Kesta Happening: June Issue by Kesta Happening

JUNE / ISSUE # 3 FREE

/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

/ JUNE 2011

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/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

/ JUNE 2011

June TABLE OF CONTENT

ISSUE # 3

6 ROCK

Ozomatli

7 TROPICAL

Washington DC Salsa Congress: A Salsa Dancer’s paradise

8 URBAN

Tito El Bambino

10 KESTADC.COM GALLERY

Photos of concerts and DC nightlife

11 UPCOMING EVENTS

Calendar of upcoming events

12 FEATURE

the Return of Mana

14 FOOD

Alto Plaza

16 STYLE

Staying cool and chic in DC

17 KESTA GIRL OF THE MONTH Amber Lopez

18 MI PAIS Mexico

PUBLISHER: Media644 / DIRECTOR: Juan Luis Gonzalez / EDITOR: Amanda Landrian / DESIGN: Miriam Jave WRITERS: Christina Cortés, Ellen Flores, Rosario Garcia, Daniela Guillen, Christina Martinez, Jorge Zeballos WEB & TECHNOLOGY: Javier Gonzalez PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jose Acha, Juan Luis Gonzalez, Miriam Jave CONTACT US: info@kestamag.com, www.kestadc.com, tel: 202 643 0555

20 NIGHTLIFE

MigoProductions

21 LOCAL TALENT

Orquesta N-Fuzion

22 KE?

Win tickets to Enanitos Verdes & Hombres G

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photos cortesy of Kennedy Center

ROCK

By Rosario Garcia

Taking their name from the god of dance, fire, new harvest, and music, Ozomatli has gone from being hometown Los Angeles heroes to being named U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassadors in their fifteen years together as a band. Their two time Grammy Award winning style of music is a mix of urbanLatino with a few sprinkles of salsa, dancehall, cumbia, funk, and R&B that only gets better with age and will soon incorporate some classical orchestra to its repertoire. KestaDC Magazine recently caught up with Ulises Bella, the man in charge of Ozomatli’s Saxophone, background vocals, and keyboard, to ask him what the band has been up to and what we should expect for their show on June 25th at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Pops. KestaDC: Here in DCwe’re definitely excited about your upcoming show. You’ve been to DC many times before so what is your favorite thing to do here? Ulises: Umm…eat Jamaican Food! *laughs* That’s for sure one of them… we also have a very good friend in DC who is a pretty famous chef, his name is Jose Andres, so whenever we’re in town we’ll usually stop by one of his restaurants just to get a free meal.. you know what I mean? *laughs*

like you’ve never heard them before

KestaDC: Are you guys really U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassadors? Ulises: We are. It started based on a radio interview that we did for NPR, a woman who was stationed in India heard us on the show and later approached us and offered us the opportunity to become involved. So of course we accepted and went to India and Nepal, and after the success of those shows we ended up doing a lot more. The whole idea of the concerts dates back to when they used to send Louis Armstrong or Benny Goodman and all those other jazz artists from back in the day to perform to various countries around the world. Most recently I know bands like Dengue Fever have become involved and many others. KestaDC: Ozomatli’s musical medley fuses many different genres from jazz to hip hop, but I also read that some of the band members are classically trained musicians. Is this true and can you tell us more about your musical background? Ulises: Yes it’s true. Pretty much all us attended schools within the Los Angeles Public School System, so a lot of us were part of the music programs in our schools (back in the day when there were still some left). As for me, I was always playing in orchestras from when I was a little kid to being a teenager and even in college. So most of us have classical training just from the different school programs we were a part of and some of us just picked

it up along the way while “jammin’ with the homies”. *laughs* KestaDC: So tell us what does Ozomatli have in store for us for the show at the Kennedy Center with the NSO Pops? Ulises: As far as the band is concerned it’s going to be really special to be able to play with an orchestra like that, you know, we did one when we played with the Boston Pops about a year ago and based on the success of that show we definitely wanted to do another one. The time and work that is put into putting together those musical arrangements definitely shows when we’re playing. The orchestra and our band really complement each other. KestaDC: One of the Ozomatli signatures is when the show is over you get off the stage and dance throughout the crowd until you leave the venue, how did this get started and do you do it for every show? Ulises: Well basically it stems from when we were first starting out, we had a lot of shows playing with other local bands and we just wanted to really blow away the other bands, it was definitely a competitive thing at first. We were like “we’re just gonna mess these guys up” and then as time went on it transformed to more of a, “isn’t it cool that the band is coming off the stage and mixing it up with the people?” So it really transformed from trying to take a competitive edge in the scene to more of a “peace and love let’s all be together vibe” for sure.

