Boston's Best Ways To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15, giving revelers plenty of time to celebrate. In Boston, there are several ways to pay respect to Hispanic influences in the United States. Even those who are not of Hispanic descent can get in on the action. From festivals to education, Boston acknowledges this month in many ways while making it possible for residents and visitors to get a taste of Hispanic culture and how well it has integrated into the culture of the United States, becoming part of it.
Anjelah Johnson
Wilbur Theatre
246 Tremont St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 248-9700
www.thewilburtheatre.com
Date: Oct. 19, 2013
Popular stand-up comic and woman of Hispanic heritage, Anjelah Johnson is bringing her comedy act to the Wilbur Theatre just a few days after the official end of Hispanic Heritage Month. Johnson had a successful run on the television sketch comedy show "MADtv" and was once a professional cheerleader. While successful in other endeavors before her comedy career, she rocketed to comedy fame just a year after trying stand-up for the first time. Her stand-up performance will leave no one questioning why this Hispanic-American woman has had her own special and performs across the country.
Reggie Lewis Center
1350 Tremont St.
Boston, MA 02120
(617) 541-3535
www.rltac.com
Date: Oct. 5, 2013
While hosted by the Art of Black Dance, this international festival celebrates many cultures. What better way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month than to appreciate its place among the many other cultures of this diverse country? The festival takes place in the gymnasium and dance studio. There will be activities representing a variety of cultures and dance styles.
Flamenco and Tapas
BarLola
160 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 266-1122
www.barlola.com
BarLola is a fantastic Spanish tapas restaurant that offers flamenco dancing with delicious food on Sundays. Whether guests sit on the lovely patio or inside where the decor is reminiscent of Spain itself, music and good food is in supply. Guests who visit on Flamenco Sundays must make a minimum purchase of $20 in food and drink. However, there is no cover charge and that $20 will definitely buy a taste of Spain.
Related: Boston's Best Sangria
Hispanic Heritage Month Film Series
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 536-5400
www.bpl.org
Dates: Various days in Oct.
The Boston Public Library Hispanic Heritage Month Film Series is a way for friends to get together and watch films that focus on Hispanic culture, feature Hispanic actors or portray an event in Hispanic and world history. This year, the films will be "La Bamba," "Evita" and "No Country for Old Men," in that order. Film screenings at the BPL are casual events. These films are for young adults and adults.
Spanish Classes
The Boston Language Institute
648 Beacon St.
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 262-3500
www.bostonlanguage.com
One of the foremost language schools in Boston is the Boston Language Institute. It offers many choices for class times, so everyone can fit BLI Spanish courses into their schedules. Learning Spanish or perfecting already decent Spanish is an excellent way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Very few things will take you as close to the culture and give you more opportunities to learn from several generations of Spanish-speaking Bostonians.
Related: Boston's Best Language Classes
Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
