As it turns out, it’s Columbia *and* Colombia.
Photo: Laura Martínez, Columbia (or Colombia) University, NYC
Category: Latin America
Eva Longoria to Produce TV Drama About the Castro Brothers
No… unfortunately not the ones pictured above, but the other Castro brothers.
(To think I was already getting excited about the versatility of my favorite, retro-acculturated Latina)
Sniff, sniff.
Yep, Prince Charles Rode a ‘Trajinera’ Today in Xochimilco
That is all. We can now go back to our less exciting lives.
Photo via @AristeguiOnline
See? Not All ‘Hispanic Food’ Was Created Equal
I haven’t got the first clue of what a ‘Yaroa Santiaguera’ is, which irrefutably proves there isn’t such thing as Latino — or Hispanic– Food.
Otherwise, all 50-plus millions of us the U.S. Census insists on piling together would know what this thing is all about.
[Oh, and the photo is not really helping, Papasito.]
Americans Want to Trick you into Drinking ‘Nopal Water’
The US$5.99 ‘Cactus water’ promises to be 100 percent natural and gluten free. But let me clue you in on a little secret: We don’t really drink “Nopal water,” and even if we did, we wouldn’t pack it inside Tetra Pak and then claim it’s all natural.
Remember: Nothing lives in Tetra Pak without some delicious NaC₇H₅O₂ (aka sodium benzoate.)
Just sayin’
Photo: Laura Martínez
Texas State University to Offer a Mariachi Postdoc… ¡Ajúa!
Tired of having your parents scolding you for not going to college? Law and Medicine are not your thing?
Worry no more! Now you can earn a ‘mariachi postdoc,’ thanks to an upcoming summer program at the State University of Texas in San Marcos.
According to this AP story, starting this summer the Latin Music department at STU will offer a summer postdoc in mariachi, which requires a total of 15 credits and courses in vihuela and guitarrón, among other relevant instruments.
The school already offers a Mariachi Teaching Certificate and a few other specialized music courses, including salsa and ranchero.
Who said college in America was boring?
Quick! Someone Tell Fresh&Co this is NOT what Poblano Food Looks Like
If you happen to walk around New York City these days, you’ll likely find huge signs advertising the latest “vegan” creation from Fresh&Co.: The Puebla Vegan Grilled Cheese, a “black bean & corn salad, smashed avocado, vegan cheese sandwich on sourdough bread.”
And while it’s tempting to think you’ll be enjoying a delicious, healthy meal from the state of Puebla –which is actually ground zero for amazing Mexican food– well, you wouldn’t.
I’m sorry to disappoint y’all, but this is what food from Puebla actually looks like:
EXCLUSIVE: Cuban Lab Preps the Fidel Castro Fragrance
After all, what are we going to do now that the Cuban government has decided to ruin the Ché-Chávez fragrance fun?
Estrella TV Premieres Show Featuring Rich, Desperate Latinas
Latina, Rica, Famosa is Estrella TV’s answer to the Real Housewives franchise, except this new reality show features five “beautiful, successful Latinas that invite you all the way to their living room -and bedroom- to see what they are really made of.”
I must confess I have not seen this thing, but judging from the promo -below- and other Spanish-language TV spinoffs out there, including this and this, I think I will pass.
There’s already too much desperation in my own, real, Latin life…
‘Let’s Have a Beer Brand Sponsor our Air Traffic Control Tower’
…Said some Mexican politician.
Sam Walton Did Business with my Relatives in Latin America
Hat tip: @NorbertoBogard
Coffee Mate’s ‘Latin-Inspired Products’ Include Hot, Steamy ‘Abuelita’ -Of Course
Not to be outdone by the likes of Mattel and Oscar Mayer with their Latin-inspired dolls and Hispanic-targeted cold cuts, Nestlé’s Cofee Mate is launching a series of “Latin-inspired products” and promoting them on Twitter with a super inventive Latin handle: #LatinTouch.
Here’s one of Coffee Mate’s pitches on Twitter.
A new flavor so rich, you’ll feel amor at first sip. Find @Abuelita Mexican Chocolate http://t.co/oOt1QGbqTT pic.twitter.com/42glmFty8X
— Coffee-mate (@Coffee_mate) agosto 28, 2014
Coffee Mate’s Latin Touch thing includes Nestlé’s popular Mexican Chocolate Abuelita, featuring the great Sara García, who is having, posthumously, a second life as a “hot, steamy” Latina.
Because, aren’t we all?
Hat tip: @latinorebels
Mattel to Launch Mariachi Barbie, Because Why-the-Hell-Not?
I don’t know how many ridiculous Barbie posts I’ve written for this old blog (they are here, here and here). But who is counting?
In the latest marketing move, and apparently unmoved by the likely wave of criticisms, Mattel says it will launch a Mariachi Barbie edition to celebrate the upcoming Mexican Independence holiday.
I seriously think this is great, you know, perhaps we can finally match her up with her perfect companion: This guy.
Siri Sure Knows How to Please a Mexican [i.e. Me]
It took me a while, but after months of training in both, English and Spanish, Apple’s virtual assistant has finally understood that commands coming from Mexican people can be slightly more complex than then regular “check my mail” or “call my boss.”
So, thank you, Siri. But now, can you please elaborate and get to the rest of this thing? Here’s something that can help.
The Mexican ‘Jersey Shore’ Looks Stupider than the Regular ‘Jersey Shore’
I thought it was going to be a while until I had to post something about silly Mexican spin-offs, but it looks like TV producers and creatives never stop, well, creating.
On the heels of Gossip Girl Acapulco, comes Acapulco Shore, a Mexican version of -yes, you guessed it- Jersey Shore.
Per an MTV Latin America press release:
“Produced exclusively in Mexico, the series will be filmed in and around the city of Acapulco, capturing the staple moments of the franchise including over-the-top arguments, undefined love triangles and outrageous antics in the sun-kissed city.”
Alas, it looks like the reality series -which I’m sure will star a bunch of blond, blue-eyed Mexicans with sculptural bodies- will feature no vigilante autodefensas, corrupt politicians, guerrilla fighters, or dangerous drug lords that seem to have taken over the state of Guerrero, home of the aforementioned sun-kissed city.
I guess producers are kind enough to spare us the bad news, so that we have time to focus on “undefined love triangles and outrageous antics.” Hell, yeah!
Acapulco Shore is scheduled to debut in September 2014.
