Our Town Downtown - September 29, 2016

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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER

‘PICTURE OF THE YEAR’

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< P. 12

2016

RESIDENTS HAMMER BUILDING BOOM Lower Manhattan residents voice concerns at CB1 construction forum BY NICOLE LOCKWOOD

There’s too much building going on. Such was the prevailing sentiment of downtown residents and elected officials during a forum addressing the ongoing construction boom within Community Board 1’s boundaries. “There’s 90 projects within one community, and that is just a lot,” said Manhattan Borough President and event sponsor Gale Brewer. “Maybe it’s legal, but it’s hell.” Brewer’s comments were largely reflective of the attitudes of residents at the Sept. 22 forum, held at Borough of

Photo: Billie Grace Ward, via flickr

GARDEN TO BECOME HOUSING SITE Glick: plan is ‘height of arrogance’ BY DIAMOND NAGA SIU

Dogs pull on their leashes to reach various patches of nature that hug the Elizabeth Street Garden. Two children park their scooters against a stone wall to explore the different flowers and grass. Elderly residents sit and watch everything unfold before them. It’s an early fall day, and a moment in the life of a garden. But change may come to this one, because the Elizabeth

Street Garden lot is now designated space for affordable housing. The plan is to slice the garden into 5,000 square feet, compared to its original 20,000. Assembly Member Deborah Glick said that shutting down the garden was decided during the Community Board 3 rezoning plan, even though the Elizabeth Street Garden falls under Community Board 2. She said this decision was made without the community knowing or consenting. “They’re not listening,” Glick said. “The city is a people. We’re going to do whatev-

sheds never seem to go away with no evidence of any work getting done for months and months.” “Try years and years” said one attendee under her breath. In response, members of the New York City Department of Transportation and Department of Buildings several times said that although the sheds may be inconvenient and bothersome, they are necessary for pedestrian and traffic safety. “We’re very much familiar with this concern,” a DOT representative said. “The sheds are certainly in place for longer than necessary.” Residents argued that they force pedestrians to walk in streets and create spaces that

Manhattan Community College. Attendees raised questions about noise disturbances, health concerns, pedestrian safety, lack of regulation and the unsightliness of the projects. But one of the most pressing concerns is the seeming ubiquity of temporary scaffoldings and sheds on lower Manhattan streets. Though put in place to keep passers-by safe from the debris and materials resulting from the construction, the fixtures are often kept in place for longer than necessary, some said. “There is a longstanding frustration in this community board with scaffoldings that don’t seem to disappear ever,” said state Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, a cosponsor of the forum. “These

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er of the people, by the people and for the people. Not for real estate developers.” Glick said that a broad range of people enjoy the garden, since this is one of the few green spots within the Nolita and Little Italy areas. So to try dissuading the city government from converting it to affordable housing, the community searched for and found a different area to build the unit—with five times more space – at a Hudson and Clarkson water tunnel site. Whenever new affordable housing is built, 50 percent of the space is saved for community members within

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Assembly Member Deborah Glick speaks to protect the park at a Sept. 21 rally. Photo: Diamond Naga Siu Downtowner

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Crime Watch Voices Out & About City Arts

3 8 10 12

Top 5 Business 15 Minutes

13 16 21

WEEK OF APRIL

SPRING ARTS PREVIEW < CITYARTS, P.12

FOR HIM, SETTLING SMALL CLAIMS IS A BIG DEAL presided over Arbitration Man has three decades. for informal hearings about it He’s now blogging BY RICHARD KHAVKINE

is the common Arbitration Man their jurist. least folks’ hero. Or at Man has For 30 years, Arbitration court office of the civil few sat in a satellite Centre St. every building at 111 New Yorkers’ weeks and absorbed dry cleaning, burned lost accountings of fender benders, lousy paint jobs, and the like. And security deposits then he’s decided. Arbitration Man, About a year ago, so to not afwho requested anonymity started docuhe fect future proceedings, two dozen of what menting about compelling cases considers his most blog. in an eponymous about it because “I decided to write the stories but in a I was interested about it not from wanted to write from view but rather lawyer’s point of said Arbitration view,” of a lay point lawyer since 1961. Man, a practicing what’s at issue He first writes about post, renders and then, in a separatehow he arrived his decision, detailing blog the to Visitors at his conclusion. their opinions. often weigh in with get a rap going. I to “I really want whether they unreally want to know and why I did it,” I did derstood what don’t know how to he said. “Most people ... I’d like my cases the judge thinks. and also my trereflect my personalitythe law.” for mendous respect 80, went into indiMan, Arbitration suc in 1985, settling vidual practice

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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

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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

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In Brief CITY’S SOLAR OUTPUT FLARES Solar capacity has roughly quadrupled in two years, and city officials are poised to issue permits for more than 3,000 solar panel installations this year alone, according to the de Blasio administration. The pending installations will bring the citywide total to more than 8,000 installations this year, up from 1,819 installations two years ago. The growth puts the city on track to meet its OneNYC goal of installing 100 megawatts of solar power on public buildings, as well as 250 megawatts on private buildings by 2025. The administration also announced an expansion of a 2025 commitment to remove barriers of solar adoption to make room for over 1,000 MW of citywide solar capacity by 2030. 1,000 MW of solar capacity can power over 250,000 households. The city’s first energy storage deployment target is another administration goal. Expanding to 100 megawatt-hours by 2020 will ensure the renewable energy is consistently available, and will allow a variety of energy sources, such as solar panels, a release from the mayor’s office said. One megawatt-hour is the amount produced by a one megawatt power source. The administration said that the expansion of existing targets will create high-paying local jobs, as well as solidify the city’s position as leading solar job market in the northeast. “Two years ago, New York City became the largest city on the planet to commit to meeting an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” Daniel Zarrilli, the city’s senior director for climate policy, said.

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SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

FOLLOWING BLAST, ANXIOUS MOMENTS AT CHELSEA’S SELIS MANOR Windows blown out at city’s only dedicated living space for the blind BY VERENA DOBNIK

When a pressure cooker bomb exploded on the street in front of Robert O’Garro’s apartment building for the blind, it shook him to his bones — even 11 oors up. “I felt the shock wave,â€? said the 58-year-old resident of Selis Manor, the city’s only dedicated apartment building for the blind and vision impaired. “It just came through me. Then I heard the windows breaking.â€? Windows were blown out four oors up the 12-story building, on West 23rd Street between Seventh and Sixth Avenues. Elevators stopped. And dust and smoke filled the hallways. But none of the 500 residents was hurt. More than two dozen people outside suffered mostly minor injuries when the Sept. 17 explosion sent out a concussive blast, ball bearings and other metal shrapnel in all directions. Investigators say an Islamic radical, Ahmad Khan Rahami, placed the bomb and another, which didn’t go off, a few blocks away. Rahami, an Afghan-born U.S. citizen, also is accused of setting off a pipe bomb a few hours

Selis Manor, under scaffolding. Photo: Genia Gould

earlier in a New Jersey shore town, but that didn’t injure anyone. A public defender has sought a court appearance for Rahami so he can hear the federal terrorism charges against him. For blind residents of Selis Manor, the explosion outside made them especially anxious because it was unclear what was happening. High-pitched

alarms wailed through stairwells and corridors. Shaking that coursed through the building led some to think it was an earthquake. O’Garro said, “You had people milling in the hallways, saying, ‘What should I do?’� What 57-year-old blind musician Victor Lopez chose to do was what he

does every night: walk his dog. About midnight, three hours after the attack, he made his way down from his eighth-floor apartment using the stairs. Police would not allow him onto the sidewalk, so he went to the back of the building. “I heard the noise. It was strong. Wow, it was terrible!� Lopez said. “It

was a crazy moment. The police, the ďŹ remen — it was crazy.â€? Back in his apartment, he listened to radio news with his agitated wife, who’s also blind, “and I tried to calm her down.â€? They were up all night, “because we had to pay attention to any announcement telling us to get out.â€? But there was no evacuation. And O’Garro, the 11th-oor resident, had no trouble sleeping. “This is all part of life,â€? he said. That was the sentiment up and down the block, which would again bustle with crowds and packed businesses less than a week after the explosion. But near the heart of the blast, the King David Gallery glass-and-mirror design store was still heavily damaged. Shattered decorative mirrors, some of which had been priced at more than $1,000 each, were lined up against a wall. Israeli-born owner Daniel Peretz said the irony is that he and his wife had left their country after a Molotov cocktail was thrown into his wife’s car _ only for them to become victims of American violence. “But don’t let the terrorists scare us,â€? he said. “If they scare us, where are we going to go? Everywhere it’s the same thing.â€?

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SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

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CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG

ILLEGAL IVORY SEIZED IN MIDTOWN Authorities say the owners and a salesman at a Manhattan antiques store and gallery have been charged with selling or offering for sale illegal elephant ivory priced at more than $4.5 million that has been seized. Manhattan prosecutors and state conservation officials say Metropolitan Fine Arts & Antiques has sold ivory articles and carvings since at least 2007. They say the shop didn’t renew its previous license to sell ivory following a 2014 state law that banned most sales except under very limited circumstances. Undercover conservation officers bought a carving for $2,000 last year identified through an analysis as elephant ivory. Authorities say a subsequent search warrant found 126 ivory articles including two pairs of uncarved tusks. A man who answered the store’s phone says they have no comment.

TRAFFIC BOP On Sept. 17, a 51-year-old male traffic agent got into a verbal dispute with a 27-year-old man on the southeast corner of Canal Street and Avenue of the Americas. Apparently the younger man asked, “Why the f*ck you stopping me?” before arguing with and then punching the agent in the face with his closed fist, causing swelling to the agent‘s cheek along with a bloody nose. The assailant fled eastbound on Canal Street. He was identified and is wanted for assault on a peace officer.

