Tis the season to rant about love, so we shall. I was introduced to this title by a lovely contender and so already I was gung-hoe about reading it, right? The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz took me through a journey I’ve heard from many is rather sorrowful and desolate. A Dominican boy goes from stage to stage in his life in the hopes of becoming a routine papichulo. He reaches his personal conclusion with no success, as in reality he’s just meant to be the solar system-anime believing literature head who can’t get his head out of the clouds or his obesity.
As desolate as it really does sound, I received it as quite the beautiful trail through love and the colorful odyessy it inevitably entails. Happy ending or not, Oscar is seeking the load of love from page one until the very exit of his character. He subconsciously (through first and 3rd person characters) takes us through his long line of adolescent heartbreaks and how his life after each episode portrays this empty space he yet again can't fill, but the guy never gives up. Opportunity after opportunity and gal after gal, he is all in, with his very all in full force, hopeless from the beginning and as open as the first time. The topic of hope is thrown around in the ruble of the streets he walks in search of answers to his life and in the long nights of novel writing he so diligently lives by. Hope never dies, even when Oscar's stories seem like they will. He spiritually leaves a stamp of hopefulness throughout each chapter, happy ending or not. Hopeful that love, in any measure is tangible for anyone and although itcomes and goes in many forms, it never falls short of shifting, fulfilling, sweet and always beautiful.
With snow falls reaching record highs and no school on Mondays for the past three weeks, it may be tough staying focused. Routines are out of whack. Kids have been home more than usual. Let’s face it- we all miss school.
At El Taller, we have kept literacy alive even in the midst of a terrible storm through our offerings of enticing books to weekly writing clubs for both adults and kids. And with V-Day around the corner, it was fitting to not only write our stories but share them on the stage. This past Thursday, El Taller held it’s second monthly StorySlam hosted by Stories in the Streets organized by Nicolette Heavey. Many took to the stage to share five minute stories of that love- you know, the story that you can’t seem to forget. These literacy moments weren’t just moments to remind us to stay focus on learning and sharing during record weather, they were the type of moments you can find here every week.
From writing clubs and StorySlams to a book club on its way (yes, we are excited too), we invite you to come and keep literacy alive and help it spread across this city.
El Taller is a bookstore / café at 275 Essex St in Lawrence.
We are looking for local musicians to perform on Friday and Saturday nights from 8:00 to 10:00pm beginning in the fall. We are unable to pay musicians at this time but will have a voluntary cover charge/tips jar that will go to the musicians and you are welcome to do CD sales as well (and we offer a free meal and coffee) We offer a relaxed and artistic atmosphere and are looking for similar type acts that our patrons can enjoy (funk, hip-hop, folk, latin, jazz, classical, bluegrass, etc.)
If you are interested in performing, send an email with information about yourself and your music and links to your website/youtube/facebook/Soundcloud.
Purchase a blank deck to reserve entry space in the GRIND Skateboard Art Show presented by El Taller Coffee Shop & Bookstore. All Decks must be pre-ordered by June 23rd. You will receive an e-mail when your deck can be picked up at El Taller (275 Essex Street Lawrence, MA 01840 | 978-965-4145). Final Deck Artwork must be dropped off at El Taller no later than Tuesday, August 12th.
*Artists interested in selling their skateboard at the Opening Reception must notify El Taller when submitting artwork.
Show us your process -----> #GrindLawrence #eltaller #eltallerarts #lawtown
I caught a bit of the the Red Sox game on NESN sports network the other night, (Aug. 28th). I know this is old news... but Eastern Bank ran their "Lawrence First" ad again, originally aired July 17th. (You can find the video below). It features some great landmarks and businesses in Lawrence. Two of the businesses are obviously very important to me, Cafe Azteca and El Taller! The ad is only a small sliver of what it truly means to be from Lawrence and not even a twelve disc documentary box set would be sufficient on the subject matter! There I got that off my chest.
Below I grabbed some screen shots of some of the great people who are not actors, who Eastern Bank were lucky to get for this commercial!
From left to right: Elissa, Frandiego & Jordan
Eric - My brother and manager of El Taller!
On the right: My uncle Alberto.
Chuey at Cafe Azteca!
Luisa at Cafe Azteca.
Here is the commercial that I mentioned and below that is the more in depth "ad" that Eastern Bank shot, it features my brother talking about what we strive to do here in El Taller! Enjoy!
The May / June '13 cover of Merrimack Valley Magazine.
“A Place for Writers, Thinkers and Creators to Meet, Express Themselves and Enjoy a Good Meal.”
El Taller was honored to have Merrimack Valley Magazine stop by and do a "Community Spotlight" for El Taller in the May / June 2013 Issue!
It's a great read and we really think it captures why we started El Taller. We've met so many talented artists, writers and community organizers... its unreal! So a big thanks to Anne Broyles for the great write up!
Click the screen shot to go to the article on the MVM website!
Mario Vargas Llosa’s Death in the Andes revolves around Corporal Lituma and his Deputy Tomas, as they attempt to guard a town from a vicious rebellion raging in the mountains, whilst trying to explain the strange disappearances among the workforce building a highway nearby. It is a book about the hidden paths through which the past becomes our reality, and about how we choose to describe that reality to others and ourselves. Llosa’s playful prose manages to convey the brutality of the guerrilla rebellion while simultaneously crafting softer moments, such as the story Tomas tells Lituma at night, about his great heartache. The book delves into Peruvian culture, taking us from the coast deep into the mountains and the suspicious, ancient culture of those that live there. An intense, funny, heart-wrenching read, it works its way into the cracks of modern society and asks us how far we think we have come, forcing us to consider how delicate our progress truly is.
Check out this this book and other page turning books at El Taller!
