Inventive Piña Brothers to Upscale Piedras Quality Food Mart

It was announced this past July that El Paso's Piña brothers (Mike, Oscar and Armando) had bought the five Quality Food Marts in El Paso including the one at 3116 N. Piedras. The brothers have already opened successful upscale Hispanic grocery stores including Vista Central Market on East El Paso's Zaragosa Road.

Officials from nearby Price's Dairy say that the new ownership will be good for the neighborhood. "These brothers are really inventive and interesting."

Tortillerias, bakeries, meat markets and Mexican delicatessens are part of the signature design that the Piñas bring to their stores.

Reporting about her first visit to the Zaragosa store, Newspaper Tree reporter, Elizabeth Ruiz wrote:

". . . standout aspects of the family-run supermarkets . . . include its panaderia, tortilleria, a build-your-own-burrito stand and aguas frescas sold in-store. The prodcuts include standard grocery store fare, some Mexican products, and locally made products, such as asadero cheese from the local Lincon Dairy. After I made a go-around in the Ikea-like maze of colorific shopping, I got a glass of horchata and a burrito with papas con chile verde. The tortillas used for the burritos are made several feet away in the tortilleria."

Plans are to remodel one store at a time and rename each Vista Quality Market. A wider-open look at the Piedras store has already replaced the once dark and crowded shelves.

Newman Park from Comanche Peak

Newmanista Alex Limon of Texas Gas Service was on Comanche Peak recently with his telemetry technicians. One of the crew members had a camera and Alex asked him to take some pictures of Newman Park. In an email to the Newman Park Neighborhood Association President Lynn Coyle, Alex wrote: "You and the neighborhood association have done a great job with the Park."

Lynn responded: "The park is a gem . . . without a vibrant city parks department, attentive city representative and crack staff and committee association board members, we would not have the gorgeous park that we have today."

Native Plant Sale at St. Alban's

Click on image to enlarge

Click to enlarge plants at plant sale

Our Beloved Chihuahuas: Demitri

Don't you wish I was your present!

Today we begin a new series for our blog: "Our Beloved Chihuahuas". Featured here are pictures of Demitri, adored pet and family member of Robert Taylor and Tony Duran.

Why do they do this for Halloween?

How can you resist that face?

Capstone Productions Announces Premier of New Ghost Stories

Jackson Polk has probably done more than most in his generation to put El Paso on the map. His company, Capstone Productions, has produced some great videos: El Paso's Mount Cristo Rey, El Paso's Transportation History, Historic Sites, the Mexican Revolution, the Magoffin Home and more. Jackson co-hosts a live call-in talk show with Leon Metz on KTSM 690 AM on Saturdays from 10 to Noon.

Jackson is also a former Newmanista, having grown-up on Frankfort Avenue and graduated from Austin High School.

His company previously produced the film, "Ghost Stories of El Paso, Volume 1". Now our native Newmanista and El Pasoan has announced the release of "Ghost Stories of El Paso, Volume 2".

Here's his press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

'GHOST STORIES OF EL PASO, VOLUME 2'

TO PREMIERE AT DOWNTOWN THEATER

Screenings open to the public each weekend in October

El Paso, Texas (Sept. 21, 2009) --- Capstone Productions Inc. announces the premiere of its latest film, "Ghost Stories of El Paso, Volume 2," at screenings in the Scottish Rite Theater in Downtown El Paso and in San Elizario throughout the month of October.

Just in time for the Halloween season, the new film presents El Paso history as only spirits can tell it. Viewers go on ghost tours with psychics who talk to spirits --- and the spirits talk back --- at some of El Paso's most historic locations.

The film is a followup to Capstone Production's successful 2008 film "Ghost Stories of El Paso, Volume 1." The new film, "Volume 2," presents all-new stories and visits more locations, including the Ysleta Mission and a mine shaft in the Franklin Mountains.

"Ghost Stories of El Paso, Volume 2" goes inside a haunted building on Fort Bliss, and finds ghosts at the L&J Cafe and Monteleone's restaurant. In San Elizario, a psychic confronts a legend about Billy the Kid and the local jail. The program also visits Concordia Cemetery, the Magoffin Home and Sunset Heights Grocery.

"Ghost Stories of El Paso, Volume 2" is not intended to prove or disprove ghost stories, but to explore some of the legends and folk tales that are a part of El Paso's rich history.

The public is invited to attend screenings of "Ghost Stories of El Paso, Volume 2" each weekend in October, either at the Scottish Rite Theater, 301 W. Missouri, in Downtown El Paso, or at the Adobe Horseshoe on the Plaza in San Elizario. Clear Channel Radio El Paso is the media partner for screenings of "Ghost Stories of El Paso, Volume 2."

The screening schedule for "Ghost Stories of El Paso, Volume 2" is:

2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 Scottish Rite Theater, 301 W. Missouri, Downtown

2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 Scottish Rite Theater, 301 W. Missouri, Downtown

2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 Adobe Horseshoe, On the Plaza, San Elizario

2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 Adobe Horseshoe, On the Plaza, San Elizario

2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 Scottish Rite Theater, 301 W. Missouri, Downtown

Special double showings on Halloween

2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 Scottish Rite Theater, 301 W. Missouri, Downtown

4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 Scottish Rite Theater, 301 W. Missouri, Downtown

Tickets for all shows are available each week for $6 per person at these locations:

Scottish Rite Theater, 301 W. Missouri, Downtown

The Texas Store, 6232 Gateway East

The Texas Store, 5020 N. Desert Blvd.

Dance Designs, 929 Raynolds

The Feng Shui Institute, 4026 N. Mesa

Stay after the screenings, except for Oct. 31st, to attend spirit readings with psychic Diana Calamia for an additional $25 fee. Some audience members will receive personal spirit readings. Spirit reading tickets are available at the locations listed above.

For information and lists of screenings and ticket locations for "Ghost Stories of El Paso, Volume 2," go online to www.elpasogold.com.

Art in the Park

Click on the image to enlarge

From a City of El Paso Press Release:

The City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department will be having the Fall Art in the Park on September 19 & 20 at Memorial Park.

This is a handcrafted arts and crafts show, featuring live entertainment, food for sale, and children's entertainment. This family oriented event has free admission. Event hours are 10 to 6 both days.

Get Outdoors!

Any time is a good time to get outdoors. In El Paso, the fall months are particularly good for longer hikes.

Plan to attend the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta tomorrow at the Tom Mays Unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park. Entrance to the park will be free. There will be informative booths about the desert, the mountains and the flora and fauna. You can hear educational presentations and learn more about native plants. The mountain bike association will be giving free 20-minute introductory mountain bike rides. There's going to be a chili cook-off. Fuddruckers will be on hand. You can buy some good used camping and hiking equipment and know that the proceeds will go to benefit the park.

The fiesta is the official kick-off of Celebration of Our Mountains, a 2 month long program of scheduled guided hikes throughout our region. Email me to get on my list of hikes and to get information about a number of hikes. Also, get on the El Paso Ridgewalkers email list. They hike every weekend throughout the year.

Remember that Scenic Drive is closed every Sunday morning to motorists. You and your family and friends can walk or jog or bicycle the drive.

The big thing is to beat Nature Deficit Disorder, a condition of losing connection to the natural world that leads to added stress, lack of creativity and obesity. Richard Louv discussed this disorder in his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder.