Monday, December 31, 2007

Felicidades en 2008


Felicidades en 2008
Originally uploaded by Jorge Rodriguez.
Saludos a todos los amigos.
Adornos navideños en Jayuya, Puerto Rico.

Jorge Rodriguez

Friday, December 28, 2007

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Sery Colon @ Cemí Underground (212) 860-2820 info@cemiunderground.com www.cemiunderground.com

Cemí Underground Kicks Off 2008 with ‘Un Caribe en Nueva York’

EAST HARLEM — Cemí Underground presents “Un Caribe en Nueva York” photo exhibit from January 4-18, featuring a collection of images from Puerto Rico and New York City. The exhibit explores Puerto Rican culture through the lens of New York City-based boricua photographers Chris Lopez, Eliud Martinez and Clarisel Gonzalez (who is also the exhibit’s curator).
"When we launched Cemí Underground it was with the goal of establishing an entity that would add another voice to the desperately few voices promoting and proclaiming our art and artists to the world," says Luis Cordero, co-founder of Cemí Underground, a cultural haven in El Barrio. "Our weekly events and art exhibitions give an opportunity to our artistic community to share their talent and hone their skills as well."

Come celebrate the New Year with us with these talented artists. The opening reception kicks off at 6 p.m. January 4 at Cemí Underground, 1799 Lexington Avenue @ E. 112 St. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. The exhibit will run until January 18. The hours are Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.

About the photographers:
Chris Lopez is a photojournalist who has dedicated the bulk of his photographic work to Puerto Rican culture. The images on exhibit are from “Puerto York,” a body of work documenting the boricua experience in Puerto Rico and New York.
Eliud Martinez is a photographer and writer whose diverse professional activities and art have drawn him to understand human interactions in the context of multiculturalism, human rights and social justice. These values are implicit in his images.
Clarisel Gonzalez is a freelance journalist/independent producer. An active photoblogger, her goal is to use photography to empower, inform and celebrate life. She regularly highlights Puerto Rican/Latino themes in her images.
For more information on the artists, visit www.flickr.com/groups/uncaribeenny.
Cemí Underground is a Latino cultural shop and venue in East Harlem. For more information, contact Sery Colon at (212) 860-2820 or info@cemiunderground.com.

# # #

Featured article

Mint to Give Puerto Rico a Quarter

Puerto Rico will soon get its own peseta or quarter, now that Congress has approved a bill extending the U.S. Mint's popular state quarter program.
For more, go to


http://puerto-rico.suite101.com/print_article.cfm/puerto_rico_to_get_a_quarter

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Fun Things to Do to Ring in 2008

El Taller Boricua & Jimmy Delgado

Invite You To

The New Year's Eve Salsa Bash!
December 31, 2007, Monday
9pm - until

At

La Julia De Burgos Cultural Center
1680 Lexington Avenue (105th & 106th St.), NYC's El Barrio

Admission $35 per person

To Reserve A Table with A New
Year's Eve Package: 1 Bottle of
Champagne, 6 Whistles & 6 Hats.

This offer is Limited - Call Immediately
212-831-4333

Luces en Plaza de Armas


Luces en Plaza de Armas
Originally uploaded by Jorge Rodriguez.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

IMG_5208


IMG_5208
Originally uploaded by clarisel.

Looking for Fun

Bring in the New Year at CAMARADAS - Caribbean style! On Monday night, December 31, say goodbye to 2007 with a buffet dinner 8-11:30 p.m., a complimentary drink, a champagne toast on New Years, the sounds of DJ I-Storm and, with a live performance by Conjunto Café! Just $25. Purchase tickets in advance at CAMARADAS el barrio. 2241 First Avenue/ 115 Street, El Barrio, NYC, (212)348-2703, http://www.camaradaselbarrio.com (NY Latino Journal's Official New Year's Eve spot)

We wish everyone Happy Holidays and wonderful, enjoyable and successful New Year!
- New York Latino Journal

Friday, December 21, 2007

Feliz Navidad


IMG_5016
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
Puerto Rico Sun wishes you a Feliz Navidad y Prospero 2008.

Thanks for your continued support of the Puerto Rico Sun project.

We are planning new things for the new year. See you here.

Peace, love, happiness, health and success.

