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Amanda Seyfried Snuggles Up to a Fluffy Dog, Plus Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom, Selena Gomez and More

Amanda Seyfried Snuggles Up to a Fluffy Dog, Plus Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom, Selena Gomez and More

Yahoo26-03-2025
Stars have been everywhere this week, from Amanda Seyfried cozying up to a dog in France to Justin Bieber stepping out for a bite to eat in West Hollywood. In New York City, newlyweds Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom take a walk with their dog Kuma and Selena Gomez stops by SiriusXM Studios.
Here, are the best photos of celebs out and about this week. Come back tomorrow for more of the latest A-list outings!
Amanda Seyfried snuggles with an adorably fluffy companion during day five of the Series Mania Festival in Lille, France on March 25.
Justin Bieber steps out for a bite to eat at Dialog Cafe in West Hollywood on March 24.
Newlyweds Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom are back stateside on March 25 with their dog Kuma following their recent Mexican wedding.
Selena Gomez is chic in an animal print blazer during a visit to SiriusXM Studios in New York City on March 25.
Sheila Atim and Eddie Redmayne pose together at the Arts Emergency reception at Christie's King Street in London on March 25.
Hailee Steinfeld rocks an all-purple ensemble for a Nexxus event at an airport hangar in L.A. as the face of the brand's Hy-Volume collection.
Elizabeth Olsen rocks a posh tweed suit stops by The Drew Barrymore Show on March 25 in New York City.
Bill Murray makes an appearance on The Howard Stern Show at SiriusXM Studios in New York City on March 25.
John Stamos poses with fellow volunteers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles during a recent visit.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley smiles in pink during an appearance at SiriusXM Studios in New York City on March 25.
Romeo and Cruz Beckham snag some snacks from a smoothie shop in Notting Hill on March 24.
Sigourney Weaver chats with Queen Camilla at a reception for the launch of the Queen's reading room medal at Clarence House in London on March 25.
Tony Brown, Kenny Chesney, Carlene Carter and John Carter Cash smile together at the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee announcement at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville on March 25.
Brooke Shields celebrates Black Tap's 10th anniversary with a pair of cotton candy-topped milkshakes on March 24 in New York City.
Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal are all smiles at the season 2 premiere of The Last of Us at TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood on March 24.
Ellen Pompeo opts for a pair of statement earrings at Monday's Good American Family premiere in Paris on March 24.
Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen pose together at an after party following the premiere of The Studio on March 24 in L.A.
Jason Ritter and Melanie Lynskey smile and wave at the L.A. premiere of season 2 of The Last of Us on March 24.
Nikki Glaser opts for a metallic ensemble as she steps out onstage at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 24 in New York City.
Naomi Watts matches with Bing the dog at the premiere of The Friend on March 24 in New York City.
Mary J. Blige is draped in fur while performing during the For My Fans Tour at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on March 24.
Malcolm Washington, Denzel Washington, Olivia Washington, Pauletta Washington, John David Washington and Katia Washington attend opening night of Wine in the Wilderness at Classic Stage Company in New York City on March 24.
Sunrise Coigney and Mark Ruffalo step out hand-in-hand for the premiere of The Friend at the iPic and The Fulton by Jean-Georges in New York City on March 24.
Sofia Carson rocks emerald green while out in New York City on March 24.
Sporting a pinstripe suit, Rob McElhenney attends the season 2 premiere of The Last of Us on March 24 at TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
