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AGGRESSIVE SURREALISM IMMERSES & ENGAGES,
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VOLUME 24, NUMBER 24
THE NEWSPAPER OF LOWER MANHATTAN
Ward discusses Port’s past, present and future BY ALINE REYNOLDS The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s Executive Director, Chris Ward, who has been widely praised for expediting the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site, will be stepping down from his job next week and staying on as an advisor until the end of the year. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last week that he will be replacing Ward with the governor’s own deputy secretary, Patrick Foye, who will take the helm on Nov. 1. The Downtown Express sat down with Ward last week and asked about his departure, his accomplishments and regrets at the Port Authority, and his opinions on the future of Downtown. DE: You’ve been credited with stepping in and transforming a paralyzed construction site at the World Trade Center. On a local level, Community Board 1 recently passed a resolution asking Gov. Andrew Cuomo to keep you on as executive director. Why are you leaving? Was it your decision? WARD: The Governor gave me the opportunity to complete perhaps the most important milestone, which was the completion of the [9/11] Memorial plaza. I’m grateful for him giving me that opportunity. Having done it, I think there’s a natural break in where we are now with the project. Any governor is going to want to have a relationship with the executive direcContinued on page 16
Downtown Express photo by John Bayles
Chris Ward pointed at two areial photos hanging in his office when asked about his most significant achievement as chief of the Port Authority. The top photo shows the W.T.C. site in 2007 and below it, is a photo taken three years later.
OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 1, 2011
C.B. 1 passes O.W.S. reso, enforcement issues remain BY CYNTHIA MAGNUS While Community Board 1 passed a resolution at its full board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25 that called on Occupy Wall Street, elected officials, and other stakeholders to address quality of life issues related to Zuccotti Park, the question remains as to how the ‘good neighbor policy’ will be enforced. C.B. 1 Chair Julie Menin said, “What is important about the resolution is that it combines two relevant elements – the First Amendment, and quality of life for residents and small businesses.” The meeting was the culmination, at least on the C.B. 1 level of weeks of meetings with O.W.S. members. Three board members did not vote in favor of the resolution and other community members expressed concern over O.W.S. being able to control the different factions that are now occupying the park as the demonstration
enters its fifth week. Following an earlier committee presentation of the resolution that was first passed on Oct. 20, C.B. 1 Vice-chair Catherine McVay-Hughes said, “Finally there was an opportunity for community residents and small business owners to attend a public meeting to have their serious concerns regarding public safety, sanitation, health, and noise heard.” The issue of the drumming at Zuccotti Park that has disturbed many neighbors remains a nebulous one, as part of the “good neighbor policy” that is supposed to address issues of sanitation, health, and safety. Han Shan, a member of the O.W.S. community relations group who spoke for O.W.S. at the Oct. 20 meeting, said, “I’m not making a promise,” but said the drummer’s group was working on a proposal to limit hours. O.W.S. protester Ashley Love told board members,
Continued on page 17
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October 26 - November 1, 2011
downtown express
Photo courtesy of the Downtown Alliance
Tulips and cupcakes galore at Bowling Green park Last Saturday, Oct. 22, Lower Manhattan residents, workers and elected officials lent their green thumbs to help spruce up Bowling Green Park at the Downtown Alliance’s annual Fall Community Planting Day. More than 4,000 tulip bulbs were planted, along with ornamental kale. Elected officials that participated included
Comptroller John Liu (above) and Council Member Margaret Chin. The day also offered kids a chance to learn about composting and Crumbs Bake Shop provided pumpkin cupcakes for all. The event is part of the Alliance’s “Green Around Lower Manhattan” initiative, which is dedicated to building an environmentally sustainable community.
Ship and fire station come in on Gansevoort Peninsula BY ALBERT AMATEAU The new Marine 1 fire station and Pier 53 on the Gansevoort Peninsula opened officially when Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano and F.D.N.Y. top officials, along with Captain Richard Johnson, Marine 1 commanding officer, cut the ribbon on Oct. 14. Construction of the four-story 8,500-square-foot building and the new pier took two years and cost $19 million. It’s the only waterside fire station in Manhattan. During the construction, Marine 1 fire-
boats operated out of the Hudson River Park Trust’s Pier 40 at Houston St. Along with smaller boats, the new fire station is the home of fireboat Three Forty Three, named in honor of the 343 firefighters who died on duty at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Dedicated last year, Three Forty Three is said to be the world’s largest fireboat at 500 tons and 140 feet long. Its top speed is rated at 18 knots and its pumping capacity is 50,000 gallons of water per minute. The vessel cost $27 million.
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October 26 - November 1, 2011
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D.O.E. HINTS AT PECK SLIP SCHOOL EXPANSION
NEW C.B. 1 SECRETARY CHOSEN
The Peck Slip elementary school just might be bigger than it’s slated to be, after all. A letter Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver received this week from the city Department of Education indicates it is considering granting Lower Manhattan its wish to expand the school, which is slated to open in 2015. The letter, signed by Lenny Speiller, the D.O.E.’s executive director of public affairs, states that the D.O.E. would retain the right to the full, 2,000-square-foot space at One Peck Slip — the site of the future elementary school — in the event that the U.S. Postal Service vacates its section of the building it has occupied in recent years. The U.S.P.S. hasn’t confirmed whether or not it is abandoning its One Peck Slip lease entirely. The company most recently announced plans to move its retail operations to 116 John St. and its mail carriers to 90 Church St., facing the World Trade Center site. “To this end, we have contacted U.S.P.S. regarding their final plans for this space and hope to hear back in the near future regarding their decision,” said Speiller to Silver. The D.O.E.’s letter was in response to a Sept. 22 letter the Assembly Speaker wrote to city Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott, urging the D.O.E. to consider growing the school past the planned 476 seats.
A new secretary will soon take the helm at Community Board 1. Battery Park City resident and C.B l member Anthony Notaro, who chairs the board’s B.P.C. committee and cochairs its planning and community infrastructure committee, was elected the board’s new secretary on Tues., Oct. 25. He will replace Noel Jefferson, who received a round of applause at the Oct. 25 full-board meeting. Notaro, a member of C.B. 1 since 2000 and one of the founders of the B.P.C. Conservancy, ran against Marc Ameruso, the board’s assistant secretary and a member of the board’s quality of life, waterfront, Tribeca and other committees. During brief speeches the two candidates made prior to the vote at the full-board meeting, Notaro and Ameruso went head to head, making verbal jabs at each other. Notaro criticized Ameruso for misspellings in the board’s recent minutes (which Ameruso is responsible for), counting thirteen typos or misstatements in the document — including a misspelling of committee members’ names, including Ameruso’s. The assistant secretary then spoke, attacking Notaro for his opportunistic desire to use the secretary position as a “stepping stone.” “There’s no heart in what Anthony does,” said Ameruso, referring to his running mate as “someone who wants to have
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C.B. 1 EE TING S
For a schedule of upcoming Community Board 1 meetings, visit the board’s website at www.nyc.gov/ html/mancb1/.
a high profile for a future time.” Out of the 40 C.B. 1 members who participated in the election. Notaro won by a landslide of 32 votes over Ameruso, who won only six votes.
GOV ISLAND CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN IN 2012 Construction of Governors Island’s park and public spaces is only a few months away, the Trust for Governors Island announced on Mon., Oct. 24. Shovels will be in the ground starting in 2012. During the construction period, the island will remain open to the public on weekends and holiday Mondays in the 2012-13 public access seasons (May to September), according to the Trust.
Continued on page 22
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October 26 - November 1, 2011
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downtown express
Lawyers Guild plays key role in ‘Occupy’ movement BY ALINE REYNOLDS Throughout Occupy Wall Street’s more than five weeks of demonstration, legal witnesses have been monitoring the activity of both the NYPD and O.W.S. to keep tabs on who might be violating the law. The men and women, sporting bright green caps, are known as legal observers. They are volunteers for the National Lawyers Guild charged with observing O.W.S. activity in hopes of deterring police violence. “Whatever happens, there’s a neutral witness,” explained N.L.G. volunteer Moira Meltzer-Cohen, a law student at the City University of New York School of Law. “We document it, but we don’t get involved.” While it’s important to preserve their neutrality, Meltzer-Cohen and the other observers are also supposed to interact with arrestees so that N.L.G. can offer free legal services to the protestors once they’re released from jail. “It’s kind of a paradox — we have to not get arrested, but we sort of have to head toward the chaos when it happens, because we have to get arrestees’ names,” said another legal observer who requested anonymity. On Friday, Oct. 21, Meltzer-Cohen called a “mic check” to lead the Guild’s daily “Know Your Rights” training sessions, meant to brief protestors on what to do when confronted by police and on their rights should
Downtown Express photo by Aline Reynolds
The National Lawyers Guild has a table in Zuccotti Park where volunteers give legal advice to demonstrators on a daily basis.
a confrontation happen. While the police have the legal authority to search people once they are arrested, Meltzer-Cohen noted, they aren’t allowed to search them otherwise. “If the police try to search you before you have been arrested, the magic words are,
‘I do not consent to this search.’ You must say it loudly, and you must say it clearly, so that the people around you can testify that you did not consent,” Meltzer-Cohen told the crowd. She discouraged the protestors from getting arrested if they can help it. “Jail
is excruciatingly boring… you are always more useful and happier out of jail than in it,” Meltzer-Cohen shouted. “[But] if you get arrested,” Meltzer-Cohen continued, “try to find somebody in a green hat and shout your name to them and your phone number.” The male legal observer, a practicing attorney, claimed not to have witnessed any arrest-worthy conduct by protestors during his time as a volunteer, including at the Oct. 1 Brooklyn Bridge rally where more than 700 people were arrested. The amount of police presence, the observer said, is “overwhelming” and “unnecessary.” “I think there is definitely an ‘us-versusthem’ thing going on in the city, and it tends to originate [from] the top down,” noted Lisa, a civil litigation attorney who refused to give her last name. Lisa stopped by the N.L.G.’s booth last Friday to inquire about becoming a volunteer. Lisa was particularly horrified by the presence of riot police at Washington Square Park the night of Saturday, Oct. 15, following the large demonstration in Times Square that evening. “It’s not Tiananmen Square,” she said. Seeing democracy in action, Lisa added, is “heartwarming.”
Continued on page 20
O.W.S. creates special space for parents and children
Downtown Express photo by Joseph M. Calisi
Haircuts with a message in Zuccotti On Monday, Oct. 24 there was a new contingent of demonstrators taking up space in Zuccotti Park: barbers. The term “haircut” is common in the banking industry and refers to banks or other lenders decreasing a borrower’s debt by adjusting the terms of a loan. At Occupy Wall Street on
Monday, Oct. 25, six barbers set up chairs to give free haircuts. Their message was to tell Wall Street to stop giving “haircuts” to large corporations. The six chairs represented the six largest banks: JPMorganChase, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.
BY CYNTHIA MAGNUS Approximately 50 parents and children spent Friday night, Oct. 21, in Zuccotti Park as part of a “Parents for Occupy Wall Street” event that took place in a special, cordonedoff area of the park near the Joie de Vivre sculpture. Originally planned for Oct. 14, the slumber party was postponed in the face of the O.W.S. eviction by park owner Brookfield Properties. Several hundred parents and children participated in kid-friendly activities during the day. Mother of three Cobi Cronen came from Ocean Township, NJ with her three daughters for the event. “I was going to sleep over anyway with the girls, but then found out about the event.” Cronen said she brought Sabbath candles to light in the park, “a little later than usual,” with the girls. She said she followed the O.W.S. online instructions for the event. O.W.S. protester Kirby Desmarais, who helped organize the event, said the group’s General Assembly, the decision-making body for the camp, approved the establishment of a restricted area in Zuccotti. Volunteers with clipboards checked identification and prohibited other park users from entering the restricted area. Desmarais also said that the area was off-limits to press. Among the requests that the Financial District and Quality of Life committees of
Community Board 1 have made to O.W.S. in the course of their now month-long negotiations is that the group make space in the park for neighborhood residents and workers to use as they always have. Pat Moore, chair of the C.B.1’s Quality of Life Committee, has been active in negotiations with the protesters for over a month in an effort to address community concerns about park use, noise, and other issues. She is also a member of the Financial District committee that last month requested space be made available in Zuccotti for local users. The head of the O.W.S. community relations group, Justin Wedes, said then that the park is open to everyone and that it would not be “plausible” to make special space available for neighborhood users. In regard to the parents event, Moore said, “I find it very interesting that where there’s a will, there’s a way. Obviously it’s possible when it’s for an O.W.S. event.” When asked if it was fair that O.W.S. chose to create a restricted section of the park for the event, when the community has been asking for shared space in Zuccotti, Bill Dobbs, with O.W.S. press relations said, “I’m not going to comment on that. All I’m going to say is that it was handled in a reasonable way.”
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October 26 - November 1, 2011
Traffic signal approved; Tribeca parents rejoice BY ALINE REYNOLDS Following an accident involving her toddler, Tribeca parent Sonia Carty will soon feel safer when crossing a notoriously dangerous neighborhood intersection — thanks to the city’s decision to install a traffic signal there early next year. On Sept. 30, Carty’s three-year-old son, Ozzie, was hit by a taxi while crossing Greenwich Street at Duane Street. Though the child left the accident largely unscathed, the Carty family was traumatized and the incident renewed a sevenyear-long campaign for more safety at the intersection. The need for a traffic light at the Greenwich and Duane Street intersection is greater now than ever, according to Carty. “I think the demographics have changed in the last seven years,” she said. “There’s a significant increase in families that have moved to Tribeca, and a significant increase of traffic… so the demand for taxis and cars has increased.” Last Wednesday, Oct. 19, the D.O.T. announced it will be installing a traffic signal at the intersection, a result of a recent study that revealed a high volume of pedestrians crossing the intersection. The decision comes on the heels of a longstanding community-led campaign to install a traffic light, stop sign or additional signage. Specifically, the study, which entailed
digital and manual pedestrian and vehicular counts, revealed as much as a threefold increase in weekend pedestrian traffic compared to the number of people crossing the intersection in 2007.
