#bronx library center

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

This morning, several of our staff members visited the Bronx Library Center for the launch and ribbon-cutting ceremony of NYPL’s Educator Collection!

These books, which are arriving at all Bronx branches now, will be put out on display over the next few weeks. You can learn more about NYPL's Educator Collection on our website!

[reasonsforhope]

"New York City officials have agreed to restore more than $111 million in funding to libraries and cultural institutions, the City Council announced Thursday [June 27, 2024].

The agreement is a victory for residents and organizations who had been pushing back for months against budget cuts in the nation’s largest city and one of the world’s foremost cultural capitals.

In November, the city announced it would cut the budget of the New York Public libraries by $58.3 million in fiscal year 2025, and slash the budget for other cultural institutions, including the Bronx Zoo and Carnegie Hall, by $53 million. The new deal reverses those cuts, and is set to be finalized in a City Council vote Sunday...

“Our arts and cultural institutions and libraries are foundational pillars of our city, and New Yorkers depend on their services every day,” said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, thanking the mayor’s administration for reaching the deal. “The Council has consistently championed funding restorations for these institutions as a top priority, and we’re proud to reach an agreement with Mayor Adams and the administration to successfully secure these critical investments for them in the city budget.”

The news was received with collective approval from New York institutions that had been forced to cut hours and public access due to lack of funding.

“The Museum of the City of New York is delighted to learn of the restoration of cuts to the cultural sector,” the museum’s president Stephanie Hill Wilchfort told CNN in a statement.

“This support makes it possible for MCNY to be open seven days a week, starting on July 1,” said Wilchfort, who serves as Executive Vice Chair of the Cultural Institutions Group, a coalition of 34 non-profit organizations such as the city’s museums, gardens, and arts centers. “As such, the Museum’s exhibitions exploring history, popular culture, and art will be open to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the first time since the pandemic. City support also allows the Museum to operate as a cooling center, open at no charge to anyone who seeks relief from warm weather.”

The city’s three public library systems — New York, Queens, and Brooklyn — issued a joint statement thanking the administration, the city council and New York residents, who overwhelmingly supported the campaign to restore library budgets. More than 174,000 people sent letters to City Hall in support of the “No Cuts to Libraries!” campaign since the cuts were announced in November [2023].

“This funding will allow us to resume seven-day service, a priority for many New Yorkers,” the libraries said in a statement shared with CNN. “We expect that service to begin in the coming weeks, bringing our branches back to the same hours of operation prior to the November 2023 cuts. The funding also allows us to continue universal six-day service, which New Yorkers have enjoyed for nearly a decade.”

-via CNN, June 28, 2024

[boroughshq]

Welcome to the community bulletin board! Here are some events happening around the Boroughs this month:

September: Fall Film Festival @ Technicolor Theater, Queens

September 9: Make Your Own Pasta @ Vino e Cucino, the Bronx

September 12: Wine Tasting @ Vault, Brooklyn

September 13: Pumpkin Spice Bake Off @ The High Line, Manhattan

September 14: Core Fitness’ 4th Annual Mud Run @ Staten Island

September 15: Free Community Paddling @ the Bronx River

September 17: Full Harvest Moon Viewing Party @ Prospect Park, Brooklyn

September 20: Speed Dating @ The Blue Note, Queens

September 21: Bar Olympics @ The Well, Staten Island

September 24: DIY Fall Candles @ Sappho’s, Brooklyn

September 26: Advance Line Dancing @ Cowbells, the Bronx

September 30: Ghost Stories w/the New York Public Library @ Central Park, Manhattan

September: Fall Films Festival @ Technicolor Theater, Queens

Every weekend in the month of September, Technicolor Theater will be showing a marathon of certified fall classics at their projected outdoor screen - from When Harry Met Sally to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to Remember The Titans to Little Women and everything in between! A schedule of the films can be found on their social media, but they advise coming in blind for a peak movie going experience. It's chilly, so don't forget to bring your blankets!

September 9: Make Your Own Pasta @ Vino e Cucino, the Bronx

Join the family who owns this beloved restaurant and their dedicated cooking staff in a paid cooking class where they'll show you how to make your own pasta from scratch!

September 12: Wine Tasting @ Vault, Brooklyn

To usher in the season, Vault has secured fresh seasonal wine offerings for their refined guests, all carefully sourced, and all boasting brilliant flavor profiles perfect for the fall season.

September 13: Pumpkin Spice Bake Off @ The High Line, Manhattan

The Borough Baking Bites (an amateur online baking community) are hosting their first Pumpkin Spice Bake Off right on the High Line! To participate, amateur bakers only needed to sign up online for $20 and bring a homemade baked good of choice that includes pumpkin spice. Any citizen walking by is welcome to stop and try the different pumpkin spice goods for no cost at all - just a simple request to make sure to Scan the QR code provided to vote for their favorite treat. Winner of the bake off gets half of the total entry fee as their prize!