Randall Park smiles from his seat during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show for an episode airing March 25.
Patrick J. Adams and Troian Bellisario bring date night to the premiere of The Studio on March 24 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in L.A.
Sans mustache, Bryan Cranston steps out for the premiere of The Studio on March 24 in L.A.
Aidy Bryant attends the premiere of The Studio at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in L.A. on March 24.
Alix Earle joins her friend Jake Shane in Orlando, Florida during his March 23 tour stop.
Jake Gyllenhaal steps out for the Shubert Foundation's 11th annual High School Theatre Festival at the Shubert Theatre in New York City on March 24.
Isabela Merced and Kaitlyn Dever are dressed to the nines at the March 24 season 2 premiere of The Last of Us in L.A.
Fran Drescher attends the New York premiere of The Friend on March 24 in a creme suit and statement accessories.
Chrishell Stause smiles at the season 2 premiere of The Last of Us on March 24 in Hollywood.
Chase Sui Wonders and Kathryn Hahn pose together at the premiere of The Studio on March 24 in L.A.
Catherine O'Hara sparkles at the premiere of The Studio on March 24 in L.A.
Connie Britton and Zooey Deschanel celebrate the premiere of The Friend at The Fulton by Jean-Georges on March 24.
Constance Wu rocks a matching set at the premiere of The Friend on March 24 in New York City.
Krysten Ritter signs copies of her book Retreat at Barnes & Noble in New York City on March 24.
Reba McEntire and Carly Pearce are seat partners at Trisha Yearwood's Walk of Fame star ceremony in Hollywood, California, on March 24.
Mariska Hargitay takes a photo with an officer on the set of Law & Order: SVU in New York City on March 24.
Chase Stokes poses next to a navy blue truck at the American Eagle Denim Deli event in Nashville on March 21.
Lindsey Vonn takes home the silver medal at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Sun Valley, Idaho, on March 24, her first podium finish since coming back to skiing.
Trisha Yearwood unveils her Walk of Fame star during a ceremony in Hollywood, California, on March 24.
Randall Park stops by SiriusXM Studios in New York City to talk about his new series The Residence on March 24.
Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu step out in style during a rainy New York City day on March 24.
Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall go incognito as they film The Beauty in Venice, Italy, on March 24.
Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, John Taylor and Roger Taylor partner with Xerjoff to launch their new perfume with a party in London on March 24.
Krysten Ritter wears black from head to toe while outside of CBS Studios in New York City on March 24.
Rosie Perez sparkles in a dark blue coat with a matching skirt at the Othello opening night performance on Broadway in N.Y.C. on March 23.
Stephanie Beatriz is decked out in Kings merch at the team's game against the Carolina Hurricanes in L.A. on March 22.
U.S. tennis player Tommy Paul bartends at the Celsius Courtside Lounge at the Miami Open over the weekend.
Paige DeSorbo shoots her first hair commercial with a well-groomed dog in Miami.
Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal are all smiles during curtain call after their opening night performance of Othello on Broadway in N.Y.C. on March 23.
Jennifer Lopez holds her child Emme Maribel Muñiz close at the opening night performance of Othello in New York City on March 23.
Katie Holmes steps out for a solo night out at Othello's opening night performance on Broadway in New York City on March 23.
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag share a kiss while hosting a bowling party with their son Gunner, 7, in Beverly Hills, California, on March 22.
An elegant Heidi Klum stays dry while out in New York City's SoHo neighborhood on March 25.
Billy Zane appears on Jennifer Hudson's talk show in a March 24 episode filmed in Burbank, California.
Uzo Aduba promotes her new series The Residence on The Jennifer Hudson Show in a March 24 episode filmed in Burbank, California.
And Just Like That... costars Nicole Ari Parker and Cynthia Nixon snap a close-up picture at Othello's opening night in N.Y.C. on March 23.
Peter Dinklage and his wife of 20 years Erica Schmidt celebrate Othello's opening night on Broadway in N.Y.C. on March 23.
Angela Bassett beams in a red pantsuit to the Othello opening night performance in New York City on March 23.
Danielle Brooks sports a form-fitting dress with a unique pattern to the Othello opening night in N.Y.C. on March 23.
Gayle King wears a pinstripe suit to Othello's opening night on Broadway in New York City on March 23.
Nicole Scherzinger and her fiancé Thom Evans attend Othello's opening night on Broadway in New York City on March 23.
Also at Othello's opening night on Broadway, Liev Schreiber and his wife Taylor Neisen arrive on March 23.
Will Smith takes the stage before the CONACAF Nations League championship in Inglewood, California, on March 23.
Jodie Foster visits Sarah Snook backstage at The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway in N.Y.C. on March 23.
Matlock producer Eric Christian Olsen attends a PaleyFest event for the show in L.A. on March 23.
Skye P. Marshall and Jason Ritter strike matching poses at a PaleyFest event for Matlock in Los Angeles on March 23.
Nikki Glaser glows in an orange dress at the 2025 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on March 23.
Conan O'Brien brings his wife Liza as he receives the 2025 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in Washington, D.C., on March 23.
Kumail Nanjiani rocks a rich blue suit to the 2025 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in Washington, D.C., on March 23.
Marc Anthony and his wife Nadia Ferreira wave from the crowd during Novak Djokovic's Miami Open match on March 23.
Justin Timberlake performs on the second day of Lollapalooza Chile in Santiago on March 22.
LL Cool J watches the Lakers take on the Chicago Bulls in Los Angeles on March 22.
Hannah Einbinder looks dapper at the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 Los Angeles Dinner on March 22.
Aja Naomi King speaks at the 2025 Black Women Film Network Summit in Atlanta on March 22.
J Balvin and Ryan Castro stop by E11EVEN in Miami to see 50 Cent's performance on March 22.
Sam Asghari and Dylan Efron have a Traitors reunion at the Clarins Celebrates Beauty Icons event in Los Angeles on March 21.
Kathy Bates attends a special screening of her show Matlock during PaleyFest at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on March 23.
Elizabeth Olsen sports a cozy tan jacket over a red top and black skirt while stepping out in N.Y.C. on March 23.
William Shatner arrives at the One Drop Foundation's "One Night for One Drop" event at Hakkasan Nightclub at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 22.
Ludacris smiles for the cameras during a game between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on March 22.
J Balvin performs onstage during his Back to the Rayo Tour at the Kaseya Center in Miami on March 22.
Sherry Cola supports Ashley Park as she is honored at the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 Los Angeles dinner held at the Fairmont Century Plaza on March 22.
Janelle Monáe attends the Human Rights Campaign group's 2025 dinner honoring actors Ashley Park and Hannah Einbinder in Los Angeles on March 22.
Severance stars Gwendoline Christie and Adam Scott smile as they attend the All-Guild special screening of the show's season two finale on March 22 in Los Angeles.
Kathryn Hahn arrives for a screening of her hit Disney+ series Agatha All Along at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre during PaleyFest L.A. 2025 on March 22.
Joseph Quinn smiles while attending a press conference for Horror Fest 2025 on March 22 in Monterrey, Mexico.
2 Chainz and his son Halo Epps throw their deuces up backstage at the Golden State Warriors vs. Atlanta Hawks game in Atlanta on March 22.
