'Ay, Que Funny' finds humor in Latino life

AY QUE FUNNY Show Intro - 2009 from AYQUEFUNNY on Vimeo.

Check out my interview with Jesenia Bailey at Examiner on her upcoming comedy show "Ay, Que Funny" at the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe in NYC's Lower East Side.

Bizarre Foods - Puerto Rico

ON TV

The folks of Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods reached out to Puerto Rico Sun to let us know about this show airing tonight.

Here's the info.:

Andrew takes a tour of Puerto Rico where the flavors of the food tell the history of the island. From the deep-fried treats brought in by Africans, to the roasted pork made popular by the Spanish, Andrew tries a variety of traditional foods.

Andrew's culinary tour kicks off with stops not usually seen by the average tourist. First is a local bakery in San Juan where he tries Mallorcas (a Spanish pastry) and Cocas (similar to pizza, but with vegetables and sardines). Next, he visits Plaza del Mercado de Rio Piedras to find some unique local products including: Algarobba, Mavi (a drink made from sugar and tree bark), Corazon, and Caimitos (a star shaped pulpy fruit).

What would a trip to Puerto Rico be without pork? On Sundays, Puerto Rican families like to pile into the car and take a trip up into the mountains of the Guavate Region, where they pig out on roasted pork. There are a dozen of lechonaras that serve pork along the so called “Pork Highway”, but the original is El Rancho Original. In Andrew's own words, "That little bite that I had there is the best pork I've ever eaten in my life!".

Tonight at 10 p.m. on the Travel channel.

source: TravelChannelTV on YouTube

El Rev. Pedro Pietri Hand Awards

Community calendar
The awards ceremony at Hunter College in Manhattan is Friday. Award winners are Puerto Rican Traveling Theater's Miriam Colon, the late boxer and writer Jose "Chegui" Torres (in memory), activist, filmmaker, writer, and artist Dylcia Pagan, poet/playwright Tato Laviera, poet/playwright and author Ntozake Shange and photographer, filmmaker and director Carlos Ortiz.
The award honors the memory of the late Rev. Pedro Pietri, one of the most gift poets and playwrights of the Twentieth Century and co-founder of the Nuyorican Poetry Movement. The award was created to recognize significant artistic and cultural contributions by Puerto Rican/Nuyorican poets, artists and political activists working in their fields today.

For more information, go to http://lostidentities.vox.com/library/post/el-rev-pedro-pietri-hand-awards.html.

(Click on image to see larger text.)

Boogie Rican Blvd.'s Caridad De La Luz 'La Bruja' to chat with PRSUN Radio

My upcoming guest on PRSUN Radio is writer and actress Caridad De La Luz "La Bruja" who will speak on her newest project "Boogie Rican Blvd: The Musical." My chat with La Bruja is at 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

On Tuesday, June 30th, Urban Lifestyle Media (ULM) presents “Boogie Rican Blvd: The Musical” for a limited engagement at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre (304 W. 47th Street) in Manhattan, running from July 1st - July 26. Written and performed by La Bruja, directed by Nelson Vásquez and music by William Cepeda. Boogie Rican Blvd. in the Bronx is where the Pacheco family and their colorful collection of friends examine life, love and regret through words, song and dance in front of Don Jose’s bodega.

Renowned composer and arranger, William Cepeda comes from a well-known family rooted in music. The Familia Cepeda is famous for their performances of folkloric music with African roots, and as keepers of traditional Puerto Rican music for many years. Cepeda's unique jazz style he coined as “Afrorican Jazz.” He has produced all the music for “Boogie Rican Blvd: The Musical”.

The multi-faceted De La Luz gives life to seven colorful characters such as “Don Jose”, the owner of the bodega, patriarch of the family and father of three daughters. 

For more, go to my blog at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

(Click on the photo to learn more about La Bruja.)

UPDATE: To listen to my interview with La Bruja:

Business Day in the Bronx to include golf, networking, freebies and art

TheNetWorks Organization is celebrating its “Bronx Week Golf Outing and Networking Event” on Thursday, June 18, as part of the Bronx Week celebration. This date has been designated as “Business Day” by the Bronx Week organizers. The networking event will begin at 5 p.m. and end at approximately 9 p.m. Tee times are available from 1 p.m.

The event will be held at the Pelham/Split Rock Golf Course in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx. Pelham/Split Rock features a lavish renovation of the original clubhouse and a beautiful new pavilion with views of the course. Our co-sponsors and participants currently include the Pelham/Split Rock Golf Course, the Fordham Road Business Improvement District (BID), Banco Popular (Fordham Road), Bronxnet, Liberty Mutual, NYC Business Solutions, WFAN Sports Radio, Entrepreneur Magazine, Minority Business Entrepreneur Magazine, and Puerto Rico Sun Communications.

The networking event will be hosted by Rhina Valentin and music will be provided by DJ Willie Rodriguez. Our guest speaker will be Diane Edelson of NYC Business Solutions. She will be talking about many of the free services that are available to area businesses and entrepreneurs. There will be passed hors d’oeuvres and desserts, and beverages including wine, soda, coffee, and tea. Free valet parking will be available. Our sponsors and Premier Members will be providing giveaways. A cash bar will be available where TheNetWorks will be introducing our new signature drink – The NetTini. Puerto Rico Sun Communications will be displaying a Bronx-themed photo exhibit by local photographers. Each guest (until supplies run out) will receive a promo bag which will contain materials from our sponsors and Premier Members as well as complimentary magazines provided by Entrepreneur and Minority Business Entrepreneur. In addition, there will be a special appearance by the WFAN Fan Van Crew from 5-7 p.m. with Fan Freebies.

