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Bienvenidos!
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What’s Happening
in Olvera Street
April 2005
Olvera Street’s 75th Anniversary
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Parade begins at 11 AM
at City Hall to Olvera Street
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Welcome to Spring on Olvera Street!
April means sunnier skies, longer days, spring flowers, April Fools, spring break, Dodger baseball, and Olvera Street’s 75th anniversary.
One of the oldest avenues in Los Angeles, Olvera Street is a traditional Mexican marketplace that was opened in the 1930s. Olvera Street, also known as El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, it has hosted presidents, dignitaries, movie stars and visitors from around the world. The celebration is free to the public. To learn more about the history, click here!
To begin the celebration, a parade commencing at Los Angeles City Hall and winding through the streets of Los Angeles to Olvera Street will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, April 16, 2005.
Shortly thereafter, a celebration for Olvera Street’s 75th Anniversary will continue throughout the day. There will be a historic photo exhibition at the Pico House. Everyone is welcomed. The event is free to the public!
To view the schedule of events, click here!
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What’s New!
“Memories -
The Golden Years!”
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Rebecca Tapia, a member of Olvera Street’s third generation, gives a romantic and insightful narrative about her memories of this wonderful historic monument. She recalls a time of a living history in the making. She is the youngest daughter of Belle Tapia who worked closely with Christine Sterling, the founder of Olvera Street. She speaks about her very unique family life, culture and traditions, and the famous people who have visited this beautiful landmark, including: Eleanor Roosevelt, President Kennedy, Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Lopez, and President Clinton.
Rebecca shares her stories about living at the Sepulveda House with her family and with Cruz Ledesma, the charming blacksmith. There are five generations of the Tapia Family who continue the traditions. Ginette Rondeau, a fourth generation member, continues the family business in the original store “Casa Belen” at C-25 Olvera Street and also curates Olvera Street’s “Annual Dia De Los Muertos Juried Exhibition”.
To journey through her memories, click here!
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In Memory of
Norma Vega
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Long-time Olvera Street merchant Norma Vega recently passed away after a long illness. Norma and her husband, internationally renowned leather artisan, Adalberto Vega, were invited by Olvera Street founder Mrs. Christine Sterling to move their business to E-22 Olvera Street in November of 1956. They later became members of the Olvera Street Merchants Association and participated in many events.
Norma Vega was a loving wife, mother, and dear friend. She cared about Olvera Street and was very active in sharing her wonderful culture with pride. Her children and grandchildren are now continuing the tradition with her husband Adalberto. We will miss her as one of our founding family members. We thank her for sharing her joy with us and love to Olvera Street.
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News About Our World
In tribute to the beloved
Pope John Paul II
1920 - 2005
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The month of April 2005 began on a sad note, with the death of Pope John Paul II, also known as Karol Jozef Wojtyla, Vicar of Jesus Christ and head of the Roman Catholic Church, one billion members strong.
He became the pontiff in 1978 following the sudden death of Pope John Paul I and the deadlock over two Italian candidates. Pope John Paul II immersed himself in the modern age, showing great comfort with multiple languages, cultures and religions. He used the most modern transportation and communications to unite and inspire his flock. He was the first pope to visit California, touring Los Angeles in 1987. He will live in our memories.
To learn more about this beloved man, visit the Vatican and click here!
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News About Our World
Update
Iraq War
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 As of mid-April, according to CNN, there have been 1,722 coalition troop deaths, 1,547 Americans, 87 Britons, eight Bulgarians, one Dane, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Hungarian, 21 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 17 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of April 12, 2005. The list below is the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen whose families have been notified of their deaths by each country's government. At least 11,664 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. The Pentagon does not report the number of non-hostile wounded.
That is 470 more deaths since we (at Olvera Street for Dia De Los Muertos) created the altar on October 28, 2004, and is not counting the estimated 100,000-200,000 Iraqi deaths.
 The American Friends Service Committee’s widely acclaimed traveling exhibition, “Eyes Wide Open,” visited Los Angeles in mid-March. The outdoor art exhibit graphically showed the human cost of the Iraq War to the United States in the form of empty boots.
To learn more about both exhibitions, click here!
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Recent History on
Olvera Street
Blessing of the Animals
Saturday,
March 26, 2005
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The public and their pet(s) were invited to join us in celebrating our annual Blessing of the Animals on Olvera Street on the Saturday before Easter (Sabado de Gloria), March 26.
They joined the pageantry of the wonderful array of pets, both domestic and exotic. Brightly adorned animals and their human companions assembled in the historic Plaza. At 2 p.m., a procession, led by a blessed cow and the Olvera Street merchants, strolled its way up the street and past the platform where the Cardinal blessed each animal as they went by.
Olvera Street, near Downtown Los Angeles, has celebrated the Blessing of the Animals since 1930.
To learn more about the history of the “Blessing of the Animals”, click here!
To view our Fiestas at Olvera Street for 2005, click here!
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MEXICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE
“CESAR E. CHAVEZ DAY”
Olvera Street
Thursday, March 31, 2005
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The only Latino to have a state holiday declared in his name, Méxican American labor leader Cesar Chavez’s influence goes well beyond the lettuce and grape fields of Central California to Cesar Chavez Boulevard on Olvera Street’s northern border. Cesar E. Chavez’s birthday was celebrated on Olvera Street on March 31. Chavez founded and led the first successful farm workers' union in U.S. history and was the recipient of the highest medals citizens can be awarded by both the presidents of the United States and México.
To learn more about him, click here!
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Fiesta’s on Olvera Street
in May
“Cinco de Mayo”
May 6 - 8, 2005
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Celebration of Mexico's victory over French forces in Puebla, Mexico in 1862 with popular and traditional music, cultural presentations, festival, dance, food and live entertainment.
Event information: 213. 625-5045. Performance by the original Mariachi USA, Flamenco Dancers and many more!
To read the history of Cinco de Mayo click here!
Event Schedule TBA
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What’s New!
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Olvera-Street.com also has a new page, “Events Around Town,” to highlight events in our community. If you know of an event, please visit Olvera-Street.com to submit it.
We are currently developing much more for our visitors; we will also have an “Employment Opportunity” page and a children’s section coming soon.
Bookmark Olvera-Street.com and visit us often to find out about the latest arts, fundraisers, business mixers, screenings and much more. We hope you will visit us often in February and throughout 2005.
Please e-mail this page to anyone you think may be interested.
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Quotes
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“Violence and arms can never resolve the problems of men.” -Pope John Paul II
“War is a defeat for humanity.”
-Pope John Paul II
“Respect for the rights of others means peace.”
-Benito Juarez
"A fearless heart, unflinching determination, and tenacity marked her life from start to finish."
June Sterling Park, daughter of Christine Sterling
from "The Life Story of Christine Sterling"
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May all your wishes and dreams come true.
We hope you will have a wonderful time!
John Trausch, Editor & Ginette Rondeau, Director
For comments or suggests about www.Olvera-Street.com
please contact our Webmaster@ProjectWWW.com
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