Ready to Care, Together!

My blog has taken a backseat the last few months because I've been busy with some other projects, but I just have to post this event.

Ramon's Team Corp. invites you to a fundraising event - bring friends get in door with $5 donations- free food til 7PM and drinks 2 for 1. There will be live entertainment and you can feel good about it because 100% donations will go to their charity events!!!!

About Ramon's Team Corp:

Focusing on children, Ramon’s Team Corp. works in partnership with underprivileged communities in need of educational and recreational resources to assist in obtaining what is needed such as school supplies, books, computers, sports equipment that will help strengthen the sense of community and empower the individuals in underprivileged communities through the emphasis of the importance of education and physical activity.

Ramon’s Team Corp. captures the spirit of unity because they are Ready To Care Together!

For more information about Ramon's Team Corp., visit http://ramons-team.com/home

Raise Awareness about Domestic Violence within the Latino Community

A study by the National Institute of Justice from 2001-2005 found the average rate of intimate partner violence for women was very similar across most racial and ethnic groups. But within each of those groups we see much higher rates of assaults against women than against men. Latina women were more than 7 times more likely to be victims of intimate partner violence than Latino males.

For the past eight years The New York Latinas Against Domestic Violence have organized the Gladys Ricart and Victims of Domestic Violence Memorial Brides’ March/Walk. Both women and men march through the streets of Manhattan and the South Bronx to raise awareness about the devastating effects of domestic violence on our families and communities, and to remember Gladys Ricart and the many other battered women, children and others who have lost their lives to acts of domestic violence.

Please show your support for this cause by:

1. Participating in the walk.

2. Donating wedding dresses for participants.

3. Volunteering for the event.

4. Providing food/water donations.

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009
Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Location: Fort Washington Heights Presbyterian Church
Street: 21 Wadsworth Avenue
City/Town: New York, NY

For more information visit www.bridesmarch.com/firstpage.html or http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=253174670564

Save the Date!!!

Come out with the family and join Ramon's Team this Saturday, August 1st at J.Hood Wright Park (Washington Heights, NY) for a fund raiser to provide school supplies for under privileged kids in the Dominican Republic. A $5 donation will help 1 child recieve his or her school supplies for the coming year.

There will be food and refreshments (pastelitos, hotdogs, lemonade, and soda). There will also be a raffle, bingo and many more activities for the kids!

For more information contact Elvira Hierro at mhierro24@yahoo.com.

I'll certainly be there and I hope to see you all there!!!

J. Hood Wright Park
351 Fort Washington Avenue (174 Street)
New York, NY 10033 US

Unete al EQUIPO DE RAMON Sabado, Agosto 1 a la 1pm en J. Hood Wright Park, en la recaudacion de fondos para los ninos necesitados, con el proposito de proveer mochilas con utencilios escolares para los ninos en la Republica Dominicana.

Puedes ayudar haciendo tu donacion de $5 para que un nino tenga su mochila lista para su primer dia de escuela. Tendran Patelitos, HotDogs Limonada, Soda, tambien un Bingo, Rifa y actividades para los ninos.

Ven y pasa un dia en familia y entre amigos y a la ves contribuiras con una buena causa. TE ESPERAMOS.

Para mas Informacion ponerse en contacto con:Elvira Hierro mhierro24@yahoo.com

Save the Date!!

Latin Alternative Music Conference

For the past few years I've been well aware of the Latin Alternative Music Conference, but for some reason it totally slipped my mind this year. The conference was from July 7th - 11th in NYC. Luckily, my friend posted something about the closing concert at Summerstage in Central Park on Facebook Friday afternoon for Saturday's concert.

Honestly speaking, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go because I have a ton of work that I'm still trying to catch up on since returning from vacation. But, after a few minutes of deliberation I thought to myself are you crazy, Calle 13 is performing! I got dressed and ran out the door with the quickness!

I'm definitely glad I came to my senses. The afternoon started off with Eric Bobo from Cypress Hill. Also on the stage was the Colombian group Bomba Estéreo which I was pleasantly surprised by. Everyone was anxiously awaiting Calle 13 and they did not disappoint.

They started off with 'No Hay Nadie Como Tu' and continued the afternoon with 'Pal Norte', 'Fiesta de Locos', 'Se Vale To-To' where several young ladies (including my BFF) were taken on stage to dance and hype the crowd. I totally wanted to get up there and dance too but thought I would have a heart attack if I came within several feet of Residente, needless to say I saved myself from that embarrassment and stayed put.

