The local paper for the Upper er East Side PEERING INSIDE A NEIGHBORHOOD BOOKSTORE Q&A, P. 25
WEEK OF JUNE
19 2014
OURTOWNNY.COM
OurTownEastSide @OurTownNYC
WELCOME TO THE U.E.S., MR. MAYOR SPECIAL REPORT Analyzing how much time de Blasio has spent in his new neighborhood BY MEGAN BUNGEROTH
After months of delay, the de Blasio family is finally packing up for a move to the Upper East Side. To mark the occasion, Our Town put together a gift basket to welm come them d and dropped ty it off at City eek Hall this week hat -- a basket that ovie includes movie tickets for Dante, tips on the closaner est dry cleaner a n d b a r b e r, e of and a bottle e for champagne the mayor and the First Lady to toast their first night in their much swankier new home. While moving apartments is a headache for any New Yorker, the de Blasios may be in for a particularly rough transition. According to an analysis of de Blasio’s official schedule, the mayor spent less than 24 hours on the Upper East Side in his first three months in office, holding fewer meetings there than in Brooklyn or Queens. And when he was in the neighborhood, he tended to stick close to Gracie Mansion. So think of this as an opportunity to explore a new part of the city, Mr. Mayor. And welcome to our neighborhood. A full report on the breakdown of the mayor’s schedule -- plus a more detailed breakdown of what’s in that gift basket -- starts on Page 6.
Summer in the City
WAITING IN LINE FOR SHAKESPEARE BY LORRAINE DUFFY MERKL his is my 34th season waiting on line to see Shakespeare in the Park at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater. Over the past three-plus decades, my husband, Neil, has hung out with me a handful of times; he really doesn’t mind, he reads his book. My 16-year-old daughter, Meg, l loves it. Even though she is not a morning person, to be part of th treasured summer tradithis ti Meg will rise, help carry our tion, ch chairs and blankets to the center of the park, and with the promise of ordering from Andy’s Deli on A Amsterdam Avenue, gladly make a mother-daughter day out it. M 19-year-old son, Luke, My ho however, has gone rogue. Three years ago, the one and only time I convinced him to hang with me, I thought his head would blow off. He could not believe he was wasting his time sitting around. In fact, Luke said he would rather pay somebody to stand there for him or, better yet, just buy a seat. The minute we got our tickets, he grabbed his backpack and started to run towards the Great Lawn to join his friends; Luke’s parting words to me were, “Never again.” Although I, and apparently many others, don’t mind the process for procuring tickets, for which the line can be as entertaining as the play itself, Luke’s viewpoint seems almost what you’d expect from a New Yorker, particularly a native. Which leads me to ask, why is it that in the city that never sleeps, and where everything happens in a
T
In Brief SUCCESS ACADEMY SEEKS TO EXPAND Success Acadamy Charter Schools announced its intention to establish 14 new charter schools in the city. The school network will submit applications to the SUNY Charter Schools Institute, which grants charters for the state, to operate new schools in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Queens. Four applications will be submitted for schools to open in August 2015, including in Manhattan community education districts 2 and 3, and ten applications will be for schools slated to open in August 2016. Success Academy said in a press release that it was responding to the demand they’ve seen in applications for their existing charter schools, having received over 14,400 applications for fewer than 3,000 open seats.
GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
“New York minute,” are so many people standing still? In the opening credits of movies that are set in Manhattan, the camera pans down from the skyline to the busy streets where everyone is walking with purpose to a score that Neil calls “New York hustle and bustle music.” But the reality is that sometimes we’re hustling and bustling to stand on line (never in line, of course) -- and not just for free Shakespeare tickets. Even though we can buy movie tickets at home on the computer, if it’s a really popular film, we find ourselves standing on a line that wraps around the block to get into the theater. We wait at the bus stop, down the subway, in the East Side shopping trifecta of H&M, Sephora
and Barnes & Noble, with their crowd-control stanchions, so that you not only stand and wait, but do so in a restricted area. Further across town, the line waiting at Fairway can put you in such a trance that the store has employees to roust you from your daydream when it’s your turn, and direct you to a cashier. Could it be we’re not the exciting, if-you-blink-you’ll-miss-it, fast-paced city we claim to be? Or perhaps, waiting on line is a New Yorker’s way of taking a welldeserved break. All something to think about, as I take in Lily Rabe as Beatrice and Hamish Linklater as Benedick, in another glorious evening in the park.
Last year, more than half of the murders committed in the state were in New York City. Throughout the month of June, New Yorkers can raise awareness and help reduce the incidence of gun violence by participating in events, activities, and working groups. First Lady Chirlane McCray filmed video and audio PSAs with Council Member Jumaane Williams to encourage New Yorkers to participate in Gun Violence Awareness Month. “Guns have caused so much needless pain and violence in our communities,” said McCray. “We need more voices in the conversation on reducing gun violence, and this begins at the grassroots level. I urge all New Yorkers to take a stand and get involved—there’s too much at stake.” Visit www. gunviolenceawarenessmonth. org for information on how to get involved.
2
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS CHECK RUNAWAY CARRIAGE HORSE IN CENTRAL PARK On the evening of Monday, June 9th, a carriage horse broke loose and ran several down several streets before hitting a taxi cab door. Another carriage operator, Christina Hansen, told NBC News that the horse, Pumpkin, was parked in a hack line on Sixth Avenue and Central Park South. The horse managed to pull of its bridle around 59th Street and took off through
the park. A bicyclist attempted to jump into the front seat to stop the horse, but this caused Pumpkin to only gallop faster before slamming into a cab door on Central Park South. Neither the horse nor any pedestrians were reported injured. Feeding the ongoing debate of whether or not to remove the city’s horse-drawn carriages, groups such as NYCLASS have cited this incident as due cause for the carriages to be removed. NBC News
PARKING ATTENDANT SAVED BY CELEBRITY DOCTOR DNAinfo.com reported that a parking attendant experiencing a stroke was saved by internationally renowned obesity expert Dr. Louis Aronne. The parking attendant at Capital Parking, Errol Mair, knew something was wrong when he felt a jolt in his arm. After Mair cried out for help, his co-workers immediately called an ambulance. After waiting for Pumpkin caused a scene last week when she got loose and galloped around Central Park.
the ambulance for ten minutes, the garage’s manager ran outside to ďŹ nd help, and ended up bumping into Dr. Arrone. Dr. Aronne, who famously diagnosed David Letterman’s heart condition in 2000, parks his car at the garage every day. Recognizing Mair’s stroke symptoms, Dr. Arrone asked that Mair be loaded into the backseat of his car. Mair arrived at Weill Cornell’s emergency room and was immediately treated; he is now on the road to recovery. Mair gives Dr. Louis Aronne full credit for the quick thinking that ultimately saved his life. DNAinfo,com
EXPANSION FOR THE FRICK COLLECTION The New York Times reported that the Frick Collection has plans for expansion. The mansion turned art museum hopes to include a new six-story wing, a private upstairs room and a roof garden. These new additions would increase space by close to a third. The wing would not only provide the Frick with more exhibition space and amenities for visitors, but also physically connect the museum
to its art reference library. Ian Warhopper, the museum’s director, told the newspaper that the Frick has become too small for the crowds that it now draws. The budget has not yet been disclosed, but museum officials are hopeful for construction to begin in 2017. The plans for construction, which have already faced some backlash, must ďŹ rst be approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Many Upper East Siders oppose any changes to the Frick, one of New York’s last extant mansions from the Gilded Age. New York Times
JIM’S SHOE REPAIRS FIGHTS FOR LANDMARK STATUS Family-run businesses, due to rising rent costs, have slowly been fading from Manhattah, but one isn’t going down without a ďŹ ght. Curbed reported that Jim’s Shoe Repairs on East 59th Street is being booted out by their landlord, SL Green, to expand the Duane Reade next door. Jim’s petitioned the Landmarks Preservation Commission to designate the store as a landmark. When the LPC rejected a hearing,
Joseph Rocco, Jr., who runs the shop, ďŹ led to appeal the LPC’s decision with the New York State Supreme Court. Founded in 1932 by Rocco’s grandfather, Jim’s Shoe Repairs has been a staple of the Upper East Side for almost 75 years. The case will be heard on Wednesday, July 30. Curbed
ANTI-WASTE TRANSFER STATION T.V. AD UNVEILED The ďŹ ght over the controversial planned marine waste transfer station at East 91st Street continues with a television campaign, DNAinfo.com reported. In the advertisement sponsored by Pledge 2 Protect, an anti-MTS group, and Asphalt Green, 7-year-old Nissi Kyomukama appears, highlighting several drawbacks of the waste transfer station. Kelly NimmoGuenther, president of Pledge 2 Protect, defended the ad, speciďŹ cally regarding the use of Kyomukama, saying that she is “a great spokesperson precisely because she’s representative of the average Asphalt Green child user.â€? DNAinfo.com
1HZ 7UHDWPHQW IRU &KURQLF )RRW 3DLQ DQG 1HXURSDWK\ Are you experiencing pain, burning, tingling, numbness? Do you have balance issues? Is your neuropathy related to diabetes, chemotherapy, fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, RSD?
&DOO
State-of-the art technology, FDA cleared targeting foot pain and neuropathy Covered by MEDICARE and most insurances.
FOOT NEUROPATHY TREATMENT CENTER NYC 54 North Plank Road Newburgh, NY
1007 Route 82 Hopewell, NY
455 Central Park Ave. #206 Scarsdale, NY
333 East 34th Street, 1E New York, NY
3DLQ 5HOLHI 7UHDWPHQW FRP
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
3
CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG PAK WHACKS
UNREAL ESTATE
19TH PRECINCT
Two more Upper East Side residents were defrauded in notorious Green Dot Moneypak scams. At 1 PM on Tuesday, June 10, a 60-year-old woman received a call from someone claiming to be an IRS agent. The caller threatened her with arrest if she did not pay $1,500 right away by means of three $500 Green Dot Moneypak cards. Then at 12:30 PM on Friday, June 13, a 39-year-old woman received a phone call from an unknown person professing to represent a company called the Lending Group. The caller claimed that she owed the company $2,000 and would get in trouble if she did not pay $275 using Green Dot Moneypak cards immediately.
A woman was cheated out of money when attempting to secure an apartment. In the period between May 1 and May 20, a woman spoke to two different people about renting a particular Upper East Side apartment. She was asked first to wire $6,000 as a deposit on the property and later to wire an additional $8,000, representing the first two months’ rent. The woman told police that she realized she had been taken for a total of $14,000 when she discovered that the two people were not authorized agents for the apartment.
Report covering the week 6/2/2014 through 6/8/2014
CHECK WRECK
POLICE ADVISORY:GREEN DOT PREPAID DEBIT CARD PHONE SCAMS
With the availability of Prepaid Debit Cards, criminals have developed new Someone wrote a fraudulent check against an area resident’s bank account. ways to steal from the public: a) A caller informs the victim that A 31-year-old man was reviewing his they owe back taxes to the IRS and Chase Bank account online when he must make immediate payment with a discovered that a check for $7,952 Green Dot MoneyPak. had been cashed against his account. b) A caller claims that the victim’s He advised the bank that the check family member had a car accident, and was fraudulent, as he had the genuine the caller threatens physical violence check with the same number in his unless immediate reimbursement is possession. Police said there is an made with a Green Dot MoneyPak. ongoing investigation into the matter. c) A caller posing as a utility company representative demands immediate payment by Green Dot MoneyPak, or
Week to Date
Year to Date
2014 2013
% Change
2014
2013
% Change
Murder
0
0
n/a
0
0
n/a
Rape
0
0
n/a
3
1
200
Robbery
0
2
-100
35
40
-12.5
Felony Assault
4
2
100
45
44
2.3
Burglary
0
4
-100
85
77
10.4
Grand Larceny
24
27
-11.1
540
659
-18.1
Grand Larceny Auto
2
0
n/a
26
23
13
the victim’s electricity or gas will be turned off. Crime Prevention Tips Be suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason. Remember that anyone who has the number on a Green Dot MoneyPak card
has access to the funds on the card. NEVER give out personal or financial information to anyone who emails or calls you unsolicited. NEVER wire money or provide debit, credit card, or Green Dot MoneyPak card numbers to someone you do not
know. Utility companies and government agencies will NOT contact you demanding immediate payment by MoneyPak.
QUARTERS DON’T MAKE YOUR WASHING MACHINE WORK. ELECTRICITY DOES. It’s easy to forget how important electricity is to our daily lives. But rest assured, Orange & Rockland never does. Of course, all that reliability doesn’t come cheap. So we offer more than 100 money-saving tips on our website. Like washing your clothes with cold water and not over-drying them. We even have energy calculators, so you can estimate how much those changes can save you. After all, doing the laundry shouldn’t clean out your wallet. For more tips, visit oru.com/100Tips and follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
4
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
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
FDNY Engine 53/Ladder 43
1836 2nd Ave.
311
FDNY Engine 44
221 E. 75th St
311
FIRE
CITY COUNCIL Councilmember Daniel Garodnick
211 E. 43rd St. #1205
212-818-0580
Councilmember Ben Kallos
244 E. 93rd St.
212-860-1950
A NEW FRONT IN TENANT WAR NEWS Rent regulated tenants suspect that major capital increases are being used to push them out BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS
STATE LEGISLATORS 157 E. 104 St.
212-828-5829
State Senator Liz Krueger
1850 2nd Ave.
212-490-9535
Assembly Member Dan Quart
360 E. 57th St.
212-605-0937
Assembly Member Micah Kellner
1365 1st Ave.
212-860-4906
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.
