So last night, I got a message from a good friend over at Latino Rebels, the site that brings Latino issues to light that aren’t necessarily being covered by mainstream media.

The video is an interview by City Soles’ Scott Starbuck with Naomi Levine, owner of Tipsy Cake bakery that was once based and housed in Humboldt Park, from which they still produce all of their baked goods. The bakery has a new spot in Bucktown. Levine’s reason for moving? “Too many bullet holes in the cakes.”

Starbuck doesn’t ask what she means or even attempts to redirect the comment but plays on it, pointing into the cakes with his finger and laughing. What?

First of all, if you really wanted to see bullet holes in your cake, you should have settled in the area 25-30 years ago, when you really did have a reason to watch your back and your cakes. Humboldt Park was one of the most dangerous areas in the city of Chicago in the late’80s and early ’90s, I won’t deny that. Humboldt Park was featured on Ganglands by the History channel because of one of the gangs. But to say that that’s were Humboldt Park is now is just plain wrong.

Get your facts straight, lady. In the last 20 years, the Humboldt Park neighborhood has been the victim of intense gentrification. Where there were buildings being shut down, condos were going up. Lots were being sold and long-time family homes were being bought out, remodeled and rented for much more than anyone would think.

The only reason why it is still considered the nationalistic Puerto Rican community that it is, is because of the community itself that has stood its ground with a campaign known as “Humboldt Park no se vende.”

It’s the people who have cleaned up their neighborhood and have succeeded through a lifetime of struggles. Various people from all walks of life have come to enjoy what Humboldt Park is turning into: A haven for young Chicagoans to live. And guess what, they are Tipsy Cake constituents.

Levine obviously didn’t know what she was talking about and for her to insult a community that has come a long way without understanding the hardships was just insensitive and inappropriate, states the Humboldt Park Portal.

When the community found out about this video, they spoke out and guess what: Tipsy shut them up by deleting comments, blocking Facebook users and not responding to Tweets directed at them. Because people are super intelligent and the internet is a wonderful thing, users and angry constituents turned to Yelp, where you will find a long line of one-starred-comments telling them everything from “I have never been here and now I know I will NEVER shop here because of the video I watched…” to “Shame on you. Humboldt Park welcomed your business with open arms and you sh**ted on them. Karma is real.”

So we’ll leave  you with Latino Rebels’ edited video that talks about bullet holes and the crack that they sell. Yes, that’s right “Humboldt crack,” said Starbuck before putting it in his mouth.

“We’ve been putting shows on here for the last 10 years and this, mi gente, is the show that I’ve been waiting 10 years for,” he said from the stage.

Before bringing out the players for “No Cruising Zone: The Fullerton Experience,” Oquendo introduced some major players in the lives of those native Chicagoan Generation X-ers who cruised up and down Fullerton Avenue on Chicago’s north side and partied at various night clubs located on Milwaukee, Fullerton, Belmont and Pulaski.

His special guest of the night was Kenny “Jammin’” Jason, well-known mix master DJ who had a WBMX show called Saturday Night Live. Opening a radio space for the freestyle and house genres that hit Chicago and its Latinos hard, it was the station and radio show that allowed for people to listen to artists like Stevie B and George Lamond and  hear a mix of the top songs.

In addition to Jason, Oquendo introduced Al Cisneros who was the founder of Jenal’s, which had three locations around the northwest side of the city. If you talk to Latinos who just happened to know what was up at that time, they could probably be found at one of the Jenal’s spots on a Saturday night.

“What happens at a Mikey O show goes on Facebook! Take that picture!” Oquendo said as Cisneros and Jason stood onstage together.

The players came out to perform short skits, mixed in with a bit of stand-up performed by Chicago natives, telling their stories about growing up. From Antonia Arcely talking about roaches in the cereal to Gwen De La Roka reminiscing about voice mail greeting recordings, the crowd was receptive and full of laughter.

In the first scene which played off of the idea of a talk show, Wendy Mateo and Lori Diaz played mothers to Arcely and De La Roka respectively. The conversation went from outfit strategies to what kind of men Latinas in Chicago find attractive, which turned out to be the paranoid jailbird, played by Jeff Quintana.