September 14: Core Fitness’ 4th Annual Mud Run @ Staten Island

Sponsored by Core Fitness and hosted at Staten Island's Greenbelt Nature Center, Core Fitness is proud to host their 4th Annual Mud Run! Gym members and non-members alike are invited to participate in a 3 mile outdoor challenge course filled with over 30 man-made and natural obstacles to overcome! And remember, this is a mud run - don't forget to bring an extra change of clothes for the ride back home!

September 15: Free Community Paddling @ the Bronx River

Join the Bronx River Association for a free community paddle on the Bronx River! Canoes and kayaks will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis for partners, families, and solo paddlers to enjoy a fun day on the beautiful Bronx river!

September 17: Full Harvest Moon Viewing Party @ Prospect Park, Brooklyn

The New York Galaxy Patrol is back to host another astronomical event viewing: the Full Harvest Moon! With a partial lunar eclipse expected to occur, this supermoon will surely be a site to see! Astronomy fans are invited to join the astronomy club as they host a moon party for the community! Be warned - the eclipse is projected to enter it's darkest phase around 11:44pm - prepare for a late night!

September 20: Speed Dating @ The Blue Note, Queens

Calling all 25-36 year old singles! Spark Events proudly invites you to enjoy a night of smooth jazz and mingling at their speed dating event, hosted at The Blue Note! Choose whether you want to sit or rotate at the start, then take part in engaging five-minute conversations in search of that ever elusive spark. Keep a record of the people you'd like to see again to submit to the organizers at the end of the event, and you'll get your matches sent to you the next day!

September 21: Bar Olympics @ The Well, Staten Island

Bar Olympics is the name, and pools, darts, and beer pong are the games. The Well happily presents September's Bar Olympics for their guests to take part in!

September 24: DIY Fall Candles @ Sappho’s, Brooklyn

Join the staff at Sappho's starting at 5pm for a DIY Fall Candles workshop! Some signature scents available will include Pumpkin Spice, Cinnamon, Sandalwood, and Maple!

September 26: Advance Line Dancing @ Cowbells, the Bronx

Think you know your way around a dance hall? Come prove it at Cowbells! Line dance instructors are ready to teach the more serious dancers some advance line dances to current country hits starting at 7pm!

September 30: Ghost Stories w/the New York Public Library @ Central Park, Manhattan

It's almost spooky season, and the New York Public Library wants to celebrate! Guests are invited to sit around the Central Park firepits to swap ghost stories together -the spookier, the better!

[sistahscifi]

We jumped at our desk when we learned about Vincent Tirado's second book, WE DON'T SWIM HERE.

Tirado serves another gripping ya horror, but shifts settings from urban industrial underground subways of Hunts Point in the Bronx to the bucolic rural lakefront of Hillwoods.

As in Burn Down, Rise Up; history, legend, and community continue to play center stage in We Don't Swim Here as Bronwyn navigates painful trues to free themselves and those they love.

If you are excited to learn more, @boogiedowngrind is hosting an in person Q&A with Vincent Tirado Thursday May 4th at 630PM EST. And course, Sistah Scifi has preorders of hardcovers signed by Vincent Tirado.

Better yet, check it out from your local #library. Today, we celebrate @HuntsPointNYPL.

Reposted @sourcebooksfire In WE DON’T SWIM HERE, the next horror YA novel from @v_e_tirado, we follow a gripping investigation that unveils humanity’s monstrous potential.

Perfect for readers of Tiffany D. Jackson, Lamar Giles, and Ryan Douglass

📸: @bratzlibrary

#wedontswimhere #vincenttirado

Reposted @boogiedowngrind Save Date: #SouthBronx #author @v_e_tirado debuts 2nd book Thurs MAY 4 at 6:30pm!

.

#huntspointnyc #huntspoint #intheboogiedown #bronxauthor #thebronxisreading #sistahscifi #boogiedowngrind #vincenttirado #BurnDownRiseUp #WeDontSwimHere #yahorror #thebronx #bronx

@writeinbk

@lamargiles

@ryan_souflee

//

@thebronxisreading

@sourcebooksfire

[unfortunately-obsessed]

Original Dimension 6055 – New York City

There, the unrelenting rain creates a gloomy and depressive atmosphere, where even during the day the sky is overcast, creating a perpetually wet environment.

Because of the city's antiquated and poorly maintained drainage system, the streets frequently flood. Lower-lying areas become dangerously submerged.

Travelling is exceptionally hazardous on days of heavier rain. Traffic jams are a constant issue, exacerbated by the flooding and sheer volume of cars, which also increases the volume of road accidents. The streets are clogged with cars, bikes, and pedestrians, all vying for limited space.

