Our Town Downtown - August 18, 2016 by OurTown Downtown

The local paper for Downtown wn FALL EDUCATION PREVIEW, < P. 11

WEEK OF AUGUST

18-24 2016

A PLATFORM FOCUSED ON BATTERY PARK CITY NEWS Gigi Li wants to open up the authority that runs the neighborhood BY MADELEINE THOMPSON

Gigi Li, standing at left, is running for the State Assembly’s 65th District, which covers Lower Manhattan and parts of the Lower East Side. Li, a Democrat, is chairwoman of Community Board 3. Photo: Madeleine Thompson

Standing directly in the stiﬂing sunlight on a recent morning, Community Board 3 Chair Gigi Li described her four-point plan to improve Battery Park City. Li is a Democrat running for the State Assembly’s 65th District, which covers Lower Manhattan and parts

PUTTING MY BEST FOOT FORWARD BY ASIA HORNE

Ever since I was 3, my parents have always set high goals and aspirations for me. Some were attainable, such as scoring 100 on my tests or learning how to ride a bike. Others, though, were more of a challenge. “I have no doubt in my mind that one day, you will be playing in Carnegie Hall and will end up at Juilliard or an Ivy League,” my dad said. The more challenging goals constantly played in my mind, especially as I was learning to play the violin, viola and piano. For the ﬁrst seven years of my life, music was one of my consistent activities. I advanced quickly through the books and became a good instrumentalist. Alongside playing multiple instruments, my parents had me participate

in other activities, such as dance classes, gymnastics, ballet and the like. In the end, music seemed to be the only endeavor that wasn’t just a phase, but also a passion. It stuck with me. When I was 8 years old, I attended St. Joseph’s School-Yorkville. To keep me active and to help integrate me into the new school, my parents suggested I attend one of the after-school programs. I had many options to choose from, but decided that I wanted to play soccer. At St. Joseph’s School-Yorkville, the recreational soccer program was called “Super Soccer Stars.” The program taught me all of the fundamentals of the sport. After a few classes my coach came up to me and said, “Have you ever played before, because you

of the Lower East Side. Li is the first candidate, though not the first elected official, to campaign on a platform of increasing community representation in the Battery Park City Authority. “We stand here today to say enough is enough,” she said. “Residents of Battery Park City built this neighborhood and should have material input into planning processes and decisions. Plans moving forward must be community-driven and that includes guaranteeing at least three residents on the Battery Park City Authority.” Since the beginning of the year, the BPCA has come under fire from several offices because all of its members

save one do not live in the area they represent. In January, State Senator Daniel Squadron and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick introduced legislation in each of their houses requiring the majority of board members to be drawn from within Community Board 1. “Battery Park City has changed; the Battery Park City Authority should change with it,” Squadron said at the time. “It’s a fundamental value that communities should have a say in the decisions affecting them.” At the BPCA’s meeting last month, he again urged them to allow for direct

are pretty good?” I said that I had not. He asked for my dad’s phone number and then dismissed me. I didn’t think anything of his request, but I soon realized that moment would change my life forever. My dad spoke to me that night and told me that my coach had called. He broke down their entire conversation to me and explained how the coach asked me to play on the official Super Soccer Star team. I was ecstatic and eager to start. I joined the team the following year, and to my surprise, had only boys as teammates. I wasn’t at all fazed to be on what was otherwise an all-boys team — if anything it made me stronger. We practiced and had games at the ﬁeld house in Chelsea Piers. I found my place on the team as a right-sided defender or central defender. Through my two years on the team, I perfected my skills and learned to be more adept

with the ball. When I turned 11, my parents decided to move me to an all-girls team called Asphalt Green. On that team I met many great people and had reached the next step of soccer: traveling. Our league had games in Westchester and New Jersey. We were decent, but more importantly I was glad to ﬁnally play against more skillful players. During the winter months, I played in dozens of indoor scrimmages, playing against teams from all over New York and New Jersey. In one particular game, we played the Manhattan Soccer Club, the best team in New York. At just 11 years old, these girls were fast and skilled. They were amazing. In this game, I made sure I played my best. Although I stopped a majority of their attempts to score goals, we lost by one. At the end of the game, the

Downtowner

OurTownDowntown

O OTDOWNTOWN.COM @OTDowntown

Serial Crime Watch Out & About Voices

2 3 6 8

City Arts Restaurants Business Real Estate

24 26 28 29

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

CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

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

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Chapter 25

EVE AND OTHERS BY ESTHER COHEN

Previously: Detective Bruce, a former Black Panther who now runs investigations for the 20th Precinct, at 120 West 80th Street, told the group of amateur detectives that he would, without one hairline of a doubt, ﬁnd Alyosha Zim. He didn’t say how. They met, the building detectives and the police official, at his precinct for the third time. It was a very hot Wednesday in July. Around 4 PM. Naomi has always been a continual reader, only of novels, mostly featuring women protagonists. Her friend Margaret, who taught mysteries at the New School, suggested reading good mysteries might help her out. Margaret made a list for Naomi of books to read: police procedurals, detective stories: John Banville, Ian Rankin, Gary Disher, Agatha Christie, Elmore Leonard. She went to the St. Agnes Library Branch, to take out

Actually,” he repeated, a man who knew how to hold a room, “I read the Langston Hughes poem to make a point. Maybe too subtle for this particular group. We have, as I predicted, quickly located Alyosha Zim. Very quickly?” one of each. Alice, the dour looking librarian, a middle aged woman very close to the ground, was always sitting behind the desk, passing judgement on every library goers selection, Alice said to Naomi, “I like my mysteries more slash and burn.” When asked, at the next meeting a week later, Detective Bruce claimed he never read mysteries of any kind. And he wouldn’t. “Why would I?” he said. Bruce preferred, instead, the Harlem Renaissance poets. Langston Hughes in particular. He recited “A Dream Deferred” in full before he began his meeting. What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up

Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

handsome, but not in a precious way. More like a Black Panther policeman. “Where are we with Alyosha?” Mrs. Israel, her clipboard at hand, was ready. Her role in life was to keep the record. Her pen was always at hand. Charles echoed her thoughts. “We are here for the third time because presumably, you know more than we do about these things. I repeat,” said Charles, wanting to make his point. “The word is presumably.” “Why are you so skeptical?” Eve responded. She looked, in her way, like the group’s secret head. She wasn’t wearing a crown exactly, but her large hair seemed to glow. “We are here for his help,” she added. “After a while, we needed it. We’ve agreed to be a team.”

He recited in a clear deep voice, baronial. “I didn’t know that there could be a detective who knew poetry,” Pin Ball exclaimed, and he wondered, for the third or forth time, if Detective Bruce was available. Pin Ball was dressed as Tina Turner. He hoped Bruce had the same thing for Tina that the whole world did. Bruce was

“Actually,” Bruce began. He stood in the center of the unfortunate police station conference room, a room where the lights constantly buzzed, where everyone no matter what color they were looked a sickly green. “Actually,” he repeated, a man who knew how to hold a room, “I read the Langston Hughes poem to make a point. Maybe too subtle for this particular group. We have, as I predicted, quickly located Alyosha Zim. Very quickly?” “Where?” shouted Richard, although he wasn’t a shouting type. “Tell us,” the second Richard said, more gently. “I will of course,” said Detective Bruce. “Just not immediately.” Esther Cohen posts a poem a day at esthercohen.com.

HELP US SOLVE THE MYSTERY DEAR READERS of this serial novel: We are asking for your participation. Tell us what you think about where Alyosha might have vanished, and where we should seek out clues. Where

did he go? And why do people disappear in the first place? Do you know anyone who has disappeared or wants to? Tell us. Email us at news@strausnews.com

“IF ONLY SOMEONE WOULD CLEAN UP THIS PARK.”

BE THE SOMEONE. Every day, we think to ourselves that someone should really help make this city a better place. Visit newyorkcares.org to learn about the countless ways you can volunteer and make a difference in your community.

Cat New York Cares Volunteer

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG STATS FOR THE WEEK

CHINESE BILLIONAIRE CALLS ARREST POLITICALLY MOTIVATED

Reported crimes from the 1st precinct Week to Date

BY LARRY NEUMEISTER

A Chinese billionaire arrested in a United Nations bribery scandal asserted in court papers last week that charges against him were politically motivated, a way for the United States to block his construction of a major U.N. conference center in China and slow the progress of Chinese inﬂuence over developing nations. Lawyers for Ng Lap Seng said in papers filed in Manhattan federal court that charges brought against the 68-year-old businessman last fall were based on a “fundamentally unsound” and unprecedented criminal prosecution. They said the charges had derailed any plans for a permanent conference center in Macau that would serve southern hemisphere nations. “There is every reason to believe that the U.N. has, indeed, completely shelved the idea of such a center. The U.S. geopolitical interest in slowing the progress of Chinese influence over developing nations has been achieved,” the lawyers wrote. Ng is free on $50 million bail with a requirement he be guarded by aroundthe-clock private security at a luxury Manhattan apartment. Prosecutors say he contributed a portion of over $1 million in bribes to a former U.N. General Assembly president to generate support for his plans for a U.N. conference center in Macau. But his lawyers say his prosecution was designed to prevent the establishment of the Macau center. They note that his arrest came within three days of a scheduled state visit by the Chinese president to the United States. They also argued in the court papers Thursday that the United States was improperly interfering with the customs and operations of the United Nations. “Not only has the prosecution intruded into U.N. affairs, it threatens to import American sensibilities and customs into a uniquely international environment that has its own set of customs and expectations,” the lawyers said. As part of their court submission, the lawyers submitted a transcript of an interview the FBI conducted with Ng after his arrest. In it, Ng was asked about a photograph on the internet of him with

Tony Webster, via ﬂickr President Barack Obama. According to the transcript, Ng said he was introduced to Obama by a friend from Taiwan. Ng also said in the transcript that his primary reason for trips to the United Nation was to promote the construction of the U.N. center in Macau. “My goal is to build this exhibition center, the largest in the world,” Ng is quoted as saying. A spokesman for U.S. prosecutors declined comment.

CHOPPER LOPPER leaving a nice motorcycle unattended and parked on the street for several days is asking for trouble. At 3:30 p.m. on July 21, a 33-year-old man parked his 2011 BMW R 1200 GS in front of 142 Sullivan St. His bike was gone when he returned on the morning of July 25. A search of the neighborhood proved fruitless. The stolen black bike is valued at $14,000.

F8 FATE A bicyclist found that leaving his ride unsecured and unattended outside for just ﬁve minutes is also asking for trouble. At 8:30 a.m. on August 6, a 39-year-old man parked his Pinarello Dogma F8 in front of 159 Prince St. Unfortunately, he failed to lock or secure the vehicle and just left it leaning against the building while he went inside a store. When he came out at 8:35 a.m., his bike was nowhere to be found. The stolen two-wheeler, black with orange ﬂuorescent stripes, is valued at $12,000.

PLUMBING THE DEPTHS Police arrested two suspects getting out of a stolen van. At 11:10 a.m. on August 4, a 36-year-old man left a commercial van belonging to the Demar Plumbing Corporation in front of 497 Greenwich St. He had locked up the vehicle, but when he came out at 12:05 p.m., it was missing. He then tracked the van using its GPS and called the police. He gave police the vehicle’s current location, even as responding officers sped to the scene. Soon officers spotted the stolen vehicle pulling over and witnessed two suspects stepping out. The van’s driver then arrived at the location and conﬁrmed that he had not given the suspects permission or authority to use the van. The van stolen and recovered was a white 2011 Ford E250 valued at $15,800. Jeanette Feliciano, 40, and Juan Velazquez, 42, were arrested on August 4 and charged with grand larceny auto.

BYE BYE BIRDY Vehicles of all descriptions have deﬁnitely been the hot-ticket item for thieves recently. At 3:50 p.m. on August 4, a man locked up his electric bicycle in front of 316 Greenwich St. and went into a store. It was gone when he returned just ﬁfteen minutes later. The stolen bicycle was an electric Birdy Speed Disc, valued at $5,000.

RETRO FOOLISHNESS At 4:10 p.m. on August 3, a 31-yearold man took his belongings out of a gym locker inside Retro Fitness at 1 New York Plaza and left them on a bench unattended while he went to the restroom. His possessions, including a Cartier watch valued at $3,000 and a Citibank card, were missing.

Year to Date

2016 2015

% Change

2016

2015

% Change

Murder

n/a

Rape

n/a

125.0

Robbery

0.0

14.7

Felony Assault

200.0

-2.2

Burglary

100.0

3.8

Grand Larceny

-14.8

630

625

0.8

Grand Larceny Auto

n/a

192.3

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Useful Contacts POLICE NYPD 7th Precinct

19 ½ Pitt St.

212-477-7311

NYPD 6th Precinct

233 W. 10th St.

212-741-4811

NYPD 10th Precinct

230 W. 20th St.

212-741-8211

NYPD 13th Precinct

230 E. 21st St.

212-477-7411

NYPD 1st Precinct

16 Ericsson Place

212-334-0611

HALTING PUPPY MILLS CAROUSEL Despite a city law intended to stop the practice, sales continue

FIRE FDNY Engine 15

25 Pitt St.

311

FDNY Engine 24/Ladder 5

227 6th Ave.

