The aroma of freshly prepared tacos accompanied a dance performance by Karen refugees from Burma at a recent celebration in City Heights. The monthly food and cultural event is part of an effort to showcase the neighborhood's diversity and drive business along a stretch of University Avenue.
Known as Fiesta on the Avenue, the spring-through-fall series takes place in an adjoining parking lot between two Mexican restaurants along the commercial corridor. It comes from the newly established Avenue Business Group, a grassroots initiative that aims to highlight the shops and eateries located between the the 805 and 15 freeway on-ramps.
A past event also featured Nigerian baked treats.
Resident and event co-organizer Edwin Lohr told Media Arts Center of San Diego that the monthly occasion is an opportunity to spotlight the area's multiculturalism.
"A lot of the people running these businesses were maybe not born in United States, their food, their culture is very direct from where they came from," said Lohr, who is also a business group member.
The next Fiesta on the Avenue is Aug. 21.
