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May 2007

Bienvenidos! There are a lot of reasons to celebrate on Olvera Street—holidays, birthdays, warming weather, weekends… days ending in “y”, for that matter… but if ever there was a ready-made holiday for Olvera Street, it’s Cinco de Mayo! The Olvera Street celebration of México's 1862 victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla will feature popular and traditional music, cultural presentations, festival, dance, food and live entertainment. It’s said that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, and on Cinco, everyone is Méxican. At least everyone who likes to have fun. But what few Americans know is that Cinco de Mayo is not a Mexican holiday, but an American holiday with historical implications. When Emperor Napoleon III’s, 8,000 well-trained French fighters were repelled by 4,000 Méxican troops (most of whom that were indigenous teenagers) on May 5, 1862, President Lincoln rejoiced. Napoleon III hated the United States, and had hoped to aid the southern confederates fight the U.S. Federal Army. Lincoln and Méxican President Benito Juarez were allies, and Lincoln directed U.S. General Phillip Sheridan to supply the Méxicans with weapons and ammunition to fight the French.  With the help of U.S. supplies, sloppy mud from a thunderstorm and a cattle stampede they rustled up to impede the charging French, the young Méxicans prevailed. Viva México! Viva Benito Juarez ! Viva El Cinco de Mayo! Upcoming Events on Olvera Street!                 Cinco De Mayo Festival Saturday, May 5, 2007 from 10 AM - 10 PM Sunday, May 6, 2007 from 10 AM - 9 PM Olvera Street Join us for a two-day Cinco de Mayo celebration at El Pueblo Historical Monument in downtown Los Angeles, home of world famous Olvera Street. The weekend will be packed with free entertainment, a carnival and food for the entire family to enjoy.  Various bands representing the regional musical styles of Mexico will perform throughout the weekend celebration bringing an eclectic mix of Latin jazz, R & B and traditional Mexican sounds.  SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE FOR THE CINCO DE MAYO 2007 Saturday and Sunday JOSE HUIZAR Council member for District 14 Los Angeles “LA MAESTRA LULA” From TELEMUNDO NORMA ROQUE From UNIVISION NATALIA LIVINGSTON Plays “Emily” in General Hospital ABC MAYTE PRIDA TV Celebrity from UNIVISION and TELEMUNDO Spokesperson for PPA MABEL KATZ From TV Show “Despertar” TV AZTECA Note: Times to be announced through the day To read the history of Cinco de Mayo click here! To learn more about President Benito Juarez, click here! To view this year’s Cinco De Mayo Event Schedule, click here! For information please call (213) 485-8372.  .               “If you respect others, there will be peace.” “EL respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz.” - Benito Juarez                 Fiesta de Las Madres  Mother's Day Celebration May 13, 2007 A celebration for Mother’s Day 2007 is being planned at Olvera Street! The event will pay tribute to mothers with scheduled entertainment, an awards program (i.e., oldest mother, mother with most children, etc.), a parade and various sponsor booths.  All activities are free to the public. History: Though Americans will recognize Sunday, May 13 as Mother’s Day this year, in Mexico mothers are celebrated on May 10, this year and every year. It is a tradition that is at least as old as ancient Greece and Rome, where Goddesses were worshipped. England in the 17th century revived “Mothering Sunday,” where they would devour a “Mothering Cake” on the fourth Lenten Sunday of each year. In the United States Mother's Day was first proposed by abolitionist/poet Julia Ward Howe in 1872 as a day dedicated to peace. Howe was frustrated by lack of interest in an international pacifist conference after the Franco-Prussian War. Howe believed that the war could have been settled without bloodshed.  "Why do not the mothers of mankind interfere in these matters to prevent the waste of that human life of which they alone bear and know the cost?" she asked. Beginning in the early 20th century, white carnations were worn by those whose mother’s had died, while red carnations were used and worm by all those celebrating their living mothers.  In 2007 many Mexican churches will ring with children serenading “Las Mañanitas” to the mothers. After, there is a celebration frequently with tamales, atole, flowers, and presents. Children may write poetry or give their mothers artwork and proudly invite them to plays, recitals and dances. It’s a wonderful day when mothers feel very special. Children shower their love and gratitude to their “Mama” for all their hard work and dedication to their family. Happy Mother’s Day!                   MOVIE NIGHT Winner at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival RED DOORS Directed by Georgia Lee Meet Mia Riverton & Elaine Kao from the film Presented in conjunction with the Growing Up Chinese American exhibit on display at CAM. Arrive early to tour the museum before the screening! DATE: Wednesday May 23, 2007 TIME: 7 PM {Tour of CAM} 8 PM {Screening} VENUE: Pico House, just steps from CAM at  El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument RSVP Call (213) 485-8567 by May 17, 2007 Seating is limited The film screening is free to the public and will be followed by a Q&A session with Mia Riverton and Elaine Kao. Break-out discussion groups led by facilitators will follow. Refreshments will be provided. For parking information or event details, visit For more information visit: www.camla.org             Continuing Exhibit on Olvera Street     14th Annual 34th Congressional District Student Art Exhibit Presented by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard   April 28, 2007 - June 3, 2007: 10 AM.