Talk Taco to Me

Gracias to all our Presidentes Buenos for Monday, February 20th - a day off from work for many to celebrate each of you and your notable leadership. For me, it was a dos taquerias hoy, starting with uno taco vegetariano at Beto's Tacos (2234 El Camino Avenue) in Natomas and a delicious jamaica agua fresca.

Note the Peru handbag, added for extra flair. mmm tacos

Mi amiga AB Hot Dog loves the mysteriosa blanca sauce from the gratis salsa bar. When lined up with the other salsas available, it makes a great bandera de Mexico. Me, I stick with the jalapeno pimientos y zanahorias, to make my belly cry tears of spicy joy later.

¡Viva Mexico! Donde estan los tortilla chips?

Later (si, el mismo dia) I enjoyed savory vegetal sopas, paired nicely with a chilled Negro Modelo draft at my local gem, Azul Mexican Food and Tequila Bar in Midtown.

Civiche, chips, sopas y cervezas. mmm Gracias Azul

Despite the deliciousness, I felt a little like I was cheating on mi favorita, Taqueria La Fiesta, but I will be there on Sunday, February 26th for the best micheladas in town when Real Madrid plays Barcelona.

Micheladas! Summer 2011 at Taqueria La Fiesta. La camiseta cuesta extra

All this talk about tacos makes me want to chow down again. But first, I feel compelled to mention the SNL video/skit that always makes me laugh until my sides ache, TACO TOWN! The mere sight of Andy Samberg sends me into short hysterical breaths.

"Pizza! Now that's what I call a taco!"

2nd Saturday Salsa Sweat

2nd Saturday is my favorite time to go out in Sacramento so when AB Hot Dog called about an early show at Java Lounge, I answered quickly, "Si, vamos!" The line up of punk rock bands, four on the bill for a $5 bill, stirred up a small crowd sporting studded jackets, plaid pants and multi-colored hair, reminiscent of shows in the late 80's/early 90's: refreshing and nostalgic all at once.

Huge smile, favorite t-shirt at a November 2011 City of Vain show

Sacramento's Riot Radio and Bad Ending- entertaining, scream-it-out-loud punk bands with catchy lyrics and cool names - opened the show, followed by late-arriving Los Headaches from Mexico City D.F., MX and finally, City of Vain (Sacramento). Los Headaches, crossing the border to promote their CD Boredom City, are fast-acting, sweat-slinging hombres snarling out songs en ingles; the guitarist, true to punk form, vomited during the last song. I fetched their 13-song CD, boasting hits like "Still Don't Know Why U're Mine" and "I Surely Don't Care About You," for a mere $10 before they vanished into the noche. ¡Que bueno!

¿Los Headaches o Los Heartaches? ¡No se!

City of Vain dominated the early evening, playing a string of powerful songs rift with clever lyrics. The band - made up of Steve Ross (vocals), Drew Boyce (guitar), Mario Maynor (bass guitar), AJ Wilhelm (drums), Newell Dunn (guitar) and Minh Quan (keyboards, who played onstage the night before with The Slackers) - work smoothly, like a well-oiled, alt-punk machine. Judging by the crowd singing/shouting along to the lyrics at Java Lounge, CoV obviously has a loyal fan base and will be playing again soon.

City of Vain opens their set with "City of Vain"

The early evening wrapped up with a stop at Taqueria La Fiesta on Alhambra near K Street. AB Hot Dog and I enjoyed tasty tacos while futbol played on the tele and toasted the best Micheladas in town to City of (Los Headaches) Vain, a resounding salsa-sweat induced salut: "Oi-le!"

MMM Muy sabroso, taco vegetariano sin crema con un Michelada frio

Peliculas de Peru

Ahhh February. While the chill of a California winter lingers and the thrill of Barcelona’s futbol winning streak leaves me with love hangover for Spain, my recent attention has turned south… all the way to Peru.

Eyewitness Travel - picturesque, informative books. Great Winter reading

Upon discovering several DVD’s produced or with stories set in Peru at the Sacramento Public library, I indulged in a mini movie marathon weekend, which left me with a head full of subtitles and a yearning to know more about this colorful, culturally-rich country.

Muy guapo calor, Jason Day, one of the raisons de hermoso to watch Máncora

Máncora is a delicious film by Peruvian director Ricardo de Montreuil, about a distantly-related stepbrother and sister reunited by tragedy. This film, set in Lima and Mancora, has lust, partying and spirit quests with hallucinogenic Ayahuasca, infidelity, road trip scenery through beautiful Peruvian coast, and a nice plot twist at the end. After the first scene I realized I had seen it a year ago, but watched it again, and it was just as good the second time. (My friend Oscar in Lima disagreed, instant messaging me: “Chica this film is bad.” Hm… las “chick flicks” de Peru? es Posible!)

Manolo Cardona y Bárbara Mori hablan secretos en La Mujer de Mi Hermano

La Mujer de Mi Hermano, also by Ricardo de Montreuil, is a film about a modern couple of 10 years experiencing intimacy issues and their rebellious artist brother (in-law) who intervenes with unapologetic machismo to stirs things up. The film moves quickly past the title, focusing on steamy love scenes with Uruguay-born, Mexican actress Barbra Mori and Colombian actor Manolo Cardona, but sadly it is not enough sustenance, and the plot twist left me feeling squirmy about so-called “normal life.”

Cinematographie Bueno: Magaly Solier collapses on la cama in Altiplano

Altiplano features the beautiful, native Peruvian actress Magaly Solier in a strong character role as Saturina and her beloved, Ignacio (played by rugged, statuesque Edgar Quispe) who live in an Andean village contaminated by mercury poison from a nearby mine. A plot within a plot depicts a former war photographer and her physician husband caught up in the riot that ensues. The photographer/physician couple did not intrigue me half as much as the stunning, raven-haired villagers of this striking film.

Fausta la flora: Magaly Solier is heartbreaking and beautiful

La Teta Asustada (The Milk of Sorrow) also features Magaly Solier, this time in a heartbreaking role as Fausta, a demure loner who grieves for her dead mother and believes she has a rare disease contracted from her months within the womb. Fausta oddly creates her own method of birth control and the subplot of the film includes a jaded view of a spoiled, city-based pianist for whom she works. The comical wedding scenes set in desert plains are sandy, colorful bittersweet treats for the viewer.

While a trip to Peru may be months away, immersion into the culture via film is a dreamy, satisfying way to get a head start on the expectations of travel. Books are great for reference and information, but there's something magical about watching life played out in action, films that intrigue the viewer to the point of indulgence and escape...