By Carole Reedy
Stunned and surprise were the first feelings I had after reading the list of novels that are short-listed for the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Award this year. I didn’t recognize one name. At first I thought ‘Mmmmm, a bunch of young whippersnappers.’ But, no, to my surprise most are middle-aged with a cache of published books to their credit. Continue reading THE BIG LITERARY AWARDS: Who are these finalists?
By Marcia Chaiken and Jan Chaiken
Frida Kahlo never shied away from publicity. Well before her death at age 47 in 1954 she was well known in Mexico City for her flamboyant style of dress, her tumultuous marriages to Diego Rivera, and her open affairs with both women and men of note, including Leon Trotsky. However, she currently has an international iconic status that did not start to blossom until almost 30 years after she died. Continue reading Beyond the Artist: The Cult of Frida Kahlo
“We still carry this old caveman-imprint idea that we’re small, nature’s big, and it’s everything we can manage to hang on and survive. When big geophysical events happen – a huge earthquake, tsunami, or volcanic eruption – we’re reminded of that.” – James Balog
Two questions I got today… ‘why do you live here?’ (I get this often) and ‘are there more earthquakes than usual?’ (this precipitated by the devastation in Italy a few days ago, followed by another earthquake in Myanmar). Continue reading Editor’s Letter
By Brooke Gazer
While visiting the beach in Santa Cruz, you may have seen one of the American Coast Guard cutters that are frequently docked on the cruise ship pier. You might wonder why American military ships are patrolling Mexican waters. A few of the Coast Guard personnel stayed at our B&B while on shore leave, and they provided me with an entire education as to their mission. Although they are officially part of the U.S. Armed Forces, they operate under the Department of Homeland Security. Two of their primary roles involve maritime law enforcement and search and rescue. Continue reading Why Is the U.S. Coast Guard in Huatulco?
By David Herstle Jones
She was travelling to Oaxaca for a two-year-old’s birthday party, the daughter of her friend. Chocolate cupcakes and a wrapped present were in the carry-on. Her eyes laughed as the words rolled off her tongue. She was from Tamaulipas, lived now in Mexico City after spending several years working in Monterrey. Continue reading Reading Oaxaca
By Alvin Starkman, M.A., J.D.
Some sauces are synonymous with their countries of origin – béarnaise from France, tomato-y Italian marinara, and intriguing curry of India. In Mexico, it’s mole (MOH-le), and Oaxaca is where it has achieved perfection. Continue reading Olé to Mole – Two Recipes and More
by Nora Valencia
Nora Valencia, of Alma de mi Tierra Cooking School, says that this mole is modified in dozens of ways throughout Oaxaca and is used to complement everything from beef and chicken, to shrimp, rabbit and even deer. Continue reading Mole Amarillo
by Pilar Cabrera
Pilar Cabrera, executive chef and owner of Restaurante La Olla and La Casa de Los Sabores Cooking School, has competed internationally at the request of the Government of Mexico. Continue reading Mole Negro
By Leigh Morrow
Since I was a little girl, travel has always had a hold on me. I would sit in my parent’s car, parked in the garage, with my imaginary friend, Lulu Simms, and pretend we were on the road to big-sounding cities like Minneapolis and Cincinnati.
By the time I entered grade nine, I had lived in five different cities, in five different provinces, which only fueled my wanderlust. By grade 10, I won a trip to Helsinki, a city that mesmerized me with its Marimeko patterns, smoked salmon breakfasts, and saunas. I returned home, officially bitten with the travel bug. Continue reading Travel
You must be logged in to post a comment.