Carmine Zeppieri Jr. prepares a cake at Zeppieri & Sons Bakery, where three generations of the Zeppieri family have worked for more than half a century / Edwin J. Torres for The New York Times
From The New York Times:
Anyone seeking a large body of water in Pelham Bay would be quickly frustrated: The neighborhood’s namesake no longer exists. Instead, you would find a tidy community with rows of two-story brick homes bearing awnings and grillwork fences immediately adjacent to the city’s largest park.
That’s not to say that water is very far away. Pelham Bay Park has 13 miles of coast hugging Long Island Sound, and residents often consider the prestigious waterfront communities of Country Club and Spencer Estates to the east, and Throgs Neck to the south, to be part of Pelham Bay.
But Pelham Bay proper is a working- and middle-class community of about 23,000 residents, roughly a square mile framed by the Bruckner Expressway and the Hutchinson River Parkway.
HuffPost Travel published an article today from SmarterTravel where a Bronx tour had the distinct honor of being selected — in a positive light!
In the post, SmarterTravel says:
“See a completely different side of a city when you break away from the mob of tourists following the guide with the red umbrella. On these 10 unique city tours, you’ll venture into the Bronx with an old-school rapper, see abandoned buildings in Portugal’s second city, and go longboarding through Amsterdam’s most famous park. You’re sure to come home with a camera full of authentic experiences that most visitors miss.
Hip-Hop Tour, New York, New York
With a legendary hip-hop artist as your guide, Hush Tours will give you a truly entertaining experience in the Bronx and Harlem, the birthplace of the culture. Here, people on the street might recognize and give shout-outs to the Hush Tours guides—Grandmaster Caz, Kurtis Blow, and others—as they delve into four aspects of hip-hop culture: DJing, MCing, B-boy and B-girl dancing, and graffiti artistry. You’ll see the important landmarks and check out where Biggie, Nas, and Jay-Z grew up on this fun tour.
Details: Tours range from two hours ($32) to four hours ($75).
Insider Tip: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. At one point on the tour, you’ll learn hip-hop moves and try them out on the streets.”
April is National Poetry Month and to that end, we’d like to share some words from a Bronx Poet who’s has graced the stages of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, El Museo del Barrio, and the Bronx Museum (among many others) when he’s not walking the halls of justice at Bronx Family Court as an Officer (you can catch him this Thursday, April 24th at the Andrew Freedman Home).
Peach, as he’s known both on and off the stage by his friends and fans alike recently published, ‘Rooftop Reflections Lessons Learned from the Outside Looking In‘ where you’re told to, “Let him take you by the hand as he shows how he navigates life, love, maturity, ethnic identity and cultural awareness while growing up in New York City. It may not always be pretty, but its real and it made him the man that he is today. A true soul searching poetic insight of how one young boy found his voice while trying to grow up and how one officer found order in the midst of chaos. A must read for anyone ever curious about the urban dichotomous conflict, that pits boy against man, good versus evil and the past against the future.”
This is his Bronx Story:
My Bronx Story
Welcome to my Bronx story
it’s a tale of temptation
from 138th Street to the Grand Concourse
consider this your initiation
from las calles of Kingsbridge to Tremont Ave
and a Fordham Road paved with gold
from Prospect Ave to Gun Hill Road
many a person needs to hear this toldso how do you get that second chance
when you were not worthy of the first
and unteach all the laws of the street
that were instilled in you since birth?
even birds with broken wings
learn how to fly again
the true fear is not in the result
but in the failure or lack of trying
sins carried upon my back
built upon fallacies and lying
scars written all over my face
are but remnants of my crying
from harsh realities of killers with smiles
that’s why the good are always dying
because it’s easy to get hit in the heart
if they stab you in ya back
it’s not ‘cause you loved too hard
it’s from the courage that they lack
perp walks are drawn
from outlines of chalk
and even after the rain
the blood still remains
and now begins the tough talk
blood lust frenzy
occupies the men that we be
straight scripture talk
begins at the table
an eye for an eye
just like Cain and Abel
but if just for a second
we can break this tribal hold
that’s been foretold
for far too many a season
and think back in time
to the first days of rhyme
where love was the only reason
because an NYSID number
is nothing more
than a barcode in
the bodega of life
your strength in the yard
matters not
to your unborn child
and your wife
so if you didn’t retaliate
does it really make you a phony?
