RodriGram - February 13, 2008

Fri. February. 13, 2009
Volume 2, Number 2

Rodri

I wanted to share with you the history of Valentine’s Day but I don’t have sufficient space for the complete drama. I will share that it dates back to 270AD and is riddled with love, honor, forbidden marriage and the ultimate execution of poor Valentine!

In 2009 Valentine’s Day is celebrated not only by lovers but by friends. Es el dia de la Amistad...Day of Friendship.

The entire month of February is also healthy heart awareness month with focus on women’s heart decease. GO RED! I recently learned that there are three symptoms women should watch for;

1. Shortness of breath 2. Jaw ache 3. Arm pain. I also learned that a basic blood test “CRP” can detect heart decease. As we already know, a healthy diet such as the Mediterranean diet and daily exercise is a must. However, the greatest culprit of this and so many other deceases is stress. And these days each of us is being challenged daily with the stress of the economics of our country.

May I suggest that the best gift you can give this Valentine’s Day is to laugh all day, to tell jokes, and make a commitment to your lover, your family and friends that every day you will laugh together, at yourself, at each other and at all that life gifts you.
Need a laugh? Email me and I’ll Take You There! takemethere@rodri.com

Con cariño... Rodri

A message from Dr. Eduardo Marbán, Director, The Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

On Valentine’s Day remember to love your heart and take charge of your health…
Cedar-Sinai Medical Center has been leading the fight against heart disease for more than 50 years. A pioneer in heart research, the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute draws on the long history of breakthrough discoveries, surgical advances, and new stem cell therapies. Equally dedicated to treatment and to innovation, our physicians and their teams have given cardiac patients throughout the world longer and fuller lives.

(L-R) Dr. Linda Marbán, Research Scientist; Dr. Eduardo Marbán; and Rodri at the MARIACHI USA Christmas show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Sponsored by Cedar-Sinai Medical Center.

MARIACHI USA Festival

Rodri Entertainment Gears Up for the 20th Annual MARIACHI USA Festival

The 20th Annual MARIACHI USA Festival will ignite the stage once again with the passion and majesty of Mariachi on Saturday June 20, 2009. Get ready to sing and dance the night away to an effervescent display of music, dance, spectacular fireworks, pride and tradition.

See pictures of the 19th Annual MARIACHI USA Festival show in the ‚"Picture This" section at www.mariachiusa.com

Sponsor Highlights

LUV is in the air. An right now you can take advantage of great Valentine’s Day deals at www.southwest.com. Travel for $49 - $99, one way, if you fly from Tuesday or Wednesday and travel for only $59-$159 one way, if you fly from Thursday through Monday. With Southwest’s low fares, there's nothing stopping you! Whether you're going for business or just need a little vacation, now's the time to fly. Purchase your tickets to destinations like Denver, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, New Orleans or Nashville by February 19th. Then travel by May 20th. You're good to go! This year Southwest Airlines celebrates 8 years as the Official Airline Sponsor of the MARIACHI USA Festival.

Southwest Airlines

Congratulations to Homer Chavez of Baldwin Park. Winner of our Valentine’s Day Contest!

Homer Chavez of Baldwin Park is the Grand Prize Winner of our Valentine’s Day Contest on MARIACHIUSA.COM. Rodri Entertainment teamed up with La Fonda on Wilshire to create a fun contest dedicated to all those who love. Homer won dinner for two on Valentine’s Day at the luxurious La Fonda on Wilshire, where he and his guest will enjoy live romantic music by Mariachi Monumental de America and savor the exquisite cuisine prepared by La Fonda’s Head Chef, Martin Garcia. He also won a pair of tickets to enjoy an unforgettable evening under the stars at the 20th Annual MARIACHI USA Festival on Saturday June 20 at the Hollywood Bowl. Visit MARIACHIUSA.COM for details on our next contest.

La Fonda

For reservations call 213-380-5053.

La Fonda

Rodri’s Valentine’s Recipe for Love

One of my top 5 favorite things to do in life is entertain my friends at home and 90% of the time I cook. `Most of California will have a rainy weekend so staying at home this Valentine’s Day is a great option for families, friends or couples! Here are a few suggestions for this rainy Valentine’s Day.+

Use a large platter and fill it with some of your favorite finger foods. Have your friends contribute their favorite wine and a joke, light all the candles you own, turn on your iPod, and celebrate the night away.

Trader Joe’s has deliciously affordable gourmet pizzas. Add a bottle of champagne from a $6 bottle of Freixenet to Perrier-Jouët $25 -$300. Yikes! This is for those of you who saved for a rainy day. Definitely not champagne to bathe with! Strawberry lemonade for the kids.

If you haven’t yet tried a glass of Cabernet and chocolate you are in for a treat! The bottle and the chocolate will be gone before you know it. For couples…watch out for the chocolate that melts quickly!

For those of you that just can’t stay put…

Board the Amtrak & have lunch in Santa Barbara, turn off your phone, take a ‘Silly Jokes” book and a deck of cards for the trip… I don’t recommend strip poker!

Fly Southwest to San Francisco and restaurant hop through Chinatown or North Beach…. Carry an umbrella!