CHELSEA NOW, JAN. 23, 2013 by Schneps Media

Airswimming, p. 14

VOLUME 5, NUMBER 10

THE WEST SIDE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

JANUARY 23 - FEBRUARY 5, 2013

In the Zone? Land Use Committee Explores West Chelsea Options By SCoTT STIFFLER Construction to vertically expand Chelsea Market won’t begin until 2015 — but a provision secured during the lengthy review process that ultimately allowed Jamestown Properties to upzone its iconic structure is already being discussed by Community Board 4 (CB4). In an October 25, 2012 press release announcing the approval of Jamestown’s Uniform Land Use Review

Procedure (ULURP) application, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn invoked a West Chelsea Rezoning Study as one of the “key victories raised by the local community and the Borough President.” The Department of City Planning (DCP) and CB4, Quinn noted, have until June 30, 2013 to “engage in a collaborative planning

Continued on page 4

Square Deal Sought for Chelsea Triangle

Photo by Jon Winkleman

Hoylman Takes Oath to Replace Duane in Albany By Ryan BUXTon As Brad Hoylman sat on the stage of the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Haft Auditorium, he held two things: the hand of his partner David Sigal and a Bible. Moments later, Hoylman placed his palm on that Bible — the same one Sigal used during his bar mitzvah — and took an oath to officially become the state senator for New York’s 27th District.

Hoylman’s swearing-in ceremony, hosted by FIT on the afternoon of January 13, marked the culmination of a campaign that saw the 47-year-old lawyer handily triumph over fellow Democrats Tom Greco and Tanika Inlaw to claim the seat vacated by State Senator Tom Duane. Just days earlier, Hoylman traveled to Albany for the first day of the 2013 legislative session — beginning his rep-

By maXInE WaLLy Having initially explored design and use options during an October 17, 2012 meeting of Community Board 4 ’s Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n Planning Committee (TPC), the TPC once again met on January 15 to further discuss Chelsea Triangle. Located at Ninth Avenue between West 14th and 15th Streets, the plaza is currently used

resentation of several of Manhattan’s highest-profile neighborhoods, including Chelsea, Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen, Greenwich Village and parts of the Upper West Side, Midtown/East Midtown, the East Village and the Lower East Side. During his remarks, Hoylman invoked Hubert Humphrey’s moral test

Continued on page 5

for community seating, as well as events like farmer’s markets and, formerly, Thursday night Salsa classes. It is also, however, a relatively dangerous crosswalk and an area prone to intense traffi c congestion. For this reason, both the Department of Transportation (DOT) and CB4 agreed that plans to reconfigure the Triangle must be made with public

Continued on page 3

EdITORIaL, LETTERs PAGE 8

INdIE ThEaTER FaVEs PAGE 12

January 23 - February 5, 2013

The High Cost of Losing a Dollar Store

Manhattan Chamber of Commerce LGBT-2-B Committee Presents…

The Essentials of Starting a Business Planning to start a business in 2013 and wondering about the next step? Join Manhattan Chamber of Commerce on Jan 29th for part one of three of its Business Accelerator Series. Network over cocktails and learn from a panel of experts and experienced business owners as they share: • • •

best practices in developing a business plan, the importance and advantages in developing a banking relationship, and the legal and tax issues associated with forming a limited liability company, a partnership and a corporation, including S corporation.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Panel discussion and Q&A 7:00pm – 8:00pm – Cocktails and networking

WHERE:

Heartland Brewery at Times Square 127 W. 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036

RSVP:

Email events@manhattancc.org, call 212-473-7875 or visit http://tinyurl.com/startupseries

COST:

Free for members of Manhattan Chamber of Commerce $15 for non-members (non-refundable) $20 for walk-ins

Photo by Scott Stifﬂer

The budget-friendly days of heading to 23rd Street, halfway between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, to pick up a can of sterno for 99 cents (or your choice of a knife, fork or spoon for 33 cents) will soon be over. On January 31, our beloved (and dare we say, iconic) 99 Cent Creation store will close its doors for good — ending 15 years of providing Chelsea with not-quite brand name bargains galore. A victim of prohibitively high rent, the store’s been operating month-to-month, without a lease, for nearly two years now. A few months ago, an ominous “Store for Rent” sign went up. It’s gone now, and 99 Cent Creation will soon be as well — possibly replaced, rumor has it, with yet another 7-Eleven.

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January 23 - February 5, 2013

TPC, CIC: Chelsea Triangle’s Future TBD

Photos by Scott Stifﬂer

Dangerous patterns: A pedestrian crosses Ninth Ave., despite a glowing red hand.

Continued from page 1 safety and interest in mind. Back in October, members of the DOT presented some of their plans and ideas. In addition to more clearly delineated parking, walking and driving areas, the DOT proposed adding bulb outs, (curbs that extend farther out) to shorten the pedestrian crossing distance along Ninth Avenue and decrease the speed of turning vehicles. This would create a larger triangle overall. Engineering Consultant Jeff Meyers of URS Corporation, along with design consultant Ken Smith (of Landscape Architects) and Emily Weidenhof (of the DOT) gave a presentation and analysis of traffic and pedestrian patterns based on a field study they conducted, by way of 24-hour video surveillance, for 10 days during the month of October. According to the study, peak hours of street activity are on Friday nights, from 10:30-11:30pm. Many use the crosswalk on 15th Street on the West side, and there are higher instances of accidents involving pedestrians, bikers and vehicles on that specific area of the Triangle. Down on the 14th Street end, pedestrians and vehicle interaction adds to the congestion, because of vehicle turns that make it more difficult for those on foot to clear. “For the past three years, there have been seven crashes at 16th Street, 10 at 15th Street and 22 at 14th Street,” Meyers said. “We have identified the patterns there and we tried to mitigate them in our design by re-striping some of the roadways to give a clear sense of what drivers should be doing.” The DOT reminded all that the plans were still in the works, and that this was a relatively early stage in the design. When a nearby resident suggested using the space for a community garden, the DOT said that idea was premature, since they were still considering how many trees, and what kinds of trees, to plant in the space.

The TPC emphasized their desire to make the area self-maintaining, and have fewer events going on so as to require less upkeep —essentially, maximizing public use and minimizing private use. At conclusion, the board thanked the DOT once more, saying they appreciated the latter entity’s holistic approach to improving the space. On January 16, representatives George Roberts and Katie Solomon of the Chelsea Improvement Company (CIC), a non-profit neighborhood redevelopment corporation

‘For the past three years, there have been seven crashes at 16th Street, 10 at 15th Street and 22 at 14th Street,’ Meyers said. ‘We have identified the patterns there and we tried to mitigate them in our design by re-striping some of the roadways to give a clear sense of what drivers should be doing.’

that manages maintenance with the DOT attended the TPC’s monthly meeting with updates on the Triangle. With plans to launch a farmer’s market and community events like Capoeira and yoga classes for children in the spring,

Coming soon: A farmer’s market whose food vendors will be joined by artists, jewelers and craftspeople.

the CIC discussed potential vendors — in addition to a possible cooperative relationship with Fulton Youth of the Future — then asked the board for suggestions and referrals to organizations. Currently, most of the food vendors

planned for the spring are from the greater tri-state area. A mix of artists, jewelers and craftspeople comprise the other half of planned merchants. Roberts elaborated

Continued on page 20

January 23 - February 5, 2013

Land Use Committee Revisits West Chelsea Protections SLIDESHOW MAPS PRELIMINARy CHAGES

CB4’s Chelsea Land Use Committee (CLU) met on January 14, to share with the public their initial thoughts on SWCD expansion. Co-Chair J. Lee Compton and committee member Betty Mackintosh took the nearly two dozen attendees through a generally well-received slideshow offering initial zoning recommendations based on possible height, bulk, Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and commercial/ residential use scenarios, and speculative remedies for challenges specific to the Northern and Southern Study Area. Among the recommendations (in a slide titled “Study Goals for SWCD Expansion), CLU cited the need to “encourage and guide development as a mixed use neighborhood” as well as “ensure that the use and form of new buildings relates to and enhances the neighborhood.” Adding the proposed areas to the SWCD would, Benfatto told Chelsea Now, eliminate the current problem of donut holes (described by Compton as “a different zone within a zone”). As is, blocks with multiple zoning areas are subject to construction projects with much greater height than their immediate neighbors. “Re-regulating the zoning,” said Benfatto, “changes the allowable envelope of development. You would, in essence, be cutting out or filling in the donut holes.”

Continued from page 1 process” and submit draft recommendations to the City Council that would “assess the future of the expansion of the Special West Chelsea District.” The dimensions of the Rezoning Study, the council’s press release specified, “will be the area bounded by 11th and 12th Avenues and will also include 85 and 99 10th Avenue, the South side of West 15th Street and the east side of 10th Avenue between 14th and 15th Street.”

CRACKS IN THE FACADE?

The Special West Chelsea District (SWCD) was created in 2005 to allow new development, largely residential, in an area zoned for light manufacturing and commercial use (mostly from 14th to 30th Streets on Ninth and Tenth Avenues, the “Northern Triangle” from 25th to 30th Streets between 11th and 12th Avenues, and also along some midblocks). At the time, CB4 strongly advocated for Chelsea Market (and the 15th Street area, across from the market) to be included — but its failure to do so set the stage for 2012’s contentious ULURP process, during which the SWCD’s area of coverage was a bone of contention during a series of public hearings at the CB4, Borough President and City Planning Commission levels. In a January 22 phone interview, CB4 District Manager Bob Benfatto asserted that had Chelsea Market been subject to SWCD requirements, “then you would not have seen a building with as many setbacks, and as tall, as you do in the Chelsea Market [design] now. They would have never approved it.”

LAND USE COMMITTEE UNvEILS PRELIMINARy PLANS Photo by Scott Stifﬂer

Not another High Line hotel: CB4 District Manager Bob Benfatto says Jamestown Properties has no plans to build atop its Milk Studios space — but as is, they’ve got the right to (if they get more FAR rights).

