The festival returns after last year’s successful run at the Bronx Documentary Center as NYC’s first and only Latin American photography festival of its kind.
Local residents stop to look at photos of this year’s Latin American Foto Festival on display along Courtlandt Avenue
Curated by Michael Kamber and Cynthia Rivera, this year’s festival focuses on the works of 10 photographers hailing from throughout the Caribbean and Latin America and takes a look at various aspects of life throughout the region from violence due to political upheavals in Venezuela to portraits of Mestiza women of Mexico and the cultural roots of Afro-Ecuadorian communities.
Citlali Fabian’s portraits of Mestiza women of Mexico on display outside Immaculate Conception School along E 151st Street.
“Oaxaca is a visually rich place full of culture and folklore and many photographers come year after year to take photos of celebrations like the Day of the Dead,” Ms. Fabián said. “I think the main difference is they just came to take photos like a hunter — to just catch whatever crosses their lenses. I honestly find it rude.”
Her powerful photos, made on glass with the 19th-century ambrotype process, are on display at the Bronx Documentary Center’s second annual Latin American Foto Festival, from July 11 to 21. Some of the exhibits will be on the Melrose neighborhood streets where Spanish is often spoken by immigrants and their children, said Cynthia Rivera, who curated the festival with Michael Kamber, the founder of the Center.
“Our neighborhood is predominantly people from all different parts of Latin America,” Ms. Rivera said, “and we are bringing photographers and photographs from these countries so people can easily see work from the places they are from, and those from outside the community can understand these stories.”
Opening reception is tonight, July 11th from 7PM-9PM and the show runs through July 21st.
Gallery hours are as follows:
GALLERY HOURS THUR, JULY 11th, 7-9PM FRI, JULY 12th, 4-8PM SAT, JULY 13th, 1-5PM SUN, JULY 14th, 1-5PM WED, JULY 17th, 4-8PM THUR, JULY 18th, 4-8PM FRI, JULY 19th, 4-8PM SAT, JULY 20th, 1-5PM SUN, JULY 21st, 1-5PM
It’s barely been a year since ferry service began at Soundview but now the city of Glen Cove in Long Island is proposing ferry service to The Bronx as part of a pilot program that would start as soon as next month if approved.
According to Newday, the service would run between the Soundview Ferry landing at Clason Point in The Bronx and Glen Cove in Nassau County starting August 25th through December 10th to see determine any interest before launching a full two-year pilot service.
This would give Long Island commuters the option to switch to the Manhattan-bound ferry which stops at 90th Street, 34th Street, and Wall Street.
The trip between The Bronx and Glen Cove would take roughly 30-40 minutes and a round-trip ticket would run $25 bucks.
These are just preliminary details until the entire program is solidified.
If there is little to no ridership between the two communities, then Glen Cove will focus on bringing commuters straight to Manhattan and nix The Bronx.
We’re looking forward to direct access to Long Island and bypassing Queens so you better believe we’re gonna take advantage of this!
Melrose is getting its second Starbucks, this time at The Hub on 149th Street and 3rd Avenue.
After several months of negotiations, the coffee giant has signed a lease at 383 E 149th Street just steps from the 3rd Avenue and 149th Street station on the 2 and 5 line as well as The Bronx’s busiest intersection.
The first Starbucks in Melrose opened at 161st Street in the old Melrose building across from the Bronx County Hall of Justice (technically it was the second in the area as there’s one inside Target at the Bronx Terminal Market).
All of these locations are less than a mile from each other as Starbucks begins to penetrate the market which is causing concern among residents about gentrification.
With tens of thousands of workers in the immediate area, Starbucks will have no shortage of customers.
While there are many residents who welcome yet another Starbucks and don’t see anything wrong with their presence, study after study has shown that the presence of such a store correlates to a rise in housing prices in the immediate area.
And indeed retail rents are on the rise in the area as more and more national chains move into The Hub at the Third Avenue Business Improvement District.
Last year saw the arrival of Burlington and Marshall’s at the old Alexander’s which was gut renovated. Boston Market, Planet Fitness, Blink Fitness, Cinnabon, Auntie Ann’s are also among the many national chains which have claimed space in the area boosting landlord confidence that they can charge a lot more than they have in the past.
