Ghosts, Gangsters and Cantinas

Barrio Boychik, on a storytelling pub craw; eastside-style.
This is a special event to talk about our neighborhood legends and socialize with other local history enthusiasts. Which legends are true, and which are false; and which actually have a kernel of truth and a revealing story worth telling over a drink? We will find out on this fun and lighthearted tour. Featuring some local buildings, as well as a chance to visit and spotlighting a few of the business which occupy those notorious spots today.
Some of the places we will discuss and virtually tour with a screening of short documentary video especially made for this event:
Mickey Cohen and the Ebony Room – this cocktail bar was a favorite haunt of the Los Angeles mobster, as well as the police that were on his books. We will talk about how and where the Jewish roughneck started bootlegging gin in Boyle Heights, at the age of 7! We will talk about this local boxer turned mob boss who is a well remembered character, and the basis of so many legends in the neighborhood. Does he still haunt good old Brooklyn Ave?
How did people get wine and alcohol during prohibition? How did a loop-hole in the prohibition laws lead to record breaking membership rolls of local churches and synagogues?
Neuman Brothers Saloon - did you know that Boyle Heights had old style western saloons with swinging doors and all? We will take a look at some amazing pictures and tell their stories.
The history of wine making in Boyle Heights! Did you know that Irishman Andrew Boyle was one of the first wine makers of the area?
We will even reveal some interesting history about the connection between the Russian Molokans of Boyle Heights, and the rise of wine-making in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California Norte, Mexico – which has now become a major tourist destination, and source for some of the best wines served by the restaurants in our neighborhood.
Then we will be making our way to some of these featured nightspots:
Redz Bar (originally Redheads) – one of the most notable watering holes in Boyle Heights is Redz Bar; a historic lesbian bar believed to have opened sometime in the late-1950s. For over fifty years, this popular lesbian bar catered to a predominantly Mexican and Mexican American clientèle. It opened at a time when working-class lesbian bars were on the rise around Los Angeles, but it is rather unique in East Los Angeles history. It represented an important intersection of race, class, gender, and sexual identity.
First Street Pool and Billiard Parlor – Established in 1954 and purchased from Italians Americans, this is a barrio working-class watering hole and pool hall for locals – where elders and young people play each other regularly – this is one of the best spots in the neighborhood, which in the face of gentrification is one of the businesses we really want to rally around. Have you seen their amazing new mural?
Las Palomas – for more that 50-years Las Palomas has been serving our local crowd of working-class, immigrants at the very same location. They briefly closed, and then reopened in 2018 with the Los Angele Times hailing: “In a changing Boyle Heights, a tiny cantina favored by locals reopens to cheers.” Let’s show some support for them!
Eastside Luv – This wine bar has features everything from Morrissey karaoke to burlesque. It has become known far and wide, as was featured in the film, “East L.A. Interchange” as an example of “gentefication”; improvement to a community by and for the gente – the people of the community. We will explore both this concept and even a critical analysis of it; which reflects the various points of view of locals that are important to hear.
Xelas – one of the newest businesses on First Street. Formerly the location of the M Bar / The Metropolitan, also previously known as La Milpas. Los Angeles Magazine featured this new nightspot as: “Xelas in Boyle Heights Is a Neighborhood Spot That Feels Like a House Party.”
Casa Fina Restaurant and Cantina – join co-owner Josefina Lopez for a drink at her cantina. We will be able to enjoy the powerful Chicano art which graces the walls of her restaurant. We will discuss how the restaurant was once a well-known high end restaurant, and how she has made it a more accessible and reasonably priced place for the people of Boyle Heights to enjoy. But does the deceased owner of the previous restaurant still hang around here to make sure the place is run well? Josefina, our paranormal researcher, will fill you in on her findings!
And as more, as much as we can fit into one night of storytelling!
And along the way we will point out some of the places we have loved for ages and those which are long gone, and even some newer spots which are just recently popping up.
This is a perfect chance to locals and friends of our community to share their stories and memories, while supporting local businesses both new and old which are interested in preserving the heritage of our community.
Ticket sales from this event go to support the space and programming for the Boyle Heights Museum; where we promote the historical storytelling of Boyle Heights, as told by the people of Boyle Heights. Thank you for your generous support!
Age 21+. Includes one drink ticket for Casa Fina Cantina. Please drink responsibly!
This is a real walking tour and you must be able to walk for two hours mostly standing. There will be opportunities to use the bathroom at some of the locations and to sit. This tour route will utilize all flat surfaces. Wheelchair accessible, if entering from the FRONT of Casa Fina Restaurant and Cantina; as the parking lot entrance in the back has many stairs.
PARKING: We do not have a parking lot. There is limited parking in the neighborhood. There is also limited parking at Casa Fina Restaurant. However, do not park in metered parking, as they only allow 1-hour parking until 8pm and are very strict. Our location is walking distance from two Gold Line stations, equal distance from Mariachi Plaza and Soto Station. REMINDERS: There are no refunds or future credits. TERMS AND CONDITIONS: https://www.bhhistorytours.com/terms-and-conditions