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Celebrating our Culture, History, and the Arts

December 2007

Bienvenidos!

It’s a spectacular December on and around Olvera Street, and we’ve expanded our listings with a new “See L.A!” section to satisfy your holiday entertainment palate.

Historic Olvera Street’s highlights always include the commemoration of the miracle of “La Virgen De Guadalupe” on December 11 and 12. Families will bring their children dressed-up in authentic costumes throughout the day and night as they enjoyed the festivities on Olvera Street.

A few days later we celebrate “Las Posadas,” a presentation of the nine-day journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. The event will be reenacted every evening from December 16 to 24 with singing, a candlelight procession and the breaking of the piñata.

Make sure to visit our expanded version of “See L.A.!” so you can plan your fun with your family and friends. We have links to various places right here in Los Angeles for you to explore. It’s a great page to bookmark for your reference. All in all, a holiday of goodness at Olvera Street. All this and more, this month ....

What’s Happening at
Olvera Street!

The Fiesta De La Virgen de Guadalupe

Tuesday, December 11 at 3 PM
through Wednesday, December 12

The Fiesta De La Virgen de Guadalupe celebration will be held on and around Olvera Street.

The Dark Virgin, Patron of Mexico and the Americas, served as a bridge between our indigenous and Spanish roots. The native Mexicans identified the dark Virgin who spoke in Náhuatl with the goddess Tonantzin and celebrated her with indigenous rites within the framework of the Catholic Church.

Children will be dressed-up in authentic costumes all day and night as they made their way to the church at and throughout the Olvera Street festivities.

To learn more about this blessed celebration and to read it’s history, click here!

Prayer to the Virgen
Virgen de Guadalupe
Virgen Morena
Madre de Salvador
eres la Reina
de mi linda cancion.
Gracias te damos
al dignarte escoger
a nuestro suelo
para morar en el.
Gracias te damos
gracias por tu bondad.
Mexico entero
hoy se rinde
a tus pies.
Entre las rosas
tu imagen se grabo
en esa tilma
que veneramos hoy.
Virgen sin mancha,
Virgen de Guadalupe,
tu nombre es gazo,
eres toda bondad.
Entre las rosas.....

Las Posadas
December 16 - 24 from

Nightly Procession Portrays the Holy Family’s Journey to Bethlehem
Entertainment begins at 6:00 PM

The journey and celebration of Las Posadas is played out for nine consecutive nights by the Olvera Street Merchants prior to Christmas, beginning every December 16.

The event offers free seasonal entertainment each evening with the traditional candlelight procession starting at the historic Avila Adobe. The nightly procession runs through Olvera Street with the merchants leading the group singing traditional hymns and holiday songs in English and Spanish. They make stops requesting lodging at numerous points (“posadas,” or stores), but are always denied.  Singing as they go, they verses alternate from pilgrims to hosts until the sacred nature of their visit is revealed and they are admitted. The doors open and the pilgrims enter singing. "Enter Holy, Holy Pilgrims...” Free champurrado (a Mexican hot beverage) and pan dulce (sweet bread) is served, and there are festive piñatas for the children.

The Las Posadas celebration commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem and their search for shelter (“Posadas” literally means “inn”) prior to Jesus’ birth. Originated in Mexico, Las Posadas is quickly gaining popularity in the United States, in both the immigrant and non-immigrant communities. The most well-known in our country is right here on Olvera Street, where we have been celebrating Las Posadas since the 1930s. It is put on by many of the founding Olvera Street merchant families, who continue to preserve this beloved holiday tradition, sharing the joy of the season with their children and grandchildren.  The public is invited to participate at our Las Posadas on Olvera Street.

Las Pasadas runs on Olvera Street from December 16 to 24.  The children's piñata breaking and entertainment begin at 6 PM. Processions starting at the Avila Adobe at 7:30 PM

To learn more about the history click here!   For more information please call (213) 625-7074.
 

