Talking to the Pilsen community

MATTHEW CASTRO, 21

You cut hair here at Lucky’s Barbershop?
Yeah. I’ve been cutting for about five or six years. But Lucky’s just opened up a couple months ago.

Would you consider yourself an ace of fades?
[Laughs] Yeah. Not graphics, though.

What’s the craziest thing someone’s gotten shaved on their head?
Uh, maybe the North Face symbol.

Have you seen Pilsen change?
I’ve been here my whole life, and Pilsen is a lot nicer than it used to be. It’s a lot safer. They’re building condos and trying to make it more professional.

What are your favorite spots in the neighborhood?
I love playing basketball at Boogie Park. It has a history in the early hip-hop days as a hotbed of break dancing and graffiti. Now, if you go there, there’s graffiti all around.