Bronx Voice - April 26, 2023

(Above) A large concrete slab was hurled through a window on Matthews Avenue during Passover. (Below) The poor box at the Bronx Muslim Center was stolen and smashed in one of two robberies.

Photos by David Greene

‘Delivery Man’ wanted for string of violent purse snatchings

By Dan Gesslein

A man dressed as a food delivery worker or a messenger is being sought by police for a series of vicious purse snatching throughout the north west Bronx including Riverdale.

Cops say the purse snatcher who rides a moped, robbed women ages 20 to 61 in four incidents in the north west Bronx.

Police released surveillance video from inside a store on Fordham Road. Investigators said at 9:30 pm on April 9, the suspect tried to use a sto-

len bank card to pay for some items in the store. In the video the suspect is seen wearing a black motorcycle helmet and blue surgical gloves. He also had a red bag strapped to his back similar to an insulated bag food delivery drivers use.

The first incident took place in Kingsbridge Heights at around 11:30 pm on April 6. A 20-year-old woman was walking into an apartment building at 2721 Health Avenue when someone pulled on the book bag she was wearing. She turned around to find a man holding a knife. He then removed her bag, ran outside and drove away on a moped.

Cops say the crook made off with a JBL speaker valued at $80, a $25 phone charger, bank and credit cards.

The next robbery took place at 9 pm in Van Cortlandt Village on April 9. A 61-year-old woman was walking in front of 3823 Sedgwick Avenue when a man came up to her and ripped her purse off her shoulder. He then fled on a moped. The woman was not injured. The purse snatcher made off with $240 cash, a cellphone, and a bank card.

A woman waiting for an Uber in Spuyten Duyvil was robbed on April 10. At around 8 pm, a 24-year-old woman was standing in front of 510 Kappock Street, when the thief on a moped rode up to her. He displayed a knife and ripped the purse from the woman and drove off. Cops report he made off with $122

in cash, car keys and an ID.

The fi nal robbery took place at around 8:45 pm on April 14. A woman was walking on Oxford Avenue in Riverdale when the attacker ran up to her. As he tried to remove the purse from her arm, the 53-yearold woman fought back. The robber knocked her to the ground and dragged her by the purse until she let go. He then hopped on the moped and fl ed.

The woman sustained a cut to her right arm but refused medical attention at the scene. The thief made off with $100 in cash, car keys

and the victim’s ID.

The suspect is described as a male 25 years of age who is 5 foot 8 and 140 pounds. He has a dark complexion and thin build.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers. nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Police are looking for this man in connection with a series of purse snatchings throughout the Bronx.

Baby faced crooks rob man with box cutter

By Dan Gesslein

A trio of baby-faced crooks beat and threatened a man with a box cutter when they robbed him inside a Bronx subway station.

At around 5 am on April 14, a 52-year-old man was climbing the staircase to the Number 4 train at the Jerome Avenue and Mosholu Parkway train station. Three teenagers then ran up to the straphanger and pounced.

The fi rst attacker threw the victim into a headlock and threatened him with a box cutter. The other two attackers kicked the victim in his ribs. They then removed his book bag and wallet which contained $350 in cash.

Cops said the robbers fl ed the scene and were last seen entering a building at 3115 Grand Concourse. Surveillance video shows the teens at the building including one using a child’s razor scooter.

The victim suffered minor injuries and was treated at an area hospital.

The fi rst suspect is described as a teenage male

with a dark complexion who is 5 foot 7 and weighs around 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and white sneakers.

The second member of the robbery crew is said to be a teenage male with a light complexion who is 5 foot 7 and weighs around 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a

black and white hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and tan sneakers.

The fi nal suspect is said to be a teen aged male with a light complexion who is 5 foot 5 and weighs around 130 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes.

Anyone with information in regard to this in-

cident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https:// crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @ NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confi dential.

Police are searching for three teenagers who robbed a man with a box cutter in the Bronx.

Flipping the bird over parking fee causes uproar at CB11 meeting

By Jonathan Custodio, The City

A proposed parking fee drew a comparison to sexual assault by a Bronx community board member last month. When a woman criticized him this week for using that language, he showed her his middle finger during an online board meeting.

Now, she says he should be removed — and the borough president’s office is investigating.

