November 14, 2013 The Villager

The Paper of Record for Greenwich Village, East Village, Lower East Side, Soho, Union Square, Chinatown and Noho, Since 1933

November 14, 2013 • $1.00 Volume 83 • Number 24

Community confronts park air rights issue as Cuomo O.K.’s bill

BY SAM SPOKONY AND LINCOLN ANDERSON

PHOTO BY BYRON SMITH

Teacher John Kaufmann working with first graders at Success Academy Union Square.

Charter school is settling in at Washington Irving home

BY HEATHER DUBIN

T

hree months into the school year, Success Academy’s Union Square location is beginning to smooth out some logistical kinks. The kindergarten and first-grade classes at the charter school are now able to walk to their recess destination from 40 Irving Place, at E. 16th St., to Union

Square Park in six minutes flat.

Success Academy has the second floor at the Washington Irving High School campus, as well as its own cafeteria and entrance, which is separate from the main lobby entrance, where there are metal detectors in place for the students from the six high schools that share the building.

Success Academy was founded in

2006 by former City Councilmember Eva Moskowitz, who is the growing charter network’s C.E.O. On a recent tour of the new Union Square charter school with Principal Paola Zalkind and Ann Powell, senior managing director of communications for Success Academy charter schools, CHARTER SCHOOL, continued on p. 16

O

n the same day that around 200 Lower West Side residents gathered to discuss their fears about a bill that would allow the transfer and sale of Hudson River Park’s air rights, Governor Andrew

Cuomo finally signed the bill into law.

Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, had just finished his introductory speech at Wednesday’s meeting, around 7 p.m., when word came that Cuomo had signed the AIR RIGHTS, continued on p. 5

Advocates file suit to stop NYCHA’s luxury infill plan

BY SAM SPOKONY

O

pponents of the New York City Housing Authority’s plan to lease public land to private developers have filed a lawsuit against the agency in an attempt to stop the plan from moving forward.

The Urban Justice Cen-

ter and New York Environmental Law and Justice Project announced on Tuesday that they filed suit in State Supreme Court to prevent NYCHA from accepting any bids to construct primarily luxury residential buildings in five of the eight developments targeted for

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November 14, 2013

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A design rendering of the Norwegian wooden reindeer footbridge commissioned by Jean-Louis Bourgeois that would span the West Side Highway at W. 10th St.

ing several times, “Yes, I am a liar. Yes, I am dishonest.” “We were there,” averred Stefan Schneider, one of Bourgeois’s allies. It bears mentioning that Capsis’s paper has run full-page advertisements by Witkoff for his Charles St. luxury project.

“They run many ads in his paper, including the back page,” remarked Schneider. Capsis also supports the idea that part or all of the St. John’s Center site across from Pier 40 be redeveloped as a hospital. And, according to Westview, Witkoff has even pledged money toward this goal. However, one has to wonder how realistic that is — since, amid all the Hudson River Park airrights hoopla — the main thing people seem to be eyeing the St. John’s site for is residential use, which, as Witkoff well knows, is regarded as the “highest use” among developers since it’s the most lucrative. Bourgeois agrees that Witkoff should commit to helping provide a new hospital — namely, by making half of his own 150 Charles St. project into one. For his part, Capsis did not respond to a request for comment. By the way, The Villager ran Bourgeois’s ad in our issue last week. In other, waterfront-related Bourgeois doings, he has also commissioned “Norwegian footbridge architects” to design a footbridge over the West Side Highway at W. 10th St., which is near both Bourgeois’s small building on Weehawken St. and Witkoff’s new megaproject. “I’m not selling my air rights to a developer. You can count on it,” Bourgeois declared. He told The Villager he is offering the bridge for free to the city. “The bridge is already designed,” he said. “It’s currently in a bridge contest in Las Vegas.

SCOOPY’S, continued on p. 19

PHOTO BY SCOOPY

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER(FRONT): Village activist Jean-Louis Bourgeois has quite a lot to report. First off, he told us he intends to file a lawsuit to block the Hudson River Park Trust from transferring 1.6 million square feet or more of unused development rights one block inland from the park, which is now allowable after Governor Cuomo approved the necessary legislation on Wednesday. The son of famed sculptor Louise Bourgeois said he has already retained a lawyer for the suit. “I’m getting the best — Norman Siegel,” he told us.

Next, Bourgeois told us about his recent troubling interaction with another local publication, Westview. As Bourgeios and several of his supporters related to us at our office last week, Bourgeois tried to place an ad in Westview attacking Steven Witkoff’s new luxury high-rise residential project, 150 Charles St., which Bourgeois lives right across from, and which he and neighbors have sued to try to stop. In August, Bourgeois and some of his brothers in arms met George Capsis, Westview’s publisher, at a rooftop party at which Bourgeois asked the publisher if he would run the ad. Capsis at that time, said yes, according to Bourgeois and his sidekicks. He subsequently also “verbally agreed” to running it in a follow-up phone call. A few weeks ago, the ad was all mocked-up and ready to submit to the monthly paper, and Bourgeois and his cohorts brought it over to Capsis at his home, but Capsis then abruptly turned around and rejected it. “So you are a liar and you are dishonest,” Bourgeois told us he accused Capsis to his face, to which the latter reportedly replied, in a loud, declarative voice, repeat-

Jean-Louis Bourgeois with his puppet, which we thought was a hat.

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Small shops already feeling the crunch from 7-Eleven

BY PASHA FARMANARA

A

new 7-Eleven opened on E. 11th St. and Avenue A on Tues., Oct. 31, despite much opposition from East Village residents in the area. Fitting for the date, Halloween, the store’s appearance was the realization of many neighbors’ worst fears.

Opponents formed the No 7-Eleven campaign, and over the past year, rallied and fought to prevent the store from opening.

In their mission statement, the No 7-Eleven group says they are “taking a stand against the increasing flood of chain stores like 7-Eleven which threaten the free market, damage the local economy and whitewash the character of our communities.”

After the convenience store’s opening, the group held a boycott rally on Sun., Nov. 10, with a turnout of about 20 core supporters.

“We handed out fliers and spoke with people, the vast majority of whom are sympathetic [to our cause]. It’s like a big support group,” said Paul Parks, a leading member of No 7-Eleven. “Many New Yorkers suffer quietly from chain-store fatigue and are excited and heartened to see a group of citizens bringing attention to their concerns.”

Although 7-Eleven is a cheaper alternative to traditional mom-and-pop stores, the majority of local residents The Villager recently

polled about the new store agreed with No 7-Eleven. They said they would rather preserve the small businesses in the area than save money.

“I think if it was a 24-hour deli that was run by somebody local, I would be much more appreciative. This neighborhood is more about local business, so I would like to see it taken away,” said Jeremy, an East Villager who only gave his first name.

Residents have noticed an influx of corporate-owned stores in their neighborhood, and despite their disapproval, are expecting to see this trend to continue. In fact, the 7-Eleven on E. 11th St. and Avenue A is the national chain’s fifth store in the surrounding area.

“It changes the ambiance of the East Village,” Brian Appell, a 13-year neighborhood resident, said of the E. 11th St. 7-Eleven. “Next there will be a Starbucks. Everything unique about the East Village is disappearing.”

The new store has already put pressure on small businesses in the area. Tompkins Finest Deli is one of the many businesses that are finding it hard to compete with the chain’s low prices.

“I don’t like it because they take my customers, my business,” the deli’s manager said of the new 7-Eleven. “They are selling everything for half of my prices — but if people want to do something, there is nothing we can do.”

Many feel incapable of stopping chain stores from opening in their neighborhood.

Linda Anderson, a shopper at the new 7-Eleven, pointed out that the way to protest the establishment is to avoid it.

“I understand they are coming in everywhere,” she said. “Corporate America has taken over. People talk about how they miss old New York and its mom-and-pop shops.

But customers have a choice, and the only way we can talk is with our pocketbooks.”

Currently, the No 7-Eleven coalition plans on growing their social media presence, and also intends to hold a community meeting to discuss the future of chains and franchises in the East Village.

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November 14, 2013

TheVillager.com

Community talks park air rights as Cuomo O.K.’s bill AIR RIGHTS, continued from p. 1

‘Soho Wild Man’ gets jail time but could be out within weeks

BY HEATHER DUBIN

R

ichard Pearson, a mentally ill man who has been accused of “terrorizing” merchants and residents in Soho by physically and verbally harassing them, was sentenced to 10 months in prison on Tuesday, but he could be back on the streets by Christmas.

Pearson, 48, has been in jail since May 17, when he was charged with second-degree felony assault for allegedly throwing a brick at someone’s head. Two grand juries failed to indict him on the assault charge, but Pearson was indicted by both grand juries for possession of a narcotic, a misdemeanor.

On Oct. 30, Pearson pleaded guilty for possession of cocaine in State Supreme Court in front of Judge Charles Solomon. Assistant District Attorney James Zaleta, who had previously handled the case, requested the maximum jail sentence of one year, citing Pearson’s long criminal history, including six arrests in Soho.

At his Nov. 12 sentencing, Pearson opted to make a statement to Judge Solomon.

“I ask the court for leniency, and a just and proper sentence,” he said.

A.D.A. Zaleta was not in the courtroom, and in his absence, A.D.A. Maria Strohbehn represented the people. She requested the judge wait for Zaleta to appear.

TheVillager.com

Solomon declined, and rendered Pearson’s sentence, taking into consideration that he pleaded guilty, and has credit for almost six months already served.

Pearson looked confused, and asked Solomon, “I have to do the whole 10 months?”

“He took it well when I explained he’ll be out in three to four weeks,” Alex Grosshtern, Pearson’s attorney, said afterward.

The same could not be said for the handful of Soho residents present.

“I’m scared for the day he gets out,” said Christina Nenov, who lives on Spring St. “He’s been terrorizing the community. There are a lot of frightened people on the street.”

Minerva Durham, owner of Spring Studio, a figurative drawing studio, also expressed concern.

“I’m overwhelmed,” she said. “It’s the duty of our government to protect us and find a way to protect us from him, and to help him, too.”

Another Soho resident, who wished to remain anonymous, finds Pearson dangerous, declaring he should be put away in an asylum for a long time.

Grosshtern was pleased with the case’s outcome, and calculated that Pearson will probably be released in a month. He said he will not advise Pearson to avoid Soho, stating, “He never pleaded guilty to anything that had to do with that area.”

PHOTO BY SAM SPOKONY

bill. (It was The Villager that alerted Berman by e-mail after having been informed by a spokesperson for the Hudson River Park Trust that the governor had approved the bill. Assemblymember Richard Gottfried also confirmed to The Villager that the governor had O.K.’d the bill.)

Berman took the news with a smile — he never gave a hint of frustration or defeat — and informed the crowd.

Most people at that meeting — at the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, on W. 14th St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves.

— had understood that Cuomo probably wasn’t going to veto the bill, which in fact would have become law even if the governor had simply not taken any action on it by midnight that evening.

But there were still plenty of groans throughout the room.

“We need transparency,” said Bill Borock, president of the Council of Chelsea Block Associations. “We don’t need legislation passed without appropriate input and feedback from the impacted communities.”

Many residents in Tribeca, the West Village and Chelsea have been opposed to the legislation ever since it passed the state Senate and Assembly at the very end of the Legislative session in June. The legislation would allow an estimated 1.6 million square

feet of Hudson River Park’s air rights to be transferred one block east the park.

Madelyn Wils, C.E.O. of the Trust, attended part of Wednesday’s community meeting, but neither she nor anyone else from the Trust chose to contribute to the evening’s discussion.

Wils has supported the transfer of air rights, claiming that it is the best way to save the park and keep it financially stable.

Minutes after it was learned that the legislation had been signed into law, this newspaper asked Wils for a comment while she was leaving the room, but she declined.

“We’re going to put out a press release on it,” was all she said.

And although nearly everyone else in the room had been against the transfer of air rights, some were already looking on the bright side of the situation.

“I’m optimistic about the future,” said Arthur Schwartz, the Village Democratic district leader and a Community Board 2 member, who cited the upcoming shift in city government that will be led by Mayorelect Bill de Blasio.

Schwartz explained his belief that Community Boards 1, 2 and 4 — all of which border parts of Hudson River Park — will actually have significant advisory input on a future ULURP or some other development process, since he thinks the city’s elected officials will at some point be open

Preservationist Andrew Berman spoke at Wednesday’s meeting about the Hudson River Park air rights bill. Minutes later, he informed the crowd the bill had been signed into law.

to negotiating with the community boards.

“There’s a lot that’s going to change on this issue, and there’s also the fact that de Blasio is going to put five new people on the [Hudson River Park Trust] board, and [Borough President-elect] Gale Brewer is going to put three new people on that board,” said Schwartz. “I trust de Blasio and Brewer on this, and even though I know some people here don’t agree with me on it, I trust Madelyn Wils, too. She’s going to be committed to working with the community boards.”

But after Wednesday’s meeting had finished, Berman stressed that while he, too, respects the city’s progressive politicians,

he puts his faith in the neighborhood first.

“Any elected official, no matter how great they might be, won’t be around forever,” he said. “We can’t take anything for granted, and this is really just the beginning of this process. What’s most important now is for residents to stay involved in the issue, because the real work on this begins within the community.”

Other elected officials and politicos at the meeting included Assemblymembers Gottfried and Deborah Glick, Councilmember-elect Corey Johnson and Community Board 2 Chairperson David Gruber.

In related news, Village activist Jean-Louis Bourgeois, the son of renowned sculptor Louise Bourgeois, has retained attorney Norman Siegel to challenge the air rights legislation. (See Scoopy’s Notebook, on Page 3, for more on Bourgeois.)

On Wednesday, Siegel, in a phone interview, confirmed that he had been retained

by Bourgeois.

“We will be looking at the issue,” Siegel said. “And our position will be that, for cityowned air rights, the transfer must include ULURP. If they don’t do that, it would be the first challenge.”

ULURP, or the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, is generally a sevenmonth-long public process, involving reAIR RIGHTS, continued on p. 10

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POLICE BLOTTER Gunman gets 22 years

Police sketch of Mulberry St. rape suspect.

Rapist got in by fire escape

Police are hunting for a man who allegedly raped a woman on Mulberry St. in her Little Italy home early on Mon., Nov. 11, as the woman’s 7-year-old daughter was sleeping alongside her.

The woman, 42, told cops that the unknown man entered through the fire escape window of her Mulberry St. apartment around 3:30 a.m., threatened her with a knife and told her to be silent, then raped her in her bed. The child, who was beside her the whole time, was not injured, police said.

The alleged rapist then reportedly left through the woman’s front door and fled before police arrived on the scene.

The woman was taken to an undisclosed local hospital following the attack.

Police released a sketch of the suspect, above.

Shot dead in Smith Houses

An unknown gunman shot and killed a man early on Nov. 10 at Smith Houses on the Lower East Side.

George Taliferro, 30, a Smith Houses resident, was found by authorities around 4:15 a.m. on the ground outside 15 St. James Place, unconscious and with three bullet wounds in his torso. Police had responded to the scene moments after the gunshots were fired and a witness called 911. Taliferro was taken to New York Downtown Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival, police said.

There have been no arrests made yet, and the investigation is still ongoing, police said.

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November 14, 2013

A man convicted of shooting and wounding three people on the Lower East Side in 2010 has been sentenced to 22 years in prison, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance announced on Nov. 7.

Mario Rodriguez, 25, was found guilty of second-degree attempted murder, firstdegree assault, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment in May. Around 8:45 p.m. on Oct. 26, 2010, Rodriguez was arguing with another man in front of 195 Stanton St. when Rodriguez pulled out a 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol and began firing at him, according to court documents. The man was shot in the torso, and two bystanders — a man, 44, and a woman, 52 — were also struck

by Rodriguez’s bullets, the D.A. said.

After the attack Rodriguez fled to Jersey City, but he was later arrested there by members of the New York Police Department’s Seventh Precinct Detective Squad.

In addition to the prison sentence, Rodriguez will face five years of postrelease supervision, the D.A. said.

A surveillance camera image provided by police of the alleged suspects in an attempted robbery at the Jane Hotel.

Jane clerk pistol-whipped

On Sat., Nov. 9, at about 4:40 a.m., four suspects entered the Jane Hotel, at 113 Jane St., wearing hooded clothing, when one of them brandished a firearm and demanded money from the desk clerk. Another employee was struck in the head with a firearm by the man with the gun while the other three suspects grabbed him and demanded that he get them money from the back office. The suspects fled the location without any money. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the N.Y.P.D.’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are confidential.

Glass smasher, cop basher

Police arrested Daniel Engler, 22, on the night of Fri., Nov. 8, after he allegedly smashed a Meatpacking District bar’s glass door and then attacked officers as they apprehended him.

An employee of The Chester, at 18 Ninth Ave., told cops that Engler walked in around 10:30 p.m., ordered numerous drinks and then sat down with a group of unidentified people near the back of the establishment. Minutes later, Engler reportedly got up, drunkenly walked to the glass front door and shattered it with a punch.

The employee tried to stop him and quickly flagged down a police car, but Engler continued to fight once the officers approached, hitting one of them hard enough to send him to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Once he was subdued, Engler was charged with assaulting a police officer, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.

Surprise attack

Police arrested John Brickman, Jr., 23, early on Nov. 5 after he allegedly punched an officer in the face.

A Sixth Precinct source said that Brickman, Jr. was a car passenger who suffered very minor injuries in a three-vehicle accident on Fifth Ave., between 13th and 14th Sts., around 1:30 a.m.

Brickman, Jr. was reportedly loaded into an ambulance at the scene, but when a police officer opened the emergency vehicle’s back door to check on him, Brickman, Jr. allegedly socked the cop right in the nose. As officers tried to handcuff him, Brickman, Jr. continued to resist until he was eventually subdued, police said.

It was unclear why Brickman, Jr. chose to attack the cop. He was charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

Jewelry-store jobs

Police are seeking up to four individuals in a robbery pattern consisting of seven robberies of jewelry stores in Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn, always striking in the afternoon or early evenings.

According to police, one suspect enters the location armed with a handgun and two to three additional suspects jump over the counter and remove jewelry. No injuries have been reported. On Sept. 10, at 4:15 p.m., the robbers struck at 169 Canal St.

They hit 66 East Broadway on successive days, first on Oct. 17 at 6:35 p.m., then on Oct. 18 at 4:30 p.m. The suspects are described as male Hispanics.

