Cultura

It’s Not News to Us

Dave Alvin, Flaco Jimenez, David Hidalgo y Los Cenzontles: ‘Hey, Baby, It’s the Fourth of July’

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Roots rock singer/guitar slinger and East Los homie (Downey) Dave Alvin sings a classic ode to America, folky roots, broken hearts, independence and Mexican kids shooting fireworks Hey, baby, it’s the Fourth of July! Alvin is backed in this version by Los Cenzontles, Tex-Mex accordion superstar Flaco Jimenez and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos.

Here’s the original music video, so old it’s in black and white!

Mas…Dave Alvin, Flaco Jimenez, David Hidalgo y Los Cenzontles: ‘Hey, Baby, It’s the Fourth of July’

Around Our Town: Puro Party Picks for Father’s Day Weekend 2018

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fathersdaychurchsignFather and Son Chile-Eating Contest: Quién es más macho? The East Pocho Optimists Club once again sets up shop at Fernando Valenzuela Field for their annual chile-eating contest, which pits father-son teams against each other to see who can ascend the Picante Podium of Pain. The winning team wins even more chiles! Sunday, noon.

Bronche: Angry Bull cocktails (Red Bull, tequila, orange juice) are just $3 and dads get all the Mexican Meatloaf Sliders they want for free on Father’s Day at TGI Viernes in the Rancho Pocho Mall. Sunday 10 AM – 2 PM. Mention my name, Chale Knickerbocker, for a blank stare.

Mas…Around Our Town: Puro Party Picks for Father’s Day Weekend 2018

NYC profe visits East Los, eats tacos, takes photos, buys Doyers shirt

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From #PueblaYork to #OaxaCalifornia

I live in NYC, and I have to admit, it had been a long time since I spent time in L.A., close to a decade.

In 2008, I visited my tía abuela who lived in Orange County. She drove me up to L.A. to see Olvera Street and a quick drive through Boyle Heights. It’s been a decade since then, and this summer I had a few days and a rental car, so I saw some things. I had some taco literacy work to do, but more than that, I wanted to learn more about the gente, to visit some places that have been mythologized for me, a Chicano from rural Arizona.

Califas, as I heard y’all refer to yourselves, I had come to get to know you better.

Mas…NYC profe visits East Los, eats tacos, takes photos, buys Doyers shirt

WATCH: WB Merrie Melodies Cartoon from 1956: ‘Two Crows from Tacos’

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Two Mexican singing crows are starving and try to catch a grasshopper in this 1956 animated short from Merrie Melodies/Warner Bros. What could possibly go wrong? It’s like a toon starring our hero Speedy Gonzales, Mexico’s fastest mouse, except no Speedy. Substitute crows for gatos and a grasshopper for Speedy and you get the idea.

One IMDB reviewer had a plot of praise for this toon:

Mas…WATCH: WB Merrie Melodies Cartoon from 1956: ‘Two Crows from Tacos’

Nixtamalization means fresh tortillas at South Philly Barbacoa (video)

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When you bite into a taco, you are tasting the results of an ancient chemical process called nixtamalization. It’s a technique that hasn’t changed much since 1500 BCE, and along the way it helped the Aztecs rise to power and made tortillas softer, tastier, and much more nutritious. Today, Benjamin Miller and Christina Martinez are the only chefs in Philadelphia making their tortillas from scratch, which means they practice the ancient art of nixtamalization.

Mas…Nixtamalization means fresh tortillas at South Philly Barbacoa (video)

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