As many of you already know, Carlitos Café y Galeria is closing this month due to the end of its five year lease. Sadly, gentrification has made it impossible for this haven of live music, art, community activisim, film screenings, and just good old fashioned passing the time with the regulars, to stay open. Founder Eliana tells us how it all began, as well as her thoughts for a bright future.
Name: Carla Eliana Godoy Laguna
Occupation: Cultural worker and social entrepreneur
Ethnicity: Latina
How long have you lived in NYC?
I was born in La Paz, Bolivia and moved to Massachusetts when I was 13 years old. A company I was working for in Boston relocated me to New York City in 1997. I have been living here ever since.
What sparked the idea for Carlitos Cafe?
I had recently moved to New York City and was living in Astoria. I had decided to quit my job to start a not-for-profit organization called Art for Change. As I was thinking of ways to fund the organization, I thought of opening up something that resembled a South American peña - a warm, community place where people could comfortably gather for music, theater, and just to connect.
How did you pick the location?
I have been living in East Harlem for the past eight years. East Harlem is where I started Art for Change and where I consider home while I live in this part of the world.
Who were the regulars of Carlitos?
Carlitos was frequented by neighborhood characters and other people looking for live music, art, poetry, and a cool place to visit. However, a lot of people came from all boroughs, as well as New Jersey, upstate, and from all over the world.
How did you come up with the name?
I wanted to name the small business after my grandfather who, with my grandmother, had a hostel and family restaurant in Uyuni - a little town in Potosi, Bolivia. In this little hostel, my grandfather, Don Carlitos, would host and entertain community members and travelers who would pass by the little town. He was very loved and respected in the town as he often helped out by giving food away to people and fixing problems in the community.
What would you say was the most popular Carlitos activity?
The most popular activity at Carlitos has been the Tuesday night "Open Mic." It’s the longest-running event we have had, and it always features a wide range of talented artists.
Your favorite Carlitos memory?
There are just too many favorite Carlitos memories, the best ones are the times when, out of the blue, connections were made allowing people to share their heartfelt personal stories, their country’s social issues, and other topics that bring people together. Then, there are those times when everyone in the room went into a loving, groovy dance trance, really feeling each other and the music.
The worst?
It has been challenging to work full-time at Art for Change and run Carlitos at the same time, which is also a full-time job.
Ideas for the future?
I am interested in building small cooperatives in East Harlem that provide job training and internships for youth, as well as provide job opportunities for young artists.
Last words for now…
Carlitos will re-open again somewhere in the world. For all of you who came to share it with us, I hope you experienced the magical moments of Carlitos and recognized the importance of venues like this have in our communities; places that give voice to people and capture the essence and beauty of their stories, struggles, dreams and aspirations.
We’re going to have big party on our closing day, Thursday, November 29, and we’ll be open every day from 11 a.m. (except Thanksgiving). Until then, we will be selling items at our new gift shop, and recording memories on video at night for people to share their experiences at Carlitos.
Showing posts with label El Barrio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label El Barrio. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Saying Adios to Carlitos Café
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
A New Generation of Mariachis Thrives in El Barrio
Some say the term "mariachi" was derived from the French word for marriage, while others claim it comes from the indigenous name for the wood used to make guitars. There are many theories as to how the term "mariachi" came about, but one thing that is for sure is that mariachis, in their wide-brimmed hats and festive charro outfits, have added plenty of alegria to weddings, restaurant outings, birthdays, and even funerals and masses. Their music captures the heart and soul of Mexican culture and tradition, as well as that of the listener.
Mariachi music has prospered greatly ever since its origin in Jalisco, Mexico in the early 19th century. Originally, the mariachi ensemble was made up of violins, a harp and guitars. With time, it evolved to include the vihuela, two violins, and the guitarron (which replaced the harp), and then eventually trumpets were added. During the Mexican Revolution, the mariachis would wander from town to town, singing songs of revolutionary heroes and bringing news of the war everywhere they went.
The musical style has been carried on as a Mexican tradition for decades, due to the undying support of the people in their communities. The popularity of the genre expanded even more with the arrival of radio and television, and now mariachi music can be heard all over the world.
With the Mexican population growing at such a rapid rate in New York, the desire for Mexican culture and tradition has increased as well. The idea for a local mariachi school for children came from the renowned father and son mariachi team, Ramon Ponce Sr. and Jr. Their Queens-based group, Mariachi Real de Mexico, has been playing public and private events for years, and has even appeared on such Spanish-language television programs as Sabado Gigante.
When I asked what the main reason was for starting the Academy, Ramon Ponce Jr. said, "Porque ninos nos preguntaban, "’Donde podemos aprender?"’ ("Because kids [wherever we would perform] would ask us, "’Where can we learn?"’)
About two years after the initial seed was planted in their heads, in July of 2002, the Ponces opened the doors of the Mariachi Academy of New York - the first mariachi school on the east coast. The school was made possible with outreach support from The Mexican Cultural Institute of New York and the Consulate General of Mexico, the sponsorship of the Mariachi Association of New York, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The cohesiveness of the Mexican community in El Barrio is evident at the Mariachi Academy of New York, which is open to Mexican and non-Mexican students alike, ages 9-17. The teachers often volunteer their time if funds are low, and the parents get involved by encouraging their children and bringing homemade food to events. It is indeed a community project.
"I believe the Academy... has shown that immigrants, especially among the Mexican community, understand [that] their children are becoming more assimilated as Americans, and thus appreciate and take advantage of opportunities to teach the younger generations about Mexican music and culture," says President of the Board of Directors, Adlar Garcia.
There are six teachers who conduct two classes a week (Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons) in voice, violin, trumpet, guitar, vihuela, and guitarron at the Union Settlement Association. This center in East Harlem generously donates classroom space for the program - now consisting of 70 students, only five to ten of whom are not fully Mexican. Some were born here, and some were born in Mexico.
"If kids don’t apply in the summer, they have to wait a whole other year, because the program begins in the fall. Auditions take place only in the summer," says program coordinator Itandehui Chavez-Geller.
The mariachi kids are becoming well known throughout the city. They have done community performances in schools, museums, and at various cultural/community associations. "It’s quite a success. Everyday we have a growing waiting list," says Chavez-Geller. "The most important thing we look for during the auditions is the child’s interest. Most don’t know an instrument before they start," she adds.
The next big show is on May 8th, for Mother’s Day, from 1-5 p.m at the Union Settlement Association Center on 104th Street, between 3rd and 2nd Avenues. This will be a fundraiser performance with authentic Mexican food available.
"Mi vision y sueno es que los estudiantes de la Academia de Mariachi lleguen a ser grandes personalidades y me encantaria que varios de ellos sean mariachis profesionales. Si no son mariachis, por lo menos sentirse orgullosos de su musica y su cultura," says Ramon Ponce Jr. ("My vision and dream is that the students of the Mariachi Academy grow up to be great personalities, and I’d love to see some of them become professional mariachis. If they aren’t mariachis, (I hope they will) at least feel proud of their music and their culture."]
(Published in NYRemezcla.com)
Mariachi music has prospered greatly ever since its origin in Jalisco, Mexico in the early 19th century. Originally, the mariachi ensemble was made up of violins, a harp and guitars. With time, it evolved to include the vihuela, two violins, and the guitarron (which replaced the harp), and then eventually trumpets were added. During the Mexican Revolution, the mariachis would wander from town to town, singing songs of revolutionary heroes and bringing news of the war everywhere they went.
The musical style has been carried on as a Mexican tradition for decades, due to the undying support of the people in their communities. The popularity of the genre expanded even more with the arrival of radio and television, and now mariachi music can be heard all over the world.
With the Mexican population growing at such a rapid rate in New York, the desire for Mexican culture and tradition has increased as well. The idea for a local mariachi school for children came from the renowned father and son mariachi team, Ramon Ponce Sr. and Jr. Their Queens-based group, Mariachi Real de Mexico, has been playing public and private events for years, and has even appeared on such Spanish-language television programs as Sabado Gigante.
When I asked what the main reason was for starting the Academy, Ramon Ponce Jr. said, "Porque ninos nos preguntaban, "’Donde podemos aprender?"’ ("Because kids [wherever we would perform] would ask us, "’Where can we learn?"’)
About two years after the initial seed was planted in their heads, in July of 2002, the Ponces opened the doors of the Mariachi Academy of New York - the first mariachi school on the east coast. The school was made possible with outreach support from The Mexican Cultural Institute of New York and the Consulate General of Mexico, the sponsorship of the Mariachi Association of New York, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The cohesiveness of the Mexican community in El Barrio is evident at the Mariachi Academy of New York, which is open to Mexican and non-Mexican students alike, ages 9-17. The teachers often volunteer their time if funds are low, and the parents get involved by encouraging their children and bringing homemade food to events. It is indeed a community project.
"I believe the Academy... has shown that immigrants, especially among the Mexican community, understand [that] their children are becoming more assimilated as Americans, and thus appreciate and take advantage of opportunities to teach the younger generations about Mexican music and culture," says President of the Board of Directors, Adlar Garcia.
There are six teachers who conduct two classes a week (Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons) in voice, violin, trumpet, guitar, vihuela, and guitarron at the Union Settlement Association. This center in East Harlem generously donates classroom space for the program - now consisting of 70 students, only five to ten of whom are not fully Mexican. Some were born here, and some were born in Mexico.
"If kids don’t apply in the summer, they have to wait a whole other year, because the program begins in the fall. Auditions take place only in the summer," says program coordinator Itandehui Chavez-Geller.
The mariachi kids are becoming well known throughout the city. They have done community performances in schools, museums, and at various cultural/community associations. "It’s quite a success. Everyday we have a growing waiting list," says Chavez-Geller. "The most important thing we look for during the auditions is the child’s interest. Most don’t know an instrument before they start," she adds.
The next big show is on May 8th, for Mother’s Day, from 1-5 p.m at the Union Settlement Association Center on 104th Street, between 3rd and 2nd Avenues. This will be a fundraiser performance with authentic Mexican food available.
"Mi vision y sueno es que los estudiantes de la Academia de Mariachi lleguen a ser grandes personalidades y me encantaria que varios de ellos sean mariachis profesionales. Si no son mariachis, por lo menos sentirse orgullosos de su musica y su cultura," says Ramon Ponce Jr. ("My vision and dream is that the students of the Mariachi Academy grow up to be great personalities, and I’d love to see some of them become professional mariachis. If they aren’t mariachis, (I hope they will) at least feel proud of their music and their culture."]
(Published in NYRemezcla.com)
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