The City Magazine El Paso 2021

Enrique Iglesias On Latin Pop n o i s o l Ex p

El Pasoans Flock to Festivities

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shelley Mozelle | shelley@thecitymagazineelp.com EDITORIAL Managing Editor Erin Coulehan | erin@thecitymagazineelp.com Editor-In-Chief Assistant Michelle MacDonald | michelle@thecitymagazineelp.com MEDIA STRATEGIST Mari Van Pelt | mari@thecitymagazineelp.com GRAPHIC Pick a copy of Editorial Design Ernie Sanchez Creative | ernie@thecitymagazineelp.com ADVERTISING

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From the

Editor-in-Chief

I

moved to El Paso in 2002 because I was recruited by an advertising

The City Magazine is back, and yes, there

company. As I set up my office, my

were time I thought we were done. There

co-workers were clearly perplexed

were times I tried to move on, but the

by my excitement to move to the

world of lifestyle magazines keeps calling

Sun City. Most of my counterparts

me home. The plan of opening a ticketing

were raised in the area, and often talked

company portal has finally come to fruition.

about leaving. I was reminded, often,

We have a ticketing company that will

that I was an outsider as they went down

service all events in the city. A community

Memory Lane, talking first about where

calendar where every exciting local event

they’d graduated, who’d they’d dated, then

will be. Details, dates, ticket info, and the

who they’d divorced. They spoke as if there

information goes on.

was a window they were trying to climb out of, and clearly didn’t understand my

When this hits newsstands our “Best of

climbing in. That was then, but now, those

The City” winners will be secretly behind

who’d boomeranged have come back and

lock and key. "Our Best of The City" event,

love and appreciate El Paso as I do.

where we announce the winners, is finally scheduled for New Year's Eve. What better

There aren’t greener pastures, sure the

way to bring the new year in than celebrating

grass might taste sweet for a bit, but the

with those who were nominated and voted

triumph they thought they’d find by changing

best in the city?

zip codes was never found. What was once “second choice” is now the place, they bring

You want more information? Go to our

their children home to raise. Sure, we have

website

our stumbles, the heartbreak the Walmart

a ticket, get your attire ready (Studio 54

shooting brought, and now the pandemic.

Theme) and let’s all break in the new year

(community

calendar)

pre-buy

with the Best In The City. I’ve come up with What I like about our city, my home, is

a guest list and you’re on it! You think our

our resilience, our strength, how we bond

last few years were cool, we’re raising the

together during tough times.

bar. Make plans early, pre-buy your tickets and let’s leave this year in our rearview

So…if you think our city was so injured

mirror and we bring in the future celebrating.

during the pandemic that it can never return to normal—you can think again. It’s time for

I can’t wait to see what you’re wearing.

a re-set.

The city is open, friendly smiles that can be seen from blocks away are smiling.

Ladies are wearing lipstick again.

Doors are open for business; friends are gathering again and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. That tunnel has been long, bumpy and dark, but…we’re back.

@shelleymozelle shelley@thecitymagazineelp.com

November 2021

EL PASO RHINOS

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

NAHL vs. Odessa Jackalopes | Nov. 5-6 NA3HL vs Louisiana Drillers | Nov. 12-14 NAHL vs Shreveport Mudbugs | Nov. 19-20 NAHL vs. New Mexico Ice Wolves | Nov. 24 NAHL vs. Amarillo Wranglers | Nov. 26-27 www.thecitymagazineelp.com

15

Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday games at 7 pm | Sunday games at 4:30 pm Call 915-479-PUCK (7825) or visit elpasorhinos.com for more information.

November, 2021

The City Magazine is excited to welcome a new Managing Editor who isn’t new to the magazine. Erin Coulehan started as an intern in 2011, which led to a Masters in Journalism from Georgetown University, work in Rolling Stone, ELLE, The New York Times, and research trips around the world.

Erin is no stranger to The City, and you can get to know her below.

What’s one thing you do every day?

acknowledgment of his own privilege, and willingness to use his

My days are crazy -- some days I wake up at 4 am to go to Pure

platform were super impressive and his manners were impeccable.

Barre, other days I roll out of bed 45 minutes before I have to be

Also, I interviewed Congresswoman Veronica Escobar on January 6th

at the office. I’ve never done well with “routine” but do try to be

as the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was happening. DC is like my

consistent when it comes to stepping away from the busyness of

second home, and I used to live on Capitol Hill so seeing melee in my

business. I try to take a moment or two each day “to fill my cup,”

old neighborhood was heartbreaking. Regardless of politics, it was

whether it be going to bed early in preparation for the next day, a

terrifying to see a mass of bodies rush into the Capitol knowing that

long shower where I listen to loud music or sneaking in an episode

protesters, elected officials and their staffs, and police officers could

or two of Real Housewives to decompress.

be hurt. The Congresswoman called me from a safe space inside the belly of the Capitol to share her experience. It was a scary and intimate

What is being a magazine editor actually like?

conversation, one in which the gravity of the role of journalists really

Every bit as fun as you might expect. The Devil Wears Prada trope

impacted me. No glamour, no cameras, just a conversation between

is so played out, Shelley couldn’t be any less like the cold, abusive,

two women during a moment of national crisis.

and condescending Miranda Priestly in the very best of senses. It’s not like Sex and the City, either! I did freelance for years and there’s

What’s your most embarrassing moment at work?

no way Carrie Bradshaw could afford her lifestyle in Manhattan (and

Ha! I covered the Made in America music festival for Rolling

probably anywhere else).

Stone years ago that was held at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. I was crossing the path in the artists’ area to get to an

Most days are filled with lots of writing, but even more reading. I

interview when CRASH! Wiz Khalifa, who was flying around a curve

try to read and research at least three times the word count of what

on a skateboard, collided with me and caused both of us to land

I write for each story in order to really get a grasp on the subject.

on the pavement -- hard. To add insult to injury, his girlfriend at the

Other days I work with writers and photographers to develop story

time, Amber Rose, and her friends cackled and pointed at us from

ideas and try to look ahead for the next issues.

an artist lounge.

My favorite part of this job is that I get to be behind the scenes and

What story are you most proud of?

ahead of the curve -- at least that’s the hope.

I’ve written two or three stories that have been on the front page of The New York Times, all of which are about El Paso. My favorite

What do you love most about journalism?

stories are always about topics that I care deeply about, and more

I get to know a little bit about everything and meet people! It’s super

often than not, they’re focused on El Paso (or dogs).

fun to be allowed to ask complex, controversial, and sometimes nosey questions from people you otherwise would never meet.

What’s your coffee order?

Cold-brew with Splenda and lavender syrup.

What’s been your favorite interview you’ve done?

Ugh, this is what I imagine choosing a favorite child, book, or pair of shoes must be like. One stand-out was interviewing Penn Badgley of You and Gossip Girl fame for Teen Vogue. He was in El Paso on a hush-hush research trip to study gender-based violence, focusing on the femicides in Juarez. His thoughtfulness, 16

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November 2021

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17

November, 2021

Contributors Erin

Michelle

Valentin

COULEHAN

MACDONALD

SANDOVAL

Margo

Maggie

Daniel

LEPE

ASFAHANI

HERNANDEZ

Managing Editor

Sabrina

Brandi

Kimberly

BUSTILLOS

LAMBERT

BRENNER

BarbieJo

Yvonne

HATCH

18

SUAREZ

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contents

November 2021

NOVEMBER 2021 VOLUME 95

28

38 28

Welcoming and Remembering COMMUNITY EVENTS By: YVONNE SUAREZ

Features

38

Local Veteran EXPLORES A CHANGE OF ‘PACE’ IN THE NEW NORMAL

42 42

Livin La Vida Local By: ERIN COULEHAN

By: ERIN COULEHAN

Here and Now

54

60

El Paso Opera BREATHES LIFE BACK INTO LOCAL THEATRE

Men in the Moment: FROM DRAB TO DRESSED UP

By: ERIN COULEHAN

By: DANIEL HERNANDEZ

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

108

Astrology FORECAST By: SABRINA BUSTILLOS

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November, 2021

Borderplex Alliance

Honored

for Economic Development Feats | By: ERIN COULEHAN photos courtesy of: BORDERPLEX ALLIANCE |

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Borderplex Alliance

November, 2021

E

l Paso is in the spotlight when it

2020, the Borderplex Alliance helped bring

“Whether it be construction, whether it be

comes to economic growth despite

700 jobs to the local Amazon Inc. fulfillment

retail. Sometimes the service sector. So you

the innumerable obstacles faced

center, as well as a $150 million TJ Maxx

multiply that times at least four, and see

amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

distribution center to the Borderland.

that there were well over 10,000 direct and

The Borderplex Alliance, which is an economic

indirect jobs created last year, and we expect

development and policy organization, is private

“We define ‘economic development’ as

that to continue again in the next 12 to 24

sector-driven and works to bring jobs, hope,

those companies that make something,

months.”

and opportunity to the Borderland region.

manufacture

something,

or

export

50

percent or more of their services. We always

The pandemic introduced a new set of

In October, the Borderplex Alliance was

try to recruit companies that pay the county

challenges that stymied traditional methods

named Economic Development Organization

median wage or above with benefits,” says

the Borderplex Alliance employs to bolster

of the Year by the International Economic

Barela.

economic development. Barela rallied his

Development Council (IEDC) for its vast

team

to

develop

innovative

marketing

achievements in expanding and enhancing

Additionally, the organization was able to

methods to meet the demands of life in the

the local economic landscape over the last

stimulate the local construction industry.

age of COVID-19.

year and a half.

“This award is very meaningful because it certainly solidifies my belief that we have a world-class staff here and are blessed to have a very talented, hardworking, and imaginative team,” says John Barela, CEO of the Borderplex Alliance.

“The

IEDC

International

Economic

Development Council is the largest economic development

organization

in

the

world

with over 5000 members, and for them to recognize the Borderplex Alliance with this award is extremely gratifying and it’s a big deal for us our investors, our staff, and for our region. It’s a big deal,” he adds.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported 194,000 jobs added in the U.S. during the month of September (the most recent data as this issue was going to print) and that the unemployment number fell by 710,000. The BLS notes that labor force participation rates have remained largely stagnant since June, ranging from about 61.4 percent to 61.7 percent.

