East LA: There's No Place Like Home

          All over Los Angeles County there are small areas that are filled with culture from places from all over the world. Places such as Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Little India, and Olvera Street were created because of the large populations of immigrants living around them. They are not only to celebrate the different cultures in Los Angeles, but also so that the people living here can have a little bit of home nearby.

            For this entry, I decided to explore the place that I call home: East L.A. East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, and a number of its residents have been fighting for cityhood for the last couple of years. East Los Angeles can be reached primarily reached from the Metro Gold line and a number of other bus lines such as the 720, 260, 18, and 762. It is home to a large number of Latinos, primarily Hispanics.

            The fact that a large population of East L.A. residents is Hispanic does not mean that Mexican culture is the only one evident. There are many restaurants that serve and specialize in cuisine from various places in Latin America. Whittier Boulevard is one of the most iconic streets in East Los Angeles and home to a number of restaurants and stores. A large number of stores specialize in special event wear and supplies. If you are getting married or having a quinceañera, all it takes is one trip down Whittier Boulevard to obtain all you need from a dress or tux to invitations or limousine.

            Apart from stores, there are various street vendors selling a variety of food. You never fail to find someone selling bacon wrapped hot dogs, fresh fruit and corn on the cob with cheese and chili. If you are walking down Whittier Boulevard in the morning, which most people do in order to commute by bus to work or school, you will never fail to find someone selling warm tamales and champurrado.

            East Los Angeles is a place full of tradition and culture. From the annual Mexican Independence Day and Christmas Parades to the East Los Angeles Classic, a rivalry football game between East L.A.’s high schools, there are always events to bring the community together. The East Los Angeles Classic brings together over 20,000 people, from students, alumni, staff, and members of the community all of which either sit on the Garfield or Roosevelt side. The game has been held, for most of its existence, at East Los Angeles College.

            Garfield High School, my alma mater, is also recognized from the film "Stand and Deliver". A film about math teacher Jaime Escalante who taught and guided a class of students, who were prone to dropping out of school, to pass the AP calculus exam. This film isn’t the only one to immortalize East Los Angeles and its community. In recent years movies such as "Under the Same Moon" and "A Better Life" have given moviegoers an insight into the life of the residents of East Los Angeles.

            Places like East Los Angeles, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Little India and Olvera Street are all great places to enjoy different cultures without having to spend thousands of dollars in airfare and hotel. Everyone can learn about the cultures that are being celebrated by exploring these places. However, it must be known that regardless of how cultural these places may seem, there is always an Americanized twist. 

A Taste of India Down Pioneer Boulevard

    When searching for a bit of Indian culture in Los Angeles County, Little India in Artesia is where to go. I have gone there a couple of times, but I had never really explored it. I usually go by car, but for this trip I decided to take public transportation.
Since I had never gone to Little India by bus before, I went on Google maps and searched for directions. It took a little over an hour and two buses to get to Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia from my home in East Los Angeles.  I took metro line 260 from home and then transferred to line 62, which left me right off Pioneer Boulevard.

Pioneer Boulevard does not make you feel like you are in India when you are walking down the street, but Indian culture is visible through the numerous businesses. You can find anything from traditional Indian clothing to Indian Ice Cream.

If you are in need of a beautiful sari, there are a couple of places you can visit where they have saris in an array of colors with gorgeous embroidery. Jewelry is a big part of Indian culture and there are also places down Pioneer Blvd where you can find jewelry pieces and a number of ornaments and statues that are part of the Hindu religion.

One of the stops that I usually make when I visit Little India is at one of the grocery stores, Farm Fresh, to pick up spices. Either my mother or aunt always have a list of spices and fruits that they want me to bring back, and this trip was no exception. Bombay Spices is also a great place to purchase spices. They not only sell spices but also various other items used in the Hindu religion. 

Aside from groceries, there are a few restaurants where you can find traditional Indian cuisine. There are various dishes like Tandoori chicken, different types of curry and the Indian crepe all found on Pioneer Boulevard. Indian desserts and sweets can also be found in Little India.

One of the places that I visited was the Saffron Spot. There you can find saffron silk ice cream in a variety of flavors and they also sell their ice cream packaged so that you can buy some and enjoy at home at anytime. One of my favorite things to get there is their cassata, which is somewhat like an ice cream cake that is traditionally served at Indian wedding receptions.

Although the cassata is delicious, and I would go to Little India just for that; the reason why I usually go is for eyebrow threading at the Beauty Palace. I know a couple of people that also go to Little India just for that reason. The Beauty Palace is also known for their henna tattoos. On this trip there was a bride getting henna tattoos for her Bollywood themed wedding. 
Whether you are in the mood for some good food or just in need of a good stroll, Pioneer Boulevard is a great option. 

Exploring Mexican Culture on Olvera Street

     As I walked through the stands and took in my surroundings at Olvera Street, I was transported back to 1998. My mother took me to Mexico to celebrate my eighth birthday, and one of my uncles took us to the annual Independence Day fair in Torreon, Coah. There was every type of Mexican delicacy you can imagine, and an array of traditional Mexican clothing and toys. Of course, being a celebration of Mexican Independence Day, the photo area was filled with Guerrilla outfits completed with horses and donkeys.

       All of that is found on Olvera Street, donkey and all. It isn’t as grand as the annual fair I attended, but it definitely does it justice. You can find all sorts of Mexican artifacts like leather bags, shoes, and belts. There are also a number of different Mexican toys and games for kids. Mini guitars, Loteria a card game similar to bingo and wooden spin tops known as trompos are sold at nearly every stand.

A number of specialty stores are located on an underground level. One of the most popular was a candle store that sold all types but specialized on candles with religious images on them. There are a lot of great things to purchase on Olvera Street, but the number one buy is food.

Everywhere you look there was something to eat on sale. There were an assortment of Mexican dulce de leche candies with nuts and coconut. Freshly made potato chips, churros, and a variety of aguas frescas were available all throughout the street. There are also a couple of restaurants where you can get an actual meal. Tacos and burritos are a must but you can also find other traditional Mexican dishes like mole and menudo.

   My favorite two things to do at Olvera Street are visiting the Avila Adobe house and the donkey. The Avila Adobe is the oldest home in Los Angeles and was built by Don Francisco Avila in 1818. The adobe house gives you an insight to the lifestyle in El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles in the 1800’s. The adobe house is completely furnished and the public has free access. My favorite part of the Adobe house is the fact that it reminds me very much of my grandparents home in Mexico.

My second favorite thing to do on Olvera Street is taking a picture with the donkey. You are provided with different items such as mariachi hats, guitars and full guerrilla accessories. The donkey attracts almost everyone, not just children. During this visit, my nephew was able to take part in the experience and continue a family tradition.

   There are a number of ways to get to Olvera Street. On this trip I took the Metro Gold Line and stopped at Union Station. Olvera Street is located on Alameda Street and all you have to do once you get to the front entrance of Union Station is cross the street. What I loved the most on this specific trips is that I witnessed the beauty of different cultures in Los Angeles by walking through the Festival of Lanterns, put on by the Chinese American Museum, on my way to Olvera Street.