The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

After a week of bouncing around the Yucatecan countryside, I have come back with an increased respect for the Mexican eateries we have right here in the Twin Cities. We ate all over the place – from thatched beachfront seafood joints in a quiet fishing village and market stalls in a small colonial town to the kinds of upscale restaurants where white-jacketed waiters prepare guacamole at tableside.

It’s Thursday night at Pancho Villa on Eat Street, and thejoint is jumping. The Mexican restaurant on Eat Street has karaoke four nightsa week, but Thursday night is contest night, and more than a dozen singers arelined up to compete. The prizes in tonight’s semi-final round are small stuff –a bottle of wine, a gift certificate, but the singers who make it to the finalson December 6 will be competing for a top prize of $1000; plus CD recordings of their performances and other prizes.