Melrose eatery is more than a restaurant
A popular lunch spot, Coqui Mexicana is a library, community center, too A Puerto Rican man in his 60s stormed into Coqui Mexicano, the restaurant on Brook and Third Avenues…
A taste of a Mexican city on a Mott Haven street
Only one place serves Puebla’s special sandwich Whenever Sabino Sanchez feels homesick, instead of boarding a plane to Puebla, Mexico, he goes to La Fiesta Mexicana in Mott Haven and…
Listen up soldier—you’re in the Cadets now
Outside the Betances Community Center on St. Ann’s Avenue and East 146th Street, 20 or so young men and women wearing Army fatigues scrambled to form straight lines, then raised…
Marchers call for end to gun violence
Mott Haven residents lead effort to stop the bleeding As she sat on her aunt’s lap, tears streamed down five-year-old Maryliz Romero’s face as she thought of her uncle, whose…
Earth Fest reaches out with music and games
The Bronx throws a party for Earth Day’s 40th birthday Legendary emcee Grandmaster Caz has been packing parties in the South Bronx since 1974, but none quite like the one…
Homeless struggle against increasing odds
On a recent Saturday, a young family of five shuffled along East 138th Street. Jimmy (who asked that the family name not be published) rolled a green duffle bag filled…
Mott Haven’s money isn’t in banks
City launches “Safe Start” account to help underbanked New Yorkers On a recent Saturday afternoon, Leo Lendy, a 21-year-old Mott Haven resident, walked out of the Pay-O-Matic on 149th Street…
Educational non-profit helps women succeed
Mott Haven GED program gets results There is a working elevator at Immaculate Conception School on East 151st Street. But none of the women going up to Grace Outreach are…