Award-winning queer writers, daring dance and queer films in GET TOUGH! GET BAAD! 2024 - Feb 6-17

 

BAAD! - THE BRONX ACADEMY OF ARTS & DANCE PRESENTS

 GET TOUGH, GET BAAD!

February 6-17, 2024

A FILM AND PERFORMANCE SERIES CELEBRATING QUEER POWER, DIVERSITY, VISIBILITY AND DEFIANCE AND QUEER MOVIE MOVERS, A DANCE CONCERT SET TO QUEER MOVIE MUSIC

ALSO IN FEBRUARY AT BAAD!, COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS SERIES with authors John Keene and Robert Jones, Jr. 

BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance celebrates its 25th Anniversary year and presents GET TOUGH, GET BAAD!, an annual series of films and events celebrating queer power, diversity, defiance, strength, and visibility. The series was initiated in 2010 to take a stand against violence and to counter negative and victimized images of queer people in the media from a wave of homophobic attacks in the Bronx and New York City that year. GET TOUGH, GET BAAD! presents narrative films that are empowering to the LGBTQ community that feature queer, people of color as the protagonists, and also offers events that celebrate queer strength and value. This year’s installment kicks off with Courageous Conversations: Strategies for Living and Loving in America with authors John Keene and Robert Jones, Jr. and continues with five narrative films and an evening of dance.  GET TOUGH! GET BAAD! runs from February 6-17, 2024. Events are at BAAD!, 2474 Westchester Avenue in the Bronx’s Westchester Square neighborhood. Most events are free and the dance concert is $20. For reservations, directions, and further information call (718) 918-2110 or visit www.BAADBronx.org. 

Tuesday, February 6 at 7pm | Free (also streaming virtually)

COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS: Strategies for Living and Loving in America with JOHN KEENE and ROBERT JONES, JR.

BAAD!’s Courageous Conversations forum brings together leading thinkers and doers from the arts, media, and politics to offer empowering strategies for queer communities and their allies on how to navigate and thrive in today's political climate. This offering includes John R. Keene Jr., a writer, translator, professor, and artist who was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2018. His 2022 poetry collection, Punks: New and Selected Poems, received the National Book Award for Poetry. Keene will be in conversation with Robert Jones, Jr., the author of The New York Times bestselling novel, The Prophets, about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation. The book was a finalist for the 2021 National Book Award for Fiction, won many awards and was named one of the best books of 2021 by Time, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post, among others.

Friday, February 9 at 7:00 pm | Free

THE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF TWO GIRLS IN LOVE

with filmmaker Maria Maggenti 

Touching and poignant, the acclaimed adventurous love story between two young women of different social and economic backgrounds who find themselves going through all the typical struggles of a new romance. The film is a classic and when it was released in 1995 it was hailed by the New York Times as "a universal story about first love, adolescent rebellion and sexual awakening." As it prepares to celebrate 30 years, filmmaker Maria Maggenti will be present for a post-show talk.

Saturday, February 10 at 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm| Free

5:00 pm

RED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE

Fun and sexy, this romantic comedy depicts a developing love affair between the son of the president of the United States (Taylor Zakhar Perez) and a British prince (Nicholas Galitzine). Traversing the worlds of British royalty and Washington, D.C. politics, both want to keep the relationship secret to protect their families from controversy. Directed by Matthew Lopez.

8:00 pm

BOTTOMS

In this refreshingly outspoken and raunchy comedy, two unpopular girls (Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri) who in their senior year of high school start a fight club to try to impress and hook up with cheerleaders. Directed by Emma Seligman.

Thursday, February 15 at 7:00 pm | Free

GUADALAJARA

In this drama inspired by true events, a transgender teen navigates her identity while befriending the neighborhood queen bees in East L.A. She struggles with peer pressure, drugs, and crime while trying to find her way in the world and developing a relationship with her sex-working mother.  Directed by William Napier.

Friday, February 16 at 7:00 pm | Free

BADHAAI DO

A gay cop and a lesbian teacher enter a lavender marriage of convenience to pacify their families but find that relationships — both real and fake — aren't all easy to navigate.  This queer Indian film achieves a balancing act of comedy and drama. and shows the damage caused by homophobia and the courage it takes to live authentically. In Hindi with English subtitles. Directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni.

