The local paper for Downtown wn WHAT WAS LOST ◄ P.12
WEEK OF APRIL-MAY
25-1 2019
CROSSTOWN BUS CUTS
INSIDE
TRANSPORTATION MTA to implement new schedules with reduced service on M31 and M72 routes Denizen of the cat cafe. Photo: lovinkat, via flickr
BY MICHAEL GAROFALO
HELPING THE FERAL CATS OF CHINATOWN ANIMALS Nonprofit TNR Utopia teaches the public how to trap, neuter and return stray felines to the wild NYC streets BY CULLEN MONROE ORMOND
The futuristic exterior — a stark contrast to the weather buildings with dirty awnings that line sleepy Hester Street — is a surprise to passersby. A glass-windowed wall protects the word MEOW, which commands attention in white, chunky letters. But within that word, if you look closely, you will sometimes be able to spot a pair of yellow eyes peering out into the street. Or spot a deft blur of fur, a force briskly pouncing on some invisible object. The M31 bus will soon run with increased headways during morning peak and evening hours on weekdays. Photo: Michael Garofalo
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
Bus riders will face increased wait times on the M31 and M72 routes under new schedules set to take effect April 28. The M31 bus, which provides crosstown service between Yorkville and the West Side via 57th Street, will run less often during morning peak and evening hours on weekdays. The morning rush hour cuts are relatively modest, with scheduled headways between buses to increase from 6 to 6.5 minutes. The evening cuts are more significant, with scheduled headways to increase from 10 to 12 minutes. A 2017 report from Comptroller Scott Stringer found that the M31 travels at an average speed of just 4.14 mph, making it the city’s second-slowest bus route. On the M72, which runs between the Upper East Side and Upper West Side, scheduled headways during morning peak hours will be increased from 10 to 12 minutes. According to boilerplate language used by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to justify bus frequency reductions, the cuts are intended “to more closely align service with customer demand and to meet established bus loading guidelines.” Both routes were subject to a previous round of service cuts in 2017. The MTA’s practice of using decreased ridership to justify service cuts has frustrated many bus riders, who believe that slow and infrequent service is to blame for riders abandoning the bus as a reliable transit option.
BEFORE THE PULITZER Former Spirit editor wins prize for the WSJ P. 2
DOCTOR, SCIENTIST, WRITER Siddhartha Mukherjee honored at Rockefeller University P. 6
GOOGLE OPENS FREE LEARNING CENTER IN CHELSEA Workshops on coding, building websites, marketing P. 5
‘WEIRD, INTERESTING AND BEAUTIFUL’ Fashion entrepreneur Naomi Mishkin on her designs P. 16
Downtowner
OurTownDowntown
O OTDOWNTOWN.COM @OTDowntown
Crime Watch Voices NYC Now City Arts
3 8 10 12
Restaurant Ratings 14 Business 16 Real Estate 17 15 Minutes 21
WEEK OF APRIL
SPRING ARTS PREVIEW < CITYARTS, P.12
FOR HIM, SETTLING SMALL CLAIMS IS A BIG DEAL presided over Arbitration Man has three decades. for informal hearings about it He’s now blogging BY RICHARD KHAVKINE
is the common Arbitration Man their jurist. least folks’ hero. Or at Man has For 30 years, Arbitration court office of the civil few sat in a satellite Centre St. every building at 111 New Yorkers’ weeks and absorbed dry cleaning, burned lost accountings of fender benders, lousy paint jobs, and the like. And security deposits then he’s decided. Arbitration Man, About a year ago, so to not afwho requested anonymity started docuhe fect future proceedings, two dozen of what menting about compelling cases considers his most blog. in an eponymous about it because “I decided to write the stories but in a I was interested about it not from wanted to write from view but rather lawyer’s point of said Arbitration view,” of a lay point lawyer since 1961. Man, a practicing what’s at issue He first writes about post, renders and then, in a separatehow he arrived his decision, detailing blog the to Visitors at his conclusion. their opinions. often weigh in with get a rap going. I to “I really want whether they unreally want to know and why I did it,” I did derstood what don’t know how to he said. “Most people ... I’d like my cases the judge thinks. and also my trereflect my personalitythe law.” for mendous respect 80, went into indiMan, Arbitration suc in 1985, settling vidual practice
9-16
MANHATTAN'S APARTMENT BOOM, > PROPERTY, P.20
2015
In Brief MORE HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESS
The effort to help small seems to businesses in the city be gathering steam. Two city councilmembers, Robert Margaret Chin and Cornegy, have introduced create legislation that wouldSmall a new “Office of the within Business Advocate” of Small the city’s Department Business Services. Chin The new post, which have up told us she’d like to would and running this year, for serve as an ombudsman city small businesses within them clear government, helping to get through the bureaucracy things done. Perhaps even more also importantly, the ombudsman and number will tally the type small business of complaints by taken in owners, the actions policy response, and somefor ways to recommendations If done well, begin to fix things. report would the ombudsman’s give us the first quantitative with taste of what’s wrong the city, an small businesses in towards important first step fixing the problem. of for deTo really make a difference, is a mere formality will have to the work process looking to complete their advocate are the chances course, velopers precinct, but rising rents, -- thanks to a find a way to tackle business’ is being done legally of after-hours projects quickly. their own hours,” which remain many While Chin “They pick out boom in the number throughout who lives on most vexing problem. said Mildred Angelo,of the Ruppert construction permits gauge what Buildings one said it’s too early tocould have the 19th floor in The Department of the city. number three years, the Houses on 92nd Street between role the advocate She Over the past on the is handing out a record work perThird avenues. permits, there, more information of Second and an ongoing all-hours number of after-hours bad thing. of after-hours work the city’s Dept. problem can’t be a said there’s with the mits granted by nearby where according to new data jumped 30 percent, This step, combinedBorough construction project noise Buildings has data provided in workers constantly make efforts by Manhattan to mediate BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS according to DOB of Informacement from trucks. President Gale Brewer offer response to a Freedom classifies transferring they want. They knows the the rent renewal process, request. The city They 6 “They do whatever signs Every New Yorker clang, tion Act go as they please. work between some early, tangible small any construction on the weekend, can come and sound: the metal-on-metal or the piercing of progress. For many have no respect.” p.m. and 7 a.m., can’t come of these that the hollow boom, issuance reverse. owners, in business moving The increased beeps of a truck has generto a correspond and you as after-hours. soon enough. variances has led at the alarm clock The surge in permits
SLEEPS, THANKS TO THE CITY THAT NEVER UCTION A BOOM IN LATE-NIGHT CONSTR NEWS
A glance it: it’s the middle can hardly believe yet construction of the night, and carries on full-tilt. your local police or You can call 311
n OurTownDowntow
COM
Newscheck Crime Watch Voices
for dollars in fees ated millions of and left some resithe city agency, that the application dents convinced
2 City Arts 3 Top 5 8 Real Estate 10 15 Minutes
12 13 14 18
CONTINUED ON PAGE
25
We deliver! Get Our Town Downtowner sent directly to your mailbox for $49 per year. Go to OTDowntown.com or call 212-868-0190
2
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
BEFORE THE PULITZER AWARDS Former Spirit editor Michael Rothfeld wins journalism’s top prize for Wall Street Journal coverage of Trump hush money payments BY MICHAEL GAROFALO
After Frank McCourt won a Pulitzer Prize in 1997 for his memoir “Angela’s Ashes,” this newspaper — then known as the Manhattan Spirit — republished a number of McCourt’s columns that had appeared in these pages a decade earlier. The Spirit’s editor at the time of the McCourt series, which ran under the banner “Before the Pulitzer,” was a 25-year-old journalist named Michael Rothfeld. Twenty-two years later, Rothfeld has earned a Pulitzer of his own. Rothfeld, now an investigative reporter with the Wall Street Journal, was a lead contributor to coverage of President Donald Trump’s hushmoney payments that was recognized last week with the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. The Wall Street Journal’s investigation
exposed Trump’s direct involvement in secret payoffs during the 2016 presidential campaign to suppress the stories of two women who claimed to have had affairs with him. “It’s been a pretty amazing run,” Rothfeld said, describing the “jubilant” atmosphere in the Journal’s offices following the April 15 Pulitzer announcement. “The support was overwhelming in the newsroom.” Rothfeld and his colleagues detailed Trump’s potentially criminal orchestration of payments to cover up alleged affairs with former Playboy Playmate of the Year Karen McDougal and former adult film actress Stormy Daniels, which involved Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen and tabloid publisher David Pecker. “It’s been a fun story to cover because there are a lot of colorful characters involved,” Rothfeld said. “This is not the typical cast of characters that you find in the Wall Street Journal’s pages,” he added. “It was a great opportunity to cover that kind of story, and especially one that leads straight to the president.” Before his journalism made waves nationally, Rothfeld honed his craft as a reporter and editor for the Spirit
Michael Rothfeld (center, holding microphone) reacts to winning the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting in the Wall Street Journal newsroom. Photo: Stephanie Aaronson/The Wall Street Journal
from 1995 to 1997. Traveling around the West Side by bicycle, Rothfeld covered the hot issues of the day — including the battle over the future of Pier 40 and community opposition to Trump’s Riverside South development — as well as topics of enduring local importance, like excessive noise from helicopters and rowdy bars. Tom Allon, the Spirit’s publisher and editor-in-chief at the time, described Rothfeld as a “fearless reporter” and remembered his wide-ranging coverage of the neighborhood, noting in particular his cover story on a pedophile treat-
ment center located across from a West Village elementary school and his Aug. 1996 report on “Pedestrian Hell” — the hazardous intersection of Broadway and 23rd Street, which had been the site of over 90 collisions over the preceding three years. Another Rothfeld cover story explored the last remaining furriers holding out in the Garment District amid slowing sales and attacks from animal activists — still relevant now, Allon noted, in light of legislation introduced last month by City Council Speaker Corey Johnson that would ban fur sales in the city. “Even over 20 years ago Michael
SATURDAY
BIG SWIM BIG KICK
MAY 4 1750 York Ave. (AT 91ST STREET)
FREE swim and soccer event for children ages 6 to 10 LEARN MORE AT: asphaltgreen.org/bsbk RAIN OR SHINE. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR SWIM MEET ONLY.
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019 was ahead of the curve on that one,” said Allon, who is now publisher and president of City & State. Rothfeld joined the Spirit in 1995 as an unpaid intern, eventually rising to become the newspaper’s editor before departing for the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1997. He did a bit of everything along the way, from reporting feature stories to writing editorials and restaurant reviews to editing Ed Koch’s film reviews. “It was a really great starting job for me to learn how to get out there and interview people and what makes a story,” Rothfeld said. Rothfeld and his Journal colleague Joe Palazzolo are currently working on a forthcoming book to be published by Random House that will expand on their Pulizer-winning coverage. Tentatively titled “The Fixers” and scheduled to be released by early next year, the book will explore Trump’s dealings with Cohen, Pecker and other trusted facilitators. “It starts several decades ago as the relationships developed between these people and show how everything comes together in 2016 during the campaign when these deals were made,” Rothfeld said. “It takes the stories we’ve been reporting on and puts them in this larger context and landscape.”
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
3
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
CRIME WATCH BY MARIA ROCHA-BUSCHEL STATS FOR THE WEEK
TWO WOMEN PUNCHED, MAN ARRESTED
Reported crimes from the 1st precinct for the week ending Apr 14
Police arrested a 26-year-old man for assault in front of The Park at 118 Tenth Ave. on Sunday, Apr. 21 at 4:05 a.m. Two women were talking in front of the bar, police said, when the man, who neither of the victims knew, approached them and punched them both in the face, causing bruising and swelling. Police said that the suspect resisted arrest when officers attempted to handcuff him by flailing his arms and pushing the officers away. Police had no further information about what may have prompted the attack.
Week to Date
SNEAKERS WERE DEFINITELY NOT ON THE MENU Someone attempted to fraudulently use a woman’s credit card while she was dining at Coppelia restaurant at 207 West 14th St. on Saturday evening, Apr. 20, police said. The woman told police that the restaurant had her credit card for approximately 15 to 20 minutes after she gave it to them to pay the bill. In that time, she said, an unknown person attempted to make fraudulent purchases for $75 on the Adidas website. She said the card was returned to her and that she was contacted about the possible fraud by
her credit card company shortly after leaving the restaurant.
SUSPECT’S APARTMENT MAY BE FILTHY Police arrested a 43-year-old man for stealing more than $200 of cleaning products from the Duane Reade at 455 West 37th St. on
Saturday, Apr. 20, around noon. Police said that the man put 11 bottles of Lysol all-purpose cleaner, six bottles of Clorox cleaner, five bottles of Tilex shower cleaner, five bottles of Tilex mold and mildew cleaner, three bottles of Formula 409 cleaner, three bottles of Clorox disinfectant, three bottles of Resolve carpet cleaner and two packages of Clorox disinfectant
“Oakwood caters to what each individual student needs to learn their best. The community is so open and supportive, no matter what. You can pretty much be whoever you want at Oakwood, be accepted, and meet people from all over the world. It's really amazing!” Spike K-R, Ulster Park, NY
On a picturesque coed campus, infused with nature, Oakwood Friends School, guided by Quaker principles, prepares students for lives of achievement, accomplishment, compassion and conscience.
Upper School Day & Boarding Programs (5 and 7-day) Middle School Day Program Middle and Upper Schools Open House Student-led campus tours and meetings with faculty and Head of School Sat/Sun April 27 & 28 at Noon Sat/Sun May 4 & 5 at Noon For more info or to join us, write or call: admissions@oakwoodfriends.org • (845) 462-4200 22 Spackenkill Road, Poughkeepsie, NY
oakwoodfriends.org
2019 2018
% Change 2019
2018
% Change
Murder
0
0
n/a
1
1
0.0
Rape
0
0
n/a
3
7
-57.1
Robbery
3
0
n/a
16
20
-20.0
Felony Assault
2
0
n/a
23
12
91.7
Burglary
3
1
200.0 38
15
153.3
Grand Larceny
12
17
-29.4
247
286
-13.6
Grand Larceny Auto
1
1
0.0
5
4
25.0
wipes into a black laundry bag and left without paying for the items. A Duane Reade employee told police that the total value of the items was $246.
