About me. I was raised and educated in Northern Mexico during a manufacturing boom post-NAFTA. I lived in the Midwest for almost eight years, a region that I love. Now I live in Virginia with my dog Lucy or Lucia, a lazy and sweet Staffordshire terrier.
Since I was raised in a border town, I am comfortable with both the Northern Mexican and the Southwest U.S. cultures.
In my free time, I love going to the beach, visiting art galleries, or hanging out in coffee shops while enjoying Colombian coffee and reading history books. I do weightlifting, hiking, meditation, and yoga. I love Peruvian, Japanese, and Southern food. I listen to reggaeton, rock, and classical music.
In this section, I will post about things that I find interesting, such as:
A list of good taco places across U.S. cities
Some information about the history and culture of Northern Mexico
Pictures of my dog
My favorite Mexican restaurants and taco places in the Midwest and the South
Tmaz Taqueria in Ypsilanti, MI, near the University of Michigan.
Abuelitas in Richmond, VA.
Cochiloco in Richmond, VA.
La Chaparrita #2 in Chicago, IL. There are two restaurants La Chaparrita in Chicago, but oddly, I prefer this one.
7 Mares in Williamsburg, VA, near William & Mary,
South Philly Barbacoa in Philadelphia, PA. Probably the best barbacoa I've ever had in the U.S.
El Tizon (this was the second branch of Al Carbón before) in Charlottesville, VA, near the University of Virginia.
Books about the history, culture, and economy of Northern Mexico
The history and culture of Northern Mexico are more intertwined with the history and culture of the U.S. Southwest and Texas. Nevertheless, the history of Northern Mexico is understudied by Mexican historians. Below are some books and some references, for those interested on this topic.
"El Norte: The Epic and Forgotten Story of Hispanic North America" by Carrie Gibson. This wonderful book talks about the history of the United States from a Hispanic perspective. Simultaneously, it does describe cultural and historical patterns associated with Northern Mexico.
Website of "El Colegio de la Frontera Norte" (The College of Northern Border Studies). This Mexican research institution employs researchers whose main research interests is the U.S.-Mexico border. They have a small editorial that publishes books about the topic. Together with some American institutions (the University of Texas System, UCSD, University of Arizona, Arizona State University, FED Dallas El Paso Branch), it is one of the most important research centers for the study of the U.S. - Mexico border.
"American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America". This wonderful book by journalist Colin Woodward describes the eleven cultures that exist in North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico). The description of the cultural and social characteristics of the region that he names "El Norte" (which includes Northern Mexico, Texas, and the Southwest) is exceptional.
Dallas FED Official Reports on the Border Region. The El Paso Branch of the Dallas FED has studied the U.S.-Mexico border region in detail. For anyone interested in the economic dynamics of Northern Mexico, it is quite useful to follow these reports.
