Lucha Libre in Seattle August 20th

Heads up my friends in Seattle, Washington (If you didn't know, I'm residing in Spokane, WA)!! Looks like you have some lucha libre goodness heading your way!

ECOSS, the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle presents "Lucha Libre" in South Park Aug. 20. West Seattle wrestling and lucha libre fans can witness flips, flying kicks, headlocks, and other moves in person.

If you are a part of this event, please contact me and I'll do what I can to share more information on my lucha blog! I am an activist for all things lucha libre! If you are attending, take some photos for me, and I'll share them here as well!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2011 4-8 PM
14th Ave S & S Cloverdale


JOIN US for Lucha Libre in the Street. Kids activities start at 4 pm with free lucha mask face painting, bouncy house and more. The Mexican-style wrestling, featuring Luchadores Independientes de Washington, begins at 6 pm. Cheer on your favorite wrestler weather it they be good or evil. There will be a contest to win adult Lucha Libre masks.
The event is FREE for all! We ask you come, have fun and help us support our local merchants. Plenty of time to eat at a local restaurant, fill up the gas tank, take home some of the best Latino baked goods around, buy a pinata for your next party, grab that much needed bag of dog food, or even come early and get your oil changed.

John Cena and Blue Demon Jr?

I don't know much about this photograph, but I had to share it with my fellow lucha fans. Blue Demon Jr and John Cena shaking hands? What does this mean?!

Encantado...

Could you imagine a Blue Demon Jr. y John Cena contra Los Monstruos film? It would probably be more enjoyable than Doom was.

Lucha Key Chain Toppers

This is what every inspiring luchador needs! Lucha Key toppers!

 Puedes prestarme tu carro por favor?

I believe the company that makes these is PerpetualKid.com, but I'm not certain. They are available at all sorts of novelty shops, and I must order a set! My girlfriend has a set of owl key toppers, so I have to match her with something even more cool!

You simply slide the masks over the top of the key, then slide them back on your key ring, and you'll be set for a battle royale! Neither faces are copyrighted characters sadly, but they are pretty fun! Could you imagine a set of Santo, Blue Demon, y Mil Mascaras keys?

The Lucha Libre Taco Shop

There's a taco smack down going on in the Mission Hills neighborhood of San Diego if you haven't heard. Yes, that's right! THE LUCHA LIBRE TACO SHOP! Why hasn't this place been on Food Network or Travel Channel yet (or has it, and I've just missed it)?

Isn't it glorious?

This place is jam packed with lucha libre memorabilia. Also, the word en la calle is that they play classic lucha films on the televisions throughout the taquería. Sounds like my kind of place! These aren't sissy tacos from your local Taco Campanilla, these are fancy, tasty beasts! You can also order from a plethora of jarritos if you dare (tamarindo if you're a brave gringo). The prices are reasonable as well, which is nice to hear in this economy.

I'm not a fan of pink, but I hear it's the new black

I'm not sure the luchador from his mask, but his pink tights scare me

Ooh, a collage of some of the most famous!

Look at all that memorabilia! Estoy celoso!

Only word of caution that I know about this place is that it's tiny! So if you go, plan a good time so you can get in. Also, I hear parking is sometimes an issue. Other than that, this sounds like a great stop for a lucha libre tour of the USA.

The location is:

Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop
1810 W. Washington Street
San Diego , CA 92110
(619) 296-8226

If you're lucky enough to go, let me know how it is! I was extracted from California 25 years ago, and rarely make it back!

Lucha Fury - XBLA Game

Lucha Fury is a brand new game for Xbox Live Arcade, and I'm stoked. For those that know me, my foundation in video games is built on the shoulders of Final Fight, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, and Double Dragon. I'm an ultra fan of side-scrolling beat-em-ups. Last year, the Scott Pilgrim beat-em-up was released, and now this summer we get Lucha Fury, and it's totally up my alley!

This game is very much like a comic book, with bright colors and tons of action, along with the feeling of Mexican lucha-libre. The game has tongue in cheek backdrops, characters, and ridiculous fun. You can play one to four plays, on or offline. What is even more fun is that you pull off moves by working together, which really enhances the multiplayer cooperation.

The plot is that these amazing luchadores are on a mission, there's a shortage of energy drinks! They are now on the hunt for the evil doers behind this heinous crime.

