Americans In Baja

Americans In Baja Needs You

Americans In Baja — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:31:00 +0000

Do you enjoy writing and sharing with your fellow expatriates? If so AIB needs you. We are looking for contributors to write about there experiences, favorite places to eat, and cool things to do. If you would like to pitch in and help us in our efforts in building up our community just click here to send us an email with your contact information. And if writing is not your cup of tea, but you know of something we should check out that everyone would enjoy please send that along as well. Thanks.

Pampering Yourself

Americans In Baja — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:04:00 +0000

While many come to Baja for great travel and shopping deals one local day spa has put a new spin on value. Karma Derma Spa, Skin Care & Hair Salon in the Real del Mar Golf Resort & Hotel combines a higher level of service that can only come from an owner who's background far exceeds most of those that you find in this area.

"Every time we came down to this area for my husbands business I would try different places, but something was always missing. Since I knew that he needed to spend a lot of time in the area I decided to create my own place" says Alejandra Hall of Karma Derma. "I have been a spa person all my life, and whether I am working on new products for my skin care line, or helping my husband with his business, I missed the spa ambiance" continues Alejandra.

And create a place for herself she did, and for all of us for that mater. Fashioned after a Costco type approach where you can get high quality with value pricing, her salon provides a place where everyone can afford to spoil themselves. With a variety of services that range from spa manicures and pedicures to the ultimate in facials that include The Deluxe Karma Derma Facial by Alejandra herself this place is a special treat for both regulars and vacationers alike.

Rosarito Takes A Hit

Americans In Baja — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:07:00 +0000

Rosarito takes another hit and this one has nothing to do with any of the reasons people speculate as the cause tourism seems to be so down recently. This one is the result on one man, Rich Ross, according to The Los Angeles Times on November 18, 2009.

Rich Ross, Walt Disney Studios' new movie chief has made the decision to pull the plug on the planned production of "Captain Nemo: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" Disney's $150-million production that was to be shot at the old Fox Studios. With millions already spent hiring crews and prepping to build sets everything seemed on track until the then studio head Dick Cook was replaced by Mr. Ross. Knowing the contention that accrued around the change of management makes this no real surprise though especially for a picture with such a large budget and high expectations.

If it's any consolation to the area this is a franchise that Disney is bound to cash in on someday and when it does there are not many facilities that can compete with old Fox in Rosarito, Thanks James Cameron.

2009 Tecate Score Baja 1000

Americans In Baja — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:50:00 +0000

Its that time of year again for the 2009 Tecate Score Baja 1000. Whether you come to race or just take it all in from the sidelines until you have been there firsthand you don't know what your missing.

Other Important Documents:

Download Schedule of Event

Border Crossing Information

Letter From The Mayor

Trump. Owning Here Is Just The Beginning.

Americans In Baja — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:36:00 +0000

What they failed to mention is the middle and the end part involves court proceedings, frustration, and the losing of your money. What happen to the Baja real estate market? Well its actually not to different to what has happen to the real estate market in general. Whether its Florida, California, Dubai, or countless other places across the globe, many have forgot that real estate like most all other investments is cyclical, and yes for a plethora of factors right now we are in its down cycle.

This cold hard reality is now intersecting with another reality that has always been in play in the Baja market, the fact that no matter how much this part of Mexico looks similar to back home, its not. This is a foreign country, and one where things operate differently than most foreigners are used too. This is a fact that many take advantage of for profit, and by many I mean people on both sides of the border. The "Trump" project is a perfect example.

It has combined the greed of local Mexican developers, both whom where involved with the project and those that where not, with a known development company out of Los Angeles, and of course and even more well known one from New York, and in the middle is a countless number of buyers who are left holding the bag as everyone points the finger at the other when we ask what happen?

And while all this makes a little news until people's attention span moves on to the next thing, it leaves a trail of people behind whose life is forever changed.

Be sure not to miss Americans In Baja's twelve part in depth look at the Baja real estate market starting January 2010. You can subscribe to our free email updates or to our news-feed to make sure you catch every word.

Art Garden Summer 2009

Americans In Baja — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:35:00 +0000

If you didn't have a chance to stop by the Art Garden event at Real Del Mar Golf Resort & Spa on August 7-9, you missed a beautiful opportunity to see some outstanding art from some of the brightest artists in Mexico if not the world. Organized by Alejandra Hall owner of Karma Derma, the golf resorts day spa and hair salon, the weekend was considered a huge success by all those that we spoke with.

"Although art is a subjective medium, I think one would be hard pressed to find anyone who attended that didn't think the exhibit was fresh and captivating" says Raul Mendoza the resorts general manager. Among the artists that exhibited was Max Corona (co-organizer), Riccardo Sanders, and Elias Vizais. In addition there was also a display of custom jewelry designs from CHAB designs, Inc.

Besides great art those that attended also were treated to the sounds of Alex Mora and his band. Alex specializes in a mix of fresh and elegant romantic music and was accompanied by Cesar Barajas, drums, Chema Reyes bass, and Omar Valdez on keyboard.

