Exciting Events Around The Bronx: August 2023
EXCITING EVENTS AROUND THE BRONX: AUGUST 2023
By Great Performances
Explore exciting community events around the Bronx this month.
ON EXHIBIT: DIANNE SMITH: TWO TURNTABLES & A MICROPHONEREAD
July 7th though August 20th
One two, one two…Party people in the place to be…Let me hear you say, hey, ho…
When you hear these lyrics at a hip-hop party you know it’s about to be a good time filled with music, dancing, joy, and community. Dianne Smith’s exhibition Two Turntables & a Microphone celebrates Black joy and expressions of identity that hip-hop has fostered through its community-building power. Hip-hop parties during the 1970s, created with virtually nothing more than two turntables and a microphone, have played a large role in the lives of Bronx youth, especially in the early days of hip-hop. Through these gatherings Bronx-native Smith, like many others, found a space filled with creativity, freedom, hope, and love. With this year marking the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Smith celebrates this milestone by paying homage to hip-hop’s Bronx roots and its role in empowering communities across the world through a large-scale and site-specific interdisciplinary installation.
OLD-SCHOOL CHAT & JAM!
Friday, August 4th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Dust off your boomboxes. Shine your gold chains. Lace up your Adidas. We’re keeping it old-school to celebrate the new exhibition Dianne Smith: Two Turntables & a Microphone and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
Before the party gets started join us from 6–6:45 PM for an engaging conversation about the communal and creative elements of hip-hop and the Bronx with Smith and hip-hop legends: Easy A. D. (The Cold Crush Brothers), Sparky D and Pete Nice (3rd Bass). Moderated by guest curator, Souleo.
Afterward, the party officially gets started with DJ Kevie Kev Rockwell spinning old-school tunes.
Old-school hip-hop attire and dance moves are not required, but are highly encouraged.
BRONX RIVER WATER & WOODLANDS FESTIVAL
Saturday, August 5th from 11:00am to 3:00pm
Location: Burke Avenue Bridge
Come celebrate the Bronx River with us! On Saturday, August 5th, join us in the Bronx River Forest at Burke Avenue Bridge for an exploration of the Bronx River’s beautiful biodiversity. Become an ecologist for a day and learn about the major parts of this amazing urban ecosystem: the water, soil, plants, and of course the wonderful wildlife that calls this river home. Some activities include:
- Bird watching
- Plant ID tour
- Wildlife showcase and investigation
- Hands-on science demos
- Free community soil testing
- Nature scavenger hunt
- Arts and crafts station
- and more!
This event is free and open to all ages. We hope to see you there!
TEXTILE TALES
Every Saturday through August 19th from 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Location: Burke Avenue Bridge in Bronx Forest
Join textile artists from the New School in this FREE series centered around community storytelling through textile making. Learn about natural dyes, basketry, embroidery, and crochet! Supplies and materials provided. No registration is needed!
SUMMER CAMP AT THE BRONX ZOO
All Summer!
Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm
Bronx Zoo is WILD about camp! Our summer camp allows campers to explore our 265-acre zoo and learn about animals and nature like never before! Campers will be engaged all week with fun activities, exhibit explorations and animal encounters.
NATURE PUPPET SHOW
Sunday, August 6th from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Location: Crotona Nature Center in Crotona Park
The Urban Park Rangers welcome you for some nature themed puppet shows! Learn more about animals that can be found in our local parks.
IT’S MY PARK AT CROTONA PARK
Friday, August 11th from 10:00am to 1:00pm
Location: Clinton Playground in Crotona Park
This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Future Star Productions: Performing Arts & Youth Enhancement Program to remove litter and paint park benches at Clinton Playground located within Crotona Park. We look forward to cleaning up the park with you!
FORDHAM PLAZA
BRONX NIGHT MARKET
7/29, 8/26, 9/30, 10/28
Location: 1 Fordham Plaza
RSVP required
The Bronx’s renowned cuisine and culture festival is back for its 6th season, bringing with it an array of flavors and cultural experiences that represent the city’s diverse heritage. As a beloved event, it’s a must-attend festival for any food lover in the Bronx. With an average of 4k patrons per event, the festival gathers at the Fordham Plaza, providing an exciting and unique experience.
