Latino Vote May Be Crucial In Midterm Elections

Presidential candidates of both parties have long vied for Latino voters, but this is a midterm year and a new report from America's Voice, a group working for comprehensive immigration reform, suggests Latino voters will be a potentially decisive force in 37 House and Senate races, plus contests for governor in California, Colorado and Texas. Politics Daily's Jill Lawrence reports ... read more

Also on this issue:
A warning for Democrats and Republicans (El Diario La Prensa)

MUST SEES Arts & Film / February 9 - 16

February 9-16 (different schedules) Maysles Cinema. The Maysles Institute presents an array of documentaries by Latino and Latin American filmmakers. February 9 (7.30 pm) Intimacies (Yulene Olaizola, 2009). February 10 (7.30 pm) The Old Thieves (Everardo Gonzalez, 2007). February 11 (7.30 pm) NoONE (Tin Dirdamal, 2005). Friday 12 (7.30 pm) Sugar Pathways (Johanna Bermudez-Ruiz, 2009). February 13 (5.30 pm) To the Other Side (Natalia Almada, 2005). February 13 (7.30 pm) In the Pit (Juan Carlos Rulfo, 2006). February 16 (7.30 pm) Nueva Yol (Angel Muniz, 1995). All movies shown at the Maysles Cinema, 343 Malcolm X Boulevard between 127th and 128th Streets, $10 suggested admission. For more information, click here or call 212-582-6050.

February 11 (4.30 pm) Movies at MoMA. The Museum of Modern Art presents Sentinels of Silence (Robert Amram, 1971), a short film celebrating Mexico's pre-Columbian heritage. At MoMA's Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 1, 11 West 53rd Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues). Ticket prices vary. For more information, click here or call 212-708-9400.

February 12-13 (different schedules) Made in Mad(rid) - Madrid in New York. The Regional Government of Spain's capital city presents a series of short and long feature films by graduates of the Madrid Film School. February 12 - Madrid New Cinema I (7pm): Di Me Que Yo (Mateo Gil, 2009), La Verguenza (David Planell, 2009). Madrid New Cinema II (9 pm): Tu (A)mor (Fernando Franco, 2009), La Mujer Sin Piano (Javier Rebollo, 2009). February 13 - Madrid En Corto (5pm): Una Vida Mejor (Luis Fernandez Reneo, 2009), Parking (Jorge Molina, 2009), La Tama (Martín Costa, 2009), Doppelganger (Oscar de Julián, 2009), Metropolis Ferry (Juan Gautier, 2009), The End (Eduardo Chapero-Jackson, 2009). Film and History (7 pm) Sangre de Mayo (José Luis Garci, 2008). All films are in Spanish with English subtitles. Free and open to the public. At the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center, 53 Washington Square South. Simultaneous screening in Washington, D.C. For more information, click here or call 212-998-3650.

February 12 (6-9 pm) Washington Heights Academy Arts Show Fundraiser. The Washington Heights Academy hosts its third annual Arts Benefit show, which gives children the opportunity to act as professional artists selling their work, curating a show, and guiding tours. Tickets are $5 for adults, free for children; all proceeds will go to arts programming. At Our Saviour’s Atonement Church, 178 Bennett Avenue at 189th Street. For more information, send email to info@nomaanyc.org or call 212-942-1450.

February 13 (2-6 pm) El Museo’s Simposio: Nexus New York. In connection with its present exhibition, El Museo del Barrio presents an evening of conversations with established scholars and current graduate students in the field of Latin American modern art. At El Museo, 1230 Fifth Avenue (at 104th Street). For more information click here or call 212-831-7272.

Ongoing:

Through May 4: Nature, Once Removed: The (Un)Natural World in Contemporary Drawing. The Lehman College Art Gallery presents a selection of work by 21 contemporary artists who use drawing to explore man’s alienated relationship to nature. Curated by Sean McCarthy, open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am- 4 pm. At the Lehman College Art Gallery, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx. For more information, click here or call 718-960-873.

Through March 18: Memories (sculptures in wood and paintings) Columbia University's Office of Government and Community Affairs presents an exhibition by Harlem-based artist Roni Nicholson. At the Russ Berrie Medical Science Pavilion, 1150 Saint Nicholas Avenue at 168th Street (open Monday through Friday, 9 am-5pm) and the Lasker Biomedical Research Building, 3960 Broadway at 166th Street (open 24 hours, 7 days a week). For more information, click here.

