Real Vocal String Quartet in LA

March 10th, 2010

RVSQ_horzontalThe greatest privilege of Team OCGente is introducing creative jewels that deserve more of a spotlight. Allow us to introduce you to “Real Vocal String Quartet” whose globally infused and inventive take on chamber music combines the the magical textures of a string quartet with a folk-and pop-influenced women’s vocal quartet. You can check out Real Vocal String Quartet stomp their feet, bang their violins, and explore rhythms of Brazil, Africa, the Balkans at The Bootleg in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 14th.

They formed in 2003 by premier San Francisco violinist/composer Irene Sazer. Irene is a violinist, composer, arranger and singer. Irene has developed a unique style of putting world and roots music together with her classical, jazz, and pop sensibilities.

Violinist Alisa Rose currently teaches privately, at the SF Friends School, and runs a San Francisco Conservatory of Music outreach program for young disadvantaged violinists.

Bay Area native Dina Maccabee performs with many Bay Area ensembles on violin and viola. Her interest in traditional fiddle styles has led her to study with Bay Area fiddle hero Chad Manning, fiddle lessons in Ireland, as well as forays into Cajun and French Canadian styles.

Jessica Ivry plays cello in the quartet as a freelance musician who composes a myriad of styles including Classical, Balkan, East European and improvisation.

Known for singing and playing their instruments at the same time, RVSQ puts on quite the show.

Here is you chance to join the fun

Sunday March 14, 2010

in Los Angeles at the

Bootleg,

2220 Beverly Blvd
Tix: $15

Show: 7:30 pm

Ph: 213.389.3856

Their website

http://www.rvsq.com

YouTube Video

Check out the ladies performing at the release party of their debut album in Berkeley earlier this month…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8oesEOoIC8

Rock Paper Scissors

www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Thanks Brittany

*times subject to change

Casa 101: A Prayer for Juarez

March 3rd, 2010

image-1On March 5 – 27, 2010 “Casa 101: A Prayer for Juarez” a month-long dedication and prayer for the women and residents of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Joining with their friends and family to create a global prayer in Celebration of Women’s History Month, Events include performances, film screenings, poetry readings, panel discussions, art exhibits and more.

At times there seems to be nothing but darkness and negativity ahead for the people of Ciudad Juarez. During this celebration, CASA 101 and their participants want to focus on only seeing the beauty in that city, sweetness in its good people, and the power of collective prayers to shed light, bring peace, tranquility and resolution.

A Prayer for Juárez is an event dedicated to uplift and raise awareness about violence against humanity around the world, beginning in Juárez.  A Prayer for Juárez acknowledges that the tragedies in Juárez are a spiritual battle, and it will make a stand to tackle this war with the biggest army we as humans have behind us the power of love and prayer.

Since 1993 hundreds of women have turned up in the desert, in vacant lots and drainage ditches in the northern Mexican city.  The young women were kidnapped, raped, and violently murdered. Many of the victims were the daughters of the working class who worked at maquiladoras (factories). The cases of the women in Juárez remain unsolved as of today.

Para más información

www.aprayerforjuarez.org

CUIDAR – in English & Español

March 1st, 2010

cuidarHelping Orange County parents that have concerns about child’s ability to focus on tasks or listen and follow instructions is the CUIDAR for Attention and Learning Program. The goal of the program is to help identify children with attention, behavior and/or learning difficulties BEFORE they enter school – and then work on addressing the problems so that the child will have a more successful elementary school experience. The earlier a potential problem is identified and addressed the better it is for the child.

CUIDAR delivers interventions that are geared to optimize social, cognitive, and brain development in young children, while preventing or reducing impairment in affected children before they enter school.  These objectives are realized through a variety of disciplines, plans and services. Their website is in both english and spanish to help parents managing young children at risk for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

www.cuidar.net

L.A. Heritage Day – April 11th

March 1st, 2010

On Sunday, April 11, The L.A. Heritage Alliance will host its Third Annual L.A. Heritage Day to share this history through tours of historic structures, a scavenger hunt, presentations, readings, performances and cooking lessons.

