Epicenter-NYC

2 days ago | epicenter-nyc.com | Ambar Castillo

Long before kale chips became trendy or oat milk lined grocery shelves, a small vegetarian restaurant in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, was serving plant-based versions of traditional Caribbean dishes. The restaurant, Comida Vegetariana, was opened in the early 90s by Karla Salinari’s aunt and uncle as a continuation of a lifestyle that had taken root in the family decades earlier. “I jokingly say to my community: I didn’t choose the plant life — the plant life chose me,” said Salinari.

3 days ago | epicenter-nyc.com | Ambar Castillo

In just three months, the Trump administration’s policies have triggered widespread alarm among people of color, with diversity initiatives dismantled, deportations escalating, and federal jobs and funding abruptly cut. While these stressors aren’t new, they’re compounded by institutional support being pulled back. Meanwhile, access to culturally competent mental health care remains uneven.

1 week ago | epicenter-nyc.com | Ambar Castillo

Jazmin Tejada’s journey with yoga didn’t begin with love at first pose. “I absolutely hated it,” she said of the first yoga class she took out of curiosity in her early twenties. A lifelong athlete and professional salsa dancer, Tejada was used to fast, expressive movement. Yoga felt slow and stifling. “This is really boring,” she remembered thinking. Nearly two decades later, Tejada owns one of the only BIPOC-owned yoga studios in Harlem — and the only one in East Harlem, where she grew up.

1 week ago | epicenter-nyc.com | Ambar Castillo

When Amanda Aponte was a high school senior, prom was everything. As part of the planning committee, she had been counting down to the night for months. But her most vivid memory is of a floor-length golden halter dress with floral appliqués — a style she first spotted on actress Jessica Alba at a red carpet event. Nearly 18 years later, Aponte is helping teens create their own golden moments— despite the rising costs of prom dresses and the crushing burden of NYC rents.

2 weeks ago | epicenter-nyc.com | S. Mitra Kalita

We know not everyone is going away during New York City’s official spring break. Lucky for you, there are plenty of escapes right nearby. Here are three must-catch suggestions on the homefront: “Real Women Have Curves” on BroadwayThis show is still in previews, which makes getting discount tickets a bit easier. It’s the best thing I’ve seen all year, and there’s a ton of great theater right now (“Purpose,” “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” and “Oh Mary” come to mind).