Posing the rhetorical question, “Why not leave well enough alone?,” Compton noted that in its current state, the SWCD “is a subset of what we wanted

Continued on page 18

January 23 - February 5, 2013

Democrat Leaders Laud Hoylman’s Talent, Passion Continued from page 1 of government to reveal the internal compass he plans to use in navigating the state legislature. Paraphrasing the 38th Vice President of the United States, Hoylman asserted that leaders should be judged by how they treat “those in the dawn of life; those in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those in the shadows of life — the sick, the needy, the handicapped.” “You’ve sent me to Albany with a mandate to make sure our government passes this moral test,” Hoylman said to a room of cheering supporters. The new senator vowed to fight for his constituents in efforts to reform laws on campaign finance and rent regulation, keep water safe from fracking, ensure New York City’s fair share of education dollars and expand options for LGBT parents, among other issues. A host of powerful Democrats (including U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn) attended the ceremony, to congratulate Hoylman and share their high expectations for his work in Albany. Duane was on hand to officially pass the torch. The former senator got emotional as he expressed the accomplishments he expects of his successor at the state capitol and the impact Hoylman has had on Duane’s life. “On a personal level, as my friend, he has never let me down,” Duane said. “During the most difficult period of my life, he was completely and totally there for me and supportive in a way that so very few people were.” Duane offered concrete thanks for it all with a gift — neckties for Hoylman and his partner and a stuffed dog for their nearly two-year-old daughter Silvia, who clutched the toy with joy and kept it close throughout the rest of the afternoon. Speaker after speaker warned Hoylman that he has big shoes to fill as Duane’s successor— but the sentiment was expressed most colorfully by Quinn. “There are enormously huge pumps left for [Hoylman] to fill by Tom Duane. They are very high and expensive stilettos,” she deadpanned. The joke underscored Duane’s significance as the first openly gay member of the

POLICE BLOTTER Page 10

Photo by Ryan Buxton

After his swearing-in, Senator Hoylman greets well-wishers.

New York State Senate. Hoylman will follow Duane’s footsteps in representing the LGBT community in Albany — which is important to Francine Haselkorn, a Hell’s Kitchen resident who attended the ceremony. She said seeing Hoylman, his partner and their daughter celebrating the election was a mark of progress. “This wouldn’t have happened ten years ago,” Haselkorn said. “The comfort, the sophistication, the change in society — this is so New York.” Hoylman’s sexual orientation played a big role in his past experience, including his work as president of the Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats. He also served as a Democratic District Leader and as the chair of Manhattan Community Board 2. The latter office is one that Manhattan Borough

President Scott Stringer said showed him Hoylman had the mettle for higher office. “When he became chair of Community Board 2, we were able to accomplish so much, navigate some really rocky waters,” Stringer recalled. “If you can survive two terms as chair of Community Board 2, you can take on anything. You can take on the Republicans in the senate, you can take on the governor. There’s nothing Brad Holyman won’t be able to do in Albany.” Following his swearing-in, Hoylman made the rounds and mingled with dozens of supporters and fellow politicians. One of the many guests in Hoylman’s orbit was Steven Skyles-Mulligan, president of the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club. SkylesMulligan chatted briefly with Hoylman during the reception and was proud of how the new senator received those waiting to congratulate him. “He’s elated, and he’s doing a wonderful job of making everyone who came feel important,” Skyles-Mulligan said. While his new senatorial duties will surely be an adjustment for Hoylman, he assured his supporters that he’s up to the task. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, and it’s never easy in Albany — so I hear. But I’m ready for the challenge,” he said. “This campaign, frankly, was easy compared to the challenge I and my colleagues will face in the legislature, and they will only be surmountable if we face them together.”

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January 23 - February 5, 2013

Urban Planners Home in on Zone A and its Future By Sam Spokony As many city activists and officials continue to call for the construction of storm barriers or new seawalls in the wake of Hurricane Sandy’s devastation, urban planning experts gathered at The Cooper Union last week to discuss ideas for community and infrastructure-based solutions to the problems that the city’s coastal areas must now confront. The January 10 panel discussion, which drew a full-house audience to the Great Hall of Cooper’s Foundation Building, was jointly organized by the Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, the Cooper Union Institute for Sustainable Design and the Architectural League of New York. The forum’s title, “The Future of Zone A: New York Neighborhoods on the Frontline of Climate Change,” referred to the primary flood zones identified by the Mayor’s Office that were under mandatory evacuation orders before Hurricane Sandy. Kerri Culhane, Two Bridges associate director, has been calling for the installation of green infrastructure within her organization’s neighborhood — specifically, design elements that would help absorb and lessen the destructive impact of storm waters — since long before Sandy struck, arguing that climate change must force the city to re-evaluate its approach to waterfront planning. The Two Bridges district covers the area between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, including the waterfront. In a brief introductory speech at the Cooper Union event, Culhane said that the large audience was a “testament to the timeliness of this issue.” She began the discussion by posing a basic question to the panelists: Is it really feasible to develop and implement ecological designs to mitigate climate change? And while their collective answer was generally in the affirmative, the panelists also argued that science-based approaches to new waterfront design must be accompanied by the creation of more effective partnerships between city officials, urban planners and community members, as well as more basic, institutional changes to how the city and developers approach building on the waterfront.

Photos by Sam Spokony

Tom Angotti, a professor at Hunter College, at left, talked about the future of Zone A during a Jan. 10 panel discussion at The Cooper Union. Other speakers, from left to right, included Alexander Felson, a professor at Yale University; Susannah Drake, a senior associate at the Cooper Union Institute of Sustainable Design; and Claire Weisz, principal at WXY Architecture and Urban Design.

“We generally think that inaction to crises happens because people don’t understand the problem, but greater scientific knowledge has actually led to more polarization, by turning climate change into a political problem,” said Alexander Felson, an assistant professor at Yale University’s schools of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Architecture. “So we don’t just need more research [to plan for future disasters]; we need more interdisciplinary communication between scientists and people like landscape architects who can see how the research will inform their designs within specific neighborhoods.” Tom Angotti, a professor of urban affairs and planning at Hunter College, elaborated on that argument by focusing on problems faced during the hurricane by the city’s public housing developments — 26 of which are located in Zone A — and criticized the city for not building strong relationships with those communities in order to understand their needs and poten-

• • • • • • PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE • • • • • • The Hudson River Park Neighborhood Improvement District Steering Committee in conjunction with Friends of Hudson River Park will be hosting 4 Public Meetings on the proposed Improvement District. We hope you can join us to get more information, ask questions, and show your support at one of the following meetings:

Monday Feb. 4th @ 6:30pm Little Red School House (272 Sixth Ave.)

Monday Feb. 11th @ 3:00pm Fulton Center Auditorium (119 Ninth Ave.)

Tuesday Feb. 5th @ 6:30pm Hartley House (413 West 46 St.)

Tuesday Feb. 12th @ 6:30pm Manhattan Youth Downtown Community Center (120 Warren St.)

For more information please contact Jeffrey Aser at 212-757-0981 (Jaser@fohrp.org) www.HRPNID.org

tial for disaster. “Public housing is on the way to being privatized, since Congress just isn’t providing enough funding for [the New York City Housing Authority], and the aftermath of the storm could be just another argument for converting those developments into condos,” Angotti said. “NYCHA buildings can’t be saved from future disasters simply through technological fixes: The system needs to be fundamentally reorganized.” To that end, he continued by arguing that the city’s immediate response to some storm-affected areas was lackluster not due to lack of skills, but because “communities and neighborhoods have never been part of the planning process for the city. No relationships have been built between managers in City Hall and community leaders, especially in NYCHA developments. But that’s the kind of thinking that needs to be at the center of long-term planning.” Later in the discussion, Angotti also

identified another “political problem,” that being the city’s apparent focus on commercially based mega-development projects over community planning. “I bet that if the city spent as much money on the Rockaways as it’s spending to build Hudson Yards, we wouldn’t have a problem finding a solution to these issues,” he said, prompting applause from the audience. In terms of the tangible design responses, Susannah Drake, a founding principal of the dlandstudio and senior associate of the Cooper Union Institute for Sustainable Design, discussed ideas for more waterpermeable streetscapes within Lower Manhattan. Drake said that she’s currently working on a project, sponsored by the Museum of Modern Art, that would create wetlands around coastal areas. She explained that such adjustments could help prevent flooding by complementing potential plans for green infrastructure and new gardens, in order to allow flood waters to flow in and out of Zone A streets without causing destruction. In addition, Drake explained that the city might have to re-evaluate its own restrictions on infrastructure planning in order to facilitate those types of designs. “We need an overall strategy for managing storm water, and maybe that will have to includes changes to jurisdiction and regulations currently in place for the Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Planning,” she said. Those current restrictions were also highlighted by Claire Weisz, a principal at WXY Architecture and Urban Design, who pointed out the inherent difficulty of trying to incorporate more natural flood barriers and wetlands into the city’s already crowded environment. “There’s a tension between doing these natural edges and ceding space, because you can’t go out in the water due to current regulations,” she said. “There’s an urge to use every inch space [for development], but that’s not always a good thing now, considering the impact of climate change.”

January 23 - February 5, 2013

CB2 Hears Ideas from Storm Surge Prophets

An image from Malcolm Bowman’s presentation on storm surge barriers, showing a view of a segment of the Delta Project, in the Netherlands. The system is composed of a mixture of elevated natural sand dunes, tidal gates (normally open), elevated highways and shipping gates. The photo was taken during ﬂooding (incoming) tides. During storm surges, gates are lowered from the highway for protection.

