NEW JERSEY’S ★ Latinovisitors guide NEW JERSEY’S VISITORS GUIDE LatinoT ABLE OF CONTENTS 1 GREETINGS 2 HERITAGE 4 CHOICE OF CUISINE CULTURE 6 CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS 9 MUSIC & D ANCE 13 ART EXHIBITS SPORTS 16 BÉISOL 18 FÚTBOL FESTIVALS 20 CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS Disclaimer: An advertisement and/or listing in ITINERARIES this publication does not constitute 28 SKYLANDS REGION an official endorsement by the State of New Jersey, the New Jersey 29 GATEWAY REGION Commerce & Economic Growth Commission or its Office of Travel 34 DELAWARE RIVER REGION and Tourism. 35 SHORE REGION Many events listed in this Guide are 36 GREATER ATLANTIC CITY REGION held annually. If you miss an event, 37 SOUTHERN SHORE REGION contact the event’s organizers for next year’s schedule. INTRODUCTION New Jersey’s Hispanic neighborhoods are a reminder that we are a state that has always welcomed immigrants from throughout the world. While continuing to bring vibrant life to cities that have traditionally been home to newcomers, Latino families and businesses are also beginning to spread out to suburban towns throughout the state. Hispanics bring to New Jersey a shared culture and language, but also a great deal of diversity, whether they come from Mexico, with its glorious Aztec past; Puerto Rico, with its wonderful fusion of Africa and Spain; Argentina, itself as much a nation of immigrants as the United States, along with dozens of other countries. One thing is certain. In New Jersey, there is much to celebrate, much to enjoy. This brochure is designed to serve as a guide to help you experience the arts, the food, the music and the life of Latino New Jersey. HERITAGE Annual parades and festivals celebrate Latino heritage. ispanic commu- a Dominican merengue CD First to arrive in New Jersey Hnities form one of the brilliant or read up on the latest in large numbers were Puerto threads that make up the soccer news from Uruguay. Ricans, who came when the Garden State’s multicultural Walking the streets of these United States gained control tapestry. On special occasions communities alone is a special of Puerto Rico after the throughout the year you can experience in which you are Spanish-American War; they enjoy the parades, festivals, transported by the swirl of continued coming throughout concerts, arts exhibits, crafts smells, tastes and sights repre- World War II and the follow- shows and commemorations senting the Spanish-speaking ing decade. Next came Cuban of historic events as New nations of the Americas and exiles, beginning in the 1960s. Jersey’s Latinos honor their Europe. They were followed in the heritage. But no one needs to 1980s by a third wave of wait for a scheduled celebra- There are 1.1 million immigrants from the tion to discover New Jersey’s Hispanics in New Jersey, the Dominican Republic, Mexico Hispanic traditions. You can United States Census found, and countries in Central and do it any day of the year in making the community one South America. Together, the our Hispanic neighborhoods, of the state’s largest. It is also newcomers and their descen- where you can eat a Cuban one of the fastest growing—up dants have left an indelible medianoche sandwich, buy 51% since 1990. It is a popu- mark in New Jersey, a mark in lation that was built up over which visitors of all cultures three waves of immigration can enjoy. extending back a century. A bust honoring one of Puerto Rico’s greatest heroes, Luis Mun˜oz Rivera (1859-1916), father of the first elected governor of Puerto Rico (Luis Mun˜oz Marin) is located in Newark’s Washington Park. Mun˜oz Rivera began his career as a writer and newspaperman, spearheading Puerto Rico’s autonomy from Spain. As a congressional representative in Washington, Mun˜oz Rivera was a driving force behind the Jones Act, which extended American citizenship to all people born in Puerto Rico. 2 Hispanic Heritage Month starts September 15 and 16 with the commemoration of the independence of Mexico and Central America, and runs through October 12, the commemoration of Columbus’ Rio Vista clock arrival in the Americas. tower in Alpine. Throughout the state, various This 100-foot cultural and educational insti- stone observation tower gave Manuel tutions sponsor music festivals, Rionda’s guests a exhibits and lectures on view of his estate Hispanic heritage. and the Hudson River. Bergen County’s Sugar Kings With sugarcane plantations devastated during Cuba’s War of Independence at the end of the 19th century, the Rionda clan of wealthy landowners headed north and became one of the first Hispanic families to settle in New Jersey. Manuel Rionda founded a prosperous sugar bro- kerage firm on Wall Street; however, he chose to live in Alpine, where he built the palatial estate of Rio Vista. It A bust honoring Jose Marti had a huge