Soy de El Paso

YA BASTA!

2010-05-22T11:36:00.006-05:00

(art by Tina Hernandez, "Chicana Badgirls • Las Hociconas")

It's been months. Feels like years. To tell the truth, I've felt quite bummed out lately. Disappointed. Heartbroken. Lonely. Dreamy. Overwhelmed. And I couldn't figure how to get that all out in words. On paper. In digital type. It's taken this long and I'm not sure if I quite found the words still.

You see, all I've wanted to do with this blog is tell the world how awesome El Paso is. But it's very hard to do that when everyday I read how a little part of it is dying, quickly. Juarez is technically a part of a whole other country, but anybody who's from El Paso knows that it's not that simple. That it's not just a place you hear about that is dirty and poor and full of murderous drug lords. It's where we went on Saturday mornings with our families to enjoy with sodas and candies and life all around you; it was where we went with friends when we were waaay too young to get a drink and dance; it was where we went to find a nice afternoon with loved ones in the mercado. It was part of us. It IS part of us. Juarez is El Paso. El Paso is Juarez. It's what the rest of the state, the country, the world doesn't understand. This was one of the few borders in the world that had a mutual respect and understanding for what was on the other side. And, quickly it is falling off the face of our world, our planet. Becoming a den for those assholes who value money over life. Becoming a ghost town because of sadist cockroaches that enjoy others' pain.

I became overwhelemed wondering what I can do, wondering what we can do to change this and I came up with no answers. And then one day I thought, "It's so easy." The answer starts with me. And you. And every one else. It means that we say "basta!" "Enough!" It means that we change what we do that supports these scum who are killing everything that we love just so they can live comfortably beyond anybody was ever meant to.

It means that we stop dealing with our pain, fear, apathy by inhaling false consolation. It means we stop sniffing false courage or energy or whatever it is that we think we're doing up our nose. It means we stop fooling ourselves by saying that every time we get high, we are hurting no one but ourselves. It means that we stop supporting an underground economy that has come at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives.

It means that we stop wasting our days on the Internet looking at smut that encourages men to degrade women and fools women into thinking they need to be whorish to please others. It means that we stop chasing those few seconds of satisfaction only to run away from the source because we really don't care about that person after all.

It means that we stop buying "purebreed" puppies at the pet store, only to not spay or neuter them, breed them, and then sell those puppies on Craigslist or in the newspaper for $300 each. It means that we stop pretending to be tender only to keep a terrible practice going, all at the hands of helpless creatures.

Everything we do has a consequence. From filling our lives and homes with clutter that only satisfies us for mere seconds to not caring about anybody else's needs, we enable the scum who are destroying Juarez. By being afraid and running away, we give them power. By turning our head, we say "Continue doing what it is you are doing, because I will not stop you, and in a way, I will help you."

It's time we stop. It's time we stop running and being afraid. It's time to stop being selfish. It's time to go back. In large numbers. In hordes. It's time to stand in their way. To say, "You might get me, but there will be hundreds behind me. And thousands more behind them. Like you, we will not stop. Like you, we will not back down."

It's time we start bring Juarez back from the dead. Through our prayers. Through our words. And especially through our actions. Ya basta. Bring Juarez back.

Back from the summer heat

2009-09-27T21:25:00.005-05:00

OMG! It has been a while, yes? I blame it on the ridiculously hot summer. This summer made me want to strip down to the skivvies and lie in a bathtub full of ice and do not much else. Seriously. Glad that it's over, but I wish that autumn would just be autumn already!

Anyhoo, back to business. I cannot believe I missed this in June, but I was awfully glad to see it. El Paso is on the cusp of something really exciting, and though there is still a lot of work to do, I think this is fine example of where we are headed:

Thanks, Texas Monthly and Kristie Ramirez, for again taking note of that one Texas town that is in a whole other time zone. Ramirez mentions in her Street Smarts column, "Visit chic salons, an indie press, and a cool old theater in this city on the Rio Grande." Niiice.

Big juicy —TASTY — burgers

2009-08-29T09:41:00.007-05:00

I love that Texas has a national magazine! Yes, the mother of all Texas publications, Texas Monthly, is known as the National Publication of Texas. With that said, I finally got around to reading the August issue (yes, just a few days before the last day of this wickedly hot month), which lists the Top 50 burgers in the state (www.texasmonthly.com/2009-08-01/feature.php).

I'm sure you've probably all already been alerted to the fact that two of our very finest — Toro Burger and Rosco Burger — joined some of Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston's finest meatpatties on a bun. But I like to look at it this way, since Texas Monthly is the national mag, then Toro and Rosco burgers are some of the best in our fine nation! :D

It warms my heart to know that El Pasoans are delving into the culinary shift that has taken hold of our nation (the nation at large, not just our Texas Republic). I now realize, sadly, that I am not too familiar with many El Paso restaurants, partly because I don't live there and partly because, as a kid, my family didn't eat out much. To this day, my dad still gets annoyed that we'd rather go out for a bite than just eat what's in the refrigerator. I've some El Paso favorites, sure. But they are largely located in the small radius of my 'hood.

