Lo and Behold: Loisaida

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Ivannia Morton

Prof. Serafin

May 15, 2018

Loisaida

If you’re on Instagram, you’ve scrolled by a fair share of lust worthy experiences and food along your feed. With most of the fun being right here in New York, we’re constantly on the hunt for the latest and greatest new thing to try. Put down your #instaworthy avocado toast and discover a neighborhood that doesn’t get enough appreciation, Loisaida. For many years, most of Loisaida’s population has been predominantly Puerto Rican. The community reflects the island’s rich culture in more ways than one.

Occupying Avenue C in Alphabet City, the name Loisaida derived from the popular Spanish pronunciation of the Lower East Side, and poem written by community activist Bimbo Rivas. Rivas was one of the key figures in the late 60’s Nuyorican movement, which inspired a large artistic response to the marginalization of the Puerto Rican voice and presence in New York.

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It was only about one hundred years ago that the Jones-Shafroth Act passed which granted Puerto Ricans U.S citizenship. With this new found freedom, Puerto Ricans were heading for New York quicker than one could imagine. As years went on, the numbers of migrants continued to multiply. While their presence in New York on paper was huge, the need for representation was even bigger. It wasn’t until the late 60’s and early 70s that the Nuyorican movement took off. As people shared their stories and poured out their heart, the community began to use art as an apparatus for healing and expression. The famed “Nuyorican Poets Cafe” that helped drive the movement is still in operation and should be the first stop on your list of things to experience in the neighborhood. The space is home to diverse performances across multiple mediums.

236 E 3rd St, New York, NY 10009

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6 blocks up from the Nuyorican Café lies La Plaza Cultural Community Garden. The garden was founded in 1976 by residents after seeing the space plagued with urban blight. When drug usage and arson was rampant, community members saw the opportunity to pursue the garden as a way to improve the area. The garden now serves as a safe space for families, children, and individuals looking for a place to unwind. With a playground and urban farm on site, the possibilities are endless. The park also offers events and opportunities for New Yorkers to invest in themselves and the communities they reside in. Every Monday in the month of May there is a free outdoor bike repair class that runs from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. As it warms up the park hosts outdoor performances, so for those skipping out on Gov’s Ball this year, keep an eye out for local artists at La Plaza.

E 9th St & Avenue C, New York, NY 10003

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For those looking for opportunities to give back and volunteer, the Loisaida Inc., cultural center is always appreciative of a helping hand. There are many ways to donate your talents and time, whether you’re a student in college or a data analyst, there’s a place for you at Loisaida inc. The center has been operating since the mid 70s. as an effort to counter attack drugs, poverty, violence, and gangs in the area. The center hosts numerous programs for locals and has become a safe space for Latino’s around the city. Senior days at the center are held every first Monday of the month between 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm and are filled with festivities. Each session includes guest speakers, educational workshops, exercise and nutrition groups, health tests, and of course food! This is just one of the many ways the center reaches out to the community, they also host events for youth. With their 10,000-foot, split level activity rooms, the center is able to host performances and creative spaces for children of all ages. The memories made at the center go on with the children of this community for years. It’s a safe space to create art, explore their minds, and develop friendships.

710 E 9th St, New York, NY 10009

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They’re also known for artist residencies and wonderfully curated spaces for art lovers. Currently on exhibition is “Charas is Alive on Spaceship Earth” by Matthew Mottell. The CHARAS group started off as a community center and home for artists in 1965 by Armando Perez. The members started building domes in a vacant lot adjacent to the Manhattan Bridge, after an encounter with architect R. Buckminster Fuller in 1972/73. The CHARAS domes served as recreational activity spaces and prototype disaster relief shelter. The domes will be recreated and installed and raise conversations about the mayoral office’s promise to reclaim CHARAS space for Loisaida residents. The CHARAS /El Bohio space was forced to evict of their 9^th St. location due to it formerly being P.S 64. Despite CHARAS/El Bohio’s 20-year presence at that location, the city decided to auction it off to a developer in 1998. This exhibition will bring attention to the issue that holds very dear to many resident’s hearts. The exhibition runs from May 5^th through May 12^th 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Loisaida center.

1970's

2018

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The center has partnered with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and many other organizations to create a platform for residents across the boroughs feeling the ramifications of gentrification. Loisaida has seen an outpouring of citizens being displaced in their own communities due to new bars or fro-yo shops, gnawing away at the neighborhood and skyrocketing the cost of living. Loisaida ensures that the voices of the community is represented fairly when budget cut after budget cut continually makes its way down the block. In 2017 NYC.gov had their Project Steering Committee put together a cultural plan for the neighborhood. The project is to reclaim the lively hood and reputation of the neighborhood as a hub of culture and influence. Like the rest of the city’s endangered neighborhoods, communities like Loisaida call on the community for support. In order to not become another casualty of gentrification, events like the Loisaida parade are important to support and worth attending.  

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Every Sunday a week prior to Labor Day, the center organizes the parade that starts on E 10th Street to Avenue D and works its way back to the Festival’s Main Stage. The festival typically brings in 12,000 – 15,000 people annually. It not only draws attention to the neighborhood, but traditional Puerto Rican cuisine, music, and arts. The event is full of festivities for all ages. A complete lineup of performances and activities is available at www.loisaidafest.org/about-us/.

Of course, a neighborhood this rich in art and history is nowhere near lacking in the food department. We hit the streets to find out what the best restaurant in the neighborhood was, and many found it hard to make a choice. The most popular restaurant seemed to be Casa Adela, situated on Avenue C on the corner of E 5^th St.

66 Avenue C, New York, NY 10009

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Casa Adela was opened in 1976 by Adela Ferguson, where she crafted her mouthwatering chicken that forces the line out the door and down the block. Casa Adela is one of the few Puerto Rican ran establishments that survived gentrification. In neighborhoods like Chinatown or Little Italy, it may be easier to find original restaurants that withstood the test of time. For Loisaida, it’s a needle in the haystack situation. One woman I spoke with noted: “I used to be able to leave my apartment and get my favorite coffee from the island and bread for a buck. Now you have Starbucks and other tiendas (shops) because the rent got too high.” 

 Ferguson’s restaurant has truly been a refuge for Caribbean natives feeling homesick or missing the flavors that used to be abundant throughout Avenue C. Running to Casa Adela’s to hear her spoon clank against her Caldero is not taken for granted. From classics like Mofongo, Pernil, or Arroz con Gandules, the nostalgic spot delivers it all. At 81 years old, Adela Ferguson passed away in January of this year. The restaurant still stands and serves the community, honoring her Loisaida legacy for years to come.

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With temperatures rising and as vacation days arrive, take a trip down to Loisaida to experience Puerto Rican culture at its finest. The resilience and pride of the people that tread up and down Avenue C is something unique and impactful. Despite the ongoing neglect Puerto Rico has had in response to Hurricane Maria, the spirit of La Isla de Encanta has resided with residents through thick and thin. If you haven’t made the trip downtown, be sure to check out the upcoming events and experiences going on in the month of May.