A Glimpse of the Bronx From the Eighties to Today
Written by Hector Santos / Photos by Hector Santos
I recently had the chance to chop it up with Mrs. Evelyn, a well-respected individual who currently resides in the Wakefield area of the Bronx. She shed light on some of her fondest memories as a Bronx resident. Originally a Brooklyn native, the sixty-seven year old relocated to the Bronx in 1989, a time when drugs and crime was at its peak. A Daily News article written in 2013, to commemorate the release of The Central Park Five documentary, stated “On a typical day in 1989, New Yorkers reported nine rapes, five murders, 255 robberies, and 194 aggravated assaults. Fear wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction; it was a matter of self-preservation.” Mrs. Evelyn backed this claim by stating: "The Bronx was crime ridden and, at times, a scary place to love but I still considered it home."
Settling into her South Bronx one bedroom apartment in the late eighties, Mrs. Evelyn witnessed the economical, social, and political changes over the years. She remembered the smooth transition from Brooklyn to the Bronx due to the moral support of her husband. “He made things a lot easier, I felt more secure,” she stated. Formerly an MTA worker, Mrs. Evelyn became very familiar with the geography of the Bronx. The only borough connected to the New York mainland, this is where she able to rightfully identify as a “Bronxite.”
“You’ve got to keep your eyes open, mouth shut, and be aware of your surroundings,” Mrs. Evelyn adopted this philosophy after witnessing countless misdeeds that included, acts of violence and drug use. Despite its gritty and raw environment, Mrs. Evelyn was able to share some of the warmer memories of the Bronx, including her favorite hangout spots. She spent most of her free time at The American Theater in Parkchester. Built in 1939, the theater underwent various changes and renovations until its final closing in September 2013. “It’s a shame that iconic places like that gets closed down and gets replaced with things that are of no use,” she shared. Tight knit communities such as Coop City, Mundy Lane, and Riverdale were among other favorites.
“The Bronx was crime ridden and, at times, a scary place to live but I still considered it home.”
"Gentrification is coming and we need to be prepared for when it comes. We are all equal and everything needs to be harmonious," she goes on to say as she believes not enough people speak up on this issue. Passionate, raw, and sweet, Mrs. Evelyn was the epitome of your around the way girl and now a well-respected woman who constantly bestows wisdom to us young folk.
Repurposed, Not Replaced
Thoughts by Dondre Green, Kayla Smith and Hoay Smith / Photos by Dondre Green
Dondre: The Old Bronx Courthouse is recognized as a historical landmark of New York City and an icon in the Bronx. It housed the Supreme, Surrogates, and County Courts for two decades until 1934, when the newly nine-story limestone Bronx County Courthouse was built on the Grand Concourse due to an unforeseeable population increase in the Bronx in 1930. During its vacancy, the Old Bronx Courthouse was damaged by vandalism prompting the city to seal all doorways and windows for years. With such a profound significance, I came across an exhibition that is currently taking place for three months in the Old Bronx Courthouse. It was definitely worth a visit with fellow BN members, check out our story here.
I certainly underestimated how spacious the Courthouse was, with three floors of exhibiting work from twenty-six different artists organized by No Longer Empty, it made the roaming process enjoyable. Most of my favorite exhibits were in the basement, like the “Dead End” tiled piece by David Scanavino. I’m a sucker for good colors and I couldn’t help but explore multiple ways of getting the best shot within this particular space of the exhibition.
The exhibition favored a more abstract approach which left some room for explanations. However, I was pleased to see something of this nature come to fruition in the Bronx. It made me think of how many other empty buildings are being underutilized, the potential of more quality Bronx amenities and the lure it could have to intrigue the skeptical outsiders from other boroughs. I know for sure, our art culture hasn’t left.