So, it got me thinking, what IS the best burger in El Paso? How about Thai food? How about Mexican food, for that matter? I'm a slave to Yelp, but sadly what reviews there are to find about El Paso is typical (Chico's and H&H). The point of Yelp is to discover new places! To delve into the new and discover a world outside of the little radius of your 'hoods. Where have you been to eat? I'd like to know. What are your favorites? Tell me, please. Yelp about it. Urban Spoon it. Let your fellow El Pasoans in on the secret. for the love of food, tell us! Pretty please?

As a side note, here's a fun El Paso food website: www.eskimo.com/~sockeye/index.html.

Also, one of those fine national burgers places listed in Texas Monthly was Parkside in Austin. I mention this because my fiance works there! The boy LOOOOOOOOOOVES food — everything about it. He cooks with love and passion and joy. You can taste it in anything he makes, even if it is just a bowl of Ramen noodles. So, if you're ever in Austin and looking for a great place to eat, mosey on over to Parkside — the food will be made especially for you, with love.

I leave the politics to the smart peeps

2009-08-06T10:08:00.004-05:00

I usually steer clear from the politics on this blog. From the stuff that I think I know about, but probably really don't. From the things that passionately infuriate me, and the things that are better left coming from a more eloquent, more educated wordsmith. But sometimes, just sometimes, I want to open my mouth. And say the things that might make my friends mad. Or my family disappointed. Or that may be just plain wrong. Some days, I just want to say what is on my mind.

I'm glad that there are El Pasoans that aren't willing to back down, or shut up or who are not afraid to speak up for what is right. Thanks Gabe Bombara for saying what I couldn't find the words for! Thank you for representing El Paso by being a law student and showing that Chuco Town is made up of more than slow, laid-back folk. That El Paso IS multicultural in its own right, and thank you for making it NOT okay to downplay our culture and our upbringing, because how often is it that you meet someone who grew up on a border with another country and state, anyway? Thank you for letting us feel okay about being able to relate more closely to a whole other country and a whole other state than the one that is constantly claiming that we don't belong.

Thank you Ms. Cageyness for letting the Perez Hiltons of the world know that, yes, there are homophobes in El Paso, but no, that is not how everybody in the town feels. Thank you for letting the world know that many of us want equal rights for everybody, regardless of nationality, color, sexual preference, or ideology. Thank you for standing up for a town that is far away physically, but close at heart.

Thank you fellow El Pasoans — both those who are far and away and those still at home — for making El Paso a town that I will always love.

Who says there's nothing to do in El Paso?

2009-08-04T15:41:00.003-05:00

Get up, get out, and get gone. Get out and have some fun, fun, fun.
Sleepercar will be performing a free concert at the 2009 Plaza Classic Film Festival on Friday, August 7 at 8 p.m. in the Arts Festival Plaza. The band's frontman Jim Ward composed and recorded the original score for "Motel, Glimpse" and the film also features several Sleepercar songs. Come to the show and get pumped for the world premiere screening of "Motel, Glimpse" at the Plaza's Philanthropy Theater on Saturday, August 8 at 10:00 p.m.!

Motel, Glimpse
With special guests Zach Passero and Justin Stone
Sponsored by Mills Plaza Properties
2009 | Not Rated | Drama, Drama | d. Zach Passero, Justin Stone
Justin Stone, Zach Passero, Lindsay Stone
Philanthropy Theatre
Saturday, Aug 8 at 10:00 PM
Digital
World Premiere Screening

As a teenager, Lee fled his hometown in the American Midwest. Six years later he returns, a strange kind of ghost seeking haunt in his mother’s basement, seeking the other who resides there - Ready, his brother.

Ready’s plans for Lee and himself include a landscape business, a rock n’ roll band, a new truck, girlfriends, big bucks and late nights of high life. Getting it together. But the biggest plan involves partnership with the mysterious Stuze.

Hunt some arrowheads down by the creek, fall heel over head. Look into the past, the future. Look into her eyes. Trip to California…

Get a rope

2009-07-27T22:18:00.005-05:00

This kind of made me chuckle. I found it quite interesting, though, that the Old El Paso brand's home is Melbourne! That's a lotta Old El Paso there. www.flickr.com/photos/phototram/331889134/

ILUVEP

2009-07-13T17:58:00.007-05:00

I love, love, love my pups — they are sweet, never complain, and have the stinkiest puppy breath. Aside from that, I'm a dog lover at heart and am always looking for ways to help animals, especially those with no homes (The Animal Rescue Site is an easy way to get started!). So, I've planned for some time to buy those Texas "animal friendly" license plates with the happy little dog and cat and just never get around to it.