311

FDNY Engine 28 Ladder 11

222 E. 2nd St.

311

FDNY Engine 4/Ladder 15

42 South St.

311

ELECTED OFFICIALS Councilmember Margaret Chin

165 Park Row #11

Councilmember Rosie Mendez

237 1st Ave. #504

212-587-3159 212-677-1077

Councilmember Corey Johnson

224 W. 30th St.

212-564-7757

State Senator Daniel Squadron

250 Broadway #2011

212-298-5565

Community Board 1

1 Centre St., Room 2202

212-669-7970

Community Board 2

3 Washington Square Village

212-979-2272

Community Board 3

59 E. 4th St.

212-533-5300

Community Board 4

330 W. 42nd St.

212-736-4536

Hudson Park

66 Leroy St.

212-243-6876

Ottendorfer

135 2nd Ave.

212-674-0947

Elmer Holmes Bobst

70 Washington Square

212-998-2500

COMMUNITY BOARDS

LIBRARIES

HOSPITALS New York-Presbyterian

170 William St.

Mount Sinai-Beth Israel

10 Union Square East

212-844-8400

212-312-5110

CON EDISON

4 Irving Place

212-460-4600

TIME WARNER

46 East 23rd

813-964-3839

US Post Office

201 Varick St.

212-645-0327

US Post Office

128 East Broadway

212-267-1543

US Post Office

93 4th Ave.

212-254-1390

POST OFFICES

HOW TO REACH US:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

212-868-0190 nyoffice@strausnews.com otdowntown.com

Include your full name, address 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.

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 212-8680190. 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.

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

CALENDAR ITEMS:

ABOUT US

Information for inclusion in the Out and About section should be emailed to hoodhappenings@strausnews.com no later than two weeks before the event.

Our Town Downtown is published weekly by Straus Media-Manhattan, LLC. Please send inquiries to 20 West Ave., Chester, NY 10918.

BY ERICA MAGRIN

New York City sells more puppies than any other city in the United States. In 2015, a law was passed banning the commercial sale of dogs from puppy mills in city pet stores, but the law is not always enforced, advocates say. Not only that, but according to Gina Moraz, manager of the ASPCA Puppy Mills Campaign, 22 states have no laws on the books at all regulating commercial dog breeders. According to Moraz, the highest concentration of puppy mills are found in the Midwest with numbers growing in other states; the second-highest frequency of puppy mills exist in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York State. According to Moraz, the ASPCA estimates that there are as many as 10,000 puppy mills across the nation, and while there are no puppy mills in New York City proper, puppies from these Upstate or outof-state facilities are often sold in city pet stores and by online retailers. There are estimated between 2,000 and 3,000 USDAlicensed breeders in the U.S., but this number does not take into consideration the numbers of breeders not required to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture or the number of breeders operating illegally without a license. “Because so many of these breeders are operating without oversight, it’s impossible to accurately track them or to know how many there truly are,” says Moraz. What classiﬁes a puppy mill? “The ASPCA defines a puppy mill as a large-scale commercial breeding facility where proﬁt is given priority over the well-being of the dogs,” said Moraz in a statement. “Puppy mills treat dogs like products, not living beings.” She further states, that purchasing a puppy for sale at a pet store or online often supports the horrible puppy mill industry. How can a puppy mill be identified? “The ASPCA and other organizations respond to complaints from consumers who have bought a sick puppy in a pet store, or they respond to complaints about people who operate puppy mills,” stated the manager of ASPCA Puppy

A line of Jack Russell puppies, not from a puppy mill. Photo: Prophetic_Blogger, via ﬂickr Mills Campaign. “Responsible breeders, unlike puppy mills, do not sell their puppies through pet stores because they want to screen potential owners to ensure that the puppies are going to good homes. They will let you see the living conditions and environment in which the puppy has been raised, and the parents as well. They provide accurate and reliable health vaccination, and pedigree information, and most importantly, they will take back any animal of their breeding at any time and for any reason.” When an animal is placed in a conﬁned, unclean environment, it can be detrimental to their health, physically, mentally, and emotionally. The reality of puppy mills is not a pretty picture: innocent puppies, sometimes from birth, are held in overloaded, small spaces without proper access to food, water, veterinary care, clean conditions, exercise, or socialization. In soiled cages, puppies are stuffed on top of each other, having to fight one another to breathe. It goes without saying that these puppies often die early and brutally, without ever feeling the loving touch of a human hand. Sick dogs are typically not removed from breeding pools, leading to puppies being born with illnesses including heart disease, epilepsy, respiratory infections, intestinal parasites, and musculoskeletal disorders. Female dogs are bred at alarming rates to increase a puppy mill’s supply of puppies, leaving the breeding females with little to no time to recover, sometimes killing them in the process. Because puppies in these environments are usually separated from their mothers and littermates at too early an age, they commonly suffer from the mental scars of fear, anxiety and overall behavioral problems.

There is a way to help stop this vicious cycle: “Puppy mills would cease to exist without consumer demand,” explains Moraz. “Most pet store puppies come from puppy mills, but consumers who buy puppies from pet stores do not always know their purchase feeds the profitmaking machine that keeps puppy mills in business. The ASPCA encourages consumers to make adoption their first option.” Brittany Feldman, co-founder of Shelter Chic, which hosts dogs and cats available for adoption and fostering, takes the “adopt don’t shop” mentality to heart. She first started Shelter Chic along with her cofounder, Amanda Folk out of her own apartment; now it is full-fledged nonprofit thanks to Feldman and Folk’s passion and dedication to this cause. “Puppy mills, where most pet stores get their dogs from, are inhumane breeding factories that solely care about making money and not the well-beings of the animals. That cute puppy you see in the window of a pet store most likely came from a puppy mill. That cute puppy is taken ‘good’ care of because the better it looks, the higher the price the store can sell it for. It was bred to be cute, regardless of genetics, and many of these dogs will have health problems due to the irresponsible breeding,” said Feldman in a statement. “It has probably never been outdoors, had little to no human interaction, and its paws are probably bleeding from standing on the wires [of their cages] with no place to lay down. The female dogs’ sole purpose in life is to have as many puppies as possible. Buying that cute puppy in the window perpetuates this cycle, and lets the people running these mills think what they are doing is justified, because they

are making money off these poor animals.” Shelter Chic puts forward a positive message about adopting, showcasing their animals as warriors. It is this type of creative, positive messaging that can help stop puppy mills at their core by encouraging potential animal owners to choose to adopt. “There are so many homeless and extremely adoptable animals in need of homes, and you can rescue any type or breed of dog, from shelters and pet rescues and many times from owners who decide that for whatever reason a puppy just doesn’t fit with their lifestyle anymore,” stated Feldman. “Some justify buying from a pet store by saying they saved a poor puppy living in a cage, but that is 100% not true. Buying that puppy is supporting the abuse and neglect of these dogs and as long as people keep buying, this will continue to go on. Many of the dogs in shelters and with rescues were once those cute puppies you saw in the window! After the novelty wears off and people realize that cute puppy is a living being in need of care, many will surrender them. We need to stop the cycle from where it starts or it will never end. No matter what type of dog you want, do not succumb to this inhumane practice. Take the time to find and rescue your dream dog and save a life.” If someone suspects a potential puppy mill, the best thing to do is to report it to a local animal control center or humane organization. In New York City, animal cruelty can be reported by calling 311. Shelter Chic is located in Tribeca, and continues to help find adoptable animals their forever homes. The ASPCA urges consumers to take their pledge: refuse to buy any products from stores that sell puppymill dogs.

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

The New York Coliseum was at Columbus Circle from 1956 to 2000.

MOSES BUILT NEW YORK’S COLISEUM For decades, the city’s main exposition and convention center was at Columbus Circle BY RAANAN GEBERER

Before the Javits Center was New York City’s expo and convention center, the city’s chief venue for such events was the New York Coliseum on Columbus Circle. The Coliseum was built in the mid-1950s by Robert Moses’ Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority and designed by architects Leon and Lionel Levy. It replaced two theaters, several tenements and office buildings and some stores. To get it built, the powerful Moses condemned the west side of Columbus Circle as a slum, then got the federal government, under its slum-clearance program, to foot much of

the bill. As it was being built in 1955, part of the main hall collapsed, killing one worker and injuring 50. The Coliseum, which consisted of a windowless exhibition building and an attached 23-story office tower, was honored with a postage stamp when it opened in 1956. It was adorned with four medallions, representing the United States, New York State, New York City and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority. Mayor Robert Wagner called it “one of the wonders of the modern world.” The architecture community, however, was less pleased with the bland, windowless structure. “It’s a great utilitarian achievement, but architecture is something else again,” Frank Lloyd Wright was quoted as saying by The New York Times. “I think it’s all right for New

York, but I hope it stays here.” During the next 20 years or so, the Coliseum was the major exhibition hall in New York City. It could handle several events at once. It hosted were the New York International Auto Show, the National Photographic Show, the Philatelic Exhibition, the International Home Expo, the New York Coliseum Antiques Show, among others. Eventually, however, trade shows got bigger and the New York Coliseum became inadequate. In the mid-1980s, construction started on the Javits Center, in Hell’s Kitchen, which further put the Coliseum’s future in doubt. The Coliseum closed in 1986 after a men’s sportswear show, and the MTA, which had become the parent body of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, put the building up for sale.

After a planned sale to Boston Properties fell through in the early 1990s due to the recession, the MTA reopened the Coliseum for occasional small events, particularly the threetimes-a-year antiques show. The location had another function, as well. I remember, during the ‘90s, walking by and seeing a large crowd of people, mainly women with children, waiting for charter buses. A police officer on the scene told me the buses were taking them to upstate prisons to visit their family members. Finally, in 1998, the MTA sold the building to Time Warner, which demolished it and built the Time Warner Center. Robert Moses in his heyday built many structures that are still part of the landscape of New York, but the Coliseum was not destined to be one of them.

As a native New Yorker with a wealth of real estate knowledge, I navigate real estate transactions smoothly and efficiently. Please contact me for a complimentary consultation.

JUDITH MARCUS, Associate Broker judith.marcus@sothebyshomes.com +1.917.991.4912

Downtown Manhattan Brokerage 149 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10010 Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

At Country Bank Our Rates Were Raised!

Out & About More Events. Add Your Own: Go to otdowntown.com

PRIME SAVINGS

0.70

APY*

Historically Country Bank rates change when the Federal Reserve rate changes. How many banks can say that?

Thu

18 Fri 19

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;SUMMER THURSDAYSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; TAI CHI MUSIC FESTIVAL 75 Battery Place, Esplanade One World Observatory 7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9 p.m. $50 In itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second-to-last week, come listen to music from on high. oneworldobservatory.com/ summerthursdays/ BRANCH LOCATIONS FLAGSHIP BRANCH 655 Third Ave. New York, NY (212) 292-5254

MANHATTAN 902 Second Ave. New York, NY (212) 829-9998

SCARSDALE 80 Garth Rd. Scarsdale, NY (914) 722-1500

RIVERDALE 583 W. 235th St. Bronx, NY (718) 601-8300

WOODLAWN MAIN OFFICE 4349 Katonah Ave. 655 Third Ave. Bronx, NY New York, NY (718) 324-7100 (212) 818-9090

* Effective 12/22/15, the Prime Savings interest rate is 0.695%, 0.70% Annual Percentage Yield. The minimum opening deposit and minimum daily balance to qualify for the APY is $5,000.00. If the daily balance falls below $5,000.00, a $10.00 monthly fee will be charged. If the balance falls between $2,500.00 and $4,999.99, the interest rate is 0.196% and the APY is 0.20%. If the balance falls below $2,500.00, no interest will be earned. Prime Savings Account rates are not tied to any index and are subject to change at the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discretion. Speak with your local branch for details.

KIDS SHOW 175 North End Ave. 4 p.m. Free Hosted by the library in Battery Park City, a summer reading celebration. www.nypl.org/

Sat

SIDEWALK ART DISPLAY â&#x2013;º

Plaza 8:30 a.m. Free Help improve balance, get exercise, and breath the fresh air off the river in the morning. Participants of all ages welcome. bpcparks.org/

Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place 10:30 a.m. $5, RSVP required This exhibit features the artwork of child 4 and older, each given the blueprint to a famous NYC building and told to draw it. www.skyscraper.org/

FRAUNCES TAVERN MUSEUM GUIDED TOUR

BATTERY DANCE FESTIVAL RECEPTION

54 Pearl St. Noon. $4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$7 Learn about New York City in Revolutionary times and the part itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s citizens played in the Revolutionary War. frauncestavernmuseum.org/

Pace University, 1 Pace Plaza 6â&#x20AC;&#x201C;8:30 p.m, Free (general admission)â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$75 In celebration of the Battery Dance Festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 35th anniversary, a special closing reception. Reservation required. schimmel.pace.edu/

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Your Guide to Spiritual Happiness

Sun

CHILDREN’S STORY TIME CHARACTER VISIT The Strand Bookstore, 828 Broadway 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Free A series of events for children interested in reading. Complete with a visit from any child’s favorite monkey, Curious George, an afternoon for the whole family. www.strandbooks.com/ story-time/

SAILING ABOARD PIONEER South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St. Noon-2 p.m. $40–$45 While sailing, learn about the history of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. Hosted by the South Street Seaport Museum. southstreetseaportmuseum. org/

IMPOSSIBLE BLOSSOM ART EXHIBIT

the first two “Godfather” films. anthologyfilmarchives.org/

2 West 13th St. Noon–6 p.m. Free View art on display from The New School Art Collection, featuring the work of new artists. events.newschool.edu/

Wed24

Tue

BOOK LAUNCH McNally Jackson Books, 52 Prince St. 7 p.m. Free Come to the book launch of award-winning author Kate Milford’s newest novel, The Left-Handed Fate. www.mcnallyjackson.com/

FILM SCREENING Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Ave 6:45 p.m. Free A screening of Francis Ford Coppola’s thriller, “The Conversation,” made between

We are Happy Science! A Global Movement and Happiness Revolution working to make YOU a happier person and THE WORLD a happier place. We have the motto, EXPLORING THE RIGHT MIND. This means to explore and activate our divine nature by putting into practice the Four Principles of Happiness, which are LOVE - to give love to others, instead of taking, WISDOM - to study spiritual Truth to gain higher perspective in life and live in the Truth, SELF-REFLECTION - to examine our thoughts and purify our minds by removing the ego, and PROGRESS - to share happiness and keep improving ourselves while improving the world. Creating a HAPPIER family, HAPPIER society and HAPPIER world starts from each one of us.

RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS THAT WORK SESSION 133 East 13th St. 3:30–4:30 p.m. Free, Online RSVP required Learn how to craft a resume and cover letter to reﬂect the qualities a potential employer wants to see. events.nyu.edu/#event_ id/112489/view/event

Join Us for Weekly Sunday Workshops at 1 pm Weeknight (Tues-Thurs) Meditation Sessions 6:30 - 7:30 pm Upcoming Open Workshop

ONLINE SHOPPING TUTORIAL Hamilton Fish Park Library, 415 East Houston St. 10 a.m.–noon. Free Aimed at Internet beginners, this tutorial will inform participants on shopping online safely, as well as how to make the most of the online shopping experience. Must have an active email account to participant. www.nypl.org/events/

(Sun) August 28th 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Detox Your Life Break Through Limitations

Mon

Feeling stuck? Detox your life and break through your limits!

LEARN CALLIGRAPHY ▲ Chatham Square Library, 33 East Broadway 1 p.m.–3 p.m., Free Observe and learn the beautiful art of calligraphy writing. Available in English and Chinese. Bring calligraphy pen. www.nypl.org/events/

We are located in TriBeCa! Contact us: 1-800-710-7777 / happyscience-ny.org

Watch us on TV!

Invitation to Happiness on FOX 5, Sundays at 8:30 am! ryuho-okawa.com

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Voices FINDING THE HEART OF NEW YORKERS

Write to us: To share your thoughts and comments go to otdowntown.com and click on submit a letter to the editor.

OP-ED BY RACHEL ROTH

For every stereotype out there that New Yorkers are mean, callous, and always in a rush, I know that there is a passionate, generous group of New Yorkers, who have had a profound impact on my life and continue to provide unquestionable value for which I am grateful: the volunteers from New York Cares. As a life-long opera fan and consummate “foodie,” I launched my latest entrepreneurial venture, OperaNuts, in 2012. After months of experimentation, usually on a Saturday afternoon as I listened to the Metropolitan Opera on WQXR (something that I have done almost all of my adult life), I honed my inaugural product. A sweet/savory confection of premier roasted California almonds, rich dark chocolate covered almonds in a secret sea salt sauce was born and, after receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from friends and family, I decided to pursue my passion as a business venture. Yet in an undeniably digital world, I was at an impasse as to how best to move forward with my dream. While able to utilize computers for basic functions, I acknowledged that technologies had changed dramatically since retiring from my career in fashion marketing and journalism. The prospect of launching my business in an internet age was daunting at best. The one-on-one tutoring program of New York Cares that has taken place in the New York Public Library’s 67th Street branch was the solution. For the past ﬁve years, each Thursday afternoon, I have been tutored by more experienced younger folks who volunteer their time to help those of us “scared” of computers (only at ﬁrst!) to eventually become a friend of technology. Volunteers began to ease me into a warm relationship with the computer, and into the tech world, advising me that a website was a prerequisite for success in our connected society. The result of many sessions with one volunteer, Hannah, is the OperaNuts Word Press website you see when visiting OperaNuts.com. Along the way, I have also developed meaningful and long-lasting friendships with my volunteers. They have become both mentors and friends and a few are now employees of the OperaNuts team. Suggesting that I

Pictured from left to right, Kim Lockett (OperaNuts Employee), Rachel Roth (Found/Owner of OperaNuts), and Eileen Roach (New York Cares volunteer.)

After months of experimentation, usually on a Saturday afternoon as I listened to the Metropolitan Opera on WQXR (something that I have done almost all of my adult life), I honed my inaugural product. A sweet/savory confection of premier roasted California almonds, rich dark chocolate covered almonds in a secret sea salt sauce was born and, after receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from friends and family, I decided to pursue my passion as a business venture. Rachel Roth utilize MailChimp to create aesthetically pleasing email campaigns and spread the word about OperaNuts, volunteers Eileen and Emma went one

step further, helping me to create and write engaging content for my email newsletters. Of course, these good deeds have

not gone unrewarded – oh no! I have given many containers of OperaNuts to all of my tutors, managers, and the library staff. I will, of course, continue to reward those dear volunteers who give their time to help people like me. I have also seen the invaluable support that they provide to peers in these groups, patiently and gently guiding individuals to whom use of a computer is not instinctive. From helping class attendees see pictures of their grandchildren on Facebook for the ﬁrst time, conduct research on the web, apply for a job, or accomplish an everyday administration task for which a computer is seemingly vital these days, these seemingly small acts of kindness have provided enormous value to their recipients. The bonds that I have developed with each of these volunteers extends far

beyond the conﬁnes of the 67th Street New York Public Library, as evidenced by the fact that I can always expect to see a friendly face when OperaNuts participates in regular Williams-Sonoma Artisans’ Markets. Each time I attend to sell my products, I receive surprise visits and words of encouragement from my New York Cares friends, who live in different corners of the City – and I remind them that I simply couldn’t have done it without them. I have learned a lot from my computer classes these last ﬁve years, and not just about technology – I’ve learned that, far from the stereotype, New York is full of warm-hearted, caring people who are willing to go the extra mile for you. Rachel Roth is a serial entrepreneur and proud owner of OperaNuts.

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

A VICTORY AMID THE GRIPES GRAYING NEW YORK BY MARCIA EPSTEIN

Congratulations to our wonderful building president and community activist extraordinaire, Jean Green Dorsey, who won a nice settlement from the city when our building attempted to exclude rent stabilized tenants from the new gym. Not only did we gain access (at a fair price), but the company had to pay for their discrimination against the mostly seniors who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay market rent. A wonderful victory! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m wondering if government workers have to take a â&#x20AC;&#x153;rudeâ&#x20AC;? test in order to qualify for the job. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure someone has met a helpful post office employee, but that person isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t me. The line can be around the corner and the workers are, seemingly, moving at a snailâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pace, never making eye contact and obviously would prefer being on the golf course. Another example: My reduced fare Metrocard hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t arrived a few weeks before the expiration date, as it usually does. I called the MTA and a very short-tempered woman barked â&#x20AC;&#x153;weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still mailing them.â&#x20AC;? I waited a week or so more. When I phoned

again, I was told that my apartment number wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t on ďŹ le. Why didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t she tell me that the ďŹ rst time and correct it? I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get my card so I went way down to Stone Street to try to settle the matter. There was one person on lineâ&#x20AC;Śme. The clerks were too busy talking to each other to notice. Finally I stepped up and asked if I needed to take a number. One clerk ďŹ nally noticed me and told me that they had until the day before the expiration date to get the card to me and to come back next Monday if I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gotten it. Then he turned away to resume his conversation with his co-worker. Well, lo and behold, I got the card on a Saturday, one day before it expired. By that time I had written several emails to the MTA site as well as all the phone calls. Voila! The card. But it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easy. Whenever I travel out of the city, the personnel at post offices, business offices, restaurants and any other places of business are friendly, polite and seem to want to help. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to ďŹ nd that attitude here in Manhattan but especially at government offices. It seems a little power causes a mighty swelled head. The worst post office I ever dealt with, before my

Mom arrived for dinner at midnight

building got its own package room, was 104th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenues, the Ansonia PO. I felt whiplashed whenever I left there. Thank heavens I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to deal with them anymore. But really, city workers are unique in their bad attitude. I know my senior friends notice this, and I wonder if some of the attitude is especially for us oldsters. Another issue. Why do restaurants, during the summer, have to feel like the refrigerator of a butcher shop? Why do we need to bring our faux fur coats just to have a meal? Air conditioning is nice, but freezing is not. This goes for most stores also. One of the pleasures of summer (humidity is definitely not one of them!) is not needing coats, scarves and hats. But whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the point if one always has to carry a sweater just to enter a restaurant or store? And back to dining; lousy acoustics. So many restaurants are so badly insulated that it makes me and my friends wonder if they do it on purpose. Take Fairway, on 75th and Broadway. They have really good, fresh foodâ&#x20AC;Ś.and the worst acoustics Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve encountered. Plus, the tables are pushed together so close that between the ambient noise and the near-by con-

Photo by Mr.TinDC via ďŹ&#x201A;ickr versations, my friends and I end up shouting at each other. DeďŹ nitely not good for aging ears. I just spent a fortune for lunch, during Restaurant Week, at a supposedly fancy place. Not only was it freezing and loud, but the portions were miniscule. It seems the more you pay, the less you get. This is called fine dining. But really, six tiny ravioli, and what they called lemon sorbet for dessert which was really some storedaway snow from last winter? Maybe Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just a diner person. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re big,

theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re roomy, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re reasonably priced and the portions are enough to satisfy. Is it top quality; of course not. But if I only get two bites of top quality, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather have a full meal and feel Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve eaten something. Senior Planet occasionally receives requests from casting agencies looking for senior subjects for film and television. An agency is currently seeking people over 40 with arthritis who still play their instruments. Check out the Senior Planet website for more information.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never too early (or too late) to talk about Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support. Call our 24-hour Helpline. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here anytime you need to talk.

(646) 744â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2900 Free | ConďŹ dential | Se habla espaĂąol | áĄ&#x2021;â&#x20AC;ŤŮ&#x2021;â&#x20AC;Źä&#x2026;&#x2018;ŃŁáŽ˝ É¸ÉťÉľĚ´:ÂłÄ&#x2022;Ă&#x2020;Ă?ÂžĂžĂŁĂ?Ě´ Ä?ÂłĂ?Ä&#x201A;ÂłËľĚ´ÉšĂžĂ&#x192;Ě´"Ă&#x2013;ĂŁĂŁĂ˛Ě´Ě´ËłĚ´ĚÁÂłÄ?Ě´xĂŁĂ˛Ă&#x201D;ËľĚÁxĚ´ÉśÉľÉľÉśÉźĚ´Ě´ "ĂŁĂ˛Ă&#x153;ÂłĂ˛Ă&#x2013;Ä&#x2013;Ě´8Ă?ĂŁÄ?Ă?Ě´Â&#x153;ĂśĚ´ĂžĂ&#x192;ÂłĚ´ Ă&#x2013;Ä&#x203A;Ă&#x192;ÂłĂ&#x2020;Ă&#x153;ÂłĂ˛ËžĂśĚ´ ĂśĂśĂŁÂŠĂ&#x2020;Â&#x153;ĂžĂ&#x2020;ĂŁĂ?ËľĚÁx Ě´ Ă&#x192;Â&#x153;ĂŻĂžÂłĂ˛ "Ä&#x201A;Ă?ÂŻÂłÂŻĚ´Â¨Ä&#x2013;Ě´Â&#x153;Ě´ÂžĂ˛Â&#x153;Ă?ĂžĚ´Â˝Ă˛ĂŁĂ&#x153;Ě´ĂžĂ&#x192;ÂłĚÁÂłÄ?Ě´xĂŁĂ˛Ă&#x201D;Ě´ZĂžÂ&#x153;ĂžÂłĚ´ ÂłĂŻÂ&#x153;Ă˛ĂžĂ&#x153;ÂłĂ?ĂžĚ´ĂŁÂ˝Ě´(ÂłÂ&#x153;Ă&#x2013;ĂžĂ&#x192;

www.caringkindnyc.org

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Don’t go out into the heat. 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

0 1 6 OTT Y AWA

RDS

His Eminence Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan

Just $49

Dr. Maura D. Frank Gustavo Goncalves

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

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

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

FALL 2016

education Downtown

THE TOP 20 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS • best public high schools • best public elementary schools • best private schools • continuing education

Compiling a list of the best high schools in Manhattan, or any other category of schools for that matter, can be challenging. Of course, there are perennials like Stuyvesant, the High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies and the Baruch College. The challenge is to try to ﬁnd some that ﬂy a bit under the radar, or that are up-and-comers with solid academic strengths, but not as flashy. Our list represents some of the best high schools Manhattan has to offer: schools with top-quality academic programs, and fiercely competitive performing arts programs, or unique “only-in-New York-type” schools that blend cultures and language into proving grounds for college and beyond. The High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies expects all students to be fluent in Mandarin and English by graduation. LaGuardia applicants must audition, and Stuyvesant requires kids to pass a famously rigorous test. Columbia Secondary High School wants its students to be socially and politically conscious. The High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering proclaims it is educating the next generation of leaders in the technology field, and Bard High School Early College allows achievement-driven juniors and seniors to take college level courses, up to 60 credits and to graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree. We also picked up some outliers such as the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS),

praised by President Obama; Art and Design High School and the High School for Health Professions and Human Services. We compiled the list using school websites, the Department of Education’s Quality Review assessment tool, insideschools.org, greatschools.org, schooldigger.com, the U.S. News & World Report rankings and conversations with parents. Our list isn’t perfect, but it’s a great place to start to ﬁnd the right school for your child. -- Stuart Marques

BARD HIGH SCHOOL EARLY COLLEGE 525 E. Houston St. Enrollment: 534 Graduation Rate: 97% Avg. Attendance: 95.8% Ethnicity: 41% white, 16% Hispanic, 23% Asian, 16% black Avg. class size in English class: 21% Billing itself as a “Place to Think,” Bard is a four-year high school that allows juniors and seniors to take up to 60 college credits and graduate with both a Regents Diploma and an Associate’s Degree. Classes are small, the curriculum is fast-paced and rigorous and the school generally accepts students with grade averages of 85 and up, although allowances are sometimes made for special education students. It snagged a 9 out of 10 rating from greatschools.org.

