by Mariano Arias Diez
Contemporary Urban Space
Architect, a10studio
Feed back: info@a10studio.net

BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR (BCS), the youngest state of Mexico (37 years), has been acknowledged as one of the most beautiful places in Mexico, and due to its proximity to the United States, often referred to as a second home retreat for baby boomers. With the growth and development of Baja the interest and migration of young professionals to this unique place have grown as well. Young professionals are good for BCS, not only because we’ll have a generation that will continue the legacy of the land, but mostly because they are the ones who will be able to promote it, build it and make it grow with new creative and quality ideas. Today, we need strategic urban planning, development of walking areas, functional drainage systems, traffic re-direction, sustainable, efficient and cost effective ideas and implementation, which will improve the future of the towns and of people who live here.

Due to several reasons, it wasn’t always possible to find the best quality for things we would like to do in this region. Slowly, this has changed, and the once popular demand for caricaturized “Mexican” homes often seen in some western movies, has started to be replaced with contemporary design, sustainable living and a preservation of local nature.

Young professionals in BCS have been often under-appreciated. Good news is that young architects with academic and professional international experience have started coming here, recognizing its development potential and a challenge they want to be part of. In this occasion, I’d like to talk about four young architectural offices established in BCS, which have recently received national and international recognition for their work in the area:

Colectivo MX is an architectural office with Los Cabos and Mexico City offices, guided by Arch. Javier Gutierrez. They received a Silver Medal in the X Mexican Biennale of Architecture in 2008 for their project Casa Shelly, an ecological home located on the East Cape, which uses solar energy to generate electricity, has pool with salted water, a system for re-use of treated water and other ecological techniques.

Another example of young talent is fabriKG, guided by Arch. Gonzalo Elizarrarás, in Los Cabos, and Arch. Benjamin Scharf in Berlin, Germany, who were nominated in the category of Future Residential Projects at the World Architecture Festival Awards 09 in Barcelona, for their project Knit Atelier House.

From La Paz, collective TALCO, leaded by Mauricio Sanchez Torres and Adriaan Schalkwijk, who, in cooperation with Alejandro Dacosta, developed the project Aquatic Park Coromuel, which received 1st place in urban development on national category at the CEMEX 2009 awards.

Lastly we’d like to mention a10studio, with presence in Los Cabos and Mexico City, whose project Re.evolution lounge+bar has been extensively published in acknowledged and specialized design and architectural media, and is nominated for the international award “Restaurant and Bar Design Awards” in the U.K.

These four young architectural offices are a small example of talent that we have in the region today, and we’ll be surely hearing about them in the future. Hopefully, planning and urban authorities, developers and clients will support the young talents, listen to their new ideas, views and possibilities for the better future development of our State.

The column was first published in the printed edition of ESCAPES magazine #5.

Cabo San Lucas is one of the most sought after wedding destinations. Beautiful weather all year long, breath taking nature, immaculate beaches, Mexican wedding ceremonies & traditions, and resorts like Capella Pedregal; where the memories of the most important day of your life get captured in a dream like scenery to cherish and to hold for the rest of your days.

Today we would like to share with you this beautiful photo gallery of wedding photographs of Shaliz and Robert, taken at Capella Pedregal by CHRIS+LYNN | Cabo Wedding Photographers .

When Chris and Lynn met, they knew two things: they wanted to be together and they wanted to travel. They became photojournalists, and whether they were dancing in cultural parades in Guatemala or kayaking beneath icebergs near Alaska, they had fun! Today, they have the greatest job in the world – documenting the lives of other couples in search of love, laughter, and a beautiful life together. They travel between Canada and Cabo San Lucas. I just love how Chris and Lynn capture truly magical moments of Shaliz and Robert. It makes us fall in love with love all over again.

Besides a stunning beachfront wedding destination, Capella Pedregal offers Yours Truly, a signature wedding, honeymoon and anniversary program that will court you throughout your lives together. Capella Pedregal’s commitment begins with a destination wedding, Capella style, for betrothed couples and their guests at this romantic enclave. It continues with an unforgettable honeymoon package, complete with a registry that allows wedding guests to contribute to an array of memorable resort activities for the newlyweds to enjoy. And it promises returns as everlasting as the couple’s love, in the form of a complimentary night and a bottle of champagne for each anniversary thereafter.

Did you know that wedding cakes came from a very non-romantic tradition? Back in the day, the Roman Groom would eat part of a loaf of barley bread baked specifically for his nuptials and break the rest over his bride’s head. Breaking the bread actually symbolized the ‘breaking’ of the bride’s virginal state. Scary.

