Tag Archives: #a-big-deal

10 year Gala

If you live on the UES, come support our community at the 10th Anniversary Gala of PS109 El Barrio Artspace. This milestone Gala brings together the artists, neighbors, and supporters who helped shape El Barrio’s Artspace into a vibrant hub of artistic expression. Like every milestone, 10 years down, is the beginning of the next […]

10 years in support

This evening, which just occurred on Saturday, was wonderful. For me, my friends at the table made it even more gala.

Music, food, drink, the best coffee…

Unbeknownst to any of us, my friends had a past connection.

D. never forgets a face and she recognized C. from a workplace they shared 15 years ago. Talk about 6 degrees– no separation!

Follow PS 109 El Barrio Artspace on Instagram. There is a whole of a lot going on up there. All year round.

We need h-i-s-t-o-r-y

We need calm, accurate, factual history to survive this moment. That history, American history, relies on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, 250 years of democracy.

Most of us, by a margin so large that we should not despair, ⅔ of we, the people support that long ingrained democracy. Yes, there are more Americans who stand on the pro-democracy side.

Our national pro-democracy historian is the calm, sane voice of Heather Cox Richardson.

Heather Cox Richardson is a national treasure: share her words and efforts as widely as you can.

Those are just two samples of the exemplary HCR offering her wisdom. Spread it. Far and wide.

A West Side Story

Data mining is bringing us a superb analysis of the effects of urban renewal on the stable, if     impoverished, community of Puerto Ricans who were upended when Lincoln Center was built. And, folks, it turns out there is a lot of data.

Afterlives of San Juan Hill is the CENTRO project that compiled the analysis. The results and illustrations are  now on exhibit at the Hunter College CENTRO, 3rd Avenue and 119th Street. The project was led and curated by Dr. Cristel M. Jusino Diaz with Christopher Lopez. Researchers were: Jorge R. Soldevila Irizarry, Laura Colón Meléndez, Damayra I Figueroa-Lazu.

“You are icons”

W 10th & Hudson Environs of our speakeasy adventure

My doorman remarked on my late night arrival. I said, “I was pulled into a speak.”

My friend D asked the bouncer at this unmarked [or, perhaps, mismarked] venue what the line was and next thing we had a table.

Our ages, though D is more than a generation my junior, made us stand out at this West Village speakeasy.

The youngsters around us were appreciative and friendly. We got every courtesy as they passed our corner perch. A fellow helped me up when we were ready to leave.

One young woman took our picture, murmuring “You are icons,” in approving tones.

The loud tunes had D dancing in her seat, and me repeating “what” in every attempted conversation.

We had eaten down the block at The Warren before going to the theater, so this detour was drinks. Kudos for the joint’s beautiful deep raspberry-colored mocktail.

Thanks to D’s willingness to look behind the curtain (it’s a speak, folks) and take a seat at that coveted table, we had a blast.

Oh, and an extra special thanks to the maitre d’ (bouncer) who brought us in from the sidewalk to the club. Yeah, we cut the line and VIPed our way in!

A red carpet moment.

Look at this

It’s beautiful. I got this print by Sara Morales, Audience of One, delivered today.

The matted and framed artwork is everything and more than I expected it to be.

I don’t acquire art as a usual thing. This picture really spoke to me, so much so that I reached out to SaViana Arts. I am thrilled I did.

It’ll be up on the wall soon.

You’ll join me for the welcome party.

Arts and activities

There is a hidden gem in Spanish Harlem that offers a peaceful cultural experience or rather experiences. It is rare and not as well-known as it justly deserves.

I apologize for the musical oldies  reference. PS109 ArtSpace is at the edge of El Barrio. It provides housing for artists, and studio spaces, as well as Salsa nights and art shows. It is gorgeous. It is pristine.

PS109 offers enough events to invite us, [you and me, everyone], to visit often.

Today, I made a repeat visit with my friend the artist LM, [we go to art  venues together] with a crew of another group of adventurers.

We were given a full tour of the galleries and other public spaces. Our friend F planned a return tonight with his wife to see a play in the little blackbox theater.

We went off to dine nearby on the recommendation of Rolinda Ramos, the director of PS109 ArtSpace El Barrio.

This is the 10th anniversary of PS109, located at 215 E 99th St, which gives you the excuse to drop by at least 10 times this year.