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May TABLE OF CONTENT
ISSUE # 2
12 7
6 ROCK
Bomba Estereo
7
TROPICAL
Kesta DC interviews Tito Nieves
8 URBAN
Wisin y Yandel
10 KESTADC.COM GALLERY
Photos of concerts and DC nightlife
11 UPCOMING EVENTS
Calendar of upcoming events
12 FEATURE
6
Jarabedepalo
17
14 FOOD
El Chalan: Traditional Peruvian cuisine
16 STYLE
Into the wild
21
17 KESTA GIRL OF THE MONTH Arely Morales
18 MI PAIS
Puerto Rico
20 NIGHTLIFE
18
14
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PUBLISHER: Media644 / DIRECTOR: Juan Luis Gonzalez / EDITOR: Claudia Silva / DESIGN: Miriam Jave / WRITERS: Monica O Ateca, Rosario Garcia, Amanda Landrian, Christina Martinez, Christina CortĂŠs, Claudia Silva / WEB & TECHNOLOGY: Javier Gonzalez / PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jose Acha, Juan Luis Gonzalez, Miriam Jave CONTACT US: info@kestamag.com, www.kestadc.com, tel: 202 643 0555
Rolo Productions
21 LOCAL TALENT Los Empresarios
22 KE?
Win tickets to Tito Puente Jr. & Jon Secada
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ROCK
National Records photos cortesy of
searching for new combinations to push the envelope.
BRINGS COLOMBIAN PSYCHEDELIC-ELECTRO-CUMBIA TO DC
By Rosario Garcia
I
f you’ve ever swayed your hips to the sounds of a sensual cumbia or danced to the Technotronic hit 80’s tune “Pump up the Jam,” chances are you will do the same for Bomba Estereo. Bomba is not your traditional Colombian band playing cumbia or champeta. They incorporate those sounds into an infectious mix of psychedelic techno cumbia criolla. They borrow the old and marry it with the new so seamlessly that you’ll be too busy dancing to notice. The group’s smash hit “Fuego” continues to win fans worldwide as the music video now has more than 1.3 million views on Youtube. The song was also recently featured on Showtime’s hit show “Dexter.” Kesta Magazine recently caught up with Bomba Estereo’s mastermind Simon Mejia to find out more on what to expect for their Cinco de Mayo performance at the Black Cat here in Washington DC. Kesta Mag: How was Bomba Estereo born, what inspired you all to follow this path? Simon Mejia (Bomba Estereo): I started following my path in music a long time ago but Bomba Estereo was born only 5 years
ago in 2006. It started more as a solo project with me collaborating with various artists. When I was recording “Volumen 1” our first album, I met Liliana Saumet and we collaborated on a song. Once we started working together I knew we had something different, and soon after we were joined by Kike Egurrola and Julian Salazar and that’s how Bomba Estereo was born. KM: How do you think Bomba Estereo has grown and evolved since then? SM: We have evolved a great deal particularly our live show has gotten stronger over the years. We have only been together 5 years, however 3 out of those 5 years we have been on extensive tours all over the world and that has given us a lot of experience on stage, we’ve learned how to work a crowd, and how to interact better as musicians. Our music has evolved as well; since we’ve been together Bomba Estereo grew from something that was my solo project to a full blown band where all four band mates lend their ideas and talents to make the band better. We continue to work on our music to experiment with various sounds and genres and bring our music to a more profound place while always
KM: You’ve just launched a new EP titled “Ponte Bomb”, tell us about how that EP came to be and where the idea came from to do include that cover of “Pump up the Jam” by Technotronic. SM: Well the EP was really born from that cover of “Pump up the Jam”. We were chosen to collaborate on a compilation CD last year for Levi’s here in the United States. We were tasked to choose a classic song that we identified with and remake it in our own style. We went back and forth on various songs and finally decided on “Pump up the Jam” because it was a song that was very meaningful to us. Growing up in Colombia, Technotronic was huge and that song in particular was very popular in our hometown. I can say that it was one of my first introductions to electronic music, back then we didn’t get much of that not even Kraftwerk. We were the only Latin band to participate in the compilation so we definitely wanted to make this song our own and we did our own version with Spanish lyrics. KM: You also did a pretty racy video for that song; tell us how that came about? SM: Well as soon as we recorded “Ponte Bomb” we knew we wanted to make it into a video and we wanted the video to be very similar to the original Technotronic video which had the colorful 80’s background showing various pictures and dancers. So we went to France and met up with a friend who is a graphic designer and he designed the video for us. We also wanted the video to just be fun to watch so we had fun with it making various animal costumes, and just making it very representative of the 80’s. KM: I know you’re on an extensive U.S. Tour at the moment, are you focusing all your energy on that or are you also working on other projects? SM: We are definitely focusing on the tour right now. We will be visiting many cities in the U.S. that we haven’t visited before and we are very excited. However, before we left for tour we worked on writing new music and already have some songs recorded in Bogota. We are continuing to work on new songs and finalizing some so that we can have our new album ready in July of this year with a possible release date in September 2011. KM: Bomba Estereo has had the opportunity to participate in many