“Silent Night”

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
 

The origin of the Christmas carol “Silent Night” was a poem written in 1816 by an Austrian priest named Joseph Mohr. The story goes, on Christmas Eve, 1818 in the small Alpine village of Oberndorf the St. Nicholas Church organ broke. Father Mohr gave the Silent Night (Stille Nacht) poem to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber, who composed a melody. The music to Silent Night was therefore intended for a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass. And the rest, as they say, is history.

“Noche De Paz”
(Silent Night Christmas Carol in Spanish)

Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor.
Entre sus astros que esparcen su luz
Bella anunciando al niñito Jesús
Brilla la estrella de paz
Brilla la estrella de paz

Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor
Sólo velan en la oscuridad
Los pastores que en el campo están;
Y la estrella de Belén
Y la estrella de Belén

Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor;
sobre el santo niño Jesús
Una estrella esparce su luz,
Brilla sobre el Rey
Brilla sobre el Rey.

Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor
Fieles velando allí en Belén
Los pastores, la madre también.
Y la estrella de paz
Y la estrella de paz

New docent training classes for El Pueblo Historical Monument will be held for eight Tuesdays from February 12 to April 3, 2008. Classes are offered by Las Angelitas del Pueblo, the volunteer docent organization that leads the free walking tours of the “birthplace of Los Angeles.”

Classes will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Las Angelitas office, located at 130 Paseo de la Plaza across from Union Station. The classes feature multi-media presentations of historic photos and lectures from El Pueblo curators and area history experts. 

The BENEFITS OF BECOMING A VOLUNTEER DOCENT are many:

• Learning about Los Angeles history
• Being a part of important community involvement
• Making new friends with similar interests
• Hearing and meeting guest lecturers and authors during the year
• Going on unique tours as a group to interesting places in Los Angeles
• Enjoying time in the most historic place in Los Angeles

Las Angelitas, founded in 1966, is the oldest walking tour nonprofit organization in Los Angeles. “Our purpose since the beginning has been to provide educational and historically accurate walking tours of El Pueblo,” said Damon. More than 12,000 students, local residents and tourists are given free tours annually.

For more information, including the class agenda and to sign up for Las Angelitas docent training classes, visit www.lasangelitas.org and click “BE A DOCENT,” or call Jeanne Conklin at (310) 398-0269.

Somebody’s Children

News About Our World Update
Iraq War

At Olvera-Street.com, the spirit of giving, understanding, compassion,
and support goes far beyond our doors.

As of December 7, according to a CNN count: “There have been 4,192 coalition deaths -- 3,887 Americans, two Australians, 173 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, one Czech, seven Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 33 Italians, one Kazakh, one Korean, three Latvian, 22 Poles, three Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq. The list below is the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen whose deaths have been reported by their country's governments. The list also includes seven employees of the U.S. Defense Department.” That is 50 more deaths since October 30, 2007.

At least 28,629 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon That is 302 more wounded since  October 30, 2007.

In 2004 we honored the 1250 Americans who had died in the Iraqi desert; that list has now grown with an additional 2,892 lives cut short. Note: May 1, 2007 marked the four-year anniversary when President Bush announced “Mission Accomplished!” and the end of hostilities in Iraq.

We send our love to them, their families, and dear friends.

The altar was dedicated to their memories so they won’t be forgotten, true to the meaning and spirit of iDa De Los Muertos!

* (The "Altar of the Iraq War" honoring the dead was created by six artists: Ginette Rondeau, Juliane Backmann, Al Herion, Bonjunnie Comostiles, Gabriela Quintero, and John Trausch. The altar does not necessarily reflect the thoughts of the Olvera Street merchants or El Pueblo Historic Monument.) To learn more about the Iraq War, click here!

  
The first “Altar of the Iraq War” was created on October 28, 2004 to honor and respect the memories and lives of all those who have died. NOTE: The figures do not count the estimated 100,000-200,000 Iraqi deaths, including women and children.

The original altar was featured in a children’s book: “Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life And Death” by Capstone Press and distributed in bookstores around the United States as well as on Amazon and other prominent retailers. National Geographic and NBC News also came out and filmed the exhibition last year.

