The Streets Where We Live

Donate a Coat to Keep Someone Warm this Winter, Inwood and Washington Heights Drop Off Locations

Iconic New York Cares coat drive image.

So far it has been a mild autumn, but winter is around the corner and that means snow and cold weather. New York Cares, the nonprofit group that organizes a coat drive every December, has announced drop off locations throughout New York City with three locations in Inwood and Washington Heights.

Visit the New York Cares site for more information on how you can help this December, or just drop off a coat at the locations listed below or check out this Google Map for other spots throughout the five boroughs. Remember, that coat can make a real difference in someone's life this winter. 

Time Warner Cable

5120 Broadway
(347) 431-9925

City of New York City Police Department: 34th Precinct

4295 Broadway
(212) 927-9711

City of New York City Police Department: 33rd Precinct

2120 Amsterdam Avenue
(212) 927-3200

New York Times Tries to Get to Know Inwood

Which is the Inwood you know and love? Could it be both? (Photo credit: Left: G. Paul Burnett, Right: Suzanne DeChillo)

Perhaps it's impossible to truly know a neighborhood if you do not live there. Over the past few years, The New York Times has tried to get to know our dynamic and interesting neighborhood, always getting some parts right and some wrong. The past two larger-scale features about the area have had a slant that some perceive left out a portion of the neighborhood, through East of Broadway/ West of Broadway, Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic or Monied/ Non-Monied myopia.

In February, many complained that Gregory Beyer's Real Estate section article "Northern Zone, South-of-the-Border Flavor" was too "East of Broadway" focused, what I believe is a euphemism for less wealthy and more Hispanic. Although the photo essay that accompanied the article does feature the Inwood community east of Broadway more prominently, a close read of the article highlights Inwood Hill Park and Park Terrace Gardens as well as Inwood's "Dominican restaurants, bodegas and beauty parlors [that] line 10th Avenue beneath the green elevated rails of the No. 1 train." The article also speaks to the Dominican and mulit-national Hispanic communities in the area as well as presumably non-Hispanic people who have chosen to make this area their home.

Today's article by Elisa Mala, "One Foot in the Past," written for the New York Times somewhat new Metropolitan section (used to be the City section) is meant to be less comprehensive in nature and takes readers on a six-hour-tour of the area. And yes, for the most part, Ms. Mala (the significance of the surname's Spanish meaning is not lost on me) stays west of Broadway and not once mentions the Dominican or mulit-national Hispanic communities who call Inwood home.

A lot is lost in that omission.

Granted, most Inwood residents are excited when the Grey Lady casts its eyes north of 155th Street, but one is left to wonder if there is no manner in which our dynamic neighborhood can get its fair coverage in the paper of record.

Community: Inwood Farmer's Market, November 7

A beginning. 

 

Alien.

If they look strong they will make you strong. 

 

Crowded.

 

The crabs too. 

 

I'd like to hang these in my kitchen. Seems a waste to eat. 

Are these turnips? 

The apple colors are almost as varied as the falling leaves.

 

Imagine if you will a window box high up on Park Terrace East with yellow cauliflower straining for the sun...

 

and its sister, purple cauliflower, at its side. The green tendrils of leaves spilling over the wooden crate. 

 

A girl can dream in Inwood. And wear wonderful red cowboy boots.

Primary 2009: All the Information You Need to Vote on Tuesday, September 15

Primary election day is just around the corner on Tuesday, September 15. In case you still don't know who to vote for, let alone who is running, several publications, articles and sites can help guide your decision. To begin with, by now you should have received the 2009 Primary Voting Guide (pictured above). This bilingual guide (one is written in English, the other in Spanish features technical information about how, where and when to vote along with short biographies submitted by each candidate.

In addition, for Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill residents, the Manhattan Times published a comprehensive article on the candidates for the 7th and 10th City Council Districts in this week's paper and features a collection of its election-related articles dating back through the summer. 

And although last night's televised debate (MNN, channel 34) for District 10 had a very small turnout, only Richard Realmuto and Cleofis Sarete participated, you can view the debate in two parts here and here. (Thanks to my favorite Night Watchman for recording and posting the debate.)

CulturaFest2009 Today

Check out this weekend's festivities at Casa Duarte Cultural and Performing Arts Center's (no site yet, but organization is on Congressman Charlie Rangel's appropriation list) CULTURAfest2009 held on the edge of Inwood and Washington Heights this weekend. Beside dance, art, poetry and other interesting and fun events, the Barack Obama Democratic Club will also attend. Here's your chance to speak to learn more about this year's candidates before the primaries on September 15. Call 212-543-0010 for more information about this weekend's event. 

Snowy Start to Spring? Happy Vernal Equinox Northern Manhattan!

Pat Kiernan is talking about an anticipated high pollen count this weekend, just in time for the first weekend of spring. Guess someone forgot to tell Mother Nature.

No standing an egg on its end, but a snowy winterland at 7:44 am instead.

Happy First Day of Spring. Stay warm and dry!

Junior Ranger Day Camp Registration Now Open

Registration for Inwood Hill Park's Junior Ranger Day Camp is now open. 

June 29, 2009 – August 14, 2009

Alleged Gang Member Bust Today in Washington Heights

Video and excerpt from MyFoxNY.com

Police are reporting that they arrested 35 members of a gang called the Trinitarios early this morning in Washington Heights and the Bronx. Investogators say the group has been dealing drugs in a four block area of West 171st to West 174th streets.

The Trinitarios are accused of being a Dominican gang that operated and controlled drug trafficking (...).

The defendants face marijuana, cocaine and crack cocaine charges.

East and Harlem River Toll Idea Hangs in Limbo

Image of the Broadway Bridge from Bridgeandtunnelclub.com

According to the New York Post today it looks like the proposal to charge a $2 toll to use bridges on Harlem and East River bridges may not come to pass. Apparently, five state senators are digging their heels in the ground and saying no way to the measure, saying that the toll would unfairly effect outer-borough residents who do not have access to major mass transit.

"If it's 1 cent, I'm against it," said state Sen. Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn). The others who have ruled out tolls are Carl Charger of Brooklyn, and Ruben Diaz Sr., Pedro Espada Jr. and Ruth Hassle-Thompson, all of The Bronx.

They vowed to block any tolls, even if that pushes talks past the MTA's March 25 deadline for fare hikes and services cuts.

Instead, they believe the agency should find other ways to close its projected $1.2 billion budget gap and fund its cash-starved capital plan.

Are You Satisfied? That is the question.

This weekend The New York Times tackled the question of whether New Yorkers are satisfied with their neighborhoods. The answers, which come from a NYC.gov survery of 25,000 New Yorkers, range from the happy-as-pie West Villagers to feeling-long-neglected Morrisania Heights-ers in the Bronx. The article is being criticized by many because of what seems like an unfair comparison of neighborhoods and does not have a Northern Manhattan focus, but the story does include a cool interactive multimedia map charting how different residents rated their 'hoods throughout the five boroughs. 

How did Northern Manhattan (in this case made up of Western Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood) do? Not surprisingly, Northern Manhattanites rank their quality of life lower than those living below 96th Street. Surprisingly, NMers rank education higher than their southern brethren. See the map for more comparisons.

You can also read a more detailed version of what Community Board 12 respondents had to say about Washington Heights and Inwood.