Saturday, February 17 at 8:00 pm | $20, Virtual: Free to $20

QUEER MOVIE MOVERS

Local choreographers take over BAAD!’s stage with a series of dances set to music from their favorite queer films.  Featuring performances by Faxtra, Peter Elizalde, Darius Gregory, Rush Johnston, Nikolai McKenzie Ben Rema, Richard McLaurin, Leila Saffold and uwazi.

Crowned “a funky and welcoming performance space” by The New York Times, BAAD! is a performance and workshop space that presents cutting-edge works in dance and all creative disciplines empowering to women, people of color and the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community. BAAD! is home to Arthur Aviles Typical Theatre (AATT), and the AATT Academy. Celebrating its 25th year, BAAD! was founded by Arthur Aviles and Charles Rice-Gonzalez in 1998 in Hunts Point. BAAD! moved to Westchester Square in October 2013 to a gothic revivalist building on the grounds of St. Peter’s Church.

Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping and Assaulting U.S. Army Soldiers in Colombia

 

A Colombian national pleaded guilty to kidnapping and assaulting two U.S. Army soldiers who were on temporary duty in Bogota, Colombia.

According to court documents, Jeffersson Arango Castellanos, 36, and his co-conspirators targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogota. On the evening of March 5, 2020, the two victims were in an entertainment district in Bogota. They visited a pub, where Arango and his co-conspirators incapacitated the two victims by putting drugs, including benzodiazepines, in their drinks. They then kidnapped the victims and took their wallets, debit cards, credits cards, and cell phones. Arango and his co-conspirators used one victim’s credit card and the other victim’s debit card to make purchases and withdraw money. The two victims lost consciousness until the following day, by which point they had been separated.

Arango pleaded guilty to kidnapping an internationally protected person, conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person, assaulting an internationally protected person, and conspiracy to assault an internationally protected person. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

In May 2023, Arango was extradited from Colombia to the United States pursuant to a U.S. extradition request. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogota, and U.S. Marshals Service worked with Colombian law enforcement authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Arango.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

News, updates and more from NYC Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

DISCUSSING ALL THINGS DISTRICT 17 ON ‘JUST LOVE LIVE’!

 

 Stopped by Manhattan Neighborhood Network to discuss all things District 17 with Catholic Charities of New York and Luz Tavarez on ‘Just Love Live’! 

Stay tuned for details on when you can catch our episode!

CELEBRATING THE POINT CDC!

 

Congratulations The Point CDC on being named Citizens Bank’s ‘Champion in Action’ for Promoting Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Across the South Bronx. 

With the announcement of a new $50,000 grant, The Point will be able to continue battling the environmental racism faced by our community, building upon such wins as the:

Sheridan Expressway conversion to Sheridan Boulevard
The Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan
Spofford Juvenile Detention Center conversion to affordable housing units - The Peninsula

 Due to a historic lack of investment in our Borough, Bronxites have fallen victim to numerous health battles caused by inadequate environmental quality. As an asthmatic whose health has suffered as a direct result of such negligence, I will continue advocating on behalf of organizations like The Point who are working to reverse environmental inequity in the Bronx.

STATEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBER

PROGRESSION OF THE BRONX METRO-NORTH STATION AREA PLAN

 

My statement on the progression of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan, and the beginning of the Public Review process: 

UPCOMING EVENTS

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT THE BRONX ZOO    MARK YOUR CALENDARS:  My office will be hosting our annual event at the Bronx Zoo in celebration of Black History Month to honor leaders within our Borough who are creating a lasting, equitable community for us all to be proud of.    *RSVP is REQUIRED to attend. Please email CMSalamanca.events@gmail.com, or call (718) 402-6130 to confirm your attendance.* Visit our District Office at:  1070 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York 10459 (718) 402-6130 salamanca@council.nyc.gov

Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato In-District Inauguration

 

Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato had already officially been sworn into office, but every new council member, and most reelected members like to have an In-District swearing in for their constituents and special guests to attend. Councilwoman Marmorato had her In-District Inauguration at SUNY Maritime College Saturday.

A jam packed auditorium included Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, Asemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. City Council members Minority Leader Joseph Borelli, and Vicki Palidino, former City Council members Mark Gjonaj and Ruben Diaz Sr., and former Assemblyman Steven Kaufman. The Oath of Office was administered by Judge Nicholas Iacovetta, and Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato then gave her In-District Address. 

Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato with the First Man Gino, and daughter Renata entered to a standing ovation.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke first, welcoming Councilwoman Marmorato while addressing the audience.

