Bedford Park News: #Marriott Opens Door in Metro Center

Bedford Park News: #Marriott Opens Door in Metro Center: Bronx Now has a First-Class Place to Stay Marriott Opens Door in Metro Center By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW ...

#Marriott Opens Door in Metro Center

Bronx Now has a First-Class Place to Stay

Marriott Opens Door in Metro Center

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 24- In a sign of the continued revitalization of the Bronx, community leaders hailed the opening of the borough's first upscale hotel. The ribbon cutting was also the capping of an odyssey for the Metro Center complex which went from an abandoned factory and vacant land to a thriving college campus style office complex and medical village.

The 125-room Marriott Residence Inn officially opened to great fanfare on Wednesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony with elected officials. Sure the Bronx has many motel rooms but none you would want to spend the night in. New Rochelle boasted the closest place to get a nice hotel room while visiting family rather than a hot-sheet motel. Now all that has changed with the opening of a first-class hotel.

"We’re thrilled that Marriott, one of the world’s premier hospitality companies, chose this location. Metro Center Atrium is unique in the Bronx – there’s nothing quite like it available anywhere else in the Borough. This truly is a landmark event for Metro Center Atrium, for our company, and for the Bronx," said Joseph Simone, President of Simone Development, whose company envisioned and built the Metro Center.

The Marriott is the crowning jewel in the Metro Center complex. The hotel caps off the Metro Center Atrium which is a mix of medical and office space in a suburban style campus.

Twelve years ago Old London Foods moved out of the area behind the Metro North tracks. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr said people were worried about the loss of jobs and that the land would sit unused. Now the Metro Center boasts 370,000 square feet of medical offices, an Applebee's, an LA Fitness and now a first class hotel. The complex also includes Mercy College.

"Today we have seen the realization of a magic trick," Diaz said.

Metro North is planning to reopen the old Morris Park station which will have a stop steps from the Marriott. Thus giving hotel guests access to transportation to Penn Station in Manhattan and upstate New York.

The new hotel is already a success. Officials say that although it officially opened today, the hotel is already 80 percent occupied. Business execs and hospital visitors to the medical centers inside the complex as well as nearby Calvary, Einstein Hospital and Jacobi Medical Center are staying at the new Marriott.

“Today is a great day for the Bronx,” said New York City Council Member James Vacca. “We welcome Marriott as the borough’s first hotel with open arms and hope it is the signal of even more great things to come. Clearly Marriott has recognized that the Bronx is a destination for New Yorkers and tourists alike. We already have beautiful parks, the

best zoo in the nation, the Yankees, and a PGA tour worthy golf course recently completed in nearby Ferry Point Park.”

Father Richard Gorman, chairman of Community Board 12, said the grand opening is a culmination of the revitalization of the borough.

"The Bronx is not only coming back. The Bronx is back," he said.

#Marriott #Simone #MetroCenter #Bronxnews

Bedford Park News: Saints Dance on Arthur Ave.

Bedford Park News: Saints Dance on Arthur Ave.: Saints Dance on Arthur Ave. Photos by Dan Gesslein The smells of zeppole a...

Saints Dance on Arthur Ave.

Saints Dance on Arthur Ave.

Photos by Dan Gesslein

The smells of zeppole and sausage and peppers wafted through the air as the sounds of traditional Italian music filled the streets of Arthur Avenue during the Feast of St. Anthony. During the weekend long celebration feast goers got a chance to see a tradition return in the Bronx’ Little Italy as the “Dancing of the Giglio” was performed in front of Mt Carmel Church. Over 100 people lifted the platform containing the statue of St. Anthony as well as a performing band and danced through the streets.

#LittleItaly #ArthurAvenue #FeastofStAnthony #DancingGiglio

 

Bedford Park News: Circus Coming to the Bronx

Bedford Park News: Circus Coming to the Bronx: Circus Coming to the Bronx BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 12- Circus comes to the Bronx as part of City Parks Foundation’s Sum...

Circus Coming to the Bronx

Circus Coming to the Bronx

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 12- Circus comes to the Bronx as part of City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage Kids International Contemporary Circus Festival.  New Yorkers will be dazzled juggling, hoop diving and partner acrobatics shows specially designed to entertain all ages! The circus programs introduce New York City youth to contemporary circus, a growing genre that incorporates physical theater, dance and acrobatics. 

