Bomba and Pumpkins in New York City

Those of you who know Rob and I know that we enjoy coming into the City (and by city, of course I mean New York because - really - what other city is there *hee*) And we come in most times for the myriad of events that are held at any given time. Sure, the core concentration of events, especially low cost or free ones, is in the summer but they do continue year round. And one event we try to get to every year is an event called Salsa Sunday at the Boys Harbor Conservatory which is a Performing Arts school that shares its space with El Museo del Barrio at the northernmost section of Museum Mile. So that was what we did on Sunday -loading up 2 cars with the family (Rob's parents, his sister and her twins plus of course Ari) and headed out into the city.

As always - we were running behind and we missed the Jazz for Kids presentation being given by Arturo O'farrill (if the name rings a bell, he's the son of trumpeter-composer-arranger Chico O'Farril and if that rings no bells then just know that he was one of the big names in the Latin/afrocuban jazz revolution in the 40's and 50's) So, I was notably upset at this but we made it in time for the Afrocuban/Bomba dance classes that Lenette and Olivia participated in as the rest of us watched on.

We ran into Luis (a professor and the artistic director/choreographer for Kean Dance) and Roman (the choreographer friend of ours that we do Sweet 16's/Quinceneras with) Luis is all in black and Roman has the red bandana.

We watched another presentation of a Bomba group in the main auditorium where Roman took Ari out to dance.

Leaving there, we decided to take the train down to Grand Central Station for a Kids Halloween event. And so we boarded the No. 6 train at 104th street and Ari got his first subway trip which Lenette took a picture of. The Vanderbilt hall at Grand Central was all done up for Halloween with a pumpkin patch, the worlds' largest pumpkin carved out and dance and puppet presentation. They had these cool goblins and pumpkins walking around. It was really nice.

Watching Laughing Pizza

One of the creepy but nice costumed characters - oddly none made Ari cry

My boys

We finished of the day at Junior's which is known worldwide as having the BEST cheescake. Shame that I don't like cheesecake. And then took the public bus up to our cars and headed home

Family Self Portrait. So who does Ari look like more huh?