Kayla: When I read an article about No Longer Empty’s exhibit, available from April 23rd to July 19th, I was hopeful. The Bronx needs more places for people to meet, relax, and experience the borough in a plethora of ways. No Longer Empty’s mission of reviving underutilized spaces to provide the public with free access to contemporary art that also fits the narrative of the community, is a fresh and exciting way to reconnect people with their neighborhood and allows for exploration and appreciation of their environment. Even if temporary, the Bronx has another place. So (as Dondre mentioned*) on a warm and sunny Friday morning, we hopped on the 2 train for our second trip to the exhibit. Themed “When You Cut Into the Present the Future Leaks Out,” the exhibition serves as an homage of sorts to artist Gordon Matta-Clark who was known for using urban spaces as social commentary. Each installment draws directly from the artists’ experiences in the Bronx or inspiration from the form, condition and sounds within the Old Bronx Courthouse.
The pieces at the Old Bronx Courthouse aren’t to be rushed through. Some pieces, like L-Alber-Into by Teresa Diehl, which is one of my favorite installments, require interaction, while others demand time and attention to detail. What I like most about the exhibition is that most of the installments are conversation starters whether you like them or not. I can’t say that I understood or enjoyed most of the pieces. I found myself either liking or strongly disliking a piece and or being confused by the meaning of installments. Overall, I enjoyed the experience. I appreciated having the option to stay within my borough, meet with friends, save money and create memories. One thing I still regret however, is not taking advantage of Uber’s Bronx Week promotion to get a free ride home
Hoay: Dondre reached out one afternoon and told me about what was going on at 878 Brook Avenue and we quickly made plans to check out the exhibition, When You Cut Into the Present the Future Leaks Out. Upon arrival we were a bit confused trying to find our way to the Old Bronx Courthouse. After walking in circles more than once, we finally came across the monumental landmark. Everything leading up to this moment added a sense of allure as I had a chance to take in the ever growing and changing community right before my eyes.
As we entered the Courthouse I knew immediately what I wanted to see, Abigail Deville’s piece "...and justice for all?" (Located on the basement level). It was cluttered but organized, haunting yet comforting, and kept an incredibly mysterious aura as you wandered around the massive heap of debris and clutter. There was a sense of familiarity in seeing objects such as; broken branches, wood, radio’s (still broadcasting some sort of sound), TVs displaying static, dead computer monitors, and dismantled phones. These objects reminded me that these old things were once heavily used and belonged to someone before being thrown away. Considered trash, they lost their intended purpose but found a new life here in "...and justice for all?"
I pondered whether this is what the whole exhibition was about - finding a more efficient way to refocus what was here already, instead of replacing it. I was curious what was to come of the Old Bronx Courthouse? How would it affect the community? Would it become just another worthless place considered “trash” and end up being misused or abandoned? Or would someone find a better purpose for it, as all 26 artists did for this exhibition.
Looking for answers, I found a 2011 article by Daily News writer Daniel Beekman titled, “Owners plans $10 million face-lift for boarded-up Old Bronx Courthouse.” The article expresses that the partners of the building hoped it would serve as “office space” to a wide range of tenants. Some being bookstores, and retail stores. Benjamin Klein, a partner and mechanical engineer stated the Old Bronx Courthouse would “ boast new windows, elevators and mezzanines, plus modern electrical, heating and plumbing systems”. A local business owner mentioned a high-end supermarket would be nice, while a local resident would be happy with anything that created jobs. The article goes on to say that the “face-lift” was expected to be completed by 2012 but three years later and not much has changed. I would love to see the building become some sort of indoor public green space, thriving with plant life - accompanied by music, indoor activities, weekly free events (such as indoor movies, poetry slams etc.), and a variety of food vendors. Hopefully the owners of the building can find a happy medium when it comes to making the final decision.
At the end of our trip we visited La Granja, a Peruvian restaurant located on 500 E 149th St. Having a tasty meal, and a moment to relax we were able to reflect and discuss some of our favorite pieces from the exhibition. For me visiting the Old Bronx Courthouse could be seen as a reminder of how what is considered old, rundown or hopeless can be repurposed instead of being replaced.
Bronx Parade: A Celebration of Cultures
Written by Maryam Mohammed / Photos by Hector Santos
The 44th annual Bronx Week recently passed and it did not disappoint. As a native of the Bronx; this embarrassingly was my first Bronx Parade. Upon my arrival to the transformed Mosholu Parkway, I was met by a stream of flags from all over the world. I was most surprised by the turn out; you saw the old with the young and the locals from the neighborhood with the politician marching together. It was an overwhelming sense of comradery in the crowd. It was quite surreal to me because the Bronx is very sectioned off. Bronx residents tend to isolate themselves within their respective community. On this day everyone was one.
