Editor’s Pick 

Plentiful pumpkins and hordes of gourds will be on display at New York Botanical Garden’s ongoing Scarecrows & Pumpkins event, through Sunday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the LuEsther T. Mertz Library Building, and on the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory Plaza, 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458. To add to the seasonal fun, more than 100 whimsical scarecrows will line the twisting trails of the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. For more information, go to: https://www.nybg.org/event/scarecrows-pumpkins/.

 

Events

Experience the beauty of Woodlawn Cemetery, located at 4199 Webster Ave, Bronx, NY 10470, when lit by night during its popular Illuminated Mausoleums Tour, on Friday, Nov. 5. Guests will be taken by trolley through the cemetery and will walk back enjoying the art and architecture of the beautifully lit mausoleums. This tour is outdoors, so please wear comfortable walking shoes and warm clothes, and don’t forget to bring along a flashlight! This is a trolley and walking tour. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, will be asked to wear a mask while on the trolley.

 

For reservations for the 6.45 p.m. tour, please click here. For reservations for the 7.15 p.m. tour, please click here. For reservations for the 7.45 p.m. tour, please click here. Meet at the Jerome Avenue and Bainbridge Avenue entrance. For information, email contact@woodlawnconservancy.org or call 718-408-5624. These tours quickly sell out so advance registration is recommended.

 

The Bronx Documentary Center (BDC), located at 614 Courtlandt Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451, has partnered with the Mazarte Dance Company to celebrate El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). El Día de los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico and in many parts of Latin America and according to legend, our loved ones visit us during those days. An altar honoring the dead will be open to the public on Nov. 1 and 2, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in BDC’s back patio. People are welcome to bring photos of their loved ones to add to the altar. In order to return photos, residents should write their name, and phone number on the back. Bronxites can also participate virtually. Please email info@bronxdoc.org with a photo and name, age and date of the person who passed away to add to the BDC’s slide show. BDC will project the names on the BDC gallery window in addition to the back patio altar.

 

CREATING UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY, Parkchester’s annual celebration of Kwanzaa will take place on Thursday, Dec. 30, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. EST at St. Helena Church, 1315 Olmstead Avenue, Bronx, NY 10462.  It will celebrate the fifth principle “Nia (Purpose) which is a commitment to the COLLECTIVE VOCATION of building, developing, and defending the community, its culture and history in order to regain its historical initiative and greatness.” Kwanzaa will also be live-streamed on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/272429704720549/ and on YouTube at:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKQFSUxPO9ez9f6i7EyP9rw. Click on the Kwanzaa link for more details.

 

An NYC Parks After-School Program will be held at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, located at 3225 Reservoir Oval E, Bronx, NY 10467, through June 10, 2022 from Monday to Friday, between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. For more information, contact Debra Edwards at NYC Parks on (718) 430-1847 or email debra.edwards@parks.nyc.gov.

 

Norwood Community Library will be handing out free books for all on Sunday, Nov. 7, from noon to 3:30 p.m. on Gun Hill Road between Wayne Avenue and Bainbridge Avenue. 

 

Photography

Multimedia artist, Betty Yu, discusses her approach and strategy for applying to En Foco’s Media Arts Work-in-Progress Grant and Photography Fellowship, both of which she was awarded in 2021 and 2020, respectively, on Tuesday, Nov. 9, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Yu will be hosted as part of the Applying for Fellowships and Grants: Demystifying the Process, by arts consultant Charlie Vazquez, who’s served as a grants panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the South Carolina Arts Commission, and other organizations.

 

They will discuss the entirety of the application process, from aligning submissions to guidelines to what panelists look for when deciding which applications should be awarded and why. Be sure not to miss this revealing professional development discussion for artists. En Foco, Inc. is a non-profit that supports contemporary, primarily U.S.-based photographers of African, Asian, Latino, Native American, and Pacific Islander heritage. Go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/applying-for-fellowships-and-grants-demystifying-the-process-tickets-196519112957, to register.

