Monday, August 13, 2007

Good Times (in la Gran Manzana) once again and otra vez!



Ediciones CEDIBIL from the hermana República Dominicana brought its Catálogo de Novedades to the City. A swanky affair at the Rio Gallery in upper Manhattan with good food and delicious sangría, during the event the editorial seal based in Santo Domingo presented two anthologies by esteemed Dominican bibliographer and author Miguel Collado (second from the left).

The two titles are: Ideario de Pedro Henrquez Ureña, which collects under one name a series of quotes and statements by the late Dominican statesman and humanist of the title, and El fantasma de Trujillo, an anthology of stories written with the infamous Latin American Dictator and his cruel regime as its main subject.

You can email the Editorial at cedibil_milenio@yahoo.com to request additional information on its many titles.

At the event LTTM indulged in many joyful conversations with a slew of talented and productive Dominican writers, artists, cultural promoters and poets all living in the city that never sleeps. ¡Pa’lante Quisqueya! The City obviously embraces all your good vibes.

Isaías Amaro, a self-described folklorist, researcher, artisan and freelance journalist, was the invited artist and a stunning and colorful collection of his traditional carnival masks were on display. The artist regaled LTTM with a copy of his published tome titled Mi Carnaval de Santiago. ¡Gracias, hermano!



Printed in Spanish, Mi Carnaval de Santiago takes a close look at the traditional Santiago de los Caballeros carnival. Lavishly illustrated throughout with photos and prints from the age-old tradition, the book contains poetry, popular lyrics, as well as historical notes and personal accounts by the author on the popular religious celebration.

Go to www.vainasdominicanas.blogspot.com for additional information on this book and the artist’s work.

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Take heed, all Ye Latino, Hispanic and other Americano writers, publishers and editorial houses: the Feria Internacional del Libro – Puerto Rico (FIL-PR) is inviting ya’ll to take part of the upcoming Feria celebrating the popular book event’s first decade. The Feria will be held at Puerto Rico’s newly constructed Convention Center, a state of the art and very elegant facility that, in the humble opinion of LTTM, is the Jewel of the Condado. Yes, indeed!

This year the not-for-profit FIL-PR is dedicating the Feria to children and adolescent oriented literature.

The FIL-PR 10th Anniversary Edition will run from the 14th to the 18th of November.

Look forward to the literary activities and musical entertainment to be featured at the Café de lo Poetas, smack-dab in the midst of the Fair. A Big Apple presence is essential to make the whole affair a total success.

Come on, New York Latinos - we can do it!

Max Resto, the LTTM's head cheese, has been honored as the FIL-PR New York Delegate so don't hesitate to email mresto@hotmail.com for more info.

See ya’ll at La Feria! And remember to Read on, brothers!

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Good Times (in la Gran Manzana) uno, dos y tres

Israel López Cachao’s recent weeklong gig at the Blue Note provided several memorable nights of great Cuban classics as well as some entertaining onstage antics by El Maestro and his croonies. El Maestro Cachao, the inventor of the mambo, is still going strong in his eighth decade on the planet. What a show!

Also in the audience to see and hear Cachao was Dr. Benjamín Lapidus, a Master tres and cuatro player who shared his latest CD entitled Sonido Isleño: Vive Jazz! with LTTM.



Listen up Ben, mi amigo - at the after-show party at Wes Broadway's Tribeca penthouse your CD sparked a joyously impromptu Latino jam session with Ol' Wes himself shaking the maracas like ripe mangoes - Careful, Wes! - and it was a delightful way to end an already memorable evening. Thanks for the great CD - and Exito with your music!

Check Ben out at: www.sonidoisleno.com

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The little Monkey Moo is an adventurous fella, and his adventure, even though uproariously funny, is ultimately a tragic one, a poignant reminder of the loss of innocence.




The Monkey Moo, a modern variation of the Japanese puppeteering techniques, follows the peculiar character and tells a simple story of an impossible love, yet walks the edge between the sharp social commentary and breakthrough on stage experimentation, carefuly weighted against ancient artistic expressions and revered theater traditions.

Yoko Myoi commands praise for her performance as the innocent Moo, at large in the early 20's city of Shanghai. Her powerful, yet charming stage persona carries the whole story with ease and lots of physical humor.

Never before have I witness a more creative and effective use for a piece of rope or encountered a doll more endearing than the "female lead" of this wonderful project, played by talented Uruguayan puppeteer and prop designer, our dear friend, Karen Elizaga.

A collective artistic endeavor, the play was also created and performed by puppeteer Andrei Drooz and James Dellatacoma, Ralph Gould and Stephen Quaranta of the "melodic noise trio" Zelda Pinwheel, all under the direction of Kanako Hiyama.

The Monkey Moo is a presentation of Great World Amusement Center as part of this year's FringeNYC theater festival and is held at The Studio @ Cherry Lane Theatre (www.cherrylanetheatre.org)

Showtimes are:

Tue 8/14 @5pm
Thur 8/16 @9:30pm
Sat 8/18 @ 12:30pm
Fri 8/24 @ 7 pm

Don't miss it!

For more info go to: http://www.myspace.com/themonkeymoo