Volume 1 1 ISSUE 1815 Volume • ISSUE
October 2016•www.cuencadispatch.com www.cuencadispatch.com October 26, 5, 2016
Healthy Eating, Comfort Food and Phenomenal TheMusic Story of to “Big Red IsPlace Dead” Coming Cuenca in One
WHAT’S WHAT’S INSIDE? INSIDE?
By Frances A. Hogg
WORLD NEWS WORLD NEWS
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CANADIAN NEWS ZERO MAGAZINE - Page 6
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"W
e just want to play music. It's and Tom's business experience and what we both love to do." dedication to creating a special place for After many hours on buses and an t had been fourwhat months the dayand since That's Rayto Lewis good times in Cuenca, the trio knew they the Wanner 7.8 earthquake destroyed expensive ride the six kilometers Michael told methat when I askedso still had one taxi ingredient missing: a perfect in want Ecuador. Along with in my menu from to Canoa to the Proyecto, we reached them,many "Whylives do you to work so hard compliment their music. yourbusiness retirement?!" That's when they approached Michael partners Kristen Sawyer and the settlement in time for lunch. Over And whatI was started it all. birth Soares and Julius owner and Zachthat's Cashero, on my wayThe to Manabí rice, lentils and Torbio—the soup, we interviewed of aprovince new adventure. These two wellchef of The Vegetable Bar—with a very to visit our other partners, Sara volunteers and staff. We also talked with known expats, along with their close friend interesting idea. To combine the Louisiana and Geoff Odell. Both Sara and residents. We heard again and again that TomCoppler Northcote, are the proud owners of Pub and The Vegetable Bar in one place; Geoff are experienced disaster-relief and and theto most pressing needBridge was forLouisiana a way to what they hope will become the busiest, have the Broken international development specialists. friendliest and fun nighttime hangout in Pub transport andThe supplies from Bar the open atpeople night and Vegetable Cuenca. open during the day. The idea is also to Only months in advance of our planned city to the settlement. From that kernelZero, of a our wish, they have Theonly Vegetable Bar's team provide all launch of little La Revista partners The vehicles available were an are introducing the new Broken Bridge the food services including the cooking, left Cuenca to help at the coast. We stood old truck called Big Red and a small car, Louisiana Pub, located where the Broken the wait staff and even the management behind their used decision. We all on knew that ofboth owned by volunteers. The vehicles Bridge Tavern to reside 3 de the bar. the earthquake had changed everything. were and suffering near daily Noviembre. The venue promises to offer "We over-used figured, everyone in town now a unique with knows The Vegetable and their great Whiledinning we experience managed along fund-raising breakdowns. Sara Bar Coppler planned blues, folk, country and old-time rock and And because Ray, his events in Cuenca, Sara and Geoff worked menu. a brain-storming session forwife the Linda next roll.to establish Proyecto Samán, in Canoa, and I go there every week for Trivia, we evening. "The idea of playing blues music here also know how professionally it is run. providing temporary housing and help to a shared meal and music, ideas in Cuenca has been something we've It's After one of the few places in town that rebuild the lives of thefor residents. Kristen, we started owing. to What is the best way been dreaming about quite some think flcaters its customers with to a Zach and I had tothat usegenre our visit explain the current situation, the need and time, because Ray planned and I love soto North American level of service. And the much," saidthe Michael Wanner. "But it's notto personal that of Michael and Julius inspect settlement and report back possible touch resolution the transportation all we play,supporters or all we are going have their on and their staff give you,a really makes you project about theto impact problem? “Let’s make movie!” someone our musical lineups. We plan to have local feel right at home. They're all really good donations had made, as well as to explain said. We needed something clever. musicians who can also play country, old- people with big smiles on their faces," said their financial support Something funny. Something people timewhy rock, folkcontinued and blues as well. We really is Tom. would want to share onof their necessary. want to have the place become the music "On top of that, none thesocial threemedia of us venue that people think of first in Cuenca." wanted to take on full-time jobs in our Bringing together their musical talents retirement," Ray said with a laugh. "But
I
Franny with Big Red and carpenters, Jeremiah and Damian
seriously, with Michael and Julius and their team on board, this arrangement works sites. I wrote a couple of scripts. The one out perfectly for us." everyone likedand theTom bestfirst involved the "When Ray approached death andthe funeral Big Red, with and them, the us about idea of of working eff of aright littleaway boy to fix this the was problem weorts knew that going to be magic. fun," says Michael. "It's not just that using they brought us a beautiful location in the Volunteer Kathy McCullough (an artist neighborhood the original and writer fromof Cuenca) and Vegetable I made Bar," said Julius. "Having the opportunity to props from found objects: a miniature work with them on a new and completely cardboard Big Red; lengths of garland different menu for the nighttime venue made from roadside weeds; a funeral was exciting to me as chef." wreath fromofvines; mourning With fashioned the inspiration "Southern Blues, Folk, Country and Rock," Julius and Michael veils cut from mosquito netting. Other came up with a menu that will be diff erent volunteers made a costume for the young fromof any other the city. With Louisiana star the film,in Yeferson Gómez, and specialties like Gumbo and Jambalaya gave acting lessons to the residents of and southern favorites like hush puppies the decided andsettlement. black-eyedKristen peas,and the Zach Broken Bridge locations and will planned camera angles Louisiana Pub be serving up food and with Geoff , the photographer. music that fits perfectly with the relaxed old-time Filming feeling startedof the afterhistoric lunch.building There it will occupy. were a few hiccoughs. The magician’s "In addition to the food ng and hat proved too large andgreat kept engulfi entertainment, our goal is to create a young Yeferon’s head. Little boys living at warm, friendly vibe that reminds you of a the Proyecto fellorinEnglish love with a tinybut bicycle good Irish pub tavern, with a prop and kept running off with it. A smoke down home southern vibe. A place where eff ectalways provedknow difficult you youbecause can go the andwind relax continued on page 3 and have fun," Tom added. During the day, Michael and Julius will be introducing a new concept they have
US NEWS US NEWS
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
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STRANGE NEWS HEALTH & - Page 11 WELLNESS
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The Vegetable Bar is excited to see the response we’ve had toWelcome our expanded breakfast menu and our to LiveTh eLifeInEcuador.com, our lunch and dinner specials as well.
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