Zócalo Blog

Dreaming of a romantic colonial city but also wanting to get out in nature? We know the feeling, which is why we’ve gathered our “traveling agent” efforts today to bring you a new travel guide through San Luis Potosí and La Huasteca Potosina!

Here is a brief summary of the history behind September 16th, when Mexico commemorates its independence from Spain and how, days before the night of September 15th, Mexicans get ready for one of their biggest and most patriotic celebrations: La noche del Grito. 

Jalapa embroidery, from the San Felipe Jalapa de Díaz region in Oaxaca, is a unique form of embroidery that shows big birds and leaves very close together. This blog highlights the journey of Señora Adelina and how she started her colectivo to promote the beauty of this unique style.

Inspired by Chiles en Nogada, a traditional September Mexican dish, we at Lolo have decided to pick one of the tastiest, easiest, and more iconic recipes from Mexico: Chiles Rellenos! This is a delicious recipe that can easily be made ahead of time for any event. This is also a versatile dish that can be modified to any tasting, palate, and dietary needs- Read all about the steps for this Mexican delicacy!

Deshilado, or drawn thread work, is a technique that consists of delicately removing threads from fabric and group or bundle together the remaining threads to create a variety of stunning, complex, and delicate patterns. Today, skillful artisans in Aguascalientes, Mexico dedicate their generational knowledge to create elegant pieces that carry within them years of colonial history and talent that is unique to this region. Join us as we highlight the history and delicate techniques behind this elegant work.

Let's start our day at the center of this small town on the main street, Plaza Borda, where the Zócalo, or main plaza is located. The zócalo is the place where people gather every day, which makes this the perfect opportunity to sit down at a coffee shop, or restaurant to enjoy witnessing how local life is live in this colonial town. Taxco holds a very special place in our hearts, being the hometown of Julián, Luis, and Manuel, the owners and founders of Lolo, and that is why we have gathered a small list of some of the most important places to visit there. Let the enchanting town of Taxco blow you away with its beautiful cobblestone streets, mountains filled with vegetation, and colonial architecture that will transport you to the old times with colors that will catch your eye and make you fall in love. Only 110 miles away from Mexico City you will reach this captivating pueblito mágico that will take you on the journey of your life!

It's time to swap those lazy summer nights for early mornings, quizzes, and tests! We hope y'all had an amazing summer but it's time to settle back down and get ready for the beginning of a new school year. It can become really stressful when looking for school supplies and everything that is needed to go back but there's no need for that, we got you! We can help without the need of stressing out. Teachers, students, and parents will find a great deal of school essentials here at Lolo Mercadito and, of course, by adding a special touch of color and unique designs to store all your needs. From Telar Woven Laptop Sleeve, Telar Woven Multipurpose Pouch, and Telar Woven Small BoHo Crossbody Bag you'll be ready to go back to school in style!

¡Lotería! The word you shout out with pride when winning Lotería. This game will instantly bring you joy and an overload of childhood memories. Lotería isn't your typical family board game and the friendly competition can easily escalate. The night time get togethers at your abuela's house can easily turn into a family feud over who won or lost. Lotería is an iconic version of bingo with a Mexican twist that adds images relative to folk tales and general culture. In this week blog we will show you how to play, all the different ways you can win, and the history behind this fun game. Be ready with your board and a full cup of pinto beans for the magic words "Se va y se corre con..." The game has officially began!

No need to turn on the stove or any sort of heat, this recipe is quick, easy, and fishy! Believe it or not this popular dish goes way back to the early 1500s and its origin comes from Peru. With so many varieties of ceviche you can easily personalize the recipe and switch any ingredient or seafood to your liking. You can make it as a Peruvian recipe, Mexican, even Fijian (they use vinegar instead of citrus juice). Typically, this dish is served with a side of fresh totopos (tortilla chips), tostadas, or even crispy quinoa. This meal is ideal if you want something light or would like to serve it as an appetizer!