“I was getting ready for the fight of my life,” — Sonia Carty
The traffic light will likely be installed by next February, according to D.O.T. spokesperson Seth Solomonow. “Greenwich is a key one-way Downtown residential and retail street in an area that has added hundreds of new residential units, major retailers, restaurants and a popular greenmarket,” said D.O.T. Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan in a written statement. “New York streets are safer than they’ve ever been, and we need to make sure that they continue to meet the changing needs of neighborhoods like Lower Manhattan.” “It’s excellent news. We’re so grateful it happened so quickly,” said Carty, who had pledged to not settle for a stop sign
or any other traffic calming measure than a traffic light. “I was getting ready for the fight of my life,” said Carty. “I certainly wasn’t expecting them to give that extreme of a solution… but in my mind, there’s no alternative.” It’s been an uphill battle to get a traffic light — the “holy grail” of safety measures — approved for the intersection, according to Tribeca parent Nelle Fortenberry, former president of the Friends of Washington Market Park, the group that led the Greenwich-Duane Street safety campaign dubbed the “Tribeca Kids’ Safety Zone Initiative.” “It was constant fighting… but it was worth every single bit of it,” said Fortenberry. Compared to previous pushes to get it done, the activist said, “I think the urgency here was just a groundswell behind it from all our elected officials, community groups and advocates.” Recurring incidents at the intersection also spurred the D.O.T. to finally act, according to Fortenberry. “It finally got everyone to say, ‘does a child have to die for the D.O.T. to decide to put pedestrian safety above the convenience of vehicle traffic?’” As a driver, Greg Boettle, who lives on Chambers Street and North End Avenue, said he isn’t looking forward to the traffic slow-down the light will likely cause.
Nevertheless, Boettle, whose two young children frequent the park, deemed the D.O.T.’s decision “genius.” “There’s no other light for a long period of time, and there’s a lot of kids coming out of [the park], so having a light here makes a lot of sense,” said Boettle. Congressman Jerrold Nadler, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Assembly Member Deborah Glick and NYC Council Member Margaret Chin applauded the D.O.T.’s action in a written statement, saying, “The Tribeca community has known for years that this intersection, which is directly adjacent to two schools, posed an unnecessary danger to a community filled with parents, children and seniors. We look forward to working with the Department of Transportation and the community to… ensure that other traffic calming measures are taken to address dangerous conditions in Lower Manhattan.” Carty, meanwhile, said she has received a good amount of support from the local community since word spread of her son’s accident, with strangers stopping her on the street and e-mailing her to express their condolences and back her in her mission. “I was touched. I’ve never seen so many people rally together for a cause,” said Carty. “I think it’s a testament to a really wonderful neighborhood.”
downtown express
October 26 - November 1, 2011
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POLICE BLOTTER Occupy Wall St. arrests A man, 24, climbed to the top of the 70-ft. red sculpture, ”Joie de Vivre,” on the southwest corner of Cedar St. and Broadway in Zuccotti Park shortly before 6 a.m. Sat., Oct. 22 and refused to come down until 9:13 a.m. when he agreed to descend in an Emergency Service Unit cherry picker. The man, 24, was taken to Bellevue for observation but he was not arrested or issued a summons, police said. Also on Sat., Oct. 22, police arrested Leslie Garfield, 19, of Marion St., Brooklyn at 8 p.m. for assaulting three victims at the southeast corner of Church and Liberty Sts. in Zuccotti Park. Garfield had been arrested at the site previously for a misdemeanor offense, police said.
Sexual Assault Police arrested John Joseph, 38, and charged him with sexual abuse and forcible touching for assaulting a woman who was walking to work along Water St. at Whitehall St. at 7 a.m. Fri., Oct. 21. The suspect came up behind the victim, put his hand between her legs and grabbed her genital area, according to the complaint filed with the Manhattan District Attorney. Joseph was also charged with resisting arrest for struggling against being handcuffed, pulling away from the arresting officer and then pushing him.
Armed hold-up A man walked into the Braccialini clothing boutique at
436 W. Broadway near Prince St. around 3:10 p.m. Thurs, Oct. 20, pointed a silver handgun at a woman employee and demanded money, police said The robber took $35 that was in a white envelope and fled on foot north on W. Broadway.
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Police arrested Sebastian Papaleo, 30, and charged him with robbery for grabbing a wallet valued at $565 from the Louis Vuitton boutique at 116 Greene St. near Prince St. around 3 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 20.
High tech burglary
Bottles fly
The management of Vision On, a video processing and editing service at 333 Hudson St. between Vandam and Charlton Sts. told police that three laptops, three cameras and three lenses with a total value of $27,997 were stolen sometime between 3:30 p.m. Wed., Oct. 19 when they were last seen and 4:30 p.m. when they were discovered missing. Police said there were no signs of forced entry. Employees told police they didn’t see anyone entering or leaving the only door to the business during that hour.
An argument between two men at the subway station steps on the southwest corner of Franklin and Varick Sts. at 5:10a.m. Sun., Oct. 23 turned violent when one of the men hurled three bottles at his adversary. One of the bottles hit the victim on the left ear, police said. The suspect fled and the victim was treated for cuts at New York Downtown Hospital.
Boutique arrest
Steals five jackets A man who walked into the Mango clothing boutique at 561 Broadway at Prince St. shortly after 11 a.m. Sun. Oct. 23 managed to walk out undetected without paying for five leather jackets with a total value of $1,500, police said.
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Truck burglary Two men parked their rental truck at 8 a.m. Sat., Oct. 22 on the southwest corner of Varick and Franklin Sts. and went to work at the construction site there. They returned at noon and found their wallets, which they had left in the vehicle, had been stolen. The victims said they believed they left the truck cab locked but police said there was no sign of forced entry.
Cell phone grab
Employees of the agnès b clothing boutique at 50 Howard St. at Mercer St. told police they discovered at 5 p.m. Fri., Oct., 21 that a men’s suede jacket valued at $1,650 was missing. A surveillance tape showed a man taking a hanger with a suede jacket into a dressing room around 4 p.m. and leaving a short time later with a bag but without the hanger.
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Subway theft arrest Police arrested Desean Irvy, 21,and charged him with stealing a bag of books and a jacket from a man who was sleeping on a northbound No. 1 train around 3:30 a.m. Wed., Oct.19. The victim woke up when he felt the strap of the bag, which had been wrapped around his leg, being cut. The suspect was arrested as he was fleeing the train at the Franklin St, station, police said.
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1,100 Euros. A woman visiting from Chicago told police she was having a snack at Starbucks at 195 Broadway around 3 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 20 when she discovered that her wallet had been stolen from her bag. She lost $250 and credit cards. She discovered later that two unauthorized charges of $50 and $20 had been made on separate credit cards for MetroCards.
Welcome to New York A woman visiting from Verona, Italy told police she was having a snack at the Au Bon Pain at 80 Pine St. around 3 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 20 and discovered a short time later that her bag, which she had placed on a chair beside her, was gone. She lost ID, credit cards, $1,200 in U.S. cash and
A woman who was talking on her cell phone while walking east on the northeast corner of Water and Fulton Sts. around 10 p.m. Thurs., Oct.13 had the phone snatched from her hand by a thief who fled on foot west on Fulton St., police said.
Battery Park slash A Staten Island man was passing a public toilet in Battery Park at South and State Sts. around 12:50 p.m. Fri., Oct. 21 when a woman came out and slashed his stomach with a shard of glass. Police arrested Angelina White, 44, and charged her with aggravated assault.
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downtown express
October 26 - November 1, 2011
Fighting to make Lower Manhattan the greatest place to live, work, and raise a family.
Downtown Express photo by Aline Reynolds
Matthew Abramcyk’s new Tribeca restaurant, Super Linda, was approved by C.B. 1’s Tribeca Committee, but only under the condition that he keeps the noise to a minimum.
New Tribeca eatery approved, but with conditions BY ALINE REYNOLDS Starting next month, Tribeca will have one of Lower Manhattan’s only enclosed sidewalk cafés, according to local entrepreneur Matthew Abramcyk, who is opening a new Latin grill in the neighborhood. Some members of Community Board 1’s Tribeca Committee are excited about the new restaurant, “Super Linda,” which will be moving into the ground-floor space at 109 West Broadway. The space has been vacant since 2006 when Delphi restaurant closed after a 37-year-long stretch. “I personally think it’s not beneficial to our neighborhood at all to have the place sitting empty for two or three years — especially on West Broadway, our main commercial thoroughfare,” said Committee Co-Chair Peter Braus. While Braus and the committee at large supported Abramcyk’s application for an enclosed sidewalk café in a resolution, other nearby residents are worried about rowdy diners and loud background music. Their fears were heightened when they learned that Abramcyk received numerous noise complaints last year from his bar-eatery on Warren Street, Warren 77. While the committee endorsed the application, the resolution includes a whereas clause, stating, “Neighbors expressed concerns with potential noise emanating from music through [Super Linda’s] open windows, and the applicant agreed to monitor noise levels and to take the appropriate steps to ameliorate any disturbances reported by residents.” Abramcyk, who presented his proposal at the committee’s Oct. 12 meeting, tried to reassure the committee that Super Linda
will cater to a quieter clientele and have a different ambiance than Warren 77, which is branded as a bustling sports bar. “I’m going to do my best to make your life good… as long as I don’t have to close my business down,” said Abramcyk. “If the windows are open and the sound is bothering you, hopefully we can just close them. But I don’t want to handicap myself doing it [from the start] when I don’t need to.” Abramcyk said he has demonstrated his ability to accommodate neighbors’ concerns last year by spending nearly ten thousand dollars to soundproof Warren 77 after a series of noise complaints from area residents. Some local residents were unconvinced by Abramcyk’s promises — such as committee member Jeff Ehrlich. Though he voted to support the resolution, Ehrlich thought twice about his decision afterward — particularly since the resolution placed no restriction on Abramcyk’s ability to keep Super Linda’s windows open throughout the evenings. Ehrlich is also nervous about the restaurant’s main entrance being on Reade Street, which is known to be a calm residential sidestreet. Ehrlich said he wants to preserve consistency and accountability with respect to new neighborhood businesses such as Super Linda. “In general what we do with these places is, we let them try something out for sixmonths-to-a-year and give [the restaurant] earlier hours until we find out how it does,” said Ehrlich. “In this case, there’s no real precedent — [Abramcyk] is saying that if there are problems, he’ll close the windows. That puts a
Continued on page 21
Assemblyman Shelly Silver If you need assistance, please contact my office at (212) 312-1420 or email silver@assembly.state.ny.us.
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October 26 - November 1, 2011
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downtown express
Residents say Liberty St. sidewalks too cramped
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BY ALINE REYNOLDS The section of Liberty Street facing the World Trade Center site is “besieged” with pedestrian traffic, causing some area residents to have trouble getting to and from their own homes. Ongoing construction at Tower 4 is the main culprit behind the cramped sidewalk space on Liberty Street between Church and Greenwich Streets, according to Howard Steinberg, a resident of 114 Liberty St., an apartment building that faces the construction site. At Community Board 1’s Oct. 17 World Trade Center Redevelopment Committee meeting, Steinberg requested that the building-out of Tower 4’s southern façade be completed as quickly as possible. “We’ve got the 9/11 Memorial traffic, we’ve got the Tribute [W.T.C. Visitor] Center traffic, and… we don’t see any end to what is chaos right now on the street,” Steinberg said. The northern part of the sidewalk is blocked off to construction, Steinberg noted, while its southern part is covered by a sidewalk shed, which Silverstein Properties set up last June for safety reasons — leaving an inadequate amount of room for pedestrians, according to Steinberg. And, while the shed is intended to protect passersby, it is creating another potential safety hazard by exacerbating congestion. “We basically have half [the southern] sidewalk,” said Steinberg. “If you’re there with construction from 11 to 2 p.m., something’s gotta give.” “I have to be honest and say, I don’t think there was a lot of planning in terms of when the [9/11] Memorial opened and how people traffic was going to move through there,” echoed Steven Abramson, another resident of 114 Liberty St. Dara McQuillan, senior vice president of marketing and communications of Silverstein Properties, the developer of Tower 4, indicated that little could be changed with respect to the rate of construction of the tower. It would be logistically unfeasible to complete the building’s southern façade before its other facades, according to McQuillan. “The challenge is, the way buildings are physically constructed… all four sides have to go up at the same time. It’s physically just not possible to keep on going [with façade construction] until the steel, concrete and fireproofing is up.” McQuillan also reminded the committee that the sidewalk shed was something that C.B. 1 requested, and noted that Silverstein Properties commissioned artist Maya Barkai in August to design the shed in attempt to make it more lively. “Nobody loves sidewalk bridges, because they create a dark atmosphere,” said McQuillan in sympathizing with the Liberty Street residents.
Downtown Express photo by Aline Reynolds
Steven Abramson, a resident at 114 Liberty St., explained his frustration over the lack of sidewalk space on Liberty Street at a C.B. 1 meeting on Oct. 17.
“But I think we’d all agree that, at the W.T.C., safety trumps virtually everything. There have been other projects in the neighborhood that haven’t been so successful [safety-wise], and we don’t want to make those mistakes.” The sidewalk shed can be removed, McQuillan said, once the curtain wall fully encloses the building in late 2012 or early 2013. McQuillan nevertheless acknowledged the residents’ concerns, calling Liberty Street a “perfect storm of insanity” with ongoing construction next door at the W.T.C. and the 24-hour encampment of Occupy Wall Street at the nearby Zuccotti Park. “You’re a resident of Downtown, so you’ve stuck through this project thick and thin for a very long time,” McQuillan told Steinberg. “It hasn’t been easy, and there’s nothing worse than having an impediment to get in and out of your own front door.” After the meeting, McQuillan invited Steinberg and Abramson for a tour of Tower 4 and offered to follow up with them about their concerns. “The impression I got was that they want their pedestrian experience to get back to normal,” said McQuillan. “We’re going to work with them and do our very best.” Apart from the Tower 4 tour, Steinberg plans to meet with Silverstein Properties and Tishman Construction engineers to discuss the feasibility of expediting the work of the building’s southern façade. Despite McQuillan’s reply, Steinberg said, “I’m hopeful that we can stave off at least weeks, if not months.”
downtown express
Park51, Con Edison go to court BY ALINE REYNOLDS First, it was the Park51 opponents; now, it’s the landlord that’s giving the developer of the proposed Islamic Community Center in Lower Manhattan headaches. SoHo Properties’ Chief Executive Officer Sharif El-Gamal, the developer behind Park51, has become entangled in a heated fight with Con Edison, the owner of 51 Park Place. On Mon., Oct. 3, El-Gamal took the utilities company to State Supreme Court, asking the judge for injunctive relief from an imminent termination of his lease. The lawsuit follows a Sept. 14 default notice, in which Con Edison ordered the SoHo Properties to make rent payments amounting to $1.7 million — based on the most recent appraisal of the property this summer that was three years in the making. As a result, El-Gamal’s right to purchase the property is also in jeopardy. Due to the pending litigation, the judge has temporarily forbid Con Edison from carrying forth the lease termination — which involves evicting the tenant — until the case’s first hearing, which is set for Thurs., Nov. 17. According to Con Edison, the real estate developer owners a “significant” amount of rent retroactive to August 2008, based on a newly formed lease rate of $47,437.50 per month (up from the original rate of $25,875 per month). The lease calls for the tenant to immedi-
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October 26 - November 1, 2011
ately fork over the $1.7 million in arrears. The utilities company denied speculations by El-Gamal that Con Edison is “bowing to political pressure” with the termination notice, as stated in the law suit. “We have been among the many parties that have defended the tenant’s right to buy the property,” said Drury. “In seeking to terminate the lease over the unpaid rent, we are fulfilling our fiduciary obligation to our ratepayers and shareholders.” El-Gamal and his team decided to take Con Edison to court principally because he deems newly determined property value to be an “erroneous revision of the formula provided in the lease,” according to the court papers. Con Edison’s default notice is “fatally defective,” the law suit continues, because it “prematurely” threatens to end the tenant’s lease and demands “wildly inflated amounts in rental arrears, far in excess of what may be legitimately and accurately due.” Under the current lease, the developer claims to owe $881,519 — about 50 percent of Con Edison’s assessment of the rent arrears. In the suit, El-Gamal promises to pay off the duly owed arrears in a series of installments by next February, rather than in one lump sum — but only the amount that is approved by the court. And, “In the event the court determines
Women’s Healthcare Services Returns to Tribeca Following the closure of St. Vincent’s Hospital, many physicians came to New York Downtown Hospital so they could continue to serve their patients on the West Side. With the opening of a new Center on 40 Worth Street, we are pleased to welcome two exceptional physicians back to the community. They will be working in collaboration with physicians from Weill Cornell Medical Associates.
