Jacobo and Denise

Photo op



Puerto Rican filmmaker (el maestro) Jacobo Morales and actress and former Miss Universe Denise Quinones pose for a photo after an event at Hunter College April 21. Morales was among the panelists on a talk focusing on Puerto Rican cinema and the challenges of rising cinema as part of the Havana Film Festival in New York City. Morales' movie "Dios Los Crio II" (2004) had its NY premiere at this year's festival. (photo by Clarisel Gonzalez)

For more of my photos, go to www.flickr.com/photos/clarisel. Click on my Puerto Rican in NYC events photo set.

Feliz Cumpleaños a La Casa Azul Bookstore

On the reading corner

La Casa Azul celebrates one year anniversary as online store today

So much has happened since the website launched in 2008; we've had book readings, signings, and book clubs in local venues. Incredible collaborations have been created with organizations and writers who believe in La Casa Azul Bookstore, in its mission and purpose. I want to thank the bookstore supporters who read the newsletter, attend events and buy books online.

Here are 10 ways to continue supporting La Casa Azul Bookstore:

1. Buy your books online, www.lacasaazulbookstore.com.
2. Join the Barrio Book Club.
3. Attend our local events.
4. Volunteer at an event.
5. Be a part of the Founding Familia, be a bookstore investor!
6. Be our friend on Facebook.
7. Follow La Casa Azul Bookstore on Twitter.
8. Forward this entry to 10 friends!
9. Host a book reading at your school/class/club/organization.
10. Buy your books online, www.lacasaazulbookstore.com

Once La Casa Azul Bookstore opens its doors, East Harlem will have a place to celebrate and feature Latino literature for years to come. Celebrate La Casa Azul Bookstore's birthday at the "Dia del Niño/ Dia del Libro" event on Saturday April 25th. --Aurora Anaya-Cerda



Aurora Anaya-Cerda is the owner of La Casa Azul Bookstore and a contributing writer to Puerto Rico Sun.

Miss Puerto Rico will be represented in 2010 Miss America

There she is...Miss Puerto Rico.

Que bueno that Miss Puerto Rico will be part of the lineup in the 2010 Miss America pageant. After all, Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. With Puerto Rico's great track record in the Miss Universe pageant, who knows we may have a Miss America soon.

Here's a press release:

LINWOOD, N.J., April 22 /PRNewswire/-- For the first time since 1961, Miss Puerto Rico will be competing in the Miss America Pageant in January 2010. The 2010 Miss America Pageant will now showcase 53 incredibly talented, intelligent and beautiful young women live on TLC from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. (Pageant date TBA.)

"We are truly excited to welcome Puerto Rico back to the Miss America Organization and are thrilled to have Miss Puerto Rico competing this year," said Art McMaster, President and CEO of the Miss America Organization. "The Miss Puerto Rico Organization has a tremendous amount of pageant expertise and business savvy, and will surely thrive as part of the Miss America program."

The Miss Puerto Rico Scholarship Program will be headed by Executive Director, Joselo Sostre. Sostre is a logistics officer by trade and has extensive business experience in the areas of strategy, creative development, design, production and staging of event programs. Joselo is joined by Vice President, Arlette Velez; Secretary, Darwin Cabrera; Fashion Designer, Steven Rosengard, and veteran Choreographer, Brett DeBeaulieu.

Similar to the states, District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Miss Puerto Rico Scholarship Program will provide scholarship awards to program participants and will hold an annual competition, the winner of which will proceed to the national competition as Miss Puerto Rico. The Miss Puerto Rico Competition will be held in Caguas, Puerto Rico
with the winner being crowned on Saturday night, July 18 by Miss America 2009 Katie Stam.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Puerto Rico back into the Miss America Pageant after almost 50 years of absence, said Joselo Sostre. " With our current economic crisis, this is a great scholarship opportunity that will provide hope and empowerment to young women who are pursuing their dreams."

About Miss America

The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local affiliates made available more than $45 million in scholarship assistance. For more information, visit http://www.missamerica.org.

Source: The Miss America Organization

Cemi Underground to close shop

I am sad to learn about the closing of Cemi Underground, a cultural haven in El Barrio in its short yet rich history. Luis Cordero led a store with nonstop events aimed at highlighting Puerto Rican writers, artists and cultural workers. The good news is that Cordero says the store is closing down, but that the mission of Cemi Underground to support boricua talent will continue.

This is the latest treasure catering to the Latino arts scene that closes in East Harlem. This is yet another setback and something has to be done to preserve EL BARRIO, SPANISH HARLEM!

Here is a letter from Luis Cordero on Cemi's closing:

To our many friends and supporters:

Unfortunately, after two years we are forced to close our doors at the end of April. Cemí Underground has hosted more that 150 cultural events and we have prided ourselves in being able to have added our voice and efforts to those entities engaged in maintaining the Boricua cultural identity and heritage alive and well in New York City. We hope others will continue the effort and they can surely count on our wholehearted support.

We are closing our doors at Lexington Avenue, but we will continue to promote our art and artists...You can help us by supporting our CEMI CULTURAL EXPO* a fundraising event scheduled for Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 p.m. at The Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center, featuring some of the talent that has graced our humble stage including Mariposa, La Bruja, Bobby Gonzalez, Arnold Acevedos El Boogie Down Comedy Show and many more surprise guests. The featured performers that evening will be none other than the foremost ambassadors of our culture worldwide: Los Pleneros de la 21!

You are welcome to our two last events at Cemí Underground on Saturday, April 25 and Thursday, April 30.

Continue to visit our websites: www.cemiunderground.com and www.galeriacemi.com as we will continue and double our online efforts...

Reciban un abrazo.

Luis Cordero

*Cemi Cultural Expo is a cultural event and collaboration between Cemí Underground, Boricuation, LatinosNYC, Ku Karey Spiritual Circle, Art By Mia, Taller Boricua, Los Pleneros de la 21 and many individuals who have supported Cemí Underground these past 2 years.

Editor's Note: Support the Cemi Cultural Expo. For more information, www.cemiunderground.com.

Listen to an interview I did with Cordero earlier this year at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio about Cemi Underground.

Gente, feel free to leave comments right here on this news on Cemi Underground and what are your hopes. Do you see this as a blow to the Latino arts scene in NYC? What are your memories of Cemi? What are your thoughts on Spanish Harlem/El Barrio?

For a Better Bronx to honor Vicente 'Panama' Alba

Tribute to honor this boricua activist for his tireless work of four decades



For a Better Bronx, a community-based organization in the South Bronx dedicated to achieving environmental, social and food justice, will honor its board president this Friday. Among other things, Panama has been a voice in the struggle for independence for Puerto Rico, freedom of political prisoners, justice for workers and immigrants as well as the quality of life of the Bronx.

(Click on the image for larger text.)