Angeles , Chicana , Chicano , DJ , Easy on the pocketbook , Events , Film , Food , Free , Great deal , LA , Latina , Latino , Los Angeles , Mexican American , Orange County , San Fernando Valley , San Gabriel Valley , Southern California , bands , best magazine , comedy , culture , dance , dining , free - oh yeah - free , free magazine subscription , live entertainment , live music , music , rock en espanol Leave a Comment

Magazine cover images from CiudadMag.com

We read a bunch of magazines here at Eastside Scene to keep up with the latest happenings in the local Latino tableau. One of our favorites is the monthly Tu Ciudad Magazine. The magazine covers music, arts, design, fashion, literature, film, restaurants, nightlife, cultural issues – many aspects of the lives of Los Angeles Latinos. The back pages feature the “Ciudad Eats” section, listing over 120 of the best local Latino restaurants. To top it off, they have a great monthly calendar section that is well researched listing a variety of things to do. The magazine is normally $3.95 per issue.

Currently, the magazine has a special offer you cannot refuse — a year’s subscription to the magazine for free. Just go to CiudadMag.com, click on the link to the right of the Tu Ciudad logo, and fill out your contact information and the standard personal profile questions (age, education, income).

That is it. The magazine will be on its way.

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Gigantic weekend Menudo Love Fest around MacArthur Park

Published March 13, 2008 Chicano , Easy on the pocketbook , Events , Family , Food , For Lovers , Free , Good for Hangovers , Good for kids , Good for the soul , Latino , Los Angeles , Tortillas , culture , free - oh yeah - free , impress her , impress him , live music , tripe Leave a Comment

On March 15 & 16, 2008 from noon till 10pm, there will be a large Menudo Cook-off Street Fair. The festival will offer free admission, free gifts, and free live music. There will be a charge for the carnival rides, games, and to eat your fill of menudo.

The fair will take place near the corner of Wilshire and Alvarado.

For more information:
http://www.hispaniceventsmarketing.com

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Mujeres de Maiz will present a month-long series of events on the eastside

Published March 12, 2008 Art , Chicana , East Los Angeles , Events , Family , Film , Good for the soul , Latina , Los Angeles , Mexican American , Poetry , Pride , Woman , bands , culture , live entertainment , live music , music Leave a Comment

Graphic from MujeresdeMaiz.net

The Mujeres de Maiz, a nationwide collective of women artists, will celebrate their 11th anniversary with events at various eastside locations. The events include an art showing, poetry, live music, film, a lecture, and other events in recognition of International Women’s Day.

The events take place from March 8 till the 30, 2008. Click here for the full schedule.

Click here to read the related post from the blog Pachucoville.

For more information, visit MujeresdeMaiz.net.

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Dance lessons at the Music Center for only a dollar

Published March 11, 2008 Downtown Los Angeles , Easy on the pocketbook , Events , Family , LA , Los Angeles , almost free , dance Leave a Comment

Image from Active Arts website

Active Arts will be hosting “A Taste of Dance” at the Music Center Plaza on March 29, 2008, from 11am till 4pm. The 20-minute lessons are only one dollar.

Here is the schedule for the day:

11:00 - 11:20   80’s Warm-Up
11:30 - 1:30     20-minute dance lessons:
   Bachata
     Kahiko (hula)
     Korean Fan Dance
     Music Video Choreography
     Scandanavian Dance
1:30 - 3:30    20-minute dance lessons:
     Congolese
     Popping and Locking
     Tinikling
     Viennese Waltz
     Zapateado
3:30 - 4:15    Caribbean

No prior ability to boogie down is required. Wear comfordable clothes and be ready to take off your shoes for certain dances (we are not telling which– we are sworn to secrecy).

Tickets go on sale at 10:30 on site. As you might expect, the classes are limited and the place should be packed, so get there early.

The Music Center Plaza is located at 135 North Grand Ave in Downtown L.A.

For more information:
http://www.musiccenter.org/events/aa_tasteofdance.html

THE LOS ANGELES EASTSIDE SCENE