Keepers of the Craft: The Casita Preservationist – The Puerto Rican Countryside on Brook Avenue Doña Mercedes “Cheda” Ramos Tucked between concrete apartment towers and bustling South Bronx thoroughfares sits a small wooden structure with a corrugated tin roof, surrounded by vibrant gardens of pigeon peas, recao, and marigolds. This is a casita—a traditional countryside… Continue reading Keepers of the Craft: The Casita Preservationist, Doña Mercedes “Cheda” Ramos, The Puerto Rican Countryside on Brook Avenue
Tag: The Bronx
The Smell of Halloween
A strange smell in an elevator opened a door I hadn’t walked through in decades, carrying me back to plastic Halloween masks, orange candy buckets, Washington Avenue, and my mother’s hand holding mine.
Keepers of the Craft: The Original Hip-Hop DJ, Vance “Spin” Williams, The Breakbeat Guardian
Keepers of the Craft: The Original Hip-Hop DJ – The Breakbeat Guardian Grandmaster Vance “Spin” Williams On a sunlit afternoon near Sedgwick Avenue, the sharp, rhythmic snap of vinyl scratching cuts clean through the hum of neighborhood traffic. Behind a portable battle setup—two classic Technics 1200 turntables and a worn two-channel mixer—stands Vance “Spin” Williams.… Continue reading Keepers of the Craft: The Original Hip-Hop DJ, Vance “Spin” Williams, The Breakbeat Guardian
The Classic Salsa Percussionist, Hector “El Conde” Rivera, – The Rhythm of Saint Ann’s
The Salsa Percussionist – The Rhythm of Saint Ann’s Hector “El Conde” Rivera For over four decades, the pulse of Saint Ann’s Avenue has been driven by the sharp, metallic snap of a brass timbal set and the low, resonant thrum of skin on wood. Long before tropical music achieved global dominance, local percussionists were… Continue reading The Classic Salsa Percussionist, Hector “El Conde” Rivera, – The Rhythm of Saint Ann’s
The Unofficial Bronx Water Park: The Fire Hydrant Summers
When temperatures climbed and apartments turned into ovens, Bronx kids didn’t head for resorts or private pools. We opened a fire hydrant and created our own water park. A look back at one of the borough’s most unforgettable summer traditions.
The Unbroken Blueprint
A reflection on resilience, memory, and the enduring design hidden beneath every layer of the borough.
9 Innings at 161st: Post-Game, The Perpetual Pulse
The lights may go out, but the pulse remains. In this post-game reflection, Yankee Stadium becomes more than a ballpark. It becomes a blueprint for resilience, reinvention, and the enduring spirit of the Bronx.
9 Innings at 161st: 9th Inning – The Weight of the 28th Ring
The stadium may be new, but the standard never changes. In the final inning, the ghosts aren’t impressed by luxury suites or billion-dollar walls. At 161st Street, greatness is a lease, and the rent is due every night.
Flavors of The Bronx: Oaxacan Black Mole
Oaxacan Black Mole is more than a dish. It is a living tradition passed down through generations. In this edition of Flavors of the Bronx, we explore the origins of Oaxaca’s legendary Mole Negro and its connection to the South Bronx, where food, culture, activism, and community come together in a powerful expression of identity and resilience.
9 Innings at 161st: 8th Inning – The Billion-Dollar Hand-Off
The new Stadium was bigger, richer, and more luxurious. But as the Yankees crossed 161st Street, they discovered a truth about growth: every upgrade comes with a goodbye.