FUHGEDDABOUDIT Police reported this week that at least three people forgot their stuff, but thieves did not. In the first incident, at 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 6, a 32-year-

old man checked items into the coat check facility at the New York Dolls club on Murray Street. Later that evening he left the premises forgetting his bag. When he returned the following evening at 7:30 p.m. his bag and its contents were gone. The items taken included a laptop valued at $1,100, wireless earphones priced at $100 and other items. Then at 4:50 p.m. on Sept. 16, an 18-year-old female student was sitting on a bench on William Street with her purse on the bench next to her. She then got up and walked away from the location before realizing some 20 minutes later that she had left her bag on the bench. In addition to her Saint Laurent purse, valued at $2,384, she also lost a wallet, glasses and other items. In the third incident, on the morning of Sept. 17, a 31-year-old woman left

The Associated Press

STATS FOR THE WEEK Reported crimes from the 1st precinct Week to Date 2016 2015

% Change

2016

2015

% Change

Murder

0

0

n/a

0

1

-100.0

Rape

0

0

n/a

8

5

60.0

Robbery

1

4

-75.0

45

46

-2.2

Felony Assault

4

5

-20.0

62

61

1.6

Burglary

4

1

300.0

94

94

0.0

Grand Larceny

24

31

-22.6

755

766

-1.4

Grand Larceny Auto

0

1

-100.0

40

16

150.0

her bag inside the Starbucks at 180 West Broadway and did not notice it was missing until her bank notified her of possible fraudulent activity on her credit cards. She told police her credit cards had been used in multiple locations to make unauthorized transactions totaling $1,329. She also lost a wallet valued at $750 and other items.

GRAND STREET LARCENY Tony Webster, via flickr

Year to Date

Police picked up a purse-snatcher

The local paper for Downtown

outside a boutique hotel. Early on Sept. 17, a 32-year-old woman was having a drink in the bar at the James New York hotel at 27 Grand St. when she realized her purse was missing. She then became suspicious of a 26-yearold woman nearby and informed security personnel. A male security officer stopped the woman as she left the hotel and was entering a car, and he found the victim’s purse inside the defendant’s purse. Samantha JosephPauline was arrested and charged with grand larceny.

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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

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

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

CUSTOMIZING LUXURY High-end retailers offering customers bespoke services such as theater tickets, chauffeured rides

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO

ELECTED OFFICIALS Councilmember Margaret Chin

165 Park Row #11

212-587-3159

Councilmember Rosie Mendez

237 1st Ave. #504

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

66 Leroy St.

212-243-6876

COMMUNITY BOARDS

LIBRARIES

Buying some suits at Ralph Lauren might mean being offered a chauffeured ride home in a BMW. New clothes from Saks could lead to a MercedesBenz van carrying a customized wardrobe pulling up to a home, hotel or office.

US Post Office

201 Varick St.

US Post Office

128 East Broadway

212-267-1543

Saks is taking the most aggressive lead, and I think that everyone else will have to follow...the thing that changed is that luxury became accessible to everyone, everywhere in the world because of the internet.”

US Post Office

93 4th Ave.

212-254-1390

Faith Hope Consolo

Hudson Park Ottendorfer

135 2nd Ave.

212-674-0947

Elmer Holmes Bobst

70 Washington Square

212-998-2500

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

POST OFFICES 212-645-0327

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With designer goods available online anytime, luxury retailers are adding more amenities and personal touches for in-person shopping. Stores overall are facing slower sales amid more restrained luxury spending, and some brands’ flagship locations in major cities have seen a drop in shopping by international tourists because of the stronger U.S. dollar. That makes it even more important for retailers to keep the customers they have feeling valued and pampered. Robert Burke, president of his namesake New York-based luxury consulting business, said he was surprised when the Ralph Lauren sales staff sent him back to his office with a uniformed driver after he came in to buy two suits. He was offered the same chauffeured treatment for the fitting. And he was so pleased with the service he bought a coat and blazer on the visit to do the alterations, and penned

Saks Fifth Avenue is offering “more high-touch” experiences, including, at the lower Manhattan store, “power lunch” packages for wardrobe styling and makeup application. Photo: David Shankbone, via Wikimedia a note to the founder’s chief of staff with thanks. “It made you feel they really appreciated my business, and it made me want to shop. It was a nice perk to have a driver come and pick you up,” he said. What Burke hadn’t realized was that the Ralph Lauren store in Manhattan earlier this year began picking up and dropping off customers in a BMW sporting a small company logo. It’s expected to serve as a model for the kind of service the company wants to offer customers at its top stores. At the soon-to-open Beverly Hills store, a full-time concierge will offer services beyond shopping, like making dinner reservations or recommending art galleries. Lafayette 148 New York, a clothing brand that sells to Saks, Neiman Marcus and other upscale retailers, also offers a pick-up and drop-off service for customers at two Manhattan stores. Neiman Marcus Group’s Bergdorf Goodman has expanded the number of translators at its New York store for international shoppers. Credit card holders for both retailers can access a 24hour concierge service to book travel or theatre tickets. And the Americana Manhas-

set Mall on Long Island, which offers a free personal shopping service for the open-air center that includes stores such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel, is working to provide more service. The personal shoppers, who used to work just with the stores at the mall, now go for training at the corporate offices or meet with the brand’s corporate staff at the shopping mall so they can better serve the customer. Saks Fifth Avenue, under new President Marc Metrick, is offering what he calls “more high-touch” experiences. At the lower Manhattan store, that can be “power lunch” packages for wardrobe styling and makeup application in less than 60 minutes. A “Saks Save Me” service lets shoppers call a dedicated number to resolve fashion emergencies within 24 hours. And in 15 U.S. markets it can send the wardrobe van. Metrick says it’s about building a better relationship. “Saks is transforming because the customer is changing,” he said. “If people want to buy and transact, they can do it in so many ways.” In the most recent quarter, Saks Fifth Avenue, whose parent is Hudson’s Bay Co., saw sales at stores opened at least

a year slip 1.3 percent. Overall, global luxury buying is expected to be flat to up 2 percent this year to 253 billion euros to 258 billion euros ($282 billion to $288 billion), with a dip of up to 2 percent expected in the Americas region, according to Bain & Co.’s luxury study. But with the average income for the top 1 percent of U.S. households soaring 7.7 percent to $1.36 million last year, retailers still see potential growth. Income for the richest slice rose twice as fast as it did for the remaining 99 percent, according to an analysis of tax data by economics professor Emmanuel Saez, at the University of California, Berkeley. Faith Hope Consolo, chairman of Prudential Douglas Elliman’s retail group and who has brought such luxury names as Giorgio Armani and Jimmy Choo to the U.S., says luxury stores are taking a page from small tony boutiques but will need to keep offering more. “Saks is taking the most aggressive lead, and I think that everyone else will have to follow,” she said. “The thing that changed is that luxury became accessible to everyone, everywhere in the world because of the internet.”

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

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GARDEN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the neighborhood the structure was built. That means the same population that could apply to the affordable housing envisioned for the Elizabeth Street Garden location could also apply for the reserved space at th Hudson and Clarkson site. However, Glick said that rather than compromising between green space and affordable housing, government officials have suggested using both lots for affordable housing. “That is the height of arrogance,� Glick said. “That is the height of disrespect for communities, and somebody has to say that the administration is supposed to be turning a page on a prior administration that is so disrespectful of neighborhoods. They are not looking for creative solutions.� Council Member Margaret Chin represents the area in which Elizabeth Street Park is located. In a statement, Chin said that the government is taking an important step as a community to create affordable housing for seniors. “With thousands of seniors

on waitlists for affordable, safe and age-appropriate housing, the need for these senior housing units in the heart of Little Italy is overwhelming,� Chin said. “I thank Mayor de Blasio and HPD for partnering with me to help address this crisis of affordability that threatens the health and well-being of too many elderly New Yorkers.� She said that as the process continues, she looks forward to

working with the Community Board and the gardeners to recreate an open space that will be available and open to the public for decades to come. The Housing Preservation Department has now issued a Request for Proposal that asks for possible solutions incorporating affordable housing and green space. Jennifer Romine, a resident in the affordable housing unit adjacent to the Elizabeth Street

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 attract the homeless. They also questioned enforcement of rules regarding legal construction hours. Though contractors are generally allowed to work from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., there are exceptions and several attendees expressed frustration with excessive noise late at night. “There isn’t a street that isn’t under construction in lower Manhattan,� Glick said. “These people have families, it’s just unacceptable.� Although several agency representatives encouraged the use of the city’s 311 system, several residents said they were

Photo: Billie Grace Ward, via ickr

Park, said that to split the Elizabeth Street Garden’s area between affordable housing and green space is ridiculous because of how little green space will be left. “Retail space here is like Madison Avenue, and this building that I saw had an immense amount of retail space,� Romine said. “There are numerous sites in this area they could build over—34 Spring

Street and a number of parking lots just within ďŹ ve blocks of here—but they might not be proďŹ table, and they might not be as sexy.â€? She volunteers with the garden regularly, and Romine said that many children, families and older people oftentimes do not voice their discontent with the planned development. She also said that there’s a myth that this park is just for rich people.

dissatisďŹ ed by the city’s lack of response to their complaints. “I’ve used 311 to the point of no return, and occasionally things have been resolved but it’s not common,â€? one resident said. “311 strikes me as being very well designed to insulate the public from the agencies, rather than being an effective way to get anything done.â€? The rest of the forum was punctuated by questions over the effectiveness of 311 and the competence of its operators. Residents as well as Brewer and Glick offered suggestions to improve the service. Pam Frederick, a Tribeca resident, left the meeting reconciled but nonetheless frustrated. “I’m amazed that you can

close a sidewalk for a private project indeďŹ nitely,â€? Frederick said. “If that’s the way it is, then that’s the way it is, but I think that’s a aw in the permitting process.â€? The meeting concluded, but residents still had much to say.

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“This 21 Spring Street,� Romine said while gesticulating south, “is for low-income families. Ninety-five percent of the tenants signed a petition that was sent to the councilwoman and the mayor and everybody, saying that we need this green space.� Esther Katz, a resident of the area, wrote letters to the government to advocate for keeping the garden. She said that the lot has really transformed since its early transitiondaysfromatrashdump to a garden. “Itwaskindoflikeagraveyardof statues,� Katz said. “But it’s unbelievable. It now feels like a respite from the rest of the city, and it just feels like I’m in a different environment.� While watering some of the greenery on the north side, a gardener pointed out some rosemary that had just grown in, and Katz said that she and her dog enjoy the smell of the garden’s dahlias. “Sometimes it feels like I almost can’t breathe with the smells of garbage in the city that are truly disgusting some days,� Katz said. “I think they should do everything they can to keep this open, because it’s a lifesaver. So whatever anyone can do would be helpful.�

The moderator urged residents who still wanted to have their voices heard to attend a meeting of CB1’s Quality of Life Committee, which is generally held the third Thursday of each month.

