Director Victor Cruz speaks on his short film 'La Operacion'

Examiner speaks to Victor Cruz  on his "La Operacion (The Operation)," a short 15 minute film he directed on the sterilization of Puerto Rican women during the 1940s.

The synopsis of Victor's film is based on a bill passed in 1937, which allowed the sterilization of women on the island and the decision one woman makes on whether to go ahead with the procedure.

"La Operacion" is now part of the lineup of short program playing at the New York International Latino Film Festival in Manhattan.

Victor grew up in the South Bronx. 

For more, go to my Examiner site at http://www.examiner.com/x-11970-NY-Latino-Community-Examiner~y2009m7d30-Director-Victor-Cruz-speaks-on-his-short-film-La-Operacion

Tango y bolero with the Bronx Arts Ensemble and Raul Juarena

Things to do in the Bx

The Bronx Arts Ensemble’s final performance of the SummerMusic 2009 music series offers sinuous “Tango Y Bolero,” Sunday, August 9 at 2 p.m. at Rockwood Drive Circle, Van Cortlandt Park, near Broadway and Mosholu Avenue and 4 p.m. at McGinley Center at Fordham University. Popular tango artists returning to the BAE SummerMusic series include Raul Jaurena, bandoneón player; Marga Mitchell, vocalist; Ruben Isola, bassist; Emilio Deuval and Octavio Brunetti, piano and tango dancers, Carolina and Estefan. Take part in an afternoon of beautiful music and learn a few dance steps from professional tango and bolero dancers.

Raul Jaurena and Marga Mitchell have appeared at Tango Fest on Broadway, International Tango Festival in Montevideo, Uruguay, Tango & Tango at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center and at New York’s World Financial Center, as well as the Ravinia Festival in Chicago and the International Tango Festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Van Cortlandt Park is providing limited seating so be sure to bring a folding chair to guarantee your comfort. In case of rain, the first program will be moved to Vladeck Hall, Amalgamated Houses, Hillman Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park South. Please call the office after 11 am at 718 601-7399 if the weather is questionable.

For further information/travel directions: 718 601-7399 or bronxartsensemble.org.

source: Bronx Arts Ensemble

Editor's Note: If you have a free event especially related to Latino culture and the Bronx, feel free to e-mail me at bronxlatinoblog (at) yahoo.com. Selected items are featured for our "Things to do in the Bx" section.

Re: The Death of former NY State Senator Olga Mendez

“Olga Mendez was a great role model not only for the residents of her Bronx and Manhattan district, but across the United States. As the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the New York State legislature, she opened doors for all who came after her, myself included. She was a tireless advocate for the concerns of her constituents, and she will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers, as well as those of all Bronxites, are with her family as they mourn her loss.” -- Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Pictures of the Bronx Dominican Parade

From the lens of Ismael Nunez @ the Bronx Dominican Parade last Sunday.

Ismael Nunez is a member of the Bronx Latino photo group at flickr.

Senate Judiciary Cmte Votes On Sotomayor Nomination

Wise Bronx Latina Sonia Sotomayor is a step closer to serving on the US Supreme Court.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-6 today to clear the way for Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation as the first Puerto Rican and Hispanic Supreme Court Justice. She grew up in the Bronx.

Check out this video posted on YouTube to see the vote. The video, which is coverage from C-Span, is not exciting, but I thought I'd share anyway because it is an important historic vote. It looks as though we will have a Latina on the US Supreme Court after all. 

The vote split along partisan lines of course. Her nomination process now moves on to the full Senate. A vote for this lifetime post is expected next week.

source: NewsPoliticsNews at YouTube

The NY International Latino Film Festival celebrates anniversary with movies

The New York International Latino Film Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a rich lineup of feature length flicks, documentaries and short movies highlighting Latino culture of course. The festival, which runs until Sunday, is also a time to star watch.
For more, go to
http://www.examiner.com/x-11970-NY-Latino-Community-Examiner~y2009m7d28-The-NY-International-Latino-Film-Festival-celebrates-anniversary-with-movies


I'm the NY Latino Community Examiner. Have story ideas for my Examiner column, feel free to e-mail me at clariselgonzalez (at) yahoo.com.

