What's New?
September - October, 2007

LA COMIDA DE FRIDA - MEL INVITES YOU
Join MEL (Merida English Library) in the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of Frida Kahlo's birth by savoring with us her favorite dishes!
When: On Saturday, October 13, 1:30 p.m., following the first MEL symposium
"The Life and Art of Frida Kahlo"
Where: Restaurante "La casa de Frida",
Calle 61 #526A X 66 y 66A, Centro, Merida
Our specially chosen menu will include the following Frida favorites:
Appetizer: Quesadillas with guacamole
Salad: Ensalada de nopalitos
Main course: Mole poblano and Pipian blanco, with chicken or Vegetarian Mexican red rice
Dessert: Ate (guava paste) with cheese
Coffee: Café en olla
Beverage: Jamaica or sour orange
Full cash bar available
Price per ticket: $165 pesos (includes IVA and tip) TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE NO LATER THAN MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2007 PLEASE SPECIFY IF REQUESTING VEGETARIAN!
www.meridaenglishlibrary.com
meridaenglishlibrary@hotmail.com

WINE TASTING
"Brazos Abiertos" invites you to attend the 2nd annual wine tasting and luxury auction on Saturday October 29th, 2007 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. This venue will be held at Villa @ Merida on Calle 59 No. 615-a between 80 and 82 Downtown Merida. Valet parking available. Tickets $ 200 pesos per person includes wine tasting and canapes. For tickets please call Suzanne Larimer 924 5187, Geroge Fischer 999 163 5048, Michell DeVoid Molina 999 949 6497 or email: brazosabiertos@sbcglobal.net

HOUSE & GARDEN TOURS
The House & Garden Tours offered by Merida English Library on Wednesdays will launch a new season this coming October 3. Meeting at MEL at 9:45 AM, the walking tours will start at 10 AM and visit three interesting houses, ending the tour at the new Casa Catherwood in Santiago Park.  This season will feature some great new homes. $200 pesos per person.

ADULT LEARNING
A totally new option for everyone in Merida – both locals and foreigners – is being offered by Tecnologia Turistica Total, a language and tourism college in downtown Merida. Three different options of Adult Learning courses  are open from January to April. Spanish I, II, and III, All About Merida, Digital Photography, Personal Growth & Change, Drawing and Illustrating, Mexican Cuisine, Handcrafts of Mexico, Yoga, Salsa, Tai Chi and Folkloric Dance. There will also be three one-week travel opportunities to Mexico City, Puebla & Oaxaca and Tabasco,  Chiapas & Campeche. Check out  www.tttac.com/lifelonglearning

CAFE HABANA IN PROGRESO
Cafe Habana, the place in Merida that says they have “lost the key” because they are open 24/7/365  has opened in Progreso on the beachfront Malecon. Savor a good cup of coffee, their breakfast packages and daily promotions while enjoying a view of the ocean.

B&B NEWS & MENUS
Casa Esperanza continues to offer their fresh, exotic breakfasts that include: Spanish Fritta, the “Big” Breakfast Burrito, Waffles topped with Forest Berry Coulee, Petite  Empanadas stuffed with artichokes, sundried tomatoes & Provalone cheese, Chicken Chilequiles & Morning Glory Muffins! Special Sept & Oct  receive 10% off. And, please inquire about our Honeymoon specials.

CAR RENTAL DEAL
Veloz car rental has a special deal this Sept. Rent for two days and get the third free! And take note of the 10% discount on the compact cars that have air-conditioning. 

GRINGO’S EXPANDED MENU
Gringo’s restaurant on the beach in Chelem has a new expanded menu!  Come try their pastas, steak and seafood.  Check their  nightly drink and dinner specials. Serving breakfast, lunch & dinner. Till 11 PM.

NEW PATIO BAR IN SANTIAGO
La Flor de Santiago restaurant, just behind the Santiago church, will soon be opening a patio-bar where you will be able to enjoy your dinner and drinks while listening to the folkloric romantic music of Yucatan - the trova. Flor de Santiago is known for its wooden burning oven where wonderful breads and other dishes are baked. They also offer tasty breakfast buffets on Saturday and Sunday.

