The Brief

L.A.’s venerated Mariachi USA music festival comes to the Hollywood Bowl this Saturday, as it has since 1990.

Rodri Rodriguez

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Courtesy of Mariachi USA

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The festival was founded by longtime Los Angeles music and concert producer Rodri Rodriguez, who came to the U.S. as an immigrant, but not from Mexico — from Cuba. Since her teens, she has lived in Los Angeles where, amid the city’s vibrant Mexicanidad, she fell in love with traditional Mexican music and developed what she calls “mariachi DNA.”

Rodriguez shares with LAist what drew her to mariachi music, why a Cubana chose to promote this quintessentially Mexican art form, and why she sees Los Angeles as “an arroz con pollo where we all respect each other's recipes” — a place where Latinidad finds common ground.

Let’s start with your immigrant story. How did you make it from Cuba to L.A.?

Rodriguez: In 1962 I arrived in Miami, via Operation Pedro Pan. I had just turned 7. I was in a refugee camp for a few months. I landed in a foster home in Albuquerque for seven years, until my parents were able to come out of Cuba.

They were in Miami for a couple of months, then came to Los Angeles where I reunited with them, and (I’ve) been here ever since.

Where did you discover traditional Mexican music?

Rodriguez: Albuquerque, New Mexico. From 7 to 14, I heard (and) I was familiar with the music there.

And then, when I came to Los Angeles, that's all you heard. And you well know this, that you just immerse yourself into whatever is here, because that is what is here.

How did you start your music industry career?

Rodriguez: Fresh out of high school, I didn't have the great grades. I had the smarts, but not the grades to get scholarships. My parents couldn't afford college. So I immediately began working, and ended up at Latin International, which was the hub of Latin music here in Los Angeles.

Pepe Garcia owned Latin International, (he was) Cubano. He also owned Musica Latina, which was a very popular and the only (Latin) music store in Los Angeles. I trained with them, everything I know — well, everything I knew then, I've learned a lot more since then. But I learned everything I could from them having to do with record production.

The record company produced the first few mariachi albums in Los Angeles for Pedro Rey y Los Galleros, Nati Cano y Los Camperos. And there we go. I'm in the midst of mariachi, which I just absolutely loved.

And they produced an annual concert called El Disco de Oro, which was a reason to promote and to honor the artists that were on our record label at the time, and that's where I began to learn concert production.

Musicians perform during a past Mariachi USA festival at the Hollywood Bowl.

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Courtesy of Mariachi USA

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You started Mariachi USA at the Hollywood Bowl in 1990. What made you want to promote mariachi music with a festival?

Rodriguez: For me, it was world-class music that was not seen as world-class. They were still seeing mariachi as chamberos, you know, that you just pick them up in the corner and pay them $20 to go and play at a backyard party. And to me, it was so much more than that. I honored the music, and I wanted to put it on a world-class stage, and the only stage I could think of was the Hollywood Bowl.

As you’ve mentioned, demand for the first show was greater than anticipated, and it sold out, right?

Rodriguez: I cried like a baby before I went on stage that day, because I actually went down to the plaza area and (talked) with people, they didn't know who I was. I said, “There's no tickets, why are you here?” I needed to know myself. I needed to hear from their voices and their hearts.

They said, “No nos vamos de aquí, esto es histórico. No nos importa que no vamos a ver nada. Queremos escuchar y vamos a cantar desde acá afuera.” (“We’re not leaving, this is historic. We want to listen and we’re going to sing from out here.")

That to me was just so moving, and I knew.

Can you describe the validation that fans back then must have felt to see mariachi musicians headlining the Hollywood Bowl? 

Rodriguez: Because they knew of the Hollywood Bowl as being the home of the Philharmonic. It was, in their eyes, elitist in the sense that they had never attended. And that such a venue was going to be open to them, or a mariachi festival …

…they wanted to be there for this. I knew that it was going to be great, but the emotion that accompanied it that first day really … my heart exploded.

