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Category Archives: Arts and Culture

Exclusive video of this year’s Santa Ana’s Fiestas Patrias Parade

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Arts and Culture, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Democratic Party, immigration, Independence, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Latinos, Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa, mexico, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento, Working Families Leave a comment

Yesterday’s Fiestas Patrias parade, in Santa Ana, was perhaps the best one yet.  A huge crowd lined Main St., many in folding chairs.  Kids blew on horns and waved Mexican flags.  You could feel the fervor in the air.  They were all there to celebrate two hundred years of Mexican independence.

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido rode in a stagecoach provided by Wells Fargo, along with his fellow Grand Marshal, Mexican Consul Alejandra García Williams.

Santa Ana Council Members Vincent Sarmiento, David Benavides and Carlos Bustamante were there, riding in cars in the parade, as was Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez.

Also in the parade were Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, State Senator Lou Correa, Assemblyman Jose Solorio, and Supervisor Janet Nguyen.

The parade featured high school bands, the Santa Ana ROTC, caballeros on horseback, cultural organizations – displaying Ballet Folklorico and Native dances (in full costume) and representatives from many Mexican states.  It was quite a spectacle.

I had to take two separate videos.  Part one is above and part two is below.  You can see many of the politicians in part two, but the local electeds are in part one.  Click here to see more pictures I took at the event.

Pictures taken at the Santa Ana Fiestas Patrias Parade

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Latinos, Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa, mexico, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento, Working Families Leave a comment

Click here to see our exclusive videos taken at the Santa Ana Fiestas Patrias Parade.

The Fiestas Patrias Parade in Santa Ana today was a huge success.  Massive crowds lined Main St. as a procession of politicians, high school bands, cultural organizations and representatives of many Mexican states marched by.  Included also were many participants on horseback.  It was quite a show!

Those in attendance showed a lot of appreciation for the participants.  They enthusiastically applauded when many of the politicians passed by.  Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez got the biggest ovation.  She literally ran by as she shook a lot of hands.  State Senator Lou Correa walked by as well, shaking hands and speaking to his many fans.

Other politicians who were warmly welcomed included Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, and Council Members Claudia Alvarez, Vincent Sarmiento, and David Benavides.  Carlos Bustamante was also in the parade.  Sal Tinajero could not be there as he had to fly to a high school debate tournament yesterday.

In contrast, Republican Supervisor Janet Nguyen was barely welcomed as she zipped by in a car that appeared to be driven by her husband, Garden Grove Planning Commissioner Tom Bonikowski.

I did shoot several videos.  They are uploading now.  I hope to have them up by tomorrow.

Santa Ana Fiestas Patrias Entertainment Schedule for Sep. 18 and 19

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Paty Cantu is performing on Saturday, Sep. 18, at the Fiestas Patrias

The 32nd Annual Fiestas Patrias will return to downtown Santa Ana, Orange County’s largest Mexican Independence street festival, September 18-19 for another fun filled extravaganza featuring some of today’s Top Latin Artists on the main stage including; Aleks Syntek, Maria Jose, Paty Cantu and more to be announced.

Each year over 200,000 attend the weekend festivities and this year promises to be special as we celebrate Mexico’s Bicentennial. Santa Ana’s Fiestas Patrias celebration will be filled with food, a carnival and Top Latin Billboard entertainment lined up the entire weekend.

Saturday’s Fiestas Patrias Entertainment Schedule

For the first time MX Live Entertaiment will be joint producers along with Velasquez Publishing and Promotions of the Festival handling all marketing, PR, talent booking and production.

Click here to see Saturday’s entertainment schedule, or see the graphic above.

Sunday’s Fiestas Patrias Entertainment Schedule

Click here to see Sunday’s entertainment schedule, or see the graphic above.

Click here to see the full list of sponsors for this year’s Fiestas Patrias.

Mendez vs. Westminster documentary will be screened on Sep. 13 at Chapman University

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Civic Affairs, Education, Entertainment, Latino Leaders, Latinos, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana, Westminster, Working Families Leave a comment

As part of the 2010 Mexico’s bicentennial festivities, the City of Santa Ana is co-sponsoring the Mendez v. Westminster documentary at Chapman University on Monday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. (please see attached for more details).  This special screening of the award winning documentary is open to the public and is also co-sponsored by Chapman University and the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County.  In addition to the screening, an expert panel has been assembled to discuss the legal and social implications from this landmark civil rights case.  We expect a great turn-out for the screening and a wine and cheese reception with Mariachis will precede the film at 6:30 p.m.