The Borderplex Alliance honor by the IEDC comes after the organization brought more than 4,000 economic development-based

“Economic activity in the border region is ramping up, and these economic developmentbased jobs always lead to the creation of at least three to four indirect jobs in a variety of other sectors,” says Barela.

“I was thrilled with the results, and clearly the results speak for themselves. And so, again all credit to the staff,” says Barela.

El Paso’s achievements in economic growth are also significant given the number of Latino and other minority-owned businesses and workforce members across the Borderland.

Minorities that include women, LGBTQ+ community members, ethnic minorities, and more were overwhelmingly impacted by job loss during the pandemic that the Borderplex Alliance is keeping top of mind.

Barela says nearly every company recruited by the Borderplex Alliance has been mindful of the continued economic impact affecting minorities and value diversity.

“All of them are very forward-thinking in their services and certainly understand that talent comes in a variety of constituencies, and to have a diverse workforce strengthens the short and long-term prosperity of the organization,” he says.

“We’re very fortunate here in El Paso to have a multicultural, very diverse community from which to draw talent,” he adds.

jobs to the region during the pandemic. In

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Far WestT November, 2021

| By: VALENTIN SANDOVAL |

22

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tTech ech November, 2021

Fa r W e s t T e c h

Although it might not first seem like it, El Paso

and we expect more attendees than we had

has a burgeoning tech and start-up industry.

in 2019. Not to mention that we have stellar

Tech is a growing industry in the Borderland

judges to provide feedback to the participants,

due in large part to organizations such as

including Paul Foster (Franklin Mountain

Sandbox Ventures (formerly known as Cowork

Investments), Josh Hunt (Hunt Companies),

Oasis), the STTE Foundation, the Arrowhead

Lolita Taub (Lightspeed Ventures), Carlton

Center of New Mexico State University, the

J. Charles (Hearst and Level Up Ventures),

Medical Center of the Americas, Pioneers 21

Emma Schwartz (MCA and Econtone Fund),

(then the HUB of Human Innovation), and the

and Drew Tulchin (New Mexico Angels),”

Technology Hub in Juarez. The organizations

says Jeff Villalobos, senior attorney at Vela

have been putting their best feet forward to

Wood where he specializes in advising and

enhance the technological capabilities and

counseling investors and start-ups.

opportunities for the region.

Villalobos and Beto Pallares PhD., President A group of entities that include the City of

and CEO of Joseph Advisory Services,

El Paso, Microsoft, and more are supporting

are highly dedicated to building a robust

a competition to help bolster local tech

ecosystem

entrepreneurs. The Dia de Los Muertos Pitch

organizations in the tech industry in El Paso

Competition is on November 5th and will be

and Juarez. One of the creative ways they’ve

hosted by Sandbox Ventures; the event will

thought of to excite local entrepreneurs and

be held at the historic Paso Del Norte Hotel in

startups is by hosting The El Paso Dia de Los

downtown El Paso.

Muertos Pitch Competition.

Event organizers say the competition is also a

“This pitch competition is different from

networking opportunity for start-ups to meet

most, including those in more established

similarly-minded

are

startup markets,” says Villalobos. “We aim

eager to scale and gain access to capital. This

to make our competition the most founder-

year’s event is building upon the success of

friendly startup event. We focus on helping

previous years.

companies network with investors who can

entrepreneurs

who

that

supports

groups

and

either make an investment or make an intro to “The difference between this pitch competition

another investor.”

and the first is the scale. We tripled the number

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

of applicants from El Paso, we are giving away

Experts travel from as far as Chile and Spain

$200,000 in prizes as opposed to $15,000,

come to El Paso to judge the competition.

23

November, 2021

“The plan is to continue to grow the event alongside the El Paso startup community.”

24

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Fa r W e s t T e c h

Some of the donors and sponsors include Microsoft, Vela Wood, a Dallas-based firm focused on corporate law and venture financing, as well as Technology Hub in Juarez and New Mexico Angels.

The three guiding principles are (1) connect startups with investors and ecosystem supporters to help their growth; (2) inspire the next round of founders in the region; (3) celebrate our startup ecosystem and vibrant community.

“Instead of the standard pitch event where founders have to do substantial prep work only for a low chance of investment all at their own expense, we provide a stipend for each company to compensate them for their efforts,” says Villalobos.

In 2019, the competition received more than 60 applications from start-ups in not only the Borderland, but from around the globe.

In total, 13 companies pitched in front of nine investor judges.

The winner, E-Dealer Direct, an El Paso-based automotive auction platform won the $10,000 prize that helped open doors for the company.

“What it did for us is it gave us a platform. We didn’t know.

We were a small start-up. Which way do you turn? The pitch competition gave us the ability to get in front of our peers and people in the industry to put our business out there. We didn’t know two things about trying to raise money or any of that. Then being able to win allowed us to connect with potential investors and continue to build upon those relationships. It’s going to continue to get bigger and bigger,” says Victor Valenzuela, E-Dealer Direct CEO. Thanks to additional supporters, including the City of El Paso, the competition aims to spur the development of tech companies in the Borderplex and increase opportunities for our residents.

Organizers are optimistic about El Paso’s tech future.

“The plan is to continue to grow the event alongside the El Paso startup community,” says Villalobos. “The STTE Foundation will run another event for only local startups in Spring 2022. And we look forward to continually increasing the regional and national appeal of the El Paso Dia de Los Muertos Pitch Competition to founders and investors alike.”

25

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November, 2021

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November, 2021

| By: YVONNE SUAREZ photos courtesy of: CHALK THE BLOCK: CITY OF EL PASO MUSEUM & CULTURAL AFFAIRS; MONSTER JAM; ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ: GETTY IMAGES |

28

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November, 2021

T

he

COVID-19

Welcoming and Remembering the Events We’ve Missed

pandemic

caused

the

shutdown of businesses and activities across the world and in the Borderland. In the last couple of months, El Pasoans have enjoyed renewed freedom. They’ve set out

in drove to attend events and gatherings, while family reunions, weddings, concerts, and other community events are now venues that afford the community in-person interaction with others.

“This year the Monster Truck Jam had a lot of people,” said Carla E., a big fan of the show. “It wasn’t as packed as in the past, but most of the fans made it back,” she added.

The Sun Bowl has been the venue for this event that features souped-up trucks performing deathdefying stunts. The roar of the engines competed in closing the event with the roars from the fans.

Thousands were on-hand to get a taste of the adrenaline the drivers experience as they rev their engines and hit the gas pedal to ride over cars, spin on the ground, and get the crowd cheering.

October 9th and 10th saw the return to a beloved public art festival in downtown El Paso. Chalk the Block, in its fourteenth year, has had more than 200 local artists showcasing their talents in chalk

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29

Welcoming and Remembering the Events We’ve Missed

November, 2021

on the sidewalk for all to see and enjoy. The event started with about a dozen artists putting their creations on the pavement for the community to experience. This year, thousands attended to see the creations by student artists, as well as other local artists.

“It was special! It was unique and special to be able to spend time with friends and family outdoors again,” said Venice Redman.

Chalk the Block is a family event that many in the community missed during the shutdown days of the pandemic.

“It’s a chance to appreciate art, create art, and simply enjoy a wonderful day outside Downtown,” added Redman.

Music has also been a huge draw for El Pasoans.

Alejandro Fernandez, son of legendary Mexican singer Vicente Fernandez, was scheduled to perform in El Paso back in 2020 but was forced to wait until September 18, 2021, much to the delight of thousands 30

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November, 2021

of his followers in the Borderland. The multi-

getting back to our usual routines because

Latin Grammy winner was joined on stage by

many of us have been cautious.”

his son Alex Fernandez at the Don Haskins Special Events Center for a concert that drew

Businesses are enjoying an uptick in customers

a nearly sold-out crowd.

and the community’s sense of adjusting to a new normal seems to be growing. After more

“I have been waiting for this concert for a

than a year of staying home and away from

long time, I am one of his biggest fans!” said

community events, the public is hopeful and

Mary Flores while she waited in line for the

happy to go back to seeing family and friends

concert to commence.

in person, and also enjoying the sights and sounds of the community.

“The virus took a lot from us, from family and friends, to work, to just being able to

“I’ve always enjoyed this fusion of artists and

enjoy music and the company of friends and

community members all coming together to

family,” she added.

create art and have fun together,” said Judy

Horses and music are making their mark at

Redmond. “I’m so glad to see El Paso alive

the El Paso County Coliseum, as well.

with this kind of energy.”

Thousands of fans from both El Paso and

Art, music, food, and good conversations

Juarez eagerly awaited a performance by

are at the core of what El Pasoans say they

Pepe Aguilar, his son Leonardo Aguilar, and

missed the most during the early days of the

teen daughter Angela Aguilar. The family

pandemic but are glad to have restored to

of performers was joined by Mariachi

their daily lives.

El Zacatecano and regional band Banda Sinaloense. The audience was captivated by

Many of the events also afford those with fur-

rodeo stunts, beautiful horses, and favorite

babies the opportunity to head out and enjoy a

songs sung by the Aguilar family.

different perspective. Chalk the Block, concerts and other performances like George Lopez and

“It was amazing,” said Carmen Moreno,

Disney on Ice have helped El Paso regain a sense

“We even got some special guests who

of normalcy and connection to the community.

were here to perform at the Juarez Feria. It was a real treat.”

“I didn’t realize how fun this event is,” said Ben Guerrero. “We had a great time! We

El Paso has reached -- and surpassed -- its goal

brought our dogs and spent time walking,

for COVID-19 vaccinations. Many of those

looking at the artwork, and drawing some of

who are venturing out to public events echo

our own,” he continued.

the same sentiment: “We are comfortable www.thecitymagazineelp.com

Whatever Your Occasion

Plan it With Us! Gatherings That Inspire Unforgettable Social Events Call 915.342.1407 BIANCA.ARREOLA@HILTON.COM

November, 2021

32

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Lights! Cameras!

November, 2021

Lights!

Cameras!

