Brownsville Convention & Visitors Bureau

On May 19, starting from 10:00 a.m., residents and community leaders will come together to implement our first “Better Block Project” for Market Square in Downtown Brownsville.

The “Better Block” project is a demonstration tool that temporarily redesigns an area to show the potential to create a great walkable, vibrant neighborhood center. The project creates a real life model for the community to actively engage in “complete streets” design concepts. Pop-up businesses are also developed to allow the community to see the potential for revitalized economic activity in an area.

This is part of a larger effort with Better Block projects now being performed throughout the country. The goal is to allow cities to rapidly implement infrastructure and policy changes that spur downtown revitalization.

“Brownsville has a historic downtown that is a real sense of pride and passion for our citizens.”, said Mayor Tony Martinez. “Better Block Market Square is an opportunity for our citizens to take a hands on approach to reviving our city center”.

Accelerating Brownsville’s downtown renewal will take various interconnected projects and concepts, many of which were reviewed during the Imagine Brownsville Comprehensive Plan process. One such interconnected concept is implementing “Complete Streets” standards. Complete Streets are designed and operated so they work for all users – pedestrians, bicyclists, motorist and transit riders of all ages. The City of Brownsville is hosting a public Complete Streets Workshop scheduled for May 16 at 6 p.m. at the Brownsville Event Center.

“For the last several decades, development in the U.S. has focused on cars, not people”, said Mike Gonzalez, Executive Director of United Brownsville. “Complete Streets designs puts the focus back on individuals and families by creating more enjoyable spaces balanced against the need for motorized transportation”. The Better Block Market Square project will transform Market Square for one day as a redesigned center with expanded retail amenities and “complete streets” concepts. This will include current restaurants with “cafe style” seating, new landscaping, expanded lanes for pedestrians and cyclist, and several new demonstrative retail businesses.

A key concept of Better Block is to move beyond artist renderings of what downtown could be, to actually taking action today by creating demonstrative changes to Market
Square. However, this project is beyond simply being a street festival or even a “beautification” effort. It actively questions outdated concepts and current development standards that may be stifling the very development our community wants to encourage.

“Planning for this project has been an exciting process with community leaders, city staff, business owners, historic preservation professionals and citizen volunteers all coming together to remake Market Square”, said City Commissioner Rose Gowen.

“This collaboration has allowed us to leverage resources and bring this demonstrative project to our citizens quickly and at very low cost.” Residents from Brownsville and surrounding communities are invited to visit Market Square during this time to interact with a redesigned city center and offer feedback. Bring a chair, chessboard, umbrella or musical instrument to help us revive our Market Square!

It will be a concert you will not want to miss as Del Castillo, The Brew and The Connectors take the stage to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 5 on the grounds of The Arts Center.

This outdoor concert is an extra addition to the Signature Series and is sponsored in part by the generosity of the Brownsville Society for the Performing Arts.

Wristbands for the concert are $30 and half price for children under 12 and are available for purchase in the box office of The Arts Center or online at utb.edu/artscenter

Fresh off their new album, “Infinitas Rapsodias,” Del Castillo began as a CD project for relatives in winter 2000 and is now an internationally-known band that blends flamenco, rock, Latin, blues and world music. Four members of the band – Mark del Castillo, Ricky del Castillo, Mike Zioli and Albert Besterio – played in the UTB and TSC university jazz bands in the 1980s. The university honored the band in 2010 with the Distinguished Alumnus award.

“We always look forward to coming back to Brownsville to play for our family and friends,” said Rick del Castillo from Berlin where they are completing a European tour. “Where else can you get world-class tamales?”

Between the release of their first album, “Brothers of the Castle,” back in 2001, to their 2006 release, “Brotherhood,” Del Castillo has received an astonishing 18 awards including SXSW/Austin Music “Album of the Year” Awards for “Vida” (2002) and “Brotherhood” (2006), “Band of the Year (2003),” ASCAP’S “Best Independent Group of the Year (2005),” and Austin Music Pundits “Best Live Act (2004).”

Based in Austin, the band is good friends with Film Director Robert Rodriguez who attended a Del Castillo concert in 2002 and a great friendship developed between the two. Rodriguez then enlisted the group to contribute music to the soundtracks of his movies and perform with him at the premieres. The group also counts Willie Nelson as a fan as well.

Joining Del Castillo will be Brownsville favorites and also from Austin, The Brew. Brothers Michael, Joe and Mark Rodriguez were born and raised in Brownsville.

“We are looking forward to seeing our family, friends and all of our fans,” said Mark Rodriguez. “We love Brownsville and always enjoy coming home.”

In the 1970s, the Rodriguez brothers and their late brother Rudy formed The Brew and eventually relocated to Austin in the early 1980s. They have since become an Austin original and a perennial favorite of audiences young and old.

The Brew has opened for such diverse notables as the Rippingtons, George Howard, Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber, Chuchito Valdez, Hiroshima, Acoustic Alchemy, Larry Corryel and Kirk Whalum. Currently working on their fifth album, their others works include “In the Beginning,” “Rio Vista,” “Latin Brew” and “Rumba Caliente.”

Joining Del Castillo and The Brew will be local band and favorite, The Connectors.

A wristband will be needed to enter the concert area. Patrons are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy the outdoor concert. There will be food vendors, and no outside food and drinks will be allowed on the grounds.

Additional sponsors are Brownsville Living and the Mexican Consulate. Sponsorships are available which will include reserve seating. For information, call (956)882-8587.

The Signature Series will soon unveil the third season and already announced is a performance of the Ballet Folklórico de México for Oct. 22.

Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club, a waterfront resort and golf community located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of tropical Texas, recently changed owners and began a two-year plan for proposed upgrades of its facilities, including the championship golf courses, extensive fantasy pool, elegant Villa guest rooms, fine-dining restaurants and more. The new owners also bring with them a new attitude of accessibility and a positive change in customer service as well as an expansion of the country club’s membership categories.

The new President of Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club is Xavier Montemayor. Also, with over three decades of experience working with three of the hospitality industry’s leaders, Andy MacLellan, President and CEO of Scottford Enterprises, serves in a consulting capacity for Rancho Viejo. Scottford Enterprises has specialized in management, asset management and consulting on hotel and resort properties and communities, since 1995.

Montemayor states, “Rancho Viejo has so much to offer—from world-class golf and fine dining to an award-winning swimming pool and a variety of other activity options—that we want to be accessible to the general public, not just the community’s homeowners and existing corporate clients. We hope that our current remodel and proposed changes for the near future will entice locals, Texas travelers and Mexican nationals alike to join our country club and utilize all of the features of our resort.”

Along with this new attitude of accessibility, the new owners bring new membership opportunities. Membership now includes the following categories: Dining, Social, Recreational, Young Professional Golf (under 40 years of age), General Member Golf and Corporate (encompassing up to 10 memberships). Initiation fees span from $750 to $5,000 with monthly dues ranging from $55 to $375. While Dining Membership entitles one to restaurant access and delivery, Social Membership includes Dining privileges plus pool access and access to golf with special green fees. Recreational membership includes all Social privileges with two free green fees per month as well as access to the fitness facility, tennis courts, golf range and putting green.

Members and visitors alike will notice a wide variety of upgrades throughout the resort over the next couple of years. For starters, the two 18-hole championship golf courses (“El Angel” and “El Diablo”) will undergo extensive landscape work, return of the water features that were previously abandoned, new tee and yardage markers, new cups and flags, and continual repairs to infrastructure.

Besides golf, a main recreational draw to Rancho Viejo is the Alberca Grande, the Club’s 6,000-square-foot lagoon-shaped “fantasy” swimming pool featuring an impressive cascading waterfall, a swim-up bar, an oversized whirlpool spa and a kids’ play area. Nestled amidst the lush, tropical landscaping of palm, ebony, citrus trees and bougainvillea, it is a picturesque place to relax, get some sun and “take it easy”.

The immediate pool renovation will include a new pool deck, increased seating and family areas, and kitchen updates that will allow for an expanded poolside menu that will feature fresh fish tacos, cold ceviche, hot grilled items and more. The season opening of the pool is tentatively set for March 31, 2012, for the Semana Santa (Holy Week) break in Mexico.

According to Rancho Viejo’s General Manager, Kelly Cuff, “We hope the improvements to the golf courses and pool will bring an immediate influx of guests to our resort. With Spring Break right around the corner and the start of peak season at Memorial Day in May, we want to be prepared to offer our guests and potential members upgraded amenities. To that end, we are also planning changes to our guest rooms and restaurant.”

The hotel rooms at Rancho Viejo consist of 58 individual guest rooms housed inside 17 private villas. The Spanish Colonial styled villas are designed with a central suite and bedrooms on each side and are conveniently located by the lush fairways of the “El Diablo” golf course or the serene waters of Resaca del Rancho Viejo, a waterway that used to be a part of the Rio Grande River Delta.

The 58 individual guest rooms offer the privacy of a conventional hotel room with all the amenities of home. The Villa Room remodel will be a total remodel including new Saltillo tile floors, new carpet, European Kitchens, new furniture and beds, and upgrades in the bathrooms. Also, there will be an addition of high-speed wireless Internet access and new room phones.