The ten day celebration was filled with a series of events celebrating the borough’s rich and diverse culture. This year’s Bronx week was stocked with celebrity guest appearances including Stacy Dash and Malik Yoba. There were also a number of inspirational events that exhibited the diversity of Bronx residents and honored exceptional Bronxites. The week came to a close with the Bronx Parade that summed up the entire weeks events and exemplified the premise of Bronx week.
There were street vendors, many of them selling food. You could see carts with foods representing countries from all over the world. There were also vendors selling handmade, original pieces of jewelry, clothing and art. There was a vendor who sold flags to the crowd. Though he was Dominican, his stock included flags from Jamaica, Senegal, India, and the UK. I asked him “Where is the Nigerian flag?” and he said “The factories sell out.” He did mention he loved people from Africa because he is African too.
The African communities were also out in the numbers during the parade. The members of the Bronx Borough African Advisory Council came out to march in the parade alongside elected officials. I got the chance to talk to a family who hailed from West Africa. He was at the parade because he said it was important to celebrate with his family the borough that he lives in. That sentiment was shared with everyone in the crowd.
This year’s Bronx week proved, again, that the Bronx is more than what meets the eye. We are a borough that is rich in culture and truly knows how to “turn up.” If you missed this year’s Bronx Week, no worries. For more information on upcoming Bronx events, visit www.ilovethebronx.com
Pugsley: Pizza, Family, Love & Sal
Written by Decota Letman / Photos by Dondre Green
The Bronx is known for its Latino culture in the southern parts and its West Indian culture in the most northern parts. Right smack in the center is Pugsley, a family owned pizza shop located in the heart of the Bronx, Fordham Road. In 1967, twenty-three year old Salvatore Natale migrated from Sicily to America with the hopes of becoming a big time Saxophone player. Fulfilling his dreams, Sal joined a band and traveled the country making music, money, and meeting women. Although, he was living his lifelong dream, there was still a void. He longed for a family; he wanted to be a father someday. The fast life no longer fazed him. Sal eventually returned to Sicily to marry the woman of his dreams, Pina.
After asking for her hand in marriage twice, Sal succeeded and settled back in New York City to start his new life. No longer a professional musician, Sal realized he wanted to own his own business and create his own schedule. He sought advice from a former band member who suggested opening a pizza shop. Originally opened on Pugsley Avenue in the early eighties, Pugsley began as a chain restaurant but there was still competition, Sal did not want to be "any ole pizza shop," he wanted variety, substance, and to stand out.
In 1985, he bought what would be "the home of Pugsley," a junk yard nestled on the corner of east 191st street, directly across from Fordham University. Almost easy to miss, an old junk yard was transformed into a hub for students, families, and Bronx residents who resided in the neighborhood. If you're searching for this restaurant on the main roads of Fordham, you probably won't find it. Word of mouth, loyal students, and familiarity is how they build their customer base and how we learn of gems such as this one. "The reason Pugsley is special is because it's a reflection of you guys," says Sal.
Upon entering Pugsley, you will be welcomed by a warm and friendly staff, let's not forget this is family owned so most likely you will meet Peter, his eldest son or Laura, his lovely wife - who Sal unashamedly gushes about every chance he gets. Do not expect to stop by for just a slice. When you do stop by, expect to be in for a wild ride.
“An experience, that’s what we are...anyone can make pizza but not everyone can make pizza with love. ”
And this is true; every inch of Pugsley is covered in meaningful art from the handwritten graffiti notes on the wall to the cafeteria like booths separated by the four seasons and Polaroid pictures of students, residents, and local leaders. Its raw wooden benches, vintage styled couches, and colorful decor gives the restaurant personality.
Popular dishes include a traditional pie or the garlic knots marinated in mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. If you are into the spices request a bowl of their specially homemade pepper sauce with jalapeños, red and green peppers, and olive oil. It definitely gives your slice a kick.
