December, 2015 Issue 53 FREE MEZCALERIA MAXCAAL: ZAPOTEC WORD THAT MEANS MEZCAL
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The Eye Beach, Village + Urban Living in Oaxaca December, 2015 Issue 53 FREE MEZCALERIA MAXCAAL: ZAPOTEC WORD THAT MEANS MEZCAL. MAXCAAL IS THE FIRST MEZCAL PRODUCED ON THE OAXACAN COAST. TASTINGS IN THE MEZCALERÍA, LOCATED AT BUGAMBILIA 303 LOCAL 05, DOWNTOWN LA CRUCECITA. CALL FOR RESERVATION TO: CEL PHONES: 9581004360 OR 9581004703 OR TO: email: mezcaldelacosta@g mail.com www.mezcaldelacosta.com OPEN FROM 11:00 AM TO 11:00 PM, MONDAY TO SATURDAY. EVITA EL EXCESO Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice. -Dave Barry Have you made your Christmas list? I recently read that in Iceland, on Christmas Eve, people gift books and then spend the evening The Eye is a monthly all-English magazine reading. I was intrigued and wanted that is distributed throughout the state of to know more. Did you know that Oaxaca. It can be found for FREE at hotels, Iceland publishes more books per restaurants and community hot spots. capita than any other country in the world, with five titles published for every 1,000 Icelanders? Wow! Should you wish to receive copies, advertise or And they aren’t all reading them on submit some writing or photography please their Kindles- in 2009, book loans send us an email. at the Reykjavík City Library totaled 1.2 million — in a city of only This magazine is made possible by the 200,000 people. Then as though the universe knew I was advertisers so please thank them when you seeking information on all things about Iceland and use their services. books, an Icelandic customer arrived at my restaurant and confirmed his country’s love for all things literary. In this issue, our book columnist Carole Reedy lists her favorite books of the year. Just reading the list made me yearn for my hammock and a stack of new releases; the sound of book spines cracking, the feel of paper between Editor: Jane Bauer my fingertips and the light rustling sound as I turn the page. Copy Editor: Deborah Van Hoewyk Web Goddess: Erin Vig It seems the holidays and gift giving should be that simple. But they’re not. We live in such a consumerist Writers: Jan Chaiken, Marcia Chaiken, Brooke society that few of us have things we want, that we Gazer, Julie Etra, Erin May, Fran McLaren, haven’t already bought for ourselves. Most of us are drowning in our belongings; or stylizing them for those Leigh Morrow, Carole Reedy, Alvin Starkman, perfect Instagram moments. Deborah Van Hoewyk What if instead of just posting on Facebook how much Cover Photo: Daniel Oliveras we like to support local businesses and how human connection is so important, what if we stepped away from our computers, put down our phones and didn’t go Photography/Art: Alvin Starkman to the mall this holiday season? What if we introduced Distribution: Renee Ciringione Biernacki ourselves to our neighbours and baked cookies with our Advertising Assistant: Casilda Mendoza Lopez kids? What if instead of getting new stuff, you got rid Layout: Jane Bauer of all the stuff you don’t need? My Christmas list? What I really want for Christmas is Opinions and words are those of the authors for my daughter to make me a ukulele album- 10 songs and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of with her singing. When I told her this she rolled her eyes The Eye. and huffed with disdain- a reaction perfected by most 15 year olds... and books, of course, lots of good books. We welcome submissions and input. Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy Channuka! To get involved send us an email. Habari Gani! Happy Bodhi Day! Happy New Year! [email protected] See you in 2016, Visit Us Online Jane www.TheEyeHuatulco.com In This Issue How Holidays Can Stop The Clock... By Leigh Morrow Page 8 Holidays in Mexico By Brooke Gazer Page 10 What Happens to Those Centavos??? By Brooke Gazer Page 11 The Art of Reading: Favorite Books of 2015 By Carole Reedy Page 12 Dressing for the Holidays in Oaxaca; More than Beachwear By Alvin Starkman, M.A., J.D. Page 14 Palmas Unidas ByFran McLaren Page 15 Imported Holidays in Mexico By Marcia Chaiken and Jan Chaiken Page 16 Your Handy Guide to Holiday Shopping in Huatulco By Deborah Van Hoewyk Page 18 Plans for Mexico City’s New Airport By Julie Etra Page 20 How To Take Your Pet To Mexico By Erin May Page 21 EDITORIAL PAGE 3 EVENTS CALENDAR PAGE 22 In Oaxaca City, The Eye is now available at Amate Books. The Eye 4 The Eye Lecture Series Bringing articles to life, we have planned a lecture series; here's what's coming up. All are welcome and the lectures are free. The monthly lectures all take place on