Cultura

Halloween or Day of the Dead?

MoKa Hammeken

Leer en Español By MoKa Hammeken As the date nears, it would seem there is a small conflict in the air – to celebrate Halloween or Day of the Dead. Obviously there are people who wish to rescue Mexican traditions, as a way to strengthen identity; nevertheless, we cannot set aside acculturation and the strong […]

Leer en Español By MoKa Hammeken As the date nears, it would seem there is a small conflict in the air – to celebrate Halloween or Day of the Dead. Obviously there are people who wish to rescue Mexican traditions, as a way to strengthen identity; nevertheless, we cannot set aside acculturation and the strong influence we receive particularly from our neighbors to the North. This strong wave does not only hit the border, but reaches further into the center of Mexico. Still, those who really believe in all the Day of the Dead means and symbolizes do not question it and simply do so, as I have been able to see in an area of the state of Morelos, called Ocotepec. Each year, the streets of this area fill up with persons walking, entering and leaving various homes. Only the families that have lost a member during the last year open their doors to the public and arrange their

home with an altar, candles, floral paths, and various festive decorations. People are invited to eat and drink (depending on the families). There is a range, from homes that only offer bread and refreshments to those where an entire fiesta may be enjoyed with different Mexican dishes, accompanied with a band or mariachi and ponche “with a kick”. Walking through the streets you find out which is the “best house” to visit, either due to decorations or for what they offer. This, according to tradition, is a day in which the spirits of the dead are allowed to return home to enjoy a few days (thus, the altar). So, those who have recently passed away are celebrated so they will know the way home; the bigger the fiesta, the easier it is for them to find it and quickly return home. Courtesies of this custom state that anyone can enter a home, provided they bring a gift for the altar,…

Cultura, Interviews / Entrevistas, Rocky Lounge

Encuentros virtuales cercanos del tipo blog con Erika Tamaura

MoKa Hammeken

A pesar de ser uno de los estados más grandes, la sola palabra “Sonora”, es capaz de hacer varios de los diferentes cultureros y artistas, se encuentren. Los talentos abundan en Sonora y cada uno aparece con una singularidad, que te abre los horizontes de hasta donde pueden alcanzar las ramas de lo cultural y […]

A pesar de ser uno de los estados más grandes, la sola palabra “Sonora”, es capaz de hacer varios de los diferentes cultureros y artistas, se encuentren. Los talentos abundan en Sonora y cada uno aparece con una singularidad, que te abre los horizontes de hasta donde pueden alcanzar las ramas de lo cultural y lo artístico, pero también, los lugares insospechados donde se puede encontrar, a esa persona de buen talante, que está dispuesta a formar un lazo de amistad a pesar de la distancia física. Así fue como por medio de una extraña maraña de seguimientos virtuales, en twitter y facebook, curiosamente di con Erika Tamaura. Nos comenzamos a comunicar cuando estaba en medio de la organización de talleres de iniciación blogger, fashión y gourmet, aparte de organizar el encuentro de blogueras en febrero del 2015 en Ciudad Obregón. Sin duda es promotora de un arte extraño y efímero de escritura de posteo de ideas y tendencias. Pero me encantó la idea de explorar esa área: ¿Un

blog? Eso está al alcance de todos, y ahora en tiempos de calor (cuando las actividades sociales y recreativas al aire libre se restringen un poco), es algo que, teniendo una computadora o un teléfono cerca, se puede hacer. Expresarse sin refreno y para un público un poco diferente. Entonces ¿entrevistar a una blogger, que hace cursos de eso? ¿por qué no? Es una rama más de la literatura; entre otras, por que, como se imaginarán, las posibilidades son infinitas. Erika, la blogger. Sin embargo, como gestora cultural, se dedica a mucho más. La imagino como una persona amable pero agitada, de apretada agenda laboral, cultural y social. Siempre me la he imaginado sonriente, fresca y de aspecto de chica glam chic (nada cercano al look desaliñado-playero -bohemio-blah que acostumbro a traer). Exacto, no nos conocemos personalmente (esperamos hacerlo pronto), sin embargo después de algunas conversaciones por chats, ella me hablaba…