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SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

A rendering of a planned expansion of the American Museum of Natural History. Courtesy of the museum.

MUSEUM CLEARS FIRST HURDLE CB 7 panels OK Natural History expansion BY MADELEINE THOMPSON

Community Board 7’s parks and preservation committees have backed the American Museum of Natural History’s expansion plan. A joint committee session Sept. 20 marked the first time CB 7 members had publicly reviewed the project since it was announced by the museum in 2014. But the board has fol-

An illustration of how a proposed expansion at the American Museum of Natural History would alter Theodore Roosevelt Park. Courtesy of the museum

Met Council is accepting applications for the waiting list of affordable housing rental apartments in our building located at 171 Lexington Avenue, NY. For one person households, applicants must be 62 years old at the time of application; for two person households, the applicant must be 62 and the co-applicant 55 at the time of application. Current Rent Range studio: $829 - $1231 Income Range: $34,720 - $50,800 (1 person household) Current Range 1 bedroom: Income Range:

$1029 - $1320 $42,760 - $50,800 (1 person household) $42,760 - $58,000 (2 person household)

Current Range 2 bedroom: Income Range:

$1186 - $1409 $49,080 - $58,000 (2 person household)

Monthly rent includes heat, hot water and gas for cooking. Seniors will be required to meet income guidelines and additional selection criteria to qualify. Income guidelines are subject to change. One application per household. Applications may be downloaded from: www.metcouncil.org/housing or requested by mail from Met Council: Lexington Avenue Residence 120 Broadway, 7th floor New York, NY 10271 Please include a self-addressed envelope. No broker or application fee.

Met Council is accepting applications for the waiting list of affordable housing rental apartments in our building located at 334 East 92nd Street, NY. For one person households, applicants must be 62 years old at the time of application; for two person households, the applicant must be 62 and the co-applicant 55 at the time of application. Current Rent Range studio: $897 - $1231 Income Range: $37,440- $50,800 (1 person household) Current Range 1 bedroom: Income Range:

$969 - $1320 $40,360 - $50,800 (1 person household) $40,360 - $58,000 (2 person household)

Monthly rent includes heat, hot water and gas for cooking. Seniors will be required to meet income guidelines and additional selection criteria to qualify. Income guidelines are subject to change. One application per household. Applications may be downloaded from: www.metcouncil.org/housing or requested by mail from Met Council: East 92nd Street Residence 120 Broadway, 7th floor New York, NY 10271 Please include a self-addressed envelope. No broker or application fee.

lowed the proposal’s progress — and some members have attended the public sessions hosted by the museum over the last year. After a marathon three-hour session, both committees voted overwhelmingly in support of the proposed Gilder Center. More than 100 people came out to the meeting at Goddard Riverside Community Center. In an attempt to head off some concerns, preservation committee co-chair Jay Adolf outlined the meeting’s purpose. “We’re certainly all aware that there are a host of issues that ultimately are involved in this project and will be reviewed,” Adolf said. “What we are not considering tonight are any of the issues that are going to be raised by the Environmental Impact Statement, such as transportation, traffic congestion, things like that.” Some of the community members in attendance on Tuesday had already seen the museum’s presentation at a public hearing on Sept. 13, and many of the same voices from previous sessions were heard again. “I am proposing a new strategy for landmarks and historic district protection, which is that ... landmarks must be left alone,” said one opponent. Still others railed against the Gilder Center’s design and its use of a quarter-acre of Theodore Roosevelt Park, which surrounds the museum. Critics complained that museum is not going far enough to use sustainable materials or reduce carbon emissions. But some supporters showed up, too. “I’ve benefited from several [museum] workshops

and institutes, and I frequently bring my students to visit,” a local science teacher said. “A lot of what I’ve heard tonight is a conversation centering around concerns for loss of park space. But I want to represent the perspective of my students and young learners for whom the museum provides ... one of the few opportunities for them to ignite their curiosity.” A representative from the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District also expressed enthusiasm for the project and the influx of consumers it would bring to the area. After the time for public comment had ended, Community Board members voiced their own views. Most were supportive of and excited about the Gilder Center, with a few caveats. “I am still concerned about the encroachment into the park land,” said Meisha Hunter Burkett, a member of both the parks and preservation committees. “I applaud the museum for reducing the footprint and the amount of the encroachment. I think as far as the landscape proposal, to me I didn’t see enough evidence of a conversation of this landscape design with the existing landscape holistically.” Before voting, the committees added recommendations to their resolutions that the museum more carefully consider the inflow and outflow of visitors from the building into Theodore Roosevelt Park, and that they aim for a zero carbon footprint. The issue will be taken up again by the full community board at its Oct. 5 meeting.

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

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Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

SHEEP MEADOW’S ONCE WOOLLY DENIZENS When the ruminants ruled the green BY RAANAN GEBERER

When one thinks of the Bach hymn, “Sheep May Safely Graze,” one rarely thinks of Central Park. And yet, for about 70 years, there was a time when sheep indeed did graze on Sheep Meadow. When Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed Central Park in the mid-19th century, they thought that having a meadow with grazing sheep would add a pastoral touch. In 1864, they imported 200 pedigreed Southdown (later Dorset) sheep. In addition to being pleasant to look at, the sheep

The Parks Department sold the sheep’s wool, and, once a year, the city auctioned off several animals to thin out the herd. During the 1892 auction, one ram sold for $14, and one of the lambs sold for $2, according to the blog “Daytonian in Manhattan.” Even though the sheep ruled the meadow, there were times when people took over the green. Many of these events involved children. According to The New York Times, 1,000 boys and girls from the city’s playgrounds competed in games and won prizes on a September day in 1922. About five years later, teams of boys converged on the green to fly their rubber band-propelled toy air-

Eventually, much of the flock became malformed because of inbreeding. In 1934, the Parks commissioner, Robert Moses, had the sheep transferred to Prospect Park’s Long Meadow, where they joined others of their four-legged kin in residence there. Moses had decided that he wanted the Sheepfold for a new restaurant: Tavern on the Green. There might have been another consideration, too. In 1934, during the Great Depression, camps of men made Central Park their home and some city officials feared that some of them might steal some of the sheep, kill them and use them for food, “Modern Farmer” magazine reported. Ultimately,

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New York, NY Zip Code __________ Cell Phone _________________ Email Address___________________________________________ Payment by kept the grass trimmed and the lawn fertilized. They slept in the Victorian-style building known as the “Sheepfold” — better known today as Tavern on the Green. In 1870, a sheep crossing was built across the park’s drive. Twice a day, a shepherd would lead the sheep to and from the meadow. Park-goers were discouraged from venturing into Sheep Meadow itself, but glimpse at the sheep from its perimeter.

planes. Another five years later, 6,000 girls danced to folk music from around the world. Semi-military events also were held on Sheep Meadow. In a March 1918 publicity stunt designed to spur onlookers to buy war bonds, two Curtis biplanes landed on the meadow following their 20-minute flights from Mineola. (At the time, airplanes were used almost exclusively by the military, although air mail would begin within a few months.)

Central Park and the Prospect Park flocks were relocated to the Catskills. Despite the end of Sheep Meadow’s original use, Central Park today isn’t completely sheep-less. Although they no longer graze in the meadow, some may still be seen in the Children’s Zoo, where they are appreciated by children and adults alike.

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Voices

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

Letter

A BROTHER’S VISIT IS BITTERSWEET And how I’m running out of excuses on hearing aids BY MARCIA EPSTEIN

Matt Anderson, via flickr

FOR THE SUPERDOVE To the editor: I’m appalled at Melitta Anderman’s article, “For The Birds,” in the Sept. 15 issue. I don’t know where she did her fact-checking. but pigeons are a part of Manhattan history and Manhattan is their home too. They are not intruders. They did not come here on their own. Humans brought them here. Why is she asking questions like, “Are they hatched full size? Where do they mate?” Instead of wasting space with this rubbish why doesn’t she educate herself by picking up a book like “Superdove” by Courtney Humphries? Why doesn’t she do something productive with her time and try to spend some time with New York City Pigeon Rescue Central or The Wild Bird Fund and get a hands on education. She comments: “pigeons are graceless and charmless.” I encourage her to go online and look up footage of the recent performance “Fly By Night” at The Brooklyn Navy Yard. She may say she meant to be humorous but her attitude is actually very damaging. How we treat one situation is reflective of how we treat another. How we treat even the most helpless of creatures is reflective of how we live our lives. I want to live in a world where a positive attitude and positive actions are king. I’d be curious to know what kind of world Anderman wants to live in. Victoria Booth Brooklyn

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My brother came to New York last week to visit friends and family and take in the sights. We grew up 30 miles north of here, and my brother lived in New York City for only two years after college, while I’ve been here since the dawn of time. My sister-in-law lived in New York for many years and missed it. They retired 10 years ago from where they had lived in Florida for many years to Mexico, and I’ve not been in good enough physical shape to take that long trip to visit them there. The last time I saw my brother was about six years ago, when we all had a reunion at my nephew’s home in Florida. Of course it was wonderful to see my brother again last week, but also bittersweet. In the back of my mind was “when, if ever, will I see him again?” Neither of us is young (I am more than for years older than he is). I doubt I’ll get to the hills of Mexico, and this trip to New York may be their last. While they do travel a lot, it’s to many different places and this was a special treat. When we’re young, we just take it for granted that we will see people again. It’s not a thought that lingers somewhere back in the dark reaches of the brain that maybe we won’t. It was a lovely reunion, and my brother got to meet my adorable little grandson for the first time. He and my sister-in-law took in all the sights that never cross my mind to visit. Now I am feeling a bit melancholy. One just never knows. Something else on my mind these fall days: those hearing aids that I’ve been avoiding for many years. There’s the cost, of course, and the fact that, unlike eye glasses, they’re a pain in the backside. My partner is always fiddling with batteries and dealing with up-

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Associate Publishers Seth L. Miller, Ceil Ainsworth Regional Sales Manager Tania Cade

A writer wonders: is it time for a hearing aid? Photo: Bit Boy, via flickr

When we’re young, we just take it for granted that we will see people again. It’s not a thought that lingers somewhere back in the dark reaches of the brain that maybe we won’t. It was a lovely reunion, and my brother got to meet my adorable little grandson for the first time. He and my sister-in-law took in all the sights that never cross my mind to visit. Now I am feeling a bit melancholy. One just never knows.” keep. And I hate things in my ears. However, lately, my excuses are becoming less and less valid. There’s so much going on in the world of hearing aids, including better technology and over-the-

counter “hearables.” New developments are happening constantly. Did you know that Medicare didn’t include hearing aids in the original plan because hearing loss was considered a natural part of aging? Perhaps it’s time for a change. Still, the many new options make them affordable for many more folks than in the past. For one, there’s Costco’s reasonably priced audiologists and hearing aids. Many new hearing aids work with apps (guess I’d finally need a smart phone). They adjust for environment, modulate tinnitus and duplicate the auditory processing center in the brain. Some sites to check out are HearingTracker.com and BuyHear. com, Hearingwholesale.com and iHearMedical.com, which may be a game-changer when it comes to affordable hearing aids. Pretty soon I will have run out of excuses to avoid hearing aids and maybe I will be able to attend movies without subtitles. I’ve missed some pretty good films because of my hearing. I’ve been volunteering for over 30 years at The Riverside Language School, which was asked to leave its home on the third

President & Publisher, Jeanne Straus nyoffice@strausnews.com Account Executive Deputy Editors Richard Khavkine Fred Almonte editor.dt@strausnews.com Director of Partnership Development Christopher Moore Barry Lewis editor.ot@strausnews.com

floor of Riverside Church after 38 years. Temple B’nai Jeshurun on West 89th Street stepped in and offered space, and I had my first lunchtime conversation at the new location on Monday. Basically it’s a time for interested students at the school to just chat with volunteers to improve their English conversation skills. I enjoy it tremendously and have learned so much about the world through the students. I’m so thrilled that B’nai Jeshurun stepped into the void and that the language school was able to find a place to continue its wonderful work with immigrants from all over the world. And finally. Can someone explain why Starbucks encourages people to sit for hours on end with their laptops, making it impossible to walk in, have a coffee and sit for a while? I’ve left countless Starbucks because there were no empty seats, and its seems to me that they would be losing business because of the lack of places to bide a wee. I’m puzzled and annoyed and just wonder why they actually seem to want this as they advertise free WiFi. Don’t they want walk-in business? Just asking.

Staff Reporter Madeleine Thompson newsreporter@strausnews.com Director of Digital Pete Pinto

Block Mayors Ann Morris, Upper West Side Jennifer Peterson, Upper East Side Gail Dubov, Upper West Side Edith Marks, Upper West Side

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

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Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

MACAULAY HONORS COLLEGE RANKED AMONG NATION’S BEST Other CUNY institutions also fare well in nationwide surveys

Photo: Macaulay Honors College at CUNY evaluated colleges with criteria that included the number of honors classes offered, overall class size, ratio of staff to students, priority registration and prestigious awards received. Macaulay opened in 2001 and enrolls more than 2,000 students. It offers exceptional students a personalized education that draws on the vast resources of the nation’s largest urban public university. “All of us who are part of the Macaulay community of scholars — students, faculty, academic advisors, staff, and campus directors — take great joy in working together to build a transformational experience for extraordinary people. This top rating is recognition that we are on the right

track,” Macaulay Dean Mary Pearl said. Stella and Charles Guttman Community College is ranked the best community college in New York State by EDsmart, publisher of Best Community Colleges – garnering the only perfect 100 in its scoring system. Founded four years ago, Guttman offers associate degree programs as part of an innovative model that emphasizes experiential education, learning communities, instructional teams and a balance between being “high tech” and “high touch.” Fifty-one percent of its 2012 inaugural class have now earned their associate degrees — a metric significantly higher than the national norm.

EDsmart based its rankings of 121 twoyear colleges in New York State – primarily CUNY and SUNY — on factors including retention rate, transfer rate, graduation rate and net price. Forbes magazine’s 2016 rankings of 600 public and private colleges and universities places City 62nd among public colleges, Baruch 74th, Queens 80th and Hunter 83rd. Forbes rankings assess what students get out of college by looking at the compensation that alumni earn after graduation, student debt, student satisfaction, graduation rate and academic success. In other rankings, City, Hunter and Queens Colleges were included by the Center for World University Rank-

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CUNY’s William E. Macaulay Honors College is rated highest among all public university honors colleges and programs in the nation and Guttman Community College is named the number one community college in New York State, according to recent surveys. And four CUNY colleges – City, Baruch, Queens and Hunter — place in the top 100 of public colleges nationally for return on investment (the cost of attending vs. debt and earnings after graduation), according to Forbes magazine. That’s a natural, considering the tremendous head start that CUNY alumni have due to the university’s low tuition, which allows eight out of 10 students to graduate debt-free. No public honors college or program scored higher than Macaulay Honors College in the forthcoming book, “Inside Honors: Ratings and Reviews of Sixty Public University Honors Programs.” Publisher publicuniversityhonors.com gave Macaulay its coveted highest score of “5 mortarboards.” This was the first time that the organization considered Macaulay. It

ings. This is the only global university ranking that measures the quality of education and training of students, as well as the prestige of the faculty members and the quality of their research, without relying on surveys and university data submissions. The list included 1,000 colleges from around the world. U.S. News & World Report ranks Baruch College #5 among top public institutions and #20 overall, both for the Regional Universities in the North category . The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2016 Almanac recently listed John Jay College of Criminal Justice 7th among more than 600 universities nationwide in terms of greatest increase in research grant dollars for the fiscal years 2005 – 2014, and 12th in terms of greatest increase in federal research dollars for the same period. CUNY is the first and largest university system in America to be named Military Friendly in 2016 in recognition of its programs for veterans, members of the armed forces leaving military service, and their military spouses. The City University of New York is the nation’s leading urban public university.

Th is

Over 250,000 New Yorkers are living with Alzheimer’s today. MANHATTAN Sunday, October 16th, 9 am Riverside Park — W. 97th Street & Riverside Drive

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Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

Gallery-quality art for your home or office.

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

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

The 44th Gracie Square Outdoor

Art Show

East End Avenue from 84th to 88th Streets

Saturday, October 1st Free Admission Sunday, October 2nd www.graciesquareartshow.info

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212.459.4455 10:00am – 5:00pm Rain or Shine Free Admission

212.459.4455 www.graciesquareartshow.info

e Square Outdoor

Thu

29

TOAST TO WAVERTREE▲ South Street Seaport Museum, 16 East River Piers 6:30-8:30 p.m. $250$1,000 Celebrate the $13 million restoration of the historic ship Wavertree with a classy night of entertainment and refreshments 212-748-8600. www. southstreetseaportmuseum.org

tober 1st ber 2nd 5:00 p.m.

Enjoy a night of actual Brazilian partying with all the components to make it an authentic time: sambaing, funk, black light and much more. 212-243-4940. www. NYCDailyEvents.com

MOVIE NIGHT Village Zendo, 588 Broadway 7:30-9 p.m. Free Check out the short documentary by John Ankele “One Body One Heart” about pancreatic cancer. 212-340-4656. www. villagezendo.org

BLACK VOTES MATTER

on

Sat

Presented by

Proceeds fund the restoration and maintenance of Carl Schurz Park

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Housing Works Bookstore Café, 126 Crosby St. 7-9 p.m. Free Engage in a discussion with Nikole Hannah-Jones, Jamilah YOUR CITY, YOUR Lemieux and other journalists about President Obama’s tenure. VOICE ACTIVIST 212-334-3324. www. TRAINING housingworks.org Transportation Alternatives, 111 John St. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $10 waivable registration Learn alongside local activists from organizations throughout New York City about how to empower a community NEW YORK CITY’S #1 212-629-8080. www. transalt.org BRAZILIAN PARTY

Fri

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Sound of Brazil, 204 Varick St. 10 p.m.-4 a.m.

METAMORPHOSIS READING Poets House, 10 River Terrace 2-5 p.m. Free Listen to poet Barbara Guest read her works, and hear firsthand about her friendship with painter Fay Lansner 212-431-7920. www. poetshouse.org

Sun

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DEEPAVALI FESTIVAL Association of Indians in America, Pier 16 South St. Seaport Noon-10 p.m. Free Enjoy the Deepavali Festival, also known as Diwali, which celebrates the triumph of good over evil 718-468-4160. www. theaiany.com

PHOTOWALK III Oculus, 4 World Trade Center 3-5:30 p.m. Free Join Alastair Arthur at the Oculus and walk over to the Hudson while learning how to shoot better pictures 201-795-5485. www. hobokengrace.com

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

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Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

WORLD CLASS ARTISTS JUST AROUND THE CORNER The New York Theatre Ballet: Carnival of the Animals Saturday, October 1 at 3pm A one-hour story ballet for the entire family! In a magical forest, Queen Diana and her shaggy lion rule a charming assortment of animals who live more or less peaceably until a pair of lost children wander in, and then the fun begins! Carnival of the Animals Photo Credit: Richard Termine

“A favorite young star on the comedy scene.” – THE NEW YORK TIMES

Harrison Greenbaum: unconventional farmers’ market 419-372-9000. www.bgsu. edu

Mon

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MOVEMENT RESEARCH Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South 8-9 p.m. Free Engage with various artists and their emerging ideas through an experiment for Movement Research Artists 212-477-0351. www. movementresearch.org

Wed Tue

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SOCIAL SECTOR HAPPY HOUR

Bavaria Bier Haus, 47 Stone St. 5-7:30 p.m. Free Build ARTnerships with artists, art organizations and other art lovers to celebrate Funding for Arts Month 212-620-4230. www. foundationcenter.com

FRIGHTENED RABBIT▲ (Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St. 8-11:30 p.m. $30 in advance, $35 at the door Listen to the Frightened Rabbit for one night only at the (Le) Poisson Rouge as part of The Meadows Music and Arts Festival 212-505-3474. www.lpr. com

HEALTH FAIR AND FARMERS’ MARKET▲

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What Just Happened? Friday, October 14 at 7:30pm A full-length theatrical magic and comedy extravaganza deftly combining “smart, witty, and lightning quick punchlines” (SceneTracker) with jaw dropping cutting-edge, illusions, mind reading and legerdemain.