Today, I decide to stop messing around. Except, I was playing a tug-o-war between that one, and two El Paso plates. You see, there is of course, the UTEP license plate, which I've seen once or twice while driving around. But, then there is the lesser-known El Paso Mission Valley license plate. I say this only because I've never seen this on any El Paso car, and that just ain't right!

For just $30, you can help the keep one of El Paso's most historical icons in tiptop shape. According to the TxDOT website, "from the $30 specialty plate fee, $22 goes to the Texas Historical Commission to make grants to the Socorro Mission Restoration Effort for the preservation and rehabilitation of the Socorro Mission." How great is that? How come we, as El Pasoans, aren't doing more to help preserve our history??

If that's not your style, at the very least, show your UTEP pride. For every UTEP license purchased, $22 will be deposited in a general scholarship fund. That's right. Educate your fellow El Pasoans, so they can make it a better place to live (plus, education is just plain good for folks!).

Maybe the puppies and kitties will have to wait. But, I hope that I'll be seeing more Mission and UTEP plates next time I'm driving around town.

Let's hear it for Omar, yo!

2009-07-09T22:56:00.005-05:00

Ode to a childhood hero, a secret crush, a kid I'll never know, but who is a friend of a friend of a friend. Good job, Omar. Or shall I say, Mr. Lopez?

Photo courtesy of www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=38640

El Paso Eats

2009-07-07T12:13:00.004-05:00

Just read a great article about El Paso cuisine on Saveur.com. Saveur, for those of you who don't know, is a good food magazine. It's in line with the rest of 'em, like Food and Wine and Gourmet. I love how this article gives respect to El Paso's food culture, as unelegant as it is to the rest of the world: "This is border food, and in this far western elbow of Texas, at the state's intersection with New Mexico and 'Old Mexico,' as some people out this way refer to it, that means a very specific convergence of traditions."

Photo by Penny De Los Santos

Buy local, support El Paso

2009-07-02T10:14:00.004-05:00

It is like nails on a chalkboard. Yes. Whenever I hear the words "there's nothing to do in El Paso" come out of someone's mouth, my ears hurt. They want to bleed. I want to slap some sense into folks. There's plenty to do in El Paso. El Pasoans just tend to be, well, lazy when it comes to finding new things to do. I know, I know. It's direct, but it's true!

Many of those naysayers are often enthralled by other cities, that have lots and lots to do. The ironic thing is that those places have lots and lots of things to do because the locals support businesses. Locals spend their hard-earned cash making sure that fun, cool, neat things stay in the area.

What a brilliant idea! So why can't El Pasoans grasp this concept and support all the fun, neat, cool local things that are in El Paso???

Now there's even less of an excuse: Homegrown El Paso! The website "educates the area’s population on the benefits of buying from local businesses, promotes the members of our organization as being locally owned, independent businesses, and educates our members to provide a level of product quality and service that earns the support of local consumers." Just three years old, Homegrown El Paso has done a lot of work to ensure that El Paso becomes a local city. Now, it's up to us to do the rest of the work.

Want more entertainment in El Paso? Want more choices when it comes to food, clothing, and shopping? Then start buying El Paso, and our wonderful border town will pay you back handsomely!

They Do It For The Rock 'N' Roll

2009-06-16T14:14:00.001-05:00

" ... live a little." Word.

Harbouring our due respect

2009-06-01T17:45:00.004-05:00

Later this month, an El Pasoan will take helm of a pretty prestigious honor. It's a little-known honor, since it hasn't been held by an El Pasoan in some time. El Paso lawyer Cori Harbour will become president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association. It's a hefty job, especially because Harbour is a mother, a wife, and a sole practitioner. Now, she's got to carry on her shoulders the responsibility of an organization that prides itself as "the public service arm of the State Bar of Texas."

TYLA is really a great organization that offers all kinds of service projects for people like you and me, and youth especially. Ever had landlord-tenant problems? TYLA has a brochure aimed specifically at those. How about questions about divorce? They've got you covered. Know anybody with cancer who is facing legal issues with their employer? Guess what? TYLA has information for them, too! So, the fact that Harbour is leading this great organization is awesome. She'll lead them to look at issues that are relevant to not only the state, but to border communities, like El Paso! Whoooo. All the while, she'll bring more and more respect to our little border town (which often gets ignored by the rest of the state).

And Cori is a great person, to boot. She's witty, smart, and has great hair. :D I learned a lot about her since I got the opportunity to spend the day with her for a story I wrote for work. She's amazing. She pooped me out. I felt like I had just done a month's worth of work in the one day that we hung out. I don't know how she does it, but she does.

Just another reason to love El Paso!

El Paso Finds

2009-05-31T12:56:00.007-05:00

Last night I had the opportunity to see one of my favorite authors, Davy Rothbart. His great strength is his storytelling abilities, because he often finds beauty in the mundane. He has a magazine called Found Magazine, that includes notes, letters, photos, basically anything interesting that readers have found and sent in. The items are oftentimes funny, heartbreaking, and just plain strange, but they offer an interesting glimpse into the lives of others.