A surveillance camera image of the gunman in the jewelry-store robbery pattern, according to police.

Conniving co-worker

Police arrested Rebecca Pierre-Louis, 18, a week after she allegedly racked up nearly $400 in unauthorized purchases on a co-worker’s debit card.

Pierre-Louis’s co-worker at the C.V.S. at 360 Washington Place told police that he gave her the card on the afternoon of Nov. 2 so she could buy him lunch during her shift break. Two days later, the man realized that his card had also been used to buy a MetroCard and various items at Bloomingdales and other fashion stores.

The angry co-worker reported the alleged crime immediately after recognizing the bogus charges, and police tracked PierreLouis down and apprehended her on Nov. 8. She was charged with grand larceny.

Hit owner with skateboard

Police say that on Fri., Nov. 8, at about 5:35 p.m., four suspects entered Eastern Supermarket, at 335 Grand St., removed merchandise and attempted to exit without paying. The storeowner, 50, approached the group and was struck in the face with a skateboard. Police said he was injured, and was treated New York Downtown Hospital, and subsequently released. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the N.Y.P.D.’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are confidential.

Sam Spokony and Lincoln Anderson

TheVillager.com

Third section and more art on track for High Line

BY SAM SPOKONY

W

TheVillager.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE

hen the High Line’s third section opens in 2014, it will have been 15 years since Joshua David and Robert Hammond — two neighborhood residents — founded the nonprofit group that helped save the old elevated railway and turn it into one of the city’s most popular parks.

The Friends of the High Line, which undertakes fundraising and oversees maintenance of the nearly 1.5-mile park, has by all accounts become a model for others across the world who want to successfully operate a modern, engaging and elevated public space.

“When we started in 1999, this was very much considered to be an underdog project,” said David, in a phone interview on Nov. 1.

“We just had this dream of going all the way from Gansevoort to 34th St. And now that it’s actually going to come true — at first I was thinking that 15 years is a long time — but I realize that it’s actually not so long at all.”

And while the High Line’s emergence onto the city landscape has certainly been swift, both the park and the Friends are now transitioning into changes that will define the park’s future as a Downtown icon.

Hammond announced in February that he will step down as executive director of the Friends at this year’s end after which David will remain as the organization’s president.

In October, it was announced that Jenny Gersten would be the Friends’ new executive director, after her selection by the group’s board of directors. She begins in January.

While the High Line has hosted plenty of unique programming since the park’s official opening in 2009 — from public art exhibits to community engagement for teenage and adult residents of Chelsea’s public housing developments — Gersten’s hiring represent a shift toward further emphasis on new programming.

Currently, the artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival in the Berkshires, Gersten brings a strong background in theater production, including past work on several Shakespeare in the Park productions in New York.

David acknowledged that more diverse programming that focuses on the arts, family activities and niche interests will be a “greater part” of the High Line in years to come.

“We knew that programming was something that we really wanted to expand for the future, and that made [Gersten] a great candidate,” said David. “She’s a really wonderful and talented person, and I think this entire community will see how valuable her skills are.”

In addition to new opportunities for events, tourists and residents alike will have more park to enjoy next year, when construction on the third section — nicknamed “High Line at the Rail Yards” — is completed.

Jenny Gersten will take over as executive director of the Friends of the High Line in January.

The final piece will not only extend north from W. 30th St. to W. 34th St., linking the West Village to the entirety of West Chelsea, but it will also swing west from 10th Ave. to 12th Ave., bringing visitors right near the waterfront.

“It’s a whole new thing for the High Line, which is fantastic, and I think that the connection to the riverfront will make a big difference for people visiting the park,” said David.

And once that’s finished, the Friends will be on the cusp of yet another turning point as the Hudson Yards development — which will span the 26-acre space between W. 30th and W. 33rd Sts. and 10th and 12th Aves. — continues its own road to completion. Construction on the mixeduse Hudson Yards site began in 2012, and the first buildings are expected to open in 2015, with the rest of the site to be built on over the next several years.

With 13 million square feet of new commercial and residential development, Hudson Yards will undoubtedly have an effect on Manhattan’s entire West Side.

“It’s really great for us that the rail yards area — which is a place that people generally had very little awareness of — will become a very dense, multi-use neighborhood,” David said. “And the thing that’ particularly thrilling is the fact that people on the High Line will have a front-row seat to urban transformation.”

It was recently reported that Hudson Yards developer Stephen Ross, chairperson of The Related Companies, plans to spend as much as $75 million on an artwork — not yet designed — that will become the centerpiece of the new develop-

ment’s four-acre public plaza.

Thomas Heatherwick, the British designer, has been selected for the project.

The Wall Street Journal reported the space will draw inspiration from Rockefeller Center and Rome’s famous Piazza del Campidoglio.

As for art on the High Line itself, park visitors can sign up for walking tours to view sculptures by Brooklyn artist Carol Bove that have been placed along the park’s unfinished third section. Reservations can be made at thehighline.org.

Earlier that morning, David had given a particularly emotional walking tour of the High Line to members of the Obletz family — a name that any lover of the park should hold in the highest esteem.

Peter Obletz, a former West Chelsea resident and Community Board 4 chairperson, was the passionate train enthusiast who spent more than a decade of his life attempting to save the elevated railroad tracks when they were in danger of being demolished in the 1980s. Obletz unexpectedly swooped in to buy the High Line for $10 in 1984, after its private owner was in the process of abandoning it. While that sale was eventually overturned by a federal judge, and Obletz’s dream was not realized during his life — which ended in

1996, after a battle with cancer — he remains something of a folk hero.

“He was the first saint of the High Line,” said David.

And on the morning of Nov. 1, the cofounder of the High Line’s current preservation group met with Peter Obletz’s brother, Doug Obletz, who was visiting New York with his family from Portland, Oregon.

It was the first time that an Obletz had ever seen the vibrant, pulsing green space that is the High Line of today. More than 15 years after Peter’s death, and three decades since he made that famed purchase, Doug Obletz was able to witness the fruits of his brother’s vision.

“It was so moving to show them something that’s basically a continuation of what Peter had done,” said David. “Robert [Hammond] and I have stayed in touch with his family ever since we started in 1999, but it was incredible to finally be able to share this experience with them.

“Plenty of people come to the High Line and think it’s beautiful, but very few of them really understand what it took to do this,” David said.

“There have been challenges for all of us along the way. It’s amazing that we’ve made it through them. And it’s a privilege to be one of the people who knows the story of what Peter did. So now we’re going to keep our own story going.”

November 14, 2013

7

Pols, tenants unhappy with Mitchell-Lama changes

BY SAM SPOKONY

C

ity officials have proposed significant changes to the rules governing the Mitchell-Lama housing program.

The amendments sought by the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development include new restrictions to the rights of succession for Mitchell-Lama units, which house low- and middle-income residents.

The proposed rules would no longer allow units to be handed down to a tenant’s nephews, nieces, aunts or uncles. In addition, the rules would only authorize succession in cases where the tenant of record has either died or been relocated to a long-term care facility.

Based on the current law, Mitchell-Lama units can be handed down to anyone who lives with a current tenant of record for at least two years, and who can prove emotional and financial interdependence with the tenant. The H.P.D. believes that the rule changes will help cut down on abuse of the succession rights system.

In the past, some people have signed leases for Mitchell-Lama apartments without actually living in them, simply in order to hand down the unit to a loved one after the required two-year period. This essentially allows certain people to secure an apartment without ever being put on a waiting list, unfairly bypassing eligible people who have been on a waiting list for years to get an op-

portunity to live in a Mitchell-Lama unit.

“We are attempting to open up MitchellLama units to more hardworking New Yorkers who are in desperate need of affordable housing, without disrupting life or adding anxiety to those who currently reside in Mitchell-Lama developments,” said Eric Bederman, an H.P.D. spokesperson.

But the agency is facing opposition from some elected officials and Mitchell-Lama tenants who believe the proposed rule changes go too far.

Opponents claim that the H.P.D. amendments would create a much too narrow definition of what a family is, in terms of succession rights, and that this would cause some dependent residents to unfairly lose their homes upon the death or incapacitation of their tenant of record. “[The proposed new rules] do not reflect the current nature of the families in New York City or the reality of many lives,” said state Senator Daniel Squadron at a Nov. 6 public hearing during which H.P.D. presented its plans.

In addition to removal of the extended family and common-law relationships from succession rights eligibility, Squadron took issue with the fact that the proposed rules do not include any reference to nonmarried, same-sex couples or long-term, nonparent family caregivers.

“By removing the flexibility to evaluate joint-resident relationships, the changes may

well lead to any number of other inflexible and unfair rulings on succession,” he said.

Both Squadron and Councilmember Margaret Chin also spoke out on Nov. 6 against the method — or lack thereof — by which H.P.D. informed the public in advance of the hearing.

“The public hearing scheduled for today on the proposed amendments should have been an opportunity for the community to participate in a constructive discussion,” Chin said. “Yet neither my office nor Mitchell-Lama residents and their managements received public notice in a timely enough manner to conduct sufficient outreach.”

Several days after the Nov. 6 hearing, an H.P.D. spokesperson responded to those criticisms by pointing out that the proposal is being done in accordance with the City Administrative Procedure Act process, which is the standard used by city agencies for rule changes.

However, Bob Wilson, a longtime tenant leader at Knickerbocker Village, a 1,600-unit Mitchell-Lama development on the Lower East Side, was not aware of the proposed rule changes until this reporter asked him for comment on Nov. 8.

After reading over a summary of the proposed changes to succession rights, Wilson said they seem “too strict” for his liking.

“I’m all for cracking down on abuse of succession rights, because we’ve seen it here before, and we resent it,” Wilson said. “But [H.P.D.] needs to be careful with this. It looks like they could end up throwing people out

of apartments when they don’t deserve to be thrown out. And why are they even trying to define what ‘family’ is, in this day and age?”

During his testimony at the Nov. 6 hearing, Squadron did acknowledge that “it is clear that reform of the Mitchell-Lama program is required,” and said that he is eager to make “commonsense changes” to broaden eligibility and ensure the program remains sustainable.

But the senator implied that his own approach to reform, undertaken primarily through community outreach and communication with fellow elected officials, could serve as a model for H.P.D. as it seeks to forge new rules.

Earlier this year, Squadron was able to work with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and other assemblymembers to pass legislation that would make some of those “commonsense” changes to the Mitchell-Lama program — specifically, changes that would allow people with a broader range of income levels and family compositions to enter the program. That bill was delivered to Governor Andrew Cuomo two weeks ago.

Again responding to criticism following the Nov. 6 hearing, H.P.D. claimed that the Nov. 6 hearing was just the beginning of the amendment process, rather than the end.

“The hearing was an opportunity to get feedback from Mitchell-Lama residents and those familiar with the program, and we will carefully consider all of the comments prior to finalizing the rule changes,” Bederman said.

New expansions are on tap for L.E.S. bar, music venue

BY SAM SPOKONY

A

trendy Lower East Side establishment is planning an expansion, and will be seeking a new liquor license at the Community Board 3 S.L.A. Committee meeting next week.

ForgetMeNot, a restaurant and bar located at 138 Division St., is in the process of adding a new dining area to augment its current space, which is less than 1,000 square feet. The restaurant has been in business since last summer, and also added a few outdoor dining tables several months ago.

Adam Heinbach, one of the co-owners of the place, said on Sunday that ForgetMeNot will expand to occupy the adjacent 42 Canal St. space currently held by Ling Kee Beef Jerky, which serves Malaysian cuisine.

Ling Kee will reportedly be moving next door, to 44 Canal St. Heinbach said that virtually all of the lease paperwork for the expansion has been completed, and that he hopes to be in the new dining room space by the end of the year.

He and other representatives of ForgetMeNot will be at the C.B. 3 S.L.A. Committee meeting on Nov. 18,

to ask for a recommendation for a full liquor license to cover the new space. ForgetMeNot already has a full liquor license for its current dining area, but Heinbach pointed out that the establishment will need an additional license to serve drinks to customers in the back room.

Heinbach said that ForgetMeNot currently serves food and drinks until 1 a.m. throughout the week, and added that those hours will be kept the same in the new space. He also noted that there will not be an additional bar constructed as part of the expansion.

And at another meeting on Nov. 19, the C.B. 3 S.L.A. Committee will hear a request from The Delancey, at 168 Delancey St. The establishment is seeking a license alteration to host live music in its basement space, and additionally hopes to be granted a change in classification from a restaurant to tavern. According to state guidelines, a restaurant is an establishment more focused on serving food than alcohol, and a tavern has a primary focus on serving drinks, while also offering food.

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Let’s embrace this key moment for Hudson River Park TALKING POINT

BY PAUL A. ULLMAN

T

his week the governor signed the amended Hudson River Park Act. This piece of highly negotiated legislation was born out of the twin needs to address the park’s well-documented financial difficulties and to better manage its future care and growth.

New and longtime Downtown residents like myself should embrace this legislation as an important opportunity to protect the park we love while giving the community a voice, and revenue participation, in the inevitable future development that will take place throughout our neighborhoods.

The new legislation does much more

than potentially convey future air rights.

For example, it allows the Hudson River Park Trust to develop Pier 76 under strict guidelines that mandate 50 percent of the pier’s footprint be used for parkland and 50 percent for restricted commercial use. Because new revenue from the pier will be directed to Hudson River Park, the city will be under more pressure to finally remove their ridiculous tow pound.

As an observer and participant in the often-acrimonious conversations about how to fund the park in general and Pier 40 in particular, I can say that the revenue that can conceivably be raised through the mechanisms included in the amended Park Act may be our last, best chance to avoid financial crisis. To those who might welcome such a crisis as a way to force the city and state to come to the park’s rescue I say: Make that bet with someone else’s park — not mine. I remember what Central Park was like in

Car crash delivered a crippling blow to West Village post office

BY PASHA FARMANARA

T

he West Village Post Office, at Hudson St. near Charles St., remains shut down after a car crashed into the front of the building on Mon., Oct. 21.

The car’s driver fled the scene, but was arrested by police the following day. He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, which is reportedly punishable by a fine of up to $250 or a prison sentence of up to 15 days, or both.

The post office has been closed until repairs are made, according to the Department of Buildings. A D.O.B. notice posted on the building’s exterior this week read: “At ground floor — Due to impact of

vehicle — Block Masons, Column (nonload bearing) dislodged at entrance to store front, service door displaced. PARTIAL VACATE.” In fact, the first-floor space has been deemed “imminently perilous to life” in its current state by D.O.B. The accident scene is covered with plywood panels, but the wreckage can still be seen when looking from an angle.

A neighborhood resident shared his take on the accident, opining that the crash was planned and executed by the government because it has been trying to close this particular post office branch, but could not get the approval.

The branch reportedly may be back open in time for the Christmas season rush.

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Ullman is a board member, Hudson River Park Trust, a Greenwich Village resident and a park user

Community talks park air rights as Cuomo O.K.’s bill AIR RIGHTS, continued from p. 5

views by the affected community boards, as well as the borough president and City Planning Commission, followed by a vote by the full City Council.

Siegel said his understanding is that part of the 5-mile-long park is city-owned and part is state-owned.

“We will have architects review city maps” to determine exactly who owns what, he stated.

“The city-owned air rights require ULURP,” Siegel said. Regardless of whether the state has a similar required public review process or not, it should have one, Siegel stated.

“It’s the right thing to do,” he said. “We’re talking about huge consequences for the West Side. The principles and values of ULURP should be applied statewide, as well.”

The park is state-owned south of about 34th St. and city-owned above that. Tobi Bergman, chairperson of C.B. 2’s Land Use Com-

mittee, told The Villager that Pier 40 is stateowned. However, he said, “It’s been a long time since that mattered because the Park Act turned everything over to the Trust.”

Over all, Siegel said, the way the legislation was passed — at 5 a.m. on the legislative session’s last day, with no prior community notification or opportunity for public comment — is plain wrong.

“What smells here is the process,” he said.

“Government officials have learned by now that secrecy breeds mistrust. And this process is and has been fraught with mistrust.”

The attorney said he anticipates that local community groups will join Bourgeois in the challenge. He said he’s calling it a challenge rather than a lawsuit at this point, because there are ways to achieve ends that don’t involve litigation, at least as a first step.

Siegel had a prior speaking engagement Wednesday night, but did have two representatives at the organizing meeting at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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With that money, we can finish the 30 percent of the park that is still incomplete, and we can also shore up Pier 40 and ensure it remains predominately a destination for youth and adult athletic leagues.

The question is whether our community will embrace this moment. “No way” has become a common mantra in the face of anything that might involve new development, or indeed change. Those of us in the Village know that the “just say no” approach hasn’t served us very well to date — St. Vincent’s and N.Y.U. are prime examples. Instead, we should take our new seat at the table and help give our neighbors the streetscape and the landscape they deserve and that the legislation intends.

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the 1980s.

This legislation was born out of extensive, exhaustive and comprehensive discussions hosted by the Trust that included every conceivable slice of the park’s various constituencies. And, yes, air rights were discussed, as were many other potential revenue sources. No legislation can possibly satisfy every constituency, but this amendment gives the park a fair-minded and potentially innovative path to deal with our park’s funding, which, I am sure everyone would agree, is a very complicated urban policy puzzle.

For the potential air rights transfer, the legislation grants the community a role in determining if the benefits of developing inland make sense when balanced against the income opportunity.

That possible income would go directly to the development and maintenance of the park.

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Housing advocates gather under one roof, in tent

BY LINCOLN ANDERSON

T

PHOTOS BY LINCOLN ANDERSON

he talk at the new Talking Transition tent in Duarte Square on Monday afternoon was about “A Path to ‘Real’ Affordable Housing.” The session paired personal testimonials with analysis from policy experts to explore the best way forward for the next administration to focus on low-income housing.

Speakers addressed the audience while standing in front of an image of sustainability — a 20-foot-high wall built, Lego-like, out of plastic crates.

Scott Hutchins said the group Picture the Homeless thinks the best way to ensure affordable housing is built is to create a “community land trust.”

Coney Island’s Ann Valdez, from Community Voices Heard, an organization in public housing, blasted Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed “infill” plan to shoehorn new towers with 80 percent market-rate housing into Housing Authority developments.

“It’s taking away our playgrounds and open spaces,” she said. “This is directly chipping away at our families. It will come to Coney Island over my dead body.”

A representative of New York Communities for Change said they want “real affordable housing for people making less than $18,000.”

