Editor’s Note: Check back for more updates as we add more events. For details of back-to-school giveaways, check out our latest Neighborhood Notes listing. 

Editor’s Pick

Watch the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop Concert held in Yankee Stadium on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023 below, courtesy of YouTube.

 

EVENTS

Edible Academy Fresh from the Garden Tastings takes place at the New York Botanical Garden on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Get hands-on with healthy cooking using new recipes featuring plants grown in the Edible Academy. NYBG staff create family-friendly recipes using seasonal vegetables, fruits, and herbs, and kids and adults alike can learn how garden-to-table cooking is not only nutritious, but fun, too. While you’re exploring the Edible Academy, get hands on with the crops in the vegetable garden during Dig! Plant! Grow! each month. For more information, click here.

 

See attached flier below for details of the Bronx Library Center’s August Calendar of Events.

 

Tom Vasti’s lecture on the last day of Patrolman Alfred Loreto, presented on the 73rd anniversary of his demise on July 21, 2023 as part of the East Bronx History Forum ,at St. Francis Xavier grammar school auditorium can be viewed here.

 

1.5 Million: A Documentary About the Literacy Crisis in The Bronx explores the political and economic forces that have brought about a literacy crisis in The Bronx, specifically, District 7 which is located in the South Bronx. The film’s producers said with a lack of school libraries, classroom libraries, books within the community, bookstores, robust marketing by the NYPL in The Bronx and decades of divestment to education, a literacy crisis has come to fruition in The Bronx.

They said, born from the stereotypes that people in The Bronx do not read and are only known for having interests in sneaker and liquor stores; it is not by coincidence that access to literature has a profound effect on the culture of reading. As of 2016, they said only 56% of high school graduates in The Bronx are college ready. They said poverty is a major factor, with 40% of children in the South Bronx living below the poverty line. They said a child raised in poverty is 13 times less likely to finish high school on time, if at all.

They said 70 percent of third grade students in The South Bronx are unable to read at their grade level. They said the New York City Department of Education has found that children who fail to meet the third grade benchmark are more likely to drop out of high school and remain in poverty. They said the South Bronx has the poorest congressional districts in the nation and has the most unemployed, according to a 2016 report by South Bronx Rising Together. This free screening will take place in person on Monday, Aug. 28, at 2 p.m. R.S.V.P. at tinyurl.com/OnePointFiveMillion.

 

Join the Chess Club for Kids at Kingsbridge Library, 291 West 231st St, Bronx, NY 10463, on Monday, Aug 14, and Monday, Aug. 21, both at 3.30 p.m. Open to beginners as well as experienced players. If you don’t know how to play, that’s all right: come and learn!

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) is hosting a Summer Reading Program. See attached flier below for more details.

 

Castle Hill Library is hosting a “Magic Alive!” a magic program on Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 3 p.m. See attached flier for details.

 

Riverdale Meditation Cooperative hosts meditation sessions on Wednesdays at 505BX. See attached flier below for more details.

Soundview Public Library is hosting a Bronx History event series on Arts, Cultures and Spaces in The Bronx on Mondays at 3 p.m. on Google Meet. See attached flier below for more information.

 

 

The Bronx Night Market, a vibrant community event that celebrates the values of inclusivity, diversity, and local entrepreneurship is back for its 6th season. The Bronx Night Market returned to Fordham Plaza on May 6, bringing together over 50 diverse vendors, live performances, and a cultural extravaganza. Visitors are invited to experience the market magic on the last Saturday of each month from 1 pm to 7 p.m. until October. With a diverse array of international cuisine, live music, and captivating performances, visitors will immerse themselves in the bustling energy of the market. More information can be found here.

 

Join Monday Fundays 2023 for free snacks, music and street performers in front of 505 West 236th Street. See attached flier below for more information.

On select Friday nights from April to September, the Intrepid Museum in Manhattan opens its doors for free (tickets are usually $36), allowing visitors to explore the museum and enjoy free after-hours programming. Free Fridays run on the last Friday of the month (April 28, June 30, July 28, August 25, September 29). Visit intrepidmuseum.org for more details.

 

A number of citywide events highlighting Black Excellence can be found on eventbrite.

 

See attached flier below for upcoming Free Movies scheduled to be screened at Mosholu Library.

New York Botanical Garden (NYBG)’s Bronx Neighbors Program offers free Grounds-Only Admission to Bronx Residents Tuesday to Sunday and Monday federal holidays, offering the local community access to nature in their backyard, programs for the whole family, and more. Get your tickets online now, or learn more about other ways to receive your FREE Bronx Resident Grounds-Only admission ticket. Up to 6 tickets per transaction.

• 250 acres to explore year-round
• The largest surviving old-growth forest in New York City
• Two family gardens for hands-on exploration
• Free mobile guides with audio tours, videos, and special content!

