It is time to let your Bronx pride shine through.
The best of the Bronx will be on display during the 2nd Annual Bronx Day in Albany celebration on Monday, April 28 at The Egg at the Empire State Plaza.
Buses filled with local people are headed up to the state capital to celebrate the day, hosted by Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.
The purpose of the annual Bronx Day in Albany, according to officials, is “to introduce and promote Bronx pride where Bronxites will showcase their products and services, and share their vision for the future of Bronx.”
“I am looking forward to welcoming the Bronx to Albany for our 2nd Annual Bronx Day,” said Klein. “Having local residents and business owners come to the state capital and share their thoughts and vision for the Bronx provides an opportunity to both celebrate our borough and discuss ways to make our borough stronger for generations to come.”
Activities will include tours of the Capital; a small business forum for Bronx businesses with business owners, elected officials and special guest speakers; a luncheon and a “Taste of the Bronx” evening reception that will feature music from bands the Bronx Wanderers and Just Nuts, according to organizers.
Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj part-time aide Lilyanna Pekic, who helped coordinate this year’s “Taste of the Bronx,” said she expects the day to build on the day’s success last year, which had about 400 people in attendance.
She explained that the afternoon session of Albany’s Bronx Day that will include a luncheon, will have breakout discussions for three groups. These include:
•A discussion of health care reform that should include legislators and leaders from the field.
•A segment on women and minority owned businesses that will include the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and individual chamber members, business organizations from around the borough and the city, and legislators from committees dealing with small business in both the state assembly and senate to discuss challenges and ways to help business owners succeed. •A meeting about food and agriculture with representatives from the Hunts Point produce markets, farmers markets and upstate growers.
In the evening, at “Taste of the Bronx”, there will be a showcase of the best food of the borough from Arthur Avenue and Hunts Point at Albany’s Hart Theater.
“We are going to have the best food of the Bronx from across different cultures,” said Pekic. “For example, we are going to have Albanian, Mexican, Indian, and Italian cultural food.”
Last year, the visiting legislators were in awe of all the Bronx has to offer, she added.
As was the case last year, borough businesses and cultural institutions will be sponsoring Bronx Day.