because all the letters your lady writes you
ain’t gonna fill your commissary homie
I wish for this poem to be heard
by every juvie going thru
Spofford’s door
from every courtroom
in the halls of justice
to every tier on C-74
cause you back on the block
slinging that rock
got that Charlie Sheen
and you think you winning
never took a second look
at that first impression
but you can start right now
and make that brand new beginning
because karma may not come on time
but she will never be late
Atlas held the world on his shoulders
do you think
he thought about his worth
while he was preoccupied
by its weight?
when you dance with the devil
between good and evil
at times the line is drawn paper thin
but karma recognizes
neither conscience nor fate
and sometimes
you can’t outrun sin.
Make sure you grab your copy and support local Bronx artists!
On November 8, 2013, New York City’s Department of Buildings issued an emergency demolition order for the landmarked ‘Castle on the Concourse’ aka PS 31. They cited it as a public safety issue and were concerned that it wouldn’t survive another Sandy-like weather event.
It is something that truly makes you scratch your head because we were told by the DOB that the building is in danger of collapsing and couldn’t be salvaged yet engineering reports from SoBro stated the contrary. Their engineers stated, that although in poor condition, it could still be salvaged.
For almost 20 years, various city administrations, including several Bronx Borough Presidents, left this beloved and precious landmark to rot. It was not until Welcome2TheBronx started a petition last year to help save the landmark building, that our Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr finally addressed the situation stating in the State of the Borough address earlier this year that:
“It is an absolute disgrace that the City allowed P.S. 31, one of the most iconic school buildings in our city and my own alma mater, to fall into such disrepair that it is scheduled to be torn down,” said Borough President Diaz. “With that said, it is time for innovation. The city must issue a new RFP for the P.S. 31 site. This RFP should examine whether or not the building can be saved, and should also explore a wide variety of uses for the site in order to stimulate street life and blend in with the neighborhood.”
It must be noted that Diaz Jr also did absolutely NOTHING to help save the school until we made it an issue and took it straight to the Landmarks Preservation Commission meeting in December delivering over 500 signatures on a petition pleading to save the school. The petition was, of course, addressed to the Borough President along with other elected officials and departments and due to all the media attention we were able to provide the necessary pressure for the issue to finally be addressed.
PS 31 sits in the middle of the Lower Concourse Rezoning District and just a couple of blocks away from the Special Harlem River Waterfront District. To a developer, the property is most likely worth more demolished as more hype continues to be built around the neighborhood. But to the community in which it stands, it’s a part of our history that needs to be preserved and can be used as an important cultural space, adding to the many already in the neighborhood.
Below is a series of photographs by Edwin J. Torres who took a tour of the buildingand was kind enough to share his images with us (exterior shots by Welcome2TheBronx). For those who attended and loved this school, as much as the written testimonies have shown, this may be a rather emotional journey. If it makes you angry and frustrated at the city for allowing such a disgraceful thing to happen to a beloved, landmark building, then turn that anger and frustration into action by signing and sharing the petition and demanding something be done. The Bronx deserves and demands better treatment. We know that no where else in the city would this be acceptable.
Deputy Inspector Christopher McCormack, who was at the center of controversy on the Stop & Frisk practices of the NYPD has been reassigned to the 46th precinct, Welcome2TheBronx has learned.
McCormack made headlines when we was caught on tape saying, “I have no problem telling you this,” the inspector said on the tape. “Male blacks. And I told you at roll call, and I have no problem [to] tell you this, male blacks 14 to 21.” by officer Serrano who secretly recorded the conversation.
