When we traveled to Tlaquepaque Mexico last March we met so many wonderful new friends and also got to experience their culture through music, dance and art. This weekend the Springfield Sister Cities organization is hosting Artsfiesta! featuring the female mariachi band from Tlaquepaque. If you’re in town this evening (10-9-09) you can catch their performance at Founder’s Park from 6-9. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
The group, along with several others, were scheduled to be here last May but an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico cancelled their plans. Even though the swine flu is still a threat, they were able to get travel visas from Mexico so this show is ON!
Last night we were invited to a party to honor the band members as well as others in the official delegation. Three of those in town are Rotarians we had met last winter so it was fun to reconnect with them and learn of service projects they have completed or are in progress.
Burl and Theresa show their talent with tequila shots!
The party also afforded an opportunity for Burl and our friend, Theresa, to show off their skill with tequila shots. Our trip to Mexico was the impetus for this talent and they practiced daily while we were there. In fact, Burl got so proficient that he even managed to down the lime slice along with the tequila! Theresa must have been missing her drinking companion since we weren’t at the party long before she appeared with a couple of shots for them. I think they were both saddened to learn it wasn’t the 20-year old tequila we had one night while in Tlaquepaque!
Another fun part of the evening was the entertainment provided by The Garbonzos. 
This eclectic musical ensemble set the stage for an evening of fun and it was especially entertaining to see the members of the female mariachi band following behind them and singing along to “Wooly Booly.” Music definitely knows no language barriers!
One of the highlights of the evening was getting to see the studios of friends Russ and Pam who are both artists. Russ specializes in large metal sculptures like K-Man in Jordan Valley Park while Pam is a fiber artists who makes phenomenal quilts. They both are collectors of all sorts of vintage stuff – table top fans, clothing, mannequins just to name a few of my favorites.
Since I’m a total left-brain person, I always admire creativity although I can never quite wrap my mind around how those right-brain people think!
That’s my good friend and neighbor right next door, Tim White on the guitar. I heard a LOT about that trip. And had no idea you were there. Small world.