 

Upcoming En Foco Deadlines 

En Foco Photography Fellowship 2022

DEADLINE: Monday, November 18, 2021, 11:59pm

Contact Email: fellowship@enfoco.org

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

 

En Foco Media Arts Work in Progress Fund 2022

DEADLINE: Monday, December 20, 2021, 11:59pm

Contact Email: Grants@enfoco.org

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

 

 

Comedy

Rizzle, the fastest-growing vertical, short-form video app in the U.S., invites New Yorkers to attend the Rizzle Comedy Showcase on Nov. 14 at 7.m., in partnership with the 2021 New York Comedy Festival. For this year’s fest, Rizzle encourages creators to put their own spin on the phrase, “Only in New York” for a chance to have their videos screened at the comedy showcase at Asylum NYC, 307 W 26th Street in Chelsea on Nov. 14. To enter, post a vertical, 60-second (max) video on Rizzle that sums up the phrase “Only in New York,” using the hashtag #makeNYlaugh. Please RSVP to Rizzle@id-pr.com by Nov. 1, 2021. $1,000 will be awarded in prizes! The top 5 winners will be screened at the live show. Submissions are open until Monday, Nov. 1.

Hosted by comedian Gianmarco Soresi (Amazon), the event’s line-up includes Denied from NY (People’s Improv Theatre), Dinner for One (NYC Sketchfest), Dylan Adler (Hulu), Liz Glazer (Boston Comedy Festival), Martin Urbano (Jimmy Kimmel Live), Rebirth of Rabbits Foot (Boom Chicago), Savannah DesOrmeaux (Refinery29) and Stupid Music Videos (Vulture). Tickets are available HERE.

 

Dance

New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), located at 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10458, continues with its Contemporary Dance Series throughout October on Saturdays and Sundays from 2-5 p.m. A series of spontaneous, outdoor performances celebrate the infinite possibilities of our connection with nature and each other. Ballet Hispánico takes place on Oct. 9 and 10. It is the nation’s renowned Latino dance organization and one of America’s cultural treasures. Artistic director and CEO, Eduardo Vilaro, has infused Ballet Hispánico’s legacy with a bold brand of contemporary dance that reflects America’s changing cultural landscape.

 

Founded in 1970 by National Medal of Arts recipient, Tina Ramirez, the organization emerged during the post-civil rights movement on New York’s Upper West Side, providing a safe haven for primarily Black and brown Latinx youth, seeking artistic sanctuary during New York City’s plight in the 1970s. The need for place, both culturally and artistically, led families to find Ballet Hispánico. The focus on dance as a means to develop working artists, combined with the training, authenticity of voice, and power of representation, fueled the organization’s roots and trajectory. The organization serves as a platform for historically limited and overlooked artists, providing them with increased capacity, voice, and affirmation. For more information, go to: https://www.nybg.org/event/kusama/kusama-cosmic-nature-programs/contemporary-dance-series/.

 

 

Kids 

Pumpkin Carving Demonstrations will be held at New York Botanical Garden, on Saturdays & Sundays on Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Visitors, young and old, will be amazed as faces and designs emerge from pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, thanks to the skill of professional sculptor and pumpkin carver, Adam Bierton, the 2015 winner of the Food Network series, Halloween Wars. In addition, Plethora of Pumpkins, an NYBG online hub offers pumpkin carving tips, fall recipes, decoration ideas, and more. For more information, go to: https://www.nybg.org/event/plethora_of_pumpkins/.

 

Theater

Hostos Repertory Company will host the virtual premiere of “Swagger,” by Eric Coble, directed by Ángel Morales, on Friday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. A momentary act of violence caught on camera destroys the lives of three people. Now they need to tell us their version of how it really went down. Jordan is a quiet, nerdy, almost eighth-grade graduate. Leela, bubbling and following her passion, has just opened her own clothing boutique near Jordan’s school, and Daniel is an awkwardly sweet police officer on foot patrol in the neighborhood. The three of them lead us through their lives, dreams and the snap decisions that led them to that fateful moment. Register at https://www.hostos.cuny.edu/HCACForms/Swagger.

 

Spoken Word

Neighborhood Stories is a storytelling initiative by the NYC Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) to gather and preserve the stories of NYC neighborhoods. Learn more about the project, and how to share memories of your neighborhood and community here.