This will undoubtedly raise cause more displacement of what’s left of mom and pop shops in the area as landlords will utilize Starbucks’ presence to validate their asking rents.
The Hub is The Bronx’s oldest shopping district and has always been home to thriving small businesses regardless of racial and socio-economic makeup of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Now even that is changing with these national chains that continue to arrive and will only speed up as thousands of more new residents move into the area, particularly at La Central with almost 1,000 affordable housing units just a block from Third Avenue.
No official word yet on the exact opening date but we’ll let you know when it’s announced.
Personally, we’ll still be supporting out local mom and pop shops like Capri Bakery for our coffee. Supporting small businesses is CRUCIAL.
Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think!
Everywhere you turn and look in The Bronx, you’re bound to stumble upon a bit of history.
Some of it is pretty common knowledge but other bits of our past may surprise you.
Many people wouldn’t think that The Bronx would have any role in America’s independence but not only does our borough indeed play one but it is much bigger than you think!
Let’s start with our nation’s first president, George Washington.
Van Cortlandt House, where President George Washington slept at least twice and also where he began his journey from into Manhattan to re-capture New York from British rule thus ending their control in America.
On October 12, 1776, the British landed in Throgg’s Neck with 4,000 troops who were later met with the resistance of 350 Americans who were able to hold them off at Pell’s Point in Pelham Bay Park. This allowed Washington and his troops to safely reach White Plains. Think about that. 350 Americans against 4,000 British troops!
But it wasn’t until 1783 that George Washington left Van Cortlandt House in The Bronx with his troops in what is considered the final act of the American Revolution which was the recapturing of New York City. Known as ‘Evacuation Day‘, November 25th, 1783 was that historic day when Washington triumphantly left The Bronx, crossed the Harlem River into Manhattan and headed down the island to New York as the last bit of British Authority fled the shores of America. It should also be noted that sadly, the British army slaughtered Native Americans fighting for American Independence, The Stockbridge Indians in present day Van Cortlandt Park where they are buried and memorialized in Indian Field.
Here are some other historical facts on our borough’s role in the founding of America:
2: Lewis Morris half-brother, Gouverneur Morris who not only was a signer of the Constitution but is also the author of large sections of this treasured document and is considered the ‘Penman of the Constitution’ and the author of its preamble:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
“As Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington ordered the construction of outer defenses throughout the Kingsbridge area. Fort Four was built under the direction of Colonel Rufus Putnam in 1777 to protect the American army and to safeguard the line of the Harlem River. The largest of all fortifications in the neighborhood, Fort Four was admirably situated, commanding a view for miles in all directions. In the fall of 1779, the fort was destroyed by the British forces led by Sir Henry Clinton.”
5: Here’s another one submitted by Bronxite Sally Dunford: “Also according to NYC Parks: “Gun Hill Meadow is named for a January 25, 1777 Revolutionary War battle that took place near this site. Gun Hill Road, then known as Kingsbridge Road, was an important east-west thoroughfare, which the British and the Americans fought fiercely to control. During the battle, the British were chasing the Patriots east towards the river. While in retreat, a group of soldiers, led by Captain Bryant of the artillery, dragged a cannon atop a nearby hill and fired upon the charging Brits. That strategic position, which then became known as “Gun Hill,” forced the Brits to retreat west to Kingsbridge, allowing the Patriots to escape.”
6: And Bronxite Nick Leshi reminded us about Glover’s Rock in Pelham Bay Park and the Battle of Pell’s Point:
According to New York City Parks Department:
Before the American Revolution, the Siwanoy Native Americans used the rock as a lookout point along their trading route.
On June 21, 1775, the British ordered Glover and his Marblehead Militia to Cambridge, but the next day he and his regiment defected to the Continental Army. General George Washington (1732-1799) organized the Continental Army on July 3, 1775, and on January 1, 1776, the Marblehead regiment became the 14th Continental Regiment, led by Colonel Glover. Colonel Glover soon commanded a brigade, and on September 13, 1776, he safeguarded the evacuation of New York City through Harlem, across the King’s Bridge, and into the Bronx and White Plains. General Howe and a British fleet had landed on Kip’s Bay, and the British Army was threatening General Washington’s position in White Plains. Glover spied the fleet off Pell’s Point, the site of present-day Rodman’s Neck.