After a round of cheers of “Affordable housing — now!” the crowd broke up into smaller discussion groups. At the “Development” table, Harvey Epstein, project director of the Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center, said under new Mayor Bill de Blasio, they’ll push to include an affordable housing component in every project.

Meanwhile, out in the tent’s front area, Elizabeth Renner, a former New York City teacher, had filled about 20 to 30 stickers with messages for the next administration, and had plastered them all over the space’s plywood walls. Among her strong recommendations were term limits for assemblymembers, an end to using trailers for classrooms and “Kick bad judges off the bench.”

While the name of the event is Talking Transition, Renner said she would actually sup-

Elizabeth Renner, pointing to one of her ideas for the next administration, had no shortage of suggestions.

port a fourth term for the current mayor.

“Right now,” she said, “I’m very happy with a lot of things Bloomberg did.”

Talking Transition is designed as a way to engage the public in the first-ever “open” mayoral transition. The tent will stay open every day through Sat., Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. All the programs are interactive.

Talking Transition is a joint effort by hedgefund billionaire George Soros’s Open Society Foundations, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Revson Foundation, New York Women’s Foundation, New York Community Trust, New York Foundation, North Star Fund, Atlantic Philanthropies and the Brooklyn Community Foundation.

Trinity Real Estate provided the vacant-lot space for the tent. Trinity eventually hopes to develop the site with a new residential tower, with a public school in its base.

“This election — and this transition — in particular are a signal moment in New York City’s fortunes,” said Christopher Stone, president of the Open Society Foundations. “We are taking the opportunity to keep the energy and engagement alive after the voting is done.”

“This is a 21st-century soapbox,”

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE On November 26, 2013 at 10:00 a.m., a public hearing will be held in the City Council Committee Room, 2nd Floor, City Hall, Manhattan, for the purpose of considering a local law, which authorizes an increase in the annual amount to be expended in the Lower East Side Business Improvement District not to exceed $974,600. This increase will be staggered over a five-year period following the construction of new large-scale commercial properties. The following increases are anticipated in each fiscal year: FY15 $445,100, FY16 $474,400, FY17 $513,200, FY18 $561,325, FY19 $974,600.

A group discussed affordable housing issues at Talking Transition on Monday.

said Cecilia Clarke, president and C.E.O. of the Brooklyn Community Foundation. “As a community foundation, we’re confident that Talking Transition will help inform the new administration’s agenda by bringing seldomheard community voices to the table and providing the best solutions for problems facing Brooklyn, as well as the entire city.”

“Digital engagement” will play a key role during and after the initiative. Participants will be encouraged to tweet their ideas, questions and concerns to the unique handle @ TalkNYC2013 and to use #TalkingTransition.

The initiative’s Web site, www.TalkingTransitionNYC.com, will be used to survey New Yorkers and subsequently display the results.

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November 14, 2013

11

Named best weekly newspaper in New York State in 2001, 2004 and 2005

by New York Press Association PUBLISHER JENNIFER GOODSTEIN

EDITOR IN CHIEF LINCOLN ANDERSON

ARTS EDITOR

SCOTT STIFFLER

REPORTERS

HEATHER DUBIN SAM SPOKONY

CONTRIBUTORS IRA BLUTREICH TERESE LOEB KREUZER JEFFERSON SIEGEL JERRY TALLMER

ART / PRODUCTION DIRECTOR TROY MASTERS

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Member of the New York Press Association

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The Villager (USPS 578930) ISSN 0042-6202 is published every week by NYC Community Media LLC, 515 Canal Street, Unit 1C, New York, N.Y. 10013 (212) 229-1890. Periodicals Postage paid at New York, N.Y. Annual subscription by mail in Manhattan and Brooklyn $29 ($35 elsewhere). Single copy price at office and newsstands is $1. The entire contents of newspaper, including advertising, are copyrighted and no part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher - © 2011 NYC Community Media LLC.

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November 14, 2013

Boehner’s ENDA end around EDITORIAL

W

hen the U.S. Senate last week, in a 62-34 bipartisan vote, approved the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the achievement was noteworthy primarily for one reason –– it was the first time either house of Congress had approved such a measure with protections for transgender Americans included.

The House passed the bill in 2007, but incorporated only provisions regarding sexual orientation, not gender identity as well.

The Senate action likely does not foretell ultimate victory on this measure, which would remedy the failure of 29 states to provide any gay rights protections and 33, including New York, to offer relief to the transgender community. That’s because even before the bill got its final vote on the Senate floor, Republican House Speaker John Boehner put out the word that it would lead to “frivolous litigation” that would kill “small-business jobs.” Ten G.O.P.

senators saw through that reflexive type of response, but Boehner, as usual, is playing to the far right in his House caucus. If the House Republicans are unwilling to stanch their losses among Latino voters by taking on immigration reform, it’s probably not surprising they can’t see how increasingly out of step with the American public they are on L.G.B.T. rights as well.

The unlikelihood of ENDA’s enactment in the current Congress should be seized on by the L.G.B.T. community to right a wrong in the bill passed by the Senate –– its craven surrender to the religious right on the question of religious exemptions.

The 1964 Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination in areas like housing and public accommodation as well as employment, made use of the concept of religious exemptions to allow religious organizations to base decisions such as their hiring on religion. A Catholic parish could show a preference for hiring Catholics; a mosque could staff itself with Islamic adherents.

What such institutions could generally not do is base employment

decisions on other proscribed categories. A synagogue was not free to use racial tests in hiring, for example. At the same time, the Catholic Church, of course, is free to limit its choice of priests by gender. Using a religious exemption to practice discrimination otherwise outlawed could be justified only by showing a close and reasonable nexus between the discrimination and the religious tenet being protected.

As gay rights protections matured, the concept of religious exemptions began to be stretched further in that same direction –– based on the widespread belief, even among liberal friends of the L.G.B.T. community, that religious objections to homosexuality typically have more validity than any religiously based objection to a person’s race or gender. Like women, a gay man’s status is seen per se as incompatible with service as a priest –– or as a clergy member in many faiths. Gay people, furthermore, could be excluded not only from the role of clergy but also from many other activities within a religious organization.

Where the L.G.B.T. community has generally been successful in

drawing the line has been on the question of public accommodations.

While a church or parish house can limit employment, a Catholic hospital, university or social service agency that provides its services more generally to the public at large can typically not discriminate under most state and local L.G.B.T. rights laws. That same protection is not afforded by ENDA. Defenders of the religious exemption language in the bill adopted by the Senate argue they have simply “cut and pasted” the language from the 1964 Civil Rights Act. What that means, however, is that a religious organization’s ability to differentiate employees based on their religion is now extended to their sexual orientation and gender identity as well.

It’s unfortunate that leading L.G.B.T. legal advocacy groups, who recognize the danger here, have elected to hold their fire, hoping to amend the bill after a new Congress takes office in 2015.

A longer version of this editorial first appeared in Gay City News, The Villager’s sister newspaper

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A new vision for a green space To The Editor: Re “Monumental battle in Nolita over fate of garden site” (news article, Nov. 7): As a resident of Crosby St. in Community Board 2 for the last 17 years, I, too, walked past closed gates for years, wondering — though not enough to find out — “What is that space and who owns it?”

On June 1 this past summer, a group of neighbors and families was gathered at the It’s My Park Day at De Salvio Playground. We were all celebrating the fact that thanks to Councilmember Margaret Chin, Borough President Scott Stringer and Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and with support from state Senator Squadron, $1.9 million had finally been secured for the playground’s renovation.

We began to discuss the Elizabeth Street Garden. Someone had heard it was city-owned land, and we started getting excited about the possibility of turning that into a park that would be open to the public. It was then that we learned that it had been included in SPURA as a site for affordable housing.

We decided to form a committee and approach the gallery owner, and he was pleased to make the space more easily accessible to the public. We created a mission statement, which was to preserve the

Elizabeth Street Garden as public green open space.

Since June, working together with neighbors and small business owners, we have managed to get the garden open seven days a week from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday entry is through the main gates, and the other four days through the gallery. (Please note that those hours may change with winter’s onset and daylight savings since we do not want volunteers sitting in the dark and cold!)

We hope to have the space open through the main gates seven days a week as our volunteer

base expands. And we are actively recruiting volunteers; so if anyone is interested, please sign up at elizabethstreetgarden.org. Our volunteer committee has grown exponentially with volunteers working on gardening, greeting, administration and programming coordination.

In addition to making the space more accessible, with the tireless work of our volunteers, we have been able to offer varied public programming throughout the summer and into the fall.

LETTERS, continued on p. 28

IRA BLUTREICH

Bill de Blasio plans to reshape the landscape.

TheVillager.com

What I was doing the day John F. Kennedy was shot NOTEBOOK

BY CAROL GREITZER

F

ifty years. Hard to believe. Like most people, I can easily remember many of the terrible events of that day, possibly because other happenings that very same day were so meaningful to me and to other Villagers. It was a day that started out so beautifully, and ended so tragically.

I thought about these events a few weeks ago when, at the Museum of Modern Art, I ran into Barbara Fisher, an artist who used to llve in the Village. It must have been 40 years or more since we last saw each other, and as we reminisced about artists housing, I recalled the important milestone that took place the morning of the Kennedy assassination.

To go back to the beginning — it all started when West Villager Ann Lye, a real estate broker who was also the wife of a noted artist, Len Lye, discovered two loft buildings at 12th and Greenwich Sts. that were up for auction. The city had taken possession because of nonpayment of local taxes and there was still a federal tax lien. The premises contained some artist studios, but only two AIR’s (artists in residence) could live there legally because the buildings were zoned for manufacturing.

Ann convinced several Village activists that artists should be able to live legally in their studios, and felt that these two buildings were architecturally suitable to become a pilot project — if we could get the city to go along. So was formed the Committee for Artists Housing. In addition to Ann and myself, members included Marty Berger, Tony Dapolito, Bob Jacobs, Wally Popolizio, Pierre Tonachel, Carey Venema, Rachelle Wall and Ruth Wittenberg.

Artist Ruth Richards became our liaison to the artistis community.

We reached out to Jack Kaplan (of the Kaplan Fund) who generously lent us seed money and paid off the $47,000 federal tax lien.

Mayor Wagner agreed to forgive the city taxes and structured the auction so that the property could be sold only to a nonprofit group committed to providing facilities for artists.

Thus we came to the morning of November 22, 1963, date of our first sit-down with Buildings Department commissioners and other officials to discuss steps that had to be taken to make the premises acceptable as living spaces.

We met at the Tribeca office of Max Lehman, the city administrator, an office that does not seem to exist today. Everything went smoothly; the agencies were cooperative, and I left in an ebullient mood, emerging into the brilliant sunshine.

It was a gorgeous, warm day, unusual for late November, and I decided to walk home.

(Interesting that years later, 9/11 occurred on a similar day of brilliant sunshine shining

TheVillager.com

President John F. Kennedy in a White House photo portrait.

down on the dazed people walking up Sixth Ave. from Lower Manhattan.) When I arrived home, the first thing I did was phone Mary Nichols of the Village Voice to tell her about the meeting. Mary was holed up in a local hotel (I think the Albert) to work on an article away from the distractions of her family.

And that’s how I learned that the president had been shot.

Mary knew that much. But there was no radio or TV in her room and she was unable to get an outside phone line, so she couldn’t find out what was happening. I turned on my radio (I didn’t own a TV then), and held it close to the phone. Mary and I listened together to the news accounts, talked about the ramifications, and probably shed a few tears when the end was finally announced about half an hour later.

No Walter Cronkite in that radio coverage… though I have often, in recent years, seen rebroadcasts of his effort to control his emotions

Elation over an affordable housing deal is followed by the tragic news of the assassination of the United States’ 35th president. as he announced the sad news. Odd that in my long walk from below Canal St. to 12th St. I got no inkling of this tragedy. The rest of the day — even the next few days — are much less vivid in memory — a blur of shocked reactions to subsequent events and speculation about the new president.

As for the artists housing project, the work proceeded. Ann Lye worked with an expediter to move things through the Buildings Department. The two buildings became one, with one bank of elevators being converted to bathrooms, and 799 Greenwich St. was on its way.

A major hurdle was overcome when Assemblyman Jerry Kretchmer sponsored an amendment to the Multiple Dwelling Code to allow artist occupancy in “M” (manufacturing) zones.

Our pilot project created just 12 residential units, but we paved the way for later larger residential conversions at Westbeth and Soho.

A few words about Ann’s husband, Len Lye. Though not too well known today in this country, Len did innovative film work years ago on then popular “March of Time” newsreels. He is famous today in his native New Zealand for his fascinating and unique kinetic sculpture. It was a privilege to be invited to a “showing” of these motorized works at his West Village studio. I particularly remember a 12- or 15-foot-long piece of sheet metal. When its motor was turned on, it wriggled like a meandering river making metallic clanging noises.

Even more memorable was another piece — a circular metal band about 3 feet long that seemed sexually turned on when its motor was activated. The piece undulated sensuously, writhing to the accompaniment of suggestive erotic wails as it slowly turned itself inside out.

November 22 invokes sad recollections. I like to remember J.F.K. at happier times. The only time I met him was in September of 1960 when leaders of the Democratic Reform movement, many of whom had supported Adlai Stevenson for president, were invited to meet with the candidate. It was a small suite at the Waldorf crowded with district leaders and the few public officials that reformers had managed to elect at that time. I was there as president of the Village Independent Democrats, which was still an insurgent club and had yet to elect district leaders.

While waiting for Kennedy, some of us — mostly women — gathered around Marietta Tree (later the U.S. representative to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights), who had recently returned from filming “The Misfits,” in which she had a small role. Just as she started to give us a firsthand account of what it was like to kiss Clark Gable, our candidate arrived.

Kennedy addressed the problem he perceived he had with us head on.

“I know I’m not your first choice,” he said, “but I’m all you’ve got…so I hope I’ll have your support.” The charm and charisma were better than kissing Clark Gable. We were converts…and we mourn his loss today.

Greitzer was a New York City councilmember from 1969-91, representing the Village and other parts of Downtown. Prior to that she was the Village’s Democratic district co-leader with Ed Koch in the mid-1960s.

November 14, 2013

13

Amid a sea of bleakness, Reed was the inspiration

BY STEVEN WISHNIA

I

PHOTO BY PATRICK SHIELDS

discovered the Velvet Underground’s banana-stickered first album in the $1.49 bin of a Long Island record store when I was 15. All I knew was that they were some kind of East Village underground band from ’67-’68. A misfit in the Island’s centerless carscape, I found solace in music. But the blues-based white rock of the era sounded counterfeit after I heard Muddy Waters, and the old blues didn’t have the crazed electricguitar noise and drive I craved.

I found it in the Velvets. It had the sound of the city, the chaos of swerving taxis, the clattering screech of an I.R.T. express train. “Gonna take a walk round Union Square / you never know what you might find there.”

It also had a soft side, the bells of “Sunday Morning” three minutes of tentative peace before the onslaught of “I’m Waiting for My Man.” Almost none of my friends liked it. The Velvets and Lou Reed are venerated icons now that New York City is commemorating its punk-and-graffiti ’70s the way Paris flogs its Toulouse-Lautrec 1890s, but they were decidedly unpopular back then. The Velvets’ second album, “White Light / White Heat,” also got remaindered, and their third didn’t even make

Posters of Lou Reed, with his wife, artist Laurie Anderson, appeared on lampposts at Bedford and Downing Sts. the day before Halloween, two days after Reed’s death.

it that far, despite now-classic tunes like “What Goes On,” “Some Kinda Love” and “Pale Blue Eyes.” On the other hand, this was a good thing for a teenager whose musical hunger exceeded his finances. I scored “White Light / White Heat” for $1.99 a few years later. “Sister Ray” was the first song I learned to play on guitar.

I wasn’t the only one listening. Joy Division

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would later cover “Sister Ray.” Up in Boston, Jonathan Richman with the Modern Lovers twisted its two-chord lick into “Roadrunner.” David Bowie covered “I’m Waiting for My Man,” and the Patti Smith Group opened shows with “We’re Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together,” a Velvets song not released until 1974, four years after they broke up.

For the proto-punk generation of musicians and fans, Lou Reed was crucial. The early to mid-’70s were a golden age for R&B, reggae was bubbling up from Jamaica, and hiphop was brewing in the burning Bronx, but it was a pretty dry time for rock ’n’ roll. The music was overwritten and the lyrics dumb, whether cock-rock or mystical. Rockers looking for something better found common ground in the Velvets, the Stooges, the MC5 and the forgotten ’60s garage bands on Lenny Kaye’s “Nuggets” compilation.

The New York Dolls gave hope for a while, but foundered in the bogs of commercial failure and drug abuse. Reed, along with Bowie and Mott the Hoople, was what was accessible if you weren’t in with the hip or lucky few catching the nascent scene at CBGB and Max’s Kansas City, or scouring the import bins for Neu, the German band that put a Teutonic clockwork beat on Velvetian grooves.

Lou Reed put out a string of brilliant and spotty albums. “Transformer,” in 1972, produced by Bowie, yielded the Top 20 hit “Walk on the Wild Side,” its one-verse vignettes of drag-queen actresses Holly Woodlawn and Candy Darling riding a jazzy two-chord bassline. (The “Sugarplum Fairy” character was an old boyfriend of Harvey Milk’s.) He followed that up with the tragic “Berlin.” A 10song cycle depicting a love triangle involving a self-destructively loveseeking woman and her violently jealous bisexual boyfriend, flying and crashing on mountains of amphetamine, it’s arguably the most depressing album ever made.

The “Rock ’n’ Roll Animal” live set, recorded at the Academy of Music on 14th St. at the end of ’73, established Reed in the hard-rock mainstream. Aided by Midwestern guitarists Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner, it turned Velvets and “Berlin” songs into concert-rock epics, including a Bach organ interlude in the middle of “Heroin.” The follow-up, “Sally Can’t Dance,” was his most commercially successful album. It included “Kill Your Sons,” based on his experience getting shock treatment when he was 17 — “Every time you tried to read a book / You couldn’t get to page 17” — but much of it was decadencecliché hackwork. “Metal Machine Music,” in 1975, was a double-LP set of feedback he pitched as an avant-garde classical album.