 

On Sunday, Nov. 7, at 3 p.m. NY, on the Sunday before Veterans’ Day, WORDTheatre will honor the men and women who served with performances of their stories. Actors David Soul (Salem’s Lot, Starsky & Hutch), Bellamy Young (Prodigal Son, Scandal), Catherine Dent (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,The Shield), Eugene Byrd (Bones, 8 Mile), Gary Dourdan (First Wives Club, CSI: Crimes Scene Investigation), Kevin Kilner (Dynasty, Bonding), Paul Pape (Saturday Night Fever, Voice of Obama, Clinton & Biden Presidential campaigns), Tim Ryan (No, Ordinary Family, China Beach) and Vincent Piazza (Jersey Boys, Boardwalk Empire) will step into the powerful stories by these remarkable Veteran writers, who will be introduced after the virtual performance.

 

Tickets are $11 priced for Nov. 11 which is Veterans’ Day in the U.S. Single ticket buyers have the opportunity to view the event until midnight on Nov. 11. Tickets are not required for WORDTheatre patron & enthusiast members who can view the performance on their members’ page at WORDTheatre.org for several weeks. The Veterans’ Week story on the free WORDTheatre Short Story Podcast is Tim O’Brien’s ‘How to Tell A True War Story,’ performed by Jon Huertas. Get more information at WORDTheatre.org.

 

The Poor Mouth Writers’ Night takes place at An Béal Bocht, at 445 W 238th Street in Fieldston, on Wednesday Nov. 10, at 8 p.m. Join for an open mic session with featured reading by poet, Sarah Sarai. Please note that proof of full vaccination is required. If you’d like to participate in the open mic, please sign up with Melinda Wilson upon arrival.

 

Sarah Sarai is author of The Future Is Happy (BlazeVOX[books]), Geographies of Soul and Taffeta (Indolent Books), and That Strapless Bra in Heaven (Kelsay Books). Her poems are in The Southampton Review, Barrow Street, Okay Donkey, Barrow Street, Zocalo Public Square, ZYZZYVA, and many other journals, as well as anthologies on Sylvia Plath; Lyrical Poetry; Quaker Poetry; James Brown; Dada; David Bowie (forthcoming), and others. She is a past winner of the PersonalLordSaviorJesusChrist poetry competition judged by Helen Losse, and received grants from the King County Arts Commission, Seattle Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. An independent editor in New York City, she watches the East River, pigeons, and the Dodgers.

 

Toastmasters International is a worldwide, nonprofit, educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. The Bronx Toastmasters Club of Riverdale will hold its next two meetings on Nov. 10 and 17. The featured speakers on Nov. 10 will be Don Chadwick, Ana Liz Figueroa and Nicholas Fazio. On Nov. 17, club president, Brenda Aiken-Thompson, will talk about creating a podcast. For more information, send an email to bronxtoastmastersclub@gmail.com.

 

Literature

Johanna Fernández is associate professor of history at Baruch College of the City University of New York and editor of “Writing on the Wall: Selected Prison Writings of Mumia Abu-Jamal.” Fernández is also the author of “The Young Lords: A Radical History,” which has won numerous awards including the 2021 Frederick Jackson Turner Award and the 2021 American Book Award. A virtual presentation of The Young Lords will be held on Nov. 11, at 7 p.m., via eventbrite.

 

According to the book description, “against the backdrop of America’s escalating urban rebellions in the 1960s, an unexpected cohort of New York radicals unleashed a series of urban guerrilla actions against the city’s racist policies and contempt for the poor. Their dramatic flair, uncompromising socialist vision for a new society, skillful ability to link local problems to international crises, and uncompromising vision for a new society riveted the media, alarmed New York’s political class, and challenged nationwide perceptions of civil rights and black power protest. The group called itself the Young Lords.” For more information, click here.

 

Film

Nominated for two Emmy® awards, THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH continues its sixth season amid a new race for Democrats to find common ground and pass President Biden’s transformative agenda. In the upcoming Sunday night episode, on Oct. 31, Circus host and co-executive producer Mark McKinnon has a one-on-one with Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), where they discuss the current status of the Democratic squabbling over President Biden’s ambitious domestic agenda. (As reported, Norwood News also recently discussed the status of the bill with Bowman and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14).) The Circus interview took place outside the White House, where Bowman was meeting with climate activists on a hunger strike. Circus airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on Showtime.