My favorite of the night had to be a skit between Jose Iasel Gonzalez and Diaz. She ran in disheveled, while her brother, Gonzalez, stared at himself and flexed in the mirror. She screamed at him, asking if he had told their father that she was out at the club with her man. She said that the DJ had stopped the music and called her out, saying her father was outside. Laughs and high pitched giggles emerged from the audience. It turned out that her brother did tell on her and she left the room threatening him. Quintana walks in as their father and asks Gonzalez to demonstrate how he walks like a gangster. Needless to say, after punishing his son, the boy didn’t walk like a gangster any longer.

Another skit touched on the time with the Chicago Bulls were reigning champions of the world, or so it seemed to all of us Chicagoans. Eddie Martinez plays a student stuck at home studying as Gonzalez runs in screaming that the Bulls had won the 1991 NBA Championship. Martinez couldn’t watch the game because his mother wanted to watch her telenovela, Mar y Mar. He goes on to list various other telenovelas of the time like Dos Mujeres Un Camino, popular among our parents and older generation Spanish speakers. In the end, the boys decide to cruise Fullerton to celebrate.

Those who were coming out of the earlier show were being picked up by cars blasting freestyle music and making people dance the night away. Those who saw friends or relatives in line for the next show said hi and, “Oh my God, you’re going to love it.”

The night was sprinkled with “You know you’re getting old” jokes along with references to the ’80s and early ’90s. This hyper-local, Chicago-centric, Latino-driven performance gave those in attendance a reason to turn back time, reminisce about the “good times,” enjoy the music and have pride in being a product of  Latino Chicago; a place that many know as ghetto, gang-affiliated and negative. If anything, this space and time gave people a chance to acknowledge those aspects and embrace it because although growing up that way was hard, everyone made it through.

What we gained coming out of Humboldt Park, Logan Square and Chicago in the ’90s was strength and dedication to move up and out. There are aspects of our community that you can’t avoid and unfortunately, although it may be scary, gunshots and gang bangers were part of the environment. You dealt and you got through.

I give props to this show because it gave its audience a space to remember, laugh together and yell every time a Stevie B song started playing.

• Did you know that the Grammys cut out 31 categories, many of which were formerly claimed by artists of color? Our friends over at Latino Rebels showed this to us. Our bloggers also brought it up and someone said he didn’t like the fact that there was a lack of Latino performers. “But they have their own Grammys!” you say. Yes, but there are also many, many artists who claimed these diverse categories that have nowhere else to be honored or acknowledged.  Check out the petition and see why well-known acts such as Santana, Ruben Blades and Bobby Sanabria have boycotted the Grammys this year. It’s caused quite a stir.
• We loved Bruno Mars‘ performance. We’re convinced that Filipinos mixed with Latinos make beautiful babies. See below.

• What more though, is that we loved his hair.
  

  Bruno Mars | Photo by Getty Images

• Another thing we loved was the fact that Adeleis back! And not only did she give one stellar performance, but she took home six Grammys! We loved her performance so much, that it totally overshadowed some others that we’ll get to later.
  

  Adele with 6 | Getty Images

• And so, if you missed the performance, we’ll show you that too. (We know this is getting insanely long, but live with it!)  This recording is like you’re watching it from you own TV!

• This was my favorite quote by Bob Lefsetz about the Grammys: “Less is more. Who made a bigger impression last night, Adele or Nicki Minaj? Who sold more records? It’s about music. It goes in the ears, not the eyes.”
• Which leads us to the worst of the night. Nicki, what in the world were you thinking?! Because TMZ said it best, we’re going to let TMZ say it again.

• And finally, Bon Iver. I had never heard of him before the award like last year, when no one knew who Esperanza Spaulding was and she, my friends, is amazing. So what did I do? I YouTubed the guy and I found the video below. There are more videos to watch and although he’s soothing, I think the Recording Academy was going for quality over… umm… Lady Gaga wannabe? To each their own, but in the end, Bon Iver (whoever he is) did good.