There were four regiments in Glover’s brigade, one being his own Marblehead regiment, the other three under the command of Colonel Joseph Read (b. 1731), Colonel William Shepard (1737-1817), and Colonel Loammi Baldwin (1745-1807). On October 18, 1776, Colonel Glover separated each regiment, spreading them along Split Rock Road behind the stone walls that marked property lines. He then led 40 men in a direct attack on the British. After an exchange of fire, two Americans were killed and Glover retreated north along the path with the British in pursuit.
Soon, the British forces hit the other three Continental Regiments, and, surrounded, they retreated back to Pell’s Point. Only 12 Americans were killed, yet between 800 to 1,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded in the battle. Colonel Glover thus enabled General Washington to position and hold his forces in White Plains before moving south. Glover’s “Marbleheaders,” with their experience as sailors, were also essential in Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware River on December 25, 1776, for the Battle of Trenton. Glover was promoted to Brigadier General on February 23, 1777. While General Glover was stationed in Rhode Island, his wife died on November 13, 1778. After the war, Glover returned to Massachusetts and was elected to the state legislature in 1788 and 1789. He died in Marblehead on January 30, 1797.
Here’s one last bit and a fun fact: Lewis Morris tried to convince the newly found nation to make Morrisania the Capital of The United States in 1790…but we know how that went.
Last year at this time, Welcome2TheBronx reported that murder was on the rise by a whopping 92% in The Bronx compared to 2017 by the end of June.
Now that dark trend appears to be reversing as only 35 murders have been reported versus 54 last year at this time representing a 35% drop.
This decline in our borough is leading the city towards historic lows in homicides not seen since 1950 according to the New York Daily News which reports that that year saw 243 reported homicides.
These drops in overall crime makes The Bronx safer than such cities like Orlando and Miami in Florida, Philadelphia, and just as safe as Boston according to data analyzed using Neighborhood Scout.
Every single precinct across The Bronx reported a decrease in murders except the 45th which saw an increase of 1 murder and the 41st and 47th which held steady at last year’s reported murders.
While the media continues to sensationalize crime in The Bronx, those who live here know that things aren’t anywhere nearly as bad as it’s consistently made out to seem.
This in no way means we’re a paradise but it shows the hardwork our communities have put in against violence in our borough and compared to the 653 murders in The Bronx alone in 1990, this is relatively peaceful.
Let’s keep up the good work and support local community and antiviolence organizations in The Bronx.
Welcome2TheBronx has written extensively on the need to build a subway line that would run from The Bronx and straight into Queens and onto Brooklyn, bypassing Manhattan completely.
Now New York State Assembly Member Latrice Walker has introduced a bill up in Albany that, according to City Limits, “…would require the MTA to conduct a feasibility study on The Triboro— a proposal from the Regional Plan Association (RPA), first introduced in 1996, to build a 24-mile train route along an existing rail right-of-way stretching from Co-op City to Bay Ridge. “
For far too long our transportation network has been Manhattancentric, and although rightfully so in many ways, it doesn’t help the millions who live in the outerboroughs where 48% of job growth occurred in New York City since the end of the recession and in 2018 accounted for 60% of that growth.
Imagine being able to get on a train in Co-op City making a few stops in The Bronx before heading into Queens and on to Brooklyn? It would drastically cut commute times between both boroughs for millions of residents.
As we reported in 2017 when the RPA re-introduced the idea, the line would be constructed along existing rail lines and would have 22 stations stretching across the 24 miles between Co-op City in The Bronx and Bayridge Brooklyn.
The proposed stops in The Bronx would be Co-op City North, Co-op City South (hurray for attempting to make things right at Co-op City, long neglected and soon to lose connecting bus service along several routes), Parkchester, and Hunts Point.
