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A look at some of the city’s great elementary schools P. 20 » ‘Outstanding’ P.S. 9’s lessons are not only on the Upper West Side » Bronx Charter’s principal says no one wins unless everyone does » Blue Man’s star keeps rising at the Seaport
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KRUEGER BASHES OWS pARK EVICTION Upper East Side resident State Sen. Liz Krueger didn’t mince words about the city’s eviction of protesters from Zuccotti Park in the dead of night this week. “I am very disturbed that the city’s approach to dealing with the ‘health and fire safety’ issues raised by the Zuccotti protest was a surprise ambush in the middle of the night,” she said in a statement. “Physically forcing people out of the park or leaving them to face arrest with no notice or warning is not a commitment to civil rights, and it certainly was not the right way to handle this situation.”
SLIGHT CUT TO SUBWAY DOUGH
GARODNICK TO EXAMINE pARKING GARAGE BIKE SpACE Parking garages are required to set aside spaces for bicycles, but with garage operators reporting that only 1 percent of those spaces are used, the City Council’s Consumer Affairs Committee, chaired by Council Member Dan Garodnick, will explore the issue in a hearing on Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. at 250 Broadway. By law, garages with more than 50 spaces for cars must reserve one bicy-
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SHOp ’TIL YOU DROp (FOR CHURCH) Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., visit the Zion St. Mark’s Church’s annual bazaar and shop for books, records, CDs, cassettes, clothing, accessories, jewelry, children’s toys, household items and more. All funds raised will go to the church. 339 E. 84th St., between First and Second avenues. For more information, visit www. zionstmarks.org or call 212-288-0600 or 212-479-7808.
JONATHAN pRINCE CAN TEAR STEEL Sculptor Jonathan Prince may not be superhero strong, but his four-sculpture exhibition Torn Steel, located in the atrium of 590 Madison Ave., has earned praise from several art-world heavyweights. Sculpture Magazine reviewer Dorothy Joiner described Torn Steel thus: “Felicitously staged among stately bamboo in the soaring atrium of New York City’s [former] IBM building... four monumental steel sculptures bring to mind one of Plato’s favorite sayings: God is always doing geometry.” You can see Prince’s stainless and oxidized steel visions through Jan. 10, 2012, in the sculpture garden of 590 Madison Ave. at 56th Street; the garden is open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Prince offered in a statement his ambition for the exhibit: “What I’m hoping to create is the intersection between chaos theory and refined geometry.”
SHOWS TO BEHOLD THIS WINTER: DANCE AT THE pARK AVENUE ARMORY The Park Avenue Armory’s first full season of artistic programming culmi-
Novem ber 17, 2011
andrew schwartz
With Washington in a budget-cutting frenzy, a small cut to favored projects can seem like a win. That’s the tack Rep. Carolyn Maloney took this week as the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access suffered modest cuts of about $10 million. The House included $187 million for the subway and $203 for East Side Access, which will connect Penn Station to Grand Central. It was a shave less than Maloney and President Barack Obama were hoping for, but a lot more than the 21-47 percent cuts the House Republican leadership had suggested. Maloney, a Democrat, called the funding “adequate.” Her letter was signed by five other House members from New York, including Republican Peter King and Maloney’s Democratic ally, Jerry Nadler.
RemembeRing the Fallen
cle-sized parking space for every 10 car spaces. But garage operators report that fewer than 1 percent of those spots for bikes are filled. “We want cyclists to have a secure place to park their bikes, but if the law is not serving a useful purpose, it’s worth a second look,” Garodnick said in a statement. “It’s time now to see whether the law is working.”
In 1990, Frank E. Campbell, “The Funeral Chapel,” based on the Upper East Side had the wall built. Since its creation, it has traveled to more than 200 cities. “It’s for those people who can’t get to Washington,” said Laura Macho, director of public relations at Frank E. Campbell. The Dignity M e m o r i a l Network of Providers, of which Frank E. Campbell and Riverside Chapel are members, started working to bring the wall to Manhattan more than a year ago. “With the Intrepid, it was Vietnam veteran Donald Ritter, a former Marine Lance Corpo- a perfect fit [the ral, and his wife, Nancy Ritter, search the memorial wall for because the name of Navy Corpsman George W. Riordan (inset). Ritter ship] served three tours in the war,” credits Riordan for saving his life during the war. Macho said. It’s your last chance to see the travThousands of people a day have eling Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall traveled to the wall before it comes on display at the Intrepid Sea, Air & down on Sunday. Space Museum through Nov. 20. “We’re passionate about representThe wall is a three-quarter replica of ing veterans and we hope everyone the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, will come and take a look while it’s D.C., on display for the first time in here,” Dominique Carella, vice presiManhattan. Admission is free to the pub- dent of Frank E. Campbell, said. lic at the Museum’s Pier 86, and the wall For more information, visit intrepidis available for viewing 24 hours a day. museum.org.
nates with performances from three dance companies: Shen Wei Dance Arts, STREB Extreme Action, and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. Each show incorporates the Armory’s scale and battered character and uses the space’s lack of constraint to its creative advantage. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.armoryonpark.org.
WHERE D O YOU WANT YOUR BIKE? NYCBikeShare is hitting NYC streets this coming summer—the program will make 10,000 bikes available to members at 600 stations around Manhattan and Brooklyn. And now you have the power to choose: Where should the free bikes be located? To suggest a site, go to http:// a841-tfpweb.nyc.gov/bikeshare. N EW S YO U LIV E B Y
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O u r T o w n N Y. c o m
November 17, 2011
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Another Happy Day Caps a Great Year Ellen Barkin’s new movie is the icing on the cake of her 2011 By Mark Peikert
“I
don’t think I’ve ever said the words ‘I’m proud of myself,’” Ellen Barkin said over coffee recently at Soho’s MEET at The Apt. “But this movie is the greatest accomplishment of my career.” Barkin was speaking of Another Happy Day, which she produced and stars in, but that statement could have been about any number of projects over the course of this past year. In April, she made her Broadway debut in The Normal Heart, winning a Tony Award in the process. This summer saw the release of the indie film Shit Year, with its sure-to-beiconic poster of Barkin in runny makeup, eyes mostly closed, a cigarette dangling from the side of her famous mouth. But it’s Another Happy Day, writer-director Sam Levinson’s first film, that has the former Upper East Sider so uncharacteristically happy with herself. “Quite frankly, I’m having a very good five years,” she said seriously. “I never say nice things about myself and I get yelled at all the time for not owning my accomplishments, but I do have to say over the last five or so years… And it has really hit home in the last year.” Another Happy Day finds Barkin leading a cast that includes Ellen Burstyn, Demi Moore and Kate Bosworth. Her role as Lynne—a divorced and remarried mother of four struggling to get through her eldest son’s wedding day amid family dysfunction—was, according to Barkin,
Ellen Barkin produced and starred in Another Happy Day. acter’s less-than-stellar parenting skills. “To sit up there on the screen and basically tell the world that I, Ellen Barkin, made some very big fucking mistakes as a mother…” she said, of how audiences might view her performance through the lens of her past. “I’m not a bad person, I’m not a bad mother. It could have traumatized my children.” Some pressure was removed thanks to Barkin’s close relationship with Levinson, son of director Barry Levinson, who gave Barkin her big film break in 1982’s Diner. “As a producer, I was lucky enough to be working with an extremely gifted and wildly focused, unbelievably well-informed, very strong writer-director who worked really fast,” Barkin said, then grinned. “That writerdirector was also a first-time writer-direc-
“I feel brand new, with a life’s worth of experience behind me. And I feel that at 57 years old, I am ready to embrace whatever it is I have to offer as an actor and as a producer. And not to be afraid of it,” Ellen Barkin said. “the most difficult, rewarding, complicated, cathartic role of my life. This was a killer.” Among other reasons, Barkin found the role challenging because of her char-
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tor, so anything that was asked of him he thought was normal. And it was fabulous!” After being at Levinson’s side for the three years from writing to filming, Barkin said her need for his input as an actor had already been satisfied, leaving her free to focus on her producing chores. “So I’d have to finish the scene,” Barkin recalled, “and Ellen Burstyn, left, George Kennedy, Thomas Haden Church say, ‘OK, that’s an hour and Demi Moore co-star in Another Happy Day with Ellen you’ve been lighting that. Barkin. Too long. Kate Bosworth is maybe the prettiest girl in the movies. gized,” Barkin said. “I feel brand new, You don’t need that much time. Save it for with a life’s worth of experience behind me!’ It actually really worked.” me. And I feel that at 57 years old, I am Another Happy Day seems to be the ready to embrace whatever it is I have to perfect grace note for Barkin to end her offer as an actor and as a producer. And year. “I feel inspired, invigorated, ener- not to be afraid of it.” N EW S YO U LIV E B Y
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November 17, RREG-E0847-East Side Our Town-10x11.25-4C-10.06
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P.S. 116 Bursting at the Seams Parents and electeds seek overcrowding solution Members Dan Garodnick and Rosie Mendez, has put its collective weight behind a push for the DOE to incubate the new school for next fall, joining local parents and the Community Board 6 education committee in their efforts. “The good news is that we have a plan for a new school to start two Septembers from now. The bad news is that will mean one additional completely overcrowded kindergarten class next year [at P.S. 116],” said Krueger. “Let’s incubate some classrooms now—get them ready to roll into a new school.” When the DOE chooses to incubate a new school, they start the first classes for the impending school in a temporary location. While some potential sites have been identified, such as the American Sign Language School on East 23rd Street, there is no particular location that has been named for the new school’s incubation. That decision is up to the DOE, which has not yet responded to a letter the Coalition sent on Oct. 20 to Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott.
