Navidad 2020

Journal del Pacifico Fall 2020 cover by Kate TurningThank you for all the compliments on our Fall 2020 issue with the fabulous Day of the Dead cover by Kate Turning.

This issue, we are pleased to feature a piece from artist/photographer Emanuela Gardner’s Fantasia collection to adorn our Navidad cover. You can see more of her fun and whimsical photographs throughout the issue and at Galería de Todos Santos.

Bryan Jáuregui of Todos Santos Eco Adventures tells the fascinating story of the Juan Cuevas family that has made their home on Isla El Partido in the Sea of Cortez since 1923.

The Loft@Nomad ChicThe Loft @ Nomad Chic is a new private event  space that is a welcome refuge for those seeking inspiring experiences while staying safe this season. See the article in this issue and our events listings for all the sensational shows taking place in person and online.

Zócalo by LOVELeigh is excited to be opening, this December, a second location in Todos Santos, on the corner of Topete and Benito Juárez in the Plaza Antigua. Zócalo is an ethical artist collective with artists and brands from México and beyond. A portion of every sale is contributed to three local charities (dog rescue, recycling center, and a children’s not-for-profit). You can still find their fashions at the Pescadero location next to Baja Beans (formerly LOVELeigh Designs).

Madre Santa Panadería is a small Todos Santos family business that was born in the middle of the global pandemic. They offer freshly prepared handmade bread, desserts, and cakes that are fashioned by merging basic and modern techniques. These methods reflect the passion, care, and experience that create delicious and memorable flavors. Madre Santa Panadería unites tradition with the tastes and desires of today’s Todosanteños.

Hacienda Sydney is a luxurious beachfront estate located in the Las Tunas area of Todos Santos. This unique location would be ideal for a boutique hotel, corporate retreat, or one-acre family compound. See their ad for more information.

Ellen Waterston’s Writing Ranch (www.writingranch.com) and Serendipity hotel have teamed up to offer a COVID-safe environment for the eleventh annual “Writing Down the Baja” creative writing retreat–NEW DATES June 26 – July 4, 2021. See our article for more information.

In spite of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Padrino Children’s Foundation continues to grow and serve the children of Todos Santos and the surrounding areas. They welcome pediatrician Dra. Mitzy Cervantes Malagón from Mexico City to their staff in December. Dra. Cervantes Malagón will be the first resident pediatrician in Todos Santos. Jessica L. Avila Franco will also be joining as the second staff psychologist. In addition, Todos Santos community member Adali Parks has been added as a member of the Board of Directors.
The Padrino Children’s Foundation has initiated a new collaboration with the Centro de Salud—the Early Stimulation program for new mothers and their babies—which is designed to support optimal neurodevelopment and identify medical issues early in life, when they are most treatable. For more information or to support the programs, visit
www.padrinocf.org or call 612-145-0506.

Looking for garage doors, windows, doors, and hurricane protection for your home? With Pacific Door’s wide variety of professional brand partners, you’ll find the perfect complement to your home. See their ad for more information.

Have you tried Valma Chocolates? Her handmade chocolates are created from 70% dark organic bean to bar made by solar energy and love. To order for you holiday pleasure, see the Valma Shakti ad.

Baja Mandala and Sueño Tropical have teamed up to offer their certified organic produce, essential oils, chocolates, and handmade personal products at the San José del Cabo Farmer’s market on Saturdays and the new Terra Santa Farmer’s market coming to Todos Santos in the La Cachora huertas on Sundays. They are also offering their farm harvest boxes begining in December and you can contact them for group farm tours too!

La Esquina Café is open on the otro lado of Todos Santos with new hours, offering the same good food and good times. Their popular local’s market is happening every Wednesday and they’ve added Saturday movie nights under the stars.