By TERESE LoEB kREUZER Facing a room packed with Village residents, David Gmach, director of public relations for Con Edison, had the task of explaining to them why the power went off in most of Lower Manhattan during Superstorm Sandy and why it stayed off for days thereafter. During Hurricane Irene, there were around 200,000 power outages, he said, out of around 3.1 million customers in the five boroughs and Westchester County. Before Sandy, this was the worst situation that Con Edison had ever encountered. During Sandy, there were 1.1 million customer outages. Gmach, addressing a meeting of Community Board 2’s Environmental Committee, told his audience that out of the 1.1 million Con Ed customers who lost service, around 230,000 were in Manhattan. Most were south of 40th St. on the East Side and south of 30th St. on the West Side. That would have included most of the people in the room. Gmach said that Con Ed had prepared for flooding but not for the height and power of Sandy. “The prior record for a storm surge was in the 1820s at around 11 feet hitting New York Harbor,” he said. “The forecast that everyone was talking about up until just before [Sandy] hit was maybe reaching that level, maybe exceeding it slightly at about 12 feet.” The surge from Sandy was 14 feet — “2 to 3 feet higher than anything that had happened before and 2 feet higher

than what anyone had forecast,” Gmach stated. “So this was flooding on a level that had not been predicted and was much worse than anything we had seen.” Actually, however, a storm surge as devastating as Sandy had been predicted, and by some of the people who were in the room that night. Since 2009, Robert Trentlyon, former publisher of Downtown Express, The Westsider and Chelsea Clinton News, had been talking about just such a possible storm surge, but few people were listening. Contemplating the effect of global warning, Trentlyon had come to the conclusion that a massive flood in New York City was inevitable. Along with Malcolm Bowman, chairperson of the Oceanic and Atmospheric Department at Stony Brook University, and Douglas Hill, an engineer with expertise in oceanography, Trentlyon went to numerous political and city planning meetings, expounding on the problem and recommending storm surge barriers in New York Harbor as a possible solution. “I spoke out,” said Trentlyon, “but got minimal positive response.” However, gradually that began to change. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn got onboard. So did U.S. Representatives Jerrold Nadler and Carolyn Maloney, New York State Senators Daniel Squadron, Tom Duane, Brad Holyman and other elected officials. “Now,” said Trentlyon, “New York City

Continued on page 16

Another image from Bowman’s report showing a different style of surge protection in the Netherlands. Twin sector gate barriers (Tainter gates) protect the port of Rotterdam, the world’s largest, against North Sea storm surges. The gates are shown closed in the storm surge position. Normally, the gates are kept open, rotated back into their parking areas. The New York Harbor concept plan calls for a combination of drop-down gates and Tainter gates.

January 23 - February 5, 2013

editorial

Getting Tough on Guns It was a proud day for New York when Governor Cuomo signed off on the toughest gun laws in America. Better known for its dysfunction, Albany came together under Cuomo’s leadership and pushed through a sweeping package of gun-control measures, hailed by the governor as the “most comprehensive package in the nation.” The new regulations represent a multipronged approach to curbing gun violence. Under the package of laws, the definition of banned assault weapons is immediately expanded to include semi-automatics with one military-style feature. Also, owners of what is believed to be 1 million previously legal semiautomatic guns now must register them with the police. In addition, a new limit is imposed on ammunition clips — down to seven bullets from the previous cap of 10. Under the new regulations, New York is now the first state to require background checks to purchase bullets. And a statewide gun registration database will be created. Police will now get automatic alerts of high-volume buys of ammo. Mental health professionals are now required to report if they think a patient could be a threat. Also under the new law, police are now empowered to confiscate any firearm owned by a dangerous patient. Kendra’s Law — which permits judges to order mentally ill patients to receive treatment on an outpatient basis — will be expanded. Finally, anyone who kills a first responder will now get a mandatory life sentence without parole. “We are fighting back,” Cuomo said at the signing of the new restrictions. At last, thanks to Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, we’re starting to see the chokehold of the NRA around our country’s neck being loosened, and are hopefully on course toward a less violent and a saner America. Last Wednesday evening, President Obama laid out his own gun control plan, including the restoration and strengthening of the assault weapons ban; banning armor-piercing ammo; instating strict punishments for gun trafficking; and generally making it harder for criminals and those people with mental illness who are dangerous to get access to guns. Critically important, under Obama’s plan, criminal background checks would be mandatory for all gun sales, closing the much-exploited loophole under which gun buyers can avoid screening by purchasing weapons from unlicensed sellers at gun shows or in private sales. Clearly, Obama will have a hard road trying to get these sensible gun control measures through Congress. Yet last month’s sickening mass shooting at the Sandy Hook elementary school has given momentum to the new push for gun control. We were disappointed that the governor’s package excluded microstamping. This technology — used to trace bullets to guns that fired them — is championed by local state Senator Dan Squadron and Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh. We’re also disappointed that City Council candidate Yetta Kurland continues to dodge revealing what she did with her handgun, which last month she told us she no longer possesses. The best thing she could have done would have been to turn the deadly weapon in at an official, gun-buyback program. That would mean “one less gun on the street,” one less gun out there that could take a life — or more than one life. Yet, instead of simply answering our question about this, Kurland’s spokesperson lectures us that we “misunderstand” gun control and that it’s “such an important issue” that Kurland won’t deign to answer our question. Kurland portrays herself as a gun control activist, has led gun control vigils — but she won’t tell us what she did with her own gun? Yes, she’s right, we don’t understand — that is, we don’t understand why she won’t simply tell us what she did with the gun. Is it still out there, a potential threat to kill or maim people? Particularly, given that she portrays herself as a gun control advocate, Kurland must answer this question. If she doesn’t, it surely will be an issue that her campaign opponents will use against her — and, we would say, justifiably so.

letters to the editor If Commissioner Kelly can change Murray Hill, why not Chelsea? To The Editor: Re “NYPD Passes on Precinct Realignment” (news, Jan. 9): The Council of Chelsea Block Associations (CCBA) — which has been coordinating efforts to change the Police Precinct coverage of the Eastern Chelsea area (West 14th to 26th Street, 6th to 7th Avenue) from the 13th Precinct to Chelsea’s 10th Precinct — appreciates what you wrote in the last edition of Chelsea Nowabout the request being denied. There is one important aspect which was not mentioned. In 1993, the Murray Hill section of Manhattan requested a very similar Police Precinct change, which was approved by Raymond Kelly — the same Raymond Kelly who is our Police Commissioner today. The same approval should have been given to our current Chelsea request. In a letter to then-Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messenger, Kelly wrote, “To facilitate the police service to that area of Manhattan defined as Murray Hill, the boundaries of the Midtown South and the 17th Precincts have been realigned. A portion of Murray Hill formerly within the confines of the Midtown South Precinct has been transferred to the jurisdiction of the 17th Precinct.” The area changed was a 12-block tract from East 34th Street to East 40th Street between Lexington and Madison Avenue. Kelly said at that time, “The transferring of the 12 square blocks…unites the Murray Hill neighborhood and allows us to provide them more efficient police service.” Just substitute the name Chelsea for Murray Hill and fast forward to the present. What we have is Chelsea asking for the same kind of precinct change which Commissioner Kelly approved for another neighborhood. Kelly’s reasons for denying our request are weak at best. The CCBA appreciates the work of our Police Department and their efforts to serve our community. However, we and many others continue to believe that changing the Precinct coverage of the blocks in question from the 13th Precinct (which is not located in Chelsea and which basically does not serve Chelsea) to the 10th Precinct (which is in Chelsea and serves all of Chelsea) is the right thing to do and would improve our police services dramatically. The change would also result in better police interaction with our Community Board. Our efforts to change precincts will continue. Bill Borock President, The Council of Chelsea Block Associations

Incendiary issue To The Editor: Re “Spectra Pipeline Case Fuels Big Day for Attorneys” (news article, Dec. 26): Thank you for publishing the article by Eileen Stukane about the lawsuit by the Sane Energy Project et al. against the Hudson Park River Trust to defeat the Spectra pipeline constructed at the Gansevoort Peninsula. She highlights all of the dangers of the pipeline and of Marcellus shale gas coming into the city. It is such an important issue — it is good that you have included it. Kathleen A. Reynolds

Book vendors outlast chain To The Editor: Walking past the closed Barnes & Noble store on Sixth Ave., I realized that the vendors selling books on the sidewalk outside have achieved something heroic — they have outlived Barnes & Noble! More power to them. What happens now? Another Duane Reade? I say turn the empty store into an indoor book market for the local vendors and others who sell books on the street — some of them because B&N and other chains drove them out of business, or because gentrification made their store rents unaffordable. Poetic justice, literally. Run this one by Mayor Bloomberg. Bonnie Slotnick

Thanks for Spencer obit To The Editor: Re “Leading HIV Treatment Activist Dies at 44” (obit, Jan. 9): This is by far the best obit on Spencer yet (“Spencer Cox’s Legacy as a Treatment Activist and a Gay Man With AIDS,” by Paul Schindler, Jan. 2-15) and as a friend of Spencer’s, it’s much appreciated. Scott Gorenstein

Spencer still teaching us To The Editor: Re “Leading HIV Treatment Activist Dies at 44” (obit, Jan. 9): Spencer’s concerns with the mental and physical health of gay men are spot-on. As he pointed out, the incidence of depression among gay men is a multiple of the general population. Today, there a lot more openly gay people in the biomedical community than when TAG, ACT UP, and amfAR began. It is reasonable to assume that a lot of gay and/ or gay-friendly people will take up research and treatment issues of this sort. Maybe the model has not changed: target things, like ACT UP and TAG, toward finding ways to better the mental health of gay people. Glenn Mallory

Obit helped him understand To The Editor: Re “Leading HIV Treatment Activist Dies at 44” (obit, Jan. 9): Thank you, Paul. As a friend of Spencer’s, I have truly been confused by his death. Your writing seemed to help me understand how to maybe move forward. In Spencer’s memory, making a difference. Timothy Lunceford E-mail letters, not longer than 250 words in length, to scott@chelseanow.com or fax to 212-229-2790 or mail to Chelsea Now, Letters to the Editor, 515 Canal St., Suite 1C, NY, NY 10013. Please include phone number for confirmation purposes. Chelsea Now reserves the right to edit letters for space, grammar, clarity and libel. Chelsea Now does not publish anonymous letters.