Now a days we are much more romantic. A wedding cake is such a lovely tradition, Mr. & Mrs. cutting together for the first time… But more than tradition, it is also part of the décor of a wedding.

My clients ask me all the time ‘Do you think I should have a cake?, Will guests eat cake?’ My answer is always ‘Yes!’. I mean really, who says no to cake? But I also try to give them options that will make every guests mouth water. Though most people like cake, sometimes the flavor the Bride & Groom choose is not popular with their guests.

Consider a dessert or candy table for your wedding. If you are a traditional at heart, add the cake, but also add all sorts of fun desserts. Cupcakes, marshmallows, tarts, jelly beans, cookies, taffy, cotton candy, truffles, personalized chocolate bars, malted milk balls, sweet tarts, rock candy, popcorn boxes, petit fours… the sky is the limit.

Just remember that a dessert table done right needs the following to be wedding perfect:
- Make it color coordinated, so pick a theme and stick to your wedding colors.
- Choose containers that match and work well together.
- Give it some dimension with platforms so you have different levels.
- Remember to add a great linen that matches the general décor.
- Make it special to YOU – Add in your favorite childhood dessert or candy, personalize M&Ms with your names and wedding date, if you are in Mexico, add a Mexican dessert like “Arroz con leche”.

Happy planning and eating!

Leslie Bost,
Wedding Planner
ONE Happenings

For wedding ideas, tips, advice, follow me also at www.onehappeningsblog.com and read my Wedding Planner column on Escapes Magazine’s website biweekly.

Header photo by Principal Planner.

Just the other day I ran into the blog of a photographer Alex Aguirre, and was impressed by the photographs he took at a wedding of Nancy and Polo. The wedding ceremony was done by some of the traditions of Mexican ancestors. Alex also described the wedding ceremony and rituals, I hope you like it. I really loved the photos.

“… At night they performed the ceremony of the jaguar, with Mexican chichimeca dances and making a flower offering, every flower includes a prayer and has it’s own meaning in the ceremony… This ceremony is to honor the spirits of the earth; on this special occasion we honored the jaguar spirit manifested in the mountain with the light of a full moon. At dawn they performed the marriage ceremony by two different traditions, traditional Mexican ceremony called “Amarre de tilmas” and ceremony of “Amarre” by the Lakota tradition of the Indians in the North of the United States.

At the ceremony “Amarre de tilmas” the woman feeds man and the man feeds the woman, their hands and clothes are ties together with a bow of flowers. Before that, she enters the circle through the door at the west, accompanied by women who give advice her on marriage. The man does the same, but he walks through the door at the east, reaching the center of the circle. They lean together by their backs and are slowly turning face to face, they look each other in the eyes, they are tied and start sharing food.

In Lakota ceremony the old man sits the couple in front of himself and talks to them giving them advice, give them a charm which they must retain in their new home, he covers them with a blanket, give them a tobacco to talk to each other for four consecutive occasions. The old man also asks the family and friends to give them advice while they smoke tobacco. He gives them a present in addition to the amulet.

At the end of the wedding ceremony the old man offers a dance to the guests and gives them presents. He blesses the food which they share afterwards.

Farm to table dining concept is gaining more and more followers all over the world, and Los Cabos is no exception. Even though we live in the desert, our soil is very rich; and together with the fruits of the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean we have an abundance of locally fresh produce, which local restaurants and residents happily use daily.

I am a big supporter – and user – of farm to table concept, so you can imagine my excitement when Capella Pedregal’s Executive Chef Marco Bustamante, and Chef Kent Rathbun from Dallas, invited me to join them at their visit of a local organic farm Huerta Los Tamarindos. Marco and Kent were hosting a Gourmet Weekend at Capella Pedregal Resort & Residences, and one day of this gourmet experience we went to explore the source of food offered at the resort – and to taste it as well!

The fields of the organic farm Los Tamarindos in San Jose del Cabo. Photo: LA76

We headed to neighboring city San Jose del Cabo, where Los Tamarindos organic farm is located. Enrique Silva, the owner of the farm, warmly greeted us and explained the concept of the farm. It was amazing to hear that at the farm they grow more than 100 different plants! Because the farm is connected underground with San Jose del Cabo Estuary, the soil is very fertile and there is no worry that it would dry out. Besides the underground water, at the farm  they also use its natural well.

Enrique Silva, the owner of Los Tamarindos organic farm. Photo: LA76

After a refreshment and welcome words, Enrique guided us through the farm. We saw more than 100 years old mango trees, banana plantation, eight different sorts of aubergine, a rich variety of herbs, and other plants. We learned about the natural organic (and non-harmful) way to protect produce before insects and plague, and got several tips on growing plants in our home gardens. One suggestion was to rotate the crop every 2 years in order to keep the soil rich.