A proposed spur would be extended under St Mary’s Park using the old and inactive Port Morris Line to connect to The Hub at 3rd Avenue and 149th Street at the 2 and 5 line in Melrose.
There’s even a proposed extension that would take it straight into Staten Island at St George, connecting it to the ferry and Staten Island Railroad.
As the train snakes its way across the three boroughs, it would give commuters the ability to transfer to 17 subway lines and four commuter rail lines the route connects with.
The best part is the price tag. According to the RPA, the cost would be anywhere from $1 billion to $2 billion which is drastically less than the $4.45 billion it cost to construct two miles of subway for the Second Avenue Subway and its three new stations along with an expanded, existing fourth.
For that money we could have gotten an actual subway line that would serve the majority of New Yorkers and not just a handful.
Anyway, this is still a pipe dream and if it were to become a reality it probably wouldn’t be for decades given how the MTA and the State likes to delay things.
There’s also the issue that the line would utilize right-of-way rail that’s owned by the LIRR, Amtrak, and CSX freight service. Trying to get just one to agree to anything (look at the debacle and delays with The Bronx’s upcoming four new Metro North Station. Amtrak basically held us hostage on that).
So what do you think? Do you think this is a no-brainer and should be approved?
MELROSE — Tens of thousands of people came from The Bronx and across New York City to kick off World Pride celebrations at Bronx Pride which marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and Uprising in the queer liberation movement.
Hosted by the Third Avenue Business Improvement District and Destination Tomorrow—The Bronx’s official LGBTQ center — the 1 Bronx Festival is now in its 3rd year bringing the LGBTQ community to the forefront of the borough’s busiest intersection at 3rd Avenue and 149th Street.
The event featured dozens of performers and was headlined by the legendary Deborah Cox and La Insuperable from the Dominican Republic.
Thousands enjoyed the performances throughout the event and it wasn’t just the LGBTQ community but a good mix of local residents who came out to support and just have a good time.
Before the festivities began, however, hundreds gathered at the Bronx County Courthouse for some rallying speeches by local LGBTQ leaders and elected officials including New York City Councilmember Vanessa L. Gibson and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Last year was the first time the march was held after a decades of inactivity and this year’s march was considerably larger with hundreds of participants going down the Grand Concourse from 161st Street to 149th Street and then marching towards 3rd Avenue to the newly painted Pride Crosswalk where the festival took place.
Oh and did we mention that the march was the longest pride march route outside of Manhattan too?
It seems like The Bronx just kept making queer history this weekend.
Melrose—Last night, The Bronx became the first borough in New York City outsfirst reached out to our local New York City Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. to see if we could get rainbow pride crosswalks in The Bronx, we didn\’t think it would actually happen.\nide of Manhattan to get a Pride crosswalk which were installed at 149th and 3rd and Melrose Avenues—the busiest intersection in The Bronx.
When we first reached out to our local New York City Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. to see if we could get rainbow pride crosswalks in The Bronx, we didn’t think it would actually happen.
The pride crosswalks are here!
We also didn’t realize that if it did happen, it would be a historic moment for the LGBTQ community in The Bronx and the rest of the city.
This is truly a momentous occasion for our community and borough in acknowledging our visibility.
For too long the queer community of The Bronx was not just marginalized but treated as an obscure footnote.
But we won’t take that anymore.
The Pride Crosswalks is a signal to the world that we will not be invisible and we will not be forgotten.
It’s also a signal to the world that queer life does indeed exist outside of Manhattan well above the confines of the Village, Chelsea, and Hell’s Kitchen.
It’s also a signal to the world that queer people of color exist in a predominantly borough of people of color like The Bronx.
Now join us tomorrow at 10:30AM at the Bronx County Courthouse on 161st and Grand Concourse as we hold our pride march down to 3rd Avenue and 149th Street as we kick off our Bronx Pride Festival.
MELROSE — For the first time in Bronx history the borough will be getting rainbow “Pride” crosswalks and just in time for Bronx Pride and World Pride as the city celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
The pride crosswalks will be painted on 149th Street at two locations on the north side of the street at Third and Melrose Avenues.