Dancers perform onstage at the Hollywood Bowl during a past Mariachi USA festival.

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Courtesy of Mariachi USA

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It has continued because now those that I entertain are the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren of those that started out in 1990. The euphoria is the same, the sentiment is the same, but now we're looking at five generations deep.

I’ve mentioned that I grew up as a Cubana in Southeast L.A. Mariachi music holds a special place in my heart. What is it about mariachi music that speaks to you? 

Rodriguez: First of all, it's the dramatic, intense storytelling that occurs in each given song. And then, when you look at the composition of the instrumentation … those instruments are played like in no other genre. The combination of instrumentation, that, plus the voices … they train their voices, very similar to opera training, because you don't use a microphone.

Then it's la musica, you know. It's a combination of el romance, la alegría, la tristeza, la nostalgia. Together with that instrumentation, it’s like, explosive to me.

If you know “Volver, Volver,” you have mariachi DNA. And you don't have to be Mexicana, you and I are living proof of it.

I'm a Cuban with a Mexican soul. I have mariachi DNA and I've had it for a long time. I chose that, to just crawl into my DNA, and it's there. It ain't going anywhere.

Performers onstage at the Hollywood Bowl during a past Mariachi USA festival.

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Courtesy of Mariachi USA

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This is one of those things that happens in Los Angeles, right? What do you think is that L.A. secret sauce which allows for this kind of cultural cross-pollination, and for Latinidad to find common ground here? 

Rodriguez: It’s like when you do an arroz con pollo, que le pones un piringuín de esto y un poquito del otro (you add a dash of this, a little of that). We basically have an arroz con pollo where we all respect each other's recipes.

All of us have embraced each other because, you know, there's a saying that says we may all have come on different ships, we’re in the same boat now. But we've grown beyond that. We are a community of embracing.

It's beyond acceptance. We’re not reaching to be accepted, or even recognized, anymore. We just are. It’s interesting you say cross-pollination because that's the term that I use, but that's what we have at Mariachi USA. It's that cross-pollination of what Los Angeles is and what Los Angeles offers.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta provided guidance this week to childcare providers on new legal requirements to protect children and their families from immigration enforcement activities.

Under a new law that went into effect this year, childcare providers are not allowed to collect information about a child's or family member’s immigration status, unless necessary under state or federal law. Bonta’s office says there currently is no such requirement, though that could change with federal programs like Head Start.

“Childcare and preschool facilities should be safe and secure spaces so children can grow, learn and simply be children,” Bonta said in a statement.

His office says daycare centers also should not keep information about a formerly enrolled child longer than is required by state law.

The new law also requires facilities to inform the attorney general’s office and the state’s licensing agency if they get any requests for information from law enforcement related to immigration enforcement.

Facilities also must ask families to regularly update a child’s emergency contact information to make sure someone can be reached in case a parent is detained by federal immigration officials.

The Santa Ana winds are here to welcome us into the weekend, bringing warmer temperatures.

The winds will reach Point Mugu to the Santa Clarita Valley, down to Orange County and parts of the Inland Empire valleys and foothills east of the 5 Freeway.

Peak gusts are expected to reach 35 to 55 mph. The western San Gabriel Mountains, Highway 14 corridor, Santa Susana Mountains and the western Santa Monica Mountains are under a high wind warning until 6 p.m., when gusts could reach 65 mph.

As for temperatures, highs for L.A. County beaches will reach the upper 70s and up to the low 80s for inland areas.

Parts of Orange County and Coachella Valley will see temperatures in the mid- to upper 80s, with the warmest areas expected to reach 88 degrees.

Getting together with friends at a bar or pub tends to get a lot harder when children and needy pets enter the mix. One solution — Breweries! Beer gardens! Brewpubs!

Because parents (of kids and pets) want to go out, too — and not necessarily to a fast food restaurant with an indoor playground and no beer.

