Our Town - December 10, 2015

Page 1

The local paper for the Upper er East Side

WEEK OF DECEMBER

HOLIDAY ARTS PREVIEW

10-16

CITY ARTS, P.12 >

2015

Our Take

SUING TO KEEP SENIORS AT HOME News Lawsuit says landlords have ignored a law designed to give seniors the option to stay on as renters By JAKE PEARSON Inspired by his own experience living in a New York City apartment building that was converted into high-priced condos, a 71-year-old former state regulator is taking on developers citywide on behalf of seniors and disabled tenants. Walter Goldsmith claims in a state lawsuit that landlords have ignored a decades-old law that requires them to give tenants 62 and older and those with disabilities the

45 Years and Counting

A BYGONE BARBER SHOP Paul Mole is unapologetically old school BY RUI MIAO

The interior of the Paul Mole barber shop is a scene cropped from a silent movie; it takes you back to the good old days. The decorations are simple yet elegant—everything inside the shop, at Lexington Ave. and 74th Street, seems to be wooden: the counter, the dividers, the wall full of framed black-and-white photos and the shelf displaying different kinds of shave brushes. In the far end of the store there is a white hobbyhorse under an

arch—it might well be the same one you rode on when you were a child. Amid the jazzy tunes are the clickety-clacking of scissors and the booming of hairdryers, but somehow, it feels quiet in here. The philosophy of the barbershop, as reiterated by the current owner Adrian Wood, is its perseverance of all things old school: from the appearance to the service, from the rapport between customers and barbers to their lifelong friendships. “It’s a very simple idea, we take care of the customers and give them what

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

OurTownEastSide

O OURTOWNNY.COM @OurTownNYC

Illustration by John S. Winkleman

Newscheck Crime Watch Voices Out & About

2 3 8 10

City Arts Food & Drink Real Estate 15 Minutes

12 14 17 25

OUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS option to stay-on as renters in their apartments rather than move away or buy themselves. Experts say the case could provide an extra layer of protection to vulnerable market-rate tenants who have lost housing security as rent-stabilized and regulated apartments have decreased in recent years. “It’s fair to say these people are entitled to some stability and harmony in their lives,” said Goldsmith, who for the past 10 years has lived in a cozy one-bedroom in a 31-story building on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Landlords had previously

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

It’s hard to know exactly how many Muslims live in New York City, but estimates peg the number at well above 500,000 people, or about 6 percent of the city’s population. Men, women, kids, neighbors. Small business owners. Teachers. Police. Security guards. They practice their religion at more than 250 mosques, spread out across every borough. And even before Donald Trump’s new low in demogoguery this week, New York’s Muslims were running scared. Women wearing head scarfs -- even some nonMuslims -- say they are taunted and stared at. Two Muslims in Brooklyn were spit at and assaulted. The director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said the current backlash is as bad as the months and weeks following Sept. 11, 2001. All of this before Trump once again opened his foul mouth. It’s easy to get beaten down by all of this. Mayor Bill de Blasio was right to warn this week against complacency. “What he’s saying is corrosive to our democratic values. It’s dangerous,” the mayor told CNN. “And I’ll call him out.” Jewish women and girls light up the world by lighting the Shabbat candles every Friday evening 18 minutes before sunset. Friday December 11 – 4:11 pm. For more information visit www.chabaduppereastside.com

Home delivery of Our Town Eastsider H $49 per year. Go to OurTownNY.com $ or call 212-868-0190


2

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

WHAT’S MAKING NEWS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD the park off the East River to celebrate the lighting of the menorah and to condemn those responsible. “There is a battle between good and evil and there’s a battle between right and wrong ... and like the Maccabees, we are committed to winning that battle,” DNAinfo quoted Rabbi Elie Weinstock of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun as saying. “We are here to recognize the fact that the flame of light, of goodness, peace, unity, decency, values, morality and faith will overcome.”

WOMEN ROBBED AT GUNPOINT IN CENTRAL PARK A SantaCon 2014 gathering. Photo: Anthony Quintano, via Flickr

SANTACON URGED TO BE NICE SantaCon turns 21 this year, but some public officials are worried the event is not yet adult enough. The Daily News is reporting that a dozen elected officials have petitioned organizers of Saturday’s event as well as the state Liquor Authority to help ensure the annual holiday pub crawl

doesn’t devolve into a drunken freefor-all, as it did on occasion during its infancy and adolescence. “When left unregulated, the bar crawl has widespread negative effects on the local community, with complaints including but not limited to public consumption of alcohol, public intoxication, public urination, and disorderly and aggressive behavior,” said a letter quoted by the Daily News

that was sent to the Liquor Authority’s chairman, Vincent Bradley. Controller Scott Stringer and state Sen. Brad Hoylman are among the letter signatories. The event, begun in San Francisco in 1994, is a gathering of thousands of Santas who make the rounds of pubs and bars because, according to the group’s website, “it’s fun.”

MENORAH TOPPLED TWICE The toppling of a large menorah in Carl Schurz twice over the weekend is being investigated as a possible hate crime, DNAinfo is reporting. The menorah, in place for Hanukkah, was tipped over early Saturday morning and again on Sunday night. On Monday night, dozens of people, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, gathered in

Police are looking for two men who robbed two women at gunpoint in Central Park late Monday night, the Daily News reported. The two women were on the jogging path around the reservoir at the level of West 91st Street when four men came by and started talking to them, the newspaper said. A short while later, two of the men showed guns and demanded the women’s purses. The men took the purses and ran along the jogging path. The women were not hurt. No arrests had been made as of Tuesday, the paper reported.

Great rates like ours are always in season.

12-Month CD

1.

% 20 APY*

$5,000 minimum deposit

At Flushing Bank, we’re small enough to know you and large enough to provide you with the great rates you’re looking for. Hurry, an offer like this can’t last forever. Visit our newest Flushing Bank branch at 99 Park Avenue for more information and to find out about our other great offers or call 646.923.9533. * Available only at the 99 Park Avenue branch. New money only. APY effective September 28, 2015. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of $5,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

3

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG

TV ACTRESS CHARGED WITH ASSAULT IN MANHATTAN One of the stars of “Orange is the New Black” is facing assault charges after she was accused of punching and scratching a teenage girl. Dascha Polanco was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court. Court papers filed by the district attorney’s office say the attack on 17-year-old Michelle Cardona happened inside Polanco’s upper Manhattan apartment on July 29. They say Polanco punched the teen several times, pulled her hair and scratched her. Polanco’s attorney, Gerald Lefcourt, says the accusation is an attempt to extort money from the actress. He says he is confident the charges will be dismissed. The 33-year-old Polanco plays inmate Dayonara Diaz on the Netflix prison drama.

LOCK SHOCK

STATS FOR THE WEEK

You can pick a good lock to protect your locker, but a thief can pick it, too. At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 1, a 50-year-old man locked up his locker inside the YMCA at 5 W. 63rd Street and went to work out. When he returned, he discovered that his lock was missing, as well as his iPhone, credit cards, and more belongings amounting to $1,400.

Reported crimes from the 1st Precinct for Nov. 16 to Nov. 22 Week to Date

Year to Date

2015

2014

% Change

2015

2014

% Change

Murder

0

0

n/a

1

0

n/a

Rape

0

1

-100.0

8

10

-20.0

GANG GREED

Robbery

3

1

200.0

93

80

16.3

Few stores can withstand the onslaught of a large gang of thieves. At 6:30 p.m. on Monday, November 30, a group of 15 men and women entered the Intermix store at 210 Columbus Avenue and made off with $16,000 worth of clothing, shoes, and luggage. Police are continuing to investigate.

Felony Assault

5

5

0.0

115

95

21.1

Burglary

3

5

-40.0

152

204

-25.5

Grand Larceny

37

29

27.6

1,236

1,269

-2.6

Grand Larceny Auto

2

0

n/a

73

75

-2.7

CHOO HOO Fine shoes make fine targets for street thieves. At 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, a 52-year-old woman parked her car outside 45 W. 60th Street. When she returned two hours later, she found that a pair of shoes was missing from inside the car: Jimmy Choo’s valued at $1,100.

STEAL/DON’T STEAL

FACE OFF

A traffic light did not stop a determined bike thief. At 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, a 57-year-old man locked his bike to a traffic pole at 65th Street and Broadway. When he returned two hours later, the bike was nowhere to be found. It was a Dynamic bike valued at $2,500.

One shoplifter illegally secured some new high-performance outerwear for winter. At 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, an unknown perpetrator entered the North Face store at 2101 Broadway and made off with two women’s jackets priced at $1,200. Jason Kuffer, via Flickr

27th Annual

COAT

DRIVE

November 17th - December 31st

Keep a New Yorker warm this winter. Start your own coat drive among friends, family, or colleagues. Sign up at newyorkcares.org

#CoatDrive Or text COAT to 41444 to donate and keep a fellow New Yorker warm this winter.* Photo: Craig Cutler © 2015 New York Cares, Inc.

The Coat Drive is a program of New York Cares, New York City’s leading volunteer organization.

*Messaging & data rates may apply. Text STOP to 41444 to stop; Text HELP to 41444 for help.


4

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

Useful Contacts POLICE NYPD 19th Precinct

153 E. 67th St.

212-452-0600

FDNY 22 Ladder Co 13

159 E. 85th St.

311

FDNY Engine 39/Ladder 16

157 E. 67th St.

311

FIRE

FDNY Engine 53/Ladder 43

1836 Third Ave.

311

FDNY Engine 44

221 E. 75th St.

311

ON THE GREEN-PAINT TRAIL FIRST PERSON

CITY COUNCIL Councilmember Daniel Garodnick

211 E. 43rd St. #1205

212-818-0580

Councilmember Ben Kallos

244 E. 93rd St.

212-860-1950

STATE LEGISLATORS State Sen. Jose M. Serrano

1916 Park Ave. #202

212-828-5829

State Senator Liz Krueger

1850 Second Ave.

212-490-9535

Assembly Member Dan Quart

360 E. 57th St.

212-605-0937

Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright

1365 First Ave.

212-288-4607

COMMUNITY BOARD 8

505 Park Ave. #620

212-758-4340

LIBRARIES Yorkville

222 E. 79th St.

212-744-5824

96th Street

112 E. 96th St.

212-289-0908

67th Street

328 E. 67th St.

212-734-1717

Webster Library

1465 York Ave.

212-288-5049

100 E. 77th St.

212-434-2000

HOSPITALS Lenox Hill NY-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell

525 E. 68th St.

212-746-5454

Mount Sinai

E. 99th St. & Madison Ave.

212-241-6500

NYU Langone

550 First Ave.

212-263-7300

CON EDISON

4 Irving Place

212-460-4600

POST OFFICES US Post Office

1283 First Ave.

212-517-8361

US Post Office

1617 Third Ave.

212-369-2747

HOW TO REACH US:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

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

Include your full name, address and day and evening telephone numbers for verification. Letters that cannot be verified will not be published. We reserve the right to edit or condense letters for libel, good taste, grammar and punctuation. Submit your letter at ourtownny.com and click submit at the bottom of the page or email it to nyoffice@strausnews.com.

TO SUBSCRIBE: Our Town is available for free on the east side in select buildings, retail locations and news boxes. To get a copy of east side neighborhood news mailed to you weekly, you may subscribe to Our Town Eastsider for just $49 per year. Call 212868-0190 or go online to StrausNews. com and click on the photo of the paper or mail a check to Straus Media, 20 West Ave., Chester, NY 10918.

NEWS ITEMS: To report a news story, call 212-8680190. News releases of general interest must be emailed to our offices by noon the Thursday prior to publication to be considered for the following week. Send to news@strausnews.com.

BLOG COMMENTS: We invite your comments on stories and issues at ourtownny.com. We do not edit those comments. We urge people to keep the discussion civil and the tone reflective of the best we each have to offer.

PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: Call 212-868-0190. Classified ads must be in our office by 12pm the Friday before publication, except on holidays. All classified ads are payable in advance.

PREVIOUS OWNERS: Tom Allon, Isis Ventures, Ed Kayatt, Russ Smith, Bob Trentlyon, Jerry Finkelstein

CALENDAR ITEMS:

ABOUT US

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

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

A splotch of paint on the sidewalk leads to a walking detective story BY DOLORES DE CRISANTI

Because I am way past 60, and use a cane when I walk, I tend to focus my gaze on the ground. One day I noticed a squiggly lamppost green paint trail on the east sidewalk of Lexington Avenue. A line of drops, blobs and dribbles entered the sidewalk from the street at the southeast corner of 38th Street and continued to 40th, where it turned and headed down towards Third. Intrigued, I decided to investigate. I followed the paint back to the northwest corner of 37th & Park. Surrounding one of two manholes in the middle of the sidewalk was an accumulation of green drips and streaks. This was the trail’s starting point. Just to be sure, I walked down the rest of the block to Madison. Close to the Polish Embassy there was an in-ground 7-inch water cover freshly painted a similar green, but without any matching blobs or squiggles on the gray cement. Evidently, a paint-carrying trolley had made it from the water cover and most of the way down the block to the first manhole without spilling a drop, but the uneven lid of a second one caused the sputtering spill.

Following the paint, I crossed Park Avenue and interpreted the heavy dribble at the center median to mean that the painter must have had to wait before crossing the divided avenue. On the east side of Park, between 37th and 38th Streets, wide-spaced drips indicated that the can was rapidly towed in front of the Guatemalan Mission to the United Nations and The Church Of Our Saviour. At the corner, it stopped and doubled back on itself several times, suggesting that the worker wasn’t as patient while waiting for this light to change. Then the pigment angled into the street and disappeared. As much as the traffic allowed, I examined the black tar for green spots but couldn’t find any. I crossed to the uptown side and hunted there. Still no paint splashes. I knew the paint splotches continued on Lexington, but what happened to them on 38th Street? Did a laborer walk in the street until Lexington where car tires eventually obliterated the drops? Not having any luck picking up the trail again, I went back to the origin, on the corner of 38th & Lex. From there I followed thick and thin streaks, and an occasional curlicue, until the corner of 40th, and then around and down the hill to the west side of Third Avenue

between 41st and 42nd. There the paint ended at the curb. Most probably, the trolley and the now almost-empty can were loaded onto a truck and taken to where another 7-inch water cover needed painting, although I doubted if there was enough paint left to cover even a 3-inch drain. As I scrutinized the pavement, other thoughts occurred, and I became very curious as to why sidewalks were made the way they were. This, perhaps, was solvable. I emailed the Department of Transportation with questions. A return message told me that there are roughly 1,160 miles of sidewalk in Manhattan. But in landmarked areas, such as Murray Hill, when a section of sidewalk needs fixing, it must be repaired with the similar material as the original, i.e. slate has to repair slate and granite has to replace granite. As for the concrete, DOT requires light, unpigmented gray, although some commercial buildings may use pigmented with departmental approval. To make the walkway as even as possible, when one section is noticeable higher than another, it is ‘shaved down’ with a grinding machine. DOT periodically inspects the sidewalks but maintenance is generally the owners’ responsibility. The

Department of Parks and Recreation has authority over the sidewalk trees, their pits and fences. Joe Battaglia from J.B. General Contracting in Ozone Park provided me with the answers to the rest of my questions. He told me that when laying a new sidewalk, their company tries to match or complement the style of the rest of the block, unless the architect specifies otherwise. The groves that give the squares or rectangles their shape, called control joints, are necessary to help prevent surface cracking. And to prevent water from seeping under the slabs, polyurethane caulking is added around each section. The width of the edger used creates the “frame: inside each square. The amount of black stones visible in the concrete is caused by the age of the sidewalk, not by any particular mixture of cement and aggregate. On my journey along the green trail, the two things I did not encounter were litter and dog poop – wonderful omissions for the city’s pedestrians. Because of the BIDs, the pooper scooper law, and New Yorkers becoming neater, city sidewalks, at least on the Upper East Side, are clean. And with the help of a trail of lamppost green paint, they’re also intriguing.


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

5

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

AMAZING IS NEVER GIVING UP THE FIGHT. Daniel Jacobs was a rising star in boxing when his legs started to go numb. An MRI revealed the cause: a large tumor wrapped around Daniel’s spine. The surgical team at NewYork-Presbyterian used precise three-dimensional imaging to navigate the path to Daniel’s spine. They removed the tumor and rebuilt the damaged area of the spinal column. How well did the surgery work? Three years later, Daniel became the WBA Middleweight Champion of the World.

nyp.org/amazingthings


6

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

Sports

Neighborhood Scrapbook

ASPHALT GREEN SWIMMERS AT HOLIDAY CLASSIC Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics (AGUA) swimmers showed up in droves for the NYSA Holiday Classic in West Nyack this weekend, partaking in NYSA’s first Prelims/Finals event. Every group on the team boasted swimmers with top-three finishes, bringing home

multiple victories. Special congratulations go to Ryleigh St. Jean and Nayesha Krishna of the Green Group, who both brought home their first gold medals, and to Cassiel Graullera, who posted his first-ever Junior Olympic qualifying time.

A HIGH SCHOOL DRAW-A-THON The High School of Art and Design held its 4th biannual Draw-A-Thon on November 21. Alumni, artists, students, prospective students, parents, and teachers participated. Aside from nine hours of drawing and painting, there was free pizza -- a Draw-AThon tradition -- and a collection of raffle prizes. Among them: $100 gift certificates

IN OUR HANDS RESCUE & NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA

Adopt A Pet 75 9th Ave. 9

OUR BUS IS YOUR BEST BET.

(btwn W. 15th & W. 16th Sts.)

9

9

(btwn E. 9th & E. 10th Sts.)

9

Photos By Ellen Dunn

46 University Pl.

1280 Lexington Ave. 9

$40 BONUS PACKAGE VALUE!

35

$

$15 Meal/Retail Coupon Two $10 Free Bets & One $5 Free Bet

Round Trip Bus Fare

(btwn E. 86th & E. 87th St.) 9 Home ome of the M Mut Mutt utt tt tt-ii-gre gree ree® animalleague.org rg 9 516.883.7575 25 Davis Av Ave enue 9 Port rt Wa Washingto on, NY

Buy one bus voucher, get one bus voucher free on Tuesdays* Why Drive?

National Children’s Memorial Day Sunday, December 13, 2015 ... that their light may always shine Light a candle for all the children who have died. 7pm Around The Globe! Now believed to be the largest mass candle lighting on the globe, as candles are lit at 7:00pm local time, thousands of persons commemorate and honor the memory of all children gone too soon, creating a virtual 24-hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone.

for art supplies and framing, a one-hour photographic portrait session (valued at $200), the New Nintendo 3DS Xl (valued at $200), and a personal watercolor portrait (valued at $500). Share your news and what’s going on in your life. Go to ourtownny.com and click on submit a press release or announcement.

For Information Call: Academy 1.800.442.7272 ext. 2353 www.academybus.com

Day Service on Thursday Friday & Saturday from Manhattan

Port Authority 201.420.7000 ext. 2353

85th Street Candy 212.288.7690

Why not extend your stay? Visit mymohegansun.com to view your hotel rates.


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

7

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

Jewelers since 1936

Fine Jewelry, Watches and Giftware Designing Holiday Scrap gold layaways purchased Remodeling now being or taken accepted in trade! Repairing Our acclaimed work shop now accepting holiday orders for one of a kind custom designed items.

ALL WORK DONE ON PREMISES.

Celebrating Our 79th Year!!! Batteries Done While You Wait. On Site Same Day Engraving DCA License #1089294

1407 Third Avenue Btwn 79th and 80th Sts

212.879.3690

We Will Gladly Steam Clean Your Engagement Ring and Wedding Bands At No Charge While You Wait.