Newspaper Coverage From The Frontera

To visit the artist's site directly:

Max Corona: www.maxcorona.net

Riccardo Sanders: http://www.kunstraumhh.com/

Elias Vizais: http://www.myspace.com/elijahvisaiz

Max is also organizing another exhibit that can be found here: www.artwalkmazatlan.com

Sushi In Baja

Mr. Picky — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:36:00 +0000

Whenever someone tells me about finding a good Sushi restaurant in Baja, I cannot help wondering silently to myself if there recommendation means that it is good Sushi for Mexico, or good Sushi period. Being from Los Angeles and Orange County I have unfortunately been spoiled in that L.A. / O.C. is home to a variety of quality restaurants of many diverse offerings that some who come from smaller towns might not have had the luxury of experiencing. Although I'm sure that those from the far east would feel the way I do about sushi in Mexico when they are eating it away from home even in LA, it is hard for me to overlook the fact that there seems to be a couple of very specific local ingredient choices that are customary to this area that you will not find in more authentic Sushi restaurants. So when I went to try yet another Sushi restaurant I was hoping that it would be passable enough to add it as a regular place to eat as has been the case with a few others I have found.

I was unexpectedly surprised. Akai Sakana Brasserie Sushi in Rosarito is more than a good Sushi place for Mexico, its an authentic Japanese Sushi restaurant that can hold its own in any city, and has proved to me that you can have authentic international food and make those that are used to the local styles happy.

Easy to find just a few doors down from Niedo's and across from Susana's, Akai Sakana Brasserie Sushi is a true delight to anyone who yearns for an authentic Sushi experience. There use of Tofu, Seaweed, Vegetables, and of course fish, create a incredible dinning experience that all can enjoy. The dishes are prepared authentically, the fish is fresh, the Sake served just right whether your preference is hot or cold all giving even the most picky customer nothing to say but what a great meal.

AIB Rating (5 Being Best)

Mexico Still Number One

Americans In Baja — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:50:00 +0000

Drug violence, danger, and the US economy falling apart. With all that we here in the news regarding both Mexico and The United States its nice to see that there is resiliency from people on both sides as Mexico comes in #1 on the Forbes list of most visited foreign destinations of US travlers with over twenty million travilers in 2008. Not only did travel to Mexico not decline as it did with many foreign destinations it actually rose from the previous year by four percent.

As anyone who lives in the Baja area can testify while there is bad people everywhere, for the most part Americans love visiting Mexico, and the residents of Mexico love having them. And as Mexican and US culture continue to grow together that does not seem like it will change anytime soon.

Click Here To See The Rest Of The Forbes List

Gelato Anyone?

Mr Picky — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Unless you are someone who simply is not into deserts most everyone loves Gelato. The Italian version of ice cream when done right yields a taste that is exquisite. If you are in the mood such a tasty treat you can find none better than Argelato Cafe.

Located in the new little shopping complex that houses Liverpool, just one block from Costco, Agelato Cafe is a Gelato / Coffee / Desert Shop that hits the mark. With high quality and reasonable prices this place wins us over hands down for best Galato in Tijuana.

AIB Rating (5 Being Best)

Argelato Cafe 971-0099

Click Here For Map

From Hollywood To Baja

Americans In Baja — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Imagine working at Desilu Productions, the company founded by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. A company that was credited with inventing the modern day sit-com and at one time produced a large portion of the most successful television programs on the air. A company that at its height had more TV sound stages than did MGM or Twentieth Century Fox. For John Bell who grew up at a farm in Iowa this was not something he had to imagine, this was his life. After getting involved with acting in collage and auditioning for Laugh-In he was hooked and came out to Hollywood as so many still do to this day.

And even though his goal to be a full time working actor did not pan out, he had the privilege to make his living in the business, running the post productions facilities at the old Desilu studios, and then moving over to MGM where he ran the projection facilities all the while maintaining his love for acting and not skipping a beat to this day as he now sits on the board of the Rosarito Theater Guild in Baja. This is where we caught up to him to speak with him about his latest roll, that of the director of the guilds last play, The Cemetery Club, Written by Ivan Menchell.

The Cemetery Club is a comedy/drama that revolves around three friends who meet monthly over tea before they trundle off to the cemetery to visit their dead husbands. And while at first thought this doesn't seem to jump out at you to be the subject matter for entertainment, entertainment it certainly was thanks to a great cast and a wonderful job of direction from Mr. Bell.

Ask him how he came to choose this particular play and a big smile comes immediately to his face. "I went to Samuel French in Hollywood and spent about two hours looking and going through everything", says John, "and finally I just went up to the girl and said do you have plays for old people. She mention this play and I just skimmed threw the first couple pages of it and said this is it".

Not only was John pleasantly surprised by the material, we were just as pleasantly surprised with its outcome. In an area that offers so much of its own rich culture sometimes it is hard to find a little something from back home and a night at the Rosarito Theater sure hits the spot. When we sat down to speak with John about it, one of the first questions that came to mind was how this presentation ended up with such high production value. Finding out a little about John's background explained a lot.

Getting involved in theater in collage, John then traveled the mid-west in a successful production. After leaving that he came out to Hollywood and began studying with some of the top teachers in the area and auditioning for roles in TV and movies as he began working at the studio's behind the scenes.

This true Hollywood background along with the plays talented cast made our night thoroughly enjoyable and makes us look forward to there next production.