music festivals, including Bonaroo Festival, SXSW, Vive Latino in Mexico, and most recently Coachella, how do you feel performing in front of thousands of people? SM: We love it! We absolutely love it. In many of these festivals such as Coachella we aren’t playing in front of a Spanish speaking audience. We find it very exciting to play for an entirely different audience that most likely hasn’t been exposed to our music or may not even know Spanish. When we see them identifying with the music and dancing alongside our Spanish speaking audiences it’s just surreal for us. KM: You are performing here in DC on May 5th at the Black Cat, that same day Calle 13 is slated to play at a different DC venue, your fans on Facebook have started a petition to bring both concerts together to the same venue, what do you guys think about that? SM: Laughs. We would love to join forces with Calle 13. We have had the opportunity to play with them in Colombia and the combination was just perfect. If the fans keep pushing for it they may just get what they ask for! On our part we would love to do it. KM: How can people get their hands on your music? SM: Well the easiest way is to get our music from iTunes or from our website www.bombaestereo.com. In some countries like the U.S. we have label distribution so you can find our music in some music stores; also in Colombia and Mexico we have some label distribution. We also send out promotional links to new music and videos on our Twitter and Facebook account so people can get our music that way as well. Free music from one of the hottest bands to come out of Colombia in the last few years may be waiting for you the next time you log in to update your status. Based on what we saw this band do recently at the Vive Latino 2011 festival, DC is in for a real treat for the Bomba Estereo performance on Cinco de Mayo (that’s May 5th’ yall!) at the Black Cat. That means you can still celebrate the faux Mexican holiday with some Margaritas while dancing to some psychedelic cumbia served by Bomba Estereo! █ check out kestadc.com for the full interview
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Tito N ieves
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TROPICAL
Its all about “heart and soul” By Cristina Martinez
For Tito Nieves, it’s all about “Heart and Soul” “Music is like the mafia,” explains internationally-known salsa singer Tito Nieves, “Once you get in you can’t get out…because your heart and soul are in it.” The Puerto Rican singer, who has an amazing 36 year career in the salsa industry, has worked with the crème de la crème of the salsa world, including some of most influential artists in the history of the genre such as Hector Lavoe and Tito Puente. He has produced dozens of albums as well as traveled all over the world to perform.
As he describes a career that spans three decades and includes collaborations with his idols Tito Puentes, Hector Lavoe and Celia Cruz, as well as modern day collaborations with Tony Vega, Domingo Quinones, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Olga Tanon, he seems as amazed as I am by his achievements . “It’s been like a dream, I am truly blessed. He has a relentless drive to keep creating music which includes other genres of Tropical music, and looks forward to collaborations with more artists. As he puts it, “my thing is venga quien venga.” He remains open to working with up and coming groups including NG2 and N’Klabe and is currently planning a tour with Dominican Merengue star Milly Quezada, also known as the “Queen of Merengue.” He is also working on a remix of the Bilingual hit “I like it like that.” Nieves says he was born at a good time for Salsa. Like many salseros, he says his interest in Salsa stemmed initially from listening to his parents collection of Salsa music. It included names from the height of the early Salsa movement in NY in the mid and late 50’s such as Machito, Fania All stars, Tito Puentes and Tito Rodriquez, to name a few. Twenty years later, Nieves had the opportunity to perform with the most influential people in his Salsa career. Machito, Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe and Johnny Pacheco were some of the artists that he worked with and from whom he learned firsthand. He set himself apart when he went solo in 1988 by launching a bilingual album called “Classic.” This album along with subsequent ones helped define the “New York Sound” of Salsa, according to his website, always finding a way to stand out. Johnny Pacheco, co-creator and producer of Fania Records--the first
recording company that helped define salsa— nicknamed him “El Pavarotti de la Salsa”, after the famed Luciano Pavarotti, Italian opera singer. During a recording session, “Pacheco pointed out that my voice was higher pitched than the rest and I guess I projected the most so he told me to stand back a little…” explained Nieves, chuckling. Nieves has had the opportunity to travel all over the world to perform including Turkey, Japan, Russia, and Singapore, not your typical Spanishspeaking or Latino locations. “Salsa is a global music,” he says explaining that he never imagined Salsa would be popular in such locales. In Nieves’ opinion, Latinos are the ambassadors to Salsa worldwide. “Donde quiera que haya latinos, hay salsa,” he continues, pointing out that while such locations might not be your typical tropicalmusic listeners, Latinos who travel to such locations usually initiate the movement. Nieves hopes to continue recording, partnering with artists and traveling. In regards to his vast contribution to the Salsa world, he says, “It’s a wonderful feeling…,” and pauses, “I don’t do it to throw it in people’s faces, I don’t want to say look at everything I’ve done and everyone I’ve performed with, I’ll let the fans decide that…I just put my heart and soul into it and that’s it…” He pauses again and says, “It’s just a wonderful feeling.” And although I cannot see him, I imagine his smiling widely as he says this. Nieves will be performing at The Salsa Room in Arlington, VA on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8th. Doors open at 7PM for General Admission. According to Nieves, the show will feature “un poco de todo,” including hits from his various albums as well as songs in Spanish and English. Whether you are a long time fan or new to Salsa, you can weigh in on Tito Nieves’ contribution to the Salsa world. Visit thesalsaroom.net for more information or trstickets. com to purchase tickets. █
photos cortesy of TSR
N
ieves is as passionate as he is productive. In fact, he was in the middle of recording a new album when I called for an interview. His wife Irma graciously reached out to me to reschedule and once I had him on the phone, it turned that although he is one of the top Tropical music artists, he is also amazingly humble and down to earth.