Webster Library
1465 York Avenue
212-288-5049
Lenox Hill
100 E. 77th St.
212-434-2000
NY-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell
525 E. 68th St.
212-746-5454
Mount Sinai
E. 99th St. & Madison Ave.
212-241-6500
NYU Langone
550 1st Ave.
212-263-7300
CON EDISON
4 Irving Place
212-460-4600
212-734-1717
HOSPITALS
POST OFFICES US Post Office
1283 1st Ave.
212-517-8361
US Post Office
1617 3rd Ave.
212-369-2747
HOW TO REACH US: 212-868-0190 nyoffice@strausnews.com ourtownny.com
TO SUBSCRIBE: Our Town is available for free on the east side of Manhattan in select buildings, retail locations and news boxes. If you would like to subscribe it’s just $75 per year. Call 212-868-0190 or go online to Straus News.com and click on the photo of the paper or mail a check to Straus Media, 20 West Ave., Chester, NY 10918
NEWS ITEMS: To report a news story, call 212-8680190. News releases of general interest must be emailed to our offices by 12noon the Thursday prior to publication to be considered for the following week. Send to nyoffice@strausnews.com.
CALENDAR ITEMS: Information for inclusion in the Out and About section should be emailed to hoodhappenings@strausnews.com no later than two weeks before the event.
for veriďŹ cation. Letters that cannot be veriďŹ ed will not be published. We reserve the right to editor or condense letters for libel, good taste, grammar and punctuation. Send your letter to nyoffice@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 reective of the best we each have to offer.
TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: Call 212-868-0190. ClassiďŹ ed ads must be in our office by 2pm the Friday before publication, except on holidays. All classiďŹ ed ads are payable in advance.
ABOUT US Our Town is published weekly by Straus Media-Manhattan. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Straus Media-Manhattan, 20 West Ave., Chester, NY 10918.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
PREVIOUS OWNERS HAVE INCLUDED:
Include your full name, address and day and evening telephone numbers
Tom Allon, Isis Ventures, Ed Kayatt, Russ Smith, Bob Trentlyon, Jerry Finkelstein
UPPER WEST SIDE Stonehenge Village is an apartment complex spread out over three addresses on West 97th and 96th streets. The complex was in the news earlier this year for being one of a handful of places on the Upper West Side to bar rent-regulated tenants from accessing amenities like the ďŹ tness center. Stonehenge residents said such policies amount to segregation, and are used as an intimidation tactic to pressure rent regulated tenants out of their homes. Recently those tenants met to decide whether they would ďŹ ght a different kind of tactic they say is aimed at the same goal of deregulating their units: major capital increases. On paper, an MCI is a necessary infrastructure upgrade to a building, often costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, which is spread out in relatively nominal monthly fees to each tenant in the building over a number of years. At Stonehenge, residents have seen three MCIs in the
Sue Susman, tenants’ rights advocate
past three years, all of which the rent regulated tenants say were unnecessary. In 2012, the elevator system in 135 West 96th Street was upgraded, at a cost of $15 extra per month for each tenant living in the building. Last year, the building switched over to metered electricity – another MCI – meaning residents paid their own electric in a separate bill to the landlord, Stonehenge Management LLC, who does not disclose the rates at which they’re charged, according to the tenant association’s legal liaison Sol Magzamen. Of the 400 or so units at Stonehenge Village, about 60 percent are rent regulated, according to tenant association president Jean Green Dorsey This year, the boiler that provides heat to Stonehenge was replaced by a top of the line model at a cost of $10 a month
German
Children
for
State Sen. Jose M. Serrano
Increases of $100, even over three years, can put the most vulnerable tenants out of their homes.�
After School Program NY State Accredited Language Program Low Tuition Minimum Age: 4 Years No Previous German Necessary Classes Meet Once a Week Playgroup Age 4-5 From 4:30-6:15 ,JOEFSHBSUFO "HF t 0UIFS $MBTTFT "HFT 'PVS DPOWFOJFOU MPDBUJPOT JO UIF (SFBUFS /FX :PSL "SFB 3JEHFXPPE 2VFFOT .BOIBUUBO /: Franklin Square, Garden City.
Classes start second week in September For more information see: www.German-American-School.org
Deutschunterricht seit 1897 or call 212-787-7543
per bedroom in a given unit. All told, Stonehenge residents are paying anywhere from about $30 to $70 extra per month, depending on the building they live in and the number of bedrooms in their apartment. Nominal, maybe, but a hit for some longtime residents nonetheless. “There are people in the building who are living on social security and have ďŹ xed incomes, and they’re on the edge,â€? said Magzamen. “If they’re in a three bedroom apartment that’s $30 a month, and there are people living here who have been here since 1968.â€? Regardless, enough residents were feeling the pinch that a decision had to be made on whether to take the issue to court. “It’s a little scary when your income is fixed and these things come bouncing in,â€? said Dorsey at the tenants association meeting. Besides, there’s no telling how many MCIs Stonehenge Management LLC will push for, said Sonia Garcia, a tenants association board member who lives at 120 West 97th Street. “This is just one MCI,â€? said Garcia of the boiler upgrade. “There’s going to be more.â€? According to Councilman Mark Levine, the facts are often on the side of tenants when landlords come looking to implement an MCI. Indeed, there are stringent rules governing when an MCI can be imposed on tenants - from when they’re allowed to replace plumbing fixtures to the useful life of vinyl siding. Landlords can replace those things whenever they want, but can only pass the cost onto tenants through an MCI if they’re replacing a piece of infrastructure that’s been worn out over a number of years set by the state. “But that doesn’t mean landlords aren’t using MCIs as a way to intimidate tenants,â€? said Levine, who didn’t discuss the Stonehenge case specifically, but said that his office is hearing similar reports from tenants in the district who feel MCIs are being used as a tool in the arsenal of deregulation. “There’s no doubt that landlords in some cases are overly aggressive in making capital improvements because they can pass the costs on to tenants who might not feel they even need whatever the im-
provements are. Why would a landlord do that? It can be tactic to price existing tenants out of the building. It can also get them closer to the $2,500 threshold.â€? In New York, once a rent regulated apartment is brought over t he $2 , 50 0/mont h threshold, and is vacated, its regulated status is automatically revoked and the unit goes market rate. If the apartment is brought over the $2,500 threshold and the regulated tenant remains in the unit, a landlord can de-regulate the apartment by proving the tenants make over $200,000. Levine said he sees overly aggressive capital projects all the time, “which are only justiďŹ ed because the landlord wants to pass on the costs to tenants.â€? “Unfortunately, this is going to be an escalating struggle,â€? said Levine. “The Upper West Side in general, and my district specifically, is caught in a vice of rising real estate values in a neighborhood with a huge number of rent stabilized units.â€? Levine said his district is “ground zero for the struggle where landlords are trying to find ways to push people out, and MCIs are one tool they’re employing.â€? This view of MCIs as a weapon is supported by David Frazer, a tenants’ rights lawyer who said he’s seen a number of these cases. “Certainly, landlords use MCIs to jack up the rent. Indeed, the purpose of MCIs is to induce landlords to do exactly that, on the theory that it is improving the city’s housing stock,â€? said Frazer, who also allowed that landlords are bound by strict state law. “But once the boiler or other item is outside the useful life term, the landlord has a right to obtain the MCI whether it objectively needs replacing or not.â€? Back at the Stonehenge tenants meeting, the question of whether to ďŹ ght the boiler MCI in court wasn’t a difficult one, even though it’s going to cost rent regulated tenants about $9,500 in legal fees, according to Dorsey’s estimate. “We can give our money to the tenants association [to ďŹ ght the boiler MCI], or we can give it to Stonehenge,â€? said one rent regulated tenant who favored the fighting chance a court battle offers. “Either way, we’re going to pay.â€?
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
PC vs. Mac Computer & Internet Basics Excel e-books
typing
FREE COMPUTER CLASSES TEENS
social media Job Search & Resume Help SENIORS
PowerPoint
clases de computación en español MS Word
睛同揔䝮Ĺ⛢撻揔
Photoshop
e-mail e-readers
Video & Web Design
Skype
ADULTS
iPads
coding
Learn something new today! Free computer classes for all ages and skill levels at The New York Public Library. The Library’s TechConnect program offers more than 80 different classes in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, near where you live or work. Learn new skills from Internet and computer basics to finding a job online, or master essential computer office programs, photo editing, and even coding.
LEARN MORE nypl.org/LearnToday 917-ASK-NYPL (917-275-6975) NYPL Tech Connect
Visit your local library for class schedules or check out one of our TechConnect Training Labs in Manhattan: Columbus Library 742 10th Avenue 212-586-5098
Countee Cullen Library 104 West 136th Street 212-491-2070
5
6
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
HUNTER COLLEGE WELCOMES MAYOR BILL de BLASIO TO THE UPPER EAST SIDE. WE ARE PLEASED THAT THE MAYOR & HIS FAMILY HAVE DECIDED TO LIVE IN GRACIE MANSION, THE OFFICIAL MAYORAL RESIDENCE SINCE 1942. HUNTER COLLEGE, ONE OF THE OLDEST PUBLIC COLLEGES IN THE UNITED STATES, HAS BEEN PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR 144 YEARS. HUNTER’S STUDENT BODY IS AS DIVERSE AS NEW YORK CITY ITSELF. ITS 23,000 STUDENTS COME FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE AND EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD. HUNTER’S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO GRADUATE SCHOOL TO ENABLE THEM TO PURSUE THE AMERICAN DREAM. WE HOPE OUR NEW NEIGHBORS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO VISIT OUR CAMPUS TO SEE WHY PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLED HUNTER “ONE OF THE BEST COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY.” JENNIFER J. RAAB PRESIDENT, HUNTER COLLEGE Learn more about Hunter’s degree and non-degree programs at: www.hunter.cuny.edu/academics/majors www.hunter.cuny.edu/ceprograms
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
7
WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, MR. MAYOR Our Town’s welcome gift as de Blasio and family prepare to move to the East Side
REPORT ON THE WASTE TRANSFER STATION The Mayor is going to be hearing a lot about this project from his neighbors -who overwhelmingly oppose it. Here’s a good summary of the reasons why, from the group Pledge 2 Protect
OUR TOWN’S SUMMER GUIDE AND USEFUL CONTACTS PAGE Both of them indispensible. We went to the trouble of having the Useful Contacts page laminated, in case the Mayor needs to quickly find the number for the nearest library or post office.
TAKEOUT FROM EAST END KITCHEN HALF-BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE The Mayor and First Lady have plenty to celebrate So, for their first night in their swanky new home, we’ve provided a half-bottle of bubbly, picked up at the East End Wine Exchange, 68 East End Ave.
The apricot and black fig salad sounds vaguely Park Slope-y, which we thought might help ease the transition to the new neighborhood. At 81st Street off of East End Avenue
CLOSEST DRY CLEANER THE CLOSEST BODEGA An important late-night tip: the closest deli is the Yorkk Deli (note the creative spelling), at York Ave. and 88th Street. We bought this cookie there. Delivery is free with a $10 minimum.
We haven’t personally tried Gracie Mansion Cleaners, at York Ave. and 88th Street, but the name seemed right.
INSIDER’S NEW YORK GUIDEBOOK
WHERE TO GET A HAIRCUT Unique Cut at First Avenue and 85 St., is close and no appointment is needed. “Get a good haircut and feel great today!” Unique promises -- though not on Saturday, when, the owner advises, the place is closed for the Sabbath.
We stopped in at the independent Logos bookstore, at York Ave. and 84th Street, and bought the mayor a copy of “I Never Knew That About New York.” Check out the Gracie Mansion entry, in the Upper East Side section, which begins, “It feels like the end of the world here.”
BAGEL FROM BAGEL BOB’S
MOVIE PASSES FOR DANTE Sure, Gracie Mansion is nice, but every teenager needs a break from his parents. We’ve kicked in $20 for a movie at City Cinemas, 86th St. and Third Ave. -- plus a bag of overpriced Skittles.
A couple of blocks from the mansion, at York Avenue and 86th Street, the de Blasio’s have a one-two punch of dining options: Bagel Bob’s (“Made the Old-Fashioned Way”) or The Mansion diner.
8
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS MAYOR DE BLASIO? Not on the Upper East Side, according to an analysis of his schedule BY MEGAN BUNGEROTH
As the de Blasio family prepares to move into Gracie Mansion in coming weeks, the mayor will want to spend some time familiarizing himself with his adopted neighborhood, considering how little time he’s spent here since being elected. According to an Our Town analysis of his official schedule, Mayor de Blasio spent less than 24 hours on the Upper East Side in his ďŹ rst three months in ofďŹ ce. The mayor’s schedule shows a total of 15 meetings in the neighborhood in the ďŹ rst quarter of this year, fewer than in Brooklyn or in Queens. Most of his time in the neighborhood – 21 hours and 35 minutes over
three months– were at official events held at Gracie Mansion: inauguration ceremonies, meals with VIPs like Harry Belafonte and former Mayor David Dinkins. De Blasio ventured outside of Gracie Mansion only a handful of times over the course of his first 90 days in office. While de Blasio’s absence from the Upper East Side may be awkward, considering he’s about to live here, it’s not entirely a surprise. The neighborhood is one of the few parts of New York City lost by de Blasio in his sweeping win over his Republican opponent, Joe Lhota. Almost from the beginning, his relationship with the neighborhood has been rocky. Many local residents hold a grudge against him for his support of the East 91st Street waste transfer station, which they see as a looming
The Frick Collection welcomes Mayor de Blasio and family to the Upper East Side.
