Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Kicks Off the 44th Annual Bronx Week Celebration

One of the many food stands at the Opening Celebration

On a beautifully warm and sunny Sunday afternoon Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. kicked off the 44th Annual Bronx Week Celebration.

Starting on May 3rd, Bronx Week is dedicated to showcasing the fantastic attributes of Bronxites through cultural, culinary, and artistic events. For 11 days, various events will take place throughout Bronx neighborhoods culminating with a Bronx Week Finale Parade and Concert at Mosholu Parkway.

Young Woo, Founder and President, Young Woo Associates

This year’s opening celebration took place at the rear of The Bronx General Post Office, which was sold last year with many community activists worried about the preservation of the buildings historic murals and structure. Mr. Young Woo, Founder and CEO of Young Woo Associates, was present for today’s event. Young Woo & Associates have filed plans to begin the redevelopment of the Bronx General Post Office, and if they go through, it looks like the building will soon be a catchall commercial space. The redesigned interior of the 80-year-old building will have office space, retail, restaurants, and a rooftop terrace.

The first Bronx Day celebration was in 1971 and kicked off by Robert Abrams who was Borough President at the time.

Many of the weeks events celebrates the arts, music, civic leaders, and veterans. Among some of the scheduled happenings is the annual Centenarian Celebration on May 7th along with the Bronx Food and Farm Trolley Tour and the much anticipated Bronx Fashion Week on May 9th. Family and Senior Day is on May 14th followed by Health Day on May 15th.

Photo courtesy of Bronx Week Facebook page

On Saturday May 16th, the Borough President will host the Bronx Ball in which the 2015 Bronx Walk of Fame inductees will be honored. This year the honorees are NBA legend Dolph Schayes, actor and author Stacey Dash, actor Malik Yoba, and posthumous honors to businessman and philanthropist Alfredo Theobold.

Bronx Week will wind up on May 17th with the induction of this year’s honorees to The Bronx Walk of Fame at the Bronx County Building on Grand Concourse.

For a list of all Bronx Week events, check out the calender by clicking here, visiting The Bronx Tourism Council website, or liking the Bronx Week Facebook page.