Dr. Zhanna Fridel and Dr. Vanessa Pena are board certified obstetricians and gynecologists utilizing leading diagnostic and treatment methodologies across a broad spectrum of women's health issues.
Continued on page 21
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downtown express
October 26 - November 1, 2011
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EDITORIAL PUBLISHER & EDITOR John W. Sutter ASSOCIATE EDITOR John Bayles ARTS EDITOR Scott Stiffler REPORTERS Aline Reynolds Albert Amateau Lincoln Anderson SR. V.P. OF SALES AND MARKETING Francesco Regini ADVERTISING SALES Allison Greaker Karen Kossman Ellyn Rothstein Julio Tumbaco RETAIL AD MANAGER Colin Gregory BUSINESS MANAGER / CONTROLLER Vera Musa ART / PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Troy Masters ART DIRECTOR Mark Hasselberger GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jamie Paakkonen CONTRIBUTORS Terese Loeb Kreuzer • David Stanke • Jerry Tallmer
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Turning over the Port
Not a ‘one issue’ board
Here for the long haul
The Lower Manhattan community has a special relationship with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. This was made clear when Community Board 1, upon hearing that Governor Andrew Cuomo, shortly after taking office, was thinking of removing Chris Ward from the Port’s helm, unanimously passed a resolution calling on the new governor to rethink his decision and to keep Ward on board. The resolution, which we supported in an editorial, most importantly pointed out the fact that it was under Ward’s watchful eye that this community, this city and this country finally saw the “hole in the ground” disappear, and in its place, saw rising steel, towers of concrete, and memorial pools. For the first time, there were visible, tangible signs of progress. But, as Ward pointed out to us last week in a very candid conversation in his office on Park Avenue, we are in the midst of a transition period as it pertains to the 16 acres worth of construction he helped move forward while serving as the Port’s leader. Gov. Cuomo has now officially asked Ward to step down as executive director, as is his prerogative. We think the Governor made a wise decision in asking Mr. Ward to remain on board with the Port in an advisory role until the end of the year to help with transition issues. And to Patrick Foye, the governor’s choice to replace Mr. Ward, we say ‘welcome to Lower Manhattan.’ If there is one piece of advice we would offer, it is to recognize the aforementioned special relation between the Port and this neighborhood. We hope Mr. Foye will pick up where Mr. Ward left off in terms of heeding the concerns of Downtown residents and business owners. Specifically, we hope the track record of transparency communication, and the dedication to meeting construction deadlines at the W.T.C. site, will continue. The rebirth of Lower Manhattan depends on it.
To The Editor: As a shareholder since the inception of Southbridge Towers in 1970, and now a present board member, I’m writing to take issue with Roberta Singer’s assertion (Letters to the Editor – Oct. 19) that the SBT Board of Directors is only focused on the reconstitution of Southbridge as a private cooperative. I support the proposed amendment that would extend our present two consecutive (3 year-term) limit for board members to a 3 consecutive term limit. My reason is threefold: our accomplishments; our long insistence that shareholders determine for themselves the issue of reconstitution; and the need to finish what we have begun. Here is a partial list of what this supposed “one issue” board has accomplished these past 5 years:
To The Editor: When Mayor Bloomberg arrogantly suggests that Occupy Wall Street will not last the winter, I would remind him that King George III said the same thing about the revolutionaries at Valley Forge.
Saluting Manhattan Youth
PHOTOGRAPHERS Milo Hess • Jefferson Siegel • Terese Loeb Kreuzer
TM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
As Manhattan Youth gets ready to celebrate its silver anniversary on November 3, with an event that is subtitled “Launching Our Next 25 Years of Service,” we wonder exactly where Downtown would be without its first 25 years of service. As the neighborhood has changed, so has Manhattan Youth. As the number of families living in Lower Manhattan has grown, so has Manhattan Youth. Under Bob Townley’s direction the nonprofit has been able to address the needs of a community and provide its families with services that are not only essential, but of the highest quality. The organization has been a model of success for nonprofits in terms of identifying, seeking out and receiving funds from myriad sources. Since its inception, the organization has helped bring little league baseball and soccer to the neighborhood, it has helped teach children how to swim and it has given neighborhood kids both a local day camp for the summer as well as a summer get-away experience upstate. It has advocated for street safety and it has operated a cherished pier on the Hudson River, and following 9/11, made sure that pier was returned to the community, bigger and better than ever. We salute Manhattan Youth for its devotion to Lower Manhattan over the last 25 years and we look forward to doing the same when it celebrates its golden anniversary.
• Sale of land to the City for $5.95 million for the creation of a beautiful new park • Completion of the installation of new windows • New hallway flooring • Complete interior paint renovation of all hallways and stairwells • Rebuilding of both garages • Leasing of 55 Fulton Street for a full service supermarket • Hiring of an full-time Security Director for improved safety Current projects currently under construction or planned to begin shortly include: • Installation of a new security camera system for greater safety • Renovation of the children’s playground and creation of new outdoor seating area • Outdoor lighting improvements that will be brighter and more energy efficient • Renovation of all 9 lobbies • Renovation of the Community Room and creation of new space for community activities While it’s easy to second guess some of the board’s decisions, when you consider what we have achieved with only one small maintenance increase in five years, while maintaining a healthy $14 million capital reserve fund during these past 5 years, and all the while adhering to strict DHCR guidelines—that’s not so bad. Finally, since when has quality of life improvements become self-serving? Anthony Russo
Jerry The Peddler
Raps ‘hip-hop hypocrites’ To The Editor: “Can’t deny Occupy” (editorial, Oct. 13) missed the irony that many of the celebrity visitors to the Occupy Wall Street protest, such as Kanye West and Russell Simmons, are multimillionaires. Democratic Congressional Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (personal net worth $35 million), who supports the protest, has raised tens of millions of dollars in campaign contributions over recent years from the same crowd. They are all part of the 1 percent of America who Wall St. protesters claim are not paying their fair share of taxes that the other 99 percent of America contribute. By the way, the infamous 1 percent already contribute 40 percent of all taxes paid. It is the billions in taxes on profits, income and bonuses that Wall St. companies and their employees pay that fund many of the essential public services we count on from both city and state government. Haven’t they already done enough? Can’t some of the 46 percent of other Americans who pay $0 contribute something? Did the bright lights of Broadway, Hollywood, hip-hop and V.I.P. visitor celebrity status blind the protesters to these people’s hypocrisy? Larry Penner
Letters policy Downtown Express welcomes letters to The Editor. They must include the writer’s first and last name, a phone number for confirmation purposes only, and any affiliation that relates directly to the letter’s subject matter. Letters should be less than 300 words. Downtown Express reserves the right to edit letters for space, clarity, civility or libel reasons. Letters should be e-mailed to news@DowntownExpress.com or can be mailed to 511 Canal St., N.Y., N.Y. 10013.
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downtown express
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October 26 - November 1, 2011
ON THE SPOT WITH BOB TOWNLEY BY JOHN BAYLES Bob Townley, founder and executive director of Manhattan Youth, discusses his organizations upcoming “silver anniversary,” and how the nonprofit has changed over the last 25 years. So, 25 years is a pretty significant milestone. What does that number mean to you? The first thing it means to me is that I still think I have the best job in the world. I have never met anybody that has a better job than me. I don’t know if it’s that I just got planted in the right spot, but if it all ended tomorrow, I’d say, “I’ve had a great 25 years.” What does it mean in respect to the community and the role Manhattan Youth has played? Other people could probably answer that better. But I can say that we’ve tried to do two things. We’ve tried to be a good community service organization and we’ve tried to be advocates on certain issues too. And that’s very rare for a nonprofit these days. You saw it more in the 60s and 70s. Sometimes it has helped us and sometimes people are a little wary. We’ve had to butt heads sometimes. There’s no better example than what we’ve done with Pier 25. The most interesting advocacy we’ve done would have to be on street safety. Changing the turning lane on West Street… that was a real example of going against the bureaucracy. Can you give one or two examples of times when you were completely surpised at just how important Manhattan Youth was to this community?
I remember Miriam Friedlander once said to me, “Bob, if we don’t do it, somebody else will.” When we started the day camp down here, there was no other day camp. And then, 9/11 put me on steroids and pure adrenaline. It’s just me, but I didn’t feel the tragedy. My staff and myself were so propelled to not let terrorism disrupt community life. But everyday, on my desk, I have individual tragedies — young parents dying, people that lose their jobs — that’s why I’m here, not because of the big picture things — because of the individual connections I and my staff make with the community. Everyone loves our programs. But it’s for the parents that are beaten down where I get the feeling that my life is meaningful. In the end, by me helping that parent, I try and intercept that situation so a child can go and have a good childhood and a good life. My goal from day one was to be modeled after a settlement house, not to be just a high-end community center. How has the organization’s vision and mission changed over the years? I don’t think I had a real concrete vision back then. I knew I wanted to provide this community with services. There was no one doing real sports programming, no one forming after school programs and forming camps. I was working part-time, I started the nonprofit and I had no idea that New York City would have had the resurgence like it did. There were abandoned lofts and abandoned buildings. There was no
economic vitality. The city was one step above Detroit. What’s next for Manhattan Youth? This is a tough question for me. I’m older. I have a limp. One of my goals is to keep our programs
as diverse as possible. That is the future of this world. We will prepare their children for a challenging, changing and beautifully diverse world. One thing is programming for middle and high school kids. In five years this community is going to be inundated with middle school children. I love that challenge.
TALKING POINT Animal Farm 2011 — or, a visit inside G.O.P.land BY JERRY TALLMER With apologies to George Orwell... The farmyard animals of G.O.P.land had caucused in the Big Barn to consider the question of Constipation, otherwise known as Log Jam. It seemed as if everybody had it or wanted it. Nothing moved, in or out. The whole damned farm — the whole damned countryside — was at its mercy. “And I like it that way,” snarled Mitch, the wily old mastiff who guarded the main gate. “No crap, no second term.” And no jobs. “Quack quack qua-a-ck,” quacked The Donald The Duck. “Show me the birth certificate! I’m smarter than everybody. That’s why everybody wants to come to the duck pond to kiss my ring. Qu-a-a-ck!” “Kiss my behind,” snapped little old Doc Ronpaul, the buzzing horsefly. “This whole world’s a horse’s behind, except for me. And I say that the best prescription for total congestion is no regulation of anything whatsoever in the whole world. Including traffic lights.”
“Who are you calling a horse’s behind?” asked good gray Dobbin McCain as he clop-clopped toward the road less taken, and then changed his mind.“Constipation!” he whinnied. “That’s the ticket.” And no jobs. His wagon almost squashed a Newt that, lying in the mud of the wagon tracks, turned into a viper as it leapt for its life. Viper Newt had had some previous experience in shutting down everything. And its sting was poisonous indeed; But Newt himself was snakebit when it came to bestial infighting. He always managed to hoist himself on the petard of his own tail. “I could be No. 1 here if I chose,” said portly sneering Chris Hogg, “but I do not choose to run. And if you don’t like it, go stuff it, I’ve got to catch a helicopter to a baseball game.” “I’m No. 1 here,” crowed Tex Rick the rooster as he shot toward the bottom, splashing oil and bucks and scrambled history en route. “No, I’m No. 1 here, watch my lips,” muttered Mighty Mouse Mitt, second cousin to those giant rats you sometimes see squatted on the sidewalks of New York outside a strike-breaking store
or restaurant. Trouble is, Mighty Mouse Mitt has been running in place and changing his stories for 17 years now. And no jobs. “No, I’m No. 1,” gloated Dark Horse Herman, the upset long shot. “Nine, nine, nine!” he bellowed over and over again — a mantra to which Minnie Mouse Michele squeaked in reply: “Six six six! The mark of Cain, the mark of Cain!” “Did I hear my name?” said Dobbin McCain, lifting his good gray head. “Go back to sleep, old man,” trilled Songbird Sarah Macbeth, the stripteasing uncaged household canary Sharp-nosed unemployed hunting dog Rudy Rover, who knows a conspiracy when he can sniff one, nudged calm, quiet Jon Huntsman. “Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look,” said Rudy as he indicated Eric the Weasel, always just at the shoulder of Boss Fox Boehner. “Beware the Ides of March.” And then the animals, in solemn G.O.P.land caucus assembled, turned their attention to the crucial issue of the day. Not jobs. Abortion.
downtown express
October 26 - November 1, 2011
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Transit Sam
The Answer man
As more time passes, the bigger the rallies from Occupy Wall Street become and there’s something big brewing for Saturday. Organizers are calling for a day of global action in the run up to a meeting of the world’s 20 biggest economies (the G-20 Summit) in France the following week. That means the chances for civil disobedience in the streets are much higher, similar to other rallies held in Foley Square and by the Brooklyn Bridge. Drivers, be on the look out Saturday for any spontaneous rallies. The annual spook-fest hits the West Village and Sixth Ave. from Canal to 18th Sts. will be closed from 5 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Monday for the annual West Village Halloween Parade. On Sunday, Nov. 6, we have the NYC Marathon and that means gridlock in all five boroughs. Downtown is spared
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as long as you’re not leaving our little oasis. The biggest closures include First Ave. from 63rd to 135th St., Fifth Ave. from 138th to 90th St., the lower level of the Ed-Koch Queensboro Bridge, the Willis and Madison Ave. bridges, the Verrazano Bridge and Fourth Ave. (Brooklyn). Don’t even think of driving across the Brooklyn or Manhattan bridges and using local streets; the marathon runs just a few blocks east of the bridges. From the mailbag: Dear Transit Sam, My six-year-old son really likes the old C train subway cars because he thinks they run faster than the new ones. His hypothesis is since the old cars make more noise when they run that they must be faster. He has a few questions: 1. Where do the old C train cars end up after they’re retired? 2. Do the old C train cars run faster than the new cars? 3. Are there any events where he could ride the old cars? Balaji, Lower Manhattan Dear Balaji, 1. Nowadays when a subway car is retired, they’re scrapped for the steel and other parts. Previously, they were
floated out to the Atlantic Ocean and dumped to become haven for fish and plants. That cost quite a bit; now the MTA gets a few bucks for the parts. 2. I’ve wondered that myself when riding the B and D along the Sixth Ave. line between W.4th and W.34th Sts. As a kid, it seemed the trains were flying. They were noisy, swayed and seemed close to leaving the tracks. But, it was an illusion. The newer cars travel just as fast. But, they are quieter and have better suspensions making for a much smoother and less exciting ride for the young kid in me and your son. 3. Your son would love a trip to the NYC Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn (take the 2, 3, 4, 5 to Borough Hall, the R to Court St. or the A, C, F to Jay St/Metro Tech) where he could really dive into and view the history of the city’s subway system. There are old subway cars, turnstiles, uniforms and my favorite, the cushioned seats. Often, there are nostalgia train rides on old trains. Book the next one and you may just find Transit Sam looking out the front window! Transit Sam Confused about ever changing traffic regulations and transit operations? Need help navigating around lower Manhattan? If so, send me an e-mail at TransitSam@downtownexpress.com or write to Transit Sam, 611 Broadway, Suite 415, New York, NY 10012
Halloween isHappening AT TRINITY CHURCH · BROADWAY AT WALL STREET
Friday, October 28, 2011 A night of fun for the whole family.