andrew schwartz
By Megan Finnegan The parents of the kids attending P.S. 116 have been promised a solution to the school’s gross overcrowding problem, but it can’t come soon enough. The elementary school, known as The Mary Lindley Murray School, at 210 E. 33rd de St., has been dealing with overcrowded kindergarten classes for several years 49579now. The Department of Education’s plan to address this includes the opening of a new school, P.S./I.S. 281, a K through 8 school located at First Avenue and East 35th Street at an old ConEdison site 49580that the City Council rezoned in 2008. The school will be built by the School Construction Authority and the 640-seat facility is slated to open in 2013, taking in some of the zoned students from P.S. 116. 49581 But the Coalition for East Side Elected Officials, which includes Rep. Carolyn Maloney, State Sen. Liz Krueger, Assembly Members Dick Gottfried and Brian Kavanagh, Manhattan Borough 49582President Scott Stringer and City Council
The parents of P.S. 116 are trying to find a solution to their overcrowding problem. “P.S. 116 has been beset by capacity challenges for a number of years now, resulting in frequent kindergarten waitlists, the loss of Gifted & Talented and
pre-kindergarten programs and class sizes above contractual limits,” the letter read. “Rezoning the area in order to continued on page 10
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Why Let the Billionaires Have all the Fun?
Whatever your philanthropic passions, The New York Community Trust can help you design your own Giving Pledge. Set up a charitable fund with us and get the expert advice and support the billionaires get. Contact us today for our free booklet. You’ll be inspired by what you can accomplish. Call Jane Wilton at (212) 686–0010 x379, e-mail gray@nyct-cfi.org, or visit nycommunitytrust.org.
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Contact Janet Barrett, Director of Admissions (212) 232-0266 ext. 259 j.barrett@lemanmanhattan.org O u r T o w n N Y. c o m
November 17, 2011
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More Than Food on Menu for Isaacs Program
andrew schwartz
By Megan Finnegan The woman answering the door is dressed neatly in a floral-print shirt, her short straight hair held back with barrettes. She wears lipstick. A peek into her apartment reveals a bright, clean space in a nice doorman building on the Upper East Side. As she accepts the meal handed to her in a plastic grocery bag, Florence Carlin, 67, laughs and jokes with the man who delivers to her almost every day, Al Fields, whom she has nicknamed “The Voice.” Carlin may not be the Meals on Wheels client most people picture when they think of who the program serves, but she’s one of the more than 700 older people to whom the Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center and its subcontractors bring meals on a regular basis. They are interspersed throughout community districts 8 and 11, on the east side from 59th to 142nd Street. While some of the seniors Al served by the program may be lowincome, it’s not actually a requirement. Anyone who lives in the covered area, is over 60 years old and has some kind of
Fields and Florence Carlin. impairment that makes it difficult to shop for or cook meals qualifies for the free program.
In Carlin’s case, bad scoliosis prevents her from moving around easily or standing for long periods of time. “It would be very expensive and very difficult to get help to do this, to get the food into the house” without the Meals on Wheels deliveries, Carlin said. “I’ve always been very appreciative.” The meals—that day was roast beef and cheese sandwiches with sides of chickpeas, coleslaw, bread, 2 percent milk, fruit and juice—are the biggest part of the program, but a few trips with Fields makes it apparent that the social interaction and ability to check on seniors who may not get out often are important secondary functions. Fields isn’t supposed to stay and chat with clients because he has to deliver all of the meals on his route, 12-15 of them, within a two-hour window. “It is extremely difficult for me to cut conversations short,” he said after chatting with Carlin. “I recognize that I’m the conduit between their apartment and the outside world.” Fields used to be director of the Boys’ Club of New York on East 111th Street. Now retired, he has been driving and
delivering for the Stanley Isaacs Meals on Wheels program for the past four years. “The meal is a gimmick for the deliverer to check on the well-being of the client,” said Fields. He knows who’s got dialysis appointments and who has home aides, as well as who needs a friendly hello and who just wants to take their food and retreat behind the door. The food itself is somewhat of a flash point for those running the programs. Frank Geritano, the director of the Isaacs Center program, said in an email that while funding is a continual challenge— they rely on private funds to keep the program going, despite an allotment from the city’s Department for the Aging—the biggest change he’s like to see is to the dietary requirements imposed by the city on the meals they can deliver. “Many seniors simply drop out of the program because they don’t like the food,” said Geritano. “We need to work under such strict requirements [such as extremely low sodium contents, vitamin requirements for each meal as well as on a weekly basis, and color coordination of the food served each day] that continued on page 10
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P.S. 116 continued from page
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incubate P.S./I.S. 281 in September 2012 would help to alleviate this problem. The PTA of P.S. 116 and the full board of Community Board 6 have formally supported this concept.” While the new school is planned to open in two years, parents say that starting one year ahead of schedule will truly make a difference. “It would ease our kindergarten overcrowding immediately for 2012, and the trickle-down effect would help us as the years go on,” said Beth Parise, a parent at P.S. 116 and a member of Community Board 6. She said that the school’s kindergarten classes this year already exceed the United
Meals continued from page
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a lot of times the food may be bland or repetitive.” Fields said they serve chicken several times a week and that the vegetarian alternative is always a veggie burger. “Many seniors would appreciate getting a salad or a sandwich from us once a
Federation of Teachers contract maximum, 25 students, by one student per class. She has started a petition to supplement the elected officials’ support for incubating the new school early, which currently has 600 signatures. Garodnick stressed that they’re not asking for much from the DOE. “We have this school about to open and an existing school that is bursting at the seams,” he said. “We certainly are going to push to do it as soon as possible.” Essentially, the DOE would only need to find space to host a few classrooms for a single year of kindergarten, Garodnick said, emphasizing that there are many potential spots. “We have not honed in on a particular location; we’re flexible,” he said. Parents and officials are hopeful that the DOE will heed their calls. At this point, it’s simply a waiting game. week more than they enjoy receiving fish or chicken four times a week because those fit into the city’s dietary restrictions. I have heard that sort of complaint more times that I care to remember,” Geritano said. Still, most seniors who receive the meals are grateful for the food and the daily visits. When asked what she likes about the program, Carlin said with a grin, “Seeing somebody as wonderful as Al every day.”
