Our Town Downtown March 1, 2012 by OurTown Downtown

FAMILY CORNER

Your ultimate guide to summer camps (P14)

POLS SLICE UP DOWNTOWN

How redistricting will affect your neighborhood (P6)

DOWNTOWN SOCIAL

Tribeca celebrates the Oscars in style (P4)

TALKING UP DOWNTOWN

Morris Vogel, president of the Tenement Museum (P18)

MARCH 1, 2012 | WWW.OTDOWNTOWN.COM

PHOTO BY PATRICIA VOULGARIS

Board 2 UNIVERSITY TO EAT UP Community votes down NYU GREENWICH VILLAGE? expansion plan (P7)

� N E I G H BO R H O O D C HAT TE R TRIBECA DANGEROUS INTERSECTION GETS TRAFFIC LIGHT The Tribeca intersection of Duane and Greenwich streets has finally received a traffic light, first approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT) in October 2011. The light, which was officially welcomed to the neighborhood when Council Member Margaret Chin, State Sen. Daniel Squadron, Borough President Scott Stringer and CB1 Chair Julie Menin unveiled it on Feb. 22, signals relief for many advocates and members of the community. Chin said, “I want to thank [the] DOT for recognizing and responding to the needs of a growing community. It is important to constantly evaluate and revise our traffic environment to make sure the safety regulations that are in place are adequate to protect pedestrians.” Chin’s sentiments were echoed throughout the community. Nelle Fortenberry, a mother of two children and a past president of Friends of Washington Monument Park, reacted earlier this month to the construction of the light, saying, “We are thrilled for every preschooler on their way to the park, every elementary student en route to school, every elderly resident crossing to and from Independence Plaza

and the thousands of neighborhood residents who have traversed Greenwich daily at their own risk. Safer days are ahead.” The intersection has been the scene of numerous accidents involving pedestrians. A recent victim was a 3-year-old boy, who was struck by a taxi while crossing the intersection with his mother last fall. The DOT subsequently agreed to install the light and a new crosswalk. Prior to this, their stance had been that the Duane and Greenwich intersection did “not meet traffic flow standards for a traffic light.” Now, pedestrians will receive 25 seconds to cross the street, is a welcome grace for Tribeca residents both young and old.

continued to campaign for fair play. State Sens. Daniel Squadron and Tony Avella have promised to take another important step in ensuring New Yorkers’ longterm enjoyment of their favorite television programming with the introduction of a new bill into the state Senate Feb. 29. Avella has spoken at length about the unfair negotiating tactics of service providers and networks, saying, “The people who get the most affected are the customers,” whom the senator believes “need to know that their cable franchise will provide the proper programming.” The bill proposes mandatory arbitration hearings by the Public Service Commission in disputes between major cable networks and service providers.

CITYWIDE TIME WARNER AND MSG REACH AGREEMENT Just in the knick of time, New Yorkers are celebrating the agreement reached between Time Warner Cable and MSG Network. The well-publicized resolution, which ended a blackout that had forced Time Warner subscribers to forego MSG content—including the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers and the surging New York Knicks—was at center court this week as leading city officials

STRINGER CALLS FOR END OF STOP AND FRISK Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, joined by a diverse coalition of elected officials, community and religious leaders representing all parts of Manhattan, held a rally Feb. 26 hailing the Manhattan Borough Board’s recent unanimous vote approving a resolution demanding reform of the NYPD’s controversial stop and frisk policy. The borough president called for a citywide campaign against the program, which he said un-

fairly targets black and Latino men. “Stop and frisk as currently practiced is not just an outrage in communities of color, it is a stain on the conscience of our entire city,” said Stringer. “Today I am standing with a broad coalition of Manhattanites—members of all 12 Community Boards, people from east side and west side, downtown and uptown, and we are all speaking with one voice, demanding an immediate reform of stop and frisk in New York City.” The borough president pointed to statistics showing that the NYPD recorded nearly 700,000 stop and frisk encounters in 2011, a record and a 600 percent increase since 2002. Police failed to find a gun in 99.9 percent of these encounters and failed to make an arrest in 94 percent of these cases. Nearly 86 percent of the stops targeted black and Latino men. “In large parts of the city, today’s stop and frisk policies have made entire communities feel like suspects targeted by law enforcement instead of citizens protected by it, even if they have done nothing wrong,” said State Sen. Daniel Squadron. “As it’s practiced, stop and frisk has created a climate in which young black and Latino men and their families have a fundamentally different relationship with the NYPD than other New Yorkers.”

Great rates for the New Year.

. 1 1 .30 1 1 BestRate Checking

30-Month Bump-Up CD

APY

APY2

On balances of $5,000 or more.

$5,000 minimum deposit

We’re celebrating our newest branch opening in Borough Park with great rates at all our locations. Plus, open a new BestRate or Totally Free Checking account and get up to $1503. Visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 or go to www.FlushingBank.com. 1 New accounts and new money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. An existing checking customer is defined as anyone who currently has or has had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months. New money is defined as money not currently on deposit with Flushing Bank. The APY is effective January 3, 2012. The annual percentage yield (APY) for BestRate Checking is 1.11% and will remain in effect for 90 days after account opening. At the end of this 90-day period the rate will revert to standard pricing and rate may change at any time without notice. You must maintain a daily balance of $5,000 for the statement cycle to receive the disclosed yield and to avoid the monthly maintenance fee of $10. A daily balance below $5,000 will be assessed a lower Annual Percentage Yield. Fees may reduce earnings. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more details and information about these offers. 2 New accounts and new money only. The APY is effective January 3, 2012. Annual percentage yield (APY) assumes principle and interest remain on deposit until maturity. A withdrawal of interest will reduce earnings. The interest rate will be fixed for the term of the account unless the Bump-Up option is exercised. If exercised the interest rate will be adjusted accordingly and remain fixed for the remaining term of the account. Minimum deposit balance of $5,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. 3 New checking account with new money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. This offer is limited to one checking account per household. Minimum deposit required to open a new checking account is $100. Debit Card Purchases – You will receive $75 for the completion of 5 debit card purchases. Each debit card purchase must be $25 or more. Online Banking Bill-payments OR Direct Deposit – You will receive $75 for completing 5 online banking bill-payments via Flushing Bank’s Online Banking portal OR signing up for and receiving a recurring direct deposit of $250 or more. Each online bill-pay must be $25 or more. Tax refunds do not qualify as direct deposits. Online Bill-payments, Debit Card Purchases and Direct Deposits must be completed prior to 60 days after the account is opened. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ANY CUSTOMER CAN RECEIVE IS $150. The compensation will be credited to the checking account on or about 75 days after the account is opened. A 1099 will be issued in the amount credited to your account. Other fees and restrictions may apply. Speak with a branch representative for further details. Flushing Bank is a trade name of Flushing Savings Bank, FSB. Member FDIC

Consumer Rate Ad_OURTOWN.indd 1

OU R TOWN DOWNTOWN | MARCH 1, 2012

1/13/12 1:07 PM

GETAWAY DESIGNER AND BUILDER OF UPSTATE COTTAGES $300,000 - $500,000 - LAND INCLUDED WOODSTOCK, SAUGERTIES, & SULLIVAN COUNTY

Professional Childrenʼs School

Open House Tuesday, March 6 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. PCS provides a fully accredited, academic education to young people in grades 6-12 who are pursuing challenging goals that may sometimes require time spent away from school - to attend an athletic competition, for instance, or to prepare for a concert or shoot a film. PCS is a real school and values the importance of classroom learning, with regularly scheduled classes every school day from 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. To learn more, visit our website, call our Admissions Office, and makes plans to attend our Open House. R.s.v.p. 212-582-3116.

132 West 60th Street New York NY 10023 212-582-3116 www.pcs-nyc.org

lum ic Curricu m a n y D • uction pert Instr x E • s ie it ss Facil World-Cla

Give Your Little Athlete the Best Start. The Little Athletes program at the Field House offers Manhattan’s best sports instruction. Combining authentic sports facilities and age-appropriate curricula, our professional coaches teach your child proper technique and skills in a supportive environment. Tiny Tots Gymnastics | CP Champs

LITTLE ATHLETES Flip-N-Kick | Gymjitsu | Flip-N-Twirl PROGRAM Tumblin’ Tots Gymnastics 12 mos. – 5 yrs.

The Field House at

Delivered to your inbox once a week.

Great Tips on... Parenting,

Shopping, Activities and more!

Visit newyorkfamily.com to learn more about the best parenting e-newsletter in the city.

Pre-Ballet/Ballet

23rd Street & Hudson River Park 212.336.6520 | chelseapiers.com/fh

PRESCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS BEGIN JUNE 18TH! WSS 1-2p FH 3-1-12.indd 1

2/21/12 4:19 PM

M AR CH 1 , 2 0 1 2 | ot d owntown. c o m



downtown social

Oscar Viewing Party

2YTribeca on Hudson Street held a live broadcast of the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday night. Comedians Giulia Rozzi and Eliot Glazer opened the night CODY SWANSON and entertained a crowd of well-dressed Oscar enthusiasts. Attendees were provided with their own ballots and a glass of champagne prior to the start of the show.

Your doctor spent 5 minutes?

Another reason to call. hOStS giuliA rOzzi AND eliOt glAzer

You want an outstanding doctor and we can connect you with one who’s right for you. Whether near your home or office, doctors affiliated with Continuum Health Partners hospitals – Beth Israel Medical Center, Roosevelt Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital, New York Eye & Ear Infirmary – are conveniently located throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Our doctors participate in all major insurance plans.