Under McCormack, the 40th Precinct saw the highest rates of stop and frisk in the Bronx and in the top 5 precincts in New York City during 2012. The 46th precinct saw was 4th on a list of the top 5 precincts where blacks and latinos made the majority of such stops.
Replacing McCormack is Deputy Inspector Lorenzo Johnson who commanded the 49th precinct in the Bronx, for less than 2 years, which covered the neighborhoods of Morris Park, Van Nest and Allerton.
According the email obtained by Welcome2TheBronx:
“Deputy Inspector Johnson was appointed to the New York City Police Department in January 1988, and began his career on patrol in the 25th Precinct. He was promoted to Detective Third Grade in December 1994; Sergeant in December 1995; Lieutenant in February 1999; Captain in June 2005; and Deputy Inspector in July 2013. Deputy Inspector Johnson has served in the 30, 19 and 49 Precincts; as well as PSA 7, Internal Affairs Bureau, Patrol Borough Manhattan North, Narcotics Bureau Manhattan, Narcotics Bureau Bronx, Vice Enforcement Division Bronx, and Gang Division Bronx.
Deputy Inspector Lorenzo Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from The State University of New York Empire State College.
Community policing is a core component of the NYPD’s methodology and you can be sure that Deputy Inspector Johnson will work diligently to build on the efforts of his predecessor.”
For those of us in the 40th Precinct, we sure hope that perhaps this change will bring about necessary changes in our community when it comes to policing. If indeed as they say in the email that, “Community policing is a core component of the NYPD’s methodology, we hope that the practice of stop and frisk continues to drop in our neighborhoods and relations between residents and the police improve.
The Bronx is Poetry! That is why I am beyond excited to announce an Open Mic and Chapter book release on April 24th , that will be held in the Bronx at the historical Andrew Freedman home located at 1125 Grand Concourse (Corner of McClellan street) from 7-10pm. Free admittance, $5.00 suggested donation.
This event is being presented by The Sunday Writing Circle, a group of talented writers and poets who meet every Sunday to work on their craft. There is a special feeling when a group of people get together to support and encourage one another. Through shared unearthed memories, tears, laughter,compassion, spirituality, forgiveness, love ( insert more awesome feelings here) poetry has been birthed.
Lets go share some of that goodness!
Support and bring more poetry to the Bronx!
Simply being nominated for the prestigious award is a huge honor and to have a Bronxite in the mix is something we can all be proud of.
‘Stone Cars‘ is a coming of age love story set in the shacks of Khayelitsha township in West Cape, South Africa, one of the most dangerous areas in the world. April is faced with a decision that ultimately she will have to live with the rest of her life.
If his name sounds familiar, it should. Reinaldo Marcus Green is Rashaad Ernesto Green’s brother, director of the award winning film, ‘Gun Hill Road‘ which is currently available on Netflix and we at Welcome2TheBronx reviewed when it screened in our borough.
In an interview with Ron Simons, founder and president of SimonSays Entertainment (not to mention a two-time Tony winning producer and actor) and executive producer of ‘Gun Hill Road’ he told Welcome2TheBronx, “This could be a game changer for Reinaldo. The exposure for a man who is barely out of film school is tremendous. It should help him get his first feature made. Other festivals around the world will begin to follow him and his work.”
Simons, who’s latest production Good Bread Alley was just featured yesterday on Welcome2theBronx, also added that, “Reinaldo is not only a great artist but a good soul. The Bronx did good in cultivating this talented, dynamic duo…I’ll continue to pronounce, as I have for a few years, that the Green Brothers team is destined to change the film world, so you’d be advised to pay attention!”
Stay tuned next week as we provide you with an exclusive interview with Reinaldo Marcus Green.
Once again, a huge congratulations is in order for Reinaldo and we wish him nothing but the best of luck come May 22nd when the Cinéfondation will award its 3 prizes in the short film category.
Ok so the setting isn’t quite the Bronx but rather in tropical Miami, however, I thought this was a good Kickstarter campaign to promote especially since its executive producer, Ron Simons, produced the award winning ‘Gun Hill Road‘ which was written by Bronxite, Rashaad Ernesto Green.
