Rooftop Film's next free show in the Bronx set for Thursday at 7:45 p.m.

Here is a great recurring cinema event at the Buckner Bar and Grill sponsored by Rooftop Films. I went a few weeks ago and loved every minute of it. Great crowd, great short films, great beer and it's FREE. Stella Artois had a promotion when I went. They were giving away pints in their signature glass that you were able to keep afterwards. Rooftop Films is a great organization that receives funding from NYC Councilwoman Maria Del Carmen Arroyo (17th District - Bx). The Councilwoman picked a winner with this organization. As per their web site she is the only Bronx elected official helping to fund the organization. I hope more Bronx elected officials see the merits of the organization and help Rooftop so they can spreads borough wide. Please feel free to log onto their web site listed below and please do make some time to attend. It really has a vibrant vibe. It’s also a must for all Bronx aspiring film makers. For more information please see below.

Gregory
****
Hi there,

I wanted to let you know about Rooftop’s free show in the Bronx this week. This Thursday at 7:45 p.m. at the Bruckner Bar and Grill, we’ll be showing Gabriel Noble’s gritty, heart wrenching documentary P-Star Rising.

P-Star Rising follows Priscilla Star Diaz, an adorable and precocious little girl, who at age 9 tells her single-father, Jesse, “I am going to become a rapper and fulfill your dreams of succeeding in the music business.”

When Jesse discovers that his youngest daughter, Priscilla, can rap and perform, he sees redemption for his own failed music career and financial salvation for his family and commits his life to making her a star. We follow the father-daughter duo through the grit and glamour of the music industry, capturing the daily struggles of a single parent raising his two children alone, and the sacrifices a child makes in order to make her daddy proud.

Documentary subjects P-Star and her father Jesse will be there in person for a Q&A after the film. Let me know if you have any questions.
For more information, visit: http://rooftopfilms.com/2011/schedule/pstar-rising

Thanks!
Lela

SHOW DETAILS

WHEN:
Thursday Feb 3, 2011
7:00 p.m. Doors Open
7:45 p.m. Film Begins
9:10 p.m. Q&A

WHERE:
Indoors at the Bruckner Bar and Grill
South Bronx
1 Bruckner Blvd, Bronx, NY 10454
Subway Directions: Take the 4, 5 to 138 St. Grand Concourse or the 6 to 138 Street 3rd Avenue

THE FILM

P-Star Rising (Gabriel Noble | New York, NY | 84 min.)
At age 9, Priscilla, an adorable yet precocious little girl, tells her single-father, Jesse,: “I am going to become a rapper and fulfill your dreams of succeeding in the music business.”

At the dawn of hip-hop's breakthrough into the mainstream in the early 1980s, Jesse Diaz was poised for fame, success, and wealth, but a prison sentence soon quashed his dreams. Though Jesse manages to reclaim his life and regain custody of his two young daughters, lost to the foster care system while he was incarcerated and after their mother succumbed to drug addiction, he struggles to support his family as a single dad. Broke, unemployed, and living in temporary housing, he pins his hopes for the family's fortunes on his youngest daughter, Priscilla aka P-Star.

Recognizing Priscilla's natural musical talent and precocious personality, Jesse sets out to realize his deferred dreams of hip-hop stardom by making her the next rap phenomenon - "the youngest girl on the scene."

Filmed over four years, P-STAR RISING follows Jesse and his daughters as they navigate the peaks and pitfalls of both the music business and family relationships. As P-Star starts to break through professionally, Jesse struggles to balance his responsibilities as a father to Priscilla and her older sister Solsky with his music industry aspirations. Solsky, increasingly sidelined in the family by Priscilla’s career, does poorly in school and turns to the church for support. As Priscilla matures, she comes increasingly into conflict with Jesse, and risks losing her childhood to satisfy his demands.

From performances on the street corner to appearances on national television, from signing record deals to dealing with feelings of abandonment by Priscilla's crack-addicted mother, Gabriel Noble's chronicle of the Diaz family offers a personal, intimate look at ambition, talent, and the sacrifices family members make for one another.

Director/Producer/Cinematographer Gabriel Noble has previously directed two feature documentaries, Autumn's Eyes (SXSW Film Festival/IndiePix Films) and I Won't Love You to Death (MTV).
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Rooftop Films
Underground Movies Outdoors
www.rooftopfilms.com

Kappstatter, Diaz Jr., Heastie, Lopez and American Idol

Kappstatter, B.P. Diaz Jr., Heastie, Lopez, and American Idol

This article is a somewhat of a response to Kappstatter’s latest article “Bronx Borough Pres. Slams ‘American Idol’ for dissing the area, while Jennifer Lopez stays quiet”. Firstly, I want to thank Kappsttater for his mention of the Boogiedowner and myself in his article. I see it as an invitation to “play in the sand box”; so let’s get started.

This article might get somewhat “heavy”, long and devoid of photos since it pertains to a serious issue that many Bronx residents deal with; the often negative depiction of the Bronx. Much of my conscious desire as a NYS Lic. Real Estate Broker to sell property in the Bronx, including what most call the “South Bronx”, is almost a crusade to bring back my beloved Bronx; back to the pristine neighborhood it once was and will be again. Rest assured I am not he only one out there.

I have had the pleasure of meeting all of the above listed in the header, even if they do not remember meeting me or care if they did. Each were mentioned in Kappstatter’s article. I meet Kappstater at the Bronx Ball and at a fundraiser for the Bronx News Network. I meet B.P. Diaz Jr. at various fundraisers, as well at the annual S.O.M.O.S. convention in Puerto Rico. Assemblyman Carl Heastie and I were Boy Scouts together in Troop 164, run out of Holy Rosary Church on Gun Hill Road. Jennifer Lopez and I were both members at Kip’s Bay Boys & Girls Club in Soundview. If you recall in one of Jennifer’s videos she includes footage of the Kip’s Bay Boys Club.

As per the B.P.’s Diaz Jr. outrage of the negative depiction of the Bronx, I applaud him and thank him for sticking up for the Bronx. The Bronx in the 70’s was a very different place. Yes, the Bronx was once a symbol of urban decay. I admit my even my family was part of the “white flight” from the neighborhood depicted in the video American Idol broadcasted. Yes, my family and I were victims of crime decades ago. Some I can look back on and laugh at, like the time someone stole the windshield of the family car and the million questions I asked my mother as a young child as to why we were driving around with no windshield; or the T.V’s / VCR’s that when brought home were just frames and a brick on the inside were wires, transformers and I assume chips should have been. I will even admit to some more serious not worth mentioning that were the eventual tipping point that forced my family to leave the West/South Bronx and migrate to the more residential East/North Bronx neighborhood of Pelham Parkway. But once again that was 30 years ago and the stigma has not left partly due to “cheap shots” like the latest one from American Idol.


The Bronx is presently an active market where real people from all over are moving to. To prove it here are real statistics and testimony from real people. Counting only my sales in the last 3 years or so 35 people choose to move to the area wrecked by American Idol. One closed this week to a Sara Maxwell, who just moved from D.C. to a beautiful art deco building located at 55 E 190th St. When I asked her how she was getting along she said; “I love it; I love the colors, the life, the people”. (I will have a separate post about her with photo and more detail in my next blog). The next closing in the area should be 563 Walton Ave between 149th and 150th Street. That whole block will be revitalization due to it’s architecture and proximity to the new Gateway mall, new Metro-North Station, new Yankee Stadium and one of the first subway stations into/from Manhattan. Presently it is a Single Room Occupancy (SRO) that will be converted back to a 3 family and made new via a major 203K loan renovation. It will be purchased by a long time Bronx residents who see the prudence in investing in the Bronx.

