The City testified saying that it couldn’t withstand more storms and was a public hazard and YET 2 brutal winters have passed SINCE the June 2013 hearings at Community Board 1, PS 31 is STILL standing and is in the same condition.
Engineers hired by SoBro performed an inspection of the property and issued a report stating that the building, although badly damaged, it is salvageable and so much so that even Goldman Sachs was interested in investing in the revitalization of this property.
On December 17, 2013, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted NO to the Department of Building’s request to strip the structure’s landmark status and had harsh words for the city. We were present at that meeting and this is what we wrote on that day:
“Both New York City Department of Buildings and HUD could not provide enough evidence as to why Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) should strip PS 31’s landmark status even in the edifice’s deteriorating condition.
The city agencies tried hard to convince the Commission to approve the application to strip the beloved Castle on the Concourse landmark status so that they could demolish it but instead were met with resistance.
LPC instead, lambasted all city agencies responsible for letting such a beloved structure that means so much to the community to decay. Despicable, shameful, and appalling were just some of the words used by the members of the Commission as they took turns to comment and voice their agreement or disagreement with the application to de-landmark the vacant school.
Only one Commission member voted to approve the application citing the safety concerns however most other members reiterated that anything that can be done to shore up the building should be done.”
Having been in the residential real estate appraisal industry for 15 years, I have performed countless exterior inspections of properties in New York City. PS 31, as of today, is in the EXACT same exterior condition as it was a year ago when we wrote an update on how it survived the harshest winter in 20 years. Although I am not a qualified engineer, we are trained to observe differences in properties when performing exterior inspections including to report whether a property’s condition has improved, remained the same or worsened.
Department of Building claims that the building is falling apart but photographic evidence here clearly shows that 11 months and 2 brutal winters later, the building is in the exact same condition. We must ask ourselves, what exactly is going on here?
On one hand we have DOB claiming doom and gloom and the building can’t be saved and on the other hand we have photographic evidence that the structure is still intact with no further deterioration as DOB has claimed and on the other hand we have an engineering report from SoBro stating that although structurally unsound, the building is salvageable.
New York City Department of Buildings claimed in June 2013 at a Community Board 1 meeting as well as a hearing before Landmarks Preservation Commission on December 17th, 2013, that PS 31 posed an immediate public safety and would, in most likelihood, not be able to withstand severe storms and weather. Here are two photographs taken of the building after 2 of the most brutal winters in 20 years and the property is IDENTICAL in condition as it was 2 years ago.
As a community, we cannot let our history so callously be erased. This would never happen in Manhattan or Brooklyn or elsewhere in the City of New York so why should we allow this to happen in The Bronx?
It has been reported that the city would want to develop the land for affordable housing. This is NOT the way to develop affordable housing by destroying our landmarks and history.
Lauren Bacall on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar — the photograph (by Louise Dahl-Wolfe) which launched the legendary icon’s career.
The Bronx born and raised beauty, known to the world as Lauren Bacall but to her family and childhood friends by her birth name of Betty Joan Perske, passed away last August at the age of 89. She was the last surviving icon named in Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ list of Hollywood legends — all of whom are gone now.
From 1968 to 1986, Bacall donated over 700 items to The Museum at FIT and now, some are on display in a new exhibition, ‘Lauren Bacall: The Look’ which runs until April 4th, 2015.
Calling her a legendary icon is an understatement as she graced the silver screen and was always dressed with a style of her own.
“Her mother taught her how to look her best on a limited budget, by emphasizing simple silhouettes and quality garment construction. As a young girl, Bacall admired designer fashions in the windows of the stores along Fifth Avenue; a few years later, she wore them as a model. She was introduced to Vreeland in 1942 and started appearing in Harper’s Bazaar. “I began to be aware of fashion,” Bacall remembered of her time at the magazine. “I noticed what she [Vreeland] wore, which were always the simplest things.”
By the early 1950s, Bacall was a major Hollywood star, and she had begun to develop relationships with leading fashion designers. She regularly attended presentations by couturiers in Paris, including Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy. Bacall later quipped, “From the day I could afford it, I shopped too much.”
Norman Norell, coat and two-piece dress designed for Sex and the Single Girl, wool, rhinestones, 1965, USA. Gift of Lauren Bacall. Photo: Eileen Costa/The Museum at FIT
“Lauren Bacall, like many Old Hollywood stars, was made, not born. Her trademark downcast look wasn’t a come-hither ploy but rather a result of nervousness in front of the camera. Her voice, while naturally low, was exaggerated — director Howard Hawks made her pull her car over on Mulholland Drive and shout into the canyons to make it huskier. And her regal bearing belied an ordinary, middle-class upbringing in the Bronx. But her love of fashion was one thing that wasn’t the creation of a studio — even as a young woman, she bought Norman Norell’s designs on steep discount in Brooklyn, and she would later go on to have a close relationship with the designer, who costumed her for 1964’s Sex and the Single Girl. Bacall was also friendly with Yves Saint Laurent and Emanuel Ungaro.“
Not bad for a girl from The Bronx, huh?