• And last but not least, we hated the fact that Chris Brown performed and even more, that little girls everywhere were saying things like, “Chris Brown can beat me any time he wants.” No, girls! Latina Denial said it best in their blog and we will repeat: No, a man can not beat you any time he wants! We’re not even going to show the video because it was sad. Nice try to jump start your career but too bad it ended because smart women didn’t like the fact that you leave chicks with black eyes. Gross!

I really did not need to read a fancy looking report to tell me what most people already know. Anybody that grew up here in the city already knows that. Ask almost anyone who grew up here in the city. It is what we were told by our parents and great-grandparents. Corruption in Chicago is a spectator sport. According to the anti-corruption report done by the political science department at UIC Chicago is the most corrupt city in America. The report is called  Chicago and Illinois, Leading the Pack in Corruption  .

My only critique about the report is that it did not include how corruption in Chicago has affected everyday people. As city inhabitants we know who is “connected” and who is not. Corruption is part of the life of every Chicagoan. Some more than others. For instance, who all know which streets are plowed first and where exactly city services start and where they might end. Also we definitely know which areas the police will come to first when something happens.  If you have a hard time knowing if Chicago is corrupt ask anyone has to park at a meter downtown. They don’t need a report to tell you if this city is corrupt. Don’t even get me started on the 2016 Olympic bid.

Side note: The video I posted is from an up and coming artist named LockNess Monsta called “Preaching to the choir.” The video is about Chicago corruption.  Preaching To The Choir

Evan F. Moore is a Freelance journalist who also is a blogger for Chicago Now. He blogs at Fanning the Flames since 1978.

Los Amigos Invisibles will be part of the Latin American Festival in July

According to Songkick.com, where readers are assured to be the first to know about concerts, there will be a Latin American Festival 2012 happening at our very own Congress Theater on Saturday, July 21. You heard right and can you guess the bands that are scheduled to appear?

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Cafe Tacuba 

Panteon Rococo

Kinky: Watch Bailar Hasta Quemarnos.

Los Amigos Invisibles , who by the way are playing the Cubby Bear on March 1. Guess who’s giving away passes to see that show? (That would be US!)

El Gran Silencio

Can you say, “WE’RE GOING TO BE THERE?” We’re shocked, amazed and excited.

This year’s opening night included a performance by Diego Amador, accompanied by Jose Julian Heredia (bass) and Israel Varela (drums). Amador is an acclaimed flamenco pianist and singer whom by age 11 had learned to play several musical instruments and played the drums in a group called Pata Negra. Amador’s performance included songs like Calle las Flores and Tango al Latin. Some songs are just voice and piano while others include other instruments and hand claps. After the performance, the Diego Amador Trio greeted and joined the audience in the reception area, where people took advantage of the rare opportunity to meet and talk to an artist who has played such an important role in the flamenco movement.

When he is performing, his mind is in the music and the energy and passion he performs with is projected onto the audience. His immense love and knowledge for music is clear and it gave me the impression that he is a very dedicated artist and thus, very serious. However, Amador’s style appears to shift when he’s off the stage, seeming (to me) a little timid but also extremely amiable.

This is Amador’s 3rd time in Chicago and says he enjoys going to jazz bars when he’s in the city.

“I like going to jazz and blues bars because the music here is great. It’s what I’ve always wanted to learn,” he said.

If you missed Amador, you can see him again at the Chicago Flamenco Festival on February 17 and 18, where he will be joined by his brother, Raimundo Amador for the world premier of their not yet released record Black & Gypsy and if you happen to spot him at a blues bar around the city, don’t be shy, say hello.

** The Chicago Flamenco Festival takes place February 9 – March 15. For complete listings, visit www.chicago.cervantes.es, arteyvidachicago.com

Yesterday I posted a blog condemning City Clerk Susana Mendoza for pulling the drawing that was created by Lawrence Hall Youth Services freshman Herbert Pulgar was the original winner of City Clerk Susana Mendoza’s 2012 Vehicle Art Sticker Design Contest. Mendoza pulled the drawing from the upcoming city sticker due to the resemblance of hand signals made by the street gang Maniac Latin Disciples. You might remember last year when Chicago Police Superintendent Gerry McCarthy made the Maniac Latin Disciples public enemy number 1 before the gang was targeted in a crackdown by Chicago police this past summer after a shooting at park wounded two young girls.