As per why I used the phrase “Cheap Shots” above when discussing American Idol’s depiction of the Bronx; here are just the top three .

#1) The interview was very vague about the contestants living in the Bronx beyond the 2 or 3 years he mentions living in the shelter. What was the residential neighborhood he lived in before that the father mentioned? Where do they live know? If the prior and present neighborhoods are Bronx neighborhoods why not discuss them as well? Is it because there is nothing negative to say about them and negative “sells”? How much of his life did he spend in the Bronx vs. other boroughs or counties? Can he be considered a Bronxite? If not why even mention the Bronx?

#2) The video showed an ambulance with lights flashing rushing somewhere in haste. Unfortunately, they forgot to show Bronx Lebanon Hospital ,which from the footage provided, should be a few blocks away. I should hope there are ambulances rushing to the Hospital with their lights on. They also forgot to show the new multi-million dollar wing under construction at the Hospital as well.

#2) The video also showed a police car pulling someone over. Yes, the Bronx has a VERY strong police presence, especially on the Grand Concourse. Some would say it’s a pre-cursor to gentrification. It is another sign of the revitalization, not decay. Most people want a strong police presence. Why sell it as a negative?

As per Jennifer Lopez, I must admit I feel obligated to defend her; if she needs defending? I have not reviewed, nor do I believe she will let me see her tax returns to review what she has or has not given to the Bronx. What I do know is that she has supported many international charities, mostly protecting woman’s right. I also know that when offered 2 million dollars to perform for one night at new casino resort in the illegal occupied territories of Northern Cypress she declined. As a Greek-American I will never forget this and am eternally grateful. There are Greek and Turkish Cypriots who lived together and played as youth together for centuries. It's their island. The Turkish invasion was and is nothing more than a human rights abomination. Thank you Jennifer Lopez for not putting you name as a co-signer of aggression, war and attrocities.


It’s obvious American Idol needed some “Bronx Flavor” to turn rice into paia. (Small pun for Baron Ambrosia) But like B.P. Diaz Jr. states, why not show the revitalization going on. It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon. American Idol should have explored their content and come up with something original and more accurate instead of jumping on the back of the Bronx public with another reiteration of a negative stereotype from decades long past. As per Kappstatters inference between Heastie and Diaz I know they worked together in the past and I hope they work together in the future. Both are beacons for hope for the Bronx. As per the young man with the golden voice good luck but think about the borough that gave you shelter during your families difficult times.

Snooki on the Hunt

It came to light yesterday via Page Six that Jersey Shore's Snooki is looking to get an apartment in the Bronx because of her perceived preponderance of guidos in our beloved borough.

Curbed even suggested (or expected) the ole BD to switch its tagline to "There's loads of Guidos here!"

I wonder where she will look? What's the most guido-riffic hood in the BoogieDown? Belmont? Morris Park? Throggs Neck?

In any case, if you read this through a google alert, Snooks, the BoogieDowner wants an interview. And maybe you can get us an interview with the Bronx native and fellow JS cast member, Ronnie.

In the mean time, be sure to make use of the BD's "For Those On the Hunt" feature. It might make your search a little easier. You're welcome.

~ErLu

Marathon in the Bronx: We Have to Represent

Just a reminder that the New York Marathon is this Sunday. Let's all get out to show our Bronx pride and cheer on the runners. By the time they get to the Bronx, they are super tired and could use some inspiration.

The runners only spend a brief time in the Bronx. They come into our beloved borough via the Willis Avenue Bridge and exit via the 3rd Avenue Bridge. This year the Bronx has a new "cheering station" at 138th and 3rd Avenue.

"Athletes with disabilities will be the first to pass the cheering zone about 9:45 a.m. Next up will be professional runners: women at 11 a.m. and men at 11:20 a.m. The estimated 39,000 additional runners will follow." [NY Daily News, Flora Fair]

And while you're down there you could grab lunch or brunch at Bruckner Bar and Grill, which is right around the corner.