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Head on over to The Fashion Institute of Technology located at 227 W 27th street on 7th Avenue in Manhattan
One of New York City’s premier art shows, The New York Armory Show, will be having a Bronx Day in conjunction with The Bronx Arts Alliance at The Bronx Museum of the Arts. Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, March 4th from 4PM – 8PM you can view this 4 day exhibition covering a wide variety of mediums and disciplines as well as programming for all ages.
The Armory Show’s mission is as follows:
“MISSION OF ARMORY ARTS WEEK
In its seventeen years, The Armory Show, America’s leading fine art fair devoted to the most important art of the 20th and 21st centuries, has become an international institution, bringing artists, galleries, collectors, critics and curators from all over the world to New York every March. Armory Arts Week strives to take advantage of this yearly convergence of the world’s top collectors and art enthusiasts by proudly consolidating and promoting a diverse selection of our city’s own cultural offerings.
In celebration of New York’s unparalleled artistic communities, Armory Arts Week works to highlight the distinct non-profit cultural organizations of our city’s multiple neighborhoods and boroughs. Throughout the week of The Armory Show, we promote a different neighborhood each day with cultural events for all levels of visitors.
This concept of a week of non-profit arts-related events was born out of the festivities and widely-felt excitement generated by The Armory Show, and was formalized with the support of the city in 2009. Since then, Armory Arts Week has continued to expand its reach throughout all five boroughs of New York. From elaborate benefit parties to interactive public programming, The Armory Show hopes that Armory Arts Week will continue to enrich the public through the promotion of New York’s exceptional arts-related events.”
Information, including participating artists, times and programming is as follows (from The Bronx Museum of the Arts):
Bronx Speaks: Making Place presented by Bronx Arts Alliance, March 4-8, 2015
Opening: March 4 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Reception: March 6 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm Bronx Speaks: Making Place is the latest exhibition presented by the Bronx Arts Alliance (BxAA) in concert with New York Armory Arts Week. The show highlights the cultural diversity of artwork created and exhibited within the Bronx featuring US and International Artists from 20+ Bronx arts organizations as selected by a curatorial committee. A key focus of the exhibition is to document the uniqueness of this environment and to share creative visions that highlight these surroundings. Bronx Speaks will take place at The Bronx Museum of the Arts and will be installed by independent curator Sarah Corona.
Natalie Wood (leading Bronx Children’s Museum GreenArts After School Program)
In addition, as part of the Bronx Artist Documentary Project, the following photographs will also be featured:
Artist Jeanine Alfieri photographed by Lisa Kahane
Artist Evan Bishop photographed by Adam Reyes
Artist Anne Humanfeld photographed by Ron Terner
Artist Heidi Johnson photographed by Danny Perault
Artist Jay Moss photographed by Lauren Click
Artist Bernard Olshan photographed by Ira Merritt.
There will be a series of Special Events during the exhibit:
-Sneek Peek, Wednesday March 4th from 4-8pm. Bronx Cultural Trolley will be making stops and The Diego de la Vega Coffee Co-op will offer a cup of coffee in exchange for any alternative currency, barter, or time deposits.
-On the officially designated Bronx Day, a Reception will take place Friday, March 6th from 6-10pm.
-6:00 to 9:00pm: Official opening reception of Bronx Speaks: Making Place, presented by the Bronx Arts Alliance, in the Lower Gallery. Lower Gallery Bar opens at 6pm.
-6:00pm: Doors open in the 2nd floor North Wing for First Fridays. 2nd Floor Bar opens at 6pm; free tours of the galleries by Museum teaching artists; art-making
activity for children until 8pm.
-6:15pm to 7:30pm: Performances by Innove Gnawa Band, Lucy Blanco and James Lovell, Vithym in the Lower Gallery
-Alicia Grullon will perform live her video piece Morir Soñando and serve a home-made traditional drink
-7:30pm: Performance by La Santa Cecilia in the 2nd floor North Wing, as part of First Fridays! in Collaboration with Carnegie Hall’s Neighborhood Concerts
Wine courtesy of Skyview Wines & Spirits. Cupcakes Courtesy of Eva Jay Sweets. Bronx-based Fauzia’s Heavenly Delights Food Truck will be selling Carribean cuisine from 6-10pm
-On Sunday March 8th, Bronx Children’s Museum will be hosting a free Art Workshop for Kids from 12-4p. All participants will be part of the Lower Gallery installation, Paper Paradise.
Hours:
Wednesday, March 4 4pm – 8pm Bronx Culture Trolley
Thursday, March 5 11am – 6pm
Friday, March 6 11am – 10pm Bronx Day and Reception from 6-10pm,
Saturday, March 7 11am – 6pm
Sunday, March 8 11am – 6pm Free Art Workshop for kids 12-4pm
This program has been made possible in part through the sponsorship of the Bronx Council on the Arts with funding provided by Bronx Arts Alliance members.
