Dos Rios Cantina & Tequila Lounge to Honor Benito Juarez's Birthday with a Blowout Happy Hour Party

March 6, 2008 - PRLog -- Benito’s Birthday Bash
Dos Rios Cantina & Tequila Lounge to Celebrate the 202nd Anniversary of the Abraham Lincoln of Mexico with a Blowout Happy Hour Party

“Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.”
– Benito Juarez

DES MOINES – Benito Juárez is considered the Abraham Lincoln of Mexico. In remembrance of this great man, Dos Rios Cantina & Tequila Lounge will honor President Juárez with a Happy Hour Birthday Bash.

On Friday, March 21, from 4-9 p.m., Dos Rios will have an extended Happy Hour celebration that will include giveaways, samples and drink specials from El Mayor Tequila, as well as Mariachi performances by Las Guitarras de Mexico.

“It is going to be a fun celebration honoring perhaps the greatest leader in the history of Mexico,” said Karl Alterman, owner of Dos Rios. “I try to live by the standards of respect set by President Juárez; in fact, I keep a copy of his great quote [see above] next to my desk in my office so it is never far from my consciousness.”

What’s so Special About Benito Juárez?
Glad you asked. Juárez is often regarded as Mexico's greatest and most beloved leader. Before ascending to power, he was a lawyer and a judge. Because he openly opposed the corrupt regime of Antonio López de Santa Anna, he was exiled to the United States in 1854, where he worked in a cigar factory in New Orleans.

Santa Anna resigned in 1855, and Juárez returned to Mexico, where he served five terms as President, from 1858-1872. He is revered for resisting the French occupation, overthrowing the empire and restoring the Republic, as well as his efforts to modernize the country.

He was the first Mexican leader without a military background and the first full-blooded indigenous national to serve as President. He was an ally of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, who admired his Mexican counterpart.

Cinco de Mayo Gets All the Attention (in the United States)
While Cinco de Mayo is a regionally-celebrated holiday in Puebla in honor of defeating the French on May 5, 1862, it is not a national celebration in Mexico like Mexican Independence Day (September 16), or Benito’s birthday.

In a little known fact about Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican victory at Puebla only delayed the French invasion of Mexico City; a year later, the French occupied Mexico. The French installed Maximilian I as Emperor of Mexico.

The French were eventually defeated and expelled in 1867, and good ‘ole Maximilian was captured and executed by – anyone? anyone? – that’s right, it was President Juárez five years after the Battle of Puebla.

Today, Juárez is remembered as being a progressive reformer dedicated to democracy, equal rights for his nation’s indigenous peoples, lessening the power that the Roman Catholic Church held on Mexican politics, and the defense of national sovereignty.

The period of his leadership is known in Mexican history as La Reforma (the reform), and constituted a liberal political and social revolution with major institutional consequences: the expropriation of church lands, bringing the army under civilian control, liquidation of peasant communal land holdings and the separation of church and state in public affairs.

La Reforma represented the triumph of Mexico’s liberal, federalist, anti-clerical and pro-capitalist forces against the conservative, centralist, corporatist and theocratic elements that sought to reconstitute a locally-run version of the old colonial system.

“So, in these politically-charged times, it is with great honor and respect that Dos Rios Cantina & Tequila Lounge takes an opportunity to pay tribute to not only a great Mexican leader, but one of the greatest leaders in history,” Alterman said. “Come join us for the celebration.”

For more details about the party, please call Dos Rios at 515-282-2995 or go to our MySpace page at www.myspace.com/dosriosrestaurant.

Note: Mark your calendars for Cinco de Mayo Weekend. Dos Rios is going to blow the roof off the holiday with a three-day celebration that will have all of Des Moines talking. More details to come soon.

About Dos Rios Cantina & Tequila Lounge
Founded by South Florida-based restaurateur Karl Alterman and inspired by his pilgrimage to the mountains of Guadalajara, Mexico, Dos Rios is defined by fresh ingredients, meticulously created dishes, homemade tortillas, tamales, mole and salsas, sublime marinades, fresh guacamole mashed tableside and exquisite flavors. Located at 316 Court Avenue, Dos Rios seats 180 in the main dining room, 60 in an enclosed patio and 100 in the private “Don Roberto Room.” Dos Rios invites patrons (and matrons) to inhale the aromas of the finest Mexican cuisine on the planet, as well as sip from the more than 200 delicious tequilas. Guests can take pleasure sitting back and enjoying the cosmopolitan interior, as well as the buzzing, friendly atmosphere of this new urban fiesta.

Website: www.myspace.com/dosriosrestaurant