While September 15-October marks Latinx Heritage Month, the month we celebrate the contributions Latinos have had in our country. Yet, there is no doubt that their contributions deserve to be celebrated year-round.
Southern California is home to a wealth of Latinx heritage and history. Latinos and Latinas have brought invaluable contributions to this region, whether in the arts, in individual businesses, or our neighborhoods. Here’s a list of things you and your family can do to continue to honor Latinx and Hispanic heritage year-round.
Museum of Latin American Art "MOLAA"
Located in Long Beach, Museum of Latin American Art is the only museum in the United States that focuses on modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art. There's an incredible amount of diversity in the work that MOLAA shows. Last year marked the opening of "Arte, Mujer, y Memoria: Arpilleras From Chile," which showed the hand sewn art of mostly anonymous women that depicted the Pinochet Regime. In October, the museum will present "Floating Timeline," an exhibition from stop motion animator Quique Rivera. MOLAA has been presenting their exhibitions online, with audio guides, and they offer virtual group tours as well.
ADDRESS: 628 Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 United States
WEBSITE: molaa.org
Día de los Muertos at Grand Park
"The event invites park-goers to contribute to the community altar. The event will take place Oct. 22 at Grand Park in downtown LA"
ADDRESS: 200 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
WEBSITE: grandparkla.org
Museum of Ventura County
"Visit the Huelga! Photographs From The Frontlines by Jorge Corralejo exhibit at the Museum of Ventura County during its Hispanic Heritage Month celebration or its regular business hours"
ADDRESS: 100 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001
WEBSITE: venturamuseum.org
Vincent Price Art Museum
In 1957, Vincent Price and his wife Mary Grant donated 90 works from their own art collection to East Los Angeles Community College, establishing what would become one of the hidden gems of Los Angeles County. Today, the Vincent Price Art Museum has a collection of over 9000 pieces and a home on the ELAC campus that includes seven art galleries. Their programming includes exhibitions from their permanent collection as well as shows from both student and established artists. While the museum is currently closed, VPAM has launched an artist interview series on Instagram.
ADDRESS: 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, CA 91754
WEBSITE: vincentpriceartmuseum.org
Olvera Street
"Olvera Street is a historic street in downtown Los Angeles, and a part of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument"
ADDRESS: 845 N Alameda Street Los Angeles, CA 90012
WEBSITE: olvera-street.com
Ventura Avenue Taco District
"Taqueria Ventura Doña Raquel has amazing fish tacos. Johnny’s Mexican Food serves an unforgettable (really) corn burrito. Angie’s Deli & Mexican Food has a great breakfast burrito, and Taqueria Tepatitlan has some of the best Menudo (a beef stew with red chilis) and albondigas soup (meatballs with vegetables) you’ll ever find."
ADDRESS: 1001 N Ventura Avenue, Ventura, CA 93001
WEBSITE: visitventuraca.com
Heritage Museum of Orange County
Gente Market presents a Dia de los Muertos festival for the whole family to celebrate traditions, culture, and loved ones who have passed. Dia de los Muertos is a holiday that brings people together to remember friends and family who have passed. Most commonly celebrated in Mexico and other Latin countries.
ADDRESS: 3101 W Harvard St, Santa Ana, CA 92704
WEBSITE: eventbrite.com
Olivas Adobe Historical Park
"The Olivas Adobe in Ventura, California is an adobe structure built in 1841 by Raymundo Olivas on the north bank of the Santa Clara River about a mile from the estuary where it flows into the Santa Barbara Channel."
ADDRESS: 4200 Olivas Park Dr, Ventura, CA 93001
WEBSITE: cityofventura.ca.gov
Bowers Museum
Ceramics of Western Mexico. Visitors learn about West Mexican shaft tombs and the cultures who used this means of burying their dead. A selection of the ceramic figures placed inside shaft tombs to accompany the deceased in the afterlife are on display. The exhibition includes artworks that depict imagery from daily life, that show the intensity of West Mexican figurative work and that are naturalistic in form like the famously plump Colima dogs.
ADDRESS: 2002 North Main Street Santa Ana, California 92706
WEBSITE: bowers.org
Suavecito
Brothers Pete and Tony Adame with their childhood friend J-Bird grew up in Santa Ana, California and were introduced into barbershop scene, motorcycle and tattoo culture. After years of spending top dollar on other pomades Pete decided to make his own. After mixing up pomade in a bucket purchased from Home Depot, Pete discovered what is now Suavecito (suav-e-sito) a water soluble pomade that holds and acts like a wax. His intentions were to make it for everyone in the neighborhood. He spent the early days giving it away to all his friends packaged in Tupperware dishes and plastic bags. The purpose was never to get rich or to create a business but to offer a premium quality product for everyone who was tired of paying or who couldn’t afford the pomade on the market. In 2009, after being laid off from his job as a machinist Pete, Tony and J-Bird decided to take Pete’s thousand dollar severance pay and package up and sell their pomade. Rather quickly it all had sold out and the rest is history.
ADDRESS: 2831 W 1st St, Santa Ana, CA 92703
WEBSITE: suavecito.com
Diego's Farmers Market
Diego's Farmers Market is your local, family-owned Mexican market in El Cajon, CA. They are known for carrying the products that make people feel like they're at home, bringing Mexican culture to El Cajon with their inventory.
ADDRESS: 1039 Broadway, El Cajon, CA 92021
WEBSITE: elcajonsupermarket.com
Centro Cultural de la Raza
"The Centro Cultural de la Raza is a non-profit organization with the specific mission to create, preserve, promote and educate about Chicano, Mexicano, Native American and Latino art and culture."
ADDRESS: 2004 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
WEBSITE: centrodelaraza.com
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
"Old Town represents San Diego's Hispanic heritage from 1821 to 1872, when Mexico gained independence from Spain and took over the area. The six-block park features 12 acres of Mexican lore and historical sites presented in shops, a theater, restaurants, museums and several carefully preserved or restored buildings. Live mariachi performers can be seen every day in Old Town, in addition to seasonal and special event shows throughout the year."
ADDRESS: 4002 Wallace St, San Diego, CA 92110
WEBSITE: parks.ca.gov
Chicano Park
"A Mexican-American neighborhood established by refugees back in the early 20th century during the Mexican Revolution, and rooted in civic movement"
ADDRESS: Chicano Park, San Diego, CA 92113
WEBSITE: chicanoparksandiego.com
Habana Restaurant
Established in September of 1995, Habana proudly serves Cuban and Pan-Latin cuisine. This beloved Orange County restaurant is known for its unique plates and cocktails, not to mention, the romantic candlelit atmosphere.
ADDRESS: 2930 Bristol St., Suite A110 Costa Mesa, CA 92626
WEBSITE: restauranthabana.com