The Frick Collection 1 East 70th Street New York, NY 10021 t GSJDL PSH
environmental disaster. Then, this winter, when the Upper East Side suffered from a lack of snow plow coordination during some of the winter’s worst storms, some residents blamed political payback. “The Upper East Side is hostile territory� to de Blasio, said political analyst and Baruch College public affairs professor Doug Muzzio. “The Upper East Side is the home of the one percent, and the one percent of the one percent, so his message doesn’t necessarily resonate with them.� Muzzio said that it’s tough to speculate about de Blasio’s schedule without comparing it to previous mayors, as well as looking at a longer-term sample, but acknowledged that if he is hesitant to venture to the Upper East Side, it wouldn’t be
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Experience the museum that is a masterpiece.
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
MAYOR TRACKER: WHERE DE BLASIO SPENT HIS FIRST THREE MONTHS IN OFFICE Number of meetings on his official schedule, by location
carino on second Blending Traditional Italian Favorites with Contemporary Accents
Welcomes
Manhattan • Upper 88 Manhattan 18
Mayor Bill de Blasio Chirlane McCray and family to the East Side and fine Italian Dining of
carino on second 1710 2nd Avenue
(Between 88th & 89th Street)
212.860.0566 www.carino2nd.com
• U.W.S. 7 • U.E.S. 15
The East 83/84th Street Block Association • Midtown 29
• Downtown 19
Bronx 8 Queens 11 Brooklyn 39
Staten Island 8
Founded in 1973: 16 Blocks from 2nd to 5th Avenue
WELCOMES Mayor Bill de Blasio to Yorkville the City’s once internationally famous landmark and lost era, known as Yorkville/German Town Kathy Jolowicz, President
9
10
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
Where in the Neighborhood was Bill de Blasio?
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS MAYOR DE BLASIO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 shocking. “Does he want to go up there and take abuse over the garbage transfer station, for example?” Muzzio said. “Has he been invited up there? There are so many variables.” We counted the number of “events” on Mayor de Blasio’s official schedule, not the number of items listed. For example, if he arrived at a church in Brooklyn and was scheduled for a meet-and-greet with the pastor, followed by attending a service, and then a photo op with congregants, we counted that as one single “event,” not three. In January, the mayor had more events in the Bronx than he did on the Upper East Side. In February, de Blasio had six events (within 4 differ-
Gracie Mansion Private residence, 834 5th Avenue
21 hours, 35 minutes Total time de Blasio spent on the Upper East Side ent days) in the neighborhood, all also at Gracie Mansion. In March, the mayor stepped outside his future doorstep and ventured to 5th Avenue for a private dinner with President Obama, as well as a march in the Greek Independence Day parade, a visit to the Citizens Budget Commission meeting, and a stop by the Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Houses on East 93rd Street. Unsurprisingly, most of the mayor’s official business is conducted at City Hall, but he spends roughly a third of his work time, on average, outside his downtown office; in his first three months, we counted 538 events, 197 of which were around the five boroughs.
Stanley Isaacs House Courtyard, 415 E. 93rd Street The Pierre, 2 E. 61st Street Fifth Avenue for parade
SHARED OFFICES PARK AVENUE
Your PARK AVENUE office. Ready when you are. Great offices. Great reception team, IT & secretarial support. The BEST answering service. High speed internet. Fully flexible plans - expand or retract as you like. Private Offices from $2,400/month Business Virtual Office from $99/month • • • •
Private Offices Corner/Exterior/Interior Business Address Virtual Offices
• • • •
Conference Rooms Corporate Setting Instant Activation Ferrari Building
®
city.office The smart shortcut
Park Avenue • 212-231-8500 • www.410park.com 410 Park Avenue, Floor 15, New York, NY 10022
The mayor and First Lady are moving into a neighborhood he did not win. Photo courtesy Mayor’s Office Flickr
WELCOME Bake Shop Family owned and operated
To The Mayor and His Family Welcome to the neighborhood that we have called home since 1902! 212-289-2562
1670 1st Ave. at 87th Street NYC
1560 Second Avenue at 81st Street
212.517.9888 (9889) Mon - Sun 11AM - 11PM
WE DELIVER AND CATER
MAYOR de Blasio
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
REACH
MANHATTAN + “THE BURBS”
Manhattan
PA
TARGET JUST THE AUDIENCE YOU WANT The local paper for Downtown own
The local paper for the Upper per West Side Sid
The local paper for the Upper er East Side
are now part of
STRAUSNEWS
Award winning weekly newspapers blanketing towns in the NY-NJ-PA border
strausnews.com Call your account executive today
(212) 868-0190
11
12
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
More CUNY Master’s Program Success Stories Hire Prospects in Public Service
Michael Johnson
Master of Political Science The CUNY Graduate Center
Fatima Shama
Senior Advisor to the General Manager NYC Housing Authority
Master of Public Administration School of Public Affairs, Baruch College
Vice President, Strategic Development and External Affairs Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn
Outstanding Graduate Programs at 13 Colleges in All Five Boroughs Graduate School 101 Wednesday, July 9, 2014, 5:30 – 7 p.m. 205 East 42nd St., Room 818 BARUCH COLLEGE t BROOKLYN COLLEGE t CITY COLLEGE t HUNTER COLLEGE t JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE t LEHMAN COLLEGE t THE CUNY GRADUATE CENTER t CUNY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH t COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND t CUNY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM t CUNY SCHOOL OF LAW t SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES t QUEENS COLLEGE
Register now at cuny.edu/grad
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
Voices
< IN DEFENSE OF AIR BNB A comment from the web on our story “Air BnB-eware,” May 15, 2014: Even during the worst economy since the Great Depression, landlords were consistently given rate increases that were larger than when the economy was booming during the Clinton era. Instead of trying to destroy something
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MAYOR DE BLASIO MOVING TO MANHATTAN? “He’s doing his best not to alienate people, but from what I hear he’s struggling to balance people’s needs. I hope he continues to focus on lower-income housing.” Joyce
“I didn’t vote for him. He seems like he’s making a good effort, though he’s alienated another part of the population. I wish him well. His housing proposal sounds interesting.” Shereen
that works, that people enjoy, and that helps average New Yorkers make ends meet in an ever increasingly financially unforgiving city, why not embrace a good idea and find ways to make it work? Air BnB also provides visitors who might otherwise not be able to afford New York’s outrageous hotel prices, and draconian and
unreasonable occupancy taxes, the ability to come and enjoy our great city, as well as have an authentic neighborhood experience as opposed to a sterile and far from charming cookie cutter hotel stay. I’ll never understand people who stand in the way of innovation and attempt to destroy good ideas. Christopher Jared Demers
OP-ED
GET THE BLUE BIKES OUT OF THE RED A few ideas to bail out Citi Bike
where the kiosks are, but not every rider has a smart phone that can run it. Citi Bike needs to create a paper map that can be given out at hotels and at the bike kiosks.
BY CHARLES GROSS
Citi Bikes, New York City’s public biking program, may well be the city’s best transport innovation since the subway. The program is a hit with residents, so much in fact that Citi Bike is a victim of its own success. Unlike the subway, Citi Bike receives no government subsidies. In addition to the yearly pass, you can also buy a day pass for $9.95 or a weekly pass for $25.00. While the yearly pass has been a major hit with locals (yours truly included), the blue bikes are in the red because not enough daily and weekly passes are being sold to visitors and tourists. So how can Citi bike sell more daily and weekly passes? Here are a few ideas:
Ease of use A yearly rider who wants a Citi Bike merely has to insert a key into the kiosk. It gets a little more complicated for a daily/weekly user. Each time they want to take out a bike, they have to insert their credit card into the kiosk, wait for a pass code and then punch the code into the kiosk holding the bike. Here again, local hotels could be the solution. While it is not possible to send keys to daily/weekly users, why not give the hotel reprogrammable keys that could be distributed to guests using Citi Bike? The keys could be returned when the guests leave and reprogrammed.
Give the rider more time
“I like him. I’m excited to see what he can do. It’s exciting that there’s a new mayor. It’s the dawn of a new era.” Nina
“Actually I hadn’t voted for him, but I’m satisfied with what he’s doing. I thought he was just doing a liberal talk, but it looks like he’s actually doing it.” Renée
13
A daily/weekly user can only keep a bike out for 30 minutes at a time. (A yearly key holder gets 45 minutes). After that he must either return the bike or face additional fees. Ironically after the bike’s put back in its kiosk, the same user can take it right back out and keep riding for another half hour at no additional charge. The time limits are fine for yearly users who generally just want to get from here to there. A tourist however, wants to explore. They want to lose themselves in the city. This is hard to do if you have to worry about checking a bike in every 30 minutes. The solution? Let daily/weekly users
STRAUS MEDIA-MANHATTAN President, Jeanne Straus nyoffice@strausnews.com
Group Publisher - Manhattan Vincent A. Gardino advertising@strausnews.com
Distribution Manager, Mark Lingerman
Publisher, Gerry Gavin
keep their bike out for 3 hours at times. Yes, Citi Bike may lose some overtime fees, but they will more than make up for that with the additional business.
would be a good place to start. In addition, Citi Bike needs to have more kiosks outside hotels and train the hotels’ concierges so they can easily explain the bike program to their guests.
Bring the bikes to the tourists Right now, Citi Bikes kiosks only go up to 60th Street in Manhattan. This means that many prime tourist attractions such as the Met and the Museum of Natural History are inaccessible by Citi Bike. Governor’s Island, a great place to explore by bike, also lacks a kiosk. Citi Bike is planning to expand, and popular tourist destinations
Associate Publishers, Seth L. Miller, Ceil Ainsworth, Kate Walsh Classified Account Executive, Susan Wynn
There’s a map for that (or there should be) Nothing is more frustrating than trying to find a parking space in the city, but trying to find a kiosk can come close. Citi Bike did a good job of placing their kiosks below 60th Street, but you still have to find them. Citi Bike currently has a website and an app to show riders
Editor In Chief, Kyle Pope editor.ot@strausnews.com Editor, Megan Bungeroth editor.otdt@strausnews.com
Sponsors Finally, Citi Bike needs to find additional sponsors. Yes Citi Bank has the prime spot, but they also have the prime spot at Citi Field, and that does not prevent the stadium from having signs from other sponsors all over the place. Citi Bike has kiosks in a high traffic city and is planning more. This is prime adverting space. Hey, it works for bus stops. Charles Gross is the Director of Commercial Leasing for Phipps Houses and the host of “Two On The Aisle,” a TV show covering Broadway.
Staff Reporters, Gabrielle Alfiero, Daniel Fitzsimmons Block Mayors, Ann Morris, Upper West Side
Jennifer Peterson, Upper East Side Gail Dubov, Upper West Side Edith Marks, Upper West Side
14
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
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$)*$%*'
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.
SEAN CASEY ANIMAL RESCUE & NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA
ADOPT A PET Petco
1280 Lexington Ave. (at E. 86th & E. 87th St.) New York, NY SAT JUNE ' AnimalLeague.org 1.877.4.SAVE.PET
Like us on
Out & About 20 ALARM WILL SOUND: I WAS HERE I WAS I Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave 7 p.m.; $60 A 19th-century woman sails down the Nil1e discovering beauty and brutality in equal measure. Two Nubian brothers drown in the river, setting in motion a chain of events that will see their temple saved from a similar fate millennia later. A contemporary tourist confronts The Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing on Fifth Avenue. Generations seek to control memory and secure their place in history. Inspired in part by the writings of Victorian adventurer Amelia Edwards, I Was Here I Was I is an immersive experience, using spoken text, song, and music. metmuseum.org
his retirement. During this time, guests will have the opportunity to listen to Derek Jeter talk about his career while having one of his good friends and teammates with him. Each ticket at $100 for this event includes a $50 Steiner Sports Gift Card to be picked up when you arrive. 92y.org
21
C
YOUR FOOD SCRAPS at Greenmarket
Drop oďŹ&#x20AC; household fruit and vegetable scraps at
82nd Street Greenmarket
Saturdays, 9amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;1pm, 82nd St b/t 1st and York
92nd Street Greenmarket Sundays, 9amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;1pm, 92nd St & 1st Ave
www.GrowNYC.org/compost | 212.788.7964
NEW YORK OPERA FORUM PERFORMS MASSENETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WERTHER 96th Street Library, 112 East 96th Street 1 p.m.; Free New York Opera Forum performs the complete opera of Werther by Jules Massenet. A live musical recital performed in concert with piano accompaniment. The musical program is cosponsored with New York Opera Forum which was founded by Richard Nechamkin in 1983 to give classically trained singers the opportunity to learn and perform standard operatic repertoire in the original languages. nypl.org
DEREK JETER AND TINO MARTINEZ
GrowNYC and DSNY Food Scrap Compost Program A program partnership between the City of New York, the NYC Department of Sanitation, GrowNYC, and community partners.
92Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd St 6 p.m.; $100 Steiner Sports will be hosting a private event with Derek Jeter and Tino Martinez in his ďŹ rst appearance since announcing
22 WHAT RESEARCH TEACHES US ABOUT FINDING LOVE 92Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd St 7 p.m.; $20 Much of what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re taught about how to date is not only superďŹ cial and demeaning; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downright wrong! Ken Page, LCSW, shares exciting research ďŹ ndings from some of the most respected thinkers in the ďŹ eld of attractionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;new ideas that might change the way you think about dating forever. The workshop ends with time for
mingling and discussion. 92y.org
BUIKA + MARQUES TOLIVER SUMMER STAGE PERFORMANCE Rumsey PlayďŹ eld, Central Park, 5th Ave. & 72nd 7 p.m.;Free Buika has experienced a meteoric rise, earning lavish praise from The New York Times, The Miami Herald, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as NPR which quickly included her in their 50 Great Voices radio gallery. Has been compared to Nina Simone, Chavela Vargas, and Cesaria Evora, Marques Toliver seemed to burst onto the scene via the UK with an arresting television performance in 2010, and a declaration from Adele as her new favorite artist, summerstage.donyc.com
23 COMMUNITY BOARD 8 SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY TASK FORCE New York Blood Center, 310 East 67th Street (FirstSecond), Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.; Free Discussion of opening 3rd Avenue and 63rd Street entrance for access to the F-line prior to revenue service on the 2nd Avenue Subway Line. cb8m.com
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
24 SUMMER GARDEN CONCERT SERIES: CELTIC FIDDLER CADY FINLAYSON Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden, 421 East 61st Street 6 p.m.; $16 Cady Finlayson, dynamic Irish fiddler, teams up with French guitarist Vita Tanga for a performance that blends Celtic favorites with American folk and world music influences. mvhm.org
personal growth and vocational clarity. Free wine reception. fiaf.org
25 ANTIQUE TEXTILES 979 Third Avenue at 59th Street, Lobby 6 p.m. $20 Join decorator Marina Case from The Red Shutters on a private tour of the Decoration & Design Building, highlighting showrooms rich in antique wallpaper and textile designs.
7 p.m.; Free Enjoy one free Zumba, Zumba Toning, Aqua Zumba, or Zumba Sentao class (valued at $20). New clients only. alysons.zumba.com; nydanceweek.org
NEW YORK’S WORLD FAIRS ON EXHIBIT The Arsenal Gallery, Central Park, 830 Fifth Avenue, At 64th Street and 5th Avenue 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Free In celebration of the 50th and 75th anniversaries of the World’s Fairs, Tomorrow’s World will include never before exhibited vintage images from the Parks Photo Archive and private collections that illustrate
CLOTHING & TEXTILES a t GR E EN M A RK E T
82nd Street Greenmarket Saturdays, 9am–2pm, 82nd St b/t 1st & York
92nd Street Greenmarket Sundays, 9am–1pm, 92nd St & 1st Ave We accept clean and dry textiles like clothing, paired shoes, coats, linens, scarves, hats, bags and belts. Materials will be sorted for reuse or recycling.
www.GrowNYC.org/clothing 212.788.7964 GrowNYC’s Office of Recycling Outreach and Education is a NYC Department of Sanitation funded program
The
GOODBYE FIRST LOVE FIAF, Florence Gould Hall ,55 East 59th Street 4/7:30 p.m.; $13 The third feature from Hansen-Løve is a beautifully rendered coming-of-age story and an open and honest look at first love—from its glorious beginning to its painful aftermath, and beyond. A semiautobiographical tale, the film shows how the loss of one’s first love creates the space for
Afterward return to the Museum for refreshments and discussion. mvhm.org
26 NY DANCE WEEK: ZUMBA BY ALYSON
the dynamic evolution and conversion of a vast industrial wasteland into New York City’s fourth largest park. The World’s Fairs propelled this transformation, while serving as defining social and cultural events for two generations. The show will also include memorabilia, as well as two zodiac animals from Paul Manship’s vandalized Armillary Sphere from the second fair. nycgovparks.org
le: Puzz Marble’s Theatre
Festival
315 East 86th Street (btwn 2nd & 1st Avenues)
An Inspiring Week of Theatre Classes and Exciting New Plays and Musicals.
Mon. June 23 to Sat. June 28
Dr. Michael B. Brown, Senior Minister 1 West 29th St. NYC, NY 10001 (212) 686-2770
www.MarbleChurch.org
15
16
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
THE FUTURE IS NOW ART A sweeping exhibition of Italian Futurism at the Guggenheim BY MARY GREGORY
UPPER EAST SIDE Just about a hundred years ago, at the birth of Modernism, artists like Picasso, Braque and Matisse were just starting to become accepted. PostImpressionism, Cubism and Fauvism, while still on a tentative footing with the general public, had already become accepted and eagerly sought by serious collectors and museums. A group of young Italian artists decided that Modern was just not up-to-date enough and joined together to explore a new style of work. They called themselves the Futurists. As can be seen at the Guggenheim’s extensive, comprehensive and thoughtfully and expertly curated exhibition, Futurism was an artistic force with notable weight at the beginning of the 20th century and far reaching influence past its own time and place. It traveled to Paris and beyond and widely influenced the era, particularly in Italy, through art, fashion, design, advertising and popular culture, as can be seen in the range of works in the exhibition, from paintings and sculptures to clothing to Campari ads. The early 1900s was a time of unprecedented technological advancement. In just a few decades at the beginning of the 20th century, automobiles became common, airplanes were invented, homes were electrified and fitted with telephones. Movies came, then talkies, jazz. The sleek, shining 20th Century Limited whisked passengers from Chicago to New York in a day, and you could cross the Atlantic in under a week. These were things the previous generation never would have imagined. The Futurists sought to both embrace and capture this frenzied pace of life. They applied their ideas to art, literature, music, architecture, fashion, and design, trying to spread their vision and their mission. And, proving that not all ideas are good ideas, they published manifestos. The original Futurist Manifesto, written by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, proudly an-
nounced, “We want to glorify war -- the only hygiene of the world -- militarism, patriotism, … and the scorn of woman. We want to demolish museums, libraries, fight against moralism, feminism.” Movements that scorn and exclude half their audience, (indeed, half the world) generally do not flourish. And when seen in context, the Futurists, whose divided, spinning, cut and reassembled world view arrived a few years after Cubists like Picasso and Braque had made their statements and changed the art world forever, may seem a bit behind their own times. The Guggenheim has given the entire rotunda to the exhibition, the first comprehensive overview of Futurism to be shown in the United States. “Italian Futurism, 1909–1944: Reconstructing the Universe” features over 360 works. Some have never before been seen outside of Italy. While there are many masterworks on view, like Umberto Boccioni’s “Unique Forms of Continuity in Space” and Giacomo Balla’s “Abstract Speed + Sound,” both iconic works of the 20th century, some of the most fascinating things on exhibit are those that give an idea of the breadth and popularity of the movement. Furniture, antipasti services, clothes made at the time, along with those rather extreme manifestos are all on view. Traveling up the ramp of the rotunda feels like traveling through a period of time. One can almost feel the intensity and fervor, the excitement, or for those of more traditional taste, the shock these works must have imparted to Italian society.
“Italian Futurism, 1909–1944: Reconstructing the Universe runs through September 1st.” There will be special programs including films, poetry readings, musical performances and curators’ talks to complement the exhibition throughout the summer. The Guggenheim and senior curator, Vivien Greene, have brought together a tremendous amount of art and history, to give an incredible glimpse into a artistic movement unlike any other. Italian Futurism was a truly avant-garde movement in its own time, and an important influence on later styles like Art Deco. Manifestos notwithstanding, some of the look and feel of the most beloved buildings right here, in New York, might not be what they are without the vision of the Futurists.
Installation view: “Italian Futurism, 1909–1944: Reconstructing the Universe” at the Guggenheim Umberto Boccioni, “Unique Forms of Continuity in Space,” 1913 Giacomo Balla, “Abstract Speed + Sound,” 1913–14
5 TOP
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
17
SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; NYC is applying to open new public charter schools in Manhattan. When: August 2015
FOR THE WEEK BY GABRIELLE ALFIERO
Where: Community School Districts 2 and 3 Grades: K and 1st grade for the opening school year and serving K-12th grade at full scale (pre-K, middle school, and high school grades subject to government approval) Success Academy has a proven record of excellence, with our scholars consistently scoring in the top 7% of public schools in New York State for reading, science, and math.*
THEATER
To learn more about Success Academyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposed new schools, please visit: SuccessAcademies.org/NewSchools
â&#x20AC;&#x153;THE TRIAL OF OSCAR WILDEâ&#x20AC;?
We encourage your input: NewSchools@SuccessAcademies.org
Ensemble for the Romantic Centuryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Trial of Oscar Wildeâ&#x20AC;? explores the celebrated author and playwrightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trial and imprisonment for homosexuality, a criminal offense in Victorian-era Britain. The play draws on Wildeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s published works, personal letters and transcripts from his trial, and is accompanied by compositions from Edward Elgar, Gabriel Faure, and other composers of the era. June 19 through June 21 Symphony Space 2537 Broadway 8 p.m. (with a 2 p.m. matinee on June 21) Tickets $46
* For source information: SuccessAcademies.org/results
Imperial Fine Books & Oriental Art
MUSIC BACHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MISSA IN G MAJOR
â&#x20AC;&#x153;UNUSUAL CONCERTâ&#x20AC;? Russiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Central State Academic Puppet Theater presents Russian puppeteer Sergey Obraztsovâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1946 satire of bad performances, which was noted for its masterful, elaborate puppetry. Presented in English and in collaboration with the Russian American Foundation, the colorful, complex â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unusual Concertâ&#x20AC;? is one of the 20th centuryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular puppet shows. Appropriate for both children and adults. Sunday, June 22 92nd Street Y Kaufmann Concert Hall 1395 Lexington Ave. 8 p.m. Tickets $35
FILM â&#x20AC;&#x153;THE HOMESTRETCHâ&#x20AC;? Screening as part of the 25th-annual Human Rights Watch Film Festival, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Homestretchâ&#x20AC;? follows three homeless Chicago teenagers as they work to ďŹ nish school. At 89 minutes, the documentary, by ďŹ lmmakers Anne de Mare and Kirsten Kelly (who will be on hand for a Q&A following the ďŹ lm) also holds a lens to issues of poverty, LGBT rights and juvenile justice in America. Friday, June 20 Walter Reade Theater 165 West 65 St., 4th ďŹ&#x201A;oor 8:45 p.m. Tickets $13
To kick off the St. Bartholomewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church Summer Festival of Sacred Musicâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;weekly liturgical performances of choral and orchestral music now in its 20th seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;St. Bartholomewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choir performs Bachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Missa in G Major, with orchestral accompaniment on 18th-century period instruments. Sunday, June 22 St. Bartholomewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church 325 Park Ave. 11 a.m. FREE
THE KNIGHTS Fresh from a tour in Germany, local orchestra The Knights kick of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Naumburg Orchestral Concerts, a series of free classical performances now in its 109th year. The program features of range of compositions from various centuries, including Luigi Boccheriniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s string quintet â&#x20AC;&#x153;La musica notturna delle strade di Madridâ&#x20AC;? and Charles Ivesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Three Places in New England.â&#x20AC;? Tuesday, June 24 Central Park Naumberg Bandshell Entrance at East 72nd Street 7:30 p.m. FREE
Leather Bound, Fine and Rare Books Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art from the 12thâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;19th Century !& % $! 8 # ""# $ $ 8 "#! "% " ( % !# "&# $ $ )*-20/ 5+/4+ +36++/ 3, 3, $32 +6 (01. +6 (01. ' " # !! $ ! 8 ! " # !! $ ! ",0/+ 8 )7
18
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
Food & Drink
< NEW APP RESY DELIVERS COVETED RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS, FOR A FEE A beta version of Resy, a free-to-download mobile restaurant reservation app for iPhone and Android users, launched on Monday, June 16, the New York Times reported. The app, which offers diners coveted last-minute reservations at some of the
In Brief WD-50 TO SHUTTER AND MAKE WAY FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT Innovative chef, molecular gastronomy pioneer and frequent television personality Wylie Dufresne announced via Twitter on June 10 that his Lower East Side restaurant WD-50 will plate its last meal on November 30, making room for Icon Realty Management’s new development. Dufresne, a one-time sous chef at Jean Georges and the 2013 James Beard Foundation award winner for best chef in New York City, told the New York Times that he hopes to reopen the restaurant in a new location, though hasn’t yet found another space. WD-50 celebrated 11 years of service this past April, when notable chefs from around the globe, including New York City icons Daniel Boulud and David Chang, converged at the Clinton Street restaurant to take over the kitchen and surprise Dufresne with an anniversary celebration. Dufresne will continue to operate his East Village restaurant Alder, a more casual answer to the fine-dining experience at WD-50. WD-50, located at 50 Clinton St., remains open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday at 6 p.m., through November 30. Call 212-477-2900 for reservations.
NEW SUNDAYS AT ANDANADA Andanada, a popular Spanish restaurant located near Broadway on West 69th Street, is adding new flavor to its Sundays. The restaurant will be featuring flamenco shows during Sunday brunch from noon to 2 p.m., in addition to their weekly Tuesday night shows. Owner Alvaro Reinoso says that diners truly enjoy the Tuesday night shows and always seem to want more. “It’s a clear example of what the neighborhood demands, they want to have a good time and enjoy art,” he says. The restaurant, whose name derives from the highest seating area in the bullfighting arena, provides patrons with a traditional Spanish dining experience, and an updated brunch menu will include popular, traditional dishes from every region of Spain, including fried calamari from Madrid and Tortilla de Patatas, a traditional Spanish omlette. Andanada is located at 141 W 69th St and is open Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to midnight, with brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
city’s hottest and most exclusive eateries in exchange for a fee, is the latest mobile application to sell restaurant reservations, joining the ranks of Zurvu and Killer Rezzy. Participating restaurants, including downtown hotspots Charlie Bird and Minetta Tavern, will set the
prices of reservations, at around 10 percent of the standard dinner bill, the New York Times reported. But not all reservations are created equal; a Tuesday evening reservation might cost $10 per person, versus $25 on a Saturday at 8 p.m.