Amid the era’s pretensions and cult of technique, Reed posited an intellectual-primitive aesthetic, one of literate lyrics and musical simplicity. He could write a vivid, incisive character sketch or turn a phrase like “between thought and expression,” and blend it with music as

brilliantly simple as Woody Guthrie’s: The Velvets’ version of “Heroin” is a basic D chord answered by the open top strings of the guitar. It set a style and attitude shared by the great New York City rock ’n’ rollers who followed, including Patti Smith, the Dolls and the Ramones.

The harshness of Reed’s world also made his happier songs feel more real, more earned, than what was out there in the smiley-face ’70s.

“Coney Island Baby,” inspired by the Excellents’ 1962 doo-wop tune, perhaps put it best: But remember that the city is a funny place Something like a circus or a sewer And just remember different people have peculiar tastes And the glory of love might see you through I didn’t follow Reed that much after 1980 or so, but almost every album has songs worth coming back to, like “The Blue Mask,” his collaboration with genius guitarist Robert Quine, or the singing newspaper “New York.” “Songs for Drella,” his and Velvets violist John Cale’s 1990 memorial to Andy Warhol, is one of the rare records that grabbed me the first time I heard it on the radio. Over music that ranged from stately to chaotic, Reed wrote with compassion about the man who had both mentored and slagged him, praising his work ethic and evoking his ultimate loneliness despite the “resentments that can never be unmade.”

His music moved and inspired me and kept me semi-sane, and did the same for a lot of others.

I never met Lou Reed, so I can make no judgment about his personality. Some people say he was charming and warmhearted, others say he was an attitudespewing creep. It would probably be both accurate and euphemistic to say he didn’t suffer fools gladly. Yet even much-canonized musicians like Bob Marley and John Lennon had their dirt and their dark sides.

What matters now is that Lou Reed’s music moved and inspired me, helped keep me semi-sane in key parts of my life, and did the same for a lot of others.

Wishnia is author of the novel “When the Drumming Stops”; works as a journalist specializing in housing, labor and drug issues; and played bass, guitar and keyboards in the 1980s punk band False Prophets. He currently plays music in artist Mac McGill’s multimedia show.

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Lou Reed, 71; Rock poet lived Downtown, backed local causes OBITUARY

BY ALBERT AMATEAU

TheVillager.com

FILE PHOTO

L

ou Reed, who died Oct. 27 at the age of 71, was recognized as an artist who explored themes of joy as well as death and depravity that he brought to rock ’n’ roll as a songwriter, guitarist and lead singer since 1960.

Patti Smith, writing in the New Yorker of Nov. 11, said, “He was our generation’s New York poet, championing its misfits as Whitman championed its workingmen and Lorca its persecuted.”

A more skeptical judgment was Richard Goldstein’s Village Voice review of Reed’s Velvet Underground of the 1960s: “An important group pretentious to the point of misery.”

The tributes last week included a frontpage obituary in The New York Times and eight pages of articles in the Voice. There were hundreds of messages on Twitter and on YouTube.

Reed died in the Amagansett, Long Island, home he shared with his wife, performance artist Laurie Anderson. In April he received a liver transplant in Cleveland but the transplant began to fail and he chose to return home when his medical options ran out.

Reed and Anderson also had a home on Greenwich St. for more than 10 years.

In 2010 Reed joined his Hudson Square neighbors, including the late James Gandolfini, in opposing the city’s three-district Department of Sanitation garage at Spring and Washington Sts. The city however, prevailed and the garage is nearing completion.

Ever the rebel, Reed also supported the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011.

Louis Allen Reed was born in Brooklyn on March 2, 1941, to a tax accountant father and homemaker mother. The family moved to Freeport, Long Island, when Louis was 11. A precocious and troubled youth, he underwent a week of electroshock therapy at Creedmoor Hospital in Queens when he was 16, purportedly to “cure” him of his bisexuality. He went to New York University but later transferred to Syracuse University, where he became part of a circle around the poet and English professor Delmore Schwartz.

Reed, whose poetic and literary references ranged from the modern classicism of Schwartz to the transgressive work of William S. Burroughs, also admired Hugh Selby, author of “Last Exit to Brooklyn,” the mystery writer Raymond Chandler, and the poet Allen Ginsberg, according to the Times obituary by Ben Ratliff.

Lou Reed, right, with his wife, Laurie Anderson, left, and James Gandolfini, center, were among the celebrities at a March 2009 fundraiser to oppose the city’s three-district Sanitation garage in Hudson Square.

Reed was ever ambivalent about Bob Dylan, in turn dismissive and admiring.

After graduating, Reed worked as a songwriter for Pickwick International.

With John Cale, he was part of the Velvet Underground, a band that played Cafe Bizarre in the Village around 1960. Andy Warhol caught the act there and included them, with the German singer Nico, as the lead act in his traveling show.

Around 1970 Reed left the Velvets and began a solo career in which his songs, including “Walk on the Wild Side,” “Sweet Jane,” “Heroin” and “Dirty Boulevard,” chronicled the lives of hustlers, addicts and transgender people. His songs never reached the top of the charts but in the mid-1970s “Walk on the Wild Side” rose into the top 40.

Despite the dissonance of albums like “Metal Machine Music,” many of Reed’s songs were simple ballads.

“Anyone can play my guitar music,” he said in an interview. “Anyone can learn to play ‘Sweet Jane’ in 10 minutes.”

Reed married Bettye Kronstad in 1973 but the marriage did not last long, and Reed and a transvestite known as Rachael kept company for a few years. In 1980 Reed married Sylvia Morales. They also parted, and in 1990 Reed met Anderson, with whom he lived in the West Village and married in 2008.

In the New Yorker article, Patti Smith said of Anderson, “She was his mirror. In her eyes you could see his kindness, sincerity and empathy.” Smith said she saw Reed as longing to board “the great big clipper ship” from his lyrics for the song “Heroin.”

“I envision it waiting for him beneath the constellation formed by the souls of the poets he so wished to join,” Smith wrote.

In addition to Anderson, Toby Reed, Lou Reed’s mother, and Merrill Weiner, his sister, also survive.

the once-in-a-lifetime convergence of Chanukah and Thanksgiving, The Village Temple and Judson Memorial Church are cohosting the annual Greenwich Village Interfaith Thanksgiving service.

Participants from many congregations and faiths will gather for poetry, song and reflection, in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation of October 3, 1863, declaring Thanksgiving a national holiday celebrating “peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.” Festivities begin at 6:30 by the Washington Square Hanukah lamp, with singing led by The Village Temple Children’s choir, followed by services inside Judson Memorial Church at 7.

Open to all!

For more information: Please contact Sandy Gonzalez Wilson or Sandy Albert at villagetemple@villagetemple.org and 212-674-2340 ext 5 or ext 6.

THIS EVENT IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM

November 14, 2013

15

New Success Academy settling in near Union Square CHARTER SCHOOL, continued from p. 1

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November 14, 2013

PHOTO BY BYRON SMITH

following close behind, the inner workings of three different classrooms were revealed.

Zalkind was a kindergarten teacher at Success Academy’s flagship school in Harlem, starting from when it was founded in 2006, and has eight years of teaching experience under her belt. She began teaching in New Orleans, and then landed a position at the Harlem charter, where she was intrigued by the program’s model of education, and later taught third grade. After completing her master’s degree at Columbia Teachers College, Zalkind, 32, was an acting principal for Success Academy Upper West — on the Upper West Side — and Harlem in 2013.

In a brightly decorated classroom with six tables, a calendar and alphabet cutout letters on the wall, kindergarten students sat on plush carpeting for guided reading with their teacher, Ms. Crane. The students were all dressed in uniform — girls in plaid jumpers and boys in orange shirts with dark pants.

Crane’s classroom is named Syracuse, which is the university where she attended college. Each of the rooms for the five classes at the school, which currently enrolls 125 students total, is assigned the lead teacher’s alma mater as a means of motivation.

Zalkind explained that the students are presented with a number story, and the challenge that day involved a boy named Emmanuel, who has 18 apples, but his family ate 11. Students are encouraged to choose their own method to solve the problem of how many apples Emmanuel has left.

Periodically Crane reminded her students in a strict tone to, “Sit up nice and tall.” On her command, the class’s students appeared to have grown two inches. When one student stood in front of the class to present her answer to the problem, Crane instructed the class to “Show her love,” and the students quieted down to give her their attention.

“We say the problem over and over again because they can’t read it,” Zalkind said. Outside the classroom, a teacher’s assistant was working on visualization techniques with students in rotating small groups to better understand the problem.

The next stop was the Vanderbilt room where Ms. Kahle’s class was focused on number stories. Again, the classroom was well-equipped and inviting, with students working in small groups at tables with a timer counting down the minutes projected onto a screen. Zalkind noted that the kindergarten students were working on comprehension of 10 as a unit.

A writing workshop on narrative stories was taking place in Mrs. Waldman’s firstgrade Hartford classroom.

“We want them to try to communicate something very important to them,” Zalkind said. One student read her story aloud for a visiting reporter about when her baby brother came home from the hospital. Using a checklist, students also revise their own work and

Teacher Jennifer Waldman gives special attention to a first-grade student at Success Academy Union Square.

ish food, and one student was sitting in the corner reading a book.

Zalkind noted that the books in the room, at this grade level, were mainly for inspiration, but this student “just felt like reading.”

Zalkind, who has not taught in a New York City public high school, was unable to comment on whether there was a difference of curriculum or financial resources between the two school systems. At Success Academy, students have a longer school day that begins with breakfast at 7:15 a.m., classes start a half hour later, and the day ends at 4 p.m. for kindergarten and 4:15 p.m. for first grade. According to Zalkind, the Washington Irving Campus high school students arrive after 8 a.m.

At Success Academy, each classroom has a lead teacher and an assistant teacher.

“Teachers have a lot of flexibility,” Zalkind explained.

Art and sports are taught twice a week, and science daily. There is also exposure to music, which Zalkind makes a priority in her school.

‘I’ve seen a huge turnaround in our son.

He’s excited about school and his subjects.’

Monica Thorton add dialogue if necessary.

The final classroom on the tour was also named Vanderbilt, with Ms. Macy, another graduate of that school, working with kindergartners and blocks. Classes are 45 minutes, and blocks are allocated for half a class period.

“We’re trying to get them to do more collaboration, be creative and work together,” the principal said. Two girls were building a “restaurant” where they were making Span-

“In kindergarten we have to keep them moving, academic or nonacademic,” she added.

There are 6,700 students in the Success Academy network of 22 charter schools in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan. Each school is allocated $13,527 per pupil per year in public funding. Powell pointed out that this amount is substantially less than what public schools receive, which is reportedly $18,000 to $19,000 per pupil.

Similar to the public school system, students are admitted to the Success Academy Union Square by lottery, with neighborhood residents of Community School District 2 given precedence.

“Charter laws require 80 percent of students to live within the district,” Powell said.

For the first year, a charter school is run on deficit, with grants from foundations and gifts from private donors to help finance its first three years. There is no capital funding, and a charter school must fundraise to open.

“Each elementary school runs about $1.8 CHARTER SCHOOL, continued on p. 29

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Advocates sue to stop NYCHA luxury infill plan

A rendering from a NYCHA “discussion document” on what kind of development could occur — in this case, a 500-foot-tall tower (at center right) at Smith Houses — under the infill plan.

INFILL, continued from p. 1

the authority’s “infill” land lease plan.

The five developments involved in the lawsuit are Smith Houses, on the Lower East Side; Meltzer Tower and Campos Plaza, both in the East Village; and Carver and Washington Houses, both in East Harlem. The new buildings would be so-called “80/20,” 80 percent market rate, 20 percent affordable.

In August, NYCHA issued a request for expressions of interest, or R.F.E.I., to garner bids from private developers who want to build within the complexes — in some cases on lots currently used as parks and community gardens. The authority set a deadline of Nov. 18 to receive the bids.

The lawsuit claims that NYCHA violated state and federal laws by failing to conduct environmental reviews and floodplain analyses — which determine possibilities for flooding on the planned construction sites — before issuing the R.F.E.I. The suit also claims that the agency violated the public trust doctrine — which dictates that certain resources should be reserved for public use — because it failed to obtain necessary legislative approval before offering leases that would eliminate some parkland within the developments.

“Without a proper environmental review process, NYCHA is trying to shoehorn in deals with luxury housing developers before the window closes on the Bloomberg administration,” said Joel Kupferman, director of N.Y.E.L.J.P., at a press conference outside City Hall on Tuesday. “It is especially irresponsible, not to mention unlawful, to rush into a bidding process for large-scale construction at NYCHA developments that are still reeling from Hurricane Sandy’s devastation, and where FEMA’s best available data shows the greatest flood hazards in Lower Manhattan.”

Many public housing residents oppose

18

November 14, 2013

NYCHA’s land-lease plan, and tenant associations from the five developments in the suit have joined as plaintiffs.

“Based on what happened in my development after Sandy, I’m shocked that NYCHA has not thought about the environmental impacts the land-lease program could have on our community,” said Derese Huff, president of the Campos Plaza Tenant Association, at Tuesday’s press conference.

The City Council filed a lawsuit against NYCHA over this same plan slightly more than a month ago. However, that suit instead attempted to prove that state law prohibits the leasing of public housing property to market-rate tenants.

City Councilmember Margaret Chin was at Tuesday’s press conference to show support for the litigation.

“This lawsuit is a further indictment of NYCHA’s failure to meaningfully engage the community in a plan that directly impacts the day-to-day lives residents and their families,” Chin said. “At a time when affordable housing, especially public housing, is diminishing, it is more important than ever for the city to protect what public land we have.”

Congressmembers Jerrold Nadler and Nydia Velazquez also back the new lawsuit.

In October, NYCHA responded to the Council’s legal action by arguing that its plan — which would grant the private developers 99-year leases — would generate $50 million annually, to be used for much-needed building repairs, among other things.

Last week, NYCHA declined to give specific answers to questions about environmental reviews or floodplain analyses.

“It’s unfortunate that there is any attempt to block a proposal that would generate significant revenue for the New York City Housing Authority — money that would go directly into developments and capital improvements for NYCHA residents,” an agency spokesperson said.

TheVillager.com

SCOOPY’S, continued from p. 3

Let’s see if it wins an award.” It sports a large oyster shell in the middle, an homage to the days when the Hudson River’s onceplentiful oysters were New York’s equivalent of fast food. These type of spans are used in Norway to allow reindeer to cross over waterways and pipelines, one of his colleagues explained.

But this one would be for pedestrians and not bicyclists, Bourgeois stated, adding he supports “a pedestrian waterfront.” As for his Weehawken building, Bourgeois said he wants to gut it and reinforce the sides, and remove the floor, so that people can stand on “Manhattan soil” and look up through its skylight and “see the moon and stars,” as opposed to an air-rights enhanced monstrosity. Finally, despite his many and varied projects, Bourgeois’s life is still not complete. “I’m looking for a woman,” he told us. “I’m looking for a mate — someone who’s kind and very liberal.” And, we’re guessing — not a developer. … In related matters, at the N.Y.U. Faculty Against the Sexton Plan fundraiser at The Standard, East Village hotel a few weeks ago, we introduced Bourgeois to Georgette Fleischer, who has been passionately leading the fight against the Citi Bike station in Petrosino Square, which sits on the square’s former public art space. “Oh, I would love to get one of your mother’s spiders to put there!” Fleischer excitedly told Bourgeois. However, he responded that the spiders are, first, very expensive and, second, all already spoken for for the next two or three years. So, for the time being, at least, a giant steel spider will not suddenly swoop down to crush the Petrosino Citi Bike station. … But, hey, maybe there will at least be a reindeer bridge.

Celebrating

stated. “I haven’t asked him about it because I haven’t heard anything about it for a very long time.” Silver declined comment. But from what we’re hearing, there’s nothing to indicate that Gottfried’s statement is inaccurate. Meanwhile, the former Sanitation District 1 garbage truck garage, at Canal and West Sts., has been demolished. As part of the process of freeing Gansevoort to be redeveloped into a park, a new, cutting-edge-design building for road salt will be constructed at Canal and West Sts., and the salt pile now on Gansevoort will instead be housed there. And once the megagarage at Spring and West Sts. is completed, the garbage trucks currently on Gansevoort will relocate there.

DORIS DOES IT AGAIN!

It just wouldn’t and couldn’t be Scoopy’s Notebook without a “Doris Photo of the Week.” Sarah Neilson, Washington Square Park’s administrator, recently sent us this shot of Doris Diether, the legendary Community Board 2 activist. “This was quite possibly the coolest thing in Greenwich Village on Halloween,” Neilson said. Of course, it shows a masked Diether with “Little Doris,” the marionette of her made by Ricky Syers.

Along with the twerk-happy Mr. Stix, the two have “blown up” big time thanks to being featured in Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York blog.

PHOTO BY SARAH NEILSON

‘SWAMP’ PLAN SINKING FAST? Last week, The Villager reported on the uncertainty over Mayor Bloomberg’s Solid Waste Management Plan, a.k.a. SWAMP, specifically, how it pertains to Gansevoort Peninsula on the Lower West Side. Under the outgoing mayor’s scheme, part of the peninsula, which is located in the angle between Little W. 12th and Gansevoort Sts., was to

have been retrofitted for a marine waste transfer station to barge all of Manhattan’s residential recyclable waste — paper, plastic, metal and glass — to a new recycling plant in Sunset Park. Up to 60 garbage trucks a day were to ply a new road on Gansevoort — occupying almost one-quarter of the peninsula — en route to the M.W.T.S. at the peninsula’s western edge to dump their loads into barges. The Brooklyn recycling plant sounds like it’s almost completed — if not already in operation, we’re not exactly sure — but the rest of SWAMP seems, well, mired in a swamp, so to speak, and sinking fast. The issue is that the mayor, governor and heads of the Assembly and state Senate all must sign off on an M.O.U. (memorandum of understanding) to allow the “alienation” of the 1.36 acres of parkland needed for the road leading to the transfer station. A key condition of the M.O.U. is “compensation,” as in, the amount of money the Hudson River Park Trust, the park’s operating agency, would receive for relinquishing the parkland. Madelyn Wils, the Trust’s C.E.O., confided to us that this figure is $50 million. Trying to gain some clarity on the situation, we reached out to the Bloomberg administration, asking what’s the hold-up and will the plan ultimately go forward, either under Bloomberg or new mayor Bill de Blasio? The plan has already sat in limbo for six years since the Assembly and state Senate approved it. Jake Goldman, a Bloomberg spokesperson, responded, “The Solid Waste Management Plan is changing the way we transport waste and achieve our goal of environmental responsibility, and by reducing reliance on trucking we are saving money and making our air cleaner than it has ever been.” In fact, we hear the city is prepared and ready to sign the M.O.U. and has budgeted the money, but is waiting for the state to come on board. Last week, though, Assemblmember Richard Gottfried told us he hasn’t seen or heard talk of the M.O.U. for several years. Gottfried said, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver would not rush things, since he “would want a fair and public review. … I don’t know that Silver would be interested in taking that up in the closing days of the [Bloomberg] administration,” Gottfried

Britten

The Trinity Youth Chorus Presents

Moonrise Kingdom

Friday, November 22, 6pm Trinity Church, Broadway at Wall Street The composer Benjamin Britten is renowned for his works involving young people.

