Mexican-American but Tijuana born and raised, Arturo Vázquez (29 years old) has been in the business of screen-printing since 2007. His store is one of the first to open in Pasaje Rodriguez (off Second Street, …
March 23, 2014
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Stories by Matthew Suárez
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Tijuana culture through screen printing
Brownie Girl's bicycle recovered after being stolen
Marifer Treviño, also known as La Brownie Girl, goes to music and food events in Tijuana selling her homemade brownies (including vegan, oreo, peanut butter, original, etc). When there's no festival or events, she goes …
March 21, 2014
Memorial built where El Pozolero dissolved bodies
The story of Santiago Meza López is one of the most gruesome and well-known narco stories to come out from Baja. Meza earned his nickname of “El Pozolero” because he dissolved more than 300 bodies …
February 24, 2014
Large mural unveiled at strip mall in Tijuana
It was a cold and windy Saturday evening when I made my way to the Otay area of Tijuana for the unveiling of a 70.5´ x 23´ mural in the back of a strip mall …
February 6, 2014
Finding La Maguana, a homeless icon of Tijuana
Facebook post: “I'm in love with Tijuana.” Comment reply by David Duran: “Until you make love to La Maguana I'm not going to believe that you truly love this city.” If you have walked around …
February 2, 2014
Distruzione Totale by Anti You
Hundreds of crust-punk enthusiasts showed up to Tijuana’s El Tigre bar for a night of total destruction. The bands DLT, New Breed, and Pornoestereos, from Tijuana and Mexicali, started the show before punk quartet Anti …
January 24, 2014
Warning: Do not take weed into Mexico
“It seems like Border Patrol read your Tijuana junkie and dealer article,” my brother jokingly told me on Facebook. He had recently noticed a new sign posted near the border that reads “Medical marijuana prohibited …
January 24, 2014
Acción Poética invades Tijuana
In Tijuana over the summer, many walls were painted white and then short verses were painted on them. The lines that seemingly were intended to promote art, culture, and poetry are now filled with tags, …
December 30, 2013
Dumpster dining host planned a street Christmas
After spending a whole week eating nothing but food found in dumpsters of grocery stores, Rob Greenfield hosted a dinner party at his home in Ocean Beach on Friday, December 20. With the goal to …
December 25, 2013
Tijuana junkie and dealer interviews
“Lo que venga del gringo es lo mejor, es la mas pura,” a junkie in the Tijuana River channel area told me when I recently asked him about his drugs of choice. He was a …
December 24, 2013
Steve Jobs, Julian Assange appear in Playas de Tijuana
The Steve Jobs portrait by Albert M. Watson has been recreated on a wall in Playas de Tijuana right next to the bullfighting ring. The mural is located a block away from the beach and …
December 16, 2013
Bus busking in TJ
From playing on buses around Tijuana to winning Rockampeonato in 2012, Cañamo has evolved. They have opened for international acts such as Café Tacvba, Don McCarlos, Los Cafres, and Cultura Profetica. Together for more than …
December 11, 2013
Video footage before “Viva Villa” border incident
The three filmmakers producing under the name UK Balaam Productions seem to have nothing to do with instigating the November 24 border incident in which over 100 migrants confronted Border Patrol officers. In a long …
December 9, 2013
No running water for 82 Tijuana neighborhoods
Tijuana water agency CESPT (Comisión Estatal de Servicios Públicos de Tijuana) will suspend running water to 82 neighborhoods starting early today, Tuesday, December 3 and will renew its services partially on Thursday, December 5. The …
December 3, 2013
“Viva Villa movement” under investigation
Authorities are searching for who’s responsible for the attempt at a mass illegal border crossing on Sunday, November 24. At least 100 migrants tried to cross the border à la Cheech Marin in the film …
November 29, 2013
Border Patrol confronted the Viva Villa movement
On Sunday, November 24, a group of over 100 migrants attempted to cross the border, walking toward it via the Tijuana River flood-control channel, coming face-to-face with Border Patrol officers. They group called it part …
November 26, 2013
Ten-year-old Tijuana coffeehouse demolished
La Casa de la Nueve, situated on 9th street in downtown Tijuana, is no more. On November 6, the coffeehouse and live-music venue was demolished, much to the surprise of its previous tenants. Married couple …
November 21, 2013
All My Friends here to stay
The early start of the fourth edition of the All My Friends festival at 2:00 p.m. saw barely any patrons when the first band started playing on a stage that was set up poorly on …
November 19, 2013
Previewing All My Friends Music Fest
Tijuana's fourth annual All My Friends music festival is Saturday, November 16, at La Casa de la Cultura. The festival features the best of underground music in an eclectic mix. Bands start at 2 p.m. …
November 9, 2013
(The real) Tijuana!
The gringos are back! And in large quantities! …but please stop going to every single tourist trap in downtown Tijuana. The American paranoia seems to be coming to an end. San Diegans are starting to …
November 9, 2013