Most people live in cramped, dilapidated apartments. Basic services like electricity and healthcare are unreliable and expensive. For the average citizen, survival is a daily struggle. Many work multiple jobs.

Due to the constant rain, raincoats, waterproof jackets, and umbrellas are essential parts of daily attire. Those items can and will be used as fashion statements. Colorful lanterns paint a beautiful landscape through the concrete jungle

In a bid to combat the environmental degradation, many buildings feature green rooftops, aiding to menage the incessant rainfall with better drainage systems and increasing the rooftops lifespan. Those are more common in wealthier areas, like the Bronx.

Poorer areas have water-logged walls that damage the infrastructure. Blue lights are used to combat seasonal affect depression.

The city is breeding ground for moss and the flu. It's humid, so cold and heay are hard to regulate.

Corporations like Alchemax and Oscorp wield enough power to operate above the law. Healthcare and police are both understaffed and underfunded.

Yet, people stay. NYC still is a melting pot of opportunities and different cultures interacting. Despite it all, it's also a walking city with great public transportation – full-fledged on trains through the boroughs – and a greater sense of community. Bars, shops, libraries and restaurants thrive; it's an international center of politics, fashion, music and theater.

6055 still homes many landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and World Trade Center. Not to mention the Headquarters of The Avengers, The Quartert Fantastic and The Defenders.

Over the years, a number of supervillains wreaked havoc in New York, including Shocker, Electro, Vulture, Rhino, Scorpion, Prowler, Sandman and Lizard, etc. Unfortunately, the black market also thrives, attracting mercenaries like Deadpool.

Fortunately, Hell's Kitchen can count with their personal Devil, and New York as a whole can count with their protector, Predator.

[be-kind-to-all-kind]

Places in New York City that don't look like they're in NYC (and aren't in Central Park*)

Forest Hills Gardens, Queens

This lovely NYC neighborhood was modeled after an English village back when it was first built in 1910, offering a little piece of the UK in Queens, with quaint Tudor-style houses and a town center with a train station. Read more about it here.

Where: 71st Ave, Forest Hills, NY

The Met Cloisters, Washington Heights

If you didn’t know about The Cloisters before, you might not ever believe that a medieval castle was in the middle of New York City. But it is! The Cloisters is a branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art that is devoted to European art history. It was designed and constructed taking elements from many different medieval cloisters, which are covered pathways in a church or monastery that connect to form an open square in the center. Find out more here.

Where: 99 Margaret Corbin Drive

Hours: Thursday-Tuesday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Closed Wednesdays

Purchase tickets on their website here.

Villa Charlotte Bronte, The Bronx

Italy or the Bronx? The beautiful “Villa Charlotte Bronte” apartments look straight out of Europe. They were built in 1926 and sit along the Palisades, overlooking the Hudson River, in the Spuyten Duyvil neighborhood of The Bronx. The design was actually based on an Italian villa, which definitely makes sense, and includes balconies as well as lush gardens!

Where: 2501 Palisade Ave, The Bronx

Fort Tryon Park, Inwood

These massive stone arches looks straight out of another era…and that’s because they are! Built between 1901 and 1905, the “Billings Arcade” is some of the last remains of the Tryon Hall mansion, built by wealthy Chicago industrialist Cornelius K. G. Billings. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. purchased the $2 million estate in 1917, only for it to burn down a few years later. Read more about the history from the Fort Tryon Park Trust.

Makes sense that #2 on our list is right next door!

Where: Riverside Dr. To Broadway (arches are near down toward the Billings Lawn, this website has good detailed directions)

Hours: Open daily, 6 a.m. – 1 a.m.

Greenacre Park, Midtown

This hidden little park in Midtown East is only 1/7 of an acre, but it definitely packs a punch. It holds a 25-foot waterfall that is not only a sight for sore eyes in the middle of Manhattan, and will also distract from the noise of the busy streets. It was built in 1971 by the Greenacre Foundation from a design by Hideo Sasaki.

Where: 217 E 51st St.

Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. *Reopens for the season Monday, April 3*

 Bonus: Here’s our list of other stunning secret gardens hidden in NYC 

Andrew Carnegie Mansion, Upper East Side

The Andrew Carnegie Mansion is a historical spot now home to the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. The mansion was originally completed in 1902 and reached landmark status in 1974, though it has undergone much change over the years. The grounds of the mansion, and now museum, feature an expansive garden and cafe for visitors to enjoy as well as a little opulent oasis in the middle of Manhattan.

Where: 2 E. 91st Street

Hours: Thursday–Monday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Morgan Library, Murray Hill

The Morgan Library feels like a trip to a library from Harry Potter or old world Europe. The historical venue was built as a private library between 1902 and 1906 for financier Pierpont Morgan. He began collecting manuscripts and other historical materials as early as 1890, and now they line the walls of the museum. You can find some of the country’s rarest music manuscripts, early children’s books, Americana, early printed books and more there. Purchase tickets here.