New York City Marathon's New 'Cheer Zones' Let Fans Represent Boroughs
[NY Daily News, Flora Fair]

* photo of City Council Majority leader Joel Rivera running the marathon courtesy of www.nydn.com*

~ErLu

The Dirty "G" Word

We at BoogieDowner were shocked to find out that not everybody loves us (gasp)! I know, I know, what’s not to love? Well, apparently according to one Bronx dissenter named Syd, we’re basically the anti-Christ out to ruin all that is good in the BoogieDown.

Here are some excerpts of Syd’s passionate, although arguably not quite so eloquent, thoughts:

My basic point to this site...you are ruining the bronx with this "oh look look at the poor people, look they can't afford half of the stuff on this site we are highlighting but her WE CAN. Look what we found, cheap rent and CULTURE. Yay since we washed it alllll out of Brooklyn" please do nyc a favor, leave the bronx ALONE to US people who call it HOME…

It is wonderful that you spend your time cleaning the river and tutoring kids, really, it is. However, once you and the middle/upper class make your way back into the neighborhood and thus raise the cost of living, property value, you won't have to worry about tutoring anyone and your river will be nice, hey maybe the city will even spring for pier. Now THAT would be nice.

For your information, people are still proud to say they are form the Bronx beyond the "middle class" that once was. You are clearly not realizing your privilege in this situation, assuming you are helping people when you are part of the problem. And for the record, I am a white Latina, educated, and finishing a masters degree so do not talk to me as if I am some disgruntled person who is one upset over something that is "inevitable" and who can not possibly see the good in your after work/weekend hobbies. Trust most people born in nyc are used to change. I know that changes are cyclical and people move in and out of neighborhoods. My point is that this time around there is really nowhere else for people who can't afford high price rents to go. A lot of families I have known for years, and by the way, families that were never considered poor, hard working people are struggling not to lose their homes. I don't really expect you to understand.

You see, I have had this conversation before with people such as yourself, you really see the good in what you are doing. Historically, residents in most places that have be considered ghettos, slums, "poor" are of COURSE glad to see new business, half of the people in these neighborhoods immigrated or ended up here seeking an American dream so when they get an artificial slice of it, it feels good. But do you think they know about housing laws and how they are changing, and how rent control is being de-stablized or how landlords are gaining more and more control over how much they can raise rents....when you move in and can pay even just a bit more than the people in the neighborhood, then it affects that landlords ability to charge more in general. I'm sure you know that since this is your job right? Buy places in poor places and wait for the neighborhood to get better.


So on this day of the Vice Presidential debate when we’ll all be fired up as hell and in the fighting spirit, we decided to take this opportunity to talk about the dirty “G” word: gentrification.

Let’s put this right out there in the open: Yes, we are white. We moved to the Bronx from Brooklyn a year and a half ago mostly due to the affordability of the residential real estate, as well as our familiarity with the borough from attending Fordham. We own a co-op in Bedford Park, and have therefore made an investment in the community. Like any sane person, we would like to see a reasonable return on that investment.

This is where people seem to be getting confused about our motives. While the majority of feedback we’ve been getting from readers about the site is overwhelmingly positive, there also seem to be those who are harboring feelings such as Syd that we are evil yuppies who are hell bent on gentrifying the Bronx and essentially turning it into Brooklyn.

We think it’s a little unfair that because we are white and because we are trying to change the public relations perception of the Bronx, we are seen as a detriment to the borough. We're cheerleaders, not economic and cultural imperialists. We’re focused on good PR for the Bronx, which we see as a win-win for everyone in the borough. We just don't think the Bronx should get a bad rap in the media just because back in the 70s and 80s Howard Cosell declared “The Bronx is Burning.”

