April 16 – April 21
Washington Heights Hip-Hop artist, Dark, has a new album out, The Money Zone that is available for free download. The album features production from the legendary Erick Sermon of EPMD fame as well as a host of other producers. Speaking of music, Karina Pasian has a new album out entitled Trips to Venus. The video for the single It’s Whatever is super creative and inspired.
Congratulations go out to Washington Heights’ own Quiara Alegria Hudes for winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play Water by the Spoonful. The play is a fictionalized account based on the story of a family member who fought in the Iraq War. Filmmaker & photographer, Emon Hassan, was in our beloved Inwood Hill Park recently and took some amazing pictures. Check them out on our site.
Adriano Espaillat’s historic run for Congress just got a lot more interesting. Global fashion icon Oscar de la Renta has endorsed him. The Uptown Collective was one of the first news outlets to break the story. What is Flor de Toloache? Toloache is an herb used to make people fall in love. It is also the name of, get this, are you ready? A truly awesome All-Female Mariachi Band that will totally change your mind about Mariachi music. They perform at Le Chéile (839 West 181st Street) every Wednesday.
This week’s Throwback Thursdays was dedicated to the loving memory of Merlin German. Known as the “Miracle Marine”, Merlin sustained burns to 97% of his body and even though he was given only a 3% chance of survival, German astounded his doctors by fighting back and recovering to the point that he was able to leave intensive care and walk on his own. He passed away on April 11th 2008 after his 150th operation. 189th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue is now proudly known as Sgt. Merlin German Way.
As one of the biggest Bob Marley fans in the world, I am super-ecstatic that the new movie Marley, a riveting documentary about the Reggae superstar and Global icon is now available in theaters, on demand and online via Facebook. The entire Marley clan is supporting the project and Kevin Macdonald of The Last King of Scotland fame is behind the production.
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.
