In a city ruled by never ending blocks of pharmacies, banks, and boutiques, an often ignored neighborhood in uptown Manhattan is once again regaining its title as New York City’s latest hot spot. Anyone who’s curious to explore Spanish Harlem at its finest can hop on the 6 train to 103rd Street, pass by ancient tenements, giant white cuchifrito trucks, and crowds of children with sun kissed skin playing on street corners to discover an old establishment with a new look.
El Museo Del Barrio, recognized as the only institution dedicated to celebrating both Latin American and Caribbean cultures, finally opened its doors after an 18-month makeover. The renovated space includes a new sparkling glass façade, an expanded shop, and a 4,500 square-foot courtyard facing Fifth Avenue. Once an alternative museum, which resembled a classroom started by local Puerto Rican artists, educators, and activists, El Museo Del Barrio has successfully grown during its 40 year reign. Today, it offers visitors new possibilities of how they can learn more about the fastest growing minority in the country.
For those looking to add a bit of salsa to their evenings, El Museo now offers “El Café,” a majestic pearl-white eatery run by Great Performance Catering where Latino chefs from Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Honduras serve mouthwatering Latin dishes. Some of the culinary highlights include ceviche, which is often classified as “Latin sushi,” as well as hearty empanadas, sizzling glazed steak sofrito, and the classic favorite: rice and beans. To compliment these meals, imported wine and beer will be provided during the evenings and on special events. With Thanksgiving a few weeks away, families can schedule a trip during November 23-25 for plenty of mouthwatering holiday dishes to savor. However, what if you want to learn about the thousands of Latinos thriving in the city by exploring their creative side? At El Museo, the new exhibitions will easily bring out the artist in anyone.
No visit to El Museo would be complete without checking out some of their artwork displayed to honor “the museum of the neighborhood.” As part of its reopening, the inaugural exhibition, titled Voces y Visiones: Four Decades Through EL Museo’s Permanent Collection, takes viewers on a journey through the space’s colorful history, retelling stories of the Latin experience in the United States. Alongside this exhibition is Nexus New York: Latin/American Artists in the Modern Metropolis, both held at the Carmen Ana Unanue Galleries.
From religious devotional icons to pre-Colombian Taino jewelry, all viewers can take an up-close look of breathtaking, haunting, and magical installations. Visitors can even see one of Frida Kahlo’s most controversial pieces, portraying the demise of socialite Dorothy Hale. Whether it’s demonic masks or a Puerto Rican rendition of the children’s game “peek-a-boo,” no audience member will leave El Museo without having the urgency to grab a paintbrush. Only at El Museo can one discover over 6,500 works at a permanent collection and still want to learn more about Latinos in New York City.
Currently, El Museo offers various programs for all patrons, including salsa concerts, flag making workshops, tours, and more. New Yorkers now have a place to call their own where they can get inspired and embrace the city’s cultura.
Photos courtesy of El Museo del Barrio and Gruzen Samton Architects.