Kilometro del Jugete is your opportunity to help bring a smile to a child’s face this holiday season. Amamos Nuestro Pueblo is an organization with a focus to help the most vulnerable in our community. President Rouss Ramírez of Bésame Mucho Bazaar, believes in helping others and strengthening Mexican traditions in Todos Santos. Their goal this holiday season is to bring toys and smiles to the children of the agricultural fields, including Melitón Albañez, where there are around 700 children, the vast majority between two and eight years old. Please donate toys, clothes, or other items in good condition. Drop off locations for donations in Todos Santos are at Bésame Mucho Bazaar, Hablando Mexicano, and Hotel Guaycura. In La Paz, in Bisuteria Valentina’s, (calle Agustin Olachea and Tijeretas, local 4), and in Cabo at LocoMotion on Blvd. Paseo de la Marina 181, local 3. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/FiestaDiaDeMuertos

Lic. Norberto López Aguirre is a certified English to Spanish and Spanish to English translator. See his ad for contact information for all your translation needs.

We wish you a safe and happy holiday season! We’ll see you with our Winter 2021 issue. Deadline is January 9, 2021.

Fall 2020

Journal del Pacifico Fall 2020 cover by Kate Turning, Todos Santos, Baja, Mexico

Journal del Pacifico Fall 2020 cover by Kate Turning

Welcome back!

The communities of Baja California Sur have been working through these trying times, finding ways to adapt to the many changes, figuring out business options, and reaching out to help those in need. These individuals are neither heroes nor saints but are the backbone of real community that we love. Like many small businesses, we’ve faced changes and challenges, but we are resilient like our Baja California pueblos. In this issue, we have fascinating local history, as well as current stories on how our communities are rising to carry on in the “new normal.”

Kate Turning once again has given us a stunning Day of The Dead themed cover based on Mexican master Diego Rivera’s painting “The Flower Vendor.”

It is sad that there will not be a large Día de los Muertos celebration in Todos Santos this year, but you can now participate in the Catrinas contest virtually. See Ivonne Benítez’s Covid Catrinas story.

Photographer Emanuela Gardner shared one of her recent photographs on the opening page of the feature story by Bryan Jauregui, of Todos Santos Eco-Adventures, the story of a Pericue named Fabian—a Todos Santos rebel—based on research by Dr. Shane Macfarlan.

Galería Militar is exploring how to show art in the pandemic age. They will be holding a series of socially distanced shows to a limited audience in-person and a wider online audience. See the article in this issue.

A Granel opened in Todos Santos right before the April shutdown, but that didn’t stop them with their quest to reduce waste while providing sustainable, affordable products that biodegrade in the environment. Read more about it in our article.

Five years ago, the co-creators of Women Awakening embarked on a new journey of self-discovery and love, bringing to the community of Todos Santos a Women’s Summit designed to foster connection and celebration to the women of Todos Santos and beyond. In 2020, Elemental Change: Engaging in Our Evolution was chosen as the theme. Not long afterwards, the entire world began a great and seismic shift that has indeed altered the entire trajectory of all our lives. ”We could never have known at that time of our themes choosing, that it would prove to be so apropos and timely.”

With deep contemplation and great consideration for the community, the co-creators are announcing the cancellation of the Annual Women Awakening Summit, previously scheduled for December 4 to 6, 2020. “We may be separate physically at this time, but we are all truly together in spirit, and want you to know you are not alone. We are with you. The bonds we have built these past five years have not broken and we will join together one day again, when the climate is right for such a gathering. We encourage you to take this pause as we are also doing, as a time of spaciousness.”
Women Awakening CO-Creators
Angelica Vélez Mendez
Marimar Higgins
Jill Mollenhauer
Elena Ascencio Ibañez
Arii Corona Miranda

The Todos Santos Writers Workshop will continue, in its eighth year, as a virtual event via Zoom on January 31 to February 6, 2021, adding novelist and long-time Todos Santos resident Joanna Hershon to the faculty. The team of creative writers and editors “dedicated to inspiring and furthering the art of the written word,” also includes editor/memoirist Jeanne McCulloch, journalist/screenwriter Rex Weiner, author/memoirist Karen Karbo and poet/author Christopher Merrill, director of the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa. The one-week event, this year, offers workshops via Zoom in Fiction, Poetry, Writing for Stage and Screen, and two classes in Memoir. Additional events will include craft seminars, panel discussions, social gatherings, and the opportunity to engage one-on-one with instructors. Tuition is $850US. For more information: www.todossantoswritersworkshop.com

Étnica now carries textiles for the home like cushions, runners, placemats, and napkins—all made in Mexico.