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URBAN
WISIN Y YANDEL
EL DUO, HACIENDO HISTORIA
U
by Christina Cortés
n peluquero and a college student majoring in theater and acting – who would have thought that together, they would become one of the biggest groups to ever hit reggaeton? Having broken dozens of records and winning awards like a Grammy and a Premio Lo Nuestro, Wisin y Yandel are much more than just a reggaeton duo putting out popular songs. With their own record label, WY Records, and tracks that have managed to transcend the language barrier, Wisin y Yandel are like the Jay-Z and P.Diddy of reggaeton. The music giants have more than lived up to their nickname “el duo de la historia” by being played on radio stations across the US and even being nominated for a Grammy against US pop artists such as Britney Spears, repeatedly hacidendo historia! Wisin, whose real name is Juan Luis Morera Luna , and Yandel , real name Llandel Veguilla Malave Salazar, both hail from Cayey, Puerto Rico, home to most of reggaeton’s biggest artists. Although passionate about music, they were both living average lives, until the mid 90’s. With the birth of reggaeton Yandel and Wisin made the decision to dive into the music world and forever change their lives. With reggaeton being in its infancy and still developing as a genre, the dynamic duo began where most reggaeton artists have – being featured on compilation mix tapes. The first mix tape they recorded together was DJ Dicky’s 1998 release No Fear Volume 3. From there they worked their way up until signing with Fresh Productions and releasing their first CD, Los Reyes del Nuevo Milenio. They got back into the studio in 2004 and both produced their first solo projects; Yandel released Quien Contra Mi, and
Wisin put out his album El Sobreviviente, from which he picked up the nickname that has stuck until now. Later on they would join forces with one of reggaeton’s hottest producers, Luny Tunes, creating the acclaimed Pa’l Mundo. The record included some of the year’s biggest hits like “Rakata”, “Llame Pa Verte”, and “Noche de Sexo”, which featured bachata’s heartthrob, Romeo, from Aventura. With their songs banging in clubs from Puerto Rico to New York and California, the duo was finally starting to reach the top. With no intentions of being one-hit wonders, these two stayed extremely focused and didn’t let their new found fame faze them. They continued doing nothing short of incredible during their 10+ years in the reggaeton world. With 11 American Platinum album awards, 10 Latin American Platinum albums, and 8 Gold, they have made it nearly impossible to compete with them, and continuously have challenged themselves to do even more. They have collaborated with artists ranging from Latin superstars Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias, to hip hop giants 50 Cent, Akon, T-Pain, and Fat Joe. With sold out concerts at well-known venues such as California’s Staple Center, NY’s Madison Square Garden, Mexico City’s Palacio de los Deportes and El Coliseo de Puerto, Wisin y Yandel currently hold the record for number one hit songs on Billboard’s Latin Rhythm Airplay Chart, and for Billboard’s Latin Songs Chart. The duo reached groundbreaking territory when they were nominated for the 2009 MTV Music Award for pop song of the year, going head-to-head with artists such as Beyonce and Lady Gaga – a tremendous accomplishment considering that they have only performed their songs in Spanish.
Wisin y Yandel’s 2009 CD release, La Revolucion, went double platinum and one of its’ remixed songs, Gracias A Ti featuring Enrique Iglesias, was immensely popular in both the Latin market and in the US. With the ability to make hit songs that bridge the Latin and American music markets, Wisin y Yandel’s possibilities are limitless. Most recent releases include songs off their album Los Vaqueros have further proved their power and have yet again been charttopping tracks that have become club bangers worldwide. Wisin y Yandel have also used their music to raise attention to issues that are both incredibly relevant and personal to many Latinos. The video for “Estoy Enamorado”, was especially popular because of the its focus on recent anti-immigrant laws. The video shows an older Hispanic couple and their journey from being young and crossing la frontera, where they met, up until the present day when they are pulled over by a police officer with what looks to be one of their grandchildren in the back of the car. The video hit a nerve with the Latino community and even included real footage from protests for immigrant rights and a message from Wisin y Yandel stating that they were taking a strong stand against Arizona’s infamous HR 1070. With political statements like this the duo manages to draw in more fans and support. With their incredible hunger for success and the way their self motivation it is hard to say what the future holds for these moguls, only time will tell what other tricks they have in store for us. With a US tour launching in June, they’re bound to make more headlines and break more records this summer. Hopefully they will add a stop in the DMV, allowing us to be a part of their history in the making! █
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KESTADC.COM GALLERY Rafaga @ Terra Mare 04.29.11
24 Horas @ Rio Cantina 04.22.11
Pinker Tones @ Velvet Lounge 04.16.11
Juanes @ Patriot Center 04.10.11
Vive Latino Festival @ Mexico City 04.08.11- 04.10.11
April Nightlife
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KESTA HAPPENING DC FEATURED EVENTS Thur 05.05 Thur 05.05 Thur 05.12-05.14 Fri 05.13 Fri 05.27 Sat 05.28 Sat 05.28 Sun 06.05 Sat 06.25 Wed 07.06-07.09 Thur 07.07 Thur 07.14 Sun 07.24 Thurs 08.11-08.13
Bomba Estereo @ Black Cat Calle 13 @ Galaxy Nightclub Tito Puente Jr. w/ Jon secada @ The Kennedy Center Banda Boskit @ MXL Nightclub Ruby Perez & Michel El Buenon @ Bravo Bravo Festival Argentino @ Thomas Jefferson Theater Octavia @ State Theater Diego Torres @ Fur Nightclub Ozomatli @ Kenedy Center Concert Hall LAMC New York City Jarabe de Palo @ State Theater Mana @ Patriot Center Wiz Khalifa @ Merriweather DC Bachata Congress @ Washington Hilton Hotel
WEEKLY EVENTS Wednesdays
Bachata Underground @ Eleventh St. Lounge
Saturdays
Latin Rock Invasion @ Marx Cafe Fusion Saturdays @ Rio Cantina Saturdays @ Sutra Lounge
For more information and many more events go to KESTADC.COM
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FEATURE
JARABE DEPALO
shows us that music is the medicine to cure all
By Rosario Garcia
S
Sometimes a vacation is just a vacation but for Pau Donés the lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist of Jarabe de Palo a vacation to Cuba in the mid 90’s marked the inspiration for his smash hit album “La Flaca” which embedded him into Spanish rock history forever. The album released in 1996 featured a song titled “La Flaca” that was so romantic, sensual, and simultaneously obscene that it effortlessly sold millions of copies within a year of its release date. The song itself describes a guy who is so crazy about a girl that he experiences a wet dream while remembering her kisses and he swears that he would do anything just for another chance to kiss and sleep beside her. Awwww, it’s no wonder both men and women who can relate to that kind of crazy obsessive love have made that song their anthem.
