Gustavo Arellano, “Orange County: Nature’s Wonderland?” October 21, 2008

From its settling by the Spaniards to today's popular television shows, residents of Orange County, California have always imagined their homeland as Eden on the Coast, a respite from urbanization, where one only needed to work, vote Republican, and hate Mexicans to partake in the American Dream. But behind this bucolic veneer is a complex saga involving fabulous wealth, crushing poverty, and the looming presence of Mickey Mouse that has profoundly influenced the United States in areas ranging from religion to technology, politics to failed sports leagues. OC Weekly staff writer Gustavo Arellano unveils the truth behind the OC (don't call it that) by discussing his new book, Orange County: A Personal History, a history of the biggest little county in America as seen through four generations of his Mexican family.

ADMISSION:
Free, reservations recommended at www.zocalola.org or (213) 403-0416

BACKGROUND:
Zócalo presents a vibrant series of programs that feature thinkers and doers speaking on some of the most pressing topics of the day. Bringing together an extraordinarily diverse audience, Zócalo—"Public Square" in Spanish—seeks to create a non-partisan and multiethnic forum where participants can enjoy a rare opportunity for intellectual fellowship.

Official Website: http://www.zocalola.org