Dia de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Celebrate Día de los Muertos in Los Angeles

10/01/2015

Discover Los Angeles

Dating back hundreds of years, Día de los Muertos ("Day of the Dead") is celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world. During the multi-day holiday, family and friends gather to honor and celebrate loved ones who have passed away. Traditions include building ofrendas (private altars), enjoying the favorite dishes and drinks of the departed, and visiting graves with mementos of the deceased.

In Los Angeles, Día de los Muertos events take place across the city, from L.A.'s oldest district to museums and a cemetery of the stars. From traditional ceremonies to modern cultural festivals, here are the best Día de los Muertos events in Los Angeles.

Read More →

Tacos, elote and guac at Salazar

The Best Tacos in Los Angeles

10/16/2014

dine L.A.

The taco is the perfect food, often made with a nutritious whole grain corn tortilla base and an incredible range of regional ingredients and unique textures. You can eat tacos regularly and never get bored of them. There’s no better city in the United States to enjoy tacos than Los Angeles - the taco motherland is just two and a half hours away, and L.A. has the second-largest population of Mexicans after Mexico City. The taco is finally getting the respect that it deserves, and is being taken as seriously as a good pasta. Read our guide to some of the best tacos in L.A., and discover a little bit of this Mexican staple food’s vast nuances. ¡Provecho!

Read More →

Dancers at Mariachi Plaza Festival

Latino Holiday Celebrations and Festivals in Los Angeles

10/15/2014

Discover Los Angeles

From the earliest days of historic Los Angeles to the modern age, Latin American culture has played a significant role in shaping the City of Angels. L.A.'s rich Latino heritage is celebrated throughout the year with traditional Mexican holidays and festive events. Read on for a guide to Latin American holiday celebrations and festivals in Los Angeles.

Read More →

Harry Gamboa Jr.

Latino Heritage in Los Angeles: Harry Gamboa Jr.

09/03/2014

Wiebke Schuster

In 1968, Gamboa helped lead the “East L.A. Walkouts” (aka “Chicano Blowouts”) at Garfield Senior High School. Students walked to protest against the substandard treatment of East L.A. public schools and a disproportionate draft of Mexican-American youth to the Vietnam War.

Over time, Garfield High became a place of transformation. Many of the alumni emerged as social leaders, artists, actors and musicians. “People who would probably be considered predetermined to fail became super achievers.” The Grammy Award-winning band, Los Lobos came out of Garfield, and musicians from a neighboring high school formed Cannibal & the Headhunters and went on to tour with The Beatles.

“The social pressure and social heat you encounter has potential to destroy, but it also has the potential to create a diamond. So if one can approach it almost mathematically, you can create yourself in the image of a diamond, you will shine in the distance and can cut through anything. I am a very old diamond now." Gamboa shrugs and laughs.

Read More →

“Pope of Broadway” by Eloy Torrez

Latino Heritage in Los Angeles: Murals

09/02/2014

Ron Dollete

Murals are a city's urban canvas, expressing the history, concerns and aspirations of a community. Though they are susceptible to weather, vandalism and decay, murals are also freely visible and open for all to enjoy. For generations, Los Angeles has been renowned as one of the world’s great mural capitals. Latino artists and their culture are an integral part of the city’s mural heritage. You can travel between multicultural neighborhoods and view murals as if they’re on display in the wings of a vast, concrete museum. Here are ten exemplary pieces to discover throughout L.A.

Read More →

"La Calavera Don Quijote" at the Fowler Museum

Latin American Masterpieces at Los Angeles Museums

08/25/2014

Wiebke Schuster

Los Angeles has a rich Latino heritage, and the city’s vibrant Latino communities continue to influence and make lasting contributions its culture. It comes as no surprise that L.A.’s world-famous museums are teeming with outstanding artworks by Latin American masters. Read on for a guide to selected masterpieces of Latin American art at Los Angeles museums.

Read More →

El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument

The Guide to Latino Heritage Month in Los Angeles

08/19/2014

Discover Los Angeles

Latino Heritage Month engages, inspires and highlights contributions made by the Latino community to our country, while connecting the global communities of Los Angeles, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world. Taking place mid-September to mid-October, the first Latino Heritage Month Celebration in L.A. began in 2002 when the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) produced the first Latino Heritage Month Calendar and Cultural Guide. Read on for highlights of events taking place in L.A. during Latino Heritage Month.

Read More →

Exterior of the Museum of Latin American Art

Discover the Museum of Latin American Art

08/19/2014

Wiebke Schuster

The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) remains the only cultural institution in the country that is dedicated exclusively to presenting masterpieces by modern and contemporary Latin American artists.

Read More →

Girl dancing at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes

A Three-Day Los Angeles Itinerary for Latino Culture

08/11/2014

Wiebke Schuster

The past, present and future of Los Angeles have been shaped by the rich diversity of its cultures. Nearly half of L.A.'s residents can trace their roots to Latin American origins, from Mexico and Peru to El Salvador and Costa Rica. Each year from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, Angelenos and visitors of all backgrounds celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, which honors the cultural heritage and traditions of the Latino population.

Los Angeles was officially founded on Sept. 4, 1781, centuries after European explorers first arrived in the region in 1542. The cradle of L.A. is El Pueblo de Los Angeles, a historic district located in the oldest section of the city. The area includes landmarks such as Los Angeles Plaza, La Placita Church, and Olvera Street, the lively outdoor Mexican marketplace where visitors can find anything from handmade leather goods to custard filled churros.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect time to experience L.A.’s vibrant and diverse cultures. The following three-day guide explores historic and modern Latino culture in Downtown, then takes you west to Museum Row and West L.A.

Read More →

Pages