Photo Credit: Mike Maione

Bickram Ghosh’s Drums of India

PRESS CONFERENCE/ RALLY City Hall, City Hall Park 12:45-2 p.m. Free Rally with the Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos and Animal Cruelty Exposure to end the annual ritual of slaughtering 50,000 chickens in Brooklyn 757-678-7875. www. endchickensaskaporos.com

YOGA AND CHANTING MOVEMENT, STILLNESS AND KIRTAN

Integral Yoga Institute, 227 West 13 St. 7-9:30 p.m. $40 in advance, Bowen-Thompson Student $50 at the door Union, 806 Ridge St. Participate in a relaxing end of 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free day yoga session with yogi and Learn about all aspects of health — from wellness to eating yoga author Wah! habits — at 212-929-0585. www.iyiny. this org

Harrison Greenbaum

Saturday, October 22 at 7:30pm

Bickram Ghosh

Internationally renowned tabla player, Bickram Ghosh, brings together a virtuosic five-person ensemble that explores the ancient world of Indian percussion in an electrifying evening of drumming and vocalizing, with added sitar.

American Showstoppers with the Fred Barton Orchestra An Evening with Frank Loesser Saturday, October 29 at 7:30pm Includes music from Guys and Dolls, How to Succeed in Business as well as classics “Luck be a Lady”, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and many more!

Re 20% ocffeive ticket wh * your e use codne you STR A at checUk S20 out.

* Valid through 10/6. Max 8 tickets. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Not valid on prior purchases. Restrictions may apply.

SchimmelCenter.org 212-346-1715

3 SPRUCE STREET

(BTWN PARK ROW AND GOLD STREET)

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SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

‘PICTURE OF THE YEAR’ AT THE JEWISH MUSEUM John Singer Sargent’s “Mrs. Carl Meyer and Her Children” is back in the U.S. for the first time in more than 10 years BY VAL CASTRONOVO

It’s been a little more than a year since the blockbuster Sargent show at The Met Fifth Avenue, a sprawling tribute to the American expat painter’s portraits of artists and friends, with a sprinkling of high-society thrown in. Now the Jewish Museum is hosting a Sargent show of its own, but in just one room, with the focus on just one painting — the ravishing “Mrs. Carl Meyer and Her Children” (1896), a window into the world of a privileged Jewish family at the end of

Herbert von Herkomer, Carl Meyer, 1908, oil on canvas (canvas: 56 x 44 in. framed: 65 x 54 in.) The painting Mrs. Carl Meyer and her Children can be seen in the background.

the Victorian era. The room is the former dining room of the Felix Warburg Mansion, built in 1908 for the German-born banker and his wife, and home to the Jewish Museum since 1947. The Gilded Age setting is a fitting one for this tour de force by the renowned Gilded Age painter. At the preview, Claudia Gould, the museum’s director, dubbed the painting “Mrs. Carl Meyer and her really gorgeous family,” a jokey, but spoton assessment. John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) was at the height of his powers when he accepted the commission to paint banker Carl Meyer’s wife, the former Adèle Levis (c. 1861-1930), and their children, Elsie Charlotte and Frank Cecil. As chief curator Norman Kleeblatt said in an interview, the artist was the most sought-after portrait painter in late 19th century England and America, and the painting, on loan from Tate Britain, is “considered one of Sargent’s most important group portraits.” Adèle Meyer was in love with music, opera and the theater and so was Sargent. The picture is remarkable for its theatrical staging and bravura brushwork. “The painting is so riveting because it is clearly a performance on the part of both the artist and the sitter. She was performing for Sargent, and Sargent was performing for her,” Kleeblatt said. He created an opulent stage for his sitters at their rental home in Balcombe, outside London. Adèle is seated off to the side of the picture, on an elegant 18th century French canapé, with footstool; hand-carved wood paneling can be spied in the distance. Her pose is such that she seems to be sitting on the edge of her seat, while her children seem to recede in the background. She’s wearing a spectacular dress of velvet, satin and organdy, likely from Paris’s House of Worth where she was a frequent client. A book to her side signals that she has intellectual interests; a pink-streaked fan plays off her rouged cheeks. But the most gorgeous part of her outfit is another acces-

IF YOU GO What: “John Singer Sargent: Mrs. Carl Meyer and Her Children” Where: Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., (at 92nd Street) When: through Feb. 5 www.thejm.org/

sory, “an extraordinarily expensive, endlessly long rope of Oriental pearls, which are very subtle and amazing. They reach the heels of her shoes,” Kleeblatt said. “She’s a woman who knew how to present herself. She’s not laden with jewelry. ... She wore one drop-dead piece of jewelry.” Adèle was the wealthy daughter of a rubber manufacturer who married Carl Meyer in 1883. He worked as a negotiator for the Rothschild bank in London, and later as London chairman for De Beers, the mining group, and director of the National Bank of Egypt. He was anointed First Baronet of Shortgrove in the County of Essex in 1910. His wife, who became Lady Meyer, was a society hostess and patron of the arts. She hobnobbed with cultural elites such as actress Sarah Bernhardt, composer Reynaldo Hahn and artist Lawrence Alma-Tadema — as the guest register from Shortgrove, the Meyers’ country home, attests. Proust inscribed a copy of his “Pleasures and Days” (1896) to Adèle; it’s here, on loan from The Morgan Library. But Adèle Meyer was not just a patron of the arts but a patron of social causes too, Kleeblatt said. She actively supported the suffragettes, and after her husband died in 1922, took up the cause of garment workers, co-authoring a book to help improve their working conditions. She also bankrolled the School for Mothers in London, focused on infant welfare. Sargent’s portrait was greeted with much critical acclaim and exhibited three times in the four years after its creation — at the Royal Academy in

John Singer Sargent, “Mrs. Carl Meyer and her Children,” 1896, oil on canvas. Tate Britain, bequeathed by Adèle, Lady Meyer 1930, with a life interest for her son and grandson and presented in 2005 in celebration of the lives of Sir Anthony and Lady Barbadee Meyer. London, the Copley Society in Boston and the Exposition Universelle in Paris. But there were snarky appraisals, too. An 1897 caricature in the British satirical magazine Punch, captioned “The Perils of Steep Perspective!,” pictures Elsie and Frank struggling to keep their mother from falling off the couch — an effort likened on the facing page to “a sort of drawing-room tobogganing exercise.” But the painting was nonetheless pronounced “quite the picture of the year” and revered. As one enters the gallery, there is a handsome oil portrait of Carl Meyer by Sir Hubert von

Herkomer, dated 1908, with a glimpse of the Sargent portrait in the background. “It shows how important this was to the family’s presentation,” the curator said, adding, “It was a masterpiece and a conversation piece.” Other highlights of the exhibit include chromolithographs by Max Beerbohm (1872-1956) caricaturing Sargent, Carl Meyer and Henry James, and items such as Meyer’s Baronet badge — a 1928 replacement of the 1910 original, made for his son, Sir Frank Meyer. Anglophiles, get ready.

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

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Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

CARO, HISTORIAN AND BIOGRAPHER, GETS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Two-time Pulitzer winner, a city resident, honored by National Book Foundation

VISIT OUR WEBSITE! at OTDOWNTOWN.COM Come Experience Auctions at Showplace First-Time Bidders Welcome! Sunday, October 2, 10am

BY HILLEL ITALIE

Longtime New York City resident Robert Caro is this year’s winner of a National Book Award medal for lifetime achievement, given for “Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.” The 80-year-old historian, known for his epic, acclaimed biographies of former President Lyndon Johnson and municipal builder Robert Moses, was praised last week by the National Book Foundation for his “exceptional work and significant impact on American literature.” Previous honorees include Toni Morrison, Don DeLillo and Ursula K. Le Guin. “Caro’s in-depth and long term exploration of the lives of two prominent men makes a much larger contribution to American Letters than it might seem at first glance,” Lisa Lucas, executive director of the National Book Foundation, said in a statement. “His life’s work, and his stunning prose, teaches us to better understand political influence, American democracy, and the true power of biography.” Caro will receive his award Nov. 16 at the annual National Book Awards ceremony and dinner benefit in Manhattan, where winners in the competitive categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and young people’s literature will be announced. Caro is one of the world’s most prominent historians even though he has published just five books. “The Power Broker,” his landmark biography of Moses, is standard reading for city historians and planners and has been praised by President Barack Obama, who once said he was “mesmerized” by it. Caro’s writings on Johnson, four volumes so far, are best-sellers widely read in Washington and have inspired some legislators to seek his advice. Accepting awards has almost

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ACTIVITIES FOR THE FERTILE MIND

thoughtgallery.org NEW YORK CITY

Photo: Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons become routine for Caro. His resume includes two Pulitzers, a competitive National Book Award (for “Master of the Senate”), three National Book Critic Circle prizes and a National Humanities Medal, presented to him in 2010 by Obama. He won at least five awards just for his most recent Johnson book, “The Passage of Power,” published in 2012. Interviewed recently by telephone as he stood outside the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum in Austin, Texas, Caro said receiving the National Book Award medal had him thinking about the “wonderful journey” of his life, an adventure joined by his wife and primary editor and researcher, Ina Caro. He spoke of being so broke while working on “The Power Broker” that he and Ina had to sell their home. For the Johnson books, he has lived in rural Texas and spent many days in Washington on Capitol Hill, where LBJ reigned

in the Senate in the 1950s. He’s still planning a visit to Vietnam for the next Johnson book. “This award in particular means a great deal to me because it’s getting me to remember a lot of things along the way,” he said. Caro’s interview with The Associated Press was a quick break from his ongoing Johnson work. He was at the library for yet more research on a series that began 40 years ago and totals more than 3,000 pages for the first four books. He isn’t ready to set a date for the fifth, and presumed last installment. “When I first was coming to Austin there used to be scores of people in the Johnson administration who were close to Johnson. I could hardly find enough time to interview all of them,” he said. “Now, almost everyone is dead. At the library, all the archivists I’ve worked with are retiring.”

Peter Singer: Ethics in the Real World

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH, 6:30PM The Cooper Union | 7 E. 7th St. | 212-353-4100 | cooper.edu Bioethics professor, philosopher, and all-around controversial thinker Peter Singer discusses his new book, which takes on climate change, extreme poverty, animals, abortion, euthanasia, human genetic selection, sports doping, the sale of kidneys, and ways of increasing happiness. (Free)

Curator’s Lecture: Art in a Time of Chaos

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 6:30PM China Institute | 100 Washington St. | 212-744-8181 | chinainstitute.org Hear from two experts as they discuss this new exhibition, the first major survey of Chinese culture and its international influence during the Six Dynasties period, as well as the relationship between the dominant political centers in the north and south. ($10-$15)

Just Announced | Film Independent Live Read New York: Good Will Hunting

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, 7:30PM NYU Skirball Center | 566 LaGuardia Pl. | 212-998-4941 | nyuskirball.org John Krasinski (“The Office”) leads a high-wattage surprise cast in a live table read of the awardwinning 1997 film. ($65-$150)

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

sign up for the weekly Thought Gallery newsletter at thoughtgallery.org.