 

Want to work with other writers? Commit to a writing schedule? Practice your craft through writing prompts? Receive and discuss information and tips on writing, reading, editing, and revising? Join the weekly meetings of the Kingsbridge Writing Circle, held online at the Kingsbridge Library every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. Share your unpublished drafts in an intimate setting. Get and give feedback. Writers of all genres and styles are welcome to participate. The program is for those aged 18 and up. You must register to receive the Google Meet meeting code which will be emailed the day before. Register here.

 

“Picking Up the Pieces” is a wellness forum for the LGBTQ+ community, a safe space to have supportive, group discussions. The group meets on Mondays at 5 p.m. at 448 East 149th St (3rd Floor) Bronx, NY 10455, in conjunction with Destination Tomorrow and moderated by Yahaira Gonzalez. 

INCLUDEnyc fosters positive futures and enhances the quality of life for young people with any disability from birth to age 26 and their families in New York City. The organization promotes access to educational, employment, and independent living opportunities for young people, and advocate with families for meaningful inclusion in the broader community. Share your experiences, struggles, and successes as parents of children with disabilities. For a list of upcoming workshops and events, both online and in person, click here.

 

Celebrate National Parks & Recreation Month. See attached list of events below.

For those interested in English for Speakers of Other Languages classes, BronxWorks are accepting students. Contact program coordinator, Cheyla Perez, at cperezduran@bronxworks.org or (718) 508 3112 for more information.

Norwood Community Library, a mobile library, arranges pop-up library booths around The Bronx and also has a permanent library box located in front of the Keeper’s House at 3440 Reservoir Oval East, Bronx, NY 10467. For more details, check out our previous story on the group. The library also meets regularly as a book club.

 

DANCE

Dance in Woodlawn Playground and learn free Ballroom and Latin dancing on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. See attached flier for more details.

 

Dance in Henry Hudson Park on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and learn free Ballroom and Latin Dancing. See attached flier for more details.

 

A Regular Latin Dance Sampler is held at The Bronx House, 990 Pelham Pkwy S, Bronx, NY 10461, on Thursdays throughout August at 10 a.m. See attached flier for details.

MUSIC

Lori Belilove’s Isadora Duncan Dance Company returns to Untermyer Gardens, 945 North Broadway, Yonkers NY 10701, with a program of dances by Isadora Duncan, along with original works by Belilove, including her “Tribute to Ukraine,” on Sunday, Sept. 3, at 5 p.m. (Rain Date: Monday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m.). Tickets are $50. Receive tickets on Untermyergardens.org.

The Office of the Bronx Borough President is hosting a series of Free Summer Concerts throughout the borough. See attached flier below for more information.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, The Bronx, has advised that TITO PUENTE CENTENNIAL, a tribute to the 100-year legacy of Tito Puente, originally scheduled for Saturday, May 20, at 8 p.m. has been rescheduled to Saturday, March 2, 2024.

 

As the “King of Latin Music”, Tito Puente created over 200 compositions and produced more than 100 albums in the span of five decades. Known for fusing styles and putting a big-band spin on traditional Latin music, Tito Puente put Caribbean styles, including mambo, salsa, boogaloo, cha-cha-cha, rumba, guaracha and Afro-Cuban jazz, on the global map.

 

Performing alongside with Tito Puente’s son, Tito Puente Jr., will be world-class musicians, including Orestes Vilato, Nicky Marrero, Endel Dueño, Frankie Figueroa, Frankie Morales, John ‘Dandy’ Rodriguez, and Jose Madera. The ensemble will come together to honor Tito Puente’s enduring musical heritage at Lehman Center! Call the box office at (718) 960-8833 Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (weekend hours vary)

 

As reported, 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop with a number of events taking place throughout the City to celebrate this milestone. Click here here for more information.

 

As also reported, a new Hip Hop show, KWIK2ROK, has premiered on BronxNet to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop this year.

 

ART

Former Norwood News editor, Jordan Moss, has three art pieces showing in a members’ show at the Blue Door Art Center in Yonkers. More details can be found here.

 

In Dreams, a solo exhibition by Annette Back is showing at Gallery 505 though Sept. 29. See attached flier for more information.

The exhibition, Divine Queerness: Forms and Tools Methods of Healing, is on display at The Gay Center, 208 West 13th Street in Manhattan, will continue showing until Sept. 10, 2023. Divine Queerness is a visual investigation of the different ways queer identity shapes the healing mechanisms and processes of People from the Global Majority. 7 artists examine their own personal, ancestral, and communal journey w,ith healing through different forms and tools, rooted in radical imagination as a way of resilience and a necessary form of reclamation; overcoming all obstacles to achieve a notion of divinity. For more information, click here.