Need a great doctor? Call (866) 318-8759. w w w. c h p n y c . o r g

OU R TOWN DOWNTOWN | MARCH 1, 2012

NEWLY CONSTRUCTED APARTMENTS FOR RENT West 39th Street Apartments is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for 41 affordable rental apartments under construction on West 39th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, in the Clinton section of Manhattan. This building is being constructed through the Inclusionary Housing Program of New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the 80/20 Housing Program of New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The size, rent and income requirements of the 41 apartments are as follows: # APTS AVAILABLE

APARTMENT TYPE

MONTHLY RENT

HOUSEHOLD SIZE

TOTAL GROSS ANNUAL INCOME RANGE

Studio

$669

$24,891 - $29,050

1 Bedroom

$720

1 2

$26,674 - $29,050 $26,674 - $33,200

2 Bedroom

$874

2 3 4

$31,988 - $33,200 $31,988 - $37,350 $31,988 - $41,500

# APTS AVAILABLE

APARTMENT TYPE

MONTHLY RENT

HOUSEHOLD SIZE

TOTAL GROSS ANNUAL INCOME RANGE

Studio

$524

$19,920 - $23,240

1 Bedroom

$564

1 2

$21,325 - $23,240 $21,325 - $26,560

$688

2 3 4

$25,611 - $26,560 $25,611 - $29,880 $25,611 - $33,200

2 Bedroom

MINIMUM-MAXIMUM

Note: Apartment Type Subject to Occupancy Criteria. Rent Includes Gas for Cooking and Heating. Rents and Income Requirements Subject to Change.

APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO MEET INCOME, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA. To request an application, mail a POSTCARD, including your name and full address, to: West 39th Street Apartments, One Penn Plaza, Box 6121, New York, NY 10119. Or DOWNLOAD an application from www.west39apts.com Completed applications must be returned by regular mail only (no priority, certified, registered, express or overnight mail will be accepted) to a post office box that will be listed on the application, and must be postmarked by April 14, 2012.Applications postmarked after April 14, 2012 will be set aside for possible future consideration. Applications will be selected by lottery. Applicants who submit more than one application will be disqualified. Photocopied applications will not be accepted. Preference will be given to: Manhattan Community Board #4 residents for 21 units; mobility-impaired persons for 2 units; visual and/or hearing impaired persons for 1 unit; and City of New York municipal employees for 2 units. Preference for all units will go to New York City residents. No broker’s or application fee should be paid to anyone regarding these applications.

WHAT ARE YOUR KIDS DOING THIS SUMMER?

SATURDAY, MAR 10, 2012 Downtown Grace Church School 86 4th Ave. 12PM - 3PM

SUNDAY, MAR 11, 2012 Park Slope Union Temple 17 Eastern Pkwy 12PM - 3PM

SATURDAY, MAR 31, 2012 Upper East Side St. Jean Baptiste School 173 E. 75th St. 12PM - 3PM

SUNDAY, APR 1, 2012 Upper West Side Congregation Rodeph Sholom 7 W. 83rd St. 12PM - 3PM

NewYorkFamilyCamps.com

New Site. New Content. Newly relevant.

ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, Mayor NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development MATHEW M. WAMBUA, Commissioner New York State Homes and Community Renewal DARRYL TOWNS, Commissioner/CEO www.nyc.gov/hpd

M AR CH 1 , 2 0 1 2 | ot d owntown. c o m



� N EWS Downtown Democrats Wary of Redistricting Process Say current LATFOR map would weaken area’s representation | By ALAn KRAwiTz To many city residents, redistricting, whereby states redraw their political maps every decade to reflect population shifts recorded in the most recent census, is an alltoo-complex, seemingly esoteric process best left to political pundits and policy wonks. New York, which has yet to approve redrawn legislative and congressional districts for this year’s election, is among one of the last states to comply with the mandate. But at a meeting last Wednesday, Feb. 22, of the Downtown Independent Democrats (DID) in Tribeca, the message on redistricting was loud and clear: Partisan redistricting will weaken the Downtown community’s voice as it faces major issues. In its resolution on redistricting, the DID expressed disappointment in the map released by the New York Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment (LATFOR). “Both the Senate and Assembly maps have been gerrymandered to favor political parties and incumbent politicians with little or no concern for community representation. This is undemocratic and unwise,” the resolution states. At the meeting, Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh, who has been in office since 2007 and who stands to get more of Downtown as a result of the redistricting, noted that the LATFOR maps included significant changes. “There is tremendous uncertainty here

regarding the district lines and dates,” Kavanagh said. He added that it now looks as if the lines will be redrawn. However, time is now of the essence, as the congressional primary has been set for Jun. 26 and the legislative primary for Sept. 11. In keeping with the recent court decision to appoint a special magistrate to help with redistricting, on Monday, Feb. 27, a panel of judges in federal court in Brooklyn seized control of the congressional part of the redistricting process. They ordered magistrate Roanne L. Mann to prepare a map and deliver a proposal for the judges’ consideration by Mar. 12. With the help of a redistricting expert, a professor at Columbia Law School, the judges say they will produce a revised congressional map by Mar. 20, the date set for the petitioning of prospective congressional candidates. “The most important thing for me from the point of view of a local district leader is that we need to know what the lines are as soon as possible,” said Republican District Leader Janet Hayes. Hayes said she agreed with the call for community cohesion and cited one example where the opposite was done “in her backyard”: the proposed 75th Assembly District had a bizarre “spike” running north from Midtown west to the Upper West Side, enabling the incumbent’s residence to be included in the district. “With district lines like these that are drawn to accommodate a single individual,” Hayes said, “it’s no wonder that the average citizen is cynical about the process.” Paul Newell, Democratic district leader in the 64th Assembly District, is also cynical about the redistricting process. “Albany insiders in both parties drew this map to essential-

ly scratch each others’ backs,” Newell said in an email. “The [Republican-drawn] Senate map is much, much worse. But Assembly Democrats are equally responsible for it, as they will have to pass those lines,” Newell continued. “Why do they not stand up for their fellow Democrats in the Senate (and the millions of New Yorkers they represent)? Because they current assembly proposed assembly get the prize of drawing their own safe districts.” Newell added that his proposed rules to ensure a more equitable redistricting process would take into account population equity, community cohesion (keeping neighborhoods together as voting blocs), minority representation and geographic compactness. DID President Jeanne Wilcke current senate proposed senate explained that it’s important for residents to be informed about a good candidate when only half the commuthe controversy surrounding the changing of nity voting power can vote the candidate in, lines of elected officials. or vote out an official who has wronged your Wilcke said that most residents are not community when only half in the neighboraware that state elected officials are “playing” hood can vote that person out.” with the area’s voting power by redrawing Moreover, she said, Soho would not be lines that split up downtown New York City what it is today without residents organizing neighborhoods. to get laws changed to legalize artists’ live/ “You want officials who represent all of a work lofts. given neighborhood,” she says. “Community “Many of our state elected officials prominput and pressure is what gets elected ofised to allow an independent commission to ficials to do the right thing and represent the redraw fair district lines,” Wilcke said. “That people’s interests.” hasn’t happened…If our elected officials canUnderscoring the ill effects of inequitable not do the job, it is time for the judges to step in district lines, Wilcke said, “It is harder to elect and force fair voting districts for the people.”

How the DOE Handles Abuse, and Inappropriate Behavior | By MegAn BungeROTh After a string of sexual abuse cases in New York City public schools have come to light in recent weeks, some parents are calling into question how the DOE handles these instances. “Parents are really angry, and rightfully so,” said Noah Gotbaum, a Community Education Council (CEC) member for District 3 and parent of children who graduated from P.S. 87, where a paraprofessional allegedly sexually abused a student. Gregory Atkins, 56, was arrested Feb. 10 on charges of sexual abuse against a student at P.S. 87. Atkins had been working as a paraprofessional at the school since 2008. The victim reported the behavior, and on Feb. 3, Atkins was removed from the school, according to a letter Principal Monica Berry sent to parents. Atkins was arrested, a 2006 letter from the

DOE’s Special Commissioner of Investigation surfaced, detailing what was determined to be Atkins’ inappropriate behavior toward a young male student at his previous school, M.S. 322 in Upper Manhattan. No one at P.S. 87 had seen this letter, and parents are up in arms demanding to know why. “There’s a lot of anger, obviously—anger primarily because of that 2006 report that wasn’t put in [Atkins’] file,” said Rebecca Levey, co-president of P.S. 87’s parent association. “There are a lot of questions about what the processes are at DOE, why the principal wouldn’t have access to that.” The principal of M.S. 322 at the time reportedly delivered a verbal warning to Atkins but did not choose to place a letter in his permanent file. How Atkins came to work at P.S. 87 is unclear. The DOE insists that since he applied for a transfer and had seniority as a paraprofes-

OU R TOWN DOWNTOWN | MARCH 1, 2012

sional, the P.S. 87 principal who preceded Berry had no control over who came to the school. The United Federation of Teachers disputes that and points to its paraprofessional contract, which states that paraprofessionals may apply for transfers and that the head of the school to which they apply makes the hiring decision. In Atkins’ case, however, no one would have known about his past at M.S. 322 because no record existed in his professional file, and that’s what has local parents irate. Gotbaum said that at a recent CEC meeting, parents wanted to know how the DOE determines what sort of behavior warrants termination and what warrants a simple reprimand. The DOE has said that their hands are tied by what the Office of Special Investigations recommends, but that they train their employees to recognize inappropriate behaviors. “The Office of Equal Opportunity goes

into schools regularly to conduct trainings for teachers and other school-based employees. We provide in-depth training concerning appropriate conduct in the workplace between teachers and students, including sexual harassment, unwanted touching and unwanted contact,” said DOE spokesperson Deidrea Miller in an email. “We emphasize during the trainings that the focus is not on the teacher’s intent but whether the conduct or contact would make a student feel uncomfortable,” Miller said. Some parents are pushing for more specific guidelines that would have clearly red-flagged Atkin’s behavior. Upper West Side Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal said that as a result of this and other recent allegations of sexual abuse in public schools, she and other legislators are looking into ways to put tighter regulations in place at a state law level.