I am inspired by Rothbart and the Found contributors, but for this little blog, I decided I would do my own version, El Paso style. So, maybe it'll just be the words "El Paso, TX" on the back of an old soda bottle. Maybe it'll be something more important. Either way, it's always fun to share the small — and large — El Paso finds that I have, um, well, found being not in El Paso.

So, for my first El Paso find:

Jarritos may be made in Mexico...

... but it's distributed in El Paso!

Live long and prosper

2009-05-13T19:07:00.004-05:00

I just saw the new Star Trek movie! Whoa. That's almost all I can say — it's just really entertaining! I highly recommend you geek out a little and check it out if you already haven't. Here's a little sneak peek in case you haven't already seen it whilst munching on snacks and waiting for your favorite sitcom to continue.

Some of you may think I am digressing a bit with this Star Trek post, but I tell you I am not. The mastermind of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, was born in this fine city in 1921. Yeah, really. So maybe he grew up in Los Angeles, but I'd like to think that our fine town, with its endless sky and breathtaking views of the stars, rubbed off on him a little. In, 2002, the El Paso Independent School District Planetarium was even renamed the Gene Roddenberry Planetarium. That's not bad for a guy who didn't discover any real stars or heavenly planet.

So, to celebrate the Trekker icon, go out and watch the movie. And, live long and prosper.

Going Green in El Paso

2009-05-08T15:05:00.007-05:00

Earth Day has come and gone. The First Lady is down on her knees, tending to her greens each week. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is urging Americans to do like our great-great grannies and grow our own food. And I am unplugging all my unused appliances. It seems like Mother Earth is really digging Earthlings' efforts to go green. As for me, I've been unplugging everything I am not using since last year, and I'd like to say my utility bill is going down, but it's not. It's mostly due to all the water I'm using to keep my garden healthy and strong, so I guess it evens itself out?

My veggies garden is not exactly the most productive (unless you solely love to eat mustard greens and lettuce, that is). My squash plants are producing only male flowers. My cucumbers are producing only female flowers. And the bees are nowhere to be found. Nevertheless, I toil away, daydreaming of the grown-by-my-own-hands-and-hardwork feast I will have. It will consist of lettuces, tomatoes, squash, corn, beans, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, chiles (especially green chile!), herbs, and maybe a watermelon or cantalope for dessert. It is quite awesome to think that most of the green stuff in my garden was grown from seed. In fact, I am really proud, except when I stop to think that most have yet to produce anything.

Anyhoo, what does this all have to do with El Paso? Well, maybe you've been jumping on the green bandwagon, too. Maybe you've pondered whether you thumb is green or brown or a little of both? Maybe you just want to do right by Mother Earth but think that all the neo-hippy, tree-hugging stuff is happening far, far away from our far desert town. You are lucky, because if you think that, then you are wrong.

Seeing green. Naturally.
Local Jim Tolbert has a tip or two for those of you who are into the "from farm to market" or "from the yard to the table" movement. ElPasoNaturally likes to keep “things local" and focuses "on things local: farms, neighborhoods, hiking trails, farmers markets, indigenous food, native plants." You know, natural stuff. It is a really well-written and interesting blog, so check it out and get growing!

Take it easy.
Taking the lead from big cities across the country, El Paso's own Greenleaf Pedicab offers you the chance to hang out downtown, without the pain of sweaty armpits and aching shins. Jump into the bike-drawn, rickshaw-type cab for an Earth-friendly tour of downtown El Paso. All drivers are certified through the El Paso Police Department, so you don't have to worry about hooligans playing pedicab roulette with you. Still not sold on the idea? Watch the magic happen:

Wear Your Green On Your, Well, Behind
Del Forte Denim is made of 100 percent organic cotton. Though the darling Miss Forte is not from El Paso and doesn't live in El Paso, she was smart enough to have the denim finished entirely in El Paso. Whooooo! Isn't it haute?

So, there you go. These are just a few things happening. Go out and find green things for yourself. Or better yet, make them happen!

Foooore! Watch out, Texas; El Paso greens are headed for ya'

2009-04-14T12:42:00.008-05:00

Apparently, El Paso's Butterfield Trail Club is one of the best in Texas! I'm not a golfer, but I'm glad to see there is yet another thing to be proud of in El Paso. Perhaps the course will attract some big tournaments, and maybe a few big names, too! It has already hosted the Conference USA women's tournament (in 2008).

And according to the Dallas Morning News, "The tee boxes on the 233-yard par-3 17th hole are the highest point on the course and offer views of downtown El Paso and Mexico." Siiiiiiiigh! Sounds stunning!

The course was listed as No. 28 on Golfweek's 50 Best New Courses in 2008 and was among Golf Magazine's Top 10 New Courses You Can Play of 2007. So, when are we going to get together and tee off?