Ralph Macchio poses on the red carpet at the Cobra Kai event held during the 2025 PaleyFest L.A. in Hollywood on March 22.
Maggie Grace and Colton Underwood catch up at the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 Los Angeles dinner held on March 22.
Karla Sofía Gascón attends the Closure Party photocall of Vanity Fair during the 2025 Malaga Film Festival on March 22 in Malaga, Spain.
Quinta Brunson attends the all-guild Severance season 2 finale event at DGA Theater Complex in L.A. on March 22.
Dua Lipa performs during her Radical Optimism Tour at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia on March 22.
Jason Momoa goes all out during a fan event for A Minecraft Movie at Toreo Parque Central in Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico on March 22.
Danielle Brooks glows on the red carpet of a fan event for A Minecraft Movie at Toreo Parque Central in Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico on March 22.
Cobra Kai stars Tanner Buchanan, Don Lee and Mary Mouser playfully strike a pose at PaleyFest 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in L.A. on March 22.
Kevin, Nick and Joe of Jonas Brothers pose on top of the Empire State Building in celebration of Z100's 20th anniversary and JONASCON Weekend on March 21.
Rihanna is spotted in a pared-down look of a baggy jacket and jeans while heading out to her favorite dining spot, Giorgio Baldi, in Santa Monica, Calif., on March 21.
Jack Black and Jason Momoa attend the photocall for their new film A Minecraft Movie on March 21 in Mexico City, Mexico.
Kelsea Ballerini sparkles onstage as she peforms at the Crypto.com Arena on March 21 in Los Angeles.
Severance director Ben Stiller and star Adam Scott discuss the show at the PaleyFest special screening of the season two finale in Hollywood on March 21.
Sofía Vergara arrives in a bold red plunging jumpsuit at the taping of America's Got Talent in Pasadena, Calif., on March 21.
Justin Long and Kate Bosworth make a cute couple on the red carpet at the Clarins Celebrates Beauty Icons event on March 21 in Los Angeles.
King Charles III greets members of the public in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, during an official visit on March 21.
Severance star Gwendoline Christie speaks onstage at the PaleyFest special screening and panel for the season two finale of the show on March 21 in Hollywood.
Gwen Stefani rocks her signature plaid look while performing onstage at the Clarins Celebrates Beauty Icons event in Los Angeles on March 21.
Lewis Hamilton gives his father, Anthony, a loving pat as they celebrate his pole position during Sprint Qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix in China on March 21.
Benny Blanco carries out a fresh order from Chrissy's Pizza in New York City on March 21.
Reese Witherspoon takes a walk in London on March 20, wearing a blue sweater and jeans.
The White Lotus season 3 costars Michelle Monaghan and Leslie Bibb embrace for a photo at an Armani beauty event on March 20 in West Hollywood, California.
Also at the event, Tinashe gets her makeup quickly touched up in West Hollywood on March 20.
Meanwhile, Symphani Soto, Brenda Song, Aly Michalka and AJ Michalka take a selfie inside the Armani event.
Danielle Brooks gives a big wave to the live studio audience in of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Los Angeles on March 19.
Also stopping by the show, Adam Scott chats with Jimmy Kimmel during his interview on March 20 in Los Angeles.
Anna Wintour (center) attends the Printemps New York grand opening ribbon cutting on March 21 with (l-r) Gregory Gourdet, Laura Lendrum, Laura González, Jean-Marc Bellaiche and Thierry Prevost.
Marc Anthony and his wife Nadia Ferreira watch the 2025 Miami Open on March 21 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Read the original article on People
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A Beloved Chinatown Space Is Reborn as a Mexico City-Inspired Cafe and Bar
A Beloved Chinatown Space Is Reborn as a Mexico City-Inspired Cafe and Bar

