1. Designed by famed architects of the time 
Both Alfred T. Fellheimer and Alen M Stein  were nationally known specialists in railroad station architecture, having originally designed many famed structures including the Grand Central Terminal, also designated a New York City Landmark in 1967.

2. The Railway was supposed to reach as far as Boston 
The former New York, Westchester & Boston Railway, was conceived to eventually reach Boston, but instead it never made it that far north and the electric railway only ran 21 miles from Harlem River Terminal in the Bronx to White Plains in suburban Westchester. 

3. "The Westchester," as the line was popularly known, never made a profit 
There were a number of reasons for this.  One problem was a result of timing and growing progress in transportation.  With the automobile industry beginning to explode by the 1920s and the development of scenic parkways proving a success in managing intracity auto traffic, the NYW&B could not successfully compete as a commuter railroad.  Additionally, at this time, the "Westchester"  offered lower fares but required riders to transfer to the IRT in the Bronx, as opposed to higher fares for a one-seat ride to Grand Central.  Convenience won out as most commuters chose the latter, causing the line to continually lose money.
After forging on in spite of not making a profit, the company declared bankruptcy in 1937, ending service after 25 years.

4. It is the only free-standing National Register building that serves as the entrance to a NYC subway station.
Since the 1940s the building has functioned as the entrance to the 180th Street station of the New York City transit system, with administrative offices on the upper floors.  However, artistically, it is one of a series of fabulously ornate stations that were built along the line in the early 1900's, which include this station (at E. 180th St) and others at the time, including Morris Park, Pelham Parkway, Gun Hill Road, Baychester Avenue, and Dyre Avenue. Giving such attention to detail , with artistic architectural style was unique, especially at a time when other railroad lines settled for sheds or shacks for their stations.

5. The NYW&B was considered state of the art for its time 
Conceived in 1872, it was delayed for a few decades by the Panic of 1873, essentially a depression. The railroad began construction in 1906, after coming out of receivership in the early 1900s,  and built north, with the northernmost stations at Rye and Port Chester opening in 1928 and 1929. When most stations opened in 1912, the NYW&B was considered state of the art for its time, taking power from overhead lines, no grade crossings, high platforms to enable comfortable boarding, and spacious, architecturally attractive ticket offices/station houses.

6. Italian Renaissance Style was a nationwide favorite with architects of the period
According to Emilio Guerra and the 1976 NYCLPC Landmark Designation Report, "The Westchester's" railroad stations ... is one of the two surviving stations inspired by the Italian villa style in the city; the other is the Paulding station nearby on Esplanade. ​

7. The Centennial of the NYW&B was celebrated in 2012 with a renovation project
In 2012, the The New York City Transit Authority budgeted $66.6 million for renovation of the structure led by Lee Harris Pomeroy Architects in association with Weidlinger Associates. Renovations included the conversion of a damp and humid passageway between the administration building and the passenger platforms to a more inviting and brightly lit corridor, as well as new artwork commissioned by Luisa Caldwell.  

8. The clock on the building was not part of the original renovation plans
It's hard to believe that with such a large renovation budget, it did not include the restoration of the clock beneath the sculpture of Mercury on the building's facade.  However, the president of Citnalta Construction Corporation, general contractor for the project, didn't like the building's appearance without a clock and as a result, located a 45-inch diameter clock with Roman numerals and covered its $8,000 price and labor to install it as an extra contribution to the renovation project.

-Elisa
​

Reference:

• www.flickr.com/photos/emilio_guerra/3595178680
• www.forgotten-ny.com/2012/04/new-york-westchester-boston-railroad-part-1/
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York,_Westchester_and_Boston_Railroad_Administration_Building
• Dunlap, David W. (2013, February 1). A Revived Century-Old Landmark (Not That One). The New York Times, p A19.
• www.nywbry.com

​As a graduate of Fordham University, it warms my heart to hear stories about graduates from my Bronx Alma Mater. Of course, coming out of this prestigious institution of higher learning are countless success stories in virtually every area of life. I was particularly moved by one graduate’s journey and accomplishments as I paged through my latest issue of Fordham magazine. 

Who would have thought there would be a connection between Fordham’s prestigious law school, a determined African American woman and notorious mob boss, Lucky Luciano. 

In a time when it was the rarest of circumstances for a woman - let alone a black woman to pursue a professional life in law enforcement, Eunice Carter achieved a few firsts. With a dream and s desire from the time she was 8 years old, Ms Carter is quoted as saying that she wanted to be a lawyer “to make sure the bad people went to jail.“

Put the bad people in jail indeed, as she would go on to do. As this granddaughter of slaves persevered in an era when women were not looked upon as equals in the work force, least of all law enforcement, Ms. Carter graduating from Smith University, and went on to earn a law degree from Fordham Law School in 1932.

A graduate of the class of 1932, Ms Carter attended law school while raising her son and working a full-time position as a supervisor in the Harlem division of the Emergency Unemployment Committee.  No easy task even in today’s world of modern conveniences and equal rights. 

After receiving her law degree, she became the first African American woman to serve as a New York assistant district attorney, as well as the only woman and person of color on the team. Her team was led by the future New York governor Thomas E. Dewey and what they would accomplish would go down in the annals of law enforcement history for bringing one of the country’s biggest gangsters to justice.  

According to Fordham magazine article, Pioneering Prosecutor, written by Ray Legendre, Carter's grandson, Yale Law School professor and best-selling author Stephen L. Carter, recounts his grandmother's time at Fordham, her meteoric rise as a prosecutor, and her work on the Charles "Lucky"Luciano case in his new book, Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down America's Most Powerful Mobster, published last October by MacMillan. 

Spearheading the investigation was Eunice Carter and through her efforts and ability to convince witnesses to attest to the fact that   Luciano ran New York City's brothels, was the proof needed to eventually sentenced the mob boss to 30 to 50 years in prison in 1936.  In speaking about his grandmother, Stephen L. Carter states, "She was black and a woman and a lawyer, a graduate of Smith and the granddaughter of three slaves and one free woman of color, as dazzlingly unlikely a combination as one could image in New York of the 1930's and without her work the Mafia boss would never have been convicted."

An amazing woman and a role model for young girls today, Carter proclaimed in her own words, spoken at the International Council Women triennial conference in Greece years later, "Skill, talent, and ingenuity prevail in woman-kind as well as man-kind. A country or community which fails to allow its women to choose and develop their individual beings in an atmosphere of freedom thrusts away from itself a large part of the human resources which can give it strength and vitality." ​

-Elisa

If you squint your eyes and cover your ears while observing The Andrew Freedman Home, you’d be hard pressed to ever guess that you were standing in the middle of the Grand Concourse. 

Architecturally, this century-old building is designed more akin to a French or Italian Renaissance edifice with its soft gray and yellow limestone rather than structure found on a main avenue in the South Bronx. 

Today, and as of 2012, The Andrew Freedman Home is known as a daycare center as well as an event space venue for a variety of artwork exhibitions in various mediums including photography, live installations and video projections. ​

But just how did this exquisitely designed building originate and for what purpose? The creation of The Andrew Freedman Home was the vision of the man for whom it is named. While there is not much information to be found about Andrew Freedman, which causes me a great deal of frustration, being a history fanatic, I will share the few facts that I was able to ascertain in my research. 

Andrew Freedman was born in NYC in 1860, becoming a successful businessman, who built a multi-million dollar fortune by the end of the 19th century.  There is not much known about his personal life, except that he was Jewish and attended Grammar School No. 35 in lower Manhattan.  It appears that he was never married, nor did he have any children.  Records do not really exist for exactly how he created his personal wealth.  

HIs business accomplishments are, however, pretty impressive. Freedman became the principal owner of the New York Giants of the National League in 1895, after purchasing a controlling interest in the ball club from Cornelius C Van Cott, at a cost of $53,000, which in today's dollar terms would amount to approximately $1,596,148.  He would remain owner until 1902, but not after first purchasing a controlling interest in the Baltimore Orioles of the American League that same year.

According to a New York Times Article published on December 1, 1901, Freedman's difficult personality, which led to many run-ins with his players, resulted in NL presidential candidate Al Spalding calling Freedman an "impossibility in baseball," further stating that the "only condition under which he would accept the Presidency of the National Baseball League would be that Andrew Freedman should be forced out of baseball." Freedman refused.

Apart from baseball, Freedman's financial interests extended across other areas of industry. For one, he was director of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT), which was founded and owned by August Belmont and John B. McDonald, for which Freedman reportedly invested $1.7 million (or approximately $49,228,077 by today's standards) into the company in 1901 and 1902.

This business mogul also served on the board of directors of the Wright Company, established in 1909 to market the Wright brothers' airplanes in the United States.  Further, as the owner of an ice yacht, named "Haze", Freedman won a pennant race in North Shrewsbury, New Jersey in 1904.  

Quite an interesting resume of business ventures for a man whose methods for financial accumulation is not very clear. According to Christopher Gray's NYTimes article on May 23, 1999, "He (Freedman) had been involved in real estate and subway financing, owned the New York Giants baseball team and was a close associate of the Tammany Hall boss Richard Croker. But Freedman's entry in the authoritative Dictionary of American Biography ventures only that ''by ways that are no longer traceable he achieved a conspicuous success.''"

The facts remain that Andrew Freedman was a man of substantial means, who lived a wealthy lifestyle, realizing that life could very easily take a turn for the worse, leaving even the richest individuals poor and destitute, after he encountered a scare during the Panic of 1907, when he nearly lost his entire fortune. 

His fear would prompt him to create a charitable trust, with which to build a home for older individuals who had lost their fortunes, where they could live in their retirements in a style they had grown accustomed. At the time of his death in 1915, Freedman left an estate valued over $4 million ($99,100,000 in current dollar terms) and bequeathed money to build the Andrew Freedman Home.  

​The home was intended to serve as a retirement home for "aged and indigent persons of both sexes", who had formerly been of "good circumstances" financially, offering each resident a rent free place to live, along with free servants, This exquisite retirement home included formal English gardens, a well-manicured lawn, public rooms with fireplaces and oriental rugs and each private residence contained a white marble shower stall. The Home could accommodate 130 residents at a time.

Interestingly, another prominent Bronx individual, Samuel Untermyer, lawyer, civic leader and former owner of the Yonkers estate which is now Untermyer Park, served as executor of Freedman's estate, and it was he who would oversee the construction of The Andrew Freedman Home, in the purchasing of the land on the Grand Concourse in The Bronx and hiring architects Joseph H. Friedlander and Harry Allan Jacobs to design the two-story building. At a cost of $1 million ($14,620,000 in current dollar terms), the new edifice took two years to construct, being completed and opened in 1924. An expansion would be added between 1928 and 1931,with the addition of two new wings designed by architect, David Levy.

Unfortunately, as the years went by, the trust's money decreased and by 1965, residents were required to pay rent. Shortly thereafter, as the area around the Grand Concourse began to decline, people started to move out.

In 1992, The Andrew Freedman Home was named a New York City Designated Landmark and remains today one of the grandest buildings in the Bronx.

-Elisa

Resources:
* New York Times - December 1, 1901 (reprinted 2012) 
* New York Times - January 4, 1904 (reprinted 2012)
* New York Times - October 3, 1913 (reprinted 2012)
* New York Times - November 23, 1909
* New York Times: Streetscapes/The Andrew Freedman Home; A Retirement Home Built for the Formerly Wealthy By Christopher Gray, May 23, 1999  
* Landmark Preservation Center, 1992

​With all the world traveling I have done through the years as a travel blogger, this past Christmas vacation was my very first visit to the Dominican Republic and to say I loved it would be an understatement!  Only three hours from New York, it is a tropical Caribbean island filled with intoxicating sandy beaches, luxury vacation resorts, fascinating history, and a spirited and passionate culture of people that makes visitors fall in love with this Hispaniola island nation.

Geographically joined with Haiti to the west, the D.R. has had its share of turbulent times in the past, but has grown into a country with a thriving economy. Today it ranks number one as the most visited island in the Caribbean and a popular destination for family vacays as well as weddings and honeymoons. Maybe that is because of its stunning and scenic beaches or perhaps, that visitors can enjoy the beautiful coral reefs while scuba diving or the island's lush landscape for hiking, biking and horseback riding.  

I actually chose to visit the D.R. based on my own personal prerequisites.  First, it was one of the last remaining Caribbean islands I had yet to visit, with a flight that was direct and only a little over three hours.  Since me and my girls were planning to spend less than a week to our chosen destination, I was seeking an island relatively close to New York.  The D.R. fit the bill! My daughters, who have been all over this country, as well as Europe, had never been to the Caribbean. At 12 and 14 and stressed from their rigorous school studies, I thought a nice tropical vacay would do them (and their mom!) some good.  

So, off we went, to spend a portion of our holiday vacation in the delightful D.R., which, would include both Christmas Eve and Day.  A stickler for researching details and important facts about my destinations beforehand, I will admit, I was so eager to just get away and relax, I didn't do any prior investigation. Knowing there was a gorgeous beach was enough information for me.  However, once I had arrived, my education about the D.R. was a series of lessons from both first-hand experience, as well as the knowledge I would garner from natives and some light reading.

The rich culture of the D.R. has made its way to the United States, and specifically to the Bronx, for which Dominicans comprise a large part of its population, imparting their native culture, customs and amiable way of life!  As for the history and specific nuances of this special island, I hope you will enjoy the factual tidbits I've assembled below.  ​

1. The D.R. is the largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American Region
With a thriving economy built on the export of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, the flourishing industries of mining and agriculture and the expansion of tourism, it is the largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American region, and the tenth-largest economy in Latin America.

2. It is the first permanent European settlement in the Americas
February 27, 1844, is the official independence day of the D.R., however, prior to this monumental day, Christopher Columbus visited the island on December 5, 1492, and later founded it, naming it Hispaniola, making The Dominican Republic the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas. 

3. The Colonial City of Santo Domingo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
One of 1073 UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the world, the city of Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic and one of the Caribbean's oldest cities. The “Zona Colonial” is Santo Domingo's historic center, with its cobblestone streets and buildings dating back to the 1500’s.  The Cathedral of Santa María la Menor, dedicated to St. Mary of the Incarnation was built in 1512 and completed in 1540, making it the first cathedral built in the New World. 

4. The island’s former name was Santo Domingo
In 1804, the western third of the island was separated as a new entity and the new country of Haiti was born. The remaining portion of the  island, at that time, was known as Santo Domingo, for which Haiti ruled over until 1844, at which time the area became independent and was named the Dominican Republic. 

5. The Dominican Republic is the only country in the world to produce a rare blue variety of the silicate mineral pectolite, called Larimar
During my visit, I had an opportunity to chat with one of the managers of the hotel, who told me the story of the stone indigenous to the D.R., called Larimar.  A very beautiful stone, its color changes from white, light-blue, green-blue to deep blue. (Guess what I bought for myself as a souvenir - you guessed it - a lovely Larimar bracelet and earrings!)

What is also interesting is the way in which this stone got its name. ​The story goes, that Miguel Méndez and a Peace Corps volunteer by the name of Norman Rilling rediscovered Larimar in 1974 (which was originally discovered by Father Miguel Domingo Fuertes Loren of the Barahona Parish in the early 20th Century) on a beach at the foot of the Bahoruco Mountain Range, the coastal province of Barahona. Natives believed that the stone came from the sea, and they called the gem Blue Stone. Miguel took his young daughter's name Larissa and the Spanish word for sea (mar) and formed Larimar, to suggest the colors of the Caribbean Sea where it was found.

​6. The Dominican flag is the only country's flag featuring the bible 
Founding father Juan Pablo Duarte designed the Dominican flag, which was adopted on March 21, 1908 making it the only one in the world to have the image of the holy bible in it. The bible is open to the Gospel of John chapter 8, verse 32, which reads: “And the truth shall make you free”. 

The flag is also comprised of three colors: red, white and blue, with each color representing something different. The white of the cross in the center represents salvation, the red rectangles represent the blood of the heroes who fought for the independence, and the blue rectangles stand for liberty.

7. The second-largest number of Major League Baseball players are from the Dominican Republic
Second only to the United States, the D.R. sends more players to MLB than any other country in the world, with two Dominicans, Juan Marichal and Pedro Martínez, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  

8. Dominican Oscar de la Renta is one of the best-known fashion designers of the 21st century. 
Born in Santo Domingo, Oscar de la Renta has designed clothing for celebrities and prominent women including Jacqueline Kennedy, Nancy Reagan, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Anna Wintour, Oprah Winfrey, Sandra Bullock, Emma Watson, Victoria Beckham, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lawrence, Rihanna, and many more.

9. Merengue!!!
The D.R. is credited with creating the merengue style of music which is a fast-paced, rhythmic dance music.  A blend of a European Waltz, African rhythms, Mazurka from Poland and Cotillion which is originally a French country dance, the merengue is now popular throughout Latin American and the world and the national dance of the Dominican Republic.  

10. The Dominican people are Amazingly Warm, Friendly and Vibrant
To me, perhaps the biggest impression that was left on me and my girls, after spending nearly a week in the D.R. was the friendliness, warmth and vibrant nature of the Dominican people! With their amazing sense of humor, talkative way, love of music and down to eart kindness, it is no wonder this island is a place people are flocking to more and more. 

We had the joy of celebrating Christmas Eve on the island and in a country that is predominantly Catholic, the observance of this holiday is quite reverent.  A beautiful nativity re-enactment was performed on the stage at our resort, which we were comfortably able to view from our suite balcony. A lovely site to behold, being Catholic myself.  

As far as music goes, it was never ending!  From the moment we woke up till 10:30 each night, festive and lively Spanish music was heard throughout the property.  Everyone we had the pleasure of encountering from the moment we arrived in Santiago Airport and throughout our stay was engaging, upbeat and down to earth.  I assure you that I will be returning to the D.R. soon enough!

- Travelin' Elisa

The Fordham section of the Bronx is perhaps best known today as being the home of top-ranking college Fordham University and the handsome grounds of the school's 93-acre campus. But, there is so much more to the history to this area of the borough. 

Ever wonder how Fordham got its name and from where it is derived? Or for that matter, what the changing demographics have been since it was first settled back in the 17th Century?  Let's take a closer look with these 7 Facts About Fordham.