This all-Britten program includes The Golden Vanity, Missa Brevis, Friday Afternoons (used in the recently released film Moonrise Kingdom), and The Children’s Crusade.

Melissa Attebury, conductor.

Free and open to all. trinitywallstreet.org 212.602.0800

an Episcopal parish in the city of New York

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November 14, 2013

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WINESHOP owners have cultivated a love for the grape

BY HEATHER DUBIN

T

here is a story behind almost every bottle of wine on the elegantly constructed shelves at the East Village’s new WINESHOP. Co-owners Michael Sullivan and Aaron Thorp have chosen wines for their store that reflect integrity in the creative process, and an end result they can stand behind.

The couple, who have lived in the neighborhood for nine years, opened WINESHOP on Ninth St. near Avenue A in mid-April. Their focus is on organic, natural, biodynamic (using specific agricultural practices) and sustainably made wines — both domestic and international.

In an interview, Thorp, the wine director at the Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District, and Sullivan, who runs WINESHOP full time, spoke about their role as a communitybased business, and their wine selection rationale.

Wines mass-produced with pesticides are not available at WINESHOP. Instead, Thorp fills the shop with wines that adhere more to green-farming techniques and usually come from family-owned vineyards.

“You can make great wine from organic grapes or industrial grapes,” he said. “But for me, it’s always been important to support the people who make that commitment and say, ‘We’re stewards of the line, we don’t want to farm synthetic pesticides in our stuff. This is the right thing to do, we’re not going to deplete the soil, and all the nutrients — even if that means our vines won’t be as productive as our neighbors’.’ ” Originally from Napa Valley, Thorp, 37, grew up in wine country and experienced community resistance to pesticides used in wine production firsthand.

Sullivan, 33, is from Chicago. The couple met in Northampton, Massachusetts, a decade ago, and have been together ever since.

WINESHOP has been years in the making, and Thorp’s background in wine has given them a decisive edge. Sullivan, who was a retail manager at Tekserve, brings his own skill set to the mix, and is learning lots about wine these days.

Thorp will join him at the shop on weekends when he can, but for the most part, Sullivan flies solo.

The couple wanted to set up shop in the neighborhood and had tried for three other spaces before this one. While searching for a spot, the couple had to consider State Liquor Authority restrictions, which prohibit a wine or liquor business from proximity to a school, church or another alcohol beverage store.

“You can’t apply for a license until you sign a lease,” Sullivan said. “There are so many catch-22s.”

They also needed a financial loan to secure the space, and there was no guarantee they were going to get a license once they found a location. The couple funded the business with help from family, and a loan from the Lower

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November 14, 2013

Aaron Thorp, left, and Michael Sullivan in WINESHOP, their new wine store on Avenue A.

East Side People’s Federal Credit Union on Avenue B. They signed a 10-year lease without a license, but they had a clause to break the lease if the S.L.A failed to come through.

“We were very fortunate and had a great lawyer for our license application and hearing,” Sullivan said. “We were able to get a license within three months of signing the lease.”

The couple also took on a major threemonth renovation to redo the space. They had to tear down the ceiling, remove tile, sand and restain the floor, and expose the partial brick wall.

“If we were going to work this hard, we wanted to do it ourselves,” Sullivan said.

Their hard work has paid off, and the result is an intimate small neighborhood shop, which is exactly what they had in mind.

“We wanted it to be a throwback to what people would have almost 100 years ago,” Sullivan said.

They also wanted to be a part of the community and share their knowledge of wine. “We want to enhance the experience of living in the East Village,” Thorp said. “There’s no place in the East Village where you can get these wines.”

Thorp enthusiastically gave some examples, like Matthiasson, produced by Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson in Napa Valley, who pick grapes at 3 a.m. to ensure a specific level of acidity for their Linda Vista Chardonnay. Thorp was in Napa last week to sample their new blend on the front steps of the Matthaissons’ weathered old yellow barn, and offer his opinion on

their expression of cabernet, which is not on the market yet.

“They took me through the vineyards, and because they pick grapes in the middle of the night, there was a lot of fruit left on the vines that they didn’t see,” Thorp said.

He explained how the Matthaissons pulled fruit off a vine that afternoon, and decided to make a late harvest that would yield less than a barrel.

“They make use of what they can, nothing goes to waste,” he said. “It would be irresponsible on their part to let the fruit die. I love that.”

And then there is Carema, created by Produttori di Nebbiolo di Carema, an Ital-

Their focus is on organic, natural, biodynamic and sustainably made wines — both domestic and international.

ian cooperative formed by 45 farmers in 1960. Thorp noted that their vineyards were decimated after World War II, and that it can sometimes take five years for a vine to produce grapes, and even longer to develop flavor and complexity.

“Each of those farmers had less than a hectare, [2.5 acres] on a mountain, and they said, ‘Why are we trying to fight against each other and sell disparate products? Let’s unify the label,’ ” he explained. It worked, and this cooperative is still producing that same wine today.

Another wine, Domaine Weinbach, is made by mothers and their daughters in Alsace, France.

“It had always been a historically male line,” Thorp said. “Then the dad died, and the women took it over. Women are carrying on the legacy of it. We wanted to buy it because there was something that resonated with us about these particular products.”

He feels there is a difference of expression between men and women when it comes to making wine. One is not better than the other for him, but he finds a varied approach.

Thorp’s work at The Standard has informed WINESHOP’s philosophy.

“These are family-owned wineries for the most part, and at The Standard we can give them much bigger exposure,” he said.

“Between here and The Standard, it’s kind of cool.”

Some customers have popped into WINESHOP and told Sullivan they are wary of organic wines based on previous bad experiences. He noted that organic wines are frequently sold as a sales tool, and not necessarily for the product.

“What is important is that the wine is good, and that we love the wine. It so happens, we’re choosing the ones that fall into that category,” he said of organic wines.

“We’ve tasted every single one of these wines with the winemaker or the distributor,” Thorp said. “I don’t know if you could stay that about Astor Wines or Union Square Wines.” Prices at WINESHOP range from $12 to $150 a bottle, with table wines $15 and under.

Thorp wants neighbors to use WINESHOP as a retail sommelier for whatever they are cooking that night. The couple tried a Mosse Cabernet Franc with Thai food recently, and were pleasantly surprised.

“It has an unfiltered, textural quality which envelops the spice a little bit. It has an amazing ability,” Thorp said. He recommended it to a customer who came back to tell them how great it was.

“I always say to people, if you find yourself back here, I want to know what you think of the wines,” Thorp said. “Even if it’s a month later.”

A French man in the neighborhood came in to try his first domestic Pinot Noir. Thorp directed him to the Hirsch Vineyards Bohan-Dillion from the Sonoma coast.

The man returned an hour and a half later and poked his head in the shop.

“I just have to say, the wine was fantastic,” he pronounced. “If that’s the introduction to California wine, I’m sold.”

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The new black box has global reach La MaMa’s CultureHub uses tech to connect cultures

FESTIVAL PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

REFEST A CultureHub presentation November 29 through December 1 At 47 Great Jones St., 3rd Floor (btw. Bowery & Lafayette For tickets & schedule, visit culturehub.org

Paul D. Miller, aka DJ Spooky, will be at REFEST to present work he’s been developing with the Seoul Institute.

BY TOM TENNEY

I

n 1961, Ellen Stewart revolutionized the New York performance scene when she opened Café La MaMa in the basement of an East Ninth Street tenement.

The African-American fashion designer-cum-impresario imagined the new space as an alternative to popular OffOff Broadway venues like Caffe Cino and the Gaslight — small spaces that were relics of, and still very much associated with, the Beat coffeehouse scene.

Those early venues had been created with a particular ambience and with a specific audience in mind. Stewart’s innovation was to create a truly neutral performance venue to serve as a tabula rasa for emerging playwrights, allowing them to create new work on their own terms.

La MaMa was truly a “black box” — a theatrical architecture that inspired future generations of underground performance, and spawned what might be called a microtheatre movement in the East Village and the Lower East Side that continues to this day. But the black box wasn’t the only experimental innovation happening in the 1960s New York art world.

Early in that decade, ideas driving the convergence of art with cybernetic and computer technology, being con-

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ducted in Europe by Roy Ascott and others, reached the United States. In 1966, American composer and sound-art pioneer Max Neuhaus teamed up with NYC radio station WBAI to create “Public Supply” — an experiment in twoway aural public space in which listeners could contribute to a composition in real time by phoning in to the station and having their voices electronically transformed into components of a musical composition. The project is considered be one of the first successful artistic collaborations over an electronic network in real time. The very same year, renowned abstract expressionist Robert Rauchenberg met an engineer from Bell Telephone Lab named Billy Klüver. Together, they launched Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.), with the aim of connecting artists and technologists to launch experimental explorations into the intersection of art and technology.

Meanwhile, Ellen Stewart was connecting La MaMa with theatrical communities around the world, and building a global circuit of independent theatrical practitioners. Networking, collaboration and technology were all emerging into the cultural zeitgeist — blending, morphing and generating new art forms and schools of thought.

It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that in 2009 La MaMa launched CultureHub — its own art and technology in-

cubator, in partnership with Korea’s Seoul Institute of the Arts. The collaboration is dedicated not only to blending technology with performance, but also to using tech as a tool to continue the theatre’s long tradition of connecting cultures around the world. The new laboratory’s stated mission is to provide “a shared space for artists to collaborate, share ideas and create interdisciplinary works of art that explore emerging mediums and technologies.” For the past four years, they have been doing just that. In addition to presenting art/tech hybrids in their wired black box studio on Great Jones Street, CultureHub is equally invested in youth media and educational initiatives, conducting workshops for students, teens and young artists.

Virtualab, one of their flagship programs, is dedicated to connecting students and professional artists via distance learning.

One of the core technologies utilized by CultureHub specifically for this purpose is something called telepresence, which might be thought of as a hyper-customized version of teleconferencing. As opposed to participants sitting around a table and projecting to a single screen, telepresence uses live video to build virtual environCULTUREHUB, continued on p.23

November 14, 2013

21

Just Do Art PENNY JONES & CO. PUPPETS: MOTHER GOOSE TALES

HERE’s 2013-2014 season opens with this ambitious fusion of experimental music, visual installation and live performance by composer, director and designer Joe Diebes — who will mix sound for his “broken word opera” live on stage throughout the show. Described as “more of a processing system than a traditional score,” the action in “Botch” unfolds as the audience watches the libretto scroll on a telepromopter whose stream-ofconsciousness content flows from text written by the ensemble. That text will change each night, as the cast of four become improvisational code writers — cutting, pasting, reversing and generally pulverize language, all in the service of exploring “the voice and its mutations in contemporary digital culture.” Hand signals, and a chalkboard diagram created on the floor in close proximity to the audience, put additional layers of human touch onto this exploration of electronic multitasking — a state, say the creators, where “sending and receiving messages trumps all else.”

Through Nov. 23. Tues-Sat. at 7pm (no performance Nov. 21, additional performances Nov. 22 at 10:30pm & Nov. 23 at 7pm). At HERE (145 Sixth Ave., just below Spring St.).

For tickets ($20), call 212-352-3101, visit here.org or the Box Office (5pm until curtain on show days).

No storm is super enough to pull the strings of Penny Jones and Co. Puppets. “When our season was hitting its stride,” recalls Jones, “We got nine feet of water in the basement, no electricity, heat, water, elevator, stove, telephone, Internet, laundry. We had to cancel all 2012 shows after Sandy. Our performing space here [at Westbeth] was being used for informational tenant meetings.” Services returned gradually, and kind words poured in almost immediately. “We need you guys performing again,” read a typical email. Like their Village host space, Jones and Co. bounced back — and on November 24, they’ll be back at Westbeth, with the same sort of stories, songs, games and audience participation that won the company’s Early Childhood Puppet Theatre a Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant.

Stage managed by Mother Goose’s dog Toby, Penny’s cast of handmade puppets will tell the tales of The Three Bears, The Three Bill Goats Gruff and Little Red Riding Hood — with a few silly Mother Goose rhymes thrown into the fast and funny mix.

Sun., Nov. 24, at 11am & 3pm. At the Westbeth Community Room (155 Bank St., btw. Washington & West Sts.). Admission: $5. For more info, visit pennypuppets.org or call 212-924-0525.

Westbeth hosts three tales, twice told by Penny’s Puppets (11am & 3pm, Nov. 24).

PHOTO BY STEVEN SCHREIBER

BOTCH: A BROKEN WORD OPERA PHOTO COURTESY OF PENNY & THE PUPPETS

BY SCOTT STIFFLER

TROBADORS: A SYMPOSIUM ON OCCITAN POETRY Tribeca’s 50,000-volume-strong literary center — Poets House — has partnered with the NYC cultural heritage non-profit City Lore and the NYC/France artistic collaborative NY’OC Trobadors for this landmark symposium. Poets, artists and scholars will share their perspectives on the history of Occitania (a region encompassing the southern half of France, the Occitan Valleys in the Italian Alps and the Aran Valley in the Spanish Pyrenees).

Performers bring musical life to the “lyrical, secular, and often subversive verse-commentary on the culture, politics, and love affairs” of the region’s 11th century trobadors and trobairitz — whose influence can be traced to contemporary American artists such as Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. It’s not all words and music, though. An overview of Occitan cuisine will be provided, in a reservation-only Gacon Buffet created by foodie favorite Ariane Daguin (owner of D’Artagnan). That dinner is preceded

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November 14, 2013

John Rose and Christina Campanella in “BOTCH: A Broken Word Opera” — at HERE, through Nov. 23.

by 2pm’s “Topologies of Occitan Language & Culture” and 4:30pm’s “Occitan Literature Through the Ages.” The evening culminates in a music and poetry performance featuring bicontinental artists Joan Francés Tisnèr, Jakes Aymonino, Domenja Lekuona, Pierre Joris and Nicole Peyrafitte.

Sat., Nov. 23, from 2-9pm. At Poets House (10 River Terrace, at Murray St.). For tickets ($10, $7 for students/seniors), visit poetshouse.org. Reservations for the 5:30-7pm dinner ($25, includes evening performance) are required. Contact Joe at 212-431-7920 x12832 or joe@poetshouse.org. Also visit citylore.org.

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Transforming the black box for the new century CUTLUREHUB, continued from p. 21

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PHOTO BY EVE COMPERIATI, COURTESY OF CULTUREHUB

ments, utilizing multi-camera viewpoints and projecting video to an entire wall, creating an atmosphere of virtual “liveness.”

CultureHub Artistic Director Billy Clark says that by incorporating this technology on a larger scale and using multiple cameras, you can “get to a certain level of abstractly feeling like you’re there.” CultureHub has already implemented this technology for several projects, including workshops conducted with students at their partner organization in Korea, and a virtual spoken word workshop connecting youth from New Orleans and New York City in collaboration with the Hip Hop Re:Education Project (reeducate.org). The latter experiment was so successful that, after the workshop, the students in Louisiana raised their own money to travel to New York to meet their “classmates” in person.

“It’s never going to be entirely like being physically present,” said CultureHub Managing Director Anna Hayman, “but you do make eye contact, you do hear people breathe.” She also pointed out that the technology seems to increase the engagement of its participants, particularly kids. “They feel like they’re being treated to something special. It’s actually more engaging than a conventional classroom where they’re just sitting there. Kids forge real relationships in that environment.”

Though the young organization represents an exciting new direction for La MaMa, CultureHub recognizes its place in a continuum of artists working with technology — and acknowledges that, while the work they create and support is innovative, it also builds on decades of experimentation by prior artists. Clark concurs noting, “The ideas aren’t that new. Nam Jun Paik was doing this in the late 70s and early 80s. But now the technology is more ubiquitous, it’s cheaper. High-speed Internet is on all the time.”

That ubiquity has necessitated a cultural space for artists — some of whom have never used technology in their work — to begin experimenting with tech in a low-risk environment. “We’re trying to support artists in their very early stages of development,” Clark said. “We want to give them a space where they have access to technology and can just try something, like a sketch. Some might get developed, and others end up as more of a one-off. It’s a learning experience.”

Having worked on a project-to-project basis since its inception, CultureHub is borrowing a page from the theatrical establishment by launching its first-ever “season” of technologically based works (running until the end of the year). The centerpiece of that

From 2012’s REFEST: Joshue Ott, Baba Israel and Neel Murgai perform “AudioVisual Meditations.”

season is REFEST — a three-day festival of mediated performance, interactive installations and talks taking place from November 29-December 1, at CultureHub’s Great Jones Street studio.

REFEST kicks off on Friday night with an evening of performance curated in collaboration with the annual RE/Mixed Media Festival (which returns in April 2014 at The New School). In addition to performances by Adriano Clemente and David Commander, Friday’s kickoff event will feature a piece called the “Long Table” — a discursive art form pioneered by performance artist Lois Weaver that begins with eight artists seated at a table discussing a topic provided by the curators. As the conversation progresses, audience members are invited to come to the table and add their voice to the discussion, and may even ask for one of the participant’s seats if the table happens to be full.

Saturday and Sunday will continue with work by, Culture Hub says in a press release, revealing “how new technologies are changing performance practices, how networked screens and communications technologies are changing the way artists collaborate and create, what the exhibition/ performance venue of tomorrow might look like, and how the nature of storytell-

ing is becoming cross-media, multi-modal, and multi-locational.” Paul D. Miller, aka DJ Spooky, will also be on hand to present work he’s been developing with the Seoul Institute which, according to Hayman, will involve “new hardware and software and have a performative element.”

