El Connoisseur : puerto rican parade

Parade, Latin Rhythmn, & Feeling The Heat

admin — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:26:00 GMT

6/15/08-I was thinking of going to the Puerto Rican parade in
Manhattan andthen reporting here my adventures, but it is
so incredibly hot today that I decided I would have first
row seat from my apartment and watch it on TV. It is
a lot more fun... of course I'm missing the
possibility of sweating profusely, but just for fun I
opened my window and turned off the air conditioner
while I write this, to feel it more “real”.

Basically is the same thing as every year.
Politicians and VIPs marching down, trying to get the
support of the nearly 2 million people that are on
Fifth Avenue. And thousands of people marching with
flags, representing the different coalitions and
organizations.

Something I didn't see before, was a
group of old but restored cars, practically looking in
mint condition. I guess that is another stereotype,
that Latinos are very good at restoring old cars.

I'm watching it with the hosts from channel 9. They
are really talented people, but they fell for some
kind of mistake from their producer and started
following the beat of the music with some sticks and
maracas. Then they got up and danced to something
that was definitely not the rhythm of the music in the
background and they had NO rhythm whatsoever. Then
the flutist Nestor Torres joined them and “taught”
them how to create some music with the sticks and the
maracas while he played a little melody with the
flute... I am sorry to report that it was very
pathetic!

Why do people think that with sticks and maracas they
can create Latin sounding music? Tito Puente is
probably turning on his grave if he is listening to
that!

I think everyone should feel free to do what they
want, and be as bad at it as they are (I'm a terrible
dancer, but I dance every once in a while and don't
care what people think), but I guess I wouldn't do it
on TV, specially if everything seems so stereotyped.
On the other hand, if I was getting paid for that,
then I would have to dance to my terrible rhythm!

The food they showed on TV looks so nice that it made
me hungry for some Pastelón, or empanadillas... well,
I guess I have to go and get dinner at my Puerto Rican
friends. They are also at home avoiding the heat!

Sally de la Puerta

Meeting Ricky Martin & Puerto Rican Parade

admin — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:11:00 GMT

6/8/08

The month of June in New York City comes with a wide
selection of events. Shakespeare in the Park, Bryant
Park Film Festival, Central Park Summer Stage, River
to River Festival, Pride Week, the New York Asian Film
Festival, and one very significant event that brings
into the city over two million people celebrating
their heritage: The National Puerto Rican Day Parade.

On June 8th, if you happen to be in Manhattan, go to
5th Avenue, from 44th to 86th street where you'll be
able to enjoy the heat of the summer with the music of
Salsa along the way.

The good thing is that for one day, every Hispanic in
the city is Puerto Rican. I've been there a couple of
times, and had a good time. It is very crowded and
it's better t use mass transit. The traffic is simply
impossible in the city! Although the last time I was
working covering the event, and I ended up really
exhausted!

This year I want to go to check it out. The King of
the Parade will be no other than Ricky Martin!
I can imagine that the whole avenue will be filled
with women screaming to the King, calling for his
attention, searching for his smile.

I remember when I went to a Ricky Martin Concert at
Madison Square Garden, before his Grammy performance
that made him famous in the United States. I went with
two friends at the last minute. We were surrounded by
women of all ages. Behind us there were 3 generations
of Latinas: the abuela, the mother and the young girl.
They were all screaming like maniacs when Ricky came
out to sing. I enjoyed the concert, but the screaming
neighbors gave me a very bad headache!

I actually got the chance of meeting him face to face
at a Café in Manhattan. I saw him, he went into the
restroom (it was only one restroom) and I waited
outside. I didn't make a big fuss, or even asked for
his autograph. But I “recognized” him, and we shook
hands. Yes, he washed his hands!

So, this year, I'll be Puerto Rican on the 8th of
June, I'll check out Ricky Martin, take some pictures
of him and then I'll be back to being another Hispanic
resident of New York City.

Sally de la Puerta

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