So I did some more research and came across a blog called Detective Shaved Longcock, a police officer blog with salty language I can do without.

“Like it or not Herbert Pulgar is a SELF ADMITTED MEMBER OF THE MANIAC LATIN DISCIPLES. Commonly known as MLD. If you need proof of this please ask his mother to release his juvenile police records on file with the Chicago police department or have little Herbert show you all his tattoos including the gang tattoo on his right shoulder.” According the police officer blog Detective Shaved Longcock. 

To make matters worst, Pulgar’s father, Herbert Sr. is a wanted by the international law enforcement agency Interpol for the following: Drug-related crimes and Crimes involving the use of weapons/explosives. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree I guess.

Bottom line Pulgar tried to pull a fast one on all of us. I guess there is a reason why this kid goes to a school that takes in at-risk students. I’m glad that there were people out there who caught this before the city began to print out the city stickers. As a journalist, it is my duty to uncover everything in the dark so it can be brought to light. This story can now be used as a precautionary tale for all.

Evan F. Moore is also a blogger for Chicago Now. He blogs at Fanning the Flames since 1978.

City Clerk Susana Mendoza pulled the drawing from the upcoming city sticker due to the resemblance of hand signals made by the street gang Maniac Latin Disciples. Lawrence Hall Youth Services freshman Herbert Pulgar was the original winner of City Clerk Susana Mendoza’s 2012 Vehicle Art Sticker Design Contest. Now the design of the runner up will now be used on the city sticker. The new city sticker design is a safer version that doesn’t include hands drawn in a way that some gang experts can associate with a street gang.

“For me, as the clerk, it’s not an issue of the individual at all, frankly,” Mendoza said. “It’s an issue of the perception that’s now out in the city of Chicago and, frankly, nationally, that we have a city sticker that some experts believe may provide symbolism related to gangs.”

I get what Mendoza was trying to do here but Pulgar’s drawing was posted online along with the other finalists before a decision was made.  A press release by Pulgar’s school Lawrence Hall Youth Services states that the winner was notified on December 13^th of last year. So that means that the City Clerk had at least two months to figure out that the winning drawing could be misconstrued as a drawing that had gang signs in it.

I wonder if Pulgar has to give back $1000 savings bond he got for winning the contest.  I hope not because if that is the case the City Clerk should pay for it out of her own pocket and the family should exempt from paying for the city sticker this upcoming June.

Evan F. Moore is also a blogger for Chicago Now. He blogs at Fanning the Flames since 1978.

For almost 2000 years the fallen Valentine martyrs from Christian tradition were honored across the world before the celebration was banished from the Catholic Gregorian calendar in 1969 by Pope Paul VI. In these strange times we’ve seen the traditional Valentine’s Day customs rendered into a hyper-consumerist ritual of flaunting lavish gifts and unfettered spending.

In any case, one thing that has remained constant over time in the world is that people go all out for their loved ones when it comes to spending. In 2011, couples spent $1.7 billion on flowers, $3.4 billion on dining out and $3.5 billion on jewelry according to the National Retail Federation. Men seem more willing to shell out the big bucks having spent about $160 on their Valentine in 2011, while women spent nearly $75 on theirs. The NRF’s 2012 Valentine’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions survey showed that total spending is expected to hit an astounding $17.6 billion.

It’s unclear how much of that spending will go towards so called “Green” or “Socially Conscious” gifts. These types of gifts have become increasingly popular among demographics that are more sympathetic to environmental justice issues and workers rights. Below is a brief catalog of places to buy gifts that are tied to justice movements and efforts to make products sustainable.

APPAREL: Green America Gift Guide - Formerly known as Co-op America, Green America promotes ethical consumerism. It is dedicated to harnessing the economic power of consumers, investors and businesses to promote social justice and environmental sustainability through helping responsible consumers and green businesses find each other in the marketplace.

Ethix Merch - Your source for American made clothing, products and custom-printed merchandise, made with respect for people and the planet.