The partnership with RE/Mixed Media Festival in curating the first night of REFEST is demonstrative of the collaborative ethos that CultureHub has inherited from La MaMa. “So often in the not-forprofit world, you’re forced to have your head down,” Clark said, “you don’t have enough resources, you’re always too busy, you’re trying to scramble. But a lot of us are scrambling in the same direction, without taking the time to look up and say ‘Hey, they’re doing something similar. What if we worked together?’ We certainly can’t solve that whole problem, but the spirit is one of collaboration.”

In recent years, New York’s micro-theatre movement activated by Ellen Stewart’s “black box” has foundered in the wake higher rents and aggressive real estate development. Several storefront theaters that flourished in the Lower East Side in the 90s — Surf Reality, Todo Con Nada and Collective Unconscious, to name just a few — have disappeared. But the loss of

physical space doesn’t necessarily mean that those artists have stopped working.

Surf Reality has resurfaced as a producing entity that dabbles in the technological, and Collective Unconscious recently collaborated with Three Legged Dog to produce a 3D cinematic adaptation of their 1999 theatrical experiment, “Charlie Victor Romeo,” a film that was lauded at Sundance and other festivals throughout the country. Other organizations exploring the intersection of art and technology such as Eyebeam and IMC Lab + Gallery have developed performative works with independent artists.

Perhaps for the performance community, the current circumstance isn’t one of loss, but one of transition — one that may require we revisit the ideals of community and collaboration embraced by Ellen Stewart. CultureHub claims they are “transforming the black box for the new century.” Their MaMa would be proud.

Tom Tenney is a performer, producer, sound artist and founder of the annual RE/Mixed Media Festival in Manhattan (remixnyc.com).

He currently teaches media theory at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY. Follow him on Twitter at @tomtenney, or follow his blog at inc.ongruo.us.

November 14, 2013

23

Easy on the Ears Storytelling is a perfect marriage to the podcast world

BY OPHIRA EISENBERG

November 14, 2013

“Soundtrack Series” host Dana Rossi has built a show around musical memories.

PHOTO BY SPENCER RITENOUR

24

PHOTO BY D. ROBERT WOLCHECK

T

en years ago when my friend told me that I should listen to his podcast, I have to admit I was pretty skeptical about the entire medium. I remember saying, “So let me get this straight — you plugged a microphone into your computer and talked about what was on your mind for an hour? And you’ve put that out in the world for people to download and enjoy?”

I just couldn’t wrap my head around why anyone would be interested in listening to an uncurated, self-produced, un-regulated, zero-budget Internet “radio show.” Was podcasting the new blogging for people too lazy to write? Would it become the most narcissistic Internet endeavor yet? And, yes, this is coming from me — someone who has written a memoir.

Thankfully, I was wrong on many counts. Sure, there are plenty of podcasts out there that are exactly as I described.

But what I didn’t understand then (and I am incredibly grateful for now), is that the advent of podcasts basically revitalized audio entertainment on every level.

It helped stand-up comedy tremendously, even made people’s careers. It brought back the longform interview format, made room for the buddy banter show and definitely popularized storytelling.

As a genre, storytelling is a perfect marriage to the podcast world. At its core, it’s a one-to-one relationship. Many people are already subscribers to the popular Moth podcast — and if you want to feel good about humanity, go to iTunes and read the reviews. It’s hosted by the dry and very funny Dan Kennedy — and if you haven’t read his latest novel, “American Spirit,” now you know what to do over the holidays. The Moth stories are culled from live Slams and Mainstages across the country and the world (look for the Melbourne Writer’s Festival show), all of which are recorded beautifully and make you feel like you are right in that room.

Known for stories that will break your heart and make you laugh out loud, I listen to this podcast occasionally while going through my day. But it’s so affecting, I’ll find myself paralyzed in the middle of a CVS, completely entranced in someone’s tale, unable to make it to the cashier until it’s over.

Kevin Allison’s “RISK” is another storytelling podcast that has millions of

listeners throughout the country (I know firsthand, from meeting some of them after a show in Portland). Kevin’s been in the comedy and podcast world for many years and draws from a great pool of talent, so you’ll hear stories from a lot of wellknown comedians. Many of the stories are recorded live at his monthly shows, but he also produces some in the studio. The over-arching theme, as the title indicates, is that these stories are almost too risky to tell — a theme that Kevin lives up to with his own material, setting the bar pretty high for the others.

I mentioned Ben Lillie’s “Story Collider” show in my last column, and I should point out here that his podcast is gaining prominence (recently hitting a million downloads). “Story Collider” features stories about the science of our lives — and if you haven’t added it to your listening schedule, do it now.

Many other storytelling events in the city offer podcast versions of their live show, allowing you to follow the show when you can’t be there in person, take them with you on vacation and, of course, allow those not fortunate enough to live here a taste of what we can go out and witness in person almost any day of the week.

Some of the shows are given the classic podcast treatment with intros, extras and behind the scenes commentary, while others simply rebroadcast the live event.

I’ll never forget slow dancing with Brad Moore to “Stairway to Heaven” at our seventh grade school dance — and Dana Rossi, host of “Soundtrack Series,” has built a show around such musical memories. Dana herself connects much of her life to different songs, and the “Soundtrack Series” was an experiment to see if others do the same. After a few sold-out shows, it seemed like a crime to NOT podcast people pouring out their hearts about the music that mattered to them so deeply, and nothing sounds more like a perfect audio experience to me than a show that combines music and storytelling. Plus, it draws some amazing influential people, including Ken Caillat — a Grammy-winning producer, who tells the story of making of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors.”

“Soundtrack Series” shows happen monthly, at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker Street). The next show, on November 21 at 7pm, is “The Hip Hop Edition” — guest curated and co-hosted by Dan Charnas, author of “The Big Payback: The History of the Business

Pop culture nostalgia meets storytelling, at “Geeking Out” (host Kerri Doherty, in photo, swoons over Tom Hanks).

of Hip Hop.” Visit soundtrackseries.com.

“Ask Me Stories” is a comedy storytelling variety series run by two excellent storytellers in their own right — David Crabb and Cammi Climaco. You might recognize David Crabb as frequent Moth Slam host, and Cammi is a gifted visual artist whose work has been featured in galleries throughout the world. Together, they make a somewhat unlikely but very funny duo, who bounce off of each other effortlessly. They created “Ask Me Stories” for all the right reasons — because they just loved storytelling and were excited about the form. The podcast came soon after, once they figured out that David knew how to sound edit and Cammi knew how to code. Beyond booking a solid lineup each show, David and Cammi go out of their way to create a party. Unforgettable moments happen pretty much

every show, like at their “Happy Birthday George Michael” show — when, and after a night of stories that all referenced George Michael, everyone in the audience was given a kazoo and they all closed the show by playing “Faith” together. I’m not saying “Faith” was meant for the kazoo, but wouldn’t you have loved to be there?

Listen to the podcast and relive that magic (kazoo not included).

“Ask Me Stories” is monthly, at the Axis Theatre (1 Sheridan Square). The next show is December 9 — a holiday-themed show for which they’ll be covering the stage with fake snow. You won’t be able to hear that on the podcast, but I’m sure the holiday cheer will resound.

David Martin is one of the most crePODCASTS, continued on p.25

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Podcasts more than blogging for people too lazy to write PODCASTS, continued from p. 24

PHOTO BY LINDSEY BOURQUE

ative people I have had the joy of performing with. He also hosts the long-running monthly storytelling show at UCB, “Nights of Our Lives.” Seven years ago, the original impetus was to have a place for improvisers at the UCB to try their hands at storytelling, and the show quickly grew to encompass stand-ups, writers and, of course, storytellers.

Each installment of “Nights” revolves around a theme, with four storytellers and David as the host, who presents a monologue up top. An absurd and inspired take on the theme, it’s always completely originally and very funny — the kind of funny that makes you think, “I don’t know how this guy’s brain works, but I love it.” The performers follow, each telling a true story that fits the theme. The “Nights of Our Lives” podcast is hosted on Breakthru Radio (Breakthruradio.com), which re-broadcasts the show in its entirety.

Scanning the “Nights” podcast library, you’ll recognize many names — but be on the lookout for Curtis Gwinn, to hear him close out the show after drinking an entire bottle of red wine, or “Nights” staple Adam Wade, regaling the crowd with his tale of food sickness and crapping between two PATH train cars. Seasoned UCB stars John Flynn and Anthony Atamanuik are regulars on the Los Angeles chapter of the show, but spare yourself the JetBlue fare.

They can be enjoyed here in New York between your ears.

The “Nights of Our Lives” live show happens monthly at the UCB Theatre (307 West 26th Street). The November 20 show’s theme is “Failure.” On Dec 18, the theme is TBA (but it will definitely be something high-risk and holiday related).

If you’re wondering if the average storyteller has a face made for podcasting, think again and navigate to “Geeking Out.” It’s

Frequent Moth Slam host David Crabb and visual artist Cammi Climaco are the dynamite, albeit unlikely, duo behind “Ask Me Stories.”

not only a comedy storytelling show, but also a web series. The show brings together a collection of writers, comedians, storytellers and actors for a night of shameless nerding out over the bands they love, the celebrities they obsess over and the video games that gave them thumb spasms.

Think nostalgia meets storytelling. Most of the stories also involve a visual component, be it a PowerPoint presentation, sketch, or relevant costuming — whatever they need to properly represent their super fandom.

Kerri Doherty started Geeking Out as an outlet for her own obsessions (“The Golden Girls” being one of them), and wanted to create an environment where her fellow comedy/storytelling friends and could get up onstage and talk about their guilty pleasures. Soon after, she created the “Geeking Out” web series, which included the live show, plus awkward celebrity interviews, pop culture news, sketches and vlogs. As you can imagine, a show of this nature is

filled with great moments. One of Kerri’s favorite was convincing Matthew Gubler from CBS’s “Criminal Minds” to dance with her Boyz II Men’s “I’ll Make Love to You” while dressed in prom attire.

“Geeking Out” is monthly, 8:30pm, at Union Hall (702 Union Street, Brooklyn).

The next show, on December 3, features Jason Zimbler (actor, “Clarissa Explains it All”), Steve Heisler (writer for The AV Club and Vulture), Mara Herron (comedian, seen on VH1 and Comedy Central), and The Vigilante (an improvised Comedy Band that’s performed at The Brooklyn Comedy Festival).

In 2009, Happy Ending Lounge in the Lower East Side put a call out to find a new monthly show and Sarah Brown, the creator of Cringe, recommended Blaise Allysen Kearsley. At the time, Blaise was working on a personal essay about how she learned about sex — so she pitched “How I Learned” and produced her first show less than three weeks later. On ev-

ery show, Blaise and the performers muse about How They Learned…something (like to find happiness, lie, cheat, steal or conquer failure). I have been to this show many times, and each time it was a packed, standing room only crowd that would be lit on fire as the show progressed.

There are a couple of important things to note about Blaise’s series. One is that storytellers are permitted to read, if that’s how your material is served best — which means it also draws a lot of brilliant writers. Second, it is currently in search of a new home. Sadly, after producing there for five years, this former Broome Street massage parlor turned lounge, music venue and performance space, closed it’s doors. Let’s hope its next incarnation isn’t a Chase Bank (but I wouldn’t make that bet). However, Blaise’s show will be back.

It’s too good to go — and in the meantime, thanks to technology, you can enjoy the podcast. The “How I Learned” series is monthly. Venue TBA. As I was doing my research and inquiring to a few of my other favorite storytelling shows as to whether they podcast, a couple of the producers replied with a sigh, “No. I never did that. I probably should have. Do you think it’s too late to start?”

Clearly, I know nothing when it comes to digital trends — but I can say with confidence that I’m so glad these people decided to plug a microphone into their laptop and press record.

And yes, I know it doesn’t really work like that.

Ophira Eisenberg is a standup, storyteller and host of NPR and WNYC’s trivia comedy show, “Ask Me Another.” Live tapings take place at The Bell House almost every week (amatickets.org). It is also available as a podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and TUNE-IN. She is the author of “Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy” (Seal Press).

Theater for the New City • 155 1st Avenue at E. 10th St. Reservations & Info (212) 254-1109 For more info, please visit www.theaterforthenewcity.net

SAMANTHA AND THE GLASS CEILING Written by TOM ATTEA Directed by MARK MARCANTE Music Composed by ARTHUR ABRAMS Choreography by ANGELA HARRIELL

Thursday - Sunday Nov 7 - Dec 1 Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 3pm All Seats $10, tdf@9

the cell’s production of

AN AMERICAN FAMILY TAKES A LOVER Written by AMINA HENRY Directed by KIRA SIMRING

THREE OF A KIND WITH TWO WILDCARDS Written & Directed by BOB HOMEYER

Wednesday - Sunday Nov. 20 - Dec. 1

Wed - Sat at 8pm Thursday - Sunday Sun at 3pm & 8pm November 7 - 17 (No Perf. Thursday, 11/28) Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 3pm All Seats $15 All Seats $15 $10 Studt’s/Sr’s tdf@$9

TNC’s Programs are funded in part by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts

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November 14, 2013

25

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN a license, number 1274722 for on-premises Liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell liquor at retail in a Hotel under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 36 Park Avenue South a/k/a 33 West 58th Street, New York, NY 10019 for on premises consumption.

Highgate Hotels, L.P. D/B/A Park Lane Hotel; Harry’s New York Bar;The Park Room Restaurant; Garden Cafe Vil: 11/14 - 11/21/2013 NOTICE OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY OF FOREXLIVE MEDIA LLC Certificate of Authority filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/8/2013. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. The address to which SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is to: c/o Delaware Intercorp Inc., 113 Barksdale Professional Ctr., Newark, DE, 19113. Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity.

Vil: 11/14 - 12/19/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF MANDER JEWELRY, LLC Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 07/15/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. The address to which SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is to: Mander Jewelry LLC, 400 Convent Avenue #52, New York, NY 10031. Purpose:To engage in any lawful act or activity.

Vil: 11/14 - 12/19/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF 200 CAPTAINS NECK LANE LLC Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/05/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/23/13. Princ. office of LLC: 681 5th Ave., 11th Fl., NY, NY 10022. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Apex Bulk Carriers LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808.

Arts. of Org. filed with DE Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 11/14 - 12/19/2013

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF 613 WEST 46, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/02/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Sanders Ortoli VaughnFlam Rosenstadt LLP, 501 Madison Ave., 14th Fl., NY, NY 10022. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Sanders Ortoli Vaugh-Flam Rosenstadt LLP, 501 Madison Ave., 14th Fl., NY, NY 10022. As amended

by Cert. of Correction filed with SSNY on 10/16/13, the process addr. is: c/o Sanders Ortoli Vaughn-Flam Rosenstadt LLP. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 11/14 - 12/19/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF HUDSON TECH RESIDENTIAL LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/01/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 826 Broadway, 11th Fl., NY, NY 10003. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Hudson Companies at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 11/14 - 12/19/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF 175 W 137 ST LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/31/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Gerald Migdol, Esq., 223 W. 138th St., Ground Fl., NY, NY 10030. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 11/14 - 12/19/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF KAPLAN INTERNATIONAL NORTH AMERICA, LLC Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 4/5/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in CA on 12/31/12. NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave., NY, NY 10011, regd. agent upon whom process may be served. Principal office address: 1015 Windward Ridge Pkwy., Alpharetta, GA 30005. Cert. of Org. filed with CA Sec. of State, 1500 11th St., Sacramento, CA 95814. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 11/14 - 12/19/2013

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF KLEOS MANAGED SERVICES, L.P. Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 9/12/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. bus. addr.: One Liberty Plaza, 49th Fl., NY, NY 10006. LP formed in DE on 3/31/04.

NY Sec. of State designated agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave., NY, NY 10011, regd. agent upon whom process may be served. DE addr. of LP: 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Name/ addr. of genl. ptr. available from NY Sec. of State. Cert. of LP filed with DE Sec. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 11/14 - 12/19/2013 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an on-premise license, #TBA has been applied for by The China Bull Noodle Shop LLC d/b/a Yunnan Kitchen to sell beer, wine and liquor at retail in an on premises establishment. For on premises consumption under the ABC law at 79 Clinton Street New York NY 10002.

Vil: 11/07 - 11/14/2013 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an on-premise license, #TBA has been applied for by 251 W 30th St. LLC d/b/a Slake to sell beer, wine and liquor at retail in an on premises establishment with two additional bars. For on premises consumption under the ABC law at 251 West 30th Street New York NY 10001.

Vil: 11/07 - 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF MIV BLUE LLC Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/22/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to principal business address: 333 E 91st St APT 14C NY, NY 10128. Purpose: any lawful act. 2174399 w.o Vil: 11/07 - 12/12/2013 SCEC MANAGEMENT LLC Art. of org. filed with SSNY on 10/03/2013. office location: New York county. SSNY is designated agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail the process to: The LLC, ℅ Edmond Cho CALAMO SILK INC 55 West 39th Street New York NY 10018.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Vil: 11/07 - 12/12/2013 NOTICE OF QUAL. OF TOMS RE MANAGEMENT LLC Auth. filed Sec’y of State (SSNY) 9/11/13. Office loc.: NY County. LLC org. in DE 9/6/13. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of proc. to c/o TOMS Capital, 450 W. 14th St., 13th Fl., NY, NY 10014. DE off. addr.: CSC, 2711 Centerville Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. on file: SSDE, Townsend Bldg., Dover, DE 19901. Purp.: any lawful activities.

Vil: 11/07 - 12/12/2013

NOTICE OF QUAL. OF VALINOR CAPITAL PARTNERS SPV XI, LLC Auth. filed Sec’y of State (SSNY) 3/4/13. Office loc.: NY County. LLC org. in DE 2/28/13. SSNY desig. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of proc. to Att: David Angstreich, 510 Madison Ave., 25th Fl., NY, NY 10022. DE off. addr.: CSC, 2711 Centerville Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. on file: SSDE, Townsend Bldg., Dover, DE 19901. Purp.: any lawful activities.

Vil: 11/07 - 12/12/2013 NOTICE OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY OF FXDD BULLION LLC Certificate of Authority filed with Secretary of State of NewYork (SSNY) on 10/28/13.

Office location: NY County.

SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. The address to which SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is to: Delaware Intercorp Inc., 113 Barksdale Professional Ctr., Newark, DE, 19113. Purpose:To engage in any lawful act or activity.

Vil: 11/07 - 12/12/2013 LEVER AND BEAM MUSIC, LLC Art. Of Org. Filed Sec. of State of NY 08/22/2013. Off. Loc.: New York Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY to mail copy of process to The LLC, C/O Alexander Kadvan, 325 West 38Th St., Ste 1101, New York, NY 10018. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity.