Besides that, it’s a story that many of our readers can relate to, regardless of which corner of the globe you hail from.
Good Bread Alley is the second play in April Yvette Thompson’s Miami trilogy of plays – the first being the critically acclaimed New York Theatre Workshop production Liberty City (www.libertycityplay.com) about the end of the Black power movement in Miami focusing on the journey of a movement family.
Not quite a musical but rather, a play with a whole lot of music, dance, Orisha myth & magical realism, Good Bread Alley is August Wilsonian epic meets Like Water for Chocolate. A period play in the tradition of Lynn Nottage’s heroine-led stories, Good Bread Alley is a story about how families are made and the power of love. Afro-Cuban and Gullah music, dance and myth create an epic landscape that explores the most fundamental truths about a mother’s love and the struggle to become better than what was promised.
Inspired by my great-grandmother Celia’s life in a raucous Miami neighborhood named Good Bread Alley, the play takes place days before the1926 Great Hurricane. When Miami was little more than a swamp with shanty houses, Celia owned property, ran several businesses, buried three husbands and was on the verge of learning life’s most important lessons. She was a trailblazer, an autodidact and the town’s rainmaker building an oasis in the Jim Crow South.
WHAT’S THE DEAL?
We’re raising funds for a sequence of developmental workshops for Good Bread Alley over the next year! The goal of these workshops will be to add Afro-Cuban and Gullahmusic and dance – two essential elements without which Good Bread Alley cannot be told. There are places where each tradition has songs, dance and poetry that teach the great lessons that the characters have forgotten.
April is joining forces with Cuban Composer/Percussionist Enildo Rasua and Musical Director Justin Ellington who are co-composing the score of Good Bread Alley which explores both the Afro Cuban and Gullah traditional music and dance forms that have been passed down to April from her family. From traditional Rumba to Guaguanco to Ring Shouts, work songs and spirituals; these two West African-based traditions have grown richer like a thick gumbo passed through the sieve of slavery, Spanish occupation, Cuban revolution, Jim Crow and Reconstruction to create a new recipe for what it means to be African, Cuban and American.
During our upcoming workshop with New York Theatre Workshop, we’ll be adding theses major elements and streamlining the text to allow the music and dance to tell the story.
Emilio Guerra, Vice-President of Digital Content at Newsday, photographed every single Bronx landmark and the results are stunning.
According to Guerra on his Flickr profile:
“As you can see, my photographic obsessions over the years have taken many shapes, but since I moved to New York City in May of 2007, it has become New York City Landmarks.
I usually don’t include live people in my shots, but when I do I put them in a private area.My passion has been to walk around New York City, and most weekends you can find me on the streets of Manhattan or the far-flung boroughs, with my camera and backpack in tow.
Since August of 2008, I’ve walked 3,207 miles (5165 kms) around New York City, mostly by myself. I’ve also taken over 50,000 photos in that timespan.”
One of the things I love about living in Melrose, besides its convenient location to Manhattan as well as a small town feel in what is considered the borough’s downtown area, is the plethora of community gardens.
Although we don’t have much as far as parks go in Melrose proper (that’s another story that we’ll expand upon shortly), we have approximately a whopping 17 community gardens (by my count at least, could be more).
Each garden in the neighborhood has its own vibe and feel but most of all they’re open to the public and the folks are friendly and welcoming. All gardens have boxes which you can grow your own greens and veggies. Many have the traditional wooden ‘casitas‘ or little houses constructed of wood which are replicas of the shacks that once dotted Puerto Rico in decades past as the standard home of folks on the island.
Check out more images on our flickr page or head over to our Facebook page or group!
Actually in this case it’s Bronx Pets of the Day. I met these three beautiful Siberian Huskies walking around Melrose yesterday and of course, being a proud owner of a Siberian Husky myself (or does she own me?), I had to take a picture.