1. The Fordham community was first established by John Archer, A Dutch settler 
John Archer, a Dutchman, was given approval by the English to purchase 3900 acres of land in the area, comprising 6 square miles called Fordham Manor.  As "Lord of the Manor," Archer established his community at 225th Street near the Harlem River in 1666.   
The Manor lasted a little less than 100 years, from 1671 to 1762, during which period sixteen families would establish farms.

2. The name Fordham means a low-lying meadow by a source of water.
Derived from the Anglo-Saxon words "ford" and "ham," which means a low-lying meadow by a source of water, when put together, the name means a ford by a settlement or a wading place, referring to the area's close proximity to the Bronx River.  Fordham also happens to be a surname, and while there is no certainty, the area may have been a reference to John Fordham, a fourteenth-century English priest, according to Raymond Schroth, SJ, in Fordham: A History and Memoir. 

3. Old Fordham Village dates back to the English Colonial Era.
Centered from the intersection of the Grand Concourse and Fordham Road, Old Fordham Village extends north to about 196th Street, south to about 187th Street, east to Southern Boulevard, and west to Jerome Avenue as we know it today.  

However, if you can imagine back in the 1700's when the Bronx was full of large estates and farms, the land that defines Old Fordham Village was originally part of an estate owned by a Dutchman named Reyer Michaelson.  In 1736, Michaelson deeded the house and the land to his daughter and her husband, Benjamin Corsa and in 1751, Fordham Manor was built, which stayed in the family until 1787.    ​

4. Fordham University's Rose Hill Campus was once part of a large estate called "Rose Hill" 
Today, the name Rose Hill is most commonly associated with the Bronx campus of Fordham University. Did you ever wonder from where the name originated?  Rose Hill was the name given to the Fordham Estate on this site in 1787 by then-owner, Robert Watts, in honor of his family's ancestral home of the same name near Edinburgh in Scotland. Most of the then-estate is now part of the Rose Hill Campus of Fordham University.


5. Boston Post Road was a critical Crossing point for General George Washington's Continental Army 
During the time of our Revolutionary War, roads were neither modernized nor paved as we have today. One of these such roads was Kings Road, which went through the rural estates and farm area of Old Fordham Village.  It linked Colonial New York and towns and villages north toward Boston.

During the American Revolution, it was a critical crossing point for General George Washington's Continental Army retreating toward White Plains to safely escape from New York while being chased by the Colonial British and Hessian Forces. There were many American Patriots that lived in this area, which helped as well. After the revolution, the Kings Road was renamed the Boston Post Road, but in the area of Fordham, Boston Post Road was renamed Fordham Road and became part of U.S. Route 1 in 1926. which it is still called today.  

​6. The First Belmont Stakes were held in Fordham at Jerome Park
The first Belmont Stakes, the oldest of the three U.S. Triple Crown races was held at Jerome Park Racetrack in 1867 and continued to be run there until 1890.  The racetrack opened in 1866 in the northwest part of Fordham by financier Leonard W. Jerome, on the Old Bathgate Estate.    

7. Fordham is a Melting Pot of Cultures and Ethnicities
Fordham began to see a huge growth in its population at the beginning of the 20th Century.  Largely due to the convenience of numerous subway lines between Manhattan and the Bronx as well as the development of then-new and modern housing, particularly in the 1920's, middle-class and working-class families from Manhattan migrated north to this section of the Bronx. Predominantly white from about 1920 till 1970, community residents included Irish, Jewish, Italian and Albanian.  As these groups began to move to the suburbs and out of state, the ethnic make-up of the area is now predominately Latin American and African American.

 ​No matter how old I get I can still feel the same excitement that overtook me as a college student, the week of Thanksgiving Day!

Each year, at that time, I am viscerally transported back to my college years at Fordham University with those same anticipatory butterflies in my belly, remembering the carefree joy of returning home for the long weekend, along with my other peers, and heading off for an evening of spontaneous fun on Thanksgiving Eve.

More than thirty years later, these memories are as clear as day, and prompt so many others recollections to come rushing back from my Bronx days.  At the time I went off to college, most of the kids, with which I was friends, opted (for the most part) to approach university education in one of two ways.  Either to "go away," meaning, heading off to a different city or state, usually many hours away; or to attend a college located nearby, live at home and invest in a new car.

Well, I didn't choose either option.  I wanted the experience of campus life and living away from home, but I chose to do it within the confines of New York City. So, I left Queens and headed to the Bronx for four years!

