Festival Chileno en SF- Spring Community Gathering

Mauricio Bertin, our festival’s MC with children in Chilean traditional dress – Photo by Mauricio Gil

What an event! Hosting these is like climbing up the mountain, more hands make light work- while the uphill road was tough- at the cusp, the day of the event we enjoyed community support from many our friends. Most of our directors contributed time and many donations to make the event a success. The volunteers were wonderful helping hands at the entrance, at the bar, by the stage and at the kitchen – Todos trabajando para hacerlo bien!

Left to Right – Chilean Consul, Guillermo Martinez, Ricardo Valdivieso, Alicia Jimenez, Gabriel Salcedo & Marci Valdivieso – Photo by Mauricio Gil

We were honored to have the Chilean Consul Guillermo Alberto Martinez Spikin and his charming wife Eliane join us for the celebration.

Chilean Consul and wife (Guillermo & Eliane) visit our kitchen – with Sara Powell, Paula Tejeda, Eduardo Jimenez and Loreto – Photo by Mauricio Gil
Grupo Ajaju- music of the Andes with a twist – Photo by Mauricio Gil

The entertainment with the support of Gimbel Sound, our professional sound engineer and his crew, and the musicians Mauricio Bertin, Mariela Herrera, Ajaju, Duo Andino, Marci & Friends and Mala Grena – brought a different flavor to the mix. Sunday, March 31st was a fun, memorable gathering with music from the Andes to the Central Region of Chile, Latin America. There were cuecas and cumbias and even a couple of progressive rock tunes. A little for everyone’s musical taste buds.

Indoamerica by Rafael Manriquez whom we remember as a constant presence at our festivals – 1992-2013
ChileLindo’s Paula Tejeda & Sara Powell serving empanadas and completos – photo by Mauricio Gil

The food included offerings from ChileLindo, Restaurante Valparaiso, Sabores del Sur and Winelato. We are especially grateful to Paula Tejeda who spent all day in our kitchens making sure the empanadas were just right!

Jesse and Dani at the bar serving some happy customers – photo by Mauricio Gil

The bar was hosted by Rick Jeremi , Dani Valdivieso and Jesse Vaugh wonderful volunteers who labored hard all day serving delicious wines from Vinos Sur and Lagunitas beer, as well as sodas and such.

En que andamos…

El Centro Chileno tiene más de 60 años de trabajo en la comunidad, preparando el Festival Chileno anual en la primavera y las celebraciones de fiestas patrias en septiembre, entregando becas universitarias a los estudiantes de la comunidad, esta organización sin fines de lucro compuesta plenamente por voluntarios se encuentra lista para abarcar más. ¿Cómo se ve o se siente ese más? Eso depende de todos nosotros, mientras más voces se unan a nuestra organización con ideas y disposición a trabajar juntos más podremos crear. A mi me encantaría tener un mayor pedacito de nuestra cultura por acá ¿qué tal a ti? ¿Te gusta la cocina, la música, el arte, la escritura, los paseos o los talleres? ¿dónde crees que podemos colaborar para crear más chilenidad? ¿Tienes preguntas, ideas o algún proyecto que involucra nuestra cultura? Contáctanos al directorio@centrochilenolautaro.org y veamos cómo podemos trabajar juntos.