February 2020 is Black History Month.
This is the cheapest time to visit New York City. There are discounts on travel, hotel, food, and things to do. January’s NYC Broadway Week and NYC Restaurant Week promotions continue.
HOLIDAYS: Presidents Day Weekend is the long weekend.
NATIONAL DAYS: Dominican Independence Day.
ART: ADAA The Art Show kicks off the Armory Week art fairs.
CELEBRATIONS: Valentines Day fills restaurants. It’s Carnival month, Carnival week, Carnival weekend, Mardi Gras, and then we all fall down (until the next Latin party).
DANCE: New York City Ballet’s Winter Season continues.
FAITH: Candlemas, Feast of Our Lady of Candelaria, Ash Wednesday and Lent.
FASHION: The New York Fashion Week and Fashion Designers of Latin America fashion shows mean there are lots of fashionistas around.
FOOD: NYC Restaurant Week promotions continue.
MOVIES: MoMA Doc Fortnight, Neighboring Scenes Latin American Film Festival, and the International Children’s Film Festival are in town. The Oscars are on television.
THEATRE: NYC Broadway Week continues and the West Side Story opens.
The Westminster Dog Show brings Latin breeds to New York. Yes, really. There are Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Cuban and Mexican breeds.
In the Latin world…
The month of Carnival builds up to Carnival Weekend and blows out on Mardi Gras.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The La Vega Carnival is Sundays in La Vega, Dominican Republic until the last Sunday in February when Dominican Carnival moves to Santo Domingo. [March 1 this year because of elections.]
PERU
The Fiesta de la Candelaria is one of the biggest folkloric events in South America.
URUGUAY
The Llamadas Parade of Montevideo Carnival
February 2020 week 5
January 27 – February 2, 2020
Saturday, February 1
February is Black History Month.
Poet Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902.
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
From The Negro Speaks of Rivers, Langston Hughes, 1921
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans,
and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset”
The Writers Guild of America Awards are today.
Watch the Madrid Derby Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid with either Peña Oficial Atlético de Madrid en New York at the Football Factory at Legends in Koreatown, NYC; or with Peña Madridista NYC at Playwright Irishh Pub in NYC’s Garment District at Time TBD. No cover.
Porgy and Bess, Gershwin’s American opera about Black life in the old South, is at the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center and in theaters across the country Live in HD at 1pm. From $30
Sunday, February 2
Celebrate Candlemas, the 40th day of the Christmas-Epiphany season. France, Puerto Rico, the Canary Islands (Spain), Philippines, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru celebrate.
Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Candelaria, the patron saint of the Canary Islands.
An Emphasis on Resistance, the Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation grants exhibition, closes at El Museo del Barrio from 12-5pm. From $5
Filomena Marturano Un Matrimonio a la Caribeña, a Cuban version of the Italian play is at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, NYC at 3pm. From $15
Dance Argentine tango at the El Destino milonga at Solas in Manhattan’s East Village from 6-11pm. $12
PERU
The Fiesta de la Candelaria, one of the biggest folkloric events in South America, is in Puno, Peru through February 12.
February 2020 week 6
February 3-9, 2020
Monday, February 3
Italian opera La Traviata is at the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center at 7:30pm. From $30
Italian-American hot jazz specialists Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks play Iguana in Times Square, Manhattan at 8 & 11pm. $20
IOWA
The Iowa caucuses are the first of the 2020 U.S. election primaries.
Tuesday, February 4
Black History Month
Rosa Parks, the mother of the freedom movement, was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on February 4, 1913.
I don’t think I should have to stand up.”
Rosa Parks on the bus in Montgomery Alabama, December 1, 1955
NYFW Women’s Fall-Winter 2020
Italian brand M Missoni launches New York Fashion Week remotely from Los Angeles from 3-5pm. We think that is Eastern Time.
Italian-American hot jazz specialists Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks play Iguana in Times Square, Manhattan at 8 & 11pm. $20
Wednesday, February 5
Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron “Hammer” was born in Mobile, Alabama on February 5, 1934.
OPENING NIGHT
MoMA’s Doc Fortnight documentary film festival runs through Wednesday, February 19.
Paloma Suau’s Antonio Martorell documentary “El accidente feliz” (The Happy Accident) screens at Pregones/PRTT in Concourse, The Bronx at 7pm with the filmmakers present. Free with RSVP
Thursday, February 6
La Canción, the Puerto Rican hip-hop reggaeton musical, is in Spanish with English supertitles at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, NYC at 11am. $30
NYFW 2020
Christian Siriano, the Italian-American designer from Project Runway shows in Gallery I at Spring Studios in Tribeca at 6pm.
