Kudos go out to The New Yorker for showing mad love to Washington Heights with their must-read article on the official history book of our neighborhood, Crossing Broadway: Washington Heights and the Promise of New York City by historian and professor, Robert Snyder. Novelist and former Uptown resident, Jon Michaud, penned the excellent piece that masterfully provides a long view of a neighborhood that has seen its share of trials, tribulations and triumphs. By the way, Jon Michaud’s first novel is the critically acclaimed When Tito Loved Clara, which is set in Inwood. With that said, please stop by Word Up Books (2113 Amsterdam @ 165th Street) and purchase both Crossing Broadway and When Tito Loved Clara.
 
Check out: Walking the Heights | The New Yorker

If you are looking for southern cuisine that oozes authenticity, flair and refinement, then look no further than BLVD Bistro (239 Lenox Avenue at 122nd Street). Chef/owner Carlos Swepson is a son of the south that takes the essence of southern cooking and pairs it with modern sensibilities and techniques. AJ Sidransky writes a review of the eatery that will have you salivating and compel you to make your reservation lickety-split. AJ Sidransky is the author of two novels set in upper Manhattan, Forgiving Maximo Rothman and Stealing a Summer’s Afternoon.
 
Check out: BLVD Bistro – A Taste of Down South, Uptown

 
David Gonzalez of the NY Times wrote a poignant piece about the deaths of five major figures that helped to shape Puerto Rican identity in NYC and what that means for the larger community.
 
Check out: Deaths of East Harlem’s Cultural Leaders Put a Legacy in Flux | NY Times 

 
This post generated a lot of interest. Erik Baard of Gothamist reported on a tongue that was nailed to a tree in Inwood Hill Park.
 
Check out: Who’s Nailing Tongues To Trees In Inwood Hill Park? | Gothamist


 
NYC GO is the official tourism guide for the city of New York and this month they are putting a spotlight on the historic neighborhood of Harlem with a video that highlights it’s culture, diversity and dynamism.
 
Check out: NYC & Company Shows Love To Harlem


 
Just a reminder for all the Uptown artists out there: The deadline to submit your work for the 2015 Uptown Arts Stroll poster contest is February 17th. The chosen artist wins a $500 honorarium as well as an excellent platform for having their work seen.
 
Check out: Call For Submissions: 2015 Uptown Arts Stroll Poster Contest

 
Our Uptown Poetry selection comes to us from our newest contributor, Mercy G. The piece of verse is aptly entitled My Worthless Virginity.
 
Check out: Uptown Poetry: Tales of a Dyckman Princess – My Worthless Virginity

 
Artist Powermalu is back with Mentiroso, which features the super talented Ruperto Vanderpool, and is a semi-parody video of celebrity culture and social media.
 
Check out: Spread Love: Powermalu Ft. Ruperto Vanderpool – Mentiroso  

 
Boogie Down Productions’ Criminal Minded dropped in early 1987 and helped to usher in a new era of Hip-Hop that was intelligent, incendiary and progressive. The good folks at Classic Material and DJ Big Jeff put together a must-listen mixtape that revisits all their classics.
 
Check out: Monday Mood Music: Classic Material X DJ Big Jeff – The Crew is Called BDP Mixtape

 
The Uptown Tweet of the Week goes to the homie @Dominante_DME.
 
Check out: The Uptown Tweet of the Week

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UptownCollective@gmail.com.

As always, check us out at www.uptowncollective.com. 

WHIN & Spread Love

Led Black
Editor-in-Chief
The Uptown Collective
 
The UC’s mission is to become “the” definitive,
transformative and community-based force
impacting the arts, culture, business and New York
City’s overall perception of Upper Manhattan.
Its objective is to reset, reboot and positively redefine
Uptown’s artistic, political, cultural and business spheres
via the online space as well the collective’s initiatives
and functions.