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact:

Sandra Peña Sarmiento

“Frontier Arts & Hybrid Culture”

www.pocharte.com

www.ocfilmfiesta.org

714.417.0073

2010 Mexican Bicentennial Events in Santa Ana on Sep. 18 and 19

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2010 Mexican Bicentennial Events in Santa Ana

September 16, 2010 will mark the 200th anniversary of Father Hidalgo’s call (El Grito) for Mexico’s independence from Spain.

The Fourth Street Mexican Independence Day Festivities has been a positive community event supported by the downtown businesses and the community for the past 21 years.

Given the significance of the Bicentennial a wide variety of activities are planned throughout the year in Santa Ana including an official El Grito ceremony at the Bowers Museum on September 15; a Bicentennial festival including a carnival on Fourth Street in Downtown on September 18 and 19; a symbolic El Grito ceremony and a parade on Sunday, September 19.

Other activities will include a series of city-wide Mexican Independence cultural events highlighting the historical significance of the El Grito Bicentennial.

Click here to see all the events that the Mexican consulate is sponsoring.

Fiestas De Independencia – Fiestas Patrias Downtown Festival

Save the Date: Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19
Location: Fourth Street from Mortimer to Ross
Live entertainment, cultural booths, food, carnival, fun for the entire family

Fiestas Patrias De Orange County Parade

Save the date: Sunday, September 19
Time 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Route: Main Street to Civic Center Drive to Flower
Starting point: 17th and Main
Ends at Flower and Civic Center

Santa Ana Bicentennial Film Festival

The Santa Ana Film Fiesta is a film festival component of The City of Santa Ana’s 2010 “Fiestas Patrias – Fiestas de Independencia” Mexican Bicentennial events. It’s a celebration of the Santa Ana’s Latino heritage through cinema and an educational tour of Santa Ana’s historic roots.

This unity-building event will provide downtown audiences, both new arrivals and traditional families, with entertaining events throughout the City of Santa Ana that deepen relationships with local cultural groups, businesses, colleges and the film industry.

http://www.ocfilmfiesta.org/

Event Promoters:

MXLive Entertainment
www.santaanafiestaspatrias.com

Valequez Publishing and Promotions
www.fiestacalle4.com

Santa Ana Film Fiesta celebrates Latino heritage, from Sep. 4-19

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Latinos, mexico, Movies, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Santa Ana Film Fiesta is a film festival component of The City of Santa Ana’s 2010 “Fiestas Patrias – Fiestas de Independencia” Mexican Bicentennial events. It’s a celebration of the Santa Ana’s Latino heritage through cinema and an educational tour of Santa Ana’s historic roots.

Opening night is on Sep. 4, at 5 pm.  The festival will continue through Sep. 19.  Watch Busby Berkeley’s classic 42nd Street, starring Bebe Daniels, plus a vintage car show, at the Old OC Courthouse, located at 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd., in downtown Santa Ana.  Click here for the full Film Fiesta schedule.

This unity-building event will provide downtown audiences, both new arrivals and traditional families, with entertaining events throughout the City of Santa Ana that deepen relationships with local cultural groups, businesses, colleges and the film industry.

Every year, over 200,000 visitors attend Santa Ana’s “Fiestas de Independencia” Mexican Independence Day festivities centered along historic 4th Street, “La Calle Cuatro.” This year will feature musical artists Aleks Syntek, Maria Jose, Paty Cantu and Elefante. The Santa Ana Film Fiesta will add a vital new dimension to these traditional festivities by celebrating Santa Ana’s cultural diversity through a selection of feature films, documentaries and shorts.

Join us for this year’s new and dynamic Film Fiesta, a cinema celebration in the historic heart of downtown OC!

The Santa Ana Film Fiesta will be produced by Sandra Peña Sarmiento (aka “Pocha Peña”), an award-winning filmmaker, artist and writer who has directed film festivals in California and Texas. Sandra is the founder of POCHARTE Gallery, an influential arts space which operated for several years in Santa Ana’s Santora Building.