Photo by Tony Webster, via Flickr
Year to Date
FDNY VEHICLE DAMAGED A fire department EMT told police that his vehicle was damaged while he was parked at the corner of Twelfth Ave. and West 33rd St. on Sunday afternoon, Apr. 14. The victim told police that a Megabus traveling west on West 33rd made a right turn, hitting the FDNY vehicle, causing
damage to the passenger’s side mirror, then left without exchanging information.
THIEF PREFERS MENTHOLS An employee of the 7-Eleven at 246 West 23rd St. told police that on Tuesday, Apr. 16, around 9 p.m., a man went behind the counter in the store without permission and took two boxes of Newport cigarettes, then left without paying, fleeing east on West 23rd St. No arrest has been made.
4
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
Useful Contacts
Drawing Board
POLICE NYPD 7th Precinct NYPD 6th Precinct NYPD 10th Precinct NYPD 13th Precinct NYPD 1st Precinct
19 ½ Pitt St. 233 W. 10th St. 230 W. 20th St. 230 E. 21st St. 16 Ericsson Place
212-477-7311 212-741-4811 212-741-8211 212-477-7411 212-334-0611
FIRE FDNY Engine 15 FDNY Engine 24/ Ladder 5 FDNY Engine 28/ Ladder 11 FDNY Engine 4/ Ladder 15
25 Pitt St. 227 6th Ave.
311 311
222 E. 2nd St.
311
42 South St.
311
ELECTED OFFICIALS Councilmember Margaret Chin Councilmember Rosie Mendez Councilmember Corey Johnson State Senator Daniel Squadron
165 Park Row #11
212-587-3159
237 1st Ave. #504
212-677-1077
224 W. 30th St.
212-564-7757
250 Broadway #2011
212-298-5565
1 Centre St., Room 2202 3 Washington Square Village 59 E. 4th St. 330 W. 42nd St.
212-669-7970
COMMUNITY BOARDS Community Board 1 Community Board 2 Community Board 3 Community Board 4
212-979-2272 212-533-5300 212-736-4536
LIBRARIES Hudson Park Ottendorfer Elmer Holmes Bobst
66 Leroy St. 135 2nd Ave. 70 Washington Square
212-243-6876 212-674-0947 212-998-2500
170 William St. 10 Union Square East 4 Irving Place
212-312-5110 212-844-8400
46 East 23rd
813-964-3839
201 Varick St. 128 East Broadway 93 4th Ave.
212-645-0327 212-267-1543 212-254-1390
HOSPITALS New York-Presbyterian Mount Sinai-Beth Israel
CON EDISON TIME WARNER POST OFFICES US Post Office US Post Office US Post Office
HOW TO REACH US: 212-868-0190 nyoffice@strausnews.com otdowntown.com
TO SUBSCRIBE: Our Town Downtown is available for free below 23rd Street in select buildings, retail locations and news boxes. To get a copy of downtown neighborhood news mailed to you weekly, you may subscribe to Our Town Downtowner for just $49 per year. Call 212-868-0190 or go online to StrausNews.com and click on the photo of the paper or mail a check to Straus Media, 20 West Ave., Chester, NY 10918
NEWS ITEMS: To report a news story, call 212-868-0190. News releases of general interest must be emailed to our offices by 12noon the Thursday prior to publication to be considered for the following week. Send to news@ strausnews.com.
CALENDAR ITEMS: Information for inclusion in our calendar should be posted to nycnow.com no later than two weeks before the event.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Include your full name, address
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
212-460-4600
and day and evening telephone numbers for verification. Letters that cannot be verified will not be published. We reserve the right to edit or condense letters for libel, good taste, grammar and punctuation. Submit your letter at otdowntown.com and click submit at the bottom of the page or email it to nyoffice@ strausnews.com.
BLOG COMMENTS: We invite comments on stories at otdowntown.com. We do not edit those comments. We urge people to keep the discussion civil and the tone reflective of the best we each have to offer.
PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: Call 212-868-0190. Classified ads must be in our office by 12pm the Friday before publication, except on holidays. All classified ads are payable in advance.
PREVIOUS OWNERS: Tom Allon, Isis Ventures, Ed Kayatt, Russ Smith, Bob Trentlyon, Jerry Finkelstein
ABOUT US Our Town Downtown is published weekly by Straus Media-Manhattan, LLC. Please send inquiries to 20 West Ave., Chester, NY 10918.
BY PETER PEREIRA
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
5
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
GOOGLE OPENS FREE LEARNING CENTER IN CHELSEA TECHNOLOGY Workshops include lessons on coding, building websites, online marketing and how to create a compelling resume BY JASON COHEN
In continuing its commitment to educate New Yorkers about technology, Google recently launched a five-month free learning center at its headquarters in Chelsea. On April 8, Google started the Grow with Google NYC Learning Center, located on the ground floor of the company’s NYC headquarters at 111 Eighth Avenue. The program, which began in 2017, has been held in various cities throughout the country for a few days at a time, but never for this long a period. “We all felt like opening our doors to the community, especially here in Chelsea will be a really positive thing,” said Google’s Carley Graham Garcia. “We’ve been wanting and looking for ways to engage small businesses and also people looking for work, students and educators in our immediate community. When
CATS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Step inside the glass door and all of the dots will connect. For a small fee, visitors can enter the glorified animal shelter, which is also New York City’s first-ever cat café. If I was a stray cat living on the streets of Chinatown, I would pray to a fourlegged, furry divinity to be rescued by the Animal Care Center of New York City (ACC) and where they are swiftly taken to the Meow Parlour. At Meow Parlour, there are opportunities for visitors to interact with kitties in a non-traditional way. You can eat with them. You can play drag bingo with them. Or they can be your yoga partners. But on a recent Wednesday night, 16 cat enthusiasts were training to catch, neuter and release feral cats back into the wild New York streets. TNR Utopia, a non-profit organization, was hosting their fifth workshop. Husband and wife Louis Lotitl and Michelle Haverkamp and friend Sharon LaPenta assisted in rescuing over 400 cats in 2018. Their mission is to teach the public how to properly trap, neuter and return (TNR) as many feral cats as possible to their
this space became available and we were actually able to open the front door right on Eighth Ave., we seized the opportunity.” The opening of the center comes as Google has made a number of other investments in the city. Google recently donated $1.5 million to support the Stonewall National Monument Preservation Project, joined forces with 19 local businesses to establish the Westside Community Fund and has funded programs like MotherCoders NYC. Grow with Google will offer workshops Monday through Saturday that
will feature one-on-one coaching, lessons on coding, website building, online marketing, creating a compelling resume, SEO training and how educators can best teach tech skills. Graham Garcia said the goal of the program is primarily to help job-seekers and small businesses. Those interested in signing up can do so at events.withgoogle.com/growwith-google-in-nyc. “Our hope is that people will sign up for these classes, feel empowered to basically leave the center being ready for a job interview or ready to get a new job or on the small busi-
ness side, feel like they can really drive their business using some of the digital tools that we’re promoting,” Graham Garcia said.
Getting Up to Speed on Tech Graham Garcia said the first two weeks of classes were completely booked and many people came to view the center at an open house on April 13. While the program will definitely benefit college students or those who have just graduated, she stressed the center is also there for adults. Today, everything revolves
At the launch of Grow with Google NYC Learning Center. (Left to right): Carley Graham Garcia, Google; Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer; Torrence Boone, Google; U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler; Ken Jockers, Hudson Guild; Katy Gaul-Stigge, Goodwill NYNJ. Photo courtesy of Google
respective neighborhoods. “It’s just about raising awareness,” said Haverkamp. “Cat ladies don’t have to be old ladies, it can be men, women, young or old, anyone who cares.” Lotitl and Haverkamp became certified themselves after a feral cat colony infiltrated their backyard in College Point, a neighborhood in Queens. After hearing the benefits of TNR certification (the ability to rent cages from the ASPCA along with free neuter and transportation services) they completed the workshop immediately. LaPenta was inspired to get certified after living in Jamaica, Queens and seeing the plethora of feral cats there. Each host wore a badge of adoration for felines, whether it was Haverkamp’s bright purple socks featuring several cat faces or the curvy outline of a cat’s body dangling from LaPenta’s neck. Students at the workshop too wore all types of cat paraphernalia like beanies with cat faces or sweaters stitched with feline friends. TNR Utopia began to list the advantages of the TNR method and the crowd feverishly took notes. 1: Population management. Cats
that are brought into the ASPCA will be given abortions if they are pregnant, or spayed or neutered, which limits the number of members in the feral cat communities. Also, because of their territorial nature, additional feral cat colonies will not approach the area. It will be one colony until it fades away. 2: Rodent control. Feral cats do not accept food from humans because of a random chance that is unfairly doled out at birth. When a cat is born, if it does not receive human interaction between three to eight weeks, it will become feral and never trust humans. So cats in the wild feast off of rodents. If a tenant is fearful of rats infiltrating their apartment, a feral cat community is a major benefit. 3: Do not adopt a feral cat. A feral cat has identifiers that are different than a stray. Feral cats have clean fur and make loud growling noises. Stray cats are often dirty and interact with humans but do not last long in the wild. As the attendees’ heads were buried in their notepads and the only audible sound was pencils scribbling on paper, no one noticed the cats slinking around the Meow Par-
lour. Then it was time for a 10-minute break with one rule: do not, under any circumstances feed the felines. Feeding the cats could provoke a fight — growls were already heard among the rescues who were trying to assert dominance. But over cheese pizza, people shared their reasons for attending the workshop. Janine, a video shot manager for television who lives in Greenpoint and preferred to only use her first name, described how one of 11 feral cats in the colony in her backyard became trapped in a wall of a vacant apartment next door that was at under construction. She pleaded with the landlord and construction members to rescue the cat with little success. Janine feared that time was running out. So, she went rogue and broke into the apartment. Within five days, she had lured the cat out, had it neutered and set it free. Some volunteers came for less exciting reasons. “I live on St. Marks Place and I always see stray cats. I wanted to do something to help,” said Cecilia Fu, a cat owner who works in the communications department at the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA). While Fu was
around technology and it is imperative for adults to be as knowledgeable as kids, Graham Garcia said. She hopes that Grow with Google can get middle-aged adults up to speed on technology. “Our hope is that more and more people that who are in that space will come,” she said. “If you are an adult in that age where if you typically didn’t use technology or new digital tools that Google has here or that others offer [and] you need to kind of beef up your knowledge ... we’re hopeful that this center can help.” Google is also partnering with other local community organizations dedicated to digital skills-building and training. These groups include Hudson Guild, Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Boys & Girls Clubs, New York Public Library, NYC Employment & Training Coalition, United Federation of Teachers and the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. Looking ahead, Graham Garcia feels this program will have a positive impact on New Yorkers. “I’m hopeful it will give the community a feel for Google and a feel for the type of resources we can offer,” she said.
speaking, Joanna, a school teacher in Manhattan who lives on Long Island, sniffled in the background. “I’m actually highly allergic to cats,” said Joanna. “But I’ve had a cat colony outside my apartment which I feed, but I’m moving to Brooklyn soon and wanted to be able to use official resources.” After the break, the three-and-ahalf-hour workshop dwindled to a close. The audience was taught how to close the trap door using the DIY bottle method: a bottle (they used a sparkling water bottle) with a string attached holds the trap door up, and as soon as the cat steps to the back of the trap you rip the string, slamming the door shut. However, Lotitl admitted that with all of the cat-rescuing he and his wife do, they invested in a trap that has a remotecontrolled trap door. As tokens of their attendance, the attendees received beige, initialed identification cards. The newly certified TNR affiliates gathered their belongings and said their goodbyes, wandering out into the quiet darkness, most likely passing still unknown feral cat communities, waiting to be saved.
6
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
DOCTOR, SCIENTIST, WRITER MEDICINE Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of “The Emperor of All Maladies,” received the Lewis Thomas Prize at Rockefeller University and explained how he turns medicine into literature BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
Academics and scientists aren’t known for writing engaging narratives, but Siddhartha Mukherjee happens to be incredibly good at it. In his books and essays, the New Delhi-born oncologist is able to render concepts like gene editing and metastasis into stories that lay readers can comprehend, enjoy and be moved by. He does so by telling these big stories intimately through a human lens. On Monday evening, Rockefeller University recognized Mukherjee for this feat and presented him with the Lewis Thomas Prize for writing about science. “Lewis Thomas had a clear influence on Dr. Mukherjee’s thinking and professional trajectory,” tory, said the university’s president, Richard Lifton, in his introduction of Mukherjee. The prize was established in 1993 to honor Thomas, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and physician. Since then, Lifton said, the award has honored individuals who, through their writing, introduce scientific knowledge e in public discourse,, and particularly y those whose writing g evokes reflection, n, revelation and wonnder of the natural al world.
He intertwines scientific, medical, cultural, political and literary threads to weave an intellectually and emotionally compelling tale.” Rockefeller University President Richard Lifton, on Siddhartha Mukherjee A cousin who suffered from neck and mouth cancer visited his home. At the dinner table, she would not open her mouth and Mukherjee came to understand that she was ashamed of the disfigurement to her body caused by the cancer. The experience stayed with him, motivating him to specialize in oncology at Harvard Medical School. In his first book, “The Emperor of All Maladies,” Mukherjee tells the story of cancer, tracing the history of the disease from its first mention on papyrus in 2500 BC to
The Spark of an Exceptional Career The eve nt t h at sparked Mukherjee’s e’s intellectual curiosity ity took place when he was nine.
Photo: Via siddharthamukherjee.com
the modern era of molecular genetics and targeted therapies. For his work, he won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. “He intertwines scientific, medical, cultural, political and literary threads to weave an intellectually and emotionally compelling tale,” Lifton said, adding that Mukherjee accomplished that by imposing one rule in his writing: the reader should go no more than five pages without encountering a sympathetic human character.
Telling the Story of Cancer His inspiration for the book came after a troubling interaction with a patient. During his fellowship, a woman with an aggressive abdominal cancer told him, “I’m willing to go on, but I would need you to tell me what I’m battling.” Mukherjee was embarrassed. He could not produce a road map of his discipline and he couldn’t recommend a book that explained what she was going through. A succinct history of cancer had not been written, so he decided that he would tell that wou story through the stor perspectives of per doctors, patients doc and researchers. In conversation Monday evening Mo w it i h Thom a s Sakmar, a proSa fessor and sefes nior physician ni at Rockefeller, Mukherjee disM cussed his writcu ing in process. “I think what wa w s he lpf u l to me was not telling anyone t about it while a I was writing,” he h said. He added that he doesn’t compartmentalize between being a writer and being a scientist and doctor. All of these projects were continual w and d built b ilt off ff one another.
