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February 2007

February, the shortest month, is also known as Black History Month, Presidents' Month, and the month of love. Since we have no short black presidents, we'll focus on the love angle. So we focus on our blessings, our loved ones, and the best ways to let your significant other know that we are happy they are in our lives. It is a time to be grateful for our blessings and to express our appreciation. We would like to focus on our good fortune and encourage everyone to forge ahead and make a difference with your family, friends and your community. Volunteer to help someone or a nonprofit. One person can make such a world of difference! Your heart will be well rewarded. And then Gung Hay Faht Choy! Olvera Street honors bores, or rather boars, for Chinese New Year on February 18. Chinatown is located next door to Olvera Street, and a Chinese-American museum sits on the south end of our marketplace. Then February 20 marks Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras Day on Olvera Street.  Come see the dancing, hear the music, and comb the confetti out of your hair after watching the wile and wacky parade. And there’s more... in anticipation of the upcoming Academy Awards, we present brief synopses of the numerous Latino-themed films now playing at your local multiplex (or maybe on the other side of the tracks at the sticky $3 theatre). Congratulations to all the nominees! Finally, don’t miss The Music Center Speakers Series that will present Jim Lehrer and Dr. Maya Angelou this month.         The History of Chocolate - “Food for the Gods” In honor of Valentines Day, we created an article about the history of chocolate. From the ancient Aztecs and Mayans to the chocolatiers’ boutiques of Beverly Hills, chocolate has been one of our favorite foods and a delicious gift for Valentines Day. We trace its growth from a ceremonial drink to a billion dollar industry. To learn more about this food of the Gods, see Valentine & Quetzalcoatl, a Chocolate Match Made in Heaven!             Upcoming Events on Olvera Street!         Chinese New Year of the Boar 4705 Sunday, February 18, 2007 Celebrating Chinese New Year 2007 is the year of the Boar! Come and celebrate with us! The Chinese Lunar New Year is the longest chronological record in history, dating from more than 4000 years ago. It will be “Gung Hay Faht Choy!” The 4705 Year of the Boar festivities will continue throughout the day on Olvera Street and Chinatown. Famous Boars: Woody Allen, Julie Andrews, Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Billy Crystal, Robert Dole, Phil Donahue, Richard Dreyfuss, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Farrah Fawcett, Henry Ford, Thomas Jefferson, Chiang Kai-Shek, Stephen King, Henry Kissinger the Dalai Lama, Jerry Lee Lewis, John McEnroe, Dudley Moore, Marie Osmond, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steven Spielberg, and Tracey Ullman. Check your Chinese horoscope here!                 Mardi Gras Tuesday, February 20, 5 PM - 10 PM It’s argued whether the Mardi Gras tradition started in America with the French explorers in New Orleans in 1699, or when American college students returned home from Paris in the 1820s. Probably both, and the tradition has held, and today in New Orleans, Paris and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday”) means a traditional huge annual funfest with parades and parties. Throughout the years the celebration has added African, Latin and Native American aspects to its French origins. Here in Los Angeles, it doesn't take much to get awaken the spirits of Olvera Street, and Mardi Gras is a great excuse to join in. The Olvera Street Merchants present their annual Mardi Gras celebration on On Fat Tuesday, February 20, 2007. The day program from 9 AM-12 Noon includes children's workshops, the crowning of the Little King & Queen, a parade and piñata.  Evening festivities continue from 5 PM – 10 PM with samba dancers, stilt walkers, a colorful parade, the crowning of the King & Queen and the traditional Mal Humor burning. For more information please call (213) 625-7074 or (213) 485-8372. The public should call Valerie Hanley at (213) 716-1373 to RSVP for the children's workshops. So break out your purple, gold and green (Mardi Gras colors) and come on down to Olvera Street. We're a lot closer than Rio or Paris, and a lot more fun than studying. To learn more about the history of Mardi Gras, click here!               The Chinese American Museum Presents Lantern Festival 2007 Festival de las Faroles Saturday, March 3, 2007 12 PM - 7 PM at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument 425 North Los Angeles Street in Los Angeles FREE ADMISSION - Admision Gratis For more information call (213) 485-8567 or visit www.camla.org Featuring: Live music, lion dancing and martial arts Lantern and kite making Children lantern contest Feng Shui and Acupuncture workshop Chinese Arts and Crafts Guided museum tours and much more! To learn more about the history of the Lantern Festival, click here!             