Located in Ridgewood, Fringe Records NYC is more than a record shop, it’s a queer-owned vibrant cultural hub, hosting everything from artist markets and comedy nights to noise shows and cult film screenings. It’s a space where niche music meets community connection — a sanctuary for music, inclusivity, and creativity. At the heart of it all is Andrew Hurtado, a longtime collector of underground music and first-time business owner. Today, we sit down with Andrew to learn more about his journey of turning a DIY distro into a brick-and-mortar shop and the lessons he’s learned along the way. 

Fringe Records-NYC on Instagram

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Located in Ridgewood, Fringe Records NYC is more than a record shop, it&rsquo;s a queer-owned vibrant cultural hub, hosting everything from artist markets and comedy nights to noise shows and cult film screenings. It&rsquo;s a space where niche music meets community connection &mdash; a sanctuary for music, inclusivity, and creativity. At the heart of it all is Andrew Hurtado, a longtime collector of underground music and first-time business owner. Today, we sit down with Andrew to learn more about his journey of turning a DIY distro into a brick-and-mortar shop and the lessons he&rsquo;s learned along the way.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Ffringerecordsnyc%2F&amp;is_from_rle">Fringe Records-NYC on Instagram</a>
<a href="https://epicenter-nyc.com/fringe-records-brings-queer-friendly-community-comedy-and-niche-music-to-ridgewood/">Read our full story</a>

Powered by Epicenter NYC, Making It Here shares the real stories behind entrepreneurs, artists, creators, and business leaders forging their own path. In each episode we’ll explore the challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons learned that will inspire you and even help shape your own journey. You’ll hear from a diverse range of voices—those shaping the future through resilience, creativity, and grit––who are Making It Here. For more stories like this visit us at https://epicenter-nyc.com/.

Production: https://www.pirateaudio.co/ 

Powered by Epicenter NYC, Making It Here shares the real stories behind entrepreneurs, artists, creators, and business leaders forging their own path. In each episode we&rsquo;ll explore the challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons learned that will inspire you and even help shape your own journey. You&rsquo;ll hear from a diverse range of voices&mdash;those shaping the future through resilience, creativity, and grit&ndash;&ndash;who are Making It Here. For more stories like this visit us at <a href="https://epicenter-nyc.com/">https://epicenter-nyc.com/</a>.
Production: <a href="https://www.pirateaudio.co/">https://www.pirateaudio.co/</a>&nbsp;

Making It Here

Fringe Records brings queer-friendly community, comedy, niche music to Ridgewood

When Glenelys Jimenez became a new mom in early 2020, she started thinking about all the things she wished she’d learned sooner. As the oldest daughter of Dominican immigrants, she’d spent years teaching herself how to navigate student loans, taxes, workplace culture, and mortgages… not just for herself, but for her family and friends, too.

When the world shut down, Glenelys decided to build what she wished had existed all along: a space for people to learn and rise together. That idea became Levanto Collective, a community filling in the life skills and support systems traditional education leaves out. Through workshops on financial wellness, mental health, reproductive health, and career growth, Levanto helps members “unlearn what doesn’t serve them and learn what will.”

Today, I sit down with Glenelys to talk about building Levanto with her own savings, staying rooted in purpose, and how she’s evolved her original idea… from an app into a community built to help others rise.

https://vialevanto.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/levantocollective/

When Glenelys Jimenez became a new mom in early 2020, she started thinking about all the things she wished she&rsquo;d learned sooner. As the oldest daughter of Dominican immigrants, she&rsquo;d spent years teaching herself how to navigate student loans, taxes, workplace culture, and mortgages&hellip; not just for herself, but for her family and friends, too.
When the world shut down, Glenelys decided to build what she wished had existed all along: a space for people to learn and rise together.&nbsp;That idea became Levanto Collective, a community filling in the life skills and support systems traditional education leaves out. Through workshops on financial wellness, mental health, reproductive health, and career growth, Levanto helps members &ldquo;unlearn what doesn&rsquo;t serve them and learn what will.&rdquo;
Today, I sit down with Glenelys to talk about building Levanto with her own savings, staying rooted in purpose, and how she&rsquo;s evolved her original idea&hellip; from an app into a community built to help others rise.
<a href="https://vialevanto.com/">https://vialevanto.com/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/levantocollective/">https://www.instagram.com/levantocollective/</a>

Glenelys Jimenez is rewriting the rules of learning with Levanto Collective

City Señoras started as two friends looking for connection… a walk in the park, a cup of coffee, a space to slow down. But what began as a small gathering in Brooklyn has since grown into a self-care social club spanning New York and Los Angeles.

Co-founders Alexis Mendias and Jaqueline Padilla have built something special: a place where women, especially Latinas and women of color, can show up fully as themselves. Their meetups (often featuring movement, journaling, or just meaningful conversation) have drawn crowds of over eighty people, all searching for the same thing: belonging.

In this episode we sit down with Alexis and Jacqueline to hear about what it takes to build a community from scratch, and the lessons they’ve learned from balancing growth with intention.

https://www.citysenoras.com/about-us 

https://www.instagram.com/citysenoras/  

https://www.tiktok.com/@citysenoras

City Se&ntilde;oras started as two friends looking for connection&hellip; a walk in the park, a cup of coffee, a space to slow down. But what began as a small gathering in Brooklyn has since grown into a self-care social club spanning New York and Los Angeles.
Co-founders Alexis Mendias and Jaqueline Padilla have built something special: a place where women, especially Latinas and women of color, can show up fully as themselves. Their meetups (often featuring movement, journaling, or just meaningful conversation) have drawn crowds of over eighty people, all searching for the same thing: belonging.
In this episode we sit down with Alexis and Jacqueline to hear about what it takes to build a community from scratch, and the lessons they&rsquo;ve learned from balancing growth with intention.
<a href="https://www.citysenoras.com/about-us">https://www.citysenoras.com/about-us</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/citysenoras/">https://www.instagram.com/citysenoras/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@citysenoras">https://www.tiktok.com/@citysenoras</a>

How The Friends Behind City Señoras Are Redefining Self-Care

The art world can feel intimidating, even elitist. But for Karen Vidangos, it’s also been a space to challenge those barriers and open doors for others. She built the Latinx Art Collective, a free, searchable database that helps curators, collectors, and fans discover artists across the U.S. She also created Latina in Museums, an online platform that documents her candid journey navigating a field where Latinx voices are often underrepresented.

Today, Karen shares how financial setbacks nearly took her off the path entirely, why community support is essential for anyone building a platform, and how she’s learned to give imposter syndrome just five minutes before moving forward.

https://www.instagram.com/latinxartcollective/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/latinainmuseums/

The art world can feel intimidating, even elitist. But for Karen Vidangos, it&rsquo;s also been a space to challenge those barriers and open doors for others. She built the Latinx Art Collective, a free, searchable database that helps curators, collectors, and fans discover artists across the U.S. She also created Latina in Museums, an online platform that documents her candid journey navigating a field where Latinx voices are often underrepresented.
Today, Karen shares how financial setbacks nearly took her off the path entirely, why community support is essential for anyone building a platform, and how she&rsquo;s learned to give imposter syndrome just five minutes before moving forward.
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/latinxartcollective/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/latinxartcollective/?hl=en</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/latinainmuseums/">https://www.instagram.com/latinainmuseums/</a>

Fringe Records brings queer-friendly community, comedy, niche music to Ridgewood

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