Left to right: A protest held directly before the CB2 meeting; the church auditorium was packed with local residents, many of whom passed out flyers and wore stickers in support of CB2’s recommendation against NYU’s plan. PhOTOs by PaTricia VOulgaris

A Rallying Cry GV community takes on NYU plan

| BY Marissa Maier

n what promises to be a long process, Community Board 2 recommended last week that the City Planning Commission reject New York University’s (NYU) 2031 expansion plan in Greenwich Village. Although the decision was announced during CB2’s full board meeting, the gathering quickly turned into a community rallying cry against the Downtown university’s real estate development plans for two large plots it owns, bordered by West Houston, West 3rd and Mercer Streets and Laguardia Place. “This is the end of the beginning…and there is a lot more work to do,” noted Community Board 2 Chair Brad Holyman to the crowd gathered at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua on Sullivan Street. “Some say that we are not rich enough, not powerful enough to take on [an organization] like NYU… If you had told Jane Jacobs that, she wouldn’t have stopped a highway [from being built through Soho].” Almost 700 local residents from Greenwich Village and its environs were packed into the sub-floor auditorium, cheering Hoylman’s opening comments. The list of speakers topped out at 115, and media from online to print to NY1 attended to hear the community admonish NYU’s development goals. NYU has become not only a beacon of higher education but a behemoth when it comes to Downtown New York City real estate. The school first established its Greenwich Village presence in 1835 and later moved the main campus to the Village after selling its Bronx University Heights location in 1973. Today, says CB2, NYU is “the landlord for one of the largest stocks of affordable housing in the area.” The Greenwich Village portion of NYU’s expansion plan, which includes adding square footage in Brooklyn as well as possibly Governor’s Island, would add 2.4 million square feet to the existing main campus and would include faculty residences, student dormitories, an athletics facility, a hotel and retail spaces. The plan includes creating four new buildings on two “superblocks,” which are for the most part residences right now. For CB2, there are a host of concerns associated with this plan, including the bulk and density of the

development changing the character of the Village, 20-plus years of proposed construction and the acquistion of city-owned park strips. The plan calls for rezoning the area, which CB2 says will greatly alter the character of the Village. The Above: renderings of the height of the proposed proposed new buildings. Right: the amount of open buildings, ranging from 186 space currently at the site. to 333 feet, would dwarf the Bottom: Bird’s-eye view of buildings currently on the NYU’s proposed expansion property, which are around 160 in Greenwich Village. feet. While NYU says there is less than one acre of open space in this area, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) claims there is actually a total of 7.8 acres. The GVSHP estimates the plan will eliminate over one acre of open space, and the height of the proposed buildings will cast shadows on the remaining open parcels. CB2 added that the new project would attract 10,000-12,000 additional people on a daily basis and house between 1,500-2,000 residents. “The plan is opposed by NYU’s neighbors, its faculty, its students and many of its own alumni,” added GVSHP Executive Director Andrew Berman in a statement. “NYU appreciates the community’s feedback to date and believes that our five-year dialogue with our neighbors has already yielded tremendous results,” said NYU Vice President Alicia Hurley in a statement. “Thus far, in response to the community’s requests, we’ve produced a strategic plan that helps our projected growth on space needs; allows us to grow our footprint, with a full half of our projected growth on space outside the Village; and provides park land and open space and the donation of a $23 million location for a new public school.” As Council Member Margaret Chin pointed out in a statement, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer will now have to hold a hearing on the plan. Stringer has until April 11 to submit a recommendation to the City Planning Commission, who will begin their review that same day.

march 1, 2012 | otdowntown.com

THE 7-DAY PLAN THURSDAY

01 02 03 04 05 06 07

BEST PICK

Steel Magnolias Cry-Along (03/03)

92YTribeca, 200 Hudson St. (betw. Canal & Vestry Sts.), 92y.org/tribeca; 10 p.m., $13, includes one beer. For their second cry-along, 92YTribeca presents a tale of Southern belles (Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis and Daryl Hannah) struggling through ups and downs while keeping their hairdos intact at Truvy’s beauty salon. Thematic outfits are encouraged; tissues will be provided.

FREE Jews and Booze: Becoming American in

the Age of Prohibition with Marni Davis Tenement Museum, 103 Orchard St. (betw. Delancey & Broome Sts.), tenement.org; 6:30 p.m., RSVP required. Author Marni Davis explains how, when the 18th Amendment to the Constitution made alcohol commerce illegal, Jews discovered that anti-Semitic sentiments had mixed with anti-alcohol ideology, threatening their reputation and their standing in American society.

❯

Never Sleep Alone Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (at Astor Pl.), joespub.com; 11:30 p.m., $25 singles, $30 voyeurs. Sexual psychologist Dr. Alex Schiller brings the hot, the single and the curious together for a night of laughter, music and sociosensual interaction. While finding your seat, Dr. Alex has some perhaps biting advice: “Single straight males should sit with single straight females, hot gays with hot gays, older rich men with younger drunk women—why sit with people you find sexually irrelevant?”

SATURDAY

❮

SUNDAY

Submissions can be sent to otdowntown@manhattanmedia.com.

Story Pirates After Dark! 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson St. (betw. Canal & Vestry Sts.), 92y.org/tribeca; 7 p.m., $13 in advance, $15 at door. Story Pirates don’t dress as pirates or make anybody walk the plank, but they do steal: They take their inspiration from kids themselves, creating an entire show adapted from stories penned by authors under the age of 12. This literacy group’s official mission is to “honor the words and ideas of young people” by offering a hilarious glimpse of the world as seen through the minds of kids.

FRIDAY

❮

A Taste of Home with Ruth Reichl and Alex Guarnaschelli Housing Works Bookstore Café, 126 Crosby St. (betw. Prince & Houston Sts.), housingworks.org; 7 p.m., $100 & $250. Join co-hosts Ruth Reichl and Alex Guarnaschelli for Housing Works’ third annual A Taste of Home, a chefs’ tasting and culinary-themed benefit event. Enjoy exclusive tastings by exceptional New York City chefs, including Michael White, Bill Dorrler and Gabe Thompson, among others. Proceeds support Housing Works’ advocacy and services for homeless and low-income people living with HIV/AIDS.

TUESDAY

Tribes Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow St. (at Bleecker St.), barrowstreettheatre.com; 7:30 p.m., $75-$95. This 2010 Olivier Award-nominated play makes its North American premiere at the Barrow Street Theatre. Tribes follows Billy, a deaf man raised inside the fiercely idiosyncratic and unrepentantly politically incorrect cocoon of his parents’ home. He has adapted brilliantly to his hearing family’s unconventional ways, but they’ve never bothered to return the favor. It’s not until he meets Sylvia, a young woman on the brink of deafness, that he finally understands what it means to be understood.

FREE Sarah Vowell: Unfamiliar Fishes

Barnes & Noble, 33 E. 17th St. (betw. Broadway & Park Ave.), barnesandnoble.com; 7 p.m. Vowell, the bestselling author of The Wordy Shipmates and frequent contributor to This American Life, reads from her newest work, an examination of Hawaii. With Unfamiliar Fishes, Vowell argues that 1898, the year the U.S. annexed Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Guam, might be just as important in our country’s history as 1776; the country became an imperialist superpower almost overnight.

OU R TOWN DOWNTOWN | MARCH 1, 2012

Mike Doughty City Winery, 155 Varick St. (at Vandam St.), citywinery.com; $22–$32. You might know Mike Doughty from the 1990s, when he led the indie band Soul Coughing, or perhaps you recently became acquainted with him through his memoir The Book of Drugs, detailing his “ugly, drug-doing years.” Wherever you know Doughty from, he always promises a good show, and tonight he’s at City Winery belting tunes from his new album Yes and Also Yes.

NYC Vegetarian Food Festival Metropolitan Pavillion, 125 W. 18th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), nycvegfoodfest.com; 5 p.m., $20–$30. Foodies, locavores, vegetarians, vegans, flexitarians and those who simply want to find out more about living a healthy, sustainable lifestyle: This is the festival for you. Vegetarian food companies, restaurants and health and wellness vendors will congregate to celebrate the delight of vegetarian food and cruelty-free living

MONDAY

WEDNESDAY

Visit otdowntown.com for the latest updates on local events.

FREE Na Yingyu: Our Homeland! Gone Just

FREE Old-Fashioned Piano Party

(Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St. (betw. Sullivan & Thompson Sts.), lepoissonrouge.com; 9 p.m., 21+. This brand-new weekly open mic night is highly recommended for show tune lovers, Broadway enthusiasts, “Gleeks,” fans of Charles Nelson Reilly and anyone who ever wanted to do their own dream ballet. Pay homage to the old Village Gate, a nightclub/theater that opened in the late 1950s and premiered a number of Off-Broadway shows, including Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, in 1968.