The Orchestra of St. Luke’s plays rare works for double orchestra by Handel and Vivaldi in the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in Midtown, NYC at 8pm. From $30
Los Hacheros play Puerto Rican Golden Age salsa for dancing at Gonzalez y Gonzalez in Greenwich Village from 9:30pm to 1:30am. $10 cover
Dance traditional Argentine Tango at Tango La Nacional in Chelsea, Manhattan from 9:30pm – 2am. (Classes: Beginners 7pm, Intermediate 8pm). $15
Friday, February 7
NYFW Women’s Fall-Winter 2020
Monse, the brand of Oscar de La Renta designers Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia shows off-site at 6pm.
Italian opera La Traviata is at the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center at 7:30pm. From $30
URUGUAY
The Llamadas Parade of Montevideo Carnival marches down Isla de Flores street between Barrio Sur and Palermo.
Saturday, February 8
Westminster Dog Show
The Westminster Dog Show runs through Tuesday. It opens with the Masters Agility Championship Preliminaries at Pier 94 in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC from 8 to 4pm. Limited tickets at the door.
NYFW Women’s Fall-Winter 2020
French house Longchamp shows off-site on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 1pm.
CLOSING
The art exhibition, Mexico is Mexico: Contemporary Mexican Design, closes at Henrique Faria Fine Art in the Upper East Side, NYC from 11am to 6pm. FREE
NYFW Women’s Fall-Winter 2020
Italian fashion house Chiara Boni shows in Gallery II at Spring Studios in Tribeca, NYC at 6pm.
Westminster Dog Show
The Masters Agility Championship Finals are at Pier 94 in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC from 7-9pm. Limited tickets at the door.
Colombian comic Saulo Garcia’s Quinceañera is at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, NYC at 8pm. From $15
Latin Grammy winner Pedro Giraudo plays Argentine tango at Barbès in Park Slope, Brooklyn at 8pm. $10 suggested donation
Dance Argentine Tango at the NYC All Night Milonga at Stepping Out Studios in NoMad, Manhattan from 10pm – 4am. $18
URUGUAY
The Llamadas Parade of Montevideo Carnival marches down Isla de Flores street between Barrio Sur and Palermo.
Sunday, February 9
February’s Snow Moon is full at 2:33am.
The NYC Broadway Week Winter 2020 2-for-1 ticket promotion ends today.
The NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2020 prix-fixe lunch and dinner promotion ends today.
The Septuagesima, 70 days until Easter Sunday, marks the start of Carnival season, more or less.
Westminster Dog Show
Hound and Herding judging, and the Masters Obedience Championships are at Pier 94 in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Limited tickets at the door.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The La Vega Carnival in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic opens today and runs Sundays through February 23.
Colombian comic Saulo Garcia’s Quinceañera is at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, NYC at 3pm. From $15
The Oscars, the 92nd Academy Awards are live on ABC from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles at 8pm ET. Red carpet shows start earlier.
Dance Argentine tango at the El Destino milonga at Solas in Manhattan’s East Village from 6-11pm. $12
February 2020 week 7
February 10-16, 2020
Monday, February 10
The Off-Broadway Week 2-for-1 ticket promotion runs through February 23. Tickets go on sale January 27.
Westminster Dog Show
Terrier, Non-Sporting and Toy judging and Junior Showmanship Preliminaries are at Pier 94 from 8:30am to 4:3opm. Limited tickets at the door.
NYFW Women’s Fall-Winter 2020
Àcheval, the Argentine fashion brand, shows Buenos Aires style in the Sunken Living Room at Spring Studios in Tribeca, NYC from 6-8pm.
The Fashion Designers of Latin American press conference is tonight. It’s invite only this year.
Westminster Dog Show
Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding judging is at Madison Square Garden in Chelsea, NYC from 7:30-11pm. From $40
Italian-American hot jazz specialists Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks play Iguana in Times Square, Manhattan at 8 & 11pm. $20
Tuesday, February 11
Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France.
Westminster Dog Show
Sporting and Working breeds judging and Junior Showmanship Preliminaries are at Pier 94 in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Limited tickets at the door.
The Fashion Designers of Latin American fashion show is tonight. It’s invite only this year.
Westminster Dog Show
The Junior Showmanship Finals are at 7pm and Sporting, Working and Terrier judging and Best in Show are from 7:30-11pm at Madison Square Garden in Chelsea, NYC. From $40
OCA Dance performs “Pal’Monte” in a Fast Forward presentation curated by Sangeeta Yesley at Dixon Place in NYC’s Lower East Side on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 7:30pm. From $15
Italian-American hot jazz specialists Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks play Iguana in Times Square, Manhattan at 8 & 11pm. $20
Wednesday, February 12
Black History Month
Abraham Lincoln, the American president who held our country together legally ended slavery, was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky on February 12, 1809.
Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves”
Abraham Lincoln, Complete Works – Volume XII
NYFW Women’s Fall-Winter 2020
Alejandro Alonso Rojas, the Spanish designer shows in Gallery II at Spring Studios in Tribeca, NYC at 2pm.
