Officially Obsessed: The Miles Coffee Bar
Written by Elisa Espiritu / Photos by Dondre Green
There is an oasis in the Bronx that you may or may not have heard about yet. It is bright, welcoming, and well designed, and I am basically going to spend the entirety of this article singing its praises. Have I mentioned they make an extraordinary cup of coffee?
Before I praise on, let me first give a little context. Those close to me know I have a deep love and respect for small businesses in the Bronx. I think it takes an incredible amount of strength, stamina, grit, and vision to operate a small business amidst the myriad of challenges plaguing most commercial entities in the borough (and New York City, at large). But when I stumble upon a business that provides me with a transcendent, one-of-a-kind experience, my love often evolves to obsession.
So, in short, this article is my public confession that I am officially obsessed with The Miles Coffee Bar in Throggs Neck. Here’s why...
The Space
You can tell a lot about a space by how it is designed and what it makes you feel. Though I am not a trained interior designer or architect, it was clear from the moment I walked into The Miles Coffee Bar --- or “The Miles” to use its nickname --- that a lot of time, inspiration and care went into the construction and design of the space.
The Miles Coffee Bar opened a few weeks ago on East Tremont, near the corner of Miles Avenue.
Working closely with Jenny J. Norris Interiors, Miles’ owner, Mario D’Agostino, has created a balanced atmosphere flooded with natural light, clean lines, and thoughtful furnishings. Visual elements such as a mounted wooden bookshelf showcasing a set of carefully curated books, a tasteful variety of houseplants, and a custom made sign with the business’ name, round out The Miles interior aesthetic.
And soon, The Miles’ customers can look forward to their beautifully built backyard space opening soon, which will feature a large communal table and a stadium-style wooden bench seating area.
The process of actualizing Norris’ and D’Agostino’s vision for the space was hard won. According to D’Agostino, It took their team nine months to renovate the space, which operated for decades as a barbershop until the previous owner's retirement last year.
Yet, with all its earned, intentional beauty, The Miles remains a comfortable, welcoming space where an individual or small group can spend some ample time unwinding. When I visited on a recent weekend, I observed a wide range of customers throughout the day: from individuals running in to grab a quick caffeinated drink and snack on-the-go; to a family eating some of The Mile’s incredible homemade baked goods (more details on those baked goodies below); to two teenagers hanging out and gossiping for an hour while drinking their coffees. According to D’Agostino, it is the exact form and function he hoped for the space. As he shared in a recent interview earlier this month, “We are focused on making everyone have a good experience. We want people to spend the day with us.”
The best part of this is the response from the neighborhood. I’ve always loved the Bronx and I have no interest in leaving the Bronx and I am glad I could bring something here people want.” - Mario D’Agostino, Owner, The Miles Coffee Bar.
The Menu
As I have come to learn to be a common trait among many Bronx food businesses, there is a wonderful story about how D’Agostino came to open and operate The Miles.
Seven years ago D’Agostino opened the Muscle Maker Grill, a healthy fast food chain, next door to the space The Miles now occupies. His years of managing Muscle Maker, combined with his over fifteen years experience working in the restaurant industry, influenced D’Agostino to become acutely passionate about the quality and freshness of the food served at The Miles.
Each morning, the knowledge and talented staff at The Miles bake and prepare everything they serve (except for the bread on their sandwiches, which is delivered fresh from a purveyor in Hunts Point). Their food menu is small but varied, and, to the delight of many with dietary restrictions, includes many gluten free and vegan items.
When I first opened Muscle Maker seven years ago, I didn’t know I would be one day opening a coffee shop.” - Mario D’Agostino, Owner, The Miles Coffee Bar.
But, as you might expect from The Miles’ full name, the real star of the show is their coffee.
D’Agostino openly admits he came to love coffee later in life. (During our conversation we bonded over a common childhood dynamic, where each of our mother’s “allowed” us to sip from their coffee cups. He thought coffee was bitter and terrible; I learned to love it at an early age.)
However, don’t expect to find any snobbery here. The Miles’ is serving up some of the freshest, smoothest, coffee in the Bronx, without a hint of pretension. Overall, D’Agostino and The Miles staff’s genuine love of coffee and commitment to quality is reflected in every cup they pour, manifesting in an experience chock full of robust flavor and taste.
And though, in addition to coffee, you can also find some of your favorite specialty drinks -- cortados, lattes, mochas, etc. -- D’Agostino acknowledges there is one thing intentionally not included in their drink menu: flavored syrups. The absence of flavored syrups has caused some potential customers to think twice, but D’Agostino stands by his belief that adding syrups would detract from The Miles’ commitment to serving fresh, all natural, ethically-sourced coffee. Still, it pains him a bit to not give every customer the experience they want. “At the end of the day,” he commented, “it is all about customer service.”
D’Agostino hopes Bronxites will one day be asking one another, “Have you been to The Miles?”
The Future
As if there wasn’t enough to be excited about already, D’Agostino has his eyes set on the future growth of The Miles. He is currently waiting for approval on a license to serve beer and wine, and when that happens, the business will add additional evening hours so people can join them after their current 8:00 pm closing time.
D’Agostino also hopes to host future events featuring the many talented visual artists, makers and musicians in the borough. He has already met many through managing The Miles’ social media and, on a recent Saturday, invited Joseph W. Gonzalez (a.k.a @theBXBarista) over to serve as a guest barista and showcase his “latte art”.
All of this gets to the heart of the vision D’Agostino hoped to actualize in the first place: to make The Miles an authentic community space where people could not only meet one another, but actually connect with one another (over a great cup of coffee, of course).
BXN Radio - EP 08: Nicole Perroni
Written by Dondre Green / Designed by Hoay Smith
For our eighth episode we talked with Nicole Perroni, Founder of Bronx Mama.
Press play below.
Fall On Your Face and Get Back Up
Written by Kayla Smith / Photos by Dondre Green
Odane Whilby is a singer, songwriter, musician, with a soft spot for the Mott Haven area and a desire to support other artistic talents within the Bronx and beyond. In his five years as a full-time musician, giving back to the arts community in the Bronx remains one of his priorities. We met with Odane at Mott Haven Bar and Grill to discuss his journey as a budding musician, his feature on on Sofar NYC, and the current projects he’s spearheading.
