I Love the Bronx: 100 Things
Yo amo el Bronx: 100 Cosas

I Love the Bronx: 100 Things

By Nilka Martell

As part of our ongoing BFP series highlighting the various favorite spaces, things and people in our borough, we turn to Nilka Martell, who continues to explore her hometown.

“I am a Bronx native, daughter, sister, mother of three beautiful Bronx babies, photographer, writer and motivator,” says Martell, of Puerto Rican descent.

A paralegal for over 17 years until December 2010, she has since been dedicating her time to exploring the Bronx.

Her energy and enthusiasm are indefatigable, and admirable.

“I want to make my fellow residents aware and informed of how lovely our borough is, what it offers, and how to lend a helping hand in our environment.”

In celebration of the Bronx Centennial celebration, here are 100 cool things to check out in our borough.

Broken into five categories, I hope you take time to try something new.

20 Landmarks and/or Historic Places to visit:

Andrew Freedman Home (Grand Concourse); Bartow-Pell (Shore Road); Van Cortlandt Home (Van Cortlandt Park); Valentine-Varian Home (Bainbridge Avenue); St. Peter’s Church (Westchester Avenue); Bronx General Post Office (Grand Concourse); Hall of Fame for Great Americans (Bronx Community College Campus); High Bridge (West 170^th Street); Huntington Free Library (Westchester Square); Woodlawn Cemetery (East 233rd Street); St. Ann’s Church (St. Ann’s Avenue); St. Jerome’s Church (Alexander Avenue) Loew’s Paradise Theater (Grand Concourse); Edgehill Church of Spuyten Duyvil (Independence Avenue);  Bright Temple A.M.E. Church (Faile Street); Fort Schuyler (Throggs Neck); Bronx County Courthouse (161^st Street); Mott Haven Historic District (Mott Haven, South Bronx); Grand Concourse Historic District (153^rd Street – 167^th Street) and the Fieldston Historic District (Riverdale).

20 parks to enjoy:

Pelham Bay Park, Van Cortlandt Park, Poe Park, St. Mary’s Park; Concrete Plant Park, Starlight Park, Shoelace Park, Seton Falls Park, Baretto Point Park, Hunts Point Riverside Park, Bronx Park, Soundview Park, Crotona Park, Hunts Point Landing, Mullaly Park, Brook Park, Ferry Point Park, Haffen Park, Williamsbridge Oval and Pugsley Creek Park.

20 restaurants to check out:

Patricia’s (Morris Park Avenue); Tosca (East Tremont); Havana Café (East Tremont); Sabrosura (two locations: Castle Hill Avenue and Westchester Avenue); Black Whale (City Island Road); Ceetay (Alexander Avenue); Bruckner Bar & Grill (Bruckner Boulevard); The Clock Bar (Lincoln Avenue); Emilio’s Pizzeria (Morris Park Avenue); Taqueria Tlaxcalli (Starling Avenue); Kiraku Japanese Restaurant (Williamsbridge Road); Zero Otto Nove (Arthur Avenue); Good to Go (Eastchester Road); El Bohio (two locations: East Tremont and Westchester Square); Don Coqui (opening soon in City Island); Montezuma (West Kingsbridge); Pio Pio (Cypress Avenue); Giovanni’s Pizzeria & Restaurant (East 149^th Street); F & J Pine Restaurant (Bronxdale); Desserts – Artuso’s Pastry (East 187^th Street), Enrico’s Bakery (Morris Park Avenue) and Twist-It (Tremont Avenue).

20 places to visit:

Bronx Museum of the Arts (Grand Concourse); Bronx Art Space (E 140^th Street); Orchard Beach (Pelham Bay Park); City Island Nautical Museum (Fordham Road); Yankee Stadium (161^st Street); Bronx Zoo (Southern Boulevard); Botanical Garden (Southern Boulevard); Wave Hill (West 252^nd Street); La Finca del Sur (138^th Street); Bronx Documentary Center (Courtlandt Avenue); The Point CDC (Garrison Avenue); BAAD, Bronx Academy  (along the Bronx River); Pregones Theater (Walton Avenue); Beso Lounge (204^th Street) and G-Bar (Grand Concourse); Bronx Music Heritage Center (Louis Nine Boulevard); Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education (Simpson Street) and Bronx Equestrian Center (Shore Road within Pelham Bay Park).

20 recreational activities:

Canoeing*, biking, nature trails, horseback riding, golfing*, dining, riding the cultural trolley, ice skating*, tennis*, sledding*, dancing, shopping, swimming*, poetry/Open Mic events, free lectures, walking tours, camping*, free Summer Stage concerts*, fishing* and boating *.

Come on out and experience the Bronx!

*Please note these are seasonal activities. 

Yo amo el Bronx: 100 Cosas

Por Nilka Martell

Como parte de nuestra serie de BFP destacando los diferentes espacios, cosas y personas favoritas en nuestro condado, nos dirigimos a Nilka Martell, quien continúa explorando su ciudad natal.