Eater

time4 hours ago

  • Eater

A Beloved Chinatown Space Is Reborn as a Mexico City-Inspired Cafe and Bar

As the sun sits high over Chinatown, the front foyer of Cafe Tondo is bathed in pink light, casting a warm glow on the well-worn concrete floors that were once the home of a tire shop. Opening on July 25, the Mexico City-inspired cafe and bar takes over the former Oriel under the A Line train tracks, bringing a new destination to the neighborhood for everything from early morning coffee and conchas to afternoon spritzes and salsa after dark. Cafe Tondo, which translates to circular in Spanish, comes from a collaboration between first-time restaurateur and Mouthwash Studios co-founder Abraham Campillo, Mike Kang of Locale Partners, and chef Valeria Velasquez. Drawing on his upbringing in Los Angeles's Mexican culture and memories of his mother's hospitality, Campillo set out to open Cafe Tondo as a place for the community to settle in, especially as he sees public spaces that encourage gathering slowly disappearing. 'As designers who often do digital things, we feel specifically within our community that algorithms are pushing us further [apart],' he says. Campillo saw those spaces, where friends could spend hours, slipping from espresso to wine without having to move locations, across Latin America and Europe, but felt like they were missing from Los Angeles. 'LA has the best weather,' he jokes, pointing to places like Canyon Coffee and Seco as in line with what he envisioned for Cafe Tondo. Sean Davidson Sean Davidson At Cafe Tondo, Velasquez explores dishes from Campillo's childhood, her upbringing in Bogota, and years living in Mexico City, starting with piloncillo and cinnamon-tinged cafe de olla and croissants in the morning, and then Milanesa at night. Before joining Cafe Tondo, she worked with 108 and Amass in Copenhagen, Café Altro Paradiso and Mattos Hospitality in New York, and Rosetta in Mexico City. 'It's like a celebration of Latino culture, especially Mexico City's vibrant culture,' Velasquez says of the menu. 'I am Colombian. I was born and raised there, but I now live in Mexico City. I've been [in Mexico City] since the pandemic started, and it's definitely shaped my style as a cook.' Cafe Tondo marks her first project as a head chef in the U.S. Starting at 7 a.m., the Cafe Tondo will serve drip coffee and espresso drinks with beans from Verve, alongside mate, cups of slow-simmered bone broth, matcha lattes made with Rocky's Matcha, hot chocolate, and suero, a classic Mexican drink made with sparkling water, salt, and lime juice. A weathered wood pastry case from Rosetta sits on the counter at the front, with conchas, pan de muerte, pan de elote, and more pastries made using Velasquez's recipes. Larger plates include chilaquiles verde, eggs al gusto, and hot cakes made with masa from Mercado La Paloma's Indigenous Mexican restaurant Komal. Starting in the afternoon, a menu of wine, spritzes, and beer will be available, including Tecate or Modelo-based cheladas, micheladas, and vermouth spritzes. Those looking for a non-alcoholic option can sip on ice-cold bottles of Jarritos or Mexican Coke, or a Tondo mocktail. Coffee will be available all day. Emily Ferretti At 4 p.m., the daytime menu is replaced by Colombian empanadas with a yellow-hued flaky masa crust, and tortas filled with carnitas or mushrooms. Smaller bites include marinated olives, chips and salsa, gildas with skewered anchovies, and fries. Only two larger dinner plates are on the menu: chicken Milanesa with arugula salad and aioli, and steak frites drizzled with a verdant chimichurri. 'We all grew up eating [Milanesa], in every [Latino] culture,' Velasquez says. 