Whilby’s relationship with music began at an early age, “my mom said I used to dance to the windshield wiper as a kid. Music was everything... I don't know anything else,” said Odane, who has played bass since the age of 17. “I’ve been writing songs all my life but I never thought of it as something I could really do.” But he seriously started pursuing music as a career after he received an unexpected opportunity to perform his original music for the first time. “A friend of mine, Kelly Jones, she was very influential in me really try doing this as an artist. She gave me my first show. We were both supposed to do a part of the show but she had to cancel. I ended up doing the whole show. That was my intro into being an artist, that was my first hour set, my first time performing my own music and everything.” After that experience Odane went full force on the New York music scene, booking shows and learning the ropes. Unbeknownst to him, his experiences as a young artist would open the doors to his first art development project, the Bruckner Sessions.
“It started at Lehman College. I met the director of Lehman Stages, Dante Albertie, through my [now] wife. At the time, I was starting out as an artist. I was hustling and bustling, and learning New York City as far as music artists are concerned. I was discussing with him the things I was learning, the things I wished that I could share with artists coming behind me so they wouldn’t have to go through some of the nonsense that I went through.” As a result, the Bruckner Sessions had been born.
We all shared a laugh as he described the Bruckner Sessions as the hood version of American Idol this version offered no prizes for participation but focused on mentoring aspiring artists through music. Whilby used his knowledge as a musician, willingness to help upcoming artist, and connections made with professional musicians to offer mentorship and teach what he knew about music, songwriting and performance.
The change from the Bruckner Sessions to the Bronx Music Project was caused by the devastation of hurricane Sandy. “The whole area was under water,” Odane recalls. “It was very hard because that was my main source of income, it wasn’t a lot of money but it was important at that time. I was homeless. My family and I had lost our home, we were squatting and living in hotels. It was a very unbalanced time. The Bruckner Sessions before that was really thriving. We had to open the doors to accommodate the people. So [Sandy] was a big shock to the system. But everything is in God’s plan, God works things out. The year before things got back I got a call from Joseph (the current owner) they were looking for programming for a Saturday because they were starting back up.
That whole year prior was like preparation. I had gone through some things. I met some people. I was really at my wits end. Somebody actually prophesied to me the month before I got the call, a guy by the name of Daryl Young. He told me three things, the first thing he said was really rough I didn't understand it at the time: he told me I would have to put the music down, my first kid was going to be a girl, and that people will call the ministry God has given me different. What [Daryl] said to me bothered me. At first I dismissed it…you can’t tell me that God’s telling me to put down music...I don't know anything else.
So, I was in my hotel room. I came back real late. It was a stormy night; lightning was striking outside. It was like a scene from a movie. I couldn't sleep. I was stressed out. I had been reading this bible app, 365 days of bible verses. I was on day 60. My phone glitched, I turned it back on it went from day 60 [on the app] to 364. The bible lesson was about Moses, when he had the experience at the burning bush. The lesson was that the rod represented Moses natural gifting as a leader. There was only a few times when I heard God audibly in my head, that was the moment when I feel like God was screaming at me. He said, “this is what I am talking about when I say put the music down.”
[Music] is my natural gifting, this is what I've done all my life. When Moses put the rod down it became a snake. When you lay down your gift at the command of God, not just putting it down because you give up, you're going to see the negative things that it could be. That snake represented the curse that was in his gift like every blessing the flip side could be a curse. God told Moses to take the snake up by the tail that was a specific instruction. Any bushman knows you don't pick a snake up by the tail. You secure the head. That’s kind of what we do with our lives, we try to control everything. This is a moment when Moses had to trust a God that he never met before, something that’s speaking to him out of a burning bush. This is a crucial moment, it doesn't make any sense and he says, you know what, this bush is burning but it’s not burning and some dude is speaking to me out of it, I might as well take the moment as it is and do what the guy is saying, and he took the snake up and as soon as he went to go pick it up it became a rod and from that point on the bible no longer referred to Moses’ rod as “Moses’ rod” but it referred to it as the rod of God. That moment for me was crazy so obviously the prophecy was coming to fruition and it kind of restored my faith in prophecy. The Ology came out of that. People always come up to me and say The Ology is so different.”
“This is the Bronx, the birthplace of hip hop...this could be the birthplace of something else.”
The name ‘The Ology’ is a play on the word ‘theology’—the study of God and God’s relationship to the world. A name fitting for the event because Odane is catering to the niche of Christian artists. “I keep it specifically for believers because we’re working on what I believe is an issue, which is the lack of understanding of our creative power as a community of believers in this area. I feel like we don't understand who we are when you we work together. What I want is for The Ology to be a safe space for artists in the kingdom to come to be free as creatives. It’s about presenting people who are about quality and excellence it’s not really a development situation it’s more about presenting the quality we have as believers so that people can see that it's there. Some of the people who have passed through here can be on main stages they just haven't had the opportunity because the industry is limited to what the industry can do. Every ology is it’s own event, the people that come together make that night what it is. I think part of what people like about it is the organic feel. I stress the point that we have the power to keep that so that no one has to lock into what the mainstream is doing in order to survive. The people that attend can support all the artists that have come through The Ology so that they can have careers. Imagine if we were just committed to supporting artist because they are a part of this community..
Relationships are everything, the community is everything, us coming together is everything. That’s what’s important to me, building a platform where people have the opportunity to build relationships. Even collaborations, maybe another genre of music would come out of it, that would be crazy! It’s possible when you bring people together. This is the Bronx, the birthplace of hip hop...this could be the birthplace of something else.
The Ology live show, which is held on the first Saturday of every month, currently features live music, spoken word and comedic segments by co host C. King. Whilby is also looking beyond music and brainstorming ways to showcase other art forms like photography, visual arts, and dance.
As Odane was finishing his pulled pork wrap and fries, we asked him to share a few tips for those who are committed to being full time artists like himself. “Two main things: You are a servant to the community. A lot of artists get caught up in themselves; I understand you do art as a means of expressing yourself however, whatever you're doing with your artwork as a musician or visual artist you gotta remember the community, who is watching what you do.. You gotta remember to be balanced so that people can connect, you have to come down to people’s level. You have the power and potential to save lives. What you have to say is very important, how you say it is crucial. Second thing, perform as much as possible. You won't be able to learn certain things unless you get out there. Fall on your face, get back up, practice, do it again. Don’t be afraid.”
