2009 Cinco de Mayo Fiesta: Wilmington

Cinco De Mayo lands on Tuesday this year, but have some pre Cinco De Mayo family fun at the Wilmington 2009 Cinco De Mayo Fiesta this weekend.

Saturday May 2nd and Sunday May 3rd

12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Music, Food, Carnival Rides, and more...

Wilmington Ca, 90744

Along Avalon blvd between PCH and Anahiem

Brief recap on what Cinco de Mayo really means. Most people including our gente will often think it is Mexican Independence Day. That is in-correct. Mexican Independence Day is actually not until September 16. Cinco de Mayo 1862 was a victory over the French Army in " Batalla de Puebla" or Battle of Puebla. Mexico was in debt because of prior battles and civil war. Benito Jurarez the president at the time issued what was called a moratorium, which means Mexico needed some time to freeze any payments on what they owed until they where financially ready. President Juarez requested a two year time frame. The Spanish, English and French did not like that and became angry. They all then proceeded to invade Mexico to collect. Long story short the English and Spanish settled on there side and left. The French army under the ruling of Napoleon III, wanted to take over and make Mexico a new empire. Kaos erupted, and Mexico had to defend it's self. Dressed in peasant gear unlike the fancy French, it did not stop Mexico from giving it's all. Mexico was only armed with cheap weapons like machetes,rifles and horses nothing compared to the weapons and technology of the French Army . They simply fought with determination, heart, blood, sweat and tears winning a victory over the French.

This holiday is celebrated more in the United States by Chicanos and Americans then in Mexico. Mexicans tend to celebrate Independence Day more then Cinco De Mayo

This event will have that corporate sponsorship of course which

is the only way they could afford to have it. I just hope that it do not become
all wack like the Fiesta Broadway they recently had in downtown LA

Check out the review on LA Eastside by El Random Hero regarding the Broadway event. Let's hope Wilmas still knows what's up=)

I will most likely check it on Sunday, I'll take pictures and report back to all you swapmeeteros

peace

Doña Junta

Sources

:http://www.vivacincodemayo.org/history.htm

Last years fiesta pictures

http://www.wilmington-chamber.com/Wilmington_Chamber_Cinco_de_Mayo_2008/

http://www.wilmington-chamber.com/

LA Graffiti King "Chaka" First Art Show April 25 2009

In the graffiti world we all heard of ” Chaka LOD” the infamous tagger who killed LA and beyond. His tags and throw-ups where seen all over in the late 80’s early 90’s. Even everyday people have come across hearing his name. He made news back in the days with being sought after for fucking shit up. Almost twenty years later he is having his first gallery art show displaying his work.

Mid-City Arts

5113 West Pico Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90019

7 p.m -9 p.m

Juxtapose article

Chaka One Website

Mid City Arts Website

Check out the news article on " Chaka" circa 1990

Suspect in `Chaka' graffiti charged

Daily Breeze (Torrance, CA) -
Thursday, December 13, 1990
Author:
Marc Igler

A man believed to be the
king of Southern California graffiti was
charged Wednesday with 20 criminal
counts of vandalism for allegedly
tarnishing thousands of buildings and walls --
including many in the South
Bay. Authorities say they believe Daniel Ramos, 18,
is responsible for
spray-painting the name "Chaka" on up to 10,000 locations
throughout
California, causing at least $500,000 in damage. "The extent of the
property
damage makes this the worst case of graffiti vandalism we have seen in
Los
Angeles or heard of anywhere else in the nation," said Los Angeles City
Attorney James Hahn. In the South Bay, investigators said Ramos' distinctive
graffiti stained several walls along the beach as well as overpasses and
ramps
of the San Diego and Century freeways. Wednesday's charges bring to 48
the
number of misdemeanor counts filed against Ramos since he was arrested
Nov. 28
in Lincoln Heights while drawing his name on a traffic pole. The
Boyle Heights
resident, who lives in a local housing project, allegedly
proclaimed, "I am the
famous Chaka!" when he was arrested, police said.
Ramos has pleaded innocent to
the 28 initial charges and is being held on
$10,000 GRAFFITI/A6GraffitiFROM PAGE
A1bail. Each count is punishable by up
to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Arraignment on the new charges is
set for Dec. 20. Hahn said prosecutors want
Ramos to be sentenced to jail,
then receive a substantial community service term
that would focus on
cleaning up graffiti. Deputy City Attorney Peter Shutan, who
is handling the
case, said Ramos is not a gang member but was part of a group of
teen-agers
known as a "crew." "They're basically a bunch of taggers who go
around
putting their names on everything they can find," said Shutan, who
specializes in gang -related cases. "That's what a crew lives for. It's
their
raison d'etre." "There's no question Ramos was the most prolific
graffiti artist
in that crew and is the most prolific we've ever seen. Most
of the sitings of
his handiwork are in central Los Angeles, but there have
been many from the
South Bay area." Ramos apparently selected the word
"Chaka" as his graffiti
nickname from a character on the television show
"Land of the Lost." "It's a
children's show. I guess he just liked the
character," Shutan said. "Chaka"
graffiti ranged from simple scrawlings on
utility poles to elaborate,
multicolored murals that took hours to complete
on the sides of buildings and
freeway retaining walls. One of Ramos'
favorite victims was Southern Pacific
railway cars because they carried his
moniker hundred of miles to distant
cities, Shutan said. Southern Pacific
officials estimate the alleged vandal
caused about $30,000 worth of property
damage. In addition, authorities in
Fresno are investigating "Chaka"
graffiti that caused $6,000 damage to a water
tower. The same name and
distinctive bubble letters also appear on fixed
locations as far south as
Orange County and as far north as San Francisco.
Section: NEWSPage: A1Index
Terms: NEWS; GRAFFITI. VANDALISM.Record Number:
0000318415Copyright (c)
1990, Daily Breeze, All Rights Reserved

