This coming Thursday, December 17th from 3:00PM – 7:00PM, talented junior high school and high school students from The Bronx as well as the rest of the city will have an opportunity to meet with representatives of some of the Northeast Region’s top prep schools at the 2nd Annual Prep School Fair thanks to Teamwork Foundation, Inc, a non-profit organization which runs the New York Gauchos which is touted as America’s most successful AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) after school basketball program.
Holiday lights @ Michaelangelo Apts
(E149th St & Park Avenue)
No information was provided, however the bright yellow sign was on the door and domino workers were taking the franchise apart but refused to answer any questions.
With the opening of Mill Pond Park, residents in Melrose and the Lower Concourse area finally get a taste of what Manhattanites have taken for granted for years – A waterfront park. Mill Pond Park is the first in what will eventually (hopefully) be a series of parks along the banks of the Harlem River in the South Bronx.
The 10 acre park features 16 DecoTurf tennis courts, picnic and grass areas, beautifully landscaped paths which meander along the shoreline and even a sandy play area. This month, the Parks Department will also unveil the newly restored historic Power House which will be LEED certified and will have a green roof as well as house a future café. The 25,800 square foot building will also house Parks Department operations and tennis court locker rooms.
Mill Pond Park is part of the Yankee Stadium Redevelopment Program and is the first park to be unveiled since the construction of the New Yankee Stadium gobbled up local parkland. The park is a small step in giving back to the community…a tiny one in fact but a step nonetheless. Maybe we can convince them to more than double the size of Mill Pond Park by developing the Harlem River Parking Lots and Major Deegan Parking lot to the North of the park…after all, wasn’t the purpose of building the $92 million Yankee Stadium Metro North Station to have less cars in the areas and more people using mass transit?
So what are you waiting for? Go visit Mill Pond Park located at East 149th Street and the Harlem River, just north of the 145th Street bridge and across from the Gateway Mall.
Last night at Hostos Community College, the Longwood Arts Gallery was abuzz with activity for the launch of a new exhibit, ANTHEM: an all-american dystopia. The exhibit is a 20th anniversary celebration of the Bronx Council on the Arts’ BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) award and according to the Longwood Arts Project, this exhibit, “explores an America within the crux of reforming a national identity; family, health, politics, urban crisis and decay, environmental issues, consumerism and globalization.” The exhibition is curated by Melissa A. Calderón, a local Bronx Latina artist who received her BA in Art History from CUNY Lehman College and works in various forms of media such as sculpture, installations and photography.
Every artists in this program are BRIO award winners from 2008 or 2009 and all have created works that are multidimensional in their scope of message and what you see may not necessarily be what it means. The show is broad in its scope and definitely worth a trip to the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos Community College whether you are from the Bronx or not so take the 2,4 or 5 express train to 149th/Grand Concourse and check out just a small sample of what The Bronx has to offer.
Also of notable importance, last night during the opening of the exhibit right in the gallery space was also host to The International Coquito Federation – Coquito Masters Qualifier Series for 2009. For those of you who do not know what coquito is, it is Puerto Rico’s answer to Christmas Eggnog made of rum, coconut cream, cinnamon to name just a few of its ingredients. The ICF is the project of Debbie Quiñones who says its mission is to promote coquito around the world as a gourmet drink as well as cultural awareness. Oh and did I mention that Coqui Mexicano‘s entry now qualifies for the great coquito showdown on December 19th at El Museo del Barrio? Yes…You heard it here! If their coquito is good enough to qualify for such a prestigious event, can you imagine what their food is like?
So here’s a big Melrose THANK YOU to Longwood Gallery, Bronx Council on the Arts, all participating artists and supporters for bringing the arts to the Bronx and in particularly to the South Bronx and Melrose.
Also would like to give out or first big WEPA! to Coqui Mexicano for qualifying to compete at the big coquito showdown on December 19th at El Museo del Barrio…Coquito Mexicano truly are what comunidad (community) is all about! (Wepa is a Puerto Rican exclamation of joy and happiness, similar to the Greek OPA!)