 

 

The application cycle for the Bronx Cultural Visions Fund (BCVF) is officially open! Don’t miss the opportunity to obtain a grant ranging between $10,000 – $20,000 for the development of new concepts and the production of new work in the performing arts, including but not limited to live dance, music, theater, performance art, and multi-disciplinary performance work.

 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to register for the next Info Session taking place online on Thursday, June 29th from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM to learn more about the application process and grant-writing tips for the success of your application.

 

KIDS 

The Bronx Children’s Museum has officially opened. See our latest story on the opening here. The museum recently welcomed its first children for a preview of the brand new facility with special guest, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. When asked how they enjoyed it, the children reportedly responded, “A-MAZ-ING!” The 2023 opening hours for the museum, located at 725 Exterior Street near Yankee Stadium along the Harlem River, as of Jan. 3, are now Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the museum’s website here.

 

The Nest Music Conservatory is a non-profit organization providing music education to youths in the Bronx through out-of-school programs. The organization is dedicated to creating a nurturing environment that contributes to the social and emotional growth of students, their families, and communities through classes, events, and concert series. The center, located at 3636 Holland Ave, The Bronx, NY 10467, USA is open daily, Monday to Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Call (718) 994-6378 for more information. 

 

SPOKEN WORD, STORY TELLING & LITERACY

Join the Open Mic Poetic Affair event on Aug 16. See attached flier below for more details.

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.

 

NYC Veterans’ Veteran Voices Project records the stories of NYC’s veterans and preserves their legacy. Learn more at nyc.gov/vetvoices.

DYK? @nycveterans launched the Veteran Voices Project (VVP) to record the stories of NYC's veterans and preserve their legacy.
🎙️ Learn more about this oral history initiative at https://t.co/k6d4WfIHIW#VeteransDay #NYCVeteransDay21 pic.twitter.com/FTKKjI2R0Z

— NYC Consumer and Worker Protection (@helloDCWP) November 11, 2021

 

MOVEMENT   

Through the High School Summer Pass program, New York City teens ages 14 to 19 can get free gym access to Planet Fitness clubs across the five boroughs. After registering for the program, participants can work out for free at participating Planet Fitness locations through Thursday, Aug. 31. Participants must work out at the location they sign up at and are not permitted to use other locations. Teens under 18 must register with a parent or guardian online or in-club. More information, including registration, is available at on.nyc.gov/SummerPass.

The Summer Sports Series hosted by NYC Parks takes place through Aug. 30, 2023. See attached flier below for more information.

NY Parks Foundation’s FREE spring Youth Track & Field program began on April 8 in parks in The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. Whether you want to hone skills or discover a new sport, the youth program for ages 6-17 is perfect for all levels looking to learn and have fun. Participants will practice proper technique, learn new skills, and develop healthy habits all while meeting new friends in their neighborhood park.

 

Meanwhile, for New Yorkers 60 years old and over, a Seniors Fitness program offers free twice weekly pickleball, tennis, yoga, and fitness walking classes across all five boroughs since April 2023. Participants of all levels are welcome to come out, have fun, and socialize. Visit https://cityparksfoundation.org/ or call (212) 360-1399 for more information.

 

Learn to Become a Lifeguard. Make summer happen for NYC! Becoming a lifeguard is a rewarding experience. You’ll work outdoors in some of New York City’s most iconic locations, playing a critical role in helping New Yorkers of all ages and abilities have safe access to beaches and pools. Click here for more details or see attached flyer below.

 

 

New York City’s public beaches opened on Saturday, May 27. NYC Parks reminds all beachgoers to be safe in and around the water this summer, and only swim when lifeguards are on duty NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue announced that the City’s eight public beaches opened for swimming on Saturday and remain open through Sunday, September 10, 2023. Lifeguards will be on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; swimming is unsafe and strictly prohibited at all other times.

 

Orchard Beach, the Bronx’s sole public beach, was proclaimed “The Riviera of New York City” when it was created in the 1930s. Today, it remains a family friendly destination for summer fun, and will be welcoming visitors for swimming beginning May 27! This year, Parks will be hosting a series of fun, family-friendly events including movie nights, silent disco, and a drive-in movie. With the $87.6 million renovation of the historic, landmarked Orchard Beach Pavilion underway, Parks is investing in the future of Orchard Beach as a fun, safe, and beautiful summer destination for generations of beachgoers to come.

 

Parks is excited to continue its free sunscreen program with 56 dispensers located at all eight beaches. Through the program, funded by the IMPACT Melanoma Foundation in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, and by Episcopal Health Services in the Rockaways, New Yorkers can protect themselves from long hours in the sun by easily applying the provided SPF 30 sunscreen. The foundation will also be providing sun safety information throughout the summer at select locations.