This year’s festival is even bigger and better, offering a curated selection of local Bronx and NYC-based food, beverage, arts & crafts, and packaged goods vendors. These vendors come together to provide an incredible culinary journey, showcasing a wide range of cultures and flavors.
THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED: INTERACTIVE ART PROJECT
Now through October 22nd from 10:00am to 6:00pm
Location: 4th Floor Rotunda of LuEsther T. Mertz Library
Take a moment to reflect. What have you witnessed or felt during your visit today? The adjacent display shows the remains of extinct plants, and reminds us what has been lost and what should be remembered. We invite you to add your sketches, notes, and thoughts to an always-evolving collective artwork that will remain on view for the duration of the exhibition.
…things come to thrive…in the shedding…in the molting…
extended through October 22nd
This summer, experience the seductive beauty of gardens through the eyes of celebrated contemporary artist Ebony G. Patterson. Known for her lavishly detailed mixed media installations, Patterson brings her signature style to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, and NYBG’s landscape and galleries, in a major site-specific exhibition featuring breathtaking and provocative displays of art and nature.
Patterson’s work will captivate Garden visitors with the beauty of exotic flora and garden-inspired installations—from a monumental peacock sculpture to swarms of glitter-encrusted vultures. Inspired by her immersion in NYBG’s collections, Patterson’s work explores entanglements of race, gender and colonialism while inviting visitors to contemplate their own relationships with gardens and the natural world.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the most exciting contemporary artists of our time transform one of the most stunning settings in New York City like never before. Ebony G. Patterson’s summer exhibition at NYBG is a must-see.
FAMILY CAMPING: BRONX
Friday, August 18th, 7:00pm to Saturday, August 19th, 8:00am
Location: Section 2 Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park
We camp to create lasting memories, connect with the natural world, and bond with our families. The Urban Park Rangers celebrate the tradition of camping and we look forward to welcoming your family. Families are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday August 9th.
SEINING AND SHORE EXPLORATION
Sunday, August 27th from 11:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Section 2 Orchard Beach
Explore the shore of Orchard Beach and get ready to get your hands wet; seining program participants don waders and use large nets to catch fish and other marine life. All equipment is provided; this program is recommended for ages 8 years and older.
STARLIGHT CINEMA: OUTER SPACE
Every Tuesday, starting July 11th through August 8th
Location: Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground
- 7:00pm: Music of 1956, 1968, 1977, 2014
- 7:30pm: Movie-themed Crafts
- 8:30’ish pm: Movies Begin at Last Light
July 11: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
July 18: Planet of the Apes (1968)
July 25: Star Wars (1977)
August 1: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
August 8: Story Ave (2023) * Presented by Rooftop Films. Meet Bronx born filmmaker Aristotle Torres! *
WATER CHESTNUT WEDNESDAYS: VOLUNTEER IN VAN CORTLANDT PARK
July 12th through August 9th
Every Wednesday from 3:30pm to 5:30pm
Location: Van Cortlandt Golf House in Van Cortlandt Park
Join the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance for Water Chestnut Wednesdays as we work together to maintain the health of Hester and Miro’s Mill Pond. Water chestnuts are an invasive aquatic species that, if left unchecked, can disrupt the local ecosystem.
Throughout the summer, we’ll meet every Wednesday from 9 am – 12 pm at the Van Cortlandt Park Golf Clubhouse. From there, we’ll head out to the pond with waders and gloves, getting in the water to tackle this invasive plant’s spread.
No previous experience is required, and we will provide all necessary equipment. Bring your adventurous spirit, plenty of water, a hat, and an extra pair of socks. Make sure to RSVP as spaces are limited – we are taking the first 30 respondents for each Wednesday.
This is a great opportunity to get your feet wet (literally!) in conservation work, learn more about your local ecosystem, and make a positive impact on your park. We look forward to seeing you there!
Did you know that Great Performances is headquartered in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx? We love being a part of the Bronx community, supporting other Bronx-based companies, and giving back to our community.