8

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

Voices A NO-APOLOGY CHRISTMAS

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

Letters

OP-ED LORRAINE DUFFY MERKL

A sampling of the online comments in response to “A Different Course on Horses,” Dec. 3: Sadly, the only honest voice from these animal rights groups is Elizabeth Forel. It makes no sense for de Blasio to reduce the number of horses based on his vociferous proclamations that it is an “inhumane” business. Somehow it’s not inhumane to allow 36 drivers to “abuse” horses instead of 200? Somehow he’s willing to compromise? In my book - and just about everyone’s, including Forel’s - being inhumane to animals is pretty much the bottom line, whether it’s one or one thousand. Reminds me of an old joke, “What kind of a girl do you think I am?” . . . but not one for a family publication. chienblanc4csi Well, since every single study and investigation of the carriage horses (by people who actually know something about horses, not just someone who saw “Black Beauty” and decided horse carriages are evil) has proven time and again that they are extremely well cared for, contented and that the industry itself is totally regulated and overseen to the point of absurdity...I don’t see that there is any reason for the carriage horse industry to “compromise” at all. Why should they? It is obvious, from the undeniable fact that they have been inspected, spied upon, followed, secretly videoed and openly harassed by the “anti carriage” groups for years, without any actual abuse or neglect or mistreatment proven against them...that there is no legally justifiable reason to either ban them outright or dispossess any portion of the industry from their livelihoods or the horses from their homes. The idea that they should abandon their horses, their homes and their livelihoods under the threat of name calling by Ms. Forel is absurd. The group NYClass has no seat at the table. They are neither elected officials nor parties with any vested interest in the issue (unless you consider that they covet the real estate where the stables currently reside and were willing to bankroll deBlasio in order to make that available). So their opinion is irrelevant. Harassment by the activists may continue. But if they really were concerned about horses, one would think they would focus their efforts on the over 150,000 homeless horses that were shipped to Mexico or Canada for slaughter last year, instead of trying to add the carriage horses to that homeless number. merleliz Ms. Forel’s notion of a “true compromise” translates as “It’s my way or the highway OR ELSE”. Don’t see any “true compromises” there; only the same old ugly threats that to date have achieved nothing. Ruth

I am going to have myself a merry little Christmas. Left-wingers deny there is a war on my holiday, and right-wingers insist there is. I have decided to let them fight it out and get into the spirit. I am so happy that it’s Christmas that I’m not even mad at Starbucks; the cup is red, the logo is green and white; I don’t need a snowflake design. As I am an ornament-aholic, I cannot wait to get the Christmas tree and start decorating. To those who prefer holiday tree, and have even demanded the one in Rockefeller Center be renamed that, call it what you will; in our house it’s called the Christmas tree. Also in our house, we not only embrace the religious as well as commercial aspects of the season, we celebrate my husband Neil and daughter Meg, who were both born on December 25th. As Neil is the music aficionado in our home, the seasonal tunes begin shortly after Thanksgiving turkey has been consumed. I get my fix of all traditional carols (The Boston Pops), the schmaltzy versions (Andy Williams – I kid you not), and the pop renditions a la Mariah Carey, yet still enjoy the festive song loop in the businesses I frequent. I realize that not everyone feels this way, not because of a letter-writing campaign or an op-ed, but from when a soon-tobe 18-year-old Meg was in middle school and one of her teachers griped that Christmas ruins her beloved shopping hobby because she couldn’t stand listening to “that music.” Meg told me about what happened in a dispirited tone, which was enough to express how badly she felt that someone she had admired was being so insensitive to a frill associated with something that has meaning to her. Apparently, taking out one’s bitterness on an 11-year-old was some kind of victory in the “war.” As is baiting me into a conversation about the “beautiful” show at Radio City, as two mothers did, only to then engage – as though I wasn’t there – about how they leave before the end, “because, well, you know,” referring to the finale with a poor couple welcoming their child into the world in a stable amongst livestock because no one would take them in, and how the child grew up to be great leader. Where I have no patience for just plain mean, I feel for those who suffer from loneliness and depression during Christmas. (They’re not usually the ones demanding

Santa be banned from the mall.) I’ve had times like that over the years, when a professional or personal upset made me so blue that not only could I not deal with parties or crowded stores, but I didn’t have the energy to click the mouse for present-buying online. I hope they find help to get them through,

via professional or DIY methods. I’m proof that you can get your Christmas mojo back, and having done so, I won’t postpone my own joy for the season for anyone. Lorraine Duff y Merkl is the author of the novels Fat Chick and Back To Work She Goes and wishes all a Happy New Year.


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

9

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

HAVE THE KITCHEN OF YOUR DREAMS

Senior Living

for a fraction of the cost of a full renovation!

t ,JUDIFO $BCJOFU 3FGBDJOH t $PVOUFS 5PQT BOE 5JMF 8PSL t 'VMM ,JUDIFO BOE #BUI 3FOPWBUJPOT

Call to Schedule Free Estimate

1460 Lexington Ave | Bet 94th & 95th St. | 212.348.9100 | www.trufacers.com

JOHN KRTIL FUNERAL HOME; YORKVILLE FUNERAL SERVICE, INC. Dignified, Affordable and Independently Owned Since 1885 WE SERVE ALL FAITHS AND COMMUNITIES 5 )/'&1 /'+$1)-,0 $2250 -+.*'1' 5 )/'&1 2/)$*0 $2850 5 4.'/1 /' *$,,),( 3$)*$%*'

BY MARCIA EPSTEIN

When the Kids Drift Away BY MARCIA EPSTEIN

I

recently attended a seminar called “Walking on Eggshellsâ€? about severed or difficult relationships with adult children. There’s nothing more heartbreaking to a parent than losing that thread with your adult child and trying to repair the damage, to no avail. I heard stories that were so painful I was close to tears. And truth be told, I have gone through my own times of difficulties with my adult daughters where we didn’t speak and couldn’t seem to communicate. But thankfully, we were able to repair the relationships. My ďŹ ngers are always crossed. The stories come in all shapes and sizes. Some parents (I should say mothers, because only women were there, though I’m sure it affects men, too) were totally out of touch with their child or children. Some knew what had precipitated the break; some had no idea. In all the stories I heard, the mothers felt that what they had done did not deserve being totally cut off from their children, and in some cases, grandchildren. Yes, there were disagreements, perhaps harsh words. But a total refusal to be in contact? They couldn’t reconcile themselves to this. In other cases, the break wasn’t total but was painful nonetheless. A mother whose son had to always check with his wife about their limited availability regarding the grandson. Another mother who was called selďŹ sh for not ďŹ tting into the “grandma box.â€? Grandmothers come in all varieties, from very involved to loving a good visit but not

total immersion. Some adult children seem to drift towards the spouse’s family; others give no reason for cutting off communication, which is the hardest thing of all to accept. One son said, “You know,â€? to his mother; but she didn’t. She had no idea. It was a terribly sad afternoon, but we all agreed that in some way we had to ďŹ nd peace with the situation. If it seemed hopeless, ďŹ nding a full life for oneself is important. If there seemed to be some hope, then continuing to try and open a small crack in the door might be fruitful. Be open, continue to try, but don’t push was the advice of the therapist who led the group. Don’t criticize, be loving and say you’ll always be there for them. Even if there’s no response, an occasional email saying you’re thinking about them is appropriate. There will always be a hole in your heart, but a good life of one’s own, friends and other family can make up for some of the heartbreak. I’ve lost several friends to death in the past few years, and others are becoming frail and unable to function as before. Some have lost husbands and are having trouble coping. But something interesting is also happening. I am reconnecting with friends from the past, and enjoying it tremendously. It’s a special thing to be able to be with people who knew me when. One new/old friend has a son the same age as one of my daughters, and they played together as children. Another is from my childhood days, and we really haven’t been in much contact since high school. Suddenly we are e-mailing and talking about meeting up with our partners somewhere “in the middleâ€? (she lives near Boston). Losing friends is hard; regaining others is wonderful. And making new ones, through new activities and interests is a delightful perk of seniorhood. Losses and gains. Those are the golden years.

1297 First Ave (69th & 70th & + # " $& )" $ " $ ) * "#( & " $ + ))) $& '" $ #! #! Each cremation service individually performed by fully licensed members of our staff. We use no outside agents or trade services in our cremation service. We exclusively use All Souls Chapel and Crematory at the prestigious St. Michael's Cemetery, Queens, NY for our cremations unless otherwise directed.

INVISALIGN

SPECIAL! Receive a full invisalign treatment, including a consultation, orthodontic x-rays and records and full treatment for only

$3,995. Book Today Through ZocDoc at www.stevendavidowitz.com

DR. STEVEN DAVIDOWITZ 328 East 75th Street www.LuxuryDentistryNYC.com

or call 212.759.7535 We work to make your smile dreams come true.


10

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

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

Thu 10 “THE MAGIC FLUTE” Talent Unlimited High School, JREC Auditorium, 317 East 67th St. 4 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. $10 in advance; $12 at the door A shortened version of Mozart’s opera staged by senior award-winning vocal and dance majors and directed by Jayne Skoog. 212-737-1530. tuhs/ vocalstudio@gmail.com

OPEN HOUSE WITH ASSEMBLYWOMAN SEAWRIGHT 1365 First Avenue 1-4 p.m. A holiday gathering at Seawright’s office. RSVP at 212-288-4607

Fri 11 MESSIAH (PART ONE CHRISTMAS) AND JOHANN CHRISTIAN BACH’S MAGNIFICAT Assembly Hall of Hunter College, East 69th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues. 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $12.00 general admission; $5.00 children, student or senior citizens; free for Hunter College students with I.D. The Hunter College Choir, under the direction of Matthew Rupcich and James D. Wetzel, will present the Christmas portion of the Messiah. The December concert will include Johann Christian Bach’s setting of the MAGNIFICAT, assisted by student soloists and accompanied by a Baroquesized orchestra. 772-4448 for information and ticket reservations.

THE YORKVILLE NUTCRACKER The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, E. 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues Dec. 11, 7 p.m. For showtimes Dec. 10-13, visit www.dancespatrelle.org. $45-$85

Sat 12 YORKVILLE HOLIDAY EXHIBIT & SALE Church of the Holy Trinity Draesel Hall, 316 East 88th St. Friday, Dec. 11, 5-8 p.m. (opening reception); Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. A holiday showcase of select local artisans, offering New Yorkers a quality, handcrafted alternative for their holiday shopping 917-767-6564. yohoex. weebly.com/

REVIEW 91 Americas Society, 680 Park Ave. 7 p.m. Free for members; $10 for non-members. The launch of “Review 91,” marking the 47th year of publication of the Society’s flagship journal, will feature comments by editor Daniel Shapiro and others. 212-2778353. www.as-coa. org/events/ review-91year-review-fall-2015

Sun 13 7TH ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS Christ Church of Manhattan, 520 Park ave at 60th St. 2 p.m. Free. Seventh Annual Blessing of the Animals - an Open Invitation to Pet Parents and their Beloved Pets. 516-829-8374.


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

11

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

SPECIAL 20 Month CD

1.25 % 1.50

%

APY*

CENTRAL PARK TOUR 77th Street and Central Park West. 1-3 p.m.$15, $25/2 & $12 students and seniors. Visit some of the rarely seen parts of the “people’s park” and discover some of the secrets of the park.What is the real story behind the Dairy?. 646-241-8692.