Bronx CB 11, which includes neighborhoods Allerton, Indian Village, Morris Park, Pelham Gardens, Pelham Parkway and Van Nest, was having a routine Bylaws Committee meeting on Monday evening when local resident Roxanne Delgado called out board member Miguel Dyer for earlier use of what she felt was inappropriate language.

During the board’s March Transportation Committee meeting, Dyer, accused the Department of Transportation of “raping the people that live here,” refering to a plan to start changing car owners $1000 per year for a previously free parking lot.

“What happened to the code of conduct [of] not interrupting people?” Delgado said Monday while accusing Dyer of breaking decorum rules during that meeting. “In fact that same person has said that DOT is raping the community. As a woman, I find the word rape to be used so loosely.”

As she spoke those words on

the video conference, Dyer can be seen rolling his eyes and repeatedly putting his middle finger up to his camera.

Delgado complained last Monday that board members like Dyer got away with constant interruptions and that the board does not hold its members accountable for violating their codes of conduct like they do the geeral public.

‘I

Got Flipped the Bird’

In a Tuesday interview with THE CITY, Delgado called for Dyer’s removal from the board and said she is hesitant on how actively she wants to participate in future board meetings.

“I’m so embarrassed. I got flipped the bird in the meeting. It’s unbelievable,” she said. “The borough president has to step up and start removing board members when they violate the code of conduct.”

Michael Ivory, a spokesperson for Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, told THE CITY that their office would look into the matter.

“As an administration, we do not condone disrespectful and/ or hateful behavior directed at our community board members, community board attendees, or members of the public. This incident will be thoroughly investigated,” Ivory said.

CB11 Chair Bernadette Ferrara — who employs Dyer as treasurer of her City Council campaign as she looks to unseat District 14 incumbent Marjorie Velázquez — said a formal complaint was filed with the board’s ethics committee.

Community Board 11 takes all of our Rules of Conduct seriously with the public and its Board Members who choose to cross the line. Mr. Dyer has already taken the necessary steps with Ms. Delgado and the Chair/Co-Chair of the ByLaws Committee and its Members,” Ferrara wrote to THE CITY last Wednesday. “This formal complaint will take its place in line with the Ethics Committee to be resolved if needed.”

Dyer also sits on the Ethics Committee but he told THE CITY last Wednesday he would recuse himself.

According to the city charter, a CB member can be removed for cause by either the borough president or through a majority vote from the board. Reasons can include “misconduct of a substantial nature, indicating some neglect of duty” or “something which materially affects his official act or his standing” or reflects upon their character.

‘Miguel, Don’t Do That’

Immediately following the incident on Monday, CB 11 Bylaws Committee Chair David Leavitt then reprimanded his colleague.

“No. Miguel, Miguel, don’t do that. That is a violation of our rules of conduct. Miguel, this meeting is being recorded.” he said. “And don’t be surprised if that is not brought to the attention of the borough president’s office. That was entirely inappropriate.”

Delgado, a 25-year resident

of Pelham Parkway, who recently submitted an application to be a board member after having been previously rejected three separate times, then said Dyer’s gesture was not surprising and thanked Leavitt for enforcing the rules of conduct.

Dyer later apologized to Delgado in an email shared with THE CITY — saying he didn’t know his video was turned on.

“Miss Delgado, I would like to apologize for my reaction last night in the CB11 Bylaws Committee meeting. I did not realize my camera was on, and I regret that I allowed myself to be triggered by your comments,” he wrote “I acknowledge that it was a violation of the code of conduct and will not happen again. I hope that you can accept my sincere apology.”

Delgado told THE CITY the apology was unacceptable.

“That’s not much of an apology. It basically blames me for his behavior,” she said.

Delgado remains unsure how actively she will participate in

meetings.

“I haven’t made up my mind,” she said. “I’m not here to create trouble. I’m here to create improvements in my community.”

When asked for comment Dyer only referred to the apology email he sent.

The obscene gesture is of course hardly the first instance of tensions running high at a community board meeting, and CB 11 has had its fair share recently.

At an October hearing on the proposed Just Home project that would build housing for formerly incarcerated people with complex medical needs, supporters of the project, including Delgado, were met with shouts and boos, as reported by The Bronx Times.

Confusion also encircled CB11 chair Ferrara after Gibson said she needed to step down from her post to run for City Council.

