Southern Boulevard @ Intervale Avenue.
“Saggers” Beware
You’ve all seen it… teenage and grown-ass (pun intended) men walking around with their pants hanging just below their ass for all the world to see.
Frankly, I think it’s rather disgusting but kids will be kids. Anyway, while walking around Melrose, I saw this sign and did a double take. Seems like someone has created their own Department of Social Correction and put out their own public service announcement on the issue.
What do you think?
Bronx rapper Mele Mel launches fitness show on local TV: ‘The average American is fat and lazy!’
(Image: Joe Conzo/Daily News)
What better way to engage obese Bronxites in a healthier lifestyle than a show by one of our very own?
Mele Mel is launching a fitness show that will be produced by BronxNet and will be aired on local cable access networks in Brooklyn and Manhattan. No word on if and when they will be aired in Queens or Staten Island but the Daily News reports that negotiations are underway in Queens.
Now if only they would do a show at PeaceLove Café on healthy eating?
Bronx Students Learn Healthy Eating, One Tray At A Time
(Image: Angel Franco/New York Times)
Great piece about a local school and their efforts to change the eating habits of over 400 kids.
As we all know, most of our neighborhoods are flooded with fast food joints at every turn not leaving room to resist their temptation. The Family Life Academy Charter School, a break from the standard toxic garbage which most schools feed their kids, is teaching kids how to eat healthy one lunch tray at a time.
Probably one of the best things I read in this article is the astonishing weight loss that the TEACHERS are benefiting from.
Read more:
Melrose Construction Boom Continues, This Time As Commercial Expansion
The Real Deal reports that the EDC has tapped Triangle Equities to purchase and develop two lots both totalling more than 100,000 square feet.
The lots, currently being utilized as eyesores of parking lots are bounded to the north by Westchester Avenue, West by Bergen Avenue, South by East 149th Street and East by Brook Avenue. Plans call for the parcels call for an 8,000 square foot plaza, a supermarket, office space, a school and restaurants.
This is perhaps only the beginning in the continuing growth of Melrose since the neighborhood is the epicenter of an influx of 40,000 new residents making it, along with neighboring Morrisania and Mott Haven the fastest growing neighborhood in the Bronx and 3rd fastest citywide.
This tremendous growth is still continuing as there thousands of apartments yet to be completed or even built and with thousands of more people, Melrose will need to expand its commercial offerings to live up to its nickname as Downtown Bronx.
Hail Lechón, Full Of Grease
Even as loads of new faces from Latin America make the Bronx their home, Puerto Ricans are still the vast majority in El Condado de la Salsa.
With that large majority comes a great gastronomic plethora of restaurants catering to the cuisine of Borinquen and today, David Gonzalez of the New York Times takes us on a pilgrimage to one such restaurant.
After reading his account of this joint in our awesome borough, I was salivating on cue just like Pavlov’s dog.
NYTimes: A Temple to Roasted Pork, Puerto Rican-Style http://nyti.ms/e2iJGm
Down With ‘SoBro’
Originally posted on Welcome2Melrose.com
Realtors…we love and hate you in New York City oh so much however, nothing pisses me off more than your inane, fabricated names for our neighborhoods.
We have beautiful, historic names such as Port Morris, Melrose, and Mott Haven. Why would you want to erase these names and lump us under the SoBro moniker?
It was cute for SoHo and TriBeCa in Manhattan but not so much for our neighborhoods in the Bronx. Hunts Point, Longwood and Morrisania —all names which were once attached to the old towns, villages and hamlets that made up the Bronx —that’s where we’re from.
You can change our names but you will never change the past. Where were the realtors when the Bronx “was burning”? Oh yeah… along with the rest of the government officials, business owners and landlords who chickened out and gave up on us.
Do us a favor and stop with your stupid acronyms, as they are an affront to we the people who stayed here when we were abandoned, and do your JOB. Research the rich history and tapestry that is the cultural fabric of each neighborhood, good and bad. Tell the story of the neighborhoods coming out of the ashes and how resilient we are but don’t sell us out by changing our names.
Collectively, our neighborhoods are called the South Bronx and anyone who lives here will proudly exclaim it as the South BRONX but SoBro? That vile name will never roll off the tongues of the natives.
That being said, go back to the drawing board, erase SoBro from your mind and come back to us with the RESPECT we have EARNED. That bullshit may work in Manhattan but I’ll be damned if it will stick in our borough. Tell your clients, our prospective neighbors, that they will be living in the SOUTH BRONX. The changing of the name does not change the past or present.
NYTimes: ‘SoBro’ and ‘ProCro’ NoJoke to Assemblyman http://nyti.ms/eAmMyS
NYTimes: Victor Toro, Tortured in Chile, Fights Deportation
A must read on one of our own heroes. Victor Toro has dedicated the past three decades of his life living in Mott Haven as a champion of the poor and disenfranchised.