Thursday, February 13
Multiple Grammy-winner Marc Anthony continues the “Opus 2020” tour of his 2020 Grammy-winning album at Madison Square Garden at 8pm. Ticketmaster from $67
Dance traditional Argentine Tango at Tango La Nacional in Chelsea, Manhattan from 9:30pm – 2am. (Classes: Beginners 7pm, Intermediate 8pm). $15
Friday, February 14
(Valentine’s Day)
Happy Valentine’s Day!
There were no embraces, because where there is great love there is often little display of it.”
Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, (1605)
Black History Month
Frederick Douglass, the great American abolitionist, writer and statesman celebrated his birthday as February 14, 1818.
The soul that is within me no man can degrade.”
Frederick Douglass, traveling in Pennsylvania, quoted by Booker T. Washington in 1901
When people came to apologize because he was forced to ride a Pennsylvania train in the baggage car, Douglass made an important observation which is that nobody defines us, but ourselves.
It’s President’s Day Weekend!
The 5th Neighboring Scenes: New Latin American Cinema film festival is at Film at Lincoln Center through Tuesday.
CARNEGIE HALL CITYWIDE
Brooklyn-based border band Pistolera plays its unique style of regional Mexican music at Flushing Town Hall in Flushing, Queens at 8pm. FREE
Jorge Alí Triana & Verónica Triana’s Colombian play El Coronel no tiene quien le escriba is at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, NYC in Spanish with English subtitles at 8pm. From $15
Saturday, February 15
ITALY
Venice Carnival runs through February 25.
The Orchid Show opens at the New York Botanical Garden in The Bronx. Through April 19. From $23
El Gran Combo de Puerto, Jerry Rivera and Tito Nieves play Puerto Rican salsa at Radio City Music Hall in Midtown, NYC at 8pm. From $96
Multiple Grammy-winner Marc Anthony continues the “Opus 2020” tour of his 2020 Grammy-winning album at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey at 8pm. Ticketmaster from $66
Bulla en el Barrio sings and dances Colombian Bullerengue at Barbès in Park Slope, Brooklyn at 10pm. $10 suggested donation
Sunday, February 16
Black History Month
Machito, Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, the Cuban bandleader who with music director Mario Baúza, created Latin jazz, celebrated his birthday on February 16, 1908.
Tanga”
Machito, “Tanga” (1942)
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Carnival Vegano, one of the DR’s main carnivals, runs Sundays through February 23.
Dance Argentine tango at the El Destino milonga at Solas in Manhattan’s East Village from 6-11pm. $12
February 2020 week 8
February 17-23, 2020
Monday, February 17
(President’s Day)
Black History Month
Puerto Rican poet and civil rights activist Julia de Burgos was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico on February 17, 1914. Like Langston Hughes, she drew inspiration from a river, the Loíza River which today separates urbanized San Juan and Carolina from more rural, and more African Loíza. The last sugar mill in Puerto Rico and a beautiful Indigenous cave are nearby. Loíza has one of Puerto Rico’s great fiestas patronales (patron saint carnivals).
¡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.
It’s the President’s Day U.S. Federal holiday.
Watch Borussia Dortmund vs PSG (UEFA Champions League) with the PSG New York City supporters club at the Football Factory at Legends in Koreatown, NYC. Time TBD
Watch Real Madrid vs Manchester City (UEFA Champions League Round of 16) with the Peña Madridista NYC supporters club at Playwright Irish Pub in NYC’s Garment District. Time TBD
Watch Atlético Madrid vs Liverpool (UEFA Champions League Round of 16) with Peña Oficial Atlético de Madrid at the Football Factory at Legends in Koreatown, NYC. Time TBD
Watch Olympique Lyonnais vs Juventus with the Juventus Club NYC supporters club at the Football Factory at Legends in Koreatown, NYC. Time TBD
Watch Napoli vs Barcelona with the Penya FC Barcelona NYC supporters club at Smithfield Hall in Chelsea, NYC. Time TBD
Italian-American hot jazz specialists Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks play Iguana in Times Square, Manhattan at 8 & 11pm. $20
Locobeach plays Venezuelan psychedelic cumbia at Barbès in Park Slope, Brooklyn at 9:30pm. $10 suggested donation
Tuesday, February 18
Black History Month
American novelist Toni Morrison (“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)
Italian-American hot jazz specialists Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks play Iguana in Times Square, Manhattan at 8 & 11pm. $20
Wednesday, February 19
Thursday, February 20
Black History Month
Bahamanian-U.S. American actor Sir Sidney Poitier was born in Miami, Florida on February 20, 1927.
I am the me I choose to be.”
