“Lost Son of Havana,” a film about famed Boston Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant, will be screened at Frontier Café as part of Cuba Week.
The sister-city association describes this year’s theme as follows:
Cuba is known to have a complex history of baseball, and as in the United States, baseball is recognized as a favorite pastime. Special baseball related events include a documentary about famed Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant and a talk by Bowdoin Latin American history professor and baseball enthusiast Allen Wells.
The lineup
Community events begin on April 21 with a salsa dance featuring live music from Primo Cubano. Held at Cram Alumni House at 83 Federal St., this all-age, chemical-free dance party includes salsa dance lessons from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. as part of the admission fee
Admission costs $10 for adults or $5 for students and people age 65 and older.
At 4 p.m. April 23 at Gulf of Maine Books, 134 Maine St., local writers Howard Waxman and Jude Maloney will read from recent works inspired by Cuba.
Waxman of Bath will read from his novel, “Venceremos,” much of which takes place in Cuba. This comingof age story combines 1960s Cuban and American politics with the moral conflict of a young man as he returns from the Vietnam War.
Maloney’s evocative narrative “Song of Cuba” revolves around her unexpected discovery of sheet music for beloved Latin American song “ Yo Te Quiero” during her 2005 visit to Cuba.
Maloney’s visit to Cuba was part of the University of Maine’s Peace Studies “Witness for Peace” program. Photographs taken by Maloney while on the trip are on view at Frontier at Fort Andross.
Wells will lead a program titled “Cuba’s Favorite National Pastimes: Baseball and Politics” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, at Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St. Wells plans to relate his expertise of Latin American history with his deep knowledge of baseball and its cultural importance in Cuba.
Frontier in Fort Andross will screen “Lost Son of Havana,” a film about Major League Baseball starting pitcher Luis Tiant, at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 25.
The film documents the famed Red Sox pitcher as he returns to Cuba after 46 years in exile. This visit to his native home is Tiant’s first since 1961, when the Castro government forced him to choose between life in Cuba or in the United States. The film documents Tiant’s soulstirring reunion with family in Havana and includes vintage baseball footage, and interviews with baseball greats.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.
Food
Area restaurants and cafés will feature special Cuban cuisine and libations as part of Cuba Week. Participating businesses include Frontier, Back Street Bistro, Big Top Deli, Flipside Pizza, The Gelato Fiasco, Henry & Marty Restaurant, Scarlet Begonias, Wild Oats Bakery & Café, El Camino and Little Dog Coffee Shop.
How to help
Donations at Cuba Week events are encouraged with all funds directed to the Trinidad Cuba Municipal Library Restoration Project, which to date has raised more $700 from private donations.
Individuals also can support the cause by buying limited edition Cuba Week baseball bookmarks created by Boothbay artist Paula Ragsdale. These colorful keepsakes are available at Gulf of Maine Books and most Cuba Week events. All funds raised will aid in the repair and rebuilding of the library.
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