'It's something that is so international, but also so close to home.' For dessert, Cafe Tondo will offer affogato de olla, rolled out on a revamped dim sum cart — a nod to Chinatown. Aunt Studio designed Cafe Tondo; the group is also behind Mouthwash's headquarters in Chinatown. The group drew inspiration from the building's prior lives — as a tire shop, massage parlor, and most recently Oriel — retaining original elements such as the patinated concrete floor, exposed ceilings, and painted white brick walls. In the evenings, neon lights cast a red-pink glow on the exterior of the compact building, reminiscent of the light that fills Cafe Tondo during the daytime. A gray-hued stone bar sits just inside the main room, flanked by a mirrored column with a window that peeks into the kitchen. On the other side of the bar, wine glasses and bottles sit on dark wood shelving, above a reflective metal La Marzocco espresso machine. Stools with white upholstery offer seating at the bar, while cushioned banquette seating and two-tops line the outer edge of the room. In a small room tucked to the side, the dining room flows into the outdoors as a glass garage door opens directly onto the enclosed patio. While the entire main dining room is available on a walk-in basis only, the patio and secondary room can be reserved for private events or booked for seated reservations. 'The art is from my house. The food is the food I grew up with, the music is the music I grew up with. I see the beer my uncles would drink late at night. It's a very personal thing. But then again, I think the beauty is in the sharing.' — Abraham Campillo The heavy, scalloped tables throughout Cafe Tondo were built by Ombia Studio in Mexico, and the ceramics adorning the walls are from Isabella Marengo of Bugambilia. All of the art at Cafe Tondo is from Campillo's personal collection; he jokes that moving the pieces from his home to the cafe will just allow him to collect more. More than just the dining room will be familiar to those who knew it as Oriel. Campillo kept the restaurant's kitchen staff, paying them even during the three-month transition and the buildout. With such a small back-of-house footprint, it was essential to have a team that was already familiar with working in it. Patio after dark. Sean Davidson Campillo approached Cafe Tondo with the intention of it being for the Chinatown community, including keeping prices relatively accessible as the cost of living in the area continues to rise. All the dishes on the breakfast menu are under $20, with the steak frites being the most expensive at $30. Glasses of wine range between $15 and $17, while cans of Tecate are only $5. He also views local businesses — both old and new — as part of the community, rather than competition, emphasizing that there is room for all types of spaces in the neighborhood. Campillo also plans to program regular performances at Cafe Tondo, including weekly Sunday jazz, DJ residencies, bolero, and salsa, which he hopes will lead to some dancing. 'I'm most excited having a place where you can have a concha, a pan de elote with a coffee or mate, and then you can come later in the day, and you can have Milanesa or empanada, and you can dance as well,' he says. Campillo feels the vulnerability of sharing Cafe Tondo with the world. 'The art is from my house. The food is the food I grew up with, the music is the music I grew up with,' he says. 'I see the beer my uncles would drink late at night. It's a very personal thing. But then again, I think the beauty is in the sharing.' Cafe Tondo opens on July 25 and will hold hours from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday, and 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Starting August 1, the cafe will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. It is located at 1135 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Pan de muerto. Emily Ferretti Concha. Emily Ferretti Emily Ferretti Passageway to the secondary dining room. Sean Davidson Cafe Tondo operates as a cafe during the day, and a bar at night. Sean Davidson Milanesa. Emily Ferretti Gildas. Emily Ferretti Milanesa torta. Emily Ferretti Vermouth spritz. Emily Ferretti Chelada. Emily Ferretti Cafe Tondo after dark. Sean Davidson