Like That Location One, 26 Greene St. (betw. Canal & Grand Sts.), 212-334-3347; opening reception 6–8 p.m. Shot in the highland villages of the Jade Dragon Naxi Autonomous Prefecture of Lijiang, Yunnan, China, in 2006 and 2007, this composite of video, sound and still images chronicles the encounters of the Manchurian video artist Na Yingyu among the Naxi people in the sandy pines at the foothills of the Himalaya.

❮ FREE

Girls Like Us The Cooper Union, The Great Hall, 7 E. 7th St. (betw. 3rd & 4th Aves.), 212-353-4195, RSVP to events@cooper.edu; 6:30 p.m. Rachel Lloyd tells the moving story of her escape from the commercial sex trade in Europe, detailed in her memoir Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale. Once a teenage victim of exploitation, she has devoted her career to activism and helping other young girls escape “the life.” Street Scene NYU Skirball Center, 60 Washington Sq. S. (at Laguardia Pl.); 8 p.m., $20. Based on Elmer Rice’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Street Scene tells the story of the ordinary romances, gossip and quarrels of an East Side tenement. The musical theater production features music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by Langston Hughes.

❯

❯ Outdoor Stunner DWE LL

Penthouse C at One Jackson Square in Greenwich Village features floor-toceiling windows and an expansive terrace. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITI HABITATS

Getting space—and light—in Greenwich Village | BY VATISHA SMITH 122 Greenwich St., otherwise known as One Jackson Square, stands out from the other buildings on the block. In a neighborhood with brick high rises and squat mixed-use town houses, 122 has a winding façade and floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a striking appearance. And tucked into this stunning building is an expansive duplex for rent—at a reduced price, too, from $19,500 per month to $18,500. Mitchell Cashwell, a senior associate salesperson with Citi Habitats, has been with the listing since he first sold Penthouse C to its current owners, who then placed it on the market for rent. This spacious abode boasts two bedrooms, two baths, three fireplaces and 20-foot ceilings, but its real draw is the southern view and adjoining terrace. It is this unparalleled light-filled home and outdoor space that leads Cashwell to believe it is a one-of-akind listing. The apartment has already caught the attention of a few A-list celebrities and financiers, he admitted. Aside from the enviable windows and size of the apartment, its location is also a selling point. Located

in Greenwich Village within walking distance of the Meatpacking District and Chelsea, leasees will have the benefit of great shops, clubs and restaurants. The building also comes with some upscale amenities like 24-hour concierge, valet parking, a spa treatment center and a landscaped garden. “People love the unit,” Cashwell said. “When they see it, they want to buy it. I have to tell them, it’s not for sale, it’s for rent. If you want to live here, you’ll have to rent it.”

❯ DI G ITI ZE

Apps on a Train! Broaden your mobile pursuits

K, I admit it: I look over your shoulder on the train. I see you playing Angry Birds, poker and backgammon on your smart phones and, hey, I don’t blame you. But there are some great games that aren’t infringing on the intellectual property of whichever bored human invented throwing rocks at windows. Here are a few games for the iPhone that are trying something new: SUPERBROTHERS: SWORD & SWORCERY EP ($4.99) It’s hard to talk about this game without gushing praise, but jeez, talk about getting a game right! The art is all low-res and pixelated, but every element on the screen is intricately put together. Rustle the bushes and splash the water, no problem. The game is supposed to take a while, but that’s not a problem for the commuter—just close out and come back to it later on. In fact, after each ‘“session”—chapters of the game—it will urge you to take a break. Fine by me. Don’t rush it. The greatest thing about Sword & Sworcery EP is how completely immersive it is, from composer Jim Guthrie’s atmospheric music to

the quietly alive environs you’ll quest through. Real smart controls, too. For flight, just “tiptap” wherever or touch and hold the screen for quick action. When it’s time to fight, you rotate the phone into vertical and your sword is drawn. Please enjoy this game. It’s like a timebased art installation in the app store. MY LITTLE MONSTER ($0.99) This game is flat-out adorable, as well as funny, dark and totally absurd. Styled after Monster trainers like Tamagotchi or Pokemon, My Little Monster is not quite the same. It’s fun and good-looking, with pixel art mixed up with cel-shaded graphics, but more than anything, the game serves to showcase Par Fredriksson’s humorous take on game design. On a mission to destroy the world, you and your monster battle foes like Lost Hiker, Lo-Res Mage and Skinned Fox. The one downside to it is, being such a short game, how limited it feels. There’s no chance to max out your monster, and less damage received translates into more points to spend, so the only upgrade worth buying is defense. Once you’ve beaten the game once, play through it again with a winner’s experience multiplier. The art and music

are worth your buck alone—thankfully, it’s fun to boot. DESI LEAVES TOWN ($3.99) The app store doesn’t have a games subsection for literature, but that’s just what this game is. Pajamahouse Studios was making a bold move when they released Desi. In a time when people throw actual tantrums over milliseconds of lag, Desi Leaves Town requests an audience—one with patience, at that. The game is an adaptation of the novel Against Nature by Joris-Karl Huysman. According to Wikipedia, the 1884 novel is about “Jean des Esseintes, an eccentric, reclusive aesthete and antihero who loathes 19th-century bourgeois society and tries to retreat into an ideal artistic world of his own creation.” That same blurb aptly describes what Pajamahouse is attempting with this game. I tip my hat to these guys, though. As a proud literate myself, the idea of mixing literature and technology is appealing. The story is dark and quirky, the music is intriguing and the animation is endearing. What the game lacks, however, is the part we’re all here for: the games! I hope we’ll see some updates that revamp the app’s mini-games with the typical ADD player in mind. THE IMPOSSIBLE GAME ($0.99) The Impossible Game by FlukeDude is actually impossible. It’s so nauseatingly

frustrating I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack. Why am I still playing it? It’s simple: the game is minimalistic and addictive. You control a box that CARIB GUERRA moves unstoppably forward. Your only defense against inert triangles and other boxes is that you can jump. Timing is everything here. You’ll learn the course through brutal trial and error alongside a techno soundtrack programmed in time with the obstacles. It’s great. Simply put, this is a pure game. GRAND THEFT AUTO III ($4.99) GTA III was rereleased for the game’s 10th anniversary so it’s not technically new, but in adapting the classic gang life free for all for iOS, Rockstar has done something special. The touch screen controls are excellent and slick and allow for a bit of customization if necessary. It’s best to leave the missions for your lunch break, lest you miss your stop. This is the same huge world we all remember, and it’s still just as fun as ever. Catch some unique stunts and run a few rampages while you’re waiting for the G train. I mean, if you’re waiting for the G train, just go ahead and play. You’re not going anywhere. MARCH 1, 2012 | OTDOWNTOWN.COM

� SE E Same Song, New Verse Unsung Musicals presents languishing shows for new audiences

| By Mark Peikert Over the last few years, Ben West’s name has become familiar to Broadway show queens. West and Unsung Musicals first resurrected How Now, Dow Jones? at the 2008 Fringe Festival, then tackled the infamous flop Platinum for the 2009 Fringe Fest. Since then, Unsung Musicals has provided fans of the Golden Age of musical theater a chance to see such curios as a never-before-produced musical version of The Great Gatsby in concert and readings of shows almost forgotten, like The Fig Leaves Are Falling. Now, West and Unsung Musicals are staging their very first full production: Make Mine Manhattan, a satirical musical revue from 1948 about life in New York City that starred a young Sid Caesar. How do you choose the shows to produce?

Ben West: I come to each show a bit differently. With Make Mine Manhattan, one of the things that prompted me to do it was the fact that after it got rave reviews in 1948, Sid Caesar, David Burns and Sheila Bond all became prominent performers. It was actually at the Library of Performing Arts where I found the material, and I thought it was really interesting, especially given our budgetary constraints. It was originally conceived to be an eight-person pocket revue with two pianos. So it’s in both the artistic and the business wheelhouse, so to speak. But everything comes down to the material, because I really am trying to find shows that are not just obscure but are artistically sound and have an involving story. So that’s what it comes down to when I research. With a larger budget, what shows would you like to tackle? I’d love to do a 50th anniversary Seesaw. I would qualify Make Mine Manhattan in

using Carolyn Leigh and Lee Pockriss’ score for Caesar’s Wife, which they wrote in the late ’60s and then it never came to fruition. But they wrote a full score, and what we’re doing is presenting the score live but it will also include audio clips of the original demo and will include some of her setups that she does, several of her letters to either the producers or her authors regarding notes on the show and her initial concept for the show.

Ben West. PHOTO BY dixie sHeRidAn

its current form as sort of a dream show. In terms of when we have a larger budget, I’d love to do Fade Out, Fade In, Skyscraper… This year will become a template of what it will ultimately become, although perhaps it will be more than one show a year. Probably when we’re able to get fully going, I anticipate it will be two shows a year, a couple of concerts throughout and then of course the reading series. At the end of May, beginning of June, we’re doing the life of a show that was never produced. It’s essentially a live musical doc

So will the focus moving forward be on Golden Age shows that have fallen out of the public eye? Shows that have fallen out of the public eye with artistic merit. There are fewer things like Gatsby and Caesar’s Wife. Gatsby is one of the few fully written musicals that has never been produced. The book was complete and a full score was written. There aren’t that many more shows that would ultimately be considered new. Make Mine Manhattan. March 1–17, The Connelly Theatre, 220 E. 4th St. (betw. Aves. A & B), unsungmusicals.org; $18.