THE CITY is an independent, nonprofit news outlet dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York.

Bronx Community Board 11 member Miguel Dyer can be seen on an April 10 video conference giving the middle finger. | Screengrab/Bronx Community Board

Feds charge woman with threatening a ‘massacre’ at popular restaurant

The feds have charged a Bronx woman with threatening to commit a “massacre” at a nationwide restaurant. Prosecutors said the suspect sent texts to the restaurant threatening to shoot up the crowded eatery.

US Attorney for the Southern District Damian Williams announced the arrest of Jayleen Mota for making threat-

ening interstate communications, in which Mota threatened to shoot up a popular nationwide chain restaurant and sports bar

located on LeCount Place in New Rochelle on Saturday night.

“Actual or threatened gun violence cannot be tolerated. Simply put, those who place the public in fear by engaging in or threatening the use of violence will be held accountable,” Williams said. “This Office commends the swift action of

the New Rochelle Police Department and the FBI in quickly tracking down this threat.”

“As alleged, Ms. Mota sent a series of text messages in which she threatened to commit a mass shooting at a crowded New Rochelle restaurant,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll. “Communicat-

ing threats like those we allege she made can waste valuable law enforcement resources and cause unnecessary alarm in our communities.

“Today’s charges should serve as a reminder for all that the FBI takes these types of threats seriously, and there will be consequences for those who make them,” Driscoll said.

Summer Rising: A free program for Grades K - 8

By Mayor Eric Adams

Summer is a great time for children, but it's a challenging time for working parents. No parent wants to leave their child at home if they don't have family or trusted friends to look after them.

Learning loss also happens over the summer. Studies have shown that during the summer students can lose about 40% of what they have learned during the school year. Summer Rising—a free program for New York City public school students in Grades K through 8— provides a safe, fun, and enriching alternative.

Summer Rising includes a full day (8am to 6pm) of in-person academics combined with social-emotional learning, art activities, field trips, and sports.

Last summer, students participated in a variety of programs including "World Explorer," which focused on the food, language, and culture of different countries. They played ping pong and kickball; took part in nu-

trition classes and learned to cook with fresh vegetables; they went on trips to the Bronx Zoo, the Aquarium, Lincoln Center, NY Liberty basketball games, and visited the BioBus.

The Summer Rising session runs from July 5th to August 18th for students in Grades K-5, and from July 5th to August 11th for students in Grades 6-8.

Students receive breakfast, lunch, and a snack, and students with disabilities receive the supports they need.

Priority for the 110,000 Summer Rising seats will be given to students in temporary housing, foster care, and with 12-month IEP.

You can enroll your child now at: https://www.

schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/summer/grades-k-8

The deadline to apply is May 1st, and you will find out whether your child has received a seat via email about a week afterward.

I cannot emphasize how important it is for our young New Yorkers to be in a safe environment learning and socializing with their friends, and

experiencing the attractions of our city, instead of sitting at home and surfing the internet. Summer Rising makes that possible—and our city offers it at no cost to you. As the child of a mother who had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, I wish I had a program like Summer Rising to keep me and my siblings learning and engaged.

I hope you will apply, and please spread the information to other parents you think will be interested in this wonderful opportunity.

And if your child was born in 2020 and lives in New York City, they are eligible to attend one of our city’s free 3-K programs this Fall. You can apply now at www. myschools.nyc

Mayor Eric Adams participates in an anti-violence bowling event geared towards youth hosted by the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) 70th Police Precinct. Funfest Bowling Center.

Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

New era of Jazz rises in the Bronx

By Gabriela Oliveros

Legendary as it is, the Bronx has never been known for its Jazz scene. That is, until now.

Over the past seven weeks, local singer Tamuz Nissim and guitarist Giorgos Nazos have taken the reins of the fledgling movement and created the one and only "Jazz Jam In The Bronx", right here in the heart of Riverdale.

After several years of enduring the stigma of the Bronx being relatively devoid of live music and musical venues, they had finally had all they could take.

"Jazz used to happen here and there, but virtually everything ended with the pandemic, and afterward next to nothing emerged”, recalls Tamuz. “When Giorgos was awarded the BRIO award

(Bronx Recognizes Its Own) from the Bronx Council of the Arts in 2022, we took up an idea that we had started months before. We made a list of all the talented musicians we knew from the area. There were so many of them! So we pushed for the idea of a weekly jam and a concert series.”

