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Alvin Starkman - Alvin Starkman

Alvin Starkman has an M.A. in Social Anthropology from York University and a J.D. from Toronto’s Osgoode Hall Law School. Alvin began traveling to Oaxaca on a regular basis in 1991, taking up permanent residence in 2004 when he ceased practicing law. Since 2004 Alvin has written over 230 articles about life and cultural traditions in Oaxaca, for both print and online magazines. He is a bi-monthly contributor to The Upper Canadian Antique Showcase, in which he writes a column about antiques, art, auctions and the law; and a regular contributor to several Mexico travel publications including Ventana Magazine. Alvin is also a paid contributing writer for Mexico Today, a program for Marca País - Imagede México. (See http://www.mexicotoday.org).

Alvin is also a consultant to documentary film production companies working in and around Oaxaca. He appeared on The Travel Channel as co-host of a 2007 production about Day of the Dead. More recently he worked with a film crew for a series about sustainable, healthy, environmentally friendly living, entitled Under the Sun, with Markham Street Films on its full-length documentary entitled Acquainted with The Night, and with UK production company Blink Films on its series Mexican Food Made Simple.

Alvin leads personalized tours for couples and families to the craft villages, market towns, ruins and more off-the-beaten-track locations such as quaint roadside mezcal factories, 5,000-year-old pictographs, and other sights rarely visited by travelers to the region. Most recently he worked with Sizzling Communications and internationally acclaimed native Oaxacan chef Pilar Cabrera Arroyo, in organizing the May, 2010, Oaxaca Culinary Tour, attended by food writers (i.e. Elizabeth Baird and Rose Murray), chefs (i.e. Vanessa Yeung), restaurant owners and "foodies." Verbatim commentaries about Alvin's tours from prior clients, are available upon request.

Alvin and his wife Arlene operate Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast (http://www.oaxacadream.com), a unique Oaxaca bed and breakfast experience combining the service of a downtown Oaxaca hotel, privacy and amenities of an apartment, with the personal touch and quaintness of country inn accommodations. His website contains an additional 90+ articles about Oaxaca. Alvin also works with Chef Pilar Cabrera in arranging small group "Oaxaca Culinary Tours" (http://www.oaxacaculnarytours.com).