Kudos to David González for writing a great piece and photographer Michael Kamber for capturing Victor Toro’s essence.
NYTimes: Victor Toro, Tortured in Chile, Fights Deportation http://nyti.ms/huohzT
Write Flow’s First Public Reading of Works In Progress at Coqui Mexicano
Come join us for this wonderful experience at Coqui Mexicano tomorrow. More information about Write Flow coming soon!
This Saturday, April 16 at 3 pm
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=184288351617761
a Public Reading of WORKS IN PROGRESS by
Write Flow
~ a creative writing workshop for women of color ~
Women in the workshop will read a selection of their writing.
Writing exercises (prompts) will be woven into the afternoon with the opportunity for audience members to share their creations.
Bring your pens, journals, instruments, voices, bodies and all positive energy…we are truly going to create a rhythm all our own, unique to the moment!
And YES, if you play an instrument don’t be shy. We want you to jam w us!
There are congas at Coqui Mexicano – you know what’s up! 😉 (ya tu sabes!)
Coqui Mexicano has an awesome menu. Bring your appetites! Diego is sure to delight your palate!
Bring your own wine or beer if you wish!
(If you have a folding chair, you might want to bring that too. We expect the place to be full!)
COQUI MEXCIANO is at 871 Third Avenue at Brook Avenue in the Bronx.
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Write Flow’s Upcoming Workshops
The first session was an AWESOME SUCCESS and we are on to session TWO
Saturdays April 23 – May 28 ::: 11a-1:30p
(no workshop May 21)
Thursdays April 28- May 26 ::: 11:15a-1:45p
for more information
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=148437181879652&ref=ts
http://www.idealist.org/view/program/D6cgJD6f8BfP/
WriteFlowNYC@gmail.com
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PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION.
thank you.
Bronx Children’s Museum Debuting – On Wheels
The Bronx’ first children’s museum, to be housed in the Old Powerhouse Station in Mill Pond Park, is going to start touring the Bronx.
This is a great way to get the buzz going on this endeavor and engaging the community as the bus goes from neighborhood to neighborhood on monthly tours.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2011/04/14/2011-04-14_museum_puts_wheels_on_the_bus.html
(Bus Image courtesy of the NY Daily News; Old Powerhouse image courtesy of Welcome2Melrose)
BREAKING NEWS! NYTimes: Black Is Out as New York City Schools Chancellor
NYTimes: Black Is Out as New York City Schools Chancellor http://nyti.ms/eWFDLO
Census Data Shows Melrose Is One Fastest Growing Neighborhoods
With the release of recent census data, Melrose has officially become one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in New York City.
Construction of thousands of rental units in dozens of buildings as well as hundreds of 2-3 family townhouses contributed to the over 27% meteoric rise in population.
In data released by the city, Melrose placed 3rd at 27.1% growth with Battery Park City in Manhattan at first place with a 97.6% increase followed by Tottenville on Staten Island with 27.1% increase.
Melrose is no longer a neighborhood where people flee but has become a destination, a community where people WANT to live. Michael Kamber, a recent homeowner and transplant to Melrose and currently working as a contract journalist for The New York Times used to live, “…on Willis Avenue for six years but left in 1991 for Brooklyn.” He goes on to say that he, “…always missed the Bronx; Brooklyn never felt like home to me. I missed the Bronx’s open skies, friendly attitudes and a certain particular Bronx culture that’s hard to explain, but residents know what I mean. There’s just something about the place that stays with you.” Kamber also goes on to say that, “The change I have seen in Melrose has been phenomenal. I lived on Willis Avenue in the 1980′s and used to photograph in Melrose regularly. All the cliches apply: much of it was abandoned or empty. Burned cars littered the streets. Today it’s obviously a thriving and growing neighborhood. My neighbors say hello and have been very welcoming and the stores are open late. The Hub and 149th street are jammed with shoppers. The neighborhood is on the rise.”
Then there’s Darada David, owner of PeaceLove Cafe on Melrose Avenue and East 151st Street. Darada was raised in nearby Mott Haven at the Betances Housing Projects says that the population increase is due to the fact that it’s, “the last frontier in NYC where there are areas open for development…” and it’s transporation network (sic) of east and west side trains, metro north, buses and bridges…”makes Melrose easily accessible. Darada hopes that the HUB area of Melrose, “finally becomes the beautiful village that it should be.”
Danisha Nazario, local business owner of Coqui Mexicano as well as a homeowner in Melrose remembers when, “…ten years ago…you could walk 5 or 6 blocks straight and only see vacant lots or abandoned buildings.” She looks forward to a future Melrose with, “…a wider variety of restaurants like Japanese, Lebanese, Thai and Korean.”
Congratulations to the neighborhood that could. For decades, Melrose was synonymous with urban decay and now it is known for one of the best examples of urban renewal. Let’s not forget that we are the greenest neighborhood in the entire State of New York!
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