¡Hola Boyle Heights! Your community reporter, Alex Medina, is here to share some happenings in and around the neighborhood this spooky season.
Check out the latest from your local news source
Everything to know about Friday’s East L.A. Classic
For the 89th time, Roosevelt and Garfield high schools will duke it out on the field tomorrow at the East L.A. Classic – this time around at SoFi Stadium. Players, coaches and LAUSD representatives marked the historic matchup at a press conference Monday outside the Inglewood stadium where the L.A. Rams won the Super Bowl in 2022. Students, families and football fans will get their own Super Bowl-level halftime show featuring will.i.am. and the Black Eyed Peas. Here’s everything you need to know.
Youth, immigrants, formerly incarcerated: What it means to vote for the first time
Voting is a right many take for granted, but for those voting for the first time, the Nov. 5 election represents a privilege and opportunity to be a voice for their community. An estimated eight million youth and nearly four million newly naturalized citizens will be eligible to vote for the first time since the 2020 election, according to national figures. Boyle Heights Beat spoke with three voters from underrepresented communities about what it means for them to cast a ballot for the first time. You can read their stories here.
Traffic light installed at intersection where teen lost a leg in motorcycle crash
On March 30, 2023, Joshua Mora, a 13-year-old Hollenbeck Middle School student at the time, was crossing the street at a marked crosswalk on Whittier Boulevard and Orme Avenue when a motorcyclist struck him in a hit-and-run crash. Mora’s injuries led to the amputation of one of his legs. The incident sparked protests from community members and street safety organizations calling for the city to make the intersection safer for pedestrians. This past week, a new light was installed at the intersection to increase pedestrian visibility and safety in the crosswalk. You can read more here.
As always, make sure to keep an eye on our website and social media channels for more of the latest from your local news source!
Happenings in the Heights
Thursday, Oct. 24
The Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Halloween mixer at Holiday Bar. There will be networking, community building and a costume contest, as well as drinks and treats to enjoy starting at 5:30 p.m. Later in the day, Holiday Bar is hosting “Till Death Do Us Part,” a 21 and over event with DJs spinning Dark Wave, Funk and Hip Hop beats starting at 9 p.m.
It’s going to be a night of soul music over at The Paramount. Listen to music from Thee Illusions alongside Maria Sanchez and Thee Souldies. You can grab a ticket for about $20 online. Doors open at 7 p.m. The venue has got more shows happening this weekend, so make sure to check their website.
Friday, Oct. 25
Ámino Ellen Ochoa Middle School is hosting a Día de los Muertos event open to the local community. Students at the school have been preparing for the celebration for weeks, designing altars and crafting ofrendas for the special event. There will be various activities, raffles, community resources and more to explore from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26
El Sereno Arroyo Playground will be hosting a pumpkin patch for the local neighborhood. Free pumpkins will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Enjoy various activities from pumpkin decorating to photo booths. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Calvary Cemetery in East L.A. is hosting its 10th Annual Día de los Muertos fest, starting with a celebratory mass and blessing of the altars led by Monsignor John Moretta at 11 a.m. Attendees will be able to enjoy cultural festivities, folklorico performances and more from noon to 5 p.m. You can find a full schedule for the free event here.
Finishing up its Día de Los Muertos series, Self Help Graphics & Art is hosting a calaca magnet workshop at the East L.A. County Library from 12 to 3 p.m. Materials will be provided for participants. Space is limited, so make sure to RSVP as soon as you can. This is SHG’s last seasonal workshop before its 51st Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the East L.A. Civic Center.
The Boyle Heights-based shop Lie Detector is hosting a Halloween Show at 1st Street Billiards, featuring various bands from Riot Troops, Los Varukos and Vice Squad to The Germs and Bombshell Rockers. Costumes are encouraged.Tickets for the 18 and over show will be sold at the door for about $10. Doors open at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 27
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is celebrating Día de los Muertos at its next Family Day in collaboration with the Regional Organization of Oaxaca (ORO). Celebrate the season by enjoying cultural foods like tamales, pan de muerto and mole, and enjoy Oaxacan folk dances and art workshops. The event will feature a special “Recuerdos y Retratos” Community Altar where you can print a photo on-site, write a message and add it to the altar to honor your lost loved ones. The free event runs from noon to 4 p.m.
Don Quixote is hosting a Halloween bash, themed after “The Purge” series. The event kicks off at 9:30 p.m. and will go strong until 2 a.m. Costumes for this 21 and over event are encouraged. Angeleno DJs will be playing hip-hop and R&B hits throughout the night. You can grab a ticket online for about $20. Just like The Paramount, this venue’s got a lot going on this season so keep an eye on their website for more.
We’re taking a brief hiatus on our events newsletter until mid-September. Don’t worry though – we’ve got a guide coming soon on more Día de Los Muertos events.
