Tag Archives: Van Cortlandt Village

Art Fair at Amalgamated Houses/Vladeck Hall Tomorrow! (Sun. 11/20, 1 to 5 P.M. )

19 Nov

Hey Everyone! Tomorrow (Sunday), from 1 to 5 p.m., I’ll be part of an art fair, along with 17 wonderful artists at Amalgamated House’s Vladeck Hall in Van Cortlandt Village/Bronx (74 Van Cortlandt Park South). KRVC is organizing the event and providing a shuttle bus from their office at 505 W. 236th St. (around corner of Riverdale Ave next to bagel joint), every half hour between 1:30 and 4:30 . This is gonna be a phenomenal resource for creative, AFFORDABLE holiday gifts by local artists, including jewelry, paintings, photography, drawings, and greeting cards.  And live jazz too! If you have time tomorrow, please come check it out! 

Thanks!

Jordan

P.S. Here are pix of some of the artist’s taking part! And feel free to email me at jordanmossbx@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Daniel Hauben

Jordan Moss

Liz Guarracino

Annette Black

Alex Fernandez

Advertisement

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Swan Lake (Van Cortlandt Park)

22 Apr

Van Cortlandt Park Swan

Saw this beautiful swan today in Van Cortlandt Park Lake. I see one or two there often, but they never cease to attract my attention. Photo by Jordan Moss

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What Should We Do With Van Cortlandt Library Space?

21 Apr

DSC_1084.jpg

Van Cortlandt Library on Sedgwick Avenue will soon be leaving this space for a new, larger site on Cannon Place. What should replace it? Photo by Jordan Moss

This is a photo of the current Van Cortlandt Library, but it will only exist for another couple of months. The one that will replace it is twice as large, allowing more, and separate, rooms for kids and adults. And from the photo I saw of the design, it’s infinitely more attractive. It’s being built right now on Cannon Place. It should be open by the end of summer. Fingers crossed.

But in the meantime, what should go in the old space? It’s for rent, and who knows, maybe for sale (phone number in photo).

Here’s what I think: it should be a diner or breakfast/lunch joint. Yeah, sure I’d also like a Thai or Indian restaurant or an art gallery or … a lotta stuff. But I really think that a diner wold benefit the most people in the vicinity. There’s no place for anyone to sit down for a quick breakfast or lunch before they get on the bus, or go to work at PS 95 across the street. And, except for the pizza place, there’s really no place for the elderly and people without cars to take a walk and have some breakfast, lunch or dinner. We all love pizza but not every single time we want/need to go get something to eat.

That’s my view. But I’m interested in yours. And if there’s a collective community view of what should be there, let’s all shout it out loud to everyone we know who could help spread word to business folks interested in what we are interested in.

-Jordan Moss

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

‘Little Free Library’ on Bronx Block

12 Feb

Even with its 1.4 million people the Bronx has only one general bookstore: Barnes & Noble in Bay Plaza by Co-op City. (I’d love to be wrong about this, so please let me know if I am.)

That said, we can all regularly share and exchange books we’ve read — but don’t need around the house anymore — in an outdoor book cabinet. Think that’s a good idea? Well it is, but it ain’t mine.

Down our Bronx block on Giles Place in Kingsbridge Heights (also known as Van Cortlandt Village) our friends and neighbors, Sarah and Brian Aucoin, installed a Little Free Library in their front yard last year. They painted it beautiful colors with their two sons, Artie and Ozzie. It’s simply a house-shaped wooden cabinet and a glass door on a pole.

Aucoin Library

A ‘Little Free Library’ on Giles Place in the Kingsbridge Heights neighborhood of the Bronx. Photo by Jordan Moss

Little Free Library is actually a nonprofit that provides these all over the world. But for now, the Aucoins’ library appears to be the only one in the Bronx.

The book cabinet allows anybody who walks by to see what’s available, take what they would like to read, and/or share what they’ve already read. It’s clearly been a big success. The shelf is regularly full and from week-to-week the titles continue to change.

Oh, it appears that the Aucoins’ Little Free Library launch is beginning to spread. Another wooden post similar to the one at the Aucoins’ house is going up next door. But that post is a bit shorter so it looks like the library is going to be for the little (or soon-to-be) readers in our area! How cool is that?

Stay tuned!

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

The Bronx’s Perenially Padlocked Jerome Park Reservoir Open This Weekend!

29 Sep

It may not sound like a big deal if you don’t have live relatively close to the Jerome Park Reservoir. But residents of Kingsbridge Heights, Bedford Park, Norwood, Van Cortlandt Village, etc. have not been able to see the reservoir close-up in what is essentially their neighborhood backyard. Until now. The DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) is opening up the fence this weekend. There are no plans for future accessibility. But as long-time reservoir activist Anne Marie Garti states in the following email she just sent around, the only way you’re possibly going to get more accessibility is if you show up this weekend. She also points out that the southern section of the reservoir (which makes up its vast majority) is empty right now, as it was for many years before this year. I agree with her that it must be filled before we all show up. Here’s all the info from Ms. Garti:

The NYC DEP will be opening the Jerome Park Reservoir to the public this coming Saturday and Sunday, October 3rd and 4th.  This is a pilot to gauge public sentiment. If you want the reservoir opened regularly, you should show up!

Anyone can come to walk or run around the reservoir between 12:30 – 2:30 pm

You must use the entrance just south of 205th Street (near the Bronx HS of Science and Gatehouse 5), on the west side of Goulden Ave.

“Phones, bags and cameras will not be permitted on the tour. We will provide an opportunity to check phones, however please do not bring any bags or cameras. Please ensure you wear closed toe shoes. All participants will be required to sign a liability waiver before being admitted.”

http://nycwater.tumblr.com/post/129652145158/if-you-will-be-joining-us-at-jerome-park-reservoir

For some reason, the DEP has decided to drain the 60+ acre south basin. If the agency doesn’t want to be accused of sabotaging this rare event, we suggest that water be put in there before Saturday!

Tours will be held in the morning. However, no more  tickets are available.
https://jerome-park-reservoir-tour.eventbrite.com

We hope to see you there on Saturday and Sunday between 12:30 – 2:30 pm.
West side of Goulden Avenue, south of 205th Street (across the street from Bronx Science)
Anne Marie

Tags: , , , , , , , ,