Livin’ la Vida Loca at La Marqueta
While most of my junior HS classmates were spending their free time playing sports or socializing with family and friends, we ware commuting to Spanish Harlem and “livin’ la vida loca”, selling hosiery at La Marqueta, a bustling, historic marketplace that had long been a hub for the local community. Beginning in the spring of ’68 and shortly after MLK’s assassination, my brother and I spent most Saturdays and summers, working in Building One, surrounded by the vibrant sights, sounds, and energy that defined East Harlem at the time. It was an early education not just in business, but in culture, resilience, and human connection.
La Marqueta wasn’t just a place to work…it was a living piece of New York City history. The rows of stalls, the multilingual chatter, and the smells of fresh produce and Latin cuisine gave the market its unique character. During breaks, we grabbed a coffee and corn muffin (for less than a buck) and hung out with our local compatriots to watch the World Series (on a color TV for the first time) outside Building two. Most memorable was Brooks Robinson’s fielding prowess/defensive brilliance, that earned him the 1970 WS MVP award as the Orioles trounced the Reds (formerly the “Redlegs”) in 5 games.
Unfortunately, a fire damaged our building in fall of ’72, but that didn’t stop the community or the vendors from pressing on an reopening in early ’73. However, another major fire broke out in the third of the five original buildings several years later, signaling a major decline in the once-thriving market. Although I stopped working at La Marqueta after we moved to NJ, the experience left a lasting impression: it taught me how to engage with people, appreciate hard work, and understand the spirit of a neighborhood that to this day, has never given up.
Michael MIller, MD is Chief of Medicine, Corporal Michael J Crescenz VAMC and Professor of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania His latest book “Heal Your Heart” is published by Penguin Random House
Michael Miller, MD
MASPC, FACC, FAHA, FNLA
Dr. Miller is a leading cardiologist and heart health expert whose pioneering research on positive emotions, diet, and physical activity supports the integration of all three modalities for optimal vascular health.