Tamuz and Giorgos chose the Bronx Burger House on Mosholu Avenue as their venue, with help from its manager Laura Levine (founder of the local outreach organization 4BronxProject).

"Laura is great," said Tamuz, "she was very interested in having weekly music

in the venue, and she has given us the creative freedom to lead the space every Sunday from 6 to 9 pm when the focus is on the music itself.”

With the additional financial weekly support of the non-profit KEYED UP! and a grant from the KRVC, the Jazz Jam at the Bronx Burger House hosted by Tamuz Nissim and Giorgos Nazos became a reality just under two months ago.

"Every Sunday we have a guest musician”, says Giorgos. "We try to play each other's original music, and also jazz tunes. The jam begins at 7 and anyone can come and participate.

Once again, the Bronx has carved a spot on the Hot House Jazz Guide calendar, in contrast to the plentiful options in Brooklyn,

Queens, and Manhattan.

“The music we offer is honest, it is a ticketless event and we want people from the neighborhood to be able to enjoy high-level Jazz in a local place, instead of having to drive to the city”, recalls Giorgos. Instead, people from Harlem, Washington Heights, and Manhattan are beginning to attend the Bronx Jazz Jam on Sundays.

Jazz musicians and Bronx residents also awarded at BRIO, violinist Meg Okura and saxophonist Sam Newsome, expressed their gratitude and excitement for this new chapter for the genre in the Bronx.

"To make something happen, you only need a few people to get started. If it catches up, word will spread and by the time you know it, you'll have a scene going on”, says Sam, who came to NYC from Virginia back in 1989.

With a full house at the Bronx Burger House, in between sets, Tamuz and Giorgos say they are satisfied so far: "We will keep the jam as long as it continues rolling. The idea is that, even if we are not here, other people would take over.

The main thing is that people rediscover the charm of getting together, sharing, and enjoying music.”

Bronx BRIO Award winning singer Tamus Nissim jams during a recent Jazz session held at the Bronx Burger House on Mosholu Avenue in Riverdale on Sunday, March 12.

Photo courtesy of Gabriela Oliveros

City cracking down on illegal weed shops

By David Greene

As the first legal weed shops in the Bronx have not even opened yet, the city is currently working to close the estimated 1,625 illegal shops that have opened since marijuana was legalized in New York City in 2021.

Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phillip Banks was joined by NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell and New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda for a press conference discussing several topics at the Tweed Courthouse

in Manhattan on April 14.

Banks said, "There are currently 4 legal cannabis retailers operating in New York City, three in Manhattan and one in Queens. These stores are licensed by the state and the products

that they sell are regulated. What do we mean by regulated? They're tested in a lab so you can be sure that the product you are paying for is the product you received.”

Banks continued, "If you're purchasing cannabis at another shop, one you do not know what you're ingesting. Two, the shop is operating illegally, so therefore it is an illegal sale." Banks also noted, "They have become a hotspot for robberies because they often deal in large quantities of cash.”

Banks noted a homicide the previous Sunday at an illegal weed shop in Harlem that was caught on video. The killer has since been apprehended.

According to Sheriff Miranda, the New York City Sheriff has inspected 143 smoke shops during the first 3-months of 2023, and have made 46 arrests and have issued 73 Civil Court summonses. Miranda also added that if found guilty, the cost of those summonses would total $2.6 million and his office has also confiscated an estimat-

ed $6 million in illegal weed products.

Chell said that the NYPD has worked with the City Council on the weed issue, and said, "We've ramped up our nuisance abatement approach," adding that currently 60 businesses were in the process of being closed as those cases continue to be adjudicated in Civil Court.

The New York Post reported that the Harlem store where the man was murdered had been raided weeks earlier, only to reopen when the killing took place.

Jews, Muslims experience hate, thefts during holidays

By David Greene

As millions celebrated Ramadan, Passover and Easter which all fell on the same week on the calendar-- one man tossed a brick through a window with a Jewish flag and a pair of individuals were being sought in connection with a series of robberies at local Mosques.

Officers from the 49th Precinct were called to 2121 Matthews Avenue near Pelham Parkway, at 2:45 p.m. on April 7, after a slab of concrete was tossed through a second-floor window.