If you would like to stop by to see what all the hype is about but you are looking for an alternative to pizza try their Brick Oven Wings and a side of Garden Salad, freshly made and lightly topped with vinaigrette. Other menu favs include their hot hero sandwiches; meatball and parm or sausage and peppers amongst others. You can also try their one of their pasta dishes or a personal childhood fav beef patty with cheese.
For beer lovers or moms who just need a break, your beverage choices also include pitchers of beer or a bottle/glass of wine. Every so often you'll be graced with an impromptu performance of Sal playing the saxophone or a late night open mic session. But the icing on the cake is when anyone orders a pie you'll be reminded your pie is ready with the sound of a loud “DING!”
Now at the tender age of seventy, Sal can easily say he's done it all. A philosopher, writer, musician, lover, and pizza shop owner, Sal's advice to people is the practice of self-growth.
“You can grow spiritually, educate yourself, and create something that is bigger than you.”
Coda's Corner - 4.2 out of 5 stars for experience, service, and quality of food.
Architect Files: Crow’s Blueprint
Q+A by Kayla Smith / Photos by Dondre Green
As an architect and a native of the Bronx, Donzell Crow, 27, views the borough through a lens that many of us do not. Bronx Narratives recently chopped it up with Crow about music, art, and his blueprint for a better Bronx.
What area of the Bronx are you from?
Wakefield, many people in New York are not familiar. Only people in Wakefield know about Wakefield.
What was it like growing up over there?
Growing up was everything, you saw a lot. Hip-hop was right down the street. Now Hip-hop is Manhattan, it’s L.A. You have to go far to get to it. Whereas growing up, you could go right to the Big Pun Mural and you see members of Terror Squad.
“It’s a sense of home pride that starts within the community. A voice can be heard it just has to be cohesive.”
When you say you "saw a lot," what do you mean?
In every spectrum you saw a lot. Growing up in the 90s, it was a very different time in New York. [Mayor] Giuliani definitely cleaned up the streets. I went to church right on 238th and Nereid Ave. That’s where my entire world existed. I remember when the current Walgreens was the neighborhood deli. We knew them so well, I feel like we put so much money in that store. [chuckles]
Why did you decide to stay in the Bronx?
I’m not gonna lie, for a brief moment I thought of moving some place more convenient but there is always this sense of home here. Other boroughs have a stronger voice within their community. They are able to say "we need this,” and it gets done but the Bronx has a long way to go before we can make those requests. There is also a sense of giving back. Anyone who follows me on social media knows I always share new innovative ideas to help the Bronx serve people in my age group - young professionals in their mid-twenties. The Bronx is set up for small families. It’s not a place where one of my homeboys can come out and get a drink.
What way do you aim to serve the community?
Professionally I’m an architect but my hobbies include writing and singing. I operate under the moniker Donzell Crow as a singer. I work with an architectural firm; we present urban frameworks on how we can reinvent the borough to be its own. Living in the Bronx, it’s very hard to enjoy amenities within our Borough. We always have to go out and spend money elsewhere. We have to go to Manhattan, Brooklyn, and even sometimes outside of the city. The Mall at Bay Plaza is the first indoor mall that has ever been in the Bronx.
How did you get into architecture?
It was always something that I wanted to do; I was always into the Arts. To me it’s all about self expression.
Do you like the new developments that are here?
Yeah, [The Mall at Bay Plaza] is good economically. I know it took a lot of money to make it but now we have a place to go.
It’s funny, we were just talking about the new mall and one of the kids mentioned it’s not for us. They feel in the long run it’ll be for a different demographic. What’s your take on that?
You know this opens the door to the word everyone uses these days: Gentrification. I obviously hear a lot because I am able to experience these changes first hand. If there is hope for a new development in a specific community, a community that was there prior to gentrification, The Bronx is the best place for this. Mayor De Blasio issued an order of about 200,000 affordable housing units but unfortunately a lot of properties are being eaten up. Brooklyn is pretty much swallowed up. Manhattan is pretty much swallowed up and they are now moving into Queens. They are attempting to rezone areas in the South Bronx [3rd Ave, 149th street and the Grand Concourse] to make it more like the city. I am actually not opposed because I believe there are some ways gentrification benefits us but we also have to have something in place to protect the existing community. It’s a conversation that I have all the time with colleagues.