From farm to table. Photo: LA76

Besides produce, the farm also packs their products for local and international sales. Last year most of their production went to Vancouver, and this year the majority of their export is focused on San Francisco and Los Angeles. Locally the farm sells products to restaurants – one of the biggest local buyers is Capella Pedregal – and to residents at the traditional organic market, which happens every Saturday in San Jose del Cabo. Marco Bustamante told us that more than 80% of Capella Pedregal’s cuisine is farm to table!

Private cooking lessons at the farm. Photo: LA76

The field tour lead us to the open dining room area. Capella Pedregal’s bartender Osvaldo was already waiting for us with ingredients ready for each of us to prepare his or her own new cocktail “Michelada ojo rojo”. Afterwards the whole team moved to the open kitchen, where, with the help of Marco, Kent and Capella Pedregal’s Chefs and Cooks we prepared a delicious meal, all made out of the ingredients available at the farm. We savored (among others) home made pita bread with freshly made humus and aubergine sauce, a variety of salads, the most tasty tomatoes, roast beef, leak, aubergines, and we even had some space for a dessert: fruit ceviche and crunchy pineapple!

Making a salad with produce from the garden. Photo: LA76

I was very happy with this visit to the organic farm. The owner Enrique answered all of our questions about organic food, and we all returned back to the resort with a new perspective and even bigger consciousness about eating well and eating healthy. Being able to learn about the practices of an organic farm directly from its owner had me returning back to the resort with a new perspective and even bigger consciousness about eating well and eating healthy.

Organic Farm Los Tamarindos, San Jose del Cabo – Images by Romana Lilic @LA76

Wedding Planner Column on ESCAPES magazine’s website is brought to you by Leslie Bost of One Happenings Weddings & Events

So you’ve decided – you are having a destination wedding! You always dreamed of getting married on a beautiful beach, with the big blue ocean creating amazing scenery for your picture perfect wedding day. And with luck, you have considered Cabo San Lucas for your nuptials. Kidding aside, now you must consider some important tips and etiquette for your guests, as they will be travelling for YOU.

Save the date! As soon as you know the date and location of your destination wedding, send out your save the dates. This will give your guests a heads up on the location of your wedding so they can plan ahead. Consider an email version like the picture below:

Photo by Sara Richardson. Design by Rocio de la Cruz. Header photo by Scott Andrew studio.

Your guest list. Don’t invite everyone you know just because you think they won’t show up! This is a common mistake, brides tend to over invite thinking less than 40% of guest will fly to see you get married. The truth of the matter is that your wedding might also be a great excuse for a vacation!  Plus who wouldn’t want to travel to see you get married? Consider that anywhere from 55-75% of your guest list will show up.

Wedding Website. Consider making a wedding website on sites like http://www.weddingwindow.com/ It’s a perfect place to share information with your wedding guests about the destination like hotels, restaurants, things to do, weekend events, etc.

Gifts and Registry. Keep in mind that if someone is travelling to your wedding, their actual gift might be to travel for you. Don’t add your registry information in your invitation so that it doesn’t look like you are demanding gifts. Instead consider adding it in your wedding webpage and don’t expect gifts.

Who pays for what? Destination weddings can be expensive for your guests, as usually they cover their airfare and hotel. Make sure they don’t have to pay for wedding related events. If you can fit it into your budget, have a welcome cocktail for them, invite everyone to the rehearsal dinner and make sure you pay for the wedding in full. A next day brunch is always great and can be done instead of the welcome cocktail. Also make sure you add relevant information about hotels for their stay with in your wedding website. Usually you can negotiate a hotel room block that gives your wedding guests a preferred price. Lastly, try to include wedding day transportation (if you are not getting married at the hotel where everyone is staying).

Extras. Welcome your guests with a welcome bag full of useful items during their stay. If you are getting married on a beach in Mexico, fill the bag with travel size sunscreen, a mini Daily Spanish for Dummies¨ book, a map of the destination, fun travel tags for their bags, local snacks, maybe a small bottle of tequila, a tiny first aid kit, of course a welcome note and a local magazine to read about the area. In Cabo, always consider Escapes Magazine!

And of course, if you get married in Cabo – contact me! I would love to plan your amazing destination wedding.

Leslie Bost,
www.onehappenings.com

If you have ever wondered how to eat fish tacos in Cabo San Lucas like a local, here is my recommendation!

