Novelist and author Luis J. Rodriguez has a blog and posts this week about the fourth anniversary celebration at his Tia Chucha's Cafe Cultural in Sylmar. He started the cafe with his wife, Trini, and brother-in-law Enrique Sanchez.

I want to express my most heartfelt thanks to the community, the incredibly creative community in the Northeast San Fernando Valley, but also throughout the LA area, who have visited our space; bought books and artwork; learned from our workshops; attended our theater, music, author, comedy, forums, and film events; and who have enjoyed our specialty coffee drinks or tamales. Tlazhokamati… gracias… thank you.

The Valley Observed's blogroll is growing daily: Besides Rodriguez, recent additions include the photo blog Original Suburbia, Angela Stubbs, Travels West and journalist Steve Biodrowski's Hollywood Gothique. Links are there on the left.