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Where Your Child Fits In Two experts pull back the curtain on the world of special needs education in NYC By Veronica Torok
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s if negotiating the special education process isn’t daunting enough, frequent reorganizations to the NYC Department of Education and recent changes to local procedures may leave city parents wondering where to begin, especially when it comes to kindergarten and elementary school enrollment. For answers to some key questions, New York Family sat down with two experts, Nina Lublin and Jean Mizutani of Resources for Children with Special Needs (RCSN), an independent, nonprofit organization committed to helping families of children with disabilities. As RCSN’s early childhood specialist, Lublin demystifies the special needs referral process and helps families of young children with special needs secure the services their children require. Meanwhile, teaching families how to access appropriate education programs is part of Mizutani’s job as the organization’s educational advocacy team leader and Bronx Special Education Parent Center program coordinator. Here, they explain the latest changes in the special education community in order to help guide parents’ decision making. The good news? When it comes to what may be right for your child, parents know more than they think. What are the primary functions of RCSN? Nina Lublin: To empower parents of children with special needs. In NYC,
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as you know, fewer than 20 percent of youth with special needs graduate with a diploma and thousands lack essential afterschool programs and support services. RCSN is here to create bright futures for the city’s at-risk children and youth by empowering parents with the knowledge, skills and confidence to advocate for their kids. We also advise and collaborate with educators, mental health professionals and all levels of government to bring a family perspective to the systems that are designed to help children. We’ve been funded as a federal Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) for about 20 years. We are also funded in part through a New York State Department of Education project called the Special Education Parent Centers. Our PTI work is citywide. We work with families of children from birth through [age] 26, whose children have special needs. What should parents know about the Turning 5 guidelines and the process of transitioning a student from preschool to kindergarten? Jean Mizutani: The whole process has changed, and next year it’s going to change even more. I think the bottom line is this: There is a focus on inclusive education and the goal is to educate typical students and students with disabilities sideby-side. In order to achieve that…schools are supposed to have a wide variety of supports and special education services that can be provided to enable the child with a disability to participate in these local schools. If I had a child with a specific disability, such as autism or PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorders), I would ask, Is the staff in the school trained in working with students on the spectrum? Is there a behavior specialist that the teacher could go to if she needs support or assistance? I would try to find out how much support is there. Do you see the recent changes that make the kindergarten registration process the same for all children, those with special needs and those without, as an advantage? JM: Parents who have children with special needs should not rely exclusively on schools for information. First, parents
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should gather a good balance of information by attending the NYCDOE’s Turning 5 information sessions that are being held this month, followed by “Transition to Kindergarten” trainings conducted by RCSN or the Early Childhood Direction Centers. All parents must participate in the kindergarten application process, so full advantage of open house opportunities should be taken. This is important since the majority of students with disabilities will be educated in the community schools that accept them and the school will have the explicit responsibility to provide the individualized supports and services that are needed. In certain cases where a school that accepts a child cannot provide an appropriate program, the DOE’s Office of Student Enrollment will provide an offer of placement for a specific school. For the most part, this will occur primarily for students who require a District 75 placement (a specialized, citywide, full-time special education program) for children who have significant cognitive or emotional challenges, sensory impairment or autism. If a preschooler has been attending a program of that type, parents should ask for a list of District 75 programs to tour, which is available at the NYCDOE’s Information sessions. What advice do you have for parents about choosing between public and non-public or private schools? NL: As kindergarten keeps changing and as both school reform and special ed reform move forward, many families are concerned about what kind of kindergarten experience awaits their child. Some parents are thinking about charter schools, others are thinking about public school kindergarten and indeed more than a few parents are thinking about private schools—also, some of our little ones
may be eligible for some of the funded non-public schools. It’s a gigantic research project for families that starts very early, and I think many families will opt for a public kindergarten experience. As we have seen in the past couple of years, not all public school kindergartens seem to be created equal, even though they all must meet city and state standards. My background suggests to me that, wherever possible, we should encourage families toward public school kindergarten, which is voluntary by the way, with whatever supports and services the child needs. I usually recommend that to families. What are some good ways for parents to get involved? JM: I think it’s more important for special needs parents to be front and center; to be known by the school and to get involved—in a bake sale, if there is a book drive, whatever it is. While the parent is doing that, I think they should also ask if there is a Special Education Parent Teacher Association. There is such thing as Special Education PTA, and that’s been relatively rare in the past, but the reason I bring it up now is because now we’re talking about including children with disabilities in regular community schools in large numbers. What steps should parents take if they suspect their child may have special needs? JM: You know more than you think. You know your child better than anyone else. Our new training tagline is “When it comes to your child, the expert is you.” If you have a concern, check it out, follow your own instinct… I don’t think there’s really any downside to having your child evaluated if you have a concern. For more information, resourcesnyc.org.
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How to Find the Right Camp R
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(L-R): Eric Messinger, editor of Manhattan Media’s New York Family Magazine; Renee Flax, Associate Director of the American Camp Association of NY & NJ; Sam Borek, Owner and Director of Woodmont Day Camp; and Jem Sollinger, Director of Camp Laurel. Photo courtesy: Hundred Stories PR
Azure, the Upper East Side’s premier luxury residential development, 333 East 91st St., host a packed “How to Find the Right Camp” seminar on Nov. 8. Experts offered valuable insight on camp selection, readiness and youth development, helping parents with questions that arise when choosing the perfect camp for their children.
The speakers also stressed the importance of keeping in mind each child’s temperament and preferences. “Involve children in the process,” added Borek. “Let them ask questions, listen to their concerns, and visit camps together. Build excitement together as a camp family.” For more information on Azure, please contact the sales office at (212) 828-4848, e-mail info@azureny.com or visit the website at www.azurenyc.com.
Ta s te our Differen ce ELLA AR
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(L-R): Azure’s Associate Broker David Greczek; Eric Messinger, editor of Manhattan Media’s New York Family Magazine; and Doug MacLaury, senior vice president of the Mattone Group, the property’s co-developer along with The DeMatteis Organizations. Photo courtesy: Hundred Stories PR
T T MARKE
“The director is obligated to communicate about the camp’s mission and values,” said Sollinger. “It is natural for parents to get nervous; they should ask plenty of questions about the staff hiring process, transportation, safety, sports and nutrition.”
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While the experts agreed on the benefits of visiting a camp before making a decision, Sollinger, aware that it might not be a feasible option for everyone, suggested spending time with the camp director.
We continue the tradition of preparing delicious foods made from the finest & freshest ingredients.
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“Camps are a great place for kids to just be kids,” said Flax. “Regardless of which specific camp parents choose, the experience should help kids find their own voice, encounter lifelong friends and mentors, and learn about selfreliance, respect and confidence.”
CI
The event occurred in residence 30AB - a spectacular 3,019-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom home on the market for $4,149,000 - and featured a panel discussion by New York Family editor Eric Messinger, Renee Flax, associate director of the American Camp Association of NY & NJ, Sam Borek, owner and director of Woodmont Day Camp and Jem Sollinger, director of Camp Laurel.
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The Fall and Rise of Gimbels, Macy’s Rival By Linnea Covington With so much press surrounding the possibility of the arrival of Wal-Mart in Manhattan, it’s hard to believe there was a time when the department store was king of the New York City shopping world. But, as writer Michael Lisicky details in his latest book, Gimbels Has It!, Macy’s wasn’t always the undisputed champion of the New York City department store, as anyone who has ever seen holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street will remember. Just across the street from Macy’s Herald Square flagship was Gimbels, a fierce competitor that eventually fell from favor as the times changed. The youngest of three boys, Lisicky remembers his mother religiously shopping at Gimbels Budget Store in southern New Jersey, a memory that, while fuzzy, struck a retail chord in his mind. Now, when not playing the oboe for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the 47-year-old pores over yellowing newspaper articles and archives about the nation’s old shops. He lives in Baltimore with his wife and 12-year-old daughter, neither of whom minds his obsession with shopping—even if he doesn’t buy anything.
What drew you to Gimbels? While promoting last year’s book Wanamaker’s: Meet Me at the Eagle, I met so many former Gimbels Philadelphia employees. I thought Gimbels had just vanished, but it hadn’t. The store closed in 1986 but its former employee base in Philadelphia is still extremely loyal to their old store and they frequently keep in touch. It was heartwarming to meet them and I decided it was time to pay tribute to Gimbels since everybody has heard of it, whether you went there or not. How did you go about researching the store? My idea of a vacation is going to a city library and parking myself in front of a microfilm machine. You get to read the urgency and emotion behind the news item. Whenever a store closed, newspapers printed eulogies about the loss of a local institution. They make for a wonderful and historic read. After about 15 years of good work, I’ve basically exhausted the Library of Congress and the bulk of
the archives. You talk about going to Gimbels as a child; what do you remember most about those times? My mother was a department store shopper—I think Gimbels Budget Store kept her away from the discount stores until she couldn’t stand it anymore. She would spend hours in them. I don’t know what we did during all that time but the toy department, bakery and candy counters must have helped. Is there anything that compares to Gimbels today? The quick answer is no. Gimbels tried to be everything to everybody. Its famous slogan was, “Nobody but nobody undersells Gimbels.” That worked through the 1950s, but then society changed. While other stores like Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and A&S [Abraham & Straus] changed and defined their customers, Gimbels stood still. By the early 1980s, America’s middle class was either trading up or trading down. Gimbels was irrelevant and its
antiquated building didn’t help its image. You just can’t be everything to everybody these days. How would something like Gimbels thrive in these times? There was a time when over 6,000 employees worked in the Greeley Square store. Corporations look at bottom lines— nobody can support that size of a labor force. Department stores were known for service, and it cost money to provide that benefit. People are now interested in price and convenience, period. It’s interesting to see the discount industry shaking up. It’s hard to believe that Filene’s Basement and Syms will soon be just a memory. How did the closing of Gimbels affect New York City? When it closed, many people had forgotten about the store. And now, most people probably don’t realize that the Manhattan Mall is located in the former flagship. But quite a few people still remember Gimbels quite fondly and that is who this book is written for, along with anyone who craves learning more about New York’s past.
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Great Tips on...Parenting,
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Visit to learn more about the best parenting e-newsletter in the city.
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NOW PLAYING
Armond White’s Film Capsules 50/50 The buddy comedy genre faces cancer. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is helped through crisis by Seth Rogen. Decent emotions get cheated of depth by blithe, nonspiritual approach. Dir. Jonathan Levine. The Descendants George Clooney shakes off the snark, but filmmaker Alexander Payne puts it back on in this Hawaii-set story of how Americans squander their paradise and advantages. Adultery, greed, family dysfunction and death go unenlightened by the film’s stupefying visual banality. Dir. Alexander Payne. Drive Fake toughness, fake sentimentality, fake style infected by Michael Mann. Brooding existential stuntman and petty criminal Ryan Gosling is so laconic and cool he’s inadvertently comic. This second-rate actor occasionally drops his Steve McQueen impersonation and lets slip Mickey Rourke’s old smile. Dir. Nicolas Winding Refn. Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life An inventive political, cultural, ethnic defense of France’s ’60s pop icon and rebel Serge Gainsbourg shows a carica-
turist’s whimsy—especially in the Jewish self-consciousness subtext, psychopolitical anime effects and Eric Elmosnino’s lead performance. Laetitia Casta does a worthy, knockout Brigitte Bardot impersonation. Dir. Joann Sfar. Jack and Jill Adam Sandler, the least abashed comic actor outside the Borscht Belt, tackles Jewish self-deprecation in this sibling rivalry laff fest. Playing both male and female twins, Sandler show tribal affection by turning bad vibes into good. Al Pacino’s cameo as Jill’s suitor is both crazily romantic and a brilliant professional salute. Dir. Dennis Dugan. J. Edgar Using the career of longtime FBI director J. Edgar Hoover to promote a gay sympathy ought to be subversive (that’s the intention of screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who wrote Milk). But despite Leo DiCaprio’s eagerbeaver empathetic performance, this grim, humorless exercise, featuring lousy old-age makeup, turns out ghoulish and
self-congratulatory—just like Milk. Dir. Clint Eastwood. Melancholia Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg play Eurotrash sisters waiting for the end of world—literally: A planet named Melancholia, symbolizing their depression, comes crashing toward Earth. Another Lars von Trier prank, this is apocalypse for nihilists. Dir. Lars von Trier. Puss in Boots More Shrek dreck, this time losing what little appeal the Puss in Boots character (voiced by Antonio Bandera) brought to previous episodes of the franchise. At least there are fewer human facile grotesques, but all the fairy tale/pop culture satire (from Humpty Dumpty to Jack and Jill) and feline cuteness becomes a jumbled-up overload. Dir. Chris Miller. Real Steel Hugh Jackman’s Lost Father and his Estranged Son (Dakota Goyo) come together in the near future of robot boxing—a metaphor for mankind’s displaced emotions in the digital age. This surprisingly touching footnote to producer Steven Spielberg’s A.I. is a fairytale of archetypes. Dir. Shawn Levy.
The Rum Diary Another try-and-miss attempt at putting Hunter Thompson’s fevered journalism on screen. Although Johnny Depp’s too old to play the young Gonzo writer, the dissolute story ignores optimism and innocence. It is dully cynical. Dir. Bruce Robinson. The Skin I Live In A fairy tale using sexual anxiety as identity crisis. Mad scientist Antonio Banderas falls in love with his human guinea pig (Elena Anaya) in a narrative as convoluted as it is engrossing. Twisted yet ultimately humane, it gloriously refutes Lady Gaga. Dir. Pedro Almodóvar. Take Shelter Midwestern laborer (Michael Shannon) becomes unstable, sensing apocalypse in the changed wind (as Bob Dylan would put it). Political paranoia takes elemental, eschatological form, driving wife (Jessica Chastain) and blue-collar buddy (Shea Whigham) to the edge. Tipping into horror movie cliché, the political tension gets unbearably overwrought. Dir. Jeff Nichols. Tower Heist Eddie Murphy’s sharp, profane delivery can’t save this witless high-concept heist movie about a team of luxury apartment workers (led by Ben Stiller) seeking revenge on their Madoff-Trump boss. Dir. Brett Ratner.
A PANEL DISCUSSION & AWARDS RECEPTION In partnership with:
Until November 18th we are accepting nominations to recognize a selection of woman who are achieving greatly in their communities, at their workplace, for the public and everything in between.There are five categories for which you can nominate a woman of public and civic mind who has achieved above and beyond: Organized Labor, Government and Public Service, Journalism/Media, Business/Public-Private Partnerships, Community Organizing and Non-Profits.
Visit www.cityhallnews.com to submit your nomination.
O u r To w n NY. c o m
City Hall will be hosting a panel of dynamic woman from in and around public and private industry to impart their unique knowledge on best practices, lessons-learned and how to excel. The discussion will be focusing on how woman in the public and civic space can achieve successes above and beyond the rest and other important lessons on leadership. Moderated By: CHLOE DREW Executive Director of Council of Urban Professionals CATHERINE ABATE CEO Community Healthcare of New York, Former New York State Senator JENNIFER CUNNINGHAM Managing Director SKD Knickerbocker
CECILIA CLARK Executive Director of Sadie Nash Partnership ELSIE MCCABE THOMPSON Executive Director of The Museum of African Art CARMEN WONG-ULRICH Former Host of CNBC ‘On the Money’ and award winning journalist
FOR MORE INFORMATION or sponsorship opportunities call 646.442.1623 or email Jasmine Freeman at jfreeman@manhattanmedia.com. www.cityhallnews.com N o v e mb e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 1
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DINING
Giving Thanks with Vino A wine to complement any Thanksgiving meal
“chewing on Ikea furniture” flavors. It has major scents of tangerine and biscuits on the nose. The finish is honeysuckle, allspice and burnt sugar. Then, of course, there’s the turkey. No matter how you prepare it—roasted, grilled, fried or braised—I always reach for the same varietal: zinfandel. And what could possibly be more appropriate than serving, arguably, the most American of grapes with the By Josh Perilo most American of main courses? Zinfandel is bold, strong and makes a real statement. What’s more American than that? A wonderful example is the Rosenblum Harris Kratka Zinfandel 2006 ($17.49 at Morrell and Company, 1 Rockefeller Plz. at 48th Street & 5th Ave., 212-688-9370). The Rosenblum brand is well known for reliable and affordable zins, but the Harris Kratka really showcases the best winemaking that this producer has to offer. Blueberry compote and cinnamon are the major scents on the nose. Deliciously aggressive notes of blackberry jam, currants and mace lead through to a peppery middle and a finish that goes long with lingering flavors of earth and cassis. The ubiquitous pumpkin pie can be a tricky one to match, wine-wise—unless you have a bottle of Osborne Pedro Ximenez Sherry on hand ($17.99 at 67 Wine, 179 Columbus Ave. at 68th St., 212724-6767). This thick-as-syrup meal-ender has enough unctuous notes of molasses, dates and caramel that coffee may become an afterthought. So, instead of bringing the candied sweet potatoes this year, bring a bottle of vino! I guarantee you’ll be more popular. Follow Josh on Twitter: @joshperilo.