MANSION MUSEUM/ DISCOUNT FOR LOCALS
For all of you who want to see the inside of one of the mansions on the Paseo Montejo, visit Casa Museo Montes Molina. Still owned by a local family, they have opened the house as a museum. 9 AM – 5 PM Monday to Friday and Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM. During September they are offering all Yucatecan families the opportunity to visit the home by offering a 20% discount. ID is needed. 

ROYAL TRAVEL DEALS
Royal Travel has some new airfares and packages that are very interesting. All prices are in US dollars (plus taxes.) Havana airfare $195, Havana 3 nts. $265,  San Jose, Costa Rica w/Panama 7 nts. $795, Buenos Aires/Panama 6 nts. $1075, Santiago/Panama 6 nts. $1070, Sto Domingo/Panama 7 nts. $740, Montreal or Toronto 3 nts. $895, Europe 2 countries 3 nts. $1155.  Tel. 920 38 31

NEW MERCHANDISE
Hotel MedioMundo’s gift shop has a new exclusive line of sterling silver, exotic beads and semi-precious stones earrings plus vibrant bedspreads, pillow covers, and bags from Guatemala and a variety of Oaxacan black pottery and vibrant wool rugs from Teotitlan del Valle. Open daily 9AM-9 PM.  Calle 55 #533 between 64 & 66 Centro. www.hotelmediomundo.com

MEXICAN BUFFETS
Because September is the month that Mexico celebrates its Independence, Hotel Los Aluxes is offering a special Mexican buffet all month long. Open from 7 AM to 12 noon, this delicious, abundant Mexican buffet costs $115 pesos plus tips. Calle 60 by 51.

NEW LOCATION GALLERY
Galeria Merida is opening the doors of its new location, Espacio 2, in Mejorada on Calle 59 between Calles 54 and 52.  The inauguration is 9 PM on Friday, Sept. 21. The exhibition entitled Evolution Colectiva, includes 22 national and international artists in the visual and plastic arts. Beginning on Sat. October 29, at 9 PM, Galeria Merida will present their new weekly The Open Gallery, featuring new works by established artists and works by new artists. There will be music on the patio for your viewing and listening enjoyment.

CASA CATHERWOOD JEWELRY
Casa Frederick Catherwood, intent on supporting excellence in Mexico, is offering  jewelry designed by Alicia de la Paz, Leticia Orozco and Oscar Figueroa, three Mexican designers of international acclaim for the beauty and quality of their work. Located in the Santiago neighborhood a block southwest of the church, stop in, see this fine quality jewelry that is sold in Saks, Harrods and Nordstrom. It is so nice that we can purchase such quality in Merida at reasonable prices.

EQUINOXES - SEPT 22
September 22 is the date of the fall equinoxes at Chichen Itza and Dziblichaltun. It is important to remember that there will be crowds at both events, so plan extra time for parking, walking, etc.  Hotel reservations near Chichen Itza can be scare.

FREE Transportation to the Equinoxes
Buses will leave from the parking lot of the Convention Center Siglo XXI. Get your FREE ticket for the transportation between Sept 10 – 20 at the Cultur offices at said Convention Center between 9 AM and 5 PM or at the Peon Contreras, Daniel Ayala Perez and Merida theaters in downtown Merida.  Information 942 19 00 Cultur offices.
Departures to Dzibichaltun:
4:30 AM & 5:30 AM
Departures to Chichen Itza: 
12:30 PM and 1:30 PM
Returns from both places when the event finishes.

