Mariachi Plaza

Mariachi Plaza is located in the Boyle Heights district of the city of Los Angeles, east of downtown. Since the 1930s, mariachi musicians have gathered in hopes of being hired by visitors who are looking for a full band, trio or solo singer.[1] The plaza resembles Mexico's famed Plaza Garibaldi in both form and function. This plaza is also an historic gateway to the neighborhood.[2]

Mariachi Plaza
Mariachi bands, who are available for hire, wait at the plaza
Dedicated toMariachi music
LocationBoyle Heights, Los Angeles, California, United States
Coordinates: 34.047486°N 118.219392°W / 34.047486; -118.219392
Boyle Hotel

Day or night, musicians wait around the plaza and hotel - now an affordable living complex - across the street to be hired. Local leaders hope to promote the plaza and for it to remain a sanctuary for musicians. There is a small kiosk located in the plaza, similar to those found in Mexico, donated in 1998 by the Mexican State of Jalisco, the birthplace of mariachi music. A bandstand was added in 2009.

The plaza is bounded by E. 1st Street to the south, N. Boyle Avenue to the west, and a small residential street named Pleasant Avenue to its north. The Kiosk is ornamental and has been criticised for its poor acoustics.[3] Lucha Reyes has a statue in the plaza as she visited the city many times during her career.[4] It is surrounded by the East Los Angeles Interchange, as it is located between highways 5, 10, and 101.

Transportation

Metro Rail station
L Line Mariachi Plaza Station, 2009
Main article: Mariachi Plaza station

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority has a light rail subway station open in 2009 under the plaza on the Eastside extension of the Gold Line. The plaza has a direct route into Downtown Los Angeles and a connection to other lines of the Metro. As of 2020, there is a proposal to redevelop the square, though it is highly contested by local residents and mariachis.[5][6]

La Santa Cecilia music video for the song "Calaverita" was partially filmed at the Mariachi Plaza and the film How to Be a Latin Lover.

Loona music video for the song "Butterfly" was partially filmed at the Mariachi Plaza. The 2018 the music video for Beatriz Gonzalez Los Laureles was film at the plaza.

Michael Connelly's crime thriller novel The Burning Room focuses on a murder which takes place at the Plaza.

References
  1. Barajas, Julia (2019-11-19). "With a saintly procession and music, L.A. celebrates 30 years of Mariachi Plaza". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  2. Bermudez, Esmeralda (November 30, 2014) "Mariachi Plaza development plan worries L.A. musicians" Los Angeles Times
  3. "The battle of Boyle Heights". Los Angeles Times. October 25, 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  4. Bloomekatz, Ari B. (November 15, 2009). "East L.A. hails arrival of Gold Line; activities are to be held today at four stations". L.A.Now. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 September 2016. Mariachi Plaza Station: At 8:30 a.m., there will be an unveiling of the Lucha Reyes statue...
  5. Ohnsman, Alan and Gould, Jens Erik (March 12, 2008 "Ay Caramba! Los Angeles Mariachis Play Blues After Forced Move" Bloomberg News
  6. Bermudez, Esmeralda (January 23, 2015) "Boyle Heights residents force a fresh start on Mariachi Plaza project" Los Angeles Times


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