Hola Boyle Heights! Your community reporter, Alex Medina, is here to share some happenings in and around the neighborhood to get you out and about!
Check out the latest from the Beat
July is a special month for me because it’s when I joined the Beat in 2015. Oh, how time flies. It also means we’re getting close to the one year anniversary of our Happenings in the Heights newsletter, and next year, we’re going to be celebrating our organization’s quinceañera. This program means a lot to me, and I hope we’ve been able to have a positive impact in your life in one way or another. Por y para la comunidad, siempre.
In case you missed it, there’s free air purifiers available for residents of Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, Eastern Coachella Valley and some areas on the west side of Commerce. The project’s aim is to reduce residential exposure to particulate matter in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by air pollution. You can read the story here.
The Department of Public Works is installing 3,000 upgraded bus shelters as a part of a program to improve transit infrastructure across the city – with Boyle Heights among the first neighborhoods to get some. Each shelter will come with real-time bus arrival displays, seating, trash cans and extended canopies for shade. You can read the full story here.
If you’ve passed by 1st and Soto, I’m sure you have seen a big blue Victorian house in disarray. The East Los Angeles Community Corporation is hoping to change that, announcing that it is looking for applicants to take on the rehabilitation project of the Peabody Werden House with roots dating back to the 1890s. You can learn more here.
Going back a little in our story catalog is another neighborhood icon known as Sergio, the Eastside’s last muffler man. I always remember seeing him standing out, tall and proud on Mission Road. This fiberglass guardian has an interesting history in Boyle Heights lore, and you can learn more about it here on our website.
There’s always a lot going on in the neighborhood, so make sure you keep an eye on our site for more of the latest. Make sure you keep an eye on our social media channels as the latest print edition of the Boyle Heights Beat will soon be circulating the neighborhood!
Happenings in the Heights
Shrek The Musical JR, a live adaptation of the iconic DreamWorks film, is the latest production taking the stage at Casa 0101 Theater (2102 1st Street) . I’ve got my tickets, and I encourage you to grab your own before showings come to a close. It runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are available for $17-25, and you can purchase them online or by calling the theater’s box office at (323) 263-7684. To learn more about Casa 0101 and other offerings coming soon, check out their site.
Friday, July 19
HIV.E is hosting a Providers and Peers Town Hall at Legacy LA (1350 San Pablo Street) to dive into the barriers between medical providers and LGBTQ community members. The event begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. that includes food and refreshments, followed by a panel discussion at 6:40 p.m. and an open forum right at 7:30 p.m. You can RSVP for the free event online.
For folks out near Highland Park, the local recreation center (6150 Piedmont Avenue) is hosting a series of movie nights for you to enjoy, all starting at 8 p.m. This Friday is all about “The Marvels,” with free popcorn and refreshments. Looking ahead, screenings will include “Elemental” on Aug. 2 (with a backpack giveaway) and “Kung Fu Panda 4” on Aug. 9.
For folks looking for a show, you know what venues always have you covered
The Paramount (2708 E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue) is hosting Austin-based rock band West 22nd, along with Grey Dugan and Blue Hour. Doors for this all-ages show open at 8 p.m. and tickets are available online for about $15.
Down at Don Quixote (2811 E. Olympic Boulevard), it’s going to be a night of synth with dark- and cold-wave beats. There will be live performances by Forever Grey, Sydney Valette and Aux Animaux along with music mixed by DJs Gina Kuhn and Baby Magick. Doors for this 18 and over event open at 9 p.m. and you can grab a ticket for $20 online.
Saturday, July 20
La Plaza de Cultura y Artes (501 N. Main Street) is hosting its 2nd Annual Afro-Latino Culture Fest. The free cultural celebration runs from 1 to 8 p.m. and will be full of family-friendly activities, music, food, artisan merchandise, community resources and more. “It’s a journey through the heart and soul of Afro-Latino culture” and a day of “joy, unity and unforgettable fun,” as organizers describe it. You can RSVP for the free event online.
Re/Arte Centro Literário (2123 E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue) is hosting a teach-in led by La Raza Unida Vice Chair Ernesto Ayala all about the history of the Chicano Moratorium. With the historical event’s 54th anniversary coming up soon, it’s a great way to learn about its significance. The event takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. along with a fundraiser for the store with food and drinks available for sale by donation.
The Queer Mercado’s back at the East L.A. Civic Center (4801 E. 3rd Street) along with the neighborhood farmers market. On top of the fresh produce and food, check out dozens of vendors, live performances and amazing people from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. I’ve had the chance to attend it many times, and it’s truly something special.
Sunday, July 21
The Latino community has played a huge role in the history of Los Angeles. That’s why La Plaza de Cultura y Artes (501 N. Main Street) regularly hosts guided Les Navegantes tours at its museum to explore this past. For those interested, there’s two free slots open this weekend at noon and 1 p.m. You can register to attend in advance online.
Wednesday, July 24
The East Los Angeles Community Corporation is hosting a grand celebration for a new community garden over at Lorena Terrace (611 S. Lorena Street). There will be free food, raffles and family-friendly activities from 5 to 7 p.m. You can RSVP for the event online.
As always, let us know what you think of the newsletter and send us events to include in future editions. If you’d like to support our nonprofit, you can click the button down below. Have an amazing weekend!