OUT OF NEW YORK:

February 12 (5pm) The Unknown Boricuas + Prisoner: Abu Ghraib: Opening Reception. Brooklyn-based artist Juan Sanchez presents a new body of prints created for Taller Puertorriqueno’s 35th Anniversary exhibition season. . Running through March 27th, 2010, Mondays through Fridays 9 am-5 pm and Saturdays 11 am-5 pm at the Lorenzo Homar Gallery, 2721 North 5th Street, Philadephia. For more information, click here or call 215-426-4258.

Junot Diaz Among Recipients of 2010 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award

Junot Díaz, Maxine Hong Kingston, and M. L. Liebler are the recipients of the 2010 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award, and Pat Strachan is the recipient of the Editor’s Award, it was announced today by Elliot Figman, executive director of Poets & Writers ... read more

Film Review: "A Latino Bronx Tale" - By Mike Hale (NYTimes)

Like a thousand other coming-of-age-in-an-ethnic-family dramas, “Falling Awake” puts good intentions and appealing performances into the balance against clichés of dead-end neighborhoods and rebellious (but sensitive) youth ... read more

Haiti and Duvalier's Long Shadow

In a land utterly impoverished by its historical and geopolitical heritage, says Amy Wilentz, no dechoukaj (uprooting, in Haitian Creole) could fully uproot the longstanding political culture: the desire for a strong leader to make things better single-handedly; the reflexive populist recourse to a cult of personality; the autocratic tendencies of the political class ... read more

Push to Force Monserrate Expulsion Vote in the Senate

A group of Senate Democrats, concerned about efforts within their party to block the removal of a senator convicted of domestic violence, say they will attempt to force a vote to expel him this week even if they cannot win the support of State Senate leaders. New York Times's Jeremy W. Peters reports ... read more 

Book Review: Roberto Bolaño's “Monsieur Pain” - By Will Blythe (New York Times)

The beauty of this slender mystery novel -- originally published in 1999 and now translated from the Spanish by the estimable Chris Andrews --  is that it doesn’t behave much like a mystery novel ... read more

The Literary Legacy of Tomás Eloy Martínez (1934-2010) - By Pablo De Santis (La Nación)

The divide between literature and journalism is always arbitrary, especially in the case of authors such as Tomás Eloy Martínez, who made of the links between both areas (which are one single world, after all) the centerpiece and the source of appeal of his work ... read more (In Spanish)

Read here the complete T.E.M tribute issue (adn Cultura - La Nación)

US Census Bureau Launches Videos on 2010 Census

"A New Portrait of America," the series of short videos produced by the Census Bureau, introduces the 2010 Census to the general public and various specific communities. For the Latino community, in English, click here and here; in Spanish, click here; for Puerto Rico, in Spanish, click here.

A 'P-Star' is born - By Maite Junco (Daily News)

The opening scene of the documentary on the young rapper Priscilla Star (P-Star) Díaz,which had its world premiere at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival and airs next Tuesday at 10 p.m. on PBS, shows a pint-size girl in a pink parka entering a New York club at 2 a.m. and taking to the stage ... read more

Graffiti’s Story, From Vandalism to Art to Nostalgia - By David Gonzalez (New York Times)

In the 1970s, Eric Felisbret was one of those budding graffiti writers who stole into train yards to spray their intricate tangles of kinetic letters and cartoonish characters on the metal skins of subway cars. Now he has published a thick, glossy book, a survey of the art that mirrors his own trajectory -- from outlaw origins to mainstream respectability ... read more 

MUSIC & DANCE / February 5 - 11

February 5 (6 pm) Cuban Salsa Lessons. New salsa dance workshops with Sita Frederick and Carlos Mateu. From 6 pm - 7 pm open to all levels, 7 pm - 8 pm level two.At “You Should Be Dancing” Dance Center, 412 8th Avenue (between 30th and 31st Streets). For more information click here or call 212-244-0011.

February 5 (8 pm) Yunior Terry and Son de Altura at SOB's. A powerful blend of the traditional and the contemporary, and soul of Havana. Admission: $10 - $15. At SOB's, 204 Varick Street (at West Houston). For more information, click here  or call 212-243-4940.

February 5 - 7 (Fri. And Sat. 8 pm, Sun. 4 pm) Borges and Piazzolla: A Tango Musical. Directed by Raúl Jaurena. Tickets: $30. At the Thalia Spanish Theater, 41-17 Greenpoint Avenue, Sunnyside, Queens. Through March 21st. For more information and tickets, click here  or call 718-729-3880.

February 5 (10 pm) Latin Fridays. La Mezcla’s (96.3 FM) live broadcast. Featuring music by DJ Johnny Famolari. Ladies free until 12 am. At Club Providence NYC, 311 West 57th Street (Between 8th and 9th Avenues). For more information, click here or call 646-739-8219.

