Posts

Showing posts with the label Latino

Washington DC IRL

Image
Funny how we are raised to imagine certain cities as part of our collective thread and historic consciousness. New York City, where immigrants from ravaged European countries arrived on steamy ships in black & white film; Chicago, where pin-stripped suited gangsters carried violin cases and raged war on banks and cops, filmed in black & white; San Francisco, where the fog doesn't allow you to imagine it in color so you settle for sepia-toned ships sailing across Alcatraz to the smell of clam chowder in a bread bowl on a chilly morning; Miami, where tanned and slick-haired Cubans men in wife-beaters smoke cigars and shapely blondes walk the beach in tiny bikinis, in full tropical color; and Los Angeles, where the colors are in vibrant shades and spotlights blind you from the diamond-encrusted celebrities and bold murals that race across the sky hovering over dirty sidewalks. Then que Hail to the Chief   . . . enter Washington, DC. Not a city, not a state. A dis...

NALACeando in San Anto

Image
Torch of Friendship. A gift from Mexico to SA. Summer is coming to a close and the need for sun basking has finally dispersed out of my veins. I can now concentrate on more indoor activities such as blogging. What else to write about but my summer vacation in Texas. My home state has always received a bad rap among cool LA hipsters, blue state Chicanos and east coast PIBs (people in black or JCrew). While there are some truths to the stereotypes (which I do not care to list) Texas is actually a fun, down-to-earth, relaxing, and friendly state. Shall I also mention AFFORDABLE?! No need to brag. Initially, I wasn't planning a trip home this summer with LA sucking the last pigment of green from my bank account but then a well-designed postcard landed on my desk from an organization called NALAC , National Association of Latino Arts and Culture. They were calling for submissions to their annual Leadership Institute . You have to be a member for only $35 and submit an appli...

Latino Fashion-Listo: Quetzal Guerrero

Image
I'm usually the first one to knock down the gorgeous people of the earth that live a fantastic life, travel the world, and only socialize with other beautiful people while everyone else is still wiping up the drool from their shirts. It's just so superficial to ONLY admire them for their good genes and jeans. Even now, I hesitate to feature this adonis of a man because it's just too easy to see him for his superficial good looks (I have to look away he's so darn beautiful). But no, I have to write about him because aside from the obvious, I looked beyond the surface and found a unique soulful person on the inside. This weeks Latino Fashion-Listo is  . . . Quetzal Guerrero I suggest you click on his youtube channel and enjoy his American folk- soul- jazz- funk- samba- bossa nova- reggae- afrobeat- inspired music as you read this feature. Go to youtube.com/quetzalguerrero click back here and enjoy! Arizona native Quetzal Guerrero picked up the violi...

Spider Sense

Image
I believe everyone has a story to tell. Some people are shy and reserved while others wear their past on their sleeves. My friend, George De Los Santos, aka Spider, aka Spiderflesh , not only wears his life on his tattoo sleeve, he shares his story with those that may benefit from learning about his past. He grew up in various cities south of LA from Bell Gardens to Compton and finally Huntington Park. " I’ve always known we were poor. That has been something I accepted and was humbled by. My mother has always been a worker. Not so much in a 'job' but more so in side-jobs that pay," said George as I asked about his childhood. " My 'real' dad was not around much and when he was it just lead to disappointment so I’ve not sought him out anymore. I have learned to appreciate my mother over the years as I became a parent but there were many years that I resented some of her actions as I was growing up. I later realized that she’s human and did t...

Latino Fashion-Listo: Alex Ehecatl Chavez

Image
Ladies (and gentlemen too), I promised to include fashionable men in my fashion feature and it didn't take much thought to come up with a list of appetizing amigos that have their look on point from head to toe! I'm calling this my Latino Fashion-Listo feature because these guys are always listos (ready/smart/on-point) when it comes to their fashion sense. Let the collective sighing begin with a beautiful soul of a man, actor/director/producer. . . Alex Ehecatl Chavez Those of us that know him from his work with Native Voices at the Autry or from the bar fight scene in the movie Frida , know him as Ehecatl. It took us plenty of time to get the pronunciation right so we got it and we're sticking to it. ;-) All joking aside, this descendant of Aztec blood-lies and chiseled good-looks makes an impression when he walks into a room. Quiet and understated in person and in his everyday wear, his peaceful energy makes people stop and take notice. Read on for a fashion Q...

FASHION

Image
This is my new feature! Latina Fashionistas will be featured about two to three times a month plus a few random fashion thoughts sprinkled throughout. Enjoy! Melena Wednesday, June 6, 2012 Nesly Palacios Monday, April 23, 2012 Quetzal Guerrero Monday, April 16, 2012 Alex Ehecatl Sunday, April 1, 2012 Miss Lydia Sofia Friday, March 30, 2012 Miss Ruby Champagne Thursday, March 22, 2012    Walk in Beauty   Thursday, June 10, 2010 Red Lips and Roses   Friday, April 30, 2010  There's more to come so check back!

LIFE & CULTURE

Image
Here is a list of my favorite posts about life & culture. Enjoy! NALAC Arts Advocacy Institute-Washington, DC Wednesday, May 22, 2013 NALAC Leadership Institute Wednesday, August 29, 2012 Luna, The Stars and The Moon Tuesday, May 29, 2012 Letter to Lydia Saturday, May 12, 2012 My Weight Loss Journey Friday, May 3, 2012 Spider Sense Wednesday, April 4, 2012   Zero to 5 Saturday, February 25, 2012 Home Remedies Sunday, October 9, 2011 Day of the Dead 2011   Thursday, September 29, 2011 Lost Angeles   Monday, September 12, 2011 What You Do For Love Monday, September 27, 2010 Summertime Fun 2010 Friday, July 2, 2010 Chatting It Up With Grandpa   Thursday, June 3, 2010 Alma Tuesday, May 18, 2010 Gays, Gays, Gays   Thursday, May 13, 2010 Sara Garcia   Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Black History Month Year-Round   Friday, February 5, 2010 Cultural Events at the Mexican ...

ART, THEATRE & FILM

Image
Welcome to my list of art, theatre, and film blog posts. Enjoy! Striking artwork by George Yepes. Heriberto Luna Tuesday, May 29, 2012 John Leguizamo Sunday, October 2, 2011 Free Museum Day Chart   Thursday, May 20, 2010 LA Arts Month   Tuesday, January 5, 2010 La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin   Monday, November 30, 2009 George Yepes   Saturday, October 17, 2009 Central Ave and Beyond - Mayme Clayton Library   Monday, September 21, 2009 HBO's Which Way Home Friday, September 18, 2009 Chimaya Art Gallery Saturday, September 12, 2009

MUSIC

Image
Here is where you can find my music-related posts. Enjoy! Quetzal at LACMA. Photo by Abel Gutierrez. Rocio Friday, June 8, 2012 Melena Wednesday, June 6, 2012 Entre Mujeres   Wednesday, May 30, 2012 Return of the Conga Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Aztlan Underground's new song and video "Our Nature" Tuesday, March 20, 2012 Bang Data - La Sopa   Thursday, March 15, 2012 Native American Music Awards   Thursday, October 7, 2010 Quetzal   Sunday, July 11, 2010 Aztlan Underground's New Album   Friday, June 11, 2010 Francisco Aguabella Friday, May 14, 2010 Ozomatli Day - City of LA   Friday, April 23, 2010 Rene Camacho- Bassist   Tuesday, September 22, 2009 Latin Beat Magazine   Monday, September 14, 2009