ATL/SF/LA

I made it back from the South where I was treated warmly and networked with leaders moving the national service, non-violent, social justice agenda forward.

Atlanta, may not be indicative of the rest of Georgia but I experienced new tastes, sights and sounds. At every meal we asked how do the women possible stay thin? Despite the warm weather the portions were tremendous and the food cheesy, gooey goodness. I must say they take pride in their fresh farm to table cuisine....didn't stop us from trying the truffle blue mac n'cheese, too sweet mint juleps and okra stew- my favorite!

Between the three Southern states I have spent time in; Florida, Louisiana and Georgia- I would have to say New Orleans has been my favorite.
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In San Francisco, the weather has been warm and the days full. Revising familiar paths and forging new ones. Heading to SoCal for work and family the same weekend as the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival. Also skipping the lovely playa at Burning Man to attend a dear friends destination wedding on Kuai.

Renegotiating my time and space to accommodate the sunny days ahead, the dissertation writing, work, my family,friends and love...

CURRENT: Virgin

I never tire of giving thanks to my Virgencita of Guadalupe. It has been a beautiful week full of love, hopes, and dreams...

If you haven't already tuned into CURRENT, what are you waiting for?

Spring is in the air...

It has arrived with all of its glorious sunny skies...and my mood matches perfectly.

Ended winter with new favorites and experiences. I love my life-style.

Headed to the Rogue Ales Public House and discovered a beer I can say I like- Hazelnut Brown Ale was surprisingly yummy. My friends from NYC are well versed in the art of fine beer.

Later that night after a heated dinner debate over religion; Atheist, Catholics, Santeros all represented we said our piece and made our peace all over sake. We continued the night at my favorite Dub club. NYC has nothing like it they say and my Puerto Rican dance partner and I soaked up the good vibes and danced the night away...

Sadly wished my friends bon voyage and promised to make it to NYC one more time before they relocate to Europe. Then I will just have to visit them in Europe.

Read, wrote, went into the office and got ready for my trip to LA. Finally bought the memory card for the lovely camera my friend gave me this winter.

Caught up with my favorite Argentinean musico and made our way to an artists house for a vernal equinox party, or at least that is what I am calling it :) Made plans for a Puerto Rican, Argentinean, Mexican dinner party- I pledged the tequila because their culinary skills far out shine mine.

Heading South for Easter and looking forward to a lovely Easter Party at my Tio's house. Project Martinez, Martinez continues with an April trip to Aguascalientes in the midst!

Global

In just eighteen hours...

Reuniting with some friends from the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, made our way down to the Bill Graham Civic Center Auditorium. Every concert there I have had a great time, first Bob Dylan, then Manu Chao, this weekends Ragga Muffins Festival did not disappoint.

We didn't have tickets and were only showing up for the last three acts, to catch up with the out of towners. The box office still had tickets, but I told my friend lets check the list.

So I walked up to the guy behind the will call table and said hi, "do you have any tickets that maybe did not get used and you would like to give away?" smiled. He said he had one ticket was I there alone? "No, my friend is at the box office window, called to her and she waved (by the way she is rockin the luscious brown locks ;) but there is only a few acts left and we don't know if it is worth it to pay the full price?"

He said, he had one ticket, I waved my friend over, he pushed the ticket towards me on the table. "Thank you! Certain we squealed and would have hugged him if he wanted." Back at the box office we got the other ticket. My friend asked, how did you do that? "I just asked."

It took a minute but we found our party the first band we saw was Midnight from St. Croix, pretty mellow for my taste.

Anthony B. from Jamaica though, brought the energy of dancehall to the stage and it spread throughout the auditorium. Made friends with the group standing next to us. It seems the drinks just kept coming, beer, cran and vodka, sprite and vodka, it was warm and the air smelled sweet.

Between acts the guest djs spun some crowd favorites then I started to hear Yee-haw. I was really confused. Why are they saying yee-haw? My friend said the next act was known for saying it, Eeka-A-Mouse from Jamaica. Still confused by the yee-haw my other friend explained Eek-A-Mouse also says meow, get it like a cat? I tried not to stare blankly back at him and we laughed.

