Where is Your “Rincón Criollo”?

The “Rincón Criollo” is a small place in New York City, but I believe all of us could have our own.

“La Casita” at the “Rincón Criollo”

The “Rincón Criollo” is a small piece of land in the middle of New York City, which has a small wooden house in it. It serves as a meeting place for Puerto Rican’s. They go there to socialize, but mainly to play the folk rhythms of “Bomba” and “Plena”, sing, tell stories, and have fun.

The “Rincón” also has a small stage and in the land, a dried apple tree. The “Rincón Criollo” is located in 153rd street, between X and X avenues.

Just so you know, I’ve never been at the “Rincón Criollo” but did the next best thing; read the book! “Viaje a La Casita” was written by Cesar Colón-Montijo.

History of “Rincón Criollo”

The whole thing was started by Jose Manuel Soto, also known as “Don Chema”, a Puerto Rican living in South Bronx. He was the super of the building across the street from an empty lot at 158th Street, between Brook and 3rd Avenues.

One day in 1975, Don Chema decided he wanted to transform a bus stop in front of a building where he was the superintendent, into one the resembled a bus stop in Puerto Rico. He built it out of wood panels. Soon, young Puerto Ricans started to use it as a place to hang and play Plena. It seemed to remind them of the Paradas 21 and 23 in Santurce, Puerto Rico.

Eventually the hangout moved into the empty lot behind, and Don Chema, with the help of others, built a small ranch they called “La Terraza”. It was burnt down, and Don Chema rebuilt it and re-named it “El Batey Borincano”.

With time, “El Batey” was also burnt down. This time, Don Chema re-built a little house known as “El Rincon Criollo”. A distinctive part of “El Rincon Criollo” is that it is decorated with things from Puerto Rico that people bring. There are “panderos”, statues, paintings, art handicrafts, and many other things. “El Rincon Criollo” also has a stage, where most of the music takes place.

Another distinctive thing about this place is its famous apple tree. The tree died a few years later, but they have vowed to keep it as part of the uniqueness of the place.

Because Don Chema was the founder and father figure of the place, it is also known as “La Casita de Chema”, although he didn’t live there.

Now, it’s official name is the “Centro Cultural El Rincón Criollo”.

Keeping the Culture Alive

Many people go to “El Rincón Criollo” to hang out, play dominoes, and sing “bomba” and “plena”. Don Chema himself writes and sings “plenas”, along with many regulars that go often.

More than anything, “El Rincón Criollo” serves as a place to keep the Puerto Rican culture alive. It’s a pocket in the middle of New York City where people go to get a cultural “refresh”.

The interesting thing for me is that when Don Chema started this whole thing, it was merely as a simple bus stop resembling one in Puerto Rico. It resonated with a few, and those few kept expanding the concept. It’s amazing what anyone can do by just taking action on an idea and making it happen.

Here’s a clip of a recording made by Jose Rivera, along with Don Chema at “El Rincón Criollo”.

Where is Your “Rincón”?

Regardless of where you live or what is your nationality, I believe we all should have a “rincón”. We ought to have a place where we get together and keep our traditions alive. I believe our own “rincón criollo” doesn’t has to be like the one in the Bronx. It doesn’t even have to be a permanent place. It could be having periodic gatherings with friends and/or family to listen, talk, dance, and eat things from our birthplaces.

It can be done by people living away from “home”, or by people still living in their country. Even in our own countries, our culture and traditions will not last if we don’t keep them alive. It’s us, not any government entity, that makes up our culture. If nobody follows it, that part of our culture dies and will be replaced by something else.

I find that the best way to honor our parents, grandparents, and family here or past, is to keep alive some of the things we learned from them. The best way to keep our culture and our identity is to keep our culture alive. We need to keep our cultural torch ignited by practicing it. Additionally, we need to pass that torch to the next generation, just like it was passed on to us. I find that in general, we are not doing a good job of passing on our cultural torch!

One way to do it, is to define and create our own “Rincon Criollo”.

Documentary of Don Chema and “El Rincón Criollo”

If you want to learn more about this magical place, here’s a 54 minute documentary on “Don Chema” and “El Rincon Criollo”. Enjoy!

Note: blog cover photo by Jorge Vazquez