Wednesday, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Limon Bistro in Mansiones Cruz del Mar. Volunteering and community involvement Wednesday, December 16th, 2015 A panel of volunteers and organizational representatives will describe opportunities for you to contribute your expertise and energy to projects in and around Huatulco. Discover how those contributions help solve local efforts to solve local problems. Real Estate in Mexico Wednesday, January13th, 2016 Panel of experienced specialists and brokers describe everything from buying a pied-à-terre condo to buying land a building from the ground up. Mexican real estate transactions are a complicated “landscape” for foreigners—come hear from the experts! Mezcal Wednesday, February17th, 2016 No longer the high-octane booze swilled under the saguaros, high-quality mezcal is the latest thing in the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Mezcal practitioners will fill you in about how it's made, what makes a great mezcal, and how to actually taste what they're talking about. Weavers and Artisans Wednesday, March 16th, 2016 O a x a c a b o a s t s a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y r a n g e o f artesanías—hand-crafted products ranging from woven rugs and textiles to several varieties of pottery to the Marina Chahue, fantastic carved animals called alebrijes. Find out how Huatulco these crafts are produced, how to see what makes a Tel. 958 105 1671 product authentic, and how to get the most for your Cel. 958 100 7339 money. Closed Mondays Information: [email protected] www.cafejuanitamexico.com Mezcal Contact us Educational Excursions of Oaxaca TM/MR to Advertise! While in the state capital, learn about this century's most coveted spirit by spending a day with recognized authority Alvin Starkman. Visit rural artisanal Contactanos distilleries (palenques) using both ancestral clay pot and traditional copper stills. For novices and para Anunciarse! aficionados alike. Sample throughout your excursion with no obligation to buy. www.mezcaleducationaltours.com [email protected] [email protected] The Eye 6 Advertisement An Interview with Chef Eugenio Santillana By Tirza Bonifazi Originally from Oaxaca, Chef Eugenio Santillana owns the distinguished restaurants La Toscana and The Cuche, a restaurant dedicated to Slow Food; he hosts the TV show Cocinando con Eugenio Santillana (Cooking with Eugenio Santillana) on Cable TV Canal 152. And if that were not enough, he opened the restaurant Hierba Santa in Puebla, and has now started Ocean Sea & Casual Food in Arrocito, Huatulco. We had a chat with Chef Santillana for you. What was it that attracted you to the kitchen? How come you decided to become a chef? Because when I was a boy I was very mischievous, I loved watching my mom cooking and when she didn’t watch, I took a pinch of food. Later on, when I studied tourism, I realized that I enjoyed cooking and that I had a talent for creating and a good palate, so I decided that my life was going to be in the kitchen. Why did you decide to start this adventure in Huatulco? I have been coming to Huatulco a lot in the last three years and it is a paradise. So, what’s better than enjoying it, getting to share my food with the people that live here and the visitors. How would you describe Ocean Sea & Casual Food? It’s mostly seafood cuisine but we also have pasta and steaks. The restaurant is unpretentious and relaxed, a great place to hang out with friends and family. What is a dish at Ocean Sea & Casual Food that you consider a 'must'? I think an excellent choice is the Coconut Fish Noodle Soup, it’s seasoned with lemon grass, basil and coriander, and it’s refreshing. Fine Dining Restaurant · Event Planner · Wedding Planning Open for lunch & dinner Closed Tuesdays Cosmo Residences, Arrocito, Huatulco (958) 525 2241 - (958) 589 7237 How Holidays Can Stop The Clock... By Leigh Morrow o you remember your summers as a youngster- First loves, first kisses, first jobs, all are registered differently out of school for what seemed like an endless because of their newness. length of time, days spent lying on the front lawn finding faces in the clouds and jumping through "You always remember your first love," say the psychologists, the sprinkler in your shorts? It seemed that time but perhaps more for its newness than its depth or breadth of Dstopped and those warm summer days stretched infinitely affection. forward in endless joy. Eleanor Roosevelt said: "Do one thing every day that scares Part of that was our perception of time. Our perception of the you." While Eleanor was eloquently implying that to achieve passing of time speeds up the older we get.