Handy cackberry searched out options for festival after parties, reggae gold at the End-up? Not scheduled this weekend, they had already been to Club Six, then we came up with the intimate Senegalese spot, Little Baobab.

I think we hailed a Taxi pretty quickly then made our way to the Paris-Dakar International night. Everyone had a great time in the shoe box sized venue, dancing and drinking to french hip hop, music from various parts of the African Continent, when I heard the familiar sounds of Orixa, streaming out of the speakers I finally understood every single word...Everyone was from somewhere, global and friendly as they danced in very cramped quarters.

Everyone likes to keep a good night going, so we weighed our options with the blended group that poured out of the Beauty Bar and Little Baobab on the corner of Mission and 19th. The events change depending on the weekend of the month so we stood outside at two am, discussing options for afterhours and undergrounds and after parties at the Phoenix Hotel...Yee-haw!

Snow Lovely

When I first moved to San Francisco, I couldn't imagine why people wanted to spend the winter commuting up to Tahoe. Drive in traffic to the snow? This debate was at the center of many winter relationships, he loved the snow/snowboarding and his friends did too, so why was I so reluctant to leave the city?

I just couldn't get enough of San Francisco, I was in my own wonderland. Yet I have taken at least one trip a year to the snow since leaving LA. It is always fun once I am out here in the company of friends. Finally after a few years of dealing with the cold I made my way to the Sports Basement for a winter sample sale and scored on some really cute snow gear by Bonfire. Once warm, I could focus on enjoying the snow. I think having the right gear in the elements is essential to enjoyment.

One winter I signed up to take a snow boarding class at Northstar. I would have been just as happy sitting around the fire pit at Squa but my friends convinced me. So I convinced them a shot of tequila before would increase our courage. Totally suspended my vertigo temporarily. My snowboarding didn't really improve but we found the tequila and instructor from Chile really inspiring.

It seems every year I am getting to the snow more and more. My friend has a cozy cabin up here and the wireless makes it easy to work remotely. Sometimes I just stay in and work, the view is amazing. I did not grow up with snowsports but I am learning to appreciate the peaceful beauty and pace of mountain living.

This trip was just to slow down. Just what I needed, a cozy fire and hot tub in the snow. Made my way into town, thanks to the hospitality of a friendly local, and discovered some places I really enjoyed. I could see why this winter wonderland could be habit forming...

Cottonwood
Pianeta Ristorante
Squeeze In

Quintana Roo, Mexico

Some of my new favorites in Mexico...

MEXICANA DE AVIACIÓN...direct to Mexico from SFO, with complimentary top shelf drinks, meals and premium hospitality on board. Made a new friend on the flight that is an Economist based in the D.F. and invited me to visit the Colonia Roma near the famed Condesa and Polanco.

El hotel New Gran Caribe Real Cancun...five star hospitality with a soul.

Chilango...es una revista irreverente, divertida y curiosa que refleja nuestro particular estilo de habitar la ciudad y sus espacios. Incluye además nuestra nueva guía Chill & Go la mejor guía de entretenimiento de la ciudad y con la calidad editorial de Chilango, nuestros especialistas en entretenimiento reseñan, mes a mes, los mejores restaurantes, eventos, cine, arte, teatro, y actividades de nuestra ciudad.






Por que soy como soy, puritito corazon, 100% mexicano mariachi banda tequila y sol Pepe Aguilar

Esperanza

From the airport made my way to the Flamingo Hilton on the strip. Waiting on my parents to make it back from the Golden Nugget downtown, on the phone I said hello to Canvas their favorite Vegas bartender. Meanwhile I sat at the bar with Vi the bartender who knew me. My parents have been going to the same two Vegas spots for more than twenty years.

Finally my Mom, Dad, Abuelita, Madrina and Great Aunt made it back. I went to the cafe with my Great Aunt, then my Mom and Madrina showed up. My primos were already texting and trying to coordinate our evening out.

Made it up to my room at the very top floor overlooking the pool, it was good to be back in the Nevada desert. With no time to apply the fake eyelashes, I had bought with my friend when she was visiting San Francisco from LA. Still tried to channel my inner Amy Winehouse eye makeup. Cobalt blue and black dress and platform black patent leather heels and I was ready.