4-7pm | GHOULS, GAMES, AND GRAVES Tricks, treats, and stories from the churchyard’s inhabitants
4-7pm | HAUNTED HAMILTON HAPPY HOUR Raise a toast to Alexander Hamilton (non-alcoholic beverages also available)
7-9pm | FILM SCREENING: METROPOLIS (1927) Inside Trinity Church, with live organ accompaniment by Peter Krasinski
All are welcome. All events are free with donations accepted. trinitywallstreet.org · 212.602.0800 In case of rain, events will be held at 74 Trinity Place, accessible by pedestrian bridge behind Trinity Church. The film will be screened inside the Church.
downtown express
October 26 - November 1, 2011
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October 26 - November 1, 2011
downtown express
‘Tis the time for a tinsel pop-up at the Seaport BY TERESE LOEB KREUZER As day turned to dusk on Sun., Oct. 23, two women were busy unpacking boxes of metallic thread, silk ribbons, antique trimmings, beads, buttons, antique flowers, and holiday decorations inside a cavernous space on Water Street. Marcia Ceppos and Wendy Addison had heard from the Seaport Museum New York just three days before that they could set up a pop-up store at 209 Water St. in what had formerly been the museum’s art gallery. They had just 10 days to refurbish and stock their store so that they can open on Nov. 1. They will be there through the end of the year. Ceppos owns Tinsel Trading at 1 W. 37th St., renowned among couturiers, theatrical costume designers, milliners, interior decorators, and architects for its immense stock of unusual vintage and contemporary embellishments. Martha Stewart, a big fan, has featured Tinsel Trading in her magazines and on her TV show. Ralph Lauren, Anna Sui, Steven Spielberg and Michael Graves have shopped there, as have the costumers for such Broadway shows as “Mary Poppins,” “Wicked” and “Phantom of the Opera.” The store was founded almost 80 years ago by Ceppos’ grandfather, Arch J. Bergoffen, who started selling metallic threads and ended up with a warehouse of ornaments. The basement of his store was jammed with boxes, many of them unopened for decades. Some of these treasures are making their way to Water Street — vintage ribbons from 1910 to 1950,
Downtown Express photo by Terese Loeb Kreuzer
On Nov. 1, the pop-up store Tinsel Trading and Theatre of Dreams, will open at 209 Water St. with handmade decorations and gift items for the holidays priced from $2 to $150.
extra shiny glitter made from German glass, tassels, old-fashioned wrapping paper, spools of lustrous metal thread so beautiful that they could be displayed on a shelf if they weren’t used to tie a fisherman’s lure. One of Ceppos’ customers, Wendy Addison, owner of Theatre of Dreams in Port Costa, Ca., became a friend and is a partner in
the Water Street pop-up venture. “The thing that links our businesses is the love of vintage materials,” Addison said. “Marcia has them and I design with them.” Addison uses the cornucopia of materials from Tinsel Trading to create charming, glitter-encrusted boxes and ornaments that evoke fairy tales and magic. The staff at Tinsel
Trading manufactures Addison’s designs. Both women say that they love what Addison called “the antique ambiance” of the Water Street space with its wooden columns, brick walls and old floor, scuffed from years of use. “It’s just perfect for our products,” Addison said. Many of them will be displayed in wooden crates from the 1920’s, rescued from one of Tinsel Trading’s garment district neighbors that went out of business and was about to throw those old things away. Prices at the store will range from $2 to $150. “At the higher end will be unusual items with which to decorate your home,” Addison explained. As an example, she mentioned hollowed-out tree stumps that could be used as candy containers. Neither Addison nor Ceppos was daunted at the task of setting up an entire store in a little more than a week. “We do wholesale trade shows,” said Ceppos. “Wendy designs the booths so for her, creating displays is like second nature.” At the trade shows, said Addison, they have even less time — two days to set up and a day to dismantle. It was at a trade show three years ago that Addison and Ceppos met Robert Warner, the master printer of Bowne & Co. Stationers, which just reopened at 211 Water St. “He knew that the Museum of the City of New York [the recently appointed manager of the Seaport Museum] wanted to fill the space next to Bowne with something holiday-related,” said Ceppos.
Three venues all with spotlight on Islam BY TERESE LOEB KREUZER Islam is a presence in Lower Manhattan. No one who lives or works Downtown can long forget the destruction of the World Trade Center followed by the controversy over Cordoba House that came to be known as Park51, or by those who opposed it, as the “Ground Zero mosque.” Thousands of residents and workers in Lower Manhattan are Muslims — and yet by non-Muslims, their culture and religion are not widely understood. Now Poets House in Battery Park City, the Morgan Library and Museum at 225 Madison Ave. and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are offering exhibits and programs that will flesh out that knowledge. On Thursday, Oct. 27, Coleman Barks will be at Poets House to talk about Rumi, a Muslim and a Sufi mystic, who is one of the most widely read poets in the United States. Rumi was born in Afghanistan in 1207 and died in Turkey in 1273. English translations of his work by Barks have sold more than half a million copies worldwide. A rare, illustrated manuscript depicting episodes from Rumi’s life is one of the centerpieces of an exhibit that just opened at the Morgan Library called “Treasures of Islamic Manuscript Painting.” The manuscript, translated from a Persian account of Rumi’s life into Turkish, was commissioned by the Ottoman sultan Murad III in 1590. Only two illustrated copies of the Murad
Downtown Express photo by Terese Loeb Kreuzer
At Poets House in Battery Park City, readers can find the poetry of Rumi, the “Shahnamah” of Ferdowsi, the Khamsa of Nizami and more.
translation exist. The other is in Istanbul. There are 84 manuscripts in the Morgan Library exhibit. Two large, magnificent pages from a 16th-century Qur’an are at the exhibit entrance. But there are also many secular manuscripts. “The Persians loved their poetry and their poets,” said William Voelkle, Curator and Department Head of
Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts, who organized the exhibit. Nizami’s “Khamsa,” which dates from the 12th century, was a popular subject. In part, it tells the tale of a sultan who married seven princesses, each of whom entertained him with stories, one for each night of the week. Each princess came from a different country
and was associated with a different color and a planet. The Morgan has a brilliant set of illustrations showing the princesses and the sultan, each page, a riff on a different color. There are also illustrations of another beloved Nizami poem that tells of the doomed love between Laila and Qais, the children of two great chieftains. When Qais saw Laila for the first time, he fell instantly in love with her and could never love anyone else. People said he behaved like a madman and called him “majnun,” (madman), which became the name by which he was known. After many tribulations, Laila and Majnun died and were buried together. The story in the “Khamsa” is based on two real seventh-century lovers. Among the other poets whose writings inspired illuminations in the Morgan Library’s collection are Hafiz, Jami, Firdausi and Saadi Shirazi. Those who want to know more about their work can find them in the 50,000-volume poetry library at Poets House. Earlier this year, Poets House, in conjunction with City Lore, organized a series of lectures and seminars called “Illuminated Verses: Poetries of the Islamic World.” As Lee Briccetti, executive director of Poets House, wrote at the time, “Poetry is one of the most beloved art forms in the Islamic world. But to say so is a generalization, since there is no single Islamic world.”
Continued on page 20
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Ward on Silverstein, Bloomberg and his successor Continued from page 1 tor when they’re facing a whole new set of challenges, and I think it’s entirely appropriate for the governor to do so. DE: Last week, the Port Authority announced that you’re going to stay on until the end of the year in an advisory capacity. How did that come about? WARD: It was in a conversation with the Governor’s office. As capable and as excellent as Pat Foye will hopefully be, I agreed that I would continue to provide guidance and continuity through the end of the year — ‘cause there are a lot of issues that still need to be managed actively. DE: What were your major accomplishments as executive director of the Port Authority, in your opinion? WARD: I’m most proud of what we were able to do [with respect to] the transformation of Downtown. I think the delivery of the [9/11] Memorial Plaza on the 10-year anniversary was a phenomenal moment for everybody to have a moment to reflect. And the Conde Nast deal is just a game changer for Downtown; I don’t think Conde Nast would have ever come Downtown if you had seen incompleteness, uncertainty, or risk. DE: When Conde Nast announced that move, there was this sense of elation. People’s optimism in the real estate market has since faded, however. What happened there? WARD: I think there was definitely a pause in the market, but I don’t think it’s lost. We’ve had the international markets and the bond markets get volatile, while jobs reports remain unfortunately flat. But I’m optimistic that it has flattened out, and I think Downtown has its own market now because of Conde Nast. DE: What were your biggest setbacks while on the job? WARD: One of the things I think about is the collapse of the market, and the loss of Merrill Lynch Downtown. I always wonder, [were] we always going to lose Merrill Lynch; or if we’d had them, would Merrill Lynch have been an anchor tenant early on? Also, I didn’t manage the toll and fare increase as well as I should have. But… this is a job that I’ve always loved, and I think I’ve really delivered on what I said I’d get done. It’s rare in life you can get that sense of accomplishment. DE: You invariably saw “New York Post” Columnist Fredric Dicker’s article, which referred to an “explosive” financial audit that will show “ hundreds of millions of dollars of unnecessary spending” authorized by you to “accelerate the rebuilding of Ground Zero.” What is your response to this accusation? WARD: There have not been any hundreds of millions of [dollars in] cost overruns on the Trade Center project, though we’ve been candid and public that we have pierced the contingency [funds] of the project. We’ve spent about $230 million of about $600 million [in] contingency, which is a sort of insurance policy for when things do cost more. But, there should be no surprises [about] the cost of this project — we have maintained our level of transparency and our level of reporting to the Governor’s office. DE: What is your response, specifically, to the contention that the Port Authority has spent “extravagantly” on the redevelopment of the W.T.C.? WARD: I would hate to think that anybody would characterize it as “extravagant.” That sounds like it’s superfluous or unnecessary. I would argue that that was money well-spent. I don’t think we could have gone by the 10-year anniversary with an incomplete [Memorial] Plaza. Now, I’ve also made clear publicly that, when we decided to build the plaza floor and the PATH ceiling first — [known as] the “top-down” strategy — almost three years ago, it came with some additional costs of around 75-to-100 million dollars. DE: What will the purpose of the audit be, to your knowledge? WARD: Well, let me make clear that, there hasn’t been an audit [yet]. The Port Authority Board of Commissioners,
at the request of the governors, is going to conduct an audit of the agency. Their focus, which has been publicly acknowledged, will be on the prioritization of the capital plan following the recent toll and fare increase; and the way the Port Authority organizationally functions in terms of compensation, pensions, and benefits. DE: When you stepped in, there was a perceived level of dysfunction, and the tensions between Silverstein, the city, and the Port Authority were placed in your lap. What was the pressure like during the first few months on the job?
“I think that maintaining the momentum in face of this potential double-dip in the recession is going to be a challenge.” WARD: The great thing is that I was completely naïve in terms of how many challenges there were going to be. I candidly thought, you know, there was going to be a little kind of shaping up of the organization. It was such a challenge that you didn’t even know you were doing it: that was the thing that was sort of fun and thrilling about it. There were long, long nights here. We were all working, you know, 16 hours a day and on weekends — not just me, but everybody around me. From the October 2008 roadmap [was released] forward, you could see a way out of the woods. I mean you had [Larry] Silverstein still out ahead of you, you still had the procurement questions about [whether] you were going to keep Phoenix Constructors [as the manager of the construction of the W.T.C. Transportation Hub]… but, after four months, I think you could sort of breathe a bit of a sigh of relief and say, “[I] really can manage this project.” DE: Speaking of Silverstein, Mayor Mike Bloomberg originally wanted to remove the developer from the W.T.C. deal, arguing that he didn’t have enough money to complete it. But, while you negotiated with Silverstein, the Bloomberg administration actually did a complete 180, and came around in support of him. How do you account for that change on the Mayor’s part? WARD: I think, born out of a legitimate sense of frustration, Bloomberg had reached a point where he thought, “How could you possibly leave this hole in my great city? Let’s just please get something done”— and that the Port Authority should really step up [so] that it didn’t remain unfinished. That put a lot of pressure on us, and it really changed the dynamic of the negotiation. At the time… the heat in the kitchen got pretty hot. But, hindsight’s a wonderful thing. DE: How do you think the deal turned out? I would characterize that deal — born out of the crucible of arbitration, negotiations, and politics — the best deal for both parties. It was, in a way, the pivotal moment in ensuring that Downtown had a bright future. Absent that deal, you wouldn’t have had that sense of the economic future of Downtown… and you would have not been able to deliver the [9/11] Memorial. DE: Do you think the taxpayers got a good deal out of it? WARD: Yes, because there’s enough in it which is market-based. It’s not so aggressive that it’s building Tower Two — but at same time, it’s ensuring that the taxpayers see economic activity stimulated by the deal that we did. I think it will generate dividends for the city, in terms of new taxes, for decades to come. DE: What do you think the future is of the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center?