To top off all of the improvements, Rancho Viejo will re-open their fine-dining restaurant, Casa Grande, for three nights a week plus Sunday Brunch. Casa Grande will still offer authentic regional specialties, classic continental cuisine and a connoisseur’s collection of fine wines and spirits, in an elegant setting. The restaurant upgrades will include new china, glass and silver as well as new menus created by the new Executive Chef, Ronald Ange.

In addition to all of the current proposed changes and improvement initiatives, other planned upgrades on the horizon include additions to the fitness facility, a new beach club and additional kids’ activities.

Carved through citrus groves and built along resacas, the ancient waterways of the Rio Grande Delta, Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club is a golf-oriented community and resort boasting two championship 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, a fantasy swimming pool, two restaurants, hotel accommodations, boating and other recreation. Rancho Viejo offers the area’s only private country club featuring a conference center with meeting and party rooms, including the area’s largest ballroom. Rancho Viejo stretches across 1,400 verdant acres in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of tropical Texas. At 26.04 degrees latitude, the Lower Rio Grande valley is at the southernmost point of the mainland United States, practically due west of Miami. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.rvrcc.com or call 956-350-4000 or 800-531-7400.

The Brownsville Historical Association has announced the start of a new series that will bring history awareness to the community’s youngest members. Every month, the BHA will host kidDIY – a series that introduces historic topics through tours of the Brownsville Heritage Complex and hands on activities. Each month a new topic will be explored.

March’s kidDIY is entitled Luck of the Irish and will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 10. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, kids ages 5 years and older will learn about Irish settlers in Brownsville as well as the history of Saint Patrick’s Day. After a short tour of the Brownsville Heritage Museum, children will make crafts that are sure to bring home the luck of the Irish!

This program is free and parents are welcomed to stay and craft with their children. For more information, please call Pati Molinas at 956-541-5560.

Brownsville, TX – Brownsville welcomes Arath De La Torre as the city celebrates the shared culture, friendship and heritage of Brownsville and Matamoros. Two events are scheduled as part of the of the Mr. Amigo celebration, starting with The Presidents Ball and Fiesta de Bienvenida on Feb. 23 from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM and followed by the Mr. Amigo Awards Banquet on Feb. 24 from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Both events will be held at the Brownville Events Center located at 1 Events Center Blvd.

The President’s Costume Ball & Fiesta de Bienvenida is a dinner-dance with guests dressing up in their best regional Mexican costume. This year Chef Ricardo will be catering a delectable dinner and guests will enjoy a music lineup that is sure to entertain. During the Awards Banquet various dignitaries will present awards and recognize Arath’s contribution to goodwill between the two countries.

Tickets are available at Brownsville Convention & Visitors Bureau Information Center for $100.00.

Arath De La Torre has currently taken Mexico by storm with his portrayal of Pancho Lopez, the zany but dreamy character in Mexico’s #1 rated soap opera, “Una Familia Con Suerte”, which has launched him into international stardom as he prepares to start a U.S. promotional tour that will take him to the biggest markets in the North American continent.

The Mr. Amigo Association chooses candidates from a wide range of fields based on criteria of endeavors and accomplishments as is reflected in the past Mr. Amigos which includes Angelica Vale, Cantinflas, Jose Suliman, Lucero, Lic. Miguel Aleman, Veronica Castro, and many, many more.

As the tradition continues, Arath De La Torre will make a great addition to the Mr. Amigo roster, so make sure that you catch a glimpse of this incredible actor, loving father and genuine “Mexicano” who wears his country’s color with pride and represents his land with dignity and dedication to his art.

Update: Read this great story by the Brownsville Herald on the launch of the Brownsville Convention & Visitors Bureau’s new WOW! Always A Fiesta campaign. http://bit.ly/dailyherald

BROWNSVILLE — Mayor Tony Martinez on Monday, February 8, will officially dedicate the month of February as “Brownsville WOW” month to help inaugurate a new city marketing strategy by the Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau (BCVB). Martinez will join BCVB president and CEO Mariano “Bean” Ayala at the official kickoff of the marketing campaign at Cobblehead’s Bar & Grill at 5:15 p.m. on February 8.

Martinez will be joined by members of the BCVB board of directors in the marketing kickoff announcement.

Ayala says it’s only fitting that Brownsville “WOW” begins in February, since this month is heavy on celebrations, including Charro Days, Mr. Amigo and Sombrero Fest. Ayala also notes the Air Fiesta in March, the Latin Jazz Festival in October and the Holiday Village in November and December.