My only other question is, why did the article proclaiming it as one of the best appear in the Dallas Morning News?

My question was kindly answered by Jay Koester, breaking news editor of the El Paso Time:
The El Paso Times has written about the course's awards in the past. Heck, the Times even has a full multimedia tour of the course, done a week before it opened:

http://extras.elpasotimes.com/content/firestone/golfcourse.html

It's quite a nice site.

Think twice, El Paso

2009-04-12T15:01:00.005-05:00

I just happened upon this video from the El Paso Police Department circa 1992 while searching the Interweb for "El Paso music." It's so bad it's great.

Remember, think twice, El Paso!

Stand up and be proud

2009-04-08T10:21:00.003-05:00

Seems that more and more El Pasoans — and former El Pasoans — are starting to understand how great a city it is. I mentioned Andi Teran's great article on VanityFair.com about where the steps forward El Paso is taking (she's also be on Charlando Con La Gringa today, so if you have time, catch it!) Now, everybody is jumping on the bandwagon!! ;)

El Paso music has always been a passion of mine — yep, since the first time I stepped into someone's backyard to see a show. Siiiigh. Those were the days. But, it seems that days never quite left. With the help of El Paso Mediagroup, the limelight is back on El Paso music!

Soy de El Paso, beetches!

2009-03-26T21:09:00.008-05:00

Andi Teran, an El Paso expatriate, is my hero. The girl can write, and she's incredibly witty, to boot. I always enjoy reading her articles via Vanity Fair online. None of those stories has made me — and my fellow El Pasoans who have read it — beam with as much pride as her latest offering, The Best Little Music City in Texas. Take a look. You'll shed a tear and feel all warm and fuzzy inside, I promise.

This great photo is from Andi's husband and partner in crime, Hamish Robertson, and first appeared alongside the article online on vanityfair.com. It's of hometown hero Jim Ward's wrist.

SXSW: In pictures

2009-03-25T17:58:00.013-05:00

I'm just now feeling the pangs of rest, days and days after the last of the performers screeched out of whatever Austin venue it was they were playing. Thinking back on it, SXSW 2009 was quite great. Though I missed El Paso's Radio La Chusma play it's first official SXSW showcase, I did manage to catch Jim Ward's millionth showcase (he was performing with his alt-country outfit, Sleepercar). I also missed Juarez's Leche, because I couldn't find the place. Booo. Below are some of the highlights of Chucotown in Austin. And for those of you who like to read, check out El Paso expatriate Andi Teran's SXSW coverage for Vanity Fair. The girl's got a writing style that makes me want to knock her out and steal her eccentricly wired brain.

Sleepercar at Club Deville

I'm including some folks from New Mexico, 'cause, quite frankly, New Mexico is close enough to El Paso to be included on this blog.

Alaska In Winter's Brendan Bethancourt @ Volume

A Hawk and A Hacksaw @ Habana

And that's my good chum, Marina, and her Nutzack. Cheers!

SXSW...El Paso Style

2009-03-22T17:26:00.004-05:00

I am sooooooooooooooo late (as always) on some SXSW coverage! "What? SXSW? But what does that have to do with El Paso," you ask? Lots! I was debating whether to put something on here about the music lover's spring bacchanalia in Austin when, after watching a heavenly performance of Grizzly Bear in a church, on came Sparta on the PA system as we were all filing out. It WAS a a sign. I HAD to do something about SXSW on my blog. I had planned to bring you up-to-the-minute updates, but I am completely out of shape, old, and was absolutely exhausted. Sorry guys, you have taken a back sleep to sleep and first aid to my blistered tootsies.

I will post some pics of Sleepercar and other highlights later. In the meantime, check out Crystal Roberts' blog on the El Paso Times site.

Culinary Prestige in El Paso?

2009-03-11T20:48:00.007-05:00

Writing a blog about El Paso from Austin is no easy feat. An even bigger challenge is trying to convince an Austinite that El Paso is actually a great place to live. With that said, I have to tell you a story about a friend of mine. I constantly tell him how much I want to move back home to El Paso. Not because Austin is terrible or because I don't enjoy it. I just love El Paso. My friend, however, is convinced that A) El Paso is sooooo not cool and B) that I could not support myself being a journalist in El Paso.

He's also tried to convince my fiance (a cook, but I like to think of him as a chef) that he could not have a restaurant of his own in El Paso, because A) he believes El Paso's culinary taste would not support a "fancy" place and B) my friend is a snob and El Paso is an unsnobby kind of place, therefore, he just can not be pleased.

