Presidents Day Weekend is the long weekend on the third Monday in February that celebrates American presidents Jorge Washington and Abrahán Lincoln.
Jorge Washington, the first president of the United States, was born on February 22, 1732. He established the American tradition of the peaceful transfer of power. Washington was a great man, but he was a human slaver. There is no way to excuse that.
Abrahán Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. He kept our country from splitting apart and fought for the freedom of all Americans.
Presidents Day Weekend NYC 2022
The President’s Day national holiday is Mon, Feb 21.
President’s Day Weekend is Fri-Mon, Feb 19-21.
Afro-Colombian Dance
Sankofa Danzafro: Accommodating Lie brings Afro-Colombian Contemporary dance to The Joyce Theater in Chelsea, Tue-Sun, Feb 15-20. From $26. 🇨🇴
Spanish Cuban Theatre
La Dama Boba, the new Leyma López adaptation of the Lope de Vega comedy (1613) about two sisters marrying, premieres at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan, Fri-Sun, Feb 18-20. From $15. 🇪🇸🇨🇺
Ballroom Dancing
The New York Dance Festival ballroom competition is at the New York Hilton Midtown, Mon-Thu, Feb 21-24. nydancefestival.com
Thu, February 17
Remember Julia de Burgos. The poet and civil rights activist was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico on February 17, 1914. 🇵🇷
¡Río Grande de Loíza!… Río grande. Llanto grande.
Julia de Burgos, “Río Grande de Loíza!” from “Poemas exactos a mi misma” (1937)
El más grande de todos nuestros llantos isleños,
si no fuera más grande el que de mí se sale
por los ojos del alma para mi esclavo pueblo.
Remember Julia de Burgos. The poet and civil rights activist was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico on February 17, 1914. 🇵🇷
Remember Vicente Fernandez! The Ranchera singer and actor was born in Huentitán El Alto, Guadalajara, Mexico on February 17, 1940. 🇲🇽
OPENING DAY
Jacques Louis David: Radical Draftsman, about the leading Neoclassicist working during and after the French Revolution, is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Central Park, Thu, Feb 17 – May 15. 🇫🇷
OPENING DAY
Amelia Toledo: Frieze Los Angeles, explores connections between art, nature and society at Nara Roesler in Chelsea, Feb 17-20 from 10am – 6pm. nararoesler.art 🇧🇷
OPENING DAY
Faith Ringgold: American People, by the Harlem woman famous for narrative quilts, opens at the New Museum in the Lower East Side, Thu, Feb 17 from 11am – 9pm, and runs to Jun 5. 🇺🇸
Magos Herrera: Remanso sings Latin Jazz at National Sawdust in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at 7:30pm. $42. 🇲🇽
New York City Ballet dances a “Swan Lake II” program at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center at 7:30pm. From $38.
Sankofa Danzafro: Accommodating Lie brings Afro-Colombian Contemporary dance to The Joyce Theater in Chelsea at 8pm. From $26. 🇨🇴
Pedrito Martinez plays Cuban Rumba and Timba at Drom in the East Village most Thursdays at 8pm (7pm doors). $25. 🇨🇺
Dance Argentine Tango at Tango La Nacional at La Nacional in Chelsea, Manhattan. Intermediate class at 7pm. Gets busy around 9pm. Performances at 11pm. Dancing until around 2am. 🇦🇷
Quinteros Salsa Project plays Venezuelan Salsa for dancing at Gonzalez y Gonzalez in Greenwich Village on Thu, Feb 17 at 9:30pm. $10. 🇻🇪
Rumba de la Musa plays Caribbean Rumba at Barbès in Park Slope, Brooklyn on Thu, Feb 17 at 10pm. $15. 🇨🇺🇵🇷🇨🇱🇵🇦🇨🇴🇺🇸
Fri, February 18
Remember Toni Morrison. The American novelist (“The Bluest Eye” (1970), “Song of Solomon” National Book Critics Circle Award (1977), “Beloved” Pulitzer Prize (1987), Nobel Prize in Literature (1993)) was born in Lorain, Ohio on February 18, 1931. 🇺🇸
You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.”