For more info visit http://www.ocfilmfiesta.org/ for more information

Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

First Park Santiago Summer Concert a huge success!

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, music, Neighborhood Associations, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 1 Comment

My wife and I stopped by the first Park Santiago Annual Summertime Concert, on Saturday evening, and found it was a huge success.

The baseball field was packed with booths and residents having fun. There were a lot of local companies there, as well as organizations, including Naturalist for You, the Santiago Park Neighborhood Association, the Road Less Traveled and Mother’s Market.

There were hula hoop contests, face painting, food, and all sorts of fun products at the booths. 

The band “Hey, Where’s my Bike,” played a bunch of great cover songs, and a lot of folks danced the night away in front of the stage.

Park Santiago resident Casey DePersis was the driving force behind this great event.  She deserves a lot of credit for pulling it off!

Tango on the Tarmac and Sounds of the Seas this weekend at the Great Park

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, irvine, music, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 25, 2010
CONTACT: JENN STARNES, 949-724-6574

Tango on the Tarmac and Sounds of the Seas This Weekend at the Great Park

IRVINE – From the most dramatic of dances to the atmospheric sounds of the South Pacific, this weekend the Great Park celebrates a range of musical influences. Join in the fun with Hector del Curto’s Eternal Tango Quintet Friday and then come back Saturday for the Polynesian sounds of Te Vaka.

Come tango on the tarmac to the sounds of Hector del Curto’s Eternal Tango Quintet on Friday, August 27th at 8:00 p.m. The Great Park is hosting a tango dance party for the first time, and it was worth the wait: Argentinean bandoneón player and bandleader Hector del Curto is one of the most acclaimed young musicians in the tango world. He has also performed with some of the world’s outstanding symphony orchestras, and recording stars from Shakira to Tito Puente to mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves. Don’t know how to tango? Don’t worry, dance instructors will teach you the moves at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, August 28th at 8:00 p.m., the Great Park fills with sounds of the South Pacific from Te Vaka. Drawn from the Maori music of New Zealand, the chants of Tahiti and other far-flung outposts within the massive Polynesian Triangle, Te Vaka’s music is both traditional and original, mixing ancient chants and log drumming with modern instrumentation and vocals.

“These vibrant, colorful, joyful and diverse performances highlight our Great Park summer dance and concert series,” said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation. “The Great Park truly offers something for everyone.”

Before Saturday’s performance, visitors can enjoy the Great Park Comedy Corner at 7:00 p.m. featuring Tom Connolly and Lou Santini. Admission to Flights & Sounds Summer Festival dance and concert series is free, and parking is just $10.

Upcoming 2010 summer performers include a wide variety of first-rate artists, featuring five-time Grammy Award-winning Blind Boys of Alabama, local surfing champion and artist Donavon Frankenreiter, and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and the Mardi Gras Indians.

Flights & Sounds Summer Festival is presented by the Orange County Great Park Corporation in partnership with Irvine Barclay Theatre. Concertgoers can watch the show from chairs provided in a temporary concert pavilion or bring their own chairs to listen to the music from the Great Park Lawn. Before each performance, Hangar 244 is transformed into the Hangar Café, a lounge-like dining area serving up everything from snacks to full dinners.

The Orange County Great Park is located off the 405 or 5 Freeways at Sand Canyon and Marine Way in Irvine.

The Orange County Great Park and its 1,347-acre master plan is the focal point of the redevelopment of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. The Great Park is currently 27.5 acres and includes an iconic tethered helium balloon that rises 400 feet in the air, providing an aerial view of Park development. A $65.5 million development plan to expand the Park to 200 acres is currently underway. The plan will build out a core section of the Park for the most immediate and wide-ranging public benefit, including a sports park, agricultural area and an art and culture exhibition space.

For the entire festival line-up and more information, go to www.ocgp.org.

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Barrio Writers 2nd Annual live Reading Festival set for this Saturday, Aug. 28

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Latinos, Literature, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 2 Comments

Don’t miss the 2nd Annual Barrio Writers Live Reading Festival, which is coming up this Saturday, August 28, from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm., at the Santa Ana Public Library, located at 26 Civic Center Plaza.