The “Altar of the Iraq War” was re-created at last year’s “El Amor Eterno” Dia De Los Muertos Juried Exhibition at the Pico House Gallery. There were several thousands of visitors including children who were very touched and left notes of love at the altar. The gallery was created to be a place of healing, understanding and a place of education.

Mailbox to Heaven”
created by Ginette Rondeau

“Mailbox to Heaven”

There is a lovely story online in which you can share with your family and friends. Visit the site and learn about a child who desperately wanted to write to her Grandmother who had passed away. It is an inspirational story dedicated to Belen Tapia and by the Dia De Los Muertos Celebration.

If you know someone who died in the Iraq War and would like to share your story in honor of his or her memory, please submit it to webmaster@Olvera-Street.com

Just make sure you write “Stories to Share” in the subject line of your e-mail.

We are looking for communities who would like to make their own Mailbox to Heaven. If you are interested, please contact Ginette Rondeau.

To write a private letter to a beloved one, visit: www.MailboxToHeaven.com

(The “Mailbox to Heaven” has been featured at the El Pueblo Gallery and Pico House Gallery for the Annual Dia De Los Muertos Juried Exhibition, since 1992.)

“Make It Right.org”

The flooding that resulted from the broken levies following Hurricane Katrina is a memory to most of America, but not to the people left in New Orleans, many of whom are still cleaning up the catastrophic mess.

In December 2006, actor Brad Pitt used his celebrity to convene a group of experts in New Orleans to brainstorm about building green affordable housing on a large scale to help victims of the levies that failed following Hurricane Katrina. Having spent time with community leaders and displaced residents determined to return home, Pitt realized that an opportunity existed to build houses that were not only stronger and healthier, but that had less impact on the environment.

Previously, Pitt sponsored an architecture competition organized by Global Green with the goal of generating ideas about how to rebuild sustainably. Several of those designs are currently under construction in the Lower 9th Ward and the project inspired him to expand his efforts.

After discussing the hurdles associated with rebuilding in a devastated area, the group determined that a large-scale redevelopment project focused on green affordable housing and incorporating innovative design was indeed possible.
The group settled on the goal of constructing 150 homes (one of the larger rebuilding projects in the city), with an emphasis on developing an affordable system that could be replicated.

To demonstrate replicability, Pitt determined to locate the project in the Lower 9th Ward, one of the most devastated areas of New Orleans, proving that safe homes could and should be rebuilt. Pitt hopes that this project would be a catalyst for recovery and redevelopment throughout the Lower 9th Ward and across the city of New Orleans.

Having listened to one former resident's plea to help "make this right," Pitt was inspired to name the project "Make It Right." To learn what you can do to help the homeless victims of the floods, see the website at http://makeitrightnola.org/.

“See L.A.!”

Supporting the Arts and Our Community
“Events Around Town”

The Annual La VIRGEN Art Exhibit 2007
 
Artist Reception and Danza Azteca:
   Saturday, December 8th, 6 PM - 9 PM, Danza Azteca @ 7 PM
Free Event, All Are Welcome

Join us for this continuing annual event! Several artists come together to display their interpretation of La Virgen through art. Alan Papaleo, Alex Rios, April Greenlee, Arturo Sandoval Diaz, Chris Langlais, Cora Ramirez-Vasquez, Danny Flores, David Martinez, DIRE, Dominic Quagliozzi, Enrique Chiu, Ernie Lucero, Jacque Forsher, Jane Paquin, Jonathon Garcia, Lynn Morgan, Matthew Stork, Moses Prado, Patricia Varela, Ray Ortiz, Ray Vasquez,Robyn Feeley, Rudy Gero, Ron Hust, Sergio Hernandez, Shannon Jones, Susan Brown, Sylvia Spiegel and more
 
La Virgen de Guadalupe is one of the world's most important religious and cultural icons.  This image of a maiden cloaked in stars and standing on a crescent moon has been revered, reinterpreted and reinvented over its 400 year history.  