A side note for non-spanish speakers “La Flaca” translates to “Skinny girl” and while Jarabe de Palo is talking about a skinny girl in the song this term is a very commonly used as an endearment phrase in Spanish speaking countries. Some 15 years later, Jarabe de Palo has not let the music stop since their “Flaca” smash hit. They have evolved their music from romantic pop rock ballads to a type of “mestizo, Caribbean, flamenco, rock” whose major goal is to make people enjoy themselves and enjoy life. Pau Donés has said in many interviews that the biggest Jarabe de Palo smash hit has yet to be written, which gives some insight on the title of their new album “¿Y ahora que hacemos?” “And now what should we do?” The recently released album is their eighth studio album and contains 13 songs that include some collaborations with some of the >>>
JARABEDEPALO IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL BAND AND PAU DONÉS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL FRONT MAN; HE’S ENIGMATIC, POETIC, AND PAINFULLY HONEST. ..
>>> biggest names in the industry including a cover song of an 80s ballad called “La quiero a morir” with Alejandro Sanz, and a collaboration with Joaquin Sabina and Carlos Tarque in “Hice algunas cosas”. “¿Y ahora que hacemos?” is an album that recounts relationship woes including trying to start over once a relationship has reached a standstill and includes a lot of selfblame; a big change from the usual songs singing about the desires and happiness people go through in a new relationships. Jarabe de Palo has had some woes including leaving their label and going independent and having to change their name to “JarabedePalo” (no spaces) in order to keep their name which is owned by their former label. This fact is especially helpful if you’re trying to search for them on Facebook and Twitter, definitely use the version with no spaces. Speaking of names, Jarabe de Palo can literally translate to “wood syrup”, however, Pau Donés settled on this name for his band based on a saying he would hear when he was younger… if a child was acting up someone might say “that child needs a jarabe de palo” otherwise known as a beating. Jarabe de Palo is not your typical band and Pau Donés is not your typical front man; he’s enigmatic, poetic, and painfully honest. He’s very vocal about music retaining quality, originality, and openly criticizes the media, radio, and other mediums that exploit artists and degrade music. On the www.jarabedepalo. com official website you will not find exploitation, the site contains one of the most thought out and meaningful biographies which reads more like a poem or an entry in a diary than a well rehearsed self-involved chance to list your many recognitions and awards. Jarabe de Palo stays true to the real art of
staying inspired, loving what you do, and living life to the fullest without regrets. Regardless of the relationship woes expressed in “¿Y ahora que hacemos?” the album contains some exceptional productions that fans have grown to associate as the Jarabe de Palo signature classic rock sound. With Jarabe de Palo you will always get melodic vocals at the right moment, tantalizing guitar solos when you want them, and playful lyrics that emit the deep thought and care that went into writing them. We recently had the opportunity to see Jarabe de Palo in Mexico City during the Vive Latino festival in early April and it’s clear that they’re in their prime for arena rock shows. Jarabe de Palo played to a sold out crowd of more than 70,000 fans who sang and danced along to their many hit songs such as: La Flaca, Depende, Bonito, Grita, Agua, Tiempo, Completo Incompleto, Dos Dias en la Vida, and many more. During the entire concert couples embraced in long passionate kisses, friends jumped and danced in sporadic party circles, and everyone sang along to almost every song. We expect to see some of the same during the July 7th show at the State Theater from fans who have long awaited Jarabe de Palo to visit the Washington Metropolitan area. They will finally get their chance! █
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photos cortesy of Tronco Records
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FOOD
El Chalan
Peru’s pride and joy in the heart of Washington
By Claudia Silva
n Peruvian tradition a Chalan is the rider and trainer of the Caballo de Paso, a horse breed that originated in Peru and that is famous for its slow riding pace and its fourstep timing. Here in DC El Chalan, as its slogan states, is Peru’s pride in the heart of Washington. Being the first and most wellknown Peruvian restaurant in the area I felt, being Peruvian myself, that I should check it out and see what the buzz was all about. I scheduled a meeting with the owners and siblings Pedro and Violeta Espinoza who welcomed me early on a Thursday morning. I stepped into the cozy restaurant and felt like I was about to have lunch at a typical Peruvian hacienda. The rustic décor and hand crafted wood bar and furniture were both beautiful and welcoming. We all sat down and started chatting about the history of El Chalan as staff prepped up the place for opening time. Violeta starts telling me about their parents, Pedro Sr. and Elsa, who came to America in the 1960’s as many of us do, to reunite with relatives. These relatives, so it turns out, owned a deli shop in Arlington and eventually offered Elsa to take it over. Elsa took it over and maintained it as a deli shop for some time, but as the Peruvian community grew, so did the demand for a Peruvian restaurant. Elsa challenged herself to actually learn to cook the traditional dishes that are now staples at her restaurant. For Elsa there was no better way to learn traditional cooking than by following her family’s recipes. That was the beginning of this small gem El Chalan, which originally got its name from ex-Peruvian president Mr. Belaunde who dined at the restaurant when it first opened. Enjoying a prime spot in downtown Washington DC, El Chalan’s fan base is as