WARD: I think the L.M.C.C.C. has some issues that they’re still working on, but… I think its role in terms of coordination has largely ended. The site is so well-managed now. Think back to how we were all freaking out about how on earth [we were] going to manage this; and now, to the enormous credit of the engineers and our partners, the logistics for building Downtown are almost seamless. The site is just humming perfectly — that steel miraculously shows up, the concrete goes up, and it’s not creating chaos in the streets. DE: Construction might not be causing as much chaos Downtown as it used to, but congestion is — in part thanks to the one-way toll on the Verrazano bridge, which routes an enormous amount of truck traffic through Lower Manhattan and right back out the Holland Tunnel, saving drivers toll money but causing pollution and congestion in the densest part of New York. Can that ever be reversed? WARD: I think it can, for two reasons. One: pre-E-Z pass, Staten Island had the double toll, which created the kind of double experience no one enjoys at the toll plaza. Now that you’re with E-Z pass, Staten Island doesn’t have the same kind of congestion headache. Second, I think you’re going to have to do it within that larger regionalization of the toll structure, so you don’t get just those sort of anomalies where trucks or even cars are driving around the system to avoid [the tolls]. DE: Switching gears completely, there’s this issue of the Performing Arts Center. At some point, C.B. 1 Chair Julie Menin and others wanted to see the center built in Tower 5. That proposal was rejected because of the Vehicle Security Center; and because the P.A.C. needed to remain at the originally proposed site, which is Site 1B. What do you think about the P.A.C.’s role in the W.T.C., and how can the Port Authority facilitate that project, moving forward? WARD: I think [promoting] culture Downtown is an incredible goal. I leave it to Pat Foye if he thinks otherwise, but it’s clear from my perspective that this is not a Port Authority project. It’s clearly a city project. If you’re going to have a longterm, great P.A.C., stick with it and be patient, but don’t change horses and try to think you can get [a version of it] in Tower 5. The Port Authority is clearly following the city’s lead. And I think, as the mayor said, these are tough times, and someone’s going to have to raise an awful lot of money to fund the P.A.C. DE: Speaking of Pat Foye, what do you think the biggest challenges are right now for your successor? WARD: The market signs both here in the U.S. and around the world are difficult, and we need commercial tenants. I think that maintaining the momentum in face of this potential double-dip in the recession is going to be a challenge. Also, I think Pat and the Board will struggle with how you prioritize capital planning when you’re in a scarce resource enviroment. There’s still a huge infrastructure challenge out there within this region, and we need to have a public and political discourse on infrastructure within this town. DE: What’s next for you? WARD: Unfortunately, the reports that I have a job [lined up] aren’t true. I will say that the Port Authority is probably the best public sector job, I would argue, in the country. At this point, there is no other public sector job I could think of that I would like to do, so my hope is to find a meaningful job in the private sector. DE: Are you actually considering running for mayor, or is that just a rumor? WARD: At my age now, and [with] my total lack of any “political base,” if you will, or any real foundation that it takes to run for office, it’s flattering but highly unlikely that I would ever be able to run for mayor. Also, the likelihood of me ever being able to raise [the necessary] amount of money is impossible. At another time of my life and with some better planning and forward-thinking, I would have liked to have thought I could run for office — whether it was the mayor or some other public office. I will say — kind of immodestly, I guess — I think I’d be okay with it.
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‘Neighbor’ policy could lack teeth Continued from page 1 “You guys are scapegoating us when you need to suppress the drilling.” On Saturday, Oct. 22 the drumming continued until 10 p.m. despite an understanding by the drummers that it was to end by 6 p.m. Drummer Elijah Moses then said that the drumming was a protest, not against the O.W.S. general assembly, but against those who wanted to curb the drumming to two hours. He stated that the drumming hours would now be from 12 to 2 p.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m. While this was approved at the protesters’ O.W.S. general assembly on Oct. 24, it was not discussed with the community board, nor is it part of the resolution that was passed on Tuesday night. Shan told C.B. 1 that two phone numbers and an email address were established for O.W.S. to be able to accept complaints from the neighborhood. He also said that a community relations representative would be on site at all times to respond to problems, and that a mediation team would be on hand to enforce good neighbor rules. On Saturday, Oct. 22 a number of O.W.S. members tried to reason individually with the drummers. Ted, a member of the O.W.S. community relations group
said that he did not know how to find others in the park to help mediate, and that he did not have the newly established complaint phone numbers. Shan did not respond to requests for comment. Dan Levine a volunteer at the O.W.S. info desk also tried unsuccessfully to reason with the drummers. An exasperated Levine said, “They’re having a temper tantrum.” C.B. 1 member Pat Moore said, “Every time the question has arisen – ‘How will you enforce the good neighbor policy?’ – they did not have a satisfactory answer.” Moore said, “I don’t believe it will happen. I don’t believe they have the ability or the will to do it.” C.B. 1 member Linda Belfer said that O.W.S. must agree that there would be a committee that would enforce these rules, otherwise, “it’s a meaningless good neighbor policy.” Area resident Linda Gerstman said, “The new O.W.S. hotline makes the situation even worse — now they can field the residents’ complaints and retain the support of the elected officials as the negative impact on the community will be contained in the park and not go on public record.” Another problem area residents have complained to C.B. 1 about is urination
Councilwoman Margaret Chin
and defecation in lobbies and on doorsteps. C.B. 1 member Mariama James, said on Oct. 20, “I don’t want e-coli from someone crapping in my lobby.” One neighbor told the board, “We should be able to walk to work and not have someone dumping a bucket of urine next to us.” On the issue of sanitation Shan said, “We can’t make promises. We’re at the
beginning of a process.” He said that O.W.S. has been sending out teams with pails of hot soapy water and scrub brushes to clean neighboring stoops and doorways. In fact, the only effort to do so was done as a pilot effort by one O.W.S. person, Max Hodes, head of camp sanitation on Oct. 18. Protester Daniel Zetah, 35, said, “A lot of people are sadly missing the point” when they complain about “petty things” like drum noise and urinating in the street.” Neighborhood resident James Fernandez said, “To me this good neighbor policy is a farce.” He said, “This is not about politics, this is not about First Amendment rights, this is about common decency. This is the responsibility of the elected officials. Do your jobs and be able to enforce. The rules and regulations are there.” Councilwoman Margaret Chin said, “Occupy has said they want to be better neighbors, but they have not followed through. I agree with what we heard from residents at the community board meeting, the protesters need to get organized, step up and accept responsibility.” McVay-Hughes said that the “24/7 habitation” of Zuccotti Park is a problem. “It appears that there’s no end in sight and there’s no exit plan.”
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BY TERESE LOEB KREUZER FRANÇOIS PAYARD BAKERY NOT YET OPEN: The front door of the François Payard Bakery in Goldman Sachs alley still said “closed” on Tuesday, Oct. 25, eight days after the bakery was supposed to open. “We’re ready,” said Fanin Checo, general manager, “but Goldman Sachs won’t let us open. The phone lines haven’t been installed and we don’t have a working fire alarm system.” Checo blamed Goldman Sachs for the delays. She said the work was supposed to have been done weeks ago. The bakery has seven people on staff, all of whom have been paid since what was supposed to be opening day — Oct. 17. “I’m frustrated and tired,” Checo said. “We get ready to open over and over, and then it’s ‘not today, not today.’” One customer, she said, had insisted on buying a panettone, even though the bakery was officially closed. Ruefully, Checo held up the $20 bill that she had received in payment. “Our first income,” she said, “from a closed bakery.” Chef Payard said via telephone that it takes a couple of days to prepare the pastries
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to stock the bakery. He has had to bake every day as though the bakery were going to open. He said he didn’t know what had caused the delays. “You’ll have to ask Goldman Sachs,” he said. A spokesman for Goldman Sachs said, “We’re actively working with our tenant to sort out the issues.” She would not comment on when the bakery would open. BATTERY PARK CITY IN BLOOM: In Wagner Park’s “hot” garden, so called because of its color scheme of mostly red, orange and yellow flowers, a mound of deeply hued purple flowers stands out. The star-shaped blooms suggest the plant’s name: “Aster” is Latin for “star.” Aster novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome’ is one of around 500 aster species that can be found in all parts of the world except Australia and its related islands. This particular cultivar was developed in the late 1980’s from two species native to the eastern United States by Dr. Richard Lighty, former director of the famous Mt. Cuba Center in Greenville, Del. If Battery Park City’s Aster novae-angliae whets the appetite for more, a visit to the
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Downtown Express photos by Terese Loeb Kreuzer
Francois Payard Bakery in Battery Park City’s Goldman Sachs alley was still closed on Oct. 25, eight days after it was supposed to open.
Mount Cuba Center, founded by members of the du Pont family, would make a nice fall excursion. The 630-acre botanical garden is near Wilmington, Del. with pastures and fields, forests in autumn splendor, formal landscapes and some of the most spectacular displays of wildflowers in the mid-Atlantic. The Mt. Cuba Center specializes in studying the flora of the Delaware Piedmont region, with tours available from Thursdays through Sundays. Go to www.mtcubacenter.org/ for more information. COMMUNITY EVENINGS AT THE 9/11 MEMORIAL: Since the National September 11 Memorial opened to the public on Sept. 12, 2011, more than a quarter of a million people have visited. According to Sarah Lippman, a spokesperson for the memorial, visitors have included “the first
The dazzling purple flowers blooming in Wagner Park’s hot garden (on the northern side of the park) are in the aster family, which has around 500 species. Aster novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome’ goes by the common name “Michaelmas Daisy.”
lady of Japan, the prime minister of Canada, the president of Austria and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Others who have visited include the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, who is a former N.B.A. player.” The first Sunday of each month from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. has been reserved for the Lower Manhattan community. Community residents can obtain passes for the next community evening — Nov. 6 — by going to the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site (20 Vesey St.) and presenting identification. The Preview Center is open Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the September 11 Memorial is free. ASPHALT GREEN OPENING DELAYED: The Asphalt Green Battery Park City community center at 212 North End Ave. was supposed to open in November, but now a soft opening has been pushed back to January. According to a sales manager in Asphalt Green’s membership office at 211 North End Ave., the delays were due to changes in construction plans and the need for new permits. Charter memberships are still available at reduced rates, good for the first year. The initiation fee is currently $49 instead of $199, and monthly dues for an individual are $95 instead of $105, which will be the rate when the facility opens. Those who sign up now will have their credit cards charged immediately, however. Asphalt Green has a five-year contract from the Battery Park City Authority to run the community center. Gayle Horwitz, president of the Battery Park City Authority, said at the B.P.C.A.’s monthly board meeting on Oct. 25 that the Authority is spending $975,000 to provide furniture, equipment and fixtures for the community center. She indicated that the Precor exercise equipment for the gym had to be ordered well in advance of opening day, so that purchase couldn’t be delayed regardless of when the community center actually opens. To comment on Battery Park City Beat or to suggest article ideas, email TereseLoeb@mac.com
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Lawyers Guild keeps close eye on ‘Occupy’ Continued from page 4 “I want to volunteer because this is important, and a lot of people here will eventually need some help,” said Lisa. “Hopefully, if this movement can stay non-violent and peaceful, we will have a mild winter and the numbers will keep growing.”
N.L.G. DEFENDS PROTESTORS IN COURT In the coming days and weeks, attorneys for the N.L.G. will also be defending the protestors that have been arrested and are slated to appear in court. There have been approximately 966 O.W.S.related arrests in total — most of which pertain to disorderly conduct, and more than 700 of which resulted from blocking vehicular traffic during an Oct. 1 march on the Brooklyn Bridge, according to Police Department Detective Cheryl Crispin. The N.L.G. received bad news when, on Monday, Oct. 24, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance refused to unilaterally dismiss 750 of the cases pertaining to the mass arrests during the Sept. 24 Union Square march and the Oct. 1 Brooklyn Bridge march. Instead, Vance promised to offer 340 of the protestors “adjournments in contemplation of dismissal” (A.C.D.s) — an option to adjourn the case if the protestor isn’t arrested again within six months
of the initial arrest. The remaining arrestees, meanwhile, were given summonses without this guarantee. Either way, the decision is not what the N.L.G. was seeking for its dozens of clients that were charged for disorderly conduct. “I’m very disappointed,” said Martin Stolar, a N.L.G. member who is representing 12-to-15 clients. With respect to the Brooklyn Bridge protestors, Stolar said, “Most of them [felt] lead out onto the bridge by the police. They didn’t commit a crime in their own minds, since thought what they were doing is perfectly kosher.” Stolar predicted that, while some arrestees would reject the A.C.D. option out of principle of being wrongfully prosecuted, others out of fear it could inhibit their future protest activity. “There are a number of people who say, ‘I’m not taking anything short of a dismissal or a trial because I didn’t do anything,’” said Stolar. “There are also some people who will view the A.C.D. six-month adjournment period as a form of probation.” The N.L.G.’s mass defense committee is scheduling meetings for its clients on Sunday, Oct. 30 and Friday, Nov. 4 at Jutson Memorial Church in the West Village. The N.L.G. also has a daily information booth set up at Zuccotti Park, where N.L.G. volunteers answer legal questions each day from 5 to 7 p.m. Civil rights attorney Jonathan Moore, an N.L.G. member who was manning the booth last Friday, will be represent-
Peace at Life’s End. Anywhere. No One Should Suffer ff When Legal Options Exist. Legal options for peaceful dying already exist in every state. Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) is not starvation and, with palliative support, is not painful. Compassion & Choices presents a free, informative look at the right to forego food and water to achieve a Armond & D Dorothy Dorot tth R Rudolph d l h peaceful death. Special guest, Coloradan Neil Rudolph, will talk about his parents’ eviction from an assisted-living facility for choosing VSED. Learn from their experience how to ensure your end-of-life wishes, or those of a loved one, will be honored. This program is designed to educate the general public but is appropriate for anyone facing a terminal decline in their own or a loved one’s health. It’s also an excellent resource for healthcare professionals, social workers and others involved with end-of-life care. For more information, please contact our
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Visit CompassionAndChoices.org/VSED today. Sign up. Take a stand. Stay informed.
Saturday, November 5, 2011, 12:00 noon (light refreshments served) All Souls Unitarian Church, 1157 Lexington Avenue Sunday, November 6, 2011, 12:00 noon (light refreshments served) New York University, Vanderbilt Hall, 40 Washington Square South
ing O.W.S. arrestees in a civil court case on Monday, Nov. 21 — one of several other such protestor cases the N.L.G. plans to litigate pro bono in the coming weeks. Moore wouldn’t disclose specifics of the case, though he said O.W.S. arrestees have been charged thus far with various forms of disorderly conduct ranging from obstructing traffic to refusing to comply with police orders to disperse.