One of my absolute favorite memories during my days as a Bronx resident, was the summer I lived on Arthur Avenue.  It was the summer of my sophomore year, when a few of us decided to take classes to get ahead.  Public Speaking was the course, and boy, was it fun.  I had not as yet gained my "voice" and lost my shy demeanor for speaking in front of groups, which is not the case today, as I've given lectures, led seminars and presentations to audiences as large as five thousand, and this class was where it all began and led me on my path to becoming a communications major. 

My roommate, at the time, also a communications major, was the one who convinced me to take the course and stay in the Bronx for Summer break.  As luck would have it, a mutual friend, who shared an apartment on Arthur Avenue with two others, was going away, thereby leaving one of the bedrooms vacant, for which we too gals were offered the temporarily available room.  Did I mention that our summer roommates were guys?  Holy cow, it was a bit different than living with girls when it came to housekeeping and cleaning.  But, thrilled to have a place to live, we brought along our respective feminine energy and made the apartment home for the time of our stay.

Here's what I LOVED about living in Little Italy - I felt so incredibly safe!  Yes, at the time, which was the mid-eighties, Bronx Little Italy - was rated one of the safest neighborhoods in America. I remember never having a care walking around in the evening, long after it had become dark.  There was such a sense of closeness within the confines of the Belmont area.  Not to mention, a warmth and familiarity that we developed with the local merchants!

I can remember coming home very late - which was actually early morning (oh, to have that kind of energy and stamina for all-nighters now!), and being overtaken by the smell of baking bread.  Occasionally we would buy some in these wee hours and retreat to our veranda, as we affectionately called our fire escape, and savor the taste as we would bite into our warm, baked loaves, in the soft summer breeze,waiting for the sun to rise.

Another thing that stands our quite prominently to me, was the parking situation in the neighborhood. There was no need to feed the meter.  I'm not sure how that came to be, but suffice it to say, I didn't ask, and just enjoyed the benefit of not having to worry about expired meters or the prospect of tickets!

Lastly, the taste of the cold cuts and sandwiches from probably, the best deli in the entire world, Butchie's is embedded on my taste buds.  Sadly, I do not know what happened to this very small, corner delicatessen, since after I graduated, I moved back to Queens and a number of years had passed till I made it back to Little Italy, at which point, Butchie's was gone. To this day, I still talk about the incredible chicken cutlet hero I bought there.  A thinly sliced, breaded cutlet on semolina Italian bread with salt, pepper and a bit of mayo.  Nothing has ever compared to this sandwich!

Three decades later, I regularly frequent Arthur Avenue with my teenage girls, both of which LOVE this Bronx neighborhood as much as me and we are now making new memories together!

With  a greater and growing demand by consumers for healthy food options, more and more food retailers are meeting the needs of this expanding market. In addition to a new generation of health-conscious and compassionate eaters, older generations are changing their eating habits as well, resulting in an overall burgeoning trend towards lighter and plant-based diets.  Smart business owners around the world are embracing this movement in their menu offerings and the Bronx is no exception.

Take for example, one of Third Avenue's newest eateries, Freshly Made.  The collaborative effort of two Bronx female residents, Freshly Made embodies the current healthful approach to eating.

Founded by Angi and Marielys in March 2018, this intimate breath of "fresh food" destination has received a warm welcome from the community at large, with  an expanding customer base of regulars and newbies.  ​

My first encounter with Freshly Made was during my visit to the Bronx Night Market in Fordham Plaza, this past Summer.  Always on the lookout for vegan eateries and foodie destinations, I was pleased as punch to meet a new "mostly vegan" food vendor at this pop-up market.

After some friendly conversation, a delicious wedge of fresh watermelon and a ginger shot, I was informed that  in addition to doing pop-up markets, this healthy fare company also had a brick and mortar location in the Bronx.  While the Bronx does not, as yet have an extensive vegan food scene as some other New York City boroughs, I was most encouraged that the trend was off to a start in this beloved borough.  I knew I would soon be paying a visit to their store location on Third Avenue!

And that is precisdely what I did! 

The space is intimate with counter service for their menu of smoothies, shakes, healthy shots, salads, wraps and paninis - all of which are customizable with ingredients of choice.  Open display cases line the store, for visibility to patrons to select their items of choice.

I was thrilled that most of their menu is vegan, offering a world of possibilities to the plant-based dietary needs of this exploding segment of eaters. As a result, this Bronx foodie destination is now one of hundreds of Travelin' Cousins Vegan Approved foodie destinations around the world!  But, I digress.

Enjoying a more relaxed and quiet atmosphere in the store, I had a chance to chat with co-owner Angi.  Friendly and welcoming, she told me how Freshly Made was something she, and business partner, Marielys always wanted to do.

