4 LETTER from the editor
CHARACTER PROFILE:
6 Paul Minor
AC DUCTS
Have something you think should go in The Prattler? Send ideas, photographs, pictures, drawings, illustratrations, and opinions to theprattler@gmail.com
8 could have been a good idea
EDITOR
Colleen Stufflebeem MUSIC HALLS OF PEOPLE:
ART DIRECTOR
10 a guide to concert venues in nyc
Crissy Fetcher
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Nadia Mohamed Michael Ryterband Crissy Fetcher Harriet Harris Sarah Ratinetz Joseph Maruca Harrison Hine-Ramsberger Sophia Johnson Daisy Chong
THE PERPLEXING PLIGHT
12 OF PRATT’S POOL: a brief history
PRINTING BY NASCO PRINTING SPECIAL THANKS
WHERE’S YOUR PRIDE?
16 a look at pratt institute
Michael Kelly Sean Kelly Anthony Cudahy
22 TOP 5 THINGS
front and back cover illustration by Crissy Fetcher
2 | T H E P R AT T L E R
24 FOOD REVIEWS
28 ART REVIEWS
30 LIFE AFTER PRATT
T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 3
4 LETTER from the editor
CHARACTER PROFILE:
6 Paul Minor
AC DUCTS
Have something you think should go in The Prattler? Send ideas, photographs, pictures, drawings, illustratrations, and opinions to theprattler@gmail.com
8 could have been a good idea
EDITOR
Colleen Stufflebeem MUSIC HALLS OF PEOPLE:
ART DIRECTOR
10 a guide to concert venues in nyc
Crissy Fetcher
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Nadia Mohamed Michael Ryterband Crissy Fetcher Harriet Harris Sarah Ratinetz Joseph Maruca Harrison Hine-Ramsberger Sophia Johnson Daisy Chong
THE PERPLEXING PLIGHT
12 OF PRATT’S POOL: a brief history
PRINTING BY NASCO PRINTING SPECIAL THANKS
WHERE’S YOUR PRIDE?
16 a look at pratt institute
Michael Kelly Sean Kelly Anthony Cudahy
22 TOP 5 THINGS
front and back cover illustration by Crissy Fetcher
2 | T H E P R AT T L E R
24 FOOD REVIEWS
28 ART REVIEWS
30 LIFE AFTER PRATT
T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 3
LETTER
W elcome back to Pratt everyone! Or I should say, welcome back to the Prattler, as
Colleen Stufflebeem - editor
4 | T H E P R AT T L E R
you all have been in school for over a month now. How is that going? How’s school? Are you sleeping? Has the cafeteria chicken pizza sent you to Health and Counseling yet? Look, I’m not your mother you can answer me honestly. I ask because there seems to be a consensus that Pratt, and I apologize for my inarticulateness, sucks. We complain about the food, the athletic services, the quality of our assignments, the bursars office, the security guards, the on-campus housing and our professors. We complain of having no Pratt pride, but it seems we do have a unifying factor, and it’s not a football team or tailgating parties, it’s our disdain for this institute; Seems really shitty doesn’t it? This issue of the Prattler isn’t going to try to make you love Pratt, because we all know apathy is in right now and being schoolspirited is totally uncool, but we would like you to at least be informed when you’re going to make a complaint. Or rather, understand both sides of the story so you don’t come off looking like an ill-informed asshole. I’m going to give the benefit of the doubt right now, because with the amount of money I’m paying I fear the reality of actual negligence, and say that Pratt does try as hard as it can to provide us with the best accommodations and education possible. You can roll your eyes at this, in fact I may have done so myself, I may have even scoffed a little bit, but just give this thought a chance. Read some of our articles about how other New York City college students feel about their schools, or about the trials our sad and forgotten pool has faced and what it tried to be for us. We also have an article about Pratt attempting to provide us central A/C, which is a huge step in the right direction even if the step fell short. In addition to this we’ll give you reviews of the best food, art and music New York has to offer right now. So go ahead. Don’t let me keep you, get to reading! T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 5
LETTER
W elcome back to Pratt everyone! Or I should say, welcome back to the Prattler, as
Colleen Stufflebeem - editor
4 | T H E P R AT T L E R
you all have been in school for over a month now. How is that going? How’s school? Are you sleeping? Has the cafeteria chicken pizza sent you to Health and Counseling yet? Look, I’m not your mother you can answer me honestly. I ask because there seems to be a consensus that Pratt, and I apologize for my inarticulateness, sucks. We complain about the food, the athletic services, the quality of our assignments, the bursars office, the security guards, the on-campus housing and our professors. We complain of having no Pratt pride, but it seems we do have a unifying factor, and it’s not a football team or tailgating parties, it’s our disdain for this institute; Seems really shitty doesn’t it? This issue of the Prattler isn’t going to