Alvin Starkman
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Alvin Starkman received his Honors B.A. in Social Anthropology from Toronto’s York University in 1974, then his Masters in Social Anthropology from York in 1978. He subsequently taught sociology and anthropology until beginning his legal training in 1981 at Osgoode Hall Law School from where he received his J.D.
From 1986 until 2004 Alvin was a partner at Banks & Starkman, restricting his legal practice to family law, personal injuries, employment law and civil litigation. The pressures of practice dictated that he begin to spend periods of time away from the office, and so from 1991 onward, Oaxaca, Mexico, became his chosen travel destination. He, his wife Arlene and daughter Sarah began vacationing in Oaxaca for longer periods of time, while becoming immersed in the life and social networks of the city and surrounding villages. Finally, after spending 4 years building their dream home into the side of a hill just outside of the Centro Histórico, Alvin and Arlene moved to Oaxaca permanently. Having changed his writing style from academic and then legal, to journalistic and travelogue, Alvin now writes for a number of travel websites and American and Canadian based magazines, while maintaining his legal edge as contributor to a bi-monthly column entitled Legally Speaking, in The Upper Canadian Antique Showcase, a national antiques and art journal. He is also a paid contributing writer for Mexico Today, its broad goal to stimulate investment in Mexico and return tourism to its deserved level.
The Starkmans operate a unique bed and breakfast, Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast, (http://www.casamachaya.com), renting a self contained level of their home to tourists. His anthropological background coupled with his extensive knowledge of Oaxaca enable Alvin to provide a unique perspective on the tours he provides, not only to the more traditional sights such as craft villages, towns on market days and ruins, but also to more off-the-beaten-track attractions such as visits to a traditional knifemaker, the quaintest of village mezcal production facilities, in addition to full-day ventures into the mountains visiting sights such as Hierve el Agua and ecotourism nature reserves. In 2011 Alvin embarked upon a new venture with Chef Pilar Cabrera, Oaxaca Culinary Tours, arranging custom designed culinary tours of Oaxaca for small groups, (http://www.oaxacaculinarytours.com).
Recent Activity
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera fablic dolls in the regional dress of Oaxaca, Mexico, have arrived. Friduskas is a small business dedicated to producing hand embroidered dolls and marionettas dressed in native costume of Mexico, specifically Oaxaca, with the facial features of the famed Mexican artists. However proprietor Dolores Leycegui does more. She teaches the impoverished, those with special needs, and single mothers how to embroider, thus giving them an opportunity for self-sufficiency.
The reclusive Sociedad de Mezcaleros recently embarked upon an intensive tour of all in Oaxaca related to mezcal, agave and pulque. The southern Mexico city and its central valleys are renowned for producing the best and most diverse mezcal. The group of Americans visited roadside palenques, urban mezcalerias, restaurants offering a fine selection of the spirit, and even too a cooking class from internationally acclaimed native Mexican chef Pilar Cabrera Arroyo; shrimp al mezcal anyone?
It's hard to go wrong when it comes to deciding what to wear to attend a church mass in Mexico. However, following a few important pointers dramatically reduces the embarrassment of dressing up too much, or going too casually. Know the culture of the family extending the invitation, and whether the service will be in a rural or urban setting, and you can't go too far wrong.
Traditional mezcal production in Oaxaca produces virtually no waste, does not use fossil fuels, and utilizes relatively little water, a scarce resource in Mexico. Virtually every part of the agave espadín plant used in its production, is used, if not directly in the mezcal making process, then in other ways.
A quality mezcal from Oaxaca, Mexico, is now available in South Africa of all places, and giving craft beer and tequila a run for the money. The importer explains his motivation, how mezcal is being received, and plans for the future.
A Mexican and a Frenchman in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, Mexico, are making strides to promote the cultivation of mushrooms. Long after the heyday of magic mushrooms and María Sabina in the Oaxacan mountains, their company, Mico-lógica, is intent upon spreading the word about the value of hongos as a sustainable, nutritional and medicinal product, while at the same time teaching both locals and visitors to Mexico how they can begin small-scale production with little investment.
The so-called drug wars of Mexico are restricted to a few isolated areas and cities in the north part of the country, far removed from tourists destinations. Select your Mexican vacation destination using due diligence and common sense, and you should not encounter issues regarding safe travel in Mexico.
While visiting Oaxaca to experience the food of Mexico, it's almost imperative to take a cooking class with internationally renowned Oaxacan chef Pilar Cabera Arroyo at her Casa de los Sabores Cooking School. Learn why.
Oaxaca has come of age as a Mexican city with a taste for beer other than commercial brews. The opening of a craft beer store is a boon for Mexicans, tourists and restaurant owners seeking a supply of beer made by domestic and international microbreweries. While the fascination with artisanal beer is significant, Oaxaca's reputation as the mezcal capital of the world isn't threatened.
Whiles there's no substitute for a good cooking class in Mexico, while vacationing in Oaxaca consider paying a visit to a good molino (mill) to learn gems of information about food in Mexico. You'll walk away with culinary secrets of the Oaxacan kitchen that even the best schools don't teach.