The Characters:

 


Screenshots:


 Culo de Fuego? Ass of fire?


 La banda esta borracha!


 Rumble en el parque.

Los Luchadores Exhibit at the Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles

"Los Luchadores" hits the Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles from
From June 11 through July 23. They will be featuring the photography of Richard Ehrlich, consisting of a series of 40" x 50" photographs of masked wrestlers.

The mission statement of the MCI is:  "The Mexican Cultural Institute is committed to being a leader in providing education, programs, resources, and presenting historical, cultural and contemporary arts of Mexican heritage, and to advocate for Mexico-United States social, cultural and historical art preservation as an important part of strengthening Los Angeles’ communities."

Considering that lucha libre has been a major part of Mexican culture, being a favorite sport of the people, this is a wonderful exhibit for the MCI. If you are in the area, check out the gallery!

An artist reception, screening of classic luchador films and music program to be announced! I'm very excited to hear what they plan on screening. I love to spread the word on lucha films being screened all over, it's a fun opportunity for everyone to enjoy some lighthearted action!

Exhibit runs from June 11 - July 23, 2011
Gallery Hours: Noon-6PM, Thursday -Sunday

125 Paseo De La Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)624-3600
http://mexicanculturalinstitute-la.org/
E-mail:  info@mexicanculturalinstitute-la.org 

Link to the facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=135823219825895

They also forwarded me a few preview images for you all to see! They are truly a spectacle, my favorite is of Tinieblas!!

Icons of Lucha Libre Stamps

My good friend Roberto emailed me with some info on a stamp series in México. In 2008 they started with El Santo, and now they are releasing Mil Máscaras.

Here are some images:

These are pretty impressive. I'm hoping they will also honor my favorite luchador, Blue Demon, as well!

Luchador Building?

I took some photos today of a very interesting building. I live in Spokane, Washington, and today I went to Luigi's for an early dinner with my girlfriend. Across the street, we saw this building:

It used to be the old TechGroup building, but now it's a graphic design company Seven2, but it would be way cooler if it were a luchador shop. One can dream, right?

Interestingly, it looks a lot like Huracán Ramírez's mask. It looks like the mask is their logo or mascot perhaps at the place? Not sure the correlation between lucha libre and web design.

Spokane ComiCon 2011

Sorry that the blog has been slow to update. The last few weeks I've been preparing for a comic convention, and here are the details. Ignore if you're looking for lucha material, I'll be back in business with the lucha updates in a day or two.

So Saturday May 21st, instead of being raptured away, I ended up wheeling and dealing my comics and art at the Spokane ComiCon at Spokane Community College. There were 1,300 attendees this year, a really great turn out! I sold a ton of prints, sketch cards, and original art. I was pretty happy overall! Next year I'll be running a bar from the poles, instead of cord. I didn't like how low the cord hung, it made it slightly hard to talk to tall attendees. I'm also planning on building a wall behind to hang paintings and a banner.

Here's my small collection of photos, I'll be posting more when I get a chance to steal some from others :) I didn't have much of a chance to photograph, as I was glued to my table.

 

This was a better pose, but we forgot flash!

This is me (left), and my buddy Amanda Robinson to the right.

My girlfriend, Veronica, to the left.

Lantern Corp!

I think I'm drawing Jasmin here

These are my buddies at The Comic Smith's Guild. I'm a member, but I sat across.

Lars Brown, of North World, sitting to the west...

Pink Lord Vader

My favorite costumes of the day, Blue Beetle and Booster Gold!

A very sweaty Beast, Mystique, and Dark Phoenix

Tuskin Raider

Apparently a team of DeLoreans were needed to stop the Rapture

My best friend, Aaron, decided to show up at the end!

 Butt Hurt Space Marine. He loaned the suit to the
owner of Merlyn's Comics and Games, then was super butt-hurt
over the owner getting attention.

Why do we wonder about Wonder Woman? Because we think she is a Wonder Man...

The Gotham Sirens

 Harleyquin!

 Matt Nelson of the Comic Smiths' Guild

 Rogue!

 Scarecrow, apparently throwing gang signs he learned in prison.

Spokane Ghostbusters Division

Is that Princes Leia underneath?

I did a doodle of Bruce Lee, munny style!

I also did a munny style Iron Fist

Jasmin, my favorite of the Disney princesses.