February 6 (10 pm) Rock and Cumbia from Argentina. Featuring Electroshock, Babel, S.U.R and El Aguante. At D’Antigua, 84-16 Northern Boulevard, Queens. For more information, click here or call 718-779-0128.

February 6 (8 pm - 10 pm) Cuban Nights at Havana Central. Enjoy some classic Cuban rhythms brought to you live by Ochún, one of New York City's favorite dance bands. Free event, reservations recommended. At Havana Central Times Square, 151 West 46th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). For reservations or more information, click here  or call 212-398-7440.

February 6 (7 pm) Caribe Negro for Haiti! A fundraiser for earthquake survivors and New York-based Haitian artists who have lost family members in the recent tragedy. Featuring Alma Moyo, Bryan Vargas and Ya Esta, Zon del Barrio, Welfare Poets, Vaya, Kalunga Neg Mawon, and Paleros Dominicanos de Nueva York Vente Tu! Includes an Afro-Dominican dance class from 7 pm - 8 pm and an Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba Dance Class from 8 pm - 9 pm. Donation: $20 for 2 dance classes and concert, $15 for concert. At The Bruckner Bar and Grill, 1 Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx. For more information, click here or call 646-924-7187.

February 6 (7 pm) Hard Dancing Night. Enjoy some lively hits and a cool atmosphere with music brought to you by DJ Chamo. Admission: $10. At Pachita Room (Pacha NYC), 618 West 46th Street (between 11th and 12th Avenues). For more information, click here or call 212-209-7500.

February 6 (7 pm) Dan Torres at Joe's Pub. With special guest Martin Rivas. Admission: $12. At Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette Street (between East 4th and Astor Place). For tickets and more information, click here  or call 212-967-7555.

February 7 (3 pm) Music with a View. A free composer series curated by Kathleen Supové, featuring a performance by Sabrina Lastman and invited singers Daisy Press, Jeremy Lydic and Raphael Sacks. Free admission. At The Flea Theater, 41 White Street (between Broadway and Church Streets). For more information, click here or call 212-266-2407.

February 9 and 10 (8 pm) Anna Sokolow’s Centennial Celebration. Featuring the Limón Dance Company in Anna Sokolow's masterpiece "Rooms" and José Limón's "There is a Time". Tickets: Adults, $50, Students and Seniors, $20. At the Baryshnikov Arts Center, 450 West 37th Street. For tickets and more information, click here

Februrary 11-21 (check schedule information below) 10th Annual New York Flamenco Festival. Presented by the World Music Institute and the Flamenco Festival, SL. Featuring Rocío Molina, María Pagés, Pastora Galván, Manuel Liñán, Israel Galván, Belén López in her New York debut, and the U.S. debut of guitar maestro José Antonio Rodríguez, Canteca de Macao, Marina Heredia and the Chekara Arab-Andalusian Orchestra of Tetouan. At New York City Center, West 55th Street (between 6th & 7th Avenues). For tickets, schedules, and more information, click here or call 212-545-7536.

THEATER / February 5 - 11

February 5 and 11 (8 pm and 11 am) La Casa de los Espíritus. Isabel Allende’s magical novel adapted for the stage by Caridad Svich. The rise and fall of a patrician family in an un-named Latin American country through several decades of tumultuous sociopolitical changes that culminate in a cruel dictatorship. Directed by José Zayas. In Spanish with a live English translation. Tickets start at $25.At Teatro Repertorio Español, 138 East 27th Street (between Lexington and Third Avenues). For tickets and further information, click here or call 212-889-2850.

February 6 (3 pm) La Cucarachita Martina (Martina, the Little Roach). A Latin Rock ’n’ Roll musical based on a popular Cuban and Puerto Rican children’s tale. At Teatro SEA. 107 Suffolk Street, 2nd Floor. General Admission: Children $12.50, Adults $15.00. It is recommended that you purchase your tickets in advance. For tickets and more information, click here or call 212-529-1545.

February 6 (8 pm) Pantaleón y las Visitadoras. Mario Vargas Llosa's novel, adapted for the stage by Verónica Triana and Jorge Alí Triana, with music by Andrés Cabas. Directed by Jorge Alí Triana. Captain Pantaleón Pantoja, a model soldier, is recruited by the Peruvian army for an outlandish mission. In Spanish with simultaneous English translation. Tickets start at $25. VIP seating is available. At Teatro Repertorio Español, 138 East 27th Street (between Lexington and Third Avenues). For more information, click here or call 212-889-2850.

February 7 (2:30 pm) La gringa. By Carmen Rivera, directed by René Buch. María, a native New Yorker, travels to Puerto Rico for the first time in search of her roots. In Spanish with simultaneous English translation available for $3; please indicate if you need this service at time of reservation. Tickets start at $25. VIP seating is available. At Teatro Repertorio Español, 138 East 27th Street (between Lexington and Third Avenues). For tickets and further information, click here or call 212-889-2850.