The Bronx Museum of the Arts is located at 1040 Grand Concourse and is easily accessible by multiple means of public transportation including Metro North and by car.
“Luhrmann said he was very enthusiastic about casting actors and actresses from the borough.
“Nothing would make all those involved in ‘The Get Down’ more thrilled than to find cast members from The Bronx itself,” Luhrmann said in an email. “So I can only encourage anyone who fits the criteria of the auditions to audition. You never know until you try.”
The casting page says of the series:
“1970s New York City – broken down, beaten up, violent, cash strapped, dying. Told through the lives and music of a ragtag crew of South Bronx teens – from Bronx tenements, to the SoHo art scene, CBGBs, Studio 54, and even the glass towers of the just-built World Trade Center – The Get Down is a sweeping saga of loyalty, love and betrayal, and the transformation of New York City.”
Is there a fee to submit to an online search role?
No, there is no credit card information taken and no fee to submit for this online search.
Can I submit if I am a different age than the age requirement for the character?
If the role description on the website says: ‘you must be at least x years old’, it means the studio has set an age minimum for legal reasons so you MUST be the minimum age at time of audition. If an age range only is provided, then this is a guideline for the age of the character. Ideally you should be within that range, but if you are not, you may still audition if you can believably play someone within that age range.
Do I need to memorize the lines in the audition scene?
You need to be exceptionally well prepared for an audition. You should find out what you can about the story if possible and learn about the character. You should try to have the lines memorized so you can deliver them naturally and present your best performance. However, it is OK to hold the audition scene and refer to it if necessary – what matters is your performance.
Do other people need to read the parts of the other character(s)?
You will need to have a “reader” if there is another character with dialog in the scene. Your reader reads the part or parts of the other character and should always be off camera.
If there are props mentioned in the sides do I need to include those props in my audition?
If you find that using a prop that is described in the scene is helpful to your performance, you can do so, but you should be careful not to do anything that is too distracting. Generally in auditions people will pantomime the props since your acting is what is being evaluated, not your ability to stage design.
What should I wear?
Unless the instructions specify some type of dress, you should choose something that looks good on you on video. Do not wear anything with visible logos or team names. Otherwise, it’s not particularly important.
Login to www.castittalent.com and go to “Packages” and “Submission history.” If your audition is there, it’s been received! If the casting office feels that you are a fit for the role, they will contact you directly.
What if I have already submitted and I need to change or resubmit my audition?
You should play your video on your computer and make sure it’s fine before uploading to the site. We do not recommend re-submitting. However, if after submitting through an online search you check your video on your Cast It Talent profile and find a significant technical problem, for example if the audio or video quality was degraded once the video converted to QuickTime on our servers and does not play well, then you should re-submit. To resubmit, you log in towww.castittalent.com, upload the new video, wait until it’s converted (this can take 15 minutes), test to make sure it plays back from your Cast It Talent profile, then resubmit following the instructions on the Roles page.
When and how will I find out if I got the part?
An open casting call is just one step in a complicated casting process – final casting decisions are rarely made based on one audition video. If the casting office thinks you are potentially a good fit for the part and likes your audition, you may be contacted – usually by email — either to submit a second audition online or come in for an in-person callback. If you are submitting for an open casting call, the studio will pay your transportation fees if you are out of the area unless otherwise noted in the audition information. Please note that your email and phone (or that of your parents if you are a minor) are available only to the casting office, no one else will see your contact information.
Will an inexperienced or non-professional actor have a chance?
Yes, the reason studios and casting offices conduct open casting calls through Cast It Talent is because they are interested in pursuing new talent for a film or television show. It is an outstanding way to be seen by legitimate casting offices and major studios. A casting office may “flag” someone viewed during an open casting call and consider them for a different role or for a future project as well. While non-professional, unrepresented actors are invited to participate in an open casting call, there is no guarantee someone from the online search will be selected ultimately for the role. Keep in mind that an online open casting call is not a contest with a “winner”, but part of a complex casting process that is normally open only to professional actors with agents. Many factors go into casting a role and there are many different parties involved in the final decision. Roles that have been made available for open casting calls are also being pursued by professional actors with agents, so you are usually being considered alongside experienced actors. Please be aware that there are always hundreds and sometimes thousands of submissions for open casting calls for studio productions. You should never contact the casting office or studio about your submission or email your audition to them (unless you are asked to). You will only hear from casting if you are selected for a callback or if they want more information from you. You will not hear back if you are not being considered further.
When we found out last June that an exhibition on Frida Kahlo was coming to The New York Botanical Garden, May 16th, 2015 couldn’t get here fast enough. Now, we’re just a little over 2 months away from opening weekend and thanks to NYBG, we’re happy to share more about this event.
