January 23 – January 28
It's official folks; the community affirming space that is Word Up Books (4157 Broadway) will be around until at least May. In less than a year Word Up has made a positive difference in this neighborhood and has brought folks from all walks of life together. Recently a Japanese TV news show taped a segment at Word Up and UC contributor Productive Ray was there to capture it.
If you have ever been to Apt 78 (4447 Broadway) there is a good chance you have met the super cordial hostess Jean Chung. Well, it turns out she is also a personal shopper. Jean sat down with jack-of-all-trades Paola "Dominican Pie" Soto for her latest 7 questions column.
By the way, the Freedom Sisters exhibit will be opening up at the Shabazz Center (3940 Broadway) on February 4th. Freedom's Sisters is a dynamic, multimedia exhibition that celebrates such African-American female giants such as Coretta Scott King, Betty Shabazz and Kathleen Cleaver among many others.
This week our Uptown Artist column featured the work of Harlemite Layla Jade. Layla's work practically crackles with energy, intensity and fervor. In addition, we debuted a new series entitled A View From the Heights written by a local who goes by the enigmatic moniker The Native. The piece deals with the band of older gentlemen who frequent the McDonald's on Dyckman and Broadway and gather there to talk politics, currents events and philosophy.
Did you know that your friendly neighborhood superhero Peter Parker was killed last year? Well, sort of. The Peter Parker of the "Ultimate" series of Marvel comics met his demise after a heroic face-off with the Green Goblin. Soon after a phoenix rose from the ashes named Miles Morales. The half-black, half-latino new Spidey is very similar to his predecessor; he is a super smart teenager bit by a radioactive spider trying to come to grips with his newfound powers. While Miles Morales has been widely accepted, some in the far right have been screaming bloody murder. Glenn Beck even had the temerity to insinuate that Michelle Obama was behind the changing of the guard. Marvel's Editor-in-Chief, Axel Alonso, sat down with us and talked about comics, change and the first lady.
Keep checking us out at www.uptowncollective.com.
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.