Hudson River Pageant Brings a Community Together Parade is one of many earth Celebrations outreach efforts

| By DoUg StraSSler

Looking for something to do in the coming months? Earth Celebrations has an idea to combat spring fever. Founded in 1991, Earth Celebrations is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering ecological awareness through the arts. Felicia Young, founder and executive director of Earth Celebrations, has established environmental arts programs, creative advocacy projects and theatrical pageants—she is a theatrical pageant director—to help preserve community gardens throughout New York City. Three years ago, Young launched a set of new programs to help restore the species and habitats of the Hudson River and address climate change in the city. The Hudson River Pageant is one such program. An educational environmental art workshop designed to appeal to schools, community centers and local youth and adults alike, the pageant is the culmination of a series of workshops running from March 3 through May 9. The outdoor pageant will take place May 12 in the Downtown section of Hudson River Park. In the workshops, participants work with resident artists Soule Golden and Lecrecia Novia to create puppets and costumes for the parade. The free costume and puppet workshops take place at the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center and Teatro LATEA on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons.

An artistic fish becomes part of the outdoor Hudson River pageant. PHOTO BY JACques TORCHOn

The pageant will feature a cast of thousands—literally. “About 2,500 people participate in the pageant on the day,” Young said, adding, “There are at least 500 artists and performers engaged in the project and over 5,000 spectators on the pageant day.” According to Young, all performances will highlight both the Hudson River’s history and its future restoration. The parade, which will display costumes, giant puppets, mobile sculptures and live bands and will perform 13 site-specific performances at the piers and other stops, runs from Battery Park North to Gansevoort Street. Titles of

OU R TOWN DOWNTOWN | MARCH 1, 2012

planned performances include “Dance of the River Grass,” “Oyster Planting,” “Live Fish Release” and “Boat Dance.” Some of the costumes and puppetry are original works created specifically for the pageant, while others are pre-existing pieces or were adapted from larger works. It isn’t too late to get involved; any artist interested in contributing or performing can apply by sending work samples or links to their work. Young herself is a third generation New Yorker, equally passionate about her local roots and her heritage. Her inspiration for Earth Celebrations was drawn from the

civic pageants in New York City from the early part of the last century, as well as from a more personal place: the ritual theater and large-scale mythic dramas staged in her mother’s native India. Her goal was to utilize all elements of the creative and visual arts “for a common goal, addressing issues and effecting positive change.” Earth Celebrations has received many awards, including the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Public Service Award from 1995–2005 and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council: Fund for Creative Communities Award, which it has won every year since 1996. But it is the organization’s ability to unite local youth that Young views as its main achievement. “Earth Celebrations has empowered youth from diverse cultural backgrounds to work together creatively to raise awareness on a variety of environmental issues and has grown deep roots building a community network,” Young said. “People get involved for many reasons,” she explained. “People feel that they are making a positive difference to address issues of habitat preservation and the future of the planet, connecting to the river and the earth on a deep level through the experience of the ceremonial pageant. They also meet other great people participating in the project who have many talents, skills and a commitment to working toward a positive future.” Looks like it’s pretty easy being green. And fun, too. For information about Earth Celebrations, visit www.earthcelebrations.com.

� DI N I N G

Asian Invasion Why are two of Downtown’s most exciting new restaurants West Coast transplants?

| By Regan Hofmann New York City has the best of everything, right? That’s why people trek halfway across the world to catch a glimpse of the skyline, why kids in Milwaukee save up to afford three months in a shared hovel in Bushwick, why fashion stylists study photos of people on the street for inspiration. If you can make it here, and all that jazz. So why are some of the most exciting new restaurants in the city transplants from somewhere else? And not just somewhere else, but the Pacific Northwest, the continent’s perma-fried, super-laid-back cousin—a land better known for its innovations in hiking gear than serious cuisine. Adding insult to injury is the fact that both of these—Japadog (30 St. Mark’s Pl., betw. 2nd & 3rd Aves., www.japadog.com/newyork_ en.html) and Pok Pok Wing (137 Rivington St., betw. Suffolk & Norfolk Sts., pokpokwing. com)—are Asian, and seriously so. Isn’t this the great melting pot? Doesn’t New York City have the highest ethnic representation per capita? What happened to us? While we’re not giving up the crown just yet, it has to be admitted that in some respects, the PNW has us beat—especially when it comes to Asian culture. Vancouver, where Japadog built an army of street carts before crossing over to New York, is the first port of entry for many Asian immigrants, and its beauty and wealth of natural resources make it a tough

proposition to leave once you’ve landed. Portland, Ore., where Andy Ricker runs a Thai empire with his Pok Poks, is not as fortuitously situated, but what it lacks in access it makes up for with its concerted effort to accept all types. Judgmental New Yorkers would have a lot to say about a chef who took his inspiration from a twentysomething’s trip across Southeast Asia, not one who was born and raised and steeped in the traditions. But in Portland? They tasted the food, they liked what they tasted, and Ricker won the 2011 James Beard Award for Best Chef, Northwest. What’s interesting is how different the two are, and yet how much they both signal the same changing attitude in the city toward newcomers. Japadog is the mad invention of Noriki Tamura, a first-generation Japanese immigrant who moved to Canada to pursue his food-cart dreams. Its limited menu consists of hot dogs in traditional Japanese flavor configurations, like the Okonomi, which takes all of the fixings of okonomiyaki, the bar-food staple savory pancake filled with things like cheese and shrimp and topped with mayonnaise, a sweet Worcestershire-type sauce and bonito flakes, and dumps them on top of a pork dog in your run-of-the-mill white bun. The genius of Japadog is its fearless fusion, a word New Yorkers learned to fear after choking down their millionth smoked salmon spring roll. It’s a lot easier to make hot dogs, the whitest food imaginable, taste like a Japanese delicacy when there aren’t 75 people lined up to tell you how quickly you’re going to fail before you get started. While Ricker’s Oregon restaurants serve

Japadog’s Croquette and Terimayo hot dogs. PhOTO BY BiOnicBiTes.cOm

a range of Northern Thai foods near impossible to find outside of L.A.’s Thai Town or Woodside, Queens, Pok Pok Wing similarly limited its range for its New York debut. The Lower East Side counter serves fish-saucemarinated, deep-fried chicken wings that are caramelized and tart and spicy all at once, as well as a real-deal papaya salad. That’s all. It’s an experience that doesn’t need dressing up some ethnic stamp of approval—it succeeds

on the strength of its flavors. Both restaurants have had the benefit of advance buzz on their home turf and are coming to New Yorkers fired up by curiosity, rather than contempt, to see what our country cousins have been doing while our backs were turned. If they succeed, it may well signal a new era of cross-continental collaboration. Hopefully they can make it here after all.

THE LARGEST AND MOST INNOVATIVE ITALIAN SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY

We know you can learn to speak Italian, to speak it fluently and with an excellent accent— and we prove it to you at your very first lesson! • • • •

Parliamo Italiano offers: Small class sizes Original materials Native Italian teachers 30 years of experience

Spring courses start March 26, 2012 For more information and class schedules, visit our website:

www.hunter.cuny.edu/parliamo

Want to learn more? Come to our Open House March 8, 2012; 6:30-7:30pm

Faculty Dining Room, West Building 8th Floor 68th Street and Lexington Avenue

mention the code “MM-312” when you register and save 10%

To RSVP, please call 212.396.6653 or email: parliamo@hunter.cuny.edu 695 Park Avenue, E1039 New York, NY 10065

march 1, 2012 | otdowntown.com

� CAM PS

Is Your Child Ready For Camp? Most kids have some trepidation the first time. here’s how you can bolster their overall readiness (and yours)

Tips fOR GeTTiNG YOURself ReaDY

| By Jess Michaels

our child going to summer camp for the first time is a big step in his or her life. While it is an exciting time, going to camp may cause some nervousness for both you and your child. So how do you know when the right time is to send your child to camp? “When considering camp, you want to make sure you look at your child with an objective eye,” said Adam Weinstein, executive director of the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey. “How do other people describe your child to you? How well does your child interact with friends and adults? What activities does your child enjoy? Does your child need a great deal of nurturing or do they tend to be independent? Answering these questions will help you figure out if your child is ready for camp and which camp environment is right for him or her.” Interest & Readiness - How did your child become interested in going to camp? “Talk to your child in order to assess his or her readiness,” said Ross Coleman, director of Coleman Country Day Camp. “Does your child sound excited about the adventure? Is he or she comfortable separating from you for segments of time? Does your child enjoy playing with other children? Does he or she thrive on achieving milestones of independence?” Answering these questions will help you determine if your child is both interested and ready for camp. Remember, the decision to go to camp should be made together. Keep in mind that the more involved children are in the process, the more ownership they feel. This helps ease concerns about camp and can help make a child’s camp experience more successful. Age: You want to consider your child’s age when considering camp. Day camps are designed for children three years and up. Children can go to sleepaway camp at the age of seven. But families should keep in mind that just

because a child is 7 years old, it doesn’t mean he or she is emotionally ready for sleepaway camp. Day or Sleepaway: If you are considering sleepaway camp, make sure your child has had successful overnights away from home with friends and relatives. Were these overnights positive experiences? You want to make sure your child is mature enough to go away for an extended period of time and that he or she can do certain things independently, like showering, getting dressed and brushing their teeth. Expectations: You should learn about the camp program ahead of time and create positive expectations for your child. Talk about camp throughout the year. “The known is comforting to a child so take a tour of the camp the summer before,” said Ann Young, director of Camp Hilltop in Hancock, N.Y. “Go

OU R TOWN DOWNTOWN | MARCH 1, 2012

into a cabin and meet and talk to the directors. Touring will build your child’s excitement about camp while familiarizing them with the camp program, activities, camp layout, the cabins and the staff.” Many overnight camps also offer Rookie Days, which give future campers a chance to experience camp in session by joining in on camp activities for the day or for a weekend. The more a child feels involved in the process of choosing a camp, the more successful their camp experience is likely to be. Positive Messages: It is important for parents to share positive messages about summer camp. It is common for a child to have some apprehension as the first day of camp approaches—encourage your child to talk about these feelings. Let your child know you are confident in their ability to have a wonderful summer camp experience.