January 23 - February 5, 2013

TaLKING POINT

Precinct Realignment is an ‘Essential Necessity’ By pamELa WoLFF Re “NYPD Passes on Precinct Realignment” (news, Jan. 9, 2013): Commissioner Kelly’s decision to reject a broadly supported community initiative seeking to adjust the boundaries between the 10th and 13th precincts — which would have addressed a still-growing East Chelsea’s business and residential needs — is unfortunate and disappointing. Among the many benefits such a change would have wrought is bringing the 10th Precinct boundaries into conformity with Community Board 4. This issue has been ongoing for decades. The Chelsea West 200 Block Association has mounted two campaigns (through the 1980s and 90s), to no avail. This idea is no whim. As the population of East Chelsea becomes more and more residential, it will become more and more demanding of services from its precinct. One day, the voice of this community will be respected. The Commissioner’s reasoning is flawed. He states that making the change “is not a feasible undertaking for the Department, particularly in the absence of a pressing public safety concern.” Further, he says such tasks must be reserved for where there is an “essential necessity to maintain or enhance police services and public safety.” The Commissioner’s logic, as applied to his statistics about relative distances from precinct houses to

their outermost edges, is not really relevant. More to the point is what is going on at those edges. I serve on the Community Advisory Committee for the BRC homeless shelter (on 25th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues), which has been open for about two years and serves over 300 citizens daily. The larger Chelsea neighborhood welcomed the arrival of this necessary facility in our neighborhood. We still do. But the monthly statistics of police visits reported at our meetings are a clear indication of the need for enhanced police presence. The executive director of BRC has offered to finance the presence of a paid detail of police officers. That request has languished on the Commissioner’s desk for at least a year. BRC enjoys a very good relationship with the 13th Precinct, whose officers stretch themselves across the island to respond to an average of eight to ten calls a day to the shelter. The citizenry, residential and businesses, of the immediate blocks around the shelter are up in arms. If this is not a “pressing safety concern,” Commissioner, what is? It is ironic that all our efforts to affect this change seem to have resulted instead in a bolstering of the 13th Precinct with the recent addition of 14 new officers. This was announced at the last BRC meeting. The 10th also got eight new officers, but these are replacing the same number lost through attrition. As a representative of the Chelsea West 200 Block

Association, I attend the monthly 10th Precinct Community Council meetings. Issues that come up about the BRC presence in the neighborhood are gently referred to the 13th Precinct. Citizens are surprised, then disappointed, to hear that their recourse is to a precinct located between Second and Third Avenues. This is senseless. As a CB4 member, I am frequently aware of a 10th Precinct presence at our monthly meetings. I cannot say the same for the 13th, which currently covers the blocks from West 14th to West 26th Streets, 6th to 7th Avenues. These are the blocks we have asked to be transferred. They belong to CB4, not CB6 — and according to our City Charter, the precinct boundaries should be co-terminous. It seems to me that using the bureaucratic hassle of sorting out administrative matters as an excuse is pretty lame. If they could do it in Murray Hill, and in Brooklyn, why not in Chelsea? What’s the loss of old data when compared to the impact on the quality of life of thousands of residents and merchants? New data will accumulate fast enough. If the system is so inadequate that the data can’t be carried over, then maybe it’s time to upgrade. Finally, let’s look at this issue with an eye to the longer, larger picture. We will have a new mayor, perhaps a new police commissioner — a new ball game. And we all vote.

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he 2004 federal budget proposed by the Bush administration on February 3 is drawing both praise and criticism from gay and AIDS groups. “Generally, we have a mixed reaction to it,” said Winnie Stachelberg, political director at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), even as some leading AIDS groups, including the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), were more critical. The proposal includes a $100 million increase for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), a $5 million dollar increase in the Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS

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January 23 - February 5, 2013

Police BLOTTER Burglary: Coat check pants safely recovered Uniformed officers arrived at the Dream Hotel (355 W. 16th St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.) in the dawn hours of Mon., Jan. 14 — to arrest 23-year-old male who, the police report noted, was found by the manager in the coat check area “while it was closed, with no legitimate reason to be there.” At the time of his discovery, the perp was in possession of a backpack, a pair of pants, a scarf and two jackets that did not belong to him. The rightful owner of the pants, who was the only victim on the scene at the time, was reunited with his stolen item. No word on whether he was pressed for his coat check ticket, but one suspects management let it slide.

Burglary: A window into the cause A male resident of W. 19th St. departed his apartment at 9:30am on Mon, Jan. 7 and returned at 7pm to find the door unlocked and a rear bedroom window fully opened. The victim told police that before leaving for the day, he recalled

locking both front door locks — but added that he left the bedroom window open 1-2 inches. Upon inspecting the apartment, he discovered several items missing from the kitchen counter and the office desk (including an iPad worth $600 and a MacBook whose value was not noted in the police report). The report did note, however, that video was available from the front entrance vestibule and that a tenant on the victim’s floor recalls seeing someone, possibly the perpetrator, in the hallway at around 4:30pm.

bodega and the three men (one of them producing a sharp object, possibly a knife or a box cutter) proceeded to rob the victim — causing lacerations to his hand. Police officers canvassed the area for the perps, with negative results. Among the items stolen: An iPhone, a metal bracelet valued at $90, a Timberland backpack ($100), several Aeropostale fleece shirts ($500) and jeans ($350) as well as a suede jacket ($375) and cologne ($50).

A backpack-toting visitor from upstate New York exited Penn Station at around 4:22am on Mon., Jan. 14, then promptly asked a stranger for directions to Beth Israel Hospital. He walked with the man (Perp #1) to a nearby 7-11 to buy coffee. As they were leaving the store, they were met by Perp #2, who asked the victim if he (in the words of the police report) “wanted to purchase weed.” The victim politely declined, and Perp #2 began to chat up Perp #1. The trio continued walking southbound on Ninth Ave., when Perp #3 exited a

club on 116 Tenth Ave., btw. 17th & 18th Sts.). Employees nabbed the 25-year-old woman at around 2:45am on Sat., Jan. 12 — after she’d been identified (via security camera footage) by one of her victims. The tape clearly showed her removing a handbag from behind the bar area. When the perp was stopped while trying to leave, she was discovered to have three pilfered handbags in her possession. Among the items stolen, then recovered: A green Coach handbag worth $5,200, a cellphone ($500), a pink Prada wallet ($575), an iPhone ($500) and $68 in cash.

Grand Larceny: Handbag Robbery: Perps pilfer Penn thief nabbed at the exit A thief on the fast track to easy street Station passenger was stopped before exiting Avenue (the

NOTICE OF FILING APPLICATION FOR BRANCH OFFICE Notice is hereby given that NOAH BANK of 7301 Old York Road, Elkins Park, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 19027, has submitted an application to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and to the Department of Banking of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania an application for a Letter of Authority for permission to establish a branch office at 38 West 32nd Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001. All interested persons may file comments in favor of, or in protest of, the application in writing with the Department of Banking, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 17 N. Second St., Suite 1300, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101-2290. All comments to be considered must be received by the Department not later than fifteen (15) business days after the date of publication of this notice. Any person wishing to comment on this application to the FDIC may file his or her comments in writing with the Regional Director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 350 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10118-0110, not later than February 6, 2013. The nonconfidential portions of the application are on file at the FDIC office and are available for public inspection during regular business hours. Photocopies of the nonconfidential portion of the application file will be made available upon request.

CASH FOR GUNS $100 cash will be given (no questions asked) for each handgun, assault weapon or sawed-off shotgun, up to a maximum payment of $300. Guns are accepted at any Police Precinct, PSA or Transit District.

CRIME STOPPERS If you have info regarding a crime committed or a wanted person, call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, text “TIP577” (plus your message) to “CRIMES” (274637) or submit a tip online at nypdcrimestoppers.com.

Mystery DOA: Found in Penn South Stairway Responding officers from the 10th Precinct found a 21-year-old male from Virginia laying face upwards on the 20th floor stairway of a Penn South building (321 W. 24th St.). EMS workers pronounced the man DOA at 12:25am on Mon., Jan. 7. The body was delivered to the city morgue, and the police report noted “death is not suspicious.” On Thurs., Jan. 10, management put a notice under the door of residents acknowledging that, “a young man from Virginia was found dead in the stairwell of Bldg. 3A on Mon., Jan. 7,” and further noting that the deceased had no apparent signs of physical injury.

—Scott Stiffler

THE 10th PRECINCT Located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. 7th & 8th Aves.). Deputy Inspector: Elisa Cokkinos. Main number: 212-741-8211. Community Affairs: 212-741-8226. Crime Prevention: 212-741-8226. Domestic Violence: 212741-8216. Youth Officer: 212-741-8211. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-741-8210. Detective Squad: 212-741-8245. The Community Council meeting, open to the public, normally takes place at 7pm on the last Wed. of the month. In January, however, it takes place on Thurs., Jan. 31 (at 7pm, 230 W. 20th St.). Bring your Apple products to the meeting and have them registered with the 10th Precinct’s Crime Prevention Officer. For more info on this free service offered by the NYPD, call 212-741-8226.

THE 13th PRECINCT Located at 230 E. 21st St. (btw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.). Deputy Inspector: Ted Bernsted. Call 212-477-7411. Community Affairs: 212-477-7427. Crime Prevention: 212-477-7427. Domestic Violence: 212477-3863. Youth Officer: 212-477-7411. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-477-4380. Detective Squad: 212-477-7444. The Community Council meeting takes place at 6:30pm on the third Tues. of the month.

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January 23 - February 5, 2013

chelsea: arts & ENTERTAINMENT Six to Know, Soon to Go

Exhibitions offer a return to form in familiar settings BY STEPHANIE BUHMANN

Stefanie Gutheil Die Beobachter

In Gutheil’s third solo exhibition with the gallery, an array of fable creatures referred to as “Die Beobachter” (The Watchers) dominate the scenery and provide a somewhat Baroque sense of drama. These grotesque figures translate as surreal caricatures, whose narrative context remains consciously mysterious. Incorporating patterned fabrics, found objects and different paints, Gutheil establishes a wide range of textures and evokes depth. The physicality of her materials — which include feathers, foils, skulls and dripping paint — accentuate the eccentric nature of her creatures. Soon, they morph into contemporary relatives of some of the mythological monsters found in German folklore. Through Feb. 9, at Mike Weiss Gallery (520 W. 24th St., btw. 10th & 11th Aves.). Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10am6pm. Call 212-691-6899 or visit mikeweissgallery.com.

Luc Tuymans: The Summer is Over

In 1994, the Belgian painter Luc Tuymans had his U.S. debut at David Zwirner’s original location in SoHo. Almost two decades later, he is considered one of the most influential figurative painters working today. “The Summer is Over” coincides with the publication of “Luc Tuymans: Exhibitions at David Zwirner, 1994-2012 (Ludion)” and pays homage to almost two decades’ worth of collaborative exhibitions. Tuymans’ signature palette — made of soft, de-saturated blues — shines as mysteriously as ever. Through Feb. 9, at David Zwirner (519 W. 19th St., btw. 10th & 11th Aves.). Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. Call 212727-2070 or visit: davidzwirner.com.