I tend to get a little unnerved by this kind of attitude. I mean, my friend's a cool kid, but when it comes to El Paso, the gloves are on. As I explained earlier, my friend is a snob, and El Paso is not a snobby city, therefore he believes that El Paso is not very classy. Or cool. Or artsy. Or more like Austin. Which is good, because El Paso ISN'T Austin. This doesn't mean El Paso lacks class or taste or "fancy" places. So, I was quite delighted to hear that one of our very own, from one of our very own "fancy" places, is a semi-finalist for quite a prestigious culinary award. Armando Pomales, of Café Central, is in the running for a 2009 James Beard Foundation Award. These awards are kind of a big deal in the culinary world. In fact, Time magazine calls the awards "the Oscars of the food world". Pomales is up for "Best Chef: Southwest". Sure, he's the lone El Pasoan in a pool of resort-town chefs from Colorado and Arizona. Sure, he's up against Austin's own Tyson Cole (considered one of Austin's best; personally, I feel "eh" about him). By the same token, Cole is the lone Austin guy on the list against big players. So, if you think about it, Austin and El Paso are just about on the same playing field. Take that, friend of mine.

Pomales may not yank that award on March 23, when the winners are announced. But, being named to the list is quite an accomplishment already. In fact, it's pretty darned amazing. Congratulations, Chef Pomales! Thanks for bringing prestige to a city that deserves a little more recognition than it receives. Thanks for affirming my belief that there are relevant things happening in El Paso. Thanks for giving me something to stick in my friend's face.

I hope our chef kicks Austin's chef's butt.

P.S. El Paso Magazine featured Chef Pomales last summer. Take a look.

Roller derby rolls into El Paso!

2009-02-23T14:42:00.008-06:00

Holy rollers! The first bout of the the Sun City Roller Girls was skatetastic! I am proud to have made El Paso history with the SCRG. For their first bout, these Chucas did a fantastic job of bringing the excitement, the pain, and the entertainment. I was torn as to cheer for The Bloody Marys or The White Russians since I had a friend on each team (that's Jalapeno PopHer of The Bloody Marys and Bangher Hard of The White Russians), so I just cheered for everyone! The SCRG were surprised at the turnout -- a sellout of 650 screaming fans! Good job ladies! I hope you'll help them continue to make more history: The team plans more bouts on the last Sunday of each month. Next up is March 29.

That's JJ (who did a great job of refereeing these hardcore skaters), Bangher Hard, and Jalapeno Popher.

Roller derby comes to El Paso!

2009-02-20T11:39:00.010-06:00

I am as giddy as a schoolgirl today! I just checked in online for my flight to El Paso tomorrow! Yaaaaay! I will be home for only a short time (till Monday night), but I am planning on loading as much into my trip as possible. I also plan on eating as many of mom's tacos as I can, but I also may be sick by Sunday morning.

I will surely be heading to Valentine Bakery on Yarbrough — pot in hand — to pick up some of their famous menudo and some pan dulce and fresh-baked francesitos! Yummmmm! While the highlight of the trip will be seeing family and friends (happy birthday, Marina!), I'll be there to cheer on my good friend as she and her team debut El Paso's newest pasttime, roller derby. She may kill me for posting this, but here's a scandalicious pic of her and some of her teammates!

Grrrrowl! It's sure to be a great first bout for the long-overdue rollerderby league, the Sun City Rollergirls. Here are the details:

A Roller Girl Massacre
with food and live music by Mexicans at Night
Sunday, Feb. 22
Doors open at 5 p.m.
The Mission Valley Ballroom, 10600 N. Loop
$5 before the game (available at location or e-mail suncityrollerderby@yahoo.com)
$7 at the door
myspace.com/suncityderbygrlz

Hope I see you there!

Hello again.

2009-02-17T20:53:00.005-06:00

It was supposed to be a new year. I was gonna eat right. Do things ahead of time. Stop watching so many episodes of The Family Guy. But, guess what I'm watching? Guess what I'm eating? Guess how long it's been since I've last posted? You know. I know. I KNOW. I know. But I'm back!

What I have been doing all this time? Well, for one thing, I've been enjoying the El Paso-rific gifts my sister gave me for Christmas. Yep. I haven't tired of them yet. I'm a good gift-receiver. Plus, they're really, really great gifts. First was the Capture El Paso photo book. It. Is. The. Bee's. Knees. There is nothing better than flipping through this book when I am longing for that deep El Paso sun and wicked El Paso wind. A media project of the El Paso Times, the book contains hundreds of shots of everyday stuff, like kids looking cute and old Mexican abuelos looking all abuelo-ey. And then there are the artsy photos that take my breath away and take me right back home in an instant. There are even some pictures in there that were so awesome that they even amazed my snobby Austin friend. That's one hard feat, so I am quite proud of this book even though I had nothing to do with it.