Mon 14 CIVIC GRANDEUR: PRESERVING PUBLIC BUILDINGS Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave. at 103rd St. 6:30 p.m. Free for members; $16 general public; $12 for students/seniors. A panel of experts discusses how we can best protect the storied past of our civic buildings, while meeting 21st century demands. 212-534-1672. www.mcny. org/event/civic-grandeurpreserving-public-buildings

Tue 15 COOKING WITH FLORA: HOLIDAY PLUM PUDDING WORKSHOP Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden, 421 East 61st St. 6:30-8 p.m. $25 adults, $20 members & students Join Flora Miller, head cook of the Mount Vernon Hotel in 1830, to prepare a plum pudding from a historic recipe. Learn period cooking techniques and the history of puddings and holiday preparations in early 19thcentury America. All supplies included. Reservations required. 212-838-6878

GREAT MUSIC AT ST. BART’S — A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS CONCERT St. Bartholomew’s Church, 325 Park Ave. at 51st St. 7:30 p.m. $40, $25; students/seniors receive $10 discount. This beloved New York holiday tradition combines the choral forces of St. Bart’s, New York City’s largest pipe organ, and a chamber orchestra for a concert

of Christmas favorites. 212-378-0248. mmpaf.org

Minimum opening deposit is $500

Wed 16 THE FUTURE OF FAITH 92nd Street Y, Buttenwieser Hall, Lexington Avenue and 92nd Street 7:30 p.m. From $32 Join former NBC newsman and “Meet the Press” moderator David Gregory and religious scholar Erica Brown as they discuss issues of faith, identity and leadership in your personal and professional life. 212-415-5500. www.92y. org/Event/David-Gregory-andErica-Brown.aspx.

COMMUNITY BOARD 8 Church of the Holy Trinity, 316 East 88th St. (First-Second), Draesal Hall 6:30 p.m. Full board meeting. 212-758-434. cb8m.com/ events/full-board-meeting-47

30 Month CD

APY*

Minimum opening deposit is $500

Visit your local branch or open online today! www.ridgewoodbank.com

SHOPPING ONLINE 67 Street Library, 328 East 67th St. Learn to protect yourself when shopping online, as well as what services are available and how to take advantatge of them. 212-734-1717 www.nypl.org/ events/programs/2015/12/14/ shopping-online The Future of Faith with Rabbi Peter J. Rubenstein: David Gregory and Erica Brown

*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is as of November 14, 2015, and is subject to change without notice. Maximum deposit is $250,000. FDIC regulations apply. The bank is not responsible for typographical errors. Substantial penalties for early withdrawal. Fees could reduce earnings. Member FDIC


12

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

HOLIDAY ARTS BY GABRIELLE ALFIERO

Despite the lack of snowfall and some unseasonably mild temperatures that find New Yorkers shedding their winter duds and reaching for sunglasses, holiday season has arrived in full force in the neighborhood. Here are some events to keep the holiday calendars full.

DANCE “GEORGE BALANCHINE’S THE NUTCRACKER” The return of “The Nutcracker” to the city’s stages marked the beginning of this year’s holiday season, and New York City Ballet’s annual run of the George Balanchine classic at Lincoln Center, which the company has produced each year since it first opened in 1954, may usher in the season in the highest fashion. The set pieces of this seasonal spectacle, which features the full company and more than 125 students from the School of American Ballet, are literally grand: the Christmas tree in the first act stretches to 40 feet and weighs one ton, Mother Ginger’s skirt weighs 85 pounds and reaches nine feet in width, and the finale actually packs a million watts, the

company’s most extravagant lighting feat. “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” Now through Jan. 3 David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center 20 Lincoln Center Plaza Columbus Avenue at W. 63rd Street Assorted show times Tickets $35-$265 To purchase tickets, visit nycballet.com or call 212-4960600

“THE YORKVILLE NUTCRACKER” For a departure from the pomp of Lincoln Center, Dances Patrelle returns to Hunter College’s Kaye Playhouse with “The Yorkville Nutcracker,” which recasts the fantastical story in 1895 New York. Scenes unfold at notable city locales like the New York Botanical Garden and the ice rinks at Central Park, and holiday revelers celebrate with a party at Gracie Mansion. The production also borrows dancers from other companies, including New York City Ballet principal dancers Abi Stafford and Adrian Danchig-Waring as

Dances Patrelle’s “Yorkville Nutracker.” Photo credit: Rosalie O’Connor

“Messiah,” and also reprise the concert at Alice Tully Hall this year.

the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. “The Yorkville Nutcracker” Dec. 10-13 Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College E. 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues Assorted show times Tickets $45-$85 To purchase tickets, visit dancespatrelle.org or call 212-7724448

MUSIC

Lauren King in the Waltz of the Flowers in New York City Ballet’s 2010 production of “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” Photo credit: ©Paul Kolnik

HANDEL’S “MESSIAH” Though now a seasonal tradition, George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” was first introduced to the American public nearly 250 years ago in lower Manhattan, and received its secondever performance in the country at Trinity Church in 1770. Now, the Choir of Trinity Wall Street and the Trinity Baroque Orchestra perform the oratorio at the 169-year-old church on Broadway, the third building constructed on the site. Four years ago, the choir and the orchestra, which plays on period instruments, made their Lincoln Center debuts performing

Handel’s “Messiah” Dec. 17 Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center 1941 Broadway, between W. 65th and W. 66th Streets 7:30 p.m. Tickets $55-$95 For tickets, visit lincolncenter.org or call 212-721-6500 Dec. 16 and 26 Trinity Church Broadway at Wall Street Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 26 at 5 p.m. Tickets $45-$95

Choir of Trinity Wall Street and the Trinity Baroque Orchestra perform Handel’s “Messiah.”


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

For tickets, visit trinitywallstreet.org/messiah

KATYA GRINEVA’S HOLIDAY CONCERT Moscow-born pianist Katya Grineva returns to Carnegie Hall, marking her 15th solo performance at the famed venue, with a holiday repertoire that includes “Ave Maria,â€? “Silent Nightâ€? and “The Nutcrackerâ€? Suite, along with works by Mozart, Chopin and Rachmaninoff. Trained mostly in Russia, Grineva continued her studies in New York at the Mannes School of Music, and ďŹ rst performed at Carnegie Hall in 1998 with the Baltimore Symphony. Katya Grineva’s Holiday Concert Saturday, Dec. 26 Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium 57th Street and Seventh Avenue 8 p.m. Tickets $35-$95 To purchase tickets, visit carnegiehall.org or call 212247-7800

FOOD GLOW-IN-THE-DARK CHANUKAH DINNER 92nd Street Y’s Warburg Lounge, outďŹ tted with black lights and glow sticks, plays host to a glow-in-the-dark celebration of Chanukah, with music, singing, games, the

have

Do

you something You’d

look

?

into

like us to

13

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

lighting of the menorah and a farm-to-table Chanukah feast complete with latkes and ďŹ nished with jelly donuts.

BROOKLYN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

Glow-in-the-Dark Chanukah Dinner Friday, Dec. 11 92nd Street Y Warburg Lounge Lexington Avenue and 92nd Street 6 p.m. Tickets $30; $15 for children To purchase, visit 92y. org or call 212-415-5500 for more information

TRADITIONS HOLIDAYS AT THE MOUNT VERNON HOTEL MUSEUM AND GARDEN

Built in 1799 and then turned into a hotel in 1826, the Mount Vernon Hotel has been kept to reect its 19th-century purpose as an uptown respite for downtown residents. Ornamented with period holiday dĂŠcor and with tables set with seasonal (faux) foods, the museum hosts tours of the hotel’s eight rooms, which reveal the roots of some common holiday traditions, like why ďŹ ggy pudding was a dessert worthy of a song lyric. On Dec. 15, visitors make a traditional plum pudding using a period recipe and cooking methods with Flora, the hotel’s cook.

THE

Holidays at the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden Holiday 1830s Tours Now through Jan. 3 Tour hours: TuesdaySunday between 11 a.m.-4 p.m Cooking with Flora: Holiday Plum Pudding Workshop: Tuesday, Dec. 15 6:30 p.m. Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden 421 E. 61st St., between York and First Avenues Museum admission $8 Cooking class $25, reservations required To reserve space, call 212838-6878

P EG G Y

CONC E RTS

MARINA PICCININI & ANDREAS HAEFLIGER

WED FEB 17 7:30 pm

Isabel Leonard

THURS MAR 31 7:30 pm

Renee Rosnes Quartet

WED APR 20 7:30 pm

Flute, Piano

Soprano

With Lessons & Carols December 15 t h

7 – 8 pm

Free Admission ~ All Are Welcome Refreshments served in Just Hospitality

@ Jan Hus Presbyterian Church

%% #$"!

Marble

MARBLE COLLEGIATE CHURCH

C

hristmas at

Christmas Eve Thursday, December 24 4:00pm - Family Friendly Service

ROCKEFELLER

Jazz

Christmas Concert

Pianist Katya Grineva performs a holiday concert at Carnegie Hall on Dec. 26. Photo: Jennifer Taylor

6:30pm & 8:30pm (Live Streaming of the 6:30pm service) New Year’s Eve Jazz Revelation Thursday, December 31, 7:30pm Followed by a Festive Reception

For our full calendar of events, visit MarbleChurch.org

Individual Tickets $30 | Student Tickets $10 Special Offer $75 for all 3 Concerts

Email us at news@strausnews.com

The Rockefeller University | Caspary Auditorium 1230 York Avenue at 66th Street WWW.ROCKEFELLER.EDU/PEGGY or 212-327-8072

1 West 29th Street / New York, New York 10001 / 212 686 2770 / MarbleChurch.org


14

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

In Brief STYROFOAM STILL SAFE The city lost another battle against the use of Styrofoam containers last week, when the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court shot down the de Blasio administration’s latest effort to keep the containers out of food service on Dec. 3, Politico New York reported. The motion would challenge a September ruling by Manhattan’s Supreme Court that reversed the administration’s initial ban on Styrofoam containers given that proof exists that the material can be recycled, Grub Street reported.

Food & Drink

RESTAURANT GROUP SUES OVER SALT BAN NEWS New city rule requirtes warning labels in chain restaurants

LA TAZA DE ORO CLOSES Puerto Rican counter joint La Taza De Oro has permanently closed, following months of uncertainty, Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York reported on Dec. 3. The restaurant on Eighth Avenue near 15th Street has been shut down since April, after the building’s gas was turned off when bricks fell from a building nearby. The restaurant was also asked by the city’s Department of Buildings to vacate the property, Eater reported. Eric Montalvo, who operates the restaurant, also owns the building, but after the hit to nine months of income while the restaurant was closed, along with the changing nature of Chelsea, he decided to close the business, which first opened in 1947.

