DOWNTOWN BROWNTOWN SHOPPING BLUES, CHISCABIA

By Juan Montoya
We all know that just about the only thriving business in downtown Brownsville is either the discount stores of "los chinos" or the second-hand clothing stores that are prevalent there.
But way down at the bottom of the commerce chain are the dumpster scavengers who find usable clothing thrown out by the segundas.
This guy going through the blue denim throwaways looks like he found a few name-brand jeans that just might do the trick. He prefers to acquire his apparel in the bargain bins located in the shadows of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral across the alley. We don't think we saw him at last night's CycloBia Brownsville, although the exercise might have done that gut some good.
The chiscamaniacs were all over downtown last night, and included chisquiadomayor Tony Martinez who – along with chisquiada city commissioner Rose Gowen – have been pushing for  CycloBia and Build a Better Block.
Martinez told the local daily that city officials are hoping to host another event sometime later this year.
About the only ones that didn't take kindly to the cordoning off of the city's downtown area were the established nightspots where their patrons were made to drive entire blocks around the city's center and then walk to hear the karaoke DJ or dance to the live conjuntos.
The enticement to go to downtown on a Friday night included bar specials at some of the new spots in downtown like.
Tequilas offered Piña Coladas for $1 and bottled beer for $2. So did the Half Moon Saloon, where the draft beers were $1.50. We've never been to Club Deja Vu or the Pure Ultra Lounge or the Kai Bar & Lounge Barrack, or for that matter even heard of them. But even Juan Kenigstein's The Haven broke down and offered shots and non-alcoholic drinks for $1 and that's saying something.
The events sponsors, among others, included the City of Brownsville, BCIC, HEB, Healthy Communities of Brownsville, and the University of Texas School of Public Health Brownsville Regional Campus.