Composer Gabriela Ortiz has some myths about Mexican music to dispel
Composer Gabriela Ortiz has some myths about Mexican music to dispel

Boston Globe

time8 hours ago

  • Boston Globe

Composer Gabriela Ortiz has some myths about Mexican music to dispel

Advertisement That dream isn't so out of step with reality, she knows. Much of present-day Mexico City sits in the drained bed of ancient Lake Texcoco, which at one point covered over 2,000 square miles. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'And now what we don't have is water in Mexico City,' she said, pointing out that her neighborhood sometimes has its running water cut off in times of drought. She has the resources to buy temporary water supplies, but not everyone does, she said. 'In terms of climate change, it's just there. I'm living it.' Ortiz, 60, has had a prolific career so far. However, she only became widely known outside her home country in the late 2010s, when Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel commissioned a piece from her and started championing her music in earnest. The Boston Symphony Orchestra only played its first piece by Ortiz, 'Revolución diamantina,' this past spring. Coincidentally, that was just weeks after the piece was awarded a Grammy for best contemporary classical composition. When she arrived at the Tanglewood Music Center last week to direct this year's contemporary music festival, it marked her first visit to the BSO's summer home. Advertisement Ortiz, who teaches at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, planned the festival with several clear priorities in mind. 'I really wanted to establish that Mexican music has a line that is important to Tanglewood,' said Ortiz, who planned one program featuring music by Mexican Symphonic Orchestra founder and educator Carlos Chávez, his student (and Ortiz's teacher) Mario Lavista, and Ortiz's own student Diana Syrse. Though Tanglewood has hosted Latin American composers since its early days, such as Chávez, Silvestre Revueltas, and Juan Orrego-Salas, this FCM is probably the first time the Tanglewood programming has focused so intentionally on Latin American music, said TMC director Ed Gazouleas, who called Ortiz 'one of the greatest living composers of our time.' In the United States, especially in areas with Mexican-American presence, Mexican concert music sometimes does show up on programs. But in Europe, 'you're asked, 'Who is Chávez? Who is Revueltas?,' Ortiz said. 'I'm talking really major Latin American composers, and people don't know them.' She was also interested in collaborating with other Mexican artists, so the festival brought in the storied percussion quartet Tambuco, led by percussionist Eduardo Mata, who also studied under Chávez. 'Many of the instruments Chávez requests are pre-Columbian, and Tambuco is an authority on exactly the kind of sound Chávez was looking for,' Ortiz said. Advertisement Ortiz grew up surrounded by Mexican folk music, as her parents cofounded the Latin American group Los Folkloristas less than a year after her birth. She often uses a wild variety of percussion instruments in her own scores, including several indigenous Mexican instruments. 'I like rhythm. I think it's part of our DNA as humans,' she said. 'In any Latin American folk music, the main components are coming from Europe, Africa, and the native people. So rhythm is something that is very strong.' But though strong, it's not omnipresent, she said, pointing out her cello-voice-flute chamber piece 'Three Haikus,' which 'has nothing to do with rhythm. It's a totally different world. I have that voice as well.' Ortiz often draws inspiration from current events, history, or the natural world; sometimes all three at once. 'Revolución diamantina' specifically was a reaction to feminist protests in Mexico in 2019 and 2020. She wasn't there personally, but during one protest in early 2020, when she was working in Los Angeles, she asked her Mexico-based Twitter followers to send her audio recordings from the protests. Some of these captured protesters chanting various slogans, which made it into the final score. The cello concerto 'Dzonot,' written for Alisa Weilerstein, Dudamel, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and recorded on the recently released album 'Yanga,' was in turn inspired by the cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula — deep sinkholes with spiritual significance to the Maya that continue to provide vital fresh water. These natural wonders too are increasingly threatened by environmental contamination, Ortiz said, especially as tourism and industrial agriculture increase in the region. 'It's really insane. There are no rules!' she said. 'What is going to happen in the future if we keep doing this?' Advertisement Ortiz perhaps must be so exacting because she finds the world eager to pigeonhole her into a stereotype of 'Latin American music,' mariachi bands and fiestas, when in fact 'there's so many things happening' in Mexican music. 'I don't try to sound Mexican when I compose. What I have in mind is to discover my inner voice, and be honest. If something is related to Mexico, it's because I'm from Mexico and I live there, and those themes are closer to me.' Rehearsing 'Three Haikus' later with a trio of TMC fellows and two faculty members, Ortiz advised the performers that her music is much more frequently 'rhythmic and extroverted,' but this wasn't the case in that piece, which was a 70th birthday gift for Lavista, her teacher. The first movement, which set expansive melismas of bass flute and voice over a cello drone, sounded nearly medieval. Giving notes, she looked to the flutist. 'Please do this melody in a much freer way, when you don't have to play with anyone else,' she said. 'You have to be yourself there.' A.Z. Madonna can be reached at

‘Best place to make movies': Toronto presents Guillermo del Toro with key to the city
‘Best place to make movies': Toronto presents Guillermo del Toro with key to the city

Hamilton Spectator

time10 hours ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

‘Best place to make movies': Toronto presents Guillermo del Toro with key to the city

TORONTO - Toronto has handed Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro the key to the city in recognition of his affinity for making films here. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow presented the Mexican-born filmmaker with the ceremonial honour Thursday morning, saying his history of producing films in Toronto has created jobs and supports a local screen industry. In accepting the key, del Toro said he loves Toronto and considers it 'the best place to make movies.' The presentation took place at the waterfront Cinespace Studios, which says it's renaming four sound stages to pay tribute to the 'Shape of Water' writer-director. Del Toro says he's spent about half of his 30-year career making movies in Toronto, including 2009's effects-laden action film 'Pacific Rim' and 2017's fantasy 'The Shape of the Water,' which netted Oscars for best director and best picture. Next up is his Netflix film 'Frankenstein,' featuring Jacob Elordi as the titular monster, which Del Toro says will be finished at the Toronto video production studio Company 3. 'Frankenstein' is bound for the Toronto International Film Festival in September. 'I have loved Toronto for so many years and I am very happy that it loves me back,' del Toro said during the ceremony. 'It does not only exist as a great city for making film, but for celebrating film,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

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