I've also been busy trading and winning some pretty real estate in El Paso. I also keep losing them because I keep going bankrupt. I just get too greedy. I Luv El Paso is wasting my nights away. You know, the board game about El Paso that's a lot like another very popular real estate board game. It's quite fun. I want to win. Always. But I don't. So I get mad. And then poor Alex (that's my very sweet fiance) has to suffer through yet another round with me. I have yet to win the Boardwalk of El Paso, Aceitunas. At a $200 mortgage value, it's the winner. I'm also gunning to win the Alameda Avenue Chico's Tacos. But, I can't even win the $150 mortgage-valued Applebee's! Hilarious! And instead of going to jail, you go to Sierra hospital!

So I've found something else to waste my time away. Whooo. At least I have found a substitute for The Family Guy. I'll keep you updated on my eating habits.....

I think we got this one right

2008-12-23T13:58:00.005-06:00

Remember Danita from my holiday shopping "guide"? Seems she is a big cheese on Etsy! Whoooo! Today she is featured in the "Quit Your Day Job" column of Etsy, where she talks about her art and being able to work full-time for herself through Etsy sales through Danitashop.

Here's another example of Danita's art (Conejo en La Luna)

Love it!

Santa Moz is coming to town!

2008-12-23T11:20:00.003-06:00

I know. It's totally old news. But I thought I'd enlighten those who might not know, because, quite frankly, this should be a big event. Morrissey, king of melancholy and great hair, is returning to El Paso. I know! God save the king, indeed!

02-28 Boca Raton, FL - Mizner Park
03-01 Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
03-03 Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theater
03-04 St Petersburg, FL - Jannus Landing
03-06 Myrtle Beach SC - House of Blues
03-07 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
03-09 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
03-11 Durham, NC - Durham Performing Arts Center
03-13 Richmond, VA - The National
03-14 Washington, DC - Warner Theater
03-16 Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theater
03-17 Pittsburgh, PA - Carnegie Music Hall
03-19 Buffalo, NY - University of Buffalo Center for the Arts
03-21 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
03-22 Philadelphia, PA - Academy of Music
03-25 New York, NY - Webster Hall
03-26 New York, NY - Carnegie Hall
03-28 Mashantucket, CT - Foxwoods
03-29 Boston, MA - House of Blues
03-31 Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theater
04-01 Columbus, OH - Palace Theater
04-03 Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
04-04 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
04-06 Minneapolis, MN - State Theater
04-07 Kansas City, MO - Midland Theater
04-08 St Louis, MO - Pageant Theater
04-10 Dallas, TX - Palladium Ballroom
04-11 Houston, TX - Jesse H Jones Hall
04-12 Austin, TX - Bass Concert Hall

**04-14 El Paso, TX - Chavez Theater **

04-15 Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater

Soy de El Paso ... and so are my gifts

2008-12-22T12:41:00.004-06:00

Look, there’s not much time left. Just do it already. It’ll be worse if you keep holding off until the week of. Trust me. Actually, you know what’s even better than just getting it done? Doing it and doing it local. Here are a couple of ideas. Steal them if you’d like. And when you’re done, spread the word. El Paso will thank you for it.

• Naughty Girlys Online Shop accessories
Ever find yourself wanting jewelry that screams badass yet sweet instead of girly and useless? I knew you’d understand. Be frustrated no more with the costume jewelry from Claire’s. Chucotown has it’s own place for accessories. Edna from the Naughty Girlys factory has the goods for you, from jewelry (I heart the skull cupcake necklace!) and hair accessories to cell phone charms, totebags, and even a patent leather coffin pillow. All are handcrafted by the lovely Edna, with love (I just made that up, but I’m sure her special ingredient really is love). Let's just say once you visit this site, you can cross off all of the lovely gothy, psychobilly, punky kind of gals on your list.

Scully Cupcake Necklace $16

Blue Swallows and Red Rose Tattoo Necklace $20

• Spira Footwear
I have always dreamt about winning the Boston marathon, despite the fact that I’m grossly out of shape and that I don’t run. Or jog. I barely even walk. However, I think I can at least feel like a marathon runner in some Spira Stingers. Bright, comfy, and made in the E-P. Add to that that those babies have been banned by the USA Track and Field due to their awesomeness (or some mumbo jumbo about a spring that cushions the foot…isn’t that what shoes are supposed to do?), and I can feel not only like an Olympic athlete, I can feel like a badass Olympic athlete. If running is not your thing, Spira’s got you covered, whatever outdoor/indoor activity you enjoy (even casual and safety/work shoes!), save for, maybe, ice skating.

• Dos Lunas Tequila
What kind of El Pasoan would I be if I didn’t try to push our very own Dos Lunas? While I have contemplated becoming a tequila sommelier, the prospect of having to discover the nuances of the good, the bad, and the ugly tequilas of the world seemed like too much work. I’ll stick to my tequila mixed in a margarita, thanks. Tequila sommelier I am not. Dos Lunas Tequila fan I am.