After reading the calendar of events, Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life is massive with its programming surrounding the actual exhibition which includes over a dozen of her works, many of which are from private collections, live music and dancing giving us a colorful range of the performing arts, family events and so much more! We’ve put it all together here so that you can plan in advance for these events (especially for those who are traveling into NYC just to experience the exhibition and The Bronx!)
The timing of the exhibition could not have been better. The Bronx is now home to one of the largest Mexican populations in the New York City region — so large that we are the home to the first and only institute of Mexican Studies on the East Coast and this side of the Mississippi.
‘Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life’ is going to be a 6 month-long celebration not only of one of the most celebrated artists in the world but also of culture of her Mexican homeland, the people, and everything that has taken roots here in our borough and are city.
The following is reprinted with NYBG’s permission:
“This blockbuster exhibition will be the first to examine Frida Kahlo’s keen appreciation for the beauty and variety of the natural world, as evidenced by her home and garden as well as the complex use of plant imagery in her artwork. Featuring a rare display of more than a dozen original Kahlo paintings and works on paper, this limited six-month engagement will also reimagine the iconic artist’s famed garden and studio at the Casa Azul, her lifelong home in Mexico City.
Accompanying events invite visitors to learn about Kahlo’s life and enduring cultural influence through poetry, lectures, Frida al Fresco evenings, Mexican-inspired shopping and dining experiences, and hands-on art activities for kids.”
Casa Azul in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Photo: Casa Azul, Mexico City, 2014 / Via NYBG (Click to enlarge)
The Haupt Conservatory will come alive with the colors of Kahlo’s Mexico, greeting visitors with an evocation of the artist’s garden at the Casa Azul (Blue House), her lifelong home. Passing through blue courtyard walls, visitors will stroll along lava rock paths lined with flowers and showcasing a variety of important garden plants from Mexico. A scale version of the artist’s pyramid — created to display pre-Hispanic art collected by her husband, muralist Diego Rivera — will feature traditional terra-cotta pots containing desert plants found in her garden, as well as the organ pipe cactus fence located at Rivera’s studio in nearby San Ángel. Experience the Casa Azul as the ultimate expression of Kahlo’s connection to Mexico and the natural world.
Kahlo’s Woks in the Art Gallery
Photo: Casa Azul, Mexico City, 2014 / Via NYBG (Click to enlarge)
The LuEsther T. Mertz Library’s Art Gallery exhibition, curated by Adriana Zavala, PhD, will feature 14 of Kahlo’s paintings and works on paper — many borrowed from private collections — highlighting the artist’s use of botanical imagery in her work. Focusing on her lesser-known yet equally spectacular still lifes, as well as works that engage nature in unusually symbolic ways, this grouping will include Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940); Flower of Life (1944); Still Life with Parrot and Flag (1951); and Self-Portrait Inside a Sunflower (1954).
Exhibitions in the Mertz Library are made possible by the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust.
Additional support has been provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and by a Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Sponsored by Carolina Herrera New York.
About the Guest Designer
Scott Pask is an award-winning scenic designer who received a Bachelor of Architecture degree and Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama. He designed NYBG’s Monet’s Garden in 2012 and The Orchid Show: On Broadway in 2011. He has won Tony awards for his work on The Book of Mormon, The Pillowman, and The Coast of Utopia. His recent Broadway productions include Finding Neverland, Something Rotten, The Visit, It’s Only a Play, I’ll Eat You Last with Bette Midler, and the hit revivals Pippin, Promises Promises, HAIR, and Nine. He designed Amaluna for Cirque du Soleil, which is currently touring the world.
About the Guest Curator
Adriana Zavala, PhD, is Associate Professor of modern and contemporary Latin American art history and Director of Latino Studies at Tufts University. Zavala has curated several exhibitions and published widely on Mexican art. Her Book, Becoming Modern, Becoming Tradition: Women, Gender, and Representation in Mexican Art (Penn State University Press, 2010), was awarded the Arvey Prize by the Association for Latin American Art in 2011.
Frida’s and Diego’s Mexico City in the Ross Gallery
This fascinating panel exhibition will present museums and other sites in Mexico City where Kahlo’s and Rivera’s artwork and personal collections can be viewed, conveying the scope of their artistic and intellectual contributions to the cultural life of Mexico
Exhibitions in the Ross Gallery are made possible by the Arthur and Janet Ross Fund.
Sponsored by México: Live It To Believe It
Symposium
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera: Mexican Art in the 20th Century Friday, May 15; 10:30AM – 12:30PM Moderated by guest curator Adriana Zavala, this symposium explores Mexican art history, design, and the evolution of Kahlo’s garden at the Casa Azul.
Speakers:
Adriana Zavala, Associate Professor of modern and contemporary Latin American art history, Tufts University
Mary Coffey, Associate Professor of North American and Latin American Art, Dartmouth College
James Oles, Senior Lecturer in Art and Adjunct Curator of Latin American Art at the Davis Museum and Cultural Center, Wellesley College
Juan Rafael Coronel Rivera, author, curator, and grandson of Diego Rivera
Revel in the Mexican history and culture that inspired Frida Kahlo and her art during weekend-long celebration of Kahlo’s creative spirit. Live performances by musical artists in residence, The Villalobos Brothers and Humberto Flores, as well as Calpulli Mexican Dance Company set the stage for two days of non-stop performance art, film, and fun for fans of any age, including the opportunity to decorate and take home masks.
PROGRAMS
Live Music & Dance
Saturdays and Sundays, plus Monday Holidays
The Best of classic and contemporary Mexican music joins with the historic traditions of ballet folklórico for live performances held on weekends throughout the summer and fall. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Mexico Beyond Mariachi and Calpulli Mexican Dance Company during sets in the Leon Levy Visitor Center, Haupt Conservatory vicinity, and Ross Hall.
Mexico Past & Present Film Series
Saturdays and Sundays, plus Monday Holidays
The experience of FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life continues each weekend with a film series that includes the Academy Award-winning Frida, which immerses you in the life and times of Frida Kahlo every Saturday, and a revolving series of documentaries and shorts on Sundays, presented in partnership with Cinema Tropical.
Mobile Experience
Experience the singular beauty of the artistic haven Kahlo and Rivera created at the Casa Azul as you enjoy its evocation in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Dazzling archival photographs, contemporary views, audio narration by the guest curator, and videos bring this unique space to life. Then try your own hand at self-portraiture! Take a selfie and style it with flowers, fruits, and foliage line one of Kahlo’s paintings — and share it with your friends!
Mobile Media supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies
¡Viva la Frida!
Saturday and Sunday, July 11-12
Bring your fashion savvy for a weekend celebration of the life, style, and spirit of Frida Kahlo. Enjoy live mariachi performances by the women of Flor de Toloache, partake in a Frida Look-Alike Contest, and craft your own flower crown as you join in the fun with Frida impersonators.
Poetry for Every Season
Co-presented with the Poetry Society of America
Mexican Poetry Walk
Adjacent to the Haupt Conservatory, the works of influential 20th-century Mexican poet Octavio Paz, many referencing native plants and flowers, will be displayed amid the seasonal beauty of the Garden’s own collections.
Family Adventures Frida’s Flora and Fauna Weekdays; 1:30pm – 5:30PM Weekends plus Monday Holidays; 10AM – 5:30PM May 16-September 27
Visit the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden to experience the inspiration Frida Kahlo found in the natural world that can be seen and appreciated in her artwork. Throughout the Adventure Garden investigate plants and animals growing and living in New York City, using your senses as well as scientific tools to discover your own creative muse.
Sponsored by Univision Contigo
Cooking with Frida Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays 2 & 4PM
Hands-on activities in the Edible Academy’s Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden bring together children and their families to experience the colors, textures, smells, and tastes of Frida Kahlo’s Mexican kitchen. Cooking demonstrations feature recipes inspired by those Frida served to family and friends, using nutritious, garden-based ingredients. Visitors can explore and tend to plant staples of Mexican cuisine growing throughout the Family Garden: beans, tomatoes, peppers, chiles, herbs, and more!
Frida al Fresco Evenings Select Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 6:30PM – 9:30PM
Enjoy these festive nights out at the Garden by experiencing FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life after hours. Stroll through Kahlo’s beloved Casa Azul reimagined in the Conservatory, see rare works in the Art Gallery, and then transport yourself to Mexico without leaving New York via live music performances, Kahlo-inspired items from Shop in the Garden, an outdoor Tequila Bar, and delicious Mexican fare inspired by Kahlo’s own recipes, all enjoyed with a complimentary cerveza.
Generous support for the Summer Concert Series is provided by Vivian and Edward Merrin.
Non-Member $35/Member $25 (Adults 21 and over)
Advance tickets recommended; includes one complimentary beer
Start the night off with a champagne pre-party at Shop in The Garden on select nights from 5:30PM – 6:30PM. Learn more at nybg.org/priceless
Spotlight on Agave: A Tequila Story
The rich history and long-standing traditions of Mexican tequila will be told through a living presentation of the plant at the heart of it all — the agave — for an informative look into the botany and craftsmanship of one of the world’s favorite spirits.
Sponsored by Jose Cuervo Reserva De La Familia
Canciones de mi Padre (Songs of My Father) Concert Peformed by the Villalobos Brothers and Humberto Flores with special guests June 20, 6:30PM – 9:30PM
Bring a picnic blanket and set up under the stars for a relaxed evening of food, music, and continued celebration of Mexican heritage at the heart of our summer exhibition, FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life. Dad won’t want to miss this throwback to the heyday of Linda Rondstadt with a performance of her landmark album of traditional Mexican folk songs — one of the top-selling non-English albums in American history—by the Villalobos Brothers and Humberto Flores, featuring a special appearance by Gizel Xanath, other guest artists, and a full mariachi band. Pick up dinner for the family from Stephen STARR Events or visit their Mexican BBQ food truck while you’re here, and enjoy a complimentary cerveza included with your ticket to this Father’s Day weekend concert.
