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Saturday, May 18, 2013
Fiesta for 200 years of Mexican independence
by Brandon Darnell, published on September 15, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Storyline: Local events
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Thursday marks Mexico’s bicentennial, and Sacramento’s Mexican-Americans are hosting a “MEX 200” party to celebrate those 200 years of independence Saturday in Midtown.
“We’re shutting down 18th Street and Capitol, and we’re going to have stage performances every 30 to 45 minutes from 2-10 p.m.,” said Tatiana Bedoya, founder of Latin Style Events, which is organizing the show.
One of the performers is Mexican-American comedian Willie Barcena.
Barcena said he looks forward to the event as a way to celebrate diversity.
“That’s what makes this country different from the rest of the world,” Barcena said.
Barcena, who has been a comedian for 16 years and spent several years on the air in the mornings at Sacramento’s KSFM 102.5, will be headlining a trio of performers that includes comedians Rick Nájera and Momo Rodríguez.
“I guarantee anybody that comes out to this event, that they’re going to have a good time,” Barcena said. “Even though it’s Mexican Independence Day, it’s really inclusive ... I invite everyone to come out and have a good time.”
In addition to the comedians, Bedoya said the event will feature live music and folk dancers – both adult and children.
Four Latino wineries – Rios Wine Co., Borjon Winery, Alex Sotelo Cellars and Campesino Cellars – will also be present.
In keeping with the celebration’s inclusiveness, a fashion show will feature 10 models from different parts of the world wearing designs by Mexican designer Rory Castillo.
No festival would be complete without food, and Bedoya said the Mexican Consulate of Sacramento will be kicking off a three-month campaign called Taste of Mexico at Saturday’s event.
“They’re bringing in a Mexican chef to showcase the produce from Mexico and continue promoting the produce as well,” Bedoya said.
The chef coming to the festival is Roberto González Guzmán, executive chef and owner of Mexico City’s La Fonda San Angel restaurant. He is also vice president of the slow food movement in Mexico and vice president of finance and administration in Mexico’s conservatory of cultural gastronomy.
Providing grilled steak and pork tacos will be Zócalo.
“We’re going to have a grill outside in the street,” said General Manager Noe Hernandez. “Inside the restaurant, we’ll be serving the regular menu.”
Hernandez said there might be a mariachi band in the restaurant as well.
“I’m just looking forward to people having a good time,” Hernandez said, adding that he looks forward to showing that Sept. 16 – not Cinco de Mayo – is Mexico’s independence day.
“It’s going to be a nice party,” he said. “To be able to close the street and go to all the different booths will be nice.”
Proceeds from the event will benefit the nonprofit Raices de mi Tierra organization, which preserves and celebrates traditional and contemporary Mexican dance and was founded at Sacramento State in 1995, according to its website.
Tickets to the event, located at 18th and Capitol, are still on sale. General admission is $20, tickets including admission and the “wine walk” are $30 and VIP tickets – which include a special seating area and food and drinks – are $50.
Tickets can be purchased at inticketing.com, and a 30 percent-off code for all but the VIP tickets can be gotten by texting MEX200 to 90210.
“I’m excited that we’re doing something completely different,” Bedoya said. “We want to embrace everybody. It’s not an event for Mexicans. It’s a Mexican Independence Day celebration for everyone in Sacramento.”
Photo 1: Chef Roberto González Guzmán.
Photo 2: Willie Barcena.
Photo 3: Rick Nájera
Photo 4: Momo Rodríguez.
Photos courtesy of Tatiana Bedoya.
Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.
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The one quote, "MEX 200” party to celebrate those 200 years of independence Saturday in Midtown" is just asinine. If they're so happy for Mexico and it's 200 years of independence, why aren't they celebrating it in the country they're so proud of? I'm quite sure that residents in Mexico don't celebrate an American 4th of July.
Barcena said, “That’s what makes this country different from the rest of the world" but I say that's what is making this country lose it's own culture and why our Constitution is becoming nothing more than toilet paper. I know America is a "melting pot" and people have come here from all over the globe to gain freedom from oppresive countries, circumstances, or situations but why then turn around and celebrate the very country you chose to leave?
I'm all for learning geographies, languages, and cultures on an educational level and studying your roots to know your family history but for "Americans" to hold a celebration in honor of a country they no longer belong to is, to me, a slap in the face to the men and women who have fought for the very freedom for them to come here and have a better life. It's no different than if an adopted child from a torn home would be raised by someone who took them in, fed them, clothed them, and gave them a better life but then that child turns around and celebrates mother's day with the biological mother that treated them harshly and did it in the adoptive mother's house and expects her to join in and be happy about the party like it's no big deal.
Because America (and California especially) has so many immigrants, I'm all for understanding diversity and being sympathetic to the circumstances that led them to seek a better life but to come to US soil to celebrate a foreign country is like pissing on the American Oath of allegiance that you so readily stood up and raised your right hand for and repeated. If you want to be an American, fine, but be an American, not a Mexican-American, African-American, or any other type rather than just plain old American because after all, that's what you came here for.
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen..." From the Oath of Allegiance. Having a party to celebrate Mexico doesn't quite seem like it's entirely renouncing or abjuring all allegiance to Mexico. In fact, in my opinion, if anything, it's just the opposite because they are remaining loyal to and celebrating the very country they renounced.
End soapbox.
(edited for spelling errors)
Look at the Chinese new year celebration. Historical culture and tradition, not much Chinese flag waving, or the celebration of when the Chinese country became communist.
We all have the right to celebrate our religions and our backgrounds right here. That is what makes this country great. That is our strength.
Don't ask me, ask our founding fathers. Ask the constitution.
See you at St. Patty's Day!
Eveyone has the right to celebrate what they want. I'm just a proponent of national pride, and don't feel the celebration of Mexican independence is the best way to express cultural pride. Its sends a mixed message to those who are not hispanic.
I see hipocrasy in a person celebrating a national holiday of a country they escaped from.
Check out all the angry comments on this article about Bastille Day:
http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/32961/Bastille_Day_Waiters_Race_in_Midtown
I feel the same way about French, British, Mexican, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, etc, etc, national holidays. When we have world wide 4th of July, I'll reciprocate.
That is not new. The difference is that we are a nation of immigrants - many of whom came for the freedoms and rights recognized here.
Yes, we are a nation of immigrants, who have come together and united under one flag and national identity. While celebrating our cultural heritage, we also have to respect our national identity.
Again, I am all for cutural celebrations. Cinco de Mayo is more of a cultural holiday than anything else. The mexican Revolution celebration is straight up a Mexican holiday, yet we are closing streets in the downtown to celebrate it.
I prefer to live the American ideal rather than proclaim my patriotism through exclusion.