There's few ethnic pride festivals that can't stack up with Puerto Rican Day. The ambience of a warm summer day, vibrancy of its people and their legendary spirit make it my unofficial kickoff to summer. Most people think all the action happens on the day of the parade that Sunday, but truth is the real genuine good times and flavor is The main event is tomorrow with the Puerto Rican Day Parade. It runs up 5th Ave from 44th to 86th streets. Ir runs from 11-6pm. Then follow the flags and chants of Boricua to let the party keep rolling. For one during the day today there is the Puerto Rican Music Festival at McCarren Park (Corner of Lormier & Driggs St.) in Williamsburg,Brooklyn. IT'll kick off from Noon to 7:00. Why go? It's Salsa music (always gets me live) on great day in park where lots of good looking Boricua's and Williamsburg Hipsters will be. You get several scenes at once!! It's worth ducking your head into for free and you know there will be people selling great festival food. (Cut up Mango's) Be smart, if your going to drink go rum and coke and keep it in water or sports bottles.
Then there's the big boy. The 116th Street Festival in Spanish Harlem. The festival will run from 116th street from Lexington to 2nd Ave. It also runs on 3rd Ave from 106 to 122nd st. Another venue but another great time to hear music, eat Puerto Rican food (Plantaino's babee) and if you look close enough grab some good P.R. Rum!!! It''l run from Noon-7pm also but here's my tip. Get there in the mid or late afternoon and ask where the parties will be. No I ain't talking about some hood party that'll shots will pop off. Ask around because the after parties are right there inb the barrio. Most of them take place on the streets. You haven't really experienced true culture until you really mix and mingle in a street event like this.
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