Both emigrated as little girls to the States from the Dominican Republic. and havie been friends since their youth  With a shared entrepreneurial spirit and desire to offer their Bronx community healthy and alternative food options, they opened Freshly Made just eight months ago.

According to Angi, "the neighborhood has embraced Freshly Made,for the lighter options we offer to the local community."   Their menu is unique to the neighborhood in which their store resides and from the success they continue to experience, it is safe to say, these business owners clearly filled a void in the area.

​So, what do you think was next for me?  Yup - a  tasting!

I decided to start with a smoothie, for which I relied on Angi to assist me in making the blend.  Her suggestion of blueberries, mango, banana and green apple was a yummy choice!!  It was perfectly quenching and tasty.

With my smoothie in hand, I was ready to continue with another selection. Although customization is possible for any of their menu items, with the majority of the ingredients being vegan-friendly, I chose to try their Healthy Vegan Wrap, which contained many of the items I would have selected anyway.  Filled with Hummus, Roasted Peppers, Tomatoes and Spinach, it was filling and satisfying and most definitely fresh.

During my short visit, patrons were coming in and out, many of which appeared to be regulars, evidenced by their conversation with the staff, a great indication that this new foodie destination is recognized as an important "go-to." 

Equally exciting is that these Bronx business owners are female, bringing some diversity to the area and hopefully, an inspiration to other young entrepreneurial woman to follow their business dreams! Kudos to these two neighborhood trend setters!

​-Elisa

For Your Information

Freshly Made
2535 Third Avenue
Bronx, NY
(646) 455-2535
Instagram: @freshlymade_sobro
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One of the things I love about being a travel blogger is that I often find myself in local destinations that, as a rule, do not get featured on the world travel stage.

That’s where I like to come in and tell both locals and visitors how they can broaden their knowledge and widen their travel experiences, here in New York City, and especially in the great borough of the Bronx.

Anyone who follows my blog, knows just how much I love history!  In fact, if I could spend all of my leisure time in museums, that’s exactly where you would find me.  Whether it be ancient artifacts or the artwork of pop culture, I relish surveying and studying it all.

Cut to my recent, first-time and solo visit to The Bronx Museum of the Arts.  I underscore “solo” because there are few people in my sphere who can bear to visit a museum with me. Yes, I study each and every part of the exhibition and read every single placard to absorb all of the knowledge available.

Conveniently located on the Grand Concourse, not far from the House that Ruth Built, for those visiting by train, and across the street from a parking lot for drivers like me, this museum is a delightful way to spend a few hours.

Structurally, the exterior of the building is quite striking, with contemporary features characteristic of today’s New York, and yet, I found it to fit right in with its older neighborhood surroundings.

Entry is free and the interior space is rather intimate.  Architecturally speaking, the high ceilings, geometric lines of the walls and large windows give the museum a large and open feel. 

The Museum primarily specializes in contemporary art by New Yorkers of Latin, Asian & African-American descent and I was drawn to pay a visit to view two exhibits about which I read that piqued my interest.

So, let's talk exhibits! The first, Manuel Mendive: Nature, Spirit & Body, sadly, closed this past Sunday (Nov. 4th), however, it was my desire to share my experience as I was not familiar with this Afro-Cuban artist or his works, prior to my visit, and thought it meaningful to feature.

For the past fifty years, Manuel Mendive has studied the influence of African oral-based traditions on Cuba through the creation of his contemporary art.  According to the exhibit, "His multidisciplinary work, in particular performances, has become a vehicle for exploring the intersections between art, religion, philosophy, politics, ethics, and anthropology. "

This is a very interesting description, but as just an ordinary art lover, I can tell you what I enjoyed most and that is, I found his works to be aesthetically pleasing because of their abstract nature and calming and earthy color palette.  Whether, his paintings, (so aptly captured in the photographs of John Rowe), or his chairs or carvings, his works elicit a balance of both the primitive and contemporary.  

Incidentally, John Rowe has spent over two decades documenting people and cultures worldwide, and his work has been published by National Geographic, NBC News, CNN, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, L'Oeil de la Photographie and The Explorers Journal among others.

Moving right along, a fairly new exhibition,  Christopher K. Ho: Aloha to the World at the Don Ho Terrace, which opened on October 3, 2018 and runs through January 6, 2019, is small but very enjoyable to peruse.  This solo exhibition, includes a 35-foot tall banner, artifacts from a defunct Hawaiian hotel co-owned by Ho’s grandfather, and signage mimicking the hotel’s grand entrance.  

For me, because I love pop culture memorabilia so much, it was delightful viewing each of the pieces in the collection which are  displayed in a glass case.