We’d like to welcome two business that have recently opened offices on calle Juárez in Todos Santos: Legal & Tax, attorneys and accountants, and DAR Design and Construction. Legal & Tax can help with all your legal, immigration, and accounting needs, while DAR will work with you to design and build your dream.

This is the first year that Pueblo Pescadero is launching for sale the “Hacienda” home, a 3-bedroom, 2-bath, with a 1350 sq.-ft. private garage available for secure storage.
The Mini Super Munchies crew welcomes everyone into the new season with a few great new additions to their sweet little shop. They will be offering in-house prepared, healthy fresh food ‘to go” with daily hot food specials and a pre-order pick up option. Check out their website for details and daily specials: http://www.minisupermunchies.com. And, of course, all safety protocols are in place.

Casa Maya & Barefoot Cantina Bar in the Barefoot Luxury’s property at Cerritos Beach features freshly caught and delectably prepared local seafood dishes, carefully selected meats, locally grown organic vegetables, an assortment of sushi, homemade pastas, soups, and salads. Barefoot Cantina offers a generous selection of ice-cold beers, fresh-squeezed margaritas, tasty cocktails, and an extensive wine selection.

Baja Beaters Renta Yota, Todos Santos, Baja, MexicoNeed to get to the beach? Baja Beaters / Renta Yota has Toyota trucks for local rentals. Call or email for more information.

Allende Books has recently moved to a larger location close to the malecón near Sears in La Paz. In addition to an expanded inventory of books and gifts, they have a coffee shop, outdoor seating in the courtyard, Wi-Fi, and information on events and resources. Local artists have brought the interior and exterior walls alive with a dazzling display of the vibrant marine life found in the Sea of Cortez. Drop by and see their magical new space.

Pelican Theatre of La Paz has cancelled their 2021 production due to COVID-19.

This past summer, we featured advertisers on our blog including Irving de la Rosa, architect. When asked about his design philosophy, he stated: “To me, the important thing is that the people who will live in the spaces that I design are happy. As they look out their window, they see something beautiful: the ocean, the mountains, a tree, a bougainvillea. And that the spaces are bright, warm, and pleasant. If I could talk briefly about my philosophy that I believe is the most important thing in life, it is the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of a person—his connection with his environment, with nature. What I try to do in my spaces is create an equilibrium, a harmony in the person’s habitat.”

We look forward to seeing you with the Holiday/Navidad issue! The deadline is November 10.

Todos Santos Open Studio Tour

8th Annual Todos Santos Open Studio Tour

by Jill Mollenhauer

Anne Hebebrand, Todos Santos Open Studio Tour, Baja, Mexico

Anne Hebebrand

Every year it’s the talk of the town. The Todos Santos Open Studio Tour draws hundreds of people curious to see working art studios, meet the artists, and perhaps have a personal dialogue with them. Stories are exchanged; laughter flows and smiles glow on the faces of those who find something that seems to have been made especially for them.

At its inception in 2009, the then one-day tour boasted a mere handful of amazing talent. For 2017 the number of participating artists has grown to over 40, necessitating its extension to a two day event.

Benito Ortega, Todos Santos Open Studio Tour, Baja, Mexico

Benito Ortega

The 8th annual Todos Santos Open Studio Tour will be held on the weekend of February 11 and 12, 2017, from 10 am to 4 pm both days. All proceeds benefit the children’s art programs of The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, A.C. Advance ticket sales begin January 28, 2017. Tickets will be $200 pesos each and can be purchased in Todos Santos at El Tecolote Bookstore on Calle Juárez, or ordered online at ts.studiotour@gmail.com. Tickets can also be purchased at Cafélix in Todos Santos from 9 am to 3 pm both event days. Maps are included with purchase and plenty of signs are posted to streamline the self-guided tour.