KestaDC: What else does Ozomatli have in store for us in the near future? Ulises: Well we’re continuing to work on the oZoKidZ album, we’re also going to Haiti and Dominican Republic soon to do a few shows as part of the U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassadors program. We’re also in the middle of working on making some video game music too, so yeah we’re working hard and right now we’re just all over the place! Hope you’re ready DC because the June 25th Ozomatli show at the Kennedy Center promises to be one for the books. NSO Pops will team up with these culture mashing Angelinos and there’s no telling what may happen! In fact we may have to proclaim June 25th to be “Ozomatli Day”, though we won’t be the first to bestow them with that honor as the city of Los Angeles has already proclaimed April 23rd as “Ozomatli Day”. At least we still boast some awesome Jamaican food and share the city with “2011 Outstanding Chef” James Beard award winner, Jose Andres. Make sure you go get some tapas before the show; you may just run into a hungry Ozomatli crew! █ NSO Pops: Ozomatli Jun 25, 2011 at 8:00 PM Kennedy Center, http://www.kennedy-center.org $20.00 - $65.00 Check out kestadc.com for the full interview

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TROPICAL

The 7th annual Washington DC Salsa Congress:

A salsa dancer's paradise

their dancing. “A congress opens up the opportunity to take classes with a wider, more diverse group of instructors than you have in any one city. In addition, social dancing with lots of new people is the best way to build your lead or follow - and the shows are always inspirational to new dancers.” This year is also a year of many firsts for the Congress. Formerly held at the Crystal City Hilton in Arlington, VA, it has been moved to the Westin Alexandria in order to accommodate for a growing number of participants. This year also brings a new “French Infusion,” according to the Capital Congress website, with more than 30 guests and instructors confirmed from Paris, France including new instructors and DJ’s. Theme nights are another first. Each night will have a different theme suggesting the dress code for the night. Friday is Red, White and Blue night, a tribute to our nation’s capital. Saturday invites guests to channel their favorite fashion icons from the haute couture capitals such as New York, Paris and Tokyo. Sunday takes us back in time to the 70’s and yes, donning afros is encouraged. The nightly shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday feature performances from a variety of groups and instructors from around the world. The shows are the highlight of the Congress for many as they feature performers in dazzling, theatrical and sometimes barely-there costumes with eye-opening choreography. The shows also give dancers a chance to see friends on stage, gain inspiration from favorite instructors or for some; a performance at a congress is the culmination of months of hard work and practice. Several DC Groups have been showcased in the past years including ClaveKazi student and training teams, Born 2 Dance Studio in Vienna, VA, and Trabuco dance team from Maryland. Performance groups come from around the world and each night there are between 20 and 25 performances.

By Cristina Martinez

very year, hundreds gather together in the nation’s capital to attend the Washington DC Salsa Congress.

For area salseros, the DC Congress is a Mecca—a three-day gathering filled with impressive performances, a plethora of diverse workshops and unadulterated dancing. It is one of the largest and most well attended of all the congresses in the U.S. Starting on Thursday, June 16 and running through Sunday, June 19, dancers will come from around the country and worldwide for the congress, this year held at the Westin in Alexandria, VA. “The DC Salsa Congress began seven years ago as a collaboration between David Melendez, of Starlight Dance Studio, and many salsa congresses, and Shaka,” says Irene Holtzman, co-organizer of the DC Congress and Director of ClaveKazi, a DC-based mambo studio. Holtzman, along with Shaka Brown, the Founder of ClaveKazi, work together to organize the congress every year.

The Congress boasts a line-up of talented and world-renowned instructors representing New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Pennsylvania, to name a few. Some come from as far as Japan and France, while others are visiting from nearby areas including a variety of Maryland, DC and Virginia instructors. Various workshops will be held on Saturday and Sunday and will feature “salsa on1, salsa on2 (also known as mambo), afro-cuban dance, pachanga, footwork, ladies’ styling, spinning technique, among others,” says Holtzman. Some of the workshops are designed to break down and simplify some of the techniques of salsa dancing while others incorporate more advanced turn patterns and styling. Every level of dancer, from beginner to advanced, can benefit from the congress’ offerings. A prominent workshop is the beginner bootcamp designed to get you dancing in just one day. Holtzman adds that the congress can be a great opportunity for beginners to expand every aspect of

