David Sosa is excited. Kingston House of Culture, his four-month-old organization for promoting and throwing large happenings, was contacted by mayor Steve Noble about an event to educate the public of the coming development of a 70-residential-unit mixed-use space at 615 Broadway.
Described by Noble in a press release as an underutilized lot, the desirable piece of asphalt is the site of a formerly condemned Kings Inn next door to the Ulster Performing Arts Center. Noble and director of housing Initiatives Bartek Starodaj sought out the sought-out party maker David Sosa.
“This site of a former condemned motel will be transformed into a community asset,” explained a city government release, “and we want the neighborhood to come out and learn more about it.”
“They’re going to promote the building of a building over there,” says Sosa, “So they asked us to come up with an idea, and I told my crew we never had a food-truck festival here in Kingston before. So let’s try one. Let’s see how it goes. Who doesn’t like food trucks? Everybody likes food trucks.”
Nine food trucks have signed on so far. He ticks down the list.
“We have two from Bloomington, some coming from New Jersey. All the ones on Broadway, they’re all coming. Super Taco. Quetzal. Taqueria Chopina. And the guy across from — you know where the car auto is, I’ve never eaten there. I heard that his baleadas are good.”
A Honduran dish, it’s like a tortilla with beans and eggs. “It’s like a breakfast thing.”
The plan is to entice the community out on a Friday afternoon to be regaled and hopefully beguiled by the story of how the city chose a Poughkeepsie-based Baxter Building Corporation, to mesh their design for 70 residential units, ground-floor commercial space for arts-focused businesses, and a dedicated public open space blending with the architecture of the surrounding community in a way that uses the city’s new form-based code to advantage.
Sosa also promises a DJ.
“Ray Mysterio. He’s Mexican, but he can play whatever he feels like playing. We have a singer from Peru as well, Alexa Benzaquen, and dancers from the Center for Creative Education.”
‘Drew’ Andrews, alder for Ward 7 and executive director of the Center for Creative Education, says 18 performers, ages six through 16, will “energize and unite the community by showcasing their award-winning performances,” dancing to hip-hop, African and salsa music, and accompanied by African drumming.
“And we have also craft vendors- people that sell hats, clothing, Mexican clothing, toys. The Bruderhof are providing us with face painting and crafts.”
Originally from Mexico City, the UCAT bus driver and his wife also run the Roca Floral flower shop. Sosa’s been throwing parties ever since he arrived in the city 13 years ago. The size and ambition of his parties have been steadily growing.
The recent Cinco de Mayo celebration saw the House of Culture fill blocks on Henry Street. The crowd packed the streets, dancing, milling about, eating, shopping and celebrating. That party even saw mayor Noble in a t-shirt.
Joining forces
The next blowout Sosa has in the works is Mexican Independence Day on the weekend before September 16. The epicenter of this block party — smiled on by the City of Kingston — is at the intersection of Liberty and Clinton. The occasion will be momentous for its unification of two Hispanic cultures, who together account for the majority of the second largest ethnic demographic in the city.
“I’m very excited about joining forces with the Guatemalans,” says Sosa. “This is the first time the Guatemalan community is joining us., so it’s going to be big. Saturday is going to be Mexican Independence Day. And Sunday is going to be Guatemalan Independence Day.”
Last year, Sosa says, there was a miscommunication. Both communities held separate events on the same day.
“So it divided people,” says Sosa. “This year we talked it over. And we came to an agreement that Saturday is going to be for us. And Sunday is going to be for them. And they come in to support us, and we are going to come back and support them full force on Sunday. Mexico and Central America.”
Before Sosa can unite the Mexicans and the Guatemalans of Kingston in September, however, the city’s first-ever food-truck festival comes this Friday, June 28. Anyone with a food truck and a yen to take part in history as it’s being made – the culinary tradition of food served streetside – should contact Bartek Starodaj at 845-334-3928.
Join the family! 
