Lunatics, Hot Fun, Summer in the City

¡Hola! Everybody...
Two things: Puerto Ricans are not immigrants. Puerto Rico is part of the United States and Puerto Ricans are US citizens, you dumb muthafuckas. I was listening to CNN and MSNBC yesterday morning and so-called journalists are getting this shit wrong! This is a lot like the language the media was using to describe the (mostly African American) victims of Katrina. Would you call someone who moved from Armpit, Utah to New York City an immigrant?!!

Secondly, why does holocaust denier Pat Buchannan get so much air time? He’s as fringe as fringe gets. He's lunatic fringe! And how do they allow him to get away with saying that Sonia Sotomayor is an “affirmative action” hire? She’s one of the most qualified nominees in 100 years. WTF?!! Sometimes it seems to me that no matter how accomplished the individual, entrenched whites will find a way to denigrate the accomplishments of a member of a perceived minority.

Latino/as here are overwhelmed and rightly so. One of our shining lights will ascend to the highest court in the land...

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-=[ Summer in the City ]=-

It is said that on any given day, there are at least 100 free things to do in The City. Everything that you can think of -- from free yoga lessons in Central Park to free concerts by some of the most famous acts in the world. Summer in the city means that the free entertainment heats up a long with the weather. For salsa fans, this means weekly concerts at the various downtown venues -- free concerts at Battery Park City, The Seaport, Wagner Park, and the World Financial Center. Summer in the city means the Mid-Summer Night’s Swing series, where you can spend warm summer nights at Lincoln Center and dance to the hottest bands in one of the most romantic venues the city has to offer.

Summer in the city means being able to see and enjoy acts from the widest musical and artistic range possible -- stuff you never even dreamed about! There are the free Sunday tango lessons by Central Park’s Fountain, for example, and the free tai chi at Battery Park City.

In a couple of weeks, Boricuas will be in full effect and there are the pre-Puerto Rican Day Parade concerts in El Barrio.

People, if you’ve never visited The Center of the Known Universe, then you should. There is no other city like The City -- there’s no place like it in the world, period. Please drop the hick assumptions and anything you may have heard about The City. The City has to be experienced. I was born and raised here, which is a lot different POV than even those who moved here later in life. Transplants could never know the New York I have known and know. I could go on and on, but I won’t. I will, however, give you all a quick rundown of free going-ons with relevant links.

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Unless otherwise noted, events are free.

Lincoln Center (click here for more info)

LC’s Damrosch Park Bandshell and Josie Robertson Plaza and South Plaza are the sites for some of the best free offerings in NYC. The bandshell is a breezy space with a modernistic-looking bandshell. I’ve seen Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Hugh Masekela and countless other acts for free here. Over by the fountain is the site of the Midsummer Night Swing concert series, if you need to move your hips to salsa and swing music. The concerts aren’t free, but you can stay by the fountain and still see, hear, and dance to the music. The South Plaza, which separates the bandshell from the fountain, hosts mainstream jazz and latin jazz acts

Central Park Summerstage (click here for more info)

One of NYC’s most legendary venues, the Summerstage can accommodate 10,000 fans! The acts are amazing in the diversity they represent, which is one of the luxuries of living here. I can go on at length of how nice spending a summer afternoon enjoying the sun, music, and the companionship of friends. I believe there is a minimal fee or requested donation.

Randalls Island (click here for more info)

Randalls Island is the venue for Cirque du Soleil and other multi-stage acts.

The P.S. 1Contemporary Art Center (click here for more info)

One of the best-kept secrets of Summer in The City, party-goers have been attending summer afternoon warm up sessions at P.S. 1. Held within the sunny atmosphere of its courtyard, up to 3,000 partiers come and party to some of the best DJs in the world! Past years have showcased the best in the underground music scene and live acts.

Hudson River Park’s Pier 54 (click here for more info)

Great venue overlooking the Hudson River and featuring Rock, Latin Funk, and R&B on Thursdays, Live salsa and swing bands on Sundays, and free movies (outdoors!) on Wednesdays.

McCarren Park Pool (click here for more info)

When I was a kid, everybody from all over would go to Brooklyn’s McCarren park pool in the summer. Its capacity was 6,000! LOL! Oh man! The stories we could tell! I don’t really care much for the acts here, but the real draw is the free Sunday up-and-coming acts (click here for more info) and a frighteningly competitive dodge ball tournament! LOL!

South St. Seaport, Pier 17 (click here for more info)

The site of the now defunct (I think) and wildly popular Wednesdays Tropical Nights, it’s now been turned into an indie rock crap. Thursdays are still cool with some great R&B acts and there’s nothing like sunset, ship’s masts and a couple thousand people grooving to the beat.

There’s much more -- I haven’t included the Salsa Sundays concerts at Orchard Beach, nor the great concerts at Central Park’s only conservatory (right by El Barrio!). I gotta go now, but there’s lots more stuff to be added, so stay tuned for updates to this blog!

Love,

Eddie