The 2011 Washington DC Salsa Congress will bring another year of unforgettable performances, world class instructors and spectacular dancing. For those who have ever wanted to learn how to dance salsa or those experienced dancers who want to take it to the next level, the DC Congress is not one to be missed! █

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URBAN

Tito El Bambino by Christina Cortés

s an artist whose roots are deep in reggaeton, Tito el Bambino – real name Efrain Fines Nevarez – has immensely expanded his musical range since his days as half of the duo Hector & Tito. Breaking into the music industry in the mid-1990s, Hector & Tito were best known for their hits “Gata Salvaje”, “Baila Morena”, and their only chart-topping hit, “Ay Amor.” Although the duo continued to put out new music until their split in 2004, the level of fame Tito had experienced up until that point was nothing compared to what he would soon be living! As the years have gone by, Tito el Bambino has been able to become more popular while a solo artist, evolving into much more than just a reggaetonero. Since Hector & Tito decided to split up and go their separate ways in 2004, Tito has put out various solo projects. His first solo album, Top of the Line, was a #1 hit in his native Puerto Rico and included several hit songs such as “Caile”, “Mia” featuring reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee, “Flow Natural” featuring Beenie Man, and many more. Shortly after, Tito released Top of The Line: El Internacional, which was a remixed version of the original album and added five new songs including “Bailarlo”, “Calentandote”, and the hugely popular “Siente El Boom”. El Internacional featured appearances from up and coming reggaeton duo Jowell y Randy and the already well known De La Ghetto. “Siente El Boom” continues to receive heavy air play on Latin music radio stations across the US today. With his goals set high, even after the release of his first solo projects, Tito el Bambino was nowhere close to reaching the level of success he knew he was capable of. He continued to work hard

in the studio and in 2007 followed his previous album up with It’s My Time. It’s My Time contained more appearances from various artists in the industry, but for this project Tito decided to bring in one of hip hop’s best - Pharrell. Toby Love, Arcangel, Rakim y Ken-Y all signed on as well, and even Olga Tañon made her way onto one the songs on the album. Once again, Tito created various chart toppers, including “En La Disco”, “Sol, Playa y Arena” featuring Jadiel, “La Busco” with Toby Love, and the biggest hit off the album, “El Tra”. But in 2009, Tito’s third solo album, El Patron, brought him his biggest international success to date and launched his career to a new level, higher than even he may have imagined or dreamed of. El Patron features two of Tito’s internationally best known tracks; the reggaeton smash “Mi Cama Huele a Ti”, and the album’s biggest hit, “El Amor”. This album truly showcased Tito’s evolving musical taste, featuring songs in other Latin genres not previously explored. Although the artist did not completely abandon his reggaeton roots, he took a risk by trying out Latin styles, and thankfully, the results were spectacular. The newly released track off of his latest album, Invencible, has already become hugely popular throughout both the US and all of Latin America. Tito has made a smooth transition into becoming a well-rounded Latin performer and can definitely no longer be simply labeled a reggaeton artist. His ability to go from being part of a reggaeton duo, to being known as the always well-dressed tropical singer, he has proven that he has much more talent than any of us were aware of when he first stepped into the limelight in his early career. His great talent has won him dozens of nominations for Latin music’s most honorable awards, and he has even been blessed enough to take some of those awards home. His appearance at Verano Zol 2011 on June 26th in Maryland will, without a doubt, be one of the best performances of the day! Like a fine bottle of wine, Tito el Bambino has certainly evovled throughout the years, and it looks like he will only continue to get better with age! █

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KESTADC.COM GALLERY Octavia @ State Theater 05.28.11

Ruby Perez & Michel El Buenon @ Bravo Bravo 5.27.11

Wednesdays @ Eden 5.25.11

Tito Puente Jr & Jon Secada @ Kennedy Center 05.12

Calle 13 @ Galaxy 5.05.11

May Nightlife

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KESTA HAPPENING DC FEATURED EVENTS Wed 06.01 Sun 06.05 Fri 06.10 Wed 06.22 Thur 06.23 Fri 06.24 Sat 06.25 Sat 06.30 Wed 07.06-07.09 Thur 07.07 Sat 07.09 Thur 07.14 Fri 07.15 Fri 07.22 Sun 07.24 Thurs 08.11-08.13 Thurs 10.20

