<div dir="ltr"><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt">Please distribute widely!</span></p><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt"><br></span></p><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt">Dear<em> Comediantes</em> and Friends,</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt"> </span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt">Please plan on joining us for the 2018 <em>Comediantes</em> Banquet in New York!  Thanks to the talents of Barbara Simerka, we were able to find a reasonable (for New York) restaurant with a room that will allow us to gather and begin a new year in each other's company.</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt"><br><i>This is a long and honored tradition that actually predates our group's MLA Executive Division, designed as a respite from the conference that allows us to celebrate our field and enjoy each others' company.  (Trivia:  Did you know that on one memorable occasion Thornton Wilder attended​ the comediantes banquet after sharing his research on the stagecraft of Lope?) We never know quite what to expect, but there will be food, fun and spirited conversations!  If you have a memorable banquet tale to tell from years (or decades past), please consider sharing it during the course of the evening. Please also consider inviting a junior scholar to join us--it is a great networking/mentoring event.  Those of us who gathered last year thoroughly enjoyed the experience--despite the chill in the air, the evening was filled with warmth and laughter.</i></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt"><br></span></i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt">If you are attending the MLA or are simply near New York, please join us for the banquet <span class="gmail-aBn" tabindex="0"><span class="gmail-aQJ">on Friday</span></span> evening beginning at <span class="gmail-aBn" tabindex="0"><span class="gmail-aQJ">7:00 PM.</span></span>  The $66.00 price includes 3 courses and non-alcoholic beverages.  (Of course, you are welcome to order alcoholic drinks but please remember that you are responsible for paying for them--we have no s/lush fund)<i><br><br><b>Details</b>:  Please join us on <span class="gmail-aBn" tabindex="0"><span class="gmail-aQJ">Friday, January 5th, at 7 PM.</span></span>  We will meet at:</i></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt"> </span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt">Sin Igual  <a href="http://www.sinigualrestaurants.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">http://www.sinigualrest<wbr>aurants.com/</span></a></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt">640 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10017</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt">Friday, 1/05/18 7:00pm-9:00pm</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt"> </span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt">To reserve a seat, please pay via the AHCT paypal site.  (Once again, we are grateful for their assistance with this).</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt"> </span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 13.5pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt"><a href="http://www.comedias.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">www.comedias.org</span></a>  <b>or</b> click <a href="http://www.wordpress.comedias.org/mla-comediantes-banquet/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">here</span></a>:</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 13.5pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt">or</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt"> copy and paste this address into your browser:<br><a href="http://www.wordpress.comedias.org/mla-comediantes-banquet/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">http://www.wordpress.comedias.<wbr>org/mla-comediantes-banquet/</span></a></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt">Please reserve as early as possible!  </span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14pt"> </span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><b><i><span style="font-family:Gizmo,serif;font-size:12pt">Starters</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Gizmo,serif;font-size:12pt"></span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Univers-Light,serif;font-size:12pt">Choice of:</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:Univers-BoldExt,serif;font-size:12pt">THE GRILL’S GARDEN SALAD</span></b></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Univers-Light,serif;font-size:12pt">chilled field greens, jicama, tortilla strips and cotija cheese, tossed with raspberry tamarind vinaigrette</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:Univers-BoldExt,serif;font-size:12pt">FIRE-ROASTED TOMATO SOUP</span></b></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Univers-Light,serif;font-size:12pt">creamy purée of mesquite-grilled tomatoes, pasilla chiles, roasted corn and onions with chicken chorizo, garlic and spices</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><b><i><span style="font-family:Gizmo,serif;font-size:12pt">Entrées</span></i></b></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Univers-Light,serif;font-size:12pt">Choice of:</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:Univers-BoldExt,serif;font-size:12pt">FRESH FISH TACOS</span></b></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Univers-Light,serif;font-size:12pt">traditional fish soft tacos, pineapple mango salsa,served with pasilla-cilantro green rice</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:Univers-BoldExt,serif;font-size:12pt">MESQUITE-GRILLED CHICKEN</span></b></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Univers-Light,serif;font-size:12pt">mesquite-grilled chicken breast served with mesquite-grilled,fresh vegetables, orange-achiote sauce, chef’s potatoes</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:Univers-BoldExt,serif;font-size:12pt">CARNITAS YUCATAN</span></b></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Univers-Light,serif;font-size:12pt">slow roasted garlic, achiote, lime and orange marinated pork,citrus-habanero marinated red onions, red & black beans,pasilla-cilnatro rice, avocado releish, sweet corn cake</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Univers-Light,serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:Univers-Light,serif;font-size:12pt">FIRE-ROASTED VEGETABLE PLATTER</span></b></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Univers-Light,serif;font-size:12pt">fire-roasted vegetables and cheese chile relleno, eggplant, asparagus, red potatoes, carrots, yams, squash, bell peppers, raspberry-tamarind vinaigrette and goat cheese.</span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Univers-Light,serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><b><i><span style="font-family:Gizmo,serif;font-size:12pt">Dessert</span></i></b></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:Univers-BoldExt,serif;font-size:12pt">TRADITIONAL MEXICAN FLAN</span></b></p><font color="#000000" size="3" style="font-family:Gizmo"></font><p style="font-family:Gizmo;font-size:large;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><b><span style="line-height:17.12px;font-family:Univers-BoldExt,serif;font-size:12pt">INCLUDES: </span></b><span style="line-height:17.12px;font-family:Univers-Light,serif;font-size:12pt">soft drinks, lemonade, iced tea or coffee</span></p>
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