Festival Of Fun!

Different cultures found common ground at the first annual United Cultures Street Festival in Jackson Heights Saturday hosted by Healthfirst, Natives Restaurant, Theater and Bar and several other sponsors including Gol USA, El Correo de Queens and PT-1 Communications.
The festival drew crowds of Latin American residents, business owners, merchants and social activists to Junction Boulevard to enjoy the food, music and culture of several communities around this diverse area of Queens.
Cultural awareness is very prevalent in the borough of Queens, one of the world’s most diverse melting pots. Event organizer Consuelo Quintero said she hosted the festival "to show the world how nations can celebrate together, no fighting, no problems. There are over 40 nations here, Queens is a wonderful place."
Quintero, a 20 year veteran of the restaurant business, owns Natives, a colorful, entertaining restaurant, theater and bar on Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights. Natives menu boasts "the best Colombian food in the world" with entrees like carne asada, bandya paisa and Lenos al Carbon. Patrons to the festival enjoyed these dishes as prepared by food vendors Maria Gonzalez and her husband. She said, "We prepare typical Colombian plates at special events like this." Esmeraldas Delisciosas Picada y Fritada SurAmericanes serves up plates of rice, beans, fried plantains and fire grilled corn. "We prepare food that is a mix of Colombian and Puerto Rican traditions," said owner Esmeralda.
Outside of food, Quinteros goal was to promote Hispanic business and make certain services more available and accessible to the community. Healthfirst marketing representative Germaine Tchikounzi said, "We are here to spread information about the health services offered to those who qualify for free, state-funded health coverage." PT-1 Communications, a seven-year-old Flushing-based company, was on hand to promote their phone service "101-6868." They distributed over 1,000 free phones at the festival. "Customers really embrace this type of promotion, they really love it," said company representative Sal Juarez.
A common concern among vendors and the community was the political and social unrest going on in Colombia, the home of many residents in this area. Cesar Arango, a representative for the Luz & Luna Foundation said, "Our country is dealing with a lot of internal conflict." The Luz & Luna foundation is an organization that helps homeless families and children in need or displaced due to violence that exists in Colombia by providing assistance with educational supplies, food, clothing and resources.
Natives owner Consuelo Quintero does her part to help at home by generating money for underprivileged families. She buys and ships handmade arts and crafts from Colombia and sells them here. The profits are sent home to help support the people that are suffering due to civil unrest.
The street fair was by all measures a success said Quintero. "Next year I want to attract a more diverse crowd. I want to see more cultures and more nations joining in the festival and celebrating their culture."
E-mail this reporter at editorial@queenscourier.com