Upcoming and newly opened exhibits include Rochell Reinstein: Image Of An Image, which just opened this week (November 7, 2018 to March 3, 2019) and Eddie Martinez: White Outs (November 14, 2018 to February 17, 2019).

-Travelin' Elisa
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For Your Information
The Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 
T: 718-681-6000
 www.bronxmuseum.org

​At this point in time, the world is well aware of the entertainment talent that has come out of the Bronx.  Singers, musicians, film stars, motion picture writers and directors have had their praises sung for decades, bringing awareness to the talent born and bred in New York City’s northernmost borough.

So, should it come as any surprise that the Bronx is also overflowing with visual artists - painters, sculptors, photographers, street artists and up and coming live performers and wonderful visionaries!

One of these visionaries, committed to bringing awareness to rising artistic stars, through the development of a multi-arts center is Ms. Gail Nathan, the director of the Bronx River Arts Center (BRAC). BRAC is the culturally diverse, multi-arts, non-profit organization, which is the brainchild of Gail Nathan, who has proven what unwavering and tireless, commitment can achieve. Her vision to nurture the creative talent and youth within the community has given way to one of the most exceptional venues for extraordinary and gifted individuals residing in the Bronx.

In fact, the words “tireless” and “commitment” might actually be understatements to describe Gail's efforts to bringing BRAC and all it offers to the Bronx and beyond. Her vision of creating a professional arts program to a culturally underserved population, began thirty years ago and has withstood numerous hurdles in its pursuit.  The effort to realize her dream of creating a special place in the community for art classes in all mediums and genres, live performances and of course, studios for professional artists has finally become a reality!

Gail never gave up on her dream, even while enduring a seven year period of virtual exile, during the renovation of the current BRAC building, when all exhibitions were forced to be held in temporary facilities or as pop-up events.  

With heartfelt perseverance, she and her team came through and finally celebrated a much-awaited reopening of the center this past Spring. The beautifully renovated building with its colorful exterior is in the heart of the West Farms community of the Bronx and enjoys the natural backdrop of the Bronx River.

Gail’s thirty-year effort provides a nurturing forum for artistic talent and a place of inspiration and creative support for Bronx youth and art enthusiasts. And with a beautiful new space to do so, it would appear that the sky’s the limit for ongoing expansion of BRAC's education, exhibitions, and artist studios.

For me, as a lover of the arts, its supporters, and the American entrepreneurial spirit, Gail’s story hits home because in bringing her dream to fruition, she is not only helping nurture the development of artistic gifts, but she is also a role model to the community, proving that dreams are attainable with hard work and commitment.

So, what’s new and exciting at BRAC? ​

Actually, a few newsworthy tidbits!   

The exquisitely designed new building that houses BRAC at 1087 East Tremont Avenue was selected this month as an Archtober “Building of the Day” for Wednesday, October 10, 2018.  Movers and shakers in the architecture world were invited to visit and tour the building on that day. 

Archtober is New York City’s Architecture and Design Month, and this October marked the eighth annual month-long festival of architecture activities, programs and exhibitions.

Organized by the Center for Architecture in collaboration with more than 60 partners and sponsors, the 2018 installment of Archtober gathers events ranging from daily building tours and lectures by design experts, to architecture-themed competitions and parties. This was a well-deserved honor for for BRAC, whose 100+ year old building, was completely redesigned by the architectural firm of Sage & Coombe beginning in 2008 to reinvent the structure to reflect Gail's vision.

As Gail herself points out, one of the finest features that this building possesses, among many, is its large windows throughout, allowing for magnificent natural lighting, perfect for the creation and viewing of the vast array of two-dimensional and three-dimensional artwork. Currently, the center offers eleven different art classes and has hosted three exhibits since opening.
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Another exciting happening at BRAC is the current exhibit, which opened in September 2018, Authentic Necessary & Constructed Selves, curated by Betty Sue Hertz, which has been on display all month and will continue through October 27th.  

The basis of this exhibit was conceived by Betty Sue's interest in "Intersectionality", which is the idea of how such combined factors as race, gender and ethnicity, to name a few, are all part of the way in which people create the concept of who they are and construct their identity in a 3-dimensional way. 

The exhibit also explores the impact and influence that modern technology over the past 25 years, like virtual reality, virtual worlds and social media, has changed our relationship to the notion of our identity, and the question of “who we are.”

Some very striking and fascinating pieces of art are featured as part of this art display.  One of these include 3-dimensional “faces” which were constructed from DNA found on public places in New York City. Quite remarkably, the artist used the DNA readout and information obtained, to create her 3-dimensional “mask” sculptures. Amazing!   
 
I'm confident this is only the beginning of great things to come from BRAC and the creative mind of Gail Nathan and her team!

-Travelin' Elisa