Guess what? The rest of NYC was not in such great shape either. In fact, during that woeful period for NYC in the late 70s, and in particular during the violence and insanity of the blackout of 1977 which became a symbol for the era, the worst problems were in other boroughs. Hello – Bushwick looting and riots? But for some reason the stigma of danger, crime, and urban blight has managed to stick with the BoogieDown, while the images of other boroughs have fully bounced back.

We are not trying to emulate Brooklyn hipster barbarism. After all, once we outgrow our current apartment, we want to still be able afford to land another home in the Bronx. We really just want to show people that there are affordable housing options for people who do not make a quarter million dollars a year, have the benefit of a trust fund, or live a life heavily subsidized by a Mom and Dad back in Minnesota. New York shouldn’t be a city accessible only to millionaires or NYCHA residents.

At best, our household income could be described as “middle class,” which is why we were promptly run right out of Brooklyn when we tried to buy a place. So you’ll notice we do beat up on Brooklyn quite a bit here on the BoogieDowner. We tease, deride and generally mock Brooklyn real estate insanity and media attention, but not because we’re jealous or want to turn the Bronx into Brooklyn. More accurately, we have Brooklyn in our crosshairs because making fun of Brooklyn is a great way to get positive attention for the Bronx. We’re like a peacock showing its tail feathers trying to woo some male-peacock-NYC media’s carnal attraction away from Brooklyn.

We at the BoogieDowner believe that the Bronx is so different and unique in that it is currently undergoing a healthy revitalization, not wholesale gentrification and displacement. Read more about this theory in one of our prior posts.

So we’re sorry if highlighting great real estate deals offends some people (we actually think an apartment that is snatched up quickly is much better for the Bronx economy than one that sits vacant for six months), or if highlighting the SBX Film Festival this weekend, or reminding folks that there’s a public hearing on the development plans for the Kingsbridge Armory tonight, are seen as signs of gentrification, but we firmly believe that trying to bring the Bronx community together and change our public image through highlighting all the good things that are happening here is a good thing for all concerned.

Gentrification is a dirty word, and we don’t talk dirty here at BoogieDowner. We’re talking about a change in image, a change in branding of a borough, a resurgence of a decent middle-class option and a revitalization of a proud and confident Bronx.

While we're on the topic, here's a great article by Jay McInerney on the history of gentrification in NYC from New York magazine's most recent issue.

Let the comments begin!

*Image courtesy of www.maxfactor-cosmetics.com*

~ErLu

NY Magazine Really Doesn't Have a Sarcometer

Ok, so the BoogieDowner is pretty psyched to get into NY Magazine's Daily Intel blog. Even though we acknowledge that NY Magazine is blind to the wonders of the BoogieDown and have called them out in the past, press is press and we're not complaining, BUT...

The post on the Daily Intel commented on the BoogieDowner's coverage of the breakdancing competition at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. I guess the poster took umbrage at the usual BoogieDowner snarkiness when it comes to Brooklyn.

To cut a long story short, it seems that Mr. Murphy couldn't see through the Olsen-twin-thin veil of sarcasm of the post. Of course we're jealous of the media coverage that Brooklyn gets. That's sort of the whole point of BoogieDowner: to get people to realize the hotness and ensure that the Bronx is covered (at all) and in a positive like. Bronxites are tired of being the unloved borough.

To be clear, we are not envious of Brooklyn as a borough, just a tad (okay a lot) jealous of the misplaced attention and coverage that the BK garners from the media. It's kinda like Brooklyn is like Kim Kardasian calling the paparazzi before she poops so they can cover it, and they come running to comment on the color and consistency.

So there you go. It's off our chest. Now, remind me again what's the 4th step of this program?

~ErLu

The Gays are Coming - Yesssssssss!!!!

We've actually been waiting to do a post on this issue for a while now, but we wanted to wait until there was an actual news story to tie in rather than just saying, "Hey BoogieDowner readers, we've been noticing a lot more gay couples while walking around our hood. How about you?"

In her article "Gay pairs like the boros, raising kids in Bronx," The Daily News' Stephanie Gaskell reports that a recent study by UCLA's Williams Institute shows that the Bronx is home to the highest number of gay couples raising children, followed closely by Brooklyn. But you know what we said yesterday Brooklyn - second place is for losers.

I'm no cultural anthropologist, but my take on the gay population of NYC is that they tend to be not only extremely stylish, but also ready, willing, and able to get involved with their communities and create stable, enriching residential environments. What more could you ask for in a neighbor?

~ErLu

"We Didn't Say It, But We Agree" Part 2!

Anyone who read our last post and clicked on the link to check out genius blogger, Maddy Madison's, post stating oh so clairvoyently that the Bronx is the new Williamsburg will not be surprised that we're covering the following New York Observer article: "Where Manhattanites Move When They Want to Stay in New York" (Yes, it's from April and we are shockingly behind the curve... I place the blame squarely on our teething 8 month old).

The Observer's Tom Acitelli sagely reports that from 2001 to 2006, the BoogieDown has led the three other outer boroughs in net gains of Manhattanites. Brooklyn has consistently been the second most popular destination for NYC residents fleeing the rapidly escalating rents of Manhattan.

As we all know, second place is for losers. Who's yo momma now Bill-Burg?

*Extremely official looking stat chart courtesy of Nigel Holmes: Source: I.R.S.

~ErLu

We Didn't Say It. She Did, and We Agree.

Very funny post from a blog by Maddy Madison, a lass who has been brave enough to claim the obvious:

"The Bronx is the New Williamsburg."

Click through to read why the aforementioned statement is true.

Gotta check out that roller-derby scene.

And I think we might have found a new Bronx slogan: "The other borough that starts with "BRO," kinda like that pork commercial. Mmmm...Pork.

So let us know, do you agree? Or is this all moving too fast for you? Was it too soon for the Bronx to introduce you its parents?

~ErLu

Buffalo Before the Bronx?

In New York Magazine's newest issue, Adam Sternbergh attempts to understand why some New Yorkers find themselves fleeing the City to places in the so-called 'Rust Belt,' like snowy Buffalo, in his article Where the Urban Dream Life Is Going Cheap . The subtitle of the article is appropriately "What could possibly make someone want to leave New York and move to Buffalo?"

It seems a number of these new Buffalonians wanted more space for cheaper rent; more possibility; more blank canvases to work with; a new frontier.

Hey, I understand the aforementioned desires, and I don't begrudge any of these new hockey-loving residents, but Buffalo? Really?

There is an interesting section of the article where Mr. Sternbergh is on a bike ride with some of these Buffalo enthusiasts, including Newell Nussbaumer, the Buffalo cheerleader and cultural mayor, and the group is looking at an abandoned police station and wondering if they could turn it into a club.

If you are looking for blank canvases and neglected buildings to rehab we have them for you up here on the mainland U.S. in the Bronx.

"But New York, for all its mythology, is no longer a frontier. Buffalo is a frontier." Maybe Williamsburg isn't a frontier or even pre-gentrified Bushwick isn't a frontier, but the Bronx is. Before anyone up and moves to Buffalo for cheap rent, blank canvas abandoned buildings and lower salaries, please just move to the Bronx. You can get the first two without enduring the last.

FYI, this is what you have to look forward to for Buffalo nightlife. [photo courtesy of Buffalo Nightlife (Nightlife), RMC]

~Erlu

HGTV's "Hidden Potential" in Throgg's Neck

Well I wanted to post a fancy in-post video or at least a direct link, but since this video is not on youtube, I have to post a link and directions (lo siento, migos!) What a piss-poor blogger. So, please click on the link below and then on the left side you need to click "Seeing Green"- (2nd vid from the top). This episode of Hidden Potential is about a young family house-hunting in Throgg's Neck on a budget.

HGTV Hidden Potential - Throgg's Neck

It's always nice to see mainstream media (is HGTV mainstream?) covering the Bronx.