Clarisel

P.S. This is Browny, my beautiful border collie that I adopted in Puerto Rico. She now lives with me in NYC. I love my boricua dog as you can tell.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Upcoming Photo Exhibit: 'Un Caribe en Nueva York'

Cemí Underground presents "Un Caribe en Nueva York" A photo exhibit by three talented Puerto Rican artists Clarisel Gonzalez, Eliud Martinez and Chris López. Opening reception Friday January 4, 2008 at 6:00 PM. The exhibit runs until January 18, 2008.

Cemí Underground
1799 Lexington Ave. @112th St.
El Barrio, Nueva York
212-860-2820
www.cemiunderground.com

Felíz Navidad,
Sery

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Rincon Criollo Stage


Rincon Criollo Stage
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
Opportunity

Internships with the Rincón Criollo Cultural Center, Inc. in the South Bronx

Part of Rincon Criollo's collaboration with local residents and institutions is through internships and short-term independent projects.

The Rincón Criollo Cultural Center has been an oasis of Puerto Rican history and traditions in the South Bronx for over 30 years. Founded in 1987, this incredible community garden also serves as an important cultural center, which is internationally recognized as a "school and performance" space featuring bomba and plena, traditional musical expressions of Puerto Rico's African legacy and it's current working class. Rincón Criollo is regularly visited by community leaders, foreign dignitaries and students of Puerto Rican and Latino culture. www.myspace.com/rinconcriollo

Because the Rincón Criollo Cultural Center has a limited staff and is growing rapidly, interns have the opportunity for invaluable hands-on cultural and educational experience tailored to fit their individual talents and interests.

Internships are offered year-round. While internships are unpaid, they offer invaluable professional experience in the field of cultural development.

Majors/Minors who might be interested:
Non-Profit Management/Administration, Puerto Rican/Latino Studies, Ethnomusicology, Music, History, Anthropology, Sociology, Cultural Studies, Museum/Archival Studies, Education, Marketing/Tourism, Journalism, etc.

Education:
Interns in the education department will be required to assist in organizing programs and events.

Fundraising:
Fundraising interns will assist staff in planning fundraising events. Interns in this department will also write grant proposals and identify funding sources.

Non-Profit Management:
Management interns will gain some experience in all of the categories listed above as well as handling personnel; working with boards and committees; facility design and management; legal aspects and other unique aspects of running a non-profit organization.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Carlos "Tato" Torres
Tel: (347) 584-8915
Email: tatobrujo@gmail.com

Bohio at the "Centro ceremonial indigena Tibes"


Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Spotlight: Being Big Works for Actor Lou Torres


tn
Originally uploaded by prsuncom
By Robert Waddell

Actor Lou Torres has the curse of most character actors: the viewing audience knows his face but
doesn’t know his name.
This burly Puerto Rican from the Bronx is recognizable from films such as the first “Spiderman,” “Shaft,” “Taxi” with Queen Latifah, “The Fantastic Four,” “Night at the Museum,” “El Cantante” and “Music and Lyrics.”
“Now people look at me (on the street) like they know me or they’ve seen me or they don’t believe it’s me,” said Torres who is large and magnetic with sensitive eyes and a brusque voice.
He attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx and studied at Queens College’s Aaron Copland School of Music.
He used to be a New York City music teacher and a caseworker at Planned Parenthood. He also served at one point as assistant chief of staff to Councilman David Rosado.
But in the late 1990’s, things changed.
Torres recalled that he saw a Spanish newspaper classified ad looking for “a tough Hispanic male for the film ‘Sleepers’ with Robert De Niro.”
At first, he thought it was a hoax or a scam. But his friend convinced Torres to go to the audition even though he had no formal acting training. He didn’t get the part, but he was encouraged to pursue acting.
Torres has since taken acting classes at H.B. studios, The Actors Studio and the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre’s Raul Julia Training Unit.
He is now a full-time actor and producer. He runs Big Lou Productions and has done three films so far.
As a working actor, he mainly plays the big guy, the storeowner or bouncer types.
“I’m happy to get all of my roles,” Torres said.
“I look at it as work. Whatever work I get, I’m appreciative of it.”
Now, Torres produces movies to provide himself and other actors with the non-traditional roles and projects he dreams about. His big dream is to do a Latino remake of “Marty.”
“I’ve already produced my second project called ‘Rockaway’ and that’s going to be released by Lions Gate. Nothing has been formalized, but he is hoping that something positive will happen by next year.
For now, Torres said he’s going to continue producing movies and telling stories. “Maybe one day I'll cast myself as the lead.”