Headed to the Palms, to meet with my generation of family. Arizona, South Carolina, Texas, and California. None of us are very good at waiting in line, so, we crossed the velvet rope and emerged at the Ghost Bar. I love my family.

Later as we drank rounds, took family votes and danced, I said to them, "I love my life." "Love that we are family." They took it up, and toasted, "we love our life."

Before we knew it we had taken up a side lounge and they were turning up the music, the dj was hanging out with us, and time had no meaning. We agreed somewhere along 4am to have brunch with our parents the next day.

At 10:30 the next morning the brunch plans were set. I needed two aspirins and a coke, but made my way to the Paris for a family lunch.

This time my dad and primo arranged a private dining room and we walked right in. We told them all about the night before, yes, we had partied like rockstars and loved our life. Three hours later people had to leave to their respective states.

We had one more night, champagne brunch had definitely been a family highlight.

The next morning my Dad got a call. His grandmother had died peacefully in her sleep. I was sad, that I had lost my last Great-Grandmother. In my lifetime I was able to know three of my four Great-Grandparents. Now my Bisabuelita Dolores Martinez got to meet my Bisabuelita Esperanza Carrillo. We have family everywhere. Love.

NYC

Took the regional train from Baltimore, through Delaware, Philadelphia, New Jersey, to NYC. First breath out the door of Penn Station and I felt alive. Anticipating what the city had in store. Hailed a cab, checked in to our midtown hotel. Little black dress never fails, took a town-car through central park to Lincoln Center.

Inside the Metropolitan Opera House the plush red, gold and crystal was beautiful, and that was only the lobby. Our friend met us at the door tickets in hand. Like all good things family circle seats are passed down and there I was a California girl attending like a true New Yorker.

From our little balcony boxes we saw the beautiful love story of Aida unfold. My favorite part was when they brought out the horses, the brown ones were my favorite, the white ones were very nice too. Due to a misunderstanding we missed the first act, and we were told they had real live elephants onstage also. I loved the full orchestra, choreography, set design, it was like watching a musical, dance recital, theater, concert all in one! During the intermissions we sipped bubbly and viewed costumes of Pavarotti on display. While he was a very round man he was certainly not a very tall one.

I am not sure what part of town we sat down in for our 11:45pm dinner, but Blue Ribbon, which has expanded since I last went three years ago, was delicious. In the basement they housed an entire brick oven bread bakery. Over dinner we discussed travel, a wedding in Dubai, journeys through South America.

We continued to MAS a southern French lounge and restaurant. They handed me my after dinner drink in a crystal sifter with my espresso, frangelico and hand whipped cream. The after dinner conversation, centered on the slow food movement alive and well in NYC, as well as a discussion on viewing education through an economist lens. Likely because there were economists and scholars in the conversation.

Out the window I saw neat stacks of cardboard flattened and tied with string. Blue bags for recycling, and no bins. I learned that in NYC, the trash is privately contracted not city run. Around 3am, I saw the big apple recycling truck come by, and was giddy. (At MAS late night dining and alcohol are served til 4am.) It was a funny thing to focus on I suppose, but novel to me.

The next day, my good friend and L.A. transplant met me for brunch. We took the subway to Union Square walked through the farmers market to Craft Bar. Great company, good food and breaking news: Seems I may be attending her wedding in Vermont next Fall!

Locals Only

Baltimore has been surprisingly less drab than I expected. After a full day of conference activities finally changed into street clothes to explore the city. Unfortunately the inner harbor area looked like any other corporate mini-mall.

So, I just turned on the brick lined street and approached the couple walking towards us. 'Are you from here?' They replied positively and pointed us in two directions we might consider, Federal Hill or Little Italy.

Once in Little Italy we headed towards the restaurant they had suggested. Two other locals noticed us and asked if we had been to the area before. No, and they suggested Amicci's also, the bar has a nice atmosphere. We took our seat and had a great meal and bottle of Italian wine also.

Towards the end of our meal we noticed the patrons at the bar were smoking. Just because we could we had to bum a cigarette, menthol fortunately. The server told us that in Maryland they had been prohibiting smoking indoors one county at a time, and unfortunately, Baltimore was up in January.

Walking back towards our hotel, I commented that Baltimore was actually pretty. We agreed the brick sidewalks are beautiful but hardly stilleto friendly.

