Category Archives: Hotel California

GASTROVINO 2013

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GastroVino Festival in Todos Santos, Baja, MexicoThe second annual GastroVino Festival takes place in Todos Santos this weekend. The main festival will take place in the Plaza Pública Sunday May 5th, from 2 to 6 pm. This year, there will also be a special pairing dinner at Santo Vino on Friday, May 3rd, a pre-celebration bubbly tasting at La Bodega de Todos Santos on Saturday, May 4th, from 2 to 4 pm, and many more related events.

All tickets are available at La Bodega de Todos Santos on Calle Hidalgo. Tickets for the main event on Sunday can be purchased at El Tecolote Bookstore and La Bodega de Todos Santos.

The Festival is dedicated to celebrating the gastronomy and wines of Baja California. Designed for lovers of fresh local cuisine and quality Mexican wine, this is a time to get to know local chefs from the Todos Santos area and their creations and also winemakers and their wines from the North of Baja in a festival atmosphere.

Gastrovino Festival, Todos Santos, Baja, MexicoSome of the Peninsula’s best winemakers from Cavas Valmar, Cavas Maciel, Las Bodegas de Santo Tomás, L.A. Cetto, Baron Balch’é, MD, Viña Doña Dolores of Querétaro and Todos Santos’ new Sierra Laguna winery are just a few of the wineries who will be at the festival. Entrance fee is 300 pesos at the door and includes a festival-engraved wine glass to taste wines and also five free samples of any of the restaurant’s specialties. All wineries and restaurants will also sell wine by the glass, by the bottle and food by the plate at special prices. The festival also offers excellent live music and entertainment all afternoon long.

Last year over $6000 USD was raised for the local Internado, an organization dedicated to housing children who come from the surrounding ranches to attend school in Todos Santos. These funds enable big improvements in their facility such as adding a water purification system, new restrooms, newly painted classrooms/dorms, and more. This year 100% of the funds raised by the silent auction will go to the local Bomberos Fire Department which is in great need of new equipment.

Gastrovino Events:

Friday, May 3, 7 pm
Pairing Dinner at Santo Vino of Hotel California with Cava Maciel – (Eclectic regional cuisine of 4 courses from Chef Dany paired with 4 excellent Baja Wines). 30 seats only. 1000 pesos

Saturday, May 4, 2 – 4 pm
Bubbly Time at La Bodega de Todos Santos – Bubbly Tasting with Enologist and Manager of Freixenet Querétaro and Fresh, Organic Tapas with Claudine from Stiletto and Spice. 300 pesos

Saturday, May 4, 7 – 10 pm
Fiesta de Vinos – Exclusive VIP Party at Hotel California featuring 8 select wines and the winemakers from Cavas Valmar, Vinos Shimul, Freixenet, Vinart and special appetizers prepared by Chef Dany Lamote. Live Music and lots of gourmet fun. 800 pesos.

Saturday, May 4, 7 pm –
Movino – Themed Movie and Tasting at The Distillery with local wines from Sierra Laguna Vineyards, L.A. Cetto, Casa Madero, MD Vinos and more! Reception: 7 – 9 pm, Movie: 9 pm; 150 pesos

Sunday, May 5, 2 – 6 pm
GastroVino Festival – in the Plaza Pública of Todos Santos. Includes your very own commemorative wine glass, tastings of numerous Mexican wines, appetizers and special plates from local restaurants at only 60 pesos, special by-the-bottle prices, silent auction to benefit local charities, Live Music and a fashion show. Tickets are 300 Pre-Sale; 350 Day-Of-Event.

Sunday, May 5, 7pm – close
GastroVino After Party – on the SkyDeck of Guaycura to enjoy the sunset and complete a fun, vino-filled weekend!

For more information visit: www.gastrovino.mx

April Events

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You have two more chances to see David Raitt and The Baja Boogie Band before their upcoming US and Canadian summer tour, which includes headlining at the Big Sky Blues Fest, the Calgary Blues Fest, the Ponderay Garden Concert Series, the Arbor Crest Concert Series, and more. Don’t miss a chance to see this first class band performing their smooth style of Funky, Blues, and Rock Saturday, April 13 at the Hotel California in Todos Santos and Sunday, April 14 at the Baja Beans Community Market in Pescadero.