try to make you love Pratt, because we all know apathy is in right now and being schoolspirited is totally uncool, but we would like you to at least be informed when you’re going to make a complaint. Or rather, understand both sides of the story so you don’t come off looking like an ill-informed asshole. I’m going to give the benefit of the doubt right now, because with the amount of money I’m paying I fear the reality of actual negligence, and say that Pratt does try as hard as it can to provide us with the best accommodations and education possible. You can roll your eyes at this, in fact I may have done so myself, I may have even scoffed a little bit, but just give this thought a chance. Read some of our articles about how other New York City college students feel about their schools, or about the trials our sad and forgotten pool has faced and what it tried to be for us. We also have an article about Pratt attempting to provide us central A/C, which is a huge step in the right direction even if the step fell short. In addition to this we’ll give you reviews of the best food, art and music New York has to offer right now. So go ahead. Don’t let me keep you, get to reading! T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 5
Paul Minor
CHARACTER PROFILE
How does Pratt compare to your school in Amsterdam? Pratt unfortunately is a much more institutionalized institute. Pratt has some great professors and staff I will say that, but Pratt Institute is a private school so they are all about making a profit. I like that Pratt demands a lot from the student body, I didn’t feel like I was pushed as much at the Rietveld Acadamie, but I do feel like I learned how to be self-motivated. I felt a greater sense of creative freedom while I was in Amsterdam, and I had a lot more time to do work. Essentially there was one class a week with the rest of my time being open studio. I think a lot of time gets wasted on “higher learning” at Pratt, the program really doesn’t allow the needed time to create..
PAUL MINOR: FROM PRATT TO AMSTERDAM interview and illustrations by Nadia Mohamed
Paul Minor is a fourth year painting student who recently spent the Spring 2010 and some of the summer in Amsterdam. Hailing from Colorado, he came to Pratt in 2007. You spent the last year in Amsterdam. What was your favorite thing about being abroad? Half of it, Amsterdam was a really great experience. I was studying at the Rietveld Acadamie, and stayed into the summer. I really liked how Amsterdam had a very local feel to it, I felt that it had a huge amount of energy for a relatively small city. Biking everywhere was my favorite part about living there. Playing chess with friends and strangers in coffee shops. Running pretty much anywhere in Europe could also make that favorites list. 6 | T H E P R AT T L E R
Do you feel your painting was effected by your studies abroad? I do, I actually did very little painting in Amsterdam. I decided instead to devote most of my time to drawing. I am pretty positive that those new drawing ideas will come into play in my paintings. I think without even knowing it I was trying very hard to visually absorb everyplace I traveled to. Tell me about the project you wanted to do involving the Pratt pool. I wanted to use the Pratt pool space for a project in which I collect Pratt’s paper waste and recycle that paper into sheets of a better quality paper with some rag content. I wanted to fill the Pratt pool with shredded paper. I know that I could, Pratt as a community must toss out tons and tons of paper monthly. Then, after the recycled paper was made, I was going to invite anyone interested in the paper to come and have a sheet. The end idea was to have an exhibition that was open invite to any work made on the Pratt recycled paper. So I felt the Pratt pool was the best
place for this, why not use a disregarded and unused space and also one that visually lends itself to all of the greater themes I wanted to get at. I was surprised that there was NO interest from Pratt, as they often talk of how “green” this institute is. I think that is kind of bullshit, this school isn’t green, it’s brick-red, no, no it is Grand Walk red. They water the lawn right after a fucking tornado, its just funny, you k n o w ? B u t re gardless, that pool is a sacred baby burial ground and must never be opened. Why do you think Pratt has such strict policies about the pool? I think the pool is where Pratt hides bricks of gold, or maybe it’s something darker than that. It must be haunted. Sometimes it seems like Pratt doesn’t own Pratt, and that can be disheartening. When I pitched the idea for the Pratt pool, I could tell there was no support and no interest in converting that room into a usable exhibition space. Maybe KFC or Dunkin’ Donuts owns it, like the basement of the new Myrtle Building. It got really irritating for me to even think about it, and to tell you the truth, the pool is just something that the good ol’ boys don’t want to deal with. It must be a lot of insurance shit, because they won’t touch it with a ten foot pole. They also don’t have interest in the pool because it isn’t something that will make them a shit load of money and money is really all those individuals think about. They are accountants not artists. Will you stay in Brooklyn/NYC after you graduate? Why? If not, where do you plan to go? I love it here, I really want to stay, but I don’t feel rooted completely. I really miss Colorado a lot. Maybe I will go to Japan. T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 7