multicultural as the city itself. Pedro tells us that a lot of their customers are World Bank, IMF and Federal employees, as well as embassy employees or peace corps volunteers who are about to go to Peru and are looking to try some of the food before they go overseas. People who have visited Peru in the past and are looking for a repeat of the culinary experience they experienced while in Peru are also frequent guests to El Chalan. Last but not least, El Chalan, draws the many DC/MD/VA resident Peruvians who are longing for those familiar Peruvian tastes to its doors day after day. We Peruvians manage to find each other wherever we are, and in the words of Pedro, “we always want to find our own food.” I nod in agreement as I wait to sample some of my favorite dishes. In the meantime Violeta, Pedro and I talk about El Chalan’s centric location and what it has done for their business. They say they feel very confident in the fact that having such diverse competition around them has helped them solidify their status in the area. In the 30+ years that El Chalan has been in operation in DC it has always maintained the highest quality food, and kept their dishes true to Peruvian tradition while making them appealing to foreign palettes as well. My feast at El Chalan began with a sip of fresh chicha morada, a Kool-Aid-type of drink made from purple corn grown in the Andes. The taste takes me instantly to my childhood. I follow with a sample of the Pisco Sour, which is truly Peru’s most distinct flavor. The cocktail was delicious and if it hadn’t been before noon, I would have definitely ordered a few more. The waiter quickly brought out three beautifully garnished plates: Anticuchos, Ceviche and Lomo Saltado. All three dishes happen to be some of my personal favorites.
The Anticuchos, marinated and grilled heart kebobs, were very tender and flavorful. The adobo potato that came with them was delightfully cooked and a perfect balance to the mild spiciness of the meat. The Lomo Saltado, which Pedro said is one of their most popular dishes, consists of a mix of sautéed beef strips, onions, tomatoes, freshly cut French fries seasoned with parsley and other spices. As authentic as my grandmother’s, this succulent and colorful entrée was accompanied by white rice, like a good Peruvian entrée should be. The Ceviche was by far the best I’ve had since I left Lima: sour, tangy and spicy. The portions were perfect and the flavors all spot on. So after talking to the Espinoza siblings and after finishing this fantastic tasting of what El Chalan has to offer, I came to some conclusions. Its success is definitely influenced by many factors: its great location, its capacity for its fast turnover, its ability to draw in new clientele as well as to maintain old relationships, and its appeal to people from many different cultures. These are all qualities that have made El Chalan a successful restaurant in the DC area for over 30 years. But in my opinion, the most important reason why El Chalan is at the top of the list as far as Peruvian restaurants go, is that you can taste our tradition in its food, and when you are there you feel like you’re home. That is exactly what Peruvian food is all about. █
El Chalan 1924 I Street Northwest Washington D.C., DC 20006 (202) 293-2765 Open Weekdays 11:30am-3pm, 5:30pm-10pm; Sat 1pm-10pm; Sun 1pm-8pm El orgullo del Peru en el corazon de Washington
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STYLE
Into the Wild
WAYS TO WEAR
LEOPARD
By Amanda Landrian
L
eopard was huge this past fall, popping up everywhere from the runway to the red carpet, and it doesn’t look like the trend is going extinct any time soon. Here, we’ll look at ten different ways you can wear the big-cat look for Spring and Summer, whether it’s with a bold party dress or as an add-on accessory to your favorite staple pieces, there’s no doubt you’ll be going wild for leopard. 5
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1. Wedge Sandal $159.95, Sam Edelman; nordsrom.com / 2. Maxi Dress $58.00; nastygal.com / 3. scarf $26.90, Pieces; asos.com / 4. bag $25.90, Zara; zara.com / 5. blazer $129, Zara; zara.com / 6. Flats $107.58, Dune; asos.com / 7. Party Dress $295.00, Alice + Olivia; nordstrom.com / 8. Ring $29.95, Adrienne, hsn.com / 9. Blouse $268, Tucker; shopbop.com / 10. bikini $76, Victoria’s Secret; victoriassecret.com
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KESTA GIRL OF THE MONTH
Arely Morales
Country: Cochabamba, Bolivia Hobbies: playing with my daughter, cook, watching TV, exercising Favorite Latin Music: Bachata Favorite Latin Artists: Alejandro Fernandez and Marc Anthony Photographer: Cameron (DCProstudio.com) Makeup / Hair & Wardrobe: Rachelle Dalton (nefertaribeauty.com) Location: Lima Restaurant and lounge Washington DC (www.limarestaurant.com)