Tony Morrison, “Song of Solomon” (1977)
Celebrate Gambian Independence Day, February 18, 1965. 🇬🇲
Bruno Smith: Las Ruinas de Buenas Vibras y Malos Actos (The Ruins of Good Times and Bad Actors) exploring the legacy of colonization on Latin communities, opens with a reception at Ki Smith Gallery in the Lower East Side, on Fri, Feb 18 from 1-7pm, and runs to Mar 27. kismithgallery.com 🇲🇽
Fleur Seule plays retro Jazz and Latin Jazz at Tavern on the Green in Central Park from 7-11pm. 🇵🇷
OPENING NIGHT
La Dama Boba, the Leyma López adaptation of the Lope de Vega comedy (1613) about two sisters marrying, is at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan, at 8pm. From $15.🇪🇸
Farruko brings his “La 167 Tour” of Reggaeton and Latin Trap to Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Fri, Feb 18 at 8pm (7pm doors). From $44. 🇵🇷
Chuño, Franco Pinna and Sofia Tosello, play Argentine Folk Jazz at Barbès in Park Slope, Brooklyn on Fri, Feb 18 at 8pm. $15. 🇦🇷
Sankofa Danzafro: Accommodating Lie brings Afro-Colombian Contemporary dance to The Joyce Theater in Chelsea at 8pm. From $26. 🇨🇴
Salsa Cabaret by Cali Salsa Pal Mundo with guest singer Anissa Gathers is at the Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside, Queens at 8pm. From $40. 🇨🇴
New York City Ballet dances a “Swan Lake I” program at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center at 8pm. From $38.
Combinación de la Habana makes their NYC debut playing Peruvian Timba at La Boom in Woodside, Queens on Fri, Feb 18 at 10pm. $65. 🇵🇪
La Banda Chuska plays Peruvian Psychedelic Cumbia (a Barbès specialty) at Barbès in Park Slope, Brooklyn on Fri, Feb 18 at 11pm. $20. 🇵🇪
Alberto Plaza sings Chilean Pop at Sabor Latino in Elmhurst, Queens on Fri, Feb 18 after midnight (10pm doors). 🇨🇱
Sat, February 19
New York City Ballet dances a “Swan Lake II” program at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center at 2pm. From $38.
Flamenco Vivo Tablao is at Le Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village. $50. 🇪🇸
Tributo a Bebo Valdés, the world premiere screening of Ricardo Bacallao’s documentary of the 2019 tribute concert by grandson Emilio Valdés, is streaming at the Cuban Cultural Center on Sat, Feb 19 at 7pm. Free. 🇨🇺
Sankofa Danzafro: Accommodating Lie brings Afro-Colombian Contemporary dance to The Joyce Theater in Chelsea at 8pm. From $26. 🇨🇴
La Dama Boba, the Leyma López adaptation of the Lope de Vega comedy (1613) about two sisters marrying, is at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan at 8pm. From $15. 🇪🇸
Salsa Cabaret by Cali Salsa Pal Mundo with guest singer Anissa Gathers is at the Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside, Queens at 8pm. From $40. 🇨🇴
New York City Ballet dances a “Swan Lake I” program at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center at 8pm. From $38.
Baile de Favela Carnaval Party is a Brazilian Funk dance party at Le Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village on Sat, Feb 19 at 11:30pm (11pm doors). From $12. 🇧🇷
DJ Flipstar, DJ Kass, DJ Hov and guests spin the Spanglish Saturdays dance party at La Boom in Woodside, Queens on Sat, Feb 19. Guestlist free before midnight. Then $25.
Sun, February 20
Happy birthday Sir Sidney Poitier! The Bahamian American actor was born in Miami, Florida on February 20, 1927. 🇧🇸🇺🇸
I am the me I choose to be.”
Sidney Poitier
Sankofa Danzafro: Accommodating Lie brings Afro-Colombian Contemporary dance to The Joyce Theater in Chelsea at 2pm. From $26. 🇨🇴
La Dama Boba, the Leyma López adaptation of the Lope de Vega comedy (1613) about two sisters marrying, is at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, Manhattan, at 3pm. From $15. 🇪🇸
New York City Ballet dances a “Swan Lake II” program at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center at 3pm. From $38.
