NYC vs. L.A.
versus
wed 9/9/2009
| name | New York City. | Los Angeles. |
| aka | The Big Apple. | The City of Angels. |
| residentes | Nuyorquinos. | Angelinos. |
| population | 8.3 million. | 3.8 million. |
| where you at? | Latinos make up 27 percent of NYC's population (mainly Puerto Ricans and Dominicans). | Latinos make up 49 percent of L.A.'s population (mainly Mexicans and Central Americans). |
| historical landmark | Statue of Liberty. | Hollywood sign. |
| mayor | Beloved centrist and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg. | Rising star and philanderer Antonio Villaraigosa. |
| anthem | Frank Sinatra's New York, New York. | Randy Newman's I Love L.A.. |
| music | Hip hop, avant garde, urban bachata, disco and Latin jazz. | Hair metal, hardcore punk, surf rock and gangsta rap. |
| actors | Robert DeNiro. | Jack Nicholson. |
| rock bands | The Ramones. | Guns 'N Roses. |
| rapper | Jay-Z. | Snoop Dogg. |
| baseball teams | The Yankees and the Mets. | The Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. |
| basketball teams | The Knicks. | The Lakers and Clippers. |
| winners | Yankees. | Lakers. |
| losers | Mets. | Clippers. |
| rich folks stay in | The Upper East Side. | Beverly Hills. |
| hipsters hang out in | Williamsburg, the Lower East Side. | Silverlake and Echo Park. |
| late night munchies | Pizza by the slice. | Tacos. |
| footwear | Timberlands and Dunks. | Chucks and Vans. |
| don't leave home without it | Metrocard. | Sunglasses. |
| you can't escape | Papaya restaurants. | Burgers, pastrami sandwiches and tacos. |
| how to get around | Subways (4.3 million people ride it every day). | Freeways (12 million cars are on them every day). |
| tourists love | Times Square. | Hollywood Boulevard. |
| street style classic | Wild Style. | Mi Vida Loca. |
| mother nature | Cold winter, humid summer. | Sunny skies, earthquakes and fires. |
link up, make up, break up
daily dos
tue 7/14/2009
It doesn't just happen in cartoons: Alexa Longueira, a 15-year-old from New York, fell into a manhole while texting one of her friends. Her mother says she will sue: "Oh my God, it was putrid. One of her sneakers is still down there."
happy feet
daily dos
wed 7/8/2009
Summertime is eviction time: The New York Times profiles the Maldonado Family, one of the many families expected to increase NYC's homeless population.
sin city
daily dos
thu 4/30/2009
NYPD officers Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata face up to 25 years in jail after being charged for the rape of an intoxicated woman they escorted home while on duty.
Marcy Place
as seen on myspace
thu 1/1/2009
Don Omar says Marcy Place are the future of bachata – and he's putting his money where his mouth is.
Earlier this year, 28-year old Juan Carlos Cabrera and brothers Billy (26) and Joel Pabón (20) met Don Omar during a recording session in Aventura's studio – located on Marcy Place in the Bronx. Don Omar was impressed, but not by what he heard on his headphones. The reggaetonero says he was struck by the Dominican-American trio's enthusiasm and strong work ethic, which reminded him of his early struggles in Puerto Rico. Don Omar christened the group Marcy Place and signed them to his Orfanato imprint.
The group's debut album, B From Marcy Place, was released earlier this month and features collaborations with Aventura's Lenny Santos, Don Omar and Wisin y Yandel. Driven by slinky guitars and slithering bass, lead single Todo Lo Que Soy finds Marcy Place proclaiming: "I wish I could give you more than love." On the Spanglish R&B ballad "Unfaithful," the NYC outfit is hearbroken: "You don't know que es el amor, te llevaste mi corazón."
Marcy Place are currently promoting their album across the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
packing heat
daily dos
wed 12/10/2008
A month after an Ecuadoran immigrant in New York was beaten to death by a group of teens, two Ecuadoran brothers in NYC were assaulted in a possible hate crime. Witnesses say the victims – one of whom now brain-dead – were called anti-gay and anti-Latino slurs during the attack. (via The Latin Americanist)
packing heat
daily dos
wed 12/10/2008
Busta Rhymes takes braggadocio to the next level in a new video, "Arab Money." (via HipHopSite)
Spanish Harlem vs Washington Heights
versus
tue 11/25/2008
| name | Spanish Harlem. | Washington Heights. |
| aka | El Barrio. | Dominican Heights. |
| epicenter | 96th street to 116th street. | 145th street to 200th street. |
| predominantly | Puerto Rican. | Dominican. |
| historical landmark | East Harlem Firehouse. | The Cloisters. |
| where to chill | Corner bodega. | Fort Washington Park. |
| homegrown politician | Congressman Charles B. Rangel. | NYC Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs Guillermo Linares. |
| how to get there | Take the 6 train. | Take the A or C or the 1 and 9 trains. |
| hometown music heroes | Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Tito Puente and Ray Barreto. | Juelz Santana, Proyecto Uno and Kat DeLuna. |
| as heard on | Ben E. King's Spanish Harlem and Santana's Maria Maria, featuring Wyclef. | KRS-One's Washington Heights. |
| gringos like to visit | Museum of the City of New York. | The Cloisters. |
| where to eat? | La Fonda Boricua. | Caridad Restaurant. |
| what to order | Arroz con pollo. | Sancocho. |
| cultura | El Museo Del Barrio. | The Hispanic Society of America. |
| as seen on | Movies Carlito's Way and Honey. | Washington Heights The Movie and Broadway musical In The Heights. |
| school | J.H.S. 117, the Tito Puente Education Complex. | P.S. 132, Juan Pablo Duarte School. |
| saying | ¡A fuego! | ¿Que lo que? |
week in review: Teens kill Ecuadorian immigrant in NY
News
fri 11/14/2008
(image by ceonyc via flickr)
This week's top story: Marcello Lucero, a 37-year-old immigrant from Ecuador, was killed by seven New York City high school students in an apparent hate crime. Police officials say the group of teens, which includes one Latino, are facing charges of first-degree "gang assault."
wildin' out
daily dos
thu 8/28/2008
T-Pain goes crazy with computer animation on the video for "Can't Believe It," featuring Lil Wayne. Common keeps it simple in Announcement featuring Pharrell. (via Concreteloop)
"RiCkY" Says:
