Sonidos de Boyle Heights
I had a rough week relationship-wise. It seemed that everyone I was close to was pissing me off. My mom wasn’t calling me back, Isa set a bug bomb off while I was sleeping, and the boy (aka el Venado) kept screwing up. In order to make it up to me, I told him he needed to get me pancakes for breakfast, so he did.
Late Saturday morning we left his apartment and headed south on Soto Street. We made a right turn on Cesar Chavez Avenue (formerly Brooklyn) towards the Bank of America branch on St. Louis so he could deposit a check. Late on a sunny Saturday morning, men, women and their children were out shopping and running errands. The sounds of cars and shoppers wafted in through the window.
And then I heard and saw something I thought was only in movies like Mi Familia, Real Women Have Curves and Born in East LA. Slowly, we passed a crowded restaurant with outdoor seating. To my right I saw roaming musicians in white shirts, jeans and Tejanas. They played a few notes of a classic ranchera for the diners. Before I identified the song, I heard music coming in through the driver’s window. The familiar bass line of Santana’s “Oye como va” blasted out of a late-model car with two young men in the front seats.
I smiled. It was perfect.
Oh that is so perfect. I can imagine it. I am envious.
I love East LA! All those sights and sounds are the reason that I have to visit family every year. Thanks for bringing back memories..
Un dia, I will make it out there.
Que Viva la Raza
I wish we could have those nostalgic sounds over here in New York, but we just don’t.
Very cool indeed!
wow, yes that does sound perfect!
Cindylu-
What is your opinion on changing Brooklyn Ave to Cesar Chavez Ave?
My grandpa moved to Boyle Heights from New York City in the 1930′s. He was very proud of his neighborhood and the diversity, so many immigrant groups represented… Russian Jews, Japanese, Mexicans… everyone got along.
He always told me he was sad to see them change the name. Not that he had anything aganist Cesar Chavez — he just thought Brooklyn Ave was a part of the history of Boyle Heights.
He said they could have changed another street name to Cesar Chavez, something inconsequential like First Ave… nobody has any emotional connection to a number.
What do you think?