The crowd went wild, singing and dancing along, when the song 'Atrevete' began. Calle 13 came back on the stage with a brief tribute to the King of Pop with the whole band doing the 'Thriller' dance and closing the show with 'Electro Movimiento'.

All in all a fantastic afternoon in the park with Calle 13. I wish I would've been able to partake in the conference activities this past week, but there's always next year!

Remember the Time....

I haven't been posting very often and what a crummy time to begin, but I just had to share my thoughts on MJ - the King of Pop. I still can't believe he has passed. That being said I wish people would remember to separate the man from the artist. Michael Jackson was an incredibly talented performer, dancer, singer.

MJ was truly an international superstar, bringing together different generations and cultures. I'm not only saying this because he has passed, I've always been rooting for Michael to pull through all the craziness!

Make it an MJ weekend and pump out the classics. This is how I'd like to remember Michael.

Update

So, I'm coming up on the one year anniversary of Pongan el Cafe. Can't believe time has gone by so quickly. I know I've been inconsistent with my updates at time M.I.A, but I have a plan for year two, part of the plan including more posts :-)

I'll keep you posted on how the planning is going and I'll hopefully be able to kick into full gear for July.

Stay tuned...................

P.S. (Just a little morning ranting) It's so cold in NYC, is it June or September?!

Obama nominates Judge Sotomayor

President Barack Obama has just made it official. He is nominating an incredible hispanic woman Circuit Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter.

Sotomayor, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, would become the first Hispanic justice if the Senate confirms her nomination. For more on Judge Sotomayor go to http://www.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?cid=1956921

Shopping in the City

Last Thursday, I took a stroll in Soho and stopped by a great little store, Coletta, for a cocktail party featuring up and coming jewelry designer Rebecca Wynne.

This boutique has a very charming setting and fits in perfectly in the area. Owner Nicole Jerner carries pieces from fresh, new designers and each piece that she carries has something special and unique about it. There is a nice range of dresses, jeans, shirts, and bags. It amazes me how there are so many pieces in a small space yet it's not cluttered-very organized and easy to shop! Jerner has such a great energy and you feel very comfortable as soon as you enter Coletta.

Coletta carries some great designers from around the world that you will certainly grow to love! Next time you're taking a stroll in Soho be sure to stop by Coletta at 147 Sullivan Street near Houston.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Feliz Dia de las Madres!! Just want to wish all the mami's a Happy Mother's Day!! Hope you all have a fabulous day!

Skin, Hair, and Body Therapy

I had the pleasure of chatting with a great Dominican entrepreneur Carmen Polanco. With over 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry in various capacities including research and development, sales and marketing, this Dominicana has introduced her own natural and organic skincare company Agora Skincare.


You know we Dominicans love our natural skin and hair care products, and in these eco-conscious times, it's the perfect opportunity to introduce this line of natural beauty products.

Agora uses 100% natural essential oils, plant ingredients instead of synthetic chemical whenever possible in their products, and use no synthetic fragrances or artificial colors in their hair, skin and body care products.

Here are a couple of products from the Agora Skincare line:

Mojito Body Scrub:
Refreshing organic honey, turbinado raw sugar blended with mango butter, neem oil and vitamin E, naturally exfoliates for super supple skin and a healthy glow while our mint blend of essential oils will jump start your journey to a delightful day. • Gentle enough for all skin types • Paraben, mineral oil, petroleum, and artificial color FREE • Contains mango butter, neem oil, vitamin E and blend of mint essential oils
Price: $22.00

Milk and Honey Spicy Citrus:
Cleopatra would be jealous. Milk and Honey give this rich lotion its hydrating and soothing quality while the crisp citrus scent of lime and ginger will uplift your mind. · Perfect for dry skin · Absorbs into the skin quickly · Paraben, mineral oil, petroleum, and artificial color FREE · 87% organic content Use: Apply to entire body as often as needed throughout the day to hydrate and nourish the skin. Reapply as needed to rough patches or chapped areas.
Price: $14.00


To learn more about Agora Skincare and the complete line of products go to: http://www.agoraskincare.com/.

How to Have Style

This morning, Isaac Mizrahi was on The Today Show talking about his new book "How to Have Style", and help women discover how they can be fashionable.

