BACK TO #DEVERLIVING

Ok, I am not going to pretend that almost 6 months hadn’t passed since the last time I wrote a word in this blog. However, I have very powerful reasons for the abandonment. 

First, I was traveling non stop with my show Montera, Russia, Spain, Cuba. I am going to assume you all read about it in this blog, since Paula took the time to spread the news.

Cuba theater Festival Poster

Solo Festival Moscow

Then I moved to our house, which for a New Yorker transplant is a big event. I have never had a HOUSE, you know. In that part of the country people live in tiny places where the bedroom has a queen bed and a mounted T.V. that’s it. A Living room, you might ask... forget about that, most people have a sofa bed so when parents come to visit they don’t have to go and rent in airbnb the same sofa bed in some else’s house for a low rate of $60 a night. So as you can imagine I had to spend some time decorating my house... my house... I still cant believe I have a house.

Stencil painting 

Then by the time the moving/decorating madness passed, my beloved Mother was visiting from Colombia. I had to show her Denver, Boulder, Vail and all those amazing places Coloradans are surrounded with.

Without even noticing it was January, and then the Christmas hangover sat in, leaving me incapable of writing anything.

However, after this very long hiatus, here I am ready to talk about my favorite subject... 

Fun in Denver

Lets start with Love in the Mile high city.

I am happy to be back :)

By Loren Escandon

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Making films are hard. 

Forget about the length, the script, the actors or the budget... As an actress I am telling you making films is damn hard, but fun at the same time.  That is probably the reason a bunch of us still dream of telling stories that move audiences, that shows the important of film and eventually, why not, will write our name in some sort of hall of fame...I guess the Oscars will take that credit.

Screw big budget movies, and writers that take years rewriting an idea that has been clear to everyone from the first draft, or producers that do not know how to cast an actor, or actors that have panic attacks as soon the schizophrenic director screams...ACTION. 

Forget about all that paraphernalia because you have exactly 48 hours to write, shoot, edit and score your short film in this sweet twisted festival taking place in Denver August 2-4, 2013 and is looking to produce the best short film ever.

Yeah, let’s get back to the basics and cut the BS of this business that is plagued with people with too much ego to admit that they have no idea what in hell they are doing.

BLACK ARTS FESTIVAL

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I am very excited about this festival. I have the feeling this is my chance since I moved to the States to reconnect with my roots. Because I am, what it is called now, Afro Colombian. My dearest friends in Colombia called me Negrita, which means “Little Black”, that was my nickname and it made me happy. Like me, there are Afro descendants everywhere and their culture is palpable even when it doesn't seem obvious. Music, sense of style and food, when influenced by Afro predominance is very particular, full of colors, flavors, fun. It is a poesy dedicated to life. It is the perfect combination between melancholy and happiness. It is tragic and passion story that a grandma tells you before going to bed. All those are the reasons I can’t wait to enjoy the Colorado Black Arts Festival. This is the 27th Annual festival and those 3 days will feature the best of Black music, dance, painting, performers, visual arts, photography, theater and film.

A UNIQUE DATE NIGHT

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The idea of the perfect date varies from person to person, and from relationship to relationship. Sometimes we run out of ideas to make our loved one feel special. The movie-dinner combo gets old, the nightclub is too loud, and the cooking at home can become a total romance killer if you are not the chef the counterpart expects you to be.

However, the date I am about to describe is as good of a first date as it is for a 20th year anniversary.

Imagine a picnic bag/basket full of your favorites goodies, that you don’t need to cook because this city has plenty of options for takeout, like The Chicken-curry sandwich at Vert Kitchen Denver, a bottle of bubbly cold Champagne, wine, beer or Ice tea if that is what you like; the most beautiful gardens surrounding you,  the jazzy sounds of Swing Je T’aime throughout the evening and a free swing dance one hour lesson, this is just in case you want to learn, but it is optional.

WATER FOR THE WORLD

I know the average human body is around 50% to 65% water. I know life as it is wouldn’t exist without water. Moreover, I know billions, yes, billions of people have no access to water or get contaminated water, some have to walk miles under the sun to get the vital liquid or have to pay ridiculous amounts of money to be able to drink potable water, and when I take showers until my fingers are wrinkle like  grandma hands or when I open the faucet and let the water run while washing the dishes I feel guilty taking for grated such a precious treasure, however I still do it. How is that possible?

For all these reasons and because I want to change my approach to this problem I can't wait to enjoy the FESTIVAL FOR THE WATER.

This amazing WATER celebration and awareness festival presented by Water for the People and the AWWA (American Water Works Association) will not just bring tons of fantastic music but will help all of us to find a way to be conscious about the water crisis and how to take action to help the planet to surpass this difficult situation.

On June 9th the Civic Center Park will become a Nationwide focal point on this issue. Local bands The Motet and Broken Tongues, as well as New Orleans Brass Funk Rock band Bonerama will be performing while some of the most recognizable Food Trucks in town will delight everyone with their delicacies donating 10% of all sales to the cause.