Street Sculpture Goes Up on Fordham Road

Bronxites ponder a new art sculpture that's on display at Fordham Road and Grand Concourse.
(All photos by David Greene)

By DAVID GREENE

Locals passing the Grand Concourse at East Fordham Road have been scratching their heads recently at the sight of a newly-erected piece of public art.

The ten-foot metal sculpture titled, "Silver," by Bronx artist Christian Marche was created from recycled materials found on the streets of the city. The work depicts a woman in a cage and a cat sitting on top of a street sign, among other unusual details. The project is sponsored by the Fordham Road Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation's Urban Art Program and the Al Johnson Art Studio.

Additional funding came from the Bronx Council on the Arts, through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Greater New York Arts Development Fund Re-grants Program. The official unveiling is expected to take place next week, and the sculpture will be on display until the end of the year.

Bronx Business: Free Snuggies and More as Retailers Gear Up for Holidays

As a promotion, the Fordham Road Conway gave away 372 Snuggies on Black Friday. Tomorrow is Fordham Road's annual Sparkle the Heart of Fordham tree-lighting festival. It kicks off at 6 p.m. at Bryan Park, where Fordham and Kingsbridge roads converge. (Photo by Adi Talwar)

Local retailers from Fordham Road to Gun Hill Road and Jerome Avenue kick-started the holiday shopping season last weekend with late-night preparations and Black Friday bargains.

Garl Robinson, the general manager of P.C. Richard & Son, the electronics emporium on the Grand Concourse and Fordham Road, said that he was up at 3 a.m. on Black Friday getting the store ready while customers were already forming a line outside.

“It was fantastic,” said Robinson. “Everything went well.”

1st Annual Fordham Road Sidewalk Sale, & Other Bronx Events

Head over to Fordham Road today or tomorrow to check out the goods on display at the first ever Fordham Road BID Sidewalk Sale. Merchants will display their wares and seasonal merchandise on the sidewalks outside their shops between Third Avenue and Jerome Avenue, from 12-6 p.m.

For a list of participating businesses, or to learn more about the BID, visit http://www.fordhamroadbid.org./

This and other events happening this week in our events calendar, updated daily.

Editor's note: What did we miss? Send details to bronxnewsnetwork[at]gmail.com.

Bronx retailers participate in Shop for Public Schools program

An unprecedented number of Bronx businesses are participating in this year's Shop for Public Schools program. The Fordham Road Business Improvement District (BID) and 15 stores have raised over $2,000 this year.

Caroline Kennedy, Vice Chair of the Fund for Public Schools, accepted a check from the BID on Friday.

The Shop for Public Schools program encourages businesses to donate to the Fund for Public Schools for school libraries across the city.

Business owners can participate in the Shop for Public Schools program in one of two ways: by giving a flat contribution, or by allocating a percentage of the sales revenue during the week of October 1 – 8. In order to boost contributions and because most Bronx retailers chose to make flat contributions, the BID matched contributions of up to $200 to the program.

Participating businesses included: Audio Town, Bx. Fashion, Call Me Wireless, Cohen's Gentle Dental, Conway, Emigrant Savings Bank, Fordham Road Jewelry Exchange, Gem Pawnbrokers, Kids World, Modell's Sporting Goods, Original Products, Planet Earth Communications, Top Concourse Electronics and Computers and Urban Eyes Optical.

Health Fair

As part of "Cover the Uninsured Week," Fordham Road BID, together with Union Community Health Center, will hold a health fair tomorrow on 188th Street at Valentine Avenue. The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Services offered include free mammograms and blood pressure screenings.