Thankfully, the Orange County suburbs where I live have gotten on board with my family- and pet-friendly craft brewery dreams. The key ingredients for me are spacious patios, a water bowl for the pooch, and food — either made onsite or, at the least, easy and quick to order and get delivered from somewhere else. Board and pub games are an added bonus.

Plus, of course, great beer from small, independent, local breweries. On the beer front, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of beer I encountered on my self-arranged tour of breweries in the Costa Mesa-Huntington Beach area.

Gone are the dark, dank days of nothing but IPA (IYKYK); now, you can find everything from pickle-tinged blondes, to mild sours, to rich and creamy stouts. If you’re not a big beer fan, every place I visited also had their own craft-made hard seltzers on the menu, as well as some non-alcoholic beverages.

Here are some of my favorites:

Riip (Huntington Beach)

Riip in Huntington Beach has two spots with full kitchens specializing in pizza and a wide variety of IPAs and other beer styles.

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Jill Replogle

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LAist

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Riip has been a family favorite since the company opened its first tasting room in Sunset Beach in 2015, with board games and tables the kids could write on. They have since expanded a lot, with a pizzeria next door and another location near Fountain Valley, which also serves excellent pizza, and has a small arcade to keep the kiddos busy.

One thing they do especially well: For serious IPA drinkers, Riip is your place. They usually have at least half a dozen different IPAs on tap, along with a decent variety of other beers, lighter and darker.

This place is great for … dinner after the kids’ [insert sport] game. Also for date night.

At Flashpoint Brewing Company in Huntington Beach, you can check out the brewing vats and other machinery up close while enjoying the results.

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Jill Replogle

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LAist

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Flashpoint Brewing Co. (Huntington Beach)

I only recently discovered Flashpoint, which opened in 2020 on an industrial street near Huntington Beach Central Park. I actually love this aspect of craft brewery taprooms: they’re often located outside of trendy food and retail areas because they need to be able to actually brew beer there as well as serve it.

Flashpoint has a big patio lit with fairy lights. The tall doors of their brewing area, and an adjacent room with the taps and more tables are rolled up during opening hours, giving it a spacious, indoor-outdoor feel.

One thing they do especially well: All the beers I tried were highly drinkable. In other words, not crazy hoppy or overly heavy on flavors. The nectarine sour was especially good, refreshing with just the right amount of tartness.

This place is great for … An early evening toast, watching the clouds turn pink.

Green Cheek Beer Co. in Costa Mesa serves great beer and food, including shareable, snackable items like pad thai cauliflower.

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Jill Replogle

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LAist

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Green Cheek Beer Co. (Costa Mesa)

Green Cheek Beer Co. now has three locations in Orange County and one in Oceanside. Their Costa Mesa spot is conveniently located not far from the city’s Bark Park. So, naturally, after my pooch has fun, I deserve a cold one.

Green Cheek has a huge covered patio filled with long picnic tables. My dog, Ace, was very happy to find a bowl of water set out for their canine visitors, and lots of pets from the humans.

One thing they do especially well: Green Cheek makes great beer. But what I love most about their Costa Mesa spot is that you can soak up the alcohol with food, including smash burgers, tots, and pad thai cauliflower, from their good and reliably fast kitchen.

This place is great for … reading a book, or making a new friend! Their long picnic tables make it easy to opt in or out of the surrounding social scene.

Bootlegger's Brewery outside the LAB Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa has a quiet patio for day drinking, and a lively trivia night scene.

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Jill Replogle

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LAist

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Bootlegger’s Brewery (Costa Mesa)

Within walking distance of Green Cheek is Bootlegger’s Brewery. Bootlegger’s started in Fullerton, and now also has tasting rooms in Costa Mesa and Redlands.

Their Costa Mesa spot is on the outskirts of the LAB Anti-Mall, a collection of small businesses and restaurants, at least one of which will deliver food to your table. A section of the parking lot has been turned into a nice outdoor patio with sun shades for daytime and heat lamps for chillier evening hours.