» Make sure you talk to the camp director. When you are choosing a camp, ask the camp director questions and get to know him or her. Ask the director to describe the camp’s philosophy and how the staff implements it. Make sure the philosophy reflects your own family’s value system. Find out about the camp director’s background and the staff training. Ask about the age of the counselors and the counselor-tocamper ratio. Talking to the camp director and learning about the camp program will help you feel more comfortable and will ease any nervousness you may have. » Keep in mind that camp directors have your child’s best interests in mind and the skill to guide your child towards an appropriate level of independence, self-confidence and success. » Remember that kids often get over the adjustment to a new experience and a new environment before parents get used to the next stage of development. While your child is adjusting to camp, don’t make pick up deals and offer to rescue your child from camp. Instead, offer positive encouragement that you know he or she will have a successful summer. » If your child is at sleepaway camp, don’t focus too much on correspondence from camp in the first few days. If you receive a discouraging phone call or a letter from your child, remember that like any new experience, adjusting to camp may take a few days and that severe homesickness is rare. Encourage your camper to enjoy all the exciting camp activities that camp has to offer and remind him or her of all the wonderful aspects of camp. » When your child is at camp, allow him or her to solve their own problems or ask a counselor for help. Camp is a setting that allows your child to experience the real world in a safe environment. Kids learn quickly to rely upon themselves and the staff they trust at camp instead of their parents.

Only 19 miles f rom N YC!

Life is Camp. . .

let’s play!

y e l k c Bu mp ay Country D

One-half mile south of the Long Island Expressway (exit 35)

Upcoming Open House on Sunday, March 25 • 11am –2pm

(516) 365-7760

www.buckleycamp.com

M AR CH 1 , 2 0 1 2 | ot d owntown. c o m



� CAM PS

A CAmp For

EvErY BudgEt

If you’re worried about how to afford summer camp, here are some cost-saving steps to consider

ummer camp is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn life lessons like leadership, independence and self-confidence, as well as trying new activities like sailing, ropes course and waterskiing. It’s hard to put a price tag on your child’s learning and growth experiences, but parents should know that with a little planning and research there are a number of ways—some perhaps obvious,

some less so—to help make summer camp more affordable. Adam Weinstein, executive director of the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey, said, “With careful planning, parents can find a camp that works within their families means. When you think about how much it costs to have a child home all summer, with child care and activities, you realize you can be paying a very small premium for a very rich experience.”

Look for camp earLy

It isn’t too early to look for a summer camp for the summer of 2012 or even 2013. Tour camps this summer while the camp is in action. Some camps offer early bird specials for registering now so you can register soon after the camp tour for savings. Searching for camp early also gives families a longer time to plan financially for camp.

Gifts

Camp can be given to children as part of birthday gifts and holiday gifts and parents can budget for these gifts throughout the year. Likewise, members of the extended family, like grandparents, may also contribute to a gift like camp.

search camps by cost

There is a camp for every budget. Families can search the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey’s website searchforacamp.org by cost as well as day/sleepaway, location, activities or single-sex/coed/brother-sister camps. (Therightcamp.com also has a good camp search engine.) Likewise, families can also call the American Camp Association, NY and NJ camper placement specialist at 212391-5208 for free, one-on-one advice on finding the right camp at the right price for your family. Keep in mind that some Y camps, in particular, view it as part of their mission to accept a certain percentage of kids from families with modest means.

assistance offered from the U.s Government

The government offers programs that may help families save money on summer camp. • A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account—A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account allows parents to be reimbursed on a pre-tax basis for child care or adult dependent care expenses that are necessary to allow parents to work, look for work, or attend school full-time while they are caring for qualified dependents. Visit the FSA Feds website at fsafeds.com for more information. In certain circumstances, day camp expenses, including transportation by a care provider, may be considered dependent care services. • Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit—the IRS allows an income tax credit of up to $6,000 of dependent care expenses if you have two or more dependents (up to $3,000 for one dependent). The amount of the credit is based on your adjusted gross income and applies only to your federal taxes. This applies to qualifying day camp expenses as well. Visit the FSA Feds website for more information.

taLk to the camp director

Parents should talk to the camp director at the camp they are interested in sending their child to. Some camps offer sibling discounts or early bird specials for registering early and payment plans—and that’s just the official policy. If you have your heart set on a camp but can’t afford it, talk to the director to see if he or she would consider a sliding scale rate in your case. You never know.

hoLd a fUndraiser

I know this might seem like an overly self-serving solicitation, but if you do it in a way that shows spunk and creativity—and your child helps take the lead on it—you’d be surprised how friends and neighbors might be charmed by the idea of an effort to raise money for camp. Even something as old-fashioned as a lemonade stand with good signage about where the money is going might be an attention-getter and profit-maker. But use real lemons. People appreciate authenticity.

OU R TOWN DOWNTOWN | MARCH 1, 2012

NETSvs CLIPPERS WeD. MarCH 7, 8PM 800.4NBa.TIX

NBa.CoM/NeTs

Saturday & Sunday April 28th & 29th, 2012

Skylight SoHo, 275 Hudson Street, NYC 10am-7pm

m @ .co or LE howe do SAikes at th ON b 0 X am $2 TI new ine, w. onl ww $15

PRESENTED BY:

MANHATTAN MEDIA’S ANNUAL BIKE-TASTIC EVENT RETURNS!

SPONSORED BY: THE BEST OF ROADBIKES, DUTCHBIKES AND SWEET RIDES NYC RIDESTYLE FASHION SHOW • ACCESSORIES • BICYCLE GIVEAWAYS • FAB FOOD GUEST SPEAKERS & BLOGGERS @ BIKELANDIA • BEER GARDEN BY GROLSCH LAGER M AR CH 1 , 2 0 1 2 | ot d owntown. c o m



CLASSI FI E DS Classified Advertising Department Information Telephone: 212-268-0384 | Fax: 212-268-0502 | Email: advertising@manhattanmedia.com Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | Deadline: Monday 12 noon for same weeks’ issue

PUBLIC NOTICE nEw yOrk City DEPartMEnt OF transPOrtatiOn nOtiCE OF PubliC hEaring The New York City Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing on Wednesday March 14, 2012 at 2:00 P.M., at 55 Water St., 9th Floor Room 945, on the following petitions for revocable consent, all in the Borough of Manhattan: #1 New York University -to continue to maintain and use conduits under and across Waverly Pl., Washington Pl. and W 4th St., west of Greene St., and under and across Greene St., and north of W 4th St. #2 The Plaza Condominium - to continue to maintain and use two lamppost, together with conduits on the south sidewalk of W 59th St., west of Grand Army Plaza. #3 Timothy De Illy and Victoria Touchberry-to continue to maintain and use a fenced-in area on the west sidewalk of St. Nicholas Ave., north of 146th St. Interested parties can obtain copies of proposed agreements or request sign-language interpreters (with at least seven days prior notice) at 55 Water St., 9th Fl. SW New York, NY 10041, or by calling (212) 839-6550.

EMPLOYMENT Part tiME DrivEr wantED In my car. UES to NJ. Call David 646.672.1090 OFFiCE / COMPutEr wOrk Part time UES. Call David 646-672-1090 PrODuCEr, Talk Imaging at Sirius XM Radio Responsible for the conception, writing, and production of show and channel audio production for channels on the Talk Programming platform. At least 5 years production experience required. Apply at https://careers-siriusxm.icims. com/jobs/7069/job. MusiC PrOgraMMing COOrDinatOr at Sirius XM Radio Responsible for ensuring that all music elements and programs are prepared, edited, loaded and ready to air. BA/ BS preferred. Must have 6-12 months of music programming experience at a radio station. Please apply at www. siriusxm.com/careers.

PROF. sERvICEs

Is Your Computer Running Slow Or In A Coma?

Don’t Throw Out Your Old Computer!

PROFEssIONAL TYPIsT!! 25 years experience in typing Professional Documents and School Papers; Screenplays in Final Draft; Legal and Psychiatric Transcription; Writing, Formatting Résumés Document Design & Creation, 212-988-4630

EMPLOYMENT tEChniCian, Broadcast Operations Center at Sirius XM Radio Responsible for monitoring the quality, routing and scheduling of AV content for SIRIUS XM’s channels. BS/BA and/or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred. Familiarity with digital audio editing, quality control, broadcast automation and digital routing required. Apply at https://careers-siriusxm.icims. com/jobs/7094/job.

JOBs WANTED

COMPaniOn availablE FT / PT. Will assist you with all your daily needs: grooming, dressing, light cooking & housekeeping, accompanying you to appts, etc. Plus I am experienced, cheerful & accommodating. Call 347-362-1468

BUY/sELL Place your ad here. 212-268-0384

sERvICEs

Manhattan ExPrEss DElivEry Moving & Delivery Servicing NY/ NJ/ CT $10 OFF Furniture Delivery $100 OFF Moving Jobs over $800 Call: (646) 509-8181

Save Your MoneY! Save The PlaneT!