Siddhartha Mukherjee’s latest book is “The Gene: An Intimate History.” Photo: © Deborah Feingold via siddharthamukherjee.com
“When I would see a patient, that patient would be a reminder of a history and a future. If that meant writing about that patient or making an experimental treatment come alive, or failing and grieving — it was all a part of the same story,” he said. “It was just being open, and keeping yourself open, to the experiences.”
Being “More Present” Before Mukherjee sits down to write, he said he spends a lot of time in a “dreamy prespace.”
“I don’t discuss my thoughts during this time. If someone asks me what I’m writing, I’ll say, ‘I don’t know,’” he explained. “For a long time, I won’t do much, but I’ll linger with an idea and play with it. I’m not sure what’s going to come out.” During that time, he said he tries to be more present and not cheapen experiences by interrogating what it means to be doing what he’s doing in any particular moment. Once he knows what he wants to say, the writing comes easily. Since publishing “Mala-
dies,” Mukherjee became a professor at Columbia University, where he practices medicine and conducts research. He’s subsequently written “The Laws of Medicine” and “The Gene: An Intimate History.” Currently, he’s working toward better treatments for cancers of the blood that might also benefit those with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. He hopes this will inspire more writing. His many readers no doubt share that hope.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE US TO LOOK INTO? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE US TO LOOK INTO? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE US TO LOOK INTO? Email us at NEWS@STRAUSNEWS.COM
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
7
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
Are you experiencing stress or anxiety? Our Behavioral Health program supports people dealing with the effects of vision loss* and their emotional health. Our team is also here to help people of all ages cope with: The DOT will reconfigure Second Avenue between 68th and 60th Streets to include a new curbside bike lane. Image: NYC DOT
ï Depression
ï $Q[LHW\ GXH WR
ï Trauma
SECOND AVE. SAFETY UPGRADES ON THE WAY STREETS
ï $GGLFWLRQ ï Post-traumatic stress GLVRUGHU 376'
vision loss multiple medical issues family crises chronic illness
/LJKWKRXVH *XLOGèV %HKDYLRUDO +HDOWK SURJUDP LV WKH RQO\ SURJUDP RI LWV NLQG LQ WKH 86 WKDW KDV VSHFLDOL]HG H[SHUWLVH LQ YLVLRQ ORVV We are a Medicare and Medicaid provider and accept many insurance plans. :H DUH OLFHQVHG E\ WKH 1<6 2IĆ FH RI 0HQWDO +HDOWK 20+
Located: :HVW WK 6WUHHW EHW $PVWHUGDP :HVW (QG $YH
DOT to begin installing new bike lane, pedestrian island near hazardous Queensboro Bridge intersection
Call us for an appointment 212-769-6263 @LighthouseGuild @LighthouseGld @LighthouseGuild
BY MICHAEL GAROFALO
A cyclist crosses the 59th Street and Second Avenue intersection using the bus lane. The Department of Transportation is set to install a new bike lane at the dangerous crossing, near the entrance to the Queensboro Bridge. Photo: Michael Garofalo
contention for many cyclists. Chelsea Yamada, a community organizer for Manhattan with the bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, said that the new curbside lane is “a step in the right direction” but added that a lane protected by parked cars at all times would be safer. “I think the rush hour design really does an injustice to cyclists during the times when the pressures of traffic are most dangerous,” she said.
Safer at the Bridge The DOT’s overhaul of the Queensboro Bridge crossing
will include new crosswalks and a pedestrian island on the east side of the intersection, which a recent study found was the borough’s most dangerous. The redesign will also include a signaled crossing for cyclists continuing south on Second Avenue. Currently, cyclists in the shared lane must contend with vehicles turning left onto the bridge entrance ramp, and often opt instead to cross several lanes of traffic to ride in the bus lane along the opposite curb. Initial construction work on the project is set to begin as early as this week, according to a DOT spokesperson.
Downtowner
Do
something
us to
?
into
The new curbside bike lane will be parking-protected — that is, separated from vehicle traffic by a lane of parked cars — only during off-peak hours, between 8 p.m. and 3 p.m. The parking lane will become a travel lane to accommodate increased traffic during the afternoon rush hour, leaving just a small painted buffer between bikers and drivers. The lack of full-time protection has been a topic of
Follow Our Town Downtown on Facebook and Twitter
like
A Point of Contention
lighthouseguild.org
have
Bicyclists and pedestrians will soon see long-awaited safety improvements along one of Second Avenue’s most treacherous stretches. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is set to install a new dedicated bike lane on Second Avenue between 68th and 60th Streets, where bikers currently must share a travel lane with motor vehicles. The agency will also reconfigure the complex and crowded intersection at the entrance to the Queensboro Bridge, between 60th and 59th Streets, to make the crossing safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Cyclists have advocated for years for improved street design in the frequently congested area.
you You’d look
Email us at news@strausnews.com
8
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
Voices
Write to us: To share your thoughts and comments go to otdowntown.com and click on submit a letter to the editor.
FAITH AND COMMUNITY: SHARING THE BURDEN BY BETTE DEWING
The way the world worried about the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire, it’s hard to believe the recent Gallup Poll finding that “U.S. Church Membership is Down Sharply in the Past Two Decades.” A decline was also noted in synagogue and mosque membership. Also during Easter/Passover week, angry Paris crowds protested the megamillions pledged to restore NotreDame Cathedral rather than helping the poor and disadvantaged. Ah, if only they didn’t rage. But perhaps you share my hope for comparable support to save U. S. faith groups with all-out efforts to reverse that sharp decline.
The Loss of a Church I think of the pending loss of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, which has blessed the corner of East 74th Street and York Avenue since 1939. As this paper’s readers know, the congregation is relocating and the church building will be razed to make way for a resi-
dence for Weill Cornell Medicine medical students. Yes, that’s surely better than a luxury high-rise, one reader wrote. But the church’s low-rise distinctive architecture will be sorely missed in a city increasingly overwhelmed by characterless high rises. And isn’t the architecture — the look and feel of it, inside and out — a major reason for the worldwide concern about Notre-Dame by nonbelievers? Epiphany is also beautiful, inside and out, and there’s even a garden.
The Need for Help and Support Gallup also notes how people just aren’t interested in church affiliation, let alone membership. And while there’s surely the loss of religious faith, I’ve long felt there’s too little sharing of one another’s burdens within religious congregations. The sermons and scripture interpretation somehow don’t help create a supportive community. They could sure use lessons on supportive community building from the 12-step groups that often meet on religious premises.
COUNTRY LIFE? I’LL PASS BY LORRAINE DUFFY MERKL
The anti-NYC TV series “Bless This Mess” has hit the air waves starring Dax Shepard and Lake Bell. It’s this century’s “Green Acres,” which I watched as a child in my Bronx living room. When Eva Gabor as socialite wife Lisa would sing in the show’s theme song, “New York is where I’d rather stay, I get allergic smelling hay, I just adore a penthouse view, darling I love you but give me Park Avenue,” even at ten, I thought, Lady, I’m with you. This time around, newlyweds Rio and Mike move from Manhattan’s “rat race” to what they think will be a more relaxed and fulfilling exis-
tence on a farm in rural Nebraska. To quote the show’s tag line: who knew the simple life would be so hard? Everyone I’ve ever worked with who arrived from somewhere where the corn grows as high as an elephant’s eye has done so to escape the boredom and lack of opportunity offered by a small-town life. They come here for the excitement and all the possibilities that New York has to offer. I have suffered through many conversations where our newly minted denizens felt the need to explain to me how they were too big time for their small-time upbringing and how they were going to take my city by storm a la Madonna.
And incidentally, these so essential groups lose meeting spaces when churches and other places of worship shut down or merge. These facilities are so needed for so many non-religious purposes that serve the public good. And they are public places we’re fast losing in a city once renowned for its neighborhood stores and eateries, which made it a neighborly city. But where are the protests? And a related sidetrack — what about when fires destroy homes and neighborhood shops? “Fires ripped through a Brooklyn business block,” reported NY1 the day after the Notre-Dame fire. But nothing was said about the catastrophic loss to business owners and workers, or to the community at large. And shouldn’t the mayor and other electeds be calling for donations to restore these places, which meet everyday needs? Incidentally, every fire that leaves people homeless or destroys stores warrants enormous public response, especially with so few affordable homes available. Ah, and
Down the road, these same people can’t wait to rub in my face how they’re leaving. They can’t wait to “get out of here” because this is no place to raise children. They couldn’t understand how or why I would do it either. Didn’t I want a yard? Of all the hopes and dreams I’ve had during the course of my life, a yard has never made the cut. I’ve never had any desire to mow. I have a number of friends and relatives who live in the bucolic suburbs. They practically live in their cars, whether it be to go grocery shopping, do school drop off and pick up, or meet a friend for lunch. Everything I need is basically across the street, around the corner, or down the block. I am grateful to live in a walking city where, honestly, even if I wanted to 10,000-step it all the way downtown, I could. I’d
shouldn’t faith groups be preaching and teaching about the need to restore the time when family, friends and neighbors took in those made homeless by disasters?
Spreading the Love And shouldn’t faith groups be addressing this lack of “love one another” in society at large, beginning in their own congregations? Incidentally, Easter flowers for a longtime Presbyterian church member, now home-bound by an accident, came from East 79th Street Neighborhood Association president and Passover-observant Betty Cooper Wallerstein. To return to the loss of Church of the Epiphany, I sometimes attended, and for special occasions like the memorial service for member Dagmar Scott. Dagmar was always there to help when you were ill or in trouble, but she was not helped enough in her last homebound years. And I failed to practice what I preach. Among pastoral prayers I especially recall, were Pastor Andrew
The Church of the Epiphany on York Avenue, which will be razed. Photo: Courtesy of the Church of the Epiphany
probably be exhausted when I got there, but then I’d go into one of the ubiquitous Starbucks and regroup. If I’m ever too tired, lazy or in a such a hurry that my little legs can’t carry me, I hop in a cab or on public transportation. As an Upper East Sider, my backyard is Central Park and Carl Schurz — yes I have two. People who grew up in non-city environments tell me they used to hang out in the parking lot behind the 7-Eleven or in people’s basements. My now grown son used to hang out on the steps of The Met and the Great Lawn. Make no mistake, I’m aware my hometown has its stress inducing moments. It’s busy, it’s hectic, it’s competitive; someone always seems to be in your way, literally and figuratively. It makes you tough at an early age, as well as cynical. But the
Mullins’ prayers for the safety of workmen repairing the church roof. Ah, what a dangerous profession is erecting high-rise buildings — and so is fighting high-rise fires. This column is all over the place on how to save places of worship, but mostly I believe it’s the caring for others, the bearing of one another’s burdens, that must be stressed — in general surely — but beginning within the congregation. It’s up to the concerned, like you and me, not only to remind faith group leaders, but to be a Dagmar Scott-type example. Incidentally, a plaque dedicated to Dagmar’s memory graces a John Jay Park bench. dewingbetter@aol.com
upside of this is, as the song says, if you can make it here you can make it anywhere. And yes, even I, the native New Yorker who loves her city and wouldn’t dream of living anywhere else, gets to the point where I’ve had it “up to here.” That’s what vacations are for. But no matter where I go or how beautiful, tranquil or stress-free that destination may be, upon returning, the New York skyline always takes my breath away and I’m grateful to be back home. I realize there are plenty of Rios and Mikes out there who can’t relate to this. I hope they will pack up their cares and NYC woes posthaste and spare the rest of us for whom “I love New York” is not just a slogan. Lorraine Duffy Merkl is the author of the NYC mom novel “Back to Work She Goes.”
President & Publisher, Jeanne Straus nyoffice@strausnews.com
STRAUS MEDIA your neighborhood news source nyoffice@strausnews.com 212-868-0190
Vice President/CFO Otilia Bertolotti Vice President/CRO Vincent A. Gardino advertising@strausnews.com
Associate Publishers Seth L. Miller, Ceil Ainsworth Regional Sales Manager Tania Cade
Account Executives Fred Almonte, David Dallon Director of Partnership Development Barry Lewis
Editor-In-Chief, Alexis Gelber Deputy Editor David Noonan
Senior Reporter Doug Feiden Staff Reporter Michael Garofalo
Director of Digital Pete Pinto Director, Arts & Entertainment Alizah Salario
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
9
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
NEIGHBORHOODâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BEST To place an ad in this directory, Call Douglas at 212-868-0190 ext. 352.
NEIGHBORHOODâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BEST Features select Business & Services catering to residents in Manhattan. Neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best appears weekly and is distributed to 60,000 households throughout. Space is limited so please contact Douglas at 212.868.0190 ext. 352 to discuss availability.
Science FUN with Dr. Wow!
VIEWPOINT A former athlete on the inside world of an elite competitive sport BY RACHEL KALINA
Top fencers have an enormous advantage when it comes to elite university admissions. In order to reach the highest levels of the sport, athletes have to put in years of intense training. Just as importantly, they have to have financial backing. The kids who trained in the Manhattan fencing club I attended had that monetary support. They went to private schools or the selective specialized high schools. They had parents who understood the long term payoffs of high level fencing. These parents closely examined the poster hanging on the fencing club wall which listed the names of the universities former students had attended; Harvard, Princeton, Duke, UPenn, Cornell, Harvard again, Princeton again; not Yale, which doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give the admissions bump to fencers that the other universities do.
