Hola Boyle Heights! Your community reporter, Alex Medina, is here to share some happenings in and around the neighborhood to get you out and about!
Check out the latest from the Beat!
Ysabel Jurado is a name you’ve probably seen a lot in the news lately if you’ve been following city elections. The 34-year-old tenant rights attorney received the most votes in the race for Council District 14, and is set to go up against incumbent Kevin de León in November. That would mean a lot of firsts for CD14, as Jurado would be the first woman to represent the district. She would also be the first person of Filipino descent on the L.A. City Council, and the first non-Latino representing the Eastside in nearly four decades. Our reporter Ricky Rodas sat down with her to chat, and you can check out that story here on our website.
Though its time is coming to an end, the Care Bears Forever exhibition at the Corey Helford Gallery was a site to behold in Boyle Heights. The group art exhibition featured the original works of over 75 contemporary artists all themed to the franchise of Care Bears, showcasing the cultural and visual impact its characters have had. Our reporter Andrew Lopez got to visit the colorful and cheerful exhibition, and you can read his coverage here. Your last day to view the free exhibition at 571 S. Anderson Street #1 is this Saturday, from noon through 6 pm.
This week, local Boyle Heights artist Robert Vargas unveiled a larger-than-life mural of Shohei Ohtani, the newest Dodger, at the Miyako Hotel in Little Tokyo. The street by the Japanese Village Plaza was packed with Dodgers fans of all ages who came to celebrate the 29-year-old superstar joining the iconic L.A. team. You can read more here.
Get out and about on the Eastside
Friday, March 29
The Boyle Heights Tavern, my favorite local bar, sadly closed earlier in the year. I am happy to see the spot at 3025 Wabash Ave. has quickly been taken up by a new business, La Loteria Restaurant. It’s open from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and between noon and 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. I encourage you to stop by to check out the corner’s new vibe. This Friday night is all about karaoke, starting at 7 pm.
The Latino Equality Alliance is hosting its first ever “Mix & Mingle Soirée” at Mi Centro (553 S. Clarence St.), its Boyle Heights hub. It’s set to be an elegant night for LGBTQIA+ folks and allies, full of live jazz, hors d’œuvres, mocktails and more. From 5 to 8 p.m., attendees are encouraged to come in black and gold cocktail attire to fit the aesthetic. If this event suits your fancy, you can register to attend online.
Themed nights at venues across the city are always my favorite thing to do on the weekends. Over at The Paramount (2708 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave.), Friday’s set is themed “Emo vs. Pop-Punk: Myspace Music Video Party”. The event is set to start at 9 p.m. You can grab a ticket online. There’s a couple more events happening at the venue this weekend. You can check those out on the venue’s website.
Saturday, March 30
The Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory (2708 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave.) is hosting the latest of its “Cartoons & Cereal” series this weekend. From 9 to11 a.m., this free all-ages event features a cereal buffet to enjoy while watching the “Magic School Bus.” You can RSVP for the event by calling (213) 293-6170.
For folks living and working in City Terrace and East Los Angeles, LA County Public Works is hosting a community meeting at City Terrace Park (1126 N. Hazard Ave). The 10-11:30 a.m. event will cover upcoming public works projects on the Eastside.
The local bookstore Re/Arte (2123 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave.) is hosting a teach-in event on the history of ethnic studies in the United States. From 6 to 8 p.m., the event will feature special guest Lupe Carrasco Cardona, who has been an educator in the field for over two decades. Carrasco Cardona is the chair of the Association of Raza Educators (LA), the co-founder of XOCHITL LA, and is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership at Cal State Northridge.The all-ages meeting is free and no RSVP is required.
First Street Billiards (1906 E. 1st St.) is hosting the band “Infest” along with groups “Sordo,” “Human Garbage,” and “Chafa.” You can snag a $20 general admission ticket online for the 18+ show, which is set to run from 7-11:30 p.m. The venue has drinks available, and is also well-known locally for its set of pool tables.
As always, please let us know what you think of this newsletter and send us your events so we can include them in future editions!
