Bookstores to Chicano Blues

Manuel Ramos

Bookstore Haps


Over on The Coast, one of the great bookstores, Librería Martínez, has announced the "Grand Re-opening" of its Lynwood, CA branch. A weekend of events has been planned, beginning December 1 with a signing and reading by David E. Hayes-Bautista for his book La Nueva California: Latinos in the Golden State. December 2 at 4:00 PM is the Coffee House, an open mic afternoon featuring the students of Lynwood reading their original poetry and essays. December 3 will have interactive cartooning and storytelling with Martha Montoya, author of Los Kitos. The celebration wraps up on Sunday, December 4, 3:00 PM with a presentation and signing by María Amparo Escandón, reading from her new work, González & Daughter Trucking Co., which sounds like a book I have to pick up. The Lynwood store is at 11221 Long Beach Blvd., #102, Lynwood, CA 90262, 310-637-9484. The original Martínez Books and Art Gallery is at 1110 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701, 714-973-7900.

Back in the heartland (well, Denver), Westside Books, 3434 W. 32nd Ave., Denver, 80211, 303-480-0220, welcomes a number of authors including Renne Fajardo and Arlette Lucero, as they present and read from Ole! Posole!, the collective work of the Rocky Mountain Storytellers' Conference. This is the fourth and last book in this series from the Storytellers. The event is set for December 6 at 7:00 PM.

The Third Annual Randy Garibay Legacy Fund Dance/Fundraiser

Down south, those of you in the San Antonio area can support some great projects by dancing your butts off this weekend. The Randy Garibay Legacy Fund Dance/Fundraiser takes place at the Blanco Ballroom, 3719 Blanco Rd., San Antonio on Sunday December 4 from 6 - 11 PM. Only $10. There is a list of more than two dozen musicians and entertainers who are helping out - sounds like a great night. For those of you not familiar with the name, Randy Garibay is a legendary and sorely missed Chicano blues man. His friends and family have carried on his name by helping to sponsor events that support worthwhile causes, sick musicians, and that good old San Anto West Side sound.

And speaking of Texas music - you all hip to Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez? Rodriguez's soulful twang and finger-poppin' fiddle playin' are perfect for this duo's brand of back-porch music. She's the daughter of Austin's singer-songwriter David Rodriguez. FYI, Taylor, in a much earlier life, wrote Wild Thing and Angel of the Morning. Their latest CD, Red Dog Tracks, stopped me in my tracks. I dig this kind of stuff.

Looks like I ran out of things to say about books.
Later.