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SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

RESTAURANT INSPECTION RATINGS SEP 16 - 23, 2016 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 Boqueria

53 West 19 Street

A

Chipotle Mexican Grill

149 8 Avenue

A

New York University Lipton Hall

33 Washington Square West

A

Rouge Tomate

126 W 18Th St

Not Yet Graded (2)

Cafe Beyond

620 6 Avenue

Grade Pending (2)

Mansions Catering

4042 West 8 Street

A

Asuka Sushi

300 W 23Rd St

Grade Pending (27) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.

Bateaux New York

62 West 23 Street Chelsea Pier

A

M-Thai

200 8 Avenue

Grade Pending (18) Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Rosemary's

1820 Greenwich Avenue

A

Royal Siam Thai

240 8 Avenue

Grade Pending (25) 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. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Domino’s

16A W 8Th St

A

Shu Han Ju Authentic Chinese Cuisine

465 6Th Ave

A

Davidovich Bakery

75 9Th Ave

Grade Pending (19) 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.

Slice & Co. Brick Oven Pizza

527 6 Avenue

Grade Pending (9) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

Murray’s Bagels

242 8 Avenue

A

Chartwells

65 West 11 Street

A

Liquiteria

267 West 15 Street

Grade Pending (19) 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.

Muscle Maker Grill

114 7Th Avenue

Grade Pending (27) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/ sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.

Very Fresh Noodles

425 W 15Th St

A

Serenata

111 W 17Th St

A

Juice Press

100 10Th Ave

A

Avenue

116 10 Avenue

A

Barcade

6 Saint Marks Pl

A

Malai Marke

318 E 6Th St

A

Al Vicoletto

9 E 17Th St

A

Dunkin Donuts

52 E 8Th St

A

The Hummus And Pita Co.

815 Broadway

A

Chen’s Express Kitchen

223 E 14Th St

Grade Pending (24) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Amy Taco

211 E 14Th St

Not Yet Graded (40) Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations. No facilities available to wash, rinse and sanitize utensils and/or equipment.

No 32

32 East 2 Street

A

Jebon

15 St Marks Place

A

Burrito Bar La Esquina

344 E 6Th St

Grade Pending (31) 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. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Live roaches 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.

Haru

176 8Th Ave

A

Indie Fresh

75 9Th Ave

A

Subway

220 8Th Ave

A

Blue Bottle Coffee

0 High Line Park W 15Th St

A

Sushi Seki

208 W 23Rd St

A

Maison Kayser

841 Broadway

Not Yet Graded (2)

Flannery’s Bar

205 West 14 Street Flannery’s Bar

A

Famous Famiglia Pizzeria

757 Broadway

A

The New School Pastry Kitchen

55 West 13 Street

A

Sunburst Espresso Bar

206 3 Avenue

A

Kfc

242 E 14Th St

A

Kappo Totto

458 W 17Th St

Not Yet Graded (7) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Krust Pizza

226 E 14Th St

Grade Pending (17) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations.

Lucky’s Famous Burgers

264 West 23 Street

A

Prune

54 East 1 Street

A

Mayahuel

304 East 6 Street

A

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR ICONIC EATERY Chelsea’s Empire Diner will reopen later this year BY SAMIA BOUZID

The flat top grill at Chelsea’s iconic Empire Diner will fire up once again. Chef John DeLucie is partnering with the Cafeteria Group company to resurrect the 10th Avenue diner for a fourth time since it first closed in 2010. It is scheduled to reopen in November following a tumultuous five years.

coworkers or at night with friends. But, she said, the diner lost some of its essence as it became more upscale. “The last incarnation didn’t give that speakeasy vibe,” she said. Another local, Jamie Sowlakis, 46, said he had also been disappointed by the more recent versions of the diner. “They stripped all the character out. You want a place like that to be crowded,” he said. He said he didn’t like that the latest, stripped-down design: “They were trying too hard.” The Empire Diner has official

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Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

A few blocks away on 23rd Street, the Chelsea Square diner is one of the few survivors. Inside, patrons still drink their coffee at the counter and waiters bustle through the narrow space between the counter stools and small booths. “We have people who change the channels, ask for special things made for them, have their spots where they sit,” its manager, Nick Mavromichalis, said. He said that a long lease has insulated him from the rent hikes that are toppling other

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST The local paper for the Upper East Side

18

Our Town OCTOBER 2, 2014

LASCOFF DRUG STORE

PLANET KIDS

1209 Lexington Avenue at 82nd •Opened in 1899, closed July 2012 -- 113 years in business •Inability to compete with modern pharmacies and illness forced owner to sell the store and retire According to the Times, Lascoff was the first registered drug store in the state of New York. Dr. Lascoff and his son were known for their old-time remedies—in particular, leeching. Costumers have described their shopping experience at Lascoff as stepping into a time warp, thanks to the building’s high cathedral ceilings and its traditional apothecary smell.

247 E. 86th St., between 2nd & 3rd (also a West side location, which also closed) •Baby store • Original store opened in 1999, closed Feb. 2014 •Owner forced to close due to competition from online retailers and high rent Planet Kids was known for its wide variety of kids merchandise and its great customer service. The store prided itself on its employees’ close relationships with their regular customers. Planet Kids was a staple on the Upper East Side, and its loyal customers are sad and surprised to see it go.

NANCY’S PIG HEAVEN

GIRASOLE

1540 2nd Ave. at 80th •Chinese restaurant • Opened in 1984, closed in September •Owner lost the lease; rumored plans of its demolishment to make way for new condos Upper East Siders will soon miss this classic neighborhood Chinese restaurant. For decades, many have enjoyed Pig Heaven’s reliable take out and its unmistakable display of toy pigs. The good news is that Nancy Lee, the owner, has secured a new lease nearby and plans to re-open soon

151 E. 82nd St. between 3rd & Lexington • Italian restaurant • Open for about 23 years Girasole was a neighborhood classic among local East siders. This tucked-away restaurant was often overlooked by tourists, despite its bright yellow awning. Locals, though, described it as underrated.

MOORMENDS

JACKSON HOLE

1228 Madison Ave. between 88th & 89th • Luggage, photo and toy store • Established in 1935 What started as a luggage store, turned into much, much more. Residents turned to Moormends when in need

1270 Madison Ave. between 90th & 91st •Burger joint This Carnegie Hill restaurant will be truly missed. Among other customers, it attracted a flock of kids from nearby Spence for sandwiches and hot chocolate.

October 2, 2014

August 27, 2016

The local paper for the Upper East Side

45 Years and Counting

Illustration by John S. Winkleman

AN EAST SIDE BREAD LINE FOR NEARLY A CENTURY Orwasher’s Bakery has expanded well beyond bread. But locals still line up for the baguettes. BY MICKEY KRAMER

along with Gramercy Tavern, Untitled (the restaurant at the Whitney Museum), and others. Queens native Cohen spent 14 years in the bread business

the salt stick is his personal favorite, on this day, rye was the choice—his wife’s preference. While munching on a “to die for” cranberry scone, Maria

are true French baguettes… crusty and extremely tasty. Other baguettes I’ve had more resemble Italian bread. When you want a real French baguette, get it from Orwash-

July 22, 2015

August 27, 2016

The local paper for the Upper West Side

A FACE-OFF ON BROADWAY OVER BOOKS

Photo: Tenebrae, via Wikimedia Commons

NEWS

The art moderne diner, on the corner of 22nd Street, was designed in 1946, when freestanding, train-car diners were so popular they were being churned out by a manufacturer. Now, it is one of the few left standing. “It’s a time capsule,” said Laura Moore, 31, a neighborhood resident who often made after-hours stops at the Empire. Rising rents were blamed for ousting three sets of owners and have kept the diner in limbo since shortly after celebrity chef Amanda Freitag, in July 2015, left what would eventually be yet another failed attempt to keep the diner open. Locals recall the diner’s growing pains as it tried to hold its ground as a Chelsea landmark. Karen Fechter, 44, a 12-year Chelsea resident, used to drop in at happy hour with her

landmark status, which means its facade cannot be altered. When the diner first closed in 2010, Michael Perlman, a Forest Hills native and local history junkie, went to the Landmarks Commission to push for the protection of the establishment’s interior. His request was never granted, but he hopes for the traditional interior to be restored. “It’s these unique details that make life extra special.” He has a passion for saving diners and the culture’s other endangered species. “They are cornerstones of Americana,” he said. “The owners of the establishments know their patrons by their first names; patrons sit elbow-to-elbow at the counter or in comfy booths.” He said he loves places that bring people together. But he said diner owners need to be strategic to survive.

businesses. María Díaz, the executive director of the Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, said that rent woes are something she hears constantly. The Chamber of Commerce has not dealt specifically with the Empire Diner, but Díaz says that many small businesses in Chelsea are struggling to make rent. Representatives for Chef DeLucie and the Cafeteria Group declined to comment on their specific plans for this iteration of the diner. However, Chris Sowlakis, who is overseeing the redesign of the restaurant, said, “The goal is to bring back the unique charm.” He plans to put back counter seating and banquettes. “In New York City you don’t see a subway car as a diner that often. We’re trying to keep that.”

