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January 2007

Bienvenidos! Happy New Year! The New Year is frequently a time of new resolutions, new plans and new dreams.  We look toward the future and reflect on the traditions of the past with our family and loved ones. Although 2006 brought more than it’s share of tragedy, both natural and man-made, we unabashedly greet 2007 with the hope we can make a difference for a better world. Upcoming 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.                 Mardi Gras Tuesday, February 20th, 5:00 PM - 10:00 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. Over 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. 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!             Art Exhibition Last Chance to View Until Sunday, January 21!   The Mexican Cultural Institute at Olvera Street has extended the exhibit: "Bravo: The Tortilla Paintings and other Artwork by Joe Bravo" What makes Joe Bravo’s exhibit unique is that he paints on large flour tortillas. You are invited to visit the gallery throughout the week, open 9 AM to 5 PM daily or attend an intimate closing reception on Saturday, January 20 from 6 PM to 9 PM. These creations make up more than half of the exhibit collection. This is your last chance to view his very collectible fine art and purchase his array of affordable prints, T-shirts and other items that are available for sale.  Just don’t eat the artwork.             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 January 17, 2007, according to a CNN count: “There have been There have been 3,278 coalition deaths -- 3,026 Americans, two Australians, 129 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. 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 22,834 U.S. have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. 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 The Honorable Vicente Fox 62nd President of Mexico Monday, January 29, 2007 at 8:00 PM As President of Mexico from 2000 to 2006, Vicente Fox is credited with playing a vital role in Mexico’s democratization, and with strengthening the country’s economy. During his tenure he succeeded in controlling inflation and interest rates, and in achieving the lowest unemployment rate in all of Latin America. Before being elected President, Fox was a highly respected business leader. He joined the Coca-Cola Company in 1964 as a truck driver and ascended to President of Coca-Cola for Mexico and Latin America. The evening should to be thought provoking and memorable. Issues for discussion include immigration and international relations between the United States and Mexico. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity! Monday, January 29, 2007, 8:00 PM 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             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!               Volunteer Opportunities Making a difference! President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn   Jimmy Carter Work Project 2007:  Los Angeles, California The 2007 Jimmy Carter Work Project (JCWP) will take place in Los Angeles October 28 through November 2. During the week, volunteers will join former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in building houses with low-income families in the area. The event will engage an unprecedented number of people in efforts that ultimately will continue well beyond the five-day JCWP event, building a model to explore and implement practical affordable housing solutions that can be used in communities throughout the country. The end result of this week will be increased awareness of a very real American housing crisis and a long-term commitment for action from community leaders and individuals to resolve it. Volunteers, Sign up now to receive an email notification as soon as the application becomes available online. For more information on sponsorship please contact svalencia@habitatla.org or jcwp@habitat.org . If you live in the Los Angeles area and are interested in homeownership please contact sbautista@habitatla.org .       Past Events on Olvera Street       LAS POSADAS Nightly Procession Portrays the Holy Family’s Journey to Bethlehem The Olvera Street Merchants held their annual Las Posadas festivities December 16 through 24. The event offered free seasonal entertainment each evening with the traditional candlelight procession starting at the historic Avila Adobe. The nightly procession ran through Olvera Street with the Merchants leading the group singing traditional hymns and holiday songs in English and Spanish. There was free champurrado (a Mexican hot beverage) and pan dulce (sweet bread), and piñatas for the children. Las Posadas has been celebrated on Olvera Street since the 1930s.  In Spanish, las posadas means “inns” or “shelters,” and represent the journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem and their search for shelter.  For nine December nights the procession stopped at shops on Olvera Street, each one representing a posada where the group asked to stay. Many of the founding Olvera Street merchant families have preserved this wonderful and beloved holiday tradition, sharing the joy of the season with their children and grandchildren.               La Virgen De Guadalupe Event at Olvera Street December 11 - 12 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. Olvera Street found children 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 the history of “La Virgen De Guadalupe,” click here               “I have one life and one chance to make it count for something . . . I'm free to choose what that something is, and the something I've chosen is my faith. “Now, my faith goes beyond theology and religion and requires considerable work and effort. My faith demands -- this is not optional -- my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.” - President Jimmy Carter                             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.             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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