Greenheart Shop (local business) 1911 W. Division St. Greenheart is Chicago’s premier eco-fair trade non-profit shop, carrying eco fair trade products made by artisans from around the world. The purchase of these products improves the lives of real people and the products are made by establishments that take care of our Earth.

Mata Traders is another local business selling beautiful,  handmade Fair Trade apparel from Asia.

Both Mata Traders and Greenheart Shop are business members of Chicago Fair Trade, an organization working to support workers rights and ending poverty by building the Fair Trade movement in Chicago. In 2011, Chicago was declared the largest Fair Trade City in the U.S. joining the ranks of nearly 1,000 Fair Trade towns throughout the world, including London, Rome, Barcelona and Boston. Read more about what this means here.  For places to shop around the city see a full list of CFT Business members here.

Valentines Day cards from El Rio. For more visit: http://blog.mayaescobar.com/tag/valentines-day/

CHOCOLATE: Valentine’s Day is a major chocolate buying holiday, but gifts for your sweetheart should not come at the expense of worker rights! Buy these sweets that aren’t laced with the sweat of child laborers (yes, that really happens in the cocoa fields – check out this documentary for proof). For school kids who are planning to pass out Valentine’s cards to classmates (ah to be young again) you can check these out.

UNIQUE GIFT: Latino romance reminiscers sigh heavily over memories of la epoca de oro with its luxurious imagery, a version of romantic Mexican pop art. Chicago artist Robert Valadez captures his own version of romance in a beautifully hand-crafted masterpiece. This one-of-a-kind gift is presented as a bold cherry wood finish jewelry box, featuring the most romantic of paintings, Amorcito Corazon. “The image comes from an old movie poster, a couple at the cusp of a kiss. I love romantic notions of love.” And so will your honey when you present this treasure, filled with candy, rose petals or a simple love letter. Get your own directly from Robert Valadez.

TRAVEL: Transport your loved one to another world without traveling very far. Join the Valentine’s Day Special at the Mediterranean and Middle East inspired Alhambra Palace (1240 W. Randolph) for a  tantalizing night of pleasure, combining live music, exotic food and spectacular entertainment. Orchestra Rumbaye performs. The night’s special is $62.50 per couple and includes entrance to the live salsa event (with free dancing classes) and a three course dinner. Alhambra Palace Reservations: 312-666-9555.

COFFEE: If you’re boo is a coffee junkie than consider supporting Cafe Chicago, a worker-run cooperative that imports, roasts and delivers a chocolaty, great tasting blend. Their Valentines Day special is 3lbs for $35.

Overall the most comprehensive list of gift ideas I found was located on the website of Fair Trade USA – check it out.

O.K. kids go out there and have fun! Spend responsibly and always in moderation!

- Martin Macias and Sandra A. Trevino

Disclosure: Martin Macias is the Youth Organizer for Chicago Fair Trade.

Giant’s wide reciever, Victor Cruz is known for his salsa moves after a touch down. One of two Puerto Rican players playing in the Super Bowl tonight, Cruz has been talking about his new daughter, Kennedy Ryan, and has shown his pride in his Puerto Rican heritage, bringing Latinidad to football. The other boricua playing tonight is Aaron Hernandez, a tight end playing for the Patriots. Rumor has it that Hernandez may have his own moves tonight. But who will dance first, is the real the question.

No matter who wins, the Giants or the Patriots, a Puerto Rican athlete will be taking home a Super Bowl ring. Wepa!

Facts about Latinos in football:

• Latinos make up about one percent of players in the NFL.
• Ron Rivera, of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, is the third Latino named to a NFL head coach position, now that he’s the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
• According to the LA Times: “Fifteen NFL teams have Spanish-language content on their websites and 14 broadcast their games on Spanish-language radio, including the Cardinals and Cowboys, who also beam their games into Mexico. In addition, Univision radio airs 32 games nationally, including the playoffs, Super Bowl and Pro Bowl.”
• Ignacio “Lou” Molinet was the first known Latino to play in the NFL in 1927 for the Frankford Yellowjackets and was a native of Chaparra, Cuba.
• The first Latino quarterback in the NFL was Tom Flores for the Oakland Raiders in 1960.