Tucson International Mariachi Conference

The La Frontera Tucson International Mariachi Conference, which has been held in Tucson since 1983, is a week long celebration of Hispanic music, art and culture. This year, it will take place from April 23 through the 26. It will feature a variety of talented mariachi and baile folklorico performers.

Groups that will be performing at the Tucson Convention Center include Lucero, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, and Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, to name a few.

High school mariachi groups are invited to participate in a Mariachi Showcase Concert competition to win a $1,500 prize and scholarship.

Perhaps the most important part of the conference is that it was created for children. The La Frontera Center Inc., a non-profit behavioral health agency, provides the opportunity for students to become involved. About 900 students travel from across the nation to learn the art of mariachi and folklorico dance. Workshops are designed not only to teach music and dance, but also to shape values such as tradition, humility and pride in one's culture.

The award-winning conference is one of the largest cultural events in the United States.

On the final day of the conference, a day-long party,The Fiesta de Garibaldi, will be held at the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center at Reid Park. There will be two different stages featuring music and dance. There will also be Mexican food and arts and crafts tht can be purchased from vendors


Entrance fee is $5 per person, but children 16 and under are free.

From April 17 through the 27, Tucson will host the 17th Arizona International Film Festival. The festival will allow up and coming filmmakers to debut their work, and 80 films are scheduled to run featuring filmmakers from 15 different countries.

The festival, which is Arizona's longest running, attracts visitors from all over the country.

One of the films, entitled Palestine En Solidaridad (Palestine in Solidarity), is a 5 minute documentary made by J.M. Aragon. The film follows a delegation from Palestine who visit the U.S.-Mexico border with Tucson human rights group Coalición de Derechos Humanos.


The film examines the reactions of the delegation as they come face to face with the similarities between the national border crises at home and abroad. They also question the authority of those who see such walls as necessary to keep out the “unwanted.” the film will be showing April 24 at 6 p.m. in the Screening Room.

Aragon is a Tucson native who has been exploring U.S.-Mexico border issues since 2005. His documentary Presente: Inside the Migrant Trail Walk (2006) was an official selection of the Arizona International Film Festival and was featured in the debut of Filmstock at the Rialto Theater.

The festival also features a number of other films by directors from Spain and Mexico.

Single admission tickets can be purchased from $6 to $10 depending on the day and film. Passes can also be purchased. A $40 pass will allow the holder to attend 6 screenings, while a $150 pass includes all screenings, workshops and events. Beginning April 8, you can purchase your passes in advance at The Screening Room, 127 East Congress, Tuesday through Saturday from 2 to 6PM. Single admission tickets can be purchased up to two hours prior to the viewing.

Call 882-0204 for pass information.

St. Andrew's Clinic

On April 3, the students of Border Beat at the University of Arizona traveled to Nogales, Arizona.

Once a month, on the first Thursday, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church is converted into St. Andrew's Children's Clinic, a non-profit organization and free medical clinic for under-privileged children from Mexico suffering from various illnesses and handicaps.

Founded in 1973, the work of St. Andrew's clinic would not be possible without the dedication of numerous volunteers and doctors that devote their time and energy to helping these children. Doctors travel from as far as Washington and California, and many from Tucson, to be a part of this mission that has positively transformed the lives of so many Hispanic families that have been fortunate enough to utilize their services.

St. Andrew's operates from donations from the public, and perhaps one of it's largest accomplishments is it's ability to ensure that 94% of the proceeds go back to the children.

The clinic is issued 250 permits each month, and 7 men are responsible for traveling to the border to transport children and their families back to the site for medical attention.


The medical staff and volunteers have touched the lives of many and have created some incredible miracles along the way.

My personal experience at St. Andrew's was extremely eye-opening. I had never been witness to such an extraordinary project that affects so many people. It was apparent that without the aid of everyone at the clinic, most of the children would never be able to lead normal lives. My visit to St. Andrews is one I'll never forget and I hope to return to volunteer my own time some day.

The video below shows an overview of the main waiting room at St. Andrew's. Here, families wait to be seen and children play and do arts and crafts to pass the time.

BORDER: THE MOVIE

In this documentary, BORDER, California filmmaker Chris Burgard examines the U.S.-Mexico border from every angle, then allows the viewer to draw his or her own conclusions as to the state of the border crisis. It shows the human consequences of our insecure southern border.

The film looks at border issues such as illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and Mexican military incursions. Burgard uses hidden film crews to expose many horrific events that occur on and around the border.

The movie is intended to show the failed system and policy of the Mexico border through firsthand experience.

The documentary has garnered several awards across the nation including the 2007 best documentary at the California Independent Film Festival.