In Mexico, people join together for the festivities of Our Lady of Guadalupe, on December 12th. This is one of the most important dates in the Mexican calendar.  Thousands of the faithful from around the country make the most important pilgrimage of all those undertaken during the year to the Basílica of Guadalupe, in Mexico City, where the miraculous image of la Virgen is kept.

There are many faces of the Virgin Mary. Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima, La Macarena of Seville, the black Virgin of Czestochowa and many more can be seen in almost every part of the world.  Not only are their statues in a church, her image is seen in murals, clothing, tattoos, cars, etc.  Our annual December show allows artists to display their own interpretation of La Virgen.  Whether it be traditional or not, visual or musical, it is bringing people together through art.

Gallery Location:
PICTURE THIS Gallery
4130 Norse Way, Long Beach, CA 90808
562.425.4861 (extra parking behind the gallery through alley)
Exhibit runs December 1 - 29th, 2007
Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10 AM - 6 PM, Sat 10 AM - 2 PM

A worldwide Candle Lighting is held every year on the second Sunday in December at 7 PM for one hour, local time, around the globe - creating a 24-hour wave of light in memory of all children who have died at any age and from any cause. As candles burn down in one time zone, they will be lit in the next, so that candles will be burning in memory of all those departed for the entire day of December 9.
Believed to be the largest mass candle lighting on the globe, the Worldwide Candle Lighting creates a virtual 24-hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone. Hundreds of formal candle lighting events are held and thousands of informal candle lightings are conducted in homes as families gather in quiet remembrance of special children to always be remembered.

Local public ceremonies will be held at the Auditorium of Children's Hospital Saban Research Institute, 4661 Sunset Blvd. In Los Angeles, as well as at Wilson Park in Torrance at the intersection of Crenshaw and Jefferson, and at the St. Peter Armenian Church, 632 W. Stocker St., in Glendale.

For more information, see: www.compassionatefriends.org/2007_WCL/2007_WCL_Intro.htm
 

Downtown Art Walk
(Second Thursday of Every Month)

Thursday, November 13, 2007 from 12 - 9 PM
(some locations close earlier, see details on Art Walk map)

The Downtown Art Walk is a free, self-guided tour of the many art exhibition venues in Downtown Los Angeles — commercial art galleries, museums, and non-profit arts venues.

Public information and a printable map of the Downtown Art Walk are available at www.downtownartwalk.com.

Participants in the Downtown Art Walk are The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles Public Library, Grey Goose, Gary Leonard, L.A. Artcore Center, 2nd Street Cigars and Gallery, M. J. Higgins, bank, Continental, Crewest, The Regent Galleries, Pharmaka, Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, El Nopal Press, Bert Green Fine Art, INMO Gallery, Red Dot Gallery, Niche.LA Video Art, Kristi Engle Gallery, Art Murmur Gallery, 626 Gallery, Gallery Waugh, Infusion Gallery, Gallery 727, The Hive Gallery, City Center Gallery, Museum of Neon Art, BOXeight Studios, and the Downtown Art Gallery.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive by public transit, as the Art Walk is easily accessible by the Red, Gold, and Blue line trains which run past midnight, and the area is well served by the

DASH bus system until 6:30 PM. Parking is plentiful in the areas many paid lots and garages, at meters on the street until 4 PM, and free after 6 PM on most streets.

Barker Block Lofts presents
Arte Calidad Cultural Institute
Christmas Fundraiser Posada
December 15, 2007 at 6 PM - 2 AM

-LIVE 'POSADA' PERFORMANCE - accompanied by members of Audience
-COCKTAIL MIXER
-TRADITIONAL NACIMIENTO DISPLAY
-OPEN HOUSE - BARKER BLOCK - POOL SIDE WITH VIEW LA CITY SKYLINE
-CONCERT - SANTOS "KLOS" DE LOS ANGELES and much more.

Special Guests: Councilmembers Jose Huizar & Jan Perry.

The mission of Arte Calidad Cultural Institute is to provide job training in commercial and traditional art; entertainment set design and production for all youth seeking employment in the arts and entertainment industries. Arte Calidad Cultural Institute is raising start up funds to implicate programs and internships for newly acquired Blocker Block 15,000 sq. ft. job training facility.