Sidewalk book sellers draw complaints as the neighborhood goes more upscale BY BRYTNIE JONES

A long-time Broadway book vendor is facing opposition from an Upper West Side that

is going increasingly upscale. The sidewalk vendor, Kirk Davidson, has been selling books on Broadway between 72nd and 73rd streets for 31 years. But recently, with the arrival of national retailers like Bloomingdale’s in the neighborhood, Davidson has drawn the opposition of Realtors and nearby business owners, who complain that he, and

a clutch of other vendors on the same block, no longer belong in the neighborhood. “The vendors are disturbing business and residents by clogging the sidewalks ... leaving rubbish and worse in their wake and turning the sidewalks into de facto

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Photo: Brytnie Jones

SPIRITUAL SLEEPOVERS Overnight programs at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine introduce youth to faiths other than their own BY MELODY CHAN

Thirty-three candles float through the darkened main chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. They emerge from a lit stairwell onto the cathedral’s nave. About 30 teenagers and their adult chaperones each hold a candle close, cupi h i h d d

group and wander into the dark cathedral. They walk slowly and silently until they find a spot to sit and meditate. They have been told that this is a solo activity, and to think about anything and do so in solitude. About 20 minutes later, a band – guitars, bass, drums – begins a mellow, bluesy introduction to a Hindu mantra ‘Shri Ram Jai Ram’. All of the participants move towards its source, a portable stage in front of the altar. The candles are placed in a box of sand, lighting h f l

joins the song. The rituals are part of Nightwatch Crossroads, an overnight program designed to bring teenagers closer to faith through contemplative activities. There are two different sections: Christian and Interspiritual. The programs are held on 12 Friday evenings throughout the year, with participants sleeping over in the cathedral’s basement. “What I hope that we’re accomplishing is to offer the youths a night to unplug and an opportunity i l h

May 4, 2016

August 11, 2016

FI RST IN YOU R NEIGHBO R H OOD

(212) 868-0190

Eastsider Downtowner

Clinton Westsider

16

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

Business In Brief

ON 23RD STREET, COMMUNITY RESPONDS Customers, pols patronize merchants BY GENIA GOULD

Photo: Steve Hardy, via flickr

ASK A BROKER BY ALAN KRAMER

I’ve been renting a great 1-bedroom condo on the Upper West Side for just over 2 ½ years. When I moved in the rent was $3,000 and it went up to $3,300 when I renewed. Now the owner/landlord wants to jack up the rent another $300.00 a month…is there anything I can do?

This is the plight of renting in New York City! Unfortunately owners/landlords oftentimes believe that they have their tenants over a barrel. If you opt to leave, you will be faced with moving fees and have to pay a brokers fee to secure your next place. Many times it’s actually cheaper — and a lot easier — for you to pay the increase and stay put, and your landlord is well aware of this. However, a savvy tenant may be able to convince their owner otherwise. If you have a track record of paying your rent on time and haven’t made too many demands, reminding the owner that they will have to, at minimum, paint the place (several thousand dollars) and perhaps pay a move-out fee when you leave and they may even be subject to a new sublet fee when the new tenant moves in, will certainly get them thinking. If market demand isn’t strong when the owner puts the rental on the market ... it only takes one vacant month before the new annual rental increase is lost and the owner will be in the red with each passing day. Add the numerous weeks it takes for most condos to review and approve a new Sublet Application — this all translates into lost revenue for the owner. With the right pitch (and if you have to, offering to pre-pay a few months rent), hopefully you won’t be moving out or paying any increases on next year’s lease renewal.

A few days after the Sept. 17 terrorist blast that rocked the Chelsea neighborhood, the storefront window of Orange Theory Fitness on West 23rd Street still had hundreds of stress breaks. But after a two-day closure, the gym reopened with its usual 6:15 a.m. workout class. “Members came in cheering,” the gym’s manager Debra Wilhelm said of the aftermath of the explosion, which made international news. “They rallied around us, and wanted the best out of something bad. I think I hugged more members this week than when we first opened a year and a half ago.” Wilhelm indicated that the gym’s owner is a strong believer in heightened security, including cameras “everywhere.” The business even supplied CNN with the film footage of the event which aired in the initial news reports. The gym carries terrorism insurance coverage. As does the French café and bakery, nearby La Maison du Macaron, which was lucky enough not to have sustained property damage. The bakery did, however, lose business because of the closure of the street by police. “Losses are not just due to foot traffic alone,” said Maria Diaz, executive director of Greenwich Village

Chelsea Chamber of Commerce. She explained how some businesses have different time requirements and “some need a whole day in advance to receive deliveries.” Most of the businesses do not carry terrorism insurance. “No one thinks this is going to happen to them,” Diaz said, acknowledging it’s an issue not widely discussed until this event. “We’re bringing it up now, and planning on holding a workshop soon with the insurance brokers to teach our membership about these options,” she said. Many state and city agencies have come together to in recent days to focus on the damages and how to assist the Chelsea community. Last weekend, city officials and elected leaders held a small-business crawl. Customers stopped in neighborhood businesses with network news crews documenting the event. Politicians including State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer did their share of buying goods, including cookies at Macaron and coffee at Malibu Diner. Rachel Van Tosh, Deputy Commissioner of NYC Small Business Services, said, “We are doing this to encourage the community to patronize the local businesses. But even more than usual to help them recoup their losses, and generally show support.”

Andrew Kramer is a licensed associate real estate broker with Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales

Finnis Smithwick enjoys a hot dog at Chelsea Papaya. Photo: Genia Gould

Rachel Van Tosh, deputy commissioner for the city’s small business services, orders at La Maison du Macaron. Photo: Genia Gould Mayor Bill de Blasio and other elected officials and leaders came down last week. They viewed damage and studied how they could help the many businesses and residents impacted. Attention was paid to those who live at Selis Manor, a city residence for the blind. According to an employee for the Selis Manor, a couple of the residents were hit by flying debris. They had been standing outside the building at the time of the blast. They were sent to area hospitals, but have since returned and were said to be fine, the source said. The Chelsea-related initiatives continued beyond the weekend and into this week. On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other government officials announced an agreement to help small businesses, homeowners and renters access state funds for uninsured losses and physical damage incurred as a result of the Chelsea explosion. Any person or business impacted can call Office of Victim Services (800) 427-8035. When the 24-hour fast-food business Chelsea Papaya employees were evacuated from their premises, hot dogs were still on the grill and lights on, said the manager, Arif Bhviuan. The workers were only allowed back in at 4 a.m. to close up. Then Chelsea Papaya closed for two days. By last Thursday, though, Bh-

viuan said, “Business was almost back to normal.” Daniel Peretz, the owner of King David Gallery, an art framing business, was out of the country when the explosion took place. He cut his trip short to return to the city as quickly as possible. He said he came back to “shattered glass and debris all over the floor.” Even a Vespa he owned, he says, “flew out of the store window.” Not insured for losses due to terrorist activities, Peretz, suffered thousands of dollars in property damage. He looked forward to the news coverage as a way of reinvigorating and broadening awareness of his 20-year-old neighborhood business, hoping the attention might help recoup losses. Calvin Morrison, manager of a UPS store on 23rd Street close to Sixth Avenue, said it’s hard for merchants who target tourists, who in turn may want to avoid the area because of the attack. “New customers and tourists take those things in mind, that something happened around here and they will avoid the area and go to another UPS location or another businesses,” he said. His location was closed for a day. “But our regular customers,” he said, “are all coming in making sure we’re all okay.”

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

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SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

CHELSEA, UNDER A WIDE LENS “Class Divide” puts the focus on gentrification, income inequality BY MADELEINE THOMPSON

Since the High Line opened in 2009, much of Chelsea has changed in untold ways. Marc Levin, a Chelsea resident for 40 years, is well-placed to explore the sometime drastic changes that have taken hold in the neighborhood. His documentary, “Class Divide,” surveys the transformation by juxtaposing the private school Avenues with the Elliot-Chelsea housing project, located across 10th Avenue. Through the eyes of children and families at both Avenues and the Elliot-Chelsea houses, the film demonstrates just how far apart two communities otherwise so close can be. “Class Divide” premieres on HBO on Monday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m.

What got you interested in making a film about gentrification in Chelsea? I live on 26th Street so for 17 years

Joel, from the documentary “Class Divide,” courtesy of HBO

like a lightbulb went off.

A more equal society of equal opportunity is good for everybody, it’s not just good for poor people. I think you see, when you see these kids, you see that these kids of privilege don’t want to grow up in a gilded cage where they have to be helicoptered to school. Nobody wants that. Marc Levin

I’ve been walking four blocks west to 601 where our studios are, and have been passing and seeing the changes in the neighborhood. When I moved in – I guess you could say I might be considered an urban pioneer -- there was still a garment factory in my building, no heat on the weekends. By the late ’80s and early ’90s I guess you could say I was becoming a part of the socalled creative class that was gentrifying parts of Chelsea. I’ve been walking daily back and forth and it’s amazing. Somewhere after 9/11 and around 2004 or 2005 the zoning changed and Friends of the High Line started, you started really seeing an acceleration in the changes that had been happening. [Co-producer Daphne Pinkerson and I] were sitting on the High Line one day watching all the tourists take photos. Daphne and I looked at each other like, “Do they realize what’s in the background? What’s in the frame?” It was

How did you decide to compare Avenues: The World School with the ElliotChelsea houses? Inequality was an issue, obviously, that was getting more and more intense. Here you had, right on a street corner, this juxtaposition of lowincome young people and kids from privilege and wealth, and you had -- with the High Line as the spine of the neighborhood -- this explosion of global wealth coming in. So it was all literally kind of a microcosm not just of New York or Manhattan but what’s going on in cities all over the country and the world. And, of course, the kids are fresh. They’re not burdened by all the political baggage and arguments. So you get this fresh perspective.

Halfway through the film it is revealed that Luc Hawkins, one of the Avenues students you interviewed, committed suicide in 2014. Why did you choose to include him anyway? That was a difficult decision and one that there was a lot of passionate discussion about. I wanted it in the film because I guess I felt that this is part of the life of the young people who knew him. This is, sadly, part of their coming-of-age, just like the kids across the street [at Elliot-Chelsea] had lost a friend in a shooting. To leave it out, I just didn’t think it was appropriate. We had the premiere last year and Luc’s mother reached out and said she wanted to come. Afterwards there was a reception and she just came up to me and said “Marc, thank you for immortalizing my son.” So that was kind of a tremendous relief. We were totally shocked and stunned.

As a self-described gentrifier, how did making this documentary change your

Rosa and Joel, from the documentary “Class Divide,” courtesy of HBO

perspective on your own neighborhood? The way I was able to present myself was, you know, I’m a neighbor, I live here, I work here, I raised my kids here. At one point I was considered an urban pioneer, then I was looked at as a gentrifier, now I’m potentially one of the displaced. That’s the final part of the timeline. I’ve got a few years left but it’s coming to an end because there’s no way I can afford to keep my studio. I was able to present honestly to the people, the families, the school administrators, that I’ve seen it from all perspectives. Some of the changes are for the better, some are for the worse.