Ishmael Randall Weeks: Quoin

The artist’s second exhibition with the gallery features new collages and works on paper, objects and sculpture and a 16mm film in the gallery’s project room. The Peruvian-born Randall Weeks is known for using found and re-purposed materials (including tires, boat parts, construction fragments, magazines, books and printed pages) to create his installations and sculptures. In this exhibition, Randall Weeks intuitively responds to images on found film by manipulating, painting and cutting. His work addresses issues of urbanization, development, travel, mobility and migration. Through Feb. 10, at Eleven

Image courtesy of the artist and Mike Weiss Gallery

Stefanie Gutheil’s “Biotope” (2012. Oil and fabric on canvas; 79 x 100 inches).

Rivington’s 195 Chrystie St. location (btw. Rivington & Stanton Sts.). Hours: Wed.-Sun., 12-6pm. Visit elevenrivington.com or call 212-982-1930.

Paul Resika: 8 + 8 Eight Recent Works

Resika’s latest series depicts abstracted floral forms that the artist observed at his pond in Provincetown, MA. His canvases range from dark and moody to joyously bright and saturated. As a group, they capture a rich vegetative life that seems both foreign and familiar. Rhythmic patterns of lily pads convey nostalgic sentiments. They seem to tell of home as much as they evoke a longing for exploring the greater world. Resika himself considers his recent immersion into nature a kind of “late baptism” whereby he was able to draw influence from such abstract expres-

Continued on page 13

Image courtesy of the artist and David Zwirner, New York/ London

Luc Tuymans’ “Zoo” (2011. Oil on canvas; 108 5/8 x 84 1/8 inches; 276 x 213.6 cm).

Image courtesy of the artist and Eleven Rivington

Ishmael Randall Weeks’ “Relave” (2012. Cut photographs, archival adhesive, linen mount; 34 x 44 1/4 inches; 86.4 x 112.4 cm).

January 23 - February 5, 2013

Off-Off the Beaten Path Nine indie theater essentials BY MARTIN DENTON (of nytheatre.com & indietheaternow.com) I am always being asked which shows I’m excited about, especially at the beginning of a season. So here’s a quick roundup of some indie theater I’m looking forward to this winter/ spring — mostly because of the artists involved. Once you discover that a certain playwright, director, actor or designer is creating work that’s simpatico with your sympathies and worldview, you can’t wait to experience it again.

A Pair of Solos

More and more I find myself becoming a fan of the solo show. The intimacy that’s achieved between writer/performer and audience in a one-person performance often can’t be duplicated in a more traditional multiactor play. Two solo performers whose work has always impressed me are back with new pieces this season. Martin Moran’s “All the Rage” (begins January 27 at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater) is described as “a quest from West of the Rockies to South of Johannesburg” that “attempts to resolve an ancient riddle: How is it that in one moment we might reach out in compassion and in the next…kill?” Moran’s autobiographical play “The Tricky Part” was one of the most moving (and often harrowing) performances I’ve seen this century. I fully expect something similar here. Tim Collins is not as well-known as Moran, though he deserves to be. He’s only performed a few times in New York City, working more frequently in the Midwest (he was based in St. Louis for the past several years). His one-man autobiography “A Fire as Bright as Heaven” was one of my favorite experiences at the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival, and I was very glad to see his newest piece, “On the Outskirts of Everything,” at United Solo last November. Collins is bringing “On the Outskirts” to NYC for a full run at Stage Left Studio (begins March 8). About this solo, in which Tim plays five different contemporary American guys coping with 21st century life, I wrote, “His ability to crystallize much of what’s ailing the American psyche just now is both uncanny and invaluable.”

A Trio of Re-Imagined Classics

Edward Einhorn is probably best known for producing the first festival of the work of Vaclav Havel. He typically emphasizes relatively recent drama, like the plays of the late Czech playwright/statesman. But this spring, he’s reaching back to the Greeks with a new adaptation of Euripides’ “Iphigenia at Aulis.” The play will be designed in the style of graphic artist Eric Shanower. Einhorn’s collaborators — Jane Stein (sets, masks), Carla Gant (costumes) and Jeff Nash (lighting) — have demonstrated their exemplary talents in a variety of indie productions over the years, so look for this to be a visual feast. “Iphigenia at Aulis” begins on Valentine’s Day at La MaMa. It tells the story of the

Photo by Carrie Leonard

L to R: Molly O'Neill, Dave Droxler and Jon Froehlich, in “The Man Who Laughs.”

beginnings of the Trojan War. “Electra” details events after the war is over and the House of Atreus has been torn asunder by all manner of treachery. Beginning on March 8 at The Wild Project, Phoenix Theatre Ensemble will present Sophocles’ tragedy as the final production in their ambitious — and thus far, truly compelling — triptych, including “Agamemnon” last season and their own take on “Iphigenia at Aulis” in 2011. The folks at Phoenix have a long history of excellence with the classics, and their renditions of these two plays offered me new insights and perspectives on drama I thought I knew well. So I am eager to see them wrap up the cycle with this tale of abuse, revenge, and murder. Is it too soon to add Brecht to the pantheon of classic dramatists? Certainly in terms of influence on contemporary theater he’s high on anybody’s list of antecedents. His parable, “Good Person of Szechwan” — in a new production from The Foundry Theatre and featuring original live music by César Alvarez with The Lisps — arrives at La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theatre on February 1. Taylor Mac stars as the titular character, and the cast includes stalwart performers Lisa Kron, Mia Katigbak, Vinie Burrows and Annie Golden. Lear deBessonet directs.

A Timely Revival

If “Les Miserables” has whet your appetite for more Victor Hugo, then you’ll be delighted to learn that Stolen Chair Theatre Company’s masterful silent-film-for-the-stage

Photo by Robert J. Saferstein

Kathryn Kates and Adam LeFevre, from Josh Koenigsberg’s “Herman Kline’s Midlife Crisis.” Koenigsberg’s “The Mnemonist of Dutchess County” opens Feb. 8.

adaptation of his later novel “The Man Who Laughs” (L’homme qui rit) is returning to NYC, starting January 31, at Urban Stages. Written by Kiran Rikhye and directed by Jon Stancato, this play follows the sad history of a youngster taken under the wing of a carnival showman — who carves a permanent smile on his face, thus turning him into a star attraction. One of the earliest of Stolen Chair’s signature “unholy hybrids” — wherein two

contrasting artistic styles (in this case, French Romanticism and silent film) are mashed up — “The Man Who Laughs” prompted me to write (of its original production), “This bona fide tour de force of theater has the real capacity to tug at something inside of us and make us feel in a raw, spontaneous and very essential way.”

Continued on page 15

January 23 - February 5, 2013

Gallery Musts, Closing Soon

Image courtesy of the artist and Lori Bookstein Fine Art

Paul Resika’s “Night Song” (2012. Oil on canvas; 51 x 64 in).

Continued from page 11 sionists as Milton Resnick. Nevertheless, his signature high-chroma palette makes for lyrical compositions clearly his own. Today, Resika’s career spans no less than six decades. Through Feb. 9, at Lori Bookstein Fine Art (138 Tenth Ave., btw. 18th & 19th Sts.). Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10:30am6pm. Visit loribooksteinfineart.com or call 212-750-0949.

Strauss Bourque-LaFrance: In The The Spring

Bourque-LaFrance ponders how the mind affects what one sees and how

expectation and imagination can eclipse reality. The exhibition translates as a mise-en-scène rich in scattered symbols of love and desire that have been displaced within an abstract field of white walls. In Bourque-LaFrance’s arrangements, objects are placed freely in space — referring to ways visual information is presented and circulated in retail displays (cinema montage and the home, for example). Paintings and sculptures made of common materials add to this vibrant remix of information. Through Feb. 9, at KANSAS (59 Franklin St., btw. Lafayette & Broadway). Hours: Tues.-Sat., 11am6pm. Visit kansasgallery.com or call 646-559-1423.

Image courtesy Galerie Lelong, New York, © The Estate of Nancy Spero

Nancy Spero’s “The Goddess Nut II” (1990. Handprinting and printed collage on paper; 5 parts: 84 x 110 inches; 213.4 x 279.4 cm, overall).

Image courtesy of the artist and KANSAS

Installation View, Strauss Bourque-LaFrance: “In The The Spring.”

Nancy Spero: From Victimage to Liberation: Works from the 1980s & 1990s

The career of Nancy Spero (1926-2009) spanned five decades. Renowned for her serious engagement with contemporary political, social and cultural concerns, Spero chronicled wars and apocalyptic destruction in her work, as well as the cycle of life. The

role and identity of women in prehistoric times and the present remained a key focus of Spero’s oeuvre — and her paper collages and large-scale paintings continue to radiate a keen sense of timeless importance. Through Feb. 16, at Galerie Lelong (528 W. 26th St., btw. 10th & 11th Aves.). Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. Call 212315-0470 or visit galerielelong.com.

January 23 - February 5, 2013

Just Do Art! BY SCOTT STIFFLER

AIRSWIMMING

In 1920s England — for having borne illegitimate children — two women are held in a hospital for the criminally insane. Ignored by their families, they spend the next half-century coping with the isolation by adopting alter-egos which allow them to act out their fantasies. Based on a true story, the U.S. premiere of Charlotte Jones’ play reminds audiences “of the forgotten women of these generations in both Britain and Ireland.” Through Feb. 3. Wed. & Sat. at 3pm & 8pm, Thurs. at 7pm Fri. at 8pm and Sun. at 3pm. At The Irish Repertory Theatre Company's W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre (132 W. 22nd St., btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.). For tickets ($45), call 212-727-2737 or visit irishreg.org.

MONK IN MOTION: THE NEXT FACE OF JAZZ

There will never be another Monk — but this concert series serves as a showcase for the best of those young artists who are building on his legacy of precision and innovation. A partnership between BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center and the Thelonious Monk Institute, “Monk in Motion: The Next Face of Jazz” pays tribute to the three winners of the annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition by giving them a stage to perform on and a chance to show New York audiences the breadth and depth of their talents. First up, it’s first place winner Jamison Ross — a 24-year-old drummer from Jacksonville, FL. Before the concert, Willard Jenkins moderates the panel discussion, “21st Century Drummer’s Roundtable” (with Carl Allen, Allison Miller and more). The series continues Feb. 16 with second runner-up Colin Stranahan (a 26-year-drummer from Denver, CO), and concludes March 2 with the runner-up: 28-year-old Richmond, CA native Justin Brown (another drummer!). The concerts begin at 8:30pm on Sat., Feb. 2 & 16 and March 2 — preceded by the free panel or film screening at 7pm. In Theatre 2, at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center (on the Borough of Manhattan Community College campus; 199 Chambers St., btw. Greenwich & West Sts.).Concert tickets are $25 ($15 for students/seniors). For more info, visit tribecapac.org and monkinstitute.org.

