In a reversal of the usual order, Aurora Anaya-Cerda is opening her new store, La Casa Azul Bookstore, online first and later this year in bricks-and-mortar form in the East Harlem section of New York City. Online and in "reality," La Casa Azul (meaning blue house and named after artist Frida Kahlo's home in Mexico City) will offer "a wide range of books and music from the United States, México, Latin America and the Caribbean," reflecting "the international Latino communities shaping the United States and many parts of the world."

The books will be in Spanish and English and include works by Junot Diaz, Isabel Allende, Sandra Cisneros, Gabriel Garcia Márquez, Esmeralda Santiago and Oscar Hijuelos, among many others. The storefront will feature organic coffee, live performances, recorded music, art and other Latino-inspired products.This evening in East Harlem, La Casa Azul is celebrating the website launch. The store's address online is lacasaazulbookstore.com.

Anaya-Cerda describes herself as a "Latina social entrepreneur" and has worked at several independent bookstores and as a teacher and community organizer. She may be reached at 646-413-5251 or lacasaazulbookstore@gmail.com. The store's My Space listing is at www.myspace.com/lacasaazulbookstore.