AN ITALIAN PARTY

When someone is married with an Italian, as it is my case, you learn 2 basics; family is the most important thing in life and food can’t be poorly executed.

My husband is one of those Italians who does not speak Italian, has never been in Italy and knows nothing about wine. But what he knows very well is the perfect recipe for meatballs (sponsored by his mom Diane), the best stuffed artichokes (sponsored by grandma Roslyn) and the best “gravy” which for all of us is tomato sauce (sponsored by grandma Rose) He knows exactly the difference between a good and bad canolli, italian sausage with pepper and onions and penne a la vodka. 

I remember the first time I met the family, it was a thanksgiving week where grandma Roslyn made me chop tones of onions, garlic and parsley for which I did not complaint a bit, because like people say “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” We made an Italian feast that the ladies cooked for 2 days and the gentleman ate in 2 hours. But that is Italian, a great homemade meal in a long table filled with family and infallible olive oil for the bread.

I miss it all.

That is one reason I am very excited about the Festival Italiano at Belmar. An entire weekend where I feel I might have the chance to enjoy all those homemade Italian specialties I usually enjoy with La Famiglia. The festival promises to have great live music, kids activities, like grape stomping (so bad I am not a kid anymore) a bocce tournament 

and much more. 

Don’t miss the chance to have a slight idea of what La Famiglia means to Italians and to try the richness of their cuisine. It is a free event.

Mangiare! ! !

Belmar

408 South Teller Street
Lakewood, CO 80226

For more info click here.

By Loren Escandon

LA SANTA CECILIA, a band with faith in Music.

La Santa Cecilia

La Santa Cecilia, a band with faith in Music.

La Santa Cecilia is a Mexico American band creating music with Latin-American influences. They will be visiting Denver August 23rd as part of a very special fundraising event for the Museo de las Americas.

“Treinta Dias” their most recent album has hits like “Hielo” and “Monedita”. 

La Santa Cecilia, Pepe Carlos (Accordion and Requinto), Alex Bendaña (Bass), Miguel Ramirez (Percussion) and Marisol Hernandez la Marisoul (voice) talked about their beginnings, their music and what is ahead in the future for this band and why the sky is the limit.

How did you meet?

Marisoul: Pepe Carlos and I met during our teen years. We used to play in a street in L.A named Plaza Olvera, we played Boleros individually, we became friends and invited Miguel Hernandez to see our gigs. We always talked about how beautiful it would have been having the chance to create our music, tell people our own stories, that was the way we put together La Santa Cecilia. Later we met Alex who became part of the group.

Santa Cecilia is the patroness of musicians. It is written that as the musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord". Is that what La Santa Cecilia wants to do with the audience, sing to our hearts?

Miguel: I think one of the most beautiful things you can create with music is that connection with your own feelings or everyone else feelings. As musicians we aim to connect with people and their faith. In our case that faith is music, however, for them that faith can have roots in a goal, a dream, anything and awaking that faith for them to feel motivated is fundamental to us. Helping people to escape their routines and remind them their feelings, roots, sadness and happiness, how beautiful life is, that is our goal.

Your song El Hielo or Ice has caused a little commotion because of the lyrics and the video. Where did you get the inspiration for the song?

Pepe Carlos: Hielo was written by the band in collaboration with the writer and composer Claudia Brant.

LA SANTA CECILIA IN TOWN!

ROJO AMERICANO SI, ROJO

La Santa Cecilia

Rojo is almost here. 

August 23rd is the day where the benefit concert annually organized by Museo de las Americas is taking place.

In their effort to bring Denver the most representative music of our Latino Culture, this year the event is featuring the trendiest Latino band of the moment. La Santa Cecilia.

For the few of you that have no idea who La Santa Cecilia is, let me update you:

• Recently sign by Universal Latino Label,

• A super cool Mexican-American band from L.A ...that is killing it with their close to the heart music.

• Written and scored by the very talented Pepe Carlos, Alex Bendaña, Miguel Ramirez and the unique Marisoul, 

• Yes you read it right Marisoul, because her voice speaks for her soul.

This Band with their salpicon of influences like Norteño, jazz, blues, boleros and the other 10 musical genres they have mastered. They give thanks to the inspiration of legends like Janice Joplin, Miles Davis, Mercedes Sosa and Led Zeppelin. They are coming to Denver. Yeah!

So my advice is, do not miss this chance to enjoy La Santa Cecilia because the next time you might see this band that close is in your HD TV during the next Grammy’s when they get an award for their last album “Treinta Dias”, which by the way is already NPR Music's 25 Favorite Albums Of The Year (So Far)

This band is on a meteoric rise to success because there are not afraid to speak their minds. They sing about subjects that matter to people like me and you, they support causes that will help future generations to have a better life and they love kids and want to motivate them to be the best they can be.

Besides coming to indulge us all with there music, they will be visiting the East High School in a “Platica” (Little conversation) that will take place at L2 Arts and Culture Center at 4:00 p.m. Students from Metropolitan State University (MSU), Metro Leadership Program and East High School‘s Music department will be part of this journey where the Band members will talk about finding their musical voice within all the genres of world music, and how they developed a quality and distinct modern sound that engages audiences. 

I had the chance to Interview the members of La Santa Cecilia for Viva Colorado (Interview link coming soon) and they are as fascinating as their music. Delightful, simple, mature, generous artists with a long path of success ahead.

If you miss this chance don’t blame me. I will be there :)

Benefit Concert for Museo de las Americas

August 23, 2013

5:30-8:30pm

L2 Arts and Culture Center

1477 Columbine St

Denver CO 80206

$50 Reception, Silent Auction, and Concert

$30 Concert

For Tickets contact Marlyn Ruiz 303-571-4401 ext.20 

By Loren Escandon