And a Call to

Social Action | By: ERIN COULEHAN photos courtesy of: JOHN D. AND CATHER INE T. MACARTHUR FOUNDATION (headshots) |

T

hey say two brains are better than one, and the combined brainpower of one couple is being honored with one of the

highest honors in scholarship. Native El Pasoan Cristina Ibarra and her husband, Alex Rivera of New York, were both selected as MacArthur fellows, -- the first time in the honor’s history.

Ibarra and Rivera are two of 25 fellows selected for 2021.

The MacArthur fellowship -- often referred to as the “genius writer” grant -- is a prestigious award bestowed upon creatives. The honor is achieved following anonymous nominations through a national network and the decision ultimately comes down to a secret committee with about a dozen members.

Besides the prestige and recognition by their peers, fellows are given a no-strings-attached grant of $625,000 that is dispersed over the course of five years.

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33

Lights! Cameras!

November, 2021

“It’s a huge vote of confidence for our

and the journeys in between. The couple

“Cristina and Alex are two very talented

work, and it’s a bold statement from the

first collaborated together in 1999 on a

practitioners

Foundation,” says Ibarra.

documentary about Indigenous communities

Through years of individual work, and

in the U.S. and Mexico.

most recently through their 2019 film, The

of

the

cinematic

form.

Infiltrators, Cristina and Alex made clear

“And so, we’re thinking of ways that we can be bold in our next moves in terms of risk-

The couple worked together on the 2019

to us their extraordinary creativity and

taking and the ways that we put our stories

docu-thriller called The Infiltrators, which

talent,” says Mariles Carruth, Director of

together, but also how to leverage this award

portrays the journey of two immigrants who

the MacArthur Fellows.

to be able to work at a faster pace and

intentionally get themselves arrested by U.S

recognize some of the filmmakers who have

Customs and Border Protection to expose

The couple’s individual talents complement

come before us that opened the doors for us

cracks in the immigration system.

each other that Carruth says demonstrates the command the filmmakers have in terms

to make work,” she adds.

The MacArthur Foundation tells The City

of cinematic storytelling, which showcases

Both Ibarra and Rivera are filmmakers whose

Magazine it’s pleased to be able to award the

their technical facility, and craftsmanship.

work centers on reality-driven themes of

two artists.

the Borderland: immigration, deportation,

34

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November, 2021

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Lights! Cameras!

35

Lights! Cameras!

November, 2021

“Cristina tells local stories, about families

relatives in to enact a coming-of-age story.

there,” she says. “We see a place where

living along the Texas border, about lives

The short film is also an exploration of her

people live, where people love, where they

rich in cross-cultural history, ancestry, and

own cultural identity that was shaped in El

connect.”

community. Alex addresses more abstract

Paso.

The couple is thinking about the ways that

concepts, about exploitative labor practices and oppressive technology, labor alienation,

Growing up, Ibarra’s parents owned a

borders

figuratively

about immigration policy and practice. Their

collection resale business that later became

connect

cultures,

and

relevance to ongoing conversations, both

Express Auto Credit on Alameda. Both her

fellowship awards as a launching pad to

local and national, is undeniable,” she adds.

parents are from Mexico, which made for a

bolster Latino representation in film.

and

are

geographically using

their

childhood of family trips crossing the border The narratives are deeply personal for

that are very different today.

It’s a serious feat with an excellent origin story.

Ibarra, who is born and raised in El Paso.

She graduated from Hanks High School and

Ibarra notes that contemporary depictions

is the first person in her family to attend

of the Borderland are heavily politicized and

Ibarra and Rivera tell The City Magazine that

college (U.T. Austin), where she studied

do not always accurately reflect the lived

the MacArthur Foundation initially tricked the

film production and learned about social

experience of the residents.

couple before revealing news of the awards.

Laundry, A Homemade Telenovela that she

“There are other ways to think about the

“The MacArthur Foundation reached out to

produced using old family movies and cast

border -- especially for those who grew up

us to talk about the state of Latino media, so

justice. Ibarra’s first film is a short called Dirty

36

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Lights! Cameras!

November, 2021 we started a Zoom call with one of the program officers and after about 10 minutes into it, where we were basically complaining about the state of our field: that 1 in 5 Americans are Latino, but 1 in 50 filmmakers are,” Rivera says.

The program officer suggested bringing in a few folks from the Foundation, at which point Rivera said the Zoom screen erupted with new attendees.

“We were stunned that one of them was there to discuss the fellowship program,” he adds. “But for a few minutes, they let us believe that we would be sharing one fellowship.”

Carruth says the Foundation was so impressed with The Infiltrators, as well as the shared and individual talents of the filmmakers.

“It is very rare for the Fellows Program to award married partners. With The Infiltrators, we knew that Cristina and Alex were both extraordinary storytellers.

With

strong

individual

track

records, the Foundation felt that they were both deserving,” she says.

If the couple was over the moon at the thought of sharing the award, then the realization that each was receiving their own likely bordered on a celestial experience.

“We were literally falling out of our chairs at the moment. It was really a surprise, a delight -- and they pranked us,” laughs Rivera.

Now that the news has settled, Ibarra and Rivera are looking ahead at projects that continue to showcase the region but can’t say too much because of pending agreements. Ibarra says she’s looking forward to continuing to tell Borderland stories set in and inspired by El Paso, the landscape, and lived experiences.

“I love the mountains and the desert,” says Ibarra, “it feels like a good place to dig.”

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

37

November, 2021

HHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Local Veteran

Explores a Change

of ‘Pace’

in the New

Normal

HHHHHHHHHHHHHH

| By: ERIN COULEHAN photography by: MICHELLE MACDONALD |

38

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

November, 2021

local veteran

T

he sun warms the sidewalk outside the Hub of Human Innovation in Downtown El Paso on a hot autumn day near the

U.S.-Mexico border. Inside, regional artwork peppers the brightly-colored hallways leading to a warren of office spaces where local entrepreneurs work toward the building’s namesake: achieving human innovation in the Borderland.

Pace Jaworski, a Senior Trial Attorney at Serra Law, PLLC, is thinking about this and much more.

Up until recently, Jaworski was a Captain in the United States Army, where he served as Trial Defense Counsel at Fort Bliss, and before that at Fort Riley as Special Victim’s Counsel, an administrative law attorney, as well as a legal assistance attorney.

He’s on terminal leave before retiring from the military and looking forward to -- if not exactly a change of Pace -- a different rhythm with a lot more agency.

November 11th will be Jaworski’s first Veterans Day as a veteran after more than a decade of military service.

He’s thinking about that and reflection on the day he meets with The City Magazine; both in the broader sense of the meaning of Veterans Day, as well as his own now that he’s no longer active in the U.S. Army.

“There’s a bunch of emotions that go through my head on Veterans Day,” he says, “and I always try to remember and pull up the story of one who’s fallen to honor them.”

Jaworski says that every soldier hangs up their uniform someday and that he’s excited about the transition to civilian life.

“It feels good not to shave my facial hair every day,” he laughs before becoming serious.

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39

local veteran

November, 2021

“It’s a little bittersweet. I think with what

memories of Jaworski’s deployment but now

veterans often come home to find that,

we’ve seen happen with Afghanistan and the

he’s able to frame it within the context of being

although they’re willing to die for their

Middle East recently,” he says.

new to El Paso.

country, they’re not sure how to live for it” when examining tribal structures and the experience of veterans.

Jaworski was deployed to Afghanistan in

“I don’t think there’s a better place than El Paso

2012 on a Security Force Advise and Assist

to look at someone on a human basis and say,

Team (SFAAT) in Kandahar Province that

‘you know, whatever labels or whatever that

But that doesn’t seem to be the case for

served to support Afghan National Security

people may or may not attach to you, we are

Jaworski.

Forces as the entities learned to operate

friends, we are people, we’re humans. And

on their own.

we’re here to help each other,’” he says.

The arrival of Afghan evacuees to military

In Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging,

Walmart shooting on August 3rd. Then, the

installations like Fort Bliss naturally stirs

writer Sebastian Junger writes that “Today’s

COVID-19 pandemic a few short months later.

He arrived in El Paso in July 2019 just before El Paso was hit hard. First, the Cielo Vista

40

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local veteran

November, 2021

Jaworski has grown to know the best of El Paso in the last two years through its

“We have three dogs and they are absolutely

resiliency,

community

a part of our family,” he says. “We’re excited

efforts to make things better while also

to hopefully continue that home feel through

building his own tribe.

the Double Dog Dare Bakery.”

friendliness,

and

The entrepreneurial adventures are part of “I love the structure of this city,” he

a newfound (and hard-earned) freedom in

says. “I love the neighborhood we sit in

civilian life that was made possible through

physically right now, but I love Central,

his years of military service. In 2021, he says

East, West. Everything about this place

he’s looking forward to enjoying the new

has something to offer.”

normal in the Borderland as a veteran.

“Every Veterans Day is always special for

He shares his love of El Paso with

every veteran,” he says. “And it’s also a

Alexandria

life,

really special time for our communities to

business, and law (she’s the Serra at Serra

give back to our veterans so I’m excited to

Law, PLLC). Together, the two are working

see what that looks like.”

Serra,

his

partner

in

on opening a new location for their Double Dog Dare Bakery, a canine bakery that will also serve as a venue for dog meetups, boarding, and more. www.thecitymagazineelp.com

41

November, 2021

Livin’ La V | By: ERIN COULEHAN photography by: DENISE TRUSCELLO |

42

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

November, 2021

I

f music is the food of love, then El Paso is about to feast. Live events and local lifestyle activities went dormant in the pandemic but are now undergoing a revival like farmland recovering from a fallow state.

Last year, El Pasoans were disappointed by the indefinite postponement of big-

name tours coming to the Don Haskins

Special Events Center that include Rage Against the Machine, Bad Bunny, and more that have now been rescheduled.

El Paso maintains a rich history with artists beloved by the community and vivacity that keeps them hitting the road and heading back to local venues. Rage Against the Machine’s aforementioned tour in 2020 (and the since rescheduled dates) set El Paso as the point of origin, which has drawn international attention to the town once thought of as a city in the dirt or place bands just pass

Vida Local

through in between shows in larger markets like Austin, Phoenix, and L.A.

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43

Livin’ La Vida Local

November, 2021

But the country has changed dramatically

Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias are on a

The tour kicked off at the end of September

in the last one, two, ten, twenty years that

North American tour that will bring the artists

to a sold-out crowd at the MGM Grand Arena

helped reshape El Paso into a destination

to the Don Haskins Center on November

in Las Vegas. The show features lasers,

rather than a stop along the way. El Pasoans’

10th that is sure to draw concertgoers from

pyrotechnics, a moving sidewalk, confetti

diversity, hospitality, and resilience are assets

El Paso, Ciudad Juarez, Las Cruces, and the

cannons, and signature shaking of the bonbon

many don’t often immediately recognize

surrounding area.

that fans of both artists know and love.

have resounded despite the constant pings of

The coheadlining tour features the Latin Pop

Although

push notifications and emails, the cacophony

icons together for the first time.

performance pizzazz, COVID-19 awareness

because it’s the norm but these qualities show

includes

classic

remains omnipresent. For example, Martin’s

of Zoom meetings, and the maddening silence of quarantine.

the

“The pairing of Ricky Martin and Enrique

backup dancers perform in prophylactic face

Iglesias on their first joint tour isn’t about

masks during the set.

The people are ready to live loud at local

their differences, but, rather, how these

events in safe environments, while artists

Latin superstars complement each other,”

“People are eager to return to the things

are hungry to return to the stage.

a

that they love and have shared human

44

spokesperson

for

Live

Nation,

the

entertainment company producing the tour,

experience,”

tells The City Magazine.

Director of UTEP’s Office of Special Events,

Jorge

Vazquez,

Executive

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

Livin’ La Vida Local

November, 2021 says. “And for this particular show with Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin is going to be phenomenal,” he adds.

The artists both felt the itch to be back on stage that’s now a nightly celebration with each performance.

Vazquez says the venue continues to take

“I want my set to feel like a nonstop dance night out with my special friends.”

necessary measures to ensure public safety including a sophisticated disinfecting fog system that wholly sanitizes the Don Haskins Center. The modern methods that occur behind the scenes are designed to create as great a sense of normality as possible to help guests and artists feel comfortable -- at home, even -- at local events.

“I want my set to feel like a nonstop dance night out with my special friends,” said Martin at the tour’s Las Vegas show.

It’s a dance party that’s taken generations of migration and musical pioneering long before COVID-19.

Latin

pop

catapulted

to

mainstream

American audiences in the early aughts with the runaway success of songs like Iglesias’ “Bailemos,” Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” and Jennifer Lopez’s “Waiting for Tonight” that remain in the pop music canon, as well as most clubs and DJ sets. Although Iglesias is Hispanic, not Latino, his music career has been largely featured in Latino music charts and catalogs.

The grouping of Latino and Hispanic pop artists have advantages and disadvantages that scholar Steven W. Bender explores in an article entitled Will the Wolf Survive? Latino/a Pop Music in the Cultural Mainstream that the author notes leads to the tendency to conflate the two very different cultures into one pan-Latino identity.

“Latin Pop music holds the potential to help unite or divide Latino/as,” writes Bender, before landing on the former. The unity, he www.thecitymagazineelp.com

45

The Borderland is an ideal location to showcase the unique and individual talents of Latin Pop artists who hail from very different places and cultures but also share traditions, languages, and tastes the Borderland lives by because of its fusion of Latino and Hispanic cultures.

46

November, 2021

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Livin’ La Vida Local

47

Livin’ La Vida Local

November, 2021

writes, “might help to establish new linkages

and tastes the Borderland lives by because of

“Subtle

and grounds for coalition among Latino/as

its fusion of Latino and Hispanic cultures.

that are indeed reflective of Latino/a

positive

themes

do

emerge

culture -- the celebration of life and love,

-- a shared pride and ownership of the Latin Popstars and the Latino/a music stylings that

Latin

Pop

(like

all

live

music,

from

weave through their music,” he continues.

this former Rock and Roll reporter’s

spiritual influences, and the importance of family,” he says.

perspective) ought best to be played loud.

The Borderland is an ideal location to showcase

Moreover, Bender writes that the themes

Bender’s article was published in 2001

the unique and individual talents of Latin Pop

of Latin Pop music exemplify vitality and

during the apex of the Latin Pop explosion

artists who hail from very different places and

a set of values that align with El Paso’s

in the U.S. and raised questions over the

cultures but also share traditions, languages,

cultural appetite for exuberance.

longevity of the genre’s momentum when

48

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November, 2021

Livin’ La Vida Local

he asserted, “In order to avoid the cycle of

Twenty years later it’s clear that artists like

and Ricky was the guy who helped that.

what Dennis Greene described as a ‘periodic

Iglesias, Martin, and more have not only

They called it an ‘explosion,’ like we were

injection and presence’ of Latino/as in the

maintained continuity in the cultural flow

going away. Living in the U.S. and being

American cultural flow, Latino/as must

but also achieved iconic status along the

from Spain and growing up in Miami and

ensure continuity and visibility, as well as

way. Their influence has inspired a younger

seeing Colombians, Mexicans, Cubans and

authenticity in their presentation.”

generation of artists like J. Balvin, Bad Bunny,

traveling around the U.S., you could see

and Sebastian Yatra.

the hunger for Latin artists and music in Spanish,” he continued.

Could Latin Pop artists concretize a place for themselves in mainstream pop music

”It’s interesting,” Iglesias told USA Today.

that lasted?

“In 2000 they called it the ‘Latin explosion’

“The Latino population is the fastest-growing in the U.S. and we love our roots, we’re very loyal.” www.thecitymagazineelp.com

49

Livin’ La Vida Local

50

November, 2021

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

November, 2021 “At some point, I thought, it’s never going to fade away,” he added.

Both Iglesias and Martin are using their coheadlining tour as an opportunity to showcase

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their Hispanic and Latino heritages while also giving local fans a night to celebrate some of their most beloved artists in person and out loud.

“The Latino population is the fastest-growing in the U.S. and we love our roots, we’re very loyal,” says Iglesias. “When we like an artist we stick with an artist, and you see it passed down from generation to generation. You see a lot of artists who are still around because of

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November, 2021

El Paso Opera

Breathes Life Back Into Local Theatre | By: ERIN COULEHAN photos courtesy of: EL PASO OPERA |

54

November, 2021

T

E l Pa s o O p e r a

he international theatre community

What is the best way to (re)introduce

is ushering in a new era of live

audiences and performers to live theatre?

performance with a global event -- and El Pasoans are invited. The El Paso Opera

“Be Our Guest” is an exuberant invitation for

is participating in All Together Now!, an

audiences to dive into revelry, maybe dance

international celebration of local theatre.

with a piece of furniture or two.

Music Theatre International (MTI) oversees

But for many performers and audience

the event that serves as an opportunity for

members alike, a more gentle entree to the

theatres and schools around the world to

new normal is preferred.

locally produce and perform an exclusive musical revue with beloved songs from some

“I can’t ‘Be Our Guest’ right now!,” says

of MTI’s most acclaimed shows over the

McQueen. “I need something to ease me

weekend of November 12th through 15th.

in, I need the delicacy of ‘Hey, it’s going to be okay’.”

“It allows the community to focus and feel the energy of live theatre coming back over

“Pure Imagination” offers an enchanting

the course of one weekend, and also gives

-- delicate -- approach to entering the

Then it exploded into us connecting with El

theatres an opportunity to fundraise,” says

unknown, be it a chocolate factory operated

Paso as a whole because of these pop-up

John Prignano, Chief Operating Officer and

by Oompa Loompas or performance in

performances.”

Director of Education and Development at MTI.

downtown El Paso.

The goal of the event is to help local

Globally, All Together Now! is slated for more

connect via curbside, while also turning to

theatres reignite their seasons following the

than 5,200 performances at 2,300 schools

the fine arts for solace in the unknown.

devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. MTI

and theatres in 44 countries across the world

provides the tools that include a 15-song

and all 50 states in the U.S.

The performers and audiences were able to

revue with multiple songs options per slot, “Choose Your Own Adventure”-style.

“I really hope people realize the power of what art can do: it’s not fluff, it’s not just

Organizers say it’s an opportunity to offer an

something supplementary. It’s something

event that encourages community interaction.

that’s needed for our souls to enjoy, heal, and

“I think what excites me the most about

share. And that communal aspect of being

this show is all of the songs were chosen in

“We were super excited about participating

able to sit in a theatre and enjoy something

the spirit of ‘Hey! We just had a crazy year

in a global event, and in addition, something

together is something you can’t replace,”

-- more than a year -- where we haven’t

that we could offer to the community, not

says Marcee.

been able to do what we love, which for

at a prohibitive cost,” says Arianna Marcee,

performers is to get together and share our

Executive Director of El Paso Opera.

hearts and souls with others,’” says Megan

McQueen says the All Together Now! performance also serves as a reminder of

McQueen, Teaching Artist at the El Paso

Last year, the El Paso Opera was challenged

the age-old practice of gathering in groups to

Opera and Director of the local production of

to adapt to the rapidly changing world as

share a story.

All Together Now!

theatres were shuttered, masks put on, and community events indefinitely postponed.

McQueen says the options for the opening

“I’m really excited for the performers to connect on the level of this being a ceremony,

song were between “Be Our Guest” from

“We created the Curbside Opera program,

and something we need to honor,” she

Beauty and the Beast or “Pure Imagination”

which was twofold: it was an opportunity

says. “Yes, it’s been a difficult time but it’s

from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate

for our performers to be able to perform,

also been a time of global awareness that’s

Factory, and that the options presented an

which they -- especially in the darkest times

grown out of necessity.”

existential quandary.

of the pandemic -- truly needed to do,” says Marcee. “And it was also a way for us to connect with our donors and our audiences.

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s m u r e Th D

November, 2021

n O Bea t | By: ERIN COULEHAN photography by: JONNY PIERCE / THE DRUMS |

56

n

November, 2021

H

enry Miller wrote that “if you start

himself during the early days of the pandemic.

