Wedding Fiesta: Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca
Mucha Fiesta! I knew it would be BIG when two giant tents went up three days ago beyond the tall concrete walls that separate my neighbors from me. I steeled myself for a really BIG party. I even thought I should high tail it to the city for the night to escape the sound of […]
Afro-Mexicans on Oaxaca’s Costa Chica, Museum of Afro-Mestizo Culture
Mexico is a true melting pot. Her people are a fusion of ethnicities, races, and cultures originating from Asia, Europe, and Africa mingling with America’s First Peoples. The Spanish brought slaves from the Philippines and China, while Portuguese traders imported forced labor from Africa to work Mexico’s sugar cane fields and cattle ranches when indigenous […]
Lila Downs Concert Is Mini-Guelaguetza Extravaganza
How could each Lila Downs Concert be better then those that came before? The Best Ever is what I heard people say who have gone to many in the past. I don’t know, but Lila Downs knows how to dazzle a crowd. The Guelaguetza Stadium on the Cerro Fortin in Oaxaca city was full on […]
Oaxaca Classical Guitar House Concert with Naeim Rahmani: You Are Invited
Classical Guitar Concert with Naeim Rahmani Sunday, December 20, 5:00-6:00 p.m. at El Diablo y La Sandia B&B Boca del Monte, Callejon Boca del Monte #121, near […]
Klezmer Music in Puebla, Mexico: Who-da Thunk It
We are wandering around the Saturday flea market at Plazuela de los Sapos in Puebla, Mexico, in and out of aisles filled with rusted iron butcher hooks, old painted pottery, antique furniture, glitzy glam rhinestone jewelry in dazzling day-glow colors, brass hand bells new and old, religious relics, doll heads, ancient detritus of Tia Maria’s […]
Oaxaca Matria Therapeutic Art Garden: Cultural Center for Music and More
Matria Jardin Arterapeutico is the manifestation of artist Maurico Cervantes’ imagination. With the help of many, many others plus foundation funding, a decayed, roofless 17th century colonial building in Oaxaca’s historic center has become a cultural mecca. It is at once a moveable art installation, organic garden, educational teaching center, music and arts venue, and […]
Modest Organ with Big Sound: San Jeronimo Tlacochahuaya, Oaxaca
San Jeronimo Tlacochahuaya, Oaxaca is an agricultural town. Farmers grow organic crops throughout the seasons: corn, squash, runner beans, garlic, garbanzos, flowers, and alfalfa. Mostly, Tlacochahuaya is renowned for its 1678 Baroque organ housed on the balcony above the 16th century gilded Dominican church sanctuary. It is a historic treasure. It is eleven o’clock Sunday […]
Lila Downs Dazzles at Latin Grammy Awards
She is ours — Oaxaca’s goddess of song and lyrics. Lila Downs went on stage to perform at the 13th Latin Grammy Awards on November 15, again recognized for what she has contributed to the music world. The Examiner article says it all. Accolades, too, to Paul Cohen, Lila’s husband, producer and collaborator. Here are two photos I’ve […]
Oaxaca Lending Library “On The Rocks” Concert Shakes ‘Em Up
What do expats, snowbirds, Norteños and extranjeros do for fun in Oaxaca [besides learning Spanish]? The Sunday afternoon concerts hosted by Jane Robison at Casa Colonial are one way to get together, shake-shake-shake to 60’s and 70’s classic rock, drink Margaritas, swill some Victoria, slurp an agua de jamaica and support the good work of the Oaxaca […]
Oaxaca Weaver-Musician Keeps the Traditions
Secundino Bazan Mendoza began weaving at age 13, his daughter Ester Bazan Contreras recalls. It could have been earlier, but Ester is certain he learned from his uncle who took him in at age 6 when his mother died. Secundino is now almost 85 years old. For the past 53 years he has served the […]
A Night with Lila Downs in Oaxaca — Up Close at the Concert
As soon as I heard that Lila Downs was performing in Oaxaca, I ordered two (muy facile), never imagining that I would end up in front row on the rail right next to the stage. Que milagro! Though my bags were checked at the gate, I managed to smuggle in my camera. All the signs said […]
Lila Downs Concert in Oaxaca on November 5, 2011
Lucky us! Lila Downs is performing at the Auditorio Guelaguetza on Saturday, November 5. The concert starts at 7 p.m. and you can purchase tickets at Ahorra Farmacia in Oaxaca or online at Ticketmaster. I bought two tickets on-line and can’t wait. Lila Downs is one of my favorite singer-songwriters and her Oaxaca roots make her […]