On Monday, July 19th, 2021, as early as 5:00 am, people started to arrive at the Guelaguetza Auditorium, at the Cerro del Fortin. The chirimeteros of the Central Valley played Las Mañanitas to the hill with whistles, drums, and chirimías (a type of woodwind instrument similar to an oboe, chirimeteros are those who play the chirimia) while more and more people started to gather. At 10am the Guelaguetza began. The marvelous Guelaguetza, also known as Los Lunes del Cerro (Mondays of the Hill) is a yearly celebration of the coming together of cultures, costumes, and traditions in which the eight different regions of Oaxaca get together to share amongst themselves and with the rest of the world each aspect of their unique culture. This is demonstrated through dances of their region, which include traditional dresses, music, and stories. Join us in this week's blog where we highlight one of Mexico's most spectacular events centered around a celebration of indigenous cultures.

There is nothing more representative of Mexican and Oaxacan folk art than the vibrant colors, exquisite detail, and a deep symbolism that is displayed in magical alebrijes. For decades, indigenous towns in the state of Oaxaca dedicated their lives to follow the wood carving tradition that their ancestors passed down centuries ago. Today, implementing a more modern tradition filled with imaginative elements, skilled artists bring to life products of their own mind and the tales they know, making alebrijes a product filled with magic, folk tales, and culture, each unique to its creators' imagination. Join us to address the origin and mystical nature of the complex and astonishing sculptures that are alebrijes.

As the weather gets hotter by the minute, we all start wishing to be in a deserted island with beautiful white sand and blue transparent water, no noise but that of the waves crashing and birds singing, laying in a hammock with a cold beverage in hand... isn't that image perfect? Well, Mexico offers plenty of places where you can get that and more and today we will be daydreaming about being there! It’s no secret that Mexico has beautiful beaches, landscapes, and attractions that will blow your mind. Everyone has heard of Cancun but what about la Rivera Maya? Read along to learn all about these beautiful islands and what an amazing time you will have here. Let us be your tour guide and take you on a trip through La Rivera Maya!

These hot summer days call for a fresh snack! Today’s recipe is quick and easy to make, and it requires only a few ingredients. In Mexico, you will see many street vendors that sell a variety of food and a very common food stand is one with Fruta Picada (Chopped Fruit). This is a simple but yummy snack that can be made with any fruit or veggie of your liking. For this occasion, we choose one of our favorite combo’s carrots and jicama! To accompany this healthy snack, we paired it with a refreshing Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea) which besides tasting delicious it has a lot of health benefits. Maybe today you plan on watching your favorite show or chill next to the pool, either way this quick recipe will come in handy. Continue reading to learn all the health benefits and how to make this easy snack with a refreshing beverage on the side!

Today’s weekly blog is all about Lolo’s Favorites! Get to know the Lolo Crew and the day-to-day work to get the best of Mexico’s treasures closer to you. As a small business, we work closely together and we have made a special connection to each one of the products. Each one a true representation of our Mexican culture! Each one of us answered 3 questions: What do you do at Lolo, What's your favorite product, and Why. After answering these questions we realized that not only do we love these products for their obvious beauty, but also because they take us back to our cultural roots. For some of us the product brought us back to a memory from Mexico, for others, the astonishing beauty used in the technique surprised us. Learn what goes on behind the scenes and what are some of our favorite products!
What are some of your favorite products? Do you like the ones we picked? 

Guerrero’s hands are historically known to create grandiose artisanal work, and once again they have proven themselves deserving of this recognition. In this week’s blog we are honored to highlight Xalitla art. Xalitla is an indigenous town located in the Alto Balsas region of Guerrero, known for their detailed drawings. Artisans here portray their customs and traditions in amate paper sheets, clay, wood, and other materials manifesting in this way the soul and body of this town. This beautiful tradition of popular art has a form of inspiration where true codices appear representing the diverse agricultural, social, and religious activities that characterize the daily lives of this indigenous region.