“The first few months felt like walking

with drums, you have to end in

He took a sabbatical of sorts, holing up inside

through fire because I was so used to being

dynamite” to describe the trajectory

a cabin in upstate New York where he was

on-the-go,” says Pierce, “and being on-the-

of an artist’s journey. Well, for Jonny

able to do some deep thinking during some

go affords me a form of escapism from who

of the darkest days of 2020.

I am and what my life really is.”

a renewed sense of self; one Pierce is eager

Pierce says he grew up in a space where

Pierce says he reached a point during

to introduce to audiences.

he didn’t feel safe or secure, and that he

lockdown where he was able to trust

Pierce, lead singer of The Drums, emerging from the ashes of a chaotic year is leading to

developed a sense of hypervigilance. He

himself for the first time in his life, a quality

“I can count on one hand the cities that I go

says that being on tour and visiting places

he considers related to his renaissance.

into with a blissful sense, or confidence,” says

like El Paso helps him heal.

Doing so allowed him to grow comfortable identifying himself as an artist, which was

Pierce. “I’m someone who deals with a lot of

hard for him to do.

insecurity in his life -- it’s obvious in the music

“Everytime I can go to a place like El Paso

that I write -- but it’s always so helpful to go

where I can be so embraced, it really does

to a place where you can count on the love.”

so much for my spirit. I always leave feeling

“I sit here and I make these songs then I put

really lifted and warm, so I’m always excited

them out in the world but for some reason

to go to El Paso,” he adds.

I couldn’t own that for myself. I would just

The Drums, an indie rock band that’s beloved

say ‘I’m a musician’ or ‘I’m a producer’ and

in the Borderland, will be back on tour and

would use more technical terms,” he says.

in El Paso for a show at The Lowbrow

The Drums played one digital show over

Palace on November 19th. From dark dance

the last two years that Pierce says felt odd

floors lambent in the glow of stage lights,

because there was no audience, which is

“‘Artist’ felt so sacred to me and I felt like

to outdoor crowds at Neon Desert Music

now leading to increased excitement as

I didn’t deserve that but now I’m just kind

Festival, Pierce says there’s always been a

being back on the road approaches.

of basking in the romantic and poetic beauty that is being an artist.”

special connection between the Borderland and the band.

The return to live shows with artists and audiences in the same room -- breathing the

Pierce says that feeling comfortable being an

“The fans in El Paso appreciate music on a

same air -- marks not only a return to the

artist is allowing him to express himself more fully

level that is different than in other places,”

culture and businesses of being a musician,

while creating music and also being on stage.

says Pierce. “I get the sense that once an

but also an opportunity to take on the world

El Pasoan loves a band or an artist, then it’s

with fresh perspective. Pierce says the first

“There’s nothing I do in a day that doesn’t

pretty hard to shake.”

14 months of the pandemic allowed him to

feel a little different,” he says.

rest and cultivate a sense of stillness that he A sense of both security and connection --

had been previously unable to achieve.

“It all feels new because I’m new.”

stability despite the unknown -- is something Pierce says he spent time developing in www.thecitymagazineelp.com

But that doesn’t mean it was easy.

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Closet

November, 2021

Bootcamp | By: BARBIEJO HATCH |

I

t is that time of year when we have so many beautiful new things to add

to our wardrobes -- like all those holiday party dresses we bought in the

hope that we could be out on the town, once again. Now, it’s time to give your closet a little refresher. You can give your closet a mini-makeover in three simple steps that will breathe new life into the space. To set you up

with success, here is what you will need:

Gather supplies You will need three boxes or bags.

You

can

use

laundry

baskets,

garbage bags, or cardboard boxes.

Next, you will need a marker to label your boxes or bags that are separated into three categories: Donate, Keep, Toss. Lastly, you will want to invite an accountability partner to keep you on track; this partner should be someone that can give you an unbiased opinion.

What stays and what goes?

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you go through your closet: • Does this fit me right now?

• Do I feel good in it?

• Do I have multiples of these?

• Is the fabric worn out or faded?

What about that pair of jeans you want to fit into someday? The answer is YES -- you can keep those jeans, just don’t keep too many because they will take up precious real estate in your closet.

Pull everything out of the closet Empty out every shelf, drawer, basket, etc. The next step is to sort every item by category that includes denim, dresses, tanks, etc. This will give you a good idea of where each category will need to live when you put it back. Utilize vertical space as much as you can, and rotate seasonal items if you’re working with a smaller space.

To make your closet beautiful, consider buying uniform hangers throughout. Keep a space between each hanger and color code each category of clothing.

Having a tidy closet will make getting dressed so much more fun and functional.

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Create the dressing room of your dream with this little closet makeover. www.thecitymagazineelp.com

Styles

November, 2021

Fashion to Chill In

I

| By: BRANDI LAMBERT |

n comes cold weather, out comes winter

legged trousers and combat boots. So many

fashion! A reason to bring out the coat,

possibilities -- so much fun!

grab the scarf, add new layers, and be creative. Cold weather fashions afford us the

Then, there are the fringe benefits of winter. Think

opportunities to refresh and revitalize -- and

leather (faux or real) jackets with fringe details, or

who doesn’t welcome that in 2021?

pants with multi-layered string fringe that you can wear with your favorite sneakers and a denim

This year more than ever, people are making

jacket. Top off a fitted dress, or your favorite bell

fashion their own by taking trends and making

bottoms, with a fringe vest to add a cool 70’s vibe,

them work in a new -- and ever-changing --

or “hippy-tude.”

environment. Thinking outside the box has become a way of life, while the avenues for

Last -- but definitely not least -- velvet! Written

perusing the many trends of the season have

with an exclamation point for so many reasons:

never been more accessible. Even in a time

dresses, blazers, joggers, the list goes on. This

of limited mobility, we can browse, shop, and

luxe fabric is graced with endless versatility,

communicate via our devices.

making it perfect for structured jackets or cozy loungewear. It’s especially trendy this year in

That being said, anything goes: trend-worthy

jewel tones, making it ideal for fitting the new

individuality and authenticity are ours to create.

meaning of “dress up.”

Here are a few of the season’s current headliners.

Regardless of the trends you choose to make your own this year, accessorize with a smile.

Puffer styles (think ski wear) come in long,

Even though it may be hidden by a mask, and

short, bright, and neutral options. These fun

no one else can see it, wearing a smile literally

coats, jackets, and vests are everywhere --

makes a person happy -- and happiness is good.

and worn with everything. Throw on over a feminine dress, pair with high-waisted jeans, a

Keep a smile on your face -- it’s the best

turtleneck and booties. Or, mix it up with wide-

accessory you can ever wear.

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November, 2021

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Men in the Moment

November, 2021

Men in the Moment

From Drab to

Dressed Up

T

| By: DANIEL HERNANDEZ |

he era of the metrosexual is long gone

in this guilty pleasure. Does anyone really

and the hipster phase is still lingering, but

care what celebrities have to say? We want

change is upon us. I blame the current state

bad fashion to make fun of! For instance: was

of casualness on the pandemic. As public

Harry Styles’ boa at the Grammys good just

socializing is becoming okay, how do we

because it was Gucci? No. Don’t do drag if

dress after sitting around the house for

you’re not going all the way. But he got in the

so long? It’s become easierand easier to just

magazines, and he always brings a lot of flair

throw on a t-shirt and old jeans to go out.

to anywhere he shows up. Speaking of flair,

We’ve been sitting around watching too much

the thing I’ve noticed from this year’s round

Netflix, growing beards long, and gaining a

of celebrity events is that men’s fashion has

few pounds -- do we care how we look going

gotten much more stimulating.

out for dinner? I enjoy the laissez-faire attitude of pandemic culture, but a little refinement

September brought the Emmys, which starts

might be in order as the world gets back on

the annual award show season. This year’s

track and the holidays start to arrive.

events have already delivered a wave of color on men like never before. In the post-

One of my traditional methods in keeping

quarantine world, there’s definitely a feeling

track of fashion has been by judging

of enthusiasm and rejuvenation in fashion,

celebrities at award shows. I know these

and you can see it on thered carpet. Jason

programs are declining in viewership, but I

Sudeikis accepted his Emmy award in a teal

enjoy going online the day after and looking

velvet Tom Ford tuxedo; quite a fashion jump

at the fashions if only to balk at the misses.

for a guy known for his hoodies and simple

Certainly, I’m not the only one who indulges

style. The once disheveled Seth Rogan has

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

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November, 2021

become a rising star in men’s fashion and wore a fall palate tuxedo that warmed the hearts of pumpkin-spice aficionados. Emmy’s host, Cedric the Entertainer outdid himself in a turquoise double stripped tuxedo that wowed the crowd with its boldness.

The color of the year for men might just be pink, or variations on it. Blackish star Anthony Anderson wore a rose-gold patterned tux to the Emmys, and SNL’s Keenan Thompson wore a pale pink tux as well.

Fashion hits for the comedians! And what might be the biggest pink coup of the year is Daniel Craig’s velvet tux jacket in a deep pinkfuchsia tone by Saville Row tailor, Anderson & Sheppard. He wore this to his final Bond 007 premiere in a bold fashion statement. Craig’s style is always elegant and sophisticated, so to see him in such a shocking shade of pink really upped his fashion credentials, and he made this color macho-accessible.

Thinking men’s fashion led me to a talk with an old friend and colleague from my days working in Hollywood: Wardrobe Stylist Nicole Allowitz. Allowitz has dressed many celebs on many red carpets from Mario Lopez to Cindy Crawford. She loves the variety of men’s colors coming out and the risks men are taking. Bright and colorful suits have been slowly creeping into mainstream men’s fashion for a while with the young and trendy but now as people are going out again -- and needing to let loose after lockdown -- we see it in the mainstream.

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November, 2021 When talking about the deluge of color in men’s fashion she phrased it as “extending formalwear to funwear.” Men’s mainstream fashion really isn’t traditionally fun, so yes, I can definitely understand that statement. She also suggested adding a colorful or patterned pocket square to a blazer for a simple way to add a personal touch to a look.

The holidays are beginning and now we can celebrate with a greater appreciation of family and friends as we recover from the pandemic. In this special time of returning to normal, it seems that a bit of that metrosexual polish is coming back but with a more relaxed approach. What better time to do something different to acknowledge the comeback? Maybe shave that overgrown beard or buy a bright sweater for Thanksgiving dinner. Possibly pink? Regardless, this is an opportune moment to try something new and make this holiday even more memorable.