• Sudz N Bubbles
Dear Bath and Body Works:
I think we need a break. No. No. It’s not you. I love your fruitabulous scents. I love smelling like a cotton blossom. I love my house smelling like a moonlight path, even though somewhere in the back of my mind I suspect that a moonlight path doesn’t really have a scent. Really. It’s not you. I’ve just met someone. Else. Someone, um, better. This place, well, it beats you in the really yummy smell department. Seriously. You just can’t beat sudsicles and other dessert-themed soapy goodness. I mean, come on. They’ve got a bubblin’ bakery, for crying out loud! There’s key lime pie. There’s cotton candy-smelling cupcake-shaped soaps. There’s even a cherry tart for the cherry tart in me. Can you do that, BABW? I know you’ve got gingerbread, but that’s only once a year. This place keeps my sugar-scents in place all year long. It even has other stuff, like oatmeal soap and shea butter, when I feel less inclined to smell like I just came out of the oven. It even has quinceañera soap favors. It keeps my Latino spirit in mind. When have you done that, BABW? Most of all, the new one respects me enough to not take all of my money. It believes in giving me freedom to smell tasty without making me sacrifice anything. I’m sorry, BABW. It was just our time to end.

Peach Pie Soap and Key Lime Pie soaps, $7.50

• Gerbera Designs
If I walked into a cute little boutique in New York City that sold bags and iPod covers, I imagine it would be a lot like the Gerbera Designs website: Chic. Simple. Classy. I’ve been a fan of the Gerbera bags for quite some time. My sisters bought me one of these bags from Ya-Ya’s a few years ago for my birthday and I’ve yet to part with it. The bags don’t look like your Girl Scouting niece made it at camp — they are nicely designed and respectable! My only question: When will the leaders of Gerberaland open a cute little boutique in El Paso? I also highly recommend the Gerbera Designs blog. Tres cute!

• Maison Bibliotheque
You didn’t think I’d only suggest goods for the gals, did you? Ladies, it’s time to stop dropping hints about the diamond earrings you want to find in your stocking on Christmas morning and time to do some seriously luxe shopping for your jean-loving man. Don’t think there’s such a place in El Paso? Well, you’d be wrong. Maison Bibliotheque (which also offers women’s jeans, too) is quite possibly his answer to your Michael Kors and Burberry. Two El Paso brothers have partnered with a fashion veteran to bring these leather case-packaged jeans to life. Just a warning. These are luxe. Seriously luxe. You’ll have to drop some $$$$$, but I’m sure your man’s butt will look like they never have in those cruddy old Levis of his. Apparently, these are available at Hommework, “a men’s contemporary streetwear and luxury goods market,” located at 2419 N. Stanton St.

• Brown Fido
Just when you thought you’d never find the perfect gift for the prankster on your list comes Brown Fido. The products from Brown Fido are, apparently, major movie stars. Or maybe they’ve just made a cameo. In any case, Brown Fido specializes in gag gifts — those that particularly resemble dog waste. I swear. You can get fake dog poop! In the shape of letters! I have always wondered what it would look like if my pups one day decided to surprise me by writing out my name while doing their business, and heyo — it’s now possible, without losing all those hours on training the dogs, of course. As for the movie cameo, Brown Fido products were used in “Marley & Me.” I will go to the movie theater and pay close attention.

• danita.art: original art, painting, art dolls, jewelry, boxes & more
There’s something sweetly strange about Miss Danita’s art. It is beckoning and delightful. It is haunting and subtle. It is unique yet familiar. It is awesome. In fact, I wouldn't mind if I found the Frida Kahlo print ($15!) in my stocking on Christmas. It is totally cute, but not so sugary sweet that a new boyfriend would run for the hills if he saw it and others hanging on the wall. Though Danita lives in Juaréz, I still like to count her among the large corps of very fine and talented artists in El Paso. This is my blog, so I can make the rules. Tough.

Surely these aren't the only awesome El Paso wares that are worthy of your holiday cash, so send me line if you've got other suggestions — pattylgarcia@gmail.com — and I’ll spread the holiday cheer.

Let's do this. Or "Welcome. And Hello."

2008-12-22T12:39:00.001-06:00

An amazing, witty, and kooky woman once told me, "Write about whatever makes you laugh or squirm." And guess what? El Paso makes me laugh. And squirm. And I mean that in the best way possible. And so here we are. I'm writing about El Paso, much to the dismay of those who sigh a loud sigh when "El" and "Paso" pop into their heads.

Sure, most people ask, "What's there?" or "Why El Paso?" I say everything is there and because it's an amazing little pocket of the world. In addition to the non-native naysayers out there, I've come to realize that there are even El Pasoans out there who only know of the over-Yelped institutions El Paso has to offer and think there's nothing more to it. But here I am ... in search of the lesser-known, yet interesting, people, places, and things of my fine hometown.

So why am I here? To deliver the news. To help you appreciate. To collide El Paso and the rest of the world. To smile. To shout. To listen. To learn. To live. To love. To introduce. To entertain. To compel. But, more important, to inspire.

As always, comments from the peanut gallery are greatly appreciated.