Snow falls on the Bronx for the second time in two weeks, and the kickoff of the 2010 baseball season—and spring—feel as if they are months away. Metal security gates sprayed with graffiti are locked down on nearly an entire block of shops and bars on River Avenue, which peddle everything from beers to blankets to fans during the season.  The neighborhood is nearing the end of its winter hibernation that started after the Yankees won their 27th World Series in November.

A group of young men play football on a snow-covered field across East 161st Street from Yankee Stadium on Monday. Photo by: Alec Johnson

So it was that on Monday with 1 day 23 hours and 8 minutes remaining before pitchers and catchers report for spring training, just two of those businesses were open. A T-shirt shop and a bowling ally. “The business is dead,” said Abdull Abdull, who has sold Yankee souvenirs from his shop on the corner of River Avenue and East 161th Street for 24 years.

With scalpers absent the only bartering was taking place in Abdull’s shop as he bargained with his wholesaler, who only gave his name as Sean, over the price of new merchandise.

“Why $17 for this wallet,” Abdull asked Sean as he tossed the leather wallet emboldened with a Yankees logo on the counter.

“It’s a brand new design,” responded Sean, before changing the subject and taking a Yankees vs. Red Sox checkerboard out of the black trash bag he used to carry his wares.

Meanwhile, down River Avenue at Ball Park Lanes, Henry Fernandez, known to everyone as “Yankee Henry,” was holding court on all things Yankee. Fernandez doesn’t bowl and doesn’t work at the bowling ally but still hangs out there just about every day, and has earned a reputation as a fount of Yankee trivia. “Winter,” he said, “will be over soon.”

High School students bowl at Ball Park Lanes on River Avenue, Monday. "Once the Yankee season starts this will be a more popular place," said Jose Perez, pictured in the foreground. Photo by: Alec Johnson

“Hey, you aren’t wearing a Yankees shirt today,” said George Diamantis, a part owner of the alley. Fernandez tipped his hat to reveal two Yankees pins.

Ball Park Lanes was busy on Monday, filled mostly bowlers who were off from school for Presidents Day. Around the corner at Macombs Dam Park, another group of young men were playing touch football in the snow. But the game brought little joy for 18-year-old Rudy Guiterrez.

“It’s dreadful sometimes,” he said of the long winter gap between baseball seasons.

“It seems like a long wait, so you have to keep busy with things like this,” he said. “Playing football in the winter to fill the void.”