Odane reminded me of the importance of perseverance. In the words of Walter Elliot, “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” During each short race there will be obstacles to get around, sometimes we will fail to beat those obstacles the way we believe we should but the key is to regroup, get back up and persevere. Odane persevered, through the many obstacles that came his way on his road to becoming a full-time musician and in turn, became someone who uses their talent and knowledge to give back to his community. Undoubtedly, a part of his process of getting back up included falling on his face in failure but also in prayer. His hard work continues to pay off as The Ology continues to thrive and he has been invited back to perform at Sofar Sounds this month.
So what is it that you desire to do? In what ways do you hope to effect change in your community? There will no doubt be adversity on your way to success but always remember to get back up.
To see what Odane Whiliby is up to next, follow him on Instagram. Or visit SoundCloud to listen to more of his music.
Mainland Media: Making the Bronx the Main Event
Written by Tessa Smith / Photos by Dondre Green
The Bronx Entrepreneurs Series: Perspectives on Creative Industry
11 years ago Mainland Media LLC's co-founders, Anthony Ramirez II and John Martin, rented a helicopter to take aerial photos of the South Bronx. That was the precursor to FromtheBronx.com, the company’s online shop featuring Bronx-themed memorabilia and products. The helicopter tour reinforced what Ramirez and Martin believed about their borough: The Bronx was bigger than their immediate neighborhoods. And it was a source of pride and place of untapped potential – even if many residents and most outsiders didn’t share the sentiment.
The company began putting down roots in 2006, just two years before the Recession of 2008. As banks tightened their loan policies, the years that followed proved to be a challenging time for many companies. A DePaul University study commissioned by the Small Business Administration found that within two years after the recession there was a $116 billion drop in lending to small businesses.
At the start, the founders combined their own money to drive the business forward. Four years ago, a donation from an angel investor helped launch the Bronx Beer Hall. Now, the parent company of FromtheBronx.com and the Bronx Beer Hall is putting its Bronx expertise to work in the marketing and consulting area. The central pillar of Mainland Media’s business model is establishing partnerships and working with clients who are serious about the Bronx winning.
But the beer hall, the “new kid on the block” in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, has been met with a mix of uneasiness and praise from long-standing merchants in the market, patrons and in the comment section of press coverage on the startup.
Paul Ramirez, head of Mainland Media’s public relations, says it’s an inherently communal space and a prime venue to display the lesser-known side of the Bronx. “Our real goal is to further the image of the borough. Having these businesses gives us a platform to do that,” Ramirez said during our recent interview.
Armed with a vision to showcase the best of the Bronx and overflowing rolodexes inherited from retired Bronx movers and shakers, Mainland Media is positioning to be a proponent of self-gentrification – making sustainable socio-economic improvements from within the borough.
I spoke with Paul Ramirez about Mainland Media’s journey and business forecast.
What was the idea behind taking aerial photos of the South Bronx?
There were just no positive images of the Bronx. We’re talking about 11 years ago, [around] 2005, 2006. What are you going to find? You’re going to find Yankee Stadium, Rumble in the Bronx posters. You were finding Bronx Zoo stuff very easily. But nothing that was an accurate representation of the borough...The idea was [to capture] aerial images of landscapes. What does the Bronx mean to you? First you have to understand what the Bronx looks like. It turned into just instilling a sense of pride and confidence in people who weren’t proud of where they’re from.
What motivates Mainland Media’s initiatives?
The growth of the borough overall. We are fortunate enough to have people coming up who realize the value of staying within our borough and owning the identity of our borough. In the past four years we’ve seen such a growth in Bronx specific business. That’s our main motivation. We are actually influencing and hopefully setting a stage so that somebody can take the reins one day and just keep running with it. And there will be continuity as opposed to us dropping the ball and moving on to just focusing on beer.
Why did Mainland Media go the LLC route?
Everybody thought the best idea for this was to be a non-profit organization. And being a non-profit meant that we could do more community-based events and we could do a lot of things with money that we didn’t have to necessarily generate as much as we could bid for. We could put in a proposal, get a grant and then put our stuff to work. But we were working for non-profits at the time. We know how the money works. One of our [partners] was a grant writer for SoBro. My brother, [Anthony Ramirez II], was director of youth development at SoBro. I was the deputy director of Wildcat Service Corporation in Hunts Point. The non-profit game is a shady, sticky game.
“Sometimes you have to sacrifice the profit for the relationship. Sometimes you have to sacrifice the relationship for the profit. ”
In what way is the non-profit industry shady?
The models always have the best intentions written into their mission statements. But who’s running that? Is it a board of 12 gentlemen? Gentlemen. Definitely. No women on these boards. Are these 12 guys from the borough? Do they realize the needs within our community? Or do they realize what kinds of benefits and tax breaks they can get by creating a non-profit organization…in a space that [focuses on] at risk youth? As opposed to going the non-profit route, we realized that this was potentially a profitable business and we were inspired enough and we knew that we could get other businesses on board without writing proposals and fighting for grants. And it did work out that way for us. There are a lot of like-minded people, people who were born and raised here who realized how valuable what we were doing was and they were willing to help us out.
What does it take to start an LLC?
Everybody thinks it’s a hard thing. If you’re smart you own the website first and the website’s going to cost you 30 bucks, 40 bucks for the year. Obtain the URL; now nobody can take your business name. And you can start building content from there. And when you have enough money or you have an actual following and you see it’s going to be profitable turn it into an LLC. It’s an easy thing. It’s an online application. You pay via credit card. In a matter of days or weeks you have a business.
On laying the groundwork before officially launching a business?
I’d recommend entrepreneurs try to gauge who their audience is. It’s great to have an idea and to start a business, but if that business doesn’t have a core audience and you don’t know who your target is then what are you supposed to do? It’s trial by numbers and it’s not worth it. The foundation has to be there before you say ‘alright this is worth me investing, owning a website, creating content and servicing others.’ Think about how many people go into business with this great idea and they don’t make any money and they represent a brand that might resonate with people because they see it online. Unfortunately, people still think that “Likes” translate into dollars…You can like things all day. But it’s really about making sure you have an engaged audience.
