Music in the Air

Greetings,

A different kind of music was in the air last Thursday. I was at Quinta Mazatlan for the premier event in their Thursday Evening Family Explorations series. There was a free concert featuring Tish Hinojosa and her band. The program started a little after 7:00pm and went till 9:30pm. Born and raised in San Antonio and now spending her time between Austin, Texas and Hamburg, Germany, Tish's music crosses a number of borders - international, cultural, languages and musical genres. The music flowed from traditional Tex-Mex ballads to Country, Honky-Tonk to Ska. Each song was prefaced with the story of what inspired it. The lyrics were in both English and Spanish and even if I didn't understand the words, the music still moved me. For more information on Tish Hinojosa, check out her website http://www.mundotish.com/ .

Before the concert, I decided to just wander around Quinta Mazatlan (600 Sunset Ave.) and soak up some of the atmosphere. Quinta Mazatlan is one of the largest adobe homes in the state & was built in the 1930's by Jason Chilton Matthews and his wife, Marcia. In 1968 Frank and Marilyn Schultz purchased the 8-acre estate and buildings. In 1985, the Texas Historical Commission dedicated a Historical Marker, located at the front entrance to the building. The property, now under the stewardship of the City of McAllen's Parks and Recreation Department, has been expanded to 15 acres. Q. M. is also headquarters of the McAllen "Wing" of the World Birding Center, T.P.& W., US. F.W.S. The grounds, including the wooded meadow have been renovated with native trees and plants and attract a variety of birds and butterflies. Trails wind through the property leading you to water features and the stone amphitheater. Inside Quinta Mazatlan, you will find a gift shop, displays of Art, and a friendly staff, ready to answer your questions. For a complete list of programs and services available at Quinta Mazatlan, go to their website http://www.quintamazatlan.com/. You don't need a concert to come check out the sounds of nature, always playing at Q.M.