Vil: 11/07 - 12/12/2013 THE VAGABOND TAPAS CAFE LLC Art. Of Org. Filed Sec. of State of NY 07/29/2013. Off. Loc.: New York Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY to mail copy of process to The LLC, 7 Cornelia Street, New York, NY 10014. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity Vil: 11/07 - 12/12/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF VIRGO PENN BUSINESS CENTERS LLC Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/16/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 02/27/12. Princ. office of LLC: 225 W. 34th St., 9th Fl., NY, NY 10122.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 575 Lexington Ave., 4th Fl., NY, NY 10022. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State, State of DE, Dept. of State, Townsend Bldg., Dover, DE 19901. As amended by Cert. of Correction filed with SSNY on 10/22/13, name changed to VIRGO PENN BUSINESS CENTERS, LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 11/07 - 12/12/2013

PUBLIC NOTICE This here is to inform that SVMM Advertising LLC is doing business at 27 Cliff Street, New York, New York 10038 will be doing Business as “The Amsterdam Club”.

Vil: 11/14/2013

26

November 14, 2013

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF CPVT GROUP LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/7/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 381 Lenox Avenue, 1st Fl., NY, NY 10027.

Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Vil: 11/07 - 12/12/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF DENT LLC Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 10/18/13.

Office location: NY County.

Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 184 Thompson St., 5A, NY, NY 10012. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 11/07 - 12/12/2013 NAME OF LP: BLACK BEAN CAPITAL L.P. Cert. filed with NY Dept. of State: 8/28/2013. Office loc.: NY Co. Sec. of State designated agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o Business Filings Inc., 187 Wolf Rd., Ste. 101, Albany, NY 12205. Name/ addr. of genl. ptr. available from Sec. of State.Term: until 12/31/2053. Purpose: any lawful act.

Vil: 11/07 - 12/12/2013 VIJAYA REALTY LLC a domestic LLC, filed with the SSNY on 9/20/13. Office location: NewYork County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Vamsi Bollu, 80 Riverside Blvd., Unit 9K, NY, NY 10069. General Purpose.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF QUEENS BOULEVARD APARTMENTS, LLC. Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 9/19/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. bus. addr.: c/o A&E Real Estate Holdings, LLC, 1065 Ave. of the Americas, 31st Fl., NY, NY 10018. LLC formed in DE on 9/3/13. NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: CT Corporation, 111 8th Ave., NY, NY 10011. DE addr. of LLC: c/o The Corporation Trust Co., 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: organized for any lawful act or activity permitted by limited liability companies organized under the laws of the State of Delaware that are related or incidental to and necessary, convenient or advisable to owning real property.

Vil: 11/07 - 12/12/2013

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF CLARE V., THE SHOP, NEW YORK, LLC. Authority filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/4/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in DE on 9/30/13. SSNY designated agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: Clare V., LLC, 3249 Casitas Ave, #210A, Los Angeles, CA, 90039. Principal business address: 239 Elizabeth St, NY, NY, 10012. DE address: National Registered Agents, Inc., 160 Greentree Dr, Ste 101, Dover, DE, 19904. Cert. of LLC filed with Secy of State of DE: 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE, 19901. Purpose: any lawful act.

Vil: 10/31 - 12/05/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NAME: 2 WEST 45TH STREET LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/18/13.

Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, c/o Wohl Loewe Stettner Fabricant & Deitz, P.C., 9 East 40th Street, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10016. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Vil: 10/31 - 12/05/2013 BTED GROUP LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/28/2013. Office loc: NY County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 347 W. 57th St. Apt 11E, NY, NY 10019. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Vil: 10/31 - 12/05/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF FLAT BOX RECORDINGS, LLC Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/4/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/2/13. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 1875 Century Park East, Ste. 800, Los Angeles, CA 90067, Attn: Mark Robbin, Esq. Address to be maintained in DE: 160 Greentree Dr., Ste. 101, Dover, DE 19904. Arts of Org. filed with the DE Secretary of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activities.

Vil: 10/31 - 12/05/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF CRUNCH RICHMOND HILL, LLC Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/30/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 5/28/13. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 22 West 19th St., 3rd Fl., NY, NY 10011. Address to be maintained in DE: National Registered Agents, Inc., 160 Greentree Dr., Ste. 101, Dover, DE 19904. Arts of Org. filed with the DE Secretary of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: any lawful activities.

Vil: 10/31 - 12/05/2013

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF VIRGO 575 BUSINESS CENTERS, LLC Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/18/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/11/10.

Princ. office of LLC: 575 Lexington Ave., 4th Fl., NY, NY 10022. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808.

Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State, State of DE, Dept. of State, Townsend Bldg., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/31 - 12/05/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF NYMT RESIDENTIAL TAX 2013-RP2, LLC App. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/15/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 8/16/13. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Capitol Services, Inc. (CSI), 1218 Central Ave., Ste. 100, Albany, NY 12205. DE address of LLC: CSI, 1675 South State St., Ste. B, Dover, DE 19901. Arts. of Org. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Vil: 10/31 - 12/05/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF NYMT RESIDENTIAL TAX 2013-RP3, LLC App. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/15/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 8/16/13. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Capitol Services, Inc. (CSI), 1218 Central Ave., Ste. 100, Albany, NY 12205. DE address of LLC: CSI, 1675 South State St., Ste. B, Dover, DE 19901. Arts. of Org. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Vil: 10/31 - 12/05/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF 57TH ST. PARTNERS, LLC Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 10/15/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in DE on 9/19/13.

NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 1700 Broadway, 41st Fl., NY, NY 10019. DE address of LLC: 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/31 - 12/05/2013

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF SHIEL HOLDINGS, LLC Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 10/10/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. bus. addr.: 920 Winter St., Waltham, MA 02451. LLC formed in DE on 9/30/13.

NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave., NY, NY 10011, regd. agent upon whom process may be served. DE addr. of LLC: 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/31 - 12/05/2013 APP FOR AUTH FOR EASY ICE, LLC App for Auth filed with SSNY 03/15/2013 LLC. Registered in Delaware on 04/15/2008 Off. Loc.: New York Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY to mail copy of process to The LLC, c/o National Registered Agents, Inc., 111 Eight Ave, NewYork, NY 10011. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013 PER LEI LLC Art. Of Org. Filed Sec. of State of NY 01/28/2013. Off. Loc.: New York Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY to mail copy of process toThe LLC, C/O John Sanil Manavalan, 515 East 85 St, Apt 5F, New York, NY 10028. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF BLUECURRENT PUBLIC RELATIONS LLC Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/16/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 07/09/03. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 2711 Centerville Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF 33 HENRY STREET LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/15/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 2121 Roundpoint Dr., Haverstraw, NY 10927. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF AUDUBON TP4 LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/11/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 666 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10103.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to c/o Phillips Nizer LLP at the princ. office of the LLC. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013

TheVillager.com

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF PROMENADE GLOBAL LLC Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/26/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/22/13. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Nelson Management Group Ltd., 118-35 Queens Blvd., 14th Fl., Forest Hills, NY 11375.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 2711 Centerville Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Arts. of Org. filed with Jeffrey W. Bullock, Secy. of State of the State of DE, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF HALLE’S JEWELS Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/13/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to principal business address: 10 W 47 St NUM M110, NY NY 10036. Purpose: any lawful act. 2169796 w.o Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013 2061 JERICHO LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 09/04/2013. Office loc: NY County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 250 W. 26th St., NY, NY 10001. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF MCCOURT GLOBAL LLC Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 9/17/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. bus. addr.: 888 7th Ave., 43rd Fl., NY, NY 10106. LLC formed in DE on 12/20/12. NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave., NY, NY 10011, regd. agent upon whom process may be served. DE addr. of LLC: 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, Townsend Bldg., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF 155 BLEECKER TREVI LLC Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 5/3/12.

Office location: NY County.

Princ. bus. addr.: c/o Trevi Retail LLC, 130 E. 59th St., Ste. 14A, NY, NY 10022. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o Goldfarb & Fleece LLP, 345 Park Ave., NY, NY 10154, Attn: Marc J. Becker, Esq. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013

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NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF ISR MARINE INSURANCE SERVICES LLC Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 9/23/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. bus. addr.: 299 Ballardvale St., Wilmington, MA 01887.

LLC formed in DE on 9/4/13.

NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave., NY, NY 10011, regd. agent upon whom process may be served. DE addr. of LLC: The Corporation Trust Co., 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF CLEARVUE RC LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/8/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o The LLC, 405 E. 63rd St., Ste. 10K, NY, NY 10065. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF MCCOURT PARTNERS LLC Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 9/17/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. bus. addr.: 888 7th Ave., 43rd Fl., NY, NY 10106. LLC formed in DE on 4/27/12. NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave., NY, NY 10011, regd. agent upon whom process may be served. DE addr. of LLC: 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, Townsend Bldg., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013 NAME OF LLC: HNL VENTURES LLC Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State: 10/7/13. Office loc.: NY Co. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o Business Filings Inc., 187 Wolf Rd., Ste. 101, Albany, NY 12205, regd. agt. upon whom process may be served. Purpose: any lawful act.

Vil: 10/24 - 11/28/2013 ELISABETH CROS CONSULTING, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 9/24/13.

Office in NY Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Herve N. Linder Ernst & Linder LLC 17 Battery Place Ste. 1307 NewYork, NY 10004. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013 WEBSTER FUNDING LLC Art. Of Org. Filed Sec. of State of NY 09/05/2013. Off. Loc.: New York Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY to mail copy of process to The LLC, C/O JVG MANAGEMENT, 20 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013

BIG SISTER HOLDING LLC a domestic LLC, filed with the SSNY on 9/23/13. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: GGMC, 1651 Third Ave., NY, NY 10128. General Purposes.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013 WHITTMAN PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC a domestic LLC, filed with the SSNY on 9/24/13. Office location: NewYork County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 200 Park Ave. S., Ste. 1518, NY, NY 10003. General Purpose Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013 DECORATORSBEST TRADE, LLC a domestic LLC, filed with the SSNY on 9/25/13. Office location: NewYork County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 767 Lexington Ave., Ste. 505, NY, NY 10065. General Purposes.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013 65 FOURTH, LLC a domestic LLC, currently known as IPPUDO NY, LLC, filed with the SSNY on 8/29/13. Office location: New York County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: R.O.S.E., 420 Lexington Ave., Ste. 2160, NY, NY 10170. General Purposes.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF ESRT 250 WEST 57TH ST., L.L.C. Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/10/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/05/13. Princ. office of LLC: One Grand Central Pl., 60 E. 42nd St., NY, NY 10165. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543.

DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808. Arts. of Org. filed with DE Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NAME: MedSpa 44, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/04/13. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 144 E. 44th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10017. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF BLONDIT LLC App. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/1/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 9/30/13. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o Lori Hope Shabtai, 1 Central Park West, Apt. 41C, NY, NY 10023. DE address of LLC: 2711 Centerville Road, Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808. Arts. of Org. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF UNE CONSULTING LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/4/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Gleason & Koatz, LLP, 122 E. 42nd St., Ste. 518, NY, NY 10168. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF ST. URBAN, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/2/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Lenore Davis, 285 Central Park West, Apt. 8S, NY, NY 10024-3006. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF CAVALIER TELEPHONE, L.L.C. Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 9/27/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in VA on 10/6/98.

NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: c/o CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave., NY, NY 10011, regd. agent upon whom process may be served. Principal office addr.: 4001 Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock, AR 72212. Cert. of Org. filed with VA Clerk of the Commission, 1300 E. Main St., Richmond, VA 23219. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF OASIS JIMMA JUICE BAR, LLC Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/26/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to principal business address: 3163 BROADWAY NY, NY 10027. Purpose: any lawful act. 2139669.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF EEGO 123 WILLIAM OWNER, LLC Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 9/17/13.

Office location: NY County.

LLC formed in DE on 6/8/13.

NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave., NY, NY 10011. DE address of LLC:The Corporation Trust Co., 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/17 - 11/21/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF TOURAINE 3B, LLC Art of Org filed with Secy of State of NY on 6/18/13.

Office location: NY County.

LLC formed in DE on 5/15/13.

SSNY designated agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to princ bus address: 1000 Brickell Ave, Ste. 300, Miami, FL 33131. Cert of LLC filed with Secy of State of DE located: 16192 Coastal Highway, Lewes, DE 19958. Purpose: any lawful act.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF STYLE BOOKINGS LLC Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/24/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to principal business address: 181 Thompson St 9 NY, NY 10012. Purpose: any lawful act. 2161145 w.o.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF 355 GREENWICH LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/24/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 419 Park Ave. South, 15th Fl., NY, NY 10016. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office.

Purpose: The acquisition, ownership, leasing, operation, sale or other disposition of the commercial units in the building known as The GreenwichTownhouse Condominium and by the street number 355-361Greenwich Street a/k/a 28-30 Harrison Street, New York, New York.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF PHAETRA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT GP, LLC Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/26/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 09/24/13. Princ. office of LLC: Attn: Haena Park, 55 W. 25th St., #14J, NY, NY 10010. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: c/o Corporation Service Co., 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808.

Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of DE, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013

NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF ORBIMED GLOBAL HEALTHCARE GP LLC Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/30/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 08/22/13.

Princ. office of LLC: 601 Lexington Ave., 54th Fl., NY, NY 10022. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808.

Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State, State of DE, Dept. of State,Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Investments.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF STACEY GANDLER PUBLIC RELATIONS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/30/13. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 333 E. 75th St., #5G, NY, NY 10021. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013 LESLIE DAVENPORT LLC a domestic LLC, filed with the SSNY on 7/29/13. Office location: NewYork County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Leslie Davenport, 173 E. 101st St., NY, NY 10029. General Purposes.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013 SOLE HUB, LLC a domestic LLC, filed with the SSNY on 9/11/13. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 75 Broad St., Ste. 3010, NY, NY 10004. General Purposes.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NAME: 111 POWERS LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 09/18/13. Office location: New York County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 530 Laguardia Place, New York, NewYork 10012. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF RIDGE ADVISORY, LLC Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/10/2013. Office location: NY County. SSNY has been designated as an agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. The address to which SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC is to: United States Corporation Agents, Inc., 7014 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF UNION SQUARE DOWNTOWN LLC Art. of Org. filed Sec’y of State (SSNY) 7/17/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Chadbourne & Parke, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Rm. 3248, NY, NY 10112. Purpose: any lawful activities.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF UNCONVENTIONAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE LLC Art. of Org. filed Sec’y of State (SSNY) 2/21/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Pavel Kolarov, 315 E. 80th St., Apt. 6H, NY, NY 10075. Purpose: any lawful activities Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF GLOBEY WORLD PRODUCTIONS LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/19/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 357 W. 22nd St., #1, NY, NY 10011. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/10 - 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF TLDH CO, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/16/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o Leon Wagner, 600 Madison Ave., 11th Fl., NY, NY 10022. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/10- 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF ILLUMINARIUM EXPERIENCES LLC App. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/24/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/5/12. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Corporation Service Company, 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207. DE address of LLC: 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808. Arts. of Org. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/10- 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF ENY II DEVELOPMENT LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/25/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o BRP Companies, 767 Third Ave., 33rd Fl., NY, NY 10017. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/10- 11/14/2013

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF BRP ENY II LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/25/13. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o BRP Companies, 767 Third Ave., 33rd Fl., NY, NY 10017. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Vil: 10/10- 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF 30 PARK PLACE HOTEL JUNIOR MEZZ LLC Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 9/11/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in DE on 8/14/13.

NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543, Attn: Corporation Service Co., regd. agent upon whom process may be served. DE addr. of LLC: 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/10- 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF 30 PARK PLACE HOTEL SENIOR MEZZ LLC Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 9/11/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in DE on 8/14/13.

NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543, Attn: Corporation Service Co., regd. agent upon whom process may be served. DE addr. of LLC: 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/10- 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF 30 PARK PLACE RETAIL LLC Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 9/11/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in DE on 8/14/13.

NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543, Attn: Corporation Service Co., regd. agent upon whom process may be served. DE addr. of LLC: 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/10- 11/14/2013 NOTICE OF QUALIFICATION OF 30 PARK PLACE RRG MEZZ LLC Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 9/11/13. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in DE on 8/14/13.

NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543, Attn: Corporation Service Co., regd. agent upon whom process may be served. DE addr. of LLC: 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: all lawful purposes.

Vil: 10/10- 11/14/2013

November 14, 2013

27

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR LETTERS, continued from p. 12

The point is, we are focused on the future.

We hope to see this as a space where anyone and everyone is welcome: a place to sit and be quiet, to meet with friends and neighbors, to participate in community events; or as it has been up until now, a space simply to pass by and enjoy the sight of lush green trees and an empty sky.

Emily Hellstrom

‘Garden’ open for events To The Editor: Re “Monumental battle in Nolita over fate of garden site” (news article, Nov. 7): It is not now, nor has it ever been a community garden. It’s a showroom for the Elizabeth Street Gallery. Years ago, when Allan Reiver and his business partner, Gil, split up, Urban Archeology moved from the Puck Building to Tribeca. Allan opened the Elizabeth Street Gallery and the open space became a showroom for sculpture and garden artifacts that very few of us reading this could ever afford or know what to do with.

Now, suddenly, it’s a community garden?

I don’t see anything growing there besides grass. His Web site still advertises renting the space for weddings and parties (http:// www.elizabethstreetgallery.com/).

I’d be happy to see a real community garden there. But what is Allan Reiver’s status with the space now? I still see his merchandise there.

I’m hopeful (but doubtful) that real affordable housing might end up there. (Go De Blasio!) But I also don’t believe for a moment that the alternative is a real community garden. I’d love to know what the current relationship is now with the city and Elizabeth Street Gallery.

Ted Glass

Not buying ‘compromise’ To The Editor: Re “Monumental battle in Nolita over fate of garden site” (news article, Nov. 7): The “compromise” mentioned by Councilmember Chin for a mixed use of housing and open space on the site would only be possible by first destroying the garden as it now exists. Mature trees would be ripped out. The site would be bulldozed. Any new garden would be squeezed between buildings, and in no way would it replicate that very special place that now exists at the Elizabeth Street Garden.

That bad result is not in the public interest

28

November 14, 2013

of those in the local community, or for parksdeprived residents of Community Board 2 and Council District 1. The goal should be to preserve the existing garden and find an alternative site for affordable housing within Council District 1.

