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

​Queens is really an international foodie spot. This market is basically the best Queens has to offer. Paella from Spain, hand made twister cakes stuffed with ice cream from Transylvania, vanilla and chocolate cheese waffle rolls from Moldova, and of course Twisted Potato! 

A couple of tips for a really fun night. If you want to drive, get here early to park in the parking lot. Also, bring cash as the ATM line can get long and not a lot of the vendors take credit cards. 

If there’s a food vendor you really want to try, get on that line first. Two hours into the night, many vendors had sold out of half their menu.

Finally, bring a picnic blanket and sit behind the tents with your food. There are picnic tables but they were crowded. Families tend to hang out in the grass area in the back. 

We really wanted paella so this was our first stop which was delicious. This was a seafood paella from Pablo’s Cocina with crawfish, baby shrimp, scallops, oysters, and snails. Big hit in our family.

Kids also enjoyed a Twisted Potato with Parmesan garlic.

Next up, we tried the waffle rolls from Wembie (@vvembie). We tried two of these Moldovan treats, one stuffed with a vanilla cheese cream which was my favorite. The other was stuffed with a chocolate cheese cream which was also great. Next time, I’m going to need to try the cheese stuffed doughnuts which are pretty much my favorite foods together! Genius.
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Last stop was Twister Cakes which featured hand made cakes. They definitely have more of a soft waffle texture. You can try the cakes rolled in sugar or stuffed with ice cream. So we tried both! One cake with cinnamon sugar and another stuffed with strawberry ice cream. Simply delicious. Also, humble beginnings for this Food Vendie award winner. The owner started with his grandmother’s recipe from Romania and still hand rolls them on dowels while you wait!

This market  features the best of Queens. International food from hardworking people passionate about sharing their food with the world. Definitely try it out. 

For Your Information:

Queens Night Market
New York Hall of Science
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens
Next Night Market: October 27, 2018

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Karla Guerra
Mom, wife, soccer coach, attorney, and traveler as often as possible. I travel for a different perspective on the world. I was born in El Salvador and moved to New York when I was two years old. As a child, I traveled back to El Salvador. I learned so much just by observing. So I continue to travel, now with my family because I know there are so many clever travel locations our there.​

As a lover of photography, I am always intrigued with those talented individuals who have managed to turn this pastime into a full-time career.  Like any other art, photography comes from the creative vision of the photographer - how to shoot a subject; at which angle; at which precise moment; proper lighting; and all the while having a keen sense of creativity to view something in a way that no one else does. 

Of course, a good photographer also has an educated understanding of how to use their tools in a way that assists in capturing that perfect snapshot. And this, I believe, is the perfect segue to shine the spotlight on Bronx photojournalist, Marisol Diaz-Gordon.   

The artist's work will be a featured exhibit at Bronx Community College (BCC) CUNY, as part their celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month. Entitled "25: A Retrospective," the opening reception and artist talk will take place on Friday, September 28, 2018, from 12pm to 2pm.  ​

Ms. Diaz-Gordon's exhibition is a retrospective in photographs of the past 25 years since she graduated from a place that she says, "set me on my path to become a photographer."  She goes on to praise BCC, which she credits with "learning that my dream of being an artist was possible."  
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A native of the Bronx, Ms. Diaz-Gordon says she knew she was meant to be a visual artist from the time she was nine years old - the first time her mother taught her how to take a photograph. Crediting both of her parents for the unending support given to her to develop her talent and pursue her dreams, it was her mom, she points out, who exposed her early on, to all forms of creative artistry.  From drawing, painting, sewing and other crafts, her mom opened up this world to the artist and consistently encouraged her to follow her passions. 

Growing up in the Bronx projects, as a child, she'd save her precious allowance to buy supplies, one or two items at a time, until she built up a collection, allowing her to paint, and draw.  Interestingly, her love of photography as a vocation was a process, and was first sparked through an elective class in her last semester at BCC, through which, she discovered her "true love of the art form" and refers to time spent during her college years in the dark room as  "magic." 

Both shy and reserved by nature, Ms. Diaz-Gordon says that being behind the camera gave her a kind of confidence and strength to go outside her comfort zone.  Suffering from undiagnosed dyslexia for most of her life, photography and the visual arts was a way for her to interpret the world and express herself. In fact, she likens going out with her camera as going out into an "open classroom." 