Special Event ticket required; Non-Members $40/Member $30.
Shopping & Dining
Visit Shop in the Garden and delight in a fiesta of vibrant Mexican colors, with authentic Talavera pottery, tin retablos, Kahlo-inspired shirts, totes, sketchbooks, and more! Visit The Pine Tree Café for Mexican flatbreads, crisp and spicy salads, sweet aguas frescas, and other specialty snacks inspired by the artist’s own recipes.
Evening Lectures
Frida Kahlo: Art & Life Wednesday, May 20, 6:30PM – 7:30PM
Celebrated scholar and author Hayden Herrera interweaves Frida Kahlo’s work and life, highlighting her childhood, the accident that turned her to painting, her tempestuous marriage to muralist Diego Rivera, and her passionate love for her native Mexico.
Non-Member $25/Member $19
Frida Kahlo Today: Her Influence on Contemporary Art Wednesday, June 3; 6:30PM – 7:30PM
Art historian and NYU Professor Edward J. Sullivan examines notable artists across the Americas, revealing Kahlo’s impact on their highly personal explorations of art, national heritage, and identity.
Fret not folks, there’s much more to come as this is only the Spring/Summer Calendar of events surrounding Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life at The New York Botanical Gardens. Stay tuned with us as we bring you the details for their Fall programming!
Some of highlights for the fall include: Mexican Independence Day Celebration from September 19-20, Mexican Poetry Reading by Rachel Eliza Griffiths on September 19th, and Day of the Dead Weekend from October 31 – November 1.
Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life is made possible by the following sponsors:
One of the paintings on display by Nicer / Courtesy of Wallworks
Join Wallworks New York tomorrow, Saturday and February 28th from 5pm to 8pm for ‘Naughty but Nicer‘, a solo exhibition of graffiti legend and founding member of Tats Cru, Nicer.
The work in this exhibition is inspired by the famous pin-up girls who’s popularity picked up steam in the locker rooms of many soldiers during World War II — although their history reaches back as far as the late 1800s.
Mural for WallWorks NY on Alexander Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard by Tats Cru legends Bio and Nicer. The wall is scheduled to change several times a year.
And for those who have visited Wallworks, you have already seen a collaborative piece between another graffiti artist legend, Bio and Nicer, who’s mural graces the outside of the gallery depicting a pin-up girl draped in a Puerto Rican flag dress. (I unofficially dubbed her ‘Nuestra Señora De Pol Mori’, a play on the area’s name of Port Morris.)
One of the paintings on display by Nicer / Courtesy of Wallworks
Nicer, born Hector Nazario in the South Bronx, ran the streets as a teen and left his mark in the art world and eventually became a pioneer in showcasing graffiti as an art form to the rest of the world along with the other founding members of Tats Cru.
The exhibition runs from February 28th through March 25th, 2015 and gallery hours are Tuesdays through Friday from 11am to 5pm and Saturdays and Sundays by appointment.
Wallworks is located at 39 Bruckner Boulevard at the corner of Alexander Avenue and they can be reached at 917.825.9342 or via email at wallworksny@gmail.com
One of the many orchid “chandeliers” for The Orchid Show
America’s “largest curated show featuring orchids” returns to the New York Botanical Garden for its 13th year at the historic Victorian-style Enid A. Haupt Conservatory — both a New York City landmark and a National one as well as the largest of its kind in the country — all right here in our beautiful Bronx.
The Orchid Show: Chandeliersruns from February 28th – April 19th with a special sneak preview for members on Friday, February 27th from 10am – 6pm.
The exhibition , is a departure from the previous exhibitions as this time the splendor of these plants aren’t just confined to the seasonal exhibition wing of the grand greenhouse but will also flow to the other main galleries of the building.
The beautiful Enid A. Haupt Conservatory — a New York City and National Landmark
Today we had the pleasure to walk through the show as NYBG staff carefully added finishing touches and also noticed that there was a more modern twist to it with “living” chandeliers of hundreds and thousands of these exquisite, multicolored beauties.
The bright colors throughout the gallery offer a stark contrast to the white, snow-filled background outside the windows of the conservatory lending us a break from the harsh winter we’ve endured along with what seems like never ending snow. (BTW, do NOT just limit yourself to the Conservatory for the entire garden — even during the dead of winter — is alive with beauty just waiting for you to find it!)
Francisca P. Coelho, Vivian and Edward Merrin Vice President for Glasshouses and Exhibitions at NYBG is the show’s designer. Coelho has been at NYBG for three decades now and graduated from Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture.
