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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.
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 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. Women Potters Of San Marcos Tlapazola, OaxacaThe women potters of San Marcos Tlapazola, Oaxaca, work not with a wheel, not even using two places as Don Valente of Doña Rosa fame does. They spin their magic on a stone, with a bit of sand allowing movement without friction. They bake using not a brick kiln, nor a below-ground oven. They fire on the surface of their dirt floor compound. They work long hours, and in the end they produce wonderful clay tools, cooking utensils, and fanciful pre-Hispanic style human figures … in a humble living environment. Oaxaca To San Cristobal De Las Casas And Palenque, And More: A Driving TourThe drive from Oaxaca to San Cristóbal de las Casas, and Palenque, provides an easy and thoroughly culturally interesting and diverse tour, for those planning or contemplating such a tour of southern Mexico. This driving tour provides details of the major sights, highway quality, and options for diversions to Huatulco and Puerto Escondido, Veracruz and Puebla. The drive is designed to avoid any and all backtracking, and is a clean 2,000+ kilometer circuit. Should I Rent a Car in Oaxaca?Driving in Oaxaca has always been precarious and dangerous. But recent changes to the drivers license requirements have made it even more so! Be forewarned. Consumer Protection in Oaxaca, Mexico: a Case StudyPROFECO is Mexico’s fair trade practices division, available to consumers, including travelers to the country, to resolve disputes with commercial enterprises. It’s a surprisingly easy and efficient way to achieve justice, as this case study exemplifies … but not without its quirks and unique Mexicanness. Traveling Light to OaxacaVacationers to Oaxaca frequently bring one extra suitcase, empty, to facilitate getting home their purchases … rugs, alebrijes, black pottery, and more. Others ask what they can bring down to donate to the needy. Here’s valuable and important advice for both. Huatulco, Mexico: the Drive From Oaxaca, and Determining if It's for YouThis article is intended for those visitors to Oaxaca who are considering driving to Huatulco as part of their Mexican vacation. It examines the roads and highways en route, often the subject of much conjecture and at times fear, and the questions often posed regarding which Pacific resort destination ought to be selected.
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