February 9 (11 am) La casa de Bernarda Alba. By Federico García Lorca, directed by René Buch. Presented in Spanish with live simultaneous English translation available for $3; please indicate if you need translation at the time of reservation. Tickets start at $25. VIP Seats Available. Seats for weekday matinee performances for students are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. At Teatro Repertorio Español, 138 East 27th Street (between Lexington and Third Avenues). For tickets and further information, click here or call 212-889-2850.

February 9 (8 pm) El pez gordo (The Fat Fish). By Roger Rueff. A humorous and brilliant production about three businessmen who throw a party in order to acquire more employees. At the Kirk Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues). For tickets and more information, click here or call 212-246-6770.

February 10 (7:30 pm - 9 pm) Brownsville Bred. One-woman show written and performed by Elaine Del Valle. Back by popular demand, one of the most successful series in the history of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, the inspiring true story of a Latina's coming of age in the 1980's ghetto of Brownsville, Brooklyn. At the Nuyorican Poets Café, 236 East 3rd Street (between Avenues B and C). For more information and tickets, click here or call 212-780-9386.

The First Mutiracial Superpower?

When people think of U.S.'s power (or imminent lack of it), they tend to point to GDP or military prowess. Few have focused, says Joel Kotkin, on what may well be the country's most historically significant and powerful weapon: its emergence as the modern world's first multiracial superpower ... read more

Some Literary Events/ February 4 - 12

All events free unless otherwise noted.

February 5 (6:30 pm) Capicu Poetry Open Mic with Hebrew Mamita and La Barbilona. Famed Williamsburg's grassroots house of poetry and performing arts Capicu Poetry and Cultural Showcase hosts its first 2010 Open Mic session feauturing Vanessa Hidari (The Hebrew Mamita), Anna Marie "La Barbilona" Martell, and the music of DJ Sambarella. Cover is $7. At Notice Lounge and Cafe, 198 Union Avenue (between Broadway and Montrose), Williamsburg, Brooklyn. For more information, click here.

February 7 (12 pm) Kid Spanish at Barnes and Noble. La Semilla (The Seed), a Spanish-language workshop for children ages 12 and under, offers a free sample class that incorporates storytelling to teach in a fun and engaging way. At Lincoln Triangle Barnes and Noble, 1972 Broadway. For more information, click here or call 212-595-6859.

February 7 (12 - 2 pm) Jive Poetic Workshop at Acentos Writers Foundation. For writers of all backgrounds and skill levels to foster growth and help them reach their full potential. The workshops are free, but RSVP is required by sending email to fish@louderarts.com. At Hostos Community College, Room a329, 475 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451. For more information, click here or call 917-209-4211.

February 8 (5:30 - 9 pm) Rosa Saldaña at Vibe Lounge. The Latina Association of Beauty Professions host a special night of training and poetry with Rosa Saldaña, who will read from her latest book  "Passions". Co-sponsored by Movimiento de Mujeres Poetas Dominicanas. Entry fee is $10. At Vibe Lounge, 203 Audubon Avenue 9 (at 175th street). To make reservations, call 213-305-5122. For more information, click here or call 646-420-0904.

February 9 (7 pm) Antonio Muñoz Molina at the King Juan Carlos Center. The author of Sepharad and La noche de los tiempos will give a lecture entitled On The experience of Fiction, an overview of his ideas about the novel. At 53 Washington Square South (between Thompson and Sullivan Street). Picture ID required at door. For more information, click here or call 212-998-3650.

February 10 (6:30 - 9:00 pm) BOMB’s Winter Issue Launch Party at El Museo. Readings and multimedia presentations by contributors to BOMB's Winter Issue, dedicated to Colombia and Venezuela. Moderated by BOMB's senior editor Mónica de la Torre and featuring photographs by Luis Molina Pantin, videos by the Caracas-based team Nacimento/Lovera, and readings by Silvana Paternostro, Esperanza Mayobre, and Luis Pérez-Oramas, among others. At El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Avenue (at 104th Street). For more information, click here or call 212-831-7272.

February 12 (6 - 9:00 pm) Book Presentation: Ricardo León Peña Villa's Gardel novel. Colombian poet and long-time New York resident Ricardo León Peña Villa presents his first novel, Gardel vive en Guarne (Book Press, 2010) At Centro Español - The Spanish Benelovent Society, 239 West 14th Street. Co-sponsored New York Book Expo, Saint James Center, and Deixis Communication. For more information, click here or call 212-929-7873.