Mexican-Dominican violist Mireya Ramos broke the mold in 2008 when she founded Mariachi Flor de Toloache, the first all-female mariachi band in New York City. The group started as a trio but now boasts a roster of thirteen musicians from throughout the world, including Mexico, Germany, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and the United States. Mariachi Flor de Toloache was created to preserve Mexico’s rich musical culture and infuse it with edgy sonic influences as diverse as the musicians’ backgrounds. The band’s performances are as enchanting and spellbinding as the mystical Toloache flower used in love potions. *Registration required.

In anticipation of the closing of the Milwaukee Fortress Building for conversion to apartments, Vanessa Devaki Andrew, Milwaukee native and Co-Founder of the once-was Fasten Cooperative Clothing Gallery, is relocating artist studio and event-only, traveling pop-up showroom "Look Nook" to a permanent, street level brick and mortar at 1737A N. Palmer Street in Historic Brewers' Hill with finally-regular Thursday through Sunday store hours. The grand reopening of "Madam Chino's LOOK NOOK" under the namesake "Madam Chino" will occur on Friday November 4th, 2016 from noon until 8pm, with regular store hours thereafter on Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fridays 12 p.m.to 6 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sundays 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and by appointment. Chino will gladly take alterations, repairs, and custom sewing orders, will offer classes monthly on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings after 6 p.m., and host craft-based, all-call gallery events on a quarterly basis. Leadership and promotion of sustainability in production and consumption is a goal at Madam Chino, which will showcase in-house and artist-made, as well as vintage and reuse finery; garments, accessories, home and paper goods, fabric and crafting supplies. View the product line of over 80 garment, accessory, and homegood products made-to-order from 100% recycled T-shirts. More information can be found at www.madamchino.com, and by signing up for a monthly newsletter. All images below are available for press. Email with questions to madamchino@gmail.com

Mexican-Dominican violist Mireya Ramos broke the mold in 2008 when she founded Mariachi Flor de Toloache, the first all-female mariachi band in New York City. The group started as a trio but now boasts a roster of thirteen musicians from throughout the world, including Mexico, Germany, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and the United States. Mariachi Flor de Toloache was created to preserve Mexico’s rich musical culture and infuse it with edgy sonic influences as diverse as the musicians’ backgrounds. The band’s performances are as enchanting and spellbinding as the mystical Toloache flower used in love potions.