Bone Thugs n Harmony @ State theater Diego Torres @ Fur Nightclub Carlos y Alejandra @ Rio Cantina Enanitos Verdes & Hombres G @ State Theater Grupo Fantasma @ 9:30 club DJ Locorious Bday Bash @ Lotus Ozomatli @ Kenedy Center Concert Hall Summer Kickoff Block Party @ 14th & Quincy St LAMC New York City Jarabe de Palo @ State Theater No te va a gustar @ State Theater Mana @ Patriot Center Amigos Invisibles @ State Theater Tommy Portugal & Bareto @ Rio Cantina Wiz Khalifa @ Merriweather DC Bachata Congress @ Washington Hilton Hotel Gianmarco @ State Theater

For more information and many more events go to KESTADC.COM

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photos cortesy of CMN

FEATURE

hen someone asks, “What does Latin Rock sound like?” which bands or artists jump to your mind? Depending on your age, generation and location, you might be quick to think Soda Stereo, Miguel Mateos, Caifanes or maybe even Enanitos Verdes. But certainly and almost instinctively, among your list (and everyone’s) of Latin rock roots, Maná will be there. For some, they are icons in music history; for others, they are part of the soundtrack to their lives. Undisputedly, Maná is a band that holds high honors in Latin rock history and is still going strong these many years later. It all started with a couple of hats…

By: Ellen Flores

Many may not know that these boys from Guadalajara, Mexico, began in 1975 as a cover band called The Spies of the Green Hats. José Fernando “Fher” Olvera, Gustavo Orozco, and the Calleros brothers: Juan, Diego, and Abraham; decided to break away with convention and swapped the English language cover songs they played for original material written and arranged by them in Spanish. To make it official, they changed their name to Sombrero Verde.

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TWENTY SOME YEARS LATER AND STRONGER THAN EVER, MANÁ HAS COME BACK WITH THEIR EIGHTH STUDIO ALBUM TITLED DRAMA Y LUZ.

Now as Sombrero Verde, they recorded two albums between 1981 and 1983. As the years progressed, the band structure changed. Abraham Calleros’ departure led the band to place an ad in the local newspaper searching for a drummer. Just as destiny had planned, the new drummer for Sombrero Verde became Alex “El Animal” Gonzalez. His style and musical influences later became a key piece in the new sound the band would have as Maná. Guitarist Gustavo Orozco left the band in 1986. With his departure, Fher ended the Sombrero Verde era and embarked on a new journey with the four remaining members. The quartet would later be known as Maná, which signifies “positive energy” in Polynesian. The years progressed and Maná began to gain fame. Their first two albums (Maná-1987 and Falta Amor-1990) spawned a series of notable singles, the most successful one, Rayando El Sol. It wasn’t until the early 90’s that Maná gained true success and respect as one of the top Latin rock acts in the industry with the release and tour supporting the album ¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños? (which had a record eight back to back chart topping singles). Numerous lineup changes followed and ended with Sergio Vallín joining the band in 1995 as the new guitarist to record their fourth studio album, Cuando los Ángeles Lloran. What’s all the Drama about? Twenty some years later and stronger than ever, Maná has come back with their eighth studio album titled Drama Y Luz. The album released this past April 12th, contains eleven tracks that span from Fher’s signature harmonica on Amor Clandestino to more modern arrangements on tracks like Reina del Dolor and Envenéname. It also marks the first time the band has added string orchestra elements -arranged by guitarist Sergio Vallín and cellist Suzie Katayama- for the songs El Espejo, Sor María and El Dragón. It’s no surprise that Drama Y Luz has been a labor of love. Originally, the album was scheduled for release during the 2010 Christmas season, but in a letter to their fans, the band said that “Drama Y Luz won’t be ready for the announced date, it’s like taking a cake out of the oven before it’s fully done.” In an interview at the 2011 Billboard Latin Music Conference in Miami, the band further elaborated by saying that “when you’re doing music, you’re doing art. It’s not like making shoes or sausage. It’s not a factory.” Drama Y Luz is one of the darker albums in their career. Just by viewing the album’s artwork you can see the journey through darkness and light. It’s important to recognize that a Maná album wouldn’t be complete without social justice themes voiced through song. On Drama Y Luz,