One police source said of the incident, "An unknown suspect intentionally damaged a victim's window by throwing a rock." The victim, Rochelle Shapiro, has lived in the 6-story building since it opened in 1964.

Shapiro recalled, "I was getting ready for Shabbat, it was the second day of Passover... and I looked up and boom," when the large slab of concrete was hurled through her window, narrowly missing her.

Shapiro added, "Because I was standing there, that could

be a coincidence, because he could have done it because he sees the Israeli flag, they're in Ramadan, there's a terrible war going on over there right now.”

Asked if she planned to remove her flag from her now replaced window, Shapiro replied, "Absolutely not. I'm going to put up a sign saying you can't kill us, meaning all Jews.”

The NYPD continues to investigate the incident as a hate crime.

Meanwhile, police have apprehended one suspect and

are looking for one additional man who they say are responsible for the break ins at three local Mosques, where money held in a donation box was taken on three separate occasions during the holy month of Ramadan.

Police confirmed two thefts reported at the Bronx Muslim Center on Davidson Avenue in Kingsbridge occurred on March 27 and again on Monday, April 3. In both cases, an individual entered the location and removed cash from a donation box.

Police also confirmed a third incident at The Abrar Masjid

Mosque located on Bailey Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights where a man stole $600 from the donation box.

On March 6, police announced the arrest of Abdoulie Koma, 21, of East 180 Street in West Farms and Koma has been charged with a single count of burglary.

According to NYPD statistics, the Bronx has had 8 hate crimes reported since January 1 and are currently up 200% over the previous year. Police statistics show there have been 894 burglaries since the start of the year, an increase of 2.4%.

Bedwetting affects children of all ages- Here’s how to help

By Dr. Miriam Harel, Pediatric Urologist, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore

If you think your child is the last one in class still wetting the bed, trust us, you are definitely not alone!

Approximately 10% of six-year-olds still wet the bed every night, and 5% of all 10-year-olds are still waiting to outgrow it. This means that over five million children in the U.S. have bedwetting. While bedwetting is not physically harmful, it can often lead to poor self-esteem and avoidance of social activities such as camp and sleepovers, if left untreated.

Bedwetting can also be very frustrating, expensive, and time-consuming for parents. In the department of pediatric urology at Montefiore, we have a whole team of doctors and nurses committed to helping you understand and treat your child’s bedwetting.

What is Bedwetting?

Bedwetting is due to a combination of factors, including family history of bedwetting (genetics), small bladder capacity, and possibly too much urine production at night. Additionally, most parents will agree that children who wet the bed are very deep sleepers, and they don’t wake up from the bladder’s signal to urinate. Constipation is also common among these children, and a full rectum can put pressure on the bladder and make it difficult for the bladder to hold urine, during the day or nighttime.

In some children, sleep disorders (sleepwalking or heavy snoring) may also contribute to bedwetting. It is important to remember that bedwetting is never the child’s fault and is not happening on purpose, or out of laziness.

How do we Evaluate Children with Bedwetting?

Perhaps the most important part of evaluating

your child is taking a thorough history to learn about their urinary patterns and to determine if they have accidents during the daytime or any other urinary symptoms besides bedwetting alone. We will also ask questions about your child’s bowel movements as well as other conditions that might be related to bedwetting, such as sleep problems or behavioral concerns. The physical examination is not painful. A urine sample is often ob-

tained, and sometimes an ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder can also be helpful to gain more information about your child’s bladder function.

What Treatments are Available?

It is important to remember that most cases of bedwetting will resolve on their own, therefore, if your child is young enough and is not bothered by the accidents, it may be an option to give him/her more time to outgrow it with-

out active treatment. An important part of this approach is making sure that your child’s daytime habits are appropriate. This involves timed voiding, or having children urinate every two hours during the daytime, as well as making sure that they are drinking enough water and limiting their intake of soda or juices, which can irritate the bladder. Treatment of constipation is also extremely important.

Lincoln Hospital program honored for trying to stem gun violence

Bedwetting affects children of all ages- Here’s how to help

Approximately 20% of children may stop wetting the bed with these measures alone.