Cultura, Español, Rocky Lounge

Yahír Durán en Rocky Point – 19 de julio

MoKa Hammeken

Concierto y Presentación de libro Hace algunos meses, cuando Luis Lugo trajo a David Aguilar, platiqué un poco con él, le hice una entrevista. Si recuerdan, él había traído a su amigo David como pretexto para verse y para ayudarle a cumplir sus objetivos del proyecto en la Fondeadora (necesitaba cierto número de conciertos y […]

Concierto y Presentación de libro Hace algunos meses, cuando Luis Lugo trajo a David Aguilar, platiqué un poco con él, le hice una entrevista. Si recuerdan, él había traído a su amigo David como pretexto para verse y para ayudarle a cumplir sus objetivos del proyecto en la Fondeadora (necesitaba cierto número de conciertos y llegar a recaudar cierta cantidad) y ya ahí, entre risas penosas, se entreveía que le estaba gustando el asunto de promotor musical. En ese entonces, me comentó que si todo se daba bien, tenía muchos amigos, muy talentosos, que merecían ser escuchados. Y ahora lo hace de nuevo, trae a Yahír Durán a Peñasco, que es donde el cantautor va a cerrar su Gira Norteña. Exacto, nuestro sagrado Rocky Point, ya está en el mapa de muchos. Nos vimos en la oficina en un ratito libre que tuvo y platicamos al respecto. Muy alegre él, llegó a tiempo y feliz, pues le acababan de dar los boletos para empezar a venderlos. Jalamos un sillón, nos acomodamos y prendí la grabadora- ¿Qué me

puedes decir de Yahír? De él, de su música - comencé después de los saludos y el ofrecimiento de líquidos preliminares. -A ver pues, así a grosso modo, como dicen: Yahír Durán viene de Guadalajara. Tiene veintiún años ya viviendo ahí, pero él es de Topolobampo, osea que también es sinaloense (si recuerdan que David Aguilar, aunque vive en México, es de Culiacán).- se endereza en el sillón y continúa con la breve reseña. -Lo interesante, o lo que me gusta mucho de su música, es que tiene un estilo muy mezclado. Tiene desde rancheras, cumbia, merengosas, trova, unas más guapachosas, algunas como jazz o blues, tiene unas medio raperas... osea no se limita. Y también sus letras, que son muy poéticas y de muchos temas, no nada más se clava en uno- Se rasca un poco la cara y continúa- Mira, es…

Cultura

Día de la Marina

MoKa Hammeken

  Por ser este un puerto y llevar con orgullo este hecho en su nombre Puerto Peñasco acoge como muy suyo esta especial fecha: el día de la Marina. Se festeja con su ya sonada Feria de la Marina (ahora llamada Marina Fest) la elección de una Reina entre varias candidatas, actos cívicos, como una conmemoración y desfiles (en las que participan escuelas) y una ceremonia de la ofrenda florales a El Pescador (Plaza gobernadores) a José el pescador ( como pescador representativo de Puerto Peñasco ) y la […]

  Por ser este un puerto y llevar con orgullo este hecho en su nombre Puerto Peñasco acoge como muy suyo esta especial fecha: el día de la Marina. Se festeja con su ya sonada Feria de la Marina (ahora llamada Marina Fest) la elección de una Reina entre varias candidatas, actos cívicos, como una conmemoración y desfiles (en las que participan escuelas) y una ceremonia de la ofrenda florales a El Pescador (Plaza gobernadores) a José el pescador ( como pescador representativo de Puerto Peñasco ) y la ofrenda que se tira al mar en conmemoración a los marinos mexicanos, en la que se acompañan dos o tres barcos en los que la gente que así lo quiera se puede subir. Sin embargo, no solo se festeja en esta ciudad sino que es de carácter nacional y se instituyó su celebración a partir del año de 1942 para homenajear a las tripulaciones de los buques tanques mexicanos “Potrero del Llano” y “Faja de Oró” que fueron torpedeados y hundidos por submarinos alemanes los días 13 y 20 de mayo (y entre los meses de junio y julio de ese 1942, fueron también atacados y hundidos los buques tanque “Tuxpan”, “Las Choapas”, “Amatlán” y el “Oaxaca”) durante el desarrollo de la segunda guerra mundial, acciones dónde dejaron la vida muchos marinos mexicanos. Históricamente se eligió este día para homenajear a los marinos mexicanos debido a que el 1° de junio del año de 1917 zarpó, por primera vez, del puerto de Veracruz, un buque mercante mexicano; el vapor llamado “Tabasco” en el el total de su tripulación estaba compuesta exclusivamente por mexicanos de nacimiento. Esto fue en cumplimiento del artículo 32 de la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, que había sido promulgada apenas el 5 de febrero de ese mismo año. Y esto fue todo un logro digno de celebración, ya que antes de que entrara en vigor el citado artículo, los capitanes, jefes de máquinas y oficiales de los barcos mexicanos eran todos extranjeros.

Cultura

Ahhhhh! Tequila in Puerto Peñasco

MoKa Hammeken

Aaaah!  Tequila. One of the country’s most emblematic drinks; it can be crystalline liquid or with tints of amber; warming and softly scratching the throat, making us believe we can sing alongside a mariachi. Tequila. It is something that defines us as Mexicans. It is the perfect component to margaritas (some more so than others), […]

Aaaah!  Tequila. One of the country’s most emblematic drinks; it can be crystalline liquid or with tints of amber; warming and softly scratching the throat, making us believe we can sing alongside a mariachi. Tequila. It is something that defines us as Mexicans. It is the perfect component to margaritas (some more so than others), as well as to the lesser known but equally as delicious Palomas (350 ml of grapefruit soda, 2 shots of tequila and the juice of 2 limes).  These are precisely the drinks that bring friends together and make such gatherings legendary (we can’t always say “memorable” as once one goes overboard mental lagoons begin to set in). So, it is normal one would like to learn about the local Tequila Factory and the famous Manny’s Tequila. There it is – located in a blue building along Blvd. Benito Juarez, between Calle 13 and Circle K. I imagine everyone has gone by it, seen it, and pondered the same

question upon seeing the word “factory”…do they really make it there? We opened the door and were received by a rich wood scent and a mural by Bricio Toledo of Jalisco’s agave fields. In the back stood different tequilas and liquor; to the right about four barrels of tequila: white (young), resposado, añejo and a young tequila with vanilla notes. The secret to the flavor, they told us, is in the barrels. Yet, let’s not get ahead of ourselves in the explanation. Following a quick visual inspection of the area, Fernando Mier and Manny Sanchez appeared. I believe Manny noted a questioning look across my face as he immediately said, “We have answers to all the questions you may have…well, about the Tequila Factory, perhaps not for other things in life.” He invited us to sit down as other people came in behind us and Fernando left to help them. We greeted one another and began the…

Cultura, Rocky Lounge

Carnival rides for Children’s Month

MoKa Hammeken

Fair rides have been set up near the corner of Blvd. Benito Jaurez and Kino since about two weeks before Semana Santa. Have you had your chance to hop on a ride, yet? Live the experience through MoKa’s retelling of the adventure, leading up to Children’s Day on April 30th. There’s nothing better to let […]

Fair rides have been set up near the corner of Blvd. Benito Jaurez and Kino since about two weeks before Semana Santa. Have you had your chance to hop on a ride, yet? Live the experience through MoKa’s retelling of the adventure, leading up to Children’s Day on April 30th. There’s nothing better to let out the child we all carry inside than to step into a fair: the flashy neon colors, aroma of candy, popcorn and other delights, games of skill, but above all the rides! We have a childlike fixation because everything turns, and everything spins us until we burst out laughing. This is how the journey begins: a curious look, one somewhere between astonishment and happiness, and maybe a little uncertainty in not knowing which ride to go on first. Nevertheless, being an adult can certainly help with this decision as many rides are off limits, though that does not make the experience any less fun or enlightening. And that’s how it

was…during a moment of free time I invited a friend to the fair, all in honor of Children’s Month. Upon entering there is a carrousel, which in itself is enlightening as you are told you are an adult, period. You can’t get on, regardless of however much you wanted to ride an elephant or roadrunner up and down, unless it’s to hold onto your kids. In addition to it being a small carrousel, a few spots under each animal seemed to be held together with duct tape, so I don’t believe it would be advisable for an adult. Wearing a frown, I had to pass on that. Every spin around would have been a like a symbolic regression, a time machine as it were. Oh well. Safety comes first. Moving beyond that ride, there were skill games with marbles, fishing, or toy rifles to the right; each with prizes depending on ability. There’s also the…

Cultura, Photo galleries

IV Celebración del día internacional de la danza

MoKa Hammeken

El pasado sábado 12 de abril, presenciamos la IV celebración del Día Internacional de la Danza...

El pasado sábado 12 de abril, presenciamos la IV celebración del Día Internacional de la Danza, bajo la dirección de Mariana Zataraín, en el Hotel Peñasco del Sol, en Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. Esta celebración, comenzó a las 18:00 horas y contó con la presencia de varias escuelas de danza, que nos cautivaron con

su talento en diferentes tipos de bailes. Fue una decisión de la Lic. Mariana hacerlo el 12 de abril, por obvias razones. Sin embargo día en que se conmemora oficialmente el Día Internacional de la Danza, según la Unesco es el día 29 de abril.

Cultura, Interviews / Entrevistas

Guille – The Eternal Princess

MoKa Hammeken

With Semana Santa around the corner, we are reminded of many local traditions that have taken place across Puerto Peñasco over the years. One of these, carnaval, in past years wouldn’t have been the same without the spectacular presence of Guille who, as Moka describes, has become synonymous in many ways with the colorful festivities. […]

With Semana Santa around the corner, we are reminded of many local traditions that have taken place across Puerto Peñasco over the years. One of these, carnaval, in past years wouldn't have been the same without the spectacular presence of Guille who, as Moka describes, has become synonymous in many ways with the colorful festivities. (Excerpts from original in Spanish) The Eternal Princess By MoKa Hammeken There was no Carnaval this year, though there are still those who more or less anticipate its arrival with joy (just as there are those who don’t, of course). Yet, one individual who truly misses the festivities is Guille who has seen Peñasco celebrate such spirited and fantastic carnavals, which now draw sighs from memory. I had arranged to meet with her one day, to which she charmingly agreed. I went to her salon to chat, and along the way made an appointment so she could cut my hair given it was a bit mistreated. This was her moment, as in

so many carnavals, shining proud amongst feathers, glitter, colors, and size 11 heels. Now she would have to do this through words. “So, how long have you been here? I understand you are nearly a Rocky Point icon,” I began. “Wow, can you believe that? You’re so mean,” she joked, “Well, I arrived here around nineteen seventy….five… It was Semana Santa, or a little before. The town was beautiful! You should’ve seen how beautiful Peñasco was…and I fell in love.  It was…let me clarify.” “Why? It’s not anymore?” asking the obvious. “Well yes, it’s different and it’s grown a lot, of course, but not like before. Now there are other things and it’s nice, but not like the peacefulness. Before it was virgin, and had its spirit…there were no hotels, all the beaches were ours, the people were simple. It was more romantic.” “I went right into cutting hair as soon as I…

Cultura

Benito Juarez Day 3/21

MoKa Hammeken

By MoKa Hammeken  (Reprinted from 2012) March 21st is known around the world as the beginning of Spring.  Spring comes to life much as a backdrop to Snow White or Sleeping Beauty; birds joyfully singing, flowers opening and swaying in the wind, fields turn green and leafy trees provide shade to couples who set aside their […]

By MoKa Hammeken  (Reprinted from 2012) March 21st is known around the world as the beginning of Spring.  Spring comes to life much as a backdrop to Snow White or Sleeping Beauty; birds joyfully singing, flowers opening and swaying in the wind, fields turn green and leafy trees provide shade to couples who set aside their jackets for more lighter springtime activities. Nevertheless, for Mexicans, however happy we may be with Spring this is not why we take this day off* (*2014 official bank holiday Monday, March 17). March 21st also coincides with the birth of one of the most famous individuals in Mexican history: Benito Juarez. Who was Benito Juarez?  He was one of the most proactive and iconic Presidents since the time Mexico became a Republic as, through help of a liberal group, he declared Reforms that separated the powers of Church and State. Juarez was born in the small village of Gueletao in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca in

1806. He was indigenous and during the first years of his childhood only spoke Zapoteco. He studied law at the Institute of Science and the Arts and during a time dedicated himself to defending indigenous communities. In 1831 he was an elected official for the city of Oaxaca, local representative in 1833, and Governor of Oaxaca in 1847. He was named the Minister of the Interior in 1857 and subsequently elected President of the Supreme Court of Justice during the administration of President Comonfort. When Comonfort abandoned the Constitution in 1857 in a type of coup, he jailed various citizens (liberals), among them Juarez. Comonfort’s actions led to the Reform War. Freed in 1858, Juarez was proclaimed to be President of the Republic in Guanajuato by the Ministry of Law. It was then, in July of 1859, when he issued Reform Laws that declared State independence from the Church, laws concerning civil marriage and civil registry, laws regarding graveyards and…

Cultura, Recipes - Recetas

Caldo de Queso / Cheese Broth

MoKa Hammeken

“What do you say, before we do anything else, you go get stuff to make a caldito de queso? That way everything is ready for tomorrow,” my mom said one Saturday morning. As long as I can remember, it’s been a tradition in my family to make caldo (broth) when the family gets together, or […]

“What do you say, before we do anything else, you go get stuff to make a caldito de queso? That way everything is ready for tomorrow,” my mom said one Saturday morning. As long as I can remember, it’s been a tradition in my family to make caldo (broth) when the family gets together, or after a fiesta, usually on Sunday. It’s one of the few dishes we enjoy together as a family, and it’s very Sonoran. The family ritual dictates we all sit together while the caldo is being prepared, so we can chat and laugh until mom says, “It’s ready!”  Then we all gather round with our plate, broth steaming and cheese melting. Nevertheless, the best part is heating up leftovers, which is why my mother always uses the largest pot she has. This recipe is so entrenched in our DNA, my mother doesn’t even have it written down in her aging notebook full of recipes.  When I called her, because I

had the urge to prepare caldo, she recited it from memory without hesitation, “It’s the easiest thing in the world.” My grandmother makes it, my mother makes it, and just recently I’ve begun to make it myself, after inviting a friend over to eat.  It is like an angel tumbling from the clouds into a half tortured stomach. This is our home recipe. Of course there may be different methods of preparation, and each family has its “secret recipe.”  The idea is as you continue to prepare and test it, you’ll add or take away elements to your own liking…well, except the cheese of course because without cheese it would no longer be “caldo de queso.” Caldo de Queso (serves 4) Ingredients: 1 small box of tomato purée 3 chile poblanos 3 potatoes Salt or chicken broth to taste (or Consomate) ½ liter of water ½ liter of milk 3 cups of cubed asadero, chihuahua, or…