Interested in starting your own business? Check out this small business toolkit.
Is it tough to convert online support into actual engagement?
Initially it felt like it was. When we first started, Mainland Media didn’t resonate with anybody. Mainland resonates with people in Hawaii. It resonates with people in China, but for Mainland Media in New York City people didn’t acknowledge the fact that all the other boroughs are islands and the Bronx is the only one attached to the continental U.S. So while we thought this was smart and clever, it didn’t have an audience because the audience didn’t get what Mainland Media means. So we started FromtheBronx.com only because we felt the need –this was before Facebook – to have our own social media platform. And then Facebook took off. We realized that From the Bronx exists, but there’s a lot of backend stuff to do when hosting a social media site that we were going to be falling behind on or we were going to be competing with Facebook. Why compete with Facebook? We would be shooting ourselves in the foot. So we transitioned all the From the Bronx content to Facebook. [In the process] we realized that From the Bronx is so much easier for people to click with.
On From The Bronx:
FromtheBronx.com doesn’t just sell stuff that From the Bronx makes. Mainland Media doesn’t make all the content on FromtheBronx.com. We made it as a platform for Bronxites to get Bronx art in their hands. We try to be “the purveyor.”
Are you working with Bronx Artists to produce merchandise for the online store?
Right now we’re working on a collaboration with Bronx Native. [If] anybody wants to sell something via our website, approach us. It’s only going to make sure more people see your stuff. We worked with Project Bronx last year. And their t-shirts sold out. We’re more than open to work with anybody who has a positive outlook on the borough.
How important is it to have a physical space like the Bronx Beer Hall?
Press for the beer hall is leaps and bounds beyond what we expected; it’s really what’s helped us garner more clients for Mainland Media. We always said we wanted it, and the fact that it happened so organically was like ‘this was meant to be.’ We were meant to have this platform. While we’ve obviously had obstacles being in a neighborhood that we’re not from, our mission does resonate well enough that our neighbors see the power of a younger mindset, a stricter concept and the ability to pull people in. Do you know how many friends I’ve made here just off the strength of having this public space? Arthur Avenue is the number two tourist destination in the borough. The venue lends a lot to improving the overall image [of the Bronx]. If we’re packed you better know that you’re going to end up engaging people you wouldn’t otherwise sit with. It [starts] a whole conversation about the negative perceptions…and now their point of view has been changed, and not by me. [But] by somebody who’s in my space because my space exists.
On marketing and consulting:
We’ve put our clients in interesting situations sometimes. There are nonprofits that are kind of getting funding from wherever they can. But when we explain to them why they shouldn’t be accepting this sort of funding because they’re on the same wavelength they’re willing to go against it. As a consultant I can tell you anything. You don’t have to do it. You’re paying me for my advice. But if you accept a $10,000 grant from [someone] you’ve just legitimized [them]. We try not to put our stamp on [something] if we don’t believe in it.
On supporting initiatives that are aimed at improving the Bronx:
We do so many events. I sit on the junior board for WHEDco. We do large events for them. We do large events for the Parks Department. All the things that we personally think the borough needs to have more of a push behind we get behind. We did the launch for Bronx Exchange, which is essentially an online white pages. So something like that it’s serving the benefit of the community at large. Why wouldn’t we host them? Why would I charge you for using my space? Come in. We’ll figure out everything else after that. That’s the way I work and it surprises a lot of people. We’re not only thinking about the money. We’re thinking about the growth overall, but the growth overall is going to lead to economic growth for everybody involved. That’s how we see it. And that’s why we don’t make our own food [at the beer hall]. What would I look like walking in here trying to make a meatball? Why wouldn’t I want to showcase everything that the neighborhood has to offer?
How do you balance maintaining business relationships and making a profit?
Sometimes you have to sacrifice the profit for the relationship. Sometimes you have to sacrifice the relationship for the profit. If you understand that there are relationships that are one-sided and completely self-serving for another party…and if they’re not benefiting me in any way that’s when the sacrifice comes in. We’ve worked with plenty of Bronx businesses that still owe us. And it’s better to walk away than for me to sit and harp about “what I did for you.” Meanwhile, they still come to the Bronx Beer Hall. They’re still trying to engage with people we engage with. But we’re still here. I’m doing this because I love doing this. People have to understand that we’re approachable. We’re not making boatloads of money. We’re doing good work for the community. In doing those things it becomes that there’s a certain air about [us], but we’re still just two brothers born and raised in the Bronx. All of our business partners were born and raised in the Bronx. Guys with full scholarships to Horace Mann [School]. One’s from Woodlawn. One’s from Bainbridge. [My brother and I] are from West Farms/Parkchester. It’s about the borough…We’re still here to make sure that we’re entrenched in everything that goes on in the borough.
What are your thoughts on fundraising?
I think it’s really about finding your industry and identifying within your industry how most people go about it. Everything for Mainland Media was funded ground up out of our own pockets. Whatever little money we had got pooled together and then everybody got their money back, nothing extra on top and now the business runs. Obtaining funding is very industry specific. Crowdsourcing is amazing, but you have to make sure you have the audience before you can go out there. It’s about marketing yourself. And the advent of Facebook and other social media sites have really allowed people to see the power within themselves; they don’t have to be backed by a brand. But it’s about building that network. There are a lot of older Bronxites when we started 11 years ago who are now retired and they are no longer in the position they once held, but since they realized the work that we were doing they’ve made sure to connect us with people.
What’s the hardest part of the job?
Staying awake. I sleep about three hours a day. We’re spread thin, but we do good work. The work that we do is beyond us. It’s not just about us. That’s what drives me. But time is the hardest part.
What’s the vision for long term expansion?
We just really want to see the face of the business change in the borough. I want to see the quality of the politicians change in the borough. There are a lot of things that has to come from within and we only set the stage for those coming behind us. If I can inspire some [young Bronxite] to say ‘I want to do better for my community,’ If I can do that it doesn’t matter where my business goes. We know we’re going to flourish. We know we’re going to do better. We know there’s always going to be an interest in the borough going forward. We just have to be selective. And the work that we do speaks for itself.
What advice would you give to up and coming entrepreneurs?