PrOFEssiOnal DrivEr looking for driving postion. Will drive to the airports,the Hamptons, etc. Non-smoker, very reliable. 917-734-4676 nEED a tutOr? Tutoring and Test Preparation All Subjects and Grade Levels Call Prima Tutoring at 212-920-6897 ♥ hEalth CarE aDvisOR ♥ Are you concerned about yourself or a loved one being alone during a medical emergency? This can get resolved with a touch of a fingertip. Call JaCQuElyn at 646-645-7616 to discuss putting an affordable 24 hr. personal Medical Alarm System for protection in your home and through your cell phone. (Nationwide Distributor)

CARPET CLEANINg

CARD gAMEs

Canasta Enjoy lunch at a lovely neighborhood restaurant and for dessert ....CANASTA! For info call Shelli Leifer 212 472-2000 or email CanastaLadies@aol.comCan’t wait to get started! Lessons available.

INTENT TO AWARD NOTICE OF A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING of the Franchise and Concession Review Committee and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to be held on Monday, March 12, 2012 at 22 Reade Street, Borough of Manhattan, commencing at 2:30 p.m. relative to: INTENT TO AWARD as a concession the operation and maintenance of a seasonal café and the development, operation and maintenance of a year-round satellite kiosk at Union Square Park, Manhattan (“Licensed Premises”), for one (1) fifteen-year term, to Chef Driven Market, LLC. Compensation to the City will be as follows: for each operating year, licensee shall pay to the City a license fee consisting of the higher of a minimum annual fee (Year 1: $300,000; Year 2: $309,000; Year 3: $318,270; Year 4: $327,818; Year 5: $337,653; Year 6: $347,782; Year 7: $358,216; Year 8: $368,962; Year 9: $380,031; Year 10: $391,432; Year 11: $403,175; Year 12: $415,270; Year 13: $427,728; Year 14: $440,560; Year 15: $453,777) or ten (10) percent of gross receipts derived from the operation of the Licensed Premises. A draft copy of the agreement may be reviewed or obtained at no cost, commencing Monday, March 5, 2012 through Monday, March 12, 2012, between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm, excluding weekends and holidays at the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, located at 830 Fifth Avenue, Room 313, New York, NY 10065. Individuals requesting Sign Language Interpreters should contact the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, Public Hearings Unit, 253 Broadway, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10007, (212) 788-7490, no later than SEVEN (7) BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.

O U R TOW N : D OW N TOWN | MA R C H 1 , 2 0 1 2

leT uS reSTore Your old coMPuTer for aS liTTle aS $195

REAL EsTATE

thinking OF MOving tO COnnECtiCut? Full-time and Vacation homes. 15 years exp. selling in Fairfield County, CT. Rob Grodman, Realtor. The Riverside Realty Group. 203-952-6117 www.RobGrodman.com email: westportagent@hotmail.com OFFiCE sPaCE FOr MEDiCal Or COMMunity usE – 91st strEEt anD 2nD avEnuE. Available for immediate lease to a qualified tenant. 1337 sq ft approximate. Call for appointment to see. (212) 534-7771 ext. 146 RY Management Co., Inc. Licensed Real Estate Broker

Your computer Will Be re-newed & run @ lightning Speeds

M.e. TechnoloGieS 212.758.9280

FREE TAX PREP

CarPEts & uPhOlstEry professionally steam-cleaned. 20 years experience. JP Carpet. 212-831-1189

TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR THE DEAF (TDD) 212-504-4115



POLICY NOTICE: We make every effort to avoid mistakes in your classified ads. Check your ad the first week it runs. We will only accept responsibility for the first incorrect insertion. Manhattan Media Classifieds assumes no financial responsibility for errors or omissions. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or re-classify any ad. Contact your sales rep directly for copy changes. All classified ads are pre-paid.

PARK AVENUE – SHARED SPACE Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Our IRS-approved students offer NYC residents free Federal and State tax help. VITA supports those who can’t prepare their own taxes or afford the services of a paid preparer. • E-ﬁle is available at all locations in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn • Chinese, English, Korean, Russian, and Spanish www.baruch.cuny.edu/vita

Interior, exterior and corner offices. Conf. rooms. Secretarial & IT support. Flexible plans. Private offices $1450/up. Virtual offices $90/month. www.410park.com Call 212-231-8500 BAYSIDE, BEll BlvD medical center, (directly opposite Bay Terrace shopping center) Furnished & Equipped. PErfEct for: DDS, MD, psych, other professionals. On-site valet parking. P/T & F/T. Signage! Location! 718-229-3598

TRACK BY JACK

TRACK-LIGHTING SPECIALITSTS

INSTALLATION • SALES UPDATE OLD CANS W/SMALL, EFFICIENT, LOW-VOLTAGE HALOGENS. WHOLESALE BULBS DELIVERED

917-74 TRACK 917-748-7225

100s of SPANISH Singles 18+ Try it FREE!

212-965-8484 CLASSI FI E DS 646-502-0044 EHEALTH sERvICEs BODYWORK 718-663-8566 yOu will kEEP COMing baCk! ***hiv/stD tEsting*** IMMEDIATE RESULTS! LOWEST FEE. Discreet. Expert Genital Wart Treatment & STD Treatment. Dermatology. www.CentralParkMedicalAssociates.com Call now. 18+ 212-246-0800

Real hook ups, real fast.

Talented, trained bodyworker does amazing Swedish and Shiatsu work on a table in a beautiful Chelsea Try it guy FREE! apartment. Friendly who will focus on your specific requests. Very high repeat clients because you will like it! Call 646-734-3042

ALL LOCAL CHAT!

212-812-1212 646-825-4444 MAssAgE 718-928-4444 bODy wax & DEEP tissuE

hEaling MassagE By dual-licensed, experienced male therapist. Deep Tissue massage, men’s facial & body wax. Private. Shower available. W 55th St NYC. Also in L.I.C. Queens. 718-612-1719 MagiC tOuCh Exceptionally relaxing touch by European ladies. Private, 24/7. E 30th St 212-661-6407 E 60s St 212-705-7068 E 40S St 212-576-1025

FULL BODYWORK STRESS...GONE by Stefan Upper West Side

646-496-3981

ENJOY THE BEST

Sensual Body Work Private Dancing & Light Fetish/ Domination w/Beautiful Girls 917-463-3739

Free TRY FOR

MAssAgE

SWEDISH/SHIATSU ChinEsE guy Expert masseur. Swedish & Shiatsu. Therapeutic & relaxing. Private. 52nd St & 3rd Ave. Stephen: 646-996-9030

646.429.1300

sEnsual bODywOrk -young, handsome, smooth, athletic Asian. In/ Out. Phillip. 212-787-9116

Local #s: 1.800.926.6000 www.livelinks.com Ahora en Español 18+

sExy latina — J.lO Midtown Loc. West 40’s Incalls only. 845-332-1891 Ask About Specials. No Blocked Calls.

Valentine’s Special

ExPEriEnCE OriEntal bODywOrk By CHIRSTY 10am to 6pm W. 86th St. Appt. Only 212.496.0888

gRAND OPENINg 347-986-0004 RELAXING BODYWORK FOOT RUB 155 W. 83RD NYC SUITE B1 BASEMENT

Free wine with purchase of 1 Hour Massage. Couples are welcome. grEat bODywOrk by EurOPEan Open late, Midtown East 212-813-0083

Expires 2/29/2012

Body&Spirit

BUY/sELL Place your ad here. 212-268-0384

LIVE CHAT for large & lovely Women

Voted #1 By New York Locals

& the Men Who Adore them Dating, casual Encounters, Matching and more! CALL: 646-507-5110 718-280-0011 201-708-6148 732-510-2999 908-376-1999 516-471-5056 973-867-7930 You must be an adult over 18 years of age to use this service and fully understand that APC, Inc., DBA Plus Preferred does not prescreen callers and anyone using this service hold APC, Inc. harmless with regard to any interactions with other callers occurring as a result of using this service.

