There’s a special kind of energy you only feel when New Yorkers come together for something real, something rooted. That’s exactly what happened in the Lower East Side when Community Run Club NY teamed up with Colmado Café for the first event of their Winter Arcs Saturdazed series. And as someone who grew up in this city, it felt like one of those neighborhood moments that reminds you why we stay, why we show up, and why community still matters.
This kickoff was especially meaningful because it celebrated one of Community Run Club’s founders, Lems. If you’ve ever been part of the NY running scene, you know him. He’s the one who shows up to runs blasting perico ripiao like he’s bringing a little slice of Santiago to whatever street he lands on. His energy colors a run the same way a güira and tambora color a party.. loud, joyful, and impossible to ignore.
The run itself was a chilled 5K through the LES with the option for aftermiles for anyone who wanted to stretch their legs across the Williamsburg Bridge. It was one of those classic NYC mornings where the air has a bite, the streets are quiet, and you can feel the city waking up under your feet. There’s something grounding about starting your day like that, moving with people who carry the same love for the city in their bones.
But the real heart of the day waited for us at Colmado Café, tucked right there on Broome Street. Walking inside felt like walking into your grandmother’s house. The kind of place where the warmth hits you before the coffee does. The domino tables, the plastic couch covers, the old school Dominican art, even the bathroom decorated like a shelf straight out of a bodega. Everything carried that familiar nostalgia that only we know. Even the patio, lined with flags and crates in bright colors, felt like a backyard in the heights on a summer afternoon, just with a winter chill.
And the staff? That’s where the real cariño lived. Carla, the GM, greeted everyone with so much love. She moved with that anfitriona energy.. attentive, informative, and genuinely warm, the kind of warmth we don’t always find in New York but always know when we feel it. She talked us through the menu like a cousin putting you onto their favorite dishes.
The food hit exactly how it needed to after a cold run. The Tres Golpe wrap sounded questionable at first. Let’s be honest, mangú in a wrap feels like something only a Dominican would try to make work. But when I bit into it, it all clicked. The flavors came together like Sunday morning at home. The Coquito Café tasted like December without the hangover, and the half and half lemonade iced tea was one of those sips that just stops you for a second. Pure refreshment. They had the Mamita Icy truck pulled up and added a little sweetness.
We also had the Renarts team in the building, gifting runners with custom apparel made especially for the event. The quality surprised me. Not just something to throw on, but pieces that felt like they were made with thought and intention, perfect for the runners who braved the winter chill.
What made the whole experience special wasn’t just the run or the café, it was the way the two worlds blended. Hispanic culture and NYC athletic culture, community pride… all of it came together naturally. Un coro sano, the kind of gathering rooted in joy, movement, and belonging.
Before everyone parted ways, founders Ana and Lems along with Carla hinted that this wouldn’t be the last time we see a collaboration like this. More events are brewing for the Saturdazed series and trust me, if they carry the same spirit as this first one, they’re worth marking on your calendar.
This city moves fast, but mornings like this remind you that community is still alive here. You just have to show up for it.
@mavenueny I title this … the sounds of 6 miles in the Lower @colmadocoffee ♬ a bird's last look (slowed) - skywave