Tacos y lonche y dinner...

Jessie's Mexican and Seafood restaurant on Fourth and Azusa Ave. in Azusa serves it all. Walking down the street exploring the remodeled downtown area, I came across their banner advertising what they offer as food: "Tacos y Burritos y Breakfast." This menu on their marquee is an insightful example of how California has morphed into bilingual status and Spanglish has become acceptable enough for display on Latino businesses. Desayuno is not necessary because Spanglish is embedded into our way of speaking...and that's enough to full up the already diverse Latino culture. Now, vamos a comer!

Huerta got 'em to The Greek

The Greek Theater in Los Angeles was the place to be a year ago on August 13 for inspiration, dancing, and to pay tribute to greats. Famed activist Dolores Huerta celebrated her 80th birthday there at the fun, but also enlightening fiesta along with an almost packed house of supporters and fans. Acts that performed included guitar legend Carlos Santana, Lila Downs, Zack de la Rocha, and the Pete Escovedo Orchestra.
The night opened with the orchestra, and the smell of marijuana among the back of the theater, as the audience began taking their seats. They were amazingly rhythmic and were only a taste of what was to come for performances, as strong as the movements that Huerta is known for.
Speakers read admiring words for Huerta, such as Ina Coleman, managing director of the Feminist Majority Foundation: "At 80 years old, doing what she's doing...my respects for her," she said.
15 cities around the country were participating in celebrating Huerta's 80 years, and a few were broadcast on the giant screens.
Lila Downs was first up with her group of multi-cultured musicians, hailing from counties such as France and Chile. Downs's voice, with range to go loud and full force accompanied with Latin, and sometimes rhythm and blues, was enough to get the crowd out of their seats. Songs like her popular "Cumbia de Mole" was appropriate when a full row of young girls in regional Mexican dress to get up and groove along. Next in the set, Downs and company played "Los Pollos." Lyrics seemed with an activist undertone:

"Y a los pollos les aviso
Para que corran la voz,
porque van a ser un guiso de pollos en arroz,
Y a los pollos les aviso
Para que corran la voz."

This, if read between the lines, could be an indirect hit to those who feel anti-immigrant sentiment, warning of the stew that will be made with them,the "pollos" or chickens. I doubt that the stew would symbolize violence, but it seems that it does state resistance from those who support legalization of undocumented immigrants.
Downs payed her respects as well. "I am very greatful to Dolores Huerta," she said at the end of her set.
Zack de la Rocha, with his band Once As A Lion, also pumped up the crowd, with the Rage influence that was expected. Their song "The Last Letter" proved for a modern feel of activism, with his afro-like hair do to go along with it. The driving beats would prove a great background track for anyone wanting to fight for a just cause.
De la Rocha openly criticized Sheriff Joe Arpaio form Arizona and also spoke of Huerta's relentlessness, using an anecdote as an example. He once asked Huerta what her plans were and she spoke of traveling to various specific cities in the United States. Rocha then asked if she was going to get some rest after that and Huerta responded "I don't rest!" This comment drew a roar from the crowd, showing their support for Huerta.
The benefit concert having taken place in Los Angeles, a celebrity touch was not absent. Actors Benjamin Bratt and Martin Sheen spoke. Bratt talked of his Peruvian mother and Sheen yelled it loud and proud that he was of Irish and Spanish decent, emphasizing that his birth name is actually Ramon Estevez, both men showing solidarity with the mostly Latino crowd that was present and the immigrant population.
The headliner and the one whom Huerta noted as, in the few words she spoke, "The real voice of God," was Carlos Santana. He was joined on stage with the Pete Escovedo Orchestra. They opened up with "Corazon Espinado," a rock,"danzon" fueled song made famous by Santana and the veteran Mexican group Mana, which made the overwhelming majority sing the chorus in unison.
The Latin flavored night went on as Lila Downs accompanied Santana by singing vocals on "Black Magic Woman," which added a fierce, first person point of view. The ending of the song, which enters into"Gypsy Woman" was played slower than usual and provided a soothed and relaxed air than the recorded sped up version, which surely those "smoking out" enjoyed.
Santana and the orchestra then send the audience off with "Oye Como Va," and Escobedo attributed the great Tito Puente for the classic song.
Happy birthday Dolores Huerta.
Here is an old clip of another song performed by Santana at the benefit.
 Samba Pa Ti

La Yuma Trae Pegue

Producer Miguel Necoechea speaks to the audience.