N.L.G. TAKES ON BROOKFIELD The N.L.G. also played a role when O.W.S. was instructed to clear Zuccotti Park on Friday, Oct. 14 so Brookfield Office Properties, the park’s owner, could clean it. In an Oct. 11 letter to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Brookfield’s Chief Executive Officer Richard Clark called on the NYPD for assistance in its plan to clean, inspect and perform any necessary repairs to the property. “We are extremely concerned about dangers posed by damage that may have been incurred within the park, and by materials and equipment brought into the park by the protestors,” said Clark in the letter. “Brookfield protocol and practice is to clean the park on a daily basis, power-wash it each weeknight, and perform the necessary inspection, maintenance and repairs on a regular, as-needed basis. Since the occupation began, we have not been able to perform basic cleaning and maintenance activity, let alone perform more invasive repairs.” (Brookfield never followed up on its wish to temporarily oust the protestors.) A spokesperson for the Department of City Planning maintained that Brookfield has the right to temporarily evacuate the park during a scheduled maintenance period without approval from the city; and that the park owner could even penalize trespassers using police enforcement during the allotted time frame. The spokesperson also said that Brookfield
could alter the rules of the park without city authorization in order to make the space amenable to “passive enjoyment consistent with [the owner’s] purpose.” The N.L.G., however, begs to differ on both counts. Though the park is privately owned, any attempt Brookfield would make to clear out the park for cleaning or maintenance purposes would breach first amendment rights, according to the N.L.G. in an Oct. 13 letter to Clark. Police action used to enforce an evacuation without a court order would also be unlawful, the N.L.G. contended. “I don’t think [Brookfield is] in a strong legal position,” said N.L.G. member Margaret Ratner Kunstler, a civil rights lawyer and one of the authors of the letter. “If they go to court, we’ll be there. And if they decide to illegally wipe people out, we’ll be there.” Ratner Kunstler also questioned D.C.P.’s assertions about Brookfield’s rights to rewrite the rules of the park, saying, “We’ll litigate it [if necessary].” The N.L.G.’s letter also addressed Brookfield’s concerns about the park’s cleanliness, pledging that O.W.S.’s sanitation working group (the Guild’s client) is bagging and hauling away trash daily; sweeping the park regularly; and polishing its hard surfaces. The N.L.G. purportedly also looked into Brookfield’s worry of electrical hazards occurring below the park’s surface due to the occupation — which the company said could require the park to be torn apart for rewiring — and found the electrical units to be sound. “Based on a visual inspection recently conducted by our clients, there has been no damage to the lenses covering the underground lighting, and thus there is no risk of water infiltration,” said the N.L.G. lawyers. “Additionally, it is our understanding that there has been no electricity running in said fixtures for weeks now” — eliminating the risk of an electrical mishap.
Spotlighting Islam Continued from page 14 That, too, is one of the messages of the extraordinary reinstallation at the Metropolitan Museum of Art of its galleries devoted to the “Art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and Later South Asia.” The Met’s Islamic collection of around 12,000 objects spans more than 13 centuries. After being closed for eight years, the galleries reopen on Nov. 1 with around 1,000 items displayed at any one time. “The monumentality of Islam did not create a single, monolithic artistic expression, but instead connected a vast geographic expanse through centuries of change and cultural influence,” said Thomas P. Campbell, the museum’s director. Many of the objects on exhibit are breathtaking in the intricacy of their design and their almost inconceivable craftsmanship — illuminated manuscripts drenched in intense color, ivory and sandstone carved like lace; immense, handmade carpets, textiles with
shimmering designs created by threads wrapped in gold, and more. “I think by looking at these objects we can learn about the marvelous achievements of 1,400 years in these different regions and the sophistication and complexity of societies that existed in these places,” said Sheila Canby, curator of the Department of Islamic Art. “And so I hope that along with being attractive art and really being thrilled by what people see they will also think about our modern world with a different perspective because if people could do something like this, then they can’t be all bad. I hope that people will gain that understanding.” The Morgan’s exhibit, “Treasures of Islamic Manuscript Painting,” will run through Jan. 29, 2012. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Islamic galleries are a permanent installation. Both museums have extensive programs of lectures and music to complement the art. For more information, go to www.themorgan.org and to www. metmuseum.org. Information about Poets House is at www.poetshouse.org.
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Tribeca eatery must be quiet Continued from page 7 lot of responsibility on the residents.� Karen Stamm, a public member of C.B. 1 who lives on the corner of Broadway and Franklin Street, voted against the resolution, fearing that the board’s lenience toward Abramcyk would set a bad example for future area businesses. The committee, Stamm believes, could have taken more caution when reviewing Abramcyk’s application by placing certain limitations on the restaurant, such as an earlier closing time or window-closing rules. “If there are no issues, we could remove or change the restriction,� said Stamm, “but I think we should make a point of being consistent, and I think we should not put the burden on neigh-
bors to complain before we take action.� Other committee members defended Abramcyk, including Braus, who believes that, given his history of heeding local residents’ concerns, the restaurateur should be given the benefit of the doubt in this circumstance. “I think Matt has been one of the most cooperative people that I’ve ever dealt with in terms of being responsive to complaints, and I think someone who has established credibility with the community board warrants some latitude,� said Braus. “He exemplifies the type of operator that we want in the neighborhood, and I don’t think we have any reason to think that, if there are problems, that he won’t address them.� The extension of the seating area into the street will help diffuse and mitigate the sound, Braus and others said.
Park51, Con Ed go to court Continued from page 9 that a legitimate default under the breach exists, plaintiff is ready, willing and able to cure such default,â€? the papers say. A longer-term injunction, the documents state, would “afford the opportunity for the court to determine the issues relating to the invalidity of the underlying rent re-set arbitration‌ and the wrongfulness of Con Edison’s default notice.â€? El-Gamal also bemoans Con Edison’s delay in the appraisal — most recently postponed from earlier this year until August — which caused more arrears to accrue and allegedly affected the developer’s plans for realizing Park51. “The development is so complicated, due in no small part to the intense and often hostile objections from some in the media and general public‌ that any delays create consequences in all aspects of the development and the fundraising for it,â€? said El-Gamal in the law suit. Con Edison has yet to file a response to the case but has released a statement saying, “Con Edison remains hopeful that it can reach an agreement with the tenant that is in the best interests of all parties.â€? Assuming El-Gamal is able to resolve the lease conflict, the developer says he fully intends
to build the Islamic Community Center and mosque at the site. “We are committed to establishing an Islamic Community Center known as ‘Park51’ and a mosque known as ‘PrayerSpace’ at 49-51 Park Place,� said El-Gamal. By press time, El-Gamal neither confirmed nor denied reports in an Oct. 19 article published in the “Wall Street Journal� that said the developer is exploring condominiums, a hotel and an office tower in the adjacent property, 45-47 Park Place. El-Gamal also wouldn’t verify the W.S.J. article’s mention of a “significant departure� from the developer’s original vision of Park51; nor would he comment on whether or not the community center would be a “relatively small portion� of the overall project. When asked if the developer was considering dissolving Park51 the nonprofit due to fundraising hurdles, El-Gamal categorically replied, “Absolutely not.� With respect to incorporating Downtown residents and workers — particularly Community Board 1 — in its future decisions concerning the project, El-Gamal said, “Our doors are always open, and we have and continue to encourage the Downtown community to take ownership of this project.�
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downtown express
October 26 - November 1, 2011
22
D.L.L. Soccer wrap: Wizards get third win SPORTS On a chilly fall evening, the undefeated Kansas City Wizards, comprised entirely of 13-year-olds, faced the younger Colorado Rapids. Christopher Baez played his best game of the season for the Wizards, with consistent, strong boots and nice passing — including a pass to Adrian Dillulio, who continued the downfield drive to Nick Winokur. Winokur, whose hat trick last Sunday was the first for Liz Lamere’s team, took Dillulio’s pass for the first goal of the game.
The Rapids’ offense, including Alex Pabon (who drove the ball well with expert dribbling), Vidal Carrion, Jackson Vertucci and Joe Pupello, did their best; but the Wizards’ defense, including Baez, Ben Karam, Max Kong, Jackson Kaufman and Tommy Wu, left goalie Douglass Stapler with just a couple of shots in the first half. The Rapids rotated their fullbacks frequently, with Cris Pupello (sweeper), Max Hendricks, TJ Westfall, Melina Driscoll and Harry Slattery making many defensive clears. Zoe Morrison and Lucy Freedman did a great job as forwards as well. A subsequent shot on goal was recovered
Downtown Digest Continued from page 3 The island will be closed on Fridays to facilitate construction; but, for the first time, portions of the island will be open on Saturday evenings during the month of June. Phase one of the island’s park and public space master plan will restore green spaces to the historic district, add visitor amenities, establish a new gateway to the island at Soissons Landing, convert the asphalt to green turf at South Battery, and carve out new spaces in the island’s center. The first phase of the project also
entails capital work, such as the restoration of potable water to the island; upgrading electrical and telecommunications systems; repairing the seawall; modernizing docks and piers; and stabilizing historic buildings. “The Trust for Governors Island is making incredible progress by creating extraordinary public spaces that New Yorkers will enjoy for generations,” said Leslie Koch, president of The Trust for Governors Island. “The Trust is honoring its commitment to remain open to the public during construction, and I look forward to welcoming visitors and organizations to the Island for the 2012 and 2013 public seasons.”
by Tyler Rohan, who followed up with a shot that was saved by the Rapids’ goalie. Jacob Lawrence Kreiss, who was excellent in goal, saved many more of the Wizards’ shots throughout the game, including a shot by Dante Vega Lamere. But the Wizards kept up the offensive pressure. Dillulio’s drive downfield ended with a pass to teammate Matthew Bernstein, who made the score 2-0. The Rapids tried to get on the board with a nice shot by J. Pupello, but the ball went wide. In the meantime, the Rapids’ defense kept fighting, with Liana Chow taking one for the team. The ball hit her in the face, knocking off her glasses. But she found her glasses and kept playing, waving off questions from her dad, Coach John Chow, about whether she wanted to be replaced. The Wizards’ Rohan passed to teammate Liam Fuerst, who persevered in the forward position but wasn’t able to connect for a goal, and the half ended with a 2-0 lead for the Wizards. In the second half, Stapler and Bernstein traded places, and Stapler started off with a shot on goal that went wide. The Wizards kept the ball in scoring territory, though, and Stapler was able to score on an assist from Dillulio. In the next offensive play for the Wizards, Winokur passed to his twin sister, Lucy, whose beautiful instep volley resembled a pop fly to short center, finding its home in the top half of the net to give the team a 4-0 lead. The Rapids did their best to keep the scoring at bay, with excellent defense from Westfall and Aidan Ostermaier. And the
Rapids came alive offensively, with Pabon, J. Pupello and forward Carrion putting the pressure on Bernstein in the Wizards’ goal. Pabon’s skillful dribbling led to Carrion’s jailbreak, which was saved by Bernstein. Carrion’s bicycle kick in the next offensive play for the Rapids was also saved by Bernstein, but the third time was a charm — when Carrion snuck past Rohan and sent the ball into an unprotected corner of the goal, making the score 4-1, Wizards. Vertucci’s nice moves kept the Wizards’ defense busy, and Maria Scovel worked hard on the Rapids’ defense. Slattery (Rapids) and Rohan (Wizards) added to the excitement with several good headers. But Winokur’s breakaway with four seconds remaining in the game gave him his sixth goal of the season (and his fifth goal in two games), and gave the Wizards their third win with a 5-1 final score. But both teams finished the evening on a positive note. After each match, the Rapids award “game balls,” signed by each player and coach to players who performed well. This week, the “game balls” were awarded to Maria Scovel, for tenacious play at midfield; TJ Westfall, for making some excellent defensive stops; and Noah Salmon, for his relentless speed and strong contributions to the offensive attack.
— John Chow, Doug Freedman and Diane Rohan
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23
October 26 - November 1, 2011
COMPILED BY NIKKI TUCKER
STONE SOUP Literally Alive Children’s Theatre presents this musical by Michael Sgouros and Brenda Bell. During America’s Revolutionary War, two lost soldiers stumble upon the “perfect� village while searching for food and shelter. Unfortunately, the villagers are not willing to share (until the soldiers begin to make their favorite meal — Stone Soup). It includes a pre-show arts workshop one hour prior to every performance. Appropriate for all ages, but recommended for 3 and up. Sat. and Sun. through Nov. 5. The workshop begins at 10am; show is 11am (at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St., btw. 3rd & Bleecker Sts.). Tickets are $40 for first 3 rows, $35 for second 3 rows and $25 for all other seats (prices includes pre-show arts workshop). Purchase through ovationtix.com, by calling 212-352-3101 or at the box office (on the days of the show only). For info, visit soupinthevillage.com. BMCC TRIBECA PERFORMANING ARTS CENTER Highlights of the 2011-2012 family season includes family favorites such as “Clifford, The Big Red Dog� (celebrating its 50th Anniversary), “The Magic Schoolbus� (celebrating its 25h Anniversary) and will continue its partnership with Theatreworks USA with four productions (including “The Yellow Brick Road� on Sun., Nov. 20, at 3pm). Single tickets are $25 (10Club members enjoy $14 tickets). A 10Club Membership enables you to purchase 10 admissions for $140 (parents save more than 40 percent off the cost of each ticket). To purchase a 10Club membership call 212220–1460 or visit Ticketing Services (office hours: Tues.Sat., noon – 6pm) located in the lobby of the Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers Street Visit tribecapac.org for single tickets. SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT THE SCHOLASTIC STORE Every Saturday at 3pm, Scholastic’s in-store activities are designed to get kids reading, thinking, talking, creating and moving. At 557 Broadway (btw. Prince and Spring Sts.). Store hours are Mon.-Sat., 10am-7pm and Sun., 11am-6pm. For info, call 212-343-6166 or visit scholastic.com/sohostore. POETS HOUSE The Poets House Children’s Room gives children and their parents a gateway to enter the world of rhyme — through readings, group activities and interactive performances. For children ages 1-3, the Children’s Room offers “Tiny Poets Time� readings on Thursdays at 10am; for those ages 4-10, “Weekly Poetry Readings� on Satur-
days at 11am. Filled with poetry books, old-fashioned typewriters and a card catalogue packed with poetic objects to trigger inspiration, the Children’s Room is open Thurs.-Sat., 11am-5pm (at 10 River Terrace and Murray St.). Call 212431-7920 or visit poetshouse.org. CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE ARTS Explore painting, collage and sculpture through self-guided arts projects at this museum dedicated to inspiring the artist within. Open art stations are ongoing throughout the afternoon — giving children the opportunity to experiment with materials such as paint, clay, fabric, paper and found objects. Drop in with wee-ones (ages 10 months to 3½ years) for the museum’s “Wee-Artsâ€? program every Mon. and Fri., 9:1510:30am; Wed., 4-5:15pm; Wed.-Thurs., 10-11am, through Dec.23. Start the morning with Playdough, paints, glue and drawing — in an intimate and stimulating environment where experimentation, exploration and creative thinking are encouraged. Each session ($22 per family of three) ends with music and story time. Museum hours: Mon. and Wed., 12-5pm; Thurs. and Fri., 12-6pm; Sat.-Sun., 10am-6pm. Admission: $10; Pay as you wish on Thurs., 4-6pm. At 103 Charlston St. (btw. Hudson and Greenwich Sts.). Call 212-274-0986 or visit cmany.org. For group tours, call 212274-0986, ext. 31. NEW YORK CITY FIRE MUSEUM Kids will learn about fire prevention and safety through group tours, led by former NYC firefighters. The program — which lasts approximately 75 minutes — includes classroom training and a simulated event in a mock apartment, where a firefighter shows how fires can start in different rooms in the home. Finally, students are guided on a tour of the museum’s first floor. Tours (for groups of 20 or more) are offered Tuesdays through Fridays at 10:30am, 11:30am and 12:30pm. Tickets are $3 for children and $5 per adult — but for every 10 kids, admission is free for one adult. The museum offers a $700 Junior Firefighter Birthday Party package, for children 3-6 years old. The birthday child and 15 of their guests will be treated to story time, show and tell, a coloring activity, a scavenger hunt and the opportunity to speak to a real firefighter (the museum provides a fire-themed birthday cake, juice boxes and other favors and decorations). The NYC Fire Museum is located at 278 Spring St. (btw. Varick and Hudson). For info and reservations, call 212-691-1303.
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THE LEGEND OF THE ENCHANTED TREASURE (“LAS LEYENDAS DEL COFRE ENCANTADO) Society of the Educational Arts (the only Latino children’s theatre company in the nation) presents this whimsical puppet play. When four children discover an old enchanted chest, myths and legends from the Aztecs in MĂŠxico, the Mayas from Guatemala, the Incas from PerĂş and the Tainos from Puerto Rico are brought to life. Transported back to ancient times — and transformed into characters from these indigenous stories — the group of friends explore the cultures, traditions and contributions of each country they visit. In English and Spanish. on Sat., Oct. 29, 3pm at the NEW Teatro SEA (Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center;107 Suffolk St., btw. Rivington & Delancey Sts.). A special performance is scheduled for Sat., Nov. 5, 3pm (as a part of the 6th Annual BORIMIX: Puerto Rico Fest). For tickets ($15 children, $18 adults), call 212-529-1545 or visit teatrosea.org.
THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE MUSEUM The Junior Officers Discovery Zone is an exhibit designed for ages 3-10. It’s divided into four areas (Police Academy, Park and Precinct, Emergency Services Unit, and a Multi-Purpose Area), each with interactive and imaginary play experiences for children to understand the role of police officers in our community — by, among other things, driving and taking care of a police car. For older children, there’s a crime scene observation activity that will challenge them to remember relevant parts of city street scenes, a physical challenge similar to those at the Police Academy and a model Emergency Services Unit vehicle where children can climb in, use the steering wheel and lights, hear radio calls with police codes and see some of the actual equipment
carried by The Emergency Services Unit. At 100 Old Slip. For info, call 212-480-3100 or visit nycpm.org. Hours: Mon. through Sat., 10am-5pm and Sun., 12-5pm. Admission: $8 ($5 for students, seniors and children; free for children under 2). WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR EVENT LISTED IN THE DOWNTOWN EXPRESS? Send information to scott@chelseanow.com. Please provide the date, time, location, price and a description of the event. Information may also be mailed to 515 Canal Street, Unit 1C, New York City, NY 10013. Requests must be received at least three weeks before the event. Questions? Call 646-452-2497.
Moving Visions’ Murray Street Studio A Wise Choice for your child’s dance education!
Dance for Children and Teens • Modern Ballet (ages 5-18) • Choreography (ages 8 & up) • Creative Movement/Pre-Ballet (ages 3-5)
ADULT CLASSES
Yoga - Tai Chi • Chi/Dance/Exercise for Women
19 Murray St., 3rd Fl.
212-608-7681 (day)
(Bet. Broadway and Church)
www.murraystreetdance.com
downtown express
October 26 - November 1, 2011
24
DOWNTOWNEXPRESSARTS&ENTERTAINMENT Bring out your dead Last call for a hideous Halloween REANIMATED BY SCOTT STIFFLER
GHOST STORIES LIVE! Some who haunt the Lower East Side’s troubled arts and entertainment scene say, in hushed and cautious tones, that the producer of “Ghost Stories Live!� (SidMarty Lovecraft) bears a disturbing resemblance to mystery writer Russell Atwood (whose 2009 novel “Losers Live Longer� saw East Village detective Payton Sherwood knee deep in corpses, corruption and double crosses). At least Atwood and Lovecraft are both alive and kicking — unlike your host for the evening: Pugsley the Fiendly Ghost. All three (two?) will be on hand when “Ghost Stories Live!� makes its debut as a new series at Bar 82. This time up at bat: Horror writer Amy Grech (“The Blanket of White�) will read her new ghost story, “Rampart.� This publication’s own Downtown theater columnist Trav S. D. will perform a dramatization of H. R. Wakefield’s classic story, “Ghost Hunt.� Award-winning mystery writer S. J. Rozan (“Ghost Hero�) discusses the tradition of the Chinese Ghost Story; Blake
Photo courtesy of Housing Works and Granta Photo courtesy of some dead guy
He’s so transparent‌plus, he’s a puppet. Your host, Pugsley the Fiendly Ghost. See “Ghost Stories Live!â€?
Thompson will spin true tales based on his experiences growing up in a house haunted by the ghost of its former landlord; and artist/performer Anastacia Goodin will read from “Phantasmagoria,� by Lewis Carroll (“Canto II: Hys Fyve Rules�). There will also be ghostly art and a photo exhibit, special effects, book signings and a “Riddle of the 13 Ghosts� contest. Try to stay alive until December — when the series returns with a performance inspired by Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol� and a reading of an H.P. Lovecraft horror classic. At 8pm and 10:30pm, on Sun., Oct. 30 — in the backroom performance space of Bar 82 (136 Second Ave., near Saint Marks Place). For tickets ($5 for the early show, $10 for the late show), purchase at the door.
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HALLOWEEN AT HOUSING WORKS BOOKSTORE CAFE “The Housing Works Horror: A Literary Halloween Party with Granta Magazine� encourages you to don a literary-themed costume, and then be thoroughly traumatized by tales of horrors real and imagined (including a reading of a new, never-beforepublished Stephen King story). Mon., Oct. 31 at 7pm, at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe (126 Crosby St., btw. Houston and Prince). For info, 212-9660466, housingworksbookstore.org or facebook.com/housingworksbookstore.
Library-themed costumes are encouraged, at Granta’s horrifying party. See “Halloween at Housing Works.�
Photo courtesy of Lucasfilm/Photofest
Wiggy Stardust: David Bowie, and hair, in “Labyrinth� (Oct. 28 at 92Ytribeca).
SOLOMON� serves a Friday night dinner whose menu includes horror-themed food and cocktails — with a chaser of lively discussion. Blogger Brian Solomon (The Vault of Horror) hosts, with Rabbi Dan Ain opining on religion in vampire culture and the significance of blood in Jewish tradition. Fri., Oct. 28, 7pm, $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Also on Fri., Oct. 28, at 10:15pm: “LABYRINTH SING-ALONG� is a bargain, at $13 — which includes the movie ticket and one beer. You’ll want a few more than that, though, to fully appreciate the sight of David Bowie as a spandex-wearing, crystal ball-juggling villain who gives Ziggy Stardust a run for his money in the crazy clothes and eccentric hair department. Plus, there are Muppets and a trippy staircase. It could only be Jim Henson’s flawed but underappreciated 1986 film “Labyrinth.�
AT 92YTRIBECA “CHALLAWEEN
WITH
BRIAN
Continued on page 27
downtown express
25
October 26 - November 1, 2011
At Axis, ‘aggressive surrealism’ immerses, engages, messes with you Productions feature bad, brave kids and the ‘coolest stage snow’ you’ll ever see BY MARTIN DENTON Axis Company occupies the building at One Sheridan Square that once housed the Ridiculous Theatrical Company — and while their aesthetic is markedly different from Charles Ludlam’s, their dedication and commitment to the creation of theater that challenges assumptions about how art (and the world) works is as strong as their predecessor’s. That’s one of the reasons I keep going there. A visit to Axis is always a surprise for the senses, from whatever themed art-or-artifact display is housed in the theater lobby, to whatever astonishing, inventive (possibly multimedia, probably sensorially assaulting) experience Axis’s artistic director Randy Sharp and her colleagues have cooked up for us inside the theater. Axis Company’s mission is to present “aggressive surrealism, classic vaudeville turns and vanguard adaptation.” I love that first part. Aggressive surrealism — as if plain old passive surrealism is too worried about our feelings and our comfort zones. Axis’s space is deliciously comfortable. In fact, it’s sumptuous by indie/Off-Off-Broadway standards (and fully equipped with all sorts of techie goodies that make their way into the company’s productions). But don’t expect your mind to take a vacation when you’re seeing an Axis show. Expect, instead, to become immersed, engaged, shaken up and messed with. There are two signature (usually annual) events at Axis. Most summers, they give us a new edition of “Hospital” — a four-part serial examining the inner life of a person who is in a coma. It sounds weird, I know. But once you see the first episode, you’ll be hooked and absolutely need to see the next three. Sharp and her cast and crew (including a nonpareil design and production staff led by sound designer Steve Fontaine and lighting designer David Zeffren) create new scenarios for each of the “Hospital” shows, then create entirely new worlds in which to house them. Using film and video, music and a troupe of recurring off-kilter doctors and nurses (usually played by David Crabb, Paul Marc Barnes and Laurie Kilmartin), these artists take audiences to places that their wildest imaginings never dreamed of. But unlike the wild drug trip that this serial could resemble, there’s thematic unity and purpose, throughout. Most Decembers, Axis mounts Sharp’s holiday show “Seven in One Blow, or The Brave Little Kid” — a musical for kids of all ages (Honest!). Without ever being cloying, and with the utter originality that we always find at Axis (even though this is based on a Grimm Brothers fairy tale), “Seven” reminds us of what Christmas is actually supposed to be about. Among many other wonderful qualities, this production sports the coolest stage snow I’ve ever seen. It returns to Axis on December 2, for its 10th anniversary revival. At Axis from October 28 through November 12, is “Bad Kid” — a new oneman play written and performed by Axis Company member David Crabb (directed and
Photo by Lucas Longacre
The three faces of “Bad Kid.”
co-written by Josh Matthews). “I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. Entering my teens, I felt pretty disenfranchised and scared about the ways I considered myself ‘different’,” Crabb told me. “I luckily found a group of freaks, punks and Goth kids who not only accepted me, but made me feel, by comparison, almost ‘normal’. This play is about how I changed during that time period towards the end of high school.” Crabb — a two-time MothSlam champion, co-producer of Kevin Allison’s “RISK!” and co-creator and producer of the live storytelling series “ASK ME” — is a superb performer and actor who refers to the Axis Company as “family.” Sharp and Brian Barnhart (the company’s producing director) certainly come across as startlingly nurturing, generous souls. In addition to Crabb, the Axis “family” includes such remarkably talented folks as actor/playwright Marc Palmieri (“Levittown,” “Carl the Second”), actor/director George Demas (Krapp, 39; the recent David Cromer revival of “Our Town”), and the incomparable actor-writer-raconteur Edgar Oliver. The last solo show developed at Axis was Oliver’s sublimely strange “East 10th Street: Self Portrait with Empty House” — which went on to long runs at PS 122 and became a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe (where it won the prestigious Fringe First Award, and at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina). So Crabb is following in some mighty footsteps. And he’s working, of course, in a house with a pretty grand history. The ghosts of the Ridiculous Theatrical Company linger, I imagine; and in the dozen years since Axis took over the space, they’ve amassed an impressive roster of work themselves. Their revival of the 1840s melodrama “A Glance
Photo by Geri Grimm
A future bad kid? David Crabb, age 10.
at New York” is another of their major hits, while recent new plays by Sharp such as “Trinity 5:29” (about the creation of the first atomic bomb) and “Down There” (inspired by the real-life 1965 torture murder of Sylvia Likens) have been among the most memorable works I’ve witnessed on stage in the past few years. Adventurous theatergoers will want to check out Crabb’s “Bad Kid,” and really anything that turns up at Axis. Another great thing about this company: The ticket prices
are super-reasonable (just $15 for “Bad Kid,” with $10 tickets available for students and seniors). So between the unstintingly high quality that pervades the place, an authentic coolness vibe, and an economical price, Axis should be one of your go-to destinations for amazing new theater experiences. It definitely is one of mine. For more info, visit badkidtheshow.com and axiscompany.org. Martin Denton is the editor of nytheatre.com and indietheaternow.com.
downtown express
October 26 - November 1, 2011
26
Young, costumed, scary…and scared? Halloween is kids stuff
fresh human brains. But to get the most out of these undead snacks, they must be properly prepared. That’s what McNally Jackson’s Ghoulish Gourmet School of Halloween Cuisine is here for. With help from the fiendishly talented Chef Vladimir and Mistress of Scarimonies Yvonne Brooks, little monsters will learn how to conjure these dastardly dishes (then take their creepy cuisine back to their own dark crypt). They’ll also fly back home, like a bat out of a belfry, with a Haunted House Book of revolting recipes to prepare in their family laboratories. This free event is appropriate for ages 3-10. Costumes are encouraged, but not required. Sat., Oct. 29, 11:30am-1:30pm, in the McNally Jackson Café (52 Prince St.). For info, call 212274-1160 or visit mcnallyjackson.com.
COMPILED BY SCOTT “SPOOKY” STIFFLER
HALLOWEEN IS HAPPENING AT TRINITY CHURCH Historic Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan transforms its north churchyard into a kid-friendly Halloween zone full of treats, crafts and chats with “ghosts” from old New York. The south churchyard will feature music and dancing where adults (if they dare), can try a “spirited” Haunted Hamilton cocktail or non-alcoholic beverage. When the sun goes down, Fritz Lang’s groundbreaking 1927 silent sci-fi masterpiece “Metropolis” will be screened — accompanied by a haunting score played by Peter Krasinski on Trinity’s virtual pipe organ. All events are free and open to the public (donations accepted…costumes encouraged!). Fri., Oct. 28; 4-10pm, at Trinity Church (Broadway at Wall St.). “Ghouls, Games and Graves’” appropriate for ages 3 and up. “Metropolis” appropriate for ages 10 and up. For info, call 212-602-0800 or visit trinitywallstreet.org.
