Loisaida Inc.

Plena Afterschool Workshop
2026-06-12 15:30 - 18:30 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Join us for a 3-day after-school Puerto Rican Plena music workshop at Loisaida Center on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, June 10–12, from 3:30–6:30 PM.
Open to all ages, youth will build a strong foundation in Puerto Rican folkloric Plena music through learning all three panderos, güiro, song composition, dance, and cultural history.
Participants will engage in hands-on musical instruction while deepening their understanding of the roots and traditions of Plena.
Come celebrate culture, rhythm, and community through this vibrant intergenerational workshop!

Open Mic Wednesdays at Loisaida Center hosted by: Brian Acosta Arya
2026-06-17 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-24 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-01 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-08 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-15 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-22 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-29 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-05 18:00 - 20:00 UTC and 3 more dates | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Join Loisaida Inc. and the Nuyorican Poets Cafe for our WEDNESDAYS OPEN MIC hosted by Brian Acosta Arya – at the Loisaida Center, 710 East 9th Street, NY, NY 10009. Ticket(s) available at the door or in advance by following this link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35133 – the signup sheet to perform in the open mic is at the tickets/welcome table (near the stage) after you enter.
More details:
** Held on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of each month. **
** (Note: except during the summer months in July & August 2025) ***
** Doors open at 6 P.M. **
** Open Mic is from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M. **

All art forms are welcome:
Spoken Word/Poetry, Short Stories/Scripts, Stand-Up Comedy, Short Monologues/Excerpts, 3-4 Minute Original Songs or Performances (Note: ORIGINAL songs only).
Four minutes max. for each performer. If you’d like to add an original audio track to your performance, the digital signup sheet at the stage will provide an online form to upload your audio files. ** Note: all performances will be recorded and live-streamed on Loisaida’s and our Nuyorican Poets Cafe’s YouTube channel. Participation in this event is with this understanding and giving consent to be filmed. If you missed attending and/or would like to re-watch your own performance, find the recorded videos on our YouTube channel. **
** NOTICE: By attending and/or participating in events by the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, you acknowledge that your voice and/or likeness may be recorded and/or photographed. **
Ticket info here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35133
* $10 (plus online fee) in advance here on this ticket page (for either audience/viewing or performances, same price)
* $10 (at the door at the Loisaida Center, via credit card or Zelle or ApplePay only, no cash)

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Loisaida Pride Day Werk-Shops!
2026-06-18 18:00 - 22:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Loisaida is very excited to welcome you to our Loisaida Pride Werk-Shops!
On this day, we welcome community to participate in werkshops which focus on the spirit and culture of the LGBTQAI+ community.
Special thanks to our resident artist, Mateo Nazario for leading and curating these programs!

Thursday June 18th 2026
Loisaida Center- 710 E 9th Street New York, NY 10009

6:00pm – 8:00pm
Self Portrait Class for Everyone!
Guided by: Maite Nazario
8:00pm – 10:00pm
Vogue 101 for Beginners
Guided by: NYC House Mother- Mother of the House of Babylon, Disco Babylon!

W.O.W. Open Mic @ The Loisaida Center
2026-07-01 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-05 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-02 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
On the first Wednesday of the month we host our Womxn Orator Wednesday (“WOW“) Open Mic – hosted by the Nuyorican 2024 Grand Slam Champion Sumbodies Mama – and a featured performer, off-site at the Loisaida Center during our 3-year #Nuyoricanstruction of our building.

** PLEASE NOTE: In order to foster a safer and more intimate space for sharing and bonding amongst participants, we will no longer be streaming/filming our WOW events! For those of you who have skipped out to avoid the cameras, now’s the time to come out and connect! **

When?
– On the first Wednesday of each month.
– Doors open at 6 P.M.
– Open Mic is from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M.

– Digital signup form to perform in-person is at our ticket table at the door, limited to 15 guaranteed spots. Signups occur in person only and are limited to 15 guaranteed spots for those who arrive prior to 7pm, so arrive early to secure yours. Note: audio tracks will be accepted until 7PM.