Robert Waddell is a Bronx-based writer who contributes articles to Puerto Rico Sun.
Photography

One of my Bronx photos made the Schmap New York guide. Check out the guide.

Here's an excerpt of an e-mail I received from the editor:

I am delighted to let you know that your submitted photo has been selected for inclusion in the newly released fourth edition of our Schmap New York Guide:

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto
www.schmap.com/newyork/sights_churches/p=266835/i=266835.jpg

Thanks so much for letting us include your photo - please enjoy the guide!

Best regards,

Emma Williams,
Managing Editor, Schmap Guides
In the Mailbox

Save the Date. Friday, January 11 at 7:00 PM.

Joe Falcon, Bobby Gonzalez & Ricardo Strobert
"Encuentros"

Jazz and Poetry live performance and
the new CD available to purchase.

More information coming soon.

Cemi Underground
1799 Lexington Avenue (nr.112th Street).
El Barrio, NY

Portrait of Loisaida Talk


5
Originally uploaded by prsuncom
The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center is pleased to invite you to a free panel discussion and film screening on Monday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m., with the photographers Clayton Patterson and Marisol Díaz, both featured in the exhibition: Portrait of Loisaida.

In addition to the two photographers, the panel will include the documentary filmmakers Ben Solomon, Daniel Levin, and Jenner Furst, the force behind the documentary film CAPTURED which profiles Patterson's odyssey from voyeur to provocateur, and from activist to renegade archivist. This fast-paced documentary includes Patterson's rare and renowned footage of the Tompkins Square police riots, and provides a close-up look at a fascinating character and chapter of urban culture. Selections from the film will be screened for the public.

The event will take place in the Milagro Theater, CSV Cultural Center, 107 Suffolk Street.

Portrait of Loisaida Exhibition on view until Jan. 12, 2008

CSV Cultural Center invited two accomplished photographers, Clayton Patterson and Marisol Díaz, to capture a community in transition. The Lower East Side of Manhattan, long referred to by its Hispanic residents as "Loisaida", is presently experiencing the shearing forces of gentrification -- multi-million dollar condominium projects sprouting in the midst of neighborhoods that have housed the city's immigrant poor for generations.

This exhibition is an opportunity to discuss the tensions that these economic and social changes introduce in the community, and the photos of Patterson and Díaz, two photographers with impressive histories of documenting this community, share their images of the people, institutions, and architecture of a neighborhood in transition.

The exhibition was curated by Luis R. Cancel, the Center's Executive Director.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Parranda Time

http://www.flickr.com/groups/miviejosanjuan/discuss/72157603416700952/#comment72157603427996223

Visit the Viejo San Juan group for a parranda navidena in photos.

Artisan Olga Ayala


Artisan Olga Ayala
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
@ the Fiesta de Flores in '06
Bronx Botanical Garden
Support our Artesanos

Featuring

OLGA AYALA
HANDICRAFTS (HECHO A MANO)
Functional Art In Polymer
(718) 448-0730
(718) 709-6574 cell
http://www.olgaayala.zoomshare.com
http://www.myspace.com/prpetite

Sunday, December 09, 2007

Community Calendar

112 Anos del Nacimiento de Nuestra Bandera
sabado, 15 de diciembre
6 p.m.
Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture
450 Grand Concourse, Bronx
Entrada gratis con boleto

Un concierto de gala con
Choco Orta y su Orquesta
Roy Borwn
Giovanni Lugo y Grupo Guarayson

Para informacion y taquilla
718 933-2204 y 718 518 4455
Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the petition: "Stop Big Media From Getting Bigger!"

Please take a moment to read about this important issue, and join me in signing the petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. We are trying to reach 10,000 signatures - please sign here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/659309295

Once you have signed, you can help even more by asking your friends and family to sign as well.

Thank you!

Clarisel Gonzalez

http://www.thePetitionSite.com

Friday, December 07, 2007

Crash Boat Beach


Crash Boat Beach
Originally uploaded by Coast Guard BM.

Saludos

Photos of Puerto Rico.com wants to take a few minutes to wish you all Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año 2008. All the best and may all your wishes come true.

We take the opportunity to invite you to our site and sign up to our Spanish Forums/Foros. There you can interact with us, family members and friends. It is easy, fast and free. Visit our site and click on the forum banner or the FORUMS link on the site's menu.

Again our best wishes for your holidays and new year.

Warm Regards,
George Collazo & Jeannette Valle

www.photosofpuertorico.com

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

In the Mailbox

Familia,

December 7-8th I'll be at Amherst College for the 10 year Anniversary of Voices for the Voiceless, one of the largest diaspora poetry events in the Western MA area.

