How to TJ | Tijuana Adventure

So….

I got really fucking busy for the past couple of months.

Last thing I posted was about the beer fest over a month ago. And I said was going to post here weekly. Not only did I got a lot of work from the real job that is my bread and butter…. I also did a lot of tours! I mentioned a price hike forever ago, and a few people wanted to hit me up before I became more expensive…

It’s not like I am more expensive, I just have less time to go on wild Tijuana Adventures. Thus I’m more expensive. AHH FUCK IT! Yes. I value my time more (I mean… tours used to be free!). I still hate charging people though. I always have too much fun.

I had like 7 tours in the past 2 months. All sorts of tours as well. The latest was a bachelor party with 11 people. This is the last time I do a party this big. It was difficult to coordinate, however… IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

We covered a lot of ground.

Went to ORYX Capital for a nice fancy dinner. Got the chicken. It was grand. Everything there is on point. A full on review will come out later and I’ll link. One of the best features of ORYX is that there’s a speakeasy in there somewhere. The “secret” might be ruin soon, so I’ll just say that it’s in there somewhere for now.

ORYX Capital + Nortico = Good Shit

The pics are not from the tour, but from when I discovered ORYX and Nortico originally. The bachelor party loved the food and the speakeasy detail. There’s a pic of the 11 of them somewhere (and I might be able to use it here).

Then we went to Plaza Fiesta, the amazing beer plaza (read more about it here). A lot of craft beer, and a lot of classic bachelor party banter. The group was huge and had a lot of colorful individuals. A bunch living in California, some in Minneapolis, one from New York… the bachelor is a very popular guy.

From beer plaza we hit up downtown. Where more beers and mezcal shots ensued. And around midnight… the real bachelor party fun. That stays under wraps. But I must say… Tijuana is ten times better than Vegas for bachelor fun…

LETS MOVE TO HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!

Haydeé (aka HidHawk) Joins the Team

I haven’t posted anything not only because I’ve been busy as fuck… but because the other guys I invited to join ended up doing nothing (thanks guys!)

Talking to a good friend and Tijuana local, I mentioned the direction of Tijuana Adventure. She liked the idea and actually WROTE HER BIO and is excited to join in! To read more about her, CLICK HERE!

Haydeé traveled the world and when she came back, she discovered that Tijuana had changed a lot. Like me, she basically became an accidental tour guide. With the many projects and events she handles, she takes hoards of people from all over the world through the places she loves in Tijuana. She is in charge of Borderland Noise – music events both sides of the border.

Haydeé is on the right - Group of visitors at Public House tap room — Haydeé is on the right – Group of visitors at Public House tap room

Haydeé also has AirBnB available, for those who want to get a whole package of a place to stay that includes a tour guide… then… THAT’S A NEW AWESOME POSSIBLITY. I’m going to try to do this myself (currently looking for a house).

I’ve been kinda burnt on doing tours, that the bachelor party was the last tour I’ll be doing for a while. But now there’s Haydeé! A complete different approach to Tijuana Adventure. She has her own price, her own ideas, her own taste in music, drinks and food, her own limitations, her own tour, her own adventure.

Also, I believe she speaks fluent German (I might be wrong though… I’ll check soon and confirm).

I’m hoping the team will grow even more, and for visitors to have the option to choose what type of tour adventurer they would prefer. I know, I know, I’m using the word adventure too much that now it seems like a kids game… but seriously… you have no idea how many times I woke up in the morning and think to myself… holy shit… that was one crazy Tj adventure. No city that I know off can offer so much of everything in such a bizarre presentation that you would never know it existed unless you are a local.

Visiting Tijuana, don’t hesitate to contact either Haydeé (aka HidHawk) or myself (Matt aka Matingas).

— Matingas

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Upcoming weekends, January 31^st thru February 8^th

The music scene in Tijuana is steadily growing. Despite that the audience is not easily won and they are cheap, but playing in TJ has a certain prestige. It is almost like unlocking an achievement in a band’s career. A show south of the border means that a band has gone international and survived the insanity of the city. TJ is a great resume builder for upcoming bands, if you succeed to make the crowd rock.

All shows are free of charge unless otherwise indicated.

Friday, January 31^st – Saturday, February 1^st

El Tigre Bar is hosting a night of hip-hop… in Spanglish. Presenting local rappers Danee & Friends, fresh rhymes inspired by the beaches of Cali. Subheads a promising next big thing in TJ and Sikareo Achedosele who claims to be the best local beat-boxer. Sopitas con huevo (soup with egg) might be the stupidest name in history, but this is a large crew of talented freestyle flowers. DJ Tijuas and MikeOld will be spinning the records for open-mic freestyle battles. And the party does not end there, after the show everyone is invited to the store Sexy Homie with free carne asada until the sun rises.

Hip hop not your thing? TJ Art & Rock Cafe is hosting hardcore band from San Diego, Age of Collapse. The show is benefit of Areli, a friend of the bar who got diagnosed with cancer, cover charge is $4. Other hardcore bands from Tijuana will also make an appearance, BioCrisis, Fractal, Escasez, Verbal Desecration and Tijuana Suicida.

Rather just dance instead of listening to musicians attempting to freestyle or hardcore singers shouting into microphones? Mous-tache bar is the answer. Phantoms are two 23-year-olds under Sonny “Skrillex” Moore’s label, OWSLA. The pair plays catchy beats with a touch of dark chord progressions that reminiscences raves from a decade ago. usually avoid the limelight but their sound is rapidly gaining popularity which might push them out from the underground. Inspired by anime, Warm Places plays electro-pop with female vocal samples that takes you exactly where it intends, to a sunny day at the beach. DJs ReneMonkey and Hein E. Shuriken will be warming up the dance floor.

Saturday night, does not promise much excitement. Mous-tache will continue playing music to make you dance with less known DJs Modul 01, Mad Waves and Jose Luis M. YouRevolution will offer an alternative to your dance needs with more DJs Jesse Suun, Alfonso Alvarez, Red.S, and Oskar Rodrik.

February 6^th-8^th

Thursdays in Plaza Fiesta can get pretty wild with the variety of bars neighboring each other. A bar that resembles a prison will have a show featuring new band Represión, the popular punk rockers, DFMK and in case you missed their show at the Casbah, Bumbklaatt will be the headliner.

“Guess who we are opening for on Friday?” Edgard Collins, the bass player of San Pedro el Cortez tells me with a radiant smile. “Mother!@%ing Japanther! You know them right? They are from New York.” Of course I know who Japanther is, I saw them live in 2009 at FYF in Los Angeles. And now Mous-Tache promises a night of psychedelic rock and noise-pop with a not-so-secret special guest appearance. There’s other bands that will be crossing the border as well, from San Francisco Sweatlodge will be playing their “pow wow punk.” White Night from Los Angeles, will continue with sloppy yet tasty riffs. Los Adictos Violentos from Mexicali and San Pedro el Cortez will be in charge of showcasing local Baja talent. Cost of the show = $2.50

A very tough act to follow the next night, but local indie rock bands will show up to Mous-Tache. A show debut by Syrup… they have no recorded music yet. Los Fancy Bastards will follow before the headline, Deer Dear, who celebrate their 2^nd year anniversary since their first show. El Tigre bar in Plaza Fiesta will host The Cardielles from San Diego with local bands The End, Origami Zoo and Toloache.

Tijuana Adventure

Exclusive Tours: Craft Beer and Traditional Cocktails & Street Tacos and Baja Med Cuisine

Category Archives: How to TJ

New Tour Guide Joins the Team – A Lot of Tours – Sorry: Page was Neglected

How to TJ: Music shows south of the border