NYC

HAvE A sERvICE TO OFFER? Place your ad here. 212268-0384

The Sensual & Tantric Experience 212- 768-1930 34th St. & 5th Ave. Outside Appts. Available www.BodyandSpiritNYC.com

M AR CH 1 , 2 0 1 2 | ot d owntown. c o m



� TALK I N G U P D OWNTOWN Manhattan Media

editorial

exeCUTive eDiTOR Allen Houston ahouston@manhattanmedia.com eDiTOR-iN-CHieF Marissa Maier mmaier@manhattanmedia.com sPeCiaL seCTiONs eDiTOR Josh Rogers jrogers@manhattanmedia.com MaNagiNg eDiTOR Mark Peikert mpeikert@manhattanmedia.com FeaTUReD CONTRiBUTORs Whitney Casser, Penny Gray, Tom Hall, Regan Hofmann, Mary Morris, Robby Ritacco, Lillian Rizzo, Paulette Safdieh CONTRiBUTiNg PHOTOgRaPHeRs George Denison, Veronica Hoglund, Wyatt Kostygan, Andrew Schwartz iNTeRNs Andrew Rice, Patricia Voulgaris

adVertiSinG

advertising@manhattanmedia.com PUBLisHeR Gerry Gavin ggavin@manhattanmedia.com DiReCTOR OF NeW BUsiNess DeveLOPMeNT Dan Newman assOCiaTe PUBLisHeRs Seth L. Miller, Ceil Ainsworth aDveRTisiNg MaNageR Marty Strongin sPeCiaL PROjeCTs DiReCTOR Jim Katocin seNiOR aCCOUNT exeCUTives Verne Vergara, Mike Suscavage DiReCTOR OF eveNTs & MaRkeTiNg Joanna Virello jvirello@manhattanmedia.com exeCUTive assisTaNT OF saLes Jennie Valenti jvalenti@manhattanmedia.com

BuSineSS adMiniStration

CONTROLLeR Shawn Scott CReDiT MaNageR Kathy Pollyea BiLLiNg COORDiNaTOR Colleen Conklin CiRCULaTiON Joe Bendik circ@manhattanmedia.com

PRODUCTiON

PRODUCTiON & CReaTive DiReCTOR Ed Johnson ejohnson@manhattanmedia.com eDiTORiaL DesigNeR Sahar Vahidi svahidi@manhattanmedia.com aDveRTisiNg DesigN Quran Corley OUR TOWN DOWNTOWN is published weekly Copyright © 2012 Manhattan Media, LLC 79 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10016 Editorial (212) 284-9734 Fax (212) 268-2935 Advertising (212) 284-9715 General (212) 268-8600 E-mail: otdowntown@manhattanmedia.com Website: OTDowntown.com OUR TOWN DOWNTOWN is a division of Manhattan Media, LLC, publisher of West Side Spirit, Chelsea Clinton News, The Westsider, City Hall, The Capitol, The Blackboard Awards, New York Family, and Avenue magazine. To subscribe for 1 year, please send $75 to OUR TOWN DOWNTOWN, 79 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10016 Recognized for excellence by the New York Press Association

Morris Vogel President of the tenement museum

| By penny gray

e went on a talking tour with Morris Vogel, president of the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side, in the hope that New Yorkers will take a walking tour of the museum at 97 Orchard St. What happens at the Tenement Museum? We tell the stories of the people who lived in this building, from the time of construction in 1863 until 1935, when the building was condemned. Immigrants from 20 different countries lived in this building; most were Jewish families but there were also many German, Irish and Italian families. In the 1980s, our founders decided they wanted to open a museum dedicated to honoring immigrants. They looked all around New York for a space in which they could build a museum. Then they stumbled upon 97 Orchard, a tenement building that had failed to reach building codes in 1935 and so was boarded up as a kind of time capsule—everything remained as it was. And it’s possible to just walk around this old building? Visitors take guided tours of apartments that recreate immigrant life in the 19th and 20th centuries. Along with a glimpse of the past, tours offer insights into current debates about immigration and public health. Tour options include “Hard Times,” exploring how immigrants survived economic depression between 1863 and 1935, “Sweatshop Workers,” illuminating how immigrants balanced work, family and religion at the turn of the century, and “Irish Outsiders,” exposing the hardship and discrimination the Irish faced in the 1860s. How many people have this experience every year? We receive about 176,000 visitors per year. Twenty-five percent of these are international visitors, 25 percent are American visitors from outside of the city, 25 percent are New Yorkers and 25 percent are students and educators. How did you and the Tenement Museum cross paths? The Tenement Museum was already

OU R TOWN DOWNTOWN | MARCH 1, 2012

a going institution and very much part of the New York cultural scene when the search for a successor to the creators of the museum came about in 2008. In many ways, I spent my life and career getting ready for this job. I’m an immigrant who originated in a displaced persons camp in Germany and I spent my career as an academic studying American social and cultural history. What’s the most exciting thing happening at the Tenement Museum right now? We’re building out an exhibition called “SHOPLIFE,” about immigrant entrepreneurship. The ground floor of the building was in use from 1863 until the 1980s as a shop of varying natures, from a German saloon to a kosher butcher shop to a discount underwear store. We’ll be peeling back the layers of that history to expose the various incarnations of the space, all of which celebrate the enterprising spirit of the immigrant upon which this nation is founded. Entrepreneurship comes from immigrants servicing a niche market without much capital. People created opportunities for themselves at any price—their families worked, they broke the law, they bargained. That all happened here. And it’s an important part of our collective history to explore it. “SHOPLIFE” will open in August. How is the museum affected by being Downtown, and how is Downtown affected by the museum? Downtown is a vibrant, lively community. This neighborhood provides so much energy to the city. People have a sense that it is a community that represents what

photo Courtesy the tenement museum

PResiDeNT/CeO Tom Allon tallon@manhattanmedia.com gROUP PUBLisHeR Alex Schweitzer aschweitzer@manhattanmedia.com CFO/COO Joanne Harras jharras@manhattanmedia.com DiReCTOR OF iNTeRaCTive MaRkeTiNg aND DigiTaL sTRaTegy Jay Gissen jgissen@manhattanmedia.com

New York City is about, and they’re right. In many ways, the neighborhood is still a mirror to the museum. For generations, Downtown was a place where immigrants landed and brought their dreams, whether it was Five Points or the Lower East Side or Chinatown. All of these communities in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty gave the city its vitality and it continues to do so today. Why should a lifetime New Yorker visit the Tenement Museum? We are New York’s story. We are the iconic New York institution telling the story of the people of New York. There are wonderful organizations like the Museum of the City of New York and the New-York Historical Society in the city dedicated to the history of the city itself, but we tell New York’s basic story, the story of how New Yorkers became a people of extraordinary dreams and drive. It’s an exploration of why we are here and what we’re all about.

8 million stories

How Deborah Fenker knows the boy next door

emaining friendly with my ex-boyfriends has always been my M.O. Recently, however, I realized that this may have had more than a little to do with the fact that the post-breakup has historically found me and my ex on separate continents—or at least opposite coasts. More recently, I thought the distance from Chelsea to Brooklyn would adequately replicate that continental buffer. Until he moved next door. Not in the next building or across the street, kind of kitty-corner—I mean wall-sharing, within earshot, might-as-well-be-living-together, A3-to-A4 next door. In sleep, our bodies lie but 20 or so feet from one another. It’s weird, at best. In our building, these two ground-floor apartments have the New York City luxury of a humble courtyard behind them. With this most recent occupant, however, my previously prized haven of solace has been rendered a potentially hellish, too-close-for-comfort point of collision, divided only by a flimsy

cedar fence and a thick dollop of resentment. My previous neighbors were the brilliant couple that introduced us. Approximately a year ago, when their twosome became nine months away from being a trio, they knew they would have to break their lease. Who better to fill the void than their old friend, her college buddy, his drinking buddy—my ex-boyfriend? We had actually reached a comfortable tolerance after a raspy breakup, but when my soon-to-beex-neighbor broke the news to me over dinner one night, I don’t think I processed the depth of the situation. Despite a few hopeful lapses regarding a shoddy credit record and several delayed move-in dates, the lease was signed Nov. 15. Since then, I’ve seen him maybe three times, with just about as many words exchanged on each occasion. His nine-to-five and my inconsistent freelance schedule provide for thankfully few encounters. The frustration on my end lies simply in my insatiable curiosity; I honestly couldn’t care less what

he feels about me at this point, though this might answer a few lingering uncertainties, but I do desperately want to know how he regards me, whatever it is. Disdain, disinterest, unrequited passion, animosity, vengeance (should I be wary?), fond nostalgia? I don’t know if I care which of these it might be (though my druthers would be the latter), I would just love to know whatever the hell he is thinking. Beyond that, my only point of contention thus far is that he plays his raucous thrash music loud enough that I can feel the bass in my chest. Nearing 10-ish on a weekday winter night, having endured a solid two hours of his iPod shuffle, I guess I’d had it. I thumped five times, hard, on our shoddy sheetrock dividing wall. It was only then that I bothered to recognize to tune that was invading my soundspace. I believe the band is Bread. I believe the title of the track is “Everything I Own.” Yup, that’s right: “Just to have you back again.” Do understand, though—it was coming from his Bose, not mine.

� STR E ET S C E N E

photos by patricia Voulgaris

Prince and elizabeth streets

has a weekly e-mail blast!

190 bowery

PARK AVENUE

SHARED OFFICES

Your PARK AVENUE office. Ready when you are. Great offices. Great reception team, IT & secretarial support. The BEST answering service. 50MB High speed internet. Fully flexible plans - expand or retract as you like. Private Offices from $1,450/month (Promo code 138) Business Address Service $90/month

OTdowntown.com

to receive your weekly dose of Downtown news and city office be entered to win FREE prizes! • • • •

• • • •

Single Offices Office Suites Business Address Virtual Offices

Conference Rooms Corporate Setting Instant Activation Ferrari Building

The smart shortcut

Park Avenue • 212-231-8500 • www.410park.com 410 Park Avenue, Floor 15, New York, NY 10022

Visit either our Manhattan or Morristown office: New York, NY 530 First Avenue, Suite 6D 1-877-VEIN-NYU (834-6698) Morristown, NJ 95 Madison Avenue, Suite 415 1-973-538-2000

has a weekly e-mail blast! Sign up at

OTdowntown.com

to receive your weekly dose of Downtown news and be entered to win FREE prizes! march 1, 2012 | otdowntown.com

We’re talkin

Garde n of Eden Fresh.

P ay by April 1

J o i n N Y ’ s f re s h e s t C S A t o d ay . Sav e $54

Bring farm fresh right to your table. Sign up at www.thunderroadproduce.com or call: (917) 546-4622 • (609) 805-5530

Thunder Road Produce Just Picked!



O U R TOW N : D OW N TOWN | MA R C H 1 , 2 0 1 2