Off to NYC tomorrow!

Mediums

While reading Foucault in the living room with CurrentTV and MTV Tr3s alternately serving as a background decided to try out the video feature on my new ipod.

I must admit, the grant gave me the nano video for educational purposes? First I transferred my existing music library and realized 8gigs is going to go pretty far, I fully intend to load it with my favorite music videos as well. So, far only got as far as finding this video by Calle 13 that really fits well with the week. At least if you have spent it discussing the virtues of; Coyotes, INS, and humanity. Now, I just have to figure out without investing too much time how to take it from YouTube to Apple.

CurrentTV had a great podcast by Blakkbox on Hezbollah and Mtv3 a great forum on immigration hosted by Ask a Mexican's Own Gustavo Arellano.

Calle 13 though, has a gift for taking the uncomfortable mainstream.

Southern Hospitality

I have learned that between federal and foundation funding, I will likely pursue mainly the foundation funding. They are more in-line with my own beliefs. Saw first hand proposals that had been funded. Discussed the Fulbright, The Ford, The Spencer, how once you get into one of the 'families,' the funding pretty much continues through your career.

One of my colleagues wrote me into the foundation proposal she completed. I decided finally that I was going to pursue non-residential post doctoral opportunities. Had a moment of doubt when I cam across a two year residential postdoc cross country but decided that is not really what I want to do next.

Shared my argument for using Michel Foucault as my dissertation framework. After two days of sharing my findings with my work-group they were satisfied with the confidence I had built in my argument.

Rode to the Professors home with another doctoral student that has relocated with her husband to Kansas. We talked about what we might want in a university. Her debate being at a tier 1 institution or not. I mentioned my preferences keep changing for pursuing public vs. private universities, but I think it has a lot to do with the student demographic at the college.

Inside the 'reception,' I quickly realized the vegetarian mind set was soo far from anyone's mind...Not that I have a problem with a liquid dinner. Quickly learned about the Green Hulk and Cupid Shuffle.

One part Hypnotique + One part Hennesey = Green Hulk, on the rocks and stir. Two Green Hulks later, on the dance floor learning the Cupid Shuffle, hearing about quirky engagements, and discussing Christian Louboutin heels with professors across the nation. Florida has been lovely.

Spain via Florida

Another sunny Florida day, and feel like the Sangria was in true Spanish form last night. One of the things I remember fondly about going to Spain was finding an underground lounge- in the sweltering humid heat, the below ground venue was a cool refuge.

We decided since we had taken the panoramic train ride from Barcelona to Valencia we were going to order a pitcher of their namesake drink. So we ordered Agua de Valencia, which sounded really refreshing. It was really smooth, the combination of fresh orange juice with cava and vodka, was really easy to drink. After the first pitcher we ordered another.

This was me and my sisters first trip to Europe. On account of her college graduation we set our sights on Ibiza. My mother objected to us spending two weeks on the Balearic Island, to please her, we planned a stop on the mainland. Pushed through the jetlag, enjoyed the Barcelona nightlife, and Spanish culture, met cute Italian law students, on a quest to visit the Lladro Workshop we made our way to Valencia.

We didn't know if it was the heat or the sugar or the alcohol that had gotten to us, because suddenly the Agua de Valencia had us laughing and trying to figure out how we got to such a happy state. Regardless we wanted to recreate this back at home so we asked the server what the ratio of, cava, oj, and vodka were? It seems we had left out an ingredient- gin. Gin, we missed it, no wonder, se nos subio!

It might be the salsa music I have the pleasure of hearing everywhere here and the combination of Caribbean accents which are so distinct here, something makes me want to hop on a plane and head further east. Or it might be the warm sun and friendly disposition of everyone on this side of the country that reminds me of good times.

At the intimate dinner at the Spanish restaurant last night, the professors from across the nation informally gathered to talk about their grandchildren, their fight for full tenure, their creative projects, and travel, they offered me a balanced look of what my future had in store.

One of the things I know, once I complete my dissertation I will be able to take on some of the travel I enjoy without the guilt of deadlines. I think I have caught the travel bug, I had been cured for a good minute, but am glad it is back :)

The coffee is finally kicking in, thank goodness the south moves about as fast as molasses.