“In an area sometimes perceived as having no ‘real’ history, L.A. Heritage Day is an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about and enjoy the fascinating people, places and events that have shaped Southern California,” said Cindy Olnick, spokesperson for the Los Angeles Conservancy.  “It is also a chance to learn about the incredible variety of local preservation groups, museums, libraries and historical societies serving today throughout Los Angeles County.”

L.A. Heritage Alliance was formed in 2008 to unify and leverage the efforts of more than 200 organizations in greater Los Angeles dedicated to preserving this area’s long history.  Among the participating groups in this year’s L.A. Heritage Day are Claremont Heritage, the Cultural Heritage Foundation of Southern California, Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum, Highland Park Heritage Trust, Hollywood Heritage, Las Angelitas del Pueblo, the Los Angeles Conservancy, Pacific Asia Museum, Pomona Heritage, LAUSD Historical Archives, the Santa Monica Conservancy, the Museum of the San Fernando Valley, and the West Adams Heritage Association. A complete list of participating groups can be found at www.laheritagealliance.org.

The Heritage Square Museum

3800 Homer St.,

Los Angeles, located just off the Pasadena Freeway in northeast Los Angeles.

Admission is free for anyone who downloads the flyer from

www.heritagesquare.org,

and $5 without the flyer.

(subject to change)

DREAM Monologues – Feb 26th

February 24th, 2010

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The Breath of Fire Latina Theater returns on February 26th in fine form. Presenting the “DREAM Monologues” where student testimonies have been written into monologues, and will be read and performed by community leaders and allies, in an effort to increase awareness that the DREAM Act belongs to all of us as a community.

The Orange County Dream Team (OCDT) was born out of the need to help talented undocumented youth obtain access to higher education.  Established in 2004, the OCDT began with a small but diverse group of high school, college and university students united under a common goal of passing the DREAM and Student Adjustment Acts.

One mission of OCGente.com is to help bring awareness to the Latino drop-out rate for students in OC and beyond. Many of whom were born in this nation and dropout to take the first job they can get (Yes, we understand there are a variety of reasons).  Projects like www.istillhaveadream.org remind us that there are those willing to fulfill the American dream and are simply asking for a hand up not a hand out.

Reignite the Breath of Fire Theater

Friday, February 26, 2010

Time:  7pm

Location:

El Centro Cultural de Mexico (Breath of Fire Theater)

310 W. 5th Street

Santa Ana, CA.  92701

Suggested donation:  $5

http://www.breathoffire.org/


“Wine to Water” moves forward

February 24th, 2010

doc_bioTeam OCGente found out about Wine to Water from the 2009 CNN’s Heroes. We are honored to announce that Renowned chef Michael Flores will donate his time by catering a wine tasting event dedicated to the organization and anticipates up to 100 guests in attendance.

Michael Flores has taken a childhood passion for cooking and turned it into an evolving lifelong profession in the culinary arts. Despite his formal training at the Culinary Institute of America, Michael focuses on providing simple solutions for encouraging families to get back to the table.

“As a child I learned about ‘giving’ simply by watching my parents; they’ve always shared their time and resources with others,” said Michael. He added, “I am excited to have been invited to create the food for this incredible evening on February 27th.  I’m honored to cook at this event that Lynn Nicklo has created.”

“We are excited to be able to enlist the help of chef Michael Flores to further our cause,” said Lynn Nicklo, the fundraiser organizer.

Wine to Water is a non-profit organization which focuses on raising awareness to the water crisis, often through events. Funds from these events and private parties go toward water projects around the world. Wine to Water encourages people to join the cause by hosting their own private wine parties or public events to raise awareness for water-related deaths and diseases. They also offer many ideas for involvement, such as hosting benefit concerts, 5K races, and fundraising dinners.