"Nunca he visto una mujer boxeadora..." This devastating line was uttered by Culebra, played by Rigoberto Mayorga in the Nicaraguan film "La Yuma," which premiered as part of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival at Grauman's Chinese Theater last Sunday.
"La Yuma" was an international collaboration, with French director Florence Jaugey at the forefront (she wrote the script as well,) Mexican producer Miguel Necoechea (whose film "Chamaco" is also out now,) and Nicaraguan cast and crew.
La Yuma is a story of finding hope in seemingly discouraging places. This is what lead actress Alma Blanco portrays so well on screen playing Yuma, a strong young woman who uses boxing as her escape from the extremely littered and dangerous streets of Managua, Nicaragua. As she gets better, it seems that her home and personal life get in her way, with an unsupportive mother who she must support financially along with her innocent brother and sister and mother's disgusting, good-for-nothing boyfriend.
Throughout parts of the film, there are gleams of heroism coming from others, like the job Yuma takes under her comical patrona, and an intelligent young man she shares a romance with after "salvandole la vida," Ernesto. Overall, Yuma's uninterrupted courage and strength allow her to rise up on her own, without handouts, and does not allow herself to be distraught over the contaminated atmosphere she is surrounded by, this including her friends form the barrio, Culebra, El Down, and Polvorita, who throw their own punches to her, bringing her down for pursuing boxing.
The film does not discriminate in the slightest, incorporating actors like twins Emir and Raul Cabezas, who have down syndrome and surprisingly add comic relief to the film, as well as Yuma's close friend who is transgender and also delivers timely and fun lines.
The film was the first ever to premier at LALIFF in the 14 years of its existence. which is encouraging to the Nicaraguan community present who claimed their orgullo to Necoechea, answering questions after the film.
"I want to see if more films can be made" in Nicaragua, Necoechea said. "This took a lot of effort. It took four years to be made and represents great effort form the film making community in Nicaragua," which, until now, Necoechea said was non existent. "La Yuma" strongly demonstrates the reality and talent coming out of Nicaragua and will certainly change that.

La Dora Dorada

The adorable explorer has gone rubia...or at least she has on a jacket being sold in a business in Huntington Park,CA. This bootleg Dora la Exploradora was found in a peluqueria/floristeria in H.P. Surely, the kids won't notice and for those of us who do, reminds us of those days in our Winnie-the-Pooh track suits that our moms bought at the swapmeet (only OUR Winnie came in a neon green color...)

Para Cerati

From the 80s til the present, your music, lucious curls, and colored eyes have embraced many fans from Latin America to the United States. Whatever the true meaning, many words from Soda Stereo's track "La Ciudad de la Furia" speak to your current medical condition, which is why it brought tears to my eyes while listening to it. Sr. Cerati, todavia no te queremos ver volar por la ciudad de la furia. Aun sabemos de ti y por tu creatividad y talento, eres parte de todos nosotros. Por eso lo mantenemos a usted en nuestros pensamientos. You took so many people under your wing, asi es que no hay manera de que sus alas se derritan. Cuanto quisiera saber lo que estara pasando en su mentalidad...obscuridad? Nuevas creaciones? We are so proud of what you have let us borrow, your beautiful music, and as you go on throughout this past year and what is to come, your music is very much still in motion, which won you Latin Grammys, including "Mejor Album Artista de Rock." De verdad, por favor, haga como ha hecho durante todas estas decadas a traés de su music: mantenga su "Fuerza Natural."
Love,
Un Fan Anonimo
"Cuando pase el tembor,sera un buen momento."