BLODEGA BY THE PERALTA PROJECT

There is nothing like a fresh set to complete a fit. Like the cherry on top of a “fashion” sundae, they are the ultimate accessory to a well put together ensemble. Even though nail art is the current wave, becoming so popular that it is breaking gender barriers, this trend is nothing new. Black & Brown women have been showing off their colorful nails since the 80’s & 90’s (and were criticized for it). Fast forward to 2021 and we all have nail inspos saved on our digital boards. An Afro-Latina killing the nail art game is Ami Vega, manicurist and press on nail artist, who’s creations are not only fashion forward but socially conscience. She also just so happen to have a pop up at our very own Taller Peralta. Her press on nail line, aminails, has a variety of designs inspired by artists, foliage, florals, and pop culture. With sets displaying Victoria Santa Cruz, Selena, and the personal favorite - Latino household staple Agua Florida, Ami truly represents for her cultura through her art.  

Speaking of fashion forward moments, Paris/Milan Fashion week 2021 just took place. Along with the styles and colorways that we will be wearing next year, there were some fresh faces included in the runway mix. One of them being new comer Scarlet Peguero, who is taking Europe by storm. This fellow Dominicana blessed us with her beautiful Afro-Latina features in top designer shows like Fendi, Dior, and MSGM. Walk that walk and show them how its done Scarlet! 

A Bronx native making waves and becoming a staple name in the industry is Dominican creative genius, Renell Medrano. When she is not shooting superstars like Will Smith, Mary J. Blidge, and Jay-Z or modeling herself with that to die for skin of hers, you can find her putting together exhibits that represent her heritage. Her last show in collaboration with WePresent, PAMPARA, was shown in London and displayed a series of photographs of her parents neighborhoods in the Dominican Republic. Via her work, she captured the vibrancy & diversity of the Dominican community. We cannot wait to continue to see Renell rise to the top. 

A recent headline that brought joy to our hearts was that of the newly crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2021, Michelle Marie Colon, who made history by being the one of the very few Afro-Latinas to win the title. The 21-year old pre-med student from Loiza has not only had a successful modeling career but she has also been recognized for her philanthropy receiving the L’Oreal “Woman of Courage” award in the competition. Although we are not for the unrealistic beauty standards set by beauty pageants we are happy to see someone like Michelle represent the marvelous island of Puerto Rico. 

Fit of the week goes out to this curly haired princesa, @nayaisabella, showing off our AFRO-LATINA t-shirt and AFRO-LATINA necklace in the BX. 

If you look in the dictionary for the definition of inspiration and perseverance, a photo of Dominican born Hansel Enmanuel Rodriguez will be the one to come up. This one-armed hooper, who is following his Dad’s footsteps in professional basketball, is a force to be reckoned with. He can dunk like the best of them, has a crossover as mean as A.I., and can silence an opposing teams cheering crowd with his killer three pointers. As of recent, he received a D1 scholarship offer from HBCU Tennessee State University. Stay tuned because this is only the beginning for Enmanuel!

In other news, with everything going on in the world today we are in need of a superhero to come through and save the day, am I right? Forget about Spider Man or Superman, there’s a new kid on the block - La La Liu, the first LGBTQ+ Latin Asian superhero to hit the comic book world. La La Liu makes her debut in the third edition of “La Borinqueña” comic book series about an environmentally conscious female superhero who gets her dope powers from the Indigenous Taíno gods of her Puerto Rican ancestors. Created by Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, who’s characters represent & reinforce the Caribbean heritage & ancestry, Luz was created to symbolize an underrepresented group within the Latin community. Did you know there’s a Barrio Chino in the Dominican Republic? Yes, you read that correctly, D.R. has its own China town. Thank you Edgardo for shedding light on the spectrum of people that make up the Latino community!

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month our very own Tony Peralta was featured in a special episode of All Hands on Cheddar News -  “Building a Hispanic Business” where he speaks of the importance of the Washington Heights community, his reasons for having his Taller Peralta shop in Inwood, and how we look out for one another as Latinos knowing the hardships that come from the immigrant experience in this country. Check it out ( for a quick find of his appearance, he comes on at 36:06 in the episode)!

We are holding on to the memories of summer and those Caribbean vacations we may or may not have taken this year via this DRY BLOOM BABY arrangement inspired by the playas de nuestras islas, from a Latina owned online flower shop - BLOOMED IN QUEENS! You’ll never guess who the owner is…yours truly, writer of the BLODEGA, Deilis! Inspired by my abuelita’s ability to create fashion ensembles with her sewing machine, fueled by my obsession with flowers & plants, and driven by my calling to work with my hands, BLOOMED IN QUEENS was born. Each dry & fresh floral arrangement is uniquely created and personalized for every customer. I want you to feel as if you’re taking a piece of artwork for your home but instead of paint, flowers are my medium. Currently delivering to Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx but don’t worry, we are taking this nationwide baby! Shipments to all of the U.S. coming in October! Living by our motto, como una flor, BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED!