THE CRONUTS IN OUR MIDST BAKERIES Sweet-tooth alternatives that don’t require a subway ride BY LORRAINE DUFFY MERKL
I’ve never had a Cronut and probably never will, unless someone ventures down to Soho’s Dominique Ansel Bakery for me, stands on line for two hours, then brings it back -- along with a coffee: milk, no sugar -- to East 86th Street. Volunteers? I understand that one bite of the doughnut-croissant crossbreed is enough to make grown men weep, and that scalpers can get $100 for the $5 pastry. To procure one for myself though, I would have to take a bus to the train to Spring Street then walk west to Prince. Estimated travel time: 50 minutes. Instead, I’d rather support one of the noteworthy bakeries right in my own Upper East Side neighborhood, some of which have their own interpretation of the coveted Cronut. Fairway (86th Street between Second and Third Avenues) offers the D’Oissant with a variety of fillings, and Crumbs (Lexington between 92nd & 93rd; Third between 78th & 79th) has what’s called a Crumbnut. The Nutella version is a fave in my house, but honestly now that the chain carries Girl Scout cookie-flavored cupcakes, why bother with anything else? I think I feel that way in general. Did we really need a new type of pastry? I have been quite content with the gooey goodness from Insomnia Cookies (Second Avenue between 80th & 81st Streets), as well as the cut-above baked indulgences from Two Little Red Hens (Second Avenue between 85th & 86th Streets), William Greenberg (Madison between 82nd & 83rd
Streets) and Eleni’s (Madison & 90th Street). Glaser’s (First Avenue between 87th & 88th) bakes doughnuts and croissants, but has not jumped on the hybrid bandwagon. They just do what they’ve been doing since 1902, and it’s all delicious. If you haven’t been yet, do head over to Ô Merveilleux (Second Avenue between 78th & 79th Streets), which opened about six months ago. It is like walking into a jewelry store, except instead of diamonds, rubies and emeralds, you’ll find speculoos (spiced gingerbread) choux, and merveilleux -- a Belgium treat where a cloud of meringue is covered in another cloud of whipped cream, then drizzled with chocolate shavings. There’s no need to embarrass yourself by asking if they make a version of the Cronut, as I already did that enough for all of us. The
polite young woman behind the counter shook her head and gave me a “you poor creature” look; the same that I imagine I’d get from a salesperson at Tiffany’s if I wanted to know whether they had necklaces made of plastic. Last but not least, Orwasher’s (78th Street between First and Second Avenues) has doughnuts as well as cookies, but I would trade a hundred confections for a loaf of their freshly baked bread. FYI: You haven’t lived until you’ve tried the one infused with olives. See, there’s no reason to go downtown to satisfy your sweet tooth. But with all these Upper East Side bakeries, you might want to find out where the closest Weight Watchers is. Lorraine Duffy Merkl is a freelance writer in NYC and author of the novel, Back To Work She Goes
You can get versions of these without traveling across town.
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
RESTAURANT INSPECTION RATINGS JUNE 4 - 8, 2014 The following listings were collected from the Department of Health and Mental Hygieneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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. AMC Empire 25 Theatres
1538 3 Avenue
A
Just Salad
1471 Third Avenue
A
Kings Carriage House
251 East 82 Street
A
Amc Orpheum 7
1538 3 Avenue
A
My Ny Bakery Cafe
1565 Lexington Avenue
A
Dunkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Donuts
1391 Madison Avenue
A
Bm Deli & Grocery
1916 3 Avenue
A
Da Capo
1392 Madison Avenue
Not Graded Yet (19) Cold food item held above 41Âş F (smoked ďŹ sh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ÂşF) except during necessary preparation. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
The Guthrie Inn
1259 Park Avenue
A
Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re dedicated to
Pediatric Ophthalmology because the littlest eyes
have the most to see.
Going to the Airport?
1-212-666-6666 ;V 1-2 ;V 5L^HYR ;V 3H.\HYKPH Tolls & gratuities not included. Prices subject to change without notice.
The world-class ophthalmologists of Columbia University Medical Center are now
One Coupon per Trip. Expires12/31/13 12/31/14
53
One Coupon per Trip. Expires12/31/13 12/31/14
51
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Be There For You!â&#x20AC;?
Toll Free 1-800-9-Carmel
www.CarmelLimo.com
0\ IULHQG¡V XQFOH¡V VHFRQG FRXVLQ¡V VRQ KDV DXWLVP 0\ IULHQG¡V XQFOH¡V VHFRQG FRXVLQ¡V VRQ KDV DXWLVP 0\ IULHQG¡V XQFOH¡V VHFRQG FRXVLQ¡V VRQ KDV DXWLVP 0\ IULHQG¡V XQFOH¡V VHFRQG FRXVLQ¡V VRQ KDV DXWLVP 0\ IULHQG¡V XQFOH¡V VHFRQG FRXVLQ¡V VRQ KDV DXWLVP
conveniently located on the Upper West Side.
Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot more thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s different about a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes than just size. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cataracts, glaucoma, dyslexia, or other conditions â&#x20AC;&#x201D; our doctors are dedicated to helping the smallest patients. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we have specialists like nationally recognized pediatric ophthalmologists Dr. Steven Brooks and Dr. Lauren Yeager. Even our ground-ďŹ&#x201A;oor, child-friendly waiting room is designed with little ones and their parents in mind.
OUR NEWEST LOCATION AT 15 WEST 65TH STREET (BROADWAY) IS NOW OPEN. $XWLVP LV JHWWLQJ FORVHU WR KRPH 7RGD\ LQ FKLOGUHQ LV GLDJQRVHG (DUO\ GLDJQRVLV FDQ PDNH D OLIHWLPH RI GLIIHUHQFH
/HDUQ WKH VLJQV DW DXWLVPVSHDNV RUJ Š 2010 Autism Speaks Inc. "Autism Speaks" and "It's time to listen" & design are trademarks owned by Autism Speaks Inc. All rights reserved.
LEARN MORE AT COLUMBIAEYE.ORG. CALL 212.305.9535 TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
19
20
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
Business
< HIDDEN CASH CRAZE HITS CENTRAL PARK Guided by a few clues from Twitter, Stephanie Culff hailed a cab to Central Park on Saturday and started searching for money planted there by Hidden Cash, the scavenger hunt craze that made its New York debut this weekend. Culff arrived before the masses of cash-seekers and walked away with an envelope containing a $50 bill and a silver dollar she said was worth $23. Both, she said, will go to her
In Brief COMPTROLLER: RAISING MINIMUM WAGE WOULD GENERATE $6B/YEAR Comptroller Scott Stringer recently released a report recommending the city raise its minimum wage to $13.13/hour, which it said would mean an extra $100 a week for the city’s 1.2 million minimum wage workers. All told, the comptroller’s report said, such a hike would generate $6 billion annually. “As the federal minimum wage, fixed at $7.25/hour since 2009, has failed to keep up with inflation, many cities and states have enacted higher minimum wages,” said the report, citing Seattle’s $15/hour wage, the highest in the country. New York’s current minimum wage is $8/hour, but is set to increase to $9/hour in 2016. However, the State Legislature is currently considering proposals to raise the minimum wage to $10.10/hour by 2015, and would allow local municipalities to raise their minimum wages an additional 30 percent on top of that to offset the higher cost of living in a city. The report said the hike would leave an additional $19 million per week in Manhattan workers’ pockets alone. The borough that would see the biggest impact is Brooklyn, said the report, at $39 million extra per week. Most of the extra money would likely be spent in local stores, according to the report. The report did not look at how such a hike would affect hiring. “New York City should be a leader, not a follower, when it comes to raising the minimum wage,” said Stringer. “The time has come for the Big Apple to pay its workers a wage that works for employees and employers.”
DE BLASIO APPOINTS COMMS DIRECTOR Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the appointment of Andrea Hagelgans as Director of Agency Communications. Hagelgans will be responsible for coordinating “the Mayor’s cabinet and city agencies to deliver clear information on the administration’s initiatives to the media and the people of New York City,” according to an announcement by City Hall. Hagelgans most recently served as vice president of strategic communications and media at Camino Public Relations, where she coordinated large-scale messaging and media campaigns for national and local progressive nonprofits. At Camino, she also developed and implemented Planned Parenthood’s response to the withdrawal of funding by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, a campaign that won several industry awards. She also served as deputy press secretary for the New York City Campaign Finance Board. “I’m honored to join an administration that takes bold steps each day to make this city more livable, accessible and affordable for all New Yorkers,” said Hagelgans. “Mayor de Blasio has a clear, progressive vision and spends each day striving to make this vision a reality - and I look forward to working alongside this administration’s cabinet and agencies.”
dad for Father’s Day. Dozens of other New Yorkers found the same prizes hidden in Central Park in Manhattan and Prospect Park in Brooklyn -- all part of a movement born last week in San Francisco as a “social experiment for good.” Jason Buzi, a California real estate investor who said he is one of several people behind Hidden Cash, described the giveaways as a “fun way to give back to the community.” He
encouraged people who find cash to “pay it forward.” So far, he said, many have responded by spending the cash on coffee, groceries or gas for others or by helping the homeless and charitable causes. “We see that a lot and we’re happy to see that,” Buzi said. Image via Twitter user @Ulloa_Precious
RACING THROUGH EAST MIDTOWN BUSINESS More than a dozen teams participate in the first annual East Midtown Challenge Nearly 70 people from 13 teams raced through East Midtown earlier this month as part of the first-annual Great East Midtown Challenge. The event kicked off at Central Synagogue, as teams answered questions from the previous four issues of Our Town before hitting the streets, where they followed different routes through East Midtown until reaching the “finish line” at Bloom’s Tavern. Along the way, they accessorized couches, balanced a ball as they rolled a sanitation barrel, did Pilates exercises, answered trivia,
sank golf putts, and engaged in a number of other activities. The Great East Midtown Challenge benefitted the Partnership’s Homeless Outreach program, contracted through BRC. The one stop all 13 teams had in common was at the BRC Homeless Outreach van, parked on East 56th Street.” The first team to arrive at Bloom’s Tavern was from Doral Bank New York, which edged out the second place competitiors from The Wellness Center of New York and the third place team from Golfsmith. The enthusiastic racers from the San Carlos Hotel won an award for Best Team Spirit, and Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden -- which came dressed in period costume -- won for “Best Team Photograph.”
Team Doral Bank accepts their award for First Place
A team from CorpBanca New York tries to solve a clue
Participants from the Hilton Garden Inn Midtown East
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
21
Real Estate Sales Neighborhd
Address
Price
Bed Bath Agent
All Upper E Side
140 E 72 St.
$3,000,000
Beekman
400 E 52 St.
$685,000
1
1
Douglas Elliman
Carnegie Hill
1361 Madison Ave.
$2,450,000
4
4
Halstead Property
Carnegie Hill
21 E 90 St.
$3,200,000
1230 Park Ave.
$2,162,000
2
2
Douglas Elliman
Carnegie Hill
170 E 87 St.
$680,000
0
1
Corcoran
Carnegie Hill
111 E 88 St.
$840,000
1
1
Corcoran
Carnegie Hill
131 E 93 St.
$675,000
2
1
Corcoran
Carnegie Hill
141 E 88Th St.
$9,077,079
5
6
Stribling
Carnegie Hill
1361 Madison Ave.
$1,595,000
3
2
Corcoran
Carnegie Hill
170 E 87 St.
$1,330,000
2
2
Redac, Inc.
Carnegie Hill
152 E 94 St.
$801,500
1
1
Corcoran
Lenox Hill
400 E 70 St.
$1,625,000
2
2
Douglas Elliman
Lenox Hill
1160 3 Ave.
$499,000
1
1
Douglas Elliman
Lenox Hill
169 E 69 St.
$1,875,000
2
2
Brown Harris Stevens
Lenox Hill
955 Lexington Ave.
$2,325,000
2
2
Halstead Property
Lenox Hill
110 E 71 St.
$1,900,000
Lenox Hill
303 E 60 St.
$850,000
1
1
Douglas Elliman
Lenox Hill
118 E 60 St.
$1,195,000
2
2
Douglas Elliman
Lenox Hill
420 E 64 St.
$1,570,000
3
0
Halstead Property
Lenox Hill
422 E 72 St.
$3,010,000
3
3
Sloane Square
Lenox Hill
118 E 60 St.
$1,300,000
2
2
Warburg
Lenox Hill
167 E 61 St.
$975,000
2
2
Halstead Property
Lenox Hill
310 E 70 St.
$548,500
1
1
Douglas Elliman
Lenox Hill
220 E 60 St.
$465,000
Alberto Baraya and Abel Rodriquez, Installation view. Photo: Bruce White
Carnegie Hill
BardGraduateCenterGallery
WAT ER WE AV ER S
The River in Contemporary Colombian Visual and Material Culture
Lenox Hill
405 E 63 St.
$515,000
1
1
Keller Williams
Lenox Hill
118 E 60 St.
$625,000
1
1
Cooper & Cooper Real Estate
Lenox Hill
167 E 61 St.
$1,150,000
2
2
Halstead Property
Lenox Hill
530 Park Ave.
$9,687,600
Lenox Hill
200 E 66Th St.
$6,414,975
Lenox Hill
11 E 68 St.
$14,255,500
Lenox Hill
301 E 63 St.
$415,000
2
1
Prime Nyc
Lenox Hill
315 E 68 St.
$375,000
Lenox Hill
401 E 60 St.
$1,900,000
Lenox Hill
435 E 65 St.
$1,100,000
2
2
Douglas Elliman
Midtown
480 Park Ave.
$3,500,000
2
2
Douglas Elliman
Midtown E
200 E 58 St.
$950,000
1
1
Douglas Elliman
Midtown E
153 E 57 St.
$595,000
1
1
Urban Compass
David Consuegra
Lucy Salamanca
Midtown South
244 Madison Ave.
$382,000
0
1
Coldwell Banker Bellmarc
Nicolás Consuegra
Tangrama
Murray Hill
132 E 35 St.
$900,000
2
1
Douglas Elliman
Olga de Amaral
Marcelo Villegas
Murray Hill
77 Park Ave.
$2,150,000
3
2
Brown Harris Stevens
Clemencia Echeverri
Carol Young
Murray Hill
140 E 40 St.
$414,000
1
1
Halstead Property
Juan Fernando Herrán
Murray Hill
240 E 35 St.
$300,000
0
1
Coldwell Banker Bellmarc
Murray Hill
155 E 38 St.
$495,000
0
1
Corcoran
Murray Hill
132 E 35 St.
$705,000
1
1
Douglas Elliman
Murray Hill
10 Park Ave.
$785,000
1
1
Coldwell Banker A.C. Lawrence
Murray Hill
35 Park Ave.
$845,000
1
1
Kleier Residential
StreetEasy.com is New York’s most accurate and comprehensive real estate website, providing consumers detailed sales and rental information and the tools to manage that information to make educated decisions. The site has become the reference site for consumers, real estate professionals and the media and has been widely credited with bringing transparency to one of the world’s most important real estate markets.