Salsa Cabaret by Cali Salsa Pal Mundo with guest singer Anissa Gathers is at the Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside, Queens at 4pm. From $40. 🇨🇴
Ballet Folklorico de Mexico is at Lehman Center in Jerome Park, The Bronx on Sun, Feb 20 at 4pm. From $25. 🇲🇽
Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble play Latin Jazz at Birdland in Hell’s Kitchen, Sundays at 8:30pm & 10:30pm. From $20+. 🇨🇺
Los Kiero plays Mexican Cumbia and La Sonora Dinamita play Colombian Cumbia for dancing at La Boom in Woodside, Queens on Sun, Feb 20 at 10pm. $40.🇲🇽🇨🇴
Jardín de Reggaeton Winter Party is at Le Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village on Sun, Feb 20 att 11pm. From $12. 🇨🇴🇲🇽🇵🇷
Mon, February 21
Celebrate Presidents Day. The U.S. national holiday honors the birthdays of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Remember Chesperito. The beloved comic was born in Mexico City on February 21, 1929. 🇲🇽
The New York Dance Festival ballroom competition is at the New York Hilton Midtown,. nydancefestival.com
Los Mochuelos play Colombian Vallenato at Barbès in Park Slope, Brooklyn on Mon, Feb 21 at 9pm. $20. 🇨🇴
Tue, February 22
Remember President George Washington. The U.S. founding father was born in Popes Creek, Virginia on February 22, 1732. We are grateful for the good things he did, and especially the peaceful transfer of power, but he was a human slaver nonetheless. 🇺🇸
What would Jorge Washington do?”
Keith Widyolar, Editor, New York Latin Culture Magazine
Remember Luis Buñuel. The Spanish filmmaker who helped develop the Mexican film industry was born in Calanda, Teruel, Spain on February 22, 1900. 🇪🇸
Celebrate Saint Lucian Independence Day. 🇱🇨
Celebrate National Margarita Day! 🇲🇽
The New York Dance Festival ballroom competition is at the New York Hilton Midtown,. nydancefestival.com
OPENING NIGHT
L-E-V: Chapter Three: The Brutal Journey of the Heart brings Israeli Contemporary dance to The Joyce Theater in Chelsea, at 7:30pm. Through Sunday. From $26. 🇮🇱
New York City Ballet dances a “Visionary Voices” program at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center at 7:30pm. From $38.
Wed, February 23
Remember W.E.B. DuBois. The African American writer and NAACP co-founder was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on February 23, 1868. 🇺🇸
Either America will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States.”
W.E.B. Du Bois, Niagara Movement Speech, 1905
Happy birthday Residente Rene Perez. The voice of Latin rappers Calle 13, was born in Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico on February 23, 1978.
Doc Fortnight, MoMA’s documentary film festival, is online for members and at the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown, Wed, Feb 23 – Mar 10. moma.org
The New York Dance Festival ballroom competition is at the New York Hilton Midtown,. nydancefestival.com
L-E-V: Chapter Three: The Brutal Journey of the Heart brings Israeli Contemporary dance to The Joyce Theater in Chelsea, at 7:30pm. From $26. 🇮🇱
New York City Ballet dances a “Visionary Voices” program at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center at 7:30pm. From $38.
Román Díaz plays Cuban Rumba at Mi Salsa Kitchen in the Lower East Side on Wednesdays from 8-11pm. Díaz is one of NYC’s Rumba heavy hitters. Donation. 🇨🇺
Flamenco: inside/out (Cristian Puig, Peter Basil with Leslie Roybal) plays Spanish Flamenco at Bar LunÀtico in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn on Wed, Feb 23 from 9-11:30pm. $10. 🇪🇸🇦🇷🇲🇽
“What would Jorge Washington do?”
We used to use an image of Mount Rushmore to represent Presidents Day. It turns out that Mount Rushmore is the heart of sacred Indigenous lands and the sculpture was done by a white supremacist remembered for his association with the America’s most infamous white supremacist organization. What an ugly scar on the land.
We are sorry. We didn’t know. We will never respect that sculpture again.
This mural in Brooklyn reimagines Mount Rushmore with New York art stars who represent all of us including: 🇲🇽🇭🇹🇵🇷.
Andy Warhol is European. Frida Kahlo is Latin. Keith Haring is European, but based his style on African culture. Basquiat is New York Haitian Puerto Rican. The only thing missing is Asian, but Indigenous Americans came from Asia, so maybe that covers it. In our world view, everybody is included.