This Sunday is the launch of The Bronx’s largest Open Streets event, the much anticipated and successful Boogie on The Boulevard where we can, “…walk, bike, skate, and boogie,” freely on the center lanes of The Grand Concourse for tons of outdoor activities! This is absolutely one of our favorite events we love and our proud to sponsor!
This year’s 3rd annual event, rather than 3 consecutive Sundays, it will instead be held on the last Sunday of May through August so we get to spread the love around!
Thanks to Montefiore Medical Center, this year we’re also debuting ‘The Great Lawn’ on the Grand Concourse which will plop a 500 square foot grass park for you to enjoy the Concourse in an even more unique way.
Boogie on The Boulevard is also a great way to explore one of our main partners, The Bronx Museum, and check out the wonderful exhibitions they have up (admission to the museum is always free!).
Last year’s Boogie on The Boulevard was a HUGE success and broke records by more than tripling attendance from the re-launch in 2014.
History of Boogie on The Boulevard
The Grand Concourse, the boulevard of dreams (Check out the book by Constance Rosenblum on the history of the Grand Concourse) which ties all Bronxites together and is the spine of The Bronx, was once closed on Sundays from 1991-1996 thanks the visionary leadership of then Borough President Fernando Ferrer along with Transportation Alternatives.
From 161st street to 198th Street (3.45 miles!), each Sunday, the center lanes of The Grand Concourse were closed off during the Months of July and August for pedestrian use only, including bicycling, skating, rollerblading and tons of passive activities including neighbors just setting up chairs and hanging out and interacting with each other on an entire different level and environment.
It became The Bronx’s front and backyard if you will, one giant stoop gathering going through communities of hundreds of thousands of Bronxites.
Ferrer’s program proved so successful for The Bronx that it was expanded from just the summer months and straight through mid November, but alas, Giuliani came along and axed the program in 1996.
In 2014, residents and local community-based organizations alike, including The Bronx Museum of The Arts and Transportation Alternatives banded together to revive the popular event.
That year we just got a few blocks from 165th Street to 167th Street for just 3 Sundays but last year we got 8 blocks for 3 Sundays on!
This year, however, it will be a little shorter ending at 165th Street due to construction along The Grand Concourse but we are getting an extra day in and spreading the love throughout the entire summer!
Also this year, each day will have a different theme with music to get your Boogie on:
May 29 Disco & 80’s
Mobile Mondays! NYC All 45’s Vinyl night with DJ’s Misbehaviour & Joey Carvello – spinning disco & 80’s
June 26 House & 90s Dance
Mobile Mondays! NYC All 45’s Vinyl Night with DJ’s Joey Carvello & Johnny D – spinning House, disco & 90s dance
July 31 Classic Set
Mobile Mondays! NYC all 45’s Vinyl Night with DJ Misbehaviour spinning a classic MM set.
August 28 Funk & Soul & Disco
Mobile Mondays! NYC all 45’s Vinyl Night with DJ Woof spinning all funk & soul & disco
What else to expect
Boogie on the Boulevard is back!
This year, on the last Sunday of every month from May-August, the center lanes of the Grand Concourse will be closed to cars and open to a world of fun. Boogie on the Boulevard is the largest Open Streets event in the Bronx, so get ready to walk, bike, skate, and boogie starting at 162nd Street from 12:00pm-4:00pm, as thousands of Bronxites celebrate the Boulevard of Dreams!
Get Creative
The Bronx Museum of the Arts and BXArts Factory will present the Boogie Arts Block, featuring local artists and performers. The Museum will also be open to the public and will offer tours of its’ current exhibitions. Plus, the Andrew Freedman Home will host open studios highlighting Bronx artists!
Performance schedule:
- 12:00- Open Mic hosted by Bobby Gonzalez
- 1:30- Walking Tour of the Grand Concourse by Sam Goodman
- 2:00- Bombazo Dance Company and Drum Circle
- 3:00- Bharati Kemraj
- 3:30- Chinese Cultural Center
PLUS
DJ Misbehavior & Joey Carvello spinning 45s, disco and 80s music
Get Rolling
Mullally Bike Park is bringing back the Strider Bike Adventure zone for children under 5. Participants can build bicycle skills on balance bikes and a custom course of ramps, plus youth mechanics from Recycle-a-Bicycle will be on hand to make minor repairs to bicycles of all sizes.
Get Healthy
BronxWorks and Bronx Health REACH are organizing a block of fitness and health activities to help you get healthy. Join a walking group organized by New York Road Runners, take a Zumba class with Gigi’s Life Fitness, or enjoy the “Bronx Salad” of the month, provided by the United Business Cooperative.
Fitness Schedule:
- 12:00- New York Road Runners Stretch and Rolle
- 1:00- Zumba with Myra Majors
- 2:00- Zumba with Gigi’s Life Fitness
Registration for FREE fitness classes is not required, but is strongly suggested! Sign up here
Get Some Greenery
Montefiore Medical Center will present The Great Lawn on the Grand Concourse, an on-street park for Boogie on the Boulevard. Kick off your shoes, enjoy a picnic, and spend some time relaxing on the grass.
Schedule:
- 1:00- Boogie Body Conditioning
- 1:30- Yoga on the Great Lawn
Registration for FREE fitness classes is not required, but is strongly suggested! Sign up here
Volunteers are still needed! Sign up here to help make Boogie a success!
So are you ready to Boogie?! We hope to see you all there!
Boogie on the Boulevard is made possible by the New York City Department of Transportation’s Weekend Walks program and organized by The Bronx Museum of the Arts, the South Bronx Neighborhood Health Action Center of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, BronxWorks, Bronx Health REACH, New York Road Runners, and Transportation Alternatives in partnership with a volunteer committee of Bronx residents.
Last Year’s Boogie:
This post was last modified on January 15, 2017 10:05 pm
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