Colada Culture is a reflection of how Cuban culture has thrived in Union City, NJ, especially in the small but lively José Martí Park. In this exact park, I saw families and friends from the Cuban community gather around a domino table, cafecito in hand, turning everyday moments into something memorable. Over games of Longana, conversations would heat up—debates about politics, the Cuban crisis, and just about everything else. Solutions were proposed, laughs were shared, and rivalries stayed friendly… mostly.

After revisiting this place after some time away, I still see some familiar faces. The sound of dominoes crashing on the table brings me right back to my childhood.