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Quiche as Antidote to Chaos The painters had arrived with their ladders, buckets and loud radio music. Escaping the chaos, I needed a place where I could sit and have a simple dish that would set my skewed day to rights. I found it at Spices and Tease, a new purveyor of loose teas, blends and spice mixes with a small case of quiches and pastries. A few egg-yolk yellow chairs front a counter—there I waited a while for my tomato, spinach and ricotta quiche ($5) to heat up in a tiny oven. Still, it was pleasant to sit in a fragrant spice shop, hearing the lilt- Town. In the past four years, I’ve enjoyed ing voices of the French staff. Cousins searching for the perfect satisfying Bruno Benzacken and François Athea savory snacks—all under $5 and evenhail from a European spice dynasty tually $6. From Swedish smørrebrød and began selling spices sandwiches in the café and teas eight years of a pristine church to ago at street fairs, but empanadas from a hid2580 Broadway whether they can make den drawer in a Parks (betw. 98th & 97th Sts.) a go of it with a shop so Dept. cart, snacks have 347-470-8327 specialized remains to more than filled an appewww.spicesandtease.com tite—they have often be seen. I was happy that my given a welcome fillip to quiche had only the faintest traces of pep- an otherwise mundane day and taken me per and sel de Guérande and no “omelet to ever new corners of my beloved New mix” of the sort being sold in the shop! York City. Each forkful of creamy cheese, spinach, You can be sure I will continue snackbutter-laden crust and chewy sun-dried ing and telling. Please keep up with my tomatoes said, “You will find comfort in writings—on food and other topics— this simple sustenance.” Other quiches at http://www.nancyjbrandwein.com. on offer are goat cheese, mushroom and Thanks to my loyal, hungry readers and truffle oil and French blue cheese, cara- to photographer Daniel S. Burnstein melized onion and walnut. for making all the snacks look so * * * scrumptious! This column is, alas, my last “Snack Attack” for West Side Spirit and Our —Nancy J. Brandwein DANIEL S. BURNSTEIN
By Josh Perilo I shook my head as I walked down the “seasonal” aisle of our local CVS. Natali sighed heavily, knowing I was about to sound off on something insignificant again. She was right. “I mean, really?! Christmas already?” I huffed. “Halloween was yesterday.” “Good lord,” I muttered. “Has everyone forgotten about Thanksgiving?” I happen to think it’s the ultimate holiday. First, for selfish reasons, because it’s all about food. The focus of the day is on the meal and the meal alone. Second, its message is a tremendous one. True, the origins of this day are more than a tad shady, but the evolution of the holiday’s meaning is undeniable: Give thanks for what you have. So in honor of my absolute favorite holiday of the winter season, I would like to pick some American wines to pair with some of the typical courses of this great American feast. A side dish that I make every Thanksgiving, while not part of the typical Turkey Day menu, is Israeli couscous with chanterelles. Mushrooms, in one form or another, usually find their way into the Thanksgiving meal, whether in a green bean casserole, as part of the stuffing or sautéed and served all by themselves. My go-to wine for all things ’shroomy is a full-bodied California chardonnay. A great example of this type of full-throttle chard is the Arcadian Vineyard “Sleepy Hollow” Chardonnay 2006 ($33.99 at Astor Wines, 399 Lafayette St. at E. 4th St., 212-674-7500). This wine’s fermentation happens in French oak barrels. Because it’s fermented in oak, there are overt notes of oakiness, but because it is French oak, there’s more finesse and less of those
Spices and Tease
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Gifts for Those Likely to Chew the Stocking By Jackie Kostek This holiday season, the dog days are most definitely not over. According to a new AP-Petside.com poll, more than half of all pet owners will buy a gift for their pet this holiday season. And some pets may get more than one. Naresh Jessani, co-owner of New York Dog Spa & Hotel on the Upper East Side, said he often sees an increase in business around the holidays. “Pets are part of the family,” said Jessani. “Pretty much everyone buys a Christmas gift for their pet and puts it under the tree.” Jessani said many of his clients bring their pets in for holiday grooming. “They want to deck their dogs out in Christmas gear,” said Jessani. “Reindeer antlers, jingly collars and Santa coats are popular.” Sandy Robins, a pet lifestyle expert based in California, said the economic recession shouldn’t put a stop to a pet’s holiday bliss. “If people do have a little bit of extra money, they’re going to splurge on their kids,” she said. “Whether their kids have two legs or four legs.” Robins said the market for holidaythemed pet gifts has exploded in the past five years. “If you’re someone who goes for walks at night a lot,” she said, “maybe you’ll buy your pet a collar with a reflector or one that lights up. Your pet gets something new that is also functional.” The trendiest pet gifts this year are puzzles, Robins added. She likened the puzzles to board games for adults, except that the pet doesn’t play against anyone and she gets a treat when she wins. “Puzzles will keep the pet very, very
Keeping Pets Safe this Season The winter holiday season is a time of food, festivities and fun, but there are important things to keep in mind to ensure that pets remain healthy and safe. “Pet parents should remember that holly, evergreens and mistletoe are toxic,” said Dr. Mark Verdino, vice president and chief of veterinary staff at North Shore Animal League America. “Poinsettia, though not poisonous, can cause gastric upset if ingested, pine needles can damage intestines and holiday
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busy,” she said. “They also offer great mental and physical stimulation.”
Holiday Pet eventS “Rosie’s Toy Drive.” Not every dog or cat has such a fruitful holiday season—donate your pet’s gently used toys or purchase something new. All donations will go to Bideawee. The New York Dog Shop, 46 W. 73rd St., thenewyorkdogshop.com, 212-595-0800. PetCo Santa. Sitting on a mall Santa’s lap before Christmas isn’t just for children anymore. Pups get some lap time and owners get a chance to shoot away! PetCo Union Square, 860 Broadway, 212358-0692, Nov. 25-27. Holiday Adoption Extravaganza. Not all pets have a home in which to celebrate the holidays. Two rescue organizations will host the two-day weekend event, where families can also take photos with one of the organization’s mascots: Santa Maddie, a six-foot-tall miniature schnauzer. The Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St., 212-463-0200, Dec. 18-19. Thanksgiving Dinner in a Can. Instead of passing your pet a few leftover turkey scraps under the table on Thanksgiving, treat your pet to dinner made from all the classic Thanksgiving fixings: turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans and Granny Smith apples. www. MerrickPetCare.com.
trees can be knocked over by curious pets.” Verdino said, “‘People’ food can sicken pets and cause severe illness. Pets should not eat chocolate or anything containing xylitol.” Other safety tips include keeping tinsel and ribbons away from pets. If swallowed, these can cause stomach upset or stick to pets’ intestines, which may require surgery. Also, anything with a flame should be kept far from pets’ reach and never be left unattended. N EW S YO U LIV E B Y
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New York Family magazine and the American Camp Association, NY and NJ are teaming up for two Camp Fairs in November! • Meet over 30 different camp directors • Local Day Camps • Sleepaway Camps • Great for children ages 3-17
Sunday, December 11th Noon to 3PM Upper West Side Ethical Culture Fieldston School 33 Central Park West (between 63rd and 64th Sts.)
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Elementary Schools
Elementary School Honors
T
here is no singular way to educate elementary school children, as is clear from the profiles in this week’s Blackboard Awards special section. One of our honorees, The Blue School, a private school founded by Blue Man Group, is still growing and thriving in its new location at the Seaport, while another, principal Charlene Reid of Bronx Charter School for Excellence, is like a great coach inspiring students and teachers to do better. Meanwhile, at P.S. 9, a traditional public school, students often venture out to find there is much to learn in the “classroom” of New York City. Blackboard Awards are in no way a school ranking, but they are a way to pay tribute to a few of the great schools and principals in the city. The awards are selected by editors from Manhattan Media, publisher of Our Town, West Side Spirit and New York Family, who work closely with education experts. Next week, we close the 2011 Blackboard Awards with a look at some of the city’s exemplary middle and high schools. Josh Rogers Sponsored by: Blackboard Awards contributing editor
Wise Young Students Say They’re in a Good School By Laura Shin Every morning, students at P.S. 9 arrive at school eager and excited to learn. What makes these kids love their school? They say it’s the community. “I really like the teachers and all of my friends,” said Adelaide, a 4th grade student who is new to the school this year. “I was at my old school for a long time,
Outstanding Elementary School
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andrew schwartz
so being the new girl was new for me, but everyone made me feel really comfortable here. I’m glad to be here.” There are more than 600 students from kindergarten through 5th grade at P.S. 9, also known as the Sarah Anderson School. Parents, faculty and other support staff are all committed to making sure each one of those students is welcomed and succeeds. “It’s a community that’s committed to high expectations and the willingness to do what it takes to make sure those expectations are met,” said Diane Brady, the principal, who is in her 14th year at
the Upper West Side school. A visual arts class at P.S. 9 is not your typical art class—it is an art literacy class in which students are taught how to view and understand art. “You can come in on a lesson in kindergarten and they’re learning about form, construction and shapes,” said Brady. “They learn new theoretical terms in visual arts as they move through the grades.” The school also takes full advantage of its New York City backdrop, Brady said. Classes take trips to the city’s museums, applying what they have learned in class to what Students work together on a computer project at P.S 9 on the they see. A large number of the school’s activiThey also have affiliations with ties are based on tradition, Brady said. many different organizations, such as For example, there is an annual Spirit the New York City Ballet. Third grade Day for 5th graders, based on elements students at P.S. 9 visit the ballet thelearned in gym class, in which students ater at Lincoln Center each year and from different classes compete with one are even taken backstage. Back at the another. school, they create a ballet of their
Upper West Side. own based on a unit of study, such as a social studies theme. “Not only do they have the opportunity to choreograph and dance, but by applying it to social studies, the kids didn’t realize how much they were learning continued on page 22 N EW S YO U LIV E B Y
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P.S. 9 continued from page
sense of community is something that makes P.S. 9 stand out from other schools. The best of part of her job is the students, she said. “They’re all so excited about learning; they get excited to read and learn a new math strategy. To see them excited helps me to be excited.”
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because they were having so much fun,” said Elisabeth Austin-Page, a 4th grade teacher and the teachers union leader at the school. Making the most of what the city has to offer is crucial, Brady said. “We have the greatest resources in the world and these programs expose the children to what’s available in the city. They build and enrich them in all kinds of ways,” she said. One student remembered a class trip she took last year to Pennsylvania. “It was fun because we were learning but having fun at the same time,” said Camille, a 5th grader. “We talked about the Revolutionary War and what happened with the Native Americans. It was nice because I never thought we would go on big trips like that.” None of these opportunities would be possible without the dedication of parents and staff, Brady emphasized. Even while riding out budget challenges, parents and staff have been committed
Reading together in the P.S. 9 library. to activities like fundraising and volunteering to ensure the children still have access to the best. Julie Castellano, a 4th grade teacher who is new to the school this year, said the commitment of those she works with has helped make her first two months of
teaching at the school a great experience. “The community is outstanding,” she said. “The teacher relations, the respect for one another, the administrative support and the collaborative nature are all just outstanding.” Austin-Page agreed that the strong
Principal Diane Brady.
