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Najera Nites - Losing and winning

Como se llama fitness challenge, part 3

Marcos Najera

I have to get something off my chest and then I'll talk about what I am supposed to talk about this month.

Well, OK, let me quickly talk about what I am supposed to talk about and then we'll come back to that. Javier Gomez and Sixto Melendez. They won. More on that in a minute, but first, tragedy and triumph in the Easy Valley, ya'll.

I am so torn because I want to write this and I don't. I love supporting local businesses, especially upstart bars and restaurants that are going toe-to-toe with nationwide chains that spew out nothing but sugar and fat-laden sauces over quasi-ethnic ingredients and claim "concept."

But the other day, I popped into Bar 56 in Chandler. I heard such great things about the place.
I think my mistake was trying it during the day (it is a wine bar, after all).

When we walked in, the staff insisted there were many great things to try off the bar menu that would make a great late lunch. Hmm, okay that sounded good.

Um, but no. I ordered wedge salad (which I know it is what it is) but this one really looked like someone in the kitchen kind of cut up a romaine bundle into a wedge shape and put it on a plate. I know, I know: that's what a wedge salad is, but this one looked gloomy. I felt bad for it.

It tasted OK, but it was a pricey piece of lettuce. Maybe I was having trouble with the student artwork for sale on the walls, which I am sure raises money for a school or some other equally good cause, but foil- colored with markers and squinched up in a frame is not appetizing. A glass of wine might have been fun, but the tables were dusty. Pledge, people, Pledge.

OK, try it and tell me what you think because I so want places like this to succeed, but damn that sucked.

Fast forward to Olive and Ivy on the Scottsdale Waterfront. This place really rocks in an interesting way.

Now, they are far from perfect, too. For the love of God, they have Astroturf parading around the floors on the patio in an odd attempt to mimic garden chic. Kind of cool, kind of Gemco.

But this is a great place to have a glass of wine or white sangria outside on the patio while munching on dates wrapped in bacon. I'm not kidding.

The real delicious dishes are Javier Gomez and Sixto Melendez of KNXV TV fame. Both guys are photogs at Channel 15. If you have ever worked TV news, you know that it is a slow creative death.

This duo, however, represents a clear triumph. These young, aspiring Latino filmmakers swept the awards competition at the recent Phoenix 48-hour Film Challenge, also known as the Almost Famous Festival. They had just two days to write, produce and present a short film from script to screen. Laberinto Infernal (Infernal Labyrinth) looks at the dark side of human nature and the ethical dilemma of self-preservation vs. self-sacrifice set against the background of the unforgiving U.S. Mexico Border. It won a total of six awards: best overall drama, best story, best acting by an ensemble cast, second place in cinematography, the Audience Choice Award and even best use of the mandated prop (a crumpled piece of paper). Check out their Web site: www.ifilm2.com.

Their film about immigration rocked the casbah. After winning, they went commando and took their film to the NALIP conference in Newport Beach recently. (NALIP IS the National Association of Latino Independent Producers.)

They didn't buy a booth, but they brought a monitor, a DVD player and two beers. They set up shop in the lobby at the hotel outside the conference ballroom. Hollywood players from actor Edward James Olmos to director Moctesuma Esparza were pulled into the web of this cheerful team. Will their film hit theaters soon?

If we're lucky. Triumph and tragedy, ya'll.