Where?
The Loisaida Center
710 East 9th Street
(between Avenues C & D)
Manhattan, NY 10009

Tickets:
– $10 (plus online fee) for performers or audience/viewing (same price).
– $10 (at the door, via credit card or Zelle or Apple Pay, no cash)

**All art forms are welcome: poetry, short stories, comedy, monologues, songs (Note: ORIGINAL songs only). 3 to 5 minutes max. per performer. If you’d like to add an original audio track to your performance, the digital signup sheet at our ticket table provides an online form to upload your audio file.**

Our WOW open mic events are made possible in part through Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Howard Gilman Foundation, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, and the Mid Atlantic Folk and Traditional Arts.

SENIOR DAY at Loisaida Center
2026-07-03 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-08-07 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
SENIOR DAY at the LOISAIDA CENTER
Activities include art workshops, educational panels, live music, snacks, coffee, and more!
Senior Day always takes place on the first Friday of the month (except for the month of June), from 10AM to 1PM.
Location: Loisaida, Inc. Center
710 E 9th Street, New York, NY 10009
Questions? Contact Loisaida, Inc. at
(646) 726-4715
or
info@loisaida.org

La Bomba Crece En Loisaida!
2026-07-07 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-08-04 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-01 18:00 - 21:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Join us for live drumming, dance, and community connection in the heart of Loisaida, as we celebrate our Puerto Rican culture!
We welcome you to our monthly bombazo occurring every first Tuesday of every month.
Although not needed, Feel free to bring your maracas, claves and other small instruments.
During our intermission, we will serve sancocho, cooked by our organizers of La Sala de Pepe and Diasporic Pa’lante Collective.
Every First Tuesday of the Month
6:00pm-9:00pm
Loisaida Center- 710 E 9th Street NY NY 10009

La Lucha Continua - Open Studio
2026-07-25 12:00 - 16:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
On Saturday, July 25 12:00pm- 4:00pm, we will be presenting a body of work created during the protests of 2017 to 2019 in Puerto Rico — beginning with the budget cuts to the university system and culminating in the resignation of former governor Ricardo Rosselló.
Loisaida Inc Center welcomes you to this upcoming Open Studio, La Lucha Continua, lead by our resident artist, Adrian Rivera Ferran.
Come see a wide selection of images from this moment, share your feelings about them, your memories of the protests, and be part of the curation of the photobook I am creating.
If you are in Puerto Rico, you will also be able to participate. I am working on a digital version of the voting so you can be part of the curation from the island. More details coming soon.
The residency was made possible by the support of NYSCA (New York State Council on the Arts).

SENIOR DAY at the Loisaida Center
2026-09-04 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States

Film Screening: Esta Isla
2026-09-05 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
As part of the BoriCorridor Screening Tour, Ágora Cultural Architects presents a special screening of Esta Isla, an intimate, thought-provoking film developed in Puerto Rico by a new generation of internationally recognized filmmakers.
Synopsis:
Bebo, a teenager from a coastal Puerto Rican town, lives with his brother in a public housing complex. They fish for a living, but growing desperation drives them to illegal dealings that promise easy money. When a job goes wrong and blood is spilled, Bebo flees with Lola, a wealthy girl seeking to escape her troubled reality. As they navigate the labyrinthine mountains, they encounter remnants of a fading way of life, contrasting with the violence that follows them. As hitmen close in, Bebo must confront his choices and decide if redemption is possible, or if the sea will be their final escape.
A deeply personal and poignant portrait of the Puerto Rican experience that dives into the complexities of identity, resilience, and colonial legacy, the film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it was honored with Best Cinematography, Best New Director, and the Jury Award. In 2026 it was nominated for the prestigious Spirit Awards, where it won the John Cassavetes Award, solidifying its place as one of the most celebrated Puerto Rican films.

Open Mic Wednesdays at Loisaida Center hosted by: Brian Acosta Arya
2026-09-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-16 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Join Loisaida Inc. and the Nuyorican Poets Cafe for our WEDNESDAY OPEN MIC hosted by Brian Acosta Arya – at the Loisaida Center, 710 East 9th Street, NY, NY 10009. Ticket(s) available at the door or in advance by following this link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35133 – the signup sheet to perform in the open mic is at the tickets/welcome table (near the stage) after you enter.