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the cry for social justice is loudly voiced on the track Latinoamérica, composed by Alex González. This track is a call to all the Latinos throughout America to recognize that we are strong, capable and that we must never forget our history or our roots. Our passion is what makes us unique and from our past we must learn so we can face our future. Personally, it’s one of my favorite songs on the album because it has the perfect blend of passion, strength and rock and roll flair. The Drama invades the District Amidst the press frenzy surrounding the album release, Maná announced the 2011 Drama Y Luz World Tour to begin on June 16th in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On July 14th, they will be stopping at the George Mason Patriot Center where we can expect great surprises for their stage and song selections. The band has said that this tour will feature a massive stage production that is currently being designed by the Spaniard, Luis Pastor. If the video for Lluvia Al Corazón is any indication of how the stage design will be, expect lots of lights, monitors, glitz and glam. As if we needed more evidence on how much Mana respects and appreciates their fans, as per request of Alex, Fher, Sergio and Juan, tickets will not exceed $100.00 and will be fixed throughout the tour dates and locations. Interestingly enough, prices will be within the same range as those for their last tour, some seven years ago. So go ahead and get your tickets, pour yourself a Fher Special (grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila and seltzer water) and gear up for one of the summer’s hottest and most anticipated shows to hit the greater Northern Virginia area. █

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FOOD

By Jorge Zeballos

ith the very large and diverse Latin community in the DC area, hundreds of Latin restaurants have risen. Some are your regular Salvadorian small cafes, others are Peruvian restaurants that serve your popular ceviche and Spanish restaurants that serve the famous paella.

The Carne Asada got our mouths watering as quickly as the dish was set onto the table. You are probably used to the regular Carne Asada with beans and a salad. Alto Plaza’s version is definitely a nice and refreshing take on this very popular dish. A perfectly cooked marinated grilled skirt steak lying on top of melted chihuahua cheese, accompanied by perfectly and semi-

Alto Plaza has been able to successfully bring the wide variety of Latin cuisine into a high-end cost-friendly location. Alto Plaza’s menu is a showcase of the top Latin cuisine in the world. From the aforementioned Spanish Paella, to Argentina’s Churasco, to Peru’s Ceviche, this restaurant has been able to take our typical dishes and turn them into a savory upgraded high-end dish. There is no other venue in the area as large and beautifully designed as Alto Plaza. With three very large floors you can enjoy your meal in the bar area, outside on the patio, on the higher end second floor, or even reserve the modern 3rd floor lounge for private events.

ALTO PLAZA’S MENU IS A SHOWCASE OF THE TOP LATIN CUISINE IN THE WORLD.

Anyone dropping by to the very large, jawdropping 3-story building that hosts Alto Plaza would expect the prices to fit the venue. Luckily for us, the prices are as welcoming as the venue itself. We spoke with co-owner Hector a little about the most popular dishes at Alto Plaza.

crunchy plantains, pepper, tomatoes, onions and a special Alto Plaza sauce that makes this a definite contender for their most frequently ordered item. The Paella Valenciana is another admired selection that feautres fresh shrimp, scallops, calamari, clams, chicken, chorizo, peppers and onions mixed in with perfectly cooked rice with safron that gives it that very peculiar taste and includes a splash of seafood wine broth that really makes you want to make this dish a must with every visit. These are just two of many mouth-watering choices at Alto Plaza. Some others that are not to be missed include the Ceviche, Fillet Mignon Tips, Chicken

Enchiladas, and Tres Leches. Don’t forget to also visit the bar for a wide variety of thirst-quenching, Latin inspired cocktails. Alto Plaza lies at the highest land level in the Centreville area (thus the name), but we believe the name Alto Plaza is not only fitting for the location of the venue, but because it is truly at an “Alto Place” (upper place) in the restaurant business. Not only does their menu perfectly combine the top Latin dishes from South America, Central America and Spain, cooked to perfection, but the venue itself is a unique and beautiful architectural masterpiece that truly showcases a huge part of our Latin culture: its food. So what are you waiting for? With a beautiful venue with food that is crafted as well as our mom used to make but giving it that high end touch at prices that won’t leave our wallets crying, it’s no wonder this place could easily become a weekly must. █

Alto Plaza 5800 Old Centreville Road Centreville, VA 20121-2426 (703) 266-8811 Open Mon 11am-10pm; Tue-Thu 11am-11pm; Fri-Sat 11am-12am; Sun 10am-12am

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STYLE

Staying

in the District

By Daniela Guillen

he summer months are quickly approaching and fashionistas in the district are familiar with the challenges of keeping frizz down and make-up fresh. Now that the rain is finally moving out, it’s time to skip the metro line and head to the streets. Whether you’re waiting twenty minutes for the bus, having a drink poolside or shopping in Georgetown, you need to be equipped with the season’s best tools and outfits to stay cool. Take a look at the summers hottest spots and trends for keeping cool in a city of heat!

Fan it out

LWD Litle White Dress

Got shine?

Bright and light

Keep it covered!

