Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has officially kicked off Bronx Week 2012, a celebration which pays tribute to the continuing revitalization of the borough’s businesses, educational institutions, cultural sites and civic groups.
Bronx Week 2012 takes place from Thursday, May 10th through Sunday, May 20th. This year’s kickoff event was held at the Bronx County Building’s Rotunda and featured an appearance by 2012 Bronx Walk of Fame honoree Valerie Capers, an award-winning jazz musician and longtime Bronx resident. In addition, the event offered a taste of the great food the Bronx has to offer, featuring samples from Mike’s Deli of Arthur Avenue, Delicioso Coco Helado and the Bronx Brewery.
“We invite Bronxites, New Yorkers, and visitors from all over the world to join us in the Bronx for our annual celebration of what makes the Bronx a great place to live. Bronx Week gets bigger and better every year and has something exciting for everyone. I look forward to seeing you all here,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
During the kickoff, Borough President Diaz also announced the names of the other celebrity and notable Bronxites who will also be included into the 2012 Bronx Walk of Fame: Hollywood cinematographer Sol Negrin, Hip-Hop legend Fat Joe, and supermodel and actor Tyson Beckford.
Bronx Week 2012 is made possible thanks to the support of Montefiore Medical Center, the main sponsor of all the events.
“Montefiore is proud to be the principal sponsor of Bronx Week 2012,” said Steven M. Safyer, MD, President and CEO of Montefiore Medical Center. “Montefiore will continue its tradition of giving free health screenings, expert exercise advice, nutritional counseling and other practical guidance to support Bronx residents in their efforts to keep healthy. I would like to give a special thanks to Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. for his leadership. We look forward to a terrific Bronx Week 2012.”
Other sponsors include; the New York Yankees, Con Edison, Affinity Health Plan, United HealthCare Community Plan, Assurance Wireless, Kyocera, the Bronx CUNY Colleges, Health First, Emblem Health, The New York Hispanic Cosmetology & Beauty Chamber of Commerce, Citi, Verizon, BronxNet, Domino’s Pizza, News 12, the Bronx Design Group, and the New York Daily News.
This year’s Bronx week 2012 highlights include the first annual solar conference, 2nd annual Agricultural Tour, a centenarian celebration, as well as some of the favorite events from years past, which include the Bronx Trolley, the Business Breakfast, the Health Fair and the annual Bronx Food, Arts and Music Festival and Bronx Week Parade. All the events are organized by the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation and the Bronx Tourism Council.
Bronx Week will close with the annual Bronx Parade and Food & Arts Festival on Mosholu Parkway on Sunday, May 20, 2012. In addition to dozens of food and arts vendors, as well as the borough’s biggest parade showcasing “Bronx Pride,” the annual concert will feature performances by hip-hop legend Doug E. Fresh, salsa stars Los Hermanos Morenos and many more.
At the kickoff, Borough President Diaz also encouraged Bronxites to get out the vote for their favorite borough cultural site as part of the 2012 Partners in Preservation Initiative, co-sponsored by American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Partners in Preservation is a community-based program that provides preservation grants for local historic places. Currently, five borough cultural institutions—the Woodlawn Cemetery, City Island Nautical Museum, New York Botanical Garden, Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center, and the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum & Gardens—are competing for the award.
“This initiative is a great way not only to show our support for some of the best cultural institutions our borough has to offer, but to help them get much-needed funding as well. We can all show our borough pride during Bronx Week by getting out the vote,” said Borough President Diaz. Bronxites can vote for their favorite cultural attraction at http://partnersinpreservation.com.
This week of amazing Bronx events is organized jointly by the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation and the Bronx Tourism Council. For more information on Bronx Week 2012, visit ilovethebronx.com.
Check out some Bronx Week 2012 videos:
First, here is our official commercial announcing Bronx Week 2012:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTSsWj_aCHA&list=UUo5IRZ7SzR0M3KvAnZRVpy…
Also, here is some video of today’s official kick-off press conference event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOw5qFI8bFw&list=UU-lnwvNabyuTK5KiLIzqQA…