Where: 225 Madison Ave

Hours: Varies, see website for more info

“Little Paris,” Nolita/SoHo

NYC’s own “Little Paris” is the work of one group of French business owners determined to showcase NYC’s own enclave of French culture on Centre Street in Nolita/SoHo (between Broome & Grand St.). Along Centre St. you can find French café and bakery Maman, wine bar La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, and art and home decor shop Clic. To complete the Parisian vibe is the old police headquarters located across the street from Coucou French Classes, whose architecture was inspired by Paris’s famous Hotel de Ville (City Hall) with its Beaux Arts style. Read more about it here.

Where: Centre Street between Broome & Grand St.https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7107213381651795246

Van Cortlandt House, The Bronx

The Van Cortlandt House is the oldest surviving building in The Bronx, and was built by Frederick Van Cortlandt (1699 – 1749) in 1748. The Van Cortlandts were a prominent merchant family who owned a plantation on the property. ​Generations of the family lived there for 140 years, and in 1887 it was sold to the City of New York and made into public park land (Van Cortlandt Park itself it also the third largest park in NYC and has lots of unique hiking trails and vantage points!). Before it was a museum it had many random, unique uses like a temporary police precinct and a living space for ranch hands that cared for a herd of buffalo on the property.

Where: 6036 Broadway, Van Cortlandt Park

Hours: Varies, see website for more info

Stone Street, Financial District

Stone Street is one of the rare cobblestone streets in NYC, that gives more of an old school European feel to the starkly modern city buildings around it. According to Untapped Cities, the street was one of the first to be paved with cobblestones (in 1658) in the Nieuw Amsterdam colony, which is where it got its name. Today, no cars are allowed through and in the warm weather because of outdoor seating, it’s one of the few NYC locations where drinking is actually allowed in the streets.

Where: From Whitehall St. to Broad St., between Marketfield St. and Bridge St.

Hours: Open 24 hours

Ford Foundation Garden, Midtown

Tucked all the way at the end of 42nd Street (between 2nd Ave. and the United Nations Plaza), the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice is a true hidden treasure of New York City. With sunlight streaming in on multiple sides, the 160-foot tall atrium holds 39 species of plants. There is also a reflecting pool, and a sensory garden with plant life you are encouraged to touch and smell. Read more here.

Where: 320 E. 43rd St.

Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChcXIbcAbpA/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fsecretnyc.co&rp=%2Fextraordinary-places-you-wont-believe-are-in-new-york-city%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A4699.899999999907%2C%22ls%22%3A3474.899999999907%2C%22le%22%3A3748.600000000093%7D

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens

If you’re looking to be surrounded by nature instead of the concrete jungle, the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is the place for you. On over 9,155 serene acres you can hike, go bird-watching, explore turtle nesting and admire the wide variety of wildflowers, moths and butterflies.

Where: Cross Bay Blvd near Broad Channel, Queens

Hours: Open daily, 6a.m. – 9p.m.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Heights

This lush oasis in the heart of Brooklyn will make you feel like you’ve been completely transported to another city. During the cherry blossom bloom in the spring, it will surely feel like a trip to Japan, but year-round it provides a natural haven for New Yorkers with varying blooms all over its very walkable grounds. Purchase tickets on their website here.

Where: 455 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225

Hours: Varies, see website for more info

But of course, Check out Central Park and the other parks, and I definitely don't just mean the parts where everyone goes!

[rockislandadultreads]

Read-Alike Friday: King of the Armadillos by Wendy Chin-Tanner

King of the Armadillos by Wendy Chin-Tanner

Victor Chin’s life is turned upside down at the tender age of 15. Diagnosed with Hansen’s disease, otherwise known as leprosy, he’s forced to leave the familiar confines of his father’s laundry business in the Bronx – the only home he’s known since emigrating from China with his older brother – to quarantine alongside patients from all over the country at a federal institution in Carville.

At first, Victor is scared not only of the disease, but of the confinement, and wants nothing more than to flee. Between treatments he dreams of escape and imagines his life as a fugitive. But soon he finds a new sense of freedom far from home – one without the pull of obligations to his family, or the laundry business, or his mother back in China. Here, in the company of an unforgettable cast of characters, Victor finds refuge in music and experiences first love, jealousy, betrayal, and even tragedy. But with the promise of a life-changing cure on the horizon, Victor’s time at Carville is running out, and he has some difficult choices to make.

Stealing by Margaret Verble

Since her mother’s death, Kit Crockett has lived with her grief-stricken father, spending lonely days far out in the country tending the garden, fishing in a local stream, and reading Nancy Drew mysteries from the library bookmobile. One day when Kit discovers a mysterious and beautiful woman has moved in just down the road, she is intrigued.