What’s truly fascinating about Chandeliers is that not only will your visual and olfactory senses be delighted but your thirst for knowledge and creative juices will be well sated as the exhibition, “will explain the extraordinary history and conservation stories of rare and endangered orchids in rain forests of the world, while also offering visitors ideas on how to display their own orchids in creative ways, teaching them how these awe-inspiring chandelier creations are made.”
The New York Botanical Garden in The Bronx is home to over 6,000 orchids of which 2,261 are different types and is considered one of the largest collections of its kind in the world.
And the best part of Chandeliers? It doesn’t simply end with just the exhibition but there is a wide range of programming surrounding the exhibition such as the following (courtesy of NYBG’s Calendar of Events Spring/Summer 2015):
Orchid Care Demonstrations Saturdays and Sundas 2 & 3PM
Join Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardner for Public Education, as she discusses the basics of orchid care and how to choose and successfully grow these exotic plants.
Ballroom Dance Performances Saturdays and Sundays, plus Monday, April 6; 1 & 3PM
Dancers from Ballet Hispanico’s BHdos troup lead audiences through dances such as the waltz, tango, mambo, and cha-cha—each one gorgeously costumed and choreographed. A guided instruction gives you insights on how to master the moves yourself.
Poetry for Every Season Co-presented with the Poetry Society of America
Poetry Walk Deborah Landau, Director of the Creative Writing Department at New York University, curates a collection of verses in the gardens surrounding the Conservatory that celebrates nature and the beauty of the orchid through the work of selected poets.
Poetry Readings Saturday, March 7; 2PM
Meet Deborah Landau during an intimate reading that includes selections from her book, Orchidelirium, which won the Anhinga Prize for Poetry.
Orchid Evenings
Saturdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11, 18; and Friday April 17 6:30PM – 9PM (entry times at 6:30 & 7:30PM)
Enjoy a cocktail while viewing The Orchid Show and its thousands of spectacular flowers. The unforgettable beauty makes for one of New York City’s most romantic date destinations. While taking in the elegance of the show, stop for quick lipstick touch-ups by one of the Guerlain’s famed make-up artists, and indulge in a specialty cocktail inspired by Guerlain’s Orchidée Impériale line.
Non-members $35/Members $25 (Adults 21 and over)
Advance tickets recommended; includes one complimentary beer, wine or cocktail of your choice.
Start the night off with champagne pre-party at Shop in the Garden on select nights from 5:30 to 6:30PM
Orchid Classes
Flash Photography: The Orchid Show Wednesday, March 25; 9AM – 3PM
Learn flash photography techniques to capture the beauty of this year’s Orchid Show.
Non-member $119/Member $105
Troubleshooting for Orchids Saturday, March 28; 10AM – 1PM
This class demystifies orchid care and puts your orchids on the road to blooming again and again.
Non-members $59 / Members $49
The Incredible world of Mini and Micro-miniature Orchids Saturday, April 11; 10AM – 1PM
Pick up tips and learn to care for these mini marvels
The Orchid Show: Chandeliers is made possible by Founding Sponser, The Tiffany & Co Foundation, Major Sponsors, Mr and Mrs Charles M. Royce, and Sponsors Karen Katen Foundation and Guerlain.
Located at 2900 Southern Boulevard in The Bronx, The New York Botanical Garden is easily accessible by subway, Metro North, buses, and car. Make sure to visit their website at nybg.org for more information or feel free to call 718-817-8700.
Baron Ambrosia at Bronx Fashion Week with his beautiful wife.
Last September was the successful launch of our borough’s first ever Bronx Fashion Week which was held at the Andrew Freedman Home.
On the first night of the event, several Bronx men who were nominated for Bronx Fashion Week’s Distinguished Gentleman Award came on the runway to strut their stuff as they wore their finest threads. Amongst the cast who ran the catwalk were Baron Ambrosia, New York City Councilman Andy King, and Lenny Caro, president of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.
So who won?
The incomparable Baron Ambrosia
After careful consideration and much debate, we decided upon Baron Ambrosia for not only being the epitome of style but also all the work he has done so selflessly to promote and highlight our beautiful borough in a positive way.
For so many years, Baron Ambrosia has been representing and spotlighting the underdogs of our epicurean treasures scattered throughout the four corners of The Bronx as our Culinary Ambassador — most of whom are from the four corners of the globe as well.
It was a difficult decision between Baron Ambrosia and Councilman Andy King (who showed up wearing a beautiful suit in our borough’s colors — something I was going to do but glad I didn’t and he pulled it off so well I might add) but ultimately it went to the Emmy winning Baron.
Councilman Andy King showing off his Bronx pride with our borough’s colors as part of his outfit poses with Baron Ambrosia.
As our host for the 3rd and final evening of Bronx Fashion Week, he opened up the show by talking about his passion for fashion but what struck me the most was what he told us:
“Fashion isn’t what a magazine or an ad dictates to you. Fashion is what you want it to be. Be unique and follow the beat of your own drums and don’t be afraid to show of your own sense of style.”