You can purchase tickets to support this event as a donation to the Arte Calidad Cultural Institute 501 (c)(3) EIN#: 20-2952490 (Inquire at 323. 266. 7185.). Tickets for this event will be available to: (1) individual VIP Donors, (2) Corporate VIP Donors, or (3) General Admission Donors.

Where: Arte Calidad Cultural Institute Studio
519 South Hewitt St in the heart of Downtown LA’s Arts District
Private concert with Santos de Los Angeles.
To learn more: www.artecalidad.org

Active Arts invites you to…
Music Center Holiday Sing-Along
Friday, December 21st at 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Music Center Plaza - Free Admission
 

Enjoy the cool wintry night and twinkling tree lights as you sing along to your favorite holiday songs! 

Everyone is welcome! Song sheets are provided. Seating is limited, early arrival is recommended. For more information, visit www.musiccenter.org.

Active Arts at the Music Center is a series of low or no-cost events for the artist in everyone. Come sing, dance, play music, and tell stories downtown. Be Active.

Paris A Go-Go - New Year's Eve in Paris

Featuring Belinda Carlisle and special guest Rufus Wainwright

Monday December 31 at 7 PM and 10:30 PM - Two Performances!

Join two of the world’s fabulous jet-setting singers as they bring an evening in Paris to LA’s dazzling Walt Disney Concert Hall for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve! Singing in French and English for a brilliant trans-Atlantic extravaganza, Belinda and Rufus are your hosts for a special evening as the stage is transformed into a magnificent French cabaret. Singing the classic French pop songs of Edith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg, and a few surprise hits, the hosts will be accompanied by the top-notch musicians of a quintessentially Parisian band. Sassy French dancers add to the electricity and elegance of the evening, all capped by an unforgettable finale fantastique!

For more information and a chance to win 2 VIP tickets to this concert, visit: www.laphil.com/nye !

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art will present Dalí: Painting & Film

Throughout his life and career, renowned surrealist Salvador Dalí maintained a deep connection with film as an artistic medium. He collaborated with movie greats such as Luis Buñuel, Alfred Hitchcock, and Walt Disney, and created works influenced by Cecil B. De Mille and the Marx Brothers. Dalí: Painting & Film, coming to Los Angeles, the epicenter of film, aims to illustrate the cinematic influences and elements that are present in Dalí's work as well as the contribution he made to cinema. The exhibition brings together a variety of key pieces from Dalí's oeuvre, incorporating painting, film, photography, sculpture, and texts.

The exhibition was curated by Dawn Ades, Montse Aguer, Fèlix Fanés, Matthew Gale, and Helen Sainsbury. Curators at LACMA: Ilene Fort, American Art, and Sara Cochran, Modern Art. This exhibition was organized by Tate Modern, London, in collaboration with the Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, Figueres, Spain, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The Los Angeles presentation was made possible in part by LACMA’s Wallis Annenberg Director’s Endowment Fund. This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

The exhibition will run through January 6 in the Art of the Americas Building

For more information: www.lacma.org
* LACMA is Free After Five. There is no charge for general admission after 5 PM, even on weekends. General admission allows you to visit all open LACMA galleries and all special exhibitions except those that are separately ticketed. What's more, kids under 18 can always enter free through NexGen.

Got Gas?

As a public service we at Olvera-Street.com want to help you find the least painfully-expensive gas in your area. To find out the best gas prices around, click here!

If you have any other suggestions for links that our community can either learn or benefit from such as scholarships, community programs, et cetera, please submit them to us.

“How many observe Christ's birthday!

       How few, his precepts!

O! 'tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.”

- Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

Thank You for Visiting!

Bookmark Olvera-Street.com and our “See LA” link as a reference... 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 throughout 2007.

Please e-mail this page to anyone you think may be interested.

 We hope you will enjoy a wonderful time with family and friends during the holiday season.

                   May all your wishes and dreams come true.
 

 Ginette Rondeau, Director & John Trausch, Editor
 

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