Hispanic Heritage Month in Atlanta

I am part Puerto Rican. So of course, I celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month every year... actually, I guess I celebrate all year long. I am a musician. And I play latin percussion professionally with my latin jazz band, Rio Negro, and salsa y merengue con Orquesta Macuba every weekend at Loca Luna. However, this month is a good time to reflect, remember and learn from our past as we look forward to the future. Here are some things that I am doing to celebrate:

The other night, my wife and I watched a great documentary on the history of Latin music on GPB.

Atlantic Station is hosting a "Latin Taste of Atlanta" this Saturday.

Traditional dishes from Colombia, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico and Peru, plus new
culinary Latin creations will spice up Atlantic Station on October
17th, with DeGustar, a Latin taste of Atlanta event by the Georgia
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GHCC).

At least 25 restaurants, caterers and markets are expected to
participate. Among them are Coco Loco, Brazilian Bakery Cafe, Frontera, Fuego
Mundo, Lucianos, Lime Taqueria, Machu Pichu, Pampas, Palomillas, Rosa Mexicano,
Sal Grosso Brazilian Steak House, and Tia Maria Bakery.

This one day event will take place in the Central Park Area of
Atlantic Station from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 pm.

Currently on display at the Atlanta History Center until January, 2010

The Atlanta-based newspaper, MundoHispanico, has served as the voice of Georgia’s Spanish-speaking community, witnessing and recording its growth and
its contributions in Georgia, including those of leaders in business, politics, and the arts.

Opening during our nation’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, the Atlanta History Center presents the exhibition, Through the Lens of MundoHispanico: Georgia’s Hispanic Community. Presented in both English and Spanish, this new exhibition celebrates the 30th anniversary of MundoHispanico and its important role as a news outlet, while revealing stories and images from
the newspaper’s archives that explore the growth, diversity, success, and growing influence of Georgia’s Hispanic community.

So if you're interested in dancing this weekend, check out Loca Luna on Saturday night... if your spanish is a little rusty, check out the informal spanish lessons at Starbucks offered by the Latin American Association... if you're a history buff, check out the music documentary on PBS/GPB or visit the Atlanta History Center... if you love latin food, meet me and my family this Saturday at Atlantic Station. Hope to see you there!