• Verano 2015

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La Marqueta Retoña
1607 Park Ave. 115th St., El Barrio, NYC 10029

info@LaMarquetaRetona.com
www.LaMarquetaRetona.com

La Marqueta Retoña is an initiative to revive the social and cultural elements of this historical site through the arts, music and community activities. A series of events are scheduled to take place at the outdoor space known as "La Placita" as well as in the main indoor space of La Marqueta both located underneath the Park Avenue elevated train station between 115th and 116th Streets in El Barrio with aim to celebrate Latin culture, educate and instill a scense of pride in the next generation of residence living in El Barrio.

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History

La Marqueta Retoña is an initiative to revive the social and cultural elements of this historical site through the arts, music and community activities. A series of events are scheduled to take place at the outdoor space known as "La Placita" as well as in the main indoor space of La Marqueta both located underneath the Park Avenue elevated train station between 115th and 116th Streets in El Barrio with aim to celebrate Latin culture, educate and instill a scence pride in the next generation of residence living in El Barrio.

The neighborhood of Spanish Harlem, also known as East Harlem covers the area between Fifth Avenue and the East River from 96th to 142nd St. Today the population is quite diverse, but if one were to walk these streets in the 1930's they would find themselves immersed in a thriving Puerto Rican neighborhood, which they affectionately called "El Barrio."

One of the most historically and culturally important and relevant sites in El Barrio is the traditional market place known as "La Marqueta." It has always been an integral part of El Barrio's identity and social activity. La Marqueta is located under the elevated Metro North railway tracks between 111th Street and 116th Street on Park Avenue in East Harlem, uptown Manhattan. In its heyday in the 1950's and 1960's over 500 vendors operated out of La Marqueta, which served as an important social and economic venue for all Hispanics living in New York City. The market was originally an informal gathering place for pushcart vendors and other merchants. In 1936 it was officially sanctioned and vendors began to rent their stalls from the city. The New York Times once called it "the most visible symbol of the neighborhood."

Commercial and social activity at La Marqueta has significantly dwindled over the years, mainly due to the widespread availability of the traditional and specialty products that were once only to be found from vendors located at La Marqueta. A new revitalization of La Marqueta is currently developing in tune with the cultural and economic shifts occurring in El Barrio and its surrounding neighborhoods.