UC Recap: Nov 26- Dec 1
By Led Black
The holidays are upon us and while many of us are busy either celebrating, preparing to celebrate or buying gifts for loved ones, there are many in our neighborhood that could use a little Christmas cheer. Enter Operation Toys For Cocktails: From now until midnight on December 24th, you can bring a brand new toy to the bar at La Marina and receive a complimentary cocktail. The gifts will be given out to neighborhood children on Christmas Day at noon at La Marina.
Speaking of La Marina, the Uptown Collective is having their annual Holiday Bash at the venue that has generated buzz around the globe. What better way to end the year and celebrate another incredible 12 months of the Uptown Renaissance? It all goes down on Monday, December 17th at 7 pm; right around the same time that NoMAA is having their holiday shindig at Mamajuana. The event is free but RSVP is a must.
The Word Up Book indiegogo campaign is still going strong. As an added incentive, Word Up is giving a signed Junot Díaz book to the first 3 people who donate at least $50 now. To win, you have to reference Uptown Collective in the indiegogo comments section, so we all know you heard it here!
The best movie about Washington Heights ever made has been renamed Trouble In The Heights and is set to drop early next year. With a stellar cast that includes Luis Antonio Ramos, Raúl Esparza, Olga Merediz, Kareem Savinon, and John Peralta among many other talented actors, Trouble In The Heights finally puts the hood in its proper cinematic light. Oh, did I mention that Uptown’s own Rayniel Rufino delivers a standout performance as the movie’s leading man?
In addition, we posted a poignant open letter from beloved neighborhood figure, Will Teez, on the latest twist of his cancer journey. Will is a brave and powerful soul! Columbia University is hosting an exhibit that posits Latino immigrants as superheroes. As the son of hard-working Dominican parents, I can totally empathize with the notion that immigrants are unsung heroes. This thought-provoking exhibit runs until May of next year. We ended the week with an incredible feature on Uptown photographer, Johnny McCoy.
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.
