Lectures on Tap - "The Evolution of Mexican Food in New York City"

📍 Location: Exact address given in confirmation email

🧠 Lecture: "The Evolution of Mexican Food in New York City"

🎤 Speaker: Dr. Steven Alvarez

Join us for a flavorful evening as Dr. Steven Alvarez traces the rich history of Mexican food in New York City from the mid-20th century to today, challenging the myth that “authentic” Mexican cuisine only comes from California or Texas.

Drawing on his concept of “taco literacy,” Dr. Alvarez highlights how communities from Puebla, Guerrero, and Oaxaca have shaped a distinctly New York Mexican food culture—one that is different, not better or worse, than regional cuisines elsewhere.

Steven Alvarez is a Professor of English at St. John’s University in Queens and the author of Brokering Tareas: Mexican Immigrant Families Translanguaging Homework Literacies and Community Literacies en Confianza: Learning from Bilingual After-School Programs, as well as four novels in verse. His current research explores Mexican migration in New York City through the lens of food.

Come gain a deeper appreciation for the stories, migrations, and cultural exchanges behind the tacos, tamales, and other dishes that define New York’s evolving Mexican food scene.

Get a drink, connect, and learn at Lectures on Tap! 🙌

Agenda

6:30 PM – Doors open: find a seat (open seating!), order food & drinks, and expect a bar line—arriving early is key.

6:55 PM – Host introduction

7:00 PM – Lecture begins

7:45 PM – Audience Q&A

8:00 PM – Have 1:1 time with the speaker, mingle with fellow guests, and order another round

8:30 PM – Wrap up.