Wilmero in Tijuana: 2008 Festival Impulse

Last Monday was the 15th of September. For those who don't find significance in that date it is Mexican Independence Day and this Wilmero found himself over the border in Tijuana celebrating with the masses. My girlfriend and I celebrated this years Independence Day at the 2008 Festival Impulse with many of Tijuana's young residents. The unifying event was filled with heart thumping beats and music that I'm sure lasted into the late hours of the morning. I personally left the adrenalin inducing mixes around 2 am and there seemed to be no slowing to the festivities, I guess I just can't hang anymore.

Mad beats were dropped, some accompanied by eye catching visuals, by a number of DJs, such as Etcheto, Bostich and Fussible associated with Nortec Collective and the Rapture. There was a singing music performance by Glass Candy that I found more ear pleasing than eye pleasing but i guess the ear part is the point. I personally super enjoyed the set by Nortec Collective and to me it seems that many others did too. I guess the crowd hopping was a good signifier of that. I had a great time with amazing music surrounded by Mexican national pride, happy anniversary Mexico. Que viva Mexico!   

Wilmas + Farmers Market = Curiosity

When the idea of a farmers market comes to mind the location of Wilmington, California (Wilmas) would not be one of the first places associated with that idea. On Thursdays from 10am to 1pm off of the major street of Avalon on L street there it exists in all its one block glory. The small section is blocked off from traffic and tents are erected to provide to casual shoppers fresh fruit and vegetables, varying types of eats to even jewelry.

Now I would like to be one of the first individuals to admit that I enjoy the idea of a farmers market in Wilmas and would love to know how this came to be. However if the idea were presented to me or many other Wilmeros over 10 years ago we would think you were not all there. For myself this has to do more with economics. Many individuals in Wilmas live under the poverty line, in fact for sometime Wilmas was considered as a low income community ( a ghetto to be exact ). This does not mean that the city has not improved for this weekly event to happen but it does bring into question who exactly shops at this market.

To be exact sections of Wilmas can be considered to contain ghettos but the real estate landscape is quite vast, meaning that different classes do live in Wilmas but are these the individuals that the farmers market is catering towards? I did notice many items for sale that the everyday Wilmero could afford but a few things seemed out of place. Now i am sure that the average Wilmero would enjoy some of the jewelry being offered but probably not at the prices being offered. Organic fruit and vegetables are something that many would pay more for but why when there are a number of markets that offer them for considerably less.

The one thing I can agree on is the offering of prepared foods. This is where i believe the farmers market really provides. There are not as many choices as I remember when i first attended the market, probably due to the high price being asked and lack of demand, but there are still many things to enjoy. Like in so many other farmers market kettle corn has its presence, Salvadorian food, and so many others.

Above is a picture of one of the yummy eats I personally enjoyed from the market. A hot dog wrapped in bacon covered with grilled onions and pepper with a generous slathering of condiments, very tasty, and this can be accompanied with an Agua Fresca of a variety of flavors.

Like I stated before I would like the Wilmington farmers market to succeed and continue to develop a long history with this community, however i feel this lies in the farmers market ability to adapt to the community, to be able to understand the people it is providing for.