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

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o i ud

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November, 2021

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November, 2021

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November, 2021

Unplugged | By: MARGO LEPE |

T

he year 2020 was perhaps the most

Some classic outdoor games that can help

challenging year in our lifetime that

deter the “littles” from being glued to their

has extended into 2021. People of all

screens (and get the wiggles out) include:

ages continue to make adjustments to their

• Hide and Seek

everyday lives. While many still remember

• Kick the Can

childhood years filled with playtime outdoors

• Capture the Flag

and a world without internet, most modern

• Hopscotch

children cannot relate to a world “unplugged.”

• Jumprope

Children have been immersed into a world of

• Double Dutch

technology within school systems at the local,

• Parachute

state, national, and global levels while teachers,

• Musical Chairs

students, and sometimes parents were required

• Red Rover

to sit in front of their computers for up to eight hours a day for children’s remote learning.

Cold weather does not have to hinder fun, either. Other activities to keep kiddos

It may now be more difficult for children and

engaged and entertained (while also allowing

It certainly may take some extra work to

adults to disconnect, but spending time away

adults to reminisce) include:

persuade your young ones to participate

from screens and outside, for example, has

• Jacks

in something other than the quick jabs of

many benefits. Sanford Health, a non-profit

• Marbles

a controller. However, carefree laughter

integrated healthcare delivery system, reports

• Mother, May I?

and simple joy are well worth it. Whatever

that some of the benefits of unplugging

• Shadow Puppets

games you choose, remember it’s about

include physically healthier children, cognitive

• Heads Up, Seven Up

creating memories and spending quality time

and social/emotional development, sensory

• Telephone

together.

skill improvement, enhanced attention span,

• Button, Button, Who’s Got the Button?

and increased happiness.

• Handclap games • Freeze Dance

After all, things end but memories last forever.

November, 2021

| By: KIMBERLY BRENNER |

WE DON’T AGREE:

What to do when your spouse is obsessed with COVID COVID-19 precautions Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit,

their children cope with the unknown. But

people have been polarized regarding how

couples need the tools to know how.

serious the virus is -- and one of the most glaring differences is between parents. As

Here are some examples of conversations

a couples’ coach, I find that spouses are

that couples can have that will move them

wanting me to convince their partner that

from polarization to agreement. It’s packaged

they’re right and to agree with them. This is

in one question: Why is that a problem?

not new, but health -- and possibly life -- are on the line with this dispute.

Here’s how to use it: Dad to mom: “Why would it be a problem if I went to visit my mom in Juarez?”

Mom to dad: “This is why it would be a problem for me if you were to visit your mom in Juarez…”

Mom to dad: “Why would it be a problem if you didn’t visit your mom in Juarez?”

Dad to mom: “It would be a problem for me if I didn’t go to Juarez to visit my mom because…”

Does the following sound familiar?

Either spouse can start the conversation, and the question is designed to express concern.

The conversation seeks to address the emotional reason for their position instead of

Mom doesn’t want dad to go visit his mom in

one spouse feeling challenged. Both partners

Ciudad Juarez. Dad doesn’t want mom to send

are able to become aware of the other’s fear

the kids back to school for in-person learning.

of what could potentially happen, which can

Kids don’t want to participate in remote learning.

bring the couple to an understanding that can

Dad doesn’t want mom to take the kids to visit

lead to a win-win solution.

her folks for the holidays. Dad doesn’t want to eat out, which means that mom has to cook

The couple must continue to ask each

three meals every day. The housekeeper can’t

partner “Why it would be a problem?” until

come to clean -- so the house is a mess.

they establish common ground.

The “why not?” conversations are ramped-

Asking the question will get them there.

Six 75” Digital/Dynamic Display throughout the shopping center with USB charging stations.

The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso receives 8,000,000 visitors throughout the year.

up, leading the couple into arguments -- and maybe even the silent treatment that starts

So, if you and your partner are feeling in

with “fine, whatever.”

opposition to another when it comes to who is right and who must give in, then employ this

This is an opportunity for couples to

technique of asking “Why is it a problem?”

demonstrate solidarity while also helping Kimberly Brenner LCSW is a licensed marriage www.thecitymagazineelp.com

coach in private practice in El Paso, Texas.

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November, 2021

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November, 2021

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Find your favorite concerts, sports, theater, and family-friendly events near you.

Keep it local, we know you and you know us.

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5

November, 2021

Top Things to Do this Weekend | By: STEPHANIE AVILES |

You’ve looked forward to the weekend for a while, but now that it is here, you find yourself scratching your head at what to do with all that free time. It’s a rare opportunity you don’t want to waste so here are five ways to enjoy your weekend to the fullest.

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1

November, 2021

this Weekend

Host a Cooking Party

With the hustle and bustle of work life it is more often than not that you grab the quickest meal possible like Ramen or Whataburger.

Now that you have the time to breathe, you have time to cook.

Though, cooking alone can only eat up a few hours. Here is where you can kill two birds with one stone. Gather your friends or family, or both, and host a cooking party where everyone participates. You catch up with each step of the recipe and, if you can afford it, you can bring in a chef to teach everyone new techniques.

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

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2

this Weekend

November, 2021

Binge Watch Your Favorite Shows

Your Watch Later list is growing more and more with movies or shows you casually see on the highlights. So now is the time to wear your favorite pajamas, grab your stash of chips and start going through each one. Binging can be a relaxing experience as you go through classics, your old favorites or a new genre you never took the time to try before. Since you will be indulging in leisure at your own pace, you can enjoy naps in between to make up for some of the lost sleep during the week. Then once you are rested you can click on the next show and start the cycle again.

3

Go on Your Planned Day Trip

This weekend has been on your calendar for a bit—it only makes

sense to plan a few day trips during your free days. If you are tired of seeing the same four walls, it’s good to escape the norm for something new. You can do an impromptu trip to nearby towns and see what is around, or you can stay local and visit some of your favorite places to go. You can even research with your city’s visitor’s guide for inspiration. Many cities have guides so it shouldn’t be hard to see the highlights of your town; you might even find attractions you didn’t know were right up the street.

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November, 2021

4

Declutter Your Home

It’s no secret that decluttering a home is a responsible way to spend your time. When you are busy with assignments you tend to forget the little things and those little things turn into big piles of stuff you don’t need. If you have ever done spring cleaning before, you are familiar with just how long this type of task can take.

Depending on how you set up your home, you could be spending a whole day on just one room. Even though the work is tiring, the relaxed feeling after when you see just how much space you have will be worth it.

5

Host a Yard Sale

This also works with the previous suggestion. After going through everything in your home you are still left with all your clutter in bags. You could take them to your local Goodwill, but you can turn your junk into some extra cash. There are groups that go out to local yard sales so you will get some customers. All you need to do is get up a bit early, post a couple signs for your sale, lay out your stuff on some tables and then wait. You won’t make gold, but you will be making more off stuff you no longer use than you would have just leaving it laying around.

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

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The

z z u B

November, 2021

| Written and photography by: MICHELLE MACDONALD |

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November, 2021

S

The Buzz

ituated on one of El Paso’s major arteries, The City Coffee Bar sits at the north end of Mesa street.

Heavily trafficked and riddled with

restaurants, cafes, coffee shops,

and storefronts, The City Coffee Bar

has managed to bring something unique, offering a stand-alone experience to the bustling N. Mesa we all know and love.

The City Coffee Bar first opened its doors in November of 2020.

Owner Shelley Mozelle shares her

motivations for opening The City

Coffee Bar saying, “I wanted the

single working woman to feel like she

can come into our quaint space and enjoy

a glass of wine, while working on her laptop-feeling right at home.”

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

75

The Buzz

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November, 2021

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

November, 2021

e h t d e t n I wa g n i k r o w sing le l e e f o t w o ma n n a c e h like s r u o o t n i come e c a p s t q ua i n a y o j n e a nd , e n i w f g la s s o g n i k r o while w p o t p a l on he r t h g i r g n i f eel . e m o h at www.thecitymagazineelp.com

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The Buzz

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November, 2021

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

November, 2021 The City Coffee Bar strikes a flawless and

Bad weather doesn’t just affect your home, it affects your business, too.

effortless balance between the classiness of upper Manhattan and the timeless elegance of El Paso. Utilizing a myriad of styles, The City Coffee Bar is a nod to the history and the people that make this diverse city so great. Features of this pass to the north are prominently displayed throughout the establishment, taking customers back in time to the bustling 1920’s era in El Paso.

Slide into any of the mid-century buttoned booths and you’ll find an archival photo hanging, reminiscent of the architecture and culture that defined the origins of this town. A big fan of El Paso Architect Henry C. Trost, Mozelle hand-picked her favorite photos of Trosts’ buildings from the El Paso library archives to adorn her new business.

Shelley looked also at her personal collection and pulled original hotel room doors from Trost’s Plaza Hotel to provide privacy barriers between booths.

Call today for coverage you can tailor to your needs.

G.A. Delgado | 915-303-7122 | 4901 N MESA ST STE 3A 79912

CELEBRATING OUR 20TH YEAR Serving the El Paso Coounity

SHOP TODAY

@HOME @STORE @YOUR CONVENIENCE

www.thecitymagazineelp.com

HYUNDAIOFELPASO.COM

8600 MONTANA AVE | 915.881.0300

79

The Buzz

80

November, 2021

The Buzz

November, 2021 The City Coffee Bar is dedicated to

First-time guests are always advised to

providing the community with exceptional

try the espresso martini, which is easily

coffee and espresso. To offer a truly

the most popular drink on the menu. This

unique experience, The City Coffee Bar

coffee cocktail is garnished with a flamed

sources its specialty beans from Eiland

cinnamon layer that sits beautifully on top

Roasters.

of the drink’s perfect foam and is adorned with two coffee beans.

The City coffee bar doesn’t stop at coffee.