“Soy nativa del Bronx, hija, hermana, madre de tres preciosos niños del Bronx, fotógrafa, escritora y motivadora”, dijo Martell, de descendencia puertorriqueña.

Paralegal por más de 17 años hasta diciembre del 2010, desde entonces ha dedicado su tiempo a explorar el Bronx.

Su energía y entusiasmo son infatigables y admirables.

“Quiero hacer a mis compañeros residentes concientes e informados de cuan hermoso es nuestro condado, lo que ofrece y como ofrecer una mano amiga a nuestro ambiente”.

De este nuevo tiempo en su vida, Martell dice, “nunca me he sentido más viva”.

En celebración del Centenario del Bronx, aquí 100 cosas que hacer en nuestro condado.

Dividido en cinco categorías, espero que saque el tiempo para tratar algo nuevo.

20 Monumentos y/o Sitios Históricos a visitar:

Andrew Freedman Home (Grand Concourse); Bartow-Pell (Shore Road); Van Cortlandt Home (Parque Van Cortlandt); Valentine-Varian Home (Avenida Bainbridge); Iglesia St. Peter (Avenida Westchester); Correo Genderal del Bronx (Grand Concourse); Salón de la Fama de Grandes Americanos (Recinto Colegio Comunal Bronx); High Bridge (Oeste Calle170); Biblioteca Huntington Free (Westchester Square); Cementerio Woodlawn  (Este Calle 233); Iglesia St. Ann (Avenida St. Ann); Iglesia St. Jerome (Avenida Alexander) Teatro Loew’s Paradise (Grand Concourse); Iglesia Edgehill de Spuyten Duyvil (Avenida Independence);  Iglesia Bright Temple A.M.E. (Calle Faile); Fort Schuyler (Throggs Neck); Bronx County Courthouse (Calle 161); Distrito Histórico de Mott Haven (Mott Haven, Sur del Bronx); Distrito Histórico del Grand Concourse (Calle 153 – Calle167) y el Distrito Histórico  Fieldston (Riverdale).

20 parques para disfrutar:

Parque Pelham Bay, Parque Van Cortlandt, Parque Poe, Parque St. Mary; Parque Concrete Plant, Parque Starlight, Parque Shoelace, Parque Seton Falls, Parque Baretto Point, Parque Hunts Point Riverside, Parque Bronx, Parque Soundview, Parque Crotona, Hunts Point Landing, Parque Mullaly, Parque Brook, Parque Ferry Point, Parque Haffen, Williamsbridge Oval y Parque Pugsley Creek.

20 restaurantes para ver:

Patricia’s (Avenida Morris Park); Tosca (East Tremont); Havana Café (East Tremont); Sabrosura (dos lugares: Avenida Castle Hill y Avenida Westchester); Black Whale (City Island Road); Ceetay (Avenida Alexander); Bruckner Bar & Grill (Bruckner Boulevard); The Clock Bar (Avenida Lincoln); Emilio’s Pizzeria (Avenida Morris Park); Taqueria Tlaxcalli (Avenida Starling); Restaurante Japones Kiraku (Williamsbridge Road); Zero Otto Nove (Avenida Arthur); Good to Go (Eastchester Road); El Bohio (dos lugares: East Tremont y Westchester Square); Don Coqui (pronta aperture en City Island); Montezuma (Oeste de Kingsbridge); Pio Pio (Avenida Cypress); Giovanni’s Pizzeria & Restaurant (Este Calle149); F & J Pine Restaurant (Bronxdale); Desserts – Artuso’s Pastry (Este Calle187), Enrico’s Bakery (Avenida Morris Park) y Twist-It (Avenida Tremont).

20 lugares a visitar:

Museo de las Artes del Bronx (Grand Concourse); Bronx Art Space (Este Calle 140); Playa Orchard (Parque Pelham Bay); Museo Náutico de City Island (Fordham Road); Estadio de los Yankee (Calle 161); Zoológico del Bronx (Southern Boulevard); Jardín Botánico (Southern Boulevard); Wave Hill (Oeste Calle 252); La Finca del Sur (Calle138); Bronx Documentary Center (Avenida Courtlandt); The Point CDC (Avenida Garrison); BAAD, Bronx Academy  (a lo largo del Río Bronx); Teatro Pregones (Avenida Walton); Beso Lounge (Calle 204) y G-Bar (Grand Concourse); Bronx Music Heritage Center (Louis Nine Boulevard); Centro de las Artes y Educación Casita Maria (Calle Simpson) y el Centro Ecuestre del Bronx (Shore Road dentro del Parque Pelham Bay).

20 actividades recreativas:

Canoas*, ciclismo, caminos naturales, correr a caballo*, cenar, viajar en el ‘trolley’ cultural, patinaje sobre hielo*, tenis*, trineos*, bailar, comprar, nadar*, poesía/evento de micrófono abierto, lecturas gratis, excursiones a pie, acampar*, conciertos gratuitos en el verano*, pescar* y botes*.

¡Venga y experimente el Bronx!

*Favor de notar que estas son actividades de temporada.