- Queer in Aztlán
A reading was held at Centro Cultural de la Raza to commemorate the release of the anthology Queer in Aztlán featuring the book contributors. The book explores issues of queer youth identity, sexuality, masculinity, homophobia, sexism and violence in Mexican and American culture, presenting a complex view of queer Chicanos/Mexicanos, and contests dominant sexual norms. The stories range from family reactions to a member coming out; to finding out for the first time one was HIV positive. One of the contributors talked about giving a quiz to his students which revealed that many still believe in myths such as contracting HIV by sitting on the same toilet as someone that is positive. The book has deep personal narratives that let readers understand and sympathize with the stories’ protagonists. There will be another panel event at The San Diego LGBT Community Center Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit http://qia.webs.com
¡LATIN FOOD FEST!
The 2013 ¡LATIN FOOD FEST! kick-off party at El Cortez Don Room and Patio took place Sept. 12. There was live music, samples of rare tequila vintages, craft breweries, unique spirits and small bites by local restaurants. We ran into a couple of friends, Paola Hernandez from ABC San Diego/Azteca America and her best friend Lola. We learned many interesting facts about the process of tequila and the different types of this Mexican liquor made from agave.
- Chef Aaron Sanchez, LATIN FOOD FEST Director Richie Matthews and Chef Anthony Lamas at the LATIN FOOD FEST kick-off party at El Cortez
The special event gave invited guests a sneak peak at the ¡LATIN FOOD FEST! Grand Tasting Program. The program hosted 100 restaurants, purveyors of food, wine, spirits and beer and chefs including Aarón Sánchez, Ingrid Hoffman, Javier Plascencia, Daisy Martinez and many others who conducted cooking demonstrations, tastings and book signings during the four days of festivities. For more information about the foodfest, visit latinfoodfest.com
- Herbert Siguenza as Pablo Picasso in A Weekend With Pablo Picasso
A Weekend With Pablo Picasso
We attended the opening night of A Weekend With Pablo Picasso presented by San Diego Repertory Theatre. The one man show stars its creator, Herbert Siguenza as Pablo Picasso. It was ‘workshopped’ over a three-week period at the theatre in 2010. It’s returning now after being in LA, the Bay Area, Denver and Houston. The show takes place in France during the height of Picasso’s fame. At one point he receives a bread delivery where he explains that the seller always requests he write out a check even though he never cashes it. He tells the “art students” (the audience) that it’s because his signature is worth more than the monetary value of the check. We watched and engaged with him during his interpretation of Picasso’s creative process. In the play, Picasso has been commissioned to paint six canvasses and three vases and we (art students/audience) have been sent to make sure he finishes the commissioned artworks by Monday morning. Siguenza takes us on an artistic journey interwoven with excerpts from interviews, books, poems by and about one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th century, historical events and the personal tribulations that drove Picasso’s art. He brings Picasso’s art to life with his own artistic abilities creating pieces live on stage including a drawing of an audience member. A Weekend With Pablo Picasso will be playing at the Lyceum Theatre until Oct. 6. On the last two days the play will be performed in Spanish. For more information, visit sdrep.org