One of my personal favorite taquerias and honestly the best taco place in downtown Cabo San Lucas is Tacos Gardenias. They have been serving delicious tacos in Cabo for over 20 years, and you can even meet the owner at the restaurant, she will most probably attend you herself.

Tacos Gardenias offer home style food and tacos. Couple of my favorites are shrimp and fish tacos, and quesadillas with nopal. Their taco list is big: fish, shrimp, cochinita pibil, nopales, chicharron, barbacoa and chicken. They also offer a special Shrimp Molcajete, Ceviche, Seafood soup, Shrimp cocktail, salads and I’m sure every now and then you’ll be able to taste a new dish.

How to eat a fish taco like a local in Cabo San Lucas?

1) Your fish taco will look somewhat like this when brought to the table: deep fried fish on a corn tortilla.

2) Cover the tortilla with a mayonnaise dressing and guacamole.

3) Squeeze some lemon juice on it, and add sliced cabbage (we call it “repollo”). You are ready to bite in!

4) This is my version of eating fish tacos, as taught by locals. I like to have with it ‘agua de jamaica’ (jamaica water or hibiscus water).

But don’t stop here – if you like spicy, or if you prefer some other flavors, please experience and make your original fish taco! On the table you will find plenty of dips and ingredients to try with. When you discover your favorite new creation, please let me know and send me photos of it, and I’ll publish it for you, together with the recipe!

About the restaurant:
Tacos Gardenias is located in downtown Cabo San Lucas, behind Puerto Paraiso and one block down from McDonald’s and Banamex and Bancomer. (see the location on foursquare as Gardenias)
Open hours: 8am – 5pm, breakfast & lunch, closed on Mondays
Atmosphere: very relaxed and homey, decoration: plastic chairs and tables, they have a collections of posters of past Bisbee’s and a big Marlin hanging on the wall.
Cash only

Buen provecho!

Romana

You can reach me at: escapes@pedregal.com or on Twitter @escapesmagazine

*Note: This review is personal opinion of the Editor in Chief of ESCAPES magazine, and need not reflect the opinion of the publisher of the magazine. The review has not been paid or influenced anyhow by the restaurant. We do it for a simple pleasure of indulging in great food and experiencing local restaurants in Baja California Sur.

Wedding bands avec Corona. Wedding for Jason & Chelsea May 2010. Cary Pennington Photography http://www.carypenningtonphotography.com/

You are engaged! Congratulations! But now, after the hugs and congratulatory emails, wishes and excitement you might be wondering – Where do I start? Invitations, guest list, dress, budget, bridesmaids, food, cake, décor, flowers, music…. the list goes on and on. Don’t stress!  You need to enjoy this time in your life and trust that it will all work out as you envision it.  Here are some tips on what to focus on first…

Guest list: Start writing out your guest list on a piece of paper, word or excel. This list will change dramatically over the course of your engagement.  You need to have a solid number of guests in mind when working on quotes, budgets and next steps. When you write out your list remember to prioritize.  Add family first, close friends and the rest should be people that you would be happy to see on your special day. Keep bad vibes away and forget about obligations! Add people you feel you are obligated to invite at the end of your list. If you need to cut the list in the future, this would be where to start.

Budget:  Yes, this is the stressful part. But, if you start managing your budget early, this should be a piece of cake.  Start with a ballpark number of what you can invest and go from there. Ideally, your wedding planner will help you with you budget.  He or she will tell you the line items you should consider. It is important to set a number, so you can start with the next steps.

Location, location, location! After you have an idea of how many people will attend the wedding and what you could potentially pay for a location, start pounding the pavement.  Get out there and find a location.  All quotes will be based on your location.  What size wedding do you need the location to be?  Is it indoor or outdoor?  Would you like a beach, villa or club house? Go see different locations and try to find a place that speaks to you and reflects upon who you are as a couple.  Some beautiful Cabo locations include Capella Pedregal  or Cabo del Sol.

Photographer: Believe it or not, photographers get booked a year in advance or more! They are the first vendor that you should choose. Book early, so you can get the photographer that you want.  After all, the pictures will be the life long memories you will keep. If you are looking for a wonderful Cabo San Lucas based photographer, check out Amy Bennett  and one of our preferred California based photographers, Lunaphoto.

Get your dress! Now that you have a location, you know what type of dress design could work. If you are getting married on a beach, you might not want a long-sleeved dress right?  Dresses can take more than 6 months to be made to your body, not including your fittings. Make sure you start looking at pictures right away and make appointments to try some on. One of our favorite designers? Monique Lhuillier.  Remember, your dress should be a representation of your personality. It is the only wedding item that will say BRIDE.  Feel beautiful and comfortable.