I personally love Isaac Mizrahi. He has such a great spirit and enthusiasm for fashion that just rubs off on everyone else.

A couple of tips and essentials for spring from Isaac --

• spend most money on hair and shoes because if you get these two things right, then everything else falls into place
• right pencil skirt
• right hosiery
• the right jean
• right high heel peep toe

For more on Isaac Mizrahi's Today Show segment visit http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27073668/

For more tips and to catch up on what's new with Isaac visit http://www.isaacmizrahiny.com/

Hello out there again!

I know it's been a while. Tengo que darle calor a mi hogar!

Como muchos de los Dominicanos ausentes pensando en semana santa/viernes santo en RD, I hope you're having some habichuela con dulce today.

TGIF!!!!!

Contact info

Just putting my contact info out there.

Email: esanchez177@gmail.com

Twitter: esanchez01

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ponganelcafe

Thought this would be interesting....

Maya Entertainment, the Latino-owned film entertainment company, is teaming up with Blockbuster Inc., to support the growing Latino filmmaking industry in the U.S. and spotlight quality examples of its work.

Together, the companies are presenting two programs. The first is a 10-city film festival featuring internationally acclaimed films, actors and filmmakers. The second is Project Goldenlight, a national screenwriting competition.

The film program will include both domestically produced and internationally acclaimed films never before distributed in North America. Films being considered for inclusion feature high-profile Latino actors as well as Latino filmmakers and themes.

Project Goldenlight is a screenwriting competition in which industry experts will select an original screenplay from a pool of contestants to be developed by Martinez, who also manages the development team at Maya. Depending on the output of the project, the final product will be released theatrically and then have an exclusive rental window at participating BLOCKBUSTER stores.

The Project Goldenlight competition is scheduled to launch in the spring through www.LatinoReview.com in association with The National Association of Latino Independent Producers ("NALIP") Producer's Academy.

Twitter

Well, I finally gave in and got myself on twitter. I didn't see what the point of twitter was, I've spents months and months trying to find the point. But the best way to find out is to join! We'll see how this goes.

Whatever Works!

I happen to love, love, love Woody Allen movies. I think I have to add another love, love Woody Allen. So you can imagine my excitment to hear that the new Woody Allen movie will be showing on the opening night of The Tribeca Film Festival April 22.

"Whatever Works" is Woody Allen's first film shot in NYC since 2004. He has filmed overseas, the past couple of movies. This is a comedy starring Larry David (love him too), Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Begley Jr. and Patricia Clarkson. Should be interesting to see Larry David in a Woody Allen movie.

I can't wait to see it!! "Whatever Works" will be released summer 2009.

The Tribeca Film Festival, which was co-founded by Robert De Niro, will run through May 3.

FELIZ DIA DE LA PATRIA!!!!!

Today I must make it a point to be very Dominican. Eating sancocho, drinking Brugal, and maybe even getting my girls to take out the guira.

Enjoy!!! (Dios, Patria, y Libertad!!)

La bandera Dominicana:

Opps....wrong one!

Buscando la proxima "Model Latina"

Verizon Wireless is hosting a casting call for new talent to compete on Season 2 of Si TV's Model Latina which premieres August 2, 2009.

Young women 18 to 26 years of age can compete, and 12 will be chosen to vie for the title Model Latina. Judged by Jeffrey Kolsrud of Q Model Management and Katrina Campins of The Apprentice, contestants will be asked to show off their good looks as well as their knowledge and passion for Latino cultural ideals including beauty, style, values, success and power.

The casting call will be held in the following cities and dates:

SAN DIEGO -- SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28TH, NOON - 4PM
Chula Vista Center555 Broadway
Chula Vista, CA 91910

SAN FRANCISCO -- SUNDAY MARCH 1ST, NOON - 4PM
2410 Mission Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94110

LOS ANGELES -- SUNDAY MARCH 1ST, 1PM - 4PM
City Lights Pictures3025 Olympic Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90404

MIAMI -- TUESDAY MARCH 3RD, 10AM - 1PM
Verizon Wireless Store - Hialeah1599 W 49th St
Hialeah, FL 33012

NEW YORK -- THURSDAY MARCH 5TH, 10AM - 1PM
Verizon Wireless Store - Soho581 Broadway (between Houston St & Prince St)
New York, NY 10012

Suerte!!!