-3 PM Every day  The Pico House at El Pueblo Historical Monument 424 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Join us to view a wonderful display of 156 student art works at the Pico House. The art competition is an opportunity for high school students to not only display their talents, but to move closer to realizing their artistic goals.  It exposes the entire community to the cultural diversity that is Los Angeles. “This art competition showcases the extraordinary creative talents of the students of the 34th Congressional District,” Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard said. “I am so proud to represent a district filled with so many artistic students, caring parents, inspirational teachers, and devoted community and business leaders who lend their support each year to make the art competition a success.” For more information call (213) 485-8437 To learn more about scholarships or internships, visit: http://www.house.gov/roybal-allard/students.shtml             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 May 3, 2007, according to a CNN count: “There have been 3,627 coalition deaths -- 3,355 Americans two Australians, 147 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, six Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 32 Italians, one Kazakh, three Latvian, 19 Poles, two Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq.. The list above 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. That is 176 more deaths since March 12, 2007. At least 25,090 U.S. have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. That is 1,673 more than March 12, 2007. In 2004 we honored the 1250 Americans who had died in the Iraqi desert; that list has now grown with an additional 2,377 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. 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 the Arts and Our Community “Events Around Town”             The Music Center Speaker Series launches the 2007 Series Joan Didion Monday, May 7, 2007 at 8:00 PM In 2005, Joan Didion won the National Book Award for The Year of Magical Thinking, which she is currently adapting for Broadway. A novelist, essayist and non-fiction writer she has authored 13 books, and she and her late husband John Gregory Dunne co-authored a number of noted screenplays. She is a contributor to The New York Review of Books and The New Yorker. Throughout her career she has received many awards, and in 2005 received the Gold Medal for Belles Letters from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which is the highest honor the Academy awards to a writer and is given once every six years. 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: Click to Order Online Call Ticketmaster: 213-480-3232 Visit www.musiccenter.org/spkser.html for more information. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity! 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 Honorable William Jefferson Clinton: April 15th George Will: April 30th Joan Didion: May 7th Fareed Zakaria: May 14th Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.: June 7th Bob Woodward: June 8th               Downtown Art Walk (Second Thursday of Every Month) Thursday, May 10, 2007       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), LosAngeles 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.                 This exhibition will be part of the Downtown Artwalk! From the Los Angeles Times Sunday, April 29, 2007 by Christopher Knight: There are many appealing aspects to “WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution,” the sprawling and critically well-received exhibition chronicling the global emergence of feminist art practice in the 1970s. One is its sheer size. …Read the entire article For more information, visit: www.moca.org               CHANGE PLEASE Students Use Art to Change Perceptions of Homeless in Long Beach May 12, 2007 at 5 PM Long Beach East Village Arts Park When people look at homelessness, they may see disability, hardship or distraught. Rather than see the person in front of them, they see a need for change. Well, maybe it is actually you that needs to change. This is the message that Cal State Long Beach art students are conveying in their exhibition “Change Please,” which uses mixed-media art to communicate a deeper understanding of homelessness in Long Beach, which has an estimated homeless population of 4,475. On May 12, Change Please will be on display in Long Beach at the East Village Arts Park. “Most people, we believe, don’t recognize the problem. Either they don’t see it, or they choose not to look. They just wish it would go away,” said Cal State Long Beach Visual Communication professor Michael Whitlow. “What we want to do is communicate that this is all of our problem. “If people are going hungry, or without basic shelter, we have a hand in that since we are all connected to each other. But before they can understand, they have to look.” And Change Please is an art exhibit aimed to make people look. The 26 students involved in the show have taken various approaches to conveying their message. Graphic design, advertising, painting, illustration, film, photography, wood sculpture, printmaking and poetry create faces and stories about the homeless people, and transform the invisible into the visible. “Once they look, they can begin to feel; and the ability to feel brings about a connection and a kinship that can lead to change,” said Whitlow. The diverse set of artwork will be exhibited at the East Village Arts Park, an outdoor park located in the Arts District in downtown Long Beach. “Our show was meant to be in a park, a place where many homeless people spend a majority of their time,” said Li