One thing they do especially well: Their Kosher Crusher pickle blonde ale. They debuted it last fall and it is seriously good — light, refreshing, and just a little bit zesty.

This place is great for … “working” on a Friday afternoon (I was not the only one there typing one-handed on my laptop with a beer in the other), and then inviting friends to join you for happy hour.

There's an ambiance for everyone at Salty Bear Brewing Co. in Costa Mesa.

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Jill Replogle

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LAist

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Salty Bear Brewing Company

Salty Bear is part of The Camp, an uber-cool retail and restaurant complex also within walking distance of Green Cheek and Bootlegger’s (you can do a tasting tour!).

Salty Bear is worth a visit for the aesthetics alone. It has a great bar with midcentury tiling and dimpled red leather. The sprawling, leafy outdoor patio provides plenty of room for the kids to wander.

One thing they do especially well: Their Coastline Strawberry Blonde made me nostalgic for the fruity beers that got me hooked on craft beer in my 20s — but so much better.

This place is great for … Kickin’ it on the patio with friends, either listening to live music, or letting your kids practice performing on the teepee-themed outdoor stage.

Other options in OC south of the 405:

Steady Kitchen and Taps, 18055 Magnolia St, Fountain Valley

Synth Beer Company, 2960 Randolph Av, Costa Mesa

Brewing Reserve of California, 2930 College Ave D, Costa Mesa

Some government funding streams for L.A. County’s public health system are drying up, and officials are turning to private philanthropy to fill the gap.

A new privately funded foundation launched Thursday to strengthen public health services after $50 million in federal, state and local funding cuts to the county’s Department of Public Health since early last year.

“It is really a hard day for our community when we have to ask for private donations to fund a public good, but unfortunately, we've lost too much money to not take this important step,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

In February, the county’s Public Health Department closed seven clinics, with six remaining open. About half of the patients seen in those clinics are uninsured, according to county officials. The department also cut hundreds of staff positions.

Ferrer is on the board of the new foundation, The Fund for Advancing Public Health LA, which held its first meeting Thursday.

She said the fund will help the county maintain its basic public health infrastructure, including disease prevention, health promotion, environmental health, and emergency response efforts.

Other board members include several health insurance executives, as well as actors Sean Penn and Danny Trejo. Board member Saree Kayne of the R&S Kayne Foundation pledged $150,000 to the fund Thursday. Kayne said she hopes the donation encourages others to give.

The foundation aims to raise $2 million this year.

More cuts expected

L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell said it’s crucial to have an alternative funding stream to protect services for the county's most vulnerable residents.

“We are saving public health,” Mitchell said. “This fund represents a new approach, one that brings together government philanthropy in the private sector to invest in community-based solutions, protect vulnerable populations, and strengthen our public health infrastructure.”

Officials say more public health cuts are coming, through the federal budget law known as the "Big Beautiful Bill," which slashes funding for Medi-Cal.

The county Department of Public Health anticipates losing up to $300 million in revenue over the next three years because of the federal budget bill and other potential funding freezes. Federal funding accounts for almost 50% of the public health budget, according to county officials.

Mitchell also led an effort to put a half-percent county sales tax increase to fund public health on the June ballot.

If approved by voters, that proposal, known as Measure ER, is expected to raise about $1 billion a year for county safety net health services, including about $100 million for the public health department.

Board members

The Fund for Advancing Public Health LA announced its founding board of directors, which includes:

• Dr. Barbara Ferrer, LA County Department of Public Health director
• Debbie I. Chang, Blue Shield of California Foundation CEO
• Sean Penn, actor and co-founder of Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE)
• Martha Santana-Chin, LA Care Health Plan CEO
• Saree Kayne, R&S Kayne Foundation CEO
• Danny Trejo, actor and restaurateur
• Jarrett Barrios, an executive at the American Red Cross
• Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith, Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine Dean
• Kristin McCowan, an executive at the Los Angeles Dodgers