Additionally, her interest in photojournalism and long-term projects came as a result of her college documentary class.  Selecting a topic for her course assignment did not come easy until one day, she had what she calls a waking dream, whereby she felt compelled to feature nuns for her project.  Following up on a suggestion by one of her church priests, Diaz-Gordon found herself at the Corpus Christie Monastery, where she would spend hours and hours, building a close rapport with the nuns, capturing their daily life and weaving a visual story through photographs.  Some of her favorite photos, she shared with me, were taken featuring the nuns playing volleyball. 

From this poignant experience, the realization was clear to her that photojournalism was a way of conveying her vision in an objective manner for her viewers to see. This led the artist to take on another project, this time with the Fire Department, spending hours - even sleeping over at the firehouse -  documenting the firefighters' with a close-up and personal view of their dedication and tireless work. 

Both the Monastery and Fire Department projects became part of her portfolio, with which she was able to parlay into becoming a freelancer with local Bronx newspapers, including the Bronx Times. 

During our conversation, it became clear to me, that Ms. Diaz-Gordon not only possesses  artistic creativity, but is also a motivated entrepreneur!  While working as an usher at Radio City Music Hall, while attending college, she decided to just walk right into the nearby Associated Press building to show her portfolio.  Maintaining an open dialog with the AP, she would continue to pitch stories until one day she received her first paying job to cover a twentieth anniversary theatre production about the highly publicized Crown Heights riots of 1991. 
 
Her career also included eleven years at En Foco, a non-profit that helps photographers of color.  Founded in the 1974 by Puerto Rican photographers, Diaz-Gordon became skilled at developing her eye for selecting art for exhibits and the curating process.  This led to teaching photography at the Bronx Museum and creating her own portfolio. At present, she works for Newsday and AM New York. 

She believes that the balance she has experienced and continues to maintain between engaging in documentary and fine art projects as well as photojournalism, enables her ongoing creativity in various photographic styles.   

"25: A Retrospective" is the second exhibit at BCC for Diaz-Gordon. The artist's first exhibit, ten years ago, was a series of black and white diptych and triptych photos, which won her a BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) award.   She was invited to participate this month in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month as well as to commemorate the 25th anniversary of her graduation from BCC. 

The exhibit includes 40 pieces of her work, including photos from both of her documentary series featuring the Corpus Christie Monastery and the Fire Department., up to present day. Diaz-Gordon shared with me, that narrowing down to 40 was no easy task considering the huge archives she has built over the past two and one-half decades.  

You can bet I will be there tomorrow for the opening reception. Stay tuned for more!
​

-Elisa

For Your Reference
​
Opening Reception & Artist Talk:
Friday, September 28, 2018 at 12 PM – 2 PM

Location: Bronx Community College - Bliss Hall
2155 University Ave, Bronx, NY 10453, United States

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You guys  know by now how much I LOVE historic information, particularly as it concerns the Bronx!

This week, I was browsing through some photos I had taken of the Throgs Neck Bridge a few months ago and it dawned on me that I'm always confused about how to spell the word "Throgs." Additionally, depending on the source, sometimes it is spelled with one "g" and others, it appeared with two.

This is the sort of stuff that gets my mind going and as a result, I decided to get to the bottom of things! In the process, I found out a few other interesting bits of historic information about this area that I thought would make for a a fun read.  So, here we go!

1. The first European to settle the area was John Throckmorton.
Throckmorton was one of 39 settlers who signed an agreement to form of government in Providence, Rhode Island on July of 1640, according to Revolvy.com.

Three years later, he obtained a grant of land for himself and 35 others in the Providence settlement from Governor Willem Kieft in New Netherland (New York). According to Professor Lloyd Ultan, Bronx Borough Historian, "Throckmorton and his group, unfortunately came at a bad time. There was an Indian uprising that chased them all out and they were very lucky that there was a British warship that just happened to be passing by and saved everybody."  Unfortunately Indians set fire to the houses, the farms and killed all the cattle which the group saw from the ship. 

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2. Throgs Neck has had many names including "Throckmorton's Neck"
The New Netherlanders called this peninsula "Vriedelandt" which means "Land of Peace" in Dutch, because of the lush natural beauty of the region. According to Professor Ultan, after John Throckmorton and his group arrived in the area, and subsequently, left, shortly thereafter, it was called Throckmorton's Neck. 

Now, from my research, according to BoweryBoys.com, ancient spellings of Throckmorton could also be "Throggmorton" or "Throgmorton" which would explain where the "g" (or "gg") originated.  Eventually, considering that such a name was rather a mouthful, it was shortened to Throg(g)s Neck.