Anybody living in Baja knows that water here is like gold. The La Paz community garden, Guamuchil, is hosting a free showing of the Watershed documentary narrated by Robert Redford. Guamuchil is located on Colegio Militar between Altamirano and Ramirez (5 1/2 blocks from the Malecón where the fisherman sculpture is).

La Encantada April schedule, La Paz, Baja, MexicoLa Encantada is the place to be Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in La Paz. Thursday, April 18 listen to Classic Flamenco and Romantic Guitar with Jesus Gallo then Folk/Urbano music with “Eva” and Open Mic on April 25. Friday nights are Ladies Nights with Jello shot and Pink Fluzies special. DJ Dimitri spins music starting at 9 pm on April 19 and Karoke and a billard tournament on Friday, April 26. Saturday, April 20 is the Inauguration of the Mural by Efimero Colectivo “9/86” with live jazz by “Jazz Ascencion.”

 

Shut Up Frank's, Todos Santos, Baja, MexicoShut Up Frank’s is holding their 1st Annual Spring BBQ & Brew Bash Party in the front yard on Saturday, April 27. Big Jesse will be the guest grill master serving pulled pork, ribs, and tri-tip starting at 1 pm. There will be live music all day and a D.J. too! At 7 pm you can watch the UFC Megafight John “Bones” Jones vs. Chael Sonnen live.

For more information on these events and more, click on “Events” in the menu. To be included in our listing, email your Baja Event information to info@journaldelpacifico.com

Spring 2013 issue–online and on the streets!

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We’re already getting rave reviews for the beautiful cover shot of La Balandra Bay by Claude Vogel. This issue we have a great feature on conservation that focuses on two beautiful areas on each side of the peninsula, La Balandra Bay and Cabo Pulmo. This article is written by Sergio and Bryan Jáuregui of Todos Santos Eco Adventures with photos courtesy of Claude Vogel and Patricia Baum. Claude’s photo books of Baja are available at El Tecolote bookstore and Hotel California in Todos Santos and Allende Books in La Paz.

Spanish translations, in this issue, were provided by Elena Ascencio of Todo Ambiente, property management and vacation rentals.

Tiny Town is back after a brief hiatus. This issue’s adventure tells of a trip to Copper Canyon with Guillermo Bueron. Guillermo’s next trip to Copper Canyon will be in late April.

Toyota Los Cabos and Toyota La Paz make maintenance of your Toyota truck or car easy—they service cars and trucks purchased here AND from the United States and Canada. They speak English and their special service unit can come to you—in Loreto, Santa Rosalia, Ciudad Constitución, Insurgentes, Los Barriles, El Triunfo, Pescadero, San Pedrito, Todos Santos… wow. You can also buy Toyota parts and accessories.

GastroVino Festival in Todos Santos, Baja, MexicoThe second annual GastroVino Festival will take place in Todos Santos on May 5—Cinco de Mayo. This year there is also a pre-celebration at La Bodega de Todos Santos on calle Hidalgo on May 4. See our article for more information or visit their website at: www.gastrovino.mx

White Sand Massage and Day Spa has developed a 35-step sterilized steam vapor, high frequency laser treatment that treats sagging skin, wrinkles, blackheads, acne, thinning hair, and dark circles under eyes. You can see results in just one session–now available exclusively at White Sand Massage located on calle Militar, in downtown Todos Santos. You can view more photos and information at www.whitesandmassage.com/facials.htm  Drop-in or call for an appointment (612) 145-0571. Their highly skilled trained technicians are available 7 days a week from 10 am to 6 pm.

The weather is heating up and thoughts are turning to a refreshing dip in the pool. Torres Architecture can design and build your saline or chlorine pool.

After a day at the beach, enjoy an Italian style pizza fresh from the wood oven at Brody’s Pizza on the road to Los Cerritos in Pescadero.

Las Palmas Restaurant, next to Baja Bean in Pescadero, is open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm.

The non-profit Tortugueros Las Playitas Sea Turtle Conservation Project ranked #1 of 15 attractions in Todos Santos on Trip Advisor. They released 265 Leatherback and over 5,000 Olive Ridley hatchlings this season. For more information, visit: www.todostortugueros.org

Enjoy the experience of horseback riding on the beach at Playitas Horse Rental, just 6 miles north of Todos Santos on the “otro lado.”

Hurricane season is around the corner. Protect your windows, doors and home interior with Baja Hurricane Screens. The angled installation provides an air buffer to protect glass from flying debris and prevents 80% of driven rain from striking the glass. The stainless steel anchors and fittings provide maintenance-free, long term anchoring in a coastal marine air environment. They also come with a 10 year non-prorated warranty.