The parents of fencers and young athletes in other obscure expensive sports spend money on their children in order to give them an edge. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost not surprising that, as The Boston Globe reported recently, a wealthy father might cross the line of legality and spend even more in order to ensure his son a place on the Harvard fencing team. (The father in question bought the fencing coachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home at a vastly inflated price, and his son was admitted to Harvard.) When I talk about money in fencing, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not talking about the money that pays for equipment, although thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no joke. The equipment is expensive and breaks or wears out regularly, which means at least some of it has to be replaced several times a year. But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the training: group classes four to six days a week and multiple private lessons a week. Each private lesson costs extra. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the cost of traveling to competitions to build up performance readiness, even before any winning starts to happen. Later, athletes travel to national or even international events in
order to build up points. The better the fencers do in these events, the more points they get and the higher their rankings become. This means paying for tournament fees, cars, planes and hotel rooms. There is an excellent club in New York City which provides scholarships for underserved athletes. But, for most fencersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; families, these costs come out of pocket. I started fencing at age twelve. My parents werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too sold on the extra lessons and travel and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a strong enough interest to push it. I started training harder late, in my junior year of high school, when college recruitment starts. I applied to universities with division three fencing teams. In division three, the university coach puts the names of recruits on a list and if your scores and grades approximate the requirements, you get a little boost in admissions. The division one schools, including the Ivies, are more generous toward their top recruits, but you must still have high test scores and grades.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
Science Enrichment in the Home
Â&#x2039;
Birthday parties and other events
NOW OFFERING FULL SERVICE PAINT COLOR MATCHING & MIXING
$5 OFF $5 OFF COUPON COUPON
34 Years Experience Call 24/7 for a free consultation! toll-free
CUSTOMIZED CARE DEMENTIA TRAINING FOR THE AIDES SOCIAL WORK SERVICES INCLUDED Visit cohme.org or email referrals@cohme.org
1-GALLON 1-GALLON VALSPAR VALSPAR PAINT PAINT ANY ANYCOLOR COLOR STORE ONLY VALIDVALID IN IN STORE ONLY USE BY 06/19 USE BY 06/19 1-GALLON PER COUPON 1-GALLON PER COUPON
Store Locations: 1574 1st Ave / 2212 Broadway 24/7 EMERGENCY LOCKSMITH SERVICE 212-288-7773
PROPERTY FINANCING
Michael McGovern
Â&#x2039;
SKY LOCKSMITH & HARDWARE
PERSONALIZED HOME CARE
Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS# 114132 - NY, FL
After School Programs
LOCKSMITH
HOME CARE
(877) 212-4222
Â&#x2039;
Steve Gould Â&#x2039; 917-822-9708 (mobile)
The author (right) fencing at a college event. Photo: Bea So
FENCING AND COLLEGE ADMISSIONS IN NYC
EDUCATION
PSYCHOTHERAPY
t "MM GPSNT PG 3FTJEFOUJBM BOE $PNNFSDJBM 1SPQFSUZ 'JOBODJOH t 0WFS :FBST &YQFSJFODF PG /:$ $PPQ BOE $POEP 'JOBODJOH t 3FMBUJPOTIJQT XJUI &WFSZ -FOEFS JO UIF .BSLFUQMBDF UP FOTVSF ZPV HFU 'VOEFE
www.prudentialb.com NNDHPWFSO!QSVEFOUJBMC DPN t $BMM %JSFDU
REAL ESTATE KARPOFF AFFILIATES Senior Move Manager Real Estate Broker
KARPOFF AFFILIATES is your single stop for senior life transitions and real estate brokerage needs. Compassionate Senior Move Manager & Expert Real Estate Broker
Marilyn Karpoff www.KarpoffAfďŹ liates.com mkarpoff@karpoffafďŹ liates.com 212.358.8044 290 Third Avenue, Ste 26C, NYC 10010
SPIRITUAL
WINDOW TREATMENTS
Upper West Manhattan Church of Christ 80 YEARS!
Meeting at 891 Amsterdam Ave. @ 103rd St. In Hosteling International For more information: Call 212-729-8356 www.uwmchurchofchrist.com
Draperies Shades Shutters Blinds Motorization Window Film Upholstery Fabric & Trim Flooring Paint
SEMI-ANNUAL CUSTOM DECORATING SALE GOING ON NOW! UPPER WEST SIDE 469 AMSTERDAM AVE. 212.501.8282 WINDOWFASHIONS.COM
10
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
SIP THE BLACK DIRT
Calendar NYCNOW
Discover the world around the corner. Find community events, gallery openings, book launches and much more: Go to nycnow.com
dirt
EDITOR’S PICK
April 25 - Nov 24
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Hop on the bus and sample brews, spirits, and wines from the historic black dirt region — famous for its exceptionally fertile soil.
Tickets Limited… Reserve Yours Now!
95
$
Tickets
pour-tour.com or
845-469-9000
GAZILLION BUBBLE SHOW New World Stages 340 West 50th St 11:00 a.m., Noon, 2:00 p.m and 4:30 p.m. $59 newworldstages.com 646-871-1730 The Gazillion Bubble Show truly is a family affair for Fan: his wife Ana, son Deni, daughter Melody, and brother Jano all can be found on stage in New York and around the world performing their bubble magic. Audiences are delighted with an unbubblievable experience, awashed with a bubble tide, and some even find themselves inside a bubble.
Thu 25
Fri 26
Sat 27
B’NAI MAGNET PRESENTS: THE UNLEAVENING
QUEERBALL: A QUEER COMEDY EXTRAVAGANZA
LAUREN RIDLOFF & DR. JENNIE PYERS
The Magnet Theater 254 West 29th St 8:30 p.m. $7 The traditions. The story of Exodus. The kvetching. This year, some of the Magnet’s top musical improvisers will be making it all up as they go along. What will they get right? What will they get wrong? When are we finally going to eat?? Hide the afikomen and open the door for Elijah: B’nai Magnet’s doors are open to anyone and everyone! magnettheater.com 212-244-8824
SubCulture 45 Bleecker St 9:30 p.m. $14 “Queerball” is the premiere LGBTQ+ comedy variety show at the famous Upright Citizens Bridage Theatre NYC, hosted by queer comedian, Timothy Dunn. subculturenewyork.com 212-533-5470
Family Sundays The Rubin Museum 150 West 17th St 6:00 p.m. $20 Teacher turned actress Lauren Ridloff has explored signed language in the classroom, on stage, and on screen, garnering a Tony nomination for lead actress for her exceptional performance in Children of a Lesser God. She is joined by Dr. Jennie Pyers, a developmental psychologist who works on new emerging sign languages and sign language acquisition. rubinmuseum.org 212-620-5000
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
11
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
ACTIVITIES FOR THE FERTILE MIND
thoughtgallery.org NEW YORK CITY
The Psychology of Love: A (Bar) Talk by Dr. Ian Reed
TUESDAY, APRIL 30TH, 7:30PM Subject | 188 Suffolk St. | 646-422-7898 | subject-les.com NYU professor and psychologist Lawrence Ian Reed gives a theoretical basis for love, which may function, at least in part, as “a solution for a class of social dilemmas termed commitment problems” ($15 advance, $18 day of).
Preet Bharara in Conversation with Margaret Hoover: Doing Justice
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1ST, 6PM NYU School of Law | 40 Washington Sq. So. | 212-998-6100 | brennancenter.org Former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara talks about his new book, Doing Justice: A Prosecutor’s Thoughts on Crime, Punishment, and the Rule of Law. He shares his thoughts on the societal importance of justice with PBS’s Margaret Hoover (free).
Just Announced | Adam Savage on Creativity and Finding Inspiration
TUESDAY, MAY 7TH, 8:30AM Company HQ | 335 Madison Ave., 3rd Fl. | company.co Original MythBuster Adam Savage, host of Discovery Channel’s new MythBusters Jr., talks about the creative process and his forthcoming book, Every Tool’s a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It ($30, includes book).
For more information about lectures, readings and other intellectually stimulating events throughout NYC,
Sun 28
Mon 29
Tue 30
IMAGI-NATIONS ACTIVITY CENTER: RESIDENCY PROGRAM WITH MARISSA MANITOWABI (SENECA)
▲ MASTERS OF SOCIAL GASTRONOMY: DINERS, DINERS AND DINERS!
CHILDREN’S FILM SCREENING: PETER PAN
Caveat 21 A Clinton St 6:30 p.m $12 Each month, the Masters of Social Gastronomy take on a curious food topic and break down the history, science, and stories behind it. This month, that all-American institution: The Diner. caveat.nyc 212-228-2100
Hudson Park Library 66 Leroy St 3:30 p.m. Free Let your imagination soar past the second star to the right and straight on til morning, where you encounter Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and the Lost Boys! All it takes is faith, trust and a dash of pixie dust and you are launched into an epic adventure of your own! nypl.org 212-243-6876
National Museum of the American Indian 1 Bowling Green 1:00 p.m. Free Indigenous farmers plant corn each year using heirloom seeds that have sustained their communities for thousands of years. Marissa Manitowabi (Seneca) shares the important role that Iroquois white corn plays in Haudenosaunee communities of upstate New York and Canada. Learn about this robust, delicious variety from a cultural, scientific and culinary perspective through hands-on family activities. americanindian.si.edu 202-633-6644
sign up for the weekly Thought Gallery newsletter at thoughtgallery.org.
The local paper for Downtown
Advertise with Our Town Downtown today! Call Vincent Gardino at 212-868-0190
Wed 1 ◄ SPILLING OVER: PAINTING COLOR IN THE 1960S The Whitney 99 Gansevoort St 7:00 p.m Free Join for a free guided tour of “Spilling Over: Painting Color in the 1960s,” led by a Whitney docent. whitney.org 212-570-3600
otdowntown.com
12
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
WHAT WAS LOST A new show at the Frick Collection brings back to life frescoes by Tiepolo that were destroyed during World War II BY VAL CASTRONOVO
In an eerie coincidence, the Frick previewed an exhibit devoted to a lost fresco cycle by Venetian painter Giambattista Tiepolo (1696-1770) on the very day last week that the world got the shocking news that NotreDame cathedral, another cultural treasure, was burning. It made the show’s raison d’être seem prescient, and all the more urgent. As the museum’s director Ian Wardropper put it shortly before word of the fire circulated, “This exhibition allows us to contribute to a better understanding of what was lost. And at a time when many cultural monuments around the world are in jeopardy, it is a good opportunity for us to call attention to works of art that are in peril.”
and a co-organizer of the show, said at the preview. “What we want to do in the exhibition is bring [the frescoes] back to life through preparatory works — preparatory sketches and drawings, but also through photographs taken before the war.” The presentation in the lower-level galleries, comprising some 50 paintings, drawings, prints, black-andwhite photos and illustrated books, is the first to gather surviving works for this cycle of ceiling paintings. The organizers took as a starting point an oil sketch from the Frick’s own collection, “Perseus and Andromeda” (ca. 1730-31), purchased by Henry Clay Frick in 1916. Said Salomon: “This painting is one of the most easily forgotten paintings at the Frick. You see it as you walk in, you walk straight in front of it ... The question was to shine some light over this picture and look at the context as to why this picture was created and what it was for.”
A Patron with Vision Obliterated by Bombs In this case, the works gone forever were casualties of war. They include five ceiling paintings that Tiepolo created from 1730 to 1731 for the Palazzo Archinto in Milan, his first major commission outside the Veneto. Between August 13th and August 14th, 1943, 500 Allied bombers, mostly English, attacked the city, damaging or completely destroying 65 percent of its historic monuments. “The palace is basically obliterated except for its exterior walls,” Xavier Salomon, the Frick’s chief curator
It was created in response to a commission from Count Carlo Archinto, a civic leader and great intellectual, who was descended from one of Milan’s oldest aristocratic families. He lived in Palazzo Archinto with his wife and 11 children until his death in 1732. The palace was home to the city’s largest private library, five rooms reflecting its owner’s enthusiasm for math, science, philosophy and history. Carlo decided to redecorate Casa Archinto around the time of his eldest son Filippo’s wedding to Giulia Borromeo in April 1731.
Palazzo Archinto after bombing in August 1943. Unknown photographer, 1948. Azienda di Servizi alla Persona Golgi-Redaelli, Milan. Photo: Su autorizzazione dell’Azienda di Servizi alla Persona Golgi-Redaelli di Milano
He had legacy on his mind — this was a house for the ages — and who better to tap for such a project than the talented Tiepolo, who, as Denis Ton, curator of the Musei Civici in Belluno writes in the catalog, “gave form to the aspirations of an intellectual elite that heightened historical and philosophical awareness in Italy and Europe.” The exhibit spreads out over two rooms. The first covers the history of the palace and the intellectual interests of the Archinto family through photos, drawings and books. Carlo became a patron of a publishing house, the Società Palatina, “devised to republish old texts and put them in circulation again,” Salomon said. “The interesting thing is that Carlo sponsors this enterprise [and] contributes to it intellectually. He’s publishing the books, but also contributing to them in a scholarly way.” Tiepolo is called on to produce illustrations for the texts. Note the eight delicate drawings in black chalk of Italian historical events, on loan from the Metropolitan Museum.
Mythology and Allegory The story of the lost frescoes un-
spools in the second room, with the spotlight on three ethereal oil sketches of mythological and allegorical subjects: “Triumph of the Arts and Sciences” (ca. 1730-31), “Perseus and Andromeda” (ca. 1730-31), and “Apollo and Phaëton” (ca. 1730-31). The works were arguably preparatory sketches or presentation models that were shown to Archinto so he could visualize the art. Tiepolo’s largest fresco in the palazzo was “Triumph of the Arts and Sciences,” represented here by a preparatory painting and three drawings. “It is the only [Tiepolo] fresco where we have both sketch and drawings,” Salomon said. Grab a magnifying glass to study the painted sketch’s glorious panoply of allegorical figures, representing the disciplines embraced by Archinto and his vast library: Painting, Music, History/Literature, Sculpture, Architecture, Arithmetic, Astronomy, Dialectic and Science. The mostly female subjects are perched on billowy clouds under the watchful eyes of Apollo and Minerva. Painting appears at the center, wielding a palette and paintbrush. She is surrounded by the arts: Mu-
Giambattista Tiepolo “Triumph of the Arts and Sciences,” ca. 1730–31 Oil on canvas. Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon. Photo: © Direção-Geral do Património Cultural / Arquivo de Documentação Fotográfica (DGPC/ADF) / photo Luisa Oliveira
sic, holding a viola; Literature and Poetry or History, perhaps, with open and closed books; and Sculpture, who leans on a marble bust and clasps a chisel. “We promise not to dedicate all our efforts to lost works,” Salomon concluded. “But we are at a time when so much has been destroyed — in Syria, the Middle East and other parts of the world — that we have a duty to make sure that these great works of art are passed on to the next generations.”
IF YOU GO WHAT: “Tiepolo in Milan: The Lost Frescoes of Palazzo Archinto” WHERE: The Frick Collection, 1 East 70th St. WHEN: Through July 14 www.frick.org
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
13
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
Your Neighborhood News Source
BEYOND BROADWAY - DOWNTOWN The #1 online community for NYC theater:
www.show-score.com
NOW PLAYING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM $39
FROM $39
FROM $37
THE DAY I BECAME BLACK
RAP GUIDE TO CLIMATE CHAOS
MRS. MURRAY’S MENAGERIE
79 REVIEWS ENDS MAY 26
85 REVIEWS ENDS MAY 20
49 REVIEWS ENDS MAY 11
86
82
73
In his solo show, biracial comedian Bill Posley weighs in on the modern-day conversation about race from a unique perspective.
