Where walking and driving can be hazardous to your health

Some have accused me of being a Centro snob, an urban elitist, an old town agoraphobic. The truth is, I’m captivated by living within the mass of concrete and humanity that comprises downtown Mazatlan. Having spent 90% of my life in sparsely populated places that are dark and quiet at night, my level of continuing culture shock runs deep. However, life in Centro has stirred my juices, elevated my spirit and has become as culturally comfortable as pair of old sandals.

Prepare now for the summer storms

Q: Rainy season is coming. What can I do to protect my computers and other electronics from the storms?

The best thing you can do for your electronics is to make sure they’re plugged into an uninterruptible power source (UPS). A UPS differs from a surge suppressor in that it has its own battery on board, so it not only protects from power spikes, but from power drops – which are just as potentially damaging to your electronic equipment – as well. You can purchase reliable brands of UPS’s from many of the larger stores in town, but I favor the TrippLite model available from Sam’s Club. Not only is it a high-quality UPS, but it also has a button that lets you shut off the alarm so you don’t have to listen to incessant beeping when the power is out for extended periods.

Discerning the deserving from the deceiving

Panhandling in Mazatlán ranges from basic begging to “licensed” donation accumulators with a wide and creative mix in-between. This is a generous city, and legitimate charities actively solicit the public for donations and benefit immensely from the few pesos anyone can give. However, others are dubious in both their pursuit and purpose.

What’s happening up there, anyway?!

This month, I thought I’d take you on a virtual tour north and hopefully acquaint you with a few places you may not have heard of before.

We’ll begin at a place most of you do know about and that’s the thriving Plaza Punta Cerritos. In this strip mall of shops and restaurants, you can purchase everything from a loaf of bread to souvenir T-shirts! The restaurants are well attended and each has ‘Specials’ throughout the week. As the slow summer months approach, the restaurants are adjusting their hours. The Last Drop will close after May 5 until the end of September. Looney Bean shuts down between the end of May and Oct. 15. Roy’s summer hours are 11am to 8pm and Karma Kitchen will be open from noon until 9pm; closed Mondays. Jeff has expanded his menu to include tempura, crab cakes, Thai fried rice, swordfish kebabs and Karma Kitchen Kamarones. He’s also giving Thai “Kooking Klasses” weekly from 9am to noon, by reservation for groups of five or more. Cost is $150 pesos/person. Call 669-101-8686 for more info.)