“Our mission is to provide clean water to needy people around the world and we could not begin to reach our goals without people like Lynn and Michael,” Wine To Water Founder, Doc Hendley said. “I want to thank Lynn Nicklo for planning the details of this event, as well as Michael Flores for offering his amazing talent by providing delicious food for the evening.”

Wine to Water has worked to provide clean water and sanitation in many countries including India, Cambodia, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Haiti. Thousands of lives have been saved through the organization’s dedication to implementing clean water systems around the world.

While bartending in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2003, founder Doc Hendley had the idea of providing access to clean water for needy people around the world. He decided to use wine, a symbol of fortune, to give fortunate people an opportunity to help those who lack access to clean water. In 2004, his dream turned into a reality and Hendley’s vision of fighting the water epidemic has become the goal of Wine to Water.

For more information, visit www.winetowater.org.

Team OCGente found out about Wine to Water from the 2009 CNN’s Heroes. We are honored to announce that Renowned chef Michael Flores will donate his time by catering a wine tasting event dedicated to the organization and anticipates up to 100 guests in attendance.
Michael Flores has taken a childhood passion for cooking and turned it into an evolving lifelong profession in the culinary arts. Despite his formal training at the Culinary Institute of America, Michael focuses on providing simple solutions for encouraging families to get back to the table.
“As a child I learned about ‘giving’ simply by watching my parents; they’ve always shared their time and resources with others,” said Michael. He added, “I am excited to have been invited to create the food for this incredible evening on February 27th.  I’m honored to cook at this event that Lynn Nicklo has created.”
“We are excited to be able to enlist the help of chef Michael Flores to further our cause,” said Lynn Nicklo, the fundraiser organizer.
Wine to Water is a non-profit organization which focuses on raising awareness to the water crisis, often through events. Funds from these events and private parties go toward water projects around the world. Wine to Water encourages people to join the cause by hosting their own private wine parties or public events to raise awareness for water-related deaths and diseases. They also offer many ideas for involvement, such as hosting benefit concerts, 5K races, and fundraising dinners.
“Our mission is to provide clean water to needy people around the world and we could not begin to reach our goals without people like Lynn and Michael,” Wine To Water Founder, Doc Hendley said. “I want to thank Lynn Nicklo for planning the details of this event, as well as Michael Flores for offering his amazing talent by providing delicious food for the evening.”
Wine to Water has worked to provide clean water and sanitation in many countries including India, Cambodia, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Haiti. Thousands of lives have been saved through the organization’s dedication to implementing clean water systems around the world.
While bartending in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2003, founder Doc Hendley had the idea of providing access to clean water for needy people around the world. He decided to use wine, a symbol of fortune, to give fortunate people an opportunity to help those who lack access to clean water. In 2004, his dream turned into a reality and Hendley’s vision of fighting the water epidemic has become the goal of Wine to Water.
For more information, visit www.winetowater.org.

Relámpago del Cielo concert – Feb 27

February 24th, 2010

rdcgfpostcardfeb2Relámpago del Cielo Groupo Folklórico the cultural arts organization has a  concert at Phillips Hall Theatre in Santa Ana on February 27, 2010. Relámpago del Cielo which was honored in OCGente’s Premiere Season of Giving list is also announcing it 35th Anniversary Celebration and Concert Series.

The celebration begins with an exciting concert featuring a “newly” resurrected Performance Company. For this anniversary celebration, Relámpago recreated the Performing Group that started the organization in 1975 and thrived through the 80s and early 90s. Now in 2010, the Company returns to the Phillips Hall Theatre stage at Santa Ana College where members of the founding company first introduced Relámpago and the Folkloric Art form to Orange County audiences.

Para más información and tickets

Visit www.rdcgf.org


Connect OC a smash hit!