NOT BY BREAD ALONE

In addition to housing the world’s only professional deaf-blind acting company, Tel Aviv’s Nalaga’at Center is also home to the BlackOut Restaurant (which operates in complete darkness, with blind waiters) and the sign language-only Café Kapish (whose servers are deaf). Through February 3, NYU’s Skirball Center hosts the acting ensemble, the restaurant and the café — offering New York audiences a means by which to experience, contemplate and celebrate a unique convergence of “theater, passion and food.” In the U.S. premiere of “Not by Bread Alone,” 11 storytellers knead,

Photo by Carol Rosegg

Aedin Moloney (as Dora, in green cap) and Rachel Pickup (as Persephone, in red cap).

Photo by Liron Almog

Food for thought: The Nalaga’at deaf-blind Acting Ensemble’s “Not by Bread Alone” runs through Feb. 3.

form and bake bread while using a mix of reality and fantasy to convey their memories and dreams. Each new scene is announced by a drum beat, which the actors can neither see nor hear (but they can feel the vibration; a skill learned at Nalaga’at). At the end of the show, the bread they’ve baked is shared with the audience — an act of solidarity that underscores the play’s themes of overcoming challenges and our universal need to connect. The show runs 80 minutes and is performed in Hebrew (and Hebrew sign language), with English subtitles. Jan. 26 & Feb. 2 at 6pm & 8:30pm; Jan. 27 & Feb. 3 at 3pm & 7pm; Jan. 23-24 & 29-31 at 8pm; Jan. 30 at 2pm. At the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place, at Washington Square South). For tickets to the show ($40-$75), visit nyuskirball.org or call 212-352-3101. For admission to BlackOut (which, for $200, includes food, beverage, tax, gratuity and a premium orchestra seat to “Not by Bread Alone”), call 212-488-1505.

THE SECOND ANNUAL MISS TWIN PEAKS PAGEANT

By the time season one’s “Who Killed Laura Palmer?” murder mystery was resolved, ratings for the aggressively eccentric nighttime soap opera “Twin Peaks” had, well, peaked. That’s a shame, since season two took some very odd liberties with another iconic plot device. Jam packed with contestants driven by motivations both sinister and pure (and a killer lurking nearby), “Peaks” creators David Lynch and Mark Frost brought to the beauty pageant all the surreal panache they lavished on season one’s Log Lady, dancing midget, dream sequence giant, damn good pies and owls that were not what they seemed. As the creative mind behind Downtown’s “The Pink Room: David Lynch Burlesque” performance series, Francine has tirelessly dedicated herself to celebrating and satirizing the Lynch canon (past shows have recontextualized “Blue Velvet,” “Wild At

Three concerts, from different drummers: The “Monk in Motion” series begins Feb. 2, with Jamison Ross.

Move over, Miss America: Miss Twin Peaks is determined to claim your crown.

Heart,” and “Eraserhead” for longtime fans and virgin converts). Now, for the second year running, The Pink Room’s “Miss Twin Peaks Pageant” pays tribute to that dark season two excursion. Before the night is over, you’ll see Schäffer the Darklord rapping his original song “David Lynch Movie,” an audience participation challenge and burlesque performances by many of Twin Peaks’ fine citizens (including Audrey Horne, Shelly Johnson, Norma Jennings, crazy Nadine Hurley, Denise/ Dennis Bryson and Wyndom Earle). Warning: Consuming one or all of the “Peaks”-themed specialty cocktails may result in strange dreams and waking nightmares. Sat., Jan. 26. From 11pm to…late. At Parkside Lounge (317 E. Houston St., at Attorney St.). Tickets are $15 in advance (brownpapertickets.com) or $20 at the door. This is a 21+ event, with a 2-drink minimum. For info, visit francineburlesque.com.

January 23 - February 5, 2013

Very Cool: Winter Indie Theater Players stunning effect on “Winkie,” “In the Heat of the Night” and “An Impending Rupture of the Belly” — all of which were exquisitely suspenseful, insightful and intelligent. I expect nothing less from “Pilo.” And finally, on March 20, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater is giving us the first Ken Urban NYC premiere in quite some time. Urban’s plays — “The Female Terrorist Project,” “I (Heart) Kant” and “The Happy Sad,” to name just three — have the uncanny ability to unsettle, untether and disquiet their audience with their portraits of seemingly ordinary people caught up in events they can’t quite control. His new play, “The Correspondent” (presented in association with terraNova Collective), is about a grieving husband who hires a dying woman to deliver a message to his recently deceased wife in the afterlife.

Continued from page 12

Three New Plays

Josh Koenigsberg is a young playwright who balances great humor and wit on the one hand with real wisdom and profundity on the other. Witness his two full-length plays: the hilarious farce “Al’s Business Cards,” (about a gaffer who accidentally gets the wrong business cards) and “Herman Kline’s Midlife Crisis” (in which an emergency room surgeon discovers narcotics on a patient’s body and tries to decide what he should do with them). Koenigsberg’s new play has the best title of any coming up this year: “The Mnemonist of Dutchess County.” About a campus security guard with an amazing memory, it runs February 8 through March 2 at The Beckett Theatre. A couple of hundred lucky theatergoers had a chance to catch the earliest version of Godlight Theatre’s new opus, “The Pilo Family Circus,” at Ice Factory last summer. Now the folks at Soho Think Tank are giving the rest of us a chance to see it, starting January 31 at the New Ohio Theatre. Adapted by Matt Pelfrey from Will Elliott’s novel of the same name, this brutal comedy has the memorable tagline “The Pilo Family Circus is recruiting and whether he likes it or not, Jamie is auditioning.” Director Joe Tantalo and Pelfrey have collaborated to

Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Photo by Joanna Moyer-Battick

In “On the Outskirts,” Tim Collins (as an embattled anger management therapist) demonstrates the subtleties of non-violent communication.

Photo by Justin Ho

Lawrence Jansen as Gonko The Clown, in Will Elliott’s “The Pilo Family Circus.”

So there it is: a list of nine plays to get you started as you navigate what looks to be a really busy and interesting season of theater. Much more is on the way, a lot not even announced or scheduled yet — so keep your eyes and ears and mind open as the rest of the winter and then the spring calendar unfolds. Check the Previews page on nytheatre.com for interviews with artists from the most intriguing indie shows heading to town. See you at the theater!

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January 23 - February 5, 2013

Local Sage, Bob Trentlyon, Foresaw a Storm Surge Continued from page 7 has hired Jeroen Aerts of the University of Amsterdam to give an appraisal of our entire waterfront, which should be completed this summer.” He also said that Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Chuck Schumer and Speaker Quinn had spoken in favor of having the Army Corps of Engineers study storm surge barriers, among other proposals for protecting New York City. “Not bad,” said Trentlyon wryly, “for three years of work against a recalcitrant city government. We should not forget Irene and Sandy, who unfortunately gave this effort a much-needed push.” Professor Bowman, who has been talking about storm surges and what they could do to New York City even longer than Trentlyon, also addressed the Community Board 2 audience. He said that in 2005, he had written an op-ed piece for The New York Times that he wanted to call, “New Orleans has just drowned. Is New York City next?” The New York Times editors told him that title was too provocative, he said. “They told me, ‘You can’t say things like that!’” Bowman said, “The bottom line was it’s not a question of if, but a question

of when New York City is going to get flooded.” He described watching Hurricane Irene approach New York City, and measuring the water levels of that storm against a nor’easter in 1992 that had flooded the Hoboken train terminal and the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. As the water level from Irene began to rise, he thought the flooding was about to happen again. “It came within an inch and a half of what it was the night Hoboken flooded,” but then receded, he said. “When I talked to city officials they said, ‘We dodged that bullet, life goes on, stop worrying about it.’ ” Now everyone is worrying and looking for solutions. Bowman pointed to storm surge barriers that have been successfully installed in other cities in other countries — most notably in London, St. Petersburg, Russia, and in the Netherlands. He explained that these barriers allowed for commercial shipping and for the flow of tides necessary to flush out their respective harbors, but had gates that could be closed in case of an emergency. For New York City, Bowman said, one proposal would be to build an elevated highway similar to the one that protects St. Petersburg and extends into the Baltic Sea, with storm surge gates that could be

Photo by Terese Loeb Kreuzer

Malcolm Bowman addressing a recent meeting of CB2’s Environmental Committee.

lowered from the highway when needed. “There are various ideas as to where the gates should be positioned and what they would look like,” Bowman said. He emphasized that at this point this and other ideas are just exploratory. “No one suggests that anyone is going to start pouring concrete next week,” he said. “These designs are in the concep-

tual stage. If the state got serious about regional protection — not instead of, but in addition to the resilience strengthening we have to do — then the Army Corps would have to be brought in to do a major study. It might take five years looking at all the pros and cons of barriers if we’re going to build them. Where would they have to be? How high would they have to be? What would be the construction materials? What would be the effect on the tidal circulation, the flushing, the fisheries, the water quality? And then there are legal questions, social justice questions. The list goes on and on.” Bowman said that in Europe, it took 20 to 25 years of study before the barriers were built. However, he added, “We do have barriers already. We have a set in Stamford, Connecticut, that were used during Sandy and the city had no damage whatsoever. We have them in Providence, Rhode Island, and in New Bedford, Massachusetts.” Do we have any idea how much these barriers would cost to install in New York Harbor? one member of the audience wanted to know. “Yes,” said Bowman. “Around $26 billion, including the cost of shoring up the areas on the sides of the barriers — far less than the cost of the damage inflicted by Superstorm Sandy.”

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January 23 - February 5, 2013

Synagogue Booted from 16th St. Building will Appeal

Photo by Sam Spokony

By Sam Spokony A historic but embattled Orthodox synagogue in the Flatiron District has seemingly lost its battle for survival, after a State Supreme Court judge ruled Tuesday not to extend a stay of eviction that had previously given the congregation some semblance of hope. The eviction stems from a decades-old fight that found the synagogue caught in the middle of — and then bumped out of — a prior agreement between its leadership and a pair of developers, an agreement that lacked a written contract. The Sixteenth Street Synagogue has called its 3 West 16th Street building home since 1945, and it had been in trouble ever since the building was sold by the National Council of Young Israel in 1999. In an immediate attempt to save the ground-floor synagogue, Steven Ancona — who had connections to another temple that was, at that time, also located at 3 West 16th Street — had set up a plan to purchase the six-story building, build luxury condos on the first four floors, and use the profits to keep the synagogue in place. The deal revolved around a simultaneous agreement between Ancona and developer Jack Braha, who decided to fund the purchase and renovation in exchange for Braha being granted sole ownership of the building. If the plan had eventually succeeded, Braha would have given the bottom half of the building back to Ancona, who would have then donated all necessary space to the Sixteenth Street Synagogue. But money and deadline issues arose, and the relationship between Ancona and Braha soured. That left the synagogue without a savior, but, more importantly, without a written contract stating the terms planned for its future under the previous agreement between the two men.

So when Braha evicted Ancona from 3 West 16th Street in order to simply convert the entire building into condos, the synagogue was left without any deed of ownership, and faced eviction. The synagogue was initially told to vacate the building several weeks ago. A stay of eviction was granted by State Supreme Court Justice Martin Shulman on December 24, as the synagogue argued that it has had explicit one-third ownership of the building ever since it was owned by the National Council. Even though there are no written documents, attorneys for the synagogue claimed that its ownership of the space remained untouched. But that effort fell flat on Tuesday, when Acting Supreme Court Justice Debra James called the synagogue’s argument nothing more than “sophistry,” and denied an extension of the stay of eviction. By law, the 67-year-old synagogue must now leave the building. Synagogue President Richard McBee — who in fact did not seem very shocked by the decision when he walked out of the courtroom at 71 Thomas Street — condemned the ruling in a statement released later that day. “The court most certainly did not take into full account our historic, legal, equitable and moral rights to this building, as well as the fact that we have been trying to work this out to the best of our abilities,” McBee said. Braha and Ancona could not be reached for comment by press time. McBee said the synagogue will file a motion to appeal James’s decision in the State Supreme Court’s Appellate Division, maintaining the argument that Braha made a commitment to recognize the synagogue as a co-owner of the building after he purchased it in 1999.

January 23 - February 5, 2013

Hotel, Zone A Concerns Looms Large in Special West Chelsea District Redo Continued from page 4 all along.” He recalled that when “City Planning gave us the area we now know as the Special West Chelsea District” back in 2005, “we immediately started talking about expansion. Every year, we include it in the Statement of District Needs.” Now that the City Council has compelled DCP to either recommend changes or forego the notion altogether, CB4 has seized the opportunity to formulate its own detailed plan. “With our preliminary study,” said Compton, “we’re hoping they’ll say, ‘You’ve done a lot of legwork’ ” and adopt CB4’s suggestions wholesale (or at least use them as an effective template). “We’re in a very different position from 2004,” said Compton. “We’ve learned from Sandy and Chelsea Market.”

GOOD STREET WALLS MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS?

Ground level aesthetics and community benefits were also on the CLU’s radar, with Mackintosh walking the audience through a slide titled “If SWCD is Not Expanded” — and noting that currently, the area under consideration is subject to new buildings whose commercial nature would be out of synch with the surrounding area. “We could exclude hotel use,” she suggested, “and

require street walls, set height limits and [establish] an Affordable Housing requirement.” Compton also spoke of the need for street walls (which, if consistent throughout the block, would create an even level to the building facades). Referencing a number of recent construction projects in the area, he observed, “A favorite trick we’ve seen is, they’ll set back from the sidewalk. It allows them to go high, slender, whereas in much of Chelsea, buildings are built on the lot line, which maintains the context and feeling of the area.” CB4 member Joe Restuccia cited another consequence of unfettered access to hotel construction, warning that the area could become “another entertainment district that people are traveling across a residential district to get to” full of hotels and clubs whose cumulative effect might cause the area to resemble a “wild Meatpacking District.” Compton spoke about the property at 450 West 15th Street (close to the High Line). The eight-story building, known locally as the Milk Studios space was, he noted, recently purchased by Jamestown Properties. “We have no idea what’s happening” there, he said, but wondered if the property may be destined to fulfill ambitions scrapped during the Chelsea Market ULURP process. “Since Jamestown did not get their

hotel,” Compton speculated on January 14, “it’s reasonable to think they might want to put a hotel on this site.” But by the time Chelsea Now spoke with Benfatto on January 22, he had been told by Jamestown that “they have no plans to build a hotel. My understanding is they plan to put a loading dock on the 15th Street side and open up the 14th Street side to retail.” Echoing CLU concerns, though, Benfatto noted that without SWCD protection, the Milk Studios building and a large vacant lot space on the same block “could all become hotels, and build up, if they want to.” Vertical expansion that exceeds a property’s existing air rights could take place if the owner accumulates the necessary FAR space, purchased from nearby land. Benfatto said that “If they [Jamestown] were to merge with the empty lot where the car wash used to be or buy off the air rights, which I believe is another four FAR, they could put it on top” of the Milk Studios building and “increase to a height of 15 stories.”

ZONE A CONCERNS

During the Q&A session, a member of the public challenged the very notion of additional construction on the West side of Chelsea. “Why,” he asked “are we contemplating building these densi-

ties in Zone A? This puts lives at risk.” Mackintosh conceded the point, saying that “The issue of building in a flood zone is an interesting one that started me thinking about more innovative treatment of the properties; maybe adding soft edges and requiring other features.” Compton referenced his hope for new construction projects “getting infrastructure up on top of the buildings,” and Benfatto told Chelsea Now that flooding, although important, is a “peripheral issue” to current SWCD considerations. It is, however, “an issue the board will be pursuing on its own. The Waterfront, Parks and Environment Committee has already started preliminary discussions on this.”

CLU TO PROvIDE UPDATE ON FEB. 19

Compton said the CLU will meet soon with the DCP and report back to the public on February 19 (consult nyc.gov/mcb4 closer to the date, for the exact location). On the night of January 14, however, the committee declined repeated requests to put its comprehensive slideshow online — noting that much of its content would be rendered moot by evening’s end, based on audience feedback and committee discussion. After February 19, Compton promised, information will be available on the CB4 website, reflecting the CLU’s most evolved position.

Community Contacts To be listed, email info to scott@chelseanow.com. COMMUNITY BOARD 4 (CB4) CB4 serves Manhattan’s West Side neighborhoods of Chelsea and Clinton/ Hell’s Kitchen. Its boundaries are 14th St. on the south, 59/60th St. on the north, the Hudson River on the west, 6th Ave. on the east (south of 26th St.) and 8th Ave. on the east (north of 26th St.). The board meeting, open to the public, is the first Wednesday of the month. The next meeting is Wed., Feb. 6, 6:30pm, at the Fulton Center Auditorium (119 Ninth Ave., btw. 17th & 18th Sts.). Call 212-736-4536, visit nyc.gov/mcb4 or email them at info@ manhattancb4.org. COMMUNITY BOARD 5 (CB5) CB5 represents the central business district of New York City. It includes midtown Manhattan, the Fashion, Flower, Flatiron and Diamond districts, as well as Bryant Park and Union Square Park. The district is at the center of New York’s tourism industry. The Theatre District, Times Square, Carnegie Hall, the Empire State Building and two of the region’s transportation hubs (Grand Central Station and Penn Station) fall within CB5. The board meeting, open to the public, happens on the second Thursday of the month. The next meeting is Thurs., Feb. 14, 6pm, at Xavier High School (30 W. 16th St., btw. 5th and 6th Aves., 2nd fl.). Call 212-465-0907, visit cb5.org or email them at office@cb5.org. THE 300 WEST 23rd, 22nd & 21st STREETS BLOCK ASSOCIATION Contact them at 300westblockassoc@prodigy.net. THE WEST 400 BLOCK ASSOCIATION Contact them at w400ba@gmail.com.

CHELSEA GARDEN CLUB Chelsea Garden Club cares for the bike lane tree pits in Chelsea. If you want to adopt a tree pit or join the group, please contact them at cgc.nyc@gmail.com or like them on Facebook. Also visit chelseagardenclub.blogspot.com. LOWER CHELSEA ALLIANCE (LoCal) This group is committed to protecting the residential blocks of Chelsea from overscale development. Contact them at LowerChelseaAlliance@gmail.com. THE GREENWICH VILLAGE-CHELSEA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Call 212-337-5912 or visit villagechelsea.com. THE MEATPACKING DISTRICT INITIATIVE Visit meatpacking-district.com or call 212-633-0185. PENN SOUTH The Penn South Program for Seniors provides recreation, education and social services — and welcomes volunteers. For info, call 212-2433670 or visit pennsouthlive.com. THE BOWERY RESIDENTS’ COMMITTEE: HOMELESS HELPLINE If you know of anyone who is in need of their services, call the Homeless Helpline at 212-533-5151, and the BRC will send someone to make contact. This number is staffed by outreach team leaders 24 hours a day. Callers may remain anonymous. For more info, visit brc.org. THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL & TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY CENTER At 208 W. 13th St. (btw. 7th & 8th Aves.). Visit gaycenter.org or call 212620-7310. GAY MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS (GMHC) At 446 W. 33rd St. btw. 9th & 10th Aves. Visit gmhc.org. Call 212-367-1000.

January 23 - February 5, 2013

HUDSON GUILD Founded in 1895, Hudson Guild is a multi-service, multi-generational community serving approximately 14,000 people annually with daycare, hot meals for senior citizens, low-cost professional counseling, community arts programs and recreational programming for teens. Visit them at hudsonguild.org. Email them at info@ hudsonguild.org. For the John Lovejoy Elliott Center (441 W. 26th St.), call 212-760-9800. For the Children’s Center (459 W. 26th St.), call 212-7609830. For the Education Center (447 W. 25th St.), call 212-760-9843. For the Fulton Center for Adult Services (119 9th Ave.), call 212-924-6710. THE CARTER BURDEN CENTER FOR THE AGING This organization promotes the wellbeing of individuals 60 and older through direct social services and volunteer programs oriented to individual, family and community needs. Call 212879-7400 or visit burdencenter.org. FULTON YOUTH OF THE FUTURE Email them at fultonyouth@gmail. com or contact Miguel Acevedo, 646-671-0310. WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE Visit westsidenyc.org or call 212956-2573. Email them at wsna@ hcc-nyc.org. CHELSEA COALITION ON HOUSING Tenant assistance every Thursday night at 7pm, at Hudson Guild (119 9th Ave.). Email them at chelseacoalition.cch@gmail.com. FRIENDS OF HUDSON RIVER PARK Visit fohrp.org or call 212-757-0981. HUDSON RIVER PARK TRUST Visit hudsonriverpark.org or call 212627-2020. SAVE CHELSEA Contact them at savechelseanyc@ gmail.com.

CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE QUINN Call 212-564-7757 or visit council.nyc. gov/d3/html/members/home.shtml. STATE SENATOR Brad HOYLMAN Call 212-633-8052 or visit bradhoylman.com. CHELSEA REFORM DEMOCRATIC CLUB The CRDC (the home club of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, State Senator Tom Duane and Assemblymember Richard N. Gottfried) meets monthly to exchange political ideas on protecting the rights and improving the lives of those residing in Chelsea. Visit crdcnyc.org or email them at info@crdcnyc.org. THE SAGE CENTER New York City’s first LGBT senior center offers hot meals, counseling and a cybercenter — as well as programs on arts and culture, fitness, nutrition, health and wellness. At 305 Seventh Avenue (15th floor, btw. 27th & 28th Sts.). Call 646-5768669 or visit sageusa.org/thesagecenter for menus and a calendar of programs. At 147 W. 24th St. (btw. 6th & 7th Aves.) THE SYLVIA RIVERA LAW PROJECT

works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression without facing harassment, discrimination or violence. Visit srlp.org.

FIERCE (Fabulous Independent Educated

Radicals for Community Empowerment) builds the leadership and power of bisexual, transgender and queer youth of color in NYC. Visit fiercenyc.org.

QUEERS FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE is a progressive organization committed to promoting economic justice in a context of sexual and gender liberation. Visit q4ej.org. THE AUDRE LORDE PROJECT is a les-

bian, gay, bisexual, two spirit, trans and gender non-conforming people of color center for community organizing. Visit alp.org.

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January 23 - February 5, 2013

Chelsea Triangle’s Form, Function Discussed

Photo by Maxine Wally

George Roberts and Katie Solomon of the Chelsea Improvement Company state their case.

Continued from page 3 on the sales peoples’ trouble establishing a pattern of regular participation, citing the difficulties of “getting a market culture started. It’s not always easy, because you have to build it into people’s routines.” The board advised the CIC to work more closely with the community by, among other things, advertising upcoming events at CB4 meetings and putting forth new ideas for non-profit involvement. CIC co-chair Jay Marcus advocated for the inclusion of local groups and organizations. “I think it’s great that you have programming, a couple hours a week, that encourages people to get out and use the park,” said Marcus. “I hope that you keep doing those community programming things. But there are non-profit cultural institutions for our low-income residents in the area you can work with, maybe set up a booth for them.” “We need a booth at the farmer’s market for people who aren’t selling,” reiterated board member Elizabeth Zechella. Roberts and Solomon did confirm that all vendors accept food stamps, and that they had initiated linking up with Hudson Guild. TPC member Brett Firfer suggested the CIC get in touch with rooftop farmers or the Chelsea Gardening Club, as there have been recent pushes for education to make that more prevalent. Vice Chair Christine Berthet brought up the redesign of the triangle, first introduced in October of 2012, and the board’s initial displeasure at the largeness, lack of green in the proposal and a call for more park, less plaza.

“No news on that,” Berthet said, referring to the boards ‘requests for design changes in the initial proposal. “We’re still waiting on those results.” “We are in the same place,” Roberts

‘I think it’s great that you have programming, a couple hours a week, that encourages people to get out and use the park,’ said Marcus. ‘I hope that you keep doing those community programming things. But there are non-profit cultural institutions for our low-income residents in the area you can work with, maybe set up a booth for them.’ replied. “We will hear what’s going to happen with that later.” For more information, visit chelseaimprovement.com/neighborhood/chelsea_ triangle.html, nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ home/home.shtml and nyc.gov/html/ mancb4/html/about/TRANS.shtml.

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Loc#1: 8,130SF gnd+cellar, Loc#2: 2,200SF gnd+cellar, Loc#3: 2,600SF gnd+cellar, Loc#4: 2,400SF gnd+cellar, Loc#5: 1,850SF gnd+cellar, Loc#6: 4,400SF gnd+cellar. $80/SF .com call ELIOT @ 212-431-7500

BA business

Att: A. George.

DENTIST

PERSONAL SERVICES

MASSAGE THERAPY by BRITISH BARBIE

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(212) 307-6781

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street access. Space can be divided to accommodate requirement. Secure space beneath neighorhood bar. Send email to schedule visit. Info@m1-5.com

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And so did thousands of our Readers. To advertise, call 646-452-2496

January 23 - February 5, 2013

Dear Aunt Chelsea, I have a MAJOR problem with my Chinese delivery guy. I know, I know...a girl should avoid the MSGpacked dishes — but sometimes, I just can’t help myself. I have even gone so far as to turn it into a bit of a “treat,” ordering only on Mondays (to get over those start of the workweek blues). But my delivery guy REFUSES to deliver to my door. Instead, he hangs out downstairs, buzzing and calling me on my cell with unprecedented urgency. Every time I go down (mind you, I live in a five-story walk-up) and give him a nasty look, he mumbles something and takes his money, complaining that I DON’T TIP ENOUGH (sister, I don’t tip if I gotta go down and get it). I guess my delivery “friend” caught on, because ALL OF A SUDDEN, they do not deliver to my building (and this place is a mere two blocks down the street). I know I should just find a new place, or just walk over there. But c’mon, Aunt Chelsea. I already put SOOOO many hours in at Chelsea Piers! I DESERVE to get food from THIS particular Chinese joint. I don’t think you realize just how DIVINE their General Tso’s chicken is! Please, help your gal pal out! Hot for Tso Dear Hot: Aunt Chelsea, no stranger to the twin pleasures of scallion pancake and helping her gal pals, has great admiration for the hours you spend exercising at Chelsea Piers.

So why, I wondered upon giving your letter its first glance, would a person so bitterly resent a 10-flight round trip to retrieve their tasty MSG reward? On the letter’s second read, it hit me. Oh, dear. Oh dear, dear, dear. SO MANY CAPITAL WORDS (not to mention the “use of quotes” and the four-letter swear I discreetly removed so as not to offend the delicate sensibilities of my beloved readers). Hot, you’re clearly a person of great passion and high standards. I like that. I admire that. But stubborn resolve often has a self-defeating downside — and in your case, it’s a liberal interpretation of urban delivery protocol that’s long on righteous anger and short on empathy. So let me play personal trainer and give YOU a helpful little exercise…in “moral fortitude!” The next time you’re at Chelsea Piers, ride a stationary bike at full speed for 10 minutes and pretend you’re dodging traffic. Then dismount and see how excited you are about running up five flights of stairs to get what may or may not be enough of a tip to cover bus fare home. Don’t forget to stress over the umpteen dozen more deliveries you have to make, the countless hours left on your shift and the threat of a pink slip if the boss hears one more complaint from a physically fit, stairs-averse customer. It’s no wonder you’ve fallen off your favorite Chinese joint’s radar — and delivery map! At once, you simply must hoof it down the block, seek out that overworked delivery guy and apologize. Blame it on the Monday blues and a chemical imbalance. I’m sure they’ve heard that one before! Then hand over his overdue tips. Harsh words hurt, but money talks (and heals wounds and mends fences). Go home walking the proud, tall walk of the truly righteous — and the next time you get a craving for the General, you just call up that joint and tell them you’ll happily meet them downstairs to pick up the order. Have a smile and a kind word and a reasonable tip for the delivery guy, and I’m absolutely certain he’ll go from being a “friend” to...a friend! Good luck, honey, and here’s to many more years of peace, love and MSG-infused happiness.

c o s r H o o pe s Aries Like the crane’s wingspan, your February ambitions are wide and majestic. Don’t be discouraged by a slow takeoff. Lucky binding agent: Paste. Taurus A barn owl has no more business in a studio apartment than you do in a pair of prohibitively expensive shoes. Lucky cake: Marble.

Gemini When doves cry, your kind words have the power to dry their tears. That’s a metaphor! Lucky snack: Nutter Butters.

Cancer Tuesday imbues you with the power to sing jealousy its swan song. Lucky meat dish: Pot roast. Leo Verbose Leos should take a page from the parrot’s limited vocabulary. Less is more! Lucky band: Nashville Cats. Virgo Like the dodo bird, a nasty habit you’ve

conquered is best left extinct. Lucky table: Pool.

Libra Your unwelcoming aura causes chicks and ducks and geese to scurry. Be nice! Lucky fringe location: On top.

Scorpio A hat adorned with ostrich feathers makes for an effective peace offering. Lucky pie: Humble. Do you have a personal problem at work, the gym, the bar or the corner coffee shop? Is there a domestic dispute that needs the sage counsel of an uninvolved third party? Then Ask Aunt Chelsea! Contact her via askauntchelsea@chelseanow.com, and feel free to end your pensive missive with a clever, anonymous moniker (aka “Troubled on 23rd Street,” or “Ferklempt in the Fashion District”). Sure to be a highlight of our special “Progress Report” issue (Feb. 6), Aunt Chelsea’s column will be devoted to revisiting some of her most troubled letter-writers. If your life has been changed, for better or worse, by Aunt Chelsea’s advice, reach out to her at askauntchelsea@chelseanow.com — and maybe YOUR LETTER will be published! This offer is void in Tennessee. Sorry, Tennessee!

Sagittarius This week, eagles and bold Sagittarians fly high on the wings of a profitable new venture. Lucky letter: P. Capricorn Buzzards are circling a bad idea you refuse to abandon. Lucky art: Deco.

Aquarius A noisy crow will remind you to look both ways before crossing. Heed its timely warning! Lucky drink: Tang. Pisces Happy little bluebirds are precursors to

a close encounter of the sexy kind. Lucky sound effect: Thunder.

January 23 - February 5, 2013

Absolutely Amazing Amenities

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The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from sponsor: File No. CD 06-0209. Sponsor: RDO 225 Rector Place, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.