Sammy Davis, Jr.: Being ‘Baby Sanchez’s son’
He was a member of Hollywood’s iconic Rat Pack. A true Renaissance man who could sing, dance, and act. Yet, behind the spotlight, Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925 – 1990) had a secret – his ethnicity. The 1950’s Afro-Latino star captivated audiences and rose to fame during an era marred by segregation. Yet, meanwhile, unbeknownst to […]
‘Frida’: A Ballet Tribute to an Iconic Artist
Frida Kahlo stands as a contemporary emblem of uniqueness. To this day, she’s celebrated for her feminist defiance and artistic perspective. Her life is honored through an on-going plethora of mediums, ranging from operas to documentaries to museum exhibits. Now, the captivating tale of the legendary Mexican artist, Kahlo (1907 – 1954), is told somewhere […]
Lucy and Desi: The Love Story That Shaped Television
In the golden age of Hollywood, amidst the glitz and glamor, two remarkable souls collided — a fiery redhead, Lucy, and a Cuban musician, Desi. Their love story transcended the silver screen, leaving an indelible mark on entertainment history. “Although they ended up divorcing in real life, I Love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi […]
The Passionate Love of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera bronze sculpture, in the Frida Kahlo Park, center of Coyoacán. Photo by Ines Suarez R., CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Chipotle Peppers: Fiery Origin & Popularity
Chipotle Chilis
Enduring Love: Celia Cruz and Pedro Knight
What’s the secret to a love that lasts through fame, fortune, and decades of change? Celia Cruz and Pedro Knight knew the answer. Their love story was legendary. As TeleRadioAmerica puts it, “Their personal and professional relationship was incredibly successful and long-lasting.” So how did they do it? Love. Who Were Celia Cruz and Pedro […]
‘Frida’: The Documentary in Her Own Words
For the last two decades, we can’t seem to get enough of Frida Kahlo. Now, to our delight, the vibrant world of the Mexican artist, style icon, and fierce feminist is being told in her own words. In a groundbreaking documentary, simply titled “Frida,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this January, Kahlo’s words […]
Stamping Mariachi Music into History
The United States Postal Service debuted a new set of stamps featuring mariachi two years ago. And they’re still creating buzz. They’re stamped into the nation’s history, thanks to a Mexican artist’s unique vision. The Postal Service had asked Artist Rafael López to design “a commemorative stamp representing Latin American culture in the United States,” […]
Beyond ‘Hola’: Exploring Spanish Phone Greetings
After 40 years of living in the United States, my Spanish-speaking Abuelita always answered the telephone the same way: “¿Oigo?” She lived with us, so I heard oigo on a daily basis. And, no matter how many times I tried to get her to just say “hello,” like the americanos, she wouldn’t budge from her […]
Fact vs. Fiction: Understanding Sofia Vergara’s Griselda
Growing up in Miami during the 1980s was a challenging time. The “Magic City,” as Miami is now dubbed for its ability to redefine itself, was plagued by violence, thanks to the cocaine wars. I know. I grew up in Miami back then. What I didn’t know it at the time, of course, was that, thousands […]
Sound & Silence: The Controversy Behind Frida Kahlo’s Voice Recording
A new Frida Kahlo documentary debuted at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. It claims to be the first film to be told by the artist herself. Through diary entries and personal letters, her voice tells her life story, in her own words. There’s just one thing this documentary leaves out: the […]
Making Scents Of Agua de Violetas
If you’ve been around a baby, any baby, in Miami, you know the scent of Royal Violets Baby Cologne, or Violets Water, or Agua de Violetas. And it’s way more than a scent. It’s a way of life. This cologne is part of millions of lives, from birth to adulthood, thanks to Abuelas who always […]