Results tagged “puertoricans”

For decades East Harlem has been the center of New York's Puerto Rican community. Over the years many Mexican and Dominican immigrants have also made East Harlem their home. Now, as the squeeze of affordable housing gets tighter and tighter in Manhattan, more middle-class professionals are moving to the neighborhood. In a tale almost as old as New York itself, the changes have long-time residents worried about the loss of community.

Yesterday's Puerto Rican Day Parade shimmered along Fifth Avenue, although there were some problems. In a nutshell, a police officer was slashed, gang members tried to crash the parade, three people were stabbed - 175 arrests all told. Oh, and two on-duty police officers were accused of groping women! The Daily News says that many men "wearing black-and-gold Latin Kings shirts" wanted to march, but the police claimed they found a gun and knives on them; a "self-proclaimed gang member" told the Daily News, "We just come over here to enjoy our day." And the police are investigating the groping incidents. While some people worry about Puerto Ricans being more "destructive" than other paraders the city sees over the year, Gothamist just thinks there's something about a parade with a lot of people in the sultry, steamy heat that must make people crazy - imagine if the St. Patrick's Day Parade were during the summer. Still, there's something pretty cool about seeing a flatbed truck, decorated with Puerto Rican flags and people, zooming down West End Avenue at 6PM.

With the 10th Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade around the corner on Sunday, the Mayor is asking businesses along Fifth Avenue not to board up. In past years, violent incidents have caused damage to some stores and apartment buildings, making some owners think it's better to play it safe during the parade, which has had some controversy, most infamously the 2000 wildings in Central Park. For instance, the Post reports that metal fences are being put up at 1035 Fifth Avenue while tall green panels are being placed at 820 Fifth. Mayor Blooomberg is insinuating that these actions are an insult to Puerto Ricans, though some wonder if this is his way to gain Hispanic support.

Some downtown residents mourned the loss of a two year old rooster who made friends with the Chinese and Puerto Ricans in the neighborhood (he was crushed by his "owner"'s car - accidentally). The NY Times said the rooster held "Ludlow Street in thrall". Gothamist found an exchange about what to do with the rooster's body telling and we liked this description:

"People would say, 'I feel like I'm in Puerto Rico,'" said Chico Soto, who is a warehouseman for Smart Food, a restaurant supply company down the block from Loi's garage. It looked liked a fighting cock, he said. "I know how they look. It had that fighting look: big body, tall, long legs."

Continue reading "R.I.P. Pancho the Rooster"

When meeting friends in the city for Mexican food, Gothamist has learned to accept the fact that sometimes the food itself will leave something to be desired as the lethal margaritas and tequilas take center stage. Never one to rain on our friends' fiestas, we have been known to tuck into some substandard guacamole and not complain, enjoying the atmosphere and overlooking the cuisine. And sure, we've even been known to frequent a neighborhood Mexican joint that is more cute than culinarily adventurous because of the convenience factor.

The US Means Basketball team lost a stunner yesterday to the tiny island of Puerto Rico 92-73, dropping its all time Olympic basketball record to 109-3. It wasn’t the loss itself that was so shocking, never mind that Team USA had beaten Puerto Rico five times in exhibitions since July, it was the manner in which they lost. Puerto Rico held the lead for 33 of the game’s 40 minutes.

The Grand Marshall of the parade was the CEO of Banco Popular, Richard Carrion. More pictures at the Daily News.

Remy Stern, New Yorkish

Author Jonathan Lethem gets the work up: A profile AND Michiko review in the Times today. The reason? His new book, Fortress of Solitude, his first since his National Book Critics Circle-winning, Motherless Brooklyn. Ah, the Doubleday publicists are earning their keep.

At 11AM, thousands are going to be celebrating the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Fifth Avenue,between 44th and 86th Streets. The New York Times writes about how Fifth Avenue is literally bracing itself for the excitement - think lots of plywood.