Blue School’s Performance Keeps Soaring on Bigger Stage By Dan Rosenblum During a meeting earlier this month near the Seaport, architect David Rockwell went to meet some of the clients for his new project. Some of them wanted more tools or shelving. Another asked for a jackhammer. These may have been unusual requests for a construction lab at The Blue School, but the group of kindergartners, 1st grad-
Rising Star Elementary School ers and parents were an unusual group of collaborators. “That’s the Blue School moment for you—kids just turn their fascinations loose and you see this architect—a world-class architect—getting so excited about that imagination and the next gen-
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eration of architects,” said Don Grace, the school’s interim head. The Blue School is trying to create a generation that isn’t afraid of thinking big, which shouldn’t be a surprise for a school founded by three members of Blue Man Group. It offers children a creative place to learn with a focus on progressive methods of education. Students have space to play, learn problem solving and use creative expression to foster their own learning style. “We’re still getting questions on whether this is a training ground for the next generation of Blue Man,” Grace said. The school opened in 2006 as a parent-run playgroup for 2- and 3-year olds. Since then, the school has taken on 20 teachers, received state accreditation and has nearly 200 students. The school plans to expand to teach 4th and 5th graders over the next two years. To accommodate its growth, the school, which used to rent space around Manhattan, has spent $15 million to buy the former Water Street headquarters of the Seamen’s Church Institute. Now, The Blue School is looking to expand its mission in one of Manhattan’s fastest grow-
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ing residential neighborhoods. “We’re trying to figure out what it’s like to be a larger school, because over the last two years, we have doubled,” said Grace. “Communication systems that used to work when we were half the size
“We’re still getting questions on whether this is a training ground for the next generation of Blue Man,” Don Grace said. somehow just aren’t working in the same way.” Grace said part of that adjustment comes with moving from a two-floor building on Astor Place to a vertical campus with classes spanning five floors. In an effort to meet the challenge, Grace said the school is planning to put togeth-
er a student-run postal system that will allow kids to send physical letters to other students or staff members. The school is getting a fair number of curious people. Grace said since late September, the school has held four open houses for 80-100 prospective parents and educators. “I’m not entirely sure we won’t have to create another one,” he said. Grace said many Blue School students often go on to public schools or other progressive schools like the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Village Community School or Brooklyn Friends School. Full-time tuition costs are $28,000, and even though it offers tuition aid and financial assistance, The Blue School will be out of reach for some students. But Grace said he hopes other schools across the country will recognize and infuse children’s wonder into education. “We believe that sense of wonder doesn’t have to be flipped, compromised or put in a box as early as it is, and as long as it is, in schools,” said Grace. “We believe that The Blue School is succeeding in part because we have faith in that curiosity and passion for learning and wonder.” N EW S YO U LIV E B Y
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Struggling New Charter Was Saved by Determined Principal lum, an enrichment program or a teaching methodology.” If Reid has a motto, it is her firm belief that excellence can be achieved by all. “We really function as a team,” she said. “We gain power from each other. Your success is based on other people’s success. Typically, schools can be very isolating. Teachers go into their classrooms, close the door and teach. But the successful schools are team-oriented.”
Principal of the Year At Bronx Charter, each grade is assigned a five-teacher team, including specialists (music, gym, etc.). All five teachers lead small group sessions in basic skills such as reading; all are held equally accountable for the success of each of the roughly 56 students in their grade. “Charlene has that rare ability to see the big picture and be reflective,” said Krista Dunbar, director of the Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished Principals at Teachers College, Columbia University. Reid was one of 20 school leaders and the only charter principal selected for the program’s
2011 class. “She sees herself as a coach and approaches her work from a performance perspective: How can each person be at the top of her or his game?” Reid, 36, is accustomed to leading the pack, and her team approach to the “individual sport” of teaching comes as no surprise. A star sprinter at James Logan High School in her native Union City, Calif., she was recruited by UCLA and named to the NCAA All-America team there. She earned a master’s degree in elementary education at UCLA while teaching 1st grade in Watts. Enamored of New York City’s “educational reform environment,” she enrolled at Teachers College. After a rocky start— her first day teaching at P.S. 46 in Harlem was Sept. 11, 2001— Observers say Charlene Reid, principal of things started to work out. She Bronx Charter School for Excellence, is like met her husband-to-be, fellow a great sports coach. “Teachers go into their Columbia student Denniston classrooms, close the door and teach,” Reid Reid; switched from studying said. “But the successful schools are teampolicy to leadership; completed oriented.” her second master’s; and was hired as an assistant principal in the applied to Bronx Charter. “Of the four Bronx. finalists, Charlene was a complete In 2007, after five years of dealing standout,” recalled Frost. “I remember with red tape in the Board of Ed, she the interview to this day.” was ready to move on. Encouraged It was a day that would change by her husband, who supervises five a school—and the lives of its many schools for a charter foundation, she students—forever. andrew schwartz
By David Gibbons Successful schools are built on a strong sense of community and an effective partnership between students, teachers and parents. Without a person of outstanding character and leadership ability at the helm, however, the vessel can easily veer off course. Founded in 2004 in the workingclass neighborhood of Parkchester, the Bronx Charter School for Excellence was struggling. In 2007, Charlene Reid was hired to turn it around. Reid began by revamping the school’s staff. She promoted high standards as the norm, set performance goals for teachers and students and instilled a culture of communication, support and accountability. Within a year, the school was truly living up to its name. Under Reid, its 440 students (kindergarten through 7th grade and expanding) have consistently averaged at or near the top of all New York state schools in English and math proficiency. It is now widely recognized as a top 10 charter school. “It’s all about leadership,” said Joyce Frost, chair of the school’s board. “Charlene has high expectations for everyone around her. Underperformers, both students and staff, are quickly identified and given extra support. She cultivates her staff by continually creating leadership opportunities. They are constantly asking, ‘How can we do this better?’—whether that’s curricu-
University Educates the City on How to Fund a School By Jermaine Taylor This fall, Columbia’s Teachers College opened its doors on the Upper West Side. In partnership, the Teachers College Community School, “a university-assisted, non-selective, community school,” admitted the first crop of kindergartners into what the principal, Jeanene Worrell-Breeden, called “the school of my dreams.” “The resources we have just by virtue of our connection to the university make this school unique,” said WorrellBreeden. “We have access to everything Teachers College has to offer. So if I need help with anything—from social work to counseling—I can rely on TC to support me in those ventures.” The college, for example, sponsors all
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of the elementary school’s after-school programs, which run every day from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. During that time, students can participate in workshops on topics such as music, nutrition, physical education—even robotics. Their “plethora of resources” means the school is shielded from many of the budget stresses that often plague public schools. The school is comprised of 50 kindergartners in two classrooms with four adults present in each class—a certified classroom teacher, a paraprofessional, a student teacher and an intern. “That gives us the ability to give children who need it specialized attention,” Worrell-Breeden said. Next year, the school is moving from
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New and Noteworthy Elementary Schools 130th Street to Morningside Avenue, where it will eventually expand to cover through the 8th grade. Worrell-Breeden said the school received 125 applications for its first 50 seats, despite late approval from the Department of Education. Teachers College students, who all
hail from Districts 5 and 6, “reflect the diversity of the Upper West Side,” said the principal, a former Wall Street portfolio manager who has lived in Harlem for 20 years. Ultimately, she said, the school’s success will depend on the commitment of both the staff and parents. “We didn’t just want to say, ‘Here’s your school, take it or leave it,’” she said. “We wanted them to feel like they were a part of the process as well.” Overall, Worrell-Breeden is happy with how the school has fared so far and is excited about next year’s move. “We’re building the foundation this year,” she said. “We want to be a resource for other schools and for the Harlem community. We want to share the wealth.” N EW S YO U LIV E B Y
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Red Fern Raises Social Awareness By Penny Gray The Red Fern Theatre Company strives to provoke social awareness and change through theatrical productions and outreach. Producing plays that address both local and global social issues, the theater also partners with philanthropic organizations to educate and activate audiences. Now in its sixth season, the company has taken up residence at the LABA Theatre at the 14th Street Y. Upper West Sider Melanie Moyer Williams, founder and executive artistic director of Red Fern, speaks about the life of a socially conscious theater. What’s the origin of Red Fern Theatre? It all began five and a half years ago. I studied acting at Duke University and moved up to New York to pursue all of that. I was doing lots of television and film, earning my living as an actor, but something was missing. There wasn’t much meaning in the work I was doing. I had always had a passion for directing, and I wanted to do something of meaning. So I went back to theater direction; everybody has such a shared goal in the theater. We all want to do good shows of good quality—if it’s not good, why do it? What was the first show you directed with Red Fern? Patient Amy, by Lee Wesley. It’s about a girl who contracted AIDS from her dentist, really the first non-gay face of AIDS. It’s based on a true story, and the girl’s parents commissioned the play—but the playwright would only do it if he could tell the dentist’s side of the story as well.