More details:

Held on every Wednesday EXCEPT the first Wednesday of the month.

Doors open at 6 P.M.
Open Mic is from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M.

All art forms are welcome:

All art forms are welcome: poetry, short stories, comedy, monologues, songs (Note: ORIGINAL songs only). 3 minutes max. per performer. If you’d like to add an original audio track to your performance, the digital signup sheet at the ticket table will provide an online form to upload your audio files. Note: audio tracks will be accepted until 7PM.

Four minutes max. for each performer. If you’d like to add an original audio track to your performance, the digital signup sheet at the stage will provide an online form to upload your audio files.

** Note: all performances will be recorded and live-streamed on Loisaida’s and our Nuyorican Poets Cafe’s YouTube channel. Participation in this event is with this understanding and giving consent to be filmed. If you missed attending and/or would like to re-watch your own performance, find the recorded videos on our YouTube channel. **

** NOTICE: By attending and/or participating in events by the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, you acknowledge that your voice and/or likeness may be recorded and/or photographed.**
Ticket info here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35133
* $10 (plus online fee) in advance here on this ticket page (for either audience/viewing or performances, same price)
* $10 (at the door at the Loisaida Center, via credit card or Zelle or ApplePay only, no cash)

Islands Within Archipelagos of Resistance
2026-09-12 12:00 - 17:00 UTC | La Plaza Cultural, 700 E 9th Street, New York, 10009, United States
Loisaida Inc. is excited to partner with multidisciplinary artist, Lizania Cruz and the Adobe Creative Resident at MoMA for a day of community building at La Plaza Cultural de Armando Perez Community Garden.
Through readings, conversation, hands-on activities and music, this program will invite audiences to listen to and learn from the individuals and organizations building resistance networks for environmental justice between the island of Manhattan, Puerto Rico, and its Diaspora. together, participants will honor the Lower East Side legacy of community gardens as spaces of community building and environmental resilience.
This is a FREE EVENT!
At La Plaza Cultural
Saturday, September 12th
12:00pm-5:00pm

Sembrando Resistencia: Tribute to Chino Garcia & CHARAS
2026-09-13 14:00 - 18:00 UTC
Cultura Pa’lante returns with the 3rd edition of “Sembrando Resistencia,” this time paying tribute to una persona muy importante en la historia de Loisaida y además, muy querido dentro de su comunidad. This time the event is in honor to our querido Chino Garcia.
Please join us for a moment of reflection, discussion, poetry, a film screening, and live music at the end of the event.
We will have Loisaida staple Kiki & The Fellas starting us off with some music.
Matt Mottel will also be screening the short film CHARAS The Improbable Dome Builders.
—
Panel Discussion

Libertad Guerra, Executive Director of The Clemente
David “DaSo” Soto, Founder of Piragua Arts Space
William Arroyo, known advocate for housing, community organizing, and wellbeing in Loisaida
Matt Mottel, artist, musician, and documentarian

—
We will end the night by moving to Panchos Garden to enjoy some live music by Fabio Puentes Y Su Tremendo Lío featuring DaSo El AfroCaribeño.
See you soon familia!
🔗 RSVP LINK HERE.
Photo by: Melvin Audaz (2020 Loisaida Artist-in-Residence)

Loisaida Center Backpack + School Supply Giveaway
2026-09-15 15:00 - 19:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
🎒 FREE BACKPACK & SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAY! 📚
The Loisaida Center is excited to help families prepare for the new school year!
Join us for our Backpack & School Supply Giveaway, where children will receive FREE backpacks filled with essential school supplies while supplies last.
📅 Date: September 15th 2026
🕒 Time: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Loisaida Center 710 E 9th Street NY NY 10009
This event is open to families with school-aged children. Come pick up everything your child needs to start the school year off right!
Supplies are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage families to arrive early.
We look forward to seeing you and wishing your students a successful and exciting school year!
Questions? Contact the Loisaida Center (646) 726-4715 / info@loisaida.org
