Events

The Sonic Trace map, sonictrace.org is live!
Over the past year, we’ve been documenting immigrant communities across Los Angeles. We have gathered 200 stories inside La Burbuja – our portable soundbooth, produced seven documentaries and made two short films – with a third in production. Visit sonictrace.org and click on the radio icons to hear broadcast stories. Within the pop-up window click on arrows for …

The Sonic Trace team is currently embedded with La Burbuja – our portable sound booth – at Santa Cecilia Church in South LA. Every Sunday we gather dozens of interviews asking people why they left their country of origin, why they stayed in LA, and about the importance of going back. We also document many of the church’s activities. At Santa Cecilia Church, the …

If you grew up Latin American (or Spaniard) and Catholic, the Chrismas season isn’t over yet. This morning probably finds you celebrating with goodies left by the Reyes Magos, and having a wonderful sweet bread called Rosca de Reyes for breakfast with a huge cup of hot chocolate, atole or champurrado to wash it down. January 6th is El Día de Los Reyes Magos …

A Tamal Feast (photos by Javier Cabral)

As part of their new Cultural Continuum series, Mercado La Paloma in South Los Angeles hosted a Tamal workshop last week through their popular Yucatán Restaurant “Chichen Itza,” and we were invited.

Chef Gilberto Cetina Showing Everybody What’s up With Tamales Yucatecos

The Mercado, located across the street from the DMV offices and a stones throw away from USC, …

December 12 is the day of the Virgen of Guadalupe. Across Mexico – and the world – devotees flock to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the heart Mexico City to celebrate and pay tribute to the patron saint that Catholics call the Queen of Mexico and the Empress of the Americas.
Los Angeles is the second city with the largest of …

By Eric Pearse-Chávez
Today, Hecho en México premieres in theaters across LA. Here are three interviews and my opinion about why you should run to movie theater prepared for an unbelievable journey you’ll be talking about for days.
“The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the title Hecho en México, is its another touristy movie with beautiful women in bikinis on top of …

Sonic Trace’s portable recording booth, La Burbuja (The Bubble) is built and ready to record your story at Guelaguetza Restaurant in LA’s Koreatown.
Come to 3014 West Olympic Boulevard Mondays-Thursdays, 12-6pm thru December 6th to tell us your story inside La Burbuja.
Why did you leave? ¿Por qué te vas?
Why do you stay? ¿Por qué te quedas?
Why did you return? ¿Por qué regresas?
Are you or your …

Tune in today to NPR’s All Things Considered for a journey that explores Día de Los Muertos in Los Angeles and in Mexico. Or scroll to tune in here and now!
In Mexico, it is an important national holiday where people honor their loved ones that passed away by throwing them a party. The celebration is a tradition inherited from the country’s pre-hispanic …

Low-rider altar at the Dia de Los Muertos Festival in Uptown Whittier (Photo by Javier Cabral)To quote Lalo Alcaraz (creator of La Cucaracha), “Dia de Los Muertos is the new Christmas, it comes earlier every year.” The holiday honoring deceased loved ones has caught on in this Mexican’s home away from home known as Los Angeles. Here are a handful of events happening around …

Meet Wendy Carrillo. She was born in El Salvador. Wendy came to Los Angeles at the age of five during El Salvador’s civil war in the 80s. She lost her dad in the war, and went back in 1993 to learn about her father’s life, and death. Wendy says that today, her entire family has a voice – they are finally America citizens. Wendy …