Thoughts on Austin's Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts
It was a beautiful night, not too warm. No precipitation. "HD Night". The Latinitas event was pretty great and we were walking away with a pretty great piece of photography. As we walked into the lot you could see the lights of the new bars and food trucks near River Street. Visual images of a different Austin than the one we had once left.
Mayra had never been to the Center for Mexican-American Cultural Arts in Austin. She remarked at how lovely a space it was. I agreed. I remember bringing NHI students to the center years ago when our Celebracion event was still in Austin (the lady who we worked with was born apellido Irizarry -- she was Puerto Rican). I had also attended another function and toured some of the early work exhibited.
As we walked to our cars, I could smell the aromas of different cuisines. I was happy knowing that in this new Austin finding something to vary up your dinner plans was becoming easier. Yes, ethnic was hip. We had just been motivated and inspired by Elizabeth Avellan (Venezuelan), movie producer and co-owner of Troublemaker Studios. (Unfortunately, we all mostly have known her as Robert Rodriguez's ex wife).
And then I looked behind me at the Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts. I told Mayra how the original plans for the space are much more grand. I had remembered seeing the plans during the groundbreaking.
However, as there are some sad things in the Latino community, the funding was never fully realized and the plans remain plans. I told her, "I don't know, it's a pretty great place and I've seen some nice stuff there. "Pero, como que isn't the Mexican American thing over? I mean, at least in this town."
Austinites I've met since I first started coming in 1999 were very clear to point out to you that it was not San Antonio. Some are haters and will follow that up with a litany of reasons why SA sucks. Others will just show you how historically, on a size, government, city personality level yadda, yadda the two cities are very unique. Either way, Austin was not San Antonio. There was no Alamo. There was no San Marcos mission. There was no Spanish settlement of yore.
One of the reasons I love Austin is that I can access so many other Latino community beyond the Mexican, Chicano, Mexican-American, and/or Tejano communities. (I will leave all that "
Mayra didn't necessarily agree but I think she saw my point some. I mean, she had married a Guatemala-Puerto Rican kid from Pennsylvania lived a short stint in Boston and the Bronx. Although she was an El Pasoan with heritage tracing back to Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Aguascalientes (all in Mexico for those keeping up), she craved alcapurrias, bandeja paisa, moro de gandules, and all Latin American versions of "empanadas". (side note: the photograph we purchased was called "Empanadas")
I just don't see how a Mexican American project can last in Austin. Why not rebrand it a Latino or Hispanic center now? Austin is already known internationally for this small metropolis that is drawing the best from across the world. Some of Austin best finds are Latino, but not Mexican American. I think there could be some bigger dollars really building a staple of Latino cultures in Mexico that in name is not only more embracing but what the real Austin is.
Let's be clear, I am not hater of the Mexican American community of any kind. But again, what are we talking about when we talk about Mexican-American, more specifically Mexican-American in Austin versus Mexican-American in Chicago, San Antonio, Los Angeles, El Paso, etc.
Austin Latino finds that are not Mexican-American:
Esquina Tango - a great multi-use space in East Austin that features ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. Great authentic Cuban mambo, tango, yoga, mambo, Venezuelan celebrations, and more. The owners are Argentinos and have made this a quick institution in Austin.
You can also follow up a visit with hitting up Buenos Aires Cafe which is quite choice. I am sure they will open a few more in the coming years.
Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance - this organization is approaching 20 years in Austin. Was founded by transplants from the East Coast, Chicago and la isla. Some came through the tech recruiting of IBM others through military stints in Killeen or Camp Mabry.
I am a bit biased because I was a member for almost six years. I admitted that I didn't believe that anything folkloric Puerto Rican could possibly be done right in the U.S. unless it was along the East Coast or Chicago. I was highly mistaken. The organization was a studio in the East side where weekly classes are given from preschool aged to teens. There is also a performing company and music team.
The organization makes its own instruments, annually puts its resources towards bringing in experts and masters from Puerto Rico to train the company and community. I would go as far as to say that PRFDance is the most authentic and historically accurate Puerto Rican folkloric arts organization in the mainland.
Chago's - Puerto Rican cuisine on Lamar north before hitting 183. Fairly new and their mofongo is no joke. Anthony Bourdain himself could do a show on just that restaurant's menu. Simple core items with a few rarities like mofongo, pastellon, and tembleque for dessert. In Austin, right? Funny enough, the owners are a husband wife team. He is Puerto Rican. She is Venezuelan.
Cuba Bakery - Round Rock on the way to Taylor, Hutto, or the Dell Diamond, on the north side of 77 as you go East there is a little shopping center with this gem. They open up early and they make true Cuban specialties. They make pastelitos de queso fresh. The owner admits, "you are Puerto Rican huh, because you called them quesitos." My Tio Efrain introduced me to the amazingness of quesitos or as I learned Cubans call them, pastelitos de queso. They have a lunch menu too and have great cortaditos.
True story, the owner had told me a year ago how customers, gringos in particular, come in asking for breakfast tacos. He has to shake his head, nod and tell them, "this is a Cuban place. We don't make tacos."
Last time I was there, this actually happened. Ask Alejandro Cotto. Oh, and another interest couple, the owners, husband - Cuban and his wife - Colombian.
Cafe Colombia - Everyone remember Dona Emilia's? There is some sort of family relation to at least the opening of this place. From what I hear they are about to expand into a larger facility which hopefully means things are good. This place is always packed and having had my fair share of Colombian food since early childhood I think I can assure all my Colombians out there that this place is indeed great. Long live this restaurant's arepas and batidos de maracuya en leche.
Royal Panaderia Guatemalan Bakery - I was happy to share the news about this place to a fellow Chapin the other night. Although, the dude lives right by this place in South Austin and missed it. It's true, this place my slip right through your fingers. Every morning around 5:30 AM this place has its lights on and is quite busy feeding Centroamericanos atole de elote, chuchitos, frijolitos negros with francesitos and champurradas.
There is the Salvadoran spot on the East Side that has pretty good pupusas. I just saw a Honduran place on Riverside behind the El Pollo Rey. There is a pretty longstanding Panamanian group in the Greater Austin area. Killeen not too far north has South American folks, Puertorriquenos in abundance, and sizable Panamanian community too.
Let's not also forget that there are many more MEXICAN places. As in, folks that just got here and are less than two generations deep. And not just from Saltillo, Monterrey, and throughout the northern border - Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Chihuahua. Austin restaurants with a more DF, Pueblo, and Oaxaca flavor are emerging. And while very similar, they are not of a Mexican Revolution, norteno, or Chicano era.
Even the city's top Latino comedy team - which does mostly Mexican-American humor - is called "Latino Comedy Project".
These are just a few examples. I know, most of them food. I just don't see how in an emerging Latino Austin with so many more elements south of the U.S.'s borders adding to the blend, without the learned ethnic contributions of our gringo neighbors who love a good cubano and arepa, I feel that "Mexican American" doesn't make as much sense. How can you embrace the city's full Latino community when in name you draw lines?
Am I being a hater? I mean, maybe I am…I just don't want us to become Alamo times a la Austin,m'explico?
Will I be ostracized if I go build a Latino center? Or just open a place for Guatemalan Puerto Rican Mexicans like my children will be.
stormborns
gamechangershow
izzy806
tangentwithtanner
gummygunk
kianamaiart
areudirty