Ozio Rooftop

5 Maxi and Midi Dress,

1 ADC (Above DC), the exclusive lounge on the rooftop of the Donovan House

1. ADC: 1155 14th Street Washington, DC 20005, www.thompsonhotels.com / 2. Ozzio: 1813 M Street Northwest Washington D.C., DC 20036-2503 / 3. Use these blotting sheets to take the grease away! Sephora $8 / 4. Battenburg $10 / 5. Navy Stripe Racer Back Maxi Dress $60, Topshop.com; Red Midi Skirted Dress $92, Topshop.com, Petite Grey Animal Print Side Slit Maxi Dress $100, Topshop.com / 6. Bright and light Bombshell Boatneck Top $49, bebe.com, Basic Banded Hem Top $7.50, Forever21.com, Racerback Smocked Waist Dress $39.90, Express.com / 7. Keep it covered! Trina Turk ‘French Riviera’ Tunic Cover-Up $137, Nordstrom; Make + Model ‘Summerise’ Cover Up $38, Nordstrom / 8. www.bebe.com $129

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KESTA GIRL OF THE MONTH

Amber

Lopez

Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD Background: My heritage is German, Chinese, Puerto Rican and Native American, crazy mix. Hobbies: Reading, Drawing, Horseback Riding, Hiking, Water sports, amusement parks. Favorite spots in DC:In DC can usually be found in Josephine, District, Current, or Midtown. Photographer: Cameron (DCProstudio.com) Makeup / Hair & Wardrobe: Rachelle Dalton (nefertaribeauty.com)

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MI PAIS

Exploring By Rosario Garcia

or those of us who come from a Mexican heritage or who have had the opportunity to visit the country, thinking about Mexico conjures up images of family, rich food, majestic archeological sites, white sand beaches, and a rich history that peeks out behind every skyscraper and metropolitan city. Mexico is an affordable and convenient destination for those last minute beach getaways and makes the perfect stress free vacation spot with its miles of warm beaches. It’s not hard to picture yourself sitting alongside a crystal blue beach while sipping on a frozen margarita until not a single thought floats through your mind. As for beaches, you can have your pick between the infamous Cancun, Acapulco, Los Cabos, Cozumel and many

other pristine beach destinations. If you’re looking for fun in the surf, Baja California is the perfect location, featuring some of the best surf destinations off of Rosarito and Ensenada. Once you’ve had your fun in the sun, travel to the heart of Mexico into the federal district and capital, Mexico City. El Zocalo is the main plaza in the city’s historic center, and has been a gathering place for Mexicans since the times of the Aztecs. Today at el Zocalo, you’re as likely to see an ancient Aztec dance with full drum circle taking place as a Skateboarding/ BMX expo, pop star concert, or religious event. When polling some friends about what stood out to them the most while visiting Mexico, Ron Recinos, local musician and free spirit said, “I was passing through Mexico during Christmas one year and besides the party anxiety of fireworks and traditional music everywhere, there was a feeling of brotherhood and respect for one another. I might have just witnessed how Mexico City recharges its spiritual batteries.. I hope it’s still the same today.”

Millions of visitors also know Mexico for its rich archeological sites which shed light on thousands of years of civilizations from the Mesoamerican era (the earliest human remains found in Mexico date back 9,000 years!). Near Mexico City you will find the ancient city of Teotihuacan, home to the Teotihuacan civilization whose imprint still stands there today amongst the pyramids, Piramide del Sol and Piramide de la Luna, and its breathtaking ruins. A short two hour bus ride away from Mexico City is the state of Puebla which is known for its sweet and savory mole poblano, the city of Cholula, the thriving automotive industry, and the birth place of Cinco de Mayo celebrations, as this is the site where a small Mexican army defeated the invading French army in 1862. Cholula (yes, that’s where they produce the hot sauce!) is famous for its Gran Piramide de Cholula, built in the second century B.C., and is comprised of seven stacked trapezoids

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photos from istock.com

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that make it a third larger than the Great Pyramid of Giza. You can still visit and climb the massive exterior staircase today, turning your legs to jelly no matter how many rounds on the stair master you’ve completed in your life. Cholula is also known for its claim to have 365 churches—one for each day of the year. While you’re in Puebla, make sure you stop by a mercado for lunch and order a Cemita.. don’t ask questions, just do it, you’ll thank me later! Another must visit state is Veracruz, where you will find extensive rainforests and more remnants of the pre-Columbian era in the city of Tajin. This is also the location of the Cumbre Tajin Festival held since the 1970s in Veracruz, the site of ancient temples, palaces, ballcourts, and pyramids. The annual festival attracts over 650,000 visitors each year in March and features both indigenous and foreign cultural events as well as concerts by popular musicians. In a desperate attempt to retain its history, Mexico has many eco-reserves and national parks protecting the environment around them that they hold so dearly. In Colima, Mexico, where my mother was born, eco-reserves protect the two volcanoes that are located within a 55,500 acre national park that is frequently visited by European mountaineers who compare it to Mount Cervino in the Alps.

In Campeche millions of tourists flock to the ancient city of Calakmul which was once an important Mayan City, second in importance only to Tikal in Guatemala. When most of us think about Mexico we may picture an image of a Mexican cowboy or charro sipping Tequila while listening to mariachi music, and that may be exactly what you find when you visit Guadalajara, Mexico, the second-largest city by population in the republic and home to these well known traditions. In addition to the majestic beaches, archeological ruins, forests, mountains, and buzzing metropolitan cities all with modern amenities, you can’t talk about Mexico without mentioning its most well known export - Tequila! Tequila, which can only be officially produced in Mexico, is derived from the Agave plant, a close relative of the cactus. The agave plant has existed in Mexico for millennia and there is evidence that early pre-Hispanic civilizations considered it a sacred gift from the gods. The agave plant produces a nectar that, when fermented, makes Mezcal- the raw form of tequila prior to the distillation process. Nowadays there are close to 1000 types of tequila and you can find them all over Mexico. My recommendation? Make sure you leave plenty of room in that suitcase to bring some back with you!

The Mexican people pour their soul into their food, arts, music, and industry. In Mexico you’ll find that food is complex yet accessible, available at virtually ever corner for busy people always on the go. Tacos are a staple dish throughout the country and are made from a few simple, yet savory, ingredients. Each of the 31 states in Mexico features its own cuisine, all following recipes passed down from generation to generation. With over 22 million visitors escaping to Mexico every year, it’s easy to find something to do that will make your trip a memorable one. Whether you plan on spending a relaxing vacation sipping on margaritas along its endless beaches, visiting the Aztec ruins found throughout Mexico City, or escape hundreds of museums showing the works of renowned artists such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Rufino Tamayo, you will find that Mexico provides a little taste of everything to please your palette. █

/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

/ JUNE 2011

NIGHTLIFE

The Other Side of MIGO By Cristina Cortés

uch more than your average production company, MIGO Productions not only hosts some of the DMV’s hottest parties; they are active in the Latino community throughout our area. Founded in 2002 by Walter Chavez – aka DJ Menace – MIGO Productions was not established with the sole purpose of promoting club events. Having made some bad decisions himself when he was younger, DJ Menace wanted to keep youth out of the streets and brought them into clubs where they could still party, and hoped to inspire kids already getting into trouble to do bigger and better things. He was becoming a great mentor to kids in DC, and is even the reason why DJ Los El Genio became a deejay . Unfortunately, in 2003, DJ Menace passed away far too soon, leaving MIGO Productions without its leader and all his loved ones devastated. Although it was no easy task, MIGO Productions regrouped, created its management team, and got back to business! With the dreams of their dear friend always in mind, MIGO has come a long way from their days at Insomnia when DJ Menace became the first deejay in the DC area to play

reggaeton in the club. They have brought us countless concerts by the hottest artists in Latin music and they continue to give us some of the DMV’s number one parties, like Fridays at Lotus and Saturdays at FUR. They party hard and are without a doubt our area’s most innovative production company, constantly coming up with original ideas for new parties. Yet there is another side to MIGO Productions that’s about a lot more than just clubbing. This month MIGO Productions is celebrating its 9 year anniversary. How do you guys plan on celebrating? MIGO Productions will be partying all month long! Rosa Acosta will be hosting at Lotus on June 3rd; we will have DJ Frankie at Lotus on the 10th; the 11th DJ Joe El Especialista will be at FUR and we’ll have international club king DJ Camilo spinning on the 17th; on the 24th we are celebrating DJ Locorious’ birthday bash, hosted by Karla LaMore; and on the 30th we have the Summer Kickoff Block Party in DC. It’s definitely going to be a crazy month, don’t miss it! How does MIGO Productions stay ahead of other promotion companies in the DC area? We all put our heads together and try to be original. We don’t like to repeat ourselves,