In this theatrical hip-hop manifesto, Baba Brinkman breaks down the politics, economics, and science of global warming.
Ars Nova presents this new work about a focus group of parents for a 1970s children’s television show.
SOHO PLAYHOUSE - 15 VANDAM ST
SOHO PLAYHOUSE - 15 VANDAM ST
ARS NOVA AT GREENWICH HOUSE - 27 BARROW ST
WHAT’S TRENDING ACROSS NYC
COMING SOON
FROM $59
FROM $30
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
SOMETHING CLEAN
403 REVIEWS ENDS SEP 01
PREVIEWS START MAY 04
Roundabout’s new drama slips into the jagged cracks of a sex crime’s aftermath—the guilt, the grief, and the ways we grapple with the unthinkable.
91
THE HAROLD AND MIRIAM STEINBERG CENTER - 111 W 46TH ST
The hit staging of the classic musical has moved uptown on 42nd St. Performed in Yiddish (with supertitles). Directed by Joel Grey.
FROM $77
STAGE 42 - 422 W 42ND ST
MAC BETH PREVIEWS START MAY 07
FROM $50
JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK
In Red Bull’s retelling, seven girls hurl headlong into the unchecked passions of “Macbeth,” as the line between real life and bloody fantasy quickly blurs.
43 REVIEWS ENDS JUN 21
LUCILLE LORTEL THEATRE - 121 CHRISTOPHER ST
86 FROM $57
Sean O’Casey’s 1924 drama offers a devastating portrait of wasted potential in a Dublin torn apart by the chaos of the Irish Civil War.
PROOF OF LOVE PREVIEWS START MAY 07
IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE - 132 W 22ND ST
In this new solo show, a tragic accident splinters Constance’s upper-class black family and forces her to face some uncomfortable truths.
FROM $75
MINETTA LANE THEATRE - 18 MINETTA LN
ACCIDENTALLY BRAVE 90 REVIEWS ENDS JUL 14
FROM $87
THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES PREVIEWS START MAY 12
82
Content provided by
An autobiographical story of perseverance and hope from a woman who found her marriage, family, and values tested by the unthinkable.
Based on the hit novel, Atlantic’s world premiere musical comes from the creative team behind “Sweat,” “Spring Awakening,” and “Fun Home.”
DR2 THEATRE - 103 E 15TH ST
ATLANTIC THEATER COMPANY - 336 W 20TH ST KEY:
14
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
RESTAURANT INSPECTION RATINGS APR 10 - 16, 2018
Taqueria Mez-A
95 7th Ave S
Not Yet Graded (39) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal product temperature is reduced from 140º F to 70º F or less within 2 hours, and from 70º F to 41º F or less within 4 additional hours. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided.
La Bonbonniere
28 8 Avenue
A
Spunto
65 Carmine Street
A
The Doughnut Project
10 Morton St
A
Catmint Wheel Cake
124 Macdougal St
A
Artistic Pizza
123 W 3rd St
A
Le Pain Quotidien
205 Bleecker St
A
Percy’s Pizza
190 Bleecker St
A
Dig Inn
691 Broadway
Not Yet Graded (30) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Tobacco use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area observed. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
61 W Houston St
Not Yet Graded (22) Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations. Appropriately scaled metal stem-type thermometer or thermocouple not provided or used to evaluate temperatures of potentially hazardous foods during cooking, cooling, reheating and holding.
Crepes and Things
348 Bowery
Not Yet Graded (2)
Amity Hall
80 West 3 Street
A
Mighty Bowl
120 Macdougal St
A
Juice Press
250 Mott St
A
Dirty French
180 Ludlow St
A
Panda Restaurant
20 Henry St
Not Yet Graded (20) Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations. Tobacco use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area observed. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
Dominos Pizza
196 Stanton St
Not Yet Graded (28) Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
Ludlow House
139 Ludlow St
A
Claw Daddy’s
185 Orchard St
Grade Pending (24) Food not cooked to required minimum temperature. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
Max Fish
120 Orchard St
A
Saluggi’s
325 Church Street
A
Starbucks
32 Ave of the Amer
A
Joey Pepperoni Pizza
381 Broadway
A
Starbucks
241 Canal Street
A
Hudson Food Court
333 Hudson Street
A
The following listings were collected from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s website and include the most recent inspection and grade reports listed. We have included every restaurant listed during this time within the zip codes of our neighborhoods. Some reports list numbers with their explanations; these are the number of violation points a restaurant has received. To see more information on restaurant grades, visit www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/services/restaurant-inspection.shtml. Cloister Cafe
238 East 9 Street
A
Jewel Bako
239 East 5 Street
A
Cacio E Vino
80 2 Avenue
Grade Pending (19) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
The Boiler Room
86 East 4 Street
Grade Pending (19) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
Kingston Hall
149 2 Avenue
A
Checkers
225 1st Ave
A
Irving Plaza
17 Irving Pl
Not Yet Graded (34) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, crosscontaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
Sushi By M
75 E 4th St
Not Yet Graded (22) Food worker does not use proper utensil to eliminate bare hand contact with food that will not receive adequate additional heat treatment. Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
Wara
67 1st Ave
Not Yet Graded (22) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
Mint Kitchen
83 University Pl
Not Yet Graded (56) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal product temperature is reduced from 140º F to 70º F or less within 2 hours, and from 70º F to 41º F or less within 4 additional hours. Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations. Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
Jiang Diner
309 E 5th St
A
Smør
441 E 12th St
A
Bin141
43 Avenue A
Not Yet Graded (14) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
Kulfi & Kathi
353 West 14 Street
Not Yet Graded (44) Food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal product temperature is reduced from 140º F to 70º F or less within 2 hours, and from 70º F to 41º F or less within 4 additional hours. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. No facilities available to wash, rinse and sanitize utensils and/or equipment.
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
The American Museum of Natural History’s proposed Gilder Center expansion will occupy a quarter-acre of what is now Theodore Roosevelt Park Rendering: AMNH
AMNH LAWSUIT DISMISSED MUSEUMS Appellate court rules against opponents of Gilder Center, clearing path for museum expansion project BY MICHAEL GAROFALO
The American Museum of Natural History has again prevailed in court against opponents of its controversial expansion project, paving the way for the museum to complete the 230,000 square foot Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. In an April 18 ruling, the Appellate Division’s First Department unanimously affirmed a lower court’s Dec. 2018 decision to dismiss the proceeding brought by Community United to Protect Theodore Roosevelt Park, a local nonprofit group that argued the city did not adhere to land use and environmental review requirements in approving the project. The decision likely marks an end to local efforts to block the project, which has drawn persistent criticism and opposition from some neighbors since the museum first
15
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
As for the decision, we disagree with it, but we do not regret having represented the community in this matter.” Michael Hiller, attorney for Community United to Protect Theodore Roosevelt Park announced the project in Dec. 2014. The Gilder Center, which will include new classrooms and exhibition spaces and improve visitor circulation within the museum complex, will occupy a quarter-acre of what had been open space within Theodore Roosevelt Park. The expansion will also create a new museum entrance facing Columbus Avenue near West 79th Street. “The Gilder Center will be a major new resource for science education for all New Yorkers and visitors from around the world, and we are extremely pleased that we can now turn our attention to proceeding with the project,”
a museum spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Bill Raudenbush, the chairman of Community United to Protect Theodore Roosevelt Park, said the group does not intend to pursue a further appeal in the state’s highest court. Michael Hiller, Community United’s attorney, wrote in an emailed statement, “As for the decision, we disagree with it, but we do not regret having represented the community in this matter, which had become a largely pro bono project for our firm. We continue to believe that the privatization of public assets by large institutions and developers poses an existential threat to the soul of the City, and accordingly, we will not stop our work on behalf of its communities until policies are instituted to protect our public parks and other greenspaces which continue to dwindle in the current political environment that so heavily favors private development over the interests of New Yorkers.” Work is already underway on the Gilder Center, which museum officials hope to complete by 2021.
Everything you like about Our Town Downtown is now available to be delivered to your mailbox every week in the Downtowner From the very local news of your neighborhood to information about upcoming events and activities, the new home delivered edition of the Downtowner will keep you in-the-know.
And best of all you won’t have to go outside to grab a copy from the street box every week.
It’s your neighborhood. It’s your news.
X
Yes! Start my mail subscription to the Downtowner right away! 1-Year Subscription @ $49
Name
________________________________________________
Address _________________________________ Apt. #
________
New York, NY Zip Code __________ Cell Phone _________________ Email Address___________________________________________ Payment by
Check # __________
Money Order
Credit Card
Name on Credit Card (Please Print) ___________________________ Card # _______________________ Exp. Date
____ //____ // ____
Signature of Cardholder ___________________________________
Return Completed Form to: Straus News, 20 West Avenue, Chester, NY, 10918 or go to otdowntown.com & click on Subscribe
16
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
Our Town|Downto Downtowner own w er otdowntown.com
Business
‘WEIRD, INTERESTING AND BEAUTIFUL’ FASHION A young fashion designer with talent and vision creates unique clothes for working women BY MICHELLE NAIM
Naomi Mishkin is as fierce and unapologetic as they come. When she was just 14, she sent late fashion designer Charles Nolen an email asking to intern for him. When she showed up at his door, he hired her, even though Mishkin said his initial reaction was “Oh My God, you’re a child.” About a year ago, she started a small-batch garment company for working women, featuring a shirt with an iron burn on the front and silk scarves that incorporate the grid design found on paper-cutter mats. Mishkin, 30, who graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and lives in Harlem, considers herself an artist. “We’re weirdos,” she said, “but I say that as the highest
Did you know you wanted to be an artist?
You’ll get lots of breaks if you work work hard, hard, because because you’re you going to put yourself yoursellf in in a place to be lucky.” Naomi Mishkin, fashion entrep entrepreneur
compliment nt to myself.” Straus News ws spoke with Mishkin about out her career and her clothing othing line, NAOMI NOMI. MI.
Why the shirt rt and why the scarf? rf? Why did you begin the brand with ith those two pieces eces specifically? ? I think they hey perfectly encapsulate apsulate two main tenets of the brand. One, that we are for working women. The idea of working women and all that entails. And so, the idea of women’s work is a complicated topic and I embrace the complexity in that. Most people, when they talk about working women, they talk about wage work, and for the majority of women, and the majority of civilization, women have not been paid for the work that they do. I wanted to talk about that complexity. The Bad Wife Shirt [with the iron
Artist and designer Naomi Mishkin models her fashion creation, the Bad Wife Shirt. Photo: Courtesy of Naomi Mishkin
burn] really talks about that, and that was the reason I wanted to start with [it]. The scarf brings up another aspect of my brand, which is that it sort-of relates to our supply chain and the actual business model, which is extremely small-batch. What it is, is that everything I make is inspired by the process of making. I’m a maker. I majored in glass as an undergrad in college, and material as well. Everything that I do, everything that I make, comes back to the actual act of fabrication, the actual ideas of creation. So the Cutting Mat Scarf held up that tenet as well.
What inspires you? Materials inspire me. The thing I come back to every time is materials and what I can do with them.
Why materials?
The design of Mishkin’s silk scarves was inspired by the grid on paper-cutter mats. Photo: Courtesy of Naomi Mishkin
Something I love about making clothing, and clothing for women, is that it’s incredibly tied to reality. A woman has very specific needs and demands and wants out of her clothes. As wild as my imagination runs, when you’re designing clothes for women, there is a beautiful reality to actually dressing women. It’s a really interesting combination of fantasy and reality and materials and the reality of materials is a really ... humbling experience. You can’t make a material do something it doesn’t want to do, I mean you can try, and that’s what we do as artists,
we’re trying tryi to make materials do what materia want them to we wa do. [[But] they have their own personalities. perso was a glassI wa blower for many blowe years, glass is the material on bitchiest m — like the planet, I mean bitchy bi breaks when rude, obnoxious, br you don’t want it to. Nothing is bitchier than glass, and fabric can be similar. Every material has a personality and understanding those personalities is endlessly interesting. I fall in love with fabrics and I design clothes out of those fabrics.
Did you have a big break? No. I have been working in the New York creative industry since I was 14 years old. I think the idea of having a big break is beside the point. Work hard — work hard every day — and you’ll get a break. You’ll get lots of breaks if you work hard, because you’re going to put yourself in a place to be lucky. But, no, I’ve been working at this since I was 14 and I’ve done dozens of jobs in all kinds of creative industries, and you just gotta hustle. If you’re waiting for a big break, stop waiting.
Do you doubt yourself, and how do you deal with that? Oh, yeah. Actually, an old friend [said] this in college which I always think about actually, is “We have no time for doubt.” I believe that — I have a lot of things I want to make in this world and in order to do those things, you don’t have time for doubt. And of course, you have it, but you have to be like ‘No! We have things to do today.’ You can sit around and doubt yourself for an hour a day, [but] you have a lot more important things to be doing with your time. So, you just have to power through it and surround yourself with people who critically question you, but always encourage [you too].
I love making things. I used to hoard toilet paper rolls underneath the bathroom cabinet sink because I had dreams of making many, I don’t even know, like castles. I tell this story and my boyfriend is like ‘That is the story of a young hoarder.’ And I hear this story and I’m like ‘I was a young maker!’ I always made. I think in the back of my head I always knew I wanted to come back to making clothing. My grandfather manufactured wedding gowns in the 1950s and 60s. His mother had been a foreman on the garment floor on the Lower East Side, his father had been a pattern cutter. His business was very bust by the time I came along, but I grew up at his house sewing, at my grandparents’ house sewing, and they taught me how to sew and it taught me patience. I loved sewing, it was just so much fun. I’m definitely a designer who sews first, sketches later. I don’t sketch and then sew. I let the material speak to me, I fall in love with materials, and then I go for it.