MAY2011
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byMoni c aO. At ec a
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Rincon, Puerto Rico
Viejo San Juan, Puerto Rico
a
San Juan Beach
typical Puerto Rican has their agenda glittered with exciting events to attend. At least once a month the word gets around, “Oye, vas pa’l festival de...?” And if they can not make it, plan B can be the beach with friends and family. These extravagant events and warm caribbean beaches are usually filled with locals and tourists ready to dance to some of the PR’s greatest entertainers like Jowel y Randy, Olga Tanon, Victor Manuel, Luis Fonsi, Ivy Queen, Daddy Yankee, Tito El Bambino, just to name a few. More often than not, the merriment is free and tasteful shots cost only a dollar. If you visit PR It is guaranteed that you will be in awe of the beautiful island: the women, handsome men, adorable kids, beautiful hospitality, and all the bendiconces “blessing” and abrazos “hugs” you receive from them. It is a never ending ambient of ardent love, even the homeless men holding out their cups will oddly greet you with a sunburned smile. Besides being transported through the historical and enchanting Morro, aesthetic Viejo San Juan, picture perfect Ponce, and the abundant river filled jungles, the locals can help you have Puerto Rican-Like island adventures. During the day I suggest you try out some: water skiing, fourtrack riding, horseback riding, sky diving, zip linning, scuba diving, kayaking, hiking, swiming, shopping at the fancy mall Plaza Las Americas, and eating out doors in the famous town of Pinones. As soon as the sun and temperture cool down, you will get the urge to “heat it up” with your travel-mates. There are so many places to dance or simply unwind. You will know you are at one of them, once the smell of perfume and drinks fill the air, heels are dancing, men stare, Mohawks swing and rat tails fling, with the boom tra tra, you will no longer hear the Coquis sing. Unlike in the U.S.A. at the age of 18 one is permitted to spill some bottles and Puerto
Coqui
street in Puerto Rico
Rican Rum as talented dancers and all types of music compass around you. At the end of that night you will not want to go to bed without eating a “Tripleta.” A tastey three meats sandwich which will wake up full and happy. For a family-friendly time one can take a tour through Old San Juan and visit the unique shops, historical sites, enchanting cathedral, and grab a bite of PR’s native foods; like that of: Mofongo, Alcapuria, Empanadilla, Arros con candules, bacalou frito, amarillos, tostones etc. At one of PR’s finest hotels, El Conquistador you can take a boat ride to the beautiful surrounding islands and pick up your own souvenirs. The Bacardi factory is a must see if you want a free drink and a piece of history. If you go to the Junque, put on some sneakers and throw on your swimsuit to hike your way up an adventure like a true Boricua (PR’s native Indians.) There you are more than likely to find hidden waterfalls and rivers full of glistening gold. Not to far from there you can crawl through some of PR’s many caves in Camuy. Why not film these fun adventuress and put them on Youtube? Just watch out for the little bats. Being that of Puerto Rican decent, past resident from Virginia, It has occurred to me that PR and the US are two divergent worlds. Each modern but culturally contrasting. Love, arts, family, alegria “happiness;” these four words faintly describe the wonders of PR and its people. Living in PR I constantly hear tourists say, “I don’t want to leave, I will come back again,” and that is exactly what happened to me. Tonight I will invite the Coquis to sing me to sleep, as I feel the cool tropical breeze under my sheets, tomorrow I will wake up to the smell of coffee, and hear the birds and palm leaves dance out my window, just to tell me “hello, hello you are in Puerto Rico!” █
MAY2011
byChr i s t i naCor t es
W
i t hnewpr omot i on c ompani esc ons t ant l y emer gi ngi nt heDC met r opol i t anar ea, i t c anbehar dt o s t andout andr emai nk i ngof t hi sc r az y i ndus t r y . Nev er t hel es s , asoneof t he DMV’ sf i r s t of f i c i al andmos t wel l k nown pr omot er s , Rol ohasmadequi t et he namef orhi ms el f ! Get t i ngi nt ot he bus i nes sf r es hout of hi ghs c hool , Rol o –ak at hepar t ymul e–dov er i ght i n. St ar t i ngout par t of hi sc ar eerwi t h Kes t aHappeni ngDC, af t erl ear ni ngt he r opesof pr omot i ng, Rol andot ookt he nex t s t epandes t abl i s hedhi sown pr omot i onsc ompany , Rol o Ent er t ai nment .
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Si nc et hen, Rol oandhi st eam hav e br ought uss omeof ourar ea’ smos t poppi ngev ent sat DC’ shot t es t v enues , i nc l udi ngRol o’ sc ur r ent homeon Sat ur dayni ght s , I bi z aNi ght c l ub. He’ s br ought usc onc er t sbyPi t bul l , Yomo, Ludac r i s , I v yQueen, DonOmar , and mos t r ec ent l yZi oyLennox . Hi s s uc c es si sl i mi t l es s , andabi gpar t of i t c anbeat t r i but edt ohi sl ov eof hi sj ob ( andpar t y i ng) . Ass omeonewhol ov es t opar t yandt r ul yl i v esev er ydayashi s l as t , Rol ok nowsex ac t l ywhat wewant at t hec l ub–andhegi v esi t t ous ! Hei s ourar ea’ spar t yk i ng!