It was those words that led us to ultimately decide that Baron Ambrosia truly was Bronx Fashion Week’s Distinguished Gentleman of the Year for 2014 (along with his obvious sense and own brand of style). It represents many aspects of Bronx Fashion Week and about self-expression which we hope to continue to showcase and represent this year and beyond as we continue making this event bigger and better each year.
Emmy winning Baron Ambrosia, Bronx Fashion Week’s Distinguished Gentleman of the Year for 2014 / Image Courtesy The Cooking Channel
Location of York Studios property in Soundview which was purchased by the company in October of 2012 for $7.2 million in a foreclosure.
Before Hollywood became the epicenter of America’s nascent film industry, New York City played a major role with the world’s first commercial motion picture exhibition right here in our city in 1894. Many studios sprang up around the city including two in The Bronx: First Edison Studios in Tremont just north of Crotona Park (which opened in 1907 and eventually closed its doors in 1918) and Biograph Studios which ran from 1912 in Bedford Park until the 1970s (in 1956, after being closed for several years, it reopened as America’s largest film studio outside of Hollywood).
Now, York Studios is set to bring Film & Television back to The Bronx with the construction of 3 buildings totaling about 300,000 square feet on a 10 acre lot in Soundview along The Bronx River which was purchased by the company for $7.2 million in October of 2012 (the property is actually an assemblage of 3 separate, adjacent lots).
The company currently operates out of a 40,000 square foot facility in Queens where the hit television series ‘Elementary’ is filmed. The studio also has under its belt the ‘The Amazing Spider Man 2’ among its credentials.
York Studios proposed site along the Bronx River in Soundview.
Edwin Pagán, filmmaker and former board member of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) said, “Film production has deep historical roots in the Bronx and the concept of a major film studio being built in the borough is a very intriguing proposition, and could, potentially, become a catalyst for long-term economic revitalization in the region.”
As like many others who have been talking about York Studios settings shop in our borough, Pagán raises the important issue of how such a project can really impact our youth and community. He says:
“The creative medium of film, with its varied disciplines and vocations, would provide an excellent opportunity for apprenticeship programs for the local community, especially youth and the many filmmakers who call the Bronx home. It would be great to see the studio create “shadow” training initiatives where young people are linked with mentors and receive hands-on production experience in set-building, lighting, makeup, wardrobe and other production crew responsibilities, with the ultimate goal of having them become part of the related unions and can build careers in the industry. We hope the investors have this kind of vision purpose-built into their overall long-term plans.”
We know how our borough is full of talent and the arts in all disciplines and not least of all the television and film industry with Woody Allen, Alan Alda, the late Lauren Bacall, George A Romero, Penny Marshall, Tracy Morgan, Regis Philbin, Sonia Manzano, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Lopez, Stanley Kubrick, and so many others either born here, raised here, or both.
The site, although a long walk from the nearest subway station at Elder Avenue on the 6 line, is just minutes from the Bruckner Expressway.
Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and be completed by Summer 2016. Currently, no files have been submitted to the department of buildings as per their website.
“NASCAR announced today that long-time official Kim Lopez will be the chief starter for Sunday’s 57th running of the Daytona 500. She will become the first woman and first Hispanic to flag the Great American Race, which begins at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, live on FOX, Motor Racing Network Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Lopez, 33, is in her 11th season with NASCAR and has flagged races for the past seven years in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. She also flagged two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races last year, but couldn’t attend the Daytona 500 following the birth of her daughter just three weeks before the race.
“I think this is awesome,” said Lopez, a native of Bronx, New York. “You have little girls who can now look up and say ‘I can do this someday, I can be this someday. If I put my mind to it and work hard, I can make it happen.'”
The chief starter plays an essential role during the race, displaying the eight flags that tell the best drivers in the world to start, slow down, move over or stop. It’s a role that Lopez won’t take for granted on Sunday when the field maneuvers beneath her at speeds of more than 200 mph.
Lopez also will have the honor of waving the checkered flag when the winner crosses the finish line and etches his or her name in NASCAR history.
“Kim will serve as chief starter, because she’s among the best in the world at what she does,” said Chad Little, NASCAR managing director, Technical Inspection and Officiating. “She has pursued her dreams in uncharted territory and we’re excited to see her dreams come true when she flags the Daytona 500.”
Not bad for yet another Bronxite making strides and reaching for the top. We are so proud of you, Kim!!
The people of The Bronx truly are our greatest resource.
The United Auto Merchant Association is holding a volunteer orientation meeting tomorrow, Saturday February 21st, at 12PM in order to mobilize auto merchants in the proposed Jerome Avenue Study / Rezoning Area.
Auto merchants represent the single largest industry who will be impacted by any rezoning in the area and the UAMA is making sure that their voices, as stakeholders in the community, are heard.
If you’re interested in volunteer in this effort, or have any questions, please call 631-380-8262 or email Manuel Rodriguez at mannyz75@gmail.comand they will be able to assist you further.
