La Vida Yaya

MUSEUMS FREE-FOR-ALL 24 Los Angeles and Orange County Museums Free Admission Days October 3 and/or 4, 2009 In a joint effort to present the arts and culture to the diverse and myriad communities in Southern California, the Museum Marketing Roundtable announces the fifth annual "Museums Free-For-All" Saturday-Sunday, October 3 and 4, 2009. The following museums - presenting art, cultural heritage, natural history, and science - will open their doors wide and invite visitors free of charge. Click here for a co...

The salsa diva, Laura Canellias is busy getting salsa lovers in shape. I've seen her in action when she taught the free salsa class during intermission at the Autry's Sizzling Summer Nights. She is fun and full of energy. You won't be bored or feel the burn because you'll be having a great time dancing. Here is her website: http://www.salsadivaprod.com/ Weekly schedule : Mondays : Universal Dance Designs 6009 W. Olympic Blvd. , (Miracle Mile Dist.) ( 1/2 block east of Fairfax /San Vicente /Olympic intersection ...

KPFK , the only radio station in LA to let just about anyone have a show, is one of my favorite stations. It all started with my friend Fidel moved his Divine Forces Radio show from what used to be a top rated station, The Beat, to KPFK. I thought, wow, what a downgrade. He moved from a fancy top security high rise office on Wilshire's Miracle Mile to a dusty back-alley, jiggle-the-lock security system down the street from Mama Juana's. As I started listening to his show and the station, I found the liberty of the hosts to say what was on their minds, things that I always thought too, inspiring. The variety of shows validated my views on a lot of issues of the day or catered to my holistic sensibilities. Some of my favorite shows are The Aware Show, Global Village, Democracy Now, Beneath the Surface with yo man Jerry Quickly, Innervisions, American Indian Airwaves, how can I forget the Pocho Hour of Power and Gustavo Arrellano's new show (I don't know what it's c...

Long-time friend of my husband Joey and I appeared in his home town newspaper this week. Bassist and all-around good guy Rene Camacho deserves the recent profile. While saying that someone is a "good guy" in the music business is the kiss of death (meaning they can't play worth shit, but you don't want to say that so instead you comment on his character--now you know), but since I'm not a musician, I take the liberty of saying that Camacho is the genuine article. Never seems to get riled up, always cool, calm, and collected, just the way he plays too. Effortlessly gliding his fingers up and down the neck of his electric bass, you'd never know he got his start playing trombone or center for the Tucson High Badgers  (mascot which gave Joey and I a good laugh). What most impressed me about Camacho is his stint in the Tejano music scene. While I was growing up in San Antone, Camacho was touring with (G)Ram Herrera and even hit the stage and Texas television a...

Oh yes, it is about time! Here is a new exhibit at the Huntington in collaboration with an organization I've known about for a few years now, the Mayme A. Clayton Library and soon-to-be museum. Their mission is to collect, preserve; exhibit and celebrate the unique history and cultural heritage of Americans of African descent and thereby help to provide a more complete view of American history. Mayme's son, Avery, has led the effort to realize this dream of opening up a museum. The collection is vast and contains unique items that will most-definitely enrich our lives. When is the last time there was a retrospective on the west coast African American Renaissance? It wasn't Harlem, but it was Central Avenue. I can't wait to hear about the music and night life that went on back in those days. The art and literature I would assume laid the foundation for a lot of what we see now. It will be fun making those connections. Save the date. The exhibit opens October 24. Admissio...

I came across this documentary while flipping channels on a recent quiet evening. I love all kinds of documentaries that show a glimpse into regular people's lives. Little did I know that this documentary would move me to tears. Not much on tv makes me emotional because I can separate myself from it but this one hit home. It is unfamiliar and familiar at the same time. Growing up on both sides of the border, I can appreciate the struggle of immigrants in the US. I know why people uproot their families and leave everything they love and know for a better life. Even more poignant, the people in this movie are kids, 11 year olds, boys and a couple of girls, traveling across countries on their own, looking for a better life than what is back home. I've never know how to defend it exactly. The words never come out of my mouth as effective as I'd like them to be. The best I can do is say "what would you do if you couldn't feed your family? Put yourself in their shoes....

Hard-working percussionist Alex Acuña takes center stage at the Grammy Museum this Friday. A legend in the eyes of his fellow musicians and most-definitely in his home country of Peru, Acuña is the humblest man you'll ever meet but don't let that fool you. His performances are fierce.    Reel to Reel: The Rhythm Collector Friday, September 18, 2009; 7:30 pm Drum Workshop, Inc. and The GRAMMY Museum are proud to present the film premiere of DW DVD's The Rhythm Collector , the story of world-renowned drummer Alex Acuna's rise from a small Peruvian village to the most celebrated stages and studios in the world. Infused with exciting performance footage and insightful interviews, the film is inspiring for fellow drummers and non-musicians alike. After the screening, enjoy a rare opportunity to see Acuna perform in the Museum's 200-seat Sound Stage. Doors open at 7 pm. $10.00 suggested donation. Reservations Required. To reserve your seats, call 213.765.6830 or e-mail ...