20 Mexican Pesos = $1.69
1.00 USD = 11.8186 MXN
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Mexican films in NYC
The Mexican Cultural Institute of NY is sponsoring six films that are being shown as part of the Havana Film Festival this year. I hope to catch Viaje Redondo and Heart of Time. The descriptions below are from their website:
"The HFFNY enters its 12th year with a program of award-winning films, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with distinguished international directors, actors, and producers. The Mexican Cultural Institute is proud to support the six Mexican films presented this year:
BLATTANGELUS
Araceli Santana. Mexico. 2010.
Documentary. 70 min. U.S. Premiere
Since childhood, Jorge’s homosexuality had created a conflict that ended when he moved away from the precepts of his religion. But the counsel of a priest reconciles him with his faith and leads him to head a church that brings gays closer to a God who promotes responsibility and awareness of their freedom.
QUAD CINEMA, Saturday April 9, 5:30 pm - N.Y. Premiere - Q&A with Director
QUAD CINEMA, Tuesday April 12, 1:00 pm
CORAZÓN DEL TIEMPO / HEART OF TIME
Alberto Cortés. 2009.
Mexico/Spain. Fiction. 90 min. N.Y. Premiere.
In the middle of the Zapatista struggle in Chiapas, Sonia has been betrothed. But her passion for the rebel fighter Julio puts the security of her community and the rebels in jeopardy and Sonia will have to take on the struggles of love in the heart of time.
QUAD CINEMA, Friday April 8, 4:45 pm - N.Y. Premiere
QUAD CINEMA, Thursday April 14, 4:45 pm
TE EXTRAÑO / I MISS YOU
Fabián Hofman. 2010.
Mexico/Argentina. Fiction. 96 min. N.Y. Premiere.
Miss You explores adolescence and the birth of individual identity following Javier, a 15-year-old Argentinean boy who leaves his home for Mexico City burdened with the tragedy of his missing brother, a premature separation from his family and the weight of collective guilt.
QUAD CINEMA, Saturday April 9, 8:50 pm - N.Y. Premiere - Q&A with Director
QUAD CINEMA, Monday April 11, 3:00 pm
VIAJE REDONDO / ROUND TRIP
Gerardo Tort. 2009. Mexico.
Fiction. 102 min. N.Y. Premiere.
Two women who casually meet at the same bus stop are forced by circumstance to spend two nights together in an environment completely unknown to them. Despite their differences, they create bonds of sympathy, tenderness and friendship.
QUAD CINEMA, Sunday April 10, 7:10 pm - N.Y. Premiere - Q&A with Director
QUAD CINEMA, Tuesday April 12, 3:00 pm - N.Y. Premiere
VOLADORA / VOLADORA: A FLYING WOMAN
Chloe Campero. 2008.
Mexico. Documentary. 11 min.
An intimate portrait about a flying woman dancer from Veracruz who dreams of continuing “flying,” and a look at the communities of the Veracruz sierra and their mysticism, their festivities, their rituals and illusions.
King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center, Wednesday April 13, 6:00 pm
U.S. Premiere
FREE & Open to the Public
EL LLANTO DE LA TIERRA / THE CRYING OF THE EARTH
Lucio Olmos. 2008.
Mexico. Fiction. 8 min.
The film shows the damage people have done to the environment by its consumptive lifestyle and how the Totonac people respect their environment and the natural resources, which are so sacred to them.
King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center, Wednesday April 13, 6:00 pm
U.S. Premiere
FREE & Open to the Public
For more info and tickets visit www.hffny.com"
Monday, April 4, 2011
Damn good coffee
Reading: Oaxaca Journal by Oliver Sacks
Oaxaca al Gusto by Diana Kennedy
My friends know I'm extremely picky about coffee, so much so that I have mine shipped up from New Orleans every three months. But I loved the coffee we had in Oaxaca. One of my favorite places was La Antigua on the Reforma. We went in the evenings to play chess while drinking coffee and eating chocolate cake with chili sauce.
The Oaxaca Wiki has other suggestions of where to get a great cup of coffee or chocolate oaxaqueno, and I'm planning to hit them all, and more, this summer!
Gustavo Perez
One of the exhibits that drew me to the Centro de las Artes de San Agustin last summer was of ceramist Gustavo Perez. His pieces are both traditional and experimental, utilitarian -- but not. He is represented in the United States by the Frank Lloyd Gallery in Santa Monica. My particular favorite is the wall hanging sculpture, but I loved the smushed pieces as well.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
An argument for travel
"“Don’t go there,” the know-it-all, stay-at-home finger wagger says of many a distant place. I have heard it my whole traveling life, and in almost every case it was bad advice." Paul Theroux
In 1978, I took my first trip overseas alone when I studied in London for a summer semester. Worried friends begged me not to go, and I know my mother lost some sleep over the trip although she never voiced her worries to me. If their concern surprises you younger folk, remember that in 1973, the Provos had begun regularly targeting London landmarks, including bombing the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament, shopping areas and hotel lobbies. I remember going to Sainsbury's to get my groceries and having to open my bag to a young British Army soldier who rooted through it with one hand while cradling a very large weapon with the other.
I like to think of myself as adventurous, not reckless. I may have left college and gotten on an airplane to New York with only one suitcase and $200, but I did have a return ticket to New Orleans tucked away in the lining. Just in case, you know.
The opening quote comes from an article in this weekend's New York Times on Why We Travel. For all my beautiful, not know-it-all but concerned, friends and family who are lovingly urging me not to go to Mexico this summer, please don't worry and enjoy the article! :-)
In 1978, I took my first trip overseas alone when I studied in London for a summer semester. Worried friends begged me not to go, and I know my mother lost some sleep over the trip although she never voiced her worries to me. If their concern surprises you younger folk, remember that in 1973, the Provos had begun regularly targeting London landmarks, including bombing the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament, shopping areas and hotel lobbies. I remember going to Sainsbury's to get my groceries and having to open my bag to a young British Army soldier who rooted through it with one hand while cradling a very large weapon with the other.
I like to think of myself as adventurous, not reckless. I may have left college and gotten on an airplane to New York with only one suitcase and $200, but I did have a return ticket to New Orleans tucked away in the lining. Just in case, you know.
The opening quote comes from an article in this weekend's New York Times on Why We Travel. For all my beautiful, not know-it-all but concerned, friends and family who are lovingly urging me not to go to Mexico this summer, please don't worry and enjoy the article! :-)
Friday, April 1, 2011
Please, can I have some more?
Image via www.amazon.com
Okay, so I was quite pleased last summer that I ate chapulines (grasshoppers) twice and salsa with smoked gusanos (worms). But then I read Diana Kennedy's Oaxaca al Gusto and discovered a recipe for Mole with Black Iguana. And I realized that in the realms of adventurous eaters, I'm probably not a candidate for the next Survivor tv series.
NEH 2011
I was planning to spend the month of July in Oaxaca taking Spanish classes and learning how to dance salsa. But I heard today that I was accepted for the NEH institute, so I'll be working with other teachers and scholars to write new curriculum. This is a good thing because I tend to be more productive in a structured environment than I do when I'm footloose and fancy-free. So I'm totally excited!
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