Do your best. Don’t second guess yourself. Know your own limits. Understand when you don’t know something be outright and say that because you can land yourself in a serious hole if you pretend to be bigger than what you are. [Go to] networking events. You can’t be scared to approach somebody. Treat everybody exactly the same. I don’t care how much money you have in your bank account. I don’t care if that’s a black card on my bar. It doesn’t matter. It’s about your integrity. Be fair and be willing to talk anybody. We’re in a day and age where everybody’s accessible: via a tweet, a DM, via an email, via a mention. The possibilities are endless. Don’t be scared. Everybody got their start somewhere.
Stay on top of what Mainland Media is doing on Facebook and Twitter.
Tessa Smith is an Antiguan-born, NYC-based writer and supporter of the Arts. For more of her work follow her on Instagram @thefringes.
Neighborhood Tales (Episode 07): Brandon Wilson
Q+A by Dondre Green / Video by Kevin De Los Santos
Our seventh episode of Neighborhood Tales, featuring Grand Concourse resident, Brandon Wilson.
Neighborhood Tales: A new editorial series that'll highlight the diversity of Bronx neighborhoods and help provide a visual identity, with stories told by the people who live there.
Indio's Keys To Making A Good Film
Written by Kayla Smith / Photo by Dondre Green
Have you seen Get Out? For a week, I avoided reviews, articles and social media posts about how “deep” and “good” the movie was. Why? Because of spoilers! But attempting to dodge social media posts and comments on my timeline was enough motivation to purchase tickets for an 8:15 PM showing on a Saturday night. I believe Get Out lived up to the hype surrounding it. It was layered and nuanced in its dealing with the current climate of race relations in America. It is the type of movie you must really pay attention to in order to connect all of the dots.
On the ride home my sister and I discussed the film and read those articles I initially avoided. The comment sections were filled with strangers who gathered to dissect, share theories, and seek clarity on the film’s theme. I love films that make you think and then think some more; films that challenge you to engage them long after the credits have rolled–like psychological thrillers for instance. That’s what makes a good film. What makes a film good for you? What makes a film good in general?
Bronx native Harri “Indio” Ramkishun says, “it’s about communication. As long as you are able to communicate in a clear way, the message gets across. Obviously some people might not like the message but if you're true in your commitment to communicate a story and you did your best trying to convey it, you’ve done your job and hopefully people understand it.” As a filmmaker, director, editor, producer, teacher of film production at BronxNet, founding member of The Bronx Filmmakers Collective, and owner and operator of GuyaRican Productions, Indio, has plenty of insight on filmmaking and the importance of honestly and effectively communicating a story.
For the GuyaRican–a moniker created by combining Guyanese and Puerto Rican, his cultural backgrounds–the road to becoming a filmmaker was unconventional. He transitioned from the music industry to TV film a little over ten years ago when he was a contestant on a reality show on the YES Network.
How did you get into filmmaking?
I was in the music industry. When things weren’t going well with the transition of mechanical (physical products such as CDs, records, etc) to digital, I took an opportunity to be on a sports reality show about die hard Yankee fans competing in challenges to win tickets to Yankee games. [I was] born and raised in The Bronx, and played across the street from Yankee stadium, so why not? I knew that was going to be my transition into TV film. I auditioned and after about a 20 minute talk with producers they said they wanted me.
On challenges learning to be a filmmaker by apprenticeship:
I think there are at least two different routes to get to the same destination. While mine may have been unconventional, the common denominator is networking. Oftentimes you’ll see people who went to NYU, for example, their team is basically built from classmates they were working with. It’s the same thing for me and trying to build a community of filmmakers. The resources may not be there but as with anything if you’re really passionate about what you do you’ll find ways to make it happen. I wrote, produced and directed my first short film. Rather than have the opportunity to go to film school I created a film to learn. That was my learning curve. A lot of my colleagues helped with the project, they bought in the cameras and the lights and we shot it in my apartment in Riverdale. The results weren’t the best but it was an experience. From then I continued to learn about operating the cameras and would soon become the Director of Photography on various short films.
Do you think that is why a lot of people in the Bronx don’t pursue film?
Filmmaking is a long journey some people may see it as attainable but it takes too long. There have been great filmmakers that have come out of The Bronx but you have a generation gap from Penny and Garry Marshall (1960s) who grew up on East Tremont to Rashaad Ernesto Green who directed the film Gun Hill Road (2011). He was able to cross over to hollywood and direct shows. But we are a community of 1.4 million people [as of 2013] and growing so I think the numbers will only go up from there. Being a part of The Bronx Filmmakers Collective (TBxC) I get to know the other filmmakers of the bronx and we help each other out. Bronx filmmakers are out there, we’re just a little scattered.
“Filmmaking is a long journey some people may see it as attainable but it takes too long.”
How did The Bronx Filmmakers Collective start?
In September 2012 I heard about a meeting reaching out to Bronx Filmmakers at the Bronx Documentary Center. Hannah Leshaw, (co-founder of The Bronx Filmmakers) asked Michael Kamber, (the co-founder of Bronx Documentary Center), to meet there. I went and said [to Leshaw], “this is what I’ve been looking for, I want to help you make this happen.” We banded together. We’re in our 5th year now. We recently filed the paperwork to become a non profit. Soon we’ll be able to seek grants to potentially offer scholarships to members so they can create their own projects.
What types of themes does TBxC write about?
We tend to avoid the themes that people most often connect to The Bronx: gang violence, ghetto, gritty, The Bronx is burning, abandoned buildings scenarios. We capture real stories. We hear and see stories of perseverance and trying to make it. Many people can relate to that, not just Bronxites, those type of stories are the ones members gravitate to.
The process of joining TBFC?
There is an application process and we require that you have a film, whether you submitted it to a festival or created it on your own.
Any films that have really inspired you?
I love all kinds of stories but I've always been compelled to look at Ang Lee movies both cinematically and storytelling wise. He has such a way with directing these stories from Crouching Tiger to Life of Pie. On the flip side I love movies like The Best Man, Brown Sugar, and Love and Basketball by Gina Bythewood; her husband Reggie Rock is a Bronxite. I got a chance to talk to him, I told him when he comes back to the Bronx look [The Bronx Film Collective] up and talk to us.
We can record films on iPhones now, do you feel that filmmaking is still valued?
At the end of the day, whether it’s an Arri Alexa or an iPhone if you're not telling a story cohesively, it’s just images and audio scrambled together. So while there has been an influx of “filmmakers” it still takes a level of passion, training and practicing on your own. I think the doors are open to many people especially in communities where you don't have as much money to go to film school, the NYUs and the USCs, so you can just learn by doing and practice. The best examples are those that are already out, find your favorite movies and watch them. Have a sketch pad and write down what you liked best about the movie–try to replicate that on your own and put your spin to it. I have a Moleskine book where I do that and refer back to it.
“We tend to avoid the themes that people most often connect to The Bronx: gang violence, ghetto, gritty, The Bronx is burning, abandoned buildings scenarios. We capture real stories”
How do you view streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube as a filmmaker?
I think it can be a double-edged sword, because of the amount of content that is being produced it does make it hard to stand out. [And] I know many of those outlets will take products that aren’t refined but completed.
In an era of “alternative facts” and “fake news” jargon, how important is it to control our narratives especially as one pursuing film?
The truth is being bent in certain ways but honestly speaking… this is no different from how it was 30 to 40 years ago. Filmmaking is the same, the technology has changed but the main thing hasn’t changed and it’s that you have to tell a story that is compelling and true at least in that world. It’s about communication as long as you are able to communicate in a clear way, the message gets across, obviously some people might not like the message but if you're true in your commitment to communicate a story and you did your best trying to convey it, you’ve done your job and hopefully people understand it.
What are you currently working on?
I’m writing a feature film–it’s been a slow process. Hopefully when it’s done people will see the story, get it and be moved by it. It’s a coming of age story about a 17 year old kid who just graduated high school and all the circumstances that happen that may cause him not to go to college. You can be on the right path and a brick wall goes up in your face in no time. It’s something that I’ve seen in my own life and with my friends and family. I wanted to put that in a narrative. The responsibility of a filmmaker is to be able to convey a story in a clear and concise manner so that your audience will get what you’re trying to say.
While talking to Indio I was reminded that as we move through this world, we enjoy things most when we are able to connect, understand, and see ourselves in them, especially films. With technological advancement and the newer, more accessible means for us to pursue our passions, I’m looking forward to watching more films written and directed by Bronxites passionate about perfecting their skills and telling honest stories. I’m waiting for more films that will help us to grapple with the issues of our communities and our time and will incite us to action. Films that make us laugh, cry, but most importantly think and then think some more. May I suggest psychological thriller?
For more information on Harri "Indio" Ramkishun, check out his website: www.guyarican.com
BXN Radio - EP 07: Vernicia Colon
For our seventh episode we talked with Vernicia Colon, Founder of the Mix Pop Up Cafe.
Press play below.
When Missing the Runway Gives You a Platform
Written by Tessa Smith / Photos by Dondre Green
The Bronx Entrepreneurs Series: Perspectives on Creative Industry.
The blogosphere is bursting at the seams. At the rate that blogs are started and abandoned, it’s hard to pin down the number; but some sources say hundreds of millions of blogs exist. That’s a massive jump from the eight million Technorati reported in 2010. The blog index turned advertising tech company said that seven years ago bloggers were writing roughly 12,000 blog posts daily. In 2017, bloggers around the world are writing millions of posts every day. Worldometer’s daily counter uses Technorati’s formula to calculate the number of blog posts produced worldwide.
Today’s blog buffet features everything from food to parenting tips to LEGO Bricks. It’s no surprise that successful bloggers have an angle and a marketing strategy. Business savvy bloggers pursuing an ever-increasing reach are implementing campaigns that crisscross their social media platforms and collaborating with other influencers is no longer an afterthought.
According to Hubspot, a top social media marketing analytics firm, blog content creation was the number two priority for businesses in 2016; followed by their goals of expanding their search engine optimization (SEO) and building an organic presence to engage consumers. In 2015, Hubspot reported that blogs had been rated the 5th most trusted source for accurate online information. Today, companies and individual bloggers alike are aiming to drive sales by creating relevant content that connects with readers on issues and products they care about. Like Christina Akomea, a style enthusiast who’s building a following through a shared passion for affordable fashion.
Corporate professional and fashion blogger Christina Akomea of Just Missed the Runway (JMTR) is forging her path in the industry. But she isn’t a newcomer to entrepreneurial endeavors. She went from selling fruit snacks during Cardinal Spellman high school track meets to partnering with companies like Chinese-based clothing retailer, Romwe, and “afri-glam” brand Fingercomber. Drawing inspiration for her signature tailored silhouettes from NYC architecture, the Northeast Bronx native is cultivating a resource for women who seek classy corporate looks.
This month marks the three-year anniversary of JMTR’s launch.
With more than 8k social media followers and 2k unique visitors each month, the lifestyle brand is tapping into a unique space by blending fashion and modesty. On JMTR “more is more.” But more is not boring. JMTR has been featured on popular fashion sites like Fashion Bomb Daily and Style Blazer. In 2017 the blog will also feature health and fitness content.
Here’s Christina’s take on being a fashion blogger:
What’s the idea behind your blog name?
I have to give credit to my friend Janelle…I was trying to figure out who I was and the audience I was trying to reach… I’m like alright, I’m this 5’3 girl, I’m not big but according to society’s standards I’m not really a model. But I can dress like a model on the runway. But I really can’t make it on the runway. So I was like I just missed the runway I guess. [Janelle] said that’s it: Just Missed the Runway!
How did you learn about getting into fashion blogging?
For the first two years I really just enjoyed shooting and posting pictures…. It may be vain, but I really just enjoyed doing it. I had a career, but that’s what I looked forward to doing on the weekend…Maybe I came across a website or an article talking about how to monetize your blog …There’s a plethora of research on how to monetize your blog.
On partnering with Fingercomber:
I was at conference and I saw a girl with natural hair… I complimented her and she’s like “Oh, it’s a wig.” And she gave me the website. I bought the wig and I bought it for my mother. I was wearing it all the time… The amount of times people stopped me and asked about [the wig] and I gave them the website, I thought I’m making [the company] a lot of money… I sent them an email and I asked if there were any opportunities for us to collaborate. I think at the time I was just looking for free wigs…They sent me an [affiliate] agreement. It had the numbers on there. Because I’m a business person ... I negotiated for more and they gave it to me. And the good thing about that is I’m not just selling something. I actually believe in the company and I wear the [wig] all the time…People know that even before I had the agreement…I purchased the wig with my own money.
How has your educational background shaped your vision as business woman?
In undergrad I studied risk management and insurance…I felt I had a really narrow background because my education is so focused on this career path and every job I worked after graduation was in the insurance industry…I always knew I wanted other opportunities…I thought it was a great idea to get an MBA.…My MBA is what allowed me to really broaden my opportunities with blogging…I had to do a bunch of consulting work and a whole bunch of cool projects.
How do you balance a 9-5 and blogging?
I think passion helps because if you’re not passionate about it it will be difficult. Not only do I have a 9-5, I also work at Banana Republic part-time. I really work 70 hours a week…I work part-time at Banana Republic only because I need the fashion experience. I’ve never worked in retail. And I have aspirations to start my own clothing line…I’m learning so much about clothes that I’ve never known. But juggling is really hard. If you look at my car I have 8 billion things in the back because after this I have to shoot. I don’t shoot everyday like most bloggers… Sometimes I’ll do six to eight looks within two hours. In the winter time it’s freezing outside! It’s really a serious commitment, but because I’m passionate about it I can overlook weather and time.
Are you a risk taker in business?
I’m in the middle between being risk averse and being a risk taker. I’m trying to become a risk taker but it’s kind of hard. I think that my [corporate] career has made me very comfortable. I feel like if I was a risk taker I would get to where I want to be so much faster. I’d be pressured to figure it out and work harder. To send more emails trying to get more collaborations…I’m trying to get there bit by bit. But it’s really hard.
How did you get into the “modest fashion” niche?
I think with growth it happened. When I first started I wanted to do any and everything… Every time I tried to do something that contradicted my identity it just wasn’t successful. If I tried to wear a Bodycon – not knocking Bodycon – either the pictures would come out wrong or people didn’t receive it the way I thought they would. Growing spiritually has helped me kind of figure out what I want to do and how I want to present myself. I’ve learned that I wanted to be more modest… I think that you should never feel bad about not attracting everyone. Part of the reason people are successful is because they realize what their niche is and they know how to connect. I get more feedback now that I focus on modesty.
What’s your view on shooting in the Bronx?
Just for the aesthetic of blogging… from what I’ve seen Manhattan appears to have cleaner places, cleaner structures, better buildings than the Bronx… A lot of the NYC fashion bloggers who have 800k followers and who have made this a business…They always shoot in certain areas. Most times it’s in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
My struggle is partly because I don’t know a lot of places in the Bronx… But the building structures are not conducive to the aesthetic I’m going for. I have to think deeper than just my blog pictures. A lot of people don’t realize that Instagram and the layout of your Instagram are so important. I just can’t post any picture. It’s just going to throw off my whole aesthetic. I’ll say that because I haven’t done that much research looking for places in the Bronx, I kind of just go with places I know, which is the city.
“Some people are going to say that you’re annoying. But annoying people get more partnerships and collaborations. You have to be on a schedule. ”
On shooting in Manhattan v. shooting in the Bronx:
People in Manhattan are more receptive to creative people. Shooting summer looks in the winter is acceptable when you’re in Manhattan. Shooting that in the Bronx…people take out their phones or they just start watching, men do inappropriate things. It’s just really uncomfortable. You have to be around places where they allow you to be creative and just do what you do.
How would you advise new bloggers who want to collaborate with companies?
The simplest advice I can give is get your followers up. Nobody cares about who you are unless you have followers…If you don’t have followers nobody’s going to want to collaborate with you. Nobody feels the need to…partner with you if they feel you don’t have a reach. The wig company was great, but before that I got 8000 “Noes.” I’ve been denied so many times. Also, in 2017, if you want to be a blogger, first you have to step your blog or your website pictures up. The market is too saturated. There are too many talented people…too many great pictures out there for somebody to focus on your blurry pictures.
What about people who feel the need to buy followers?
That’s the bad part about trying to get followers. Are you even sincere? Are you passionate about it?...If you’re trying to go into it because you realize there is money to be made you’re going to burn out. You may make it there. But you’re going to burn out. Most of the people in the vlogging/blogging industry have started not trying to make money. They were passionate about it and the passion showed. And they’ve gotten opportunities from it.
On building relationships in the industry:
…I’m not interested in Fashion Week. I’m not interested in runway shows. I have received so many invitations and I always deny all of them. I don’t really pull inspiration from runway fashion. Strangely enough, my name is Just Missed the Runway. I don’t care what [high end designers] think the new trends are. Of course I’m influenced in some way. Even if I don’t go on Tommy Hilfiger or Prada’s new collection I’m looking at a blogger who may have been inspired by Prada, but I just never really cared to even sit in the back at a fashion show…But I realize that I have to kind of foster those relationships because the people that foster those relationships get better opportunities…I also haven’t even decided that I want to really make my footprint in the mainstream commercial fashion industry…I feel like I kind of want to start my own thing.
Is your family supportive?
Now they are. My parents are African. They are really traditional. Now that they see the packages coming. All the free clothes. When they see the checks coming in the mail. They’re like “You can actually do something with this.” Now they’re cheering me on. Now my dad is like “ok I’m going to iron your clothes for you. I’ll help you pack your car.”… It was a different narrative before. Before it was “You need to focus on work. You need to focus on school.”… Now they’re excited.
Do you have any words for aspiring fashion Bronx Bloggers?
You just have to research. Invest in a good camera. Have a very clean website. Be very consistent with posting. Some people are going to say that you’re annoying. But annoying people get more partnerships and collaborations. You have to be on a schedule. Your readers should expect to see something from you.
Anything else you want to share?
Specifically for Bronx bloggers there is a need for someone who’s going to highlight the Bronx well. We have 8 million Manhattan bloggers. When you say NYC fashion blogger if you click on the hashtag [on Instagram], it’s referring to Manhattan bloggers…We don’t have anyone that’s really focusing on only shooting in the Bronx. It’s probably a market that you can tap into. You have to find a way to be very creative and stand out…I may even take that advice myself.
Look out for Christina’s latest posts on Instagram @justmissedtherunway.
Tessa Smith is an Antiguan-born, NYC-based writer and supporter of the Arts. For more of her work follow her on Instagram @thefringes.
