Music, margaritas, and Mexican food benefit the first Los Angeles homeless center devoted exclusively to women, this Sunday at El Chavo in East Hollywood.
Before the Downtown Women's Shelter opened its doors in 1978, there were no facilities to care for Los Angeles' growing population of homeless women. Now over thirty years later, the Downtown Women's Center annually serves over 50,000 meals and provides a wide array of health, education, and other drop-in services to more than 2500 homeless and very low-income women, as well as housing 47 formerly homeless ladies in permanent housing apartments. The women served come from all walks of life and reflect Los Angeles' multi-ethnic diversity and social classes. In addition to their Day Center, DWC has a 47-unit complex which provides permanent supportive housing and a community environment for women who once lived on the streets and now are able to transition into their own private single apartments.
This Sunday, September 12 from 1 to 4pm, "A Magical Musical Lunch," at El Chavo benefits the Downtown Women's Center. Retro-hip cabaret ensemble Dick and Jane Family Orchestra--the Jane portion is longtime Los Angeles scenestress Jane Cantillon who wrote and directed The Other Side: A Queer History a moving documentary about the last remaining gay piano bar in Los Angeles and its patrons--joins Madame Palmita, "The Queen of the Carnival Sideshow Fortune Tellers" and special surprise performers as guests feast on traditional LA style-Mexican food and margaritas. El Chavo is donating the chow, beer and soft drinks, while lunch special margaritas come courtesy of Sino Tequila, which means the entire $40 ticket price goes directly to the Downtown Women's Center, just in time to help fund the new facility they're opening this fall!
For tickets, go to www.firstgiving.com/DWC-ElChavo
Magical Musical Lunch, Sunday September 12, 1pm-4-m at El Chavo, 4441 W. Sunset Blvd. L.A., CA 90027; (323) 664-0871 $40, full amount tax deductible.