BY JENNIFER PELTZ

ALTAMAREA GROUP FIRES BACK AT NEW YORK TIMES CRITIC Ahmass Fakahany, owner of restaurant group Altamarea with chef Michael White, posted a letter to New York Times food critic Pete Wells following a pointed one-star review of Altamarea’s new French restaurant Vaucluse on the Upper East Side, Eater reported. Fakahany, whose group operates other fine dining restaurants in New York, including Marea near Columbus Circle and Costata on Spring Street, wrote in a Dec. 7 letter that was posted on the restaurant group’s website that Wells is “losing credibility and, in a sense, degrading the very institution that gave you the privilege and mandate to be a food critic.” Fakahany goes on to criticize the rating system employed by the New York Times, calling it a “random process” that “increasingly falls on your whims and moods,” and questions Wells’ understanding of food and the restaurant industry. In his Dec. 1 review of Vaucluse, located at 100 E. 63rd St., Wells was decidedly critical of certain dishes, though he praised others, writing that “the poulet rôti grand-mère is dull enough to make you wonder if Grandmother learned to roast chickens at a hotel school,” and noted that “many dishes land somewhere between inspired and depleted.” Photo: TheGiantVermin, via Flickr

New York City’s new warning label for salt-laden chain restaurant food is headed for a court fight, after restaurateurs sued to argue that health regulators overstepped legal bounds to enact the first-of-its-kind requirement. The National Restaurant Association’s suit came just two days after the rule took effect, compelling chain eateries to put a salt-shaker icon on menu items that top the recommended daily limit of 2,300 milligrams of sodium -- about a teaspoon. The group had vowed to challenge the city Board of Healthapproved rule, which will sprinkle salt warnings on some dishes ranging from burgers to pizzas to salads. “Ironically, this regulation will confuse and mislead consumers into potentially making less healthy food choices through the law’s spotty, inconsistent application and inaccurate scientific distortions,” says a copy of the suit. The association says the health board overstepped its legal bounds and is muddying waters at a time when federal regulators are working on nationwide menu labeling rules. The suit also brands the salt warning “nonsensical” in applying to only some food vendors and argues it violates restaurateurs’ free speech rights by forcing them to post a warning they dispute as based on “scientifically controversial opinion.” The city Law Department said it would review the claims but was “confident that the Board of Health

has the authority to enact this rule.” Public-health experts say the symbol will help diners see how salty some dishes can be. Some cheeseburgers can count over 4,000 mg of salt, for instance. Even some salads can top 3,000. Many experts say Americans are eating too much salt -- the U.S. average is about 3,400 mg of sodium per day -- and the high-salt diet is raising their risks of high blood pressure and heart problems. But salt producers note that some research has found otherwise. An international study involving 100,000 people suggested last year that most people’s salt intake was OK for heart health, though other scientists have faulted the study. “Regulations to discourage salt consumption are sending the wrong message,” said Lori Roman, president of the Salt Institute, which is supporting the restaurant association’s lawsuit. New York has faced lawsuits over other healthy-eating measures it has pioneered. The challenges have had mixed results: Courts upheld a requirement for chain eateries to post calorie counts on menus but struck down a size limit on sugary drinks. The salt warning will apply to an estimated 10 percent of menu items of chains with at least 15 outlets nationwide, according to health officials. They say those chains do about one-third of the city’s restaurant business. Despite the lawsuit, some chains are on board with the salt warning rule. Panera CEO Ron Shaich has said he supports it, and 40 New York City-area Applebee’s made a point of complying before the effective date, with Apple-Metro CEO Zane Tankel saying he felt it was important to give customers information.


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

15

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

RESTAURANT INSPECTION RATINGS

0QFO GPS MVODI Monday - Saturday 11:30-2:30

OCT 13 - NOV 24, 2015

0QFO GPS EJOOFS every night

The following listings were collected from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s website and include the most recent inspection and grade reports listed. We have included every restaurant listed during this time within the zip codes of our neighborhoods. Some reports list numbers with their explanations; these are the number of violation points a restaurant has received. To see more information on restaurant grades, visit www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/services/restaurant-inspection.shtml. Marymount College Nugents Cafe

221 East 71St Street

A

Szechuan Gourmet

1395 2Nd Ave

B (16) 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.

5 Napkin

1325 2Nd Ave

Not Yet Graded (2)

Tanoshi Sushi Saki Bar

1372 York Avenue

A

Mel’s Burger

1450 2Nd Ave

A

Garden Court Cafe (Asia Society)

725 Park Ave

A

Voila 76

1452 2 Avenue

A

Oita Sushi

1317A 2Nd Ave

A

Bkb

321 East 73 Street

A

Seamstress

339 East 75 Street

A

Cafe Luka

1319 1 Avenue

A

Cilantro

1321 1 Avenue

A

Trend Diner

1382 2 Avenue

Grade Pending (25) Cold food item held above 41Âş F (smoked ďŹ sh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ÂşF) except during necessary preparation. Food prepared from ingredients at ambient temperature not cooled to 41Âş F or below within 4 hours. Filth ies or food/refuse/ sewage-associated (FRSA) ies present in facility’s food and/or nonfood areas. Filth ies include house ies, little house ies, blow ies, bottle ies and esh ies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated ies include fruit ies, drain ies and Phorid ies.

Casimir & Co

1022 Lexington Ave

A

Chipotle Mexican Grill

1497 3 Avenue

Grade Pending (20) Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or nonfood areas. Filth ies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) ies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth ies include house ies, little house ies, blow ies, bottle ies and esh ies. Food/refuse/ sewage-associated ies include fruit ies, drain ies and Phorid ies. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Treat House

1566 2Nd Ave

A

Piazza Pizza & Grill

1530 3 Avenue

A

Crepes And Delices

222 E 86Th St

Not Yet Graded (23) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. 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.

Burger King

226 East 86 Street

A

Second Grill Restaurant

1603 2Nd Ave

A

Suhsi Suki

1577 York Ave

Grade Pending (18) Evidence of rats or live rats 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.

Firenze

1594 2 Avenue

A

Gracie’s On 2Nd

300 E 86Th St

A

The Supply House

1647 2 Avenue

A

8PPE 'JSFE 1J[[B 'SFTI 1BTUB 4FBGPPE 0SHBOJD 4BMBET /BUVSBM 'SFF 3BOHF $IJDLFO :PSL "WFOVF t /FX :PSL /: (212) 288-4400 (212) 288-4407 www.Rosina.nyc

Join us for a %FMJHIUGVM 4VOEBZ #SVODI (call for reservations)

Get Happy Early

New Happy Hour! Monday to Friday 3 to 6pm

call us for your holiday catering

Huge Selection of Bibles Fiction/Non-Fiction Children’s Books Greeting Cards .VTJD t (JGUT Original Art Events and More! Hours: M-F 10am-9pm 4BU BN QN t 4VO QN QN

:PSL "WF #UXO SE UI 4U t www.logosbookstorenyc.com


16

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

PHOTOS FROM OUR READERS Warm weather and glorious fall colors have sent our readers outside in droves -- and they’ve sent us pictures back! Email us your photos at news@strausnews.com or go to www.ourtownny.com and click on Submit Stuff

Photo by Robyn Roth-Moise

Photo by Vicki Finkel

Photo by Rick Sayers

Photo by Elie Zagury

Photo by Joseph Abate

DECEMBER 10-16,2015


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

17


18

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com This building is being constructed through the Inclusionary Housing and 421(a) Programs of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC) of the New York State Homes and Community Renewal.

Affordable Housing for Rent 47 NEWLY CONSTRUCTED UNITS 92nd & 3rd Associates LLC, 205 East 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128 Amenities: 24hr doorman & concierge, washer/dryer in every unit, terrace, party rooms†, children’s playroom†, teen lounge†, storage†, bike storage† and more† (†additional fees apply).

Individuals or households who meet the income and household size requirements listed in the table below may apply. Qualified applicants will be required to meet additional selection criteria. Applicants who live in New York City receive a general preference for apartments.

Who Should Apply?

Į

1. View the Available Units… Units Available

1 bedroom

$607

3

Į

1 person 2 people

1 bedroom

$769

17

Į

1 person 2 people

2 bedroom

$736

5

Į

2 people 3 people 4 people

2 bedroom

$930

22

Į

2 people 3 people 4 people

Annual Household Earnings***

Household Size**

* Rent includes gas for cooking; tenant pays for electricity

How Do You Apply?

x

5% of units set aside for mobility-impaired applicants 2% of units set aside for applicants with visual or hearing impairments Preference for a percentage of units goes to: Residents of Manhattan CB 8 (50%) Municipal employees (5%)

2. See Unit Requirements

Monthly Rent*

Unit Size

x x

Transit: Subway: 4,5,6 Bus: M103, M96, M101, M15 No application fee. No broker’s fee. Smoke-free building.

b bb b bb bb bbb bbbb bb bbb bbbb

** Household size includes everyone who will live with you, including parents and children. Subject to occupancy criteria.

$22,218 - $24,200 $22,218 - $27,640 $27,772 - $30,250 $27,772 - $34,550 $26,775 - $27,640 $26,775 - $31,080 $26,775 - $34,520 $33,326 - $34,550 $33,326 - $38,850 $33,326 - $43,150 *** Household earnings includes salary, hourly wages, tips, Social Security, child support, and other income for household members. Income guidelines subject to change.

Apply online or through mail. To apply online, please go to: www.nyc.gov/housingconnect. To request an application by mail, send a postcard or self-addressed, to: 92nd & 3rd Associates LLC, 1357 Broadway, Box 438, New York, NY 10018. Only send one application per development. Don’t submit duplicate applications. Do not apply online and also send in a paper application. Applicants who submit more than one application may be disqualified.

When is the Deadline? Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than February 1, 2016. Late applications will not be considered.

What Happens After You Submit an Application?

After the deadline, applications are selected for review through a lottery process. If yours is selected and you appear to qualify, you will be invited to an interview to continue the process of determining your eligibility. Interviews are usually scheduled from 2 to 10 months after the application deadline. You will be asked to bring documents that verify your household size, identity of members of your household, and your household income.