We got the idea a few weeks ago and spoke with our local Councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr, who represents the district, and he was immediately on board with the idea.
A rendering of one of two pride crosswalks to be painted on 149th at Melrose and Third Avenues
Shortly thereafter we spoke with Michael Brady, Executive Director of the Third Avenue Business Improvement District (the local BID that has been hosting the Bronx’s LGBTQ 1 Bronx Pride Festival for the past three years and who’s board we sit on) and he immediately got on it with the necessary city agencies to make this a reality.
At first, NYC Department of Transportation denied our request but after some pressure they eventually came back and said it’s a go.
Location of the Pride Crosswalks on 149th Street
“The Third Avenue BID is delighted to partner with NYC DOT, the Office of the Mayor, and SAPO to increase the visibility of the Bronx LGBTQ+ community in the borough.” noted Michael Brady.
He added, “The pride crosswalk at 149th Street and Third Avenue is a sign that Third Avenue is inclusive, diverse, and open to all members of our community.”
The route of the Bronx Pride Rally for this Sunday, June 23rd which kicks off promptly at 10:30AM from the Bronx County Courthouse at 851 Grand Concourse.
The location also couldn’t be better as it’s where this Sunday, June 23rd, The 1 Bronx World Pride Festival will be held and will be the end of the Bronx Pride March which will begin at Bronx Borough Hall at the Courthouse on 161st Street and Grand Concourse.
Just a block from the crosswalks is the Bronx’s official LGBTQ Center, Destination Tomorrow and the neighborhood itself, Melrose, is considered the most LGBTQ friendly in the borough according to a recent report by Localize.city.
We couldn’t be happier to have helped make this a reality for our borough’s LGBTQ community. Visibility is important, and we will not live in the shadows in our own home. Ever.
The installation is scheduled to take place this Friday.
The greenest borough of New York City just got greener—1.07 acres greener to be exact.
After decades in the making, Yolanda Garcia Park in Melrose is finally open.
Located on Melrose Avenue, between 159th and 160th Streets, the park was originally envisioned as a central gathering and green space for the Melrose Commons urban renewal plan created by Nos Quedamos/We Stay founded by the late Yolanda Garcia who passed away in 2005.
Local children immediately took advantage of all the new playground equipment.
Thanks to her, Melrose residents who stayed put during the 70s and 80s as the population dwindled from 25,000 to barely 4,000 residents, were saved from displacement by the city who wanted to recreate the neighborhood in their own image.
Garcia and crew put a stop to that and created a community based vision for the neighborhood’s future which eventually went on to become one of the greatest success stories of urban renewal in the country where scholars, city government officials from the world continue to study it to this day.
During the ribbon cutting ceremony, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP stated that the new park was one of the most beautiful he has seen in New York City opening ceremony of which he attends roughly 100 a year.
And indeed the space is gorgeous and welcoming for all ages with plenty of flowers planted throughout, beautiful pavers lining the winding pathways, modern playground equipment, an outdoor gym for adults, and even a comfort station that will be open later this summer.
The new park features plenty of seating throughout.
The highlight for today was watching all the children gleefully playing on the state-of-the-art playground equipment and listening to their laughter.
This is why she fought.
This is why we fight.
All communities deserve clean, open, green spaces.
19 year old Lucas Silverio, The Bronx hero who rushed into a burning building and rushed up 14 flights to save a little girl has succumbed to his injuries.
The Belmont teen had just helped his grandmother out of the building and decided to race back up to the little three year old girl who had gotten separated from her family during the panic of the fire which occurred this past Sunday.
Sadly the baby didn’t make it and she passed away yesterday.
Today, her would be hero died as well.
Silverio was described as a “wonderful human being,” by his cousin Jesse Alvarez according to WABC.
A quick look at his Facebook timeline showed a kid who was very interested in the environment and the threat of climate change as well as mental health awareness.
Although we never knew you, we will never forget you, Lucas. You are the true embodiment and spirit of The Bronx. You put community before your own life.
Our condolences to the families of those lost as a result of this blaze.
We’ve lost too many to the fires over the past decades and each one reopens those wounds.
