Bicentenario 2010 - Mexican Independence Day Festival - Cherokee Street, STL, MO

St. Louis, MO August 11, 2010 – The Cherokee Street Latino Business Owners Association is pleased to announce the annual Mexico 2010 – Bicentennial Independence/Centennial Revolution  (Mexican Independence Day Festival)  celebration happening September 11-12, 2010 on Cherokee Street (Iowa to Nebraska) from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Commemorating Mexico’s declaration of Independence from Spain in 1810, this year’s celebrations mark the 200^th Anniversary of the Mexican Independence (Sept. 16, 1810) and the 100^th Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution (Nov. 20, 1910); and Mexico 2010  invites the St. Louis community to celebrate and recognize the national holidays of Mexican Independence Day and Revolution.  This festival will bring the Mexican and Mexican-American communities together as they celebrate the rich heritage, history, and culture of their Mexican ancestors who fought for their independence from the Spanish government during the early 1800’s. The determination to succeed in seeking liberty, and correcting social injustices imposed by the Spaniards inspired Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla to proceed and execute his plans for independence on September 15, 1810.   The Mexican Revolution was an uprising lead by Francisco I. Madero against the 30 year dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz that culminated in the Institution of PRI Partido Revolucionario Institucional, and the establishment of a democratic society. 

Scheduled to appear are internationally renowned and Grammy award nominated Regional Mexican Banda, El Guero y Su Banda Centenario, nominated for the 52^nd Grammy Awards under the Best Banda Category, Lokillos Musikal a 7-piece Duranguense band, Las Consentidas del Pueblo, a 5-piece female Norteño band; both from Chicago, and Rodante Show, Grupo Kalido, Mágico 314; & Los Dukes on the stage at California Avenue; plus 5 local DJs: DJ Muñeco, DJBogart, DJExtreme, DJFlores Hermanos, DJ Misterio at various locations throughout the festival (Musical acts and entertainment are subject to change) .  There will also be a mechanical bull, inflatable jumpers, and face painting. Highlight: Traditional El Grito de Independencia (Hail of Independence), with special guests Alderman Craig Schmid (20^th Ward), Consul Jacob Prado (Mexican Consulate Kansas City), and many local legislators and other elected officials.  Visitors will be able to satisfy their hunger and thirst in the different concession stands that will be located throughout the festival area.  These stands will showcase delicious ethnic food and beverages prepared by local chefs in partnership with neighborhood restaurants.   

Cherokee Street is located in South City off Jefferson Avenue.  Directions: From highways 40 of 44 exit Jefferson Avenue and go South.  Continue South for approximately 2 miles.  Turn Right on Cherokee Street.

NOTE: Single and double booth space(s) is/are available for organizations and vendors wishing to present or sell at the event.

For more information contact: Minerva Lopez (314) 443-7668 or e-mail: lopez.minerva@gmail.com

MVNA meetings are held in the the school’s library on the second floor.This month’s guest speaker is currently TBD.

Also, don’t forget that Saturday, August 28, is the Marine Villa Movie Night! We will show Fantastic Mr. Fox starting around 8:30 pm at the Firehouse. This movie is sure to please adults and children, so bring your family and your neighbors!

What ever you choose, come back to the Firehouse for the Broadway Art-A Fair to refuel with cold water or The Fire and Ice Cream’s SECRET Lemonade recipe. If that’s not enough Gus’s pretzel will be available, Jefferson Bistro will be grilling up all sorts of Kabobs and MV resident Shannon McGinn will be offering up her delicious baked goods, sure to please the sweetest of toothes!

AND there is more! A dozen local artists showcasing their talents, have a portrait sketched of yourself, significant other or children, by long time MV resident Bob Dielman, Enjoy music by MV’s very own, Ned and Pee Wee followed by the infamous Box of Nerves.  Performances by the St. Louis Hoops group…Did I mention FIRE, Oh Yeah! The day rounds out with a fantastic Capoeira performance, this Afro-Brazilian art form combines, music, dance and martial arts and is sure to amaze onlookers!

