Pay It Forward!

Happy Holidays!

Hello everyone!

It's the holidays -seasons greetings and all that! A perfect opportunity to flex our generosity muscles and share with those less fortunate. So, with that point in mind.

My wife's school is participating in a program called Pay It Forward. In her own words:

My school is participating in a couple "Pay it Forward" days of service next week. We're bringing the kids to both Kingsbrook Children's Hospital and a couple women's shelters in Brooklyn. In addition, we're having a couple drives so that we can show up to those places with gifts in hand.

If anyone feels like donating to our drives, we are looking for:

1. Toiletries (shampoos, lotions, toothbrushes, etc.) for the shelter

2. New kids gloves and socks for the children's hospital

If anyone wants to donate it would be beyond amazing. BUT I need any donations by this weekend.

You read it, folks. Anyone who can donate may email me at erik.barragan@gmail.com.

Ciao,

Erik Barragán

Pico y Los Gatos Baratos

Anna Garcia y yo.
Foto: Diane Salante

Many of you don't know that I play music for children (3 months to five years old) as well as a adults. My repertoire goes from Seven Nation Army to Los Pollitos. I've been playing for kids, through two different companies here in New York City: Bilingual Birdies and Creative Kids Play. Top of their field, these two, and I feel very lucky to be employed by them. I urge you to visit their websites.

Moving on, I've started Pico y Los Gatos Baratos, a band that plays music for families: meaning, daddies, mommies and their offspring! Our first gig was on Halloween Day at Pantomima Daycare in Sunset Park. I wore a cat-mask and painted a dark nose; Anna Garcia painted some cute whiskers on her cheeks and we went for it.

We did the classic children songs like Wheels on the Bus, Happy and You Know It, ABC, Twinkle Twinke, but we also did Hound Dog, Lloraras, The Twist, Guantanamera. People -I'm saying people, not just kids, were dancing. The kids were jumping all around, freeze-dancing. It was a sight for sore eyes. And we're doing it again.

Pico y Los Gatos Baratos will be playing it's second gig at Pantomima on November 21st. Save the date! It'll be our Thanksgiving Extravaganza (name is subject to change and also time TBA).

Now this is a show for kids. (I'd say 2, 3, 4, 5.) But any and every age is invited. But it's a show for kids, so expect, Bah Bah Black Sheep, but dance to Baracunatana. Guaranteed. I can't wait to show you the concept, although the word gato sure is a giveaway.

Pico y los Gatos Baratos.
Foto: Diane Salante.

It is worth mentioning that at Pantomima that evening, my band, Los Gatos Baratos, was made of only one gata, Anna Garcia, who killed it with her trumpet playing and amazing improv abilities.

Bring your kids to the show! Tell your friends about it! I will be posting more information. For now, save the date: November 21st. Pico y Los Gatos Baratos

Ciao,
Erik Barragán