Kit and her new neighbor Bella become fast friends. Both outsiders, they take comfort in each other’s company. But malice lurks near their quiet bayou and Kit suddenly finds herself at the center of tragic, fatal crime. Soon, Kit is ripped from her home and Cherokee family and sent to Ashley Lordard, a religious boarding school. Along with the other Native students, Kit is stripped of her heritage, force-fed Christian indoctrination, and is sexually abused by the director. But Kit, as strong-willed and shrewd as ever, secretly keeps a journal recounting what she remembers - and revealing just what she has forgotten. Over the course of Stealing, she slowly unravels the truth of how she ended up at the school - and plots a way out.

Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash

As German bombs fall over London in 1940, working-class parents Millie and Reginald Thompson make an impossible choice: they decide to send their eleven-year-old daughter, Beatrix, to America. There, she’ll live with another family for the duration of the war, where they hope she’ll stay safe.

Scared and angry, feeling lonely and displaced, Bea arrives in Boston to meet the Gregorys. Mr. and Mrs. G, and their sons William and Gerald, fold Bea seamlessly into their world. She becomes part of this lively family, learning their ways and their stories, adjusting to their affluent lifestyle. Bea grows close to both boys, one older and one younger, and fills in the gap between them. Before long, before she even realizes it, life with the Gregorys feels more natural to her than the quiet, spare life with her own parents back in England.

As Bea comes into herself and relaxes into her new life - summers on the coast in Maine, new friends clamoring to hear about life across the sea - the girl she had been begins to fade away, until, abruptly, she is called home to London when the war ends.

Desperate as she is not to leave this life behind, Bea dutifully retraces her trip across the Atlantic back to her new, old world. As she returns to post-war London, the memory of her American family stays with her, never fully letting her go, and always pulling on her heart as she tries to move on and pursue love and a life of her own.

A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power

Sissy, born 1961: Sissy’s relationship with her beautiful and volatile mother is difficult, even dangerous, but her life is also filled with beautiful things, including a new Christmas present, a doll called Ethel. Ethel whispers advice and kindness in Sissy’s ear, and in one especially terrifying moment, maybe even saves Sissy’s life.

Lillian, born 1925: Born in her ancestral lands in a time of terrible change, Lillian clings to her sister, Blanche, and her doll, Mae. When the sisters are forced to attend an “Indian school” far from their home, Blanche refuses to be cowed by the school’s abusive nuns. But when tragedy strikes the sisters, the doll Mae finds her way to defend the girls.  

Cora, born 1888: Though she was born into the brutal legacy of the “Indian Wars,” Cora isn’t afraid of the white men who remove her to a school across the country to be “civilized.” When teachers burn her beloved buckskin and beaded doll Winona, Cora discovers that the spirit of Winona may not be entirely lost...

[citylifeorg]

Grammy-Nominated Hip-hop Legend Fat Joe and Celeb Chef Melba Wilson Promote Literacy for Bronx Teens at The New York Public Library

Grammy-nominated artist, entrepreneur and philanthropist Fat Joe visited The New York Public Library’s new Teen Center at the Mott Haven branch in the Bronx on Wednesday to meet with a group of New York City teens and tweens about growing up in the Bronx, dreaming big, and finding personal success..  The Bronx-born star was joined by celebrity chef and restaurateur Melba Wilson and stopped by…

[taruntravell]

Top Things You Should See in New York City

New York City is a vibrant and diverse metropolis with a plethora of attractions to explore. Here are some top things you should consider seeing when visiting:

Statue of Liberty: An iconic symbol of freedom and democracy, you can take a ferry to Liberty Island and visit the statue up close.

Times Square: Known as "The Crossroads of the World," Times Square is famous for its bright lights, giant billboards, and bustling atmosphere.

Central Park: This massive urban park offers a peaceful oasis in the midst of the city's hustle and bustle. You can enjoy walking, picnicking, biking, and even boating here.

Empire State Building: Visit the observation deck of this iconic skyscraper for breathtaking views of the city's skyline.

Broadway: Catch a world-class theater performance in the Theater District, home to numerous famous shows and musicals.

Museum Mile: Explore the world-renowned museums along Fifth Avenue, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), the Guggenheim Museum, and the Museum of the City of New York.

9/11 Memorial and Museum: Pay tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the memorial and learn about the events at the museum.

Brooklyn Bridge: Walk or bike across this iconic suspension bridge for stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and the East River.

High Line: This elevated park was built on a former railway track and offers a unique perspective of the city, with beautiful gardens, art installations, and urban design.

Chinatown and Little Italy: Immerse yourself in the cultural diversity of NYC by exploring these neighborhoods, known for their authentic cuisine, markets, and atmosphere.

