UPTOWNflavor

1528 Amsterdam Avenue

New York, NY 10031

(347) 591-6387

There is a revolution going on! In case you didn’t know, the battleground is the mind. It is a fight for independence; independence from ignorance, poverty, and isolationism. And the only tactic against such formidable foes is wielding the sword of culture. These were the inspirational words that flowed through my head when I walked into La Pregunta Arts Café (translated literally “The Question”) I had the opportunity to visit the spot on its opening day which simultaneously kicked off their Cultura Con Sabrosura (“Culture with Flavor”) festival. That opening week leading to Saturday promised art, comedy, and Afro-Cuban performances. Opening night, however, did not kick off with drum beats but rather with a showcase of some unique artwork. One of the featured artists was Susan Jaramillo a Venezuelan native who is the creative director & partner of Latino-focused marketing firm VoxCollective. Also featured were other local Latino artists, one of which used Home-Depot grade plywood as his canvas for some eyes-catching stuff. First thing that caught this writer by surprise was that the dominant noise of the night was not music but conversation. Talking was the soundtrack. There was a harmonious hum among the different people there; English and Spanish-speaking. This definitely reflected what La Pregunta’s mission is; a place of questions and answers. A place of enlightenment.

The café itself is medium-lit with waves of bamboo canopies lining areas of the ceiling. Pendant lamps across the bar are housed within different Spanish-theme beer bottles. You have pub tables with high chairs facing the bar and a wall separating it from the coffeehouse-style seating area that dominates the other wing. In the rear section is a clear rise on the floor, which demarcates the stage area. Lining the storefront window and hanging on the walls were the portraits of different Latin-American icons such as Simon Bolivar and Freda. One couldn’t help but notice that present there were people from all backgrounds including Argentina, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico. It was panoply of Latin-American urbanites mostly in there mid 20’s and early 30’s. This moment in time was a testament to special place that Latinos have had in the heart of Harlem. Earlier generations of Latinos in this city were characterized by hardworking men and women whose primary focus was on paying the bills, putting food on the table, and having a little something left over to send back home. There was no room for much else. And while the hardworking virtue of this earlier generation has been passed on, the latter generation of Latinos (of which I am a part of) has fewer direct ties to the “motherland” and has created deep roots here in the United States; specifically New York City. Most of us were born here and are thus citizens of this country. We went to high school and/or college here, are establishing our careers here, and contribute to our local economy. Our social lives are also New York flavored. We watch plays, go to sports games, write blogs, and even date online. But we still love our platanos, merengue, and a good game of Dominos. We are clearly a different mold from mama and papa. The “American Latino” is involved in local and national politics to different degrees and has formed opinions on matters of civic life because we are raising our families here. However, the American Latino also recognizes the importance of the history that got us here and the value of passing on that legacy to generations ahead of us lest we become engulfed by homogenization. It is in this weird space that a place like LPC sets up its flag.. It wants us to push forward to make our mark on society while celebrating those things that make our culture vibrant and unique wherever your parents hail from.

Don’t get me wrong. LPC is not exclusive to Latinos. Nor is it high-brow. Quite the opposite! Very much like many Spanish dishes that are characterized by throwing in all types of spices together into to the mix to make for explosive taste (“cabinet-cooking” as my family calls it), LPC capitalizes on bringing together every folks from every cultural hue to make for a unique blend of conversation between people. You can come to LPC for some artesanal coffee, a Guava Martini (the place has a full bar), or a Cuban sandwich all of which taste awesome and won’t break the bank. The place will regularly feature poetry nights, comedy nights, and plenty of hip beats. Even a free Uptown Entrepreneur Marketing Seminar by the N.Y. Women’s Chamber of Commerce. However, you will not be hard pressed to find two or three patrons talking about politics, social injustice, or the poetry of Jaime Sabines. It is unquestionably a place of knowledge and culture.