Harlem News Group COQUITO TASTING AT THE BRONX MUSEUM

HARLEM . QUEENS . BROOKLYN . BRONX

BRONX

By Howard Giske

he party was on in the Bronx, with the popular Quarter-Final Coquito tasting at the Bronx Museum, December 5th. Coquito is a Christmas and New Year's beverage that is similar to Egg Nog, but made with coconut milk. Ingredients can include rum, eggs, coconut milk, cream, ginger, cinnamon, chocolate, and ground nuts. A dizzying medley of events preceded this on the Wednesday night Bronx trolley. The evening started with a lecture at the Hostos College Longwood Gallery by Puerto Rican artist, nationalist and educator Jose Buscaglia, who shared the podium with Arcadio Daz-Quiones, Professor Emeritus of SpanishAmerican Literature, Princeton University; and Carlos A. Torre, President, Board of Education, New Haven, CT. They discussed the Longwood Gallery exhibition: Puerto Rico in Its Labyrinth, Chronicles of a Country and a World in Crisis, as part of the closing of this exhibition. The political overtones were inescapable with one picture of a detailed colored sketch of "fat cats" in suits and ties, literally on the backs of the oppressed "99-percent." The

captions on the pictures in English and Spanish made sure that the audience got the point. Buscaglia's detailed and colorful mixed media works hit themes of the hypocrisy of Guantanamo Bay prison, colonialism and war, and the downsides of privatization of public services. In one work the audience noted a flying President Bush. The exhibition included a model of Plaza de la Identidad-captioned as "Buscaglia's 2003 public work commissioned by the Puerto Rican legislature which, until recently, was kept in storage because it was deemed too nationalistic for public display. " At 5:30 pm, the Bronx Trolley took revelers on the 5-minute trip to the Bronx Museum, for the Coquito tasting. There, the opening act was Caridad De La Luz, better known by her stage name "La Bruja," who read from her new book of poetry, "The Poetician." She opened with her poem "Hip Hop Hope." The rhymes were impressive, coming at a quick pace. "This is not Kansas anymore. This is a New Oz, Full of Ooohs and Aaaahs." La Bruja said she was inspired by the Afro-American poet Langston Hughes, particu-

larly that human beings come from Africa, and going way back, we are all black, or as she rhymed, "Believe it or not in fact. I too am black." La Bruja also broke into Spanish and English song, with a funny number about her grandma cooking pork, rice & beans. At that point, Debbie Quinones of the Coquito Masters took over, as host of the Coquito tasting. People signed on that they were of legal drinking age and got a red stamp on their hand. Amazingly, everyone got to taste 4 concoctions of Coquito with rum, for no charge. My favorite was sample D because it had a rich but clean taste. Samples A, B and C were good too, but had more cinnamon, ground coconut and even in one case a hint of chocolate. The Coquito Masters Finale event will be at the Bronx Museum on Friday, December, 14th at 6:00 p.m. and free to the public. Only those of the legal age can participate in the tasting. For more information on other Coquito tastings, please see http://www.facebook.com/coquito.m asters.

Photos top to bottom: 1. Drinking Coquito. 2. La Bruja recites poetry. 3. Jose Buscaglia and professors.

BRONXS OFFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIT AT BRONX COUNTY BUILDING

BBP DIAZ WINTER WONDERLAND AT YANKEE STADIUM

Harlem News Group December 13, 2012

n Wednesday, December 6, Bronx Borough President n Friday, December 7, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. lit the Bronx's official Christmas tree Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted his annual "Winter Wonderin front of the Bronx County Building on the Grand land" event at Yankee Stadium. The event, which was Concourse. The annual tree lighting ceremony featured Christmas carols by the M.S. 390 chorus, hot cocoa and cookies. co-hosted by the New York Yankees, offered thousands of Borough President Diaz celebrated the tree lighting along with Bronx youngsters a chance to meet Santa, get a toy and enjoy the holiday season. Santa and Mrs. Claus.