Additional treatment options for bedwetting include medications or bedwetting alarms:

- The most commonly used medication for bedwetting is desmopressin, or DDAVP. This pill is taken about one hour be-

fore bedtime and works by decreasing the amount of urine that the body produces at night. The medication is very safe as long as you limit your child’s fluid intake in the evening. The pills don’t cure your child’s bedwetting, but they can help to keep your child dry while they are developing and maturing. The medications can be used every night or

only for sleepovers.

- Bedwetting alarms work by waking your child up when they start to have an accident, so they can then go to the bathroom to finish urinating. Over time, children learn to wake up on their own when their bladder feels full. It is important to note that waking up your child at random times throughout the night to go to the

bathroom does not seem to help in the long run, but the alarm, while it requires more work than the pills, can actually cure bedwetting permanently. If these treatments don’t work for your child, then there are other tests that can be considered to better understand your child’s bladder function or other medications that can be tried.

While bedwetting is not physically harmful and usually resolves on its own over time, there are treatments available if it is affecting your child’s quality of life. Our pediatric urology team at Montefiore is always available to help reassure your child that he/ she is not alone and to help come up with a treatment plan tailored specifically to your child’s needs.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Guns Down Life Up was honored at the 2023 National Action Network Convention. GDLU members were recognized for their citywide efforts around gun violence prevention, crisis management, health and wellness and youth empowerment.

Culinary Road

By Morris Gut

Where to fiesta on Cinco De Mayo!

It is the largest Mexican American Cultural Celebration, and it takes place on Friday, May 5th , a full weekend highlighting Mexican food and entertainment.

Mexican restaurants all over the area are preparing their most exciting traditional specialties for their patrons. The Mariachi will be out in force, too, serenading the crowds. If you want to participate, here are some suggestions around the area. Be sure to check ahead for dining hours and menus.

EVA LONGORIA: SEARCHING FOR

MEXICO!

Perhaps some of you have been watching this new travel series airing Sundays on CNN at 9 p.m. It stars actress Eva Longoria as she explores different regions of Mexico’s food and culture. (Similar to the recent Searching for Italy with actor Stanley Tucci.) Beautifully filmed, and quite tempting at times. The cuisine of Mexico is far vaster than many of us imagine. www.cnn.com/shows/eva-longoria-searching-for-mexico

CANTINA TACO & TEQUILA BAR

Owner, host, and actor John Solo, of bustling Cantina Taco & Tequila in White Plains, is offering a 3-taco lunch for $9.95, or you can choose one of their tasty 3-cheese quesadillas with steak, chicken, shrimp, or a big Burrito. The special Birria Tacos are a knockout! A Street Bowl is available with a choice of protein, for $8.95. Might be a good time for one of their frozen drinks, too. Cantina is a playful, colorful restaurant. A bright aqua pastel façade attracts along Mamaroneck Ave. They serve a bouncy menu of reasonably priced south-of-the-border fare. Try the new Cheeseburger Tacos, and such ongoing house specialties as:

Carnitas, Chicken Mole, Garlic Shrimp, and Steak Fajita. Cantina Taco & Tequila, 166 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains. Open 7 days. Bustling Happy Hours. Cantina, 166 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains. 914-461-3959. www.cantinawhiteplains.com

RIO BRAVO

Rio Bravo in Larchmont is a sprawling 200-seat environment strewn with colorful Mexican art and artifacts, and multiple seating areas with a big galloping bar/ lounge for socializing. Brothers Edgar and Hector Brambila operate a Rio Bravo in Crestwood/ Tuckahoe and Fairfield, CT. The menu is loaded with flavorful surprises: Milanesa Chicken Tacos; Torero Steak Fajitas; Southwestern Caesar Salad, a spicy twist to the traditional Caesar; and Square Knot Salmon, achiote and lemon seared salmon with roasted pineapple. General Manager Omar and his staff will take good care of you. Large selection of Tequilas at the bar and you can also build your own Margarita. Happy Hours. Rio Bravo, 1879 Palmer Ave., Larchmont. 914-341-1546 www.riobravotacosandtequila.com