Volunteer Opportunities Making a difference! Be A Docent!   Las Angelitas Docent Training at LA’s Birthplace Starts Feb. 13 New docent training classes for El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument will be held for eight Tuesdays from Feb. 13 to April 3.  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 AM to 12:30 PM at Las Angelitas offices, located at 130 Paseo de la Plaza next to the Old Firehouse and directly across from Union Station. The classes feature multi-media presentations of historic photos and lectures from El Pueblo curators and area history experts. Las Angelitas consists of 70 men and women who are history buffs with a passion for the history of Los Angeles, according to the organization’s president Frank Damon. “This is a wonderful group of volunteers who embrace LA history and want to share their knowledge with others,” says Damon, who also leads the training classes. The volunteer commitment is two weekday tours or one Saturday tour per month. The walking tours are 50 minutes long. Tours are provided in various languages, including Spanish.  The historical timeline for the class begins prior to the founding of the city in 1781, when California was still part of Spain and then Mexico.  “During the training sessions, everyone learns how to guide visitors around El Pueblo, which includes five museums, 27 historic buildings and the world-famous Olvera Street,” says Damon. 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.         Movies to See!             “BABEL” In the remote sands of the Moroccan desert, a rifle shot rings out – detonating a chain of events that will link an American tourist couple's frantic struggle to survive, two Moroccan boys involved in an accidental crime, a nanny illegally crossing into Mexico with two American children and a Japanese teen rebel whose father is sought by the police in Tokyo. Separated by clashing cultures and sprawling distances, each of these four disparate groups of people are nevertheless hurtling towards a shared destiny of isolation and grief. In the course of just a few days, they will each face the dizzying sensation of becoming profoundly lost -- lost in the desert, lost to the world, lost to themselves -- as they are pushed to the farthest edges of confusion and fear as well as to the very depths of connection and love. GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER Best Motion Picture - Drama 7 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS Best Motion Picture Of The Year Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role ADRIANA BARRAZA Best Performance By An Actress IN A Supporting Role Rinko Kikuchi Achievement in Directing Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu Best Original Screenplay Written By Guillermo Arriaga Based On An Idea By Guillermo Arraiga and Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu Achievement In Film Editing Stephen Mirrione and Douglas Crise Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures Gustavo Santaolalla Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Adriana Barraza,  Rinko Kikuchi, more cast Directed By: Alejandro González Iñárritu Genre: Drama     Rating: R Mini-synopses courtesy of Yahoo! Movies For more information visit the Official Website: http://www.paramountvantage.com/babel/               “Volver” Set in Spain, a generational story of three women--a good mother who is desperately in love with a man who is far from being a saint, a young mother carrying a hard life upon her shoulders and an illegal hairdresser whose shop is the meeting point for all the neighborhood gossips. Three generations of women survive the east wind, fire, insanity, superstition and even death by means of goodness, lies and boundless vitality. Academy Award Nomination: Best Actress, Penélope Cruz WINNER Best Foreign Film - National Board of Review Best Screenplay & Best Actress Cannes Film Festival Best Picture Audience Award, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Composer & Best Cinematographer European Film Awards Starring: Penélope Cruz, Yohana Cobo, Lola Dueñas, Carmen Maura, more cast Directed By: Pedro Almodóvar Released By: Sony Classics Genre: Comedy, Drama Rating: R Mini-synopses courtesy of Yahoo! Movies For more information visit the Official Website: http://www.sonyclassics.com/volver/               “Pan’s Labyrinth” 6 Academy Award Nominations! Best Original Sceenplay Guillermo del Toro Best Cinematography Guillermo Navarro Best Original Score Javier Navarrete Best Foreign Language Film A Tequila Gang/Esperanto Filmoj/ Estudios Picasso Production Mexico Best Makeup David Marti and Montse Ribe Best Art Direction Eugenio Caballero Set Decoration: Pilar Revuelta Set in the Mayan civilization, when a man's idyllic presence is brutally disrupted by a violent invading force, he is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression where a harrowing end awaits him. Through a twist of fate and spurred by the power of his love for his woman and his family he will make a desperate