Hollywood comes to Washington Heights

Just in case you missed the news, Angelina Jolie was spotted in Washington Heights -- NYC -- checking out an apartment for an upcoming movie set to film next month.

Wearing dark shades, a black coat and black knee-high boots, Jolie checked out the luxury co-op building, The Riviera, on 157th and Riverside Drive.

Should be interesting to see Angelina Jolie in the Heights. I love Brangelina!!

Wait, does this mean the rent in my neighborhood is going to sky rocket now?

What is going on?

I'll keep it short, I'm late to work (as ususal). Just had to comment on the the New York Post cartoon that is causing quite the uproar.

The cartoon is in poor taste, period. It's not particularly funny, at least not to me. I understand it's commenting on current events -- the current chimp attack and the economy/stimulus plan. But one is left to wonder if that's just the excuse to publish something that is racist.

I try to be very objective when it comes to things like this, but I just don't see how this is not inappropriate. Now, the New York Post is not the greatest source of news, but enough people read the paper me included. But I really do think this is irresponsible journalism -- what kind of message are they sending out?

Final Day of Toy Fair 2009

Today was the last day at Toy Fair 2009, and I'm tired! I also have a horrible cold.

Hightlights for Toy Fair 2009

Brands that had a birthday:

• SpongeBob Square Pants (JAKKS Pacific, Lego) 10 year anniversary
  The Simpson's (USAopoly, Mattel) 20 year anniversary
• Super Soaker (Hasbro) 20 year anniversary
• Transformers (Hasbro) 25 year anniversary
• Hello Kitty (JAKKS Pacific) 35 year anniversary
• Barbie (Mattel) 50 year anniversary
  

Toy trends to watch this year:

• Exercise, Fun, and healthy kids
• Eco friendly toys
• Entertainment licenses like Hannah Montana, X-Men, Transformers, and Twilight
• Economy and value of play

I wish I would've had more time to actually tour the booths and see all the toys, but there just wasn't enough time for me.

Here are a couple of pics from Toy Fair.

Day #2 Toy Fair

Well, today there was definitely more traffic on the floor at the Javits than yesterday. I've been walking the floor but really haven't gotten a chance to check out the new toys, probably won't get to that until Wednesday. Tomorrow I think is going to be the busiest day there.

The highlight of my day was winning a Limited Edition Cabbage Patch Doll at the Women in Toys dinner. After 25 years I finally got one!! (yes, the kid in me is out -- full force)

Here she is:

Day #1 Toy Fair

The first day of the American International Toy Fair 09 is over and I'm exhausted. I didn't get to see much today because I didn't get a chance to walk to show. I was working at the Elmer's booth most of the day.

The one thing I did get to see was the Barbie 50th anniversary dolls. I became very nostalgic when I saw one of my favorite Barbie's on display as a collection doll. Her name, Barbie and the Rocker (1986). She was one of my coolest Barbie's!

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to take a couple of pics and report on new toys for fall at Toy Fair.

Very busy in the city.....

I am going to be one busy girl for the next week.

First off, I'll be at the Toy Fair '09 at the Javitz Center in NYC from Sunday, February 15th - Wednesday, February 18th where thousands of toy makers come each year to show off their latest and greatest. My nephew is of course super excited about Toy Fair and wishes he could come along with. Unfortunately he can't.

Next weekend I'll be at Rendez-Vous NYC. The contemporary fashion tradeshow from Paris, will launch their first New York event during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York in February 2009 (Friday, February 20th - Sunday, February 22nd) in The Altman Building. The event will showcase 75 contemporary fashion collections from North America, Europe and the Far East.

I'll do my very best to report all the goings on at both shows. If anyone reading this will be attending the event, either as an exhibitor or as an attendee..let me know! I'd love to meet-up. Have a great weekend everyone!!

LEGOLAND

Being a part time mommy to my niece and nephew, I'm always looking for kids activities to do with them and toys to buy for them. Now, we're not in Chicago, but I thought I'd share this info with those that are.

Walk the red carpet with Bob the Builder, be the first to see the new 4-D LEGO movie featuring the popular animated TV star, and watch your own LEGO creation debut on the big screen in the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Red Carpet Contest -- now open to Chicago-area children 12 and under. Entry deadline is March 1.

The LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago in Schaumburg is seeking the 10 best original LEGO creations -- either items built with LEGOs or videos between 30 seconds and three minutes in length featuring the child's own LEGO models -- to coincide with the premiere of the 'Bob the Builder 4-D' LEGO movie in the facility's 4-D Cinema in late March.

The 10 winners and five of their closest friends or family members will be invited to a private sneak preview of 'Bob the Builder 4-D' -- complete with 3-D glasses and 4-D special effects that take viewers straight into the film plus a live appearance by the star building contractor himself. Winners will also receive a special LEGOLAND trophy and see their entries in a larger-than-life slideshow presented on the theater screen.

Entries can be emailed to admin@legolanddiscoverycentre.com no later than March 1 or mailed to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Red Carpet Contest, 601 N. Martingale Rd., Suite 130, Schaumburg, IL 60173, postmarked March 1 or before. The child's name and age, parent/guardian's name, address and phone number must be included.

Entries will be judged by LEGOLAND Discovery Center team based on their creativity and originality. For more information, visit http://www.legolanddiscoverycentre.com/chicago

New York City is a Drug!!

I try really hard not to go out during the week just because it’s even harder for me to get up the next morning. But this Thursday, February 5th my friend convinced me to venture off into the East Village to the former CBGB – current John Varvatos store to catch a really cool band, The Dirty Pearls. I can’t say no to free booze and a free rock show so I went along.

I’m glad I did because they were awesome!! So much energy and genuinely good tunes. Every song was good and they have that 70s feel that I love; good heavy blues-rock, with excellent vocals, drums, baselines and guitar solos.

Here are some pics from Thursday:

You’ll definitely want to check out The Dirty Pearls at www.myspace.com/thedirtypearls.

Celebrate your inner balm-shell!

Since we’re going to have a longer winter, might as well stock up on a cute, stylish lip balm to fight against the harsh wintry weather (and might I add a lip balm that tastes and smells good). Pin Up Balm lip balm is a fun throwback with modern appeal. Packaged in cute retro slide-top tins adorned with old-fashioned pin-up girls, Pin Up Balm is flirty, sexy, and sophisticated. With over 40 fabulous flavors to choose, from Strawberry Cheesecake to Raspberry . And for an added bonus, Pin Up Balms are packed with avocado oil, beeswax, and Vitamin E, providing every Pin Up girl with top rate lip nourishment.

Y ya que el día del amor y la amistad es la semana que viene, saca $4 y dale un cariñito a tus amigas – http://www.pinupbalm.com/.

Groundhogs Day 2009

I for one am sick of the winter. I just can't take the cold weather anymore. Unfortunate for me Punxsutawney Phil saw it's shadow this morning meaning there will be a longer winter. Porque!!! Haven't we suffered enough with the recession, now winter is longer too?!

All I have to say is sit tight, and don't put away all of the winter gear just yet, we have about six more weeks of winter.

Busy in the city............

On Friday January 30, promotions company Media Arrow will be presenting the first UNDISPUTED TALENT event in New York City at The Delancey (168 Delancey Street). The monthly event showcases models and fashion companies from New York alongside music groups, all competing for prizes to be awarded that night. The show begins at 8pm and will feature 5 fashion designers, 15 models, and 5 bands.

The featured fashion designers are Farrah Bhalloo, Gwen Beloti, Ayesha Hakki, Nicole Laborante, and Dean John NYC. The models set to appear include Nissa B, Cindy Beato, Sofia Falleroni, Allison Gayne, Victoria James, Nicole M. Nieves, Victoria Ortiz, Jolita Sakmanaite, Shanae Strachan, Ruth Testman, and Diana Vrankovic. The bands slated to perform are Across the Aisle, Angry Old Man, Hungry Tiger, Maslow, and Witches in Bikinis. The guest judges for the evening are Kimberley Williams from MTV Networks, Jenna Rubenstein from Jellybean Music Group, and LP Anderson from Volume Music Entertainment.

The first round of the evening will have the models introduce the bands who will each perform a set of their own original music. In the second round, the models will be displaying the collections from the featured fashion companies, and the third and final round will be a bikini round. Each monthly event will also have a musical theme; the theme on January 30th will be Pop/Rock/Alternative music. The sponsors of the event are Bossman Productions, Danny Scream, David Barton Gym, Film Gravity, Kabab Factory, and Radian Records.

Tickets are priced at $10 and can be purchased online at www.MediaArrow.com

The return of the 80s with Too Faced’s Smurfette Collection!!