Photo courtesy of Trinity Wall Street
SCREAMIN’ GREEN HALLOWEEN At least pumpkins are biodegradable — but a store-bought Halloween costume used once and tossed in the trash might live longer than Frankenstein…and come back to haunt our children’s children in the form of landfill horrors. That’s what makes the World Financial Center Winter Garden’s ecofriendly “Screamin’ Green Halloween” such a great, guilt-free way to celebrate. With the help of artist-educators, kids will enjoy costume making with recycled and repurposed household materials, photo booths, prizes, parades and a 30-foot high scarecrow, witch and skeleton. A variety of games will reward players with fair trade and organic treats (as well as temporary tattoos of pumpkins and ghosts — printed on recycled paper. Free. Sun., Oct. 30, 12-3pm, at the World Financial Center Winter Garden (220 Vesey St.). Costume parades will take place throughout the World Financial Center (including, weather permitting, the waterfront) at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm — led by the new Outer Borough Brass Band. World Financial Center Shops and Restaurants will offer specials and sales throughout the afternoon. Free valet bicycle parking will be provided by Transportation Alternatives (on the outdoor waterfront Plaza). For info, 212945-0505 or artsworldfinancialcenter.com. Also visit greenhalloween.org.
HUDSON RIVER PARK’S HALLOWEEN KIDZ KARNIVAL It’s officially a Halloween tradition. For the third year, Hudson River Park’s Pier 46 morphs into a “Halloween Kidz Karnival” featuring enough face painting, mask decorating, wax hands, cotton candy and rides
Photo by Katie Osgood
Eco-Friendly, but still a little scary: See “Screamin’ Green Halloween.”
to keep you in the Halloween spirit all day long…and into the long, dark night. In addition to these spooktacular activities, The Story Pirates will perform Halloweenthemed improv shows for children and adults of all ages throughout the day. Sun., Oct. 30, 12-6pm. At Hudson River Park’s Pier 46 (Charles Street & the Hudson River in Greenwich Village). All ages are welcome (most attractions will appeal to kids between 2–8. Some activities are free; select activities will cost $2 per ticket. For more info, visit hudsonriverpark.org.
HALLOWEEN PARADE AND EXTRAVAGANZA AT THE SCHOLASTIC STORE On Sat., Oct 29 at 3pm (for all ages), Clifford the Big Red Dog leads the annual Halloween Parade. Listen to scary (but not too spooky) tales and dance the day
BOOKS OF WONDER A moonlit graveyard full of authors will be reading from some creepy books that may already be giving someone you care about bad dreams. On Sat., Oct. 29, 12-2pm (for ages 8-12), “Great New Chapter Books” welcomes seven authors whose works target middle grade readers. Among them: Elise Broach will read from the first volume of her new trilogy, “Missing on Superstition Mountain.” Illustrator and debut author Scott Gustafson spins the tale of a dark little boy who grew up to be the master of the macabre, in “Eddie: The Lost Youth of Edgar Allen Poe” — and Josh Lewis catches fans up with the adventure of Super Chicken Nugget Boy (whose latest adventure finds him facing off against the Massive Meatloaf Man). At Books of Wonder (18 W. 18th St., btw. 5th & 6th Aves.). For info, call 212-9893270 or visit booksofwonder.com. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10am-7pm; Sun., 11am-6pm.
Costumes, games and graves galore at Trinity Church.
away to bewitching music. Costumes are encouraged…treats are guaranteed. Then, on Sun., Oct. 30 from 5-7pm, the Halloween Extravaganza features storytelling, a “Black Cat Scavenger Hunt,” pumpkin bowling, eyeball relays and cupcake decorating — plus pizza, punch, snacks and goodies galore. The $20 per person ticket gets you a $5 in-store coupon. To RSVP, call 212-343-6166 or email thescholasticstore@scholastic.com. At 557 Broadway (btw. Prince and Spring Sts. Stroller Entrance: 130 Mercer St.). Regular store hours: Mon.-Sat., 10am-7pm and Sun., 11am-6pm. For info, call 212-3436166 or visit scholastic.com/sohostore.
GHOULISH GOURMET HALLOWEEN PARTY It’s a fact: Evil eyeballs, ghastly ghost sticks, freaky Frankenstein fingers and putrid worm punch are almost as tasty as
PUMPKIN PATCH AND HIGH LINE HALLOWEEN HI-JINKS Fulton Youth of the Future, Friends of the High Line and NYC Council Speaker Quinn’s office have joined (dark?) forces to transform the High Line into a pumpkin patch. Purchase pumpkins to take home, or decorate them on the spot. Sun., Oct. 30, 12-4pm. On the High Line, in the Chelsea Market Passage (near W. 15th St.). Also on that same day, from 12-3pm, “Halloween Hi-Jinks on the High Line”invites families to dress in costume and join Friends of the High line for tricks, treats and the first-ever Halloween parade on the High Line. The ghoulish procession begins promptly at noon (at the Seating Steps, on at West 22nd St.). Puppet Master Ralph Lee will lead, as the parade travels south toward The Porch (the High Line’s new open-air café, at West 15th St.). Following the parade, stay at The Porch to paint faces, dance to spooky tunes and howl at the moon — in the dead of the afternoon. This event is free, and open to visitors of all ages. Children age 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For info, visit thehighline.org.
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October 26 - November 1, 2011
Bloody good Halloween events ets.com. Proceeds benefit The Actors Fund’s HOWL! H.E.L.P. (Howl! Emergency Life Project). For more info on HOWL!, visit howlfestival.com. For all things “Ghostlight,� mothernyc.com/ghostlight.
Continued from page 24 Chris Kelly hosts this sing-along screening and costume competition. “Labyrinth� Synergy Alert! Known for their discordant guitar tones, elastic vocals and fractured rhythms, Dragons of Zynch (performing in costume) has a fan in former costumed freakazoid David Bowie. The Dragons are: twin brothers Aku (vocals, keyboards) and Akwetey (vocals, guitar) as well as J. Bizza (drums) and FonLin (bass). This gig at 92YTribeca’s mainstage venue will feature new songs from their forthcoming sophomore album. Doors open at 8pm on Sat., Oct. 29 for the 9pm show. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 day of. All events are at 92YTribeca (200 Hudson St.). For info, visit 92YTribeca.org or call 212-601-1000.
DARK LIGHT
GHOSTLIGHT: THE HAUNTED EAST VILLAGE
Photo by Beau Allulli; makeup by Anita Rundles
HOWL! Arts Project 2011 wraps up its sprawling month-long LES run, as Halloween elite team The Jackie Factory (Jackie 60, Night of 1000 Stevies, Low Life @ Howl) reunite with Editrix Abby (Click + Drag, Burning Man) for “Ghostlight: The Haunted East Village.� Theatre 80 is transformed into a ghostly music hall for the night — with three sets at 10pm, 11pm and the witching hour. The top-notch talent booked
King And Queen of the Dead, in “The Tragedy of Maria Macabre� (part of “Ghostlight.�
at press time included: The Pixie Harlots, Flloyd, Amber Ray, Rachel Klein Theatre (in “The Tragedy of Maria Macabre�), Heather Litteer (aka Jessica Rabbit Domination), Princess Xtravaganza,Vangeline Theater, aerialist Rachel Salzman and The Dueling
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Bankheads. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ghostlightâ&#x20AC;? runs as part of HOWL! ARTS PROJECT: Mon., Oct. 31 at Theatre 80 (80 St. Marks Place). Doors open at 9pm. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door (cash only). For advance purchase, visit brownpapertick-
Jagged Night Theatreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horror play comes with an upfront warning that will either scare you away or draw you in: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Please note that this show contains explicit language, stage blood, staged violence and gruesome or scary images. Not recommended for children or people with heart conditions.â&#x20AC;? Still reading? Then you probably have the intestinal fortitude to witness the storage tale of Emily and her little brother Tim â&#x20AC;&#x201D; whose trip to the circus is cut short by a costumed psychopath. When Emily wakes up to find herself imprisoned in an abandoned facility, she discovers a group of strangers who are being used as test subjects in a twisted experiment. To escape, and find her missing brother, Emily must navigate the underground prison while confronting a shocking revelation about her dark past. Wed., Oct. 26 and Thurs., Oct. 27 at 7:30pm; Fri., Oct. 28 and Sat., Oct. 29 at 7:30pm and 10pm; Mon. Oct. 31 at 7:30pm. At The Zoo Theater at Triskelion Arts (118 North 11th St., 3rd Floor, Brooklyn; btw. Berry St. and Wythe Ave.). For tickets ($20; $15 for students), visit jaggednighttheatre.com.
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October 26 - November 1, 2011
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HOME IMPROVEMENT Wall Women Painting & Plastering Over 25 yrs experience. Located in Chelsea area. Excellent References. Free estimate Call 212-675-0631
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COMPUTER SERVICES PERSONAL COMPUTER SERVICES Reliable! Repairs, upgrades, installations, troubleshooting, instruction, custom-built PCs and consulting. Older PCs serviced 212-242-7221
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19 Murray Street Between Church & Broadway
www.TribecaDentalCenter.com
For an appointment, call 212-941-9095
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October 26 - November 1, 2011
Spend the night in three haunted houses Encounter grim fairy tales, real ghosts and steampunks BY SCOTT “RIGOR MORTIS SETS IN” STIFFLER Buckets of blood, knife-wielding psychos and gallons of gore — these are the things traditional haunted houses are made of. But if that’s not your cup of arsenic-laced tea (or if you just find the notion of manufactured scares more than a little silly and artificial), consider doing what I did last Saturday night. Okay, get your mind out of the gutter for a minute. I’m talking about the early evening — when I visited three unusual haunted houses in search of unconventional thrills.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 6:40PM NIGHTMARE FAIRY TALES and THE EXPERIMENT: There’s plenty to admire about this tense, trippy journey through unhappy, often violent tales from The Brothers Grimm, Aesop, Hans Christian Anderson and others…but to call it “New York’s Most Horrifying Haunted House” is a bit of an overreach. Don’t go expecting slasher film-level terror…but do go. “Nightmare” successfully transports you into a realm where the polite versions of well-known fairy tales have been restored to their original dark, cautionary glory. Blindfolded — then forced to follow Rapunzel by grabbing her long locks — small groups are led through a maze of dark forests, isolated cottages, unstable bridges, intimidating confrontations and genuine frights from fairy tale characters who emerge from hidden places. This method of getting a rise is trotted out so often, you should be immune by the second or third time…but the scares keep coming. You’ll get your money’s worth from “Nightmare” — but if you stay for “The Experiment,” you’ll emerge feeling as if you’ve been taken for a ride. It delivers no genuine frights, other than the looming specter of forced audience participation. This rather toothless short play casts you and a group of around 20 others as volunteers in research on the psychology of fear. Select audience members are subjected to a few tepid experiments. Only the one involving an intimate confession comes close to unleashing the level of cruelty implied by its premise. At Clemente Soto Velez (107 Suffolk St. btw. Rivington & Delancey Sts.). Through Nov. 5 (no shows Tues., Wed.). Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. VIP tickets: $60 (with no goodie bag). Super VIP tickets: $100 (with goodie bag). To purchase tickets, call 212-352-3101 or visit nightmarenewyork.com.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 8:30PM CANDLELIGHT GHOST TOUR AT THE MERCHANT’S HOUSE MUSEUM: As the tour starts, your guide (flashlight in hand, but not casting shadows on his face in the traditional spooky Halloween man-
Photo by Jon Wasserman
Grab her hair, to go: Rapunzel leads you into “Nightmare Fairy Tales.”
years. On this tour, you’ll hear many accounts — recorded by those who experienced them, and revealed in the very rooms in which they happened. Not able to make it this weekend? During regular museum hours, you can take a self-guided tour and walk the house alone… and through Oct. 31, raffle tickets are on sale (at MHM or by visiting their website). The winner (along with a guest) will attend the November or December paranormal investigation of the Merchant’s House, conducted by Dan Sturges (sturgesparanormal.com) and his team. Tickets are $5 for one; $10 for three; $20 for seven. The “Candlelight Ghost Tour” takes place Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 27-29. Tours begin every half hour. The 6, 6:30, 7 and 7:30pm tours are $25. The 8, 8:30pm and 9pm tours are $30. The 9:30pm tour, for $40, includes a trip to the fourth floor servant’s quarters. On Sun., Oct. 30, 3-5pm, “From Parlor to Grave: 1865 Funeral Reenactment” finds the Merchant’s House parlors draped in black crape, for a recreation of the 1865 funeral of Seabury Tredwell. After the service, mourners will follow the coffin to nearby New York City Marble Cemetery for a tour ($30; $10 for graveside service and cemetery tour only). At the Merchant’s House Museum (29 E. Fourth St., btw. Lafayette & Bowery). Regular museum Hours: Thurs.-Mon., 12-5pm. Admission: $10 ($5 for students/seniors). For info, call 212-777-1089 or visit merchantshouse.org.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22: 10PM
Photo by Eva Ulz
Dead, and about to be buried. See “The Merchant’s House.”
ner) announces that nobody will be jumping out and yelling “Boo!” — they don’t have to. Currently celebrating its 75th year of providing a frozen-in-time glimpse of NYC domestic life as lived from 1835-1865, the Merchant’s House long ago staked its claim as “Manhattan’s most haunted house.” I found that out for myself last October, when I tagged along on a paranormal investigation
of the place. Over the past year, I’ve returned several times with Dan Sturges, his crew and a gifted psychic in an attempt to interact with the deceased family members, caretakers and servants who might be haunting the place. Nobody involved is saying there’s such a thing as ghosts — but something strange is definitely going on. Dozens of unexplained events and spectral sightings have taken place over the
STEAMPUNK HAUNTED HOUSE: THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: For its third annual production, Steampunk Haunted House mines the psychodrama of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice stories. Audience members are admitted in small groups — but not before being prepared for the fact that at various points, they’ll have to walk through Wonderland alone. Along the way, expect to be guided (and poked and prodded and maybe even gently groped) by the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, more than one Alice and some steampunkish factory workers. None of these folks intend to frighten — but every one of them is capable of filling you with a surreal, dreamlike sense of dread that comes from losing your ability to control your direction (and destiny). Those with the time, and the money, will want to have another go at this sensory overload experience filled with beautifully designed sets, Victorian period props, intricate costumes and some of the best actors the crowded haunted house genre has to offer. Wed., Oct. 26: Tours from 6-8pm. Fri., Oct. 28 and Sat., Oct. 29: Tours from 8-11:15pm. Thurs., Oct. 27, Sun., Oct. 30 and Mon., Oct. 31: Tours from 6-9:30pm. General Admission: Wed. and Thurs., $20 ($10 for students). Fri. through Mon., $25 ($10 for students). Information and ticketing: steampunkhauntedhouse.com. At Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand St., at Pitt St.).
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Hudson Square Pharmacy 345 Hudson St.
(corner of King St)ÊUÊ212-989-1400
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October 26 - November 1, 2011
battle your friends, get tips on your topspin & watch masters of the sport!
see complete schedule at worldďŹ nancialcenter.com/arts-events
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