I’ve been in New York City for the past few days, promoting my film “Magdalena” at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival. And while the business of doing red carpet interviews and talking about the same thing over and over again can challenging, at the same time it’s been a lot of fun and I’ve met some incredibly talented and lovely filmmakers at this festival. With a diversity of films on the screening schedule, from thrillers to romantic comedies, to meaningful dramas, the common thread is Puerto Rican people and culture with some films being set in New York City, others in Puerto Rico itself.

And aside from the festival, I’ve had some time to myself to walk the length and breadth of Manhattan (where I lived for a short time some years back) and my love affair with this city continues. I walked over 5 miles yesterday around and through Central Park, and it was spectacular. The vibrance and energy in this town is infectious. I will most certainly come visit again soon.