COLUMBIA SECONDARY HIGH SCHOOL 425 W. 123rd St. Enrollment: 659 Graduation Rate: 99% Avg. Attendance: 96% Ethnicity: 20% white, 44% Hispanic, 12% Asian, 22% black Avg. class size in English class: 27% A partnership between Columbia University and the NYC Department of Education, Columbia Secondary, which is part of the Ralph Bunche Educational Complex, boasts a rigorous curriculum and focuses on mathematics, science and engineering. The school stresses social and political consciousness and involvement. It looks for students with a grade average of 90 or above. It is ranked 22nd in New York State by U.S. News & World Report (U.S. News) and earned a 9 out of 10 rating from greatschools.org.

MANHATTAN CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS 260 Pleasant Ave. Enrollment: 1,608 Graduation Rate: 96% Avg. Attendance: 93% Ethnicity: 57% Hispanic, 20% black; 3% white; 18% Asian Avg. class size in English class: 16 This somewhat under-the-radar school focuses on math, science and research. It accepts students with CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS

a foreign language, and hits Regents level courses by 9th grade. The school offers courses in music, art, dance, technology and Advanced Placement. The school pulled down an impressive 10 out of 10 rating from greatschools. org, and ranked 24th on the the U.S. News list of best New York public high schools.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

grade scores above 85 in math and science and above 80 in English and social studies. Students have an AP pass rate of 72%; and 93% score proﬁcient in English and 83% rate proﬁcient in math. It has an Advanced Science and Research Program for a small group of elite students who get to work with research scientists from such schools as Columbia University and New York University. U.S. News ranked it 99th best in New York and it received an 8 out of 10 rating from greatschools.org.

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL

HIGH SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN 245 E. 56th St. Enrollment: 1,438 Graduation Rate: 85% Avg. Attendance: 89.6% Ethnicity: 53% Hispanic, 25% black; 12% white; 9% Asian Avg. class size in English class: 32 If your teenager is a budding artist, this is the place to go. Art & Design offers strong commercial arts programs in fashion design, cartooning, digital photography and graphic design, to name just a few. Each student has two periods of art daily and the school offers internships with architectural and fashion ﬁrms. U.S. News ranked it 167th best in New York.

STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL 345 Chambers St. Enrollment: 3,327 Graduation Rate: 99% Avg. Attendance 97% Ethnicity: 73% Asian, 19% white, 3% Hispanic, 1% black Avg. class size in English class: 26. This academically tough school, who many rate as the best in the city, has a brand new principal for the 2016-2017 school year. He inherits a student body that is uniformly brilliant and competitive; one must test to gain entrance to Stuy-High, and the pressure to succeed is intense, both from educators and parents. Stuyvesant offers more than two dozen Advanced Placement courses, seven languages and a focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The rap on it is its miniscule percentage of black and Hispanic students. It rated a perfect 10 on greatschools.org and 11th on the U.S. News list for New York.

SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE HIGH SCHOOL 127 East 22nd St. Enrollment: 715 Graduation Rate: 91% Avg. Attendance 95% Ethnicity: 28% Hispanic, 16%

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Asian, 12 black, 36% white Avg. class size in English: 31 This school is in the Coalition of Essential Schools, and is part of a Gates Foundation-funded program. It prides itself on having a warm and nurturing environment for kids who – according to insideschools.org. – “don’t ﬁt the mold.” It calls itself an “experience school” where students write exhibitions rather than take state Regents tests. It also prides itself on being a bit kooky, and has had courses such as “Normal is Weird,” and “Yale for Beginners.” It received a 9 out of 10 rating from greatschools.org, and ranked 201st on the U.S. News list of best New York public high schools.

HIGH SCHOOL FOR MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AT CITY COLLEGE 240 Convent Ave. Enrollment: 475 Graduation Rate: 98% Avg. Attendance 96% Ethnicity: 35% Asian, 27% white, 23% Hispanic, 10% black Avg. class size in English class: 29 This test-based admissions school, where 67% of the students are boys, prides itself on “Educating the Next Generation of Leaders in a TechnologyDriven World.” The coursework is rigorous and Advance Placement courses are plentiful. School leaders convey high expectations to teachers, who do the same for students. It ranked 12th on the the U.S. News list of the best New York high schools and got a rating of 10 out of 10 from greatschools.org.

HIGH SCHOOL FOR DUAL LANGUAGE AND ASIAN STUDIES 350 Grand St. Enrollment: 414 Graduation Rate: 95% Avg. Attendance 98% Ethnicity: 89% Asian, 2% white, 6% Hispanic, 3% black. Avg. class size in English class: 31 This wildly popular and challenging school expects all students will be ﬂuent in Mandarin and English by the time they graduate. It offers a rigorous Advanced Placement course that 97.7% of all students successfully complete. Academic teachers and Second Language instructors collaborate on lesson plans to ensure uniformity. Dual Language got an 8 out of 10 rating from greatschools.org, and ranked 9th on the the U.S. News list of best New York public high schools.

HIGH SCHOOL FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND HUMAN SCIENCE 345 E. 15th St. Enrollment: 1,700 Graduation Rate: 90% Avg. Attendance: 92% Ethnicity: 53% Hispanic, 18% black; 7% white; 21% Asian Avg. class size in English class: 31 This popular school offers medical, technical and college prep courses and a screened Medical Science and Research program in partnership with SUNY Albany that seeks students with grade averages of 85 or higher. It prepares students for college, as well as for jobs in health care, and stresses collaboration and project-based work. U.S. News ranked it 169th best in New York and it drew a 6 out of 10 from

greatschools.org.

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING SCHOOL 511 W. 182nd St. Enrollment: 760 Graduation Rate: 78% Avg. Attendance: 89% Ethnicity: 94% Hispanic, 3% black; 2% white; 1% Asian Avg. class size in English class: 27% Known as WHEELS, this school, which largely serves the Washington Heights Community, has a rigorous curriculum and a 67% participation in Advance Placement courses. The school has a tradition of having all graduating seniors march to the local post office to ceremoniously put their college applications in the mail. President Obama lauded this practice in 2014, saying, “You would have thought it was the Macy’s Parade.” It is ranked 74th in New York by the U.S. News and procured a 5 out of 10 rating from greatschools.org.

NEW EXPLORATIONS INTO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MATH HIGH SCHOOL 111 Columbia St. Enrollment: 1,738 (k-12) Graduation Rate: 98% Avg. Attendance 96% Ethnicity: 11% Hispanic, 33% Asian, 9% black, 42% white Avg. class size in English class: 27 NEST+m is a holistic K-12 program geared toward gifted and talented students. Parents love it because its rigorous coursework begins in the Lower School with Singapore math and

411 E. 76th St. Enrollment: 534 Graduation Rate: 100% Avg. Attendance 96% Ethnicity: 62% white, 9% Hispanic, 4% black and 22% Asian. Avg. class size in English class: 23 It’s no surprise that a school that touts itself as dedicated to teaching students “to be life-long learners” who think critically and solve problems creatively would have a perfect 100% graduation rate. Housed in an old Sotheby’s warehouse, it has a rigorous English Lit. curriculum where 9th graders read “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” and 10th graders read “Dante’s Inferno.” Its mission statement proclaims the school’s commitment to “open, thoughtful exploration.” It received a rating of 9 out of 10 from greatschools.org, and was ranked 25th by the U.S. News.

BARUCH COLLEGE CAMPUS HIGH SCHOOL 55 E. 25th St. Enrollment: 438 Graduation Rate: 100% Avg. Attendance 97.7% Ethnicity: 59% Asian, 15% Hispanic, 1% black and 20% white. Avg. class size in English class: 28 Baruch, which partners with Baruch College and Harvard, is one of the toughest schools to get into in the city – only 1% of applicants were accepted in the fall of 2013. The DOE’s Quality Review Report says this school has a “consistently rigorous curricula and academic tasks (that) ensure that all students have access, are cognitively engaged and required to show their thinking.” Did we mention that students can expect three hours of homework a night? It ranked 66th on the the U.S. News & World Report list and got a 9 out of 10 from greatschools.org.

MILLENNIUM HIGH SCHOOL 75 Broad St. Enrollment: 641 Graduation Rate: 99% Avg. Attendance 96% Ethnicity: 40% Asian, 31% white, 19% Hispanic, 7% black Avg. class size in English class: 29. Located in an old office building not far from the famous “Charging Bull” CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

DREAMS DO COME TRUE Orubba Almansouri City College of New York Salutatorian 2016 B.A., English and History

HER STORY

PHOTO BY ANDRÉ N. BECKLES /CUNY

Orubba Almansouri, in a graduation speech that moved Michelle Obama to invite her to a White House summit on women, told how she broke barriers that kept traditional Yemeni girls out of school. “What I was used to seeing as endless walls just became obstacles that I had to learn to break down or climb,” Almansouri says.

AWARDS Winner, Mellon Mays Fellowship Winner, Colin Powell Fellowship

GOAL Master’s in Near Eastern Studies, then a Ph.D.

CUNY’s high-quality, affordable academic opportunities make it “the American Dream Machine,” in the words of the late City College alumnus and Intel Corp. founder Andrew Grove. CUNY students dream big, work hard and accomplish much, winning the most prestigious awards in the nation. In 2016, these included 10 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships and 13 Fulbright Fellowships for research and teaching abroad — among many examples of the transformative value of a CUNY education. — Chancellor James B. Milliken

cuny.edu/welcome

CUNY+AMERICANDREAMMACHINE

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

sculpture, Millennium offers four years of math and science and three years of foreign languages, primarily Spanish or Mandarin. The school, where girls outnumber boys almost two to one, offers a variety of Advanced Placement courses, but also provides special ed services for 15% of the student body. About 8 out of 10 students received an Advanced Regents Diploma – an almost sure-ﬁre ticket to a top college. It received a 9 rating from greatschools.org and was ranked 77th best New York public high school by U.S. News.

FIORELLO H. LAGUARDIA HIGH SCHOOL OF MUSIC & ART AND PERFORMING ARTS 100 Amsterdam Ave. Enrollment: 2,713 Graduation Rate: 98% Avg. Attendance 95% Ethnicity: 44% white, 19% Asian, 20% Hispanic, 12% black, 5% multi-racial Avg. class size in English class: 33.

You’ve got to survive a tough, competitive round of auditions to sing, dance or act your way into this racially diverse school, a successor to the “Fame” school. It has long been a magnet for talented kids from across the city – whether they be children of celebrities or less privileged students. Students take regular academic courses and two to three hours a day of their specialty either drama, dance, music, art or production. It ranked 36th on U.S. News list and snagged an 8 out of 10 rating from greatschools.org.

YOUNG WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SCHOOL 105 E. 106th St. Enrollment: 491 Graduation Rate: 99% Avg. Attendance 97% Ethnicity: 60% Hispanic, 25% black, 9% Asian, 4% white, Avg. class size in English class: 25 InsideSchools calls this girlsonly school in East Harlem a “calm and cheery place” which “boasts near-perfect graduation and college acceptance rates.” It’s also the perfect place to send your daughter if she doesn’t want to be distracted by boys. Uniforms are required, classes are small and teachers instill the notion that girls can get as far boys. The school,

which partners with Smith and Barnard Colleges is ranked 182 by U.S. News and scored a 7 out of 10 rating from greatschools.org.

BEACON HIGH SCHOOL 530 W. 44th St. Enrollment: 1,306 Graduation Rate: 100% Avg. Attendance 96% Ethnicity: 53% white, 22% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 14% black Avg. class size in English class: 32 Now housed in a shiny new building on West 44th St. in Hell’s Kitchen, this much sought-after school offers a traditional liberal arts program infused with technology and arts. To graduate, students must present performancebased projects to panels of teachers and complete a stint of community service. Beacon offers extensive travel opportunities, including trips to Russia and Africa. It got a perfect 10 out of 10 from greatschools.org and was 171st on the the U.S. News list.

NYC LAB SCHOOL FOR COLLABORATIVE STUDIES 333 W. 17th St. Enrollment: 587 Graduation Rate: 95%

Avg. Attendance 94% Ethnicity: 44% white, 16% Hispanic, 29% Asian, 8% black, 3% multi-racial Avg. class size in English class: 26 This somewhat quirky campus school in Chelsea has a rigorous curriculum that offers a wide range of experiences and choices – not to mention several hours of homework every night. As its name implies, it’s big on collaboration and the school emphasizes critical thinking skills in academic tasks across grades and subjects, while also focusing on English Language Learners and special needs students. Some Advanced Placement courses are offered. It ranked 83rd on the U.S. News list and got a 7 out of 10 rating from greatschools.org.

NYC MUSEUM SCHOOL 333 W. 17th St. Enrollment: 446 Graduation Rate: 100% Avg. Attendance: 95% Ethnicity: 12% white, 38% Hispanic, 34% Asian, 13% black Avg. class size in English class: 25% Guess what: This school takes frequent trips to museums. Classes are broken into museum-based study groups called modules to focus

The Mary Louis Academy

on certain areas, like geometrics or forensics. They usually involve a long-term project and culminate in a presentation. For instance, a geometric module would visit bridges and churches for project material. It ranked 144th on the the U.S. News list and received an 8 out of 10 rating from greatschools.org.