Español

Para recibir una traducción de este anuncio y la aplicación en español, envíe un sobre con su dirección a 92nd & 3rd Associates LLC, 1357 Broadway, Box 438, New York, NY 10018.En la parte posterior del sobre, escribir en inglés la palabra "SPANISH". Las solicitudes llenas deben enviarse por correo a más tardar el 1 de febrero 2015

䬨ỻᷕ㔯ġ

㤕㾱㧧ਆ↔ᒯ੺઼⭣䈧㺘Ⲵѝ᮷㘫䈁ˈ䈧ሶഎ䛞ؑሱਁ䘱ࡠ˖92nd & 3rd Associates LLC, 1357 Broadway, Box 438, New York, NY 10018.DŽ䈧൘ؑሱⲴ㛼䶒Җ߉㤡᮷অ䇽 “CHINESE”DŽປ߉ྭⲴ⭣䈧㺘ᗵ享൘ ᒤ ᴸ ᰕᖃཙᡆѻࡽ࣐ⴆ䛞ᡣDŽ

䚐ạ㛨G

Kreyol Ayisyien

Ɋɭɫɫɤɢɣ

㢨GṅḔⱬḰG㐔㷡㉐㜄G␴䚐G䚐ạ㛨Gⶼ㜡⸬㡸Gⵏ㙸⸨㐐⥘⮨Gⵌ㋕㟝G⸽䍠⪰92nd & 3rd Associates LLC, 1357 Broadway, Box 438, New York, NY 10018.㡰P⦐G⸨⇨㨰㐡㐐㝘UG⸽䍠G◫⮨㜄G“KOREAN”㢨⢰ḔG㜵㛨⦐G㤵㛨㨰㐡㐐㝘UG㣅㉥═G 㐔㷡㉐㜄⏈G⏚㛨⓸YWX]≸Y㠈GXG㢰ᾀ㫴㢌G⇔㬐G㋀㢬㢨G㵁䜴G㢼㛨㚰G䚝⏼␘UG G Pou resevwa yon tradiksyon reklam sa a ak aplikasyon an nan lang, voye anvlòp ki gen adrès pou retounen li a nan 92nd & 3rd Associates LLC, 1357 Broadway, Box 438, New York, NY 10018. Dèyè anvlòp la, ekri mo, “HAITIAN CREOLE” nan lang Anglè. Ou dwe tenbre aplikasyon ou ranpli yo anvan dat fevriye 1, 2016. Ⱦɥɹ ɩɨɥɭɱɟɧɢɹ ɞɚɧɧɨɝɨ ɨɛɴɹɜɥɟɧɢɹ ɢ ɡɚɹɜɥɟɧɢɹ ɧɚ ɪɭɫɫɤɨɦ ɹɡɵɤɟ ɨɬɩɪɚɜɶɬɟ ɤɨɧɜɟɪɬ ɫ ɨɛɪɚɬɧɵɦ ɚɞɪɟɫɨɦ ɩɨ ɚɞɪɟɫɭ 92nd & 3rd Associates LLC, 1357 Broadway, Box 438, New York, NY 10018.ɇɚ ɡɚɞɧɟɣ ɫɬɨɪɨɧɟ ɤɨɧɜɟɪɬɚ ɧɚɩɢɲɢɬɟ ɫɥɨɜɨ “RUSSIAN” ɧɚ ɚɧɝɥɢɣɫɤɨɦ ɹɡɵɤɟ Ɂɚɩɨɥɧɟɧɧɵɟ ɡɚɹɜɥɟɧɢɹ ɞɨɥɠɧɵ ɛɵɬɶ ɨɬɩɪɚɜɥɟɧɵ ɩɨ ɩɨɱɬɟ ɧɟ ɩɨɡɞɧɟɟ 1 ɮɟɜɪɚɥɶ 2016.

Governor Andrew Cuomo Mayor Bill de Blasio NYS HCR Commissioner/CEO James S. Rubin HPD Commissioner Vicki Been

www.nyc.gov/housingconnect


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

19

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

SUING FOR SENIORS NEW YORK CITY

Le Conversazioni: Don DeLillo and Antonio Monda

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15TH, 6:30PM Guggenheim Museum | 1071 Fifth Ave. | 212-423-3500 | guggenheim.org In conjunction with the exhibition Alberto Burri: The Trauma of Painting, catch a conversation on postwar Italy, neorealist film and the influence of Michelangelo Antonioni’s Il deserto rosso on DeLillo’s artistic vision.($10-$15)

Notes on Fiction: The Strange Library

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15TH, 7:30PM The Center for Fiction | 17 E. 47th St. | 212-755-6710 | centerforfiction.org Check out a concert augmented by eerie projections that musically recreates the Murakami graphic novella The Strange Library, about a little boy who comes under the sway of an eccentric old librarian. ($15)

Just Announced: Bernard-Henri Lévy in Conversation with Thane Rosenbaum

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17TH, 7:30PM 92nd Street Y | 1395 Lexington Ave. | 212-415-5500 | 92y.org BHL himself comes to the Y to discuss the terrorist attacks in Paris and European current affairs with the director of the Forum on Law, Culture & Society. ($32)

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

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

The Dignity Memorial® Personal Planning Guide, is a valuable tool that allows you to record financial and personal information that your family will need during and after your final arrangements. Preplanning puts your family first by making your wishes known and removing the burden from loved ones. To receive a complimentary Personal Planning Guide or to learn more about preplanning options, call or visit us.

argued, as Related Companies did to Goldsmith in correspondence provided to The Associated Press, that the option for seniors and disabled renters to stay-on only applied in cases where buildings were converted via eviction plans -that is, when 51 percent of the building’s units were purchased by people who live there. But in so-called non-eviction plans, where only 15 percent of the apartments have to be sold for the plan to become effective, tenants are often pushed out because their leases aren’t renewed or they’re given hold-over leases during the conversion process, real-estate lawyers said. “A lot of buildings have tenants who are not protected under rent stabilization and rent control, particularly in Manhattan,” said longtime real estate lawyer Kevin McConnell, who is not

BYGONE BARBER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 they want,” said Wood, who took over the business in 1973. “We do haircut, shaving, gentleman’s manicure, and we are specialized in hair coloring.” Beyond these, they try to provide any service to meet the customers’ needs. “Like that gentleman over their, he doesn’t like the color of his $4,000 shoes so we are changing the color for him; we’ll also get them shined,” said Wood. “It’s all about their satisfaction.” “We serve the tycoons of Upper East Side and their children, we don’t look for new customers and we don’t look for business outside the neighborhood,” Wood said with poise and confidence. “But we maintain a sensible price: $36 for a haircut now.” That consistency, it turns out, is what keeps drawing customers to the place. “I don’t like to change, that’s why I like that everything’s always

Do

you

You’d

like us to

look FRANK T H E

E. C A M P B EL L

F U N E R A L

?

C H A P E L

K n o w n for Ex c e l l en c e since 18 9 8

1 0 7 6 M a d i s o n A ve n u e

at

81s t S t re e t

212 . 2 8 8 . 3 5 0 0

www.frankecampbell.com Owned by A Subsidiary of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019 (713) 522-5141

the same here, it makes me feel very comfortable,” said 71-year-old Abe Jacob, who has been a customer of Paul Mole for more than 20 years. “Most importantly, their haircut is very good.” Jacob’s barber is 40-year-old Alex Pinkhasov. Prior to settling in New York and becoming a barber 18 years ago, Alex was a tailor in Russia. “Both professions require extreme patience”, said Pinkhasov. Like every other barber in Paul Mole, he sticks to only scissors and comb when cutting hair. “I’ve worked for a couple of barbershops in New York but nowhere is like this one,” said Pinkhasov. “This place is more than just a barbershop, it’s an institution. We don’t just cut hair; we create images.” Pinkhasov describes his customers as another perk of the job. “They are refined and welleducated, they talk about books they read and people they meet,” said Pinkhasov. “I learn life from them.”

something

into

thoughtgallery.org

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

have

ACTIVITIES FOR THE FERTILE MIND

part of the lawsuit. The attorney general’s real estate finance bureau regulates the conversion process and has in recent years stepped up its enforcement and regulation of conversions. On Nov. 10, the office issued new emergency regulations that require building owners to provide seniors and disabled tenants explicit notice of their right to choose to continue renting at rates that won’t soar. A spokesman for the office declined to comment. The lawsuit, which claims $100 million in damages, seeks class-action status. A spokeswoman for Related Companies, the parent company of Carnegie Park Tower, LLC, which owns Goldsmith’s nearly 300-unit, $483 million apartment building, said in a statement that while officials hadn’t seen the court papers, the company “scrupulously followed the statute and adhered to every applicable regulation.”

Email us at news@strausnews.com


20

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

THE PRIVATE SCHOOL ARMS RACE EXPANSION How a small Upper East Side school competes in an era of mass expansion BY KYLE POPE

At a time when private schools in Manhattan are outspending one other with glitzier lobbies and fancier gyms, how does a small school in a 136-yearold Catholic church compete? The Cademon School, a private school on the Upper East Side, was founded in 1961 as the ďŹ rst Montessori school in the city, and is in a space that once housed a parochial school for St. Monica’s Catholic Church next door on E. 80th Street. While the church long ago vacated the building, its physical legacy-- high cielings, arched glass, warren-like hallways -- has stayed with Caedmon. For more than a dozen years now, the school -- which is tiny by New York standards, with an enrollment of 265 students -- has been renovating and updating its building, partly in an ef-

fort to compete in a New York private school market where new building projects have become a sort of arms race to attract students. “It helps that we know who we are,â€? said Matthew Stuart, the head of school, who joined Caedmon in 2012, which also was the school’s 50th anniversary. “You have to know what it is that makes you unique.â€? Clearly, Caedmon is not for that slice of Manhattan parent who wants a showplace for their ďŹ ve-year-old. Instead, the school emphasizes its Montessori roots, its intimate feel, and a culture that prizes diversity and community involvement. But even Stuart admits that the school can’t ignore what’s happening around it, if it wants to stay competitive. On the Upper East Side alone: * Chapin School is adding three oors, including a glass-encased gym * Brearley School is selling $50 million in bonds to ďŹ nance an expansion to its all-girl campus * Manhattan Country School is leaving the neighborhood entirely, and moving to the Upper West Side as it

seeks to double its enrollment over the next ďŹ ve years It is in that context that Caedmon has spent the last few years spiffing up its space. This summer, it completed a $1.15 million project that updated all of its classrooms, art studio, dining hall and children’s bathrooms. The work was part of a rolling renovation effort that began, most recently, in 2003, with a $1 million retroďŹ t. The result is a modern, airy, welcom-

ing set of spaces that feels surprisingly sophisticated for pre-schoolers and their older colleagues. No primary colors or Spongebob posters here. Stuart says the work was aimed less at keeping up with the competition and more a giving Caedmon students a modern, more workable space. “We don’t talk down to people,� he said. But the school’s modernization is well-timed. Next year, a new Montessori school will open in the neighborhood, literally one block away.