Coffee, cocktails, history, atmosphere For those wondering if it is a bar, Mozelle

-- and it doesn’t stop there! The City

says “the answer is….we serve cocktails,

Coffee Bar has an eatery. It’s the perfect

good cocktails and we can make any drink

place to stop in when you just need a

your heart desires.”

little something. Try one of their gourmet grilled cheese and don’t forget to ask for

Serving as both a specialty coffee shop and

Toni’s Tomato Soup!

a craft bar, The City Coffee Bar combines coffee with signature liquors to create

Put

matchless cocktails. Cocktails on the menu

fulfills an El Paso-wide vacuum for an

simply,

The

City

Coffee

Bar

range from espresso-based martinis, to

experience found in Manhattan deep in

timeless classics like the Carajillo.

the Chihuahuan Desert. But don’t take my word for it, open 7 days a week, the perfect cup (or cocktail) is waiting.

JOIN EL PASO'S

PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

ADVERTISE WITH US FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US

(915) 225-0265 OR EMAIL INFO@THECITYMAGAZINEELP.COM www.thecitymagazineelp.com

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C o olk ’s

November, 2021

l

Writer's

BLOCK co oks n e e d in s pirat ion to o

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November, 2021

BLT EGGS I BENEDICT

love breakfast and it’s my favorite meal. It can be eaten early, midday, late, or late-late at 3a.m. The options are endless and growing

each day—sometimes

throwing an egg on something is good enough to

call it breakfast and that has my full support. A classic breakfast, for me, is eggs benedict. I want go there with you, but I want to throw in aspects of lunch too, so let’s turn a BLT into a classic eggs benedict. Crispy peppery bacon, toasted sourdough, a bite of arugula, vine roasted tomatoes,

Chef’s tip Not fancy enough? Use pork belly instead of bacon.

1 pound bacon 1 package tomatoes on the vine

poached eggs and creamy hollandaise…? I can’t think of a better start to the day honestly. Well, maybe a coffee—black The key to this recipe is your prep, make what you can ahead of time and have your ingredients measured out and ready to go. Give yourself some time to enjoy your morning, wake up slow and eat your eggs benedict outside or by a window on a summer morning. Live your best life.

1 loaf sourdough, sliced and toasted 1 package arugula mix 7 large eggs

1.

cook for 20-25 minutes or until desired doneness. Remove from sheet and set aside to drain on paper towel.

2.

cooked and oven is available, drop the temperature to 350 and roast tomatoes for 25-30 minutes until desired doneness.

3.

a stainless steel or glass bowl on top so it sits well balanced.

4.

Bring water to a slow boil. While water comes up to temperature, using the bowl that will be on top of your double boiler, whisk 3 egg yolks together with 2 tablespoons water

white pepper

and lemon juice. Once incorporated place bowl on top of slow boiling water. While continually stirring, add a tablespoon of

salt/pepper

butter at a time until each pad of butter has melted. Continue to do this until there is no more butter remaining. Making the

chives (optional/garnish)

hollandaise can be tricky, so really watch your heat by removing the bowl from the sauce pan ever so often to control how hot

2 quarts water 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar

While tomatoes cook, set up a double boiler on your stove top.

Fill a medium sauce pan with roughly 2-3 inches of water, place

2 sticks butter, unsalted, room temp 1 dash cayenne pepper

While bacon cooks, place vine tomatoes on a separate baking dish, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Once bacon is

2 tablespoons and 2 quarts water 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Set oven to 400 degrees, place bacon on a baking sheet and

it gets. Once all butter is used, season with salt, white pepper, and cayenne.

5.

Keep double boiler on the lowest heat to keep hollandaise warm, stirring occasionally to reincorporate all ingredients.

6.

In a separate sauce pan, bring 2 quarts water and 2 tablespoons white vinegar to a boil. Once boiling, using a slotted spoon, stir the water so it creates a whirlpool effect, slowly crack egg into water and allow to cook for roughly 3 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and plate

CHop it like it’s hot

watch us cook this recipe on our YouTube! youtube.com/thecitymagazineep

7.

On your plate, start with toasted sourdough, then bacon, arugula, and poached egg. Cover with hollandaise and roasted tomatoes on the side. Garnish with chives.

5 November, 2021

Mixed FeelingS

TOP

| By: MAGGIE ASFAHANI |

Fall Festivities

T

hanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. It’s not religious, so everyone can celebrate, and at their heart, the celebrations

are meant to be democratic. History is complicated, of course, but we can find inclusive ways to rejoice, give thanks and, well, stuff our faces. Enjoy my list of Five Things That Start With F to Best Celebrate These Fall Festivities!

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12 3 Food

Confession: I really, really, dislike turkey. I’ve had it so many ways, and still can’t understand the appeal. Basted in butter, fried, brined and roasted, sous-vide…you name it, and I still

will probably shudder. But the sides! Glorious sides! Growing up as a Lebanese-American

on the U.S./Mexico Border, I guarantee my Thanksgiving feasts are better than yours. We

don’t just get mashed potatoes and corn and that green bean casserole thing – oh no no no! Stuffed, juicy grape leaves bursting with a lemon-tinged rice filling, my dad’s creamy,

fluffy hummus (NEVER NEVER show up with store-bought hummus! My ancestors will haunt you!), tamales, buñuelos, rum cakes, and sweet potato casserole topped with a crunchy pecan

streusel all have graced our kitchen counter buffet, sometimes all at once. The crowning glory of our (sadly, not turkeyless feast) is canned cranberry sauce, uncut and trembling and bulging

slightly from the tin can’s ridges. It sits in a special crystal dish, its garnet glory a beacon for the festivities to come. I’m wiping away tears just thinking about it.

Family and Friends

Can’t live with them, can’t live without them. Sometimes the idea of a family gathering is much better than the reality. We all have that one relative, and in recent years, more may

have filtered out of the woodwork. They like to be combative, drink all the alcohol, pick

off the crispiest edges of the pies and never help with the dishes. On the plus side, there are cuddly pets and cute babies and maybe even a grandma that slips you five bucks just

because. Friendsgivings are even better because you can freely rant about all of the above

with sympathetic folk. Everyone knows that holidays can be stressful. Particularly in these

pandemic times, when celebrations may be scaled back for health or financial reasons, it truly

is important to remember the reason for the season. So, I’ll try to be grateful, even if there are more nuts in the room than there are in the pie.

Fights

Technically, this is a corollary to the above. I don’t know what it is, or if it’s only in my

family, but Thanksgiving seems to bring out the competitive, aggressive side in people.

I’m not talking about fistfights here, rather my middle brother’s never-ending insistence

that his mind works like everyone else’s. Try playing Pictionary with him, and see what I mean. Any board games are a recipe for disaster. Football (see below) can also be a

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BLINDS ROMAN SHADES DRAPES EXTERIOR SHADES AND AWNINGS MANUAL AND MOTORIZED

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catalyst. Guests passive-aggressively promoting their contributions to the meal may also be a problem, especially if there is no coordination and there are multiples of the same item. Is Tia Griselda’s pozole better than your mom’s? Enjoy them both, and shut your mouth. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

EP PRIME BLINDS & SHADES 915-996-0527 epblinds.com

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November, 2021

Football I know almost nothing about the game but know enough to opine that the last good coach of the Cowboys was Tom Landry. Maybe that just means that I’m old and have an affinity for hats. In any case, I really don’t understand the love for the team, although I hear that they’re doing pretty well this year. And then there are the college games. I have a freshman at UT (I guess I am old) and went to a game this year. It was intense, I was dizzy from being in the nosebleeds, and only slightly upset that I wasn’t offered the tequila or weed being passed around in the row in front of me. But I digress. I may not know a quarterback from a cornerback, but I can tell you that Thanksgiving

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FO NO R W AN O AP PE PO N IN !

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without football is like…Christmas? I’m no expert, but I know it’s important!

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Karen Herman, MD 915.745.5888 7470 Cimmaron Plaza Building 13, Suite 100 El Paso, Texas 79911www.thecitymagazineelp.com RejuveneMD.com

November, 2021

Firemen I should start this off by saying it was just one time and very specific to my family, but the fire department showed up one year and it was amazing.

Highly recommend for entertainment value, do not recommend at all if frightening your guests and neighbors might be a problem. I’m not even really sure, all these years later, what happened. I think it was a problem with the dryer and not even with the cooking. But a firetruck in front of your house, especially on a holiday, is always a surefire conversation starter. We invited the firefighters to stay, but alas, they politely declined. The moral of the story: if you’re going to fry a turkey, please do it outside in a clear space (that’s the catastrophic version of EPFD showing up!) and turn on the vents inside.

This year, many of us are looking forward to gathering with our loved ones again. Please remember to stay safe and healthy, and help those less fortunate if you are able. And, if you’re looking for a fight, ask me for my brother’s number. I’ll provide the board games.

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THE

By: TAYLOR HINES

Photography by: JONATHAN WEINGERS Styled by: LADONNA APODACA

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The Lodge

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The Lodge

P

ines that kiss the sky and that dig their roots deep into the earth arch above you, beckoning and welcoming you as you move down the driveway. The fusion of stone, wood and dark metal create a juxtaposition of organic and inorganic materials that exist in perfect harmony. The estate is grand and is

rightfully named, Stewart Lodge.

The house is a symphony and would be at home tucked deep away in the Colorado

wilderness, but alas, she anchors herself in El Paso. High stone beams support a covered

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“Jeannie Norris, Ladonna Apodaca and Laura Carrillo all had an influence on the interior … they figured out how to make it all work.”