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): Experience an incredible collection of modern and contemporary art from renowned artists.

The Metropolitan Opera: If you're a fan of opera, attending a performance at the Met can be a truly unforgettable experience.

Coney Island: Enjoy the beach, amusement park rides, and the iconic boardwalk, offering a classic slice of Americana.

Rockefeller Center: Especially beautiful during the holiday season, you can ice skate, visit the Top of the Rock observation deck, or see the famous Christmas tree.

The Bronx Zoo: One of the largest metropolitan zoos in the world, offering a wide variety of animals and exhibits.

Grand Central Terminal: An architectural marvel, this historic train station features a stunning main concourse and intricate details.

St. Patrick's Cathedral: This Gothic Revival masterpiece is one of the most impressive religious landmarks in the city.

New York Public Library: Admire the grand architecture and explore the vast collection of books and exhibits.

One World Trade Center: Also known as the Freedom Tower, this modern skyscraper offers an observation deck and a moving tribute to 9/11.

Fifth Avenue Shopping: Shop in some of the world's most famous stores and boutiques along this iconic avenue.

Remember that NYC is a dynamic city with ever-changing events and attractions, so be sure to check for the latest information before your visit.

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

Literary NYC: Poe Park, February 2024

I visited Poe Park on a recent gray and cloudy day. My timing wasn't great, because Poe Cottage was closed, and the Visitor Center appeared to be open because people were inside, but the door was locked (???) So instead, I photographed these structures from the outside, as well as the historic bandstand.

I do recommend this park as a good place to visit if you're a fan of Poe, and since the park is only a few blocks long, you can see everything in one visit. But because different websites list different times when these buildings will be open or closed, I'd recommend calling ahead to make sure the places you want to enter are definitely open when you visit!

If you'd like to take a deeper dive into the world of one-time Bronx resident Edgar Allan Poe, here are some links to explore:

The New York Public Library

Where to Start With Edgar Allan Poe

Poetry Foundation

The Poe Museum

National Park Service

Project Gutenberg

Edgar Allan Poe & the Historic Poe Park (NYC Parks)

Poe Park Visitor Center (Toshiko Mori Architect)

Edgar Allan Poe Cottage (Historic House Trust)

[bronxlibrarycenter]

[holdoncallfailed]

I’m moving to nyc in september and I was wondering if you know any cool places I should check out!

well it depends on what you find cool and where you're going to be living :-) i'm just going to list a bunch of random stuff as it occurs to me under the cut. most of these are limited to the neighborhoods i've lived in or had friends in and also my own interests lol.

i like going to museums the most, if you are moving for school a lot of museums will offer a discount or free tickets for students or if you have proof of residency (rent email or whatever). some museums you can visit 1 million times and still find new things (the met) and some are worth just paying for once to see the space and the collection (the morgan)

met

moma

brooklyn museum (underrated and near prospect park which is great to walk around)

guggenheim (overrated, but it's cool to go at least once to see the building and worth it if you actually like the art that's on)

international center of photography

american folk art museum

museum of the moving image

lesbian herstory archives

frick

museum of the city of new york

met cloisters

new york transit museum!!!!!!!! such a good place to have a photoshoot with friends lol

the whitney. i guess

special collections exhibits at NYPL

^related to that: not really a ‘museum’ per se but places like printed matter and boo hooray are private dealers of art/ephemera which they will often have on display....and you can TOUCH them!!!!!!

barnard zine library

arthouse theatres like metrograph, ifc center, MoMI, anthology, lincoln center, and some other random spots downtown and in brooklyn still have film projectors and will do screenings of older movies on 35mm prints (or digital) which are always so exciting to see.

you can take the staten island ferry for free on a nice day and see a very classic view of the city skyline. there's not a lot to do on staten island but it's nice to visit the alice austen house.

thrifting but specifically in the bronx (best) and queens and some parts of brooklyn (don't bother in manhattan).

idk bars and restaurants?? bed-stuy, bushwick, greenpoint and williamsburg all have lots of cool bars and places to eat. obviously chinatown/flushing has great food and markets and so does jackson heights. i like the union square farmers market too.

bed-stuy is my favorite neighborhood to walk around because the architecture is beautiful. park slope and brooklyn heights/dumbo are also very picturesque.

in the winter i love to ice skate at wollman rink in central park. i also like going to coney island in the winter cos it’s mostly closed and usually quiet...it’s a very peaceful subway ride when it’s not busy.

idk i go to a lot of cemeteries and parks and hang around in there cos they’re free. those are probably more fun (social) if you have a dog or know how to skateboard tho.