The 2015 season marks the third year of SummerStage Kids' focus on contemporary circus. Families will get the chance to see the best circus companies, from North America and beyond, make their mark in New York City as part of the International Contemporary Circus Festival.  For the first time, SummerStage Kids will bring an evening circus program to the Bronx, with Brooklyn’s own Hybrid Movement Company and, from the state of Washington, The Incredible Incredible, performing for one night in Crotona Park. Hybrid Movement Company will present two works incorporating dance, acrobatics, and visual arts while The Incredible Incredible presents ‘Palindrome’, the story of two imaginary friends meeting for the first time, a piece inspired by mime, physical comedy, American sideshow, European clowns, and street theater. 

For more information on SummerStage Kids International Contemporary Circus Festival events, visit http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/events/category/circus/.

  June

Friday, June 26

CIRCUS: Hybrid Movement Company, The Incredible Incredible, IMPACT Repertory Theater

Crotona Park, BX

Crotona Park E. and Charlotte St.

7PM

July

Thursday, July 16

MindFlip Duo

Tremont Park, BX

E. Tremont Ave. between Third Ave and Arthur Ave.

10:30AM

Thursday, July 23

Lucky Bob

Tremont Park, BX

E. Tremont Ave. between Third Ave and Arthur Ave.

10:30AM

Friday, July 24

Lucky Bob

Poe Park, BX

Next to the bandstand; Grand Concourse at E. 193rd St.

10:30AM

August

Thursday, August 13

Hybrid Movement Company

Van Cortlandt Park, BX

Southwest Playground; Van Cortlandt Park S. and Broadway

10:30AM

Artist Descriptions

Hybrid Movement Company

The Hybrid Movement Company, a dance, acrobatic, and visual arts troupe, will present two works, Momentum and Are You the Dreamer? Momentum, a new piece, focuses on risk-taking perpetual movement driven by rhythms and flowing through melodies. It is performed in a powerful cohesion of Hybrid Movement, circus arts, classical and contemporary ballet, rhythmic gymnastics, bobbing, waving and popping. Are You the Dreamer? is a transubstantiated tale exploring beauty, ugliness, rejection, love, dreams, and fear through dancing and dynamic movement. The Hybrid Movement Company has been hailed by the New York Times as one of the most innovative Contemporary Circus Companies in the USA today!

The Incredible Incredible

The Incredible Incredible presents, 'Palindrome', the story of two characters, each the other's imaginary friend, meeting for the first time to unfold the intricacies of their tangled coexistence. Performances feature invisible string manipulation, shoe poi, impossible feats with silverware, sinus explorations, snail hats, and finger stunts all set to live music! The Incredible Incredible is a physical theatre duo formed by two friends inspired by mime, physical comedy, traditional American sideshow, European clowns, and street theatre. Matthew “Poki” McCorkle is a self-taught physical performer known internationally for his surreal hoop illusions, movement based manipulation, and unique and unusual presentations. Justin Therrien is an entertainer that challenges the audience's perception of what is real and what is illusion with his unique blend of movement and skill based manipulation. Accompanying them is composer and multi-instrumentalist Lucas Hicks on accordion, percussion, harmonica and ukulele.

IMPACT Repertory Theater

IMPACT Repertory Theatre Performance Company uses the performing arts and the dynamics of leadership training to inspire and empower youth. IMPACT believes that arts and education play a pivotal role in providing opportunities and transitions for the leaders of tomorrow. IMPACT is rooted in creative self-expression and anchored by a commitment to Safe Space, Outstanding Effort and Service to the Community (S.O.S.). IMPACT promotes the positive development of young people ages 12 to 19 by providing a learning environment that encourages, nurtures and challenges its students. IMPACT offers workshops, leadership programs and performance opportunities. The programs and curriculum encourage IMPACT members to have the imagination, skills and confidence to create their “special place in the world.” A core IMPACT value is attending college and giving back through active community service. All of IMPACT’s classes and programs are free. IMPACT’s ongoing performance program, creative labs, and 12 weeks intensive artist and activist training program are tuition free.

Lucky Bob

Watch as Lucky Bob juggles boxes, spins balls, reads minds and turns a volunteer into a magician. This show is action-packed and full of crazy magic and cool juggling stunts, a show not to be missed.

MindFlip Duo

Mix Kid Ace's extraordinary magic with Paris the Hip-Hop Juggler's amazing stunts, and what do you have? MindFlip Duo: the hottest tandem

 to hit the scene! Mixing hip juggling with mind-blowing magical feats and comedy, MindFlip Duo, formerly known as The Renaissance League, create one fresh, exciting, full-length show with signature material that they've performed throughout the nation and abroad. Be careful not to blink. You might miss something!

#Circus #Bronx

 

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Bedford Park News: Construction Comes to End at Filer Plant

Bedford Park News: Construction Comes to End at Filer Plant: Only $2B Over Budget, Years Behind Schedule Construction Comes to End at Filer Plant By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE...