The city Parks and Recreation Department & the El Paso Downtown Management District have partnered together for the seventh year to bring you the 2007 Summer Concerts at San Jacinto Plaza. These concerts will take place at San Jacinto Plaza, 111 Mills, in the heart of beautiful Downtown El Paso. These concerts have been a tradition established by the city of El Paso and the Downtown Management District to showcase amazing local talents as well as create another reason to come Downtown. Produced by the staff of the Parks and Recreation Department, Summer Concerts at the Park have created the opportunity for local groups to perform before lunchtime crowds and show the talent that our great city has. The acts have featured dancing and musical talents from all ages. If you have not attended these free concerts, now is your opportunity. Come down, buy lunch from one of the many restaurants located nearby, relax and enjoy the great entertainment.

One of the notable things about this event is that it seems to bring our community together, be it only for a moment. In the past, we have witnessed two District Court judges having a sandwich and a good time while a nursery school class sat on nearby benches singing along. Visitors staying at the Camino Real happened by and were pleasantly surprised and captivated. Community members from all walks of life had lunch and enjoyed the show.

Concerts times will be from noon to 1 p.m. This is a family-oriented event, and you can’t beat the price— it’s free! For more information, contact Event Director Eliseo Duran at 915.562.7071. See you there!

2007 Summer Concerts at San Jacinto Plaza Schedule:

• Wednesday, June 13 — Brittney Gamboa (Variety Music)

• Wednesday, June 20 — Shelby Acosta (Variety Music)

• Wednesday, June 27 — Amanda Huante (Variety Music)

• Wednesday, July 11 — Jacqueline Mata (Variety Music)

El Paso Downtown Ambassador
by Carl E. English Sr.

Since the inception of the Downtown Ambassador program, I have sought to provide a positive and friendly environment. At each telephone or face-to-face request, I accept each new project with a Larry the Cable Guy, “Let’s Git’er done,” attitude. Though each day provides new and different requests, what I find most rewarding is to discover tourists wandering Downtown, struggling to orient themselves with a city or walking tour map, genuinely interested in our Southwest treasures. Many visitors are fascinated by the architectural wonders of the Cortez building and the revived Plaza Theatre.

Tourists often comment about the clean and casual Downtown atmosphere. The volume of pedestrian traffic along the horseshoe has been compared to the Las Vegas Strip. Many also feel that this hustle and bustle make them feel safe. It’s always great to receive accolades, but we continue to strive to please the public. With our “we care” attitude, we seek to better Downtown.

Plaza Theater Annex Has More to Offer
by Julie Rivera

The Plaza Theatre has been expanded to include the newly opened Philanthropy Annex. The Annex is made up of three floors, each with its own unique purpose.

The first floor, the Oasis, contains a cocktail lounge and will be used for catering and a gift shop. The Philanthropy Theatre is on the second floor and, according to information provided by the El Paso Community Foundation, can be used for a variety of performances, ranging from lectures to digital cinema. The city of El Paso will benefit from this theater through its innovative performances and its role as a tourist attraction, increasing revenue for El Paso and generating positive publicity for our city.

The third floor, a roof-top terrace called the Alcantar Sky Garden, is a beautiful addition. The Sky Garden will be available for receptions and parties of all kinds and can hold approximately 200 people. Sitting in the open, taking in the unique El Paso views and enjoying the different seasons are just a few benefits of this open-air attraction.

With the addition of the Plaza Theatre Philanthropy Annex, El Pasoans will be able to enjoy different performances, lectures and cultural events held in the venue. Improvements must be taken one step at a time, and this is a great example of what these steps can do for El Paso.

AlFresco Fridays Are Back
by Joseph P. Martin

With Alfresco! Fridays back again, it’s obvious that summer has arrived! What are Alfresco! Fridays? They are free concerts held at the Arts Festival Plaza, adjacent to the Plaza Theatre, that are open to the public. The music begins Friday, June 15 and will be held almost every Friday through Aug. 17. Mark your calendar for some summer fun!

Schedule of performances:

• Friday, June 22 — Billy Townes & Modern Session (Contemporary Jazz)

• Friday, June 29 — No Concert, Downtown Street Festival

• Friday, July 6 — Charlie Russell (Country & Western)

• Friday, July 13 — Windy City (A Tribute to Chicago)

• Friday, July 20 — Sangre Gitana (Rumba Flamenco)

• Friday, July 27 — Mariachi Los Toritos

• Friday, Aug. 3 — Radio La Chusma (Roots, Rock, Latin, Reggae)

• Friday, Aug. 10 — Elegant Gypsy (Modern Rock)

• Friday, Aug. 17 — Richard and The Sierra Bank (Oldies)

Coming Back to Downtown
by Mike Breitinger

After much anticipation, the Anson Mills building is receiving some well-deserved tender loving care. As soon as Paul Foster purchased the building, the anticipation for a revived Mills building began. Just recently, Foster, a supporter of Downtown revitalization, has begun the process of stripping down the old interior walls and decorations and has proceeded to repair and renew. Foster’s confidence in Downtown’s potential was made clear when paper window coverings were removed, allowing passers-by to peer in and witness the revitalization efforts to the interior. The 145-foot-tall Anson Mills building is known to be the first monolithic building in the northern hemisphere, on the original site of the 1832 Ponce de Leon Ranch. It was built by continuously pouring concrete to create the appearance of one uniform structure with no breaks in its makeup. Built from 1910 to 1911, the Anson Mills building was only the second concrete-frame skyscraper in the United States. It appears that El Paso’s once-tallest building, located across from San Jacinto Plaza at 303 N. Oregon St., is well on its way to “coming back” to Downtown.