NYC ISCHOOL 131 Sixth Ave. Enrollment: 457 Graduation Rate: 99% Avg. Attendance: 94% Ethnicity: 31% white, 51% Hispanic, 7% Asian, 19% black Avg. class size in English class: 26 This school, which opened in 2008, is geared to students who are self-starters and highly inquisitive. Its mission statement proclaims: Based on core values of innovation and individualization of the student experience, the NYC iSchool provides an example of how schools can and should redeﬁne themselves. It bills itself as a school for the 21st century and strives to “develop a whole new vision for teaching, learning, and the student experience.” iSchool ranked 110th by the U.S. News, and rated 7 out of 10 stars from greatschools.org.

TM LA +

At The Mary Louis Academy, you will find your own voice—distinctive, confident, intelligent, creative, and empowered—a voice that will be one of your greatest assets in life.

OPEN HOUSE October 16th, 2016 10am-3pm

SHADOW A STUDENT buddy@tmla.org

176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432 | Phone: 718-297-2120 Fax: 718-739-0037 | @WEARETMLA | #HILLTOPPERNATION | TACHS #016

VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.tmla.org

The Mary Louis Academy is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, New York. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and Chartered by the State of NY.

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

TOP 10 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DOWNTOWN Most elementary schools in New York City are zoned, so most kids have to go to a school in their neighborhood. But not always. Several take only gifted and talented students, and in those schools the competition is ﬁerce. Many of the schools on our list have a great deal of parent involvement in fund-raising, pulling in hundreds of thousands of dollars for extras, such as chess, ballroom dancing, yoga, art and test prep. Since many of those schools are largely white, he also made sure to include a couple of excellent schools with more diversity. Like all Top Ten lists, some good schools didn’t make the cut. The best advice would be to check out your neighborhood school ﬁrst, and then look for alternatives. --Stuart Marques

NEST + M 111 Columbia St. Enrollment: 1,783 (k-12) Ethnicity: 33% Asian, 11% Hispanic, 9% black, 42% white Avg. Attendance 97% Avg. class size in 5th grade class:

This popular, somewhat diverse school is in the top 2% of city elementary schools and has a reputation for a strong writing program. Parents rave about its relaxed, yet rigorous, academic climate. The school’s mission statement says its core philosophy is to teach community values: “We encourage children to celebrate diversity, to respect each other, and to work together with shared goals.” Eighty-seven percent of third- to ﬁfth-graders scored proﬁcient in math or better, while 78% did so in English. A perfect 10 from greatschools.org.

P.S. 243 INDEPENDENCE SCHOOL 29 Nest + M bills itself as the top Gifted & Talented school in the city, and is NYC’s only K-12 G&T school. Its motto is, “Love and Respect for Knowledge.” The coursework is rigorous, including Singapore Math – which stresses understanding concepts, not just

memorizing -- in grades K-7. Ranked in the top 1% of city elementary schools; 96% of students scored at or above standards in math, while 94% did so in English. A perfect 10 from greatschools.org.

P.S. 41 THE GREENWICH

VILLAGE SCHOOL 116 W. 11th St. Enrollment: 72 (pk-5) Ethnicity: 9% Asian, 10% Hispanic, 1% black, 69% white Avg. Attendance 97% Avg. class size in 5th grade class: 28

292 Greenwich St. Enrollment: 703 (k-5) Ethnicity: 11% Asian, 11% Hispanic, 1% black, 70% white Avg. Attendance 96% Avg. class size in 5th grade class: 27 CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

AUGUST 18-24,2016

rate and uses the Math in Focus program, which is the American version of Singapore Math. Its motto is “Excellence in Education, enrichment for all children,” and the recent state test scores reﬂect that with 81% of students proﬁcient or better in math and 61% in English. Greatschools.org gave it a 10 out of 10 rating.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

This is a hot, hot, hot TriBeCa school housed in a modern castle-like building nestled along the highway. Its well-kept grounds belie its relaxed atmosphere and challenging academic and project-based programs. Parents are heavily involved, raising cash for extras, and children call their teachers by their ﬁrst name. It’s in the top 4% of city elementary schools; 80% of students in grades 3-5 scored at or above standards in math, and 76% did so in English. It got a perfect 10 from greatschools.org.

P.S. 3 CHARRETTE SCHOOL

P.S. 89 201 Warren St. Enrollment: 425 (k-5) Ethnicity: 17% Asian, 14% Hispanic, 2% black, 62% white Avg. Attendance 96% Avg. class size in 5th grade class: 26 Relatively new high-rises have robbed P.S. 89 of its once-spectacular river views, but this school is still among the most popular in Lower Manhattan. Educators emphasize “real learning,” rather than test prep, and the school purposely does not have a Gifted & Talented program and does not offer

a foreign language. They do have tons of after-school programs on everything from sports to cooking to homework help. 86% of kids scored proﬁcient or higher in the recent state math tests and it is rated in the top 0.8%. Greatschools.org gave it a perfect 10.

P.S. 130 HERNANDO DE SOTO 143 Baxter St. Enrollment: 970 (pk-5) Ethnicity: 88% Asian, 5% Hispanic, 1% black, 3% white Avg. Attendance 99%

Avg. class size in 5th grade class: 27 This school sits on the border of Chinatown and Little Italy and, like many top downtown schools, is largely Asian/immigrant and reﬂects the surrounding community. It is well-run, boasts a near-perfect attendance

490 Hudson St. Enrollment: 490 (k-5) Ethnicity: 7% Asian, 12% Hispanic, 5% black, 70% white Avg. Attendance 94% Avg. class size in 5th grade class: 30 P.S. 3 stresses three concepts: independence, innovation and community. Children learn through hands-on involvement with subjects and materials connected to the world around them, while encouraged to think independently, be intensely curious and have respect for each other and the community at large. Ranked in the top 3.5% of all city elementary schools, 75% of third- to ﬁfth-graders school at or above standards in math. Greatschools.org gave it a perfect 10.

P.S. 126 JACOB RIIS/ MANHATTAN ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY

Sam Branding

THOUSANDS OF COURSES. A MILLION REASONS. THERE ARE A MILLION REASONS FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION, BUT ONLY ONE FIT. STUDY EVENINGS, WEEKENDS, AND ONLINE.

#817

Turn creative imagination into marketable innovation.

State University of New York

Fashion Institute of Technology

Where creativity gets down to business.

ﬁtnyc.edu/straus

AUGUST 18-24,2016

80 Catherine St. Enrollment: 864 (pk-5) Ethnicity: 56% Asian, 23% Hispanic, 10% black, 10% white Avg. Attendance 95% Avg. class size in 5th grade class: 24 This school features strong academics, career training in the upper grades and a fairly diverse student body. Teachers are encouraged to be creative. According to Inside Schools, one middle school history class brought the Jazz Age to life by creating a â&#x20AC;&#x153;speakeasy with costumes, readings from Langston Hughes and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and even a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;barâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; serving root beer.â&#x20AC;? Unlike many top schools on our lists, it has a large number of English Language Learners and special ed students. Still 64% are proďŹ cient or better in math and 52% in English. Got an 8 out of 10 from greatschools.org.

P.S. 124 YUNG WING SCHOOL 40 Division St. Enrollment: 811 (pk-5) Ethnicity: 95% Asian, 3% Hispanic, 2% white Avg. Attendance 9.9% Avg. class size in 5th grade class: 26 Located in the heart of Chinatown and named for the ďŹ rst Chinese immigrant to graduate from Yale University (in 1853), this school uses collaborative programs to enrich the reading, writing and oral language skills for its large population of English Language Learners. Student presentations showcase their talents and communicate and through the arts and academics. 81% of students are proďŹ cient or above in math and 57% in English. A perfect 10 from greatschools.org.

P.S. 397 SPRUCE STREET SCHOOL 12 Spruce St. Enrollment: 362 (pk-6) Ethnicity: 58% white, 14% Asian, 12% Hispanic, 3% black Avg. Attendance 95.6% Avg. class size in 5th grade: 24 This school opened in 2009 and is gradually expanding to pk-8 by the 2017-2018 school year to reďŹ&#x201A;ect Lower Manhattanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rapidly growing population. It has rigorous academics and is active in the community, partnering with area restaurants for a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Taste of the Seaportâ&#x20AC;? fundraiser. Its ranks in the top 6% of city elementary schools, and, on the 2015 state tests, 79% scored proďŹ cient or better in math and 61% in English. Got a 10 out of 10 from greatschools.org.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

P.S. 1 ALFRED E. SMITH 8 Henry St. Enrollment: 400 (pk-5) Ethnicity: 64% Asian, 22% Hispanic, 12% black, 1% white Avg. Attendance 95% Avg. class size in 5th grade class: 24 Always considered an immigrant school since it opened in 1897, it has thrived through all demographic shifts. Children also are encouraged to take part in events that give back to the community, such as the annual Penny Harvest for charities selected by the students. 64% were proďŹ cient or better in math in the recent state tests. Got a 7 out of 10 from greatschools.org.

NextAct Fall 2016 Semester Explore the catalog and register today: jasa.org/community/nextact What is NextAct? JASAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NextAct programs are designed for adults 55+ who want to explore interesting topics, meet peers, become activists and make an impact in their communities: r 4VOEBZT BU +"4" DPVSTFT BU +PIO +BZ $PMMFHF r "EWPDBDZ USBJOJOH XPSLTIPQT BOE TFNJOBST r -FDUVSFT BOE DPVSTFT JO +VEBJD 4UVEJFT r 7PMVOUFFS PQQPSUVOJUJFT We create the adventure and all you need to do is show up! Want to learn more? Attend the Sundays at JASA Open House 4VOEBZ 4FQUFNCFS r BN m QN

John Jay College, 524 West 59th Street, New York City Fall Semester Dates: Sundays, September 18 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 4 Â&#x2021; nextact@jasa.org *U T ZPVS UVSO UP HFU JOWPMWFE -FBSO 5IFO "DU IFSA Workshops: Comprehensive education, leadership and advocacy training. Navigate New York Seminars: Engage in meaningful dialogue with government agencies that impact our city. FREE Medicare Seminar: Everything you need to know during the Medicare open enrollment period. For more information, or to register visit: www.jasa.org/advocacy Â&#x2021; LIVD#MDVD RUJ Founded in 1968, JASA is one of New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest and most trusted agencies serving older adults in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island. JASAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to sustain and enrich the lives of the aging in the New York metropolitan area so that they can remain in the community with dignity and autonomy.

Never in any other experience that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had has there been such emphasis on becoming confident in who you are and who you are in this world.

â&#x20AC;?

FIONA KENYON, CLASS OF 2016 senior portrait by Fiona Kenyon

Waldorf School | www.hawthornevalleyschool.org 330 County Route 21C, Ghent, NY 12075 | 518.672.7092 x 111

ESTABLISHED 1789 A NURTURING, SMALL, JUNIOR-K THROUGH 5th GRADE CO-ED SCHOOL On 95th Street at Central Park West

Where Empowerment and Education go hand-in-hand.

Join Our Junior Kindergarten For children 4 years old by September 1st, 2016 LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE

212-663-2844

alexanderrobertson.org

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

TOP PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN CHELSEA AND LOWER MANHATTAN The city is full of top-notch small and not-so-small private schools for families wealthy enough to afford it or fortunate enough to have a bright child who might qualify for a scholarship or ﬁnancial aid. Most of the schools on our list are prestigious and tough to get into. According to niche.com, students at many of these schools have average SAT scores of 2,100 and above -- far higher than the national average of 1,700 – and several boast of a high acceptance rate at Ivy League colleges. They all have small classes and low student/student ratios to provide a personalized education. Many on our list are familiar names, but we’ve included some who take extremely bright kids with learning issues or special needs. We’ve also listed a couple that are under the radar – not quite A-list but good, solid schools. Our list was compiled from school websites, education blogs, national rankings and news and magazine stories. It isn’t perfect or all-inclusive, but we hope it can help families make important educational choices for their children.

UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 24-50 FDR Drive Enrollment: 1,400 (k-12) Tuition: $34,580 - $38,500 Student/Teacher ratio – N/A, but classes are generally small This K-12, school, founded in 1947 as a nursery to serve the children of United Nations families and overlooking the East River, has grown to a 1,400-student campus in Manhattan and boasts a diverse student body representing 125 countries and speaking 103 languages. Only about half of the student body comes from UN-affiliated families. UNIS was among the ﬁrst schools offering International Baccalaureate diplomas, which the school’s website says enables students to go to top colleges and universities around the world.

THE LANG SCHOOL 11 Broadway Enrollment: 50 (k-12) Tuition: $42,000 - $58,075 Student/Teacher ratio – 6:1 CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Here’s where student potential becomes actual. One-to-one classrooms give students the space to ﬂourish emotionally, socially, and academically.

Flourish Emotionally, Socially, and Academically We believe that positive relationships are the key to unlocking the potential in every kid. Our teachers are able to personalize curriculum and teaching styles to each student’s individual strengths, interests, and learning style, while also playing the role of mentor. These connections give students the conﬁdence to pursue their goals, whatever they may be.

Middle and High School | Classes for Credit | Tutoring

Fusion Lincoln Center 212.362.1014 www.FusionLincolnCenter.com

Fusion Park Avenue 212.326.9522 www.FusionManhattan.com

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

AUGUST 18-24,2016

PRIVATE SCHOOLS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

This school accepts “twice-gifted” students, meaning they are highperforming but also have special needs and may have ADHD, dyslexia, Asperger’s or other challenges. The school’s mission statement says: “We embrace each student’s individuality, nurture their passions, and empower them with self-knowledge, selforganization and problem-solving skills through a strengths-based approach to learning.” They have “push-in” psychologists and speech pathologists to provide supports. Pricey, but many parents successfully sue the DOE for reimbursement.

