EL HUESO DEL FRAILE, COMPONTE O PONTE HASTA EL TRONCO

(Ed.'s Note: This one is too rich to pass up. Seems one of our eight readers (we're growing) was walking along Elizabeth Street in downtown Browntown when he noticed a large tree trunk adorning the entrance to our friends' Laura and Adrian Foncerrada's El Hueso del Fraile coffeeshop and eatery. The trunk was a new addition to the outdoor shrubbery of the club.

We remember when the Foncerradas and their kids opened their club called La Mansion on Southmost Road. The Southmost crowd was not always amenable to the Nueva Musica, Latin American folk music, or classical European compositions so the family sought a better venue.

Nonetheless, a core of fans to this new music had been formed and they followed the family. They finally hit upon their present location at 837 E Elizabeth St.

We had asked them what El Hueso del Fraile referred to and we were told it was a medicinal plant which bore yellow flowers and pods of seeds. Later we found out that it is the common name for Yellow Oleander, "yoyote," "ayoyote (rattle,) or Almendra quema grasa (literally grease burner).

Most of the plant is considered toxic, but is used in traditional Mexican medicine for a variety of ills, including its seed pods as protection against the "evil eye" and fallen fontanel (moyera) in babies. The seed pods are also used as rattles by matichin dancers to the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Lately, several cases of poisoning have occurred with its use in some products taken to lose weight. We, of course, have since ossified our moyeras and don't have to worry about our weight (thank God), but one in a while we do congregate at El Hueso to take in the superb live music offered there to sooth the savage breast and to imbibe of their imported brews. The open mike also allows budding musicians with aspirations to greatness to offer their talents to the appreciative crowd.

Once our maladies are assuaged, we will perhaps join those in the outside area para ponernos hasta el tronco.)