Recently I went to go hear Ann Louise Bardach speak in New York about her new book Without Fidel: A Death Foretold in Miami, Havana, and Washington. If you are a Cuban-phile, you should go back and read her first book Cuba Confidential (where she covers the firebombing of Centro Vasco restaurant in Miami). She…
Without Fidel
Photography: Ernesto Bazan
Ernesto Bazan has released a book of photography on Cuba entitled simply Cuba. “There is the sense of sadness and waiting,” he said during a phone interview from Brazil, where he has led workshops. “Until when? They have 50 years waiting and nothing changes. A revolution which began in good faith but strayed from the…
Cuban Art in New York
Angel Delgado Límite continuo V Digital print/wax pencil/pastel on canvas, 39.2” x 47.1” Cuba Art NY announces the opening of the exhibition Contemporary Cuban Art in New York at the Dactyl Foundation Gallery, 64 Grand Street, New York, which will be on display from October 8 to October 10, 2009. It's a strong 3 day…
NY Phil Harmonic Ain’t Going to Cuba
It was announced this week that the NY Phil Harmonic was invited to play in Cuba this month. They just sadly volunteered to nix the trip because the American government wouldn't allow the patrons (their money sponsors) to go to Cuba with them. So the whole team decided to pull out. The 150 board members…
Official US Talks with Cuba
Another sign that Obama's administration is attempting to restore relations with Cuba. The State Department official, named Bisa Williams, traveled to Cuba 2 weeks ago to open talks on improving cooperation between both nations. First thing on the agenda, restarting mail service between US and Cuba. Other things included migration talks and the fight against…
People are Talkin…
All over Cuba, young people are rapping in their bedrooms in Cuba. It's something we discovered throughout our travels in Cuba while making East of Havana. All the ideas, poetry, frustrations, joy, depression, and hope are bubbling out of the youths pores... causing a mild earthquake during this time of change. This project, entitled "Ruido"…
The Cuban Diet
(No More Tractors!) Below is a really well written article on Cuban agriculture, and how the localized farming industry was born out of the "Special Period" crisis after the Soviet Union dissolved and abandoned Cuba in the early 90's. It's the story of a country reaching rock bottom and coming up with tough hardworking decisions…
Dropping Beef Billboards
Finnnnally, the US decides to turn off their electronic news "zipper'' on the fifth floor of the sea-front American Interest Section in the Cuban capital. If you don't know about the beefing billboards between United States and Cuba over the last several years, it's a childish battle of "one-upping" the other country by dissing the…
25 KM
I won't over explain this short film. It was created in 2005 and runs 19 minutes. It is about 2 sisters who reside in Cuba. Part of their routine is their weekly stroll to church -- 25 KM (approx 15 1/2 miles). If you notice, it takes tremendous patience to stay "present" in the film.…
Rock Climbing in Cuba
Rock climbing in Cuba is not really a sport that people talk about. There is a writer called Armando Menocal who wrote an interesting article in this months Cuba Absolutely magazine comparing the Viñales coast as a "little Yosemite". Let's not forget the Cuban Revolution was won with tenacious guerillas walking down a mountain... so…