It’s sport fishing season too! CaboMagic Fishing provides first class and affordable sports fishing adventures in Cabo. Visit their website at: www.cabomagic.com

Spring 2013 Issue of Journal del Pacifico
Download Spring 2013 in PDF format

Festival 2013

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Carnaval La Paz, photo by Fernando Sanchez Bernal, La Paz, Baja, Mexico

Reina Calafia 2009: Fhannya Urbina from Carnaval La Paz, photo by Fernando Sanchez Bernal, La Paz, Baja, Mexico

February and March are a festive time in Baja California Sur with Carnaval La Paz, the Todos Santos Art Festival with the Artist’s Studio Tour, and the Festival de Cine de Todos Santos.

There is still plenty of music going on and two theater plays—one in Todos Santos, “To Salsa with Love,” and another in Los Barriles, “Aloha, A Hawaiian Night’s Dream.” “To Salsa with Love” has a special Valentine’s showing with dinner starting at 6 pm.

You can also enjoy a Valentine’s Dinner in one of the most romantics places in Baja at Hotel Guaycura.  The three course dinner menu, specially prepared by Chef Jean Pequignot, is 480 pesos.

See “Events” for more information.

 

BOA kayak on the Sea of Cortes, La Paz, Baja, Mexico

BOA kayak on the Sea of Cortes, La Paz, Baja, Mexico

Baja Outdoor Activities (BOA), the local sea-kayak outfitters based in La Paz, are thrilled by the rebound of interest in sea-kayaking expeditions in Baja. Owner, Ben Gillam, testifies that part of the growth is due to an increased awareness of just how amazing the Baja wilderness is, “sea-kayaking offers a unique and unobtrusive way to explore some of the most spectacular wilderness areas that we have right on our doorstep, well, just outside the back door.”  These days it’s a common occurrence to paddle-board alongside a 25’+ whale shark or to be sea-kayaking in amongst a pod of dolphins or a passing sea-turtle. You just have to get outside to enjoy it firsthand! For the rest of this season (until mid-May) BOA is enticing locals to join them by offering a 20% discount on various sea-kayaking expeditions. Contact office manager Beatriz Loubet soon at Beatriz@kayactivities.com or (01-612) 125-5636. To join the BOA community send a friend request to http://www.facebook.com/baja.outdoor.activities or peruse their Baja adventures on www.kayakinbaja.com

Phil and Flute, Sierra de la Laguna, Baja, Mexico

Phil and Flute, Sierra de la Laguna, Baja, Mexico

After you kayak around the islands in the Sea of Cortés, take a trip to the sierras and see the magnificent island in the sky. It’s easy to arrange a day hike or multiple day trip with Todos Santos Eco Adventures.

Chocolates La Laguna serves up a variety of locally made luxury chocolates from their shop behind the bookstore in Todos Santos.

You’ve probably sampled some delicious treats from Mayra’s Kitchen at an art opening, wedding or party. See her ad to arrange catering for your next event—large or small.

Robin Austin, the Phairy Godmother, is an expert in cuts, color and hair styling. She specializes in weddings and formal hair. You can find her salon behind the Pura Vida Health Food Store in Todos Santos.

Whether you’re planning your whole vacation in the old town of San José del Cabo, or just spending the night, Hotel Posada Sr. Mañana’s is the traveler’s place on the edge of town—conveniently located to both the historic district and outdoor activities. They can help you with your surf, bike, or kayak adventure and offer wifi, music, books and hammocks for chilling.

Todos Santos Music Festival Plaza Concert, photo: Vivian Johnson, Todos Santos, Baja

Todos Santos Music Festival Plaza Concert, photo: Vivian Johnson

The Todos Santos Music Festival was a huge success again this year, raising money for the Palapa Society of Todos Santos A.C. and children’s education. This year, over 31 musicians, including two bands from Mexico City, entertained crowds at the Hotel California and with two not to be forgotten concerts in the town plaza. Journal del Pacifico is proud to be a sponsor and organizer of this event. The musicians all had a great time exploring Baja California Sur and entertaining visitors and locals—both at the main shows and at more intimate venues around town—including two trips to meet the kids at the new Palapa Society. Photographer Vivian Johnson shared a few of her photos in this issue of Journal del Pacifico. You can see more on the Todos Santos Music Festival Facebook site.