Pan Dulce

For years after he immigrated to Los Angeles, Adolf (Ed) Krumer dreamed of opening a bakery to make the hearty European breads he enjoyed while growing up in the Soviet Union. Little did he anticipate that his San Fernando bake shop also would specialize in empanadas, conchas and other Mexican pan dulce. But a good capitalist must respond to the laws of commerce, supplying what the public demands. In San Fernando, that public is largely Latino.

Working a recent breakfast gathering of business owners in Northridge, Los Angeles mayoral contender Eric Garcetti introduced himself in Hindi when a Sikh businessman approached. A few hours later, Garcetti donned a colorful Peruvian headpiece with ear flaps as he spoke Spanish with immigrants on the steps of City Hall, part of a show of solidarity for designating a stretch of Hollywood's Vine Street as "Peru Village. " After lunch, Garcetti joined rabbis at a City Hall menorah lighting.

Create your own Mexican fiesta this Cinco de Mayo with a beautiful variety of Mexican breads starting with frozen bread dough. Stretch the dough pieces and fry them to make Indian Fry Bread for tacos; fry small pieces of dough until golden and bubbly for Sopaipillas, or sprinkle fried bread pieces with a sweetened topping for Pan Dulce. SOPAIPILLAS (Fried Bread) 1 (1-pound) loaf frozen bread dough Oil for deep-frying Powdered sugar Cinnamon-sugar Let frozen dough thaw until pliable.

Las Posadas is the recounting of Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Bethlehem, depicted in candlelight processions during the Christmas season. Perhaps the largest is the Pasadena Posada, at which about 7,000 people make the march each year to raise money for the San Gabriel Valley's AIDS Service Center. On Saturday, pre-posada activities begin at 2 p.m. with a marketplace, where artisans and others sell art, clothing and jewelry on the lawn of All Saints Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave. At 4 p.

Carrying candles and singing holiday songs, Boyle Heights residents will march through the streets Wednesday evening in a plea for peace in the community. The Peace Posada, which emulates the Mexican Christmas tradition of reenacting the pilgrimage of Joseph and Mary, will take residents on a walk through streets that have been plagued by gang violence. After meeting at 1st and Chicago streets at 6 p.m.

At Rancho Days, Sunday at the Andres Pico Adobe in Mission Hills, families can dine on cactus stew, make candles and enjoy a day of Early California-themed activities. Sponsored by the San Fernando Valley Historical Society and held intermittently since 1970, the fiesta is a laid-back look at rancho life. Parts of the adobe itself date back to 1834. Many of the docents will be in period costumes to help visitors feel as if they are stepping back in time. The fiesta begins at 9 a.m.