​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
​

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
​

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.
 ​

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