“We are a city,” says Ayala, “that has for the longest time been promoted as On the Border, by the Sea and now we’re adding WOW, and its accompanying slogan “Always a Fiesta.”

BCVB is located at the corner of Ruben Torres and Expressway 77 and its headquarters have been decorated with festive “banderas” to help get the WOW message to the public. BCVB is charged with marketing the City of Brownsville throughout the U.S. and foreign countries.

Martinez joins Ayala in encouraging businesses and individuals who may be interested in helping to promote WOW to call the BCVB at 546-3721 for information in acquiring decorations and banners.

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The Houston Astros 2012 CAREavan will hit the road on Wednesday, February 1, with three full days of visits throughout central and south Texas. In addition to numerous private community stops, each day will include free public autograph sessions at Academy Sports + Outdoors stores.

The team will make trips to Brownsville, Harlingen and McAllen on Feb. 1-2. A summary of the team’s activities and the players participating are listed below and a list of stops open to the public is posted at www.astros.com/careavan. Please note that players may be added and are subject to change.

Schedule

Wednesday, February 1 – Brownsville, TX

Jose Altuve, Jimmy Paredes, Fernando Rodriguez, Alex Trevino

Chick-fil-A
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch service for fans
Open to fans and all media

Lucio Middle School Welcome to Brownsville Reception
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Fielder’s Choice assembly
2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Open to all media

CAREavan Baseball and Softball Clinic
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Open only to pre-registered youth players and all media

Academy Sports + Outdoors
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Open to fans and all media

Kiazi, a 13-year-old female Western lowland gorilla is the newest member of the gorilla family at the Gladys Porter Zoo. She made her public debut on the gorilla habitat known as Gorilla Island on Friday, December 30th, 2011.

“Kiazi is adapting well with the other female gorillas,” said Jerry Stones, Facilities Director at the Gladys Porter Zoo. “She is very easy going.”

Kiazi was born at the Pittsburg Zoo and is on breeding loan from Cincinnati Zoo. Zookeepers plan to slowly introduce her to Moja, Gorilla Island’s silverback gorilla. Hopefully, the two gorillas will have chemistry and successfully bred. Kiazi has never produced offspring before. Western lowland gorillas along with all species of gorillas are considered rare and endangered. The Gladys Porter Zoo participates in the AZA sponsored Species Survival Plan (SSP) for gorillas. The SSP manages the population of Western lowland gorillas in AZA facilities in order to maintain genetic diversity and demographic stability.

As a new member to the Zoo family, Kiazi has acclimated well to a new diet that consists of kale, lead tree leaves, apples, oranges, bananas, sweet potato and antioxidant-rich watermelon. She has also been placed on a multi-vitamin to ensure optimal health.

The public is invited to visit the Zoo and consider adopting Kiazi. By adopting Kiazi you can help pay for the cost of her care, food and housing for a year. Consider adopting your favorite zoo animal, all Adopt- An-Animal proceeds help in the care, feeding, and housing of the animal sponsored.

Mr. Amigo Association held a unveiling event Friday Jan. 15 at the Mexican Consulate announcing Mexico’s hottest television star, Arath de la Torre as the 47th the Mr. Amigo.

Arath is currently in one of Mexico’s number one rated soap opera, Una Familia Con Suerte, and portrays Pancho Lopez, a role that has launched him into international stardom. He is preparing to start a U.S. promotional tour that will take him to the biggest markets in the North American continent.

According to the Mr. Amigo Association, to become a Mr. Amigo, nominees must be Mexican citizen role model who has contributed to the friendship and understanding between the United States and Mexico. They must also be a successful professional that promotes the improvement of the quality of life in the Hispanic community.

Over the past 47 years, the Mr. Amigo honoree has been chosen from a wide field candidates based on criteria of endeavors and accomplishments as is reflected in the Mr. Amigo roster which includes Angelica Vale, Cantinflas, Jose Suliman, Lucero, Lic. Miguel Aleman, Veronica Castro, and many, many more.

For a complete listing please visit us online at www.mramigo.com

Brownsville, TX – Sabal Palm Sanctuary recently launched a new live bird feeder cam with support of the Rio Grande Valley Chapter Texas Master Naturalists. The live cam allows viewers world wide to explore and keep up to date with some of the birds visiting the region.

Common species include Green Jay, Chachalaca, Black-Crested Titmouse, White-Tipped Dove, Long-Billed Thrasher, Golden-Fronted Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, and Olive Sparrow. Most of which are special to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, found no where else in the United States.

For more information about the Rio Grande Valley Chapter Texas Master Naturalists, please visit  www.rgvctmn.org.