The event is open to both individuals and businesses in the NY Metro area. There will be a charge of $10 at the door for those who RSVP in advance on our website, and $25 at the door for those who do not RSVP. Golfing is additional and is available at a discounted rate of $45 for 18 holes.

Our organization offers exposure to business professionals as well as potential customers, entrepreneurs, and other individuals. We assist with networking, advertising, marketing, consulting, and other support services for both individuals and businesses. We offer many free services including membership on our interactive networking website. We also host and sponsor networking events and we participate in various types of events that benefit both businesses and individuals.

For more information or to RSVP, please visit our website at www.TheNetWorks.org. We can also be contacted at 914-302-2598 with any questions or requests to participate. To reserve a tee time please contact Elizabeth at Pelham/Split Rock directly at 718-885-1258 ext. 232. Be sure to mention that you are attending our event in order to qualify for the discounted rate.

source: The NetWorks release

Editor's note: Puerto Rico Sun is a project of Puerto Rico Sun Communications. I'm honored to be part of this lineup for Bronx Week.

Viva Cultura in the Bronx

Go to my site at Examiner for my interview with the Bronx Council on the Arts' Leenda Bonilla and the upcoming Saturday Culture Trolley in the Bronx celebrating Puerto Rican heritage.

Here's the link:

http://www.examiner.com/x-11970-NY-Latino-Community-Examiner~y2009m6d4-Viva-Cultura-Saturday-trolley-celebrates-Puerto-Rican-heritage-in-the-Bronx

June is Puerto Rican party time in NYC

Read my article at http://www.examiner.com/x-11970-NY-Latino-Community-Examiner~y2009m6d1-June-is-Puerto-Rican-party-time-in-NYC.

The article focuses on some of NYC's upcoming festivals in celebration of Puerto Rican culture. Also see my photo slideshow.

PRSUN Radio chats with boricua actress Jazmin Caratini

Actress Jazmin Caratini is my guest at 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio. She is currently based in Puerto Rico. We'll talk on her acting career, her time in New York City and her transition back to Puerto Rico. We'll also chat on her current and future projects.

Jazmin is an ACE-nominated actress. She was nominated for Best Actress in Classical Theater 2006 (NY) and for Best Actress in Drama 2007 (NY).

For more, go to my blog at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

UPDATE: Listen to my interview with Jazmin at

Don Juan Mari Bras to visit El Maestro

Community calendar

Puerto Rican citizen DON JUAN MARI BRAS

“La Ciudadania Puertorriquena de los Boricuas en E.U.”

6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 11
EL MAESTRO, INC.
1029 E. 167th St.
For more info, (646) 337-67775

Sponsors: EL MAESTRO, PARTIDO NACIONALISTA-JUNTA DE N.Y., COMITE 27 DE OCTUBRE, FUNDACION ANDRES FIGUEROA CORDERO,N.Y. FRIENDS OF PUERTO RICO AT THE ONU

*There will be a bomba and plena cultural performance as part of this event featuring Don Juan Mari Bras.

My new exhibit: Visions of Puerto Rico

Exhibition: Visions of Puerto Rico & Puerto Rican Pride

June 12th – 28th – Opening Show 7-10 p.m. on June 12th

Clemente Soto Velez Cultural & Educational Center, Inc.

107 Suffolk Street, Manhattan

Contact: Mia Roman Hernandez - artbymamamia@yahoo.com / 646-361-6448

About the show:

“Visions of Puerto Rico & Puerto Rican Pride” Celebrates Puerto Rican culture through Photography. The show will include more than fifty works by emerging and established artists from Puerto Rico, Miami Fl. and New York City. Each artist brings a unique style and vision. These artists have discovered the beauty, tales and the history to their culture in which has been incorporated into their craft of photography. Some of the pieces will depict Community, Urban settings, Music, Nature, Family, Politics and Spirituality. The photos will embrace the cultural empowerment of the Puerto Ricans and their pride. The photos will evoke emotion, feeling and discussion. We have bridged a gap between the Puerto Ricans on the Island and the Puerto Ricans out side of the island and this exhibit is the result of that connection.


Art is an expression of the unconscious and is dedicated to the free expression of feeling.


About CSV/ Clemente Soto Velez Cultural & Educational Center, Inc.:

The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center, Inc. (CSV), a 501 (C) 3 not-for-profit, was founded in 1993. The CSV Cultural Center is a Puerto Rican/Latino cultural institution that has demonstrated a broad-minded cultural vision and a collaborative philosophy. While CSV's mission is focused on the cultivation, presentation and preservation of Puerto Rican and Latino culture, it is equally determined to operate in a multi-cultural and inclusive manner, housing and promoting artists and performance events that fully reflect the cultural diversity of the Lower East Side and the city as a whole.


Artists include:

Clarisel Gonzalez, Mia Roman Hernandez, Elena Marrero, Vivien Perez, Carissa Hernandez, Christopher Lopez, Susan Alvarez, Marcelino Pagan, Luis Cordero, Pepper Negron, Marie Paola Martinez, Gamalier Martinez, Gerardo Javier Melendez Silvagnoli, Marielly Martinez, Ismael Nunez, Pablo Colon, Eliud Martinez

source: Art by Mia press release