His moniker is classic in graffiti and he remains a legend with
graffiti artist in Los Angeles. He now turns a new leaf with his art
displayed in his first show.

Update on "The Hood"

"Tales from 14th Street" Is a look back at childhood days living in San Pedro California. I will share the fun and not so fun adventures of living in the hood during the 80's and early 90's. If anybody grew up in this area during that time please email or comment anytime and share your stories or thoughts.

Photo of of 14th street today, the yellow house in the middle was
where the incident happened.



A couple of weeks ago I had posted about Oscar Barrientos and how he was a young teen in our neighborhood who got killed because of rival gang members. I decided I really wanted to know what might of triggered the motive of his death,and why he was shot.
The gang that resided on the block street was the out cast of San Pedro gangs. Young Crowd was a small gang that started in the 1980's on 14th street by a group of friends that lived in the same area . It is actually originally a gang from Lynwood which was already established and had been around since the 1960's. Somehow they both did not know about each other and the same name usage until a few members of both gangs did a stint in jail. They hooked up somehow and Pedro Young Crowd stayed as a click that grew over time.
They where obviously enemies with the much established Rancho San Pedro, which had been around for decades.
I did some research and I was told a brief story of the incident as it was told at that time. Apparently Young Crowd had went on a mission to go shoot the guys from the rival gang Rancho San Pedro 3rd street. One guy died from that incident and two others where wounded. That same night there was retaliation from the Rancho guys. They got on it quick. Nobody knows how they knew where Oscar lived, but they must of have done their research at one point. The news story is pretty much accurate to what the word of mouth was.

It happened January 6, 1992 at 3:45 a.m. on . That is interesting because as a kid I did not realize that sure was a crazy way to start the new year.

Here is the news archive from the incident.

2 teens die in gang shootings - San Pedro attack, retaliation turn deadly for 17-year-olds
Daily Breeze (Torrance, CA) - Monday, January 6, 1992
Author: Anne C. Mulkern
Gang members shot at rivals on a San Pedro street corner Saturday, killing one youth and
prompting a retaliatory attack that left another dead, police said Sunday.

Hugo Resendiz, 17, of San Pedro , died about 11:40 p.m. Saturday, five hours after he
was shot in the chest, said Los Angeles police Sgt. Jim O'Connor.

"Two gang members walked up to three rival gang members at the corner of Fourth Street
and Grand Avenue," O'Connor said. "They yelled a gang name and began shooting at the
gang rivals, hitting all three."

Resendiz's companions, who were not named, were hospitalized at County Harbor-UCLA
Medical Center in satisfactory condition, O'Connor said.

After questioning the wounded youths, police arrested James Michael Beck, 18, and Javier
Haro, 19 at Beck's home in San Pedro , O'Connor said.

Violence erupted again about 3:45 a.m. Sunday when gang members seeking revenge for
Resendiz's death fired 12 bullets through the front window of a house in the 200 block
of West 14th St., O'Connor said.

Oscar Barrientos, 17, was shot in the head and killed as he slept on a couch in the
front room, O'Connor said.

"Many of the shots passed through the back living room wall, barely missing three
pre-teen children and their mother and father," O'Connor said.

No arrests were made in the second killing, but police were questioning rival gang
members, police said.
Section: LOCAL
Page: A3
Index Terms: NEWS; SHOOTING . GANGS.
Record Number: 0000376659
Copyright (c) 1992, Daily Breeze, All Rights Reserved

From what we heard the guys who shot Oscar where never found. The hood version of story said that they went up to the window and shot Oscar in the head. The news story says otherwise. The reason we heard that was because there was footprints in the mud by the window and blood splatters near the cement. The kids inside where his sister who was my age and two brothers. The family moved out shortly after the incident.

(Disclaimer) In anyway these stories meant to glorify or side with any particular gang, the stories on this blog are just my re-telling of what was around me as a kid.

Special thanks to Random Lengths News for finding the news archive.

Tea time in Wilmington

Wilmington, got a unique treat with a new kind of business to the area, Hojas Premium Tea House opened up late last year bringing a different twist to one of my favorite industrial cities.



I had read about the tea house in a recent Los Angeles Times article and was pleasantly surprised a place like this would come to the area. I have featured Wilmington many times on the rawness of what the city displays today but despite what people think of Wilmington, the city has a very rich history. Behind all the smoke from the refineries and car repair shops Wilmington has been a productive port community since the early 1900's.
I had planned on checking out the tea house one day but hadn't done so. A few weeks ago I ended up stopping there on my way to the Banning Park Residence Museum. As I was driving down Pacific Coast Highway I spotted the tea house and a banner reading "Art Exhibit Today". I was thinking " that's dope" I can pass by the tea house then make my way to the museum since I still had time before the next tour. I found parking and made my way in. It was very charming and nicely decorated. There was photography on the walls and cool furniture. There was various shelves aligned with tea accessories, and lots of different bags of loose leaf tea for every kind of taste.

Personally I do drink tea but I usually get typical store bought teas like Tazo or different kinds of bagged organic teas from like Whole Foods or Trader Joes. My mom would always buys loose leaf manzanilla (Chamomile) tea or some weird teas for remedios like the "Dona Remedios" line of teas. She usually just boils water in a pot along with the tea leaves. Me on the other hand do it the easy way and boil water in a cup microwave stilo lol.

While inside I met the owners Nacho and his wife Alma they where both very nice and welcoming. That day they where busy preparing the shop for a photography and a fashion show thrown by a local artist. Nacho mentioned wanting their tea shop available for art shows poetry readings, study sessions etc. I though that was really cool to have a spot available like that in Wilmington without it being some gentrified hipsterville.

Owner Nacho serving up customers

Since I had arrived before the start of the show I decided to come back after the museum tour. I ended up getting a cup of fresh green tea to go. I really liked it, it definitely tasted different then the bagged tea I usually buy. The leaves where kept in my cup so the flavor was strong and good till the last sip.


When I came back to the tea house a crowd had already gatherd inside. There was a guy singing and strumming on a guitar in the corner of the room giving the place a peaceful vibe. They had laid out hors d'oeuvres and pastries for everyone to enjoy as well . My homie Carlos showed up a bit later, he had been to the tea house before so he knew a little on what is good. Nacho recommended a red tea named Zhen Hong Gong Fu with a touch of vanilla coconut cream. It was smooth with just the right sweetness.

Nacho and Alma where definitely knowledgeable when it comes to tea. It made me want to know more about the special qualities of tea.

Zhen Hong Gong Fu and vanilla coconut cream

After enjoying great tea and a fashion/art show, I was very pleased with the place and will be coming back. They got a great menu with lots of different teas for all kinds of benefits. On the plus side I felt very comfortable there and not awkward, I guess we all have misconceptions on how a tea house would be.
I need to get my self a real tea pot and strainer it is definitely worth it for potency and flavor. If ever in Wilmington don't forget to stop by Hojas Premium Tea House and support good health as well as cool gente. The prices are very reasonable too so it won't shrink the pocket.

Bags of different loose leaf tea


click on menu's for larger view

Hojas Premium Tea House
405 W Pacific Coast Hwy
Wilmington, CA 90744
(310) 518-9454

Mon-Wed 10:00 a.m.- 8:00p.m.
Thursday 9:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m - 8:00 p.m.

http://www.hojaspremiumtea.com/

Other posts regarding Wilmington

Is Wilmington Finally Changing?

Adventures Around Wilmas

Anahiem Drive-In Dairy

More Wilmington Landmark Photos

La Estrella Production Wilmington

Fotos para ti

"Tales from 14th Street" Orange Bang

"Tales from 14th Street" Is a look back at childhood days living in San Pedro California. I will share the fun and not so fun adventures of living in the hood during the 80's and early 90's. If anybody grew up in this area during that time please email or comment anytime and share your stories or thoughts.

Orange Bang was my favorite drink as a kid, it was always a treat to get 75 cents and ride my pink swapmeet bike down the street. We used to get our fill up on Orange Bange at "Christy's Donuts" which is located in a dingy strip mall on 14th Street and Pacific. As a kid it was simply the best drink ever!

Christy's Donuts, it is still in same location same owner as well.

***Update***My friend talked to the owner of Christy's he is a Vietnamese man named John, he has owned it for over twenty years but he bought it off the original owner , who wife was named Christy, I guess he had a real gambling addiction and lost all his money. He eventually sold the place to the current owners. There is another Christy's donuts somewhere in Gardena John's brother is the one who owns that store.

I guess Orange Bang got sued by Juicy Whip a company I never heard of but it was something about the dispensing machine that Orange Bang is made in lol.

More on the case: Juicy Whip, Inc V, Orange Bang Inc.