Sidney Poitier
The Premio Lo Nuestro awards are live on Univision from Miami, Florida from 8-10pm. From $119
Latin Grammy winner Pedro Giraudo plays Argentine tango at Terraza 7 in Elmhurst, Queens at 9pm. $10
Dance traditional Argentine Tango at Tango La Nacional in Chelsea, Manhattan from 9:30pm – 2am. (Classes: Beginners 7pm, Intermediate 8pm). $15
Friday, February 21
Chesperito, the beloved Spanish-language comic, was born in Mexico City on February 21, 1929.
Rio de Janeiro Carnival runs through February 26.
The New York International Children’s Film Festival is on weekends through March 15.
Grupo Rebolú plays Caribbean Colombian jazz at Terraza 7 in Elmhurst, Queens at 10pm. $15
Saturday, February 22
United States general, founding father and first President George Washington was born in Popes Creek, Virginia on February 22, 1732.
What would Jorge Washington do?”
Keith Widyolar, Editor, New York Latin Culture Magazine
Spanish–Mexican filmmaker Luis Buñuel was born in Calanda, Teruel, Spain on February 22, 1900.
COLOMBIA
The main events of Barranquilla Carnival run through Fat Tuesday, February 25.
It’s National Margarita Day!
Sunday, February 23
Black History Month
Writer W.E.B DuBois, one of the founders of the NAACP, was born in Great Barrington, Massachussetts 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
The new moon is this morning at 10:32am.
The Off-Broadway Week 2-for-1 ticket promotion ends today.
Dance Argentine tango at the El Destino milonga at Solas in Manhattan’s East Village from 6-11pm. $12
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Carnival Vegano, one of the DR’s main carnivals, ends in Santo Domingo.
PUERTO RICO
Ponce Carnival, Puerto Rico’s main carnival, is in Ponce today only. [Confirmed February 22, 2020.]
February 2020 week 9
February 24 – March 1, 2020
Monday, February 24
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival runs through Tuesday.
Italian-American hot jazz specialists Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks play Iguana in Times Square, Manhattan at 8 & 11pm. $20
Bulla en el Barrio sings and dances Colombian Bullerengue at Barbès in Park Slope, Brooklyn at 9:30pm. $10 suggested donation
Tuesday, February 25
(Mardi Gras)
It’s Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday), the big party that ends Carnival.
La Canción, VICO C’s Puerto Rican reggaeton musical, is in Spanish with English supertitles at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, NYC at 11am. $30
Peruvian jazz leader Gabriel Alegría directs the New Jersey University Jazz Orchestra and N.O. Brass Band in a Mardi Gras tribute to Count Basie at Zinc Bar in Greenwich Village, NYC from 7-11pm. $20
Italian-American hot jazz specialists Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks play Iguana in Times Square, Manhattan at 8 & 11pm. $20
Wednesday, February 26
It’s Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Catholic solemn period of Lent.
Black History Month
Rock and roll pioneer Antoine “Fats” Domino Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 26, 1928.
They call, they call me the fat man
Fats Domino, The Fat Man, 1949
‘Cause I weigh two hundred pounds
All the girls, they love me
‘Cause I know my way around”
ADAA The Art Show opens with a Gala Preview at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan’s Upper East Side at 5pm. The fair runs through Sunday.
NEW CAST
Italian opera La Traviata opens with Lisette Oropesa and Luci Salsi at the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center at 7:30pm. From $30
Thursday, February 27
Celebrate Dominican Independence Day (from Haiti) on February 27, 1844.
Jorge Alí Triana & Verónica Triana’s Colombian play El Coronel no tiene quien le escriba is at Repertorio Español in Kips Bay, NYC in Spanish with English subtitles at 11am. $30
Dance traditional Argentine Tango at Tango La Nacional in Chelsea, Manhattan from 9:30pm – 2am. (Classes: Beginners 7pm, Intermediate 8pm). $15
Friday, February 28
CLOSING
An exhibition of work by Argentine artist Pablo La Padula: Stone View closes at Miranda Bosch Gallery in the Lower East Side from 11am to 5pm. FREE
Saturday, February 29
It’ Leap Year. Earth’s revolution around the sun takes about 365.25 days, so every four years the Gregorian calendar adds a February 29 to keep the calendar in sync with the seasons.
National Puerto Rican Day Parade scholarship applications are due today.
Michael Winograd and the Honorable Menshn play Jewish klezmer, Betsayda Machado y Parranda El Clavo play African-Venezuelan tambor, then the two jam together at the Flushing Town Hall in Flushing, Queens. Dance lesson at 7:15pm. Concert at 8pm. Teens free, $12 students, then $18.
Italian opera La Traviata is at the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center at 8:30pm. From $30
Dance Argentine Tango at the NYC All Night Milonga at Stepping Out Studios in NoMad, Manhattan from 10pm – 4am. $18