Gloria Santoyo Ruenitz, Todos Santos Open Studio Tour, Baja, Mexico

Gloria Santoyo Ruenitz

The choices of what to see are practically endless: paint, mixed media, encaustic, wood carving, metal sculpture, stone work, jewelry, fibers, photography and more. The hardest part might be deciding which studios to choose from and if it is possible to get to them all in two days. From the south end of town all the way through the north end of el Otro Lado, there are artist studios tucked away that hold treasures undreamed of.

To help plan your tour, browse the Facebook page Todos Santos Open Studio Tour to see some samples of the different work. Seasoned veterans of the tour often make a list of names to help plan a route, making sure to visit their favorite artists along with some new ones. Others prefer to just wing it, leaving it open to the serendipity of the moment.

Besides spending the day immersed in creativity, the tour is a chance to explore what it is like to be an artist in the beautiful pueblo mágico of Todos Santos. It is the personal interaction with the artists that makes this tour so special. What inspires them? What brought them here and why do they stay? How did they begin and what story do they have to tell?

Sculptor Benito Ortega was drawn to Todos Santos eight years ago by ‘a vibration in the air.’ Nine year resident, encaustic artist Gloria Santoyo Ruenitz stays because life is simple and she can spend the mornings lost in the passion of creativity. The positive energy of the light and the people is just part of what keeps painter/teacher Tori Sepulveda enthralled with Todos Santos, even after 10 years.

As a kid flipping burgers at the foot of the Newport Beach pier Peter Holden probably never imagined himself living and painting in Baja California Sur for over a decade. Did Anne Hebebrand envision herself  experimenting with diverse tools such as spatulas, rubber shapers, paint rollers, and palette knives on canvas when as a young girl she was a waitress at a Mexican restaurant?

Susan Doyle says, “My favorite part of painting is the point when you think it is awful and you’re about to give up and then some magical accident happens and it clicks.” For Nanette Hayles she loves all parts of the creative process but “getting ‘lost’ in a piece when time ceases” is her favorite. Steve Thurston says that the best painting is always the one he’s currently working on.

Landscape artist Marsha Dahlquist is entranced with street scenes and the challenge of painting architecture, while Jill Mollenhauer expresses emotions with vibrant colors and mixed media.

Whichever studios you visit, you are sure to find both talent and heart. Between the well-known galleries in town and the numerous hidden gems in the barrios there are delights and surprises waiting just for you.

Here are a few helpful tips to make it even more enjoyable: Some studios are clustered near enough that parking and walking is viable. Perusing the neighborhoods is a wonderful way to get a feel of the community. Or consider carpooling–everything is more fun with friends. Wear comfortable shoes and a hat and don’t forget the sunscreen! Cold drinks and delicious meals can be purchased in town and for even more fun, consider staying the night at one of the area boutique hotels.

For more information: ts.studiotour@gmail.com

Festival 2016

Festival 2016 cover of Journal del Pacifico by Lucas BennettThis issue, Festival 2016, the husband and wife team of Lucas Bennett and Zoë Dearborn from Art for Life contributed the feature stories on Estudio Cuatro Vientos and photos for our cover and Pescadero surf hotels.

Also in this issue, Bryan Jáuregui of Todos Santos Eco Adventures shares the legend of “El Mechudo” with Sea of Cortez and diving photos by The Cortez Club.

Looking for a special place to dine in Los Cabos? It doesn’t get any better than the De Cortez Contemporary Grill in the Hacienda Sheraton del Mar. Enjoy the moment with
a delicious dinner overlooking the Sea of Cortez. Call the concierge for reservations at 52 624 1456113 ext 4087.