So it really presents an issue and asks a question rather than making a judgment or being didactic. We partnered the show with Remington House, an AIDS care facility, and we discovered lots of folks who were excited about theater like ours that pairs up with an organization devoted to change. Fourteen productions later, here we are. In the last two years, we’ve moved into developing and producing new work; that’s been an exciting transition as well. There are so many talented writers in New York. What do you love most about your job? I love being able to do this work, to work with artists of such caliber and quality. And to be able to create work in the New York indie theater scene. It’s pretty special. But on the flip side, I also love being able to tell true stories, to have audience members who come up afterward and say, “You hit the nail on the head,” because they were there and they lived through it. Many Darfuris came to see our recent production of We in Silence Hear a Whisper by Jon Kern; it’s about the genocide in Darfur as seen through the eyes of a little girl. When the genocide in Darfur started in 2003/2004, it was very much top of mind for the public. Now, nobody really thinks about it, but nothing has changed—there’s just more murder and displacement. The Darfuris who came to see the show all said, “You captured what’s happening,” and that’s good to hear. There’s always the worry of sensationalizing. We want to be accurate
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longer anonymous to anyone. It was so moving to see that sort of progression in one person. That’s why we do theater— not to move everybody, just to move one person at a time.
Melanie Moyer Williams. and truthful while also making engaging drama. What’s your most memorable example of changing the lives of the people involved in the issue you’re capturing onstage? We did a show about sexual abuse in the military. It was a verbatim piece in which all of the performances on stage were lifted directly from transcripts. We had one abused woman who insisted on remaining anonymous if her story was to appear in the play. She wrote to say she was coming to the show, but of course I didn’t know who she was because she had insisted that anonymity was the only way! After the show, she introduced herself to me but not to anyone else. And she kept coming back and bringing other people to watch her story on stage. Finally, by the end of the run, she was participating in talkback sessions on stage and was no
So would you say you’re a human rights theater company? We’re a socially conscious theater company. We’re set apart from other socially conscious theater companies because we actually take a step past exposing audiences to issues; we give audiences an opportunity to participate in changing a situation. We bridge the gap between presentation and action. So often people are left saying, “I can’t make a difference. I’m just one person.” But by partnering with philanthropic organizations, we provide the vehicle by which our audiences can give back to their community. What’s next on the horizon for Red Fern? For the Red Fern Theatre itself, we’ve found a wonderful home at the 14th Street Y on the East Side. It’s super supportive and a home within the community, so we’ll be leading more workshops with students in the area and pairing up with the Y to offer a summer theater camp for kids. It’s a wonderful time of really rooting in the community. As for our next production, we’ve got six short plays that explore issues of equality in the 2012 election—it’ll be everything from immigration to gay marriage to a musical debate. And as always, we’re not preaching any particular perspective. We’re just putting the questions out there.
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noticE is hErEBy givEn that a license, Number 12576762 has been applied for by Adan Chikurin Inc d/b/a Chikurin to sell Liquor, Wine & Beer in a restaurant at retail for on-premises consumption under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at: 1105 Quentin Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11229
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noticE is hErEBy givEn that a license, Number 1257500 for Beer, Wine & Liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell Beer, Wine & Liquor at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at: 1756 E Tremont Ave, Bronx, NY 10460 for on-premises consumption. Liquid Lounge LLC
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noticE is hErEBy givEn that a license, number Pending for Beer & Wine has been applied for by the undersigned to sell Beer & Wine at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 102-16 43rd Ave., Corona, NY 11368 for on premises consumption. El Madrono Corp d/b/a Restaurante Gaby.
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noticE is hErEBy givEn that a license, Number 1257908 has been applied for by NYC Chicken & Grill Inc d/b/a Chicky’s to sell Wine & Beer in a restaurant at retail for on-premises consumption under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at: 355 East 86th St., NY, NY, 10028 PuBlic noticE noticE is hErEBy givEn, Pursuant to laW, that the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at 66 John Street, 11th floor, on a petition from C.S.L.L. Rest. Corp. to continue to, maintain, and operate an enclosed sidewalk café at 1271 Third Avenue in the Borough of Manhattan for a term of two years. Requests for copies of the proposed revocable consent agreement may be addressed to: Department of Consumer Affairs, ATTN: Foil Officer, 42 Broadway, New York, NY 10004.
Liquor at retail in a restaurant known as: Green Tree Chinese Restaurant Inc d/b/a 123 Nikko under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at: 1280 Amsterdam Avenue, NY, NY 10027 for on premise consumption. noticE is hErEBy givEn that a license, Number Pending for Beer, Wine & Liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell Beer, Wine & Liquor at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at: Amsterdam 726 Inc, 726 Avenue, NY, NY 10025 for on -premise consumption.
noticE is hErEBy givEn that a license, Serial # Pending for Beer, Wine & Liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell Beer, Wine & INSERTION ORDER: LPK5430WSS PUBLICATION: WEST SIDE SPIRIT RUN DATE: THURS., NOVEMBER 3, 2011 SECTION: CLASSIFIED/PUBLIC NOTICE AD SIZE: 1 COL X 35 LINES ADVERTISER: NYC PARKS DEPT
RENOVATION, OPERATION&MAINTENANCE OF TWO (2) NEWSSTANDS, VERDI SQUARE, MANHATTAN All bids submitted in response to this RFB must be submitted no later than Friday, November 18, 2011 at 3 pm. For more information, contact: Jeremy Holmes, Revenue Inspector, Division of Revenue and Concessions, 830 Fifth Avenue, the Arsenal-Central Park, Room 407, New York, NY 10065 or call (212) 360-3455 or to download the RFB, visit http://www.nyc.gov/parks/businessopportunities and click on the “Concessions Opportunities at Parks” link. Once you have logged in, click on the “download” link that appears adjacent to the RFB’s description. You can also email him at jeremy.holmes@parks.nyc.gov. TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR THE DEAF (TDD) 212-504-4115
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OUR TOWN is published weekly Copyright © 2011 Manhattan Media, LLC 79 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10016 Editorial (212) 284-9734 Fax (212) 268-2935 Advertising (212) 284-9715 General (212) 268-8600 E-mail: editorial@manhattanmedia.com Website: OurTownNY.com OUR TOWN is a division of Manhattan Media, LLC, publisher of West Side Spirit, Our Town Downtown, Chelsea Clinton News, The Westsider, City Hall, The Capitol, The Blackboard Awards, New York Family and Avenue magazine. To subscribe for 1 year, please send $75 to OUR TOWN, 79 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10016 Recognized for excellence by the
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Charters Meet Economic Reality Will the state supply charters with space in tough financial time? By Alan Chartock As belts tighten in New York state government, the question of whether to continue New York’s charter schools becomes even more controversial. Those who favor charter schools argue that too often, in the state’s inner cities, children receive inferior educations. A lot of people, including many of the state’s conservative thinkers, have embraced charter schools as a way out of the cycle of substandard, regimented education. Many middle-class parents have traditionally avoided New York City’s public high schools for their kids, targeting special schools like Stuyvesant, LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts, Brooklyn Tech and Bronx High School of Science, to name a few. These were the alternatives for the middle class—among those who have the least, a few got into the special schools, but for many reasons too few were admitted. When pro-charter George Pataki was governor, he controlled the SUNY Board of Trustees. He appointed its members, who were mostly in favor of charter schools. Pataki made a deal with the Legislature stipulating that there would be not one but two main authorizers of charter schools in the state. Since he controlled the SUNY Trustees, he gave that group the right to approve new charter school applications. (In the spirit of disclosure, my son Jonas was once one of the executive directors of that organization. It was not
Voice for the Voiceless
To the editor: Thanksgiving is almost here and it’s time to give thanks to community people and writers for sharing their talents. Bette Dewing is one of those people whose column I’ve read for years because, as one friend put it, “She writes about issues that concern me and my neighborhood.” Another friend said, “She gives voice to the voiceless.” And when Doctor’s Hospital (Beth Israel North) closed several years ago, her account was the only one that captured the rage and despair many of
Novem ber 17, 2011
surprising that the SUNY Charter Schools Institute was at the forefront of opening these schools—that was what Pataki wanted and that was what he got.) As Democratic governors were elected, they slowly changed the composition of the SUNY board, but David Paterson, Eliot Spitzer and Andrew Cuomo all had a pro-charter orientation. This is one of the few times that traditional New York politics has been laid aside, as Democratic governors continued to support the concept of charters despite the fact that the powerful teachers unions were not happy about them for a list of reasons too long to go into here. It was also thought that the other major authorizing group, the New York State Department of Education, was not nearly as aggressive as the SUNY board in authorizing charters. Some suggested that the Regents were “in bed” with the teachers unions. The remarkable and generally wonderful outgoing chair of the SUNY Board of Trustees, Carl Hayden, was a charter school advocate who believed that as long as traditional public schools were not being hurt, charters were a good idea. At the end of Hayden’s term, Carl McCall, the former U.N. ambassador, state senator and New York State comptroller, was appointed SUNY chair. A lot of people had the impression that McCall was not a fan of charters. The outgoing chair, Hayden, said so in a frank interview with The Legislative Gazette,
but McCall claimed it wasn’t so. He gave good reasons for supporting charters, including their innovation that would find its way into other, more traditional public schools. This argument put him in line with Cuomo, the man who appointed him. In SUNY board meetings, McCall went on record questioning whether it should be SUNY’s role to authorize charters in the first place. The big issue now is whether the state will supply charters with space. In this tough economic time, will New York build charter school buildings or give them existent space? Pro-charter advocates argue that without the state providing the space, charters will be at a disadvantage as they try to turn things around. Those on the other side say we can’t afford it. Some also argue that the wealthy people who have been giving huge amounts of money to set up and run charters will stop doing so if the state takes over. It can’t be denied that charters have made innovations that are being copied by traditional public schools and that badly run charters that don’t make their required “numbers” have been closed, as they should be. So far, so good. Alan S. Chartock is president and CEO of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio and an executive publisher at The Legislative Gazette.