What do you hope viewers get out of your film besides an increased awareness of socioeconomic inequality in Chelsea? A more equal society of equal op-

ZONING SCUFFLES CONTINUE Amendments didn’t change development debate BY SARAH NELSON

Nearly six months after the City Council approved two high-profile changes to the zoning code, local organizations remain concerned over Upper West Side development pressures. Some building plans were underway prior to the amendments called the Zoning for Quality and Affordability and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing. The ZQA allows for buildings under construction to increase height even more, which some argue disrupts a neighborhood aesthetic. Advocates argue that if current development

plans remain unchecked, a number of historical icons in the neighborhood are at risk of destruction. During a public forum on Sept. 13, Landmark West Advocacy Director Sean Khorsandi argued the ZQA amendment will not guarantee public housing. “The Upper West Side has already had major transformations,” he said. “It’s already had its series of converts.” Among the few transformations Khorsandi listed in the presentation: Lincoln Square Synagogue and the potential future building plans for iconic sites along Broadway. Congregation Shaare Zedek was also one of the sites mentioned as a current and pressing zoning issue. Currently,

portunity is good for everybody, it’s not just good for poor people. I think you see, when you see these kids, you see that these kids of privilege don’t want to grow up in a gilded cage where they have to be helicoptered to school. Nobody wants that. So it’s not just the kids with less means. It’s harder for a poor kid in America to move into the middle class than it is for kids in Canada, kids in Western Europe. That’s stunning. If you can’t start talking about it, if you can’t break through that, then we’re doomed. That’s not the answer, but it’s a first step. This interview has been edited and condensed. Madeleine Thompson can be reached at newsreporter@strausnews.com

the building faces the chance of becoming a 14-story residential building due to as-of-right development, meaning development can occur without the approval of the City Council. Though a handful of locals are beginning to take action against the bill, Shaare Zedek representatives have voiced their favor with the amendments. In a public letter to City Planning commissioners, Shaare Zedek and other religious institutions state their approval of the amendments, arguing the zoning changes will provide affordable apartments to their congregants. “Many of our congregations have deep experience building and supporting affordable housing in our communities,” the letter states. “It is one of the issues that most deeply affects the families we serve.”

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5,2016

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A CRUSADER FOR CATS Busy advocate loves all kinds of animals

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BY OLIVIA KELLEY

On a windy evening, a woman packs the basket on the front of her bicycle full of supplies and heads out along the sidewalk paths of Roosevelt Island. She rides along and calls out, “Panda! Regis! Juliette!” and so on. From the bushes, 22 cats jump out and trot along behind her down the path. She comes to a stop, pulls out cans of Friskies from her basket, and begins to feed the cats. It’s the routine of Rossana Ceruzzi, president of the Wildlife Freedom Foundation. She spends her days caring for abandoned animals on Roosevelt Island, and specifically cats. “We have about 75 cats on the island right now that we care for,” Ceruzzi says. There are four shelters on the island, the largest one housing 22 cats. Ceruzzi, along with her 15 volunteers, takes care of feeding and providing medical care for the cats. David Riccardi-Zhu, a volunteer for the past two years, says,“You’re out there sometimes to feed the cats and it’s 14 degrees.” After moving to New York in 2000, Ceruzzi noticed an abundance of stray cats on Roosevelt Island. “I exited the subway to look at an apartment and the first thing I saw was three cats sitting in the station,” she says. “As I walked around more, I realized I had discovered this kingdom of cats and I could see they were not feral at all.”

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Cultural Events Rossana Ceruzzi, president of the Wildlife Freedom Foundation, spends her days taking care of wildlife on Roosevelt Island. Ceruzzi began feeding the cats, as well as building houses out of Styrofoam boxes to keep the cats warm during the winter. Ceruzzi eventually joined forces with another animal advocate to create the Island Cats organization, which began in 2005. Ceruzzi later also founded the Wildlife Freedom Foundation (WFF), which broadened the focus to the protection of all wildlife on the island, rather than just cats. Ceruzzi says that Island Cats was dissolved

A cat on Roosevelt Island. Photos: Olivia Kelley

two years ago and ultimately became a part of WFF. “We have cats, geese, squirrels, raccoons, possums, and are recently even getting some brown bats,” Ceruzzi says. While most of the animals are wild, besides the cats, there are four geese that Ceruzzi and her team care for, because they can no longer fly. Ceruzzi says the animals on the island are friendly and get along well together. “The animals are all very sweet,” she says. “In nature, they would not attack you unless you attack them.” Riccardi-Zhu explains how volunteering has been a highlight for him. “It’s a really amazing thing to do,” he says. “Sometimes work can be stressful, but coming out here and being with the animals and being outdoors does good to your soul.” Ceruzzi says her biggest goal is to build a larger and nicer shelter to house the animals during the winter. For now, though, she thinks the cats are happy and she loves taking care of them. “To me, they are all my pets,” she said. “I love them all.”

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YOUR 15 MINUTES

CONTEMPORIZING THE CLASSICS The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s managing director on the company’s growth and future BY ANGELA BARBUTI

The Classical Theatre of Harlem has a truly localized mission, and that is to reflect the history and culture of the neighborhood in which it was founded. “Harlem is a changing place, but we certainly honor the cultural legacy from which we sprung,” said David Roberts, who serves as the organization’s managing director.

I think that theater is always local if you compare it to other art forms. A museum, sure, it’s a destination, but we can get prints of artwork or things get borrowed from one museum to another halfway around the world. On television and with film, it could be distributed, especially now with the internet, at the press of a button. Millions of people can experience it. But with theater, half of the experience is being there in the room with a community of other audience members. David Roberts

miere on Oct. 7 at 3LD Art & Technology Center on Greenwich Street.

As managing director, what does your job entail? Managing directors in the nonprofit theater world are usually part of a coleadership team. So you’ll have your artistic director, who’s really the head of productions or programming. And then the managing director is the partner who is in charge of the actual institution. So the back-office work, the marketing, the development and fundraising, the operations. And usually, but not always, both work with and report to a board of directors.

In this position, what are some initiatives you’ve put into place that you’re proud of? I have to say that the four years prior to my coming on board, the institution was entirely volunteer-run, primarily led by our producing artistic director, Ty Jones, who’s also our board chair. Now, he continues to be a volunteer, however, we will be changing that in the coming calendar year. It will be a salaried position, which I’m very proud of. So we really worked on the infrastructure and the support, so that we could build all of those support systems around the art. We also brought on a director of development to help us with grant writing and fundraising. And with professionalized office systems and the HR systems, we’ve increased revenues. Through all of that success

and along with Ty, we’ve expanded the programming both on our education front as well our production.

What are some CTH productions that you’ve been fond of? The summers are so fantastic because they’re family friendly; they’re outside; it feels very New York-y. It’s

“Shakespeare in the Park,” but it’s uptown. And there’s a sense of community and inclusiveness in our productions. I think that our director, Carl Cofield, who did “The Tempest” last year as well as “Macbeth” this past summer, has been fantastic. He has vision. He gets what we are trying to do and the community, and makes it very accessible.

Ron Cephas Jones starred in your production of “The Tempest.” I interviewed him for this column when he was in “Of Mice and Men” on Broadway. Oh, yes. He was just a brilliant Prospero. Very well received. We were very lucky to have him. You know, he really jumped at the chance to work with Ty and really raise the profile of what it is Ty, the staff and the board are trying to do up here.

What makes this current production, “Fit for a Queen,” meaningful? The traditional classics that we’re all familiar with and have come out of the Western cannon, CTH does well. We’ve done Shakespeare every summer. There’s no limit of those recognizable Western European classics that we’ve done. We also assert that there are classics of the African diaspora that deserve to be put in that same canon and revered and shared. In addition to that, we assert that there are future classics.

Since 1999, CTH has been performing both classical and contemporary works with its community always at heart. Its newest production, “Fit for a Queen,” highlights the life of Hatshepsut, the first female pharaoh in 15th century Egypt. “It just seemed very timely with Hillary Clinton becoming the first nominee of a major political party as female, that we should shed light on this Ancient Egyptian historical figure,” Roberts noted. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Roberts has been with the company since 2013 and is happy to report the nonprofit’s growth in productions and educational efforts. As for their annual offerings, he explained, “I don’t believe that CTH has had a third production in over 10 years, so adding a third production, “Fit for a Queen,” is quite a big jump for us.” The show celebrates its world pre-

That there are artists living, working and developing today that are going to be the classics of tomorrow. And we certainly think that Betty Shamieh [the show’s playwright] fits into that mold. She’s been working for scores of years on her craft and has a very unique voice, one that is reflective of a very diverse America. And we know that this play sheds light on a historical figure that many of us had never heard of. The female ruler, Hatshepsut, who led not as queen, but as pharaoh. There are obviously issues around sexism, gender, gender identity and sexuality that are brought up that are all very modern. There are issues of the patriarchy that I think are, in our modern world, getting a new hearing. And so to put those things in a historical context helps us to navigate where we are in the world, how far we’ve come and how far yet we have to go. And it’s interesting that Betty chose to do this as a comedy as opposed to a drama. And I think sometimes you can hear things differently when it’s a comedy as opposed to a drama. We’re just very excited that she chose to work with us to have this be the world premiere of this piece.

What makes The Classical Theatre of Harlem special? I think that theater is always local if you compare it to other art forms. A museum, sure, it’s a destination, but we can get prints of artwork or things get borrowed from one museum to another halfway around the world. On television and with film, it could be distributed, especially now with the internet, at the press of a button. Millions of people can experience it. But with theater, half of the experience is being there in the room with a community of other audience members. A play is not a play because it’s written on a page or even because actors act it. It’s a play because actors are acting it live in front of a community, an audience, and they are part of that experience. And so, with that sense that theater is always local, that you have to be there and you have to be there in the moment, I think that The Classical Theatre of Harlem embraces the temporal nature of that and has a very keen awareness that it is in, of and by Harlem. To learn more about CTH, visit www.cthnyc.org

Know somebody who deserves their 15 Minutes of fame? Go to otdowntown.com and click on submit a press release or announcement. David Roberts, the managing director of the Classical Theatre of Harlem. Photo: Lelund Durond Thompson

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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

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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

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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

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