~ErLu + Jay O.

Beautiful Brownstones of the Bronx

Alliterative post titles aside, these buildings are stunning. I didn't know the Cosby family lived in Mott Haven?
These pics speak for themselves:

~Jay O.

The Hunt: More Evidence of Manhattanites Flocking to the BoogieDown

This week's New York Times "Hunt" real estate article features a young professional who recently realized his goal of owning a home by purchasing a three bedroom co-op on the Grand Concourse near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Micah Bergdale, 26 years old, previously rented in the financial district of Manhattan. Once he decided to buy an apartment, he quickly realized that with a budget from $250,000 to $400,000 he was completely priced out of Manhattan and was not happy with the high prices per square foot in Queens.

Mr. Bergdale's new home on the Grand Concourse

Looking to stretch his money further, he widened his search to the Bronx and was blown away by the affordability and the amount of space he could get. This spring, Mr. Bergdale bought his 1500 square foot co-op for $265,000 and is spending about $30,000 to hire his super to handle updates and renovations (including a new, open kitchen). He has even become Treasurer of his co-op's board.

Kudos to Joyce Cohen for yet another fine job highlighting a middle-class buyer who was able to realize the dream of homeownership in the Bronx. Welcome and congratulations Mr. Bergdale! If you ever happen to find this post, we'd love to hear a comment from you about your new home and new neighborhood.
This week's Hunt article by Joyce Cohen
~ErLu

Pedro Espada Jr. - Absentee Lout

Pedro Espada Jr., a wannabe State Senator, is being accused of lying about living in a co-op on E. 201st Street. We live in this co-op! In fact, Mr. Espada apparently lives in Mamaroneck in Westchester. Neither I, nor my wife (as well as most of my real neighbors), have ever seen this gentleman in the building. It is insulting that Mr. Espada, he of past political scandals involving government money funnelled from his Soundview Medical Center to his own political campaign, was extremely rude to a long time resident as evidenced by the video below.
Video of Mr. Espada Embarrassing Himself

This is utterly unethical in the first place, but to be so rude to my lovely and gracious neighbor makes his cowardice and shame doubly compounded.

It appears that Sen. Gonzalez is equally unethical and has lots of skeletons and cigar wrappers in his own closet, but Mr. Espada should be ashamed of himself for trying to use our building as a pawn in his game. Bronx residents should represent Bronx residents. I doubt Mr. Espada could ever win an election in Mamaroneck.

Our community here at Bainbridge House is close-knit and familial. We would love to have a "native son" as a State Senator, but Mr. Espada, you are no native son. Shame on you!

~ErLu

Gateway Center Set to Bring Convenient Shopping to South Bronx

From the same developers who brought the shopping complex to life at Marble Hill (with my beloved Target) comes the Gateway Center.

Situated on the banks of the Harlem River and riding the coattails of the new Yankee Stadium, Gateway center takes the place of the long neglected Bronx Terminal Market.

Not only will this project bring jobs and an economic boost to the Bronx, but it will add a sense of normalcy to an area that has sometimes felt forgotten or hidden away. The major retailers such as Target, Toys 'R Us and Best Buy realize that the Bronx is an untapped market for customers.

Area of the new Gateway (for anybody who doesn't know where Yankee Stadium is- gasp!). map from http://www.streetsblog.com/

I just hope that this development takes some of the strain away from Marble Hill, which can be horribley crowded on even a weekday afternoon! Although you can bet the new Gateway Center will be very crowded with Bronx residents and all those uptown transplants living across the river in Harlem jonesing for the Boogiedown's amenities.
Video About Gateway Center [BX12 Tv]

~ErLu + Jay O.

Listing of the Day: 2 Family in Mott Haven for less than a Studio in Manhattan.

314 East 140th Street - $569,000

Is Mott Haven the new frontier of City houses? This legal two family has over 2,700 sq.ft! Even if the buyer has to put $100K into this house it is still a steal - with potential rental income to boot. Why pay suburb taxes when that money could be going to your equity? The taxes on this house are only $80 a month - less than a monthly metrocard.