We’re not done! Oh no! after this extraordinary event head on over to Benton Park for  the 3^rd of their 4 part concert series featuring Celia and Big Bamou.

We have a fantastic day planned just for you, something for everyone!  Please Join us in support of your community, the historic firehouse, and Benton Park.

Be one of 20 artists and part of the days attractions.  Yoga starts off the day, excitement continues throughout the event with a Capoeira performance led by Tebogo Schultz, Hula Hoops performance with crowd participation by Saint Louis Hoops, Ned and PeeWee’s musical talents, South Broadway Art Project hosts a kids craft booth, Jefferson Bistro prepares food to satisfy your hunger, an old fashioned lemonade stand to quench your thirst and feed your sweet tooth.

 Go to www.marinevilla.org, click on the Broadway Art-A-Fair logo for additional information or contact me at broadwayartafair@marinevilla.org

Saturday August 7^th from 10am-4pm at Fire Engine House #3, located at 3678 S. Broadway. This is a highly visible location and sits prominently along the Bike St. Louis route.

Please Join Marine Villa in this promotional event for the Firehouse and the surrounding community.

Pam Wucher, Fair Coordinator

Join us to hear about the inaugural Broadway Art-A-Fair! We will discuss plans for the day, including fun volunteer opportunities!

Broadway Art-A-Fair is scheduled for 10 am – 4 pm on August 7 at the historic Firehouse, 3678 South Broadway. The fair will feature local art vendors, art demonstrations, children’s art activities, local musicians, food from local restaurants, and more activities to be announced. We need your help to make this event a success, so come to the meeting and volunteer for a task!

If you are unable to attend the meeting, and would like to volunteer, email us at broadwayartafair@marinevilla.org.

If you are an artist interested in Broadway Art-A-Fair, MVNA is seeking unique and imaginative submissions from local artists.  We know the talent exists locally, so we are making this an affordable opportunity for local artists to show off their work.  Interested artists can visit www.marinevilla.org/cfa for more information on our Call for Artists and to download the application.

MVNA is very excited about the positive energy and change that is evident in Marine Villa and the surrounding neighborhoods.  We want to build on that energy and bring everyone together for a day of fun in two of the finest South City neighborhoods.  The Broadway Art-A-Fair will take place 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, August 7, 2010. Don’t forget, the firehouse is located on the Bike St. Louis path.  Broadway Art-A-Fair will be a bike friendly event!  After the art fair, catch Celia and Big Vamou perform live at 5 pm in Benton Park as part of Benton Park’s summer concert series.

Whether you’re an artist or a business interested in sponsoring this event, Broadway Art-A-Fair promises to be a celebration of your contributions to our community.

Pam Wucher
President, Marine Villa Neighborhood Association

Remember, meetings are open to all residents! If you are unable to attend meetings but want to help in another way, please contact us. We have various ways for you to be involved, including: serving as block link for your block, assisting with the upcoming movie night, street and alley clean-up projects, and helping with the upcoming art fair (more info forthcoming on the art fair).

Remember, meetings are open to all residents! If you are unable to attend meetings but want to help in another way, please contact us. We have various ways for you to be involved, including: serving as block link for your block, assisting with the upcoming movie night, street and alley clean-up projects, and helping with the upcoming art fair (more info forthcoming on the art fair).

If your block has never participated in the annual clean-up, it’s likely because no one has come forth to lead the event. But it’s so easy!

Operation Brightside will help make your clean-up successful by providing large, heavy-duty waste bags and they also have door hangers so you can let your neighbors know when and where to meet on Saturday, April 10. They will even loan yard tools if needed.

If you have any interest in making your block cleaner and making Marine Villa a cleaner neighborhood, please take the initiative to organize a block clean-up. Last year I organized a clean up with the block across the alley from me. The alley is a great place to do a clean-up because it’s so often neglected. It’s also an intimate space that makes it easy to work together as a group and start at one end of the alley and progress towards the other end.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment. We want to help make your Project Blitz successful.

Happy Blitz season!

P.S.-
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