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J ohanaPer ez : Redondi t oc onpel ol ar go! hahahaj k babe
KM:What hot par t i esdoy ouhav epl annedf orusf or5deMay o? Rol o:Thi sy earourCi nc odeMay opar t ywi l l beat I bi z aNi ght c l ub. DJRef l exandDJMaddOdwi l l bei nt hehous e. Asal way s , t hi s ev ent i sex pec t edt of i l l upqui c k l ys oweur gey out oRSVPas s oonaspos s i bl et oguar ant eef r eeadmi s s i onandac c es st ot hi s onc eay earev ent . ToRSVPt ex t “ t equi l a”t o313131now!
KM:Doy ouhav emor eweek l yev ent si ns t or ef ort heDCar ea? Rol o:Yes , we’ r ewor k i ngonbr i ngi ngy ounewpar t i esat DC’ s h o t t e s t c l u b s . V i s i t my w e b s i t e a t w w w . r o l o d c . c o m t o v i e w Emi l yMemzRey es : You' r ec ool ash* l l andy ou' r enot s t uc kup! : ) upc omi ngev ent s . DJJ oe" El Es pec i al i s t a" : Kt eponesapi j a. . . . . j aj aj aj k
Pedr oCr uz : You' r ehumbl e&c ool asf * * *my* * * * * !
KM:Yourpar t i esar eal way ss omeof t hehot t es t andmos t popul ar i nt heDCmet r opol i t anar ea. Whydoy out hi nkt hat i s ?Rol o:I par t yl i k enoot herandI br i ngt hat t oal l myev ent s . Pl uspeopl e Vi cEf f endi : urmyr ol emodel don’ t want abor i nga* * spr omot er , andI ’ m wi l d. I ’ v ewor kwi t hl ot s Ser gBar c aFl or es : Yor ol ouac ool as ** * * * *br o! Real o f di f f er ent pr omot er s–ur banpr omot er s , Per s i ans , As i ans , Tal k Lat i nos–as kt hem andt heywi l l t el l y out hes ameabout me. Gui l l er moJ . Amay a: Yeawhat t heys ai dbr o
Os k arMi r anda: y ou' r et hal i f eof dapar t ybr oand Koool ash* l l ! ! Er i c kSuel t oLopez : Teenbol asc ont usc l i ent esl ol Anot hert hi ngi st hat habl ass i npel osenl a l engua. . . whi c hi sagoodt hi ng
ou’ r ek nownasbei ngal adi es ’ man. Gi r l si nDCl ov ey ou. KM:Soy What doy out hi nki t i sabout y out hat t heyl ov es omuc h?Rol o: Comodi c eel ac t orLui sdeAl ba" Yos oyJ uanCamaney , bai l o t ango, mas c oc hi c l e, pegodur o, t engov i ej asdeamont ón, t ur u r ú" , hahaha! J us t k i ddi ng! I gues st heyl ov emyper s onal i t yandI gi v et hem anex per i enc el i k enoot her ! Haha!
KM:Youl ov ewomen, but y oul ov epar t y i ngt oo. Sowhat doy ou l o v e mo r e a b o u t p r o mo t i n g – t h e p a r t y i n g , o r t h e w o me n a t t h e Ti er ni t aXVi da: Rol oy ol ouni c oquet epuedodec i res l ub?Rol o:Huymami t a! Quepr egunt a. . . s i nohaymuj er es , no queer esunaper s onas uperk ool yquec uandounot e c h a y f i e s t a ! N E X T ! H a h a ! nec es i t ay ouar et her et os ol v eanypr obl emst her e
ar e. Youar edownt oear t handnot s t uc kupl i k eot her pr omot er s ! Youk eepi t r eal andy out ak ec ar eof y our KM:Yo u’ v ebeeni nt hebus i nes sawhi l enow. Doy out hi nky ou peopl eat al l t i mes ! Luvy a! ! wi l l ev ers t oppr omot i ng?Rol o:I t ol dy ou, I won’ t s t op‘ t i l I DROP!
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Photos cortesy of Empresarios.
LOCAL TALENT
I
By Christina Cortés
A FUSION OF FLAVORS
n the words of Javier Miranda, “It’s something different… something beautiful”. It’s an intriguing array of bold tastes, all finely tuned to harmoniously melt together. It will stimulate your senses and seduce you, leaving you hungry for more… except… we’re not talking about food. We’re talking about Empresarios; a DC-based music group that cannot be labeled and defined, and stuck into one single genre. Empresarios’ music mixes Latin rhythms, such as cumbia and reggaeton, with house and England’s dub and trip hop to create a unique sound like no other. Their music oozes a special ingredient you just can’t put your finger on, making it all the more captivating; it has a deliciously funky edge, stirred in with raw talent not often seen in today’s most popular mainstream music groups. By incorporating a variety of eclectic sounds into their work, Empresarios is embarking on uncharted territory, producing a music experience that will shatter all preconceived notions of what music is supposed to be these days and make you fall in love with their perfectly blended fusion of flavors. Empresarios began about four years ago with a group of friends who wanted to intertwine the different genres of music they loved so much and create a sound their own. Led by Javier Miranda, who plays the congas, produces, and lends his voice to some of their tracks, the group is in good hands with their “boss empresario”. Javier has toured across Europe with Thievery Corporation, was a part of the 2006 Musica Fresca Tour, and has an undeniable talent on the congas. His fellow band mates are by no means any less talented than their lead man. Sammy K is Empresarios’ house music DJ who fell in love with house while living in a suburb of San Francisco, California. His songs have been played