RANCHO GRANDE

Mexican food and culture meld beautifully with celebration and big, sprawling Rancho Grande Mexican Restaurant in the Highridge Shopping Plaza along Central Park Ave., Yonkers offers an exciting environment. Owner Mary Maloney and general manager and host Jose Perez are ready to take you on their tasty south-ofthe-border tour. It is a multi-faceted 320 seat dining room and bar/ lounge strewn with colorful art and artifacts. There is a lot of flavors in the Botanita Grande, a combination platter; Guacamole prepared tableside; sizzling Fajitas with your

choice of fillings; Alambre Mar Y Tierra, steak, chicken, shrimp, with mixed vegetables, white rice and chile poblano sauce; and the Paella Luisita. There is a vegetarian version, too. Daily Happy Hours: 4 to 7 pm. Weekend entertainment schedule. Private party facilities. Free parking. Rancho Grande, 1789 Central Park Ave., Yonkers. 914-337-3056 www.ranchograndemex.com

GUAPO

COCINA MEXICANO

This is a unique Mexican/Cuban fusion eatery in downtown Yonkers with a colorful dining room and bar. The Mexican specialties coming out of this kitchen are top notch and loaded with flavor. Enjoy their fresh made enchilada and taco combinations, Camarones a la Diabla, jumbo shrimp seared in a spicy sauce served with tortilla; delicious Chiles Rellenos, queso blanco cheese filled poblano peppers in a tomato broth; and Parillada Tradicional, with steak, shrimp, pork, cactus, and onions. Bar & cocktails. Municipal parking. Guapo Cucina Mexicano, 10 Warburton Ave., Yonkers. 914-920-5900 www.guaporestaurant.com

LOS MANANITAS

Take a spring drive. This Mexican restaurant on top of Rt. 684 in Brewster offers dramatic views of the East Branch Reservoir and an outdoor patio for relaxing and picture taking. There are plenty of window seats and a fireplace room for comfort, too. They often host Mariachis, DJ and dancing, and drink specials at their big bar. Look for such kitchen specialties as: El Aquacate, avocado stuffed with crabmeat and shrimp; Carnitas, 3 soft pork tacos; Sizzling Fajitas, and Sinaloa, jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon stuffed with Manchego cheese. Ample free parking. Los Mananitas, 1250 Rt.

22, Brewster. 845-279-4646 www. lasmananitasrestaurant.com

CATRINA TAQUERIA

Throwing another Mexican sombrero into the ring in White Plains, brothers David and Richard Zavala have premiered Catrina Taqueria at the site of the former Splendid Coffee Shop at the corner of Mamaroneck Ave. & Quarropas St. Extensive renovations have given the space a playful atmosphere with counter and dining room seating. Colorful Mexican artifacts strewn throughout. There is a bustling open kitchen. Brothers Zavala also operate Excelencia Mexicana in Mahopac. Catrina Taqueria, 106 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains. 914-368-8470 www.catrinataqueria.com Excelencia Mexicana, 551 Route 6, Mahopac. 845-628-3767 www.excelenciamexicana.com

SALSA PICCANTE

David Dolores and partners have brought their casual Mexican dining concept to White Plains. The original Salsa Picante has been operating in Port Chester for 10 years. Dolores has taken the former 3-story Esposito’s Ristorante along Mamaroneck Ave. and given it a colorful burst of south-of-theborder pizzazz. The street level will offer a blackboard menu of

popular specialties, mid-level a more formal dining experience, and the dramatic rooftop, signature cocktails and events. There are special events like taco days and fajita nights, too. Salsa Picante, 359 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains. 914-358-1880 www.salsapicantemex.com

MEXICAN MARKETS FOR HOME COOKS!

If you want to cook up a Mexican celebration at home, check out these Latin specialty markets:

Aguilar’s Mexican Grocery, 1060 Morris Park Ave., Bronx. Latin grocery & restaurant combo. 718-822-3300 https:// aguilarsmexican.com

La Placita Fresh Markets, New Rochelle, Port Chester, Peekskill, Bethel. Home base: 768 Main St., New Rochelle. 914-365-1310 https://laplacitamarkets.com

Viva Grande Ranch Fruit Market, 38 Centre Ave., New Rochelle, 914-576-9235. A personal favorite. No website.

(Morris Gut is a restaurant marketing consultant and former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the food and dining scene in the Bronx and Westchester for 30 years. He may be reached at: 914235-6591. E-mail: gutreactions@ optonline.net)

Tasty 3-cheese shrimp quesadillas at Cantina.