I recently went to visit a friend who lives in The Bronx and because he was close enough to the infamous and often feared South Bronx, I had to go. In a black camaro, off we went, he looking around for random gang members concerned about us, but also about his hot black camaro as well! Wouldn’t you be thinking of it if you lived there?
It’s an area of the New York City borough which include the neighborhoods of Mott Haven and Melrose although the neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, Longwood and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx.
I have to say I was more than a little intrigued but for some reason, didn’t have the fear I was supposed to have given the “hood.” Since my friend has ‘become’ a Bronx boy, he wasn’t as nervous as he could have been had he been an out of towner and as for me, well, I just took it in stride. Throw a little love and compassion into the wind and what could go wrong? Truth is, nothing did but I suppose it could have, at least in a black camaro. We cruised, we stopped, I took photos from the window and we also got out and played around a bit.
Here’s that crazy black camaro and a whole lotta American stars in the heart of the South Bronx. No one bothered us and though a few people eyed our little ‘shoot,’ one guy offered a suggestion that was precisely on my mind at the time he offered the suggestion. “Turn that car around and you’ll get a helluva lot of better shots.” I was thinking the same thing. Whoever he was, THANKS for reading my mind and echoing “what could’a been a great shot” is what I was thinking and still am. We didn’t do the ‘car adjustment’ but we OH so had a good time.
The stars go a long way.
Hood, hood and more hood.
Did I mention the garbage?
And, the graffiti? Oh so cool!
More South Bronx, near the 6 Train near Jerome Avenue along Grand Concourse.
Throggsneck area of the Bronx near the Whitestone Bridge where they store the salt for winter.
Near Jerome Avenue.
Not in the South Bronx, but not far away in the Pelham Bay area of The Bronx on 3000 Buhre Avenue lies George’s Family Restaurant. Funnily enough, they call themselves a Greek diner of sorts, yet the waitress hadn’t heard of taramasalata. It’s more of a traditional New York diner, complete with waiters, chefs and owners who have that Bronx accent down pat. You can get everything from a carving board of roast sirloin or Baked Virginia Style Ham, panini’s, wraps, jumbo burgers, salads, Italian specialties, fresh seafood and something they call the Greek Corner?
A Greek corner without taramasalata? C’mon boys. They do serve gryos (which I ordered) and souvlaki but that’s the extent of their Greekness. They also do the traditional Chili bowl however and the place definitely authentic if you want a New York diner experience and happen to be in The Bronx.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