Councilwoman Marmorato thanks Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez for coming and speaking.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams came all the way from Brooklyn to speak, and welcome the new councilwoman from the 13th district.

Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. has already expressed intrest in working with the new Councilwoman against the 'Just Home' proposal at Jacobi Hospital, which he is also opposed to. 

State Senator Nathalia Fernandez speaks as Councilwoman Marmorato waits to thank her. 

Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato is sworn in by Judge Nicholas Iacovetta, with husband Gino and daughter Renata watching on stage. 

Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato then gave her 13th Council In-District Address.

There was a standing ovation after Councilwoman Marmorato finished her In-District Address. 

The current and former elected officials joined Councilwoman Marmorato on stage for a photo.

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON PASSING OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES DEPUTY COMMISSIONER PAUL VALLONE

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement on the passing of Paul Vallone, deputy commissioner for external affairs at the New York City Department of Veterans Services. Vallone previously represented District 19 in Queens in the New York City Council:

 

“The borough of Queens and our entire city mourn the loss of Paul Vallone, a true public servant and New Yorker. A true son of Queens, he upheld a family legacy through his service in the New York City Council and with the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services. Throughout his time in office, the blue-collar community he represented knew they had a fighter from the neighborhood representing them in City Hall. In that role and as a member of our administration, he was a committed advocate for veterans — serving those who have served our country. It was an honor to serve alongside him, and I know New Yorkers will join me in keeping the Vallone family in your hearts today.”

Permits Filed For 975 Washington Avenue In Melrose, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a seven-story hotel at 975 Washington Avenue in Melrose, The Bronx. Located between East 163rd Street and East 164th Street, the lot is one block north of the Freeman Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Parmod Chadha of Chand White Plains LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 74-foot-tall development will yield 30,017 square feet designated for commercial space. The building will have 98 hotel rooms with an average unit scope of 306 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar, three open parking spaces, and 459 enclosed parking spaces.

Michael Kang Architect is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Wave Hill Weekly Events FEB 15 – FEB 22 | Open Studios and Woodland Friends

 

The Palm House in our Conservatory is in peak bloom! The gorgeous flame vine and many flowering bulbs from South Africa are bursting with color. It's like stepping into Spring. Strolling the Wild Garden in the fog is also transcending. The snowdrops are blooming amid the patches of ice that are still left on some of the beds and a smell of the Witch Hazel trees is something special this time of year – as is warming up with a peppermint latte and a croissant, one of the current specials in the Café.

Family Art Project: Love for Woodland Friends

Sat, Feb 17, 10:00AM – 1:00PM 

Sun, Feb 18, 10:00AM – 1:00PM

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

With Valentine’s Day in mind, take a cue from the ways animals protect their families by creating woodland critters. Celebrate the ways we care for each other. Give your stuffed creation as a heartwarming gift, or keep it to remind you of our local woodland friends. 

At 11:30AM, families can enjoy a storytime program in the Gund Theater; all ages welcome.  

Winter Workspace 2024: Open Studios

Sat, Feb 17, 12:30PM – 4:00PM

Free with admission to the grounds 

Registration encouraged but not required for this drop-in event; online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. 

The Winter Workspace is a program that takes place over two, six-week sessions and provides artists with free studio space, a financial stipend, and access to Wave Hill’s living collection. Session One takes place from January 2 to February 18, 2024. Since its start 14 years ago, the Workspace has supported more than 150 artists. During the Winter Workspace, artists have intimate access to the greenhouses, as well as horticultural and curatorial staff. Experimentation is encouraged and artists expand their practices while working on site. Artists also engage with Wave Hill visitors through Drop-In Sundays and Open Studios, as well as adult or family workshops. At the core of the Winter Workspace is the recognition that creating art within the context of a garden is a unique experience.  

During this Open Studios event, meet the artists participating in Session One of the Winter Workspace and see what they've been working on over the last six weeks. Visitors can learn about the artists' practice, sources and materials. Explore each artist studio, see new and in-process work inspired by Wave Hill and created on site, and meet other art-lovers. Artists participating in this session are Eva Davidova, Eliza Evans, Tristan Higginbotham, Katarina Jerinic, Erin Johnson and Ibtisam Tasnim Zaman.  

This event is family-friendly, and we welcome visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to attend. A Discovery Guide for families is available at the gallery desk, offering a fun way to engage with the artwork on view.  

Garden and Conservatory Highlights Walk 

Sun, Feb 18 1:00PM – 1:45PM 

Free with admission to the grounds 

Registration not required.    

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Topics vary by season and the expertise of the Guide--come back for an encore; each walk varies with the Guide leading it. This walk lasts a half-hour to 45 minutes. Public Garden Walks are most appropriate for adults or young adults. 

HOURS: 10AM–4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday 

Shuttle Service suspended until Spring 

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.  

Nearly 200 Defendants Charged in Series of Arrests Targeting Drug-Trafficking Organizations Nationwide

 

Nearly 200 people have been charged as part of a series of arrests targeting large-scale drug-trafficking organizations operating throughout the United States.

“Over just three days and across 10 states, the Justice Department has charged nearly 200 individuals for their alleged roles in major drug trafficking operations,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These cases represent just a fraction of the work our agents and prosecutors are doing every day to target, disrupt, and dismantle the cartels and drug trafficking organizations that are poisoning the American people.”

“Every year, tens of thousands of Americans die from illicit drugs trafficked into our communities, including fentanyl and other synthetic opioids,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “This wave of indictments and arrests — stretching from Alaska to Mississippi and from Nebraska to West Virginia — shows the reach of the Justice Department and our partners across the country and around the world when it comes to disrupting narcotics trafficking.”

The cases announced this week were brought by federal law enforcement in four districts leading to the arrest of defendants from 10 states that cover crime rings operating in the Eastern, Southern, and Midwest regions of the U.S. and throughout Alaska.

These efforts are all part of a Department-wide Violent Crime Reduction Strategy implemented under Attorney General Garland to leverage the resources of the Department’s federal prosecutors, agents, investigators, criminal justice experts and grant programs to combat violent crime.

Every U.S. Attorney’s Office across the country has worked alongside state and local partners to implement district-specific violent crime reduction strategies. These cases represent the ongoing, targeted efforts by U.S. Attorney’s Offices to seize deadly drugs and to prosecute those whose actions bring violence in communities.

On Jan. 25, the District of Alaska announced charges against 54 defendants in connections with a large-scale organized crime ring operating within the state of Alaska, allegedly run by an inmate from a California prison. Heraclio Sanchez-Rodriguez, 57, is accused of using contraband cell phones to communicate with his suppliers in Mexico and their brokers, leaders in California and Oregon, and distributors of the drug trafficking enterprise in Alaska. From February 2022 to July 2023, law enforcement intercepted over 36 kilograms of fentanyl, 27.3 kilograms of meth, 11.3 kilograms of heroin, and 118 grams of cocaine connected to the enterprise The indictments allege the enterprise mainly used high-level suppliers to send drug packages through the U.S. Postal Service from Oregon and California to Alaska. Distributors located in Alaska would allegedly receive the packages and traffic the drugs to Alaskan communities, from the most populous cities to some of Alaska’s smallest villages.

On Jan. 24, the Northern District of West Virginia announced charges against 82 defendants for a drug trafficking ring operating in the Eastern Panhandle. According to court documents, Gary Bernard Brown Jr., 38, of Baltimore, supplied others with large quantities of fentanyl capsules and powder for redistribution in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. The investigation yielded 10 kilograms of fentanyl with a street value of $1.2 million. The fentanyl being trafficked was blue and packaged in colorful capsules, potentially attractive to children. It was enough fentanyl to create more than 33,000 of the capsules for sale. Officers also found cocaine, methamphetamine, firearms, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets during the investigation.  

On Jan. 23, the District of Nebraska announced charges against 19 defendants for their roles as part of a meth distribution ring operating throughout Nebraska with ties to Kentucky and California. Alejandro Ruiz, 41, allegedly ran the crime syndicate out of California and trafficked meth and other narcotics from Mexico into California and then into the Midwest, including central Nebraska. In addition to meth seized through controlled buys, law enforcement also seized three firearms. 

On Jan. 23, the Southern District of Mississippi arrested 40 individuals stemming from a four-year federal investigation of multiple drug-trafficking organizations distributing meth, cocaine, and other illegal narcotics. The case included defendants throughout Mississippi with connections to Mexico, California, Texas, Alabama, and elsewhere. Some defendants are charged with committing a meth drug offense while minors, including a young toddler, were at the location. Investigators seized 36 firearms, five kilograms of crystal meth, and one kilogram of cocaine.

The investigation and prosecution of these cases are part of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operations, which aim to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.