Pete Davies

Serving the greater need To The Editor: Re “Monumental battle in Nolita over fate of garden site” (news article, Nov. 7): My comment at the hearing was that, as the mother of a young child 14 years ago, this “garden” property was inaccessible.

But I found a community garden a mere two blocks from this site, the M’Finda Kalunga Garden in Sara Roosevelt Park.

I used all the playgrounds nearby and found a wonderful, diverse community of friends in all of those places.

The notion that the Elizabeth St. space was ever open to the public is simply not true. It was never open, there was never any signage posted for a way to enter into it. This businessman has had the use of this space for decades and only opened it this summer when he faced the potential loss of this, almost private, city-owned asset.

But I understand why some want this to become a public garden space. I’m a community gardener. However, when some children don’t have a roof over their head, it becomes harder to justify why we who live with so much privilege have the greater need. Lousy choices, but that is what we’ve been given in Bloomberg’s New York. Many (not all) of the people who spoke in favor of a garden over affordable housing moved into this neighborhood and became a major factor in the rents going up in it and the enforced exodus of some of its former residents. Some who spoke live in housing that is subsidized — but want their view.

More of us need to ask: What kind of community are we trying to maintain and build here? What are we trying to model for our children?

K Webster

No N.Y.U. déjà vu, please!

To The Editor: Re “Monumental battle in Nolita over fate of garden site” (news article, Nov. 7): No need to build what we already have, and no need to disenfranchise our elderly

either. Councilmember Chin would do Little Italy a real service by turning out all the illegal airbnb hotel renters, many of them in rent-stabilized apartments, and repurposing that housing for seniors who, in deference to their mobility limitations, could be given first rights to ground-floor apartments.

In all cordiality and good will, let’s invite Councilmember Chin to make a fresh start in her new four-year term: No N.Y.U. 2031-like “compromise” on the Elizabeth Street Garden. Except for a handful of people — several members from one family — a community groundswell spoke in a resoundingly clear and unified voice at the Community Board 2 forum: The open green space of the Elizabeth Street Garden is not just something we want, but something we need.

Georgette Fleischer Fleischer is founder, Friends of Petrosino Square

Want more greenery? Leave!

To The Editor: Re “Monumental battle in Nolita over fate of garden site” (news article, Nov. 7): It is ridiculous to be fighting over a for-profit space when we need affordable housing in our community. The Web page is still advertising for wedding parties.

Who does that benefit? Surely not the community.

The people who were at the Community Board 2 meeting feel entitled. I would love to see affordable housing once again in a community that has always served people from all walks of life.

Let’s be a part of the solution and come up with a plan that will benefit the community at large. I agree we need green space, but we need housing more. And if you are so in need of greenery, you should not live in New York City.

Debbie Gonzalez

Vet was a triple threat To The Editor: Re “Vet never fired a shot but his orders were always on target” (news article, Nov. 7): Happy Veterans Day, Mr. Smith — and thank you, for your service in the Army, education and the arts. As a physician in the V.A. who learned to love writing in the 1970s and ’80s at New Canaan High School, I owe you for your work in all three areas.

Christie Emler

Will BID help on Broome St.?

To The Editor: Re “Secret vote on the Soho BID was some tricky business” (talking point, by Sean Sweeney, Oct. 17): The city has been totally indifferent to Broome St. traffic issues. Margaret Chin was totally unresponsive to requests for help with Broome St. traffic. In fact, after two years of asking to have the Broome St. crosswalks at Crosby St. and at Lafayette St. repainted, I turned to Community Board 2 for help, and got that, at least.

The Police Department, which oversees placement of traffic agents, has refused to send agents regularly for any part of the stretch of Broome St.

by Petrosino Square, and from Lafayette St. to West Broadway.

Despite campaign pledges by Senator Schumer and by Congressmember Nadler to deal with the tolls on the Verrazano Bridge, which causes trucks and cars to go on Broome in order to avoid tolls, nothing has been done in more than 25 years to help us with that. But…power talks. …

Maybe the Soho Business Improvement District can do something — but at what cost?

Lora Tenenbaum

Soho BID will be a boon To The Editor: Re “Secret vote on the Soho BID was some tricky business” (talking point, by Sean Sweeney, Oct. 17): As a longtime Broadway residential property owner, I am nothing short of thrilled that this business improvement district has been approved.

The tourists in Soho are not going away, but now we have resources and an organization to deal with the ongoing consequences, such as traffic, garbage, food carts and street vendors.

Throughout the legislative process, I found Councilmember Margaret Chin to be extremely fair in addressing both sides’ concerns, and she worked hard to structure fair representation on the BID’s board of directors. Renters will be represented on the BID board. There was total transparency throughout the process. To the opposition, I say, don’t be paranoid. This is a win-win for our neighborhood.

Cheryl Klauss E-mail letters, not longer than 250 words in length, to lincoln@thevillager.com or fax to 212229-2790 or mail to The Villager, Letters to the Editor, 515 Canal St., Suite 1C, NY, NY 10013.

Please include phone number for confirmation purposes. The Villager reserves the right to edit letters for space, grammar, clarity and libel. The Villager does not publish anonymous letters.

TheVillager.com

‘Chartering’ new course in Un. Sq. When they canceled Halloween NOTEBOOK CHARTER SCHOOL, continued from p. 16

million deficit over three years, which includes start-up costs and salaries,” Powell said. “By the third year, our elementary schools are able to operate solely on public funding.”

Currently, charter schools do not pay rent in public schools. During his campaign, Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio called for charter schools that can afford it to pay rent in cityoperated facilities.

Zalkind’s office contains a very large flatscreen television near a round conference table with several ergonomic chairs. When asked where the funding came from for the television, Powell noted that charter schools have flexibility in how they operate.

The TV is used for teacher professional development to watch videos to improve their own teaching. Additionally, Powell said, “Principals from all 22 schools and network professionals regularly video-conference to review curriculum and teaching challenges.”

Success Academy students are required to wear uniforms, and parents foot the bill — $146 to $231 for boys, and $199 to $238 for girls. Vouchers are also available to families in need. After kindergarten graduation, boys add a tie to their uniform. Girls, no matter what age, are not allowed to wear pants. All students are expected to buy laceless black shoes; girls wear Mary Janes, and boys are allowed Velcro-strap shoes.

Student uniforms are a bonus for parent Randi Bayroff, 43, who lives in Gramercy and works in financial services. In a telephone interview, she expressed her admiration for Success Academy Union Square, where her son Max, 5, attends kindergarten.

“That’s another great thing,” she said. “I don’t have to deal with clothes and negotiation in the morning.”

According to Bayroff, Max would want to wear shorts and a tank shirt, but since he knows he cannot, it is a nonissue.

“Everyone’s on the same playing field,” she noted.

As for academics, Bayroff is extremely pleased with Max’s progress.

“Six months ago, he couldn’t write more than the three letters of his name,” she said.

Now he can write the entire alphabet, spell, and he started reading last week.

Bayroff considered Public School 40, on E. 20th St., but she was more impressed with Success Academy Union Square.

“Science every day, they have chess,” she said. “And now all he wants for the holidays is a chess set.”

Max actually wants to do homework and is excited to go to school in the morning, she said.

Bayroff did have reservations about the school’s location, but feels it is “on top” of security.

“What’s amazing is the level of communication,” she said. “There are action fliers and I’m constantly in touch with the school.”

In a separate interview, Monica Thorton, a Chelsea resident and a lawyer, spoke about her son’s experience at Success Academy

TheVillager.com

Union Square. Sebastian, age 7, is in first grade after repeating kindergarten twice at two different public schools.

“For us, it’s been an absolute savior,” she said. “Short of us not having a just fantastic experience, we were going to have to move.”

She and her husband were not happy with what they found in traditional public schools, which Thorton dubbed as “a complete disaster for us.”

They decided to give Success Academy a shot, figuring it could not be worse than what they had previously endured.

“We’ve been blown away,” she said. “It’s a much superior experience. The teachers are stronger, the commitment is stronger, and the efficiency and effectiveness of the school is noticeable.”

Thorton admits the school’s administrative side is different, and is conducted in a “strict and stern way,” but she also finds it “kind and thoughtful.”

Sebastian has improved academically the past three months.

“He’s gone from the bottom to being at the top,” his mom said. She feels the students at Success Academy are challenged, and the students feel that everyone knows their name.

“I’ve seen a huge turnaround in our son,” she said. “He’s excited about school and his subjects. He gets up himself and wants to go to school to the next day. For us, that’s worth a lot.”

Thorton does have concerns about security, and noted there was a breach that day.

A follow-up e-mail with Powell on Wednesday explained that a man was arrested after entering the massive building through a delivery entrance, and the incident is under investigation.

Success Academy has done well on New York State tests, with a pass rate of 82 percent in math and 58 percent in English in 2013.

Smaller class size, better resources and teachers receiving more support may be the secret behind the equation.

Eventually, the school will grow to 500 students in grades K to 4. It will be linked to a middle school at another, yet-to-be-determined location.

Co-location of charter schools in existing public school buildings continues to be a hotly debated issue. This April, Gregg Lundahl, Washington Irving High School’s veteran union chapter leader, speaking to The Villager, said of Success Academy Union Square, “I anticipate that the charter school will be entirely barricaded from the other schools.”

“We believe that she [Moskowitz] will want to expand into the first floor,” Lundahl predicted then.

They definitely wouldn’t be rolling out the welcome mat for Moskowitz and Co., he added.

“Eva will not find co-locating at Washington Irving comfortable,” Lundahl vowed. “We are dead set against her due to her legacy of not playing fair with space.”

Lundahl did not respond to a request for comment for this article.

BY MICHELE HERMAN

I

t’s Halloween. The lights are on.

The doorbell is ringing. Zombies are lurching up Sixth Ave. All is right, more or less, with the Village, at least for those of us whose homes and belongings were above the high-water mark a year and two days ago. For the less lucky among us — I hope the scars and the skittishness are fading, and the great unsung luxury of ordinary life is kicking back in. Following the media’s lead in reliving awful events every time their anniversary rolls around, I just pulled out last year’s journal and reread my entries from those weird, out-of-time days last fall. A few samples: On the sidewalk, a drowned mouse.

Wednesday when the doorman pulls up in his car, the super whoops with joy.

The Range Rover with the Louisiana plates is still parked outside, its window wide open and the bumper torn off.

Rode up to J’s office to check email.

Posted on Facebook: “Greetings From Manhattan Frontier Country” and waited for “likes” to arrive.

Felt strongly that life is not enriched.

Our neighbor’s father died happy at 89, mid-storm, mid-polka.

I can actually hear the dog licking his chops and J. stirring carbonara.

Found a fifth bag of boneless chicken in the freezer. I’m poaching as fast as I can.

Particularly vivid was the Halloween that wasn’t. You have to hand it to Sandy — it takes a lot to bring down the Village’s high holy day. But even Jeanne Fleming’s army of ghouls and the spirit of Ralph Lee could not save Halloween.

The 39th annual parade was first postponed and then canceled.

Halloween had long been my family’s shining hour but has been dimming as the kids reached the end of childhood.

I don’t even bother buying a pumpkin anymore. For kids, Halloween is about controlled threats and mock terror and upended expectations (and peanut-butter cups). So how ironic that our benign, beloved Hudson River put on a costume out of the Old Testament and scared the pants off all of us and then, a couple of hours later, resumed its usual calm face.

Shortly before the surge, my husband and I had gone down to our basement storage locker to take precautions. Some of our stuff was already up on folding chairs from a flooding threat years ago that had never materialized. One of the last things I did before Sandy was hoist

a huge bag of old Halloween costumes and another of surplus felt and fake fur off the floor and hang them from a hook.

My husband and I developed a good system during the peak trick-or-treating years: He did the papier-mâché and I did the sewing. I’d saved them all — the animals and inanimate objects favored by our older son: the eagle, the moose, the Tootsie Roll, the giant replica of his knapsack. And the heroic figures of our younger son: the Indiana Jones, the Viking, the Revolutionary War soldier, Philippe Petit.

On the 31st we stayed home in the dark to greet trick or treaters in our Halloween-friendly building, but not a soul came. My husband had a brainstorm: we would reverse trick-or-treat.

We made a list of all the apartments in our building with kids, trudged up to the eighth floor with our bowl of candy and our flashlights, and started ringing doorbells. We worked our way down to the ground floor, but nobody answered; all the families had bailed. So, in our second brainstorm of the night, we rode our bikes through the dark up to the lights of Times Square and saw “Argo.”

By the time we emerged from the movie, we’d forgotten all about Halloween and were startled to see a few sad Catwomen and French maids. We rode back home into the abyss and what would turn out to be two more days of darkness and rotting food.

Here are some more moments from that week: On Eighth Avenue, by the little building whose facade flew off, Anderson Cooper planted his feet and made his serious anchor face and then, in between segments, had to remain in the pose for continuity. A guy in the crowd kept saying, “Oh my God, he’s so gorgeous, I want to f**k him.”

The smell of woodsmoke has diminished — the people with fireplaces have fled.

I toss yogurt, dog food and some pasta that seemed to have a sea anemone growing on it. Something yellow and fragrant is leaking out of the freezer.

No one’s come to check on the old women in the projects. Why are we alive? Were we put here for a purpose?

We took a nighttime walk with our trusty flashlights, and I remembered how New York felt in the early 80’s, when I learned to make a fist with all my keys protruding in case I needed to punch a mugger.

Fast-forward a year. We’re about to get a new mayor after 12 years, which is exciting. People seem more worried about affordability than safety and security.

For now, I’m in the mood to celebrate everything mundane and routine and dry, and a day in the calendar that only pretends to be scary.

November 14, 2013

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Free Will Astrology Week of November 14 - 20

BY ROB BREZSNY ARIES (March 21-April 19): There’s something resembling a big red snake slithering around in your mind lately. Not literally, of course. I’m talking about a big red imaginary snake. But it’s still potent. Whether it ends up having a disorienting or benevolent influence on your life depends on your relationship with it. Respect it but let it know you’re the boss. Give it guidelines and a clear mandate so it serves your noble ambitions, not your chaotic desires. If you do that, your big red snake will heal and uplift you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In my astrological opinion, almost nothing can keep you from getting the love you need in the coming days.

The only potential problem: You might have a mistaken or incomplete understanding about the love you need, which could interfere with you recognizing and welcoming the real thing.

Here’s my prescription: Keep an open mind about the true nature of the love you actually need most, and stay alert for the perhaps unexpected ways it might make itself available.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “People fall so in love with their pain, they can’t leave it behind,” asserts novelist Chuck Palahniuk.

Your assignment, Gemini, is to work your ass off to fall out of love with your pain. As if you were talking to a child, explain to your subconscious mind that the suffering it is used to has outlived its usefulness. In fact, I recommend you conduct a ritual severing. Tie one side of a ribbon to a symbol of your pain and the other around your waist. Then cut the ribbon in half and bury the symbol in the dirt.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again,” said painter Joan Miró. “You can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all your life,” he added. The coming days will likely bring you none of the former kind of experiences and several of the latter, Cancerian.

It’s a numinous time in your long-term cycle — when you’re likely to encounter beauty that enchants you and mysteries that titillate your sense of wonder for a long time. How do you like your epiphanies? Hot and wild? Cool and soaring? Comical and lyrical? All the above?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): There’s a new genre of erotic literature: dinosaur porn. E-books like “In the Velociraptor’s Nest” and “Ravished by the Triceratops” recount steamy encounters between people and prehistoric reptiles. While now is a good time to add explore pleasure’s frontier, I think you should remain rooted in the real world, even in your fantasy life. Plus, it’s safer. You don’t want to explore the frontiers of pleasure with cold-blooded beasts. Either travel alone or else round up a warm-blooded compassion specialist with some skills in the arts of intimacy.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The saxifrage is a small plant with white flowers. It flourishes in subarctic regions and cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere. “Saxifrage” comes from the Latin saxifraga, meaning “stone-breaker.”

Indeed, the plant often appears in the clefts of boulders. In “A Sort of a Song,” poet

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William Carlos Williams celebrates its strength: “Saxifrage is my flower that splits the rocks.” I nominate this little dynamo as your metaphorical power object this week, Virgo. May it inspire you to crack through barriers with subtle force.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’re not being swept along in a flood of meaningless distractions and irrelevant information, right? I’m hoping you have a sixth sense about which few stimuli are useful and meaningful to you, and which thousands of stimuli are not. But if not, now would be a good time to take strenuous action.

The universe will conspire to help you become extra stable and secure if you resolve to eliminate as much nonsense from your life as you can.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): To be healthy, you must give and receive sweetness regularly.

But you can’t flourish on sweetness alone. For balance, you need the other tastes, including saltiness, sourness, bitterness and savoriness.

From what I understand, you are headed into a phase when you’ll thrive on more bitterness and savoriness than usual. To get an idea of this, meditate on what the emotional equivalents might be for bitter tastes like coffee, beer and olives, and for savory tastes like mushrooms, cheese, spinach and green tea.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): When you procrastinate, you avoid an important task. You goof off, doing something fun or just puttering around. What if you could avoid an important task by doing other tasks somewhat less important but still quite valuable? For example, you could postpone your search for the key to everything by throwing yourself into a project that will give you the key to one small part of everything.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In his utopian novel “Looking Backward,” Edward Bellamy wrote: “It is under what may be called unnatural, in the sense of extraordinary, circumstances that people behave most naturally, for the reason that such circumstances banish artificiality.”

Relief and release await you, Capricorn: an end to pretending, a dissolution of deception. Amid extraordinary circumstances, you will act with brave authenticity. Take full advantage.

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Customize. Personalize.

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “I have your back.” Is there anyone who feels that way about you? If not, now would be an excellent time to work on getting such an ally. Cosmic conditions are ripe for bringing greater levels of assistance and collaboration into your life. If you already have confederates of that caliber, you can deepen your symbiotic connection even further.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): More than 100 countries celebrate a holiday called Independence Day, memorializing when they broke free of another nation to form a separate state. I encourage you to create your own personal version of this festival. It could commemorate a past breakthrough moment when you escaped an oppressive situation, or achieved a higher level of autonomy. A fresh opportunity of this kind is available to you. Any day now might be a good time to declare a new Independence Day.

Annie: Music Maker, Tekserver.

119 W 23rd St • 212.929.3645 • tekserve.com November 14, 2013

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