Blue Moon Productions presents “Alice Down the Rabbit Hole” a new spin on an old tale. Performances are on the weekends of February 26 & 27 and March 3, 4 & 5 at Teatro Luna Azul on the otro lado of Todos Santos. Tickets are available at El Tecolote Bookstore.

Join in the fun at Shut Up Frank’s 20th Annual St. Paty’s Day in Todos Santos. The party starts at 4 pm with Frank’s own corned beef, marinated for one month in a special
brine and turned every three days until it’s just perfect. It’s the most delicious corned beef ever! Shut Up Frank’s is now open 7 days a week with different daily specials.

Miguel’s Restaurant is just across the street, serving delicious chiles rellenos and seafood specialties and is now open every day.

In the Spirit, located on Juárez near Topete in Todos Santos, is a new clothing store with the subtle fusion of the bohemian way and modern style. The shop features an
artist collective, beachwear, jewelry and accessories.

New hours and new live music nights at Chill N Grill in Todos Santos. Now open Tuesday through Saturday with open mic nights on Tuesday, and live music alternating
weekly between Friday nights with “JamaRama” and classic rock on Saturday nights. Call for this week’s details and get out and dance!

Nomac Chic, Todos Santos, Baja, MexicoNomad Chic, with locations in Sonoma, California and on calle Juárez in Todos Santos, is an evolving collection of apparel, jewelry, furniture and home accessories from around the globe. They specialize in products by independent designers that you won’t find in most stores; designers that are giving back to their communities.

Rumi Garden, on calle Degollado in Todos Santos, is a popular Asian restaurant with a variety of organic friendly entrees including many vegetarian and vegan dishes. Their
lovely location also hosts Open Readings, once a month, and live music on select evenings. They also offer free delivery in Todos Santos and el Pescadero with a minimum
order of three entrees. Call or stop in for details.

Monica Avila is back in Todos Santos in her new office located on calle Del Huerto. With over 25 years’ experience, Monica is bi-lingual, and can help you with notary and legal
services, trusts and contracts.

Chez Laura, the affordable French restaurant in Todos Santos, now has a “happy hour” with wine and tapas for 60 pesos, from 1 to 5 pm. Relax and enjoy in a lovely garden
setting.

Freesouls Cerritos, Cerritos Beach, Baja, Mexico

Freesouls Cerritos, photo by Janna Kinkade

We’d like to congratulate Freesouls, at Playa Cerritos, on their one year anniversary this Valentine’s Day. As of press time, this beautiful location was close to serving their
10,000 customer. Stop in to experience fine but relaxed dining overlooking Cerritos beach.

The Joy of Floating offers a true weightless experience inside of a floatation tank filled with warm Epsom salt. Veronica, with 20 years’ experience working with chiropractors, acupuncturists, and osteopaths, also offers effective and thorough bodywork. “I can now lift my arm!” one client with a skiing injury said after her first float. The spa is located in Pescadero next to Baja Beans. Appointment recommended.

Gypsy’s Beach House Rentals has been providing surfers and travelers accommodations in Baja since 1967. They have a selection homes and villas for short or long term rentals in the Cerritos, Pescadero and Todos Santos area.

Pueblo Pescadero is a thoughtfully planned, affordable and sustainable community of recreational homes currently under construction in Pescadero. Their master planned
community provides a collection of one, two and three bedroom freestanding casas.

Need a ride from your hotel to the beach or to your favorite restaurant? Rudolfo of Brody’s Pizza at Cerritos beach is now offering Taxi Los Cerritos. Call +52 612 157 9049.

Be sure to stop by the Galería de Todos Santos and Pez Gordo Gallery at Shoppes at La Palmilla to see new sculptures in glass by Jill Casty. You can also see the “fantasia”
photographic works by Emanuela Gardner at the Galería de Todos Santos.

Enjoy all the festivals this February and March in Baja California Sur! The deadline for our next issue, Spring 2016 is March 10.