What are your plans for Naomi Nomi? I consider the company to be really items-based. I don’t believe, [or] think it makes sense for my business right now to come out with huge 30-piece collections that change every season. I don’t think its sustainable, either from an environmental impact or a business decision. People don’t need to buy that much every six months. They don’t. And I think the world is catching up to that. Because I’ve always sewn my whole life, since I was six, I’m actually a horrible shopper. I spend hours every week talking to women about how they shop, because I don’t shop and I don’t know how to shop. But I know how to build a closet. That’s a completely different understanding of how to both approach the consumer and how to build a relationship with the consumer... Basically, I’m working on a signature collection of about 7-10 pieces which will be the NAOMI NOMI signature closet. I don’t want there to be anything generic about NAOMI NOMI. It’s weird and interesting and beautiful. It’s complicated ... Anytime I have the opportunity to make something bland, I never take it. Anytime I think I want something very simple, it’s always going to be a little weird, and we’re all a little weird. If you give people that permission, I think they really open up. Interview was edited for clarity and space.
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
17
18
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
Tired of Hunting for Our Town Downtown? Subscribe today to Downtowner News of Your Neighborhood that you can’t get anywhere else
At the meeting (left to right): CEC 3 Member Sharmilee L. Ramudit; P.S. 452 Principal Scott Parker; Chancellor Richard Carranza; Christopher Emdin of Teachers College; Chala Holland, America to Me participant; P.S. 452 parent Zakiya Raines Heyden. Photo: Jason Cohen
SCHOOLS, RACE AND INCLUSION EDUCATION Educators at a District 3 meeting discuss the challenges that minority students face in NYC BY JASON COHEN
Dining Information, plus
crime news, real estate prices - all about your part of town
Cultural Events in and around where you live (not Brooklyn, not Westchester)
Now get your personal copy delivered by US Mail for just
$
49/Year for 52 issues
To Subscribe : Call 212-868-0190 or go online to otdowntown.com and click on subscribe
Educators discussed race and education last week and agreed that schools focus too much on testing, curriculums need to change and teachers need to make more of an effort to get to know their students. On April 16, District 3 hosted a panel at the Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing & Visual Arts on West 114th Street. The speakers included Chancellor Richard Carranza; Christopher Emdin, a noted Teachers College scholar; Chala Holland, America to Me series participant and 2018 recipient of the Courageous Conversation Principal Leadership Award; P.S. 452 Principal Scott Parker, a former Westy Award honoree; P.S. 452 parent Zakiya Raines Heyden; and CEC 3 member Sharmilee Ramudit, moderator of the discussion. The consensus among the educators is that even in 2019, minorities in New York City public schools are still not receiving the best education. Throughout the evening, Emdin stressed that if teachers had the freedom and knowledge to teach students in the way they want and not according to an outdated curriculum and standardized tests, things might be different. “I think often times we push for integration for the sake of ... forcing folks to be as invested in other people’s children as they would be in theirs,” Emdin told the audience. Since Carranza began as chancellor about a year ago,
Even if they have to wait for the curriculum to change, good teachers with a bad curriculum can teach kids.” Christopher Emdin, Teachers College he said he has seen one glaring issue with the system. That is when the budget is done people look at the numbers, he said, not the students as individuals. If this continues, how can students grow and education improve? he asked. Carranza said that adults always feel uneasy about talking about integration. “How about kids in school environments — how uncomfortable are they,” he said. “The current system is to designed to privilege certain kids and not privilege other kids.” Raines Heyden, who grew up going to private schools, said there is a stark difference in the education she received than what her kids get today. In private schools, teachers have more freedom to teach, while in public schools, children don’t learn the true history of African and Native Americans. “I don’t feel the curriculum in the schools are diverse at all,” she commented. “I feel that the curriculum is where changes need to be made.”
Getting to Know the Students Emdin expanded on her point, but also somewhat disagreed. He acknowledged the curriculum is outdated, but said that if teachers spent time getting to know their students then the curriculum might be less of an issue.
“There’s still this onus on the students to work harder while there’s none on the educator to push further out of their comfort zone,” he said. “Even if they have to wait for the curriculum to change, good teachers with a bad curriculum can teach kids.” Emdin continued and expressed his discontent with how schools focus too much on assessments preparing for standardized tests and not the students. “I don’t have an issue with the assessment,” he explained. “I have an issue with instruction that is so tethered to the assessment that there’s no space for anything other than that.” The chancellor strongly echoed their sentiments about how schools are failing the students. Schools need to be a place where kids are valued as much as their test scores, he argued. “The system, the way it’s structured forces us to look at students like commodities,” Carranza said. Among the residents in the packed auditorium at the event was Maryum Opa, whose children go to P.S. 180 on West 120th Street. She feels the economic disparity in District 3 plays a major role in education. Opa contended that schools south of 110th Street are better because parents who are more affluent can contribute more to the schools. The city should make sure that every school is good, not just in certain areas, she said. Like the panelists, she agreed that teachers need to care more about the students and not just test scores. “I’m very concerned about diversity inclusion in our schools,” Opa said. “If taxpaying is what makes schools robust, why aren’t we seeing the changes?”
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
FENCING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 In my freshman year of college, the training I’d put in the year before came through. I medaled twice nationally. That was my peak. In order to improve, fencers need a highly trained coach skilled in teaching their specific weapon. They need to train most days of the week for multiple hours. They need private lessons geared toward their particular strengths and weaknesses. Even the most well-endowed universities can’t usually provide this. There just aren’t that many highly skilled coaches.
The Post-college Experience The fencers who go on to compete successfully nationally and internationally through college and after tend to choose universities close to their original fencing clubs. This allows them to retain the coaching expertise they need to excel during their college years. For the fencers whose families supported their athletic careers
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com primarily as an in to the Ivies, serious training usually ends in college. After all, fencing can’t help students get into medical or law school. After graduating, I went back to my old fencing club and tried to regain the skills I had lost in college. In exchange for free training, I taught for the club at a reduced salary. At first, it felt good to focus on a sport after so many years of sitting in school. But after three years of wearing athletic clothes every day, I started to eye women’s business attire on the street. How nice to be able to wear a skirt to work! At the club, the conversation, of course, was always about fencing. The other instructors discussed who won, who lost, which coach snubbed another. The students discussed their grades, SAT scores and the logistics of college admissions. I liked them, I loved fencing, but I was starting to feel like I was stuck in some kind of high school time warp. At my last competition, it became clear that the seeming-
ly minor injury I’d sustained a week before was more serious than I’d thought. It took me three and a half months to find a doctor who would treat the painful tendonitis in my hip. Meanwhile, I couldn’t train. Although I kept teaching, demonstrating fencing movements during instruction exacerbated my symptoms. I also didn’t want to show up to teach if the nausea from a cortisone shot, or some other symptom, made me unable to ensure my students’ safety. Children practicing movements with big metal sticks is no joke. It necessitates unwavering attentiveness on the part of the teacher. I told my coach I was leaving in November. I co-taught my last class in December with a freshman college student I’d been training with at the club. After the class ended, he asked, “How long have you been fencing?” “Fourteen years,” I said. “It’s the end of an era.” “Yeah, it is.”
19
20
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
Don’t go out into the cold. GET YOUR LOCAL NEWS DELIVERED It’s your neighborhood. It’s your news. And now your personal copy is delivered directly to your mailbox every week!
THE M NEW ET'S MODE
CITYAR RNISM TS, P.2 > 4
2
0 1 6 OTT Y AWA
RDS
His Eminence Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan
Dr. Maura D. Frank Gustavo Goncalves
Just $49
James Grant Paul Gunther
Harris Healy
Susan H enshaw Jones
Mallory Spain Dr. David Thomas
CELEBR BEST OF ATTHING THE EAST SIDE E UPPER Bett y Cooper Wallerstein
IS THE LUX SLOWING DURY MARKET OWN?
OUT OF GA S
IN VE ST IG
UP TH NG MET'SE TEMPL E
, ma fen t The Am lands ke up the groPark, amon ders cap g erican BY GABRIELLE Histor Hilderbr e archit up. The pro othALFIER Mu y ec O hood for is tapping seum of Na ings, wh and will tu re fir m ject’s int also att Reed ich be that wi a communit o the neightural “It en gin portionll weigh in on y working bor- wo ’s always be on March d meet4. rk with group en where of Theodo the redesignCITY the com our inten AR the TS re ob the tion to munit jectiv museu Roosevel of a wo , P.1 quartery to t uld lik2 > es of wh m at the achieve e to do posed acre of gre pla ns to Park, the mu us expan en spa ne sion. ce for e a as thi eds of the and make su seum Frien a procom re s profit ds of Roose Dan Sli project mo munity are that vel ves for met the cit that manage t Park, the ernme ppen, vice wa y’s presid rd,” said nt relati mu seu Parks De s the park non- thi ent of on nk pa wi m, s tha rtm at th all govthe mu t what with the wi ll co y sol -chair ent and the we’re seu museu the gr m. Blo we alw idifying, in doing now m. “I ou ck ass a ays int is ociation p ended.”way, efforts res, CO that NT
TRINITY COMES INTOWER FOCUS TO
idents as ites estSide paris hioners Spirit well as froinput m
Cell Phone ________________________________
Newsche Crime Wack Voices tch Out & Ab out
2 Cit y 3 Th Arts ings to Do 8
ake
GE 25
WEEK OF FE BRUARY-MAR CH
25-2 2016
to hav e is the sixthin the city. past thre been hit by a person car in the to The ee days alone. least 20New York Tim According cyclists pedestrians es, at have bee and thr accidents ee n kill more tha so far this ed in traffic VOL. 2, yea n ISSUE been inju 900 pedest r, and 08 rians hav It’s demred. e of victim oralizing. If fam s, ilies heighten a devoted mayor and a dent in ed awarenes the proble s can’t ma Amid the ke m, wh at can? New Yor carnage, Immedia kers once agathough, hit, bys tely after Da in rallied. A CASI group tanders ran to uplaise was MANH NO IN managof them, workin try to help. in hopesed to flip the carg together, A < BUSI ATTAN? of NESS, on res its cuing Unfor sid P.16 She wa tunately, it didDauplaise. e, Bellevues pronounced n’t work. The a short wh dead at citizensefforts of our ile later. fell to hearten save a str ow us, despit anger sho recklessn uld e who con ess of a danthe continued a place tinue to makegerous few THE SE of traged our street y. OFsOU COND DISG
Downt owner Our T
12
ake
SHELTER HOMELES RACE S RS
First, obvious: let’s start wit condition h the city’s hom s inside thi disgrace. eless shelte rs are as A ser one mo ies of terrible (includinre horrible tha crimes, month g the killing n the last of ear lier this daugh a woman has higters in Statenand her two hlighted Island), living con the the ma ditions for shameful cities inrgins of one ofpeople at Blasio, the world. Ma the richest wh yor o has bee Bill de his app from theroach to homn halting in has final beginning elessness proble ly begun to of his term, from thim, but years ofaddress the others, s administra neglect, tion and will take But years to correct. recent none of that exc office grandstanding uses the appareof Gov. Andrew by the Cuomo, he can’tntly sees no iss who In the try to belittl ue on which attempt governor’s late the mayor. officials at a hit job, est sta compla then pro ined te Post, abomptly to the to the city, homele ut a gang New York alleged ss shelter, purape at a city VOL. 77 had tim event before blicizing the , ISSUE pol e 04 As it turto investigate ice even ned out, it. never hap the officials pened, infuriaincident media hitwho called it ting city a ” “po aim the mayor ed at em litical . More cha barrassin counter-c rges and g THfolElow the me harges Dicken antimeA , of cou ed. In Tditrse men, wosian livingR OionF, the con in New men D kidsIM s for Yor andEN Here’s k goe s on. in shelters CITY ARTS, leadershi hoping tha t som P.2any eday our as intere p in Alb 0 as it is in sted in helpinwill become back fro agains scoring pol g them t sit itical poi 17 fee m FDR Drour ive byting mayor. nts t 16 to out of and raise
IN CEN KIDS AGTARIAL PARK, WEIGHI NST DOCNAl NG LiDnTtRo UMnP WEEK OF JA NUARY-FEBR UARY 28-3 MOVING FO R A GUIDE TO CAMP
NE W S
BUILDING, WARD ON THE DESPITE C ONCERNTSIN 3 Top Arts 8 Re 5 10 15 al Estate Minutes
Voices Out & Ab out
12 13 16 21
PAGE 9