 

 

Music

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is proud to present by popular demand the return of HÉCTOR “El Torito” ACOSTA for a Special VIP Concert, La Noche de El Torito, on Saturday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. Known affectionately as “El Torito” (The Little Bull), Héctor Acosta, one of the Dominican Republic’s most well-known bachata and merengue artists, will perform his hits such as “Me Voy,” “Sin Perdón,” and “Tu Veneno”. “El Torito” has always been hugely supported by his fans who have sold out Lehman Center before! For this event, we will see a renewed concert premiering a brand-new production and a special musical hit.

 

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is located on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for HÉCTOR ACOSTA are available at $100, $65, $55, $45, and $35 and can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at (718) 960-8833, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and beginning at 4 p.m. on the day of the concert, or online at www.LehmanCenter.org.

 

On Halloween, Sunday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m., Bronx Music Heritage Center is hosting “La Otra Del Violín: The People’s History of Latin Strings,” a concert featuring live music by Puerto Rican-American violinist, Skye Steele, and his band, Alphos Ensemble. The concert will take place on the plaza outside The Bronx Music Hall, the future home of Bronx Music Heritage Center programming, located at 438 E 163rd Street. Admission for this event is free. Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs. If there is rain, the show will be canceled. For more information, call (917) 557-2354. COVID protocols will be in place and masks are required.

Gotham Early Music Scene (GEMS) inaugurates its Open Gates Project with The Divine Feminine: Centering Women of Color in Early Music, a program of 17th–century works celebrating the animating feminine spirit featuring an ensemble composed of women of color. The performances take place in different boroughs, with the Bronx performance being held on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 4 p.m. at Pregones Theater, 575 Walton Ave., Bronx, NY. The classical music program includes Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz: Madre, de los primores, Chiara Margarita Cozzolani: O dulcis Jesu, Barbara Strozzi: I baci, Francesca Caccini: O vive rose, Alessandro Stradella: Sinfonia No. 22 in D minor and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: Stabat Mater. Tickets are priced at $15–$30 ($5 for students, ID required at venue) are all General Admission seating and are available online at gemsny.org; by calling 212-866-0468; and at the door, subject to availability. For more information, visit the website or email media@gemsny.org.

 

October marks the National Disability Employment Awareness month. The 2nd annual Danny Awards will take place on Dec. 12, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST, sponsored by René Plessner. The award show showcases and recognizes the musical talents of individuals with developmental and physical disabilities. To give award recipients the event that they deserve, organizers are pushing to host the event live in New York City, and live streaming it globally via the internet.

 

A panel of judges comprised of musicians and music industry professionals will have selected top award recipients, chosen from video submissions in two categories; “Outstanding Original Song” and “Joyful Expression of a Cover Song”. Each award recipient will receive a personalized Danny Award memorializing their achievement, an honorarium of $500; plus, up to a $500 travel reimbursement (reimbursement to be made based on actual expenses incurred and submitted). Most importantly, each award recipient will have the opportunity to share their musical talents with the world! Visit danielsmusic.org/TheDannys2021 for more details.

 

The Nest Music Conservatory, a non-profit organization providing music education to youths in the Bronx through out-of-school programs, has reopened. The organization is dedicated to creating a nurturing environment that contributes to the social and emotional growth of students, their families, and our communities through classes, events, and concert series. The center suffered severe damages due to the recent hurricane, and had intended to be open for regular after school programs in time for the beginning of the school year but was delayed during repairs. The center, located at 3636 Holland Ave, The Bronx, NY 10467, USA will be open daily, Monday to Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Call 718-994-6378 for more information. 

 

 

The Bardekova Arts Ensemble will be performing a fall concert at the Woolworth Chapel of Woodlawn Conservancy, located at 4199 Webster Ave, Bronx, NY 10470, on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 3 p.m. The Bardekova Ensemble is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring free and/or moderately priced concerts to all ages and economic levels in the Bronx. Ellen Bardekoff is the founder and oboist of the Bardekova Ensemble. The group has won over 50 awards for 38 concert series in the Bronx with the Department of Cultural Affairs, Community Arts Grant, and The Music Performance Trust Fund.

 

Members of the group have performed with members of the New York Philharmonic, and the Metropolitan Opera. They have also played with the Goldovsky Opera Company, the Steve Reich Ensemble as well as other notable performing organizations. They have recorded with ECM, Nonesuch, Grenadilla and the Et Cetera record companies. Tickets are free but advance registration is required. Click here to register. New York City is requiring proof of vaccine for indoor performances. Please bring your vaccination card or app to show upon entry. Masks will also be available.

 

Food

 

Movement

Friends of Mosholu Parkland will be planting daffodils on Sunday, Oct. 31, from noon to 4 p.m. at Mosholu North and Bainbridge Avenue. Volunteers are welcome.

 

Williamsbridge Oval Park Recreation Center, located at 3225 Reservoir Oval E, Bronx, NY 10467, is open for the fall season, and registration is free. Go to https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/recreationcenters/X104 for more information on the various classes and activities on offer.

 

It’s that time of year again! Williamsbridge Oval need male and female quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and a defensive line for the upcoming Flag Football Season. Flag Football practice will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Games will be on Saturdays. This program is geared toward all youth from 9 to 14 years of age. The venue is the Williamsbridge Oval, 3225 Reservoir Oval, Bronx, New York 10467. Call (718) 543-8672 for more details.

 

Join NYC Parks for a Halloween Discovery Hike & Craft event in Van Cortlandt Park on Sunday, Oct 31, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a walk into the woods searching for spiders and other critters. Enjoy fall foliage and try your hand at your choice of nature arts & crafts. Best for kids. Meet at the Van Cortlandt Nature Center, West 246th Street and Broadway.

The NYPD, the Department of Youth and Community Development, the City’s five district attorneys’ offices and several City agency partners, community-based organizations and foundations launched the “Saturday Night Lights” program on July 10 and it continues all year long. The groups have opened 100 gyms across the City for free, high-quality sports programs for kids on Saturday nights, ensuring no indoor gyms will be closed on these nights – the time when they are needed most by kids in city communities.

 

Each Saturday evening, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., children from 11 to 18 years-of-age will be able to enjoy an array of indoor sports, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, dance, martial arts and more. According to the organizers, a key component of the program is bringing cops and kids together. Teams of Youth Coordination Officers from NYPD precincts will be at each of the 100 gymnasiums every Saturday night, helping to coach and participating with members of various Community Based Organizations to interact with young people and help make a lasting and positive impact in their lives. The Fordham Heights location is at 2255 Webster Avenue, Bronx, NY 10457. Click here for a full list of other venues.

NYC DOT has provided information to New Yorkers on riding E-bikes in NYC.  Click here to learn more about riding an e-bike and other micromobility options in NYC.

 

Other Upcoming NYC Parks’ Events are scheduled in the Bronx as follows:

 

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Cardio Sculpt 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.

Family Art Project: Día de los Muertos 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at Wave Hill House, Wave Hill, Bronx

Halloween Discovery Hike and Craft 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. at Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx

Public Garden Highlights Walk 2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m. at Perkins Visitors Center, Wave Hill, Bronx

Monday, November 1, 2021

Adult/Senior Open Access 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

Chair Aerobics 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, Williamsbridge Oval, Bronx

Performance Creative Movement 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, Williamsbridge Oval, Bronx

Intro to Windows/MS Office 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Drum Fit 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Intro to Computers 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Adult/Senior Open Access 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.

Teen Open Access 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

K-8 Digital Learning 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

Victory Games 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, Williamsbridge Oval, Bronx

Hunts Point ASP 2021-2022 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

St. Mary’s ASP 2021-2022 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Basketball Skills Academy 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

Bronx – Flag Football Clinics and League-St Mary’s Parks 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Park, Bronx

S.T.E.A.M 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. at Hunts Point Recreation Center, Bronx

Art With Tatiyana 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, Williamsbridge Oval, Bronx

Get Active 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, Williamsbridge Oval, Bronx

Teen Open Access 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

All Ages Open Access 5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.

S.T.E.A.M 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Fit Fab Fun 6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, Williamsbridge Oval, Bronx

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Adult/Senior Open Access 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.