tbh i don't really feel like i Do much besides hang out with my friends and going to whatever they're going to lmao. my advice: if there's a venue (theatre/bar/event space/club/concert hall/museum/local park/library/whatever) that you like follow them on instagram to see when shows and events are announced. re: broadway shows, make friends with somebody at columbia or NYU to get comped tickets or do day-of lotteries. DON'T go to times square unless you're seeing a show. also make friends with at least one rich person (or someone with a rich partner) and try to get invited to at least one of their parties or events cos it’s guaranteed to be cuckoo even if it’s just one time.

remember 2 open the emergency exit door for people in the subway and be genuinely nice to your bodega guy(s) and your neighbors. i hope u like living in nyc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nowthisnews]

September 15 begins Hispanic Heritage Month — we’re kicking off the month by honoring a number of figures who historically have blazed a trail for the Hispanic American community

Fernando Valenzuela is a former MLB pitcher most famous for his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1980-90. A Mexican immigrant, Valenzuela’s raw talent & colorful personality made him an instant hit with the Dodgers’ significant Latinx fanbase. The ensuing media frenzy became known as ‘Fernandomania’ and represented one of the first times in MLB history that a Hispanic player was a face of baseball. Valenzuela retired in 1997. In 2015, he became a naturalized American citizen.

Sonia Sotomayor is the first Latinx Supreme Court justice in U.S. history, having served since 2009. The daughter of Puerto Rican-born Americans, Sotomayor spent the bulk of her childhood being raised by a single mom in the Bronx, NY. Sotomayor graduated summa cum laude from Princeton in 1976 and earned a law degree from Yale Law School in 1979. Prior to being appointed to the Supreme Court by President Barack Obama, she was a federal judge for 17 years. Her SCOTUS tenure has been characterized by decisions emphasizing criminal justice reform and the civil rights of both defendants and minority communities.

Sylvia Mendez was just 8 years old when she became a civil rights icon. Growing up in 1940s California as the daughter of Mexican & Puerto Rican immigrants, Mendez was a central figure in the landmark 9th Circuit Court of Appeals case Mendez v. Westminster. The decision found that segregating Mexican American students into separate schools in California was unconstitutional and led to the desegregation of all public schools in the state. The arguments used in Mendez v. Westminster later served as a precursor for the 1954 landmark SCOTUS segregation case Brown v. Board of Ed. After childhood, Mendez went on to work as a nurse & a public speaker, and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

In 2015, Raffi Freedman-Gurspan made history as the first openly transgender person to serve in the White House in U.S. history. A longtime activist & expert on matters pertaining to LGBTQ+ civil rights and gender equality, Freedman-Gurspan was born in Honduras and raised by adoptive parents in Massachusetts. After graduating college in 2009, she pursued activism on the state level in MA for a few years before being hired as a policy adviser at the National Center for Transgender Equality. Her work focused on a number of issues impacting trans Americans, including homelessness, immigration, & incarceration. From there, she served 2 years in the Obama admin, first as an outreach & recruitment director and then as the White House’s LGBT liaison.

Ellen Ochoa is an icon for Latinx women in STEM. An engineer, astronaut, and former director of the Johnson Space Center, Ochoa made history in 1993 when she became the first Hispanic woman to travel to space while aboard the space shuttle Discovery. In her career as an astronaut, Ochoa logged approx 1,000 hours in space across 4 missions. Ochoa, who is a recipient of NASA's Distinguished Service Medal, was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2017.

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (1874-1938) was an author, historian, activist, and leading intellectual of the Harlem Renaissance. Schomburg was an Afro Latino of Puerto Rican, Black, and German heritage. Over his career, he worked tirelessly to identify, document, and preserve elements of Black history & culture, including art, manuscripts, slave narratives, and other artifacts. The works he amassed are now a collection in the New York Public Library at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. Schomburg was once quoted as saying, ‘Pride of race is the antidote to prejudice.’

At 88 years young, Rita Moreno remains a treasure of the stage and screen. She is the only Hispanic actor in history to complete the hallowed EGOT, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award between 1962 and 1977. Her Oscar win, for the supporting role of Anita in 1961’s ‘West Side Story,’ remains her most iconic part. In recent decades, Moreno is perhaps best known for starring in the Netflix reboot of ‘One Day at a Time.’ In addition to her acting awards, Moreno has also been a Kennedy Center honoree and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004.

Sylvia Rivera was an American icon of the early LGBTQ+ liberation movement, with a specific focus on activism for LGBTQ+ people of color and LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness. Together with her friend Marsha P. Johnson, Rivera was a fixture in New York City’s radical activist and cultural scene in the 1970s and ‘80s. Rivera & Johnson founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries), a local collective that provided housing and aid to young LGBTQ+ New Yorkers at the time. Rivera, who was of Venezuelan & Puerto Rican descent, died in 2002 at the age of 50. In 2005, the corner of Hudson & Christopher streets in NYC’s Greenwich Village was renamed Sylvia Rivera Way.

