Tag Archives: Bronx businesses
Bringing Home the Painting II
Rocking the Boat at Riverside Park
So, I am interning with the International Center of Photography at the Point. Every Thursday so far we went on trips to allow the children to explore the community with their cameras.
This allows me to see more parts of the Bronx I never knew existed like the Rocking the Boat program at Riverside Park.
When we entered riverside park, we saw a small universe with big people doing big things!
When we first entered the park, we saw a boat safe with beautiful graffiti all over the walls. Lined up were small trailers with boats in them. As we ventured further into the park we saw about 16 or more teens working on a boat.
I was a little surprised, to tell you the truth, because I didn’t know the Bronx had boats in her! (Really, it’s hard to find a person in the ‘hood that likes to swim much less paddle a boat). I felt proud of my Bronx.
While the children were taking pictures, Adam, the director of Rocking the Boat, told us that the teens make the boats themselves then ride in them!! I also learned that this program hire the teens! (How cool is that?)
I aim to visit Riverside park again before the summer ends…I want to get in a boat!
Mohegan Grocery Store
The end of Kayton’s
Books in the Hood
Kayton’s
Two stores the Bronx loss due to the rent going up. Books in the Hood was the only independent book store in the Bronx. Now its gone.
Kayton’s was more in my heart because it was in my neighborhood but I did visit books in the hood once for a book signing. Actually, I was planning to take a trip there and looked up the address on the internet and came across the story from the Daily News.
Should I just sit back and tally mark the stores my Bronx, my neighborhood will lose due to crazy rent issues or actually do something about it? Anyways, what can I do?
For Closure
In West Farms Square there is a new sculpture titled “For Closure” by artist Gabriela Salazar. It is a 26-feet-tall artwork made from locally salvaged doors and resembles a house of cards.
I ran into these young women and asked them to pose for me. And they were just A*W*E*S*O*M*E. You will see more photos with these DIVAS but before that here is some history of the Artwork.
I took the following excerpt from the artist’s website:
It is meant to represent the fragility of the housing market.
“A lot of people already talk about financial collapse so I don’t necessarily expect the piece is going to bring more attention to that, but I do hope it humanizes that experience a little bit, reminds people that all these homes are actual people’s lives,” said artist Gabriela Salazar
The temporary art work was brought in through a partnership between the Bronx River Art Center and the Department of Transportation’s Urban Art Program.
“For Closure” will be on display for seven months.
I think “For Closure” is in the perfect spot. I see my neighborhood changing everyday. So many businesses are closing down and there is an increase of homelessness in the Bronx. Homes are going up everywhere but it seems more are moving out of the neighborhood than moving in.
Just this week when I was passing out ‘Saving Kayton’s‘ flyers, I ran into a mother with three children who asked me about helping her find an apartment. She seemed very desperate.
Speaking of ‘Saving Kayton’s‘ I am still working on the project. I spoke to Bronx officials and emailed friends and family hoping for the story to fall into the right person’s hands…now we just have to wait. It’s sad that we have to fight so hard for a store with such history and good quality to stay in our neighborhood. However, if landlords don’t care enough about single mothers with children then why would they care about a store?!
24 Hour Car Repair Center LTD
This is Mike and Adil. Arabic cousins. I thought they were Italian at first…actually they could have passed for anything since we all are so mixed up.
When I put the camera to my face, Mike ran in to get his shades. So much for the candid shot I was aiming for!
They’ve been working in this business for seven years and counting.
Their location is 1831 East Tremont Ave.
Natasha
Natasha
From her outfit, I could tell she had an eye for colors and placing them together. If you look at the photos a little close, you will see that the pink curtain behind her has fish on it…which works for the picture…it wasn’t my idea that she stood where she stood, it was her idea.
In addition to her hairdo, and her picking where to stand to take the picture, her maxi skirt and sandals compliments her a little more.










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