Good morning all. Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. My weekend was pretty uneventful, but thats ok everyone needs some down time.

Being a child of the 80s and totally obsessed with make-up, I was immediately drawn to the Too Faced Cosmetics Smurfette Collection. I love the packaging; it might be childish and immature but that’s what makes it so much fun!

The Smurfette Collection includes...



Smurfette Mood Swing Lip Gloss, $18.50: I had the pleasure of trying out this mood activated lipgloss. It starts off Smurfy blue and changes into different shades of berry pink depending on the wearer's emotional state! I must admit I felt like I was 10 years old again, but it was nice because it was a genuine girly girl excited emotion.

So Smurfy Eye Shadow Collection, $32.50: A chic palette that includes four complimentary eye shadow shades -- two of which are debossed with the classic Smurf daisy and Smurfette's silhouette. I simply love the eye shadows. The colors included are matte pink, a bold navy blue, a shimmering glittery gold, and a glittery bronze. I loved it so much I’ve invited my make-up obsessed BFF to play around with the colors on my eyes (I’ll have pics of that this weekend).

Smurfy Eyed Liquid Liner, $17.50: Two long-lasting, fast-drying liquid eyeliners, in Smurf-inspired blue and white shades formulated with sparkling, micro-glitter for added impact and edge!

So Smurfy Illuminating Face Powder, $26.00: Created in the image of Smurfette, this multi-shade palette brightens and tones with a combination of soft, color-correcting shades that blend together for wear on any skintone.

This fun and flirty assortment is available at Sephora stores and at sephora.com. As a limited-edition launch, the young at heart, hipsters looking for a dose of trendy nostalgia and any glamour girl that lives to play with makeup will need to act quickly to get these stylishly chic items before they sell out!

The Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama

There has been tremendous momentum and excitement leading up to tomorrow's inauguration where President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America. Tomorrow night the new president will celebrate by hosting the first-ever Neighborhood Ball. Through interactive technology and a live broadcast on ABC, the Neighborhood Ball will be linked with parties across the country, making for a truly special night that all Americans can take part in.

If you happen to be in Northern Manhattan tomorrow, MoveOn members in conjunction with Give.Be.Grow of Washington Heights are organizing an Inaugural Bash to celebrate the historic swearing in of Barack Obama. This event will bring local residents together to celebrate and recognize the work of the millions of Americans who helped achieve this victory.

This event is a 21+ event hosted in The Monkey Room, 589 Fort Washington Avenue (near 187th street) at 7:30pm.

To find an inaugural party near you visit http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/neighborhoodballparty.

Shotgun Theatre Festival

I’m so glad I decided to brave the cold weather Friday night and attend one of the “Performance” nights of the Shotgun Theatre Festival presented by the Gene Frankel Theatre --I had mentioned this festival in a previous post on January 7th. It was such an enjoyable experience; I went alone and had a great night! There were six original 10 minute works performed (everything from drama, suspense, and comedy). In between each play musician Michael Bryson performed as well. Those works were written and put together in a compressed time of about one day. I was really impressed with the writing and performance put together in such a short amount of time.


A little background on the festival – Thursday, January 8th and 15th directors and playwrights watched over 30 actors do cold reading and monologues in front of the audience. Playwrights randomly selected a director’s name and actors were randomly distributed to a director/playwright team. Overnight, the playwright wrote a ten minute play. January 9th, 10th, 16th, and 17th were the performance nights. The audience then voted for their two favorites, and those winning plays will perform tonight, Sunday January 18th at 7pm for the opportunity to win three free nights of rental at the Gene Frankel Theatre to produce a full length version of the mini play they created.

I enjoyed this experience so much; I would love to attend another festival like this in the near future. I was excited when one of the plays I voted for "Roomies" was selected to move on to the finals. I really think it’s a fantastic idea and a great way to showcase new talent in theatre. Support theatre and get your butts over to the final day of the festival tonight at 7pm at the Gene Frankel Theatre 24 Bond street, NYC (near Lafayette)– tickets for tonight are $20.

The Shotgun Theatre Festival was presented by Gail Thacker/The Gene Frankel Theatre, Jason Surratt, Diamondo Stratakos, and the City Actors Theatre Company. For more info on the Gene Frankel Theatre visit http://www.genefrankel.com/

I love a bargain (parte 2)

Hola! As promised here is part 2 of Pongan el Cafe's interview with fashion expert Lilliana Vazquez. I had one very important question for this chica -- What are some of your secrets for looking fabulous on a budget?