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[ecreads]

Title: Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices

Editors: S. K. Ali, Aisha Saeed

Authors: Randa Abdel-Fattah, Huda Al-Marashi, Sara Alfageeh, S. K. Ali, Hanna Alkaf, Ashley Franklin, Asmaa Hussein, Hena Khan, Rukhsana Khan, Ayesha Mattu, Candice Montgomery, Aisha Saeed, N. H. Senzai, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, G. Willow Wilson

Published: May 5th, 2020 by Amulet Books

Genre & Format: Contemporary Realistic Fiction, Verse & Poetry, Folklore/Folktale & Religion, Chapter Book, Graphic Novel

Key Themes: Community, Family, Food, Friendship, History, Holidays & Religious Celebrations, Multicultural, Multigenerational, Muslim Stories, Refugees

Reading Level: Third Grade, Grades 4-7

Language: English

ISBN: 9781419740831

Content Warnings:

Death

Islamophobia

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“A joyous short story collection by and about Muslims, edited by New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed and Morris finalist S. K. Ali

Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories that showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year: Eid! Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it’s waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie, maybe it’s the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it’s the gift giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy. The anthology will also include a poem, graphic-novel chapter, and spot illustrations.

The full list of Once Upon an Eid contributors include: G. Willow Wilson (Alif the Unseen, Ms. Marvel), Hena Khan (Amina's Voice, Under My Hijab), N. H. Senzai (Shooting Kabul, Escape from Aleppo), Hanna Alkaf (The Weight of Our Sky), Rukhsana Khan (Big Red Lollipop), Randa Abdel-Fattah (Does My Head Look Big in This?), Ashley Franklin (Not Quite Snow White), Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Mommy's Khimar), Candice Montgomery (Home and Away, By Any Means Necessary), Huda Al-Marashi (First Comes Marriage), Ayesha Mattu, Asmaa Hussein, and Sara Alfageeh.”

Review: Hijabi Librarians

“For Muslims around the world, the two Eids (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha), conjure images of joy and community and include celebrations which vary by region and consist of different traditions.

Common traditions for the observance of both Eids often include new clothing, congregational prayers, special foods, and most importantly, time with family and community. Through prose, verse, and imagery, including the vibrant cover art, and a comic selection, authored by G. Willow Wilson and illustrated by Sara Alfageeh, the stories in Once Upon an Eid capture all of those traditions and so much more.

Consisting of stories by 15 Muslim authors of diverse backgrounds, each selection explores an aspect of human experience with incredible complexity and sensitivity. Characters are relatable, and reflect a range of Islamic practice and identity. Stories are set in a variety of locations, with many taking place in non-Muslim majority countries and communities. Readers are given the opportunity to explore many Eids not just reflecting different cultural ties characters might have but the joys, sorrows, feelings of grief, and love that take place when set against a much beloved and significant holiday.

In Jamilah Thompkins-Bigleow’s “Perfect,” readers meet twelve-year-old Hawa on her way to celebrate Eid with her father’s side of the family in the Bronx. Though she would rather be celebrating with her friends, she is forced to confront a complicated relationship with her cousin, and the comparisons between them, that are tied to expression of identity and authenticity, body image and style, and family structure. In Hanna Alkaf’s “Taste,” set in Malaysia, the protagonist Alia feels alienated because of her mother’s absence and her sense of guilt surrounding that absence. In N.H. Senzai’s “Searching For Blue”, Syrian refugees make a home for themselves and carve a place for celebration in Greece. Thompkins-Bigelow’s poem “Eid Pictures” connects the joy and imagery of Eid in the African American community, the history of how that community was built in the United States, and the first Eid of stolen ancestors longing for their homelands, community, and faith.

The subtleties of each story offer readers familiar with particular communities the opportunity to see themselves, some for the first time in print. Readers unfamiliar with the diversity within the Muslim community are given an intimate look into different communities, challenging the false idea that Muslims are monolithic. On a deeper level, this book gives Muslim readers the opportunity to look at, consider, be in conversation with, and understand complex feelings and how we can improve understanding of each other on a fundamental human level with empathy and compassion. Stories are inclusive of different family structures, socioeconomic backgrounds, relationships between Shia and Sunni Muslims, and recent converts to Islam.

The core of the narratives are examining these familial relationships, expression of cultural, racial, religious identities, self-exploration and self-acceptance and are incredibly intersectional. While Once Upon an Eid centers Eid narratives, its stories are important to share in a library or classroom collection year round and hold universal appeal.”

Additional Resources:

Purchase

Additional Review: Kirkus Reviews

[citylifeorg]

Mayor Adams joins the Presidents of The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library to Open New Teen Center in the Bronx