Chao, student art curator. “The more tangible we can make homelessness, the more people will grasp it and hopefully change their perspective on it.” “If we can change perceptions, then maybe we can change behavior,” added Whitlow. “Lofty indeed, but through the transforming power of art, very, possible too. Opening reception for Change Please will be May 12 at 5 PM, the same day as the Long Beach Art Walk. East Village Arts Park is located at 150 Elm Avenue in Long Beach. For more information, go to www.changepleaselb.com. If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Michael Whitlow please call Jen Hansard at 661-965-4243 or e-mail Jen at jdghansard@gmail.com           The Music Center Speaker Series launches the 2007 Series Fareed Zakaria Monday, May 14, 2007 at 8:00 PM The editor of Newsweek International, PBS host of Foreign Exchange and political analyst for ABC News, Fareed Zakaria is widely respected for his ability to spot economic and political trends around the world. As editor of Newsweek International Zakaria oversees eight editions of Newsweek throughout Asia, Latin America, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. His column appears in Newsweek (USA), Newsweek International, and often, The Washington Post. He authored the international bestseller, The Future of Freedom. Trained as an academic at Yale and Harvard, Zakaria at age 28 became the youngest managing editor of Foreign Affairs, the leading journal of international politics and economics. He has received honors for his work including the Overseas Press Club Award, the National Press Clubs’ Edwin Hood Award and the Deadline Club Award for best columnist. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity! Our Olvera-Street.com subscribers will receive a special discount! Receive up to $10 off* *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: Click to Order Online Call Ticketmaster: 213-480-3232 Visit www.musiccenter.org/spkser.html for more information.               Compañía Nacional de Danza 2! Renowned Artist Nacho Duato first emerged as a choreographer to watch while a dancer with the Nederlands Dans Theater and quickly became the company's resident choreographer. Now one of the world's most sought-after artists, his works are in the repertoires of many great companies including American Ballet Theatre, Australian Ballet, the Royal Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, just to name a few. Making their Music Center debut, Compañía Nacional de Danza 2 is led by Nacho Duato, one of the world’s leading choreographers. Nacho brings his own company direct from Spain to perform Remansos; Gnawa, a Company U.S. premiere; and Rassemblement, a West Coast premiere. CND2 consists of amazing young dancers who eloquently and successfully embody the fluidity of Nacho's vocabulary. Experience acclaimed work that is known for its romance, vibrant musicality, and vivid Spanish soul. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity! Performance Dates/Times at the Ahmanson Theatre Friday, May 18, 2007 7:30 PM Saturday, May 19, 2007 7:30 PM Sunday, May 20, 2007 2:00 PM Our Olvera-Street.com subscribers will receive a special discount! Receive a 20% Discount* *20% off Premiere Orchestra, Orchestra, Orchestra Ring, Founders and Loge seating ONLY. Tickets subject to availability. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Other restrictions may apply. No refunds, cancellations or exchanges. Offer only available through Ticketmaster or at the box office window. Use promotional code: GRSRTS 3 Ways to Buy: 1) Click to Order Online 2) Order by Phone: 213-365-3500 3) Order in Person: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Box Office      135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012             Past Events on Olvera Street   77th ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS ON OLVERA STREET Old MacDonald had a farm, and on April 7 he brought it to Olvera Street for the 77th annual Blessing of the Animals. Goats to iguanas and dogs to dragon lizards paraded through the Mexican Marketplace to be blessed in the plaza area. A cow covered with a blanket of flowers led the elaborate procession. The bovine is believed to be the animal which provides the most to humanity. At least, that's what the beef producers and the mega-dairies would have us believe. At the procession, Roman Catholic Cardinal Roger M. Mahoney flung holy water in at the pets; something that never pleases the felines that are brought in for the show. Musical groups will entertain the gathering and non-profit animal organizations will be on hand, along with a petting zoo complete with camels, llama, cows and other beasts. It's all free, and brought to you by the friendly Olvera Street Merchants.   The Blessing of the Animals ceremony dates back to the fourth century when San Antonio de Abad was known as the Patron Saint of the Animal Kingdom. In those days, the people would take their animals to the priest to receive a blessing and ask for fertility and health. To learn about the history of the Blessing of the Animals, click here!               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 can one not speak about war, poverty, and inequality when people who suffer from these afflictions don’t have a voice to speak.”   “Como no puede uno hablar sobre la querra, pobreza y desigualdad cuando los que las sufren no tienen ni voz ni voto.” - Isabel Allende                                         "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! 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.              Viva Cinco De Mayo!          Happy Mothers Day!                    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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