LET T ER S
Healthy Manhattan: Sweet Cooking From Diabetic Top Chef November 10, 2011
Page 24 Since 1970
ART FROM THE
ARAB SPRING Tunisian artists talk about their revolutionary exhibit opening in Manhattan p. 4
Sincerely
A look at some of the city’s great preschools P. 19
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also wrote about the closing of the restaurant Le Boeuf a la Mode, which is very much missed. Our Town’s 40th anniversary issue contained so much important Upper East Side history along with Bette’s thoughtful memories—because she has attended many civic and other community events, she really knows who we are! Thank you, Bette, for giving voice to what I feel. Can’t wait to read your next column.
www.CityMD.net
us Upper East Side residents felt. She
Letters have been edited for clarity, style and brevity. N EW S YO U LIV E B Y
citiquette
Being a Standup Guy And why it’s sometimes harder to be a standup girl By Jeanne Martnet For me, one of the benefits of being a freelancer is not having to take mass transit during rush hour. Nevertheless, last week I found myself on the 79th Street crosstown bus at 5:30 p.m., which is a bit like being stuffed inside a can of sardines—live, irritated, smelly sardines. There was the usual friction between the people standing toward the back hoarding their personal space and the people trying to get on who were calling out, “Move back, people!” And, of course, there was the continuous vying for seats. I happened to be sitting in a side seat, near the front, under the sign that reads: “Won’t you please give this seat to the elderly or disabled?” At Fifth Avenue, an older man got on. He looked as if he was in his early 70s, though he did not seem in any way infirm or unsteady on his feet. After struggling for a moment with the selfish desire for my own comfort, I offered him my seat. The man waved me off with a stiff “no thanks.” I looked up at him. He stood
right over me; there was no place else to go on the packed bus. I could see he was annoyed. “I’m not that old yet, I hope,” he muttered at me in a sarcastic tone. That was when I understood that I had, unwittingly, emasculated him. That, according to his old-school mentality, he’s supposed to get up for me, not the other way around. Still, I wondered, how could anyone misinterpret such a simple common courtesy? Then I thought back to the time a few years ago when someone gave me his seat on the subway, winked and said, “You should not be on your feet in your condition.” I realized with horror he had thought I was pregnant! I did not enjoy getting that seat (and I never wore that dress ever again). The problem with offering up your seat, which we all know is the right thing to do, is that the etiquette is not always black and white. You could, of course, relinquish your seat for everyone, which at rush hour would mean you would never sit down at all. But most of us are
tired enough at the end of a day that we can’t pass up an empty seat. And unless someone unmistakably “seat-needy” gets on—someone elderly; someone with a cane, a cast or a brace; someone who is pregnant, blind or sick; or someone who is carrying bulky packages or a baby—we tend to think, “First come, first served.” As sexist as it sounds, it would be simpler for everyone if strong young men were willing to offer up their seats more frequently. (It’s not that young men are any more capable of standing than young women are, but let’s face it: most young women these days are wearing heels.) On the other hand, I try not to judge every young man harshly for not doing this—it isn’t always easy to tell who has a physical problem. When I was in my early 30s, I had a herniated disk, and it wasn’t obvious to others how much pain I was in. Maybe the seemingly oblivious guy playing games on his iPod does, in fact,
have a bad knee. Maybe he’s got heel spurs. Maybe he’s an exhausted hospital intern who just worked a triple shift and saved the lives of three people with gunshot wounds. Okay, probably not. But you never know. For those of us without hidden gunshot wounds, there are basically three ways to offer someone your seat: 1) Look inquiringly at the person. Shift as if you are about to get up, placing one hand on the back of your seat. Watch to see if he looks grateful/hungry for a seat. He will make a move toward you if he wants to accept. This is known as the “Edge of My Seat” method. 2) Vacate the seat before he figures out you are moving because of him. For all he knows, you are nearing your stop. (This method is not recommended on a very crowded bus, as someone else is likely to pounce on the seat before your chosen beneficiary can get to it.) 3) Ask: “Would you like my seat?” This is the “Direct Approach,” which, as I have shown, can sometimes backfire. But it’s by far the most civilized, so it’s worth the risk. Macho 70-year-olds notwithstanding. Jeanne Martinet, aka Miss Mingle, is the author of seven books on social interaction. Read her blog at MissMingle.com.
MOORe tHOuGHtS
Life Lessons from the Lotto? You have to be in it to win—well, not all that much, as it turns out By Christopher Moore I won money in the lottery. Talk about a first. I never win anything, but somehow my big moment came last week. I didn’t even realize my good fortune during the appropriate week; I finally got around to checking the lotto numbers for the previous Wednesday during the following week. This delay is hardly unusual. On the rare occasions when I actually purchase a lottery ticket, I somehow forget to see whether I have won. My custom has been strange. I get the ticket, put it in my wallet and then find myself surprised each time I see the slip of paper. Eventually, checking whether I won the lottery becomes an item on one of my to-do lists. Lists, literally. This last time, I began to make notes on paper and then on my phone that I needed to see if I had scored. I meant to visit the cute little lottery section of the O u r To w n NY. c o m
daily papers—instead, days late, I went online and studied NYLottery.org. Within an hour, I was standing in a little bodega near 104th Street, claiming my prize. Being a winner, I have to say right here and now, has not changed my life. I am still working multiple gigs, living in the same small space, committed to the same partner and enjoying the same circle of friends. All of this is either because I was raised with the right values, like a passion for work and a deep appreciation for the people in my life, or it’s because I only won a dollar. Yup, one dollar. I had three numbers that matched. Granted, the young fellow manning the lottery machine on 104th Street did not appear impressed with my victory. He gestured to his machine, suggesting silently that the sensible move would be for me to invest my dollar back into the lottery’s next round. I demurred. I wanted my buck.
I told him I was heading out to celebrate. He did not smile at the joke. He did not look like he ever smiled at a joke. Maybe that’s just his personality. Maybe manning the lottery machine does not make one the keeper of dreams. Or maybe there was now a deep divide between us. I was, after all, a winner. Jealousy is ugly. My dollar went immediately into a special place in my wallet, not where the single dollar bills usually go. I put it back with the twenties (there were not, alas, many), promising to myself to pay attention to this one dollar. Of course, within a couple of days I had mindlessly slipped the dollar in with the other singles. The dollar went. I can only hope I did not spend it all in one place. I have always had mixed feelings about gambling in general and the state-spon-
sored lottery in particular. Both seem problematic to me. I worry about the most vulnerable in any enterprise where most people lose, like the lottery or the current American economic system. As a Jersey boy, the bad neighborhoods of Atlantic City are always in my brain when arguments abound about how one form of gambling or another will save us. Whereas fans of the lottery think it encourages dreaming, I suspect it feeds fantasias. Ideally, people should live their lives like they’ve already won the lottery. No, really. I used to be idealistic enough to believe that. Now I see that millions of Americans are trying to count of the number of jobs they need to pay their bills, instead of the numbers they might play in the lottery. Tough times make the manic energy known as lotto fever ever more prevalent. Perhaps the guy at the bodega was right. I should have invested my winnings in another ticket after all. Christopher Moore is a writer who lives in Manhattan. He can be reached by email at ccmnj@aol.com and is on Twitter (@cmoorenyc).
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