To add more interest to this name, BoweryBoys.com states that a cartographer called the area ''Frockes Neck'' in 1668, and George Washington mentioned ''Frog's Neck'' in a journal entry from 1776. That's right! According to Professor Ultan, "if you go all the way back at the time of the American revolution, when the British invaded the area, they saw the name throggs neck and they said, "what the heck is that?" They assumed it must mean Frog. And so all the British maps in the American revolution refer to it as Frog's Neck."
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3. The Throg's Neck Bridge was built to relieve traffic on the Whitestone Bridge
Two miles west of the Throgs Neck Bridge lies the Whitestone Bridge, built in 1939.  By the mid-1940's, it was decided that another East River crossing would aid in reducing traffic. In 1957, construction began on a new suspension bridge, which would be the easternmost East River motor crossing.  The Throgs Neck Bridge was completed and opened on January 11, 1961. 

In the end, however, statistics show it did the opposite with an increase of motor vehicles and more traffic in the Bronx.

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4. Throg's Neck demarcates the passage between the East River and Long Island Sound
Geographically speaking, Throggs Neck is a narrow spit of land in the southeastern portion located in the borough of the Bronx in New York City.  The Throgs Neck Bridge connects the Bronx with the neighborhood of Bay Terrace in the borough of Queens on Long Island.

"Throggs Neck" is also the name of the neighborhood of the peninsula, bounded on the north by East Tremont Avenue and Baisley Avenue, on the west by Westchester Creek, and on the other sides by the River and the Sound. 
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5. Robert Moses shortened Throgg's Neck to Throg's Neck to save paint
It seems that there has always been a bit of uncertainty as to how to spell Throggs - is it one g or two.  However, traditionally throughout most of its history, the spelling has been with two g's.

Ironically, according to Bronx historian, Professor Lloyd Ultan, "some businesses that opened up in the area, local stores, put one G in there" opening things up for two possible spellings.  Then at the time the Throgs Neck Bridge was being built, Robert Moses figured it would cost less in the amount of paint used on the street signs directing people to the bridge to have one g rather than two 'g's. And so he named the Throgs Neck Bridge with one g. Hard to believe, but that's how the story goes.
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So, in the end, there really is no official way to spell Throg(g)'s!

This past weekend, my daughters and I enjoyed an afternoon in the Bronx for the annual Arthur Avenue Ferragosto in Little Italy.

I just love the ethnic diversity of the Bronx!  Depending on the section of the borough you find yourself in, you will be met with a distinct cultural experience filled with celebrations, food and music reflecting the cultural origins of the local residents.

The Belmont Section, specifically, Little Italy as it is affectionately known, has a history that dates back more than a century, when Italian immigrants settled and built a neighborhood rooted in the traditions of their native country.

For over 15 years, the folks in Little Italy have been celebrating the time honored, centuries old Italian tradition of the Ferragosto - a festival observed at the end of the harvest season.

The merchants of Arthur Avenue come together each September to create a day of festivities which includes music, fun activities and an opportunity for the community and beyond to enjoy food and drinks from the neighborhood restaurants, as well as a close-up view of local merchandise vendors.​

Anyone who has followed my blog for the nearly past five years, knows all too well that inclement weather never deters me or my Travelin' Cousin blogging partner, Tanya from our travel and visiting plans.

Well, this past Sunday was no exception.  The rain was coming down pretty hard the day before, around the metro New York area, and, as predicted, it was still pretty darn wet out Sunday morning.​

Regardless of the inclement weather, me and my girls, got dressed, brought along our rain gear and headed north over the Throgs Neck Bridge to the Belmont section of one of our favorite boroughs - the Bronx!

​With the Ferragosto beginning at 12noon, the plan was to leave the house by 10:30.  Even though it only takes a little over thirty-five minutes (with no traffic) from our Long Island town of Garden City to Arthur Avenue, I wanted to play it safe and get there early, as parking is not always easy to come by.

Boy, am I glad we left when we did because things were starting to get congested when we arrived, nearly a half hour before the official kick-off.

Similarly to the Arthur Avenue vendors, I absolutely love what I do - traveling and visiting different destinations and always meeting new people all the time, and so, getting caught in the downpour, only added to the adventure of my day!

As we headed onward, we came upon a sweets table filled with cookies and my faves - RAINBOW COOKIES!! My eyes zoomed in on them and we walked away with a ginormous rainbow cookie from ​Morrone Pastry Shop!! 

​Fresh, moist and rich in flavor, I really tried to keep it to myself, but alas, my kids didn't allow that to happen!!
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(c) travelincousins.com

(c) travelincousins.com

(c) travelincousins.com

Alittle rain (or alot) could never stop the Ferragosto and the heart of the merchants of Arthur Avenue!! Mark your calendars for next September for this Little Italy festival!

​-Elisa