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Van Cortlandt House Musuem - Van Cortlandt Park

Nestled in the beautiful expanse of Van Cortlandt Park, this 1748 historic home is a must for history and architecture buffs as well as anyone fond of antiques and the decorative arts.  To book a $5 tour, just call ahead to make sure one of the volunteer guides are available.  My friend and I showed up today sans reservations but were lucky that the wonderful David Kappes was around! Thanks David!  I can’t wait to return for the Decemeber Christmas Evening Candlelight Tour!!! (Check out their website for a list of upcoming events.) Afterwards, you can cross the street to grab some great Mexican food at Santa Fe Grill (I had a fantastic shrimp enchilada platter for $6.50) or a meal at the more upscale Jake’s Steakhouse.

THE BRONX CULTURE TROLLEY - SOUTH BRONX

My friend Karen and I hopped aboard the Bronx Trolley this past Wednesday for a great little urban adventure – a foray into the cultural hot spots of the South Bronx. The Bronx Council of the Arts‘ hospitality was in full force at their reception held at Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos College.  Cheese platters, crudités and wine were served in abundance and the works of art by Samuel Lind and Raul Ayala on display were a pleasant surprise.  Once aboard the trolley, we rode down the Grand Concourse for a spin, dropped fellow passengers off at the Bronx Museum and then continued to travel East into Mott Haven where we eventually hopped off for visits to The Bronx Blue Bedroom Project, the Bronx Museum Project Space, Haven Arts Gallery and The Bruckner Gallery at the Bruckner Bar and Grill (with martinis and sushi at the Gallery Lounge along the way!).  Fellow passengers were from many parts of the City and were all in great spirits (the free flowing wine at each event didn’t hurt of course!)

See posts below for photos of all of these wonderful South Bronx must-sees. The Trolley rolls through various Bronx neighborhoods every First Wednesday – I highly suggest you give the next one a try!  

(My friend Karen up from Manhattan to visit the South Bronx)

Blanka Amezkua immediately reminded me of an artist channeling the spirit of the great Frida Kahlo. I had the good fortune to make a pilgrimage to Kahlo’s home in Mexico City (Casa Azul) years ago, and Blanka’s Bronx Blue Bedroom Project had the same feeling of the artist’s living space becoming an intertwining extention of the art and artist herself. The idea behind the BBBP is to showcase a different artist every month – giving them the run of her Tiffany-box blue bedroom as a gallery. They in turn bring dinner, snacks and drinks for the guests who show up.  The artist this past Wednesday was the delightful Melissa Calderon.  (Send me those pics, Melissa!) But Blanka’s own work is definitely worth a visit in and of itself.  How often do you see in one collection a sculptural collage made entirely of multi-colored pipe cleaners, a figure made of several disparate and seemingly tortured doll parts and a framed thorned brassiere?!? 

I highly suggest you visit this unique artist’s home, studio and gallery – I promise it will bring out the inner-bohemian in all of you!

 (Following photos courtesy of Blanka’s Website)

BRONX MUSEUM PROJECT SPACE - Stop on the Bronx Cultural Trolley Tour
Mott Haven, South Bronx

After Blanka’s Bronx Blue Bedroom Project, we meandered down the streets of Mott Haven and ventured into The Bronx Musuem Project Space, filled with art that was definitely my cup of tea – I mean the first thing I saw upon entering was a painting definitely worth a thousand words - George Bush in Mickey Mouse ears.  Now THAT had me at Hello!

          HAVEN ARTS, Stop on the Bronx Trolley Tour
Mott Haven, South Bronx(Reposted from an earlier entry): Located right around the corner from Alexander’s Cafe and across the street from what used to be (sigh!) Antique Row, sits Haven Arts - a gallery I’ve been meaning to check out for quite some time. On exhibit now is Men on Maps - a unique idea whereby 40 male artists use NYC subway maps as their “blank canvas” and inspiration.  Pretty cool stuff! Check out their website for upcoming events and exhibits. Thanks J.C. for your hospitality! I hope you continue to flourish!

BRUCKNER GALLERY - Stop on the Bronx Trolley Tour
MOTT HAVEN, SOUTH BRONX

Actually, the last stop was at Sweetwater Bar & Grill, but by the time we reached the Bruckner Bar and Grill, the martinis, wine and high heel shoes had taken a toll and all we wanted to do was sit, pig out and people watch at this South Bronx institution.  Great music, yummy food and a fun crowd was the perfect way to end this great SoBro evening. (See Sobro! (Part 2) for another post on The Bruckner Bar & Grill)

THROGGS NECK

So…just a few weekends ago, I posted about the Bronx Museum’s street fair in which they celebrated Street Art, Street Life.  The exhibit inside the museum had some pretty awesome stuff by the likes of Yoko Ono, Amy Arbus and Jamel Shabazz.  But let me tell you -  I was in Throgs Neck all day today (more posts to follow cause I seriously love what this little neighborhood has to offer being just a short cab or bus ride from my home in Parkchester.)  Take a look at these photos to see some true street art in all its glory and simplistic purity.  Someone painted an entire block of construction pine barriors in these very basic yet compelling stories of Throgs Neck life. Intrigued, I asked a passing resident who informed me the artist was his neighbor who lives across the street from the construction site.  Her mission? She simply wanted to beautify what normally would be an ugly eyesore, knowing full well that her art would necessarily have to be removed and destroyed at some point in the near future.  (He promised to try to have her get in touch with TheBronxRocks, because I would love to meet the person responsible!)

Malikka Style

THE BARTOW PELL MANSION MUSEUM - THE BRONX (Near City Island)

Visiting this 1836 historic country mansion is such a wonderful way to spend a weekend afternoon. Architecture, antique and history buffs will be delighted at what this Greek Revival home (with wonderful touches of Federal Style) has to offer.  (Be sure to visit their website for a beautiful slide show, directions and to find out when the hour-long tours are scheduled.)  Afterwards, feel free to enjoy the beautiful grounds complete with koi pond and cherub fountain. And then perhaps head on over to City Island for your seafood fix!

While not as ornate or seemingly grand as some of the other buildings along the Grand Concourse and in other parts of the Bronx, these streamlined, simple and quintessentially Art Deco buildings hold great appeal for me.  This was taken this evening and is located just across from the Court House along the Grand Concourse, near Yankee Stadium.

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The Mario Merola Building, or Bronx County Courthouse, one of the largest court houses ever built in the United States dominates the landscape where it sits majestically overlooking The Grand Concourse and the adjacent park.  Although not technically Art Deco, there are enough of the design’s influences to include it here. This is the first sight most visitors see when they step out of the Yankee Stadium subway stop - its size and scope is mesmerizing!

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Two of these beautiful sculputres flank the Court House.

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Just another simple deco building similar to others scattered throughout the Grand Concourse and surrounding area.

Horace Ginsbern's Art Deco Building

Tags: Deco Architecture, Horace Ginsbern, The Fish House
Posted in BRONX ARCHITECTURE, BRONX ART and CULTURE, SOBRO | 1 Comment »