mansion, a 100-foot-tall clock tower made (1853-1895), the most tow- of stone that offered a magnificent view of the Hudson ering figure in Cuban history, River, and a two-acre lake with its own waterfall. The can be found in Veteran’s Riondas would often invite Hispanic workers from Park in West New York New York and Northern New Jersey to visit for “a day (Hudson County). Marti in the country.” In the 1930s, the mansion was was the inspiration and chief demolished and later the Rio Vista property was sold organizer of the Cuban strug- to developers to make way for the luxurious homes for gle for independence against which Alpine is famous today. The clock tower remains, Spain in the late 19th centu- however, standing at the end of a long esplanade as a ry, as well as one of Latin reminder of the Riondas. America’s most influential essayists and poets. 3 CHOICE OF CUISINE Fine Latino-style restaurants in New Jersey draw rave reviews. nyone Iberia and Spanish Pavillion. Aexploring the Garden State’s The neighborhood is also Latino cuisines is in not just home to shops specializing in for a wonderful experience, products from the Iberian but for many wonderful expe- peninsula. riences. That’s because the variety of Latino cuisine avail- Many Latino restaurants in able in New Jersey is astound- the state reflect the cooking ing—there is no such thing as of the Caribbean nations; generic “Hispanic food.” Each countries such as Cuba, Puerto Spanish-speaking country has Rico and the Dominican its own traditional dishes and Republic created a fusion offers diners a unique combi- between the traditional dishes nation of flavors and ingredi- of Spain and delicacies from ents. Best of all, just about Africa such as yuca and every type can be found in malanga. While cooking differs New Jersey. from one Caribbean country to the next, there remains an air Newark’s Ironbound is of family—the national dish famous throughout the state Dinner is served at Jai-Alai, a of Cuba is arroz con frijoles for its restaurants specializing Spanish-Portuguese restaurant spe- negros (rice and black beans) in the cuisines of Spain and cializing in Basque cuisine in Dover. while the national dish of Portugal. One taste of a Puerto Rico is arroz con gan- seafood paella or a slice of many Spanish-Portuguese dules (rice with pigeon peas). chorizo (a Spanish sausage restaurants serving such huge Hudson County has dozens of made with paprika) will tell portions it’s almost hard to restaurants offering such fare, you why visitors pour in imagine how they all manage especially on and around nights and weekends to Ferry to stay in business. When Bergenline Avenue in Union Street, where there are so visiting the Ironbound, be City and West New York. sure to visit restaurants including Fornos, Spain, 4 Tapas de España, North Bergen A very different cuisine is that a modern twist. Try Azúcar of Mexico and parts of Central or Rebecca’s in Englewood, Traditional dishes found on America, where the food is as well as La Isla in Hoboken. Bergenline Avenue, Union City. based on pre-Columbian tradi- tions such as the tortilla (to Restaurants serving authentic Mexicans a “tortilla” is a flat Latino cuisine are scattered like pancake, while to most other jewels throughout New Jersey’s Hispanics it is an omelet) filled Latino neighborhoods, ready to with spicy vegetables and be discovered by the wander- meats. Yet another kind of ing visitor. If you would prefer cuisine is that of Argentina, to zero in on a perfect spot for well represented in the state. lunch or dinner, local chambers The food centers around of commerce can be helpful in grilled beef and sausages, your search, as can several Argentinean steaks in particu- Internet services. lar being famous the world over for their quality. There is These include: also Colombian cuisine, diffi- cult to find in New Jersey a ■ NJ Online’s Dining Guide few years ago, yet easily www.njo.com/restaurants found today in most Latino neighborhoods. Typical dishes ■ the Zagat include sancocho de gallina, Restaurant Guide Family dining at Camino Real in Atlantic City. chicken stew and arepas, www.zagat.com which are thick, breadlike cornmeal pancakes topped ■ the New Jersey And of course, those who like with butter, Colombian white Dining Guide to prepare Hispanic cuisine at cheese and a restaurant’s www.njdiningguide.com home will have no trouble house specialty, such as tuna finding ingredients in New salad, chicken, ham, sauteed ■ New Jersey Internet Jersey’s Latino neighborhoods. tomatoes, or beef stew. Restaurant Directory Some bodegas specialize in www.restaurants-nj.com the products of one particular Then there is “Nuevo Latino” country, and larger supermar- cuisine, which mixes the ■ New Jersey Restaurant kets will carry a more diverse best traditions from various Association website international selection.