February 19th, 2010

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On Thursday February 18, at the Hilton Orange County in Costa Mesa from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Connect OC packed the house. Bringing OC’s Professionals, Companies, Government Agencies, Networking Groups and Non-Profits together…one free event at a time! ($5 dollars for parking)

Their mission is to use Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, FourSquare, etc.) to connect, socialize, network and contribute in meaningful ways to each other. Their goal is to help promote the Orange County community and seek new ways to energize the local economy. It is the 21st century way to network make new friends and find business/job/charitable opportunities!

Many of the nights hosts are involved in prestigious networking groups such as Chambers of Commerce, Rotary, trade associations and non-profits…which adds much that the night was so successful. ConnectOC is a great way to bring multiple associations together to increase event turnouts and find synergy with other groups.

This is a movement of many FREE events that they will host throughout the year. Anyone and everyone is welcome, so please spread the word and benefit all!

BECOME A FAN to receive updates on events happening in the area!

on facebook

http://www.facebook.com/connectoc?ref=mf#!/connectoc?v=info&ref=mf

Shoutouts on twitter to

#ConnectOC! Congrats to @PaulTTran @TravelCostaMesa @Tanyasalcido @SmallWerks @NealSchaffer for putting on an amazing event! Also @tednguyen @hensel @BigHeadAsian

‘Edge of America’ at the Autry Feb. 21

February 18th, 2010

articles_1Autry National Center hosts a series that examines the portrayal of Native Americans in contemporary film on Sunday, February 21 at 2:00 in the afternoon. In high school, Chris Eyre learned the skills of 35mm still-photography. he immersed himself in shooting black-and-white film and printing. Through his love of 35mm still photography, Eyre attended Mt. Hood Community College and enrolled in the Television Production Program to learn basic three-camera television studio directing and continued still photography. In 1989, Eyre received his Associate’s Degree in Television Production and transferred to the University of Arizona to study what had become his calling filmmaking.

Erye’s “Edge of America” is an inspired true, made-in–New Mexico story, following a girls’ high school basketball team as they learn how to win. Led by their coach, the girls discover the values of passion, dedication, and discipline as they climb from the bottom of their division to compete for the state title. Actor Irene Bedard-Wilson (Inupiat Eskimo/Cree) and writer Larissa FastHorse (Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Lakota) will be on hand following the screenings to discuss the contributions of Native American women in film.

In collaboration with the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Special support provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science.

Native American Women in Film Series:

Edge of America, directed by Chris Eyre (Cheyenne/Arapaho)

Short Film: Horse You See, directed by Melissa Henry (Navajo)

Sunday, February 21, 2:00 p.m.

Wells Fargo Theater / Free with museum admission


http://theautry.org/exhibitions/


Film: Bajo La Sal

February 16th, 2010

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Bajo La Sal (aka Under The Salt), a Películas Imaginarias production; co-produced by Fondo de Inversión, Estímulos al Cine (Fidecine) México and Grupo Financiero Inbursa. Directed by Mario Muñoz and starring Humberto Zurita, Ricardo Polanco and Irene Azuela. Although it was released on dvd last year I had a chance to see it via Netflix.

The story follows Commander Trujillo (Humberto Zurita – a leading Mexican actor) who travels to Santa Rosa de la Sal, a small town located near a salt mine in order to solve the mystery behind a series of murders that are reminiscient of the murders in Ciudad Juarez. There he will discover the many secrets that the town holds and meets Victor, a dark youth who will be the key to uncovering the truth behind the murders.

The film made its biggest impact at the Los Angeles “Screamfest” two years ago. It is reminicient of “Silence of the Lambs” or the “Saw” films. So it is not for the squimish but fans of thrillers and independent films should love it. The soundtrack includes Marilyn Manson and Bengala whose video is an extra on the dvd. The video uses the actors reprising their roles in that music video.

It was released via Maya Entertainment whose line-up is getting stronger with every release.

http://maya-entertainment.com/library/bajo-la-sal

I first heard of the film thanks to LatinoReview.com