A brief vacation

Saludo mi gente! I've been blogging for almost three years now and I think it's time to take a step back. Sure I have regular columns and thoughts about things but right now I need to calm down and think about some things. I'll be back some time next week...maybe. Please do send me an e-mail if there's something of interest you think I'll be interested in. Until then...hasta pronto!

A random act of culture

As citizens of any city, we always try to find leisure activity. Whether it's a museum, walk in the park or movie, sometimes we find it hard to find something to do. I was so happy to hear about random acts of culture; not to be confused with a flash mob. The Knight Foundation focuses on promoting informed and engaged communities and what better way than engaging a community than with "random acts of culture." As shrinking audiences continue to rise (get it), we have to find more ways to get people involved with these cultural institutions. And a random act of culture is just that! Picture yourself in a mall, train stop, museum, staff meeting, etc. and out of no where you hear the opera company perform Handel or see ballet performers twiddle their toes.

Here's a fun one at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia.



So as we all know Hispanics and African-Americans are more likely to attend a cultural event. Now how do you turn a random act of culture into a "acto aleatorio de cultura?"

America's Best Dance Crew gets Latino...again

Remember AfroBorike from America's Best Dance Crew? Season 4 was probably the most diverse cast I had ever seen. Well now ABDC Season 6 has started and they have taken over the world. With an interested set of dance crews, this season is bound to be awesome. And to add to the awesomeness, let's add the second Latino group to face the terrifying judges. 787 crew hails from (of course) Puerto Rico and brings their distance dance moves and personalities to the stage. Inspired by past ABDC teams, Jabbawockeez and Kabba Modern, they found the real meaning of what it means to be a dance crew.

Unlike AfroBorike, this team looks a little more modern. And by modern I mean hip if that makes sense? AfroBorike brought the introduction of Latino culture while 787 Crew looks like they are about to put in EVERYTHING together. According to a video interview, "we are dancing, flowing, trick." 787 also seems to be a little younger. Either way, here's to seeing some great dancing and all around good representation of Latinos. Will they win? We can only wait and see.

Are you Black in Latin America?

It's one thing to be Latino and another to be Black; but how about being Black in Latin America? Well in less than one week, on April 19, our documentary friends at PBS are launching Black in Latin America. When I think of the title, I think of a few things but the most obvious thought is the African influence in the Latin American diaspora. And it is there! While the Caribbean islands see the diversity, a lot of natives from Central and South America don't seem to understand the African influence.

Black in Latin America, a new four-part series on the influence of African descent on Latin America, is the 11th and latest documentary film from renowned Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., presenter and writer of the acclaimed PBS series African American Lives (2006), Oprah’s Roots (2007), African American Lives 2(2008), Looking for Lincoln (2009), and Faces of America (2010). Six countries (some obvious some not) will be featured in the series. The six countries featured are Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, and they all have a secret history. On his journey, Professor Gates discovers, behind a shared legacy of colonialism and slavery, vivid stories and people marked by African roots.

Reasons why I still love video games

And they say you're too old to play video games.

An International Night in Philadelphia

Spring weather is coming up and we need something to do. This is the time lounges, clubs and bars look for new ways to attract visitors a.k.a. money spenders. A few weeks ago DD Promotions started their first ever International Night at Positano Coast in Old City. International Night is just that, a celebration of our city's diversity. For a small entry of $10, you get a good night of music, food and great people. In addition, if you like the Philadelphia International Night on Facebook, you are automatically entered for a chance to win a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue at the next fiesta on Thursday, April 21, 2011.

On an ironic note, this is all going on at the same time as the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts. Hmmm.

Save the date: El Dia del Niño

I'm a big fan of the Please Touch Museum (PTM) in Philadelphia. Sure I'm not a kid but every time I go for an event or through work, I enjoy not only the building, but also the setting kids are in. It's a positive atmosphere for parents and their kids. Well on Saturday, May 7 Telemundo Philadelphia and the PTM are partnering for their 3rd annual Dia del Niño. This all day event brings together children of all ages (appropriate for the PTM) and includes a mini-studio, music lessons, book readings and more.

More information in the video below:

Orlando wants you feliz

I currently work in the travel/tourism industry, specifically Hispanic marketing, so I'm always intrigued to see what other destinations are working on. I recently came across a print ad for Orlando and was happy to see they are indeed in the business. And by business I mean reaching out to the Hispanic traveler. Note I wouldn't have known the ad was for Orlando if it didn't say Orlando, the photo used could be from ANY destination. Egh.

First off, Orlando's unique url for Spanish visitors is visitorlando.com/feliz. It already makes me feel all tingly inside. And although Orlando is a family destination (and I have no kids nor a wife) but I was happy to see the well thought out page. It's in English and Spanish! I don't remember the last time I saw a tourist web-site in both languages, other than Chicago. And like other destination websites, Orlando provides information on hotels, attractions, calendar of events and more. Fun fact: This year's National Association of Hispanic Journalists' convention will take place in Orlando. Good choice guys.