The cross street for this house is Alexander Avenue, which is quickly becoming the new hip-strip in outerborough land: artists' lofts, bars and eateries, antique shops and beautiful architechture. An added bonus is the unique immediate surroundings of this 2 family as it is across the street from the first Bronx New York Public Library endowed by the Carnegie family.

Click for Full Listing

~ErLu

Lourdes of America in the Bronx

In a Bronx Grotto, Seeking the Virgin Mary’s Help [NY Times]

The above link is a quirky story about a little grotto at St. Lucy's Parish in Williamsbridge in the Bronx.

Located at the cross-section of Boston Rd and Mace Ave, this grotto is one of two places to claim the title "Lourdes of America" (the other is in New Mexico). It seems people flock to St. Lucy's for cures or solace or the comfort of traditional Marian devotion. In any case, it seems that this little place in the middle of Williamsbridge has some major spiritual charisma.

Forgotten-NY's Take on "Little Lourdes" (click for link)

Aside: Forgotten NY calls this intersection (Boston/Mace) "Allerton." Anyone want to weigh in on the boundaries of Williamsbridge?

~ErLu

Listing of the Day: Coastal Living in the Bronx

3 bedroom AND Water views for less than $500K...only in the Bronx.

This condo even has a 15 year tax abatement!

Throgg's Neck is a residential area hugging the coast of the Bronx in the shadow of the the nabe's eponymous bridge.

Link to full listing

The only real drawback to Throgg's Neck is that there is no subway close by, so the only way in and out without a car is express bus or local bus to the 6, but hey I'd walk to work if I could pay that price and get that view!

~ErLu

Parkchester - Still a Hidden Secret?

Parkchester, a city-within-a-city located in the Northeast section of the Bronx, contains that exceedingly rare and exclusive sought after illusion in NYC these days – affordable housing stock! Built as attainable and affordable housing in the late thirties by Met Life (who also contributed Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village in Manhattan), Parkchester has always been a haven for working and middle class New Yorkers. But now the secret is out and many Manhattanites, seeking relief from the ever escalating NYC real estate prices and the deregulation of formerly affordable rent-stabilized apartments, are on the move northbound to Parkchester and other communities of the Bronx that offer safety, spacious apartments, green space, easy commuting into Manhattan, and most important – prices that the average person and/or family can afford. (Not many places exist in any of the boroughs where a house hunter can find condos starting at $115,000!)
Parkchester Photo Slideshow

Manhattan is easily accessed by the #6 subway and by an Express Bus. All amenities are within walking distance of each apartment (Macy’s, Starbucks, Dress Barn, NY & Co, The Children’s Place, Radio Shack, Hollywood Video, Walgreens, etc. as well as a plethora of banks, supermarkets, fast food establishments and its own post office, day care and movie theatre!) The Bronx Botanical Garden, Bronx Zoo, Belmont Avenue/ Little Italy, Fordham University, Orchard Beach and City Island are all short bus rides away.

Ny Times' "Living In- Parkchester"

Parkchester Apartment and Community Info
~Simone Davis

Luxe Condos in the Bronx

The Grand Concourse's beautiful Art Deco buildings, Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Museum of Art are the surroundings for these new luxury condominium and cooperative developments. The prices are absurdly low, ranging from 100K-300K and from 1 to 3 bedrooms. Amenities range from gyms to parking, from vistas of the city to proximity to the Hub and other shopping and transportation. All this and granite counter tops. The Question is: "Can the neighborhood keep these developments afloat? Will they sell?"

Well it seems that the Orion has sold out and the Aurora and Solara are not far behind.

Links Below:

The Orion

The Aurora

The Solara

So has anyone purchased one of these or live in the neighborhood? How is it going?

~ErLu + Jay Ortiz