Havana And Harlem Unite In The Big Apple

Jazz musicians César López, l. is among the Cuban artistes set to perform at the Harlem/Havana Music & Cultural Festival.

By NAN ET Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Aug. 12, 2016: The sounds and taste of Havana, Cuba will collide with the sounds and taste of Harlem, NYC as the Harlem/Havana Music & Cultural Festival gets underway later this month in the Big Apple.

The Festival, billed by organizers as an “international visual and performing arts, fashion, education and culinary exchange created to celebrate the rich artistic connection between iconic cities Harlem, New York and Havana, Cuba” will kick off on Monday, August 15th and run through Sunday, August 21 during Harlem Week.

Fans will be able to catch including performances and exhibitions by a collective of world-renowned Cuban artists Eduardo (Choco) Roca Salazar and Arte y Moda Cubano, the multi-media troupe fusing fashion and art and musicians including jazz musicians César López and Jorge Luis Pacheco and celebrated Afro-Cuban dance company, the Compañía de Danzas Tradicionales de Cuba JJ.

Festival goers will also be able to experience Cuban cuisine in a culinary initiative led by noted Chef Marcus Samuelsson. The Festival has partnered with Samuelsson’s famous Red Rooster Harlem and Streetbird Rotisserie restaurants, along with Sylvia’s, Amor Cubano, Oso, Floridita, La Fonda del Sol and Tastings Social Presents Mountain Bird to feature a special selection of Cuban-inspired dishes and cocktails.  The restaurants will feature menu items ranging from classics like tostones with black eye pea salsa, pollo a la criola to ropa vieja, oxtails and plantains, as well as a variety of cocktails, including mojitos, caipirinhas and Cuban- and Harlem-influenced fruit drinks of every flavor.

In addition, the festival will host a special Cuban-themed prix-fixe dinner event at Ginny’s Supper Club on Tuesday, August 16that 7:00 PM.  The dinner, priced at $95 per person, will include specialty cocktails, wine pairings and a Cuban menu curated by Samuelsson.  Guests will also enjoy entertainment by celebrated Cuban musician and bandleader Cèsar López with his band.  Cuban band Jorge Luis Pacheco y Su Group will also perform at Ginny’s on Saturday, August 20 at 7:30 & 9:30pm.  Tickets for both events can be purchased at ginnyssupperclub.com.

See details at www.harlemhavana.nyc.