Barrio Writers has grown in the last year, in Summer 2010 they branched out to additional locations.  They hosted their 10-week program at El Centro Cultural de Mexico and the Santa Ana Public Library.  They also ran 1-week intensive programs at Newhope Library and the East Street Community Renewal Initiative (ESCRI) in Anaheim.

Their 2nd Annual Barrio Writers Live Reading Festival will unite all writers to present their words to our community.  They share their stories with great pride, it is up to us to listen to them. The 2nd Edition Barrio Writers book will include their works, it will be released Spring 2011.

Feel free to invite your friends and families to the event this Saturday.  Your presence will continue to help us empower our youth, new writers and young leaders of our communities.

Special Thanks to the Barrio Writers’ sponsors & guest writers: Calacas on 4th, Mydesign2print, Garden Grove Channel 3, OC Childrens Book Festival, Young Authors Fair, Poets & Writers, Ollin, Sol Art, OC Dream Team, Alan Woo, Karen Cordova, Gustavo Arellano, David Bueno-Hill, Sandra Lopez, Juan Farias, & Richard T. Rodriguez!

Memphis Cafe celebrating their 15th Anniversary this Wednesday, Aug. 25

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The Memphis Cafe is celebrating their 15 year anniversary this Wednesday, August 25, with lunch and dinner menus at their original 1995 prices, at their Costa Mesa location!  Lunch will be served from 11-3. Dinner from 5-10. Reservations suggested. Call 714.432.7685, or click here.  The Costa Mesa Memphis is located at 2920 Bristol St.

And if you can’t make it to Costa Mesa, Memphis at the Santora will be having their usual $9.95 BBQ and 50% off Wine Wednesdays so you can come celebrate with them and raise a glass to 15 great years!

Opened in 2002, Memphis at the Santora blends traditional Southern and contemporary American classics into flavorful renditions of American comfort food. With a larger kitchen than its sister. Memphis Café in Costa Mesa, the restaurant’s menu covers a wider range of Southern specialties, including buttermilk fried chicken, and a garlic-marinated and grilled center-cut pork chop. drizzled with a balsamic dried-cherry reduction.

On the registrar of historic landmarks and perhaps the most beautiful edifice in downtown Santa Ana, the 1929Santora Building is done in a rare Spanish Colonial revival style known as Cherrigueresque. With its elegant gated lobby entrance, terrazzo floors and grand double staircase, the building represented the height of luxury and was home to retail shops on the ground floor with a speakeasy/jazz club on the basement level. Its most well known tenant, Danigers Tea Room, was an under the radar hot spot for Hollywood movie stars in the 1920s and ‘30s.

Memphis at the Santora is located at 201 N. Broadway, in downtown Santa Ana.

Assemblyman Solorio issues statement regarding new RFP to sell the OC Fairgrounds

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Business, california, Costa Mesa, Development, Jose Solorio, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: August 24, 2010
For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – Office: (916) 319-2069, Cell: (916) 804-5355

Assemblyman Solorio Issues Statement Regarding New RFP to Sell OC Fairgrounds

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) issued the following statement regarding the Department of General Services’ new formal Request for Proposals (RFP) to sell the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

“The Governor is exercising his options regarding how to sell the OC Fairgrounds. Rather than facing great unknowns regarding what the new highest bidder would want to do with the property, my preference would be to make the deal with Costa Mesa better. I’ve been working with the Governor’s office and City of Costa Mesa to strengthen the governance language and address employee transition issues.

The sale to Costa Mesa would ensure that the OC Fair, Equestrian Center and Farm are preserved, the OC Fair employees are protected, the property remains under public ownership, and significant revenue is generated for the state to fund essential services like public education and public safety.”

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio is the Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee and serves on the Assembly Appropriations, Local Government and Transportation Committees. He represents the Sixty-Ninth Assembly District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana. For more information about Assemblyman Solorio, visit www.assembly.ca.gov/solorio.
________________________________________
Capitol Office: State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849 • Sacramento, CA 94249-0069
Phone: (916) 319-2069 • Fax:(916) 319-2169
District Office: 2400 East Katella Avenue, Suite 640 • Anaheim, CA 92806
Phone: (714) 939-8469 • Fax:(714) 939-8986
E-Mail: Assemblymember.Solorio@assembly.ca.gov
Web Site: www.assembly.ca.gov/solorio

Free Tardeada Ranchera this Sunday in Downtown Santa Ana

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Downtown Inc. in Santa Ana is proud to present Fiestas Calle Cuatro, the 4th Street Summer Entertainment series that will continue this Sunday, August 15, from 2 pm to 5 pm, with a Tardeada Ranchera, featuring Latin music all along Historic 4th Street in Downtown Santa Ana.

