cinco de mayo

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo! All the Mexican restaurants will be PACKED so here are some places that might not be as busy since they are off the beaten path. I can't vouch for the food in any of them except Jalisco but I say live a little and try something new!

Aside from the owners and employees of El Charro, there weren't too many people more excited than me that the authentic Mexican restaurant at 720 N. Sonntag Avenue on the west side is back open for business. And the place looks better than ever! This weekend is a perfect chance to come out and celebrate Cinco De Mayo with El Charro.

No celebration of Cinco de Mayo is complete without a piñata. After all, what's more entertaining than blindfolded partygoers attacking a sweets-filled papier-mâché figure with a bat? In the gallery above, check out some of the craziest piñatas from craft site Etsy...

Cinco de Mayo is not widely celebrated in Mexico, but is huge in the United States, truly making it a Mexican-American holiday. There are more than 31 million Mexican-Americans living in the United States, a substantial and strong part of the fabric of the US. Here's a quick look at five famous Mexican-Americans:

Though many argue about who actually invented the margarita, the drink first appeared on Mexican bar menus in  the '30s and '40s. Prepare for your own Cinco de Mayo party by making a batch of the tasty libation: we've concocted a list of the best margarita recipes to help you out.

You don't have to be of Mexican heritage to partake in Cinco de Mayo festivities, or even to throw your own bash. Here are five tips for planning the best Cinco de Mayo party this side of the border:

Cinco de Mayo is fast approaching. Most folks pull out the guacamole and celebrate with friends over margarita specials at their local cantina, but beyond the revelry of the fiesta, here's a few things you might not know about the fifth of May holiday: