TheBronxRocks.com

I literally just came home to a fire fighting scene in the building just next to mine.  The army of NYC firefighters had the blaze under control within minutes! A big Bronx THANKS to each and every one of these heros from Squad Company 61!  You guys rock!
Update: And kudos to Parkchester Management.  I just walked by and every single window that had been blown out was replaced. Pretty impressive on a holiday weekend!

MoveOn.org Obama Calling Party - Parkchester

Yes, Sangrias…and great Mexican food!!! You have NO IDEA how fired I am about finding fresh and AUTHENTIC Mexican food right around the corner from my apartment! Growing up in Southern California, I crave this cuisine just about every other week and the many Dominican and Criolle eateries to be found in the Bronx just don’t always do it for me.  (Even in Manhattan, great Mexican cuisine is hard to come by). Taqueria Tlaxcalli (run by a former Mexico City resident - Mauricio), therefore is to die for.  And by the customers packing the place tonight, I’m obviously not the only one who believes they’ve just discovered a little slice of Heaven!  (Read some other favorable reviews here.) And pssst….don’t pass up the fabulous Sangrias!

 Judy (Go Fordham!) and Howard - Regulars at Tlaxcalli

Owner Mauricio - on the right - and his very talented kitchen staff.

Just a few members of Joe’s friendly staff! Thanks guys for a great evening!

Willie’s Steak House - Parkchester  (Live Music Wednesdays and Fridays!)

Just a few minutes walk from my apartment in Parkchester is Willie’s Steak House, a Zagat-rated restaurant that not only serves up fabulous criollo cuisine, juicy steaks and a variety of seafood dishes that have patrons coming from as far away as Manhattan, New Jersey and Connecticut but it’s also an establishment famous for showcasing top talent in the Latin Jazz arena.  Tito Puente I’m told was a regular here and called Willie’s his “home away from home”.  I spoke to the very hospitable owner, Dan Ortiz (pictured below), and learned that Wednesday and Friday nights are a jazz lovers dream.  Also very informative was the incomparible Miquel Martillo (pictured below with Ava out back in the garden patio) - a true afficianado of every type of Latino music! Check out his very impressive website!  (This guy knows his stuff!) Percussionist and composer Annette Anguilar and her Stringbeans were playing tonight and what a great treat they were! This woman ROCKED those drums, ya’ll! (Check out her appearance in this Infiniti commercial!) The steaks were delicious, the music superb and the fun and energetic vibe made for a combination that will have me coming back as a regular! Next Wednesday night - You’ll know where to find me! 
(Also, check out my write up of Willie’s over at The BoogieDowner)

PARKCHESTER

Not many places in the Bronx where you can get all three at one shot, folks - not all within walking distance!

But you CAN find it all here (and more) in Parkchester!.  This city-within-a-city is becoming quite the hub and destination spot for the East Bronx - with people coming in from other communities to take advantage of the wonderful amenities we have to offer.  Need to do some shopping? Macy’s is right here. (For a comprehensive list of shops, see my Home Sweet Home! post below). Then you can walk over to see a movie at the American.  OK, so it’s not Art House cinema, but for the Bronx - it’s a dream.  Next, stop on in at The Step-In Restaurant (where I had the most delicious Stuffed Shrimp With Crabmeat the other evening).  Be sure to say Hi to George the bartender (pictured) who’s been with the establishment since it opened in the seventies. And if you Karaoke - swing by on a Tuesday evening! After dinner, you can walk a few stores down to Starbucks for your beverage of choice and then head on over to enjoy the beautiful fountain in the Oval, Parkchester’s gathering spot for locals. You will be sure to find room on one of the many benches as well as smiles on the faces of those around you.  When you are all done, you can say that you truly enjoyed a night out on the town - and all without leaving The Bronx! (For more on Parkchester photos, see posts below.)

My favorites are the ones way up high that seem to be floating and watching over the community, welcoming and comforting us Parkchester residents as we pass underneath.  (My favorite is the first photo below - being at the top of a 10th floor building, you can only really see the sillouette of this statue.  To me, when I’m looking up from ground level, she looks like Wonder Woman hovering from a lofty perch.)  

Parkchester

I have lived in Parkchester for almost two years now and I must say - it gets better and better all the time. With a new diverse crowd of people moving in every month (see photos of some of my neighbors below) and with new commercial establishments setting up shop, the future of my little “village” is very bright. 

Adding to the wonderful quality of life in Parchester is the huge selection of shops and services located in walking distance from each apartment, making it a true “city-within-a-city.  From Starbucks to Macy’s to its own cinema and post office (all within walking distance!), Parkchester has everything a resident needs for daily living. (For photos and a list of stores, see below)

 

 

 

For even more of what Parkchester has to offer… 

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