THE LATIN LIFE

To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio

Maybe you can sing like Jennifer Lopez or Ricky Martin. If not, looking like them is the next best thing. Right now, it's never been cooler to be Hispanic. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, the Latino Revolution. From the rise of Latino-chic to the spicy secrets of salsa. Celebrated author Julia Alvarez brings the Dominican Republic to a small Vermont town. And, a lesson in Spanglish.

SEGMENT 1:

Betty Cortina, editorial director of Latina Magazine, tells Jim Fleming that Latino-chic is more than ruffles and hoop earrings. It's about self-expression and honoring the past. Also, Ilan Stevens is compiling the first dictionary of Spanglish. He tells Steve Paulson that Spanglish is becoming an independent language, with regional differences in vocabulary and usage, and that someday a masterpiece will be written in Spanglish. And we hear a bit of "The Night Before Christmas" in Spanglish.

SEGMENT 2:

Aaron Sanchez is a chef on the Food Network's hit show, Melting Pot. He talks with Anne Strainchamps about what makes salsa irresistible and shares some of his favorite salsa recipes. Sanchez has his own restaurant in New York, called Palandar. Also, Ramiro Burr covers the music scene for the San Antonio Express and is the author of "The Billboard Guide to Tejano and Regional Mexican Music." He talks with Jim Fleming about the explosive growth in Latino radio in the United States, and the incredible variety of Latino musical styles. And we hear samples.

SEGMENT 3:

Novelist Julia Alvarez is best known for "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents." Now she's written a book for young adults, "How Tia Lola Came to Stay." Alvarez tells Steve Pauson what the story is about, and how it mirrors her own experience reconciling a native Dominican background with the culture of her adopted home: a small town in rural Vermont.

Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 01-06-03-A.

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Books:

• Julia Alvarez, How Tia Lola Came to Stay (Knopf)

Music:

• Ruben Gonzalez: Tumbao from Introducing...Ruben Gonzalez Warner
• Arturo Sandoval: Conjunto from Danzon (Dance On) GRP Records GRD-9761
• Tlen Huicani: El Colas from Passion Jarocha Global Entertainment
• Chucho Valdes: Rhapsody in Bleu from Briyumba Palo Congo (Religion of the Congo) Blue Note
• Luis Vellegas: Banana Bay from Cafe Ole Domo

Distribution dates:

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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