The mall gives money back to The Bronx and it gives people a place to go. You have to work with the system and use it to benefit the community. There can be more amenities but I understand a lot of politics come into play. Financially, the South Bronx is the poorest congressional district in the U.S. It’s very easy to govern places like Manhattan because you have all these big players that are like “I’ll put this toward that if you let me get this,” whereas in the Bronx, we don't have those pulls.
If you could develop any area in the Bronx, what area would that be?
I definitely believe there are some gems in the Bronx that can turn into beautiful creations. For example, The Bronx River is an open space - there can be foot traffic, bike lanes, and vendors. There’s a golf court by the Whitestone Bridge [Ferry Point Park] but it's almost a slap in the face. Its right on the water, you have this amazing view of the Whitestone Bridge - why not make it a community? Why not stop building luxury apartments in places like Five Points, which is known for its art history. Buildings can easily be placed near the Whitestone Bridge and more industrial jobs can be created. The landscape is so flat and it’s literally right by the water. There’s so much opportunity there. We [The Bronx] just need more places for people to go.
How’d you get into music?
That was a typical "black child in the church" story. I knew I could hold a note and when I went to Howard [University], one of my friends was like “you should be on one of my songs,” and I sung a hook. I was like OK this kinda sounds nice. I guess it was some of that subconscious church vocal training and then year after year I honed my skills.
What kind of music do you write/sing?
I do mostly soul, R&B, and narrative music. For me, like art, music is what validates my self-expression. If I can’t express myself I’m a lifeless soul. My music mostly tells stories. It’s very atmospheric, ethereal, very narrative, very wordy.
Does music help you balance your work? I know architecture is very technical. With music, do you feel more free?
I think both can be conceptualized as free. Music is something that clicks, you hear the melody and then the words flow, it just all comes together. Architecture is sort of the same but just more pragmatic because people are living in that space. Its about the mind, body, and soul.
Going back to what you said about people from other boroughs having a voice in their community. I really think it goes back to us having a voice in the Bronx but there seems to be a lack of that. How can you get people to speak out about certain things going on in their community or become more aware about what’s going on in the Bronx?
A lot of this deals with trend, I think in a sense there are only a few types of people in the Bronx. I go to different types of places and I study the way people move. In Delaware, everybody picks up the paper. In the Bronx people don’t do that. If you hear about what’s going on it’s through word of mouth or one of your friends posts on Instagram.
It's a sense of home pride that starts within the community. A voice can be heard it just has to be cohesive
Even if it’s not a paper, which is the traditional way of sharing information, it could be a blog. That’s definitely needed so there can be one voice.
Do you see yourself living here for a long period of time?
I feel like I could never 100% leave the Bronx. I can definitely see myself living in Riverdale, it’s quiet and I like my living space to be quiet.
My Sister’s Keeper Drive: A Toiletries Drive for Homeless Women
Written by Maryam Mohammed / Photos by Dondre Green
“Each time a woman stands up for herself without knowing it, possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for ALL women.”
The words of the late Maya Angelou ring especially true during this Women’s History Month. It is a time to recognize the historical contributions of women. It is also a time for us all to be civically engaged and identify causes that are important to us. Two organizations are doing just that in the Bronx.
Above and Beyond Initiative and the Epsilon Tau chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. teamed up to create My Sister’s Keeper: A Toiletries Drive. Inspired by the Huffington Post article For Homeless Women, Getting Their Period Is One of The Most Difficult Challenges, the two organizations felt it was important to support the often voiceless, under supported women shelter population.
The article explores the narratives of several women living in shelters across the country. Though these woman have somewhere relatively safe to live, dealing with their menstrual cycle poses a serious problem and exposes deficiencies in the social service system. The inaccessibility to pads and tampons in women’s shelters turns the mundane task of self-maintenance during their menstrual cycle into a challenge.Realizing this was an issue, the two organizations decided to partner, bring awareness, and provide a realistic solution.
Both Above and Beyond Initiative and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. are organizations created and sustained by African American women. They focus on responding to issues affecting women through various programmatic initiatives.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is one of the earliest African American women’s Greek organizations; recently celebrating 102 years of sisterhood, scholarship, and service. The twenty-two founders of the organization created the sorority in 1913 and have since added over 250,000 women, globally, to the sorority. Since its conception, Delta Sigma Theta has worked to empower women around the world through civic engagement, economic and political empowerment, and youth oriented programming. The Epsilon Tau Chapter of the sorority was established in New York City and covers the Bronx and Manhattan.
Above and Beyond Initiative is a Bronx based nonprofit aimed at developing professional and interpersonal programming to better equip young minority women to be integral parts of their society. By providing skills in the form of workshops and monthly discussion groups, ABI hopes to create of a new wave of young women ready to navigate the job market and achieve academic excellence. ABI's wants prepare young women for the real world while utilizing tools such as resume building, professional wardrobe workshops, and social etiquette classes to name a few.
ABI was founded in 2014 by community leader, Portia Asare and fellow childhood friends, Sandra Amoo, Decota Letman, and Maryam Mohammed. They realized they came from impoverished neighborhoods and circumstances that don’t often lead to success, but still achieved their goals. The team thought it was important to not only give back, but create an atmosphere that will encourage others to do the same.
Photo by Jhony Herrera at Pugsley's Pizza
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the two organizations partnered to launch the My Sister’s Keeper: A Toiletries Drive. During the month long drive, from March 15th-April 15th, the organizations are asking for pads and tampons, soaps, wipes, shampoo, deodorant, and any other personal hygiene products.
To donate to the drive, please contact info@aboveandbeyondini.org or @epsilontau_deltas to get information on one of their many drop-off locations.
The two organizations will be celebrating the success of the toiletries drive with their My Sister’s Keeper: An Evening of Appreciation. Above and Beyond Initiative and the Epsilon Tau chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host the event on Sunday, May 10th from 2pm - 6pm at the Bronx Museum. The event will celebrate and honor women in shelters across the Bronx. You will be joined by celebrity guest, some of the Bronx’s most influential women, and the women of the shelters who will receive the donations. To join us for a day of live music and poetry, dancing, and make overs, please RSVP at info@aboveandbeyondini.org
A Celebration of Life: Mrs. Sarah Turner Turns Ninety-Nine
Written by Decota Letman / Photos by Dondre Green
In today’s society, it is not often we can say there are ninety-nine year olds still alive and kicking. Literally! In the case of Mrs. Sarah Turner, this is an understatement. A Bronxite for more than sixty-five years, I had the opportunity to chat with Mrs. Turner about what keeps her going, healthy, and active for someone her age.
Migrating from the south, Mrs. Turner settled in the Bronx in her late twenties.
“When I first moved here (The Bronx), it was a white neighborhood and I was the third black person to move in.”
Over the years, Eastchester Gardens has become a predominately Latino and African American neighborhood. She recalls never fearing for her safety or feeling threatened because everyone treated her with the same amount of respect as she treated them. Currently the oldest resident in her Eastchester Garden Community, Mrs. Turner stands strong at five feet and is an avid community activist. She has received a number of awards and has been honored by Council Member Andy King, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz.
Mrs. Turner is an active member of the Burke Avenue Baptist Church and the local senior citizen community center. She also spends her free time at EMPIRE. A bit naive, I felt inclined to ask exactly what “Empire” was and she responded “The Casino! It's right in Yonkers and I take the 20 bus straight there." Alone?
“ Yes! I do it all alone - cooking, shopping, and groceries. I don’t need anyone’s help.”
Paul Lamont Turner, one of the youngest of fifteen grandchildren, can attest, stating, "She is too independent and feisty to need help. She's still young at heart."
"I'm just happy I have lived to see three generations of my family; two children, fifteen grandchildren, and lots of great-grands." Mrs. Turner has no regrets about life. She is a vibrant soul who believes everyone should live life to the fullest. Dancing, laughing, loving and being loved are some of the key tools to happiness according to Mrs. Turner. When asked to share one message to our generation, she says "Have faith, that's what it's all about." Her words, simple yet fulfilling, left a lasting impression on me and I hope sharing her story will leave one on you as well.
