A crowd of thousands attended Toñita Fest on June 28, an annual street festival that pays tribute to María Antonia “Toñita” Cay, who has kept her iconic Caribbean Social Club alive despite decades of changes in the neighborhood.
The public filled Grand Street, between Driggs Ave. and Roebling St., to enjoy a full day of live music, dance performances, a DJ playing Latin hits, mini soccer games, merchandise sales, drinks and much more.
With broad community support, Toñita has withstood neighborhood changes, the pandemic, municipal regulations and other challenges for small businesses, and is now celebrating 52 years as a space for Puerto Ricans in New York—known as Nuyorriqueños—and the Latino community in general.
Over the years, Cay has said he has been offered millions of dollars to sell his building and his business, which remains filled with people playing dominoes and pool, dancing and drinking cheap beers in a neighborhood increasingly affected by gentrification. The annual festival draws large crowds—some wearing giant cutouts of Toñita’s face—in support of its institution and what it represents to the Latino community.
During the event, Mamdani took the main stage and exclaimed “I am Boricua” to the enthusiasm of the audience.
He described Toñita as “an icon of this city.”
“Every day he has helped build a sense of community here and recognition for Nuyoricans across the five boroughs,” Mamdani said.
He added that Toñita’s mission is even more important today, amid the water and energy crises in Puerto Rico and recent disasters such as the earthquake in Venezuela that left more than 1,450 dead. The sense of pride that is experienced in the club “is not exclusive to a single town, it is for everyone,” he said.
Mamdani quoted Toñita as saying: “I stay here for my people, as long as I can. This is not to make money or a fortune. It is to maintain a space for all of us to be together.”
Before leaving the stage, he led chants of “Toñita! Toñita! Toñita!” and “Go New York, go New York, go!”
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso gave Toñita a key to Brooklyn and called the social club and its founder “cultural icons.”
“It is an honor that your home is here in Brooklyn,” Reynoso said.
A Puerto Rican flag turned into art
Bronx designer Edwin Reyes’ framed work, titled “Bandera Viva,” evoked one of his most notable creations: a handmade Puerto Rican flag, worn on stage by singer Lorén Aldarondo Torres of the group Chuwi during Bad Bunny’s acclaimed residency tour.
For Toñita’s version, Reyes used red, white, and light blue to represent the territory’s fight for independence, instead of the dark blue that more closely resembles the United States flag.
Reyes told our sister publication, Bronx Times, that Mamdani’s office contacted him via Instagram message just the Friday before the festival, after seeing previous coverage of his work, to ask for a piece of his choice to present to Toñita.
The designer said he felt “very honored and excited” and already wanted to create a smaller version for display.
However, with only one day to complete the project, he had to get materials and a frame quickly. Her friend Joselyn Rodríguez, from the Bronx and creator of the Etsy store @Funfindsshop, made a metal plaque to commemorate the name of the work and the mayor’s presentation to Toñita.
Reyes stated that he loves going to the club and the festival, although he considers himself a homebody.
“When they take me out, they take me out,” he said, adding that the authenticity of the place is difficult to replicate. “It’s hot, sometimes claustrophobic, but I love it.”
The designer noted that the entire experience — from the Instagram message to the meeting with the mayor — was surreal and fast, and that he is still processing its meaning.
“I felt really seen as a designer and creative. Being trusted to do whatever I wanted was very exciting,” Reyes said. “I’m excited to see what comes of this.”