Get HELP. Hire a Wedding Planner, especially if you are having a destination wedding! You need someone to help you visualize and plan your big day, select and quote vendors, and give you tips and idea.  He or she will also be your confidant and friend during the wedding process. Most likely you have a full time job and planning a wedding should be fun, so get some help and enjoy! Make sure your wedding planner manages your budgets and timelines. If there is a good “click” with the person, hire them, you will be talking to your wedding planner almost every day! If you are getting married in Cabo, contact me, Leslie Bost, for a personalized proposal www.onehappenings.com

Last but not least – ENJOY. Your wedding is the representation of you and your Fiancé; it is you proclaiming your love in front of the people you care about.  Everything that leads up to this amazing day should be cherished.

***Wedding Planner is a regular ESCAPES magazine on-line column. Today’s column is brought to you by Leslie Bost, Wedding Planner and Event Organizer from ONE Happenings Weddings & Events.

*Main photo: Gorgeous ring. Wedding for Perla & John. May 2011. Pictures by Amy Bennett Photography

Meet Cabo San Lucas wedding planner, Leslie Bost and ONE Happenings Weddings and Events.

Leslie

Leslie Bost is a Cabo local, even though she was born in Queretaro, mainland Mexico, she grown up in Cabo since the age of 9! Leslie studied abroad during her high school years and college. She has a degree in Administration and Finance Logistics, which she now applies to systematic coordination and organization of her events.

Her passion for wedding and event planning came full force after her wedding in Los Cabos in 2008. Though events have always been a natural calling, planning her wedding made Leslie realize that she wanted to be part of people’s happiest moments, by being there for their wedding and making sure everything happened as expected.

Through the formation of One Happenings, Wedding & Events, Leslie has orchestrated numerous charity events, weddings and special occasions. Leslie´s own wedding was featured in The Knot National Edition Fall 2008.

Besides wedding planning, Leslie loves to dance flamenco! She has studied with some of the most prestigious teachers in the Flamenco world. Currently, Leslie is part of Flamenco Group Vitral.

Leslie´s passions also include giving back to the community, by forming Galento Foundation – a scholarship fund that finds students who have excelled in the public school system and support them through a private school education. For more information, visit www.galento.org

Through the Escapes column “Wedding Planner”, the One Happenings team has the opportunity to express themselves, their ideas, custom tips and all kinds of fun wedding guidelines for Brides and clients. Not to mention, their vision and love for Weddings.

Leslie hopes to not only coordinate many more weddings in the near future, but also to create events that transcend the moment and as mentioned on their website… events that become a happening.

For more information, please contact them at the contacts provided below, and don’t forget to mention that you saw the information on ESCAPES!

www: www.onehappenings.com
Leslie’s email: leslie@onehappenings.com
Vonage: 619.955.6958
Mexico Phone: +52.1.624.355.43.99
ONE Happenings on Facebook
ONE Happenings on Twitter @ONEhappenings

Photos by Lunaphoto

Having a wealth of energy is the key to doing what ever you want in your free time. If you don’t watch your energy closely you will surely miss it! Likely when you neglect your regular eating and sleeping habits you will get very tired and unmotivated to exercise. When you get home from work, the last thing you think about is WORKING OUT!

This is a cycle that can be broken in 3 SIMPLE STEPS!

1. Regular snacking
Eating every 2 – 3 hours is the natural cycle of the human metabolism. Restoring your blood sugar levels by consuming 6 small (low or NO sugar) meals a day will not only regulate your energy, but also enhance your mood, productivity and focus. Start out by bringing veggies, fruit and nuts with you during the day and you will see a huge shift in energy!

2. Rest
It is recommended that you get 7 – 9 hours sleep each night, however quite often the quality of this sleep can be in question. Try reading a little bit before bed. Reading before bed stimulates theta brain waves similar to meditation. This should allow you to fall asleep easier and hopefully get into deeper states of rest. If this isn’t enough, try napping during the day between 2 -3 p.m. and never more than an hour.

3. Movement
The old saying “Move it or loose it” is SO TRUE! The less you use your body the less your body wants to move. Moving your body every day is critical for the person seeking more energy. Start with a 15 min walk up the hill by your house, and gradually after a week incorporate some light exercise.

In time as you refine your HEALTH PRACTICE you will continue reaping more and more powerful benefits. After a while these benefits will become so important to you that you will be hooked on wellness. For now… baby steps.

For lifestyle coaching contact: joshsmithtrainer.com