I founded the poetry concert 10 years ago when I was still a student at Umass to focus attention on the work of Diaspora Poets. This year we are honoring Fay Chiang with a Louis Reyes Rivera lifetime achievement award.

All are welcome to come to this free event. If you get there early, around 5:45 p.m. to get a seat, you can even eat for free.The event is usually standing room only so please, please, get there early. Poets will be selling and signing books, CD's and more.

Here is the info:

Voices for the Voiceless
Ten Year Anniversary

December 7 & 8th, 2007

Discussion on the 7th (Location to be announced)
Poetry Concert on the 8th (Locations: Friedman Campus Center Front Room)

Saturday:
Amherst College - Amherst, MA
Campus Center Front Room
5:45 pm - 9:45 pm
Free Event
Free Mexican Food Buffet

Poets Performing:
Bao Phi
Jahipster
Taalam Acey
Louis Reyes Rivera
Mariposa
Shaggy Flores
Tony Medina
Fay Chiang

Friday December 7th: Roundtable discussion at 7:00 pm with Voices Poets

Saturday December 8th: Poetry Concert and Book Signing

Hope to see some of you there!

Cuidate!

Shaggy Flores
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Shaggy_Flores
www.shaggyflores.com

Monday, December 03, 2007

In the Mailbox

Support Fruta Extrana TV

When: December 8, 2007, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Where: 44 East 32nd Street, 11th Floor, Manhattan (Btw Park & Madison)

Admission: Free

(However, we hope you’ll make a donation to help us raise money for our upcoming Cable TV show. All donations tax deductible so bring your checkbooks and cash. Also available for sale, "The Latina Kama Sutra" written by Dr. Charley Ferrer, a fantastic new addition to the FXTV family this past season as segment co-host and producer of Caliente! with Dr. Charlly Ferrer.

Space is limited. Please RSVP and join us on this special day as we raise funds for our new Cable Show and celebrate our Nomination of Best TV Talk Show 2007.

Prizes & Giveaways: (more coming in daily)

Artwork – Daniel Delvalle, Hector Canonge, and Pepe Villegas *

Hair Makeover – Oscar Da Silva *

Day Spa sessions--Oasis Spa *

Chicas Gift Basket – Caridad Pineiro *

Beverages – Inca Kola & NYGLT Chamber of Commerce *

3 Days/2 nights Hotel Stay – Friendly Travel *

Traditional Spanish Feast – Midnight Staffing Event Entertainment *

Entertainment by Raising Star Singer Margo David *

And much more…


Fruta Extrana TV is proud to serve our community, bringing you various programs on community news, relationships, sexuality, arts and entertainment, and so much more from every perspective—Straight, GLBT, Kinky, and everything in between. Hey, this is also a wonderful time to sign-up to be a guest on one of our upcoming shows and claim your minutes of fame!

______________________________________
Izzy Ruiz

Co-Host
Fruta Extrana TV
www.frutaextrana.tv

Calle San José


Calle San José
Originally uploaded by Jose Kevo.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

'No Face'


'No Face'
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
Arts

If you have an opportunity, go check out an exhibit at the Queens Museum of the Arts called Framing AIDS.

On World AIDS Day (Dec. 1), I went to photograph the exhibit's opening reception for the curator Hector Canonge who is documenting the event for his site and other projects. It is an interesting mix of artists featured. For those of us into the visual arts, this is right up our alley.

Here's more related info. on the exhibit:

ART EXHIBITION Queens Museum of Art: Community Gallery
Saturday, December 15, 5 -7PM (Artists Talk)

[ + i ]
Selection of works created by established and emerging artists living with HIV/AIDS. The exhibition presents their visions and concerns through works that not only raise awareness about de disease, but explore representations of Self, gender, identity, and constructions of sexuality.
Curated by Hector Canonge from the Visual AIDS' Frank Moore Archive Project.

S.T.A.R.
Inspired by stories from HIVers and the realities of the pandemic, students in the summer 2007 arts unit, “The Cure: HIV Fashion Fusion”, developed the logo for their brand of fashion with a focus. “Start Thinking Act Responsibly”, or S.T.A.R. This part of the exhibition was facilitated by The Renaissance University for Community Education (T.R.U.C.E.), a Harlem Children’s Zone after-school program for youth.

www.hectorcanonge.net