and we don’t mind taking risks. We like to work with DJs from outside the DC area and bring them here. We are also pushing the Latin urban movement. MIGO Productions is also known for doing community events. How did MIGO get involved in these kinds of events? Walter made some bad decisions when he was younger but then he grew out of it. He spent a lot of time at the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) in DC, teaching kids how to deejay and trying to keep them out of the streets. He was doing a lot of positive things but unfortunately then he had the accident. Doing community events was important to Walter so it’s a part of MIGO; it’s important to us. Last year MIGO has been present at several different community events, including FiestaDC, and you put together your own block party in DC. What was the turn out like for these events? The block party we had was great! We had a moon bounce and face painting for kids, and we had local talent. There were a lot of people from different crews at the block party that usually if they were to see each

other would fight, but out of respect for MIGO Productions, everyone got along for the night. And at Fiesta DC we had the smallest stage but we got the most attention. We had a lot of young people there, and there were a few scuffles but we stopped them and went on. It was one of our biggest accomplishments in 2010. With so much already achieved, what goals do you all have for MIGO in the next year? We are going to start planning our 10 year anniversary. We have to do a concert for our 10 year, but it has to be something BIG! We want to collaborate with more people from outside the DMV. We’re also hoping to start a foundation in memory of Walter to help youth in the area with things like paying for their college text books. Education is important but it can be difficult for some people to afford, so we want to help. If there is one thing each of you want everyone to know about DJ Menace, what would it be? He saw the best in everyone. He was humble and nice to everyone. He inspired all of us at MIGO Productions and his supporters. He is the heart of every party and of the MIGO family. He actually cared and he was real. █

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Photos cortesy of Orquesta N-Fuzion

LOCAL TALENT

orquesta By Christina Martinez

he greatest mix tapes are both nostalgic and unforgettable, having all your favorite hits in one mix to really get you groovin’. Orquesta N’Fuzion is just like the live version of your favorite Latin music mix tape. The twelve person orchestra bravely tackles top hits from all genres of Latin music ranging from cumbia to rock en espanol and covering artists from Hector Lavoe to Los Fabulosos Cadillacs all in one night. Orquesta N’fuzion really knows how to start a party. The group itself has only been performing together for a year, but its members, including leaders and co-founders Elvis Jimenez and Israel Chumpitas, came together from former groups playing various genres of music and most boast several years of experience. This collaboration of artists allows the group to be one of the few full orchestra groups in the area that play all live music. And that, “is the best part about the group,” says Jimenez. “We play a variety of music at every show. People can come and expect to hear all kinds of favorite songs.” The band’s flexibility and range demonstrates its true talent. The groups’ members hail from South America, most from Peru but also include members from Uruguay and Colombia, but the overall sound of

their music is truly a pan-Latin sound. They manage to capture the essence of each song in their diverse repertoire, whether it be a Puerto Rican salsa artist or a Peruvian rocker. One genre the group loves is Pachanga, “a Peruvian rock with merengue and cumbia,” describes Jimenez. One such song called “La Gente esta Borracha,” a get-up-and-dance track originally composed by Los Borgia. Classic salsa also makes the list, including songs such as “Amame,” a passionate salsa bolero by El Gran Combo and “La Murga de Panama” by Hector Lavoe. Other fusions include the cumbia “Ojala que te Mueras,” by Mexican artists El Grupo Pesado and “La Guitarra,” by a quirky Argentinian group known as Los Autenticos Decadentes. They round up the shows with some merengue, bachata and even throw in some reggaetón hits, adds Jimenez. The diversity in the group’s music makes for a fun evening. The groups fans, a group of all ages and ethnicities, follows N’fuzion as they play venues all over the DMV, including Paper Moon in Georgetown, D.C., Bambule in Chevy Chase, MD, El Carbonazo in MD, Rene Club in Fairfax, VA and Zazaa in Sterling, VA. They have also recently performed in New Jersey and New York in collaborations with Peruvian cumbia artist, Marisela Puicon.

The group hopes to continue traveling and reaching out to larger audiences. This locally-grown talent wants to make it big and have their name known nationally, the ultimate goal being to one day hear their music on the radio and even make it back to Peru as an internationally-known name.

The group has had such success this year that they plan on composing their own demos—4 to be exact—by the end of the year, followed by the release of their first CD. For now, they will keep honing their craft along with other local talent including groups La Tremenda, ClaveCinco, Decadas, Luz de Luna and Harmonia Latinas right here in our local DMV establishments. So if you find yourself reminiscing about your favorite salsa hits or just have the urge to rock out, watch N’fuzion live and get a dose of your favorite artists, all in one night. █

/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

/ JUNE 2011

KE? KESTA HOROSCOPE Aries: Diego Torres says: quiero que esta noche sueltes toda esa alegría que ya no puedes guardar. -Sueños, Diego Torres

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/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

/ JUNE 2011