it on the floo as red d plain, e foot uc building e the heigh as well three. from four t of the storie HAPP s to The ref urbishe would SNOWY LITTLE d sit FLAKES pier pil atop newl bu ild ing y food ma ings and restored Reme board co Transpa officia sio’s fi mber Mayo Jean-G rket overseenntain a expre ls, but rst r Bil eorge linger ov rency concer by sse me W ch Th s Vong hat a winter in his l de Blaef mbers e pr ns develop d concern dif fer redeveloper Howard Hu new years the de oposal also erichten. er ’s vis s that the ence Se ma molit ca lls a coup job? Seaport ment plans ghes’ pieapor t is be ion for th Ho ion for Hit wi kes. le of for the ing e tw use and Lin of the He ceme after th a snow ad o dil k Bu compre al instead relea sed sto tak new ma ing off ice rm shortly of in on adjacen apidated str ild ing, hensive Howa BY DAN t e in pro uc The new would yor fumble in 2014, th IEL FIT front ofto the Tin Bu tures CB1’s rd Hughes posal. d in a wa ZSIMM e co Jan. 19 ly restored me Pie ild joi ONS Re half of ing r 17. to The joi cen Tin presen South nt La nd mamet with his ter define th y that nt La nd tation Building, as by the tly announ Stree un So rk e m. to Comm fi ut fir s lle envisio ced Ho h ma Ce Po an t Seap st d. Stree nter d Ce plans poration ward Hu ned unity Bo storm Official wa tholes we t Seap rks and nter gh pla ns on Jan. 19 or t/Civic nt ’s ard 1. in Howard Hu at the for the Tin es Corfor th to unve Residen severity wernings on the a resolucomm ittee or t/Civic ghes a fou e s passe re mu ts in ne re ce iveSouth Stree Building r-s tory Tin Build il the pr tion in did dd igh d n’t led t supp structur ing bo op prov al d preli mi Seaport plaine vote for de rhoods tha . e at thelandm arke , of Howa osal, but req or t of na co d from being that their strBlasio com-t comm ry ap - Hording to the Seaport. Acd pla n for rd Hughes uested plo un ity a was lat wed -- a eets weren - ing wa rd Hu gh presentation - the Seap redevelopmmaster su ’t es ort , wo to mo tion-trucer proven spicion tha ve the is propos uld inc as a whole ent at ou t Tin Bu , wh lude the This k GPS data. t by sanitailding compa ich new detime aroun ny’s CONTINU d, ED ON ch arge Blasio seem an entirely PAGE 5 was for . Before th ed to be Sanitati e storm in ceful, Ins on bu tea , t no he d architect Dept. build closin of jumpin t panicke d. g g storm ure, is press ing, praised waited subways or the gun an ed into for d service its then ac for the storm schools, he during detectedted decisive to develop the , We do a sense of huly. We even n’t wa mor in The bu cre nt it all dit tha to give BY DEE to life ilding looks him mo . someth n is due, PTI HAJ , all re bu ELA ing can loo angles an like a mode t there about seeme rn d wa thi d nation k bluish or gra edges, with art painting New Yo to bring ou s storm tha s t rkers. t the be in any of the three. yish or wh concrete wa come On Su itish, or settin lls st of functi g, but It would be some that alpine nday, the cit an no on pounds it was cre ne more tha unusual str combiskiers vil lage. Cr y felt like an ate uc of the n rock sal d for --- sto the fairly pro ture snow plied the pa oss-cou nt ry rin t bo sai tha rks g CONTINU c tho t the cit hot ch ots and pa , people y’s De usands of ED ON ololat rkas ord in partm PAGE 29 wi es, th su ered kid ent of of sledd nburned fac s came home es after ding. There a day tent. Qu were pock ets the plo eens reside of disco nand elew trucks by nts felt th at the sch cted offici passed them, als closed ools should there sa id for ha But ov another da ve stayed %TGCVKX just en erall, consid y. G 9TKVK PI r &CPEG snows dured the secering we ha r /QVK torm in d QP 2KE lovely our his ond-biggest VWTG # litt TVU r and his le chapter tory, it was /WUKE a for the subjects r 6JG mayor CVTG r . 8KUWC
NE W S
THE SALT SPOTLIGH SHED’S T MOMENT NE W S
Email Address_________________________________________ Signature______________________________Date _______________
ART
LIVES HERE
Return Completed Form to: Straus News, 20 West Avenue, Chester, NY, 10918 or go to strausnews.com & click on Subscribe
FOR PARK REDESIGN
Bu On Sa 13 10 15 siness BY EM ILY TOW parishioturday mo Minutes 16 NER rn and low ners, comm ing, archit 19 ered in er Manhatt unity me ects, mb vision St. Paul’s Ch an residents ers for Tr ap gat el hto discu inity Ch building ss urch’s The ex . new pa the rish Place acr isting bu ild been cle oss from Tr ing, on Tr inity inity Ch ared for 1923, urc de it the chu no longer sermolition. Buh, has tower rch and the ves the ne ilt in wi com ed The we ll be built in munity. A s of new in a ser ekend me its place. eti — collabies of commu ng was the needs orative for nity “charr fifth an um ett the low d wants of s to addre es” a whole er Manhatt the church ss the and an com . “In ou munit of r y initial as about charr buildinghow we wa ettes we talked for the to be a homented th is pa hood,” homeless an for the spi rish rit fer, Tr said the Re d for the neigh ual, v. Dr. Wi ini bor“We tal ty Wall Street lliam Lu ked ’s prector What ab . they wo out minis try act look,” uld be ivi Lu marke pfer said. , how they ties. wo t underst study in ord“We condu uld cte desires and neighbo er to objec d a dream as well as rhood needtively s.” parish s and He sai hopes and sion em d the churc tality braces a ph h communit The can tha ilo ride in coming t is “open sophy for y’s viCe carouseldidate’s owne ho , flexibl .” On the ntral Park. “We wa e and spifamilia puts New Yo rship of the wela white wall next to nt it street r bind rkers in , access to be visiblP.9 > that rea placard wi the entrance a Gemm ible to e from the com and Re ds, “Trum th red letter is well, a Whitema the CONTINU p Ca munit gulat ing who we n and ind It’s y, BY DAN Engla ED ON Joel Ha re on lat icatio ions” -- rousel Ru PAGE 6 weekd e afternoon IEL FITZSIMM presid ns that Do one of the les day, nd and rode vacation uxONS ay, an on only sai the en fro nald a mi tial d lining opera bearing d they notic carousel Mo m up to pakids and tou ld winter tes the candidate, J. Trump, ed the Trum ntially ow car ris y Tr $3 for “It p’s ns an placar New Yo a qu ts are see um p’s po ousel. d ma was in my name. OurTown d rk mo lit ics ping int n, he ment: intesenDowntow wh ad o the car have be 20gav a carou weigh 16 e he en asked ,” said Wh n gu sel an aft a deep ernoo ousel, as rid n in En r pause. “H if the realiz iteOTDOW O n esc ly divisiv gla ati ers e’s NTOW like, ‘Do nd, so in my not very lik on e candid ape again N.COM st he ed I want ate. Newsche to give ad I was a bit ck money @OTD CO Cri me Wa NTINU to this owntown 2 Cit tch ED ON y
Address _______________________________ Apt. # ________ New York, NY Zip Code _____________
Our T
THE ST
PAGE 5
WESATS serID iesEof for SPIRne ums on IT.w paMh build the fro COris ing inv church’s @W m res
Name ______________________________________________
AT IO N
Accor DOB, Coding to sta STREETORY OF OU tis R agency nEd report tics provid S ed by over 20 in 2015, a ed 343 shutoff the The 40 Ruby BY DAN trend 14’s 67 shu 0 percent s to the New Yorworst and the IEL FIT ey on Mak has been ap toffs. increa ZSIMM takeo An So far pears to be Monday k were both best of ONS ut tha spending mid-d in 2016 increa d the upwa se on displa mo mo issert n acc mid a the sin re rd docto ording y town. rning on 36th mong eve re ha ation is worki Street in ng at lea , and her ne rate stude “Since to the DO ve been 157 n more: Ca rol “A lot nt B. Da shu w rice st as uplaise, toffs, noticing the spring owner cooker to eat of it is just ou hard. the a no gas, a lot of pe of last year crossingof a jewelry com 77-year-o cook at lot more,” t of pocket, op we sta going rted water either cookin le coming Street Madison Av pany, was ld steam home it’s jus said Mak. “W ,” out in ing an said Donna g gas or he that had when a during the mo enue at 36th cally.” things with t a rice cooker hen we at livery-cab rning rus it, or ma Ameri d commun Chiu, direct and hot cor . You can ner h dri ity or can La st Se and hit ke rice, her. ver turned the Chiu cal s For Equa ser vices forof housptemb The basihundred er Asian said AA led the inc lity. arresteddriver of the car no natur s of others her bu ild ing ing an FE is worki rease “freak pedest for failing to was joi ned an ins al gas, cut across the d pe off town almost a dong with Ma ish,” and been citrian, and cop yield to a Building ction blitz by Con Ed city with an ser vic d the Lowe zen others k’s buildtraffic vioed for at leasts say he had a month s that bega by the city’sison after es. 10 oth lations advocat And Ch r East Side in ChinaIt sin wa East Vil after a fat n last April, Dept. of iu, lik ce 2015. er es, ha al ga e ma to restor exp les litany ofs but the latest lage tha s t claim s explosion s than lon loitation by witnessed ny housinge that hav traffic deaths in a sad ed two bu g servic in the a lives. e interr ilding owne pattern of Mayor e lingered on, and injuries rs wh uptions curb traBill de Blasio’s despite CONTINU in an eff o proffic crashe efforts ort to ED ON Da to uplais s PA
MUSEUM T APS NEIGH BORHOOD GROUPS
Yes! Start my $49 subscription right away! Plus give it to a friend for just $10
CITY WIN FO APPLE R
2 Cit y 3 To Arts Do 24 8 Foo 25 10 15 d & Drink MinuAtes 26 surge s shu rent-stabof ga29 ilized tentoffs, particu larly for ants
NE W S
Clinton
Wests ider
3-9
Newsche Crime Wack Voices tch Out & Ab out
INUED ON
accuse capita d of overleve l. very James Beninati anraging invest lions aftCabrera, we d his partn or re BY DAN Antar er the firm sued for mier, The Ba IEL FIT es ZSIMM condo uhouse Gr assets was stripp ’s collapse, lONS and ou ed of mo in p’s 90 the lat project on A rep the late-a st of its 0-foo Sutto n Place t the Ba resentative ughts. velopmeest lux ur y res for uhouse fundin nt to suffer idential is a req Group Beninati an ue de g, fro did st for d - tim as inv ingly comm not return estors m a lack of e. wary ent by are inc of fin at the Sto press rea ler an top a surpl end of the cing projec s- Deal ne also spok outlookus in inven market du ts a notic wspaper las e to the Re tor e will ma on whether y and a tep to ap ar tmeable decre t month ab al ase out affluent terialize id lig en News buyer hted ma t sa les, whin high-end down of s the roa the 80 rke ich hig squa re avera d. -st ge nu t data tha hmb April, foot propo or y, 260,0 t apart ments er of days said the an 00 squat d sent the sa l broke las spent in new for-sa neigh and sleepy comparative t perce on the marke developme le VOL. 42 bo nt munit rhood int Sutton Pla ly and the between t increased nts , ISSUE o the y 47 en 09 tions, Board 6 vo a panic. Co ce “E very d of last yea end of 20 man ice 14 on d r. d Council e’s a its ob Kallos Stoler lit jec the bu came out str member Be - $2,50 told TRD. “W tle worri ed ilding 0 ’s heigh ongly again n lende [per square ith anything ,” plicat ions. rs are t and soc st at foo t] ver or But it Stoler ial imtold thi y cautious.” more, opposit wa sn’t jus s ne wspape house ion workingt commun CONTINU r that ED ON Mi aelprincipal Jo against Baity PAGE 5 seph u20ch Sto ne r16 at the ler, a mana Beninati. Jewish invest ging pa son Re wome me n and the wo backg alty Capital, nt firm Ma rtgirl rld by rou lighting s light up candle tares Inv nd also plasaid Beninatidis every the Sha yed bbat Friday 18 min a role. ’s Benin estment Pa eve utes bef < NEW An ati co Friday ore sun ning -foundertners, the fi schoo S, Ma set. l rm P.4 For mo rch 11 – 5:4 boast classmate thad with a pre 1 pm. re info ed $6 rm www.c billion t at one po p habadu ation visit int in ass pperea ets, wa stside.co s m.
WEEK OF MAR CH
AMNH electe d transpo working gro and pa officials, Co up rtation, park reds to focus on of Teddrk advocacy mmunity Board group y Roose esign LIGHTI 7, ers De vel
WestS ideSpirit
>
NE W S
53 Lud low Str mom, hav eet, Fitzsim e been witwhere a dozen mons hout coo ten king gas ants, includ since las ing Ruby Mak and t Septe mber. Pho her to by Dan iel
Westsider
S, P.4
Concern high en s about a glu t at the d
OurTown EastSide
Eastsider
AN EN D "BR TO WINDO OKEN WS"? NEW
2016
MORE THAN SCREATHE M
@OurT ownNYC
VOL. 2, ISSUE 10
10-16
Our To wn ha The pa s much 2016, per celebrat to be thank an OTTY d this we es its 45th ful for. ek Award anniv made ersary winnershonors its a un lat The OT ique differe , noting pe est group in ople wh of nce on You -- TY award the o ha s ha munit ve always -- short for OuUpper East ve Sid be y strong. service, an en a reflect r Town Th e. d this anks year’s ion of deep Our ho list is parti combusiness norees inc cularly owners lude co heroe mm an s. Cardi We’re also d medical anunity activi na tak fall’s wi l Timothy ing a mome d public saf sts, Franc ldly succes Dolan, who nt to recog ety is. nize sheph sful vis Kyle Po In his interv erd it iew wi to the city ed last pressi pe, Dolan by th Our ref ng Town Pope warning issues sti lects on thaCI Editor ll TYit, ARon movin s he receiv facing the t vis TS, g to Ne city,2 an>d on the w York ed from his P.1 Read nine his profile, seven years friends be the OT TY an fore ag Thom awards d the profi o. pso les of the oth We are n, in the spe by repor the wi proud to bri cial sectio ter Madelei er nners n ne part of ng it to you inside. our com , and pro ud to cal munit y. l
OURTOW O NNY.C OM
Eastsi der
WEEK OF MAR CH
N #TVU
Our T
ake
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
21
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com wntown.com
One Person’s Manhattan hattan
THE LITTLE LEAGUE WHERE EVERYBODY WINS Rick Hayduk created a league for special needs children that’s a celebration for all BY HARVEY COHEN
It’s an early afternoon in the middle of April. Clouds partially cover the skies. It’s seventy-one degrees and the warmish breeze tells you winter is finally over. The weather is perfect for baseball. As you enter the Con Ed fields near Stuyvesant Town, you see baseball being played everywhere. You see games where parents are cheering for their own kids, as if the child’s future will be decided by one stroke of their bat. You also see many other kids just casually tossing a ball back and forth with skill and ease. Then you notice something different — a game where all the parents cheer for every player on both teams. And no one shouts, “Kill the umpire!” Because there is no umpire. In this very special Little League, there are no strikes, no balls and no outs; only home runs for every player who comes to bat. This is the Challenger Division of
Getting ready to bat. Photo: Kelly Vohs
the Peter Stuyvesant Little League (PSLL), and every player faces some sort of physical, mental or emotional challenge. And though none of these players will ever dream of a professional baseball career, the spirit, the excitement and love of the game come through with more emotion and power than one can ever imagine seeing at any game of baseball.