There is a saying that goes, “You have to know where you came from, to know where you’re going.”. A lot of what was taught to us in history class is not OUR history. In order to truly understand our culture, our triumphs and struggles as Latinos, we have to have an understanding of the events that shaped us. As Far As Anyone Knows podcast, hosted by the Latino dynamic duo of Minerva Angeles and Fredo B, is here to drop some knowledge with their mostly Latino history podcast. Keeping it light with their hilarious jokes and sensational chemistry, you’ll be instantly hooked and like us will set your podcast alerts for the next episode. A personal favorite was the episode on Mama Tingo, a badass Afro-Latina activist leader from Dominican Republic. Hit that suscribe button on Apple, Spotify, Audible or anywhere else you get your podcasts from.

Speaking of our history, we have an Oscar worthy film for you - Hotel Coppelia by Dominican director José María Cabral. This period piece which is set in 1965 during the Dominican Civil War in the Dominican Republic, artistically portrays the marginalized point of view of the daily life of a group of prostitutes working in a cabaret, who deal with both the take over of the cabaret as a base of operations for the revolutionary rebels & then the American troops who invade the country and occupy the building. You will be engrossed by each of the characters stories while seeing how this captivating story plays out. Check it out HBOmax. 

If you’re like me, you’ve tried to establish healthier eating habits and after your 300th salad you end up running back to your comfort foods like arroz con pollo, mofongo de chicharrón, or the personal late night favorite - a chimi. Next Stop Vegan is here to change that. Founded by first generation Dominican vegan Blenlly Mena, this plant based restaurant in the Bronx will make you forget that you are eating vegan food in the first place. With dishes like Patacón chimi or the Yaroa french fries, you will be hooked on a vegan diet for life. Sourcing their ingredients from local supermarkets, Blenlly and co-founder and executive chef Ana “Loly” Baez, have set out to provide the best food while intergrading a healthy lifestyle for the members of their community. Now go place an order, we’ll wait for that thank you note from your body and taste buds. 

 After you’ve had some of these flavorsome but healthy foods we’ve put you on to, its time to celebrate how good your mind, body, and soul are going to look and feel! We’ve got the perfect kit to purchase for your at home cocktails - Mix’d Roots. The creator behind these culturally inspired 100% natural fruit and spices infusions, Argentina Flores, wanted to share a piece of her heritage and the traditions passed along to her by her abuelita. Each jar gives you about 8-10 cocktails and contain ingredients that have no additives or  preservatives so you know what’s going into your body while having that tráguito. Cop that Spicy Margarita or the Tamarindo and take a mental trip back to la Quisqueya. Salud! 

It’s 7pm and you just came home from a long day of work, the last thing you want to do is cook a full meal or order UberEats again. Imagine opening your fridge and your dinner is ready to go. That right there my friends can be your reality with help of Fitrition Meals. Executive Chef & fellow Dominican, Janel Lee, has created a mouth watering menu that will satisfy every craving you can have. The Fitrition team has made it easy for you to get your hands on these gourmet fresh and healthy bomb dishes via their home delivery meal plans or you can pick up at one of the five Fitrition Juice Bar locations. They even have breakfast and snack options. Now you can really tell yourself, hay comida en la casa! Buen provecho! 

If you are like us and long for music that feels like “90’s R&B”, Dominican singer Maria Isabel has got you covered. This Nuyorquina who is influenced by bachata and merengue brings us poetry set to the sultry beats. Making waves in the industry around 2020, she has been featured on the cover of Rolling Stones Mexico, Billboard Argentina, and Vogue - the definition of marking the scene from jump! In July, she released her second Spanish single “No soy para ti” directed by another fellow Latino dominating the music scene, Alfred Marroquin. We cannot wait to see and hear what more Maria has to come! 

T.V. Land is looking very different these days as large networks are now giving us equal platforms on which to tell our stories. Award shows are following suit in the recognition, like the Emmy’s, which were held on September 19 from Los Angeles, CA. One historic nomination went to the extraordinary African American and Puerto Rican actress MJ Rodriquez, who became the first trans woman nominated for Best Actress in a Drama for her formidable portrayal of Blanca Rodriguez on the iconic ballroom culture period drama show, Pose. All though she did not take home the prize, we all know that this is just the beginning of the many nominations for MJ who not only can but, she can sing hunny! The music video for her upbeat new single, “Something to Say” is out now. Check it out! 

Sarah Palafox, a.k.a Sarah La Morena, an Afro-Mexican singer of regional Mexican music, became a viral sensation back in 2020 as the internet hadn’t seen a Black woman singing in Spanish with a mariachi band. Little do they know that there are 1.2 million people who identify as Afro-Mexicans. Often overlooked, this marginalized group is a true example of the broad spectrum of the Latino community. Sarah was heavily influenced by her upbringing by her adoptive parents in Zacatecas, Mexico and the music that was always playing everywhere she went in her neighborhood. Now signed to Joyas Musicales, she is working on her new EP and album. Her most recent cover music video, “Amor Eterno”, included a touching dedication to the lives lost in the pandemic by way of photos submitted by her fans of their deceased loved ones. We are ready to see what else Sarah La Morena has in store for us & the world!