Ray Viera y Trombao to perform at 52 Playground Park

Things to do in the Bx

Ray Viera y Trombao is the latest Bx Indie performance to be featured at this celebrated local community park named after the advocacy group 52 People for Progress, Inc. that has helped successfully maintain this amazing public property since 1980.

Ray and his group will perform a unique blend of music. He is one of the new generation “Soneros” who blends the traditional style of Salsa with the flexibility of a crooner and a progressive, modern sound.

Wednesday / July 29 / 7:30pm & 9:30pm / Free Concert

52 Playground Park / Teatro Miranda

Kelly St between Ave. St. John and Leggett Ave.

The Bronx Dominican Parade is this Sunday

The Bronx parade this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. The parade kicks off at 1 p.m. Sunday from East Tremont down to E. 167th Street. The route is along the Grand Concourse. For more information, http://galoscorp.com/index.php?option=com_easycalendar&task=view&id=17&Itemid=36

(photo by Clarisel Gonzalez)

NYC Uncapped

NYC Uncapped

Check out this report by Adrienne Cortez, a landscape architect whose work explores themes of urban sustainability and the use of existing infrastructure as a framework for deploying green technologies. Last year she received a New York State Council on the Arts Independent Projects grant to pursue research on that quintessential urban summer pastime of playing in the rushing waters of open fire hydrants. Her subsequent project, nyc:uncapped, explores the social, physical, and environmental implications of this practice, and proposes an alternative strategy for beating the heat that encourages neighborhood recreational activity while dramatically reducing water waste.

Hispanic New York Project: A Judge's Puerto Rican Heritage, As American As Mango Pie

Hispanic New York Project: A Judge's Puerto Rican Heritage, As American As Mango Pie

Sotomayor LEMC PSA Lin-Manuel Miranda

This public service announcement by Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist, Lin-Manuel Miranda, famous for writing and starring in the Broadway musical "In the Heights," is part of a series of PSA's, in both English and Spanish, were developed by a team of independent, New York-based Latina producers in support of Judge Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination. The creators hope to raise awareness among an increasingly diverse U.S. Latino constituency about Judge Sotomayor's experience, credentials and qualifications. They also seek to motivate people from all walks of life to learn more about the nomination process and to contact their local Senator in support of Judge Sotomayor. The spots, which will primarily be seen on the internet, offer striking insights into how Latinos in America see themselves.

About LEMC: The Mission of the Latino Educational Media Center is to produce and distribute educational media materials in all technology and promote Latino media arts in order to represent the full spectrum and dynamic reality of Latinos in the United States, and to offer Latinos opportunities in media through a wide array of programs. The PSA's will be archived at LEMC for future historical review. www.lemctr.org
In addition to those mentioned above, the following professionals and companies have donated their services, time and equipment towards the success of this campaign.

source: LEMC at YouTube

Sotomayor Pledges Impartial Justice if Confirmed

Sonia Sotomayor who hails from the Bronx pledges Monday to serve as an impartial justice if she is confirmed for a post on the U.S. Supreme Court. She would become the first Hispanic if she is named. Listen to what she has to say.

source: AP at YouTube

Tool of War Summer Park Jams

2009 CROTONA PARK JAMS

(Week One)

By Francisco Reyes II

(July 9, 2009) Deja Vu all over again at the 2009 Crotona Park Jams where Hip Hop has come home to roost till the end of the month. Is it still here or is it an illusion -- speaking of the beat that inspired it all. The hundreds who came proved that the movement has not gone away, and the cry of a generation has been heard around the world. However, the celebrated park jam was not all about fun and play. The Headline DJs came to stake their claims. Oh yeah, the list... where do I begin.

