Dear “¡Ask a Mexican!”: Is it true that those cute, dirt-smudged moppets hawking Chiclets on the streets of Tijuana are actually members of a highly organized gum syndicate? And that they pocket up to $1,000 day, are hired from Central Casting and commute from Point Loma luxury apartments with bay views? That's what I was always told, though I cannot reveal my source. Mr. “¡Ask a Mexican!” himself, Gustavo Arellano, has a new book, Orange County: A Personal History, which he will be reading from with barely any accent at all. Event is free (but buy the book; alternative-journalism jobs pay crap).

Tue., Sept. 16, 7-9 p.m., 2008

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