The biggest thing is you want the kids to feel great. If they just feel good you’ve let them down.” Rick Hayduk
All of this is the work of one man — one man who had a vision and went out and found the people and the resources to make it real. The man is Rick Hayduk. And you can tell everything you need to know about Rick by the quote he wears
on the back of his tee shirt. It’ss a quote from his friend Dabo Swinwinney, the football coach of the NCAA AA national champions Clemson Tigers: “The only disability in life e is a bad attitude.” Rick was born and raised in Westestchester County and now livess in Stuyvesant Town but he has travraveled through much of the world in his profession as a hotel and real estate executive. He and his wife Carol are both avid sports enthusiasts. Rick has a golf handicap of plus two and Carol is a former tennis pro. Rick and Carol have three children and the youngest one suffers from Down syndrome. Years ago, while waiting in an airline terminal, Rick met the father of another Down syndrome child and Rick says that father gave him the best advice he’s ever received: “Just treat them normal.” That’s why it was so important for Rick to make sure that his daughter, and any other child with special needs, would have the opportunity to play baseball, like all other kids. The Challenger program has few rules, but the ones they have are all about being inclusive, accepting and creating a totally non-judgmental environment where every child becomes a star. At each game they generally have about twenty players who are divided into two teams and from forty to eighty volunteers. The volunteers do everything from helping the players swing a bat and run the bases to giving out hats and shirts to each player. But the volunteers, the parents and all the other spectators play another very critical role. They gather all along the base paths and cheer and applaud each child as the child, with the help of their volunteer “buddy,” runs from one base to another. You can see each child’s joy by their big smiles as they first hit the ball and then are greeted with support, congratulations and dozens of high fives as they run the bases. All along the way, each child is encouraged by Rick as he plays the role of announcer. Rick works
Hayduk high-fives with his daughter Jamison. Photo: Kelly Vohs
HOW TO JOIN THE TEAM PSLL’s Challenger Division welcomes boys and girls with physical and developmental challenges between the ages of 4 and 18. There is no fee, as PSLL covers all fees. Games will be held once a weekend at Con Ed Fields, on East 16th Street, just east of Avenue C. Tentative dates: • Sunday April 21 (No games — Easter Sunday) • Sunday April 28 • Sunday May 5 • Sunday May 12 • Sunday May 19 • Sunday May 26 (No Games — Memorial Day Weekend) • Sunday June 2 • Sunday June 9 (Closing Challenger ceremonies) Contact Rick Hayduk at (239) 340-1405 or rhayduk1313@aol.com. Or go to: www.psll.org/challenger
Rick Hayduk calls the play by play. Photo: Kelly Vohs
up the crowd and encourages the players with color commentary like, “keep going Ray” and “come on home, Ethan” and “Ryan, you really socked it.” Sandra Velez, whose seven-yearold son Ray plays in the Challenger program, says: “Everybody is so welcoming and accepting. It makes the child more comfortable and more competent.” Then she adds about Rick: “He remembers every
child’s name and treats them all as an MVP. He’s an amazing teacher and mentor.” Rick sums up his goal and philosophy by saying: “The biggest thing is that you want the kids to feel great. Not good. If they just feel good you’re letting them down.” In this game, there are no winners and losers because everybody wins — the players, the parents, the coaches, the volunteers and the whole community. As Dan Schachner, one of the other league commissioners puts it: “This level of community is something we don’t often see. It’s a reminder to all our kids that no matter anyone’s physical ability, everyone can play baseball.” Everyone involved with Challenger knows they are part of something very special — more special than any ball hit by Aaron Judge or thrown by Jacob DeGrom. And if baseball is America’s pastime, Challenger is America’s heart.
Know someone we should profile in One Person’s Manhattan? Call 212-868-0190 or email nyoffice@strausnews.com
22
Downtowner 8
9
12
13
14
15
16
17
30
7 5
8
4
2
46
WORD SEARCH by Myles Mellor
57
F A M O U S H Y E Y Q D X P X
I C U M U E N O W N R O R O F
O U U C S S H K C P E X P U O
Z L F R O R Q T S P C R I S U
K O M R I U Y S W O Y Y O G Q
H U B S B O S A U R V I U U K
Q S M V N U U S T L N S S J S
Q U B N I T C S O T B Q D O C
E N O R M O U S J X Y H K Y Q
L D J U U L U X W G K T U O W
V Z V S C B A S O G R E K U J
The puzzle contains the following words. They may be diagonal, across, or up and down in the grid in any direction.
A A U G J E A L O U S L U S O
Bijous Couscous Curious Devious Enormous Famous Generous Jealous Joyous Miraculous Nervous Obvious Pious Pompous Raucous
ANSWERS S
S
U
E
N
E
R
P
D O
48
44
U
A O M
N
Y
I
T
G A
S
P
O
I
P
S
M A
I
I
S
34 27 21
22
G
A E
L
12 1
2
3
T
L
G O 4
A
5
R
A
N
T
M A
N
35
U
M A
30
I
24
E
U
52
E O
I
N
N
A
E 7
L
E 8
K
A
G N
32
M A
I
13
E
31
A M 33
I
20
V
16
E
54
I
26
19
6
L
A M
25
P
53
O W E
38
M
23
51
I 41
B
37
L A
29 18
15
Y
46
I
40
R 28
C O
50
Z
45
39 36
C
49
S
T
U
F
17
K
I
14 9
S
H
10
L O N E
11
B M D E V I O U S C P M J P W
G I N E R V O U S P H N K O K
R R J W I W L G S T G V M M P
F A M O U S H Y E Y Q D X P X
I C U M U E N O W N R O R O F
O U U C S S H K C P E X P U O
Z L F R O R Q T S P C R I S U
K O M R I U Y S W O Y Y O G Q
H U B S B O S A U R V I U U K
Q S M V N U U S T L N S S J S
Q U B N I T C S O T B Q D O C
E N O R M O U S J X Y H K Y Q
L D J U U L U X W G K T U O W
V Z V S C B A S O G R E K U J
A A U G J E A L O U S L U S O
4 8
1 9
2
3 8 5 6 4 2 7
1 3 7 5 6 9
5 7 6 9 4 2 1 3 8
3 4 8 7 9 5 2 1 6
2 5 9 3 6 1 8 7 4
6 1 7 2 8 4 9 5 3
9 3 5 6 1 8 7 4 2
7 6 1 4 2 9 3 8 5
8 2 4 5 7 3 6 9 1
26. Big ___ 28. Realizes 29. Primitive aquatic plant 31. Engrossed by 32. Chew (on) 33. Label 37. Hello! 38. Show ___ 40. Dirty 42. One of the three bears 43. Took advantage of 44. Places for sweaters 46. Screen symbol 48. Morning moisture 49. Anthem contraction 51. Pick __ or the other! 52. Land of opportunity 53. Dearest 54. Old verb ending
R R J W I W L G S T G V M M P
H
48. ER role 50. 2-door 55. Podded plant 56. “Omigod!” 57. Dawning 58. Billboard displays 59. Sarcastic 60. Poet’s “below” Down 1. Sibling 2. Mischief-maker 3. Goes with chi 4. Space ___ 5. “Let’s ___” 6. Concluding stanza 7. “Fantasy Island” prop 8. New Zealand parrot 9. Gull like bird 10. Refined sound, in its day 11. Chemical compound 19. Australian runner 20. Top European soccer team, AC ___ 21. Humanoid monster 22. Tylenol target 23. Eye disease 25. Morning time
G I N E R V O U S P H N K O K
T
60
B M D E V I O U S C P M J P W
43
54
P
53
A
52
42
51
47
50
E
Across 1. Instrument, favored by George Harrison 6. Antlered animal 9. “Murder __ wrote” 12. Adult insect 13. Original name before marriage 14. Relatives 15. Hard sell 16. By way of 17. Strange flyer 18. August baby 20. Junk ____ 21. Photo ___ (camera sessions) 24. Dolphins’ home 27. Chocolate is one variety.... 30. Speak badly about 34. Qatar coin 35. Food from heaven 36. Vital force 38. Type of fowl 39. Supermodel Campbell 41. Need to pay 42. Sour ___ 45. Israeli weapon 47. Programming language
Level: Medium
7 6
A
59
41
S
56
4
E
55
49
8
N
48
2
N
47
2
O
45
3
1
40
44
3 6
4
3
38
8
57
43
1
60
37 39
58
33
5 7
35
36
42
32
2
6 9
Y
34
31
5
K
29
26
5
E
28
25
3
E
27
24
9
W R
23
7
56
22
20
Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9X9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3X3 squares. To solve the puzzle each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult.
59
21
19
11
A
18
10
S
7
E
6
D
5
A
4
P
3
SUDOKU by Myles Mellor and Susan Flanagan
by Myles Mellor
55
2
CROSSWORD
58
1
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS
23
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
HELP WANTED
MASSAGE
Telephone: 212-868-0190 Email: classified2@strausnews.com
POLICY NOTICE: We make every eďŹ&#x20AC;ort to avoid mistakes in your classiďŹ ed ads. Check your ad the ďŹ rst week it runs. The publication w only accept responsibility for the ďŹ rst incorrect insertion. The publication assumes no ďŹ nancial responsibility for errors or omissions. reserve the right to edit, reject, or re-classify any ad. Contact your sales rep directly for any copy changes. All classiďŹ ed ads are pre-pa
MERCHANDISE FOR SALE
TO PLACE YOUR LEGAL NOTICE
Call Barry Lewis at
(212) 868-0190 or email barry.lewis@strausnews.com TO PLACE YOUR NOTICE D O N AT E YO U R C A R
CALL
Wheels For Wishes
Barry Lewis at
benefiting
Make-A-Wish ÂŽ Metro New York
(212) 868-0190 or
* 100% Tax Deductible * Free Vehicle Pickup ANYWHERE * We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not * We Also Accept Boats, Motorcycles & RVs
barry.lewis@strausnews.com
WheelsForWishes.org Call:(917)336-1254 * Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. To learn more about our programs or ÂżQDQFLDO LQIRUPDWLRQ FDOO RU YLVLW ZZZ ZKHHOVIRUZLVKHV RUJ
We are looking for a fast paced Temp to Perm EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT that can hit the ground running. Work well in a self-directed environment, with minimal instruction and take accountability for decisions and outcomes. If you have the right work ethic, your salary and benefits package will be competitive. Email your resume and cover letter with salary requirements to: jpolehna@mykellyservices.info
DENTAL Insurance FREE Information Kit
Physicians Mutual Insurance Company
A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve! CALL NOW!
1-855-225-1434
Get help paying dental bills and keep more money in your pocket This is real dental insurance â&#x20AC;&#x201D; NOT just a discount plan
1-855-225-1434
You can get coverage before your next checkup
Visit us online at
Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait! Call now and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll rush you a FREE Information Kit with all the details.
www.dental50plus.com/nypress
Insurance Policy P150NY 6129
MB17-NM003Ec
Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES
alone Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m never
Life AlertÂŽ is always here for me even when away from home. One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7.
+HOS DW +RPH with
GPS ! ÂŽ
:Yll]ja]k F]n]j F]]\ ;`Yj_af_&
! FREE
FIRST AID
KIT
WHEN YOU ORDER!
+HOS 2Q WKH *R
For a FREE brochure call:
1-800-404-9776
24
APRIL 25-MAY 1,2019
Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com
MAY 2-5 | 2019
TICKETS + INFO:
ARTNYFAIR.COM
VIP PREVIEW MAY 2
I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O N T E M P O R A R Y + M O D E R N A R T FA I R NOTEWORTHY AND FRESH WORKS BY IMPORTANT ARTISTS FROM THE CONTEMPORARY, MODERN, POST-WAR AND POP ERAS
COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION FOR FRIEZE VIP CARDHOLDERS AND TEFAF VIP CARDHOLDERS COURTESY SHUTTLE BETWEEN PIER 94 AND THE FRIEZE FERRY AT EAST 35TH STREET
P A R T I C I P AT I N G G A L L E R I E S
itled “Unt ws, Ka
LICHT FELD GALLERY Basel LILAC GALLERY New York * LIQUID ART SYSTEM Capri LISS GALLERY Toronto LUCIA MENDOZA Madrid * MARKOWICZ FINE ART Miami MARTINELLI ART GALLERY Milano MASTERWORKS FINE ART Oakland N2 GALERÍA Barcelona * NG ART GALLERY Panama NIKOLA RUKAJ GALLERY Ontario OKAY SPARK Norfolk * ONESSIMO FINE ART Palm Beach OXHOLM GALLERY Copenhagen QUIDLEY & COMPANY Nantucket RAPHAEL Frankfurt RAW SPACE ART GALLERY New York * REBECCA HOSSACK ART GALLERY London * ROKA ART GALLERY Padova ROSENFELD GALLERY New York RUDOLF BUDJA GALLERY Miami Beach SAMUEL OWEN GALLERY Greenwich SIMONS GALLERY The Hague SMITH-DAVIDSON GALLERY Amsterdam STATE London STEIDEL CONTEMPORARY Palm Beach * TAGLIALATELLA GALLERIES New York THE LAWLEY ART GROUP Dallas THE SELECTS GALLERY New York * VALLARINO FINE ART New York VK GALLERY Netherlands * VOGELSANG GALLERY Brussels WATERHOUSE & DODD New York WINN SLAVIN FINE ART Beverly Hills WINTEROWD FINE ART Santa Fe ZEMACK CONTEMPORARY ART Tel Aviv (Tondo)”, 2010, Acrylic o n ca nva s , R os en fe ld
G a lle ry ,N
ew
rk Yo
|M
i iam
ADELSON CAVALIER GALLERIES Palm Beach AI BO GALLERY New York ANDREA SCHWARTZ GALLERY San Francisco ART DESIGN GALLERY Guethary ART OF THE WORLD GALLERY Houston ATELIER NEWPORT Newport AVANT GALLERY Miami BLUE GALLERY Coral Springs * BOCCARA ART New York BOGÉNA GALERIE Saint Paul de Vence C. GRIMALDIS GALLERY Baltimore CHASE CONTEMPORARY New York CHIEFS & SPIRITS The Hague * CLARK PRIFTIS ART Seattle CONNECT CONTEMPORARY Atlanta CYNTHIA CORBETT GALLERY London DEAN PROJECT Miami Beach DMD CONTEMPORARY New York DONGHWA ODE GALLERY New York DURBAN SEGNINI GALLERY Miami ETERNITY GALLERY Miami FRANKLIN BOWLES GALLERY New York FREDERIC GOT Paris FREMIN GALLERY New York GALERÍA CASA CUADRADA Bogotá * GALERIA DE BABEL São Paulo GALERIE BRÉSIL São Paulo GALERIE ISABELLE LESMEISTER Paris GALLERIA CA’ D’ORO New York GALLERY HENOCH New York GAMA GALLERY Istanbul HAVOC GALLERY Burlington * HAZELTON GALLERIES Toronto JOANNE ARTMAN GALLERY New York * JUAN SILIÓ GALLERY Santander * KAHN GALLERY London *
*CONTEXT provides the ultimate platform for the presentation of emerging, mid-career, and cutting-edge artists by new and established contemporary galleries.
LOCATION: PIER 94 | 55TH STREET & WEST SIDE HIGHWAY | MANHATTAN
/artnewyorkfair
/artmiamifairs
/artmiamifairs
www.artnyfair.com