The film can be purchased online.

Please click below to view the trailer.

El Sur: A Little Restaurant In Big Demand

Tucked away in a bright yellow building on 22nd Street at Craycroft is some of the most delicious and affordable Mexican food in Tucson.

El Sur, a no-frills family-owned operation was a secret...for awhile. When people caught on, the tiny little restaurant became packed daily with people who can't get enough of the authentic cuisine.






The restaurant, which was constructed of an old house, is much too small to meet the demands for the food. However, the service is amazing. El Sur is the perfect place to go to eat in a hurry. The dish usually comes about ten minutes after being ordered. The family who owns and operates the restaurant is incredibly friendly and quick to refill a drink when they notice it is empty. Which is a very good thing due to the spicy food they serve up.

Perhaps the best part of El Sur is it's affordable menu. Full plates cost an average of about $5.50... and the plates are huge. I have yet to finish an entire entree. Almost everything is served with a generous portion of refried beans topped with melted cheese and a large side of Spanish rice. The fajitas are a great choice. The shrimp fajitas are featured in the photo below.



The chips and salsa are also homemade and fantastic. A convenient feature of the restaurant is that each table is equipped with bottles of salsa at all times, ensuring that you will never have to wait for someone to bring you more. Which would happen, since the salsa is great on everything on the plate!



My favorite part of dining at El Sur would have to be the grilled jalapenos and onions that one server walks around with during the meal. You can request as many as you want. They are very spicy though, so if you aren't too fond of spicy foods, skip the jalapenos.

El Sur is a great family-friendly restaurant and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an inexpensive but impressive Mexican food experience.

Mexican Food With An Emphasis On The Sea

Finding good Mexican-style seafood in Tucson isn't the easiest task.

Some restaurants offer seafood dishes, but the focus of most Mexican restaurants is on the burritos and enchiladas.

At El Mezon Del Cobre, the shrimp, fish and scallops are what really count. But the restaurant also offers all of the standard options as well.

On a recent visit to El Mezon Del Cobre, I ordered the Cameron Natural, a delicious seafood dish featuring broiled shrimp in lime juice topped with onions and tomatoes. It was fresh and fantastic, and was only about $13.

If you're looking for an even better deal, head to El Mezon for the lunch specials, everyday from 11-3. Combination plates with just about any menu item you can imagine range from $4.95 to $7.25.

The most popular item on the menu is the Sopa Marinera, a stew made with seven different types of seafood! There is also a great Sopa de Pescada, or fish soup, for the slightly less adventurous.

For a couple, a good choice would be the Pargo Frito, which is a whole large fried fish.

If seafood isn't your thing, don't be deterred! El Mezon offers great traditional Mexican dishes as well. Chicken tacos, fajitas, burros and the like can all be found on the menu.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is special as well. Bright walls accompanied by interesting art and a colorful bar set the scene for a fun night out with friends or a date. On Friday and Saturday nights, a great mariachi band plays also!

El Mezon Del Cobre is a delicious an affordable option for lunch or dinner, and offers fresh seafood selections that are, in my opinion, some of the best in town.

Film Uses Humor to Show Importance of Hispanics in the U.S.

A Day Without A Mexican, directed by Sergio Arau, is a satirical movie that debuted in 2004 that shows the necessity of the Hispanic community to the United States.

In the film, a fog engulfs California, cutting off all communication past the state line. The fog also causes all people of Hispanic descent, including native born, citizens and non-citizens as well as legal and illegal immigrants to slowly disappear. The disappearance of such a large segment of the population of the state causes the non-Hispanic population to realize the importance of Hispanics to everyday life as chaos ensues.

The State Senate Leader in the film, a man who uses anti-Hispanic jargon as a crutch in his career, is especially affected by the disappearance, politically and personally. As the employer of a Hispanic housekeeper, he is shaken by the problems caused for himself and the rest of the population, and makes it his duty to recover the missing population.

The movie uses satire and humor to show a real social issue. Hispanics represent an important and crucial part of the economy of the U.S. Without this part of the population, many people would lose their jobs (in the movie, Border Patrol is used as an example), and many people would be lost altogether, as Hispanics make up a large part of the labor force in the United States.

The movie also shows that not all Hispanics are Mexican, illegals, or Spanish speaking. The film tears down racist stereotypes and highlights the importance of this ethnic group to our country. The best part about this movie is that it is entertaining even as it illustrates a very real issue.

I would absolutely recommend that anyone, especially anyone who has ever uttered a prejudice word about the presence of Hispanics in the U.S., watch this movie to be enlightened and educated while having a good laugh.