This December take time to smell the atole. Sit back and take in the aroma of pan dulce and canela. Put the world on hold and enjoy the ambiente.

I know, there’s the whole shopping business that needs to get done, and I know you have to work to pay the bills. All I’m saying is give yourself some chill time.

When you do get to the shopping take a look at Eastsider Writer’s December Feature: The Urban Xic Mercadito (www.urbanxic.com), a concept developed by both Felicia Montes of Mujeres de Maiz/In Lak Ech and Joel “Rage” Garcia a local artist. The mercadito was born from both of their roots in trade and inspired by similar efforts they’d seen in current models of cultural tianguis/markets.

“The focus was to make art/products by LA artists accessible to other communities outside of LA,” said Garcia, a formally trained graphic designer who keeps himself busy with many other projects that support community and immigrant causes. He is also the silent artist behind many CD covers and poster designs that we have become familiar with; including Slowrider, MC76 and Olmeca. (more…)