CUR ATED BY JOSÉ ROCA Ceci Arango
Jorge Lizarazo
Alberto Baraya
Susana Mejía
Monika Bravo
Abel Rodríguez
Alvaro Catalán de Ocón
María Isabel Rueda
THROUGH AUGUST 10, 2014 | GOOGLE GLASS APP: BGC.BARD.EDU/GLASS June 19, 2014, 6 pm Bard Graduate Center Gallery Program Restoring Troubled Water: Andrew Revkin in Conversation with Mary Miss and Charles Vörösmarty bgc.bard.edu/restoring.html 212.501.3011
18 West 86th Street, New York City
|
bgc.bard.edu
|
212.501.3023
22
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
CELEBRATING ROY GOODMAN MEMORIAL SERVICE The U.E.S. turns out to honor the former state senator Dignitaries, politicians and Upper East Side admirers of State Senator Roy Goodman gathered June 16 at Temple Emanu-El on E. 65th St. to remember Roy Goodman and celebrate his life. Many speakers talked about his quick wit, self-deprecating humor and impressive vocabulary. His daughter Leslie said that his stunning vocabulary had caused his family to give Goodman the nickname “Merriam,” after the dictionary, because you so often had to go look up the words he used. Daughter Claire Goodman Pellegrini referred to her father as a “serial optimist.” Goodman’s finance chairman of 32 years, John Rosenwald, spoke about Goodman’s willingness to “reach across the aisle to get business done,” a theme repeated by many. George Lence, former chief counsel to Goodman, said, “A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman thinks of the next generation.” That was Roy Goodman, he said. Other non-family member speakers included former Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, James Wolfensohn, a Harvard Kennedy School representative, and friends John Furrer and James Marcus. Former Mayor David Dinkins, Hunter President Jennifer Raab, former New York State Senateor Manfred Ohrenstein, former NYC Mayoral candidate Joe Lohta, former NYC council member Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, who now serves as New Jersey State Treasurer for Governor Christie, former NY State Assemblyman John Ravitz, former NYC Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, Bill O’Reilly were among the more than 400 people in attendance.
real estate people arts More places arts foodpeople events real estate places business arts news food people food news places business business food events arts food places business news events places events real estate food arts
real estate
places
food
arts
real estate
places
events
events
events
business
arts
news
business
business
neighborhood
New Your Neighborhood News Source ^
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
YOU READ IT HERE FIRST
Op-Ed
Supporting Small Businesses BY BEN KALLOS long Second Avenue, we have seen ďŹ rshand how municipal construction can impose grave hardships on small businesses. Shuttered shops and declining proďŹ ts reduce the number of good jobs and change our neighborhoods for the worse. Though our city must continue to grow and change, we must also assist the businesses on whom we impose a hardship. Because of these concerns, I believe that the city owes relief to suffering businesses affected by municipal con-
A
struction throughout the ďŹ ve boroughs. Small businesses that can show a reduction of 10 percent or more in taxable income for the year, compared to a typical year before construction, and that are located within 150 feet of a municipal construction site, deserve relief. Businesses that need help through no fault of their own should be able to access it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and beloved institutions should remain where they belong. As Chief of Staff under Assembly Member Jonathan Bing, I worked to pass legislation that would provide these small businesses with relief. Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez, at a state level, and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney ,at a federal level, have already been advocating hard for similar measures. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because this is a real need for our neighborhood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and for neighborhoods across the city. Along Second Avenue
23
alone, a recent study by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce showed vacancy rates remaining constant at 15 percent, according to the Daily News. Between 2007 and 2010, 20 out of 70 businesses in the East 90s along the construction closed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a permanent loss to the neighborhood. The Beach CafĂŠ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a favorite for many of us â&#x20AC;&#x201C; has been at 69th Street for 48 years. According to the Daily News, since construction began, they have been forced to lay off a dozen workers. We know how devastating the effects of construction can be on the economic life of a neighborhood. This is a problem that city government has an obligation to tackle. If you agree that this is a good idea, sign our petition atBenKallos.com/petition/ SupportSmallBusiness.
The local paper for the Upper West Side
UNEQUAL ACCESS RANKLES TENANTS
Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Next, a Bouncer? Rent-Regulated Tenants Excluded From Amenities
845 West End Avenue is the latest apartment building on the Upper West Side to be added to the list of those that bar rentregulated tenants from accessing some amenities. Photo by Daniel Fitzsimmons
REAL ESTATE
U.W.S. BUILDINGS WITH UNEQUAL ACCESS TO AMENITIES
Another Upper West Side building denying rentregulated tenants access to amenities
â&#x20AC;˘ Stonehenge Village â&#x20AC;&#x201C; West 97th Street â&#x20AC;˘ Lincoln Towers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 142 West End Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ 845 West End Avenue
BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS
UPPER WEST SIDE In another example of high-end buildings giving some low-rate renters short shrift, rent-regulated tenants at 845 West End Avenue recently told the West Side Spirit they do not have access to the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fitness center like their market-rate co-op owning counterparts do. Gloria Zicht was born in the building, and after moving around in the years following college returned in the 1960s to her familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rent-regulated apartment, living there ever since About ďŹ ve years ago many of the build
out. Those that do have protections said theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been barred access to amenities that have recently been built, including a ďŹ tness center and a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playroom. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the building, it shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be something thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just set aside for condo owners,â&#x20AC;? said Zicht. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have to have a card or a key or something.â&#x20AC;? Zicht said both she and her daughter, who lives with her, would use the gym if they were allowed to. Zicht showed a reporter down to the basement where, behind a locked door that appeared to open only with
May 15, 2014
May 16, 2014
The local paper for the Upper East Side
Ben Kallos represents the Upper East Sideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 5th district in the City Council.
UPS tells employees to lie, overcharge customers: suit
U.P.S.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SECRET MANHATTAN PROBLEM One of the Hagan brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 11 Manhattan UPS stores, now closed.
â&#x20AC;&#x153; Employees in virtually every Manhattan (UPS
BUSINESS
Store) location were so comfortable with the practice of â&#x20AC;Ś lying about expected delivery dates, withholding accurate price quotes and overdimensioning boxes to trigger higher retail billable rates, that they would gladly engage in conversations on the topic.â&#x20AC;? A former UPS franchisee
A former franchisee accuses the shipping giant of routinely gouging customers throughout the city BY KYLE POPE
Last month, when nearly a dozen UPS Stores across the city closed down in a single day, the initial focus was on the customers put out by the shutdown: dozens of people found themselves unable to access their rented mailboxes, while others complained of packages lost in the The UPS Store believes shuffle. On the West Side, a blog surfaced the allegations made against to swap information about the fate of a store on West 57th Street. it and UPS ... to be false. What none of these customers knew at The UPS Store customer service team is doing all we the time, though, was that they had uncan to assure the customers wittingly become part of a much bigger in the Manhattan store area â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and at times bizarre â&#x20AC;&#x201C; dispute involving affected are taken care ofâ&#x20AC;? the franchisee who until the shutdowns
â&#x20AC;&#x153;
What can Brown screw from you? Two former UPS franchisees accuse the worldwide delivery service of telling employees to lie about the size and weight of packages in order to jack up prices on unsuspecting customers. Brothers Robert and Thomas Hagan, who owned and operated 11 UPS stores in Manhattan, claim in a federal lawsuit that a typical scam was to â&#x20AC;&#x153;add inches to the sides of measured boxes,â&#x20AC;? as well as an â&#x20AC;&#x153;enhanced declared value,â&#x20AC;? which allowed clerks to charge customers more. For example, a package with a length, width and depth totaling 26 inches would cost $106.85 to overnight from New York to Pittsburgh, but a 29-inch package would cost $117.19. In some cases, customers were overcharged as much as 400 percent, legal papers allege. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty ugly,â&#x20AC;? said Steve Savva, the Hagansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; attorney. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It seems to be systematic, and the customers have no way of knowing.â&#x20AC;? The Hagans allege in court filings that The UPS Store, a subsidiary of the publicly traded United Parcel Service, was responsible for violating â&#x20AC;&#x153;the covenant of good faith and fair dealingâ&#x20AC;? by: t 5FMMJOH DVTUPNFST UIBU HSPVOE EFMJWFSZ DPVME OPU CF HVBSBOUFFE BOE XPVME take longer than it actually would, in order to entice them to buy expensive, guaranteed air delivery. t $PODFBMJOH UIF DPTU PG DIFBQFS TIJQQJOH TFSWJDFT t $IBSHJOH DVTUPNFST GVFM TVSDIBSHFT GPS BJS EFMJWFSZ FWFO XIFO QBDLBHFT XFSFO U shipped by plane but by truck. Videotapes offered as evidence show UPS Store employees cheating customers,
UPS, and their right to operate a UPS store was revoked. But, in an effort to clear their name, the Hagans have ďŹ led an extraordinary claim against UPS in Federal Court that lays out, over 200 detailed pages, what they say is a systemic effort by UPS to rip off its Manhattan customers. The Hagans, UPS franchise owners since 2008 whose business grossed $6 million a year at its peak, even brought in a private investigator to secretly document the abuses they say occur at every UPS store in the city. Among their claims: Customers are routinely duped into paying more than necessary for shipping Employees are encouraged to lie about the weight and dimensions of packages to result in a higher bill Customers are told that one method of shipping is the cheapest, when often it is not The Hagans, in their lawsuit, says the deception is so widespread at UPS in
May 1, 2014
May 11, 2014
The local paper for Downtown
12
Our Town MAY 8, 2014
From Vandals to Artists: Time Rouses More Appreciation for Graffiti
THESE WALLS CAN TALK ART Current exhibits explore NYC streetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; past and present BY GABRIELLE ALFIERO
Last November, one of New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most iconic art exhibits was uncermoniously whitewashed. Outdoor art space 5Pointz, a destination in Long Island City where graffiti writers from all over the world came to leave their mark, was covered over with white paint last November at the behest of the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s owner, Jerry Wolkoff. When the vast walls of colorful graffiti were covered, Long Island City resident Jeffrey Leder took notice. Wolkoff had allowed graffiti writers to legally create work on his property for more than a decade, but now plans to demolish the building and construct residential high-rises after winning legal disputes with the 5Pointz artists. Leder, who operates an art gallery a block away, joined forces with Marie Cecile-Flageul, a member of the 5Pointz community who also manages its press, to curate â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whitewash,â&#x20AC;? an exhibition responding to the destruction, featuring work by nine artists who once painted at 5Pointz. Included in the exhibit are paintings by Meres One, the longtime curator of 5Pointz as well as prints
Leder about the debut of the exhibit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a celebration 5Pointz of the life of 5Pointz and also showed that there mourning its death.â&#x20AC;? was a need for While â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whitewashâ&#x20AC;? is a di- graffiti culture rect response to the recent as a tourist events at 5Pointz, the Jeffrey destination spot, Leder Gallery is not the only and so therefore local space exploring graf- any gallery or art fitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence in New York institution that City. In February, Museum of can provide people the City of New York opened with their graffiti â&#x20AC;&#x153;City as Canvas,â&#x20AC;? an exhibi- ďŹ x will do so.â&#x20AC;? tion of 1980s graffiti art. City Gregory J. Lore, a non-proďŹ t organiza- Snyder, author tion that preserves and pro- of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Graffiti motes folk and grassroots Lives: Beyond arts movements, opened its the Tag in New new gallery space in April Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Urban Undergroundâ&#x20AC;? with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Moving Murals,â&#x20AC;? a photographic display of graffiti-covered subway cars shot by photographers Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper during the 1970s and early 1980s. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Graffiti is so emblematic of the way people can be creative in their own environment,â&#x20AC;? said Steve Zeitlin, founding director of City Lore, who noted that, while graffiti still exists in the city, painted train cars are rare. In August, Gothamist reported that a tagged 4 train was spotted in the Bronx, though Zeitlin said it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stay in public view for very long. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They never make it out of the train yard,â&#x20AC;? Zeitlin said. While graffiti is more policed now than in the 1970s and 1980s, street art has become a more accepted public display in urban areas, thanks in no small part to the international celebrity of clandestine British street artist Banksy, who completed a month-long â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;residencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on New York Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s streets in October. Gregory J. Snyder, a sociologist and professor at Baruch College whose book â&#x20AC;&#x153;Graffiti Lives: Beyond the Tag in New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Urban Undergroundâ&#x20AC;? resulted from a decade of immersive research into graffitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s subculture, makes a distinction between the two forms. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of what we consider street art was antici
Above, a train mural from the City Lore exhibition. Photo by Henry Chalfant
â&#x20AC;&#x153;
Left, Henry Chalfant and graffiti writer SHARP at the City Lore exhibition opening. Photo by Fernanda Kock
the early 1990s stared deďŹ antly at Mayor Rudy Giulianiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cleanup efforts. Snyder also acknowledged the open tension between graffiti writers and street artists. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Street artists do not necessarily have to answer for their vandalism the same way that graffiti writers do,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Graffiti is thought to break windows, where street art is just, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hey, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m putting up art.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; So itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little bit easier in the public mind to be a street artist than to be a grafďŹ ti writer, and I think both of those subcultures like it the way it is.â&#x20AC;? Abby Ronner, director of the City Lore gallery, echoes Snyderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sentiments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re totally different aesthetics,â&#x20AC;? Ronner said, noting that the City Lore exhibit explores an era when graffiti was transitioning from pure vandalism to legitimate expression in the art worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s view. Graffitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence in galleries and museums isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t new, Snyder said, nor is its alignment with ďŹ ne art. Brooklyn Museum exhibited graffiti in 2006 and included some of the same artists as the Museum of the City of New York show which
sent artists rooted in graffiti and street art. Many artists who were part of graffitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s halcyon days have gone on to professional art careers, including Barry McGee, also known by his tag name Twist, and Steve Powers, known as ESPO, who are now successful studio artists. Still, Ronner notices a recent uptick in public interest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In New York City, the cost of living is increasing so signiďŹ cantly and quickly, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much commercial development,â&#x20AC;? said Ronner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of people feel New York is being lost. The very deďŹ nition of New York and the character of it are lost. People are seeking old New York City culture.â&#x20AC;? Snyder suggests that Banksyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mainstream success and the current popularity of street art renewed some interest in graffiti art and its culture, though he wonders if the recent events at 5Pointz affected gallery and museum attention. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Curators have a good sense of the moment,â&#x20AC;? said Snyder, who said that, though 5Pointz became a prestigious space for graffiti writers from all over the world it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily home to
May 8, 2014
May 13, 2014
FIRST IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD The local paper for the Upper East Side
Construction projects, like for the Second Avenue Subway, often hinder the small businesses around them. Photo by Yoav Lerman via Flickr
The local paper for the Upper West Side
(212) 868-0190
The local paper for Downtown
More 24
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood neighborhood
news people places events arts business real estate food news people places events arts business real estate food news people places events arts business food
New Your Neighborhood News Source ^
The Sixth Borough
For freethinking farmers, a Mecca
BY BECCA TUCKER woope, Virginia is not on the way anywhere. Was it lunacy to tack three hours’ driving and an extra day onto our already rather irresponsible road trip to an ultimate Frisbee tournament south of the MasonDixon, when both Husband Joe and I had work deadlines looming? But of course. I had to pull out all the stops: not-so-gentle reminders that it was my birthday, tears. I wanted to see Polyface Farms. I booked us a hotel at the last outpost of civilization before entering the Shenandoah Valley. I did my best to smooth the rough edges by picking as a Sunday dinner spot a brewpub that served Polyface pork. The bratwurstin-a-pretzel was better than I knew bar food could be. Even Joe, who usually doesn’t eat pork or beef, partook and looked pleased. But when we woke up Monday to a cold rain and unbroken gray skies – and wrapped the baby in a t-shirt, because we’d run out of diapers and erroneously figured we’d find someplace to get some – it did seem that this might not be the best time to chitchat. So it was mostly in silence that we drove into the breathtaking red dirt valley, past cows munching grass in the rain, the wet accentuating their cowlicks; past a huge black Ferdinand-looking bull separated from our little orange Honda Fit by what looked like three rubber bands of electric fencing.