VIDA GROUP OFFICES -  MERIDA
Sept. 28th is the date that Grupo Vida, the developers of the beach front project Playa de Coco, will inaugurate their offices in Merida. Paseo de Montejo No. 500-B. 8:30 PM Next to La Impala. www.playadecoco.com.mx

YUCATAN ADVENTURE
Yucatan Adventure invites readers to visit their website and join in the quest to celebrate Yucatan - Mayan World and to acknowledge companies that practice Sustainable Tourism in Yucatan.  If you care for the environment, the Maya cultural legacy and what Yucatan has to offer, visit and participate with your input to build up this new website. www.yucatanadventure.com.mx

LA TRATTO
Their weekly specials: Mon. 2x1 on all meat, poultry and fish. Tues. 50% on bottles of wine, Wed. 2x1 on all their divine pastas. Mon.- Thurs. Happy hour 7-9 PM. Try their new dishes: lettuce tacos with sashimi tuna, flat breads and pastas.

6th ANNUAL BIRD FESTIVAL
Nov. 30 – Dec. 2. This international festival is for all birders - novices to experts. Events include workshops, conferences, photo exhibitions, and field work and the fun bird-athon competition Xoc chích where groups do bird counts during a 24 hour period. Check www.yucatanbirds.org.mx for info on where to pay, where to stay and routes that will be visited while looking for the 542 bird species that are in Yucatan at this time of the year.

WINE TASTING FUNDRAISER
Brazos Abiertos (Open Arms) the group that raises money and awareness for and against AIDS will be holding a wine tasting fundraiser on Sat., Oct. 27,  7-9 PM at the boutique hotel The Villa@Merida. Tickets are $200 pesos. www.brazosabiertosyucatan.com

CONFETUR TO TURKEY
Confederacion Feminina Turistica is heading to Turkey in November where they will be promoting Mexico to the Turks and having fun scoping the country so that they can bring fresh promotional info it back here in Mexico. Confetur has chapters in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Chihuahua, Veracruz and Merida.

FRIDAY’S
If you don’t have your Friday’s Frecuent User card, please ask for one on your next visit. By using your card, you accumulate points that you can exchange for meals at Friday’s.

TANGOS & WINE
Entre Tangos, the Argentinean restaurant in Itzimna has two excellent drawing cards besides their established superb Argentina cuisine. Number one – on Saturday nights you can enjoy Tango dancing, music and singing from 9:30 PM on and Number two – if you have a really special bottle of your own wine, bring it free of charge.

FLAMINGO LAKES RESORT
This 2,200-acre site has been planned to minimize ecological impact and incorporates a 840 acre Nature Reserve of rare species of flora and fauna. Beautiful architect designed homes and apartments will be dotted around salt-water lakes and 27 holes of golf. The hub of the community will be the village center featuring sporting, leisure, wining, dining and shopping facilities. The homes come in at surprisingly reasonable prices and offer opportunities for investors, retirees and second homeowners.  www.flamingolakes.com

PROGRESO DEALS
La Cavika restaurant at the Condotel, a block off the Progreso seaside Malecon has an attractive 2 x 1 promotion on keg beer on Tues. & Wed. This is a good place to meet up with the locals and the foreign community.

YUCATAN CONNECTION
Yucatan Connection is the tour operator that will take you off thebeaten path to the spectacular, less known and less visited Mayan sites and haciendas in Yucatan. Calle 33 No.506 Tel 922 0565,   Cel 9991 638 224, www.yucatan-connection.com

TELL YOUR STORY
We are interested in articles, stories, experiences, knowledge and advice! Tell our readers where you've traveled, what you've learned, what you love and what you think other people need to know about to make the most of their trip to the Yucatan. Send to editor@yucatantoday.com We will give all writers credit for their submissions.

WRITE FOR US
We are always open to articles from our readers. If you have gone on a special trip or have something to share that will be of interest to our readers, contact us at editor@yucatantoday.com with up to 500 words. Our readers love up-to-date info on prices, distances, schedules, experiences. Our deadline is the 25th of the month. We will give you credit if and when we publish your article.

www.yucatantoday.com
Did you know that Yucatan Today comes in two versions? We have the printed version with 15,000 copies a month and the online version with 90,000 visits in February. The online version is kind of like the archives of the printed version and is a wealth of info.

What's New? from last month.

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What's New - last month
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Events & Activities Calendar
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