At the top of the set was the reigning DMC Champion DJ SUPREME wiping down the asphalt with Bboy sweat. The jam got serious with the arrival of Bronx-born and raised DJ KID CAPRI of Studio 54 and Def Comedy Jam fame. That's right, DJ KID CAPRI. He was all charm and suave with the public image. But when it came to the wheels of steel, on came the game face and move back y'all... somebody was bound to get crooked from the funk jumping off the Friends of Crotona platform.

But the sons of Harlem would not be silent. No, they would not shed a tear with Rapper, comedian, beat-boxer extraordinaire, The Diabolical BIZ MARKIE joining the mix. The sing-a-longs brought the dark, for doing in the park with the scratch inventor himself Mr. "I Got Me A Star on the Bronx Walk of Fame" GRANDWIZZARD THEODORE. RESPECT! That's what that's all about. Joining the GRANDWIZZARD was RAHIEM (Furious Five) who added his flava of rhymes to the beats. Of course, GRANDMASTER CAZ threw a few rhymes of his own out there while MCing during the weather perfect evening.

In the house were POPMASTER FABEL, MC PEBBLEE POO, DANNY DAN the BEATMAN, and DJ DISCO WIZ who was signing copies of "IT's JUST BEGUN" -- the book based on the story of his life. Also in the house were graffiti artists ERIC ORR, JINX and LAVA I & II. Shout out to the BBoys who made the scene because Hip Hop is a 360 degree living thing. There are three more scheduled jams at Crotona Park before the series moves on to Harlem.

The series is free at the Crotona Park Amphitheater at Charlotte Street and Crotona Park East from 5-9 p.m. The next one is July 16th featuring Afrika Bambaataa, Kool DJ Alert & DJ Jazzy Jay. DJ Jazzy Joyce and DJ Scratch + perform July 23rd, and DJ Cash Money, DJ Lord Finess & GrandMaster Caz take the stage July 30th. The host for the series is GrandMaster Caz.

Photo and text courtesy of www.mamboso.net.

Photo: The Original DJ JAZZY JAZ (left), BIZ MARKIE (center) and DJ KID CAPRI (right)

On boricua/Latino bloggers at PRSUN Radio

I have been blogging since 2004. Actually, this month Puerto Rico Sun (www.prsun.blogspot.com) celebrates its blogosversary. So, I'm an old school blogger. Since then, I have started up several other blogs (including this Bronx Latino blog, which I started in March 2008) and have become very much involved in social networking as a way to fulfill my mission of informing, empowering and building community.

Listen to what I have to say about PRSUN, Bronx Latino and more in my latest PRSUN Radio episode.

Happy blogosversary to PRSUN and to all my readers, visitors, fans, supporters, advertisers. You all are helping to build community. Thank you.

The Puerto Rico Sun and Bronx Latino blogs are projects of Puerto Rico Sun Communications.

On a South Bronx street

The mix of flags (usually they are all Puerto Rican flags) and the hanging sneakers definitely caught my eye as I drove on this South Bronx street. I mainly took the photo because of the flags. I love shooting flags, but the hanging sneakers is a good plus. (photos by Clarisel Gonzalez)

For more photos, visit http://flickr.com/photos/clarisel.

La Reina Rhina Valentin chats with PRSUN Radio

Click to listen to my interview tonight with La Reina Rhina Valentin. She is the host of Bronxnet's "Open" and runs her own production company La Reina Productions, LLC.

She works in many different areas in the arts and entertainment industry. She's a producer, director, performance artist, emcee, comedic actress, dancer, writer, and an arts educator. She's also about to give birth to her baby girl.

Here's a photo of Rhina in one of her performances in the Bronx.

For her full bio, go to my blog at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

Check out Rhina in action at www.youtube.com/rhinavalentin.

(photo by Clarisel Gonzalez)