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HISTORY ]] Founded ''circa'' 1973, the Nuyorican Poets Café began operating in the East Village apartment of writer, poet, and Rutgers University professor Miguel Algarín with assistance from co-founders Miguel Piñero Bimbo Rivas and Lucky Cienfuegos. By 1975, the number of poets involved with the venture outgrew that space, so Algarin rented an Irish Pub , the Sunshine Café on East 6th Street, and they christened it "The Nuyorican Poets Café". By 1980, the overflow of audiences led them to purchase their current building at 236 East 3rd Street so as to expand their activities and programs. In explaining the philosophy of the venture, co-founder Algarín said:
POETS In addition to originating the mobile New York freestyle battle program Braggin' Rites, Nuyorican Poets Café counts notable poetry activists as Bob Holman , Saul Williams , Sarah Jones , and Beau Sia as former slammasters. In 1996, poetess, actress and activist Caridad De La Luz made her debut as an artist at the café. Others who at one time or another have performed at the Café are Miguel Piñero (co-founder), Pedro Pietri (co-founder), Tato Laviera , Piri Thomas , Zoraida Santiago , Emanuel Xavier , Esmeralda Santiago , Edwin Torres , Daniel Dumile and Caridad "La Bruja" De La Luz . Well-known Nuyorican poets Edwin Torres , Finnegan The Poet , Lemon , Tomás Riley , and Adrian Arancibia are regulars at the café. In June 2002, Nuevo Flamenco guitarists Val Ramos opened for three-time Puerto Rican Grammy nominee Danny Rivera at the Nuyorican Poets Café. Algarín, now retired from Rutgers, remains ( As Of 2007 ) a board menber of the Nuyorican Poets Café. DOCUMENTARY In 1994, Nuyorican Poets Café was the subject of a 14 minute documentary entitled ''Nuyorican Poets Café''. Directed, produced and edited by Ray Santisteban, the documentary features founder Miguel Algarin along with Willie Perdomo, Ed Morales, Pedro Pietri, and Carmen Bardeguez Brown. ''Nuyorican Poets Café'' won "Best Documentary" at the 1995 New Latino Filmmaker's Festival in Los Angeles , California . Independent Latino Film & Video REFERENCES AND NOTES EXTERNAL LINKS |
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