It took me way too long to post this writer. I first read Aquino while part of a writers workshop: www.theundeniables.org.

But it was on the last day of this seasons Tuesday Night Cafe in J-Town that I met him. The Tuesday Night Cafe is a poetry and performance showcase that has survived for eleven years under the navigation of Traci Kato-Kiriyama. He dedicated this poem to her on the night I was there. I’ve wanted to post it since that day and I’m glad I finally got around to doing this.

Below is the poem he read on that night and I’ve included two other poems by Aquino.

Enjoy.

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Click on the image to go to the slide show.

It’s Sunday November 15th and gazillion bipeds are converging in East LA to ride the new light rail system that is having its debut and I know it’s gonna be madness. I’m ready to roll with a group of drunks doing the pub crawl. I heard about it on Facebook and decided to, “jump on the wagon.” A lot of my friends also thought it was a good idea but in the end I’m riding solo again. Fuck it.

I had my shower and drank my coffee. Feeling good I’m ready to go. Camera? Check! Business cards? Check! Let’s go!

There’s my little baby, my noisy 93 Nissan pick up truck. Inside the truck I turn the key and…nothing. What? This has never happened before. I didn’t leave anything on. I’m all ready a little late. (more…)

This photo was taken by Rick Mendoza. Thanks for the lens buddy! Click on the image to view the slideshow.

Another art walk has passed and another hangover has been survived. Thanks to the cool peeps at Ramirez Liquor and the kind folk at 410 Boyd we had pleeeeenty of alcohol at the Citizen booth this month!

I started my evening’s merryment at the Million Dollar Theater where they were having a 40th anniversary screening of The Wild Bunch. After snapping shots of the celebs on the red carpet and knocking back a few shots of tequila to the dome, I headed to the art park and the party begun. People dropped in all night long to say wudddup and pound a brew.

Across from the art park Haru Kuroi played a great set under the night’s light drizzle to a crowd of art walqueros.

I have to walk the walk next month again. That’s when you really see the scope of this event. Next month I will walk over to Spring and Broadway and cover the whole evening.

In the spirit of consistency I have posted another Downtown Artwalk slideshow. Click on the picture to view the peeps of the November madness.

Tommy Nishiyama, Sr. playing handball in Downtown LA. (Photo: Courtesy of Tommy Nishiyama, Sr.)

On Mednik Avenue, between Avenida Cesar Chavez and Floral Drive, across from the Maravilla Housing Project, is an inconspicuous building that you might have passed many times but never noticed. There, stands a tall wall of brick and mortar that was laid in the 1920’s next to El Centro Grocery. If you look up high enough you will see a group of weathered letters hanging for dear life to a chain link fence that read: The Maravilla Handball Court. The MHC is the latest historic center that is now in jeopardy of being destroyed. But a group of organizers are fighting to preserve it. (more…)

The following poem is from Jim Marquez’s latest book “Heart of the Beast-Collected Love Stories” available exclusively at ANTIGUA COFFEE HOUSE in Cypress Park, or at www.LuLu.com/JimMarquez.

Jim has self-published 9 books in the past 5 years and is the Editor of the “Citizen LA”, a monthly arts & culture magazine out of Downtown Los Angeles serving the arts communities of the City of Angels. In addition to being born & raised in East LA, he is a proud graduate of East Los Angeles College & Cal State LA.
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He Was Dancing With A Beautiful Woman

Slow dancing in a dive bar, mid-week, not in downtown.

This was a dream, right?

A mid-west beauty,

In my arms

An actual lady…         (more…)

What a line up: Culture Clash, Ollin, Zack de la Rocha, Marisela Norte, Dolores Huerta! That’s what I kept thinking as I explained to a friend of mine what kind of show we were heading to. We were on our way to the long anticipated, Culture Clash 25 at Royce Hall, presented by UCLA Live.

“It’s not a play, it’s a celebration of CC’s 25 years,” I told him as we jumped on the 10 west. I imagined it was gonna be like their CC Anthology: 15th Anniversary Celebration. Bits and pieces of all their shows presented to remind us of their older work and to display morsels of shows you might have never seen.

All of a sudden my thoughts go to: mother fucken traffic!! That was the worst part of the night. I hate being late to shows so I planned in advance and left my house at 6pm for an 8pm curtain. But looking at the lava flow of red lights I was a little worried that we would still be late.

I love Royce Hall and felt I shared pride in having Culture Clash perform there. Pero the pinche drive during Halloween eve rush hour. Fuggedaboudit! (more…)