At The Mary Louis Academy, you will own your voiceEJTUJODUJWF DPOĂ&#x;EFOU JOUFMMJHFOU DSFBUJWF BOE FNQPXFSFE B WPJDF UIBU XJMM CF POF PG ZPVS HSFBUFTU BTTFUT JO MJGF

SHADOW A STUDENT buddy@tmla.org

VISIT US ONLINE www.tmla.org

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


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

21

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

IS GOOGLE SPYING ON YOUR KID? Complaint says the computer giant is collecting information about students’ search requests Google is being accused of invading the privacy of students using laptop computers powered by the Internet company’s Chrome operating system. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group, depicts Google as a two-faced opportunist in a complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission. Google disputes the unflattering portrait and says it isn’t doing anything wrong. The complaint alleges that Google rigged the “Chromebook” computers in a way that enables the company to collect information about students’ Internet search requests and online video habits. The foundation says Google is dissecting the activities of students in kindergarten through 12th grade so it can improve its digital services.

The complaint contends Google’s storage and analysis of the student profile violates a “Student Privacy Pledge” that the company signed last year. The pledge, which covers more than 200 companies, contains a provision guaranteeing that students’ personal information won’t be exploited for “non-educational” purposes. The foundation is calling on the FTC to investigate Google, stop it from using information on students’ activities for its own purposes and order it to destroy any information it has collected that’s not related to education. Google applauded the Electronic Frontier Foundation for caring about student privacy, but said it believes it is following the laws enforced by the FTC. “Our services enable students everywhere to learn and keep their information private and secure,” Google said in a statement. Chromebooks have become par-

ticularly popular in schools because some models sell for less than $300 and can be easily maintained by Google over the Internet. But the way Google has managed some of its other products have previously gotten the Mountain View, California, company into trouble for violating its users’ privacy. In 2012, Google paid a $22.5 million fine after the FTC concluded the company had created a technological loophole that enabled its digital advertising network to shadow the online activities of people using Apple’s Safari browser without their consent. The agency determined Google’s Safari surveillance violated an earlier promise not to mislead consumers about privacy issues. That pledge came after Google set up a social networking service called Buzz in 2010 and exposed people’s email contacts. Google agreed to period privacy audits as part of that settlement with the FTC.

EDUCATING CHILD EDUCATING THE THE WHOLE WHOLE CHILD

OPEN HOUSE:Tuesday, November 19th, 9:00am–11:00am OPEN HOUSE: January 19th 9am -11am

and whatmakes makes our our school special, book a place by visiting our website, www.bis-ny.org today ComeCome and fi ndfind outout what schoolsoso special,book a place by visiting our website, www.bis-ny.org

Excellence Everyday Excellence Everyday THE BRITISH BRITISH THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF NEW NEW YORK YORK OF WATERSIDEPLAZA, PLAZA ,NEW NEWYORK, YORK, NY, NY, 10010. 10010. CALL 2700 2020 WATERSIDE CALL212 212481 481 2700


22

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

LEARNING ENGLISH, BY PHONE CONTINUING EDUCATION An innovative New York program offers recorded lessons over the telephone BY DEEPTI HAJELA

Candelaria Lopez had tried to learn English before, but it didn’t work. She couldn’t always make it to class, and when she could, it was hard to find the energy to sit through a three-hour session after a long day. So even after 20 years in the United States, the Mexican immigrant was still pretty much comfortable only saying “Hi.” Not these days, though, thanks to a unique pilot English language learning program offered by New York state that works through phone calls and text messages. The 38-year-old mother of four said she has had a whole new world open up for her in recent months -- new responsibilities at work, talking to her daughter’s teacher without needing a translator, even helping another Spanish-speaking family find an apartment to rent. “For me, it’s happy,” she said. “For me, it’s exciting.” New York state launched the pilot

through its Office for New Americans earlier this year. The premise is simple -- those who have signed up call a number whenever they want to hear recorded lessons. They are then asked questions they answer via text messages to show they’ve understood

what’s being taught. Get the questions right, move on to the next unit. Answer incorrectly, and a coach will call to help clarify the concept. It’s low-tech enough -- no apps, no need for fancy smartphones. Anyone with even the most basic phone can

access it and it’s flexible enough that users can go at whatever speed they’re comfortable with. It’s free, aside from whatever their phone plans would charge for cellphone minutes or sending and receiving texts. “We really wanted to make this as accessible as possible,” said Jorge Montalvo, who oversees the Office for New Americans as deputy Secretary of State for Economic Opportunity. The goal for anyone who makes it through the entire program would be to get to the point where “you’ll be doing well enough to pass the English requirement for the naturalization exam, that’s the level we’re looking at.” In this initial program, about 300 people signed up in three parts of the state -- the Hudson Valley, the New York City area and the Finger Lakes/ North Country region. Montalvo said the state would see how it was going after about a year to figure out any plans for expansion. New York is the first state to fund a cellphone language learning program for immigrant populations, said Jessica Rothenberg-Aalami, CEO of Cell-Ed, the company providing the lessons. The San Francisco Bay Area com-

pany has been in business about two years, and Rothenberg-Aalami said it was trying to fill a need for adult education that worked in the modern world. The “demand is definitely not being met with classroom-based adult education today,” she said. The flexibility was key for Lopez, who didn’t have to find child care for her daughters or set aside time for a formal class. “This is only my phone,” she said. “It’s very easy, maybe I cook and I put on the class.” Rothenberg-Aalami said it took an average of about 25 hours to finish a level of classes; New York is offering Level I and Level II classes, as well as a citizenship class. The instruction starts out mostly in Spanish, shifting to more English as it gets more advanced. By Level IV, the lessons are conversational English, she said. But even by the end of Level II, users are able to navigate in English much more confidently than they were before, she said. “What we provide is a bridge to a lot of other resources that are unavailable to those who are missing the first and second rung of the education ladder,” she said.

DO YOU KNOW

JOHN JAY COLLEGE

HAS FULLY ONLINE GRADUATE PROGRAMS? Masters of Science in Security Management Masters of Public Administration: Inspection and Oversight Advanced Certificate in Terrorism Studies Masters of Arts in Criminal Justice* Masters of Public Administration: Public Policy Administration* ENJOY IN-STATE TUITION PRICING NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE. VISIT online.jjay.cuny.edu CALL TOLL FREE (844) JJAY-ONL (552-9665) *Coming Fall 2016. Pending CUNY and NYSED approval


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

23

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

FIGHT CONTINUES OVER JHL PROJECT NEWS Opponents are still optimistic it can be stopped, though construction is slated to start next summer BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS

Upper West Side residents who have long been opposed to a 20-story nursing home development on West 97th Street say they’re optimistic the deal will fall through, but the company behind the proposal claims they’re now on schedule and will begin construction next summer. The job site is located on a parking lot adjacent to P.S. 163, an elementary school, and surrounded by three housing complexes on West 97th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues. The home will serve approximately 400 full-time residents with an additional 150 beds for seniors receiving temporary, post-surgery care. Construction is estimated to last nearly three years, and JHL has obtained all necessary city and state approvals, despite strenuous objections from elected officials, local residents and the P.S. 163 community. “We’ve got every single approval, we don’t need any more approvals for

shovels to hit dirt,” said Ethan Geto, a principal at the lobbying and public relations firm Geto de Milly, which represents JHL. “The thing that’s holding it up is the litigation.” That litigation includes a lawsuit from the parents of P.S. 163 against JHL that claims the company’s mitigation plan fails to take into account concerns over the impact that the construction, which will take place 30 feet from the school, will have on students. Parents are concerned about noise and the presence of a crane looming over the school, as well as lead and other toxins that have been found in the parking lot being kicked up into the air due to construction activity. The other lawsuit is coming from the tenants association at Park West Village, a housing complex made up of three buildings surrounding the lot that JHL wants to build on. Their suit, filed in NY Supreme Court, challenges the state Dept. of Health’s approval of JHL’s Environmental Impact Statement, which includes details on the impact that construction would have and the efforts undertaken by JHL to minimize those impacts. For instance, JHL’s EIS includes a provision that the company wet down the parking lot during construction to prevent contaminated soil from being dispersed

into the air. Park West Village tenants, as well as P.S. 163 parents, believe the EIS is inadequate. Both suits are awaiting a judge’s decision. Tenants have also challenged the Board of Standards and Appeals’ approval of the zoning plan for JHL’s project, which they contend violates open space requirements in the city’s zoning resolution. “They will not build on 97th Street, they don’t have a prayer,” said Catherine Unsino, a local resident opposed to the plan. “Any time a city or state agency does the wrong thing we will hold them responsible in court, and we will do that interminably to protect our health and safety.” The financing for JHL’s project also adds another dimension of hope to opponents of the plan. Mega-developer Joseph Chetrit, who owns Park West Village, is providing $35 million in financing for the nursing home project and transferring ownership of the lot to JHL in exchange for a JHL property at 120 West 106th Street, at which the developer plans to build luxury housing. But Chetrit was recently named in a lawsuit brought by the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan and BTA Bank, the third largest bank in that country. The suit alleges Chetrit helped two foreign

businessmen hide $40 million in stolen assets belonging to Almaty and the bank through real estate deals in New York. Although the case was settled out of court, Chetrit is accused in the lawsuit of having of violated various U.S. laws. Martin Rosenblatt, a researcher and local resident who has been fighting the nursing home proposal, says it’s possible that authorities could open an investigation into certain of the allegations contained in the lawsuit concerning the way those funds entered the U.S. Rosenblatt also said $32 million of the $35 million in financing provided by Chetrit to JHL has yet to change hands. Opponents of the nursing home are hopeful that any investigation by federal authorities would result in a seizure of Chetrit’s assets, therefore preventing the financing and property transfer from coming through to JHL. “I think that there’s a high likelihood that this will never happen because of what’s already in place and what may unfold in the future,” said Rosenblatt. Geto, however, said JHL is unconcerned with their partner’s recent legal trouble. “It’s completely unrelated and has no impact whatsoever,” said Geto. Geto said JHL is also confident that they’ll prevail against the two suits

A rendering of the planned project. brought against them in court. “The state has reviewed JHL’s plan and has given the company very strict protocols,” said Geto. “Not only will they follow them to the T but they’ll be closely monitored by city [Dept. of Environmental Conservation] and state [Dept. of Environmental Protection].” And while the suits have to be resolved in order for construction to move forward, Geto said they have no effect on the planning and preparation leading up to construction, which is currently going ahead as scheduled. “That’s all moving forward apace,” he said. “And our attorneys say they’re confident that the courts will rule on this stuff well before the commencement of construction.”

Get a Jump on January!

Register now for classes at all 24 CUNY campuses starting in January 2016.

Winter Session’16 www.cuny.edu/winter


24

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

What if? What now? What’s next? A celebration of Life Reimagined Join AARP and Straus News for a discussion about reimagining life. Meet New Yorkers who have pulled it off, hear from experts on the demographic trends shaping our city, and join in an interactive session to begin the process of launching your own “what’s next�!

Speakers Include: JERI SEDLAR, acclaimed speaker and lecturer, and the author of “Don’t Retire, Rewire! 5 Steps To Fulfilling Work That Fuels Your Passion, Suits Your Personality and Fills Your Pocket�

JANET TAYLOR, Life Reimagined thought leader, renowned community psychiatrist, certified life coach, writer and speaker

.POEBZ %FDFNCFS r QN National Academy Museum & School &BTU UI 4U Admission is free and light hors d’oeurves will be provided, but seating is limited. RSVP today at rsvp@strausnews.com The local paper for the Upper East Side

The local paper for the Upper West Side

The local paper for Downtown

The local paper for Chelsea


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

YOUR 15 MINUTES

THE MAGIC OF NEW YORK Q&A BY HEATHER STEIN

Dan Sperry began doing magic when he was a kid. Now, he’s playing to Broadway crowds as part of the show, “The Illusionists.” He talks about how he became interested in magic, and how audiences in his hometown can be a tough sell.

When did you discover your love for magic? When I was about four or five years old my grandparents took me to see David Copperfield. I had no idea who he was or that magic could be so theatrical and larger than life. At the time my only exposure to magic was seeing a magician at my school, library or maybe a birthday party, and up until that point it really had no effect on me. But Copperfield opened the show with this trick called the Death Saw; he had to escape off a table before a huge sixfoot spinning saw blade comes down and cuts him in half. There weren’t any boxes or cover, it was just out in the open. It was like one of those old-school Bond villain contraptions. Well, the premise is that the trick apparently goes wrong and the saw accidentally falls too soon, and you visibly see him get cut in half. So as a little kid when this happened I freaked out and lost it - I had a total kid spaz moment because I thought I just saw a guy die. We had to go to the lobby and eventually leave the theater. I never saw him get put back together in the rest of the bit and never saw the rest of the show. That was my first introduction. I was later given little magic kits from the toy store and things like that to illustrate how magic is all a trick or an illusion. But I never really had a defining moment. It just sort of happened and evolved with me. Magic and I sort of found each other as I kept reading more about it and working and build-

ing my own tricks and eventually performing shows. My whole career has sort of been an ever-growing snowball.

Where did you study? How does one study to do this and get a break in this niche career? I’m mainly self-taught. I grew up in central/northern Minnesota where the closest magicians were at least an hour away, so I read a lot of books and found videos to study from. The majority of my career - especially when I was just starting out, but even up to now - has been a lot of trial and error. I’ve had a lot of amazing opportunities and milestones but I think the biggest thing that has helped me is social media. I have a lot of really great fans from all over the world that have discovered me via Facebook shares and YouTube videos.

Living in New York, what does it represent to you to be on a Broadway stage? Do certain acts appeal more here versus elsewhere? The best thing about New York audiences is you get both sides of the coin. You have tourists who just love to see shows, which is great, but then you also get that New York audience that tells you like it is, and I love that. If they don’t like a bit, you’ll know. The brutal honesty is the best feedback. I’ve also found that they can also be the most fun to perform for. I always love coming back to NYC to not only perform, but also to just exist. The vibe here is like no other place in the world.

How did The Illusionists come about and how did you find yourself performing in the show? The show started almost four years ago as an event for the Sydney Opera House. I’m one of the two original acts that have been part of the show from the beginning. It has been a crazy ride for sure. The show in Sydney oversold the three-week run we did there and word spread like wildfire about this new cutting-edge magic show that broke their ticket sales

records. It was crazy because we came out of nowhere. Before we knew it, we were touring all over the world. And now last year we finally came to America and did Broadway, and became the bestselling magic show in Broadway history. To be able to come back again for an even longer run is really cool.

Do you ever notice the reaction by children is different than adults to some of your acts? If so what do you see? Yes and no; yes, because I do some pretty shocking and outthere type magic tricks. Often times the parents or adults might have a harder time watching whereas the kids are like “That’s so cool!”

What has been the most dangerous segment you have performed? There’s a bit of danger in almost everything I do. It’s not so much short-term danger, but there are things that could potentially produce adverse effects later in life. One trick I’m doing on Broadway with a signed coin could potentially cause blindness later on if I’m not careful.

Where do you see yourself and magic overall in the future? I honestly don’t know and don’t even think about it. I’m taking it as it comes. I just want to be able to have fun doing what I do and hopefully people will continue to enjoy it, and then the snowball continues to build and build… and then I’d be able to go to Disney theme parks whenever and where I want.

What magic does NYC give you? Life. I feel alive here. Again, the energy and people of NYC are the best in the world.

Know somebody who deserves their 15 Minutes of fame? Go to ourtownny. com and click on submit a press release or announcement.

25 To read about other people who have had their “15 Minutes” go to ourtownny.com/15 minutes


26

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

The only holiday gift many New Yorkers will receive this year may be from you.

Answer holiday letters from New Yorkers in need. newyorkcares.org/winterwishes


DECEMBER 10-16,2015

CLASSIFIEDS

ACCOUNTING/FINANCIAL SERVICES

27

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

CHILD CARE

MASSAGE

Telephone: 212-868-0190 Fax: 212-868-0198 Email: classified2@strausnews.com

POLICY NOTICE: We make every eort to avoid mistakes in your classiďŹ ed ads. Check your ad the ďŹ rst week it runs. The publication will only accept responsibility for the ďŹ rst incorrect insertion. The publication assumes no ďŹ nancial responsibility for errors or omissions. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or re-classify any ad. Contact your sales rep directly for any copy changes. All classiďŹ ed ads are pre-paid.

SERVICES OFFERED

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

ANIMALS & PETS EMPLOYMENT

ANTIQUES WANTED

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE ANTIQUES/COLLECTIBLES TUTOR ENTERTAINMENT

TOP PRICES PAID

Chinese Objects Paintings, Jewelry Silver, Furniture, Etc.

CAMPS/SCHOOLS

Entire Estates Purchased VACATIONS

800.530.0006

Antique, Flea & Farmers Market SINCE 1979

East 67th Street Market (between First & York Avenues) Open EVERY Saturday 6am-5pm Rain or Shine Indoor & Outdoor FREE Admission Questions? Bob 718.897.5992 Proceeds BeneďŹ t PS 183

TRI-STATE-CHESS

HEALTH SERVICES

9,6,7 285 6725( 21 7+( ($67 6,'( 72 6(( $// 7+( 0(5&+$1',6( (DVW WK 6WUHHW ‡ 1HZ <RUN &LW\ ‡ ,QIR#7UL6WDWH&KHVV FRP ‡ 7UL6WDWH&KHVV FRP

REAL ESTATE - RENT

WANTED TO BUY

"GUFS 4DIPPM 1SPHSBNT r $IFTT 1JFDFT BOE #PBSET r #PPLT 4FUT r $MPDLT r 4PGUXBSF r 1SJWBUF -FTTPOT r 5PVSOBNFOUT

( 212) 289- 5997

0DMHVWLF7URSKLHV FRP ,QIR#0DMHVWLF7URSKLHV FRP

$ZDUGV IRU $OO 6SRUWV ‡ 7URSKLHV ‡ 3ODTXHV ‡ 0HGDOV

CARS & TRUCKS & RV’S

0HQWLRQ WKLV DG DQG JHW RII DOO PHUFKDQGLVH SERVICES OFFERED PUBLIC NOTICES

New York Traditional Acupuncture 1BJO 3FMJFG t 'BDJBM 3FKVWFOBUJPO 8FJHIU -PTT t %FQSFTTJPO t *OTPNOJB 4USFTT t 4DJBUJDB t "SUISJUJT t "MMFSHZ

Free Consultation 212-355-2988 www.acupunctureon.com

30 E. 60th St, New York, NY (bet Park & Madison Ave)

NEED TO RUN A LEGAL NOTICE? Where students learn from course work, internships and more

GRADUATING READY | PlazaCollege.edu 718.502.6248WORKFORCE

Register Now For January 718.502.6248 | PlazaCollege.edu 118-33 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills

118-33 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills

Quick | Easy | Economical

Call Barry Lewis today at:

212-868-0190

SOHO LT MFG

462 Broadway MFG No Retail/Food +/- 9,000 sf Ground Floor - $90 psf +/- 16,000 sf Cellar - $75 psf Call Farrell @ Meringoff Properties 646.306.0299


28

DECEMBER 10-16,2015

Our Town|Eastsider ourtownny.com

COME HOME TO GLENWOOD

MANHATTAN’S FINEST LUXURY RENTALS

453*,*/(-: *.13&44*7& ".&/*5*&4 "/% 4&37*$&4

INCLUDING FULL SIZE WASHER/DRYER IN SOME RESIDENCES UPPER EAST SIDE 1 BR FROM $2,995, 2 BRS FROM $4,595, 3 BRS/2 BATHS FROM $6,195

MIDTOWN & UPPER WEST SIDE #3 '30. t #34 #"5)4 X 8"4)&3 %3:&3 '30. t #34 #"5)4 '30.

TRIBECA & FINANCIAL DISTRICT #3 '30. t #34 '30. t #34 #"5)4 X 8"4)&3 %3:&3 '30. '3&& 1"3,*/( 8)*-& 7*&8*/( "1"35.&/54 01&/ %":4 ". 1. t /0 '&& 61508/ -&"4*/( 0''*$& %08/508/ -&"4*/( 0''*$&

GLENWOODNYC.COM

Builder | Owner | Manager

Equal Housing Opportunity.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.