Here are a couple of suggestions from Lilliana:

Start with a great pair of Jeans
Jeans are the foundation of many Hollywood starlets looks and there’s no reason to spend $200 on designer denim when so many stores carry similar, if not exact styles! Check out the juniors department at Macy’s for the latest washes, cuts and styles and if you want something even cheaper, give Old Navy a try! They run countless promotions on their denim for the whole family and they never cost more than $30 anyway!

Know Where to Shop
Certain stores are built around designer looks for less. H&M and Forever 21 are a goldmine of inexpensive trendy style inspired by today’s hottest celebrities and runway looks. You can find shirts, tunics, pants, dresses, and all kinds of accessories at very inexpensive prices, which will have you looking just like the Olsen’s at a fraction of the cost!

Diffusion Lines
If you’re looking for a designer label, but not a designer price, many high-end designers are now partnering with certain retailers to offer lower priced versions of their designer collections. Stores like Wal-Mart, Target and JC Penney have paired up with some of the biggest names in fashion to bring you designer names at budget friendly prices.

Scour Secondhand
One of the best places to find vintage and designer pieces is at secondhand stores like Goodwill and The Salvation Army. You have to be really patient and in the mood to sort through all the bad stuff, but there’s so many great finds if you just take the time to look! You’d be totally surprised at what people will just give away!

Mix High + Low
The reason celebrities like Cameron Diaz and Nicole Ritchie always look so stylish is because they’re perfected the art of the mix. Although they could dress in head to toe designer, what gives them their unique look and personal style is that they’re not afraid to mix a Balenciaga jacket with a pair of Old Navy shorts. Mixing designer pieces with cheapchic items creates a look that’s entirely your own!

Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize
This is the cheapest way to get the most “bang for your buck”. You can transform jeans and a white tee from basic to WOW by adding just the right mix of jewelry or a standout pair of shoes!

Learn to sew or find a great seamstress
Tailoring to fit your body makes any garment look custom and switching out the standard-issue buttons on a jacket or a blazer makes it look like a designer buy.

Shop early…for the next year!
The end of the season is the best time to shop because of the aggressive markdowns. You might have to store those bikinis until next summer, but you’ll save tons of money in the process!

Shop your own closet!
If you feel the need to shop but just can’t afford it, try shopping at home. Pull out your favorite pieces, find new ways to wear them or new ideas for mixing them with items that you already own. If you challenge yourself to come up with 3 new ways to wear a favorite, you’ll feel like you’ve shopped for new clothes without spending any money!

Quality not quantity
It’s better to have a few things that you really love than a lot of things you kind of like. If you buy what you love, you’ll end up with a closet full of things to wear, instead of trend items that will have you looking dated in just a few months.

Pongan el Cafe had one more question for Lilliana before hitting the road: Finding clothes for curvy women is hard enough, but where do you suggest Hispanic women shop for great affordable and chic outfits?

I don’t think it’s as much about where you shop, but more about how you shop. Buy clothes that fit your body and gently hug your curves. Also, if you’re more voluptuous avoid tight fitting clothes and busy patterns at all costs! Try looser styles in darker colors that camouflage your problem areas instead or drawing attention to them.

Gracias Lilliana!!

For more great fashion finds and tips visit The Cheap Chicas Guide to Style. If you'd like to learn more about this fabulous chica, visit www.lillianavazquez.com.

I love a good bargain!

If you love a good bargain as much as I do then you should really continue reading. Pongan el Café had the opportunity to chat with one Latina who’s making moves, fashion expert Lilliana Vazquez. This chica offers trendy and budget-conscious ideas to the masses through her blog The Cheap Chica’s Guide to Style.

Here is Part I of our chat with Lilliana, where she shared some of her experiences in the fashion industry and some advice for women who’d like to break into the industry.

CB: What made you want to pursue a career in fashion?
LV: My aunt taught me to sew when I was just a little girl and since that day, I’ve always had a deep interest in how clothes were made and a true appreciation for fashion. When I got older, I knew that this would be the perfect industry for me because I was going to pursue something I loved and that I was passionate about, instead of just any old job.

