La Vida Yaya

Did you know that the Mexican Consulate of Los Angeles hosts a wide-variety of cultural events year round? Aside from the major festivities they sponsor across the city, they also host in-house events such as art exhibits, lectures, and film festivals. Last year they hosted Building Brides, an art exchange panel discussion with artists from the US and Mexico; Cuarteto Mexicano, string quartet; art exhibit by Lawrence J. Herrera; Viva Mexico LA kick-off reception; history of Mexican Cinema courses;  Candida Peña's "Piedras/Stones" exhibit; a Day of the Dead event called El Fieston de las Calavaras ; Un Encuentro con Agustin Lara musical performance; and even children's events such as the screening of the film La Leyenda de la Nahuala and Q&A with the director. Their next event is a look into the golden era of Mexican film with screenings of   Ahi esta el detalle (Juan Bustillo Oro, 1940) on January 21 and Historia de un gran amor (Julio Bracho, 1942) on January...

Talk about the worst time to celebrate the arts, right after the holidays when everyone is spent, literally and financially. Luckily, there are many wonderful arts institutions that make visiting them easy and affordable. This year marks the first annual Los Angeles Arts Month’s to be held every January. Its mission is to raise awareness, appreciation, and participation in the arts in Los Angeles in all forms. It is an open invitation for all to discover LA's arts and cultural offerings. Long considered a haven for artists and creative expression, the Los Angeles art scene includes—world-class museums; concert halls and cultural institutions; gallery rows; theatres; public art complexes and renowned art; theatre, film, and design schools.  Los Angeles boasts the country’s largest creative workforce, which includes a world-renowned film industry, and employs nearly 1 million people throughout the region. Below are a few websites with calendar of events during LA Arts Month. Cl...

Tis the season for some good music and New Year's Eve bashes around town. Here's a short list of events (which is rather long) of stuff to do this weekend and on New Year's Eve. Yours truly will be up in Seattle hanging out with the Poncho Sanchez boys at Jazz Alley. Enjoy! Saturday, December 26 Lucky 7 joins other bands in a "Salsa Showdown and Workshop" at Stevens Steak House, $10-$30 Holiday on Air, "A Mystical Aerial Show" at Club Can in Garden Grove, $15-$35 Celebrate Kwanzaa in Leimert Park from 10am to dusk featuring UMOJA and a Kwanzaa marketplace. Sunday, December 27 Susie Hansen will be at Fisherman's Village in Marina del Ray from 1-4pm. Free Thursday, December 31 Shiela E and family at the Conga Room$65-$115 Buyepongo and La Santa Cecilia at Rhythm Lounge in Long Beach, $20 Orquesta Estrellas del Son at Tapas in Newport Beach, $15 Celebrate the Roaring 20s at Chaya Brasserie in Beverly Hills, no cover Louie Cruz Beltran a...

Seasoned actor and singer Gabriel Gonzalez is reviving the long-lost tradition of serenades this holiday season by offering Latin serenades direct to peoples homes. Starting this week and running through the New Year, Gabriel and an accompanying guitarist will wake up your loved ones with soulful songs of the holidays or romantic ballads just like they used to do so lovingly in Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete films. The serenata includes a special in-person appearance by Gonzalez who will sing three songs chosen by the hiring parties in English or Spanish starting as early as 5am and running through noon each day. The songs of choice include Las Mañanitas, Feliz Navidad, Silent Night and more. Sure to be a most memorable holiday season for lucky ladies, children, and especially moms and abuelitas, Gonzalez says "singing in such an intimate setting as a serenata is something that moves people to a point where you feel overwhelming love and pride in your rich and romantic cultura...

It's no joke that the economy has trampled over people's finances and affected everyone's life so what are we to do about charity? For those of us blessed to be employed, we've pinched our pennies and given up the luxuries we used to enjoy like eating out, vacations, a new car, shopping on a whim. Now, we're clipping coupons, forgoing expesive concerts, driving less, and waiting much longer for the next haircut, at least I am. So, here we are in December and the calls for help and charity have increased. We are asked to give more of ourselves because there are many more people in need, but how much can we give before we can give no more? How do you choose who to support? Your kid's school fundraiser or the local food bank? The $1 breast cancer donation at the cash register or the lukemia walk at your doctor's office. No place is safe. Everywhere you go, there is a hand reaching out into your wallet. How much do you allow yourself to be guilted into donating...

La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin I had the pleasure of seeing this wonderful play at the LATC last year and I can't wait to see it again. The performances are powerful, spoken and sung in Nahuatl and Spanish, it is the tale of Juan Diego and the Virgen de Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico. The play is directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela and the amazing cast includes mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzmán, Sal Lopez, and dear friend and singer Gabriel Gonzalez. La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin, the simple story of an indian peasant’s vision of the Virgin Mary that has become a theatrical c...ornerstone at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral for years. This profoundly moving show taps into our universal foundation of faith, love, and perseverance. Join the tens of thousands who have become transfixed by the story of Juan Diego-a simple peasant from Tepeyac. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels General Admission Free! (Suggested Donation $5/person) VIP Seating $35/person More in...

It's that time of year again when we stuff our bellies with tons of triptophan-laced turkey, stuffing, cranberry, rolls, papas and gravy. We get two days off of work and school to spend time with our friends and family and have few drinks, kick-back and relax. Yet, for those of us that know the history of this holiday, it is difficult to embrace the spirit of it with images of happy pilgrims and Indians permeating the grocery stores, office workspaces, and schools. During my hard-core activist days, we were angry at the Hollywood and Disney images of perfection that made anyone that didn't look that way feel like 2nd class citizens. Yet, now that we are parents, we're not so uptight about things. Even though my curly-haired, caramel, sun-kissed skin-toned daughter loves to watch the blonde, stick-thin Disney princesses I know that she can still enjoy watching those films and still have confidence in her own looks because, well, I'm her mom, and I won't let her think...