 

The Health Department is responsible for beach health and safety surveillance and routine water quality monitoring for all beaches in NYC. The agency regularly tests the water quality and monitors wet weather conditions near the City’s beaches to make sure it is safe for swimming. When water is polluted from excessive rain runoff, sewage or other pollution, it can pose health risks to swimmers and beachgoers. If necessary, easy-to-read water quality advisory and closure signs will be posted at beaches to ensure that all beachgoers are aware of any health or safety risks.

 

For more information on Health Department sampling results, water quality information, and to find out if there are any advisories or closures before heading to the beach, the public can visit nyc.gov/health/beach or call 311. Beachgoers can also sign up for “Know Before You Go,” a free text service in English and Spanish that informs New Yorkers if public beaches are open, or closed due to water quality issues. New Yorkers can text “BEACH” or “PLAYA” to 55676 to get the status of any of the City’s eight public beaches. NYC Parks outdoor pools will open on Wednesday, June 29.

 

Van Cortlandt Park Nature Center is open every Saturday and Sunday. See attached flier below for more information.

 

Visiting Nurses Services NY is inviting the public to virtual, exercise classes in Cantonese on Tuesdays, from 2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. See attached flier below for more information.

 

 

BronxWorks and Twin Parks West Older Adult Center, 355 East 183^rd Street, Bronx, NY 10458, invites residents to come join some fun classes Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. See attached flier below for details.

Running group, Bronx Nomads, generally meet at the Bainbridge Avenue entrance to the Williamsbridge Oval in Norwood on Mondays at 6.30 p.m. to run together safely. Founded 5 years ago, the group caters to those with different levels of fitness. You can follow Bronx Nomads on Instagram and Facebook or email the group at bronxnomads@gmail.com.

 

Elected officials, City agency partners, and community-based organizations continue to host the Saturday Night Lights citywide program to work together to keep 100 gyms across the City open for free, high-quality sports programs for kids on Saturday nights, ensuring no indoor gyms are closed on these nights – the time when they are needed most by kids in city communities. Click on the following link to watch a video extract of the Saturday Night Lights Relaunch, where Mayor Eric Adams can be seen observing some of the kids in action.

 

Each Saturday evening, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., children and youth, aged 11 to 18, are 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 are at each of the 100 gymnasiums every Saturday night, helping to coach, and joining members of various community based organizations to interact with young people and help make a lasting and positive impact in their lives.

 

Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, located at 3450 Dekalb Avenue, is the local venue for the program in Norwood, while the Fordham Heights program is run at 2255 Webster Avenue, Bronx, NY 10457. For a list of all venues, scan the QR code in the below flier. (If you cannot access the QR code from the attached flyer, click on this link.

 

As reported, an additional 25 city gyms and an additional $1.25 million investment in the Saturday Night Lights program was announced on July 9, 2022 to ensure public gyms will continue to remain open during the school year from September 10, 2022 through June 24, 2023. To find a gym near you, click here.

Gotham City Panthers is a new amateur basketball team founded by Eric King. Click on the link for more information.

 

Theory 9’s Rising Kings Basketball Club caters to different age groups in the Kingsbridge Heights neighborhood. Click here for more details.

 

Bronx Buccaneers football club meet on Saturdays in the Williamsbridge Oval, located at 3225 Reservoir Oval East, in Norwood from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Monday to Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Understanding there is more to football, the Buccaneers strive to develop the students/athletes, and the hope is that the players will use the program not only as a stepping stone to advance to upper level sports in High School and college, but also as a means to engage in positive behavior and as a healthy distraction from idleness which the group says can lead to poor decisions. The Buccaneers accept kids from any community, boys or girls, ages 6 to 14. Contact Tasha Andrews at (917) 662-3632 for further information.

Bronx Panthers Youth Football & Cheer save lives through football, and are recruiting all age groups. Call the numbers in the attached flier, above, for more information.

 

Pilot Program to Allow E-Bikes in Parks

NYC Department of Parks & Creation launched a pilot program allowing e-bikes and light-weight e-scooters on Park drives and greenways, effective June 20. Officials said the pilot program allows the same bicycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters that are legal to operate on NYC streets to also operate on park drives, spaces where bicycles are already permitted in parks. They said Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes, as well as lighter-weight e-scooters, are already allowed to operate on NYC streets and in bike lanes and will be allowed in parks as part of the pilot program.

They said Parks has created a new webpage at nyc.gov/parks/ebikes, with a citywide map of parks showing greenways and drives that are part of the program, as well as a multilingual survey to both hear from and educate New Yorkers on electric micromobility. They said the pilot program does not allow e-bikes on pedestrian paths, and faster, heavier mopeds or motorcycles are not allowed anywhere in parks or on greenways. They said the latter are also precluded from bike lanes, and their drivers must hold a driver’s license. For more information
on micromobility devices, visit nyc.gov/ebikes.

 

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

 

Editor’s Note: We will update this feature article as more events become available.