All events are free to the public and fun for the whole family.

The remaining  2010 Fiestas Calle Cuatro Schedule:

August 15, 2010 – Tardeada Ranchera
August 22, 2010 – Fiesta Tropical

For more information about Fiestas Calle Cuatro or any of the other events going on in Downtown Santa Ana, please visit www.downtown-santaana.com or contact Jose Manuel Garcia at 714-277-7183, mrjosemgarcia@gmail.com.

Godinez High School students take free arts classes at the Grand Central Art Center

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The Grand Central Art Center and Godinez Fundamental High School in Santa Ana have partnered to present Arts Central – a weeklong series of free art classes for high school students. The camp continues through Saturday, Aug. 14 and is attended by 30 students who had been nominated by their high school art teachers, according to CSUF Inside.

The classes, taught by center staff and Cal State Fullerton master of fine arts students who live at Grand Central, include computer art and graphic design; performance art; acting and monologue writing, sculpture and three-dimensional forms; and digital photography.

In addition to studio work, every day of class will end with guest artists speaking to the students about their work and professional experiences. Guest lecturers include, Robot Boy sculptors David Brokaw and Preston Daniels, former artist-in-residence Amy Caterina, Chris Bradley and Jason Maloney of Orange County action sports brand Hurley International. Hurley is a camp partner, providing all participants with t-shirts and inviting students and staff to their facility for tours and talks one of the days.

Click here to read the rest of this post.

100 artists see Satan, fundraiser at CSUF Grand Central Art Center through Aug. 15

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Exhibition: 100 Artists See Satan: The Fundraiser
June 26 – August 15, 2010
Reception: Fundraiser Event Preview June 26, 2010 7-10pm
Opening Reception July 3, 2010, 7-10pm.  Admission is free.
Lectures & Events: *Free docent group tours of the exhibition and building 11-4pm every day (Closed Monday) Call 714.567.7233 to schedule.

Grand Central Arts Forum, the support group for Grand Central Art Center (GCAC) is revitalizing the hit exhibition, 100 Artists See Satan, a survey of contemporary artists and their interpretation of the supreme demon. Unlike the original exhibition, this iteration of the collection will be presented as a fundraiser, with works available for sale to the public. All proceeds will benefit future GCAC programs and exhibitions. An exclusive preview will be held Saturday, June 26 from 6-7pm with the public reception scheduled from 7-10pm. On July 3 from 7-10pm GCAC will host another reception to coincide with Downtown Santa Ana’s First Saturday Arts Walk. The exhibition will remain on display through August 15, 2010. Continue reading→

Donations needed to make Las Soldaderas costumes for the Fiestas Patrias parade

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Charities, Civic Affairs, Culture, Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana, Women, Youth Activities 3 Comments

A community volunteer named BaoLauren Vinh is seeking our help with the Santa Ana Fiestas Parade that is coming up in September.

She is currently working at the Santa Ana Library Teen Space. This year the kids and tutors at the library are participating in the parade.  Their theme will be the “Soldaderas.”  They will be dressing up as the women that participated in the Mexican Revolution.

Vinh is seeking assistance from the local community for donation for fabric or materials that they can use to make the costumes.  Any contributions of any sort would be greatly appreciated.

Soldaderas were female soldiers who went into combat alongside men during the Mexican Revolution, which initially broke out in opposition to the conservative Díaz regime. The term comes from the Spanish word soldada which denotes a payment made to the person who provided for a soldier’s well being.  The majority of these women led ordinary lives, but took up arms during the war to fight for freedom. Among the soldaderas, Dolores Jiménez y Muro, Margarita Neri, and Hermila Galindo are often considered heroines in contemporary Mexico.

This is a very special year for Mexicans, as they are celebrating 200 years of Mexican Independence.

You can contact Vinh by clicking here.