Free Online Articles Directory
Home Page  Alvin Starkman |
|||||
 |
 
Alvin Starkman received his Specialized Honors B.A. in Social Anthropology from Toronto’s York University in 1974, then his Masters in Social Anthropology from York in 1978, subsequently teaching sociology and anthropology at York, Sheridan College and other institutions until he began his legal training in 1981 at Osgoode Hall Law School. Upon his call to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada he began his career as a litigator.
From 1986 until 2004 he was a partner at Banks & Starkman, restricting his 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 for longer periods of time in Oaxaca, 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, does monthly translations for a local newspaper called go-oaxaca, while maintaining his legal edge by contributing regularly to The Upper Canadian, a national antiques bimonthly journal writing about antiques, auctions and the law. In Oaxaca the Starkmans operate a unique bed and breakfast, Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast, http://www.oaxacadream.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 and unique perspective on the tours he provides, not only to the more traditional sites such as craft villages, towns on market days and ruins, but also to more off-the-beaten-track attractions such as visits to a nationally known sculptor, a traditional knifemaker, the quaintest of village mezcal production facilities, in addition to full-day ventures into the mountains visiting sites such as Hierve el Agua. Sort By: Date | Popularity
 La rubia negra: The erotic art of Gerardo Navarro GómezThe art of Gerardo Navarro runs the gamut of imagery, ranging from representations of Mexican conservative Catholic religious beliefs, to erotic art which tests the sensibilities of the most liberal amongst us. He lives in an Eden-like tranquil village environment, with his mother and three sisters each of whom weaves fine cotton textiles using the ancient back strap looms. All of the incongruities are, however, explainable, through exploring the unique background Seat belt, cell phone and speed limit laws enforced against drivers in OaxacaThe enforcement of highway traffic laws in Oaxaca, Mexico, is a recent phenomenon that will no doubt catch the unsuspecting expat driver to and in the city by surprise. Who would have thought that in southern Mexico there would ever be enforcement of seat belt, cell phone and speeding laws? More problematic, however, is the lack of driver rights and due process; you’re stopped, and you have to pay … if that’s all that you’re facing. Am I paying my staff too much? Improving profits and peace of mind: A case study from Oaxaca, MexicoThe difference in attitude towards paying staff in the service industry in Oaxaca, between Mexican and non-Mexican patrons, is explored in this exposé revealing daily pay rates in hotels and bed and breakfast establishments. Is paying the receptionist 100 pesos a day too much, or not enough? Would paying staff a minimum of 150 pesos a day improve bottom line and lead to a more fulfilling existence for hospitality industry business owners? Oaxacan chef inadvertently sets City of Toronto ablaze, steals limelight from Clinton, ClooneyChef Pilar Cabrera is one of the best present-day ambassadors of Oaxacan cuisine. Her month-long visit to Toronto in September, 2009, was met with rave reviews by restaurant critics on national radio and television, in print media, as well as on a plethora of food blogs. She even overshadowed the like of personalities visiting the city, such as President Bill Clinton and actor George Clooney. Canadian artist Fiona Dunnett: Images of self and death in Oaxaca are muted by comic style and collageCanadian artist Fiona Dunnett has adopted Oaxaca, Mexico as her permanent city of residence, for good reason. The cultural, social and political environment has provided her with a new-found inspiration, enabling her to combine her interest in the works of Klimt and Lichtenstein, with graffiti stencil art, comic style, and images of death and self. Universal design and cohousing principles, as well as economic necessity, spur green housing project in Oaxaca, Mexico, for aging North AmericansA new home project is under way in Oaxaca, Mexico, combining the best attributes of collaborative housing, universal design and sustainable living. With Americans now aging without the nest egg they thought they had, and beginning to rethink the previously-held adage of “work until you drop,” considering a highly affordable change in lifestyle may be just what the doctor (and psychotherapist) ordered. Casa de los Sabores Cooking School in Oaxaca expands options for food enthusiastsThe addition of Reyna Menzoda to the staff of Casa de los Sabores Cooking School in Oaxaca, gives owner/chef Pilar Cabrera a whole new dimension she is able to offer to her students taking classes. While Pilar continues to teach traditional Oaxacan cuisine, Reyna specializes in indigenous Zapotec dishes. Reyna’s skill and experience was showcased at a recent event attended by members of the Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast Association, so as to enable them to recommend Casa de los Sabores to their guests Book Review: Mexican Folk Art From Oaxacan Artist Families by Arden Aibel Rothstein and Anya Leah RothsteinMexican Folk Art From Oaxacan Artist Families (2007) is an extremely comprehensive compiliation which closely examines ten different mediums of Oaxacan crafts and folk art by looking at the families which produce it: ceramics, woodworking, textiles, jewelry, basketry and more. The book is a must for travelers to the central valleys of Oaxaca with even a passing interest in the subject material, as either shoppers of handicrafts or folk art collectors. La Catrina de Alcalá: Oaxaca restaurant reviewLa Catrina de Alcalá is one of the finest restaurants in Oaxaca, combining tasteful yet minimalist ambiance with efficient service, and exquisite cuisine … both Oaxacan regional, and continental with a Mexican flare. Short essays on rural Oaxaca mezcal production: Part II: Recicado from the Mixteca AltaA five hour drive from the state capital of Oaxaca, lies the dirt road village of Pueblo Viejo, where mezcal is produced as it was pre-Conquest … using a mallet and canoe-shaped trough to mash; animal skin to ferment; and clay and stone still with wooden canal, river reed and agave leaves to transport water, the life blood of the process. The typical, quaint, rural roadside mezcal facility near Oaxaca is modern, by comparison.
|
 |
|||
|
Article Categories
|
|
||||
|
|
|||||