break to return home and to ultimately save his way of life. Alternate Title: El Laberinto del Fauno Starring: Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Ivana Baquero, Alex Angulo, more cast Directed By: Guillermo del Toro Released By: Picturehouse Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Crime and Mystery Rating: R Mini-synopses courtesy of Yahoo! Movies For more information visit the Official Website: http://www.panslabyrinth.com           “Apocalypto” 3 Academy Award Nominations! Best Makeup Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano Best Sound Editing Sean McCormack and Kami Asgar Best Sound Mixing Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell and Fernando Camara Set in the Mayan civilization, when a man's idyllic presence is brutally disrupted by a violent invading force, he is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression where a harrowing end awaits him. Through a twist of fate and spurred by the power of his love for his woman and his family he will make a desperate break to return home and to ultimately save his way of life. Starring: Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez, Jonathan Brewer, Morris Birdyellowhead, more cast Directed By: Mel Gibson Released By: Buena Vista Theatrical Release Date: 12/08/2006 Genre: Action and Adventure (Violent) Rating: R Mini-synopses courtesy of Yahoo! Movies             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 February 8, 2007, according to a CNN count: “There have been 3,368 coalition deaths -- 3,114 Americans, two Australians, 131 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, six Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 32 Italians, one Kazakh, three Latvian, 18 Poles, two Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq. That is 90 more deaths since January 17, 2007. The list at CNN are 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. At least 23,417 U.S. have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. That is 583 more than last month.  In 2004 we honored the 1250 Americans who had died in the Iraqi desert; that list has now grown with an additional 2,028 lives cut short. Note: May 1, 2007 will mark the four-year anniversary when President Bush announced “Mission Accomplished!” and the end of hostilities in Iraq. 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 "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.) We send our love to them, their families, and dear friends. The “Altar of the Iraq War” was re-created at last year’s “El Amor Eterno” Dia De Los Muertos Juried Exhibition at El Pueblo Gallery. The altar was dedicated to their memories so they won’t be forgotten, true to the meaning and spirit of íDa De Los Muertos!             Mailbox to Heaven” created by Ginette Rondeau   “Mailbox to Heaven” 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 email. To write a private letter to a beloved one, visit: www.MailboxToHeaven.com The Mailbox to Heaven was featured at the Pico House Gallery for the Annual Dia De Los Muertos Juried Exhibition, October 28 - November 26, 2006             Supporting Our Community “Events Around Town”             The Music Center Speaker Series launches the 2007 Series Receive up to $10 off* Jim Lehrer! Thursday, February 15, 2007 @ 8:00 PM Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Journalist Jim Lehrer joined PBS in 1972, the next year he teamed with Robert MacNeil to cover the Watergate hearings. The Mac Neil/Lehrer Report launched two years later and in 1983 The MacNeil /Lehrer NewsHour, the first 60-minute evening news program aired. In 1995, MacNeil retired and the program was renamed the The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, where he serves as executive editor and anchor. Lehrer holds many journalistic honors including the 1999 National Humanities Medal. He has authored fifteen novels, two memoirs and three plays.             Receive up to $10 off* Dr. Maya Angelou! Friday February 23, 2007 @ 8:00 PM Dorothy Chandler Pavilion This Renaissance woman has been hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature. Angelou is a poet, historian, best selling author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director. Her I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was a National Book Award nominee, and her volume of poetry Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Die was a Pulitzer Prize nominee. Angelou read her poem On the Pulse of Morning for Bill Clinton's 1993 Presidential inauguration at his request. Her adaptation of Sophocles’s Ajax premiered at the Mark Taper Forum. Angelou holds a lifetime chair as the Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University. She has received numerous honors including the Yale University’s Chubb Fellowship, and was named a Rockefeller Foundation Scholar. In 2005, Angelou, with 25 other African-American women, was honored as an inspiration to Oprah Winfrey at her Legends Ball. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity! Our Olvera-Street.com subscribers will receive a special discount! * Discount applies to Silver ($75) and Bronze ($50) level seating only. Tickets subject to availability. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Other restrictions may apply. No refunds, cancellations or exchanges.  Offer not available at Ticketmaster outlets. To receive $10 off, select regular priced $75 tickets from the drop down menu, and enter number of tickets under the Promotions and Special Offers header, followed by promotional code. For $10 off Silver Level Seating use promotional code: MCSS1 To receive $5 off, select regular priced $50 tickets from the drop down menu, and enter number of tickets under the Promotions and Special Offers header, followed by promotional code. For $5 off Bronze Level Seating use promotional code: MCSS2 2 Ways to Buy:   1)     Click to Order Online 2)     Call Ticketmaster:      213-480-3232 Visit www.musiccenter.org/spkser.html for more information.   The following speakers are scheduled to appear at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion: Honorable Vicente Fox: January 29th Jim Lehrer: February 15th Dr. Maya Angelou: February 23rd Honorable George H.W. Bush: March 12th Honorable Madeleine Albright: March 13th George Will: April 30th Joan Didion: May 7th Fareed Zakaria: May 14th Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.: June 7th Bob Woodward: June 8th               Chinese New Year Festival & Car Show 108th Annual Golden Dragon Parade Saturday, February 24, 2007 Los Angeles Chinatown 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Festival 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Parade   Chinese New Year Festival & Car Show Sunday, February 25, 2007 Los Angeles Chinatown 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Festival 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Car Show For more information about the festivities visit: http://www.lagoldendragonparade.com/calendar.html   To learn about the history of Chinese New Year, click here! To learn about your Chinese Horoscope, click here!             Continuing Exhibition Los Angeles County Museum of Art René Magritte (1898-1967) Delcalcomania, 1966   Magritte and Contemporary Art: The Treachery of Images November 19, 2006 – March 4, 2007 LACMA ORGANIZES FIRST MAJOR EXHIBITION TO EXPLORE MAGRITTE’S IMPACT ON CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is presenting the first major exhibition exploring the impact of Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte’s (1898–1967) work on artists of the post-war generation. Magritte and Contemporary Art: The Treachery of Images, features 68 paintings and drawings by Magritte, including many international loans of his signature works, and 68 works in diverse media by 31 contemporary artists including Richard Artschwager, John Baldessari, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol, the exhibition examines the different and sometimes unconscious ways that pop, conceptual, and post-modern sensibilities have referenced Magritte’s ideas and imagery. The exhibition installation is specially designed by conceptual artist Baldessari. The exhibition is on view exclusively at LACMA through March 4 and will not travel to other venues. For more information: click here!       Past Events on Olvera Street       Fiesta De La Candelaria Friday, February 2nd, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM The Olvera Street Merchants will celebrate La Candelaria in the plaza area of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument in downtown Los Angeles. This final traditional event takes place 40 days after the birth of Christ and marks the end of the Christmas season by commemorating the presentation of Christ in the Temple. Everyone is invited to join the festive procession beginning at 6:30 PM at the south entrance to historic Olvera Street.  Participants are encouraged to bring an elaborately dressed doll to be blessed in the plaza symbolizing the presentation of the infant Christ. Best-dressed doll winners will receive a prize. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and live entertainment as well.  For more information please call:  (213) 625-7074. Olvera Street is part of El Pueblo Historical Monument and is located between Main and Alameda Streets in downtown Los Angeles.  Public parking is available at nearby lots on Main, Los Angeles and Alameda Streets.  Public transportation is also available via the Metrolink, MTA rail and bus service to Union Station.               "Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."   -Mother Theresa                             Thank You for Visiting! Make sure to visit us for Mardi Gras 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 have a lovely Valentines and a wonderful Gung Hay Faht Choy!                    May all your wishes and dreams come true. John Trausch, Editor & Ginette Rondeau, Director   For more information about www.Olvera-Street.com  comments or suggestions, contact our Webmaster@ibiz360.com

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