on the radio, he currently DJs at various locations in DC, and has moved into producing – which he also does for Empresarios. John Bowen – better known as Video Killers – has an extensive list of experience as a video DJ. Also a producer for Empresarios, John has rocked some of DC’s hottest clubs, like Dream (now known as Love), and performed at Miami’s Bob Marley Festival which featured an audience in attendance of more than thirty-thousand. Empresario’s Latin and Brazilian music DJ, Sonny Cheeba, has also had time to allow his passion for music develop and evolve over the years. Discovering his love of music in hip hop and house, Sonny has also grown quite fond of downtempo and reggae. Finally, rounding out this interesting mix we have Paul Chaconas, who you can say is a jack of all trades. Paul plays bass, guitar, keys, is the group’s music engineer and, just like the others, is also a producer for Empresarios. Paul’s many years of studio and instrumental experience are the perfect addition to the band. Empresarios also borrows vocals from Frankie Rosado, Felix Perez, and Jeff Franca who is also their main drummer. It’s with these very different yet similar men interlacing their impressive talent, experience, and deeplyrooted passion for music that they have produced such a diverse sound. As Javier said, their music is “como una sopa”, with each member of Empresarios adding one ingredient. One will add the yucca, one the peppers, one la carne, and so on, until they find that perfect mix they were searching for. Their first album, Sabor Tropical – a fifteen-track melting pot of house, Latin, downtempo, dub, and trip hop, with more funk and soul than any of today’s most popular R&B hits – is the perfect example of the groups’ unique method for creating amazing
music. Despite the fact that this was Empresarios’ first album release and the first full-length release from their recording label, Fort Knox Recordings, Sabor Tropical has already reached incredible success. The album’s title track, Sabor Tropical, features one of DC’s most popular urban groups, Mafu Crew for vocals, giving it a bit of a street edge while maintaining its more traditional tropical sound. Mafu Crew creeps back up on Sabor Tropical’s Perreo Intenso and Negrita Linda, which meshes cumbia and reggaeton, tapping into Empresarios’ love for Latin beats. Later into the experience, Nota Loca evokes the Caribbean’s mellow reggae vibes and fuses it with Spanish lyrics, giving it a funky personality that makes it stand out amongst other more reggae songs. With an upcoming tour across the United States kicking off at the beginning of summer and the Sabor Tropical remix album being released this month, Javier is hoping that Empresarios can draw in a bigger Latin fan base this year. Although the group has had great success in the American market, he wants to bring the group’s sound back to his Latin roots and give his people something they’ll love that they’ve never experienced. By blending together Latin rhythms and genres such as house and dub, Empresario is doing what nobody else has done, and they have the ability of seducing fans from every corner of the world. Empresarios’ unique fusion of flavors has only just begun to sizzle, and with their excess of talent and passion for great music, they’re sure to make more remarkably delicious blends to satisfy your musical hunger. █ www.empresariosmusic.com
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/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE
/ MAY 2011
KE? KESTA HOROSCOPE Aries: Calle 13 says: Ahora quitate el traje falda y camiseta. Despojate de prendas marcas etiquetas Pa’ cambiar el mundo desnuda tu coraje. La honestidad no tiene ropa ni maquillaje -Calma Pueblo, Calle 13
Taurus: Octavia says: Es un gran reto ya lo se. una montana que escalar. pero no mires atras, habra que arriesgar -Fe Visual, Octavia
Libra: Mana says: Pónganse el tanto Que el mundo gira rápido. Pónganse al tiro o se quedarán atrás, porque Me vale, vale, vale, me vale todo Scorpio: Tito Puente says: Vamos Rumberos que la rumba ya va empezar -Para los Rumberos, Tito Puente
Sagitarius: Ozomatli says: Mira ya viene el sol, ya ya viene el sol, florece, se habre, como una bella flor
Cancer: Banda Bostik says: Si
Capricorn: Mana Says: la terapía
-Con el Puño Arriba, Banda Bostik
Leo: Calle 13 says:
En el mundo hay micrófonos y altoparlantes, hay seis mil millones de habitantes.Hay gente ordinaria y gente elegante,pero, pero, pero...No hay nadie como tú -Nadie como Tu, Calle 13
Virgo: Diego Torres says: Es mejor
perderse que nunca embarcar. Mejor tentarse a dejar de intentar aunque ya ves que no es tan fácil empezar-Color Esperanza, Diego Torres
WIN TICKETS FOR
-Me Vale, Mana
Gemini: Ozomatli says: Dip, Dive, Socialize. Get Ready for the Saturday Night -Saturday Night, Ozomatli quieres sentir el rock a su máxima potencia ven a cantar con migo deja a un lado la verguenza
GIVEAWAYS:
-Ya Viene el Sol, Ozomatli
cura, pero es mucha la locura al amor pudiste entrar, pero no vas a escapar -Ay Doctor, Mana
Aquarius: Bomba Estereo says: esta noche que nos coja los tragos y lleva me a tu casa o adonde te plazca por que contigo yo me siento conectao”
-Cosita Rica, Bomba Estereo
Pisces: Come on, come on, come on, come on Porque mañana ya es muy tarde para hacerlo mejor Come on, come on, come on, come on Porque ya es hora que cambiemos un poquito los dos -Come on, Diego Torres
Download and install a free QR code reader for your phone 1. Open the QR code reader application 2. Take picture / scan the QR code with your mobile device 3. The code willl take you to the Win Tickets Page for a chance to win 4. THE FIRST PEOPLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION CORRECTLY ON THE WIN TICKETS PAGE WINS TICKETS TO CONCERT. Good Luck!
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/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE
/ MAY 2011