NOTRE DAME SCHOOL (MANHATTAN) 327 W. 13th St. Enrollment: 340 (9-12) Tuition: $11,260 Student/Teacher ratio – 14:1 Admission to this 104-year-old Catholic all-girls school is based on performance in the Test for Admission to Catholic High Schools (TACHS). This school offers a traditional religious education, as well as American, British Literature and World Literature, math, science biology and chemistry, arts, physical education, Spanish, French and Latin and some Advanced Placement courses.

CITY AND COUNTRY SCHOOL 146 W. 13th St. Enrollment: About 500 (n-8) Tuition: $20,900 - $43,500 Student/Teacher ratio - 5:1 Founded in 1914 as a model of progressive education, this school is housed in several brownstones along tree-lined W. 13th Street. Social studies is the core of the curriculum, which also includes science, math, literature and the arts. Students are encouraged “to explore and question the human story, both past and present.” Notable alums include Matthew Broderick and Vladimir Posner.

“innovative and compelling learning environment,” the New York Times once asked rhetorically if Avenue was “the best education money can buy?”

THE HESCHEL SCHOOL 20 – 30 West End Ave. Enrollment: 857 (n-12) Tuition: $28,500 - $43,900 Student/teacher ratio – 14:1 This co-ed school, named for Abraham Joshua Heschel, one of the great rabbis of the 20th century, offers a mix of traditional general education and Jewish studies which emphasizes academic excellence and social and communal excellence. In addition to secular subjects, students also study the Torah and the Talmud and the school observes Jewish dietary laws.

AVENUES NYC 259 10th Ave. Enrollment: About 1,200 (k-12) Tuition: $43,350 Student/Teacher ratio – 9:1 Though it opened only four years ago, Avenues calls itself “The World School,” and plans to add schools around the world from Shanghai to London. Housed in the old 10-story R.C. Williams warehouse along the High Line, the school requires students to learn a second language – either Spanish or Mandarin – and focus on math and sciences. A recipient of an Apple Distinguished School for its

statement. Friends stresses the disciplines of silence, study, and service.

CORLEARS SCHOOL 324 W. 15th St. Enrollment: 145 (pre-school-5) Tuition: $25,000 - $37,400 Student/Teacher ratio - 4:1 Corlears specializes in early childhood education from 2 to 10 years old. Its website proclaims: “In classrooms, students work both individually and collaboratively to engage in strategic problem-solving. Children are encouraged to question not only how things work, but also why…We give our students numerous opportunities to exercise their curiosity, think deeply about their world, and develop the skills and knowledge that will enhance and empower their lives…”

FRIENDS SEMINARY 30 W. 16th St. Enrollment: 752 (k-12) Tuition: $41,600 Student/Teacher ratio – 9:1 Founded in 1786, Friends Seminary provides a Quaker-based co-ed program that adheres to the values of the Religious Society of Friends. The school is relatively diverse and cultivates “the practices of keen observation, unhurried reﬂection, critical thinking, and coherent expression,” according to his mission

LITTLE RED SCHOOL HOUSE AND ELISABETH IRWIN HIGH SCHOOL 272 6th Ave. (lower grades) 40 Charlton St. (high school) Enrollment: 625 (k-12) Tuition: $40,830 Student/Teacher ratio - 7:1 If any school is committed to social justice and civic engagement, it’s Little Red and Elisabeth Irwin. In addition to a core curriculum, students are

encouraged to get involved in small groups or individual projects that beneﬁt the school and the city as a whole. Involved in organizations like Kids Walk for Kids with Cancer and St. John’s Food Pantry. Notable alums include Robert De Niro, Mary Travers, Angela Davis and Zac Posen.

A community school with a social studies-centered curriculum, the school’s website says teachers “challenge students to reach their full potential for cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth… Our students encounter hands-on, project-based learning as well as direct instruction, repetition, review, and reinforcement.”

XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL 30 W. 16th St. Enrollment: 1,022 (9-12, boys) Tuition: $16,7000 Student/Teacher ratio - 14:1 Founded in 1847, Xavier is a challenging Catholic, Jesuit, prep school that blends core curriculum and religious instruction. The school’s website says it “teaches students to take responsibility for their lives, to lead with integrity, to act justly … pursue excellence in every endeavor and to deepen their relationship with God.” Notable alums span the globe from former NYC Mayor Jimmy Walker to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia to NBC weatherman Al Roker. Its sister school is Notre Dame Manhattan.

VILLAGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL 272 - 278 W. 10th St. Enrollment: About 325 (k-8) Tuition: $47,500 Student/Teacher ratio - 10:1

LEMAN MANHATTAN PREP 1 Morris St., 40 Broad St. Enrollment: 600 (prek-12) Tuition: $28,300-43,650 Student/Teacher ratio - 6:1 One of only four independent schools in Manhattan to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, Léman Manhattan prides itself on “building the next generation of courageous, critical thinkers.” Its student body represents some 50 countries and has sister campuses in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America. It has a swimming pool, art studios, libraries, gyms, music rooms and ﬁne arts performing spaces.

GUARDIAN ANGEL SCHOOL 193 10th Ave. Enrollment: 234 (prek-8) Tuition: $4,385 -$4,745, plus fees. Student/Teacher ratio – 20:1 This school, located in the heart

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

CONTINUING TO LEARN It’s never too late to learn! Enroll in coursework towards earning a high school equivalency diploma or study the fundamentals of creative writing, even embark on learning that second or third language you’ve been dreaming of. There are plenty of colleges, universities and for-proﬁt institutions in New York City offering a cornucopia of courses for both personal and professional development. The schools on our list represent a sampling of some of the best and most innovative courses we came across. Among our favorites are Fluent City, offering 12-week courses in several different languages and the 92nd Street Y featuring an extensive catalogue of engaging classes and lectures and programs.

THE NEW SCHOOL 66th West 12th St. 212-229-5611 www.newschool.edu This celebrated institution offers a variety of continuing ed courses from environmental studies to English as a Second Language to ﬁlm production, to creative writing. The writing course for a Masters of Fine Arts includes get-togethers with agents and editors, hands-on experience and internships at such places as PEN, the Academy of American Poets, Open Road Media and Interview Magazine. Check the website for details.

92ND STREET Y 1395 Lexington Ave. 212-415-5500 www.92y.org The 92nd Street Y offers a slew of classes in the visual arts, in theatre arts, culinary arts, and career development. One cool class on this fall’s agenda is “Presentation Skills for Business Professionals,” taught by Brandt Johnson, a motivational speaker, playwright, web series creator and former professional basketball player. There are two classes: Sept. 25 from 1 to 4 p.m., and Oct. 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. The classes are designed to help business professionals become conﬁdent and engaging speakers. Check the website for details and prices on this course and others.

FLUENT CITY 330 Fifth Ave. 347-687-6896 www.ﬂuentcity.com Whether for business, pleasure or to learn just enough to sound like a local on your next trip abroad, this school offers 12-week courses for beginner and advanced students, from basic to advanced conversation in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, French, Hebrew, German and Arabic. Professional, multi-lingual instructors lead the courses and are available for

private lessons as well. The standard price per course is $750.

CONTINUING EDUCATION AT NYU 70 Washington Square South 212-998-1212 www.scps.nyu.edu NYU’s continuing education program covers a wide range of courses and subjects and are affiliated (and located) in the university’s School of Professional Studies. Their courses of study include both degree programs and “educational pathways” to professional and creative development. Programs include those connected with the Leonard N. Stern School of Business, the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development.

BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE 25 Broadway 212-346-8420 www.bmcc.cuny.edu The Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development offers Nursing Assistant classes (certiﬁcates), information technology, media arts, career training and personal development, They also offer English as a Second Language, notary skills and professional writing.

CUNY SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES 119 W. 31st St. 212-652-2869 www.sps.cuny.edu This school offers degree and non-degree credit courses including “Seminars on Science,” in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History; as well as “Courses in Early

Childhood Education Administration,” developed with the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute. A bachelor’s degree is required for both courses. The science seminar is an online course.

FORDHAM SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING STUDIES Lincoln Center Campus, 113 W. 60th St. 212-636-7333 pcs.fordham.edu In addition to a vast offering of masters programs in cyber security, digital, social media and postbaccalaureate pre-med and pre-health courses, Fordham offers a College at 60 program which invites seniors and soon-to-be-seniors to go for a degree or just to take seminars in such courses as creative writing, the music of Mozart, the novels of Henry James and Freudian psychology.

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

FOR THE VERY SERIOUS AMATEUR

CULINARY TECHNIQUES Sep 6-Oct 3 Nov 7-Jan 25 (evening)

FOR THE PASSIONATE AMATEUR

SUGAR PASTE FLOWERS

ESSENTIALS OF PASTRY

PROFESSIONAL CULINARY ARTS

PROFESSIONAL PASTRY ARTS

SPANISH COOKING

Sep 28, 2016

Oct 24, 2016

Oct 10-14

Oct 11, 2016 (evening)

Dec 1, 2016 (evening)

ITALIAN COOKING

PROFESSIONAL CULINARY ARTS + FARM-TO-TABLE

CAKE TECHNIQUES AND DESIGN

ITALIAN CULINARY EXPERIENCE

ART OF INTERNATIONAL BREAD BAKING

Oct 18-Nov 1 (evening)

Nov 3-17 (evening)

FINE COOKING

Oct 4-8 (evening)

Oct 17-21 Oct 17-26 (evening)

INTRODUCTION TO CAKE DECORATING

KNIFE SKILLS 101

Sep 13-22 (evening)

Sep 24 Oct 7 (evening)

Sep 2, 2016 (evening)

Nov 28, 2016 Oct 5, 2016

Oct 14, 2016 (evening)

Jun 19, 2017

Sep 12, 2016

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

CANDLE CAFÉ REMAKES AMBIANCE Vegan restaurant’s proprietors look to appeal to millenials

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.

BY MICKEY KRAMER

After flourishing for more than 20 years as one of the ﬁrst all-vegan restaurants in Manhattan, Candle Café is getting a makeover. It closed on August 1 for renovations and for what is being described as a “drastic” menu change, with plans to reopen on Sept. 1. Bart Potenza and Joy Pierson opened Candle Café on Third Avenue near 75th Streeet in 1994, but the idea for the renovations and menu shift comes from executive chef and now part-owner, Jorge Pineda, 36. “Five months ago it was decided that now is the time for a fresh approach to the space. We passionately strive to remain appealing to our fourth generation of patrons, the millennials,” Pineda, the restaurant’s executive chef for 12 years, said. “It is important that we stay tuned in to their needs and assist in setting the foundation for healthy living throughout their lives. “ To “stay tuned in” to the younger generation, renovations will include two large community tables up front and full bar service upgraded from beer, wine and sake only. General manager Niamani Brown and Pineda plan to have a “new and exciting” bar, social scene and happy hour, Brown said. And while the revamped menu is being finalized and kept under wraps, some favorites such as the buffalo cauliflower, avocado BLT and carrot cake will return. Brown estimates, though, that at least 70 percent of the menu will be brand new. Small plates will be a main addition to the changing concept. Brown, 31, calls her rapid rise from bartender to beverage manager to general manager, within just over a year, “an incredible learning experience.” Noting that she gained experience working for the Cheesecake Factory and BR Guest, she nevertheless said that “nothing has compared to the support and guidance given as part of the Candle family.” Pierson, who calls herself “ageless,” and Potenza, 79, are taking a step back from the

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.

1-Year Subscription @ $49

The Candle Café, on First Avenue near 75th Street, will reopen on Sept. 1 following renovations. Photo: Eve Lederman basic day-to-day running of Candle Café (along with their other locations, Candle 79 and Candle Café West) in part to enjoy time with their grandchildren, six-year old twins. “It is time for a new generation to carry the light of the ‘Candle’ and attract a whole new set of diners in a new dining paradigm,” Pierson said. Speaking of attracting a new set of diners, Pineda, Brown, and another Candle Café general manager, Kim De Jesus are also branching out with their own company, OVG [Original Vegan Group] with plans to open a fast, causal eatery “somewhere downtown” by year’s end. This concept will feature create-your-own bowls, salads and sandwiches. “We want to make ourselves more accessible to the masses

throughout the city, with expectations for expansion to more locations [in the city] and across the country,” Pineda said. Brown eagerly awaits the future of Candle Café and the Original Vegan Group. “Best of all I help create an environment wherein a healthier, greener, way of living is presented with compassion and purpose.” Pierson is excited for the updated Candle Cafe, saying, “When your favorite place gets even better!” but has no immediate plans to renovate the other two locations. “We are feeding a fourth generation of customers and hopefully a whole new generation to come! We put our heart and soul into every meal.” she concludes.

Yes! Start my mail subscription to the Downtowner right away!

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

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Stan Herman, McDonald’s uniform, 1976, polyester, USA, gift of Stan Herman.

At left, Comme des Garcons (Rei Kawakubo), ensemble, 1998, wool, Japan, museum purchase; At right, U.S. Army World War I Service Uniform, 1914-1918, wool, USA, gift of Mrs. Roswell Gilpatric.

Stan Herman, TWA ﬂight attendant uniforms, 1975, synthetic blend, USA, gift of Stan Herman.

At left, Jean Paul Gaultier, ensemble, c. 1992, cotton, France. Top, gift of Antoine Bucher; pants, gift of Michael Harrell. At right, Sacai, ensemble, Spring 2015, cotton, silk, synthetic, Japan, museum purchase.