Meet Alexis Faraci of the Bronx Baking Co.
Written by Elisa Espiritu / Photos by Dondre Green
One of life’s great mysteries lie in the possibility that just one conversation or interaction can take us down an unanticipated path, forever changing the trajectory of our plans. It was one such serendipitous moment that led Alexis Faraci, owner of the Bronx Baking Co., to specialize in her company’s signature product: hand-rolled German style pretzels.
Four years ago, Alexis founded her wholesale enterprise on City Island. Though the company initially offered a wider variety of products, the decision to focus solely on their now popular line of German style pretzels came after a fortuitous conversation Alexis had with a friend from Germany, who stated he could not find a good pretzel in New York and recommended she try making one. Not one to turn down a challenge -- (meet her and you will instantly see her spirited demeanor) -- Alexis went on to do the arduous work of researching and creating the company’s signature recipe.
Bronx Narratives on location at the Bronx Baking Co.
Though she had a lot of German friends and had been to Germany a few times, Alexis knew little about the process of baking German style pretzels from scratch. As she explained to Bronx Narratives during a recent on-site conversation, “Baking is science. Cooking is a bit more fluid but baking isn’t like that. Especially wholesale baking. It needs to be consistent. The magic I supply is probably single-minded obsession. I always say if you can be single-minded about something, you can get really, really good at it.”
Steeped and committed to the research process, Alexis first went online and found German recipes that she translated into English. She then made spreadsheets, noting unique variations and possibilities. She even traveled to Germany with the sole purpose of shadowing and working alongside local bakers.
In the end, Alexis tested out everything she learned, soliciting ideas and feedback on each iteration of her recipe from family and friends. She took detailed notes and continued adjusting until she came to create the base recipe used in all of the Bronx Baking Co.’s products: a mixture of high-gluten flour (which gives the pretzel its chewy consistency), yeast, flour, water, sugar and salt. The ingredients are mixed into a dough which is cut, hand-rolled and dipped in a lye bath before baking.
Every pretzel made at the Bronx Baking Co. is finished by hand by one of the company’s trained bakers. “I can’t figure out how to take the hands out of the process and maintain the quality, so it will be done like this forever.” - Alexis Faraci, founder and owner of the Bronx Baking Co.
But the happenstance and hard work surrounding the Bronx Baking Company’s story doesn’t end there. In fact, the past four years of the company’s growth could easily be classified as a quintessential Bronx tale.
Just as Alexis began shifting the company’s product line to focus solely on pretzels, the craft beer movement was taking off in the Bronx, with ventures like the Bronx Brewery opening up. Looking to meet the projected growth and demand for its pretzel products, Alexis sought to relocate the company’s production facility to the South Bronx, where she also happens to live.
For months she discussed her need for a new commercial space to operate out of with everyone she met. And, with help and advice from another Bronx business owner who operates a restaurant near her apartment, Alexis found her company’s current location: a spacious, sunlit commercial loft space in Port Morris.
The power of Bronx networking: “One day I came out of my apartment and Amir said ‘I found your bakery!’” - Alexis Faraci, founder and owner of the Bronx Baking Co., on how Amir Chayon, co-owner of Ceetay, helped her find the Bronx Baking Co.’s current production location.
Some might say that Alexis was always meant to open up a business in the Bronx. Though she grew up in Westchester, she has a long history in the borough: her mother spent years working at Evander Childs High School and other schools in the area, and her Italian-American family still resides in the house her great-grandparents bought long ago on Arthur Avenue.
Her deep roots and hard work have helped her establish the Bronx Baking Co. among a long-standing line of bread companies in the borough, many of which have been around for generations.
Moreover, by focusing on producing a unique, high-quality product, the Bronx Baking Co. has helped distinguished itself from competitors beyond the borough. As Alexis shared, “Our pretzels are based on a quality proposition. That’s our thing - it’s a quality product. And it’s specifically German [style]. It's not New York. It's not Philly. It's not New York Superpretzel. We are always going to be this Bronx pretzel.”
“Our pretzels are based on a quality proposition. That’s our thing - it’s a quality product. And it’s specifically German [style]. It’s not New York. It’s not Philly. It’s not New York Superpretzel. We are always going to be this Bronx pretzel.”
Where to Get The Bronx Baking Co.’s Pretzels
The Bronx Baking Co. is a wholesale company (i.e. you can’t randomly walk into their space and buy a pretzel when you’re craving one). Their pretzels can be found at local businesses such as the Gun Hill Brewery and the Bronx Brewery, as well as several establishments throughout the five boroughs. You can also purchase the pretzels online, where they can be mailed or delivered to you.
(Don’t fret - the company is hoping to get more distribution in the Bronx so people who live in the Bronx, or people who come to the Bronx to shop, can find the pretzels in more locations throughout the borough.)
If you’re having a hard time choosing what to order, take Alexis’ advice: “Hands down the best seller is the classic, salted, three-ounce pretzel. Everyone loves it.”
“Germans use pretzels as a regular bread and we don’t think of pretzels as a regular bread. So sometimes people are like, ‘Oh, you make bread?’ and I say, ‘Yeah, pretzels.’ - Alexis Faraci, founder and owner of the Bronx Baking Co.
How To Eat The Bronx Baking Co.’s Pretzels
If you have had a chance to check out the Bronx Baking Co.’s social media feeds, you will see that Alexis and her team spend a lot of time crafting creative pairings for their products. That’s because their pretzels can go with just about anything.
Should you want to switch up the Americanized approach (i.e. smothering on some form of mustard), Alexis recommends pairing your pretzel with butter or cheese. As she explained, “Pretzel dough is super pliable. It’s very forgiving and you can do a lot with it. It’s also really versatile dough and really flavorful. The other day we made pizza. The possibilities are endless.”
For more information on the Bronx Baking Co. check our their website: www.bronxbakingco.com
Neighborhood Tales (Episode 06): Alex Bondarev
Q+A by Dondre Green / Video by Kevin De Los Santos
We're happy to resume content with a new episode of Neighborhood Tales, featuring Pelham Bay resident, Alex Bondarev.
Neighborhood Tales: A new editorial series that'll highlight the diversity of Bronx neighborhoods and help provide a visual identity, with stories told by the people who live there.