CB: What experiences did you have when you first moved to NY after college? What kinds of obstacles/opportunities did you encounter?
LV: Unfortunately, I had a very “Devil Wears Prada” experience when I first moved to NYC and was working at W magazine. But it quickly opened my eyes to how cutthroat this industry was and prepared me for the future.

When I started my accessories line I had NO money and I was totally out of my league. I was competing with designers who had more experience and established brand names, but I had confidence, loads of it, and buyers sensed that about me. They also sensed that I was a young, hungry and a really hard worker and that opened up a lot of relationships for me with major department stores and big time buyers.

CB: What led you to The CheapChica's Guide to Style?
LV: For as long as I can remember, people have always asked me what I was wearing. When I told them where I got it and how much it cost, they were totally shocked! I rarely spend more than $50 on one item and I live by the mantra that style has nothing to do with money… so I thought, why not share my budget fashion tips and style advice with other people?? I love to write and I thought a blog would be the perfect forum to reach millions of people who just want to look good, on the cheap! =)

CB: What advice can you give Hispanic women trying to break into the fashion industry as a writer, stylist, designer, etc.?
LV: Commit, commit, commit. I can’t tell you how bad you have to want something to actually get it! I also strongly believe in the benefits of internships and having a mentor. Find someone in your community that has the job/position you want and get in touch with them…ask if you can volunteer your time and take full advantage of that experience…even if it means getting them coffee! It will open your eyes to the daily nuances of that job and by being in that workplace, you will start to build a network of contacts in that industry which will be beneficial in the long run.

CB: What do you have planned for the near future in terms of your career and working with Hispanic women?
LV: I am looking forward to adding both video and audio elements to the blog and hopefully developing a web show all about budget fashion!

I always make a strong effort to reach out to the Hispanic community for models and designer to feature in all of my TV appearances and articles.


Catch up on more with Lilliana Vazquez in Part II of our chat, where she’ll offer some great fashion tips – how to look fabulous without breaking the bank (especially useful in this economic slump)!

Dios Mio PORQUE!!!!!

If you happen to be in a cold climate, I feel for you. If you happen to be in a nice warm climate, I'm going to have to hate on you!! It's freezing in NYC (although I was expecting it to be colder today).

Hope you're all trying to stay warm. Here is something to help -- happy thoughts, happy thoughts........

Busy in the city....

The holidays are winding down and January always seems like such a long month. So, if you want to find something to distract your mind and you're in NYC, here is a great suggestion.

The Gene Frankel Theatre (located at 24 Bond Street) will be presenting the Shotgun Theatre Festival: Theatre Under the Gun, which will run January 8th-10th and January 15th-18th. The festival aims to create spontaneous theater in a compressed period of time while allowing an audience to witness the theatrical process in its entirety; from auditions and casting through the staging of twenty eight original works.

The January 8th and 15th shows are "audition nights," where actors will perform monologues and short solo performances (including dances, songs, and stand-up). The playwright and director teams will also be picked live in front of the audience on those two evenings, and the casts will be determined.

Performance times are at 8pm, except for the final night of the festival which begins at 7pm. Tickets are $10 for each night (tickets for the final night are $20), and festival passes may be purchased for $25 (one weekend) or $60 (all festival pass). Tickets can be purchased at The Gene Frankel Theatre, at 24 Bond Street (just off of Lafayette).

For more information on The Gene Frankel Theatre, visit http://www.genefrankel.com/

Go check it out, should be an interesting experience.

As usual, one of my New Year's resolution is to lose weight.

First off, I know I'm about 5 days late but, FELIZ ANO NUEVO!!!!

On that note, as usual with the New Year more than half of the population resolves to lose weight, and I'm one of those people. It can be a difficult resolution to keep simply because if you really want to lose weight and keep those pounds off it's a complete lifestyle change.

Luckily, my friend put me on to this fantastic website - sparkpeople.com - that I just signed up for and will begin to use this week. I started to lose weight last year (and did pretty well), but I've come to a stand still and need a little help to put me back on track.

Sparkpeople.com is a free site that has diet trackers, exercise programs, and much more to keep you on the right track. What I love most about this site is that they offer nutrition, health, and fitness tools, support, and resources that are 100% free! (everyone's favorite word especially in these times)

You should definitely go on to sparkpeople.com and sign up. Go explore the site, read the articles, and get on the discussion boards. Buena suerte!!!!