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Chanel, Brasserie Gabrielle ensemble, Fall 2015, wool, silk, cotton, leather, France, gift of Chanel.

UNIFORMS STRUT THEIR STUFF AT FIT An exhibit of outfits for work, school, sports and the battlefield highlights their influence on fashion BY VAL CASTRONOVO

They are ubiquitous and almost everyone has worn one. Uniforms are identity markers, signaling membership in a group: school group, work group, military group or sports group. Members of the group stand out — think of the Olympians at Rio — and get lost in the crowd. The outﬁts are prized for their efficiency and scorned for their sameness, sameness being at odds with fashion, which puts a premium on creativity and individuality. But as The Museum at FIT argues in a well-curated show, “Uniformity,” the fashion industry has been cherrypicking from uniforms for some 150 years. Military uniforms, especially, have provided designers with inspiration for high-concept garments. Gold buttons, ornamental braids, stripes and sailor suits have been embraced and subverted by the likes of Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent and Coco Chanel. Masculine attire informs feminine attire in a neat twist, and

stuffiness gives way to style and elegance. The exhibit of some 70 items from the museum’s permanent collection is a history show and a fashion show, with historical pieces paired with the pieces they influenced. The curator, Emma McClendon, moves us thematically from military uniforms to uniforms for work, school and sports. An introductory video features Stan Herman, an authority on the subject and pioneering fashion designer for corporate giants like Avis, FedEx, TWA and McDonald’s. His retro red-and-yellow McDonald’s uniform from 1976 is on display, with a small golden arch in the shirt-pocket area heralding the brand. The curator juxtaposes this standardissue work dress with a 2014 couture riff from Moschino’s Jeremy Scott, who takes the logo (“M”), enlarges it and emblazons it across the front of a red and yellow wool top — and then adds “Moschino” underneath. It’s another brand advertisement, only bigger, bolder and way more chic. Her ma n’s u n ifor m s for T WA ﬂ ight crews broke the mold and introduced bright colors and safari jackets to telegraph the good life.

“Color is the most important thing in uniforms,” he says about his use of red, orange, yellow and cobalt blue for the airline’s clothing. “It represents who these monster corporations are.” Two of his eye-popping ensembles are on exhibit and bring us back to the Seventies. Picture relaxed passengers en route to luxurious destinations being handed a martini from one of these suited-up attendants. Martial history fans can revel in the rich displays of U.S. and British military uniforms. The show opens with two formal British “mess dress” jackets (ca. 1900), adjacent to a formfitting imitation of the King’s Royal Riﬂe Corps jacket by Ralph Lauren for his fall 2013 women’s collection. What follows is a parade of iconic outﬁts — a Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) uniform (ca. 1905), a U.S. Army Colonel “Dress Blue” uniform (ca. 1950), World War II WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and WACS (Women’s Army Corps) uniforms, plus U.S. Navy sailor suits, an “Ike” jacket, a “Jeep Coat” and, in a nod to the French Navy, a striped Breton-style shirt, courtesy Jean Paul Gaultier in the early ‘90s.

Fun fact: the blue-and-white stripes of the Breton shirt, which officially became part of the French Navy’s uniform in 1858, functioned to help spot shipmen who fell overboard. Also known as the marinière, the top inspired a striped ensemble by designer Chitose Abe for Sacai in spring 2015. A lacy confection with a turtleneck, it’s a yin-yang blend of feminine and masculine elements. Couture and frivolity mix easily here with no-nonsense, utilitarian garments. An olive drab man’s U.S. Army uniform from World War I is flanked by a mud-colored, sleeveless Comme des Garçons (Rei Kawakubo) ensemble from 1998, frayed at the armholes for decorative purposes. On the same platform, Marc Jacobs delights in contradiction with a creation from spring 2010 that couples a copy of a boxy Army field jacket with a long, breezy skirt. Some of the most dazzling fashion statements draw inspiration from camouflage, widely used during World War I. A U.S. Marine poncho and helmet cover share the stage with an off-the-shoulder camouflage gown by John Galliano for Dior (spring 2001).

Featuring a long sexy slit up the front and a train, the latter “has a deconstructed quality, as if it were thrown together from an army tent or poncho,” the exhibit label states. The print that was meant to conceal now boldly reveals. Karl Lagerfeld’s take on a Parisian waiter’s uniform for Chanel in 2015 is possibly the show’s most inventive costume. With bow tie, short black jacket and white ruffled skirt mimicking an apron, this haute version of a brasserie uniform boasts a jokey clutch purse made of plates bearing the Chanel logo and the words “Brasserie Gabrielle” (Gabrielle Chanel, better known as Coco, was the founder of the House of Chanel). We all have our personal style, personal uniforms. The curator connects the dots in the show’s brochure: “Although we may not each wear an official uniform in our everyday lives, the inﬂuence of uniforms can always be felt, even in the basic activity of getting dressed each morning.” “Uniformity” at The Museum at FIT; Seventh Avenue at 27th Street. Through November 19. www.ﬁtnyc.edu/museum

AUGUST 18-24,2016

SOCCER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 coach came up to me, patted me on the shoulder, and said, “Man are you fast.” I just laughed, gathered my things, and walked away. As I was walking back towards my dad, I saw the coach and another man approach him. They spoke long after the game had ended. I saw them exchange numbers, shake hands and depart. Curious as to what happened, I spoke to my dad. It turned out that the coach wanted me to try out for his team. “One of the best teams in New York wants me!” I replied. “Apparently,” my dad chuckled. After two good years at Asphalt Green, I left the team and made my way to the Manhattan Soccer Club. This team was part of the second-best league for girls, “The National Premier League.” This league called for frequent travelling and a larger commitment. We would travel during the weekends along the East Coast and play teams from all over the country. My first year on the team was rough. Most of the girls had been playing since they were 3 years old and had been on the team since they were 6. I was way behind in terms of skills, but I had natural speed and agility. One of the most challenging things to learn was how to maneuver the ball while also controlling my speed. Luckily for me, my coach was dedicated and helped me master this skill, as well as many others. At 13, I was named the MVP of two of tournaments. Manhattan Soccer Club remained the number one seed for a long time. Around that same time, I also graduated as valedictorian of my class and went onto Marymount School of New York. Life was great and I felt as if nothing could shake me. Of course, I had spoken too soon. I began my freshman year at Marymount, which was by far one of the hardest years of my life. The transition from St. Joseph’s School-Yorkville to Marymount was drastic. The curriculum at Marymount was vigorous and grueling. On top of that, soccer continued to be demanding and called for continuous travel. Although I did expect school to be difficult and soccer to be demanding, there were some events that took place that weren’t as predictable. Throughout my freshman year, several people close to me passed away. It started with my grandmother, then my two aunts, after a friend of mine, and finally a family friend. It was a really tough time in my life because all of those people who passed were the people who supported me and gave me the strength to continue when I felt overwhelmed and stressed by all my responsibilities. Life during this period felt monotonous. Every day I would go through a routine: Go to school, do homework, practice my instrument, play soccer, eat, sleep, and then repeat. I was not doing as well as I hoped at school and sensed that the soccer field was the only place in which I could let out all of my emotions. That year I won MVP at school for soccer and was offered recruitment spots by a few colleges, but even that didn’t help. 2013 went from being the time of my life to a time of pain; All I could do was hope that the next year would be better. My sophomore year began and it seemed as if life only got worse. It was November and, like every other weekend, I had soccer games. At

this point, our team was in a slump and was no longer seeded number one. We had already lost two games that weekend and we were hoping for a win. The game was tied 1-1 and we had the momentum. We were passing around the other team with ease and controlling the ball. When the ball was passed to me, I made sure the ball was secure and as soon as I looked up, a girl twice my size was running towards me at full speed. I passed the ball quickly to another player, but even after I released the ball she kept sprinting. My cleat got caught in the mud and she ran straight into my knee with such a force that my knee turned outward. All I heard was a pop. I hit the ground, screaming and wailing in pain. I was carried off the field and brought to the medical staff, which had declared that I had torn my medial collateral ligament. The MCL is the second-worse injury after the ACL. “You are going to be out for about four-five months,” the physical trainer said. I felt my heart sink. Soccer was something I loved immensely and was ultimately something I knew I wanted to do in college. The fact that I would not only have trouble being recruited, but that I would be off the field for such a long period of time troubled me. During my time off, I lost hope in ever attaining a scholarship or even playing again. I began to look back towards my long lost friend — music — for comfort. I missed playing, but I didn’t have as much time between soccer and school to play. The only instrument that survived my demanding lifestyle was the piano. Throughout my five months off, I went to physical therapy and then home to play my piano. Playing for five months made me question why I ever gave up music, but the moment I was cleared to play in April of 2015, that question disappeared from my mind. Coming back after five months gave me a feeling of euphoria. I was recruited to play on another team in an even higher league than Manhattan Soccer Club. That year, I joined Albertson Soccer Club, a Long Island-based team that plays in the Elite Premier League, which is the highest level. I was shocked that the coach wanted me, but I didn’t hesitate. The feeling of being back was both great and disheartening. Being back on the field was amazing, but not being able to run as fast, or to have as much endurance, or dribble as nicely was a challenge I hadn’t fully expected. I went through months and months of constant soccer and physical exercise to become a decent player again. One of my greatest motivations was having a coach who supported me and believed in me even though, at times, I didn’t believe I would ever be the player I was before my injury. My first major tournament after returning was during my junior year. Junior year, by itself, is the hardest year of high school for any student, but I believe it is especially hard for a serious athlete. I felt the pressure to be recruited and do well in school. In that tournament I had played the best I ever had since the injury. Many scouts emailed me after that tournament and then watched me play at other tournaments. Although the year was stressful, I ended it in triumph: I was recruited by American University where I will play Division I soccer with a full scholarship. I also had a great academic year. Asia Horne spent a portion of her summer at Straus News Manhattan as a student reporter.

SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE US TO LOOK INTO DO HAVE Email us at news@strausnews.com? YOU

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

ACTIVITIES FOR THE FERTILE MIND

thoughtgallery.org NEW YORK CITY

Bill Laswell, Hideo Yamaki, and Dave Douglas

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19TH, 7:30PM The Drawing Center | 35 Wooster St. | 212-219-2166 | drawingcenter.org Catch a rare live performance by producer and bassist Bill Laswell with legendary drummer Hideo Yamaki and 13-time Trumpeter of the Year Dave Douglas. ($20)

Underground Manhattan: The Secret History of the Subway System

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21ST, 2PM New York Adventure Club | Bowling Green Station | bigmaven.com Transit expert and guide Gary Dennis leads a tour of the city’s oldest stations, dispensing the inside story of the creation of the original subway line and how it grew into the world’s most extensive transportation system. ($25)

Just Announced | Abbi Jacobson & Lena Dunham

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 7:30PM Symphony Space | 2537 Broadway | 212-864-1414 | symphonyspace.org The things they carried: Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson talks about her new book, an illustrated look at what we tote, in conversation with Lena Dunham. Speculation about the contents of Amelia Earhart’s pencil case and Donald Trump’s weekender will be indulged. ($32, includes book copy)

For more information about lectures, readings and other intellectually stimulating events throughout NYC,

The local paper for Downtown

Advertise with Our Town Downtown today! Call Vincent Gardino at 212-868-0190

otdowntown.com

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

RESTAURANT INSPECTION RATINGS JUL 20 - AUG 12, 2016

Studio Cafe 59

59 Chelsea Piers

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 http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/services/restaurant-grades.page

Subway

221 7 Avenue

Grade Pending (17) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

El Quijote

226 W 23Rd St

Grade Pending (22) 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. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Il Bastardo

191 7 Avenue

Grade Pending (29) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. 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. 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.

Cafe Riazor

245 West 16 Street

Grade Pending (31) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or nonfood areas. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Starbucks

229 Seventh Avenue

El Paraiso

149 West 14 Street

Los Tacos # 1

75 9Th Ave

Periyali

35 West 20 Street

The Dish Restaurant

201 8 Avenue

J ‘S Pizza

98 7 Avenue

Hollywood Diner

574 6 Avenue

Flatiron Lounge

37 West 19 Street

Dirty Bird To-Go

204 West 14 Street

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

252 8Th Ave

Not Yet Graded (2)

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

47 West 14 Street

Domino’s

170 West 23 Street

La Maison Du Macaron

132 West 23 Street

Mcdonald’s

541 6Th Ave

New York Burger Co.

470 W 23Rd St

Not Yet Graded (25) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. 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.

Gramercy Tavern

42 East 20 Street

Colors Restaurant

417 Lafayette Street

La Contrada

84 E 4Th St

Not Yet Graded (30) 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. 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.

Maoz Vegetarian

59 East 8 Street

Grade Pending (18) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/ or non-food areas.