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doorway, with adjoining deep brown wooden supports the length of

merging of styles that was painstakingly crafted from the tile floor to

a semi-trailer running parallel to the earth. Once you step inside the

the perfectly honed wooden ceiling.

massive entryway, you are enticed by the light-colored walls that are amplified by the continuation of earth-based tones; it is as if the home

If houses could talk, this one would spout wisdom through a clean

sprouted from the ground one day, bringing up with it the natural

beard and with a deep, low and commanding voice. It would likely

world below.

also talk about how the property boasts an amazing sense of escape for all who enter, offering an amazing garage outfitted with all the toys

Trophies adorn the walls of the home, representative of all the world’s

a boy needs to be James Bond, a man cave fit for a Blitzerian night

continents. It is the kind of place that Hemingway could have been

of debauchery and an outdoor living/recreational space on the level of

spotted visiting, retiring from a long hunt on the African peninsula to

the best summer camp your parents never sent you to. “The kids and

hang up another trophy while sitting next to a massive and ornate

I entertain nonstop, so the entire property is geared towards multiple

fireplace (carved from 400-year-old French limestone), imbibing in

usable areas … always having friends and family over for cooking out

another whiskey as he recants his tales. Hanging above the fireplace,

is something we enjoy as a family.”

a painting of Eilean Donan Castle by Sasha Totovitz commands your gaze. It’s sunset tones bring odes of Scotland and pays homage to

With an estate of this magnitude and with a palpable capacity of

James Stewart’s mother’s motherland into the forefront. The air is

amassing a large gathering, it only makes sense that the heart of

dense with the sense of masculinity, yet it is purified with the just

the house is fit for appeasing the appetites of an entire Khan clan.

subtle enough touch of femininity. There exists a flow of design and

Outfitted with an impressive seven-burner stove, an immense stone

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November, 2021 backsplash island with seating for eight plus and a wine fridge for keeping those bottles floating right at 55 degrees Fahrenheit … if it has not become clear to you then I will come out and say it, I am enamored with this kitchen and at the drop of a hat would gladly accept an invite to cook in it and I will bring my own knives.

Randomness is not present in any form here.

Each stone, tree and piece of furniture serves a purpose and was placed there by the lord of this castle, cue James Stewart. A man of impeccable taste that calls landscaping a “hobby,” James divulges that he was the architect of the outside living area. “I wanted the backspace to be a usable extension of the house … the yard and landscape were all my design and landscaping is my hobby.

Each plant was placed by me and my crews and I did all the flagstone and fire pit design. I wanted to create ‘zones’ around the property.” Our homes are rarely ever ours. We typically occupy a space that was zoned by a contractor, mass-produced by a developer, with a floorplan that changes every other address, and that was already lived in by another family that imprinted their good times, bad times and final times.

Stewart Lodge breaks that motif. “When my gates close, I feel at peace and comfortable in my environment. Ninety percent of the entire property was designed by me and my daughters for ‘our home.’”

Genuinely losing yourself when you pass the immense gates on the property is warranted or feeling as though you have entered a Stargate and have been spat out into a mountainous retreat from society. My brief time walking around left me recharged, possibly due to the exchange of gases with the greenery or from the sheer shock of scenic change at a rapid pace; I am inured to comparing places I am in to those I have been, here I am at a loss for words, it feels like no home I have been at nor visited, she is unrepeatable. www.thecitymagazineelp.com

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scene

Polo Real,a fundraiser to benefit The El Paso Museum of History Foundation that was held in mid-October. Polo Real 2021 honorees were Nora and Ernesto Herrera and the event was organized by Liz Sinclair.

| Photos by: MICHELLE MACDONALD |

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scene

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The City Magazine

celebrated our relaunch at The Manor at Ten Eleven in early October and revealed a long overdue cover and issue that was stalled in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. | Photos by: MICHELLE MACDONALD |

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Astrology Forecast | By: SABRINA BUSTILLOS |

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T

he season isn’t the only thing changing this month. Last month’s astrological transits encouraged us to slow down, pay attention

to details, and take inventory of what we have outgrown. Mercury and Saturn have completed their periods of retrograde and are now encouraging us to think about the next chapter. As the Sun and Mercury prepare to move into Sagittarius, we must take action.

What are you going to do with the remainder of the year? This is the ideal time to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. For your monthly astrological forecast, check your Sun and Rising sign.

Scorpio

October 23 - November 21 Happy birthday, Scorpio! With the Sun transiting your first house, all eyes are on you this month. While the attention may rattle your protective instincts, take this as an opportunity to give yourself credit where it is due. Your successes over the last few months are undeniable and worthy of praise.

People are always going to talk, it might as well be about your stunning evolution. Tarot Card of the Month: The Sun. Step into the light and shine brightly.

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Sagittarius

Pisces

Gemini

You may be feeling restless as the Sun

Self-doubt isn’t the best feeling and you have

Boy, has Mercury taken you for a cosmic

prepares to make its return for your birthday. As

had your fair share this month. It’s time to

ride in the last month. The incredible news

a natural-born adventurer, the last few months

get off the sidelines and finally move towards

is: the worst is over! All of the chaos, mixed

may have left you feeling antsy for something

what you want. Things will feel less cloudy

messages, and mishaps that may have arisen

new. Luckily, the wait is almost over! With

by the end of the month. Where are you

were never great enough to derail the grand

the Sun and Mercury preparing to shine in

going from here? Trust that you are making

scheme of things. Things will begin to realign

Sagittarius this month, now is the perfect

the right decision! The little voice in your

in the next few weeks. Take a deep breath.

time to say yes to travel, new hobbies, and

head convincing you otherwise doesn’t

Tarot Card of the Month: The Star. Peace is

unexpected relationships. “Yes” is your magic

know what it’s talking about; drown it out

on the horizon.

word this month. Tarot Card of the Month: Two

by speaking your goals into existence. Tarot

of Wands. The world is at your fingertips.

Card of the Month: Ace of Swords. Doors are

November 22 - December 21

February 19 - March 20

opening. Run towards them.

Capricorn

December 22 - January 19

Aries

March 21 - April 19

May 21 - June 20

Cancer

June 21 - July 22 Current transits have really taken you down memory lane, haven’t they? With nostalgia reaching a fever peak, it’s perfectly okay to

With transits impacting your finances and career winding down, you deserve a much-

Conflict may be taking a front seat for you this

miss how things were before. Take this time

needed break. Your work speaks for itself;

month, Aries. With the holidays around the

to reflect but don’t stay stuck in the past. Let

it’s okay to step away this month and focus

corner, unexpected conversations with family

the feelings visit and be on their way. They’re

on your relationships. As the year prepares

and friends could lead to miscommunication

here to remind you that you couldn’t have

to come to an end, now is the perfect time

and frustration. Thinking before you speak

grown without loss. Your heart is in the right

to reconnect with those you may have

could save you future headaches, and in

place. Tarot Card of the Month: Six of Cups.

disconnected from. Who have you lost

some cases, relationships. Take the high

Feel it out.

touch with? It isn’t too late to rebuild your

road, no matter how unappealing it sounds.

relationship. Tarot Card of the Month: Eight

Tarot Card of the Month: Five of Wands.

of Pentacles. Redirect your energy.

Remember, picking your battles doesn’t make you weak.

Aquarius

January 20 - February 18

Taurus

April 20 - May 20

Leo

July 23 - August 22 This month’s transits are here to remind you of how many people are in your corner! Your social circle may have shifted since the start of the year, but it shouldn’t make you feel

Things have been anything but dull for you lately, Aquarius. The last few months have

Your gentleness is a gift. One that you spoil

any less supported. Remember, the best

held dramatic changes for you, but it’s

others with but give sparingly to yourself. This

relationships are about quality--not quantity.

important to remember that it is all for the

week’s full moon in Taurus asks when was the

How can you show appreciation for those

better. Change is scary, but you are more than

last time you showed yourself care? You are

close to you this holiday season? Everyone

equipped to meet it with an open mind. Think

your biggest critic. Release unfair expectations

that matters is entering 2022 with you. Tarot

back to the last time you felt this much of a

and give yourself space to regroup. New

Card of the Month: Ten of Cups. Rejoice in

shift. Didn’t it lead you to the most fulfilling

opportunities are around the corner! Just

your relationships!

places? So much is awaiting you on the other

because you can’t see them doesn’t mean

side of change. Tarot Card of the Month: Six

they aren’t there. Tarot Card of the Month: The

of Swords. Hold on tight and enjoy the ride.

High Priestess. Trust divine timing.

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Virgo

August 23 - September 22 Love is in the air for you this month, Virgo.

Your relationship path is being activated and it’s here to confirm that you are ready to take the next step. Whether it’s marriage, moving in, or deciding to put yourself out there, you are ready! The sign you wished for is here.

It may be terrifying, but you need to listen to your heart; your head can catch up later.

Tarot Card of the Month: The Lovers. Let it come together.

Libra

September 23 - October 22 Another year has come and gone, hasn’t the change felt drastic? It’s important to take time to reflect on how much you have grown in the last year. The month ahead encourages you to look within for company and support.

Mercury retrograde was rough on your social battery, take time to recharge! Meditation and journaling are your new best friends.

Your body will thank you. Tarot Card of the Month: Nine of Pentacles. You are becoming who you were meant to be.

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The Original Handcrafted Custom Cinnamon Roll

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november Advertiser INDEX Borderland Bail Bonds ..................................................Pg. 17

Rejuvene Medspa.........................................................Pg. 86

Casa Buenavista ....................................................... Pgs. 2, 3

Southwest Plastic Surgery ...........................................Pg. 11

DTWN Spaces ..............................................................Pg. 26

Southwest University ............................................... Pgs. 4, 5

El Paso Children’s Hospital ........................Inside Front Cover

Spectrum ......................................................................Pg. 52

El Paso Rhino’s Hockey ................................................Pg. 15

The Stateline.................................................................Pg. 87

El Paso Prime Blinds and Shades .................................Pg. 85

Sugar Skull Boutique ....................................................Pg. 68

Farmer’s Insurance .......................................................Pg. 79

The City Coffee Bar ......................................................Pg. 53

Great American.............................................................Pg. 41

The City Magazine ........................................................Pg. 81

The Hospitals of Providence ...................... Inside Back Cover

The City Magazine ‘Best Of’.........................................Pg. 64

Hyundai of El Paso................................................Back Cover

The City November Calendar........................................Pg. 65

Idea Public Schools.......................................................Pg. 31

The City Ticketing .........................................................Pg. 69

Intraceuticals ..............................................................Pg. 102

The Italian Kitchen West...............................................Pg. 51

Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino.................Pg. 12

The Manor ................................................................ Pgs. 6, 7

Lucchese ......................................................................Pg. 51

Vanities ...........................................................................Pg. 1

Mesa Street Bar and Grill .............................................Pg. 13

Walgreens .................................................................... Pgs. 8

Mix Salon ....................................................................Pg. 103

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