Downtown Fabric (Articles about the people that make downtown what is today)
by Esther Min

Thanksgiving break was my first trip home from college. I saw a few familiar faces in the Dallas airport, a few college sweaters, but I realized something had changed. In a melting pot of culture (a.k.a. Manhattan), I forgot what it was like to see signs written in Spanish. I was offended when the flight attendant assumed I couldn’t speak English, and more than anything, I dreaded being home. I went away to college, as far away as my academic career would allow, to get away from a city that I thought lacked civility.

Living in a city that is deemed “progressive,” where being healthy, advanced and busy are the trends, people assumed I was educated. I became obsessed with my new city life and learned what New York elitism really meant. Olympians, the Saudi Arabian prince, Kenneth Cole’s daughter, Viggo Mortensen’s son, Sasha Cohen’s sister are all within the vicinity. Martha Stewart, Zora Neale Hurston, Jhumpa Lahiri, Cynthia Nixon and Anna Quindlen have all set precedents. At a school that prides itself on having one of the most culturally diverse populations, I began to believe that New York was my new haven.

I came back to El Paso for the summer as a genuine city girl who longed for her best friends, downtown nightlife and amazing shopping. As I started settling back in, eating more Mexican food and soaking up the sun, I realized that El Paso is somewhat bittersweet. I realized I sorely love El Paso. In New York, I never expect a smile from a stranger, and now I’m nearly offended when someone I don’t know says hello. I’m starting to wonder, ‘what is progressive?’ ‘What is civility?’

Like many Korean-American children, I’m told to do something and be the best. At an early age, my life goal was to attend an Ivy League university. I was told, “Do better. Try harder. Be better than you were yesterday, faster, smarter.” Because of that, I thought El Paso was too lacking to be loved. Yet, the older and farther away I go, I realize El Paso’s growth. Interning at the Central Business Association has allowed me to experience a different side of El Paso that didn’t exist to a naïve high school student. My work experience has greatly influenced my view of El Paso, and maybe in 10 years, maybe in 20, I will call El Paso my sweet, sweet home.

Editor’s note: Esther Min, an intern for the CBA & DMD, presents a different perspective within the ever local topic of El Paso “brain drain.”

Downtown with Fray Garcia
by Esther Min

El Paso’s Downtown is most widely known as a haven to price-oriented customers. Many people venture Downtown for a day filled with great deals and great food. As many people walk the streets, lined with early 1900s décor, they overlook much of the culture that our vibrant city offers.

Just past the “golden horseshoe,” tucked away in Pioneer Plaza, on the corner of San Francisco Avenue and El Paso Street, stands the Fray Garcia Monument. The 14-foot, half-ton, bronze sculpture, designed by John Houser was unveiled on Sept. 26, 1996. While more than 3,500 people attended the unveiling, many have yet to recognize the statue’s importance.

As the tallest historical monument in Texas, the Fray Garcia Monument honors the Spanish Franciscan missionary who began “Christianizing” El Paso’s population in the 1600s. Garcia founded a mission in El Paso, serving the Manso, Suma and Piro Indians. Garcia’s work as a missionary included more than just the typical Bible lesson; he taught the indigenous people sedentary survival skills, including agricultural and irrigation work. He is credited with cultivating a variety of flowers, including the rose. Because of Fray Garcia’s gardening skills, visitors can enjoy a visit to El Paso’s 4-acre Rose Garden located at 1702 N. Copia.

Fray Garcia contributed so much to El Paso’s vibrant culture. Without his efforts, El Paso may have been completely different. The monument to Fray Garcia portrays his many contributions; he stands wearing a Guadalupe medallion, a crucifix and rosary, holding flowers, with a fruit basket near his feet.

On your next trip Downtown, make it educational, and take a peek at El Paso’s past.

Downtown with Fray Garcia
by DMD Staff

Serving as yet another exciting moment for Downtown El Paso, a new exhibit hall has emerged from the brick and mortar once known as the El Paso Restaurant and Supply Building. Located at 300 W. San Antonio, immediately south of the Convention and Performing Arts Center, Lynx Exhibits is a welcome sight for Downtown. Still undergoing outside improvements to the property, Lynx Exhibits has more than 16,500 square feet in which to host exhibits and a gift shop. At the time of this writing, two exhibits are open, each taking up 6,000 square feet. The “Inside Africa” exhibit opened on May 26, while “Bodies Human: Anatomy in Motion” opened June 7.

Lynx Exhibits is locally owned by people committed to El Paso. According to the gallery’s website, the goal is “to bring first-class exhibit opportunities to the citizens of our area at a reasonable price that reflects our culture, our heritage and our diversity.” All this adds up to another reason to come Downtown and enjoy a great venue. Future exhibits may include “The Dead Sea Scrolls” and possibly “The Man of the Shroud.” The exhibit hall can also be used for full-motion simulators and possibly 3-D theaters. Lynx is “looking forward to finding the right mix of educational, exciting and entertaining options for the El Paso community,” according to Lynx Executive Director Terry Valero. Parking is plentiful and conveniently located on site, across the street at the Convention Center, and one block west at the Union Depot Trolley Terminal.

Visit the website at www.lynxexhibits.com for more general information, and for any additional questions, call Terry Valero at 915.533.4330.

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