Piccolo Cafe

157 3 Avenue

Sao Mai Vietnamese Cuisine

203 1 Avenue

The Boil

17 Waverly Pl

Veselka Restaurant

144 Second Avenue

Downtown Bakery Ii Mexican Food

69 1 Avenue

The Thirsty Scholar

155 2 Avenue

Joe: The Art Of Coffee

405 West 23 Street

Dizengoff

75 9Th Ave

Sports Center Cafe

0 Chelsea Piers

Highline Cafe

85 10Th Ave

Matchabar

256 W 15Th St

Google Panorama

111 8Th Ave

Asuka Sushi

300 W 23Rd St

Not Yet Graded (18) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Bar Truman

75 9Th Ave

Cafe Loup

105 West 13 Street

Grade Pending (39) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Food worker does not use proper utensil to eliminate bare hand contact with food that will not receive adequate additional heat treatment. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Paul & Jimmy’s Restaurant 123 East 18 Street

Finnerty’s

221 2 Avenue

Grade Pending (22) 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. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Elmo

156 7 Avenue

Grade Pending (27)

Whiskey Social

35 West 8 Street

Bar Veloce

176 7 Avenue

Gym Sports Bar

167 8 Avenue

Bergen Hill

26 Astor Place

El Quinto Pino

401 West 24 Street

Veniero’s Pasticceria & Cafe

338342 East 11 Street

AUGUST 18-24,2016

GIGI LI CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 comment from the public instead of the written statements from community members that are currently accepted until up to 24 hours after a meeting takes place. At Li’s press conference last week, held at the northwest corner of South End Avenue and Albany Street, several community members echoed Li’s call for more transparency from the BPCA. “This year, BPCA initiated a process with a ﬂawed survey resulting in minimal input compared to the prior process with DOT; rushed presentation meetings with only days notice, proposals presented with incorrect data as to the sizes of the streets and sidewalks and the recommendations lack clarity detailing all of the BPCA objectives and rationale behind the scale of the project,” said resident Tammy Meltzer. “We need more residents on the board and we need this process to stop and start anew with the community fully incorporated as a driving force.” In a statement, BPCA spokesman Nick Sbardone emphasized the diversity of the current board members’ backgrounds. “The choice of candidates for the board is entirely within the purview of the governor with a confirmation process in the Senate,” he said. “We have complete conﬁdence that Governor [Andrew] Cuomo will continue to select members of the highest caliber.” He added that the possible renovation of South End Avenue is just that: a possibility. “We are encouraged by Ms. Li’s engagement in our community-driven process to explore potential improvements to the South End Avenue/West Thames Street combined corridor,” he said. “And

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com right now, that’s all we’re doing – exploring.” The revamp has been under consideration since 2015, when concerns were raised about pedestrian safety. The new designs that have been proposed would feature some combination of widened sidewalks, a narrower, more bike friendly street and different storefront looks. At Li’s press conference, resident Justine Cuccia acknowledged the BPCA’s recent efforts to save St. Joseph’s Chapel but was not satisfied with their vision for South End Avenue. “What each option has in common is what they don’t say: What will this project cost, how long will it take, and exactly what is broken about South End Avenue that needs ﬁxing?” she said. As chair of CB 3 Li has worked closely with CB 1, and has witnessed their “continued struggles with their issues being heard as a community board” by the BPCA. After attending a BPCA visioning session for South End Avenue and speaking to board members and residents, Li concluded that the process was “just another glaring example of how the [BPCA] is trying to move forward with a very aggressive timeline without residential and small business input.” Since then, she felt it was important to include improving the BPCA in her platform as a candidate. Ideally, as outlined in her four-point plan, she would like to see at least three community members be included in the eight-member board, and wants the BPCA to make room for open public comment sessions at every meeting. “I think there needs to be a really concerted effort as all of the elected officials together to really express to the governor that there needs to be change, and it needs to happen very quickly,” she said. The election for the 65th district’s next assemblymember will take place on Sept. 13, and the BPCA’s next meeting is set to take place on Sept. 20.

Tired of Hunting for Our Town Downtown? Subscribe today to Downtowner News of Your Neighborhood that you can’t get anywhere else

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

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Business

Ask a Broker SEALING THE DEAL BY ANDREW J. KRAMER

I just lost out on an apartment to an all-cash buyer. Are there any strategies I should be aware of when I make my next offer? Great question! This one is paramount, especially in today’s robust under $1M segment of the market. “Making an offer is one thing, landing the apartment is another.” And that’s where having a good broker makes all the difference. First, all buyers who will be obtaining financing need to: · Obtain a mortgage pre-approval letter (not a pre-qualification letter) from their lender · Make sure their finances are in order (pay-off/reduce credit card loans) · Have a completed and up-to-date financial statement handy · Make copies of your last two years tax returns to have on hand If you currently own property that you’ll need the proceeds from to make your next purchase, this property needs to be in contract before you seriously start looking. When offers start coming in, no seller is going to be willing to wait and/or gamble with a buyer in this situation. Would you? Once you have all your ducks in a row … the excitement begins! You need to take a deep breath and be prepared to either make an over asking price offer (I always recommend an odd number like $827,000, which will beat any offers of $825,000) and/or waive your mortgage contingency … yikes! (In essence, you’re striking the clause in the contract of sale that releases the buyer from the deal if they’re unable to secure a mortgage). This step will trump another buyer obtaining financing that is unwilling to take the risk. Keep in mind that once you “lock-in this position,” you’ll have a good 7-10 days -- during the time your attorney does due diligence -- to obtain absolute certainty from your lender that securing your mortgage is air tight. If not, you don’t sign the contract and they move on to the next buyer … nothing lost. I’ve worked with several buyers who were not in a position to lose their 10% deposit, who wound up putting themselves in the lead position and ended up with the property by implementing this strategy. Fast forward … years later when they’re ready to sell, they’ll tell you it was the best gamble they ever took! Andrew Kramer is a broker at Brown Harris Stevens in New York

AUGUST 18-24,2016

DEPARTMENT STORES IN LINE FOR MAKEOVER Niche and online retailers cut into business BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO

Department stores trying to recapture their appeal to consumers are making plans to provide more experiences like spas and restaurants, and offer exclusive selections to transforms the store into more of a destination. With shoppers increasingly buying online or from niche retailers and discount stores, the onetime pillars of retail are trying to rethink their business to keep up with consumers who want a different experience in stores than they ﬁnd on their phones. That includes more attentive sales staff, pampering guests with beauty treatments and bringing in new kinds of merchandise. “It’s all about creating the experience in the store,” said Saks Fifth Avenue president Marc Metrick. “They’ll shop here. They’ll eat here. They’ll get their hair done here. They’ll meet their friends here.” Macy’s announced plans last week for “re-creating Macy’s physical store presence” to adjust to customer tastes. It reported another quarter of falling proﬁts and sales, though it said some moves like sprucing up its fine jewelry area and adding back some sales staff are helping. It also said it’ll close 100 stores early next year on top of the 40 it closed this spring. The company, which is preparing for a new CEO to take over, has also launched its own off-price chain and is testing an artificial intelligence tool that would free up sales assistants to provide higher levels of customer service. “We operate in a fast-changing world, and our company is moving forward decisively to build further on Macy’s heritage as a preferred shopping destination for fashion, quality, value and convenience,” said Terry J. Lundgren, chairman and outgoing CEO of Macy’s Inc. Macy’s had been a stellar performer after the Great Recession but has seen slower sales growth in the past year and a half. Under Lundgren, the company looked for growth opportunities like buying upscale beauty brand Bluemercury and is adding services like same-day delivery. The changes come against the backdrop of declining sales and customer traffic. Kohl’s Corp., which saw total second-quarter sales drop 2.1 percent

Saks Fifth Avenue is renovating its flagship location, on Fifth Avenue, with a new layout to encourage more browsing. Photo: David Shankbone, via Wikimedia even as cutting expenses helped its profit, is similarly testing off-price stores, smaller-format stores, investing more in e-commerce and sprucing up its beauty business. Nordstrom, which reported revenue of $3.65 billion for the second quarter, meeting Wall Street forecasts, has scaled back on inventory to meet lower sales. But it’s also focusing on brands that have limited distribution like Ivy Park and Madewell. It’s also personalizing its online services — this fall, it’s testing a mobile feature that lets customers reserve products online and try them on at the store. And J.C. Penney, set to report Friday, has brought back major appliances, after abandoning that category 30 years ago, to lessen its dependence on clothing. Saks Fifth Avenue is renovating its Manhattan flagship location, with a new layout that encourages more browsing and that makes room for expanded beauty offerings such as brow bars. Elements of that renovation will be incorporated across other stores, Metrick said. Saks also

just rolled out new technology from a startup called Salesfloor that delivers personalized service for its online shoppers. Ken Perkins, president of research firm Retail Metrics, says the latest reports are somewhat encouraging, but department stores have far to go. “All the problems they’re facing are not going away anytime soon,” he said. Sales at department stores have been falling since the early 2000s. Government figures show they hit their peak in January 2001, when monthly sales came to $19.9 billion. In June of this year, that figure had dropped 34 percent to $13.2 billion, government data show. And adjusted for inflation, the statistics show sales falling 50 percent — from $27 billion in January 2001 to $13.4 billion in June. Long reliant on clothing sales, department stores have been squeezed as off-price retailers like T.J. Maxx add stores and lure shoppers with discounted designer brands and fast-fashion retailers

such as H&M offer trendier items. Shoppers are buying more and more clothing online, and Amazon.com is expected to unseat Macy’s next year as the largest online clothing seller. Overall, shoppers are spending less on apparel and shifting their discretionary dollars elsewhere. U.S. apparel sales have grown only 1 percent annually over the past 15 years, in part due to price deflation, according to Morgan Stanley estimates. Per unit, apparel prices have shrunk 13 percent since 2001 to $20.22, Morgan Stanley said. For the back-to-school season, children’s clothing shipments dropped 13 percent from a year earlier, according to Panjiva, a research firm that analyzes imports. “The department stores in the beginning were known for big box stores that had the best selection in each of the categories they sold,” said C. Britt Beemer, chairman of consumer research firm America’s Research Group. “Now, they don’t stand for anything.” Productivity has also deteriorated. From 2006 to 2015, sales per square foot at department stores dropped from $200 to $165, according to a real estate research firm Green Street Advisors. More and more, department stores have depended on big discounts to lure shoppers — a move that hurts profits. And now, major luxury brands like Coach and Michael Kors that were a key attraction are starting to snub department stores as they worry that constant sales and promotions are diluting the value of their brands. Ralph Lauren also plans to become less-reliant on department stores. Analysts believe more brands could follow, and that also more stores will close. Perkins believes it’s likely because there is such a saturation of retail square footage. Green Street Advisors released a report this past spring saying department stores need to close about 800 stores to recoup their productivity, about 20 percent of all anchor real estate at U.S. malls. Metrick, standing Wednesday evening near Saks’ new outdoor cafe that overlooks Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center, says there is plenty of hope for department stores that make themselves essential. “Bad department stores are dead,” he said. “Great ones ... that’s where it’s going to be.”

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

“I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HELP THAT HOMELESS MAN.”

BE THE SOMEONE. Sam New York Cares Volunteer

Every day, we think to ourselves that someone should really help make this city a better place. Visit newyorkcares.org to learn about the countless ways you can volunteer and make a difference in your community.

AUGUST 18-24,2016

CLASSIFIEDS PUBLIC NOTICES

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL

Telephone: 212-868-0190 Fax: 212-868-0198 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 will only accept responsibility for the ďŹ rst incorrect insertion. The publication assumes no ďŹ nancial responsibility for errors or omissions. We 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-paid.

REAL ESTATE - SALE

Directory of Business & Services To advertise in this directory Call #BSSZ (212)-868-0190 ext.4 CBSSZ MFXJT@strausnews.com

Medical and Office Cleaning Company Looking to Buy

PEST CONTROL

SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED CLEANING COMPANIES FROM 1 TO 100 ACCOUNTS

CARS & TRUCKS & RVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MASSAGE

SERVICES OFFERED

COUNSELING

Goldberg PO Box 2962 Church St Station 10008

Antiques Wanted

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

TOP PRICES PAID VACATIONS HELP WANTED

NEED TO RUN A LEGAL NOTICE? Call Barry Lewis today:

WANTED TO BUY

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

212-868-0190

YOU THINK SOMETHING MAY BE WRONG. THE ANSWER IS NOT STARING YOU IN THE FACE.

SINCE 1979

East 67th Street Market

(between First & York Avenues) Open EVERY Saturday 6am-5pm Rain or Shine Indoor & Outdoor FREE Admission Questions? Bob 718.897.5992 Proceeds BeneďŹ t PS 183

:H DUH D SURXG PHPEHU RI WKH $VVRFLDWHG 3UHVV DQG WKH 1DWLRQDO 1HZVSDSHU $VVRFLDWLRQ

Entire Estates Purchased

REAL ESTATE - RENT

Quick | Easy | Economical

Chinese, Modern Custom Jewelry Paintings, Silver, Etc.

Antique, Flea & Farmers Market

800.530.0006

FREE: FIVE STAR E-NOVEL â&#x20AC;&#x153;War In A Beautiful Countryâ&#x20AC;? Random Terror On An Ordinary Life FREE on nook, kindle, all e-readers and electronic devices or direct at: www.novelwarinabeautifulcountry.blogspot.com/

Avoiding eye contact is one early sign of autism. Learn the others today at autismspeaks.org/signs. Early diagnosis can make a lifetime of difference.

SOHO LT MFG

462 Broadway MFG No Retail/Food +/- 9,000 SF Ground Floor - $90 psf +/- 16,000 SF Cellar - $75 psf Divisible Call David @ Meringoff Properties 212-645-7575

AUGUST 18-24,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

2016 BUILDING SERVICE WORKER

AWAR DS

10TH ANNIVERSARY

I s Yo u r D o o r m a n o r 4VQFSJOUFOEFOU (SFBU Nominate today at

bsw-awards.com for the building service worker awards You could win $150 or 2 tickets to just for entering t #FTU %PPSNBO t #FTU 4VQFS t #FTU 1PSUFS t #FTU 0Gm DF $MFBOFS t #FTU 4FDVSJUZ (VBSE t "OE .PSF SP ON S O R ED BY The local paper for the Upper East Side

The local paper for the Upper West Side

The local paper for Downtown

The local paper for Chelsea