UC – Recap February 8 – February 13
Have you been to Hoodwinked Escape yet? “What is Hoodwinked Escape,” you might ask. Well, it is Uptown’s very own Escape Room Adventure spot. “Okay, so what is an Escape Room?” is the next logical question. An Escape Room is a live-action game starring you and your friends as you solve puzzles, complete challenges, and decipher clues to complete the mission and escape the room. Guess what? You only have 1 hour do it. Here is a sobering factoid: only about 30% percent of people escape within the allotted time. Please read my review of the next generation experience and book your slot pronto. Our very own A.J. Sidransky wrote a must-read piece entitled Why “Black Lives Matter” Matters. While we have undoubtedly made progress on the subject of race in this country we certainly have a very long way to go. As Black History Month evolves into #BlackFutureMonth, the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) affirms and celebrates the resistance and resilience of African Diaspora global cultures in a multidisciplinary cultural arts weekend event. On February 28th and February 29th CCCADI presents Trade/itions, two days of cultural art events that look into the spiritual traditions of the African Diaspora. Uptown Fashion Week will take place at the magnificent Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center (3940 Broadway) on Thursday, February 18th and Friday, February 19th. With the publication of Drown in 1996, Junot Díaz became one of the most urgent voices in American fiction. A MacArthur Fellow and Pulitzer Prize winner, Diaz has published one novel and two collections of short stories, all which prominently feature voice-driven narrative and characters of Dominican descent negotiating life in America. Check out the awesome New York Public Library Podcast with Junot Díaz discussing the game of fiction, writing audiences, and the important images of intimacy between people of color in the work of Sandra Cisneros. The always-astute Jon Pareles pens a great review of Aventura’s farewell concert residency at the venerable United Palace. David González puts us up on the folks behind the web series Get Some, which is seriously funny. Our Monday Mood Music selection is the latest video from Dubwork, Current Situation. The Friday Fix is provided by Glory Lives and is dedicated to his beloved daughter. 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.
February 8 – February 13
