Bronx Artists Take Home the Bacon!

Our lovely friend Simone over at www.thebronxrocks.com was kind enough to share the following photo and write-up with us regarding a recent awards ceremony at the Longwood Art Gallery:

Photo by Simone Davis, www.thebronxrocks.com

First stop on this month’s Bronx Culture Trolley Tour was the award ceremony for recipients of the Greater New York Arts Development Fund grants funded by both the New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA) and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA). $130,000 worth of checks were handed out! That’s some serious bank! Longwood Art Gallery was packed with a Who’s Who list of everyone who’s anyone in the Bronx art and education scene. Congratulations to all those individuals and organizations who make the Bronx a thriving borough when it comes to art, culture and educational opportunities for our borough’s citizens!

Be sure to click on over to www.thebronxrocks.com to check out more photos from the event!

~ErLu

Pinata-thon at Bronx River Art Center a 'Smashing' Success

Photos by Simone Davis, www.thebronxrocks.com

Pun intended in our amazingly dorky title of course...

Simone Davis has a great post with awesome photos up on www.thebronxrocks.com. She attended Rompe Puesta (Pinata-thon) at the Bronx River Art Center this past Friday, and damn did it look like a good time! 23 NYC artists and art groups contributed some pretty elaborate looking pinatas stuffed with condoms, mini booze bottles, organic teas, lingerie, etc. Don't worry - there was also a fair amount of good, clean candy and toys for the kids in attendance.

Click on over to thebronxrocks.com to see more photos and read all about it.

Thanks for sharing Simone!~ErLu

Simone Rocks

Hopefully you all know of and visit often The Bronx Rocks, the photography website run by our unsung BoogieDowner contributor, Simone Davis. Well if you don't, you should. In particular, you should check out her most recent post about the art she found at LDR Studios while on the Bronx Culture Trolley. The images are pretty sick (more after the jump).

Thanks Simone!
Check it out HERE

*photo courtesy of Simone Davis, www.thebronxrocks.com*
~ErLu

Get Yer ‘Cue and a Lube!

Mo Gridder’s BBQ – Hunts Point

Only in the Bronx, folks! As much as I travel around the this great borough (in search of anything and everything to dispel the horrible Bronx myths and stereotypes), I must admit to being a tad on the squirmish side at the daunting thought of traveling to the most desolate industrial area of Hunts Point to visit the famous Mo Gridder’s BBQ. While I wouldn’t necessarily want to make the trip at night (Mo’s is only open during the day anyway, so that’s a moot point), my concerns were entirely baseless. The area won’t be winning any prizes in aesthetics or charm, but it felt perfectly safe. And the reward is super cool! I can’t do this place enough justice in a short blog write-up – so check out all these great reviews (NY Times, White Trash BBQ, New York Daily News). Mo’s has got to be one of the most unique dining experiences out there. And hey – if it’s good enough for Guy Fieri and the Food Network, it’s good enough for you! Give ‘em a try!

Getting there: Take the #6 subway to Hunts Point. Either walk (east) the 10 minutes or so or jump on the #6 bus (just make sure to hop off before the bus turns left off of Hunts Point Ave – or you’ll end up in scary no-man’s land like I did.) Bonus: There’s a Citibank across the street to pull cash.

And for those who want a more traditional sit down experience, Mo's just opened a traditional restaurant in Belmont (in the old Roberto's, Belmont and Crescent Aves).

~Simone Davis
www.thebronxrocks.com

Simone Found a Thai Spot

Photo courtesy of Simone Davis ~ The Bronx Rocks

BoogieDowner's favorite cuisine to eat out (especially with a kid) has to be Thai food. It's usually relatively cheap and Thai restaurants are usually pretty casual with speedy service.

Simone Davis, over at The Bronx Rocks, has apparently found a solid Thai restaurant over in Pelham Bay called Honey's Thai Pavilion. Click here to check out some photos and get Simone's take on the place.

We'll definitely be checking it out. When we've wanted Thai in the past, we've always headed to Tum Raa up in Woodlawn (629 McLean Avenue). Their food is good, but the space is teeny tiny and not great for kids.

Thanks Simone!

Anyone else know of any other Thai spots in the BoogieDown?

~ErLu

Peruvian Cuisine Arrives In The South Bronx!

Pio Pio, a Peruvian restaurant with locations around NYC, opened up shop in Mott Haven not too long ago, and how lucky we are! With a great atmosphere to match their delicious food, this place is so popular I have no doubt it will be around for quite some time. While the location seems surprising (138th and Cypress - not a lot of upscale action in that particular area, but hey - who's complaining), the chain's foray into the Bronx does not. And the newly announced Zagat rating will only continue to boost their popularity (this place was packed!)

What I found: lively and energizing music, nice casually upscale decor, attentive and friendly service and food so scrumptious you'll be already planning your next visit before you've ordered your coffee and dessert! Sadly, at this location they cannot serve their famous Pisco Sours, but order one of their huge glasses of Sangria and you'll blissfully enjoy your evening (those things pack a whollop!!). The portions are enormous, so much so that I doggiebagged it and enjoyed leftovers the next day. While the menu isn't vast (hint: you must love chicken), the flavors are delish and the prices so reasonable you will be pleasantly surprised when the bill arrives - that is of course if you either a) are an American Express cardholder or b) you remember to pull cash before you arrive. I was in neither category so I found myself running (in high heels!) to the nearest bodega in search of an ATM. Can we say Total Buzz Kill?!? (Note to Pio Pio owners: What are you THINKING??? But your place is so divine, I guess you deserve a pass...) So, guys - check out their menu and be sure to pay them a visit, AMEX or cash in hand!

Transportation is easy: Just off the #6 Cypress stop.

~Simone Davis

http://www.thebronxrocks.com/