Today is World AIDS Day and since 1981, over 25 million people worldwide have died of AIDS and an estimated 33.4 million are currently living with HIV/AIDS. At one point the South Bronx was quoted in a 1989 New York Times article as having, “one of the highest AIDS infection rates ”in the country, if not the world…”. HIV infection rates are still higher in the Bronx and even higher is the rate of people who find out only when they have full blown AIDS. Numerous campaigns have been enacted by the government to spread awareness and get people tested. In fact, the Bronx is now leading an ambitious effort to have every resident between the ages of 18 and 64 to get tested and is showing the world how to do it.
Today at Coqui Mexicano, the community was treated to amazing fine Puerto Rican and Mexican cuisine with their first ever Parranda Navideña which is Puerto Rican Christmas Caroling. Parrandas are composed of a bunch of locals who dance, sing and play traditional Puerto Rican bomba y plena christmas songs and the likes. The food was absolutely amazing, the chicken mole, ropa vieja (shredded beef in a spicy tomato stew), fresh guacamole and gandules guisa’o (stewed pigeon peas) and on and on.
With Coqui Mexicano’s live music tonight as well as PeaceLove’s live Jazz on Fridays and Saturdays and even live music at local Mexican restaurants such as Xochimilco on the weekends, Melrose has a burgenoing musical scene that is still remains a hidden gem where locals can relax, eat and have some good ol’ fun without having to travel too far.
Here’s a big MelroseTHANK YOU to Coqui Mexicano for all their hard work and believing in our community or as they like to call it…La Comunidad! Thanks for opening your kitchen tonight to the community and sharing the old traditions from Puerto Rico. Coqui Mexicano is not only a place to eat but it is a true cultural pillar in the community for their great efforts to preserve traditions.
Today while most of us may be fortunate enough to spend Thanksgiving with family and loved ones, there are still many out there who cannot for various reasons, whether economic or simply that they are just alone for the holidays. For the past 33 years, Immaculate Conception Church on East 150th Street at the corner of Melrose Avenue has been filling that void through volunteers from the parish and even youth from the school and the community.
The buzz about the possibility of reviving the Old Bronx Courthouse and the exclusive visit by yours truly to the landmark building this past Monday has caught the attention of 2 of the most important news sources for all that is Real Estate in New York City, Curbed and The Real Deal. Much to my surprise, The Real Deal placed the story on their #1 slot for their 8AM Real Estate roundup links yesterday, November 24, 2009! Guess we’re not the only ones excited about seeing the Old Courthouse get a new life.
A big Melrose THANK YOU goes to the folks at Curbed and The Real Deal for help spreading the word on such a great building!
Yesterday under cloudy skies and with a chill in the air, 5 individuals from all walks of life entered the Old Bronx Courthouse. A little after noon, Henry Weinstein, owner of the landmarked building opened the gates and we all followed him inside eager with anticipation and emotions probably not too dissimilar to an archaeologist entering an old temple for the first time or one of the great pyramids for after all the building has sat much like a sealed tomb for the past 35 years. Immediately upon entering, the amazing architectural details come alive, the daylight dancing upon the intricate iron-worked doors and carefully detailed marble. Mr. Weinstein then proceeded to the basement to switch on the lights and without warning we were transported to a time a little over a 100 years ago. 
Since 2009, Welcome2TheBronx has been a popular online platform dedicated to highlighting the vibrant culture, history, and ongoing developments within New York City’s northernmost borough. Founded by life-long resident and community advocate Ed García Conde, the site features local news, personal stories, and in-depth coverage of issues such as gentrification, community empowerment, art, and real estate. Through its engaging content and active social media presence, Welcome2TheBronx has become a trusted resource for residents and visitors alike, shining a spotlight on the unique identity and rich heritage of the Bronx.
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