S
Why, of the thousands of farms we’d passed, were we intent on making a pilgrimage to this one? We had an open invitation, for one. Everyone does. On any day but Sunday, anyone is welcome to come any time and walk around, watch the chores get done, peer into crannies. What confidence such openness requires. It’s like telling strangers to come on over, whether or not you’re home, and feel free to peek under the bed and in the toilet bowl. How refreshing, at a time when seeing our food system in action, on anything approaching a large scale, usually requires trespassing or watching a documentary. If we happened to see the farmer, Joel Salatin, here today, I thought I might tell him that he should run for president. He wouldn’t want to, but neither did the reluctant Roman farmer Cincinnatus want to put down his plow to lead his people. It’s probably for the best that we didn’t see him. The first thing we did see was one of the hoophouses we’d read about, full of chickens and rabbits. The plastic-covered frame was open to the elements at either end, but dry and cozy inside, thanks to the deep bedding of fine wood chips on the floor, soaking up manure. The farm was still coming out of winter mode; it would be a couple days until the chickens would be moved into Salatin’s signature “chicken mobile.” Still, the hoophouse was also a classic Salatin system, light on infrastructure, heavy on creativity. In this case, rabbits lived in cages on a shelf. Their dung fell onto the floor, where the chickens ate it. We walked around the side of the hoophouse, peering in, when we noticed something. What did that chicken have in its beak? A rabbit pelt, ears still attached. Yikes. It was possible that the rabbit was intentionally fed to the chickens, as a protein source. (Chickens are omnivores, just like us.) It was also possible that a rabbit had escaped its cage and this was the result. I hoped it was the former, for the rabbit’s sake. This is why, I realized, most farmers don’t want visitors. Farming is not always picturesque. But it is always educational. We moved along. We
wanted to see the cows. There was one other couple poking around. We asked if they knew where the cows were, and we ended up walking up the long dirt road together. Scarlet and John Sweeney were from Wisconsin, where she worked in conventional agriculture doing something with potatoes, and he had just retired from a government job and taken a pension. They were expanding their small farm, where they raised pastured beef and slaughtered 10 head a year that they sold directly to friends, plus blueberries and honey. This was in a town with 1,000 eligible voters, worlds from either coast or a city, and yet they were confident they’d sell out if they were to raise three times as many cattle. The local food movement, they were pleased to report, had made it to the heart of the Corn Belt. John pointed out a horned cow standing over her newborn, which already had a tag in its ear. That must have taken some doing, he chuckled, to get that baby away from that mama without getting gored. Scarlet squinted into the distance at a cow a ways away from the others, that might be calving. “What brought you here?” I asked. “Vacation,” said Scarlet. Then she confessed. “Well, really, I wanted to see the farm. I told him I’d behave myself on the rest of the trip,” so long as they got here. I nodded. Wisconsin was a long way to come. We were among kindred, lunatic spirits. Becca Tucker is a former Manhattanite who now lives on a farm upstate and writes about the rural life.
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
25
YOUR FIFTEEN MINUTES
A SMALL BOOKSTORE WITH A BIG HEART Q&A President of Logos Bookstore tells the story of one of the last remaining independent bookstores in Manhattan BY ANGELA BARBUTI
UPPER EAST SIDE Residents of the Upper East Side have a bookstore they can call home. One where its president, Harris Healy, actually knows “quite a few” of them by name. The cozy feel of Logos Bookstore is complete with an outdoor garden for reading and a visiting cat. Healy has been a part of the store since 1985, when they were on Madison Avenue. Rent increases forced a move to York Avenue in 1995, where the store still stands between 83rd and 84th Streets. Healy, who has a masters in theological studies, grew the religious section, but also embraced his new neighborhood of young families, and developed his children’s area. Even during the summer months, the store continues to host their monthly book discussion fittingly titled “Kill Your TV,” and a story time for little ones.
How does being on the Upper East Side affect your selections?
We are in a neighborhood of people starting with families. Beginning with babies and going up to middle school and teenagers. We grew our children’s collection by people coming in and asking for different kinds of children’s books.
I understand that you have a background in theology. Yes I do. I went to a seminary after college for a couple of years and got a masters in theological studies. So I’ve always been interested in the religious books that we have in the store. We have all the traditions of Christianity and a good, solid Judaica section, as well as world religions, all side by side. Basically people come in and see all this and start to think a little about stuff. For some people, it’s a destination shop, where they’re going to come for that kind of book.
You have a book club there called Kill Your TV. Yes we do, on the first Wednesday of every month. It was founded by a customer in the fall of 1998. She was very involved with computers and wanted to get out of the house. She wanted to have a book discussion and she figured she had to do it in a public area because if she just did it with her friends, they really wouldn’t discuss the book. So she ran it for a few years until she moved in 2002 and I’ve been running it ever since. We completed 15 years last October. We choose a
Logos caters to the growing number of families on the Upper East Side book usually two months ahead of time. The only criteria is that it’s paperback, available, and has never been read or discussed in now our almost 16 years. There’s always wine, and sometimes people bring cheese. And at that time, you get 20 percent off most items in the store.
What’s the story behind the cat? The cat is there from time to time. It belongs to the friend of the store who does the informal little garden in the back. My senior staff member babysits it sometimes. His name is Boo Boo and he’s a lot of fun.
What are some funny customer requests you’ve gotten? Some want a certain cover, and they’re really not interested in the book at all. Basically, they’re doing some photo shoot and need the book in that. They don’t care what’s inside, it just has to look a certain way. One of the funniest things is some Bible customers will come in and ask for a compact, giant print, center-column reference Bible. Impossibility, can’t do it.
You have story time every week. Every Monday at 11. We have a wonderful story reader, she sometimes brings in her princess puppet. She does sing-alongs with the children and acts out the books. Basically it’s a group of five, with babies who are two or three. That’s where we make a lot of sales in children’s books, with the young books. We keeping reordering children’s books all the time, because all the popular titles keep selling.
I used to work at Rizzoli Bookstore, which recently closed. What’s your opinion about independent bookstores closing? It’s sad that this is happening. But what’s happening too is that the materials people read on have changed dramatically. Because with the advent of eBooks and eBook readers, where you can get hundreds of titles on a little machine, the whole dynamic has changed. Also, if you travel by airplane today, you’re lucky if you can check a bag for free, so the old days of people taking an extra bag of books is now 25 dollars. What the publishers are not grasping is that people really want eBook format or paperback for new au-
thors. They only want hardcovers if they like the author a lot. But the publishers have been subsidized in their expensive hardcover little deal by chains and by Amazon over the years. That’s one of the reasons why the publishers have not adapted. But I have living, screaming examples of people who don’t want to take a hardcover. I once offered a hardcover of a book that just came out in paperback, and the hardcover price was less than the paperback. The young woman blew up at me and said, “Look, this can’t even fit in my bag!” She screamed at me for about 15 minutes and I was like, “I wish the publishers could hear that.”
Why did the store move from Madison Avenue? Well, the rents were out of this world in 1995. Madison and that area just became too expensive back then. We were between 43rd and 44th Streets. Back then, we were at the street level of a very interesting old-style building that was very tall and had an interior bridge between its two towers. They destroyed that whole thing; it’s now a monstrosity. I discovered the area where we moved to from going to a Bible study at 78th Street between York and the river. It was an upholstery shop, but the guys who owned that business lost it to the bank over gambling debts and my landlord got it from the bank.
Which authors shop in the store? Jonathan Franzen, who has a writing studio nearby, said we were his favorite store. In fact, New York Magazine asks authors where they like to shop and he mentioned us.
IF YOU GO Logos is located at 1575 York Avenue, between 83rd and 84th Streets. www.logosbookstorenyc.com July Events Kill Your TV Reading Group will discuss The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, July 2 at 7 p.m.
26
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014 PUBLIC NOTICES
New York City Department of Transportation Notice of Public Hearing The New York City Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing on Wednesday June 25, 2014 at 2:00 P.M., at 55 Water St., 9th Floor Room 945, on the following petition for revocable consent, in the Borough of Manhattan: The United Nations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to construct, maintain and use bollards, horizontal ties, raptor barrier, gate arms, pedestrian signals, a staircase and a ramp, each having a fence, on First Ave., between E 45th and E 47th Sts. Interested parties can obtain copies of proposed agreement or request sign-language interpreters (with at least seven days prior notice) at 55 Water St., 9th Fl. SW New York, NY 10041, or by calling (212) 839-6550.
:H DUH D SURXG PHPEHU RI WKH $VVRFLDWHG 3UHVV DQG WKH 1DWLRQDO 1HZVSDSHU $VVRFLDWLRQ
Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active and losing weight are just two of the ways that you can fight osteoarthritis pain. In fact, for every pound you lose, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four pounds less pressure on each knee. For information on managing pain, go to fightarthritispain.org.
Directory of Business & Services ANTIQUES WANTED
TOP PRICES PAID
2011 BMW 3 SERIES
SEDAN AUTOMATIC
$29,995 3.06 cyl.Auto,Black Sapphire VIN: WBAPM5C58BF182177. Model Code: 1142. Stock #: DU3629. Mileage: 18,756
2002 CHEVROLET
2012 CADILLAC
ESCALADE
6-SPEED AUTOMATIC
$57,000
6.2L V-8 cyl. Black Raven. VIN: 1GYSHEFICR227507. Model Code: 6K10906. Stock #: E42833Q. Mileage: 25,161
2011 CHEVY
IMPALA
EQUINOX
$8,912
$19,995
4-SPEED AUTOMATIC
3.8L V-6 cyl. Bright Red. VIN: 2GIWH55K929277242. Model Code: 1WH19. Stock #: E41774B. Mileage: 46,818
3065& t &"45 )"/07&3 /+ /*&-4&/%0%(& $0. t ČŞ ČŞ
HOME IMPROVEMENT
GO GREEN FINISHING
Chinese Objects Paintings, Jewelry Silver, Etc.
Residential & Commercial Renovations Kitchens - Baths - Eco-Friendly Carpentry - Sheetrock Taping/Skimcoating - Painting
Entire Estates Purchased
'SFF &TUJNBUFT r :FBST &YQFSJFODF 'VMMZ -JDFOTFE *OTVSFE r 04)" -&"% $FSUJĂ FE .BKPS $SFEJU $BSET "DDFQUFE
800.530.0006 PAINTING
TRANSFORM YOUR SPACE
DISCOVER COLOR
AUTOMATIC
3.06 cyl. Silver Ice. VIN: 2CNFLEE57B6440709. Model Code: ILK26. Stock #: R4744. Mileage: 37,495
To advertise in this directory Call Susan (212)-868-0190 ext.417 Classified2@strausnews.com
Interior & Exterior Painting Wallpaper Removal t Neat & Clean Work Free Color Consultation Licensed & Insured
SABBY PAINTING (917) 292-9595 (718) 352-1450
347.339.6913 REAL ESTATE
Buying or Selling? I can help. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just real estate. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your home.
VICTOR FERRER Licensed Real Estate Agent 347-573-3882 | 212-712-6083 victor.ferrer@elliman.com
JUNE 19, 2014 Our Town
27
CLASSIFIEDS Classified Advertising Department Information Telephone: 212-868-0190 | Fax: 212-2868-0190 Email: classified2@strausnews.com Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | Deadline: 2pm the Friday before publication ACCOUNTING/FINANCIAL SERVICES ALLSTATE INSURANCE Anthony Pomponio 212-769-2899 125 West 72nd St. 5R, NYC apomponio@allstate.com
LOMTO Federal Credit Union Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to beat our great rates! Deposits federally insured to at least $250K (212)947-3380 ext.3144
Protect your most important assetâ&#x20AC;Ś your REAL ESTATE! BROWNSTONE AGENCY INC. Now writing in NY, NJ, & CT. www.BrownstoneAgency.com ANIMALS & PETS
ATT DOG OWNERS: Never run out of poop bags again. Free Shipping! www.walkingdoggies.com
BIDEAWEE - Animal People for People Who Love Animals! -Manhattan-Westhampton866-262-8133 www.Bideawee.org
CARS & TRUCKS & RVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 2012 Chrysler 200 S, $15,984. 17,700 miles. Stock #N1049 MSRP $18,486. Nielson Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, 175 Route 10, East Hanover, NJ 877-3931692 www.nielsendodge.com
AUCTIONS
Buy or sell at AARauctions. com. Contents of homes, businesses, vehicles and real estate.Bid NOW! AARauctions. com. Lights, Camera, Auction. No longer the best kept secret.
CAMPS/SCHOOLS German Classes for Children NY State Accredited Language Program. No previous experience necessary. www.German-AmericanSchool.org. 212-787-7543
Huntington Learning Center Your tutoring solution! UWS. 212-362-0100 www.HuntingtonHelps.com
Youth Program at UN & throughout Manhattan to increase intercultural awareness. July 28-Aug 8. Space ltd. Apply before Jul 10 for 10% discount. For info and to apply www.mmcnyc.com, 646-420-6633.
HELP WANTED
Residential & Commercial Renovations. Kitchens, Baths. Eco-friendly. Carpentry, sheetrock, taping/skimcoating, painting. OSHA & Lead CertiďŹ ed. Go Green Finishing, 347-339-6913.
HEALTH SERVICES
2012 Chrysler Town & Country Touring $22,738. 22,030 miles. Stock #F41178P1. MSRP $26,880. Nielson Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, 175 Route 10, East Hanover, NJ 877-3931692 www.nielsendodge.com
2012 Dodge Caliber SXT $13,860. 24,324 miles. Stock #U8316A. MSR $16,888. Nielson Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, 175 Route 10, East Hanover, NJ 877-393-1692 www.nielsendodge.com Donate your car to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-AWish. We offer free towing and your donation is 100% tax deductible. Call (855) 376-9474 Community Bulletin Board
Items for sale totaling $100 or less. To place your FREE listing call: 845-469-9000 / 973-300-0890 / 570-296-0700
North Shore Animal League AnimalLeague.org 1-877-4-SAVE-PET Facebook.com/TheAnimalLeague
ENTERTAINMENT
The Puzzle: Marbleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theater Festival, June 23rd - 28th Marble Collegiate Church 1 West 29th St. NYC, NY 10001- (212) 686-2770 www.MarbleChurch.org
POLICY NOTICE: We make every effort to avoid mistakes in your classified ads. Check your ad the first week it runs. We will only accept responsibility for the first incorrect insertion. Manhattan Media Classifieds assumes no financial responsibility for errors or omissions. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or re-classify any ad. Contact your sales rep directly for copy changes. All classified ads are pre-paid.
Carino on Second Blending traditional Italian favorites with contemporary accents. 1710 2nd Avenue (bet. 88th & 89th) NYC 212-860-0566 www.carino2nd.com GrowNYC.org Recycle@GrowNYC.org 212-788-0225 Marble Collegiate Church Dr. Michael B. Brown, Senior Minister, 1 West 29th St. NYC, NY 10001, (212) 689-2770. www.MarbleChurch.org ENTERTAINMENT
Breakthrough Festival NYC An Independent Film Festival June 12-18, Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Ave (@ 2nd St), New York, NY 10003 www.facebook.com/BreakthroughFestivalNYC LIPS The Ultimate in Drag Dining & Best Place in NYC to Celebrate Your Birthday! 227 E 56th St., 212-675-7710 www.LipsUSA.com
Are you HIV positive? ASCNYC is here for you. Call or visit today! 212-645-0875 www.ascnyc.com Columbia Doctors of Ophthalmology - OUR NEWEST LOCATION AT 15 WEST 65TH STREET (BROADWAY) IS NOW OPEN. www.ColumbiaEye.org 212.305.9535 Preston Robert Tisch Center for Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health 646-754-2000 www.nyulmc.org/menshealth HELP WANTED
AIRLINE CAREERS begin here Get FAA approved Aviation Maintenance Technician training. Financial aid for qualiďŹ ed students â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Housing available. Job placement assistance. Call AIM 866-296-7093 Drivers -Owner Operators, $5,000 SIGN-ON BONUS! OTR and Regional Runs, Mid-Roof Sleeper Required, Hazmat, Tanker and TWIC Endorsement Required, No Tanker Experience Req. Call Carmen: 888-622-1042 or apply online at www.Work4FTS.com HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Furniture Stripping, ReďŹ nishing, Repairs, French Polishing. Chairs: Reglued, recanted, rerushed, reupholstered. Kitchen cabinets, front doors, moldings. 37 years in business. Nouveau Furniture Restoration 917-335-1927
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
VOLUNTEER!
WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL MATCH YOUR SKILLS/INTEREST WITH NON-PROFITS THAT NEED YOU
CALL 212.889.4805 OR WWW.VOLUNTEER-REFERRAL.ORG
Need to know about everything thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening in lower Manhattan? DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE, www.downtownny.com or just download our mobile app onto your cellphone and go!
NO FEE Remember to: Recycle and Reuse
INSTRUCTION
Alexander Robertson School Independent School for Pre-K through Grade 5 212-663-2844, 3 West 95th St. www.AlexanderRobertson.com
LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL Anthony Pomponio, Allstate 212-769-2899 apomponio@allstate.com NYC~REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS $895.00. Expd Attorney, Real Estate Broker, ESTATES/ CRIMINAL MATTERS Richard H. Lovell, P.C., 10748 Cross Bay, Ozone Park, NY 11417 718 835-9300. LovellLawnewyork@gmail.com Rick Bryan, Attorney & Counselor at Law. Wills, Living Trusts, Probate, Elder Law, Guardianships, Legal Advice. Home Visits Available. We honor all AARP and Legal Service Plan Discounts, 237 1st Ave, 2nd Fl, S.W. Corner of 14th St and 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003, 212-979-2868.
MASSAGE
Massage by Melissa (917)620-2787 MERCHANDISE FOR SALE
Imperial Fine Books & Oriental Art - Rare & ďŹ ne books, Chinese ceramics and art from the Ming to Qing Dynasties. 790 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, New York 10065 (212)861-6620 www.imperialďŹ nebooks.com PAINT & WALLPAPER
SABBY PAINTING (917) 292-9595 Interior/Exterior Painting Wallpaper Removal Free Estimates, Affordable Prices, Neat & Clean Work Licensed & Insured REAL ESTATE - RENT
OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Real Estate. 1800-638-2102. Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com
REAL ESTATE - RENT
Apar tment Rentals - New Renovations, Exclusive Listings, Upper Manhattan. 1 BRs from $1 ,45 0, 2 BR s from $1,750. Tim Heath, The Homefinder, Licensed Real Estate Agent. Call or Text 917-6592944. Bohemia Realty Group, 2101 Frederick Douglass Blvd, NY, NY 10026 GLENWOOD - Manhattanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest Luxury Rentals Uptown ofďŹ ce 212-535-0500 Downtown ofďŹ ce 212-4305900. glenwoodNYC.com REAL ESTATE - SALE
Delawareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resort Living Without Resort Pricing! Low Taxes! Gated Community, Close to Beaches, Amazing Amenities, Olympic Pool. New Homes from $80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s! Brochures available 1-866-629-0770 or www.coolbranch.com. NEW YORK LAND, RIVERS & CAMP BARGAINS 8.4 Acres w/ New Cabin & Access to Fish Creek River: $29,995 34 Acres Cherry Forest & Access to Little Salmon River: $49,995 27 Acres, Mohawk River Frontage: $49,900 We Finance Land! Call Christmas & Associates: 800-229-7843. Or Visit: landandcamps.com Owner/Broker SERVICES OFFERED
REAL ESTATE - SALE
Victor Ferrer , Licensed Real Estate Agent, Douglas Elliman Real Estate. 347-573-3882 / 212-712-6083 - victor.ferrer@ elliman.com Sebastian, Florida Beautiful 55+ manufactured home community. 4.4 miles to the beach, 2 miles to the riverfront district. Homes starting at $39,000. 772-581-0080, www.beach-cove.com. TROUT STREAM BARGAIN. 5.4 acres, $49,900. Was $199,900. Bank ordered sale. Beautiful Bethel NY. Near Woodstock site. 85 miles from Manhattan. Assorted hardwoods, approved building site, underground utilities, across from lake, walk to Performing Arts Center, ďŹ nancing. Call 877-8361820. REAL ESTATE - WANTED
PLANNING to SELL Your Land, Farm, Country Property or Primary Residence? We have Buyers! NEW YORK LAND QUEST Call Carl Snyder, RE Broker 607-280-5770. nylandquest.com
Remember to: Recycle and Reuse SERVICES OFFERED
CARMEL Car & Limousine Service To JFKâ&#x20AC;Ś $52 To Newarkâ&#x20AC;Ś $51 To LaGuardiaâ&#x20AC;Ś $34 1-212-666-6666 Toll Free 1-800-9-Carmel
John Krtil Funeral Home; Yorkville Funeral Service, INC. Independently Owned Since 1885. WE SERVE ALL FAITHS AND COMMUNITIES 212-744-3084
Shari Melisa, Salon Hair Stylist Text 347.243.3170 to reserve. instagram.com/sharimelisa
Frank E. Campbell The Funeral Chapel Known for excellence since 1898 - 1076 Madison Ave, at 81st St., 212-288-3500
WANT LESS CLUTTER & MORE SPACE ?
Let me help! / Free consult / Reasonable rates ROOMS FOR IMPROVEMENT Home Organizing for New Yorkers ! 917 763-0478 3PPNT'PS*NQSPWFNFOU!HNBJM DPN t XXX 3PPNT'PS*NQSPWFNFOU OFU VACATIONS
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises HIDDEN HARBOR TOURS For tix, visit: www.circleline42.com/hiddenharbor or call 1-855-382-0397 Interlaken Inn A resort getaway in the hills of CT. Lodging, Dining, Spa and More! 800-222-2909 www.InterlakenInn.com Dutchess County Tourism Make plans for an easy weekend escape at www.DutchessTourism.com, 800-445-3131
WANTED TO BUY
ANTIQUES WANTED Top Prices Paid. Chinese Objects, Paintings, Jewelry, Silver, Etc. Entire Estates Purchased. 800530-0006.
CASH for Coins! Buying ALL Gold & Silver. Also Stamps & Paper Money, Entire Collections, Estates. Travel to your home. Call Marc in NY 1-800959-3419
28
Our Town JUNE 19, 2014
COME HOME TO GLENWOOD
MANHATTANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FINEST LUXURY RENTALS
453*,*/(-: *.13&44*7& ".&/*5*&4 "/% 4&37*$&4 */$-6%*/( '6-- 4*;& 8"4)&3 %3:&3 */ ."/: 3&4*%&/$&4
UPPER EAST SIDE #34 '30. t $0/7&35*#-& #34 '30. t $0/7&35*#-& #34 '30.
MIDTOWN & UPPER WEST SIDE #34 '30. t #34 '30. t #34 '30.
TRIBECA & FINANCIAL DISTRICT #34 '30. t #34 '30. '3&& 1"3,*/( 8)*-& 7*&8*/( "1"35.&/54 01&/ %":4 ". 1. t /0 '&& 61508/ -&"4*/( 0''*$& %08/508/ -&"4*/( 0''*$&
GLENWOODNYC.COM
Builder | Owner | Manager
Equal Housing Opportunity.