Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Albany Vega. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Albany, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
For many of us growing up in Latino households, being en la calle was rarely framed as something positive. A callejera was often seen as reckless, rebellious, or perceived to be doing “bad things” in the streets. As a young girl raised by a strict mother in a low-income, agricultural community, I learned early that home was where I was supposed to be. My social outings were limited, my independence was monitored, and the world beyond my neighborhood felt distant. My childhood consisted of cousin sleepovers, Sundays at the movies, family gatherings at the laguna, and the annual summer county fair. I dreamed quietly about places I had only seen on TV: New York, Paris, cities that felt unreal to visit.
My identity as a Callejera unknowingly began to unfold when I moved to Los Angeles. Coming to UCLA cracked open a world I didn’t know I was allowed to want. I went to my first tailgate, my first college party, my first concert—and so much more. I fell in love with the rhythm of the city, with walking through neighborhoods full of life, and with being en las calles in a way that felt expansive rather than dangerous. What I had once been taught to fear slowly became a source of joy.
After graduating, I was determined to stay in LA, but grad school took me to Philadelphia. I went begrudgingly and, unexpectedly, fell in love. Thanks to my sorority big sis who lived in the city, weekends became about eating my way through Philly’s food scene, discovering neighborhood beer gardens, and learning how every city has its own magic if you let yourself wander.
When I returned to LA, that itch to explore only grew stronger from rooftops in the summer, long brunches on Sundays, small moments that made life feel full. I started an ever-growing spreadsheet (because of course I did) of restaurants, bars, and things to do. It was my own personal bucket list. Soon, friends were asking me for recommendations, and that’s when the lightbulb went off.
I realized I had an opportunity not just to share places, but to reframe an identity.
Callejera Chronicles was born out of a desire to put a positive, intentional spin on being a callejera. To me, being a callejera isn’t about being careless or doing “bad things”. It’s about living fully, curiously, and on your own terms. It’s about finding joy in a morning coffee, a long walk through a new neighborhood, a concert, a park bench, or a last-minute adventure. Being a callejera is both a noun and a verb. It’s a way of moving through the world.
I no longer have a dream job, rather I have a dream lifestyle. Being a callejera represents the values that have become most important to me: adventure, freedom, community, and a deep love of life. Callejera Chronicles is my way of reclaiming a word that once felt limiting and transforming it into something expansive for myself and for anyone who’s ever been told to stay home when their spirit wanted to roam.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m the founder of Callejera Chronicles, a brand and lifestyle platform dedicated to promoting, reclaiming, and redefining the callejera life. Growing up in a strict Latino household, being en la calle was rarely seen as positive and I didn’t have much freedom to explore the world around me. My identity as a Callejera truly began to take shape when I moved to Los Angeles for college. For the first time, I experienced the joy of exploring neighborhoods, attending concerts, discovering restaurants, and immersing myself in the city’s energy. Over time, I realized that being a Callejera isn’t just about being out and about. It’s a mindset: living fully, embracing adventure, and finding joy in both small everyday moments and big experiences.
Through Callejera Chronicles, I provide merchandise that allows people to wear and express this lifestyle, helping to reclaim and redefine what it means to be a Callejera in today’s world. I also host community events from neighborhood walks and step challenges to volunteering initiatives in order to encourage movement, connection, and serving our community. I spotlight local neighborhoods, domestic destinations, and international travel experiences to show that exploration and adventure are accessible to everyone.
What sets me apart is the intentional, values-driven approach I bring to everything I do. Being a Callejera is about finding joy, adventure and doing good. I’m most proud of creating a space where people can feel inspired to live fully while embracing cultural pride and connection. I want potential followers, clients, and fans to know that Callejera Chronicles is a lifestyle, a mindset, and a community that celebrates adventure, joy, and meaningful engagement with the world.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Earlier last month, I came back from a two-week Europe trip. I was ecstatic about visiting new countries, experiencing new cultural traditions, and taking a break from my everyday life in LA. Despite Europe having a contrasting, slower pace of life than the U.S., sometimes the travel experience can be quite the opposite. After walking 15K steps a day, being constantly on-the-go and dealing with a change in weather, it was only a matter of time before it all caught up to my body. Naturally, I got sick. While my partner wanted an entire week of staying home after returning,I was already getting cabin fever after three days. I recognized that my body was telling me I needed to rest and slow down, but the itch to go outside, feel the sun, and be around people was building and nudging at me.
For me, the Callejera lifestyle has come with more than a jam-packed schedule and plans with friends or loved ones. It’s come with a mental (and at times, an emotional) toll. A worry, and fear that wonders “Am I making the most of life?
When I dig deeper, I can’t help but wonder if this mindset traces back to my family’s immigrant story. My parents didn’t (and don’t) always have the time, resources, or opportunities to explore the world freely, especially when they were my age. Their focus was survival, responsibility, and building stability rather than traveling for curiosity and enjoyment. Internally, I subconsciously carry a pressure to live fully in the ways they couldn’t. Almost as if I’m trying to honor their sacrifices by not letting life’s possibilities slip by. Perhaps that’s why my version of “rest” doesn’t always feel restful, and why stillness has been hard to practice.
I’m not quite sure when my “fear of missing out” grew into something that feels like an unsettled mindset, but I do know it has come with real consequences: an often overly-booked calendar and stretching myself thin.
An additional cost has been the lack of personal “me time” at home where I can truly relax and do nothing. And I do mean nothing. Sitting on my couch watching TV and not moving for hours. Therapy has played a huge role in encouraging me to embrace this lifestyle just a bit more. A set-aside day or evening that I schedule into my calendar so that my mind and body don’t struggle later on.
This year, amidst developing the concept and ideas behind Callejera Chronicles further, I set out a goal of having one “do-nothing” day per month on a weekday. Weekends can be busy and meant for quality time with friends and family. With my remote schedule, I have the privilege and flexibility to do this. While I haven’t been consistent, it’s pushed me to be more intentionally slow, mindful of my schedule, and to listen to my body more. It certainly has helped that my partner grounds me, pushes back, and reminds me when I’m adding one too many events to our social calendar.
As much as I love being out, it’s actually been a really hard lesson for me to put into practice: a lazy day at home is just as important and needed as my days trying to live a main-character life on the daily. Living in a capitalist society, many of us are used to rushing and being on the go. Yet that urgency isn’t just about meeting deadlines or getting through a workday. It seeps into our free time too. We’re conditioned to believe that every moment should be maximized, optimized, or turned into something productive. Even the activities that are meant to be fun like brunch with friends or weekend trips can start to feel like tasks on an invisible checklist of “living life to the fullest.”
Capitalism teaches us that rest has to be earned, joy has to be justified, and time spent simply being is somehow wasteful. But the truth is: not every moment needs to be captured, shared, or turned into proof that we’re making the most of our time. Sometimes slowing down is the most radical thing we can do.
I’ve slowly come to actively tell myself to pause, go slower, and take my time, from my mealtimes so I can savor my home-cooked meal to my neighborhood walks to get the sunshine that brightens my day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://callejera-chronicles.square.site/?fbclid=PAdGRleAPk3UFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp5Jpgl9o6LhwMqPcdDu8tzve_IlZEkXPzCoWyjR4sIH1-eYW1g_UriyCJYhA_aem_-Uqfxd9GJ2Vh73JYlpXcvg&utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio
- Instagram: @callejerachronicles
