Keeping the Stickball Tradition Alive

These are some of the faces of stickball players and enthusiasts who are keeping the old school NYC street tradition of playing stickball.

Today is the 111TH STREET SALSA STREET PARTY AND OLD TIMER'S STICKBALL GAMES in NYC's El Barrio. For more information on this outdoor festival, check out this link at
http://www.salsanewyork.com/events/111th-street-salsa-street-party.htm

(photos from a stickball event last week by Ismael Nuñez)

Meetup

Featured site

Click here to check out
The NYC Puerto Rican Culture Meetup!

This Meetup group is dedicated to promoting and celebrating Puerto Rican culture in New York City. The group's next meetup is
a CopaCabana dance cruise.

Esperen, muchachos!

Esperen, muchachos!
Originally uploaded by Jorge Rodriguez.

From the Puerto Rico Sun photo group, today's featured image is by Jorge Rodriguez.

Lee y Sueña Tour de Lectura

In the First Person

When I first came to Puerto Rico, one of the first things I tried to find were the libraries. The first one I found was when I moved to Caguas when I discovered the location of the Caguas Municipal Library by accident. At the time the only book stores of any merit were Thekes in Plaza Las Americas and Bell , Book, and Candle. As someone who has spent most of his life with his nose in a book, this was, uhh, a big shock. I remember wondering to myself, how does everyone find a good book to read, or where can they find research materials to read for a project?

I know know the truth of the situation. The reason why there aren't really any good public libraries (well which really isn't true there is the Bucapla Library and the Manati Library), the real reason is that the majority of the populace doesn't read anything deeper than the El Nuevo Dia, which is quickly being replaced by the photo-heavy Primera Hora.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who believes that this might be the root cause of a lot of the challenges we face on the island. So when I heard about the First Lady's program to reinforce reading to children, "Lee y Sueña", I was impressed and pleased.

The Read and Dream Program is an initiative of the Office of the First Lady. It is attached to the Department of Family and is developed by ASPIRA, Inc. de Puerto Rico. It was created in 2006 with the aim to provide parents and caregivers the tools needed to develop the habit of reading to their children every day.

This weekend and next "El tour de lectura" will make stops in the Jardin Botanico de Rio Piedras and the Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera. This Saturday, July 12th, at the Botanical Gardens, celebrities such as Elwood Cruz, Jessica Cristina, and Karen Cintrón will lead families in the reading of entertaining stories. In addition there will be marionettes and theatrical shows.

Then next weekend, Sunday July 20th, at the Bosquecito in the Luis Muñoz Marin Park, the tour will make another stop. The same activities are planned. Both activities are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. and last until 4 p.m.

For more information call (888) 359-7777 or visit the programs website at www.leelesatuhijos.org. -- MC DON DEES

This article by MC DON DEES was originally published in Donde Quiera at http://blog.dondees.com. Visit this blog.

Featured story

Puerto Rico, The 51st State in the Union?
Closer to Washington, by its own choice

With 4 million Puerto Ricans on the island, and another 4 million in the United States, Puerto Rico is experiencing an unusual situation that many wish to change. Supporters of statehood and those affiliated with the Commonwealth are beginning to see a new tendency, which, while not exactly pushing for independence, leans toward Washington.
To read the full report by Javier del Rey Morató, go to the Safe Democracy Foundation site at
http://english.safe-democracy.org/2008/07/10/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-in-the-union/#more-691

La Perla

La Perla
Originally uploaded by #(J).

From the Puerto Rico Sun photo group, this La Perla shot is by #(J).

'Political Animals' Film Fest

Film

Handball Court Summer Film Series
at White Park, NYC's El Barrio

"Political Animals", this year's curatorial theme…

MediaNoche presents the free Handball Court Summer Film Series at White Park beginning Saturday, July 12. The series at White Park (106th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues) will run Saturday nights at sunset (about 8 p.m.) until August 30.

Curator Judith Escalona brings together a set of fictional films, dramas and comedies, examining the U.S. electoral process. The Candidate (1972), which looks at how a young politician slowly gives up his ideals to be elected, is as relevant today as when it premiered 36 years ago! In the more recent Head of State (2003), a young politician who knows the ropes finds his voice and a way to embrace his ideals. The last film in this set is actually a documentary entitled An Unreasonable Man, a moving portrait of America's greatest public advocate Ralph Nader that includes a critical view of the entrenched two-party political system.

"Hazardous to your health" groups films dealing with health and the environment. Not to be missed are: Sick Around the World, comparing health coverage in five capitalist democracies, and The Medicated Child, how troubled children are over-prescribed medicines that have unknown long term effects. Lastly, An Inconvenient Truth, screened last year but presented here again, to stress the urgency of global warming.

MediaNoche is a project of PRdream.com.

For the complete lineup and more information, visit http://www.prdream.com/wordpress/?cat=5, e-mail info@medianoche.us or call (212) 828-0401.

source: Judith Escalona

Nubes con Prioridad

Nubes con Prioridad
Originally uploaded by ΡπΙρΣπ.

From the Puerto Rico Sun photo group, today's featured image is by ΡπΙρΣπ.

Things to do

Destination: NYC's El Barrio. Free Walking Tours
Every Saturday, through October 11, 3 – 5 p.m.
Tour meets each Saturday at the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue and 104th Street. Guides from Big Onion Walking Tours lead excursions highlighting the thriving scene of Latino arts, culture and cuisine native to El Barrio. This program has been developed for El Museo del Barrio and the East Harlem Board of Tourism through grants from the Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

Admission: Free.

For advance registration, e-mail elbarriotours@elmuseo.org.

source: El Museo del Barrio

(Photo courtesy of El Museo)

Puerto Rican Music Roots & Beyond Project

From left, Leticia Rodriguez, executive director of La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña, Inc., and Hector Ortega, a class participant, at a July 6 event in NYC's East Harlem that focused on Puerto Rican roots music.

La Casa as well as El Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños at Hunter College is working with William Cepeda, a renowned composer, trombonist, educator, producer and artist, on a project titled “Puerto Rican Music Roots and Beyond.” The New York State Music fund and the National Endowment for the Arts is helping to fund the project.
The goal is to promote Puerto Rico’s musical heritage to a wide audience throughout New York State, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere. The project will document four genres (Bomba, Plena, Danza, and Musica Jibara) by recording the concerts and other project activities to be used in the creation of DVDs and CDs for educational and commercial release. La Casa is located at 1230 Fifth Avenue, Suite 458. It is a nonprofit, cultural and educational institution. For more information, visit http://www.lacasapr.org/-- Ismael Nuñez

(photo by Ismael Nuñez)

In the Mailbox

Hello Everyone!

Thank you for your continued support of Latino Arts and all its many forms! We are truly grateful!

We are proud to announce LOISAIDA CORTOS LATINO FILM FESTIVAL'S 7th year of bringing quality short films to our community (in New York City) and to cities in Europe such as Barcelona, Madrid and Antwerp since 2005. Also our first Mexico screening at THE LATIN AMERICAN FOOD SHOW (www.lafs.com.mx) in Cancun this September 2008 and for 2009 our first screenings in Brazil and China!!!

This year our festival has moved up to Sunday, August 24 with pre-festival events (this Thursday!!!!) THURSDAYS JULY 10 & AUGUST 7 @ NUBLU (www.nublu.net) with performances by "ROPA VIEJA" and NUBLU's resident DJ's plus FREE COCKTAILS FROM BUDWEISER & BACARDI for those of you who get there early!!!!

With all this said...we want to remind you that our call for submissions is in full effect and our deadline is: AUGUST 8 ! So, please help us spread the word through myspace, facebook, e-mail, text message or fire signals! Any help is truly appreciated...just one click of the mouse!

For more details, submissions forms and guidelines please visit: www.loisaidacortos.com.

Thank you again! We look forward to seeing your bright shining faces throughout the summer!

Ellie Diez
Executive Director
Loisaida Cortos Latino Film Festival

'Coquiando' at Cemi

Community Calendar

6 p.m., Thursday, July 10
Book presentation: "Coquiando: Meditaciones subversivas para un mundo mejor" by Father Luis Barrios
Admission: FREE!
Cemi Underground, NYC's El Barrio
For more information, www.cemiunderground.com or www.coquiando.org.

(Click on image to see larger text.)

Decisions

Decisions
Originally uploaded by chente922.

Featured photo

From the Puerto Rico Sun photo group pool, image by chente922

"Some retired gentlemen playing domino at the Plaza del Mercado in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. It's really interesting how well they are at this game, analyzing every move since the beginning." -- Chente922