Paul Minor
CHARACTER PROFILE
How does Pratt compare to your school in Amsterdam? Pratt unfortunately is a much more institutionalized institute. Pratt has some great professors and staff I will say that, but Pratt Institute is a private school so they are all about making a profit. I like that Pratt demands a lot from the student body, I didn’t feel like I was pushed as much at the Rietveld Acadamie, but I do feel like I learned how to be self-motivated. I felt a greater sense of creative freedom while I was in Amsterdam, and I had a lot more time to do work. Essentially there was one class a week with the rest of my time being open studio. I think a lot of time gets wasted on “higher learning” at Pratt, the program really doesn’t allow the needed time to create..
PAUL MINOR: FROM PRATT TO AMSTERDAM interview and illustrations by Nadia Mohamed
Paul Minor is a fourth year painting student who recently spent the Spring 2010 and some of the summer in Amsterdam. Hailing from Colorado, he came to Pratt in 2007. You spent the last year in Amsterdam. What was your favorite thing about being abroad? Half of it, Amsterdam was a really great experience. I was studying at the Rietveld Acadamie, and stayed into the summer. I really liked how Amsterdam had a very local feel to it, I felt that it had a huge amount of energy for a relatively small city. Biking everywhere was my favorite part about living there. Playing chess with friends and strangers in coffee shops. Running pretty much anywhere in Europe could also make that favorites list. 6 | T H E P R AT T L E R
Do you feel your painting was effected by your studies abroad? I do, I actually did very little painting in Amsterdam. I decided instead to devote most of my time to drawing. I am pretty positive that those new drawing ideas will come into play in my paintings. I think without even knowing it I was trying very hard to visually absorb everyplace I traveled to. Tell me about the project you wanted to do involving the Pratt pool. I wanted to use the Pratt pool space for a project in which I collect Pratt’s paper waste and recycle that paper into sheets of a better quality paper with some rag content. I wanted to fill the Pratt pool with shredded paper. I know that I could, Pratt as a community must toss out tons and tons of paper monthly. Then, after the recycled paper was made, I was going to invite anyone interested in the paper to come and have a sheet. The end idea was to have an exhibition that was open invite to any work made on the Pratt recycled paper. So I felt the Pratt pool was the best
place for this, why not use a disregarded and unused space and also one that visually lends itself to all of the greater themes I wanted to get at. I was surprised that there was NO interest from Pratt, as they often talk of how “green” this institute is. I think that is kind of bullshit, this school isn’t green, it’s brick-red, no, no it is Grand Walk red. They water the lawn right after a fucking tornado, its just funny, you k n o w ? B u t re gardless, that pool is a sacred baby burial ground and must never be opened. Why do you think Pratt has such strict policies about the pool? I think the pool is where Pratt hides bricks of gold, or maybe it’s something darker than that. It must be haunted. Sometimes it seems like Pratt doesn’t own Pratt, and that can be disheartening. When I pitched the idea for the Pratt pool, I could tell there was no support and no interest in converting that room into a usable exhibition space. Maybe KFC or Dunkin’ Donuts owns it, like the basement of the new Myrtle Building. It got really irritating for me to even think about it, and to tell you the truth, the pool is just something that the good ol’ boys don’t want to deal with. It must be a lot of insurance shit, because they won’t touch it with a ten foot pole. They also don’t have interest in the pool because it isn’t something that will make them a shit load of money and money is really all those individuals think about. They are accountants not artists. Will you stay in Brooklyn/NYC after you graduate? Why? If not, where do you plan to go? I love it here, I really want to stay, but I don’t feel rooted completely. I really miss Colorado a lot. Maybe I will go to Japan. T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 7
AIR DUCTS IN STEUBEN (COULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD IDEA) article and illustration by Michael Ryterband
What’s the deal with those metal rectangles
attached to every room’s ceiling in 4th floor Steuben? Well I’ll tell you one thing, they’re not air ducts attached to any variety of working central air. No sir, simply aesthetic. While sitting in an exceptionally soupy Steuben classroom, I began thinking about why a building’s worth of perfectly functioning AC piping wasn’t pumping out the crispy cold air it was intended to produce. Here’s the story… It is commonly believed that Pratt’s new plan to pioneer an aggressive “green” initiative by constructing a 120,000-square-foot Yacht at the former “Kentucky Fried Chicken site” on Myrtle Avenue and Emerson has eaten up all the money that should have been spent fixing up the currently inhabited Pratt facilities. In reality, said project has been given the green light based on exorbitant grants and outside funding, having nothing to do with the communication design budget, which for other reasons, doesn’t really exist. While the Communication Design department was responsible for the
8 | T H E P R AT T L E R
initial installation of the cooling system, like housing developments constructed during a recession, they broke the bank while rounding 3rd base and had to shut the job down. In a time where cutting corners and stretching pennies is the name of the game, it is highly unlikely that Steuben natives afflicted by uncomfortably hot classrooms will feel gusts of icy O2 on their studious little face any time in the near future. BUT WAIT! Jack Esterson, alumnus and head architect for Pratt’s new architectural endeavor on Myrtle Avenue, may have the solution to our problems! “On the South side, a glazed wall with ultra high-performance clear and translucent glass and solar shading is designed to bring daylight into the building year round, while keeping summer heat out.” One wonders if they’ll have any scraps for us to duct-tape over our windows? If you see any of this futuristic space-glass lying around shoot the Prattler an email and we’ll send over a pick up crew. Otherwise winter is right around the bend.
No sir, simply aesthetic T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 9
AIR DUCTS IN STEUBEN (COULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD IDEA) article and illustration by Michael Ryterband
What’s the deal with those metal rectangles
attached to every room’s ceiling in 4th floor Steuben? Well I’ll tell you one thing, they’re not air ducts attached to any variety of working central air. No sir, simply aesthetic. While sitting in an exceptionally soupy Steuben classroom, I began thinking about why a building’s worth of perfectly functioning AC piping wasn’t pumping out the crispy cold air it was intended to produce. Here’s the story… It is commonly believed that Pratt’s new plan to pioneer an aggressive “green” initiative by constructing a 120,000-square-foot Yacht at the former “Kentucky Fried Chicken site” on Myrtle Avenue and Emerson has eaten up all the money that should have been spent fixing up the currently inhabited Pratt facilities. In reality, said project has been given the green light based on exorbitant grants and outside funding, having nothing to do with the communication design budget, which for other reasons, doesn’t really exist. While the Communication Design department was responsible for the
8 | T H E P R AT T L E R
initial installation of the cooling system, like housing developments constructed during a recession, they broke the bank while rounding 3rd base and had to shut the job down. In a time where cutting corners and stretching pennies is the name of the game, it is highly unlikely that Steuben natives afflicted by uncomfortably hot classrooms will feel gusts of icy O2 on their studious little face any time in the near future. BUT WAIT! Jack Esterson, alumnus and head architect for Pratt’s new architectural endeavor on Myrtle Avenue, may have the solution to our problems! “On the South side, a glazed wall with ultra high-performance clear and translucent glass and solar shading is designed to bring daylight into the building year round, while keeping summer heat out.” One wonders if they’ll have any scraps for us to duct-tape over our windows? If you see any of this futuristic space-glass lying around shoot the Prattler an email and we’ll send over a pick up crew. Otherwise winter is right around the bend.
No sir, simply aesthetic T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 9
MUSIC HALLS OF PEOPLE a guide to New York concert venues words and illustrations by Crissy Fetcher
Going to a concert? First time at the venue? Be prepared for what’s coming ahead! Know when to get there or if you’ll be holding your coat the whole time.
TIPS AND TRICKS:
Move, if someone near you is being that* person, it will only get worse. Stay hydrated, nothing is worse than missing the last few songs of a show because you’re too dizzy to stand up. Bring cash, not every venue has an ATM and if it does there is always a line. Find out when set-times are, it makes waiting a little more bearable. Make friends, don’t be afraid to go to a show by yourself and talk to security, they’re probably as bored as you are waiting for the band to go on and usually more than happy to show off and tell you where the back door is.
MADISON
SQUARE
GARDEN 4 Penn Plaza, New York, NY All ages, seating and standing Capacity: 19,000 Sound: Four out of five stars What’s it like? Huge stage with endless amounts of seating and an amazing sound system. If you’re looking for an
10 | T H E P R AT T L E R
intimate show, this is not the place, if you’re looking to be blown away by special effects, go get some tickets When should I get there? Majority of the venue is assigned seats, so you don’t have to get there early to fight for a spot Coat check? Yes Fun Fact: MSG offers backstage tours all year round!
TERMINAL 5
610 W 56th St, New York, NY All ages, general admission standing Capacity: 3000 Drinks/food? Five bars and empanadas Sound: Generally sub-par all around, better towards the back Crowd: By all ages it means ALL ages, 12-60 year olds, mostly annoying What’s it like? Very big, think of a long vast cavern with two balconies, poor acoustics and too many people with a large barrier between crowd and stage When should I get there? Stage area usually fills up by the first opener, but it’s not difficult to get closer* Coat check? Yes Fun Fact: There is a rooftop bar and seating area (seasonal)
WEBSTER HALL
125 East 11th St, New York, NY 16+ or 18+, general admission standing Capacity: 2,500 Drinks/food? At least four bars, no food Sound: ACrowd: enthusiastic with clusters of idiots What’s it like? Webster has three different dance floors/stage areas: “The Studio”, which is the basement, used for small events and shows, the First floor, which is just a sweaty dance room, and the Second floor, where the main stage is When should I get there? Earlier the better, the crowd is generally young and tend to get there earlier and it’s difficult to hear and see from the back, on the other hand that’s where the bar is. Coat check? Yes Fun Fact: The main stage has a surprise that can only be seen during a show
B O WERY BALLROOM
6 Delancey St, New York, NY 16+ or 18+, general admission standing Capacity: 550 Drinks/food? Three bars, no food Sound: Very good or very bad Crowd: See Music Hall of Williamsburg and add more people from Manhattan What’s it like? Very small stage area that fills up quickly, there is no barrier between the crowd and the stage When should I get there? If you love the band, get there early, if you don’t care, whenever Coat check? Yes Fun Fact: It was the first venue established by Bowery Presents
MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG
66 N. 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 18+, general admission standing Capacity: 550 Drinks/food? Three bars, no food Sound: Very good, but can be distorted if you are too close to the stage Crowd: generally 18-40 year olds that get there after the opener and hang out at the bar until the headliner comes on What’s it like? People are kept at the downstairs bar and then let upstairs to the small stage/standing area, there is no barrier in front of the stage and a balcony When should I get there? If you are a die-hard get there when doors open, if you don’t care, arriving during the first opener will get you comfortably close* Coat check? Yes Fun Fact: If you are near the stage you can store things underneath!
CONCERT ETIQUETTE
Don’t be THAT* person *Very drunk, very disruptive, hitting people, talking loudly throughout the show, making out with your girlfriend all over other people, dancing like an idiot, singing along when no one else is, spilling beer, cutting in front of people, wearing a hat, starting fights, being generally rude No matter where you go remember that you paid to see a show and you’re there to have a good time. Don’t let THAT person get in the way of it.
ONE-STOP-SHOP
for concert information, tour dates, pictures, and stupid comments: Brooklynvegan.com twitter: allBVposts bowerypresents.com has information on Music Hall of Williamsburg, Bowery Ballroom, Terminal 5, and more. T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 11
MUSIC HALLS OF PEOPLE a guide to New York concert venues words and illustrations by Crissy Fetcher
Going to a concert? First time at the venue? Be prepared for what’s coming ahead! Know when to get there or if you’ll be holding your coat the whole time.
TIPS AND TRICKS:
Move, if someone near you is being that* person, it will only get worse. Stay hydrated, nothing is worse than missing the last few songs of a show because you’re too dizzy to stand up. Bring cash, not every venue has an ATM and if it does there is always a line. Find out when set-times are, it makes waiting a little more bearable. Make friends, don’t be afraid to go to a show by yourself and talk to security, they’re probably as bored as you are waiting for the band to go on and usually more than happy to show off and tell you where the back door is.
MADISON
SQUARE
GARDEN 4 Penn Plaza, New York, NY All ages, seating and standing Capacity: 19,000 Sound: Four out of five stars What’s it like? Huge stage with endless amounts of seating and an amazing sound system. If you’re looking for an
10 | T H E P R AT T L E R
intimate show, this is not the place, if you’re looking to be blown away by special effects, go get some tickets When should I get there? Majority of the venue is assigned seats, so you don’t have to get there early to fight for a spot Coat check? Yes Fun Fact: MSG offers backstage tours all year round!
TERMINAL 5
610 W 56th St, New York, NY All ages, general admission standing Capacity: 3000 Drinks/food? Five bars and empanadas Sound: Generally sub-par all around, better towards the back Crowd: By all ages it means ALL ages, 12-60 year olds, mostly annoying What’s it like? Very big, think of a long vast cavern with two balconies, poor acoustics and too many people with a large barrier between crowd and stage When should I get there? Stage area usually fills up by the first opener, but it’s not difficult to get closer* Coat check? Yes Fun Fact: There is a rooftop bar and seating area (seasonal)
WEBSTER HALL
125 East 11th St, New York, NY 16+ or 18+, general admission standing Capacity: 2,500 Drinks/food? At least four bars, no food Sound: ACrowd: enthusiastic with clusters of idiots What’s it like? Webster has three different dance floors/stage areas: “The Studio”, which is the basement, used for small events and shows, the First floor, which is just a sweaty dance room, and the Second floor, where the main stage is When should I get there? Earlier the better, the crowd is generally young and tend to get there earlier and it’s difficult to hear and see from the back, on the other hand that’s where the bar is. Coat check? Yes Fun Fact: The main stage has a surprise that can only be seen during a show
B O WERY BALLROOM
6 Delancey St, New York, NY 16+ or 18+, general admission standing Capacity: 550 Drinks/food? Three bars, no food Sound: Very good or very bad Crowd: See Music Hall of Williamsburg and add more people from Manhattan What’s it like? Very small stage area that fills up quickly, there is no barrier between the crowd and the stage When should I get there? If you love the band, get there early, if you don’t care, whenever Coat check? Yes Fun Fact: It was the first venue established by Bowery Presents
MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG
66 N. 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 18+, general admission standing Capacity: 550 Drinks/food? Three bars, no food Sound: Very good, but can be distorted if you are too close to the stage Crowd: generally 18-40 year olds that get there after the opener and hang out at the bar until the headliner comes on What’s it like? People are kept at the downstairs bar and then let upstairs to the small stage/standing area, there is no barrier in front of the stage and a balcony When should I get there? If you are a die-hard get there when doors open, if you don’t care, arriving during the first opener will get you comfortably close* Coat check? Yes Fun Fact: If you are near the stage you can store things underneath!
CONCERT ETIQUETTE
Don’t be THAT* person *Very drunk, very disruptive, hitting people, talking loudly throughout the show, making out with your girlfriend all over other people, dancing like an idiot, singing along when no one else is, spilling beer, cutting in front of people, wearing a hat, starting fights, being generally rude No matter where you go remember that you paid to see a show and you’re there to have a good time. Don’t let THAT person get in the way of it.
ONE-STOP-SHOP
for concert information, tour dates, pictures, and stupid comments: Brooklynvegan.com twitter: allBVposts bowerypresents.com has information on Music Hall of Williamsburg, Bowery Ballroom, Terminal 5, and more. T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 11
photograph by Harriet Harris
THE PERPLEXING PLIGHT OF PRATT’S POOL a brief history by Harriet Harris
12 | T H E P R AT T L E R
T he most common response I got when asking questions about Pratt’s Pool was, “we have a pool”? The technical answer is yes, if that’s what you like to call the 44 x 15 foot cement crater hidden next to the Student Union. You can peer in through the square basement windows along Grand Avenue and take a look for yourself. As a varsity swimmer in high school, when I came to Pratt in 2007 I was shocked to hear we had a pool in disrepair being used as storage. The general explanation I could get from my upperclassmen was that a girl had drowned there in the 1970s and as part of the legal settlement Pratt agreed to shut down the pool and never open it again. I had even tried to do some measly investigating at the time and emailed someone at the ARC building to confirm the story. Needless to say, I never heard back. T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 13
photograph by Harriet Harris
THE PERPLEXING PLIGHT OF PRATT’S POOL a brief history by Harriet Harris
12 | T H E P R AT T L E R
T he most common response I got when asking questions about Pratt’s Pool was, “we have a pool”? The technical answer is yes, if that’s what you like to call the 44 x 15 foot cement crater hidden next to the Student Union. You can peer in through the square basement windows along Grand Avenue and take a look for yourself. As a varsity swimmer in high school, when I came to Pratt in 2007 I was shocked to hear we had a pool in disrepair being used as storage. The general explanation I could get from my upperclassmen was that a girl had drowned there in the 1970s and as part of the legal settlement Pratt agreed to shut down the pool and never open it again. I had even tried to do some measly investigating at the time and emailed someone at the ARC building to confirm the story. Needless to say, I never heard back. T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 13
to the mid 1960s swimming seemed to be one year from now, $1,000,000; and two mostly advertised by the W.R.A. (Women’s years hence, possibly up to $2,000,000. The Recreation Association) as a total construction cost (without A swimming pastime activity. A small 1966 the pool) now stands at under 5 pool on campus million dollars total”. Prattler article titled “WRC Can Satisfy Your Inner Needs” became a rumor And just like that a swimcoaxes, “for you girls there ming pool on campus became a of the past will be nights when instead of rumor of the past. The old pool trying to tackle your projects immediately, was mentioned once again in the “Rumor you can think about it while swimming in the Has It” column a year later, saying that it pool,” and offers refreshments for all (who was to be filled up and turned into office could deny that offer?). By this time the swim spaces (that obviously didn’t happen either). team had become extinct, with no record of Most students today don’t even know it exists. them in any publication from that era. The few who know of it compare rumors Plans for the ARC building began to take briefly before carrying on with their business. form in 1973. The original outline called Although I have uncovered the truth, surely for an L-shaped building where a bigger this issue of Prattler will fall into oblivion like and better pool would be built right where all the others and the pool will once again Cannoneer Court dorm stands today. The regain it’s romantic obscurity. old pool had heater problems, filter prob- On a finer note, October 1st of last year lems, and possible leakage that would cost was the beginning of an option to swim at too much to repair. The old pool was closed Long Island University’s newly built Wellness, in the early 1970s with consolation that a Recreation and Athletic Center (WRAC). new one would replace it. Nevertheless, a Their spacious six lane, 25 yard length pool September 1973 issue of The Prattler crushed is located on their Brooklyn Campus at this idea with hard fiscal facts. In the original 161 Ashland Avenue. Faculty and staff are plan, a large pool and a diving area were to not invited but current students may use it be included in the complex. However, in the during fall and spring semesters. Swim caps subsequent plan no pool is included, although are required and you need to bring your own space for expansion at a later date is provided. lock to use the lockers. Hours are Monday The situation is this: included in the initial through Friday 7am-7pm and Sunday construction, the pool would cost $300,000; 10am-2pm.
photos courtesy of Pratt Archives
Three years later I am writing a proper 1897-1898 catalogue lists classes as being article on the mystery. This time around held on weekdays from 3pm-6pm. Women I did some real investigative work with in- could attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays valuable help from Pratt’s Archivist, Paul while the men were scheduled for Monday, E. Schlotthauer and Pratt’s Chief Engineer, Wednesday, and Fridays. Not quite equal, but Conrad Milster. Conrad has been at the who’s counting? school since 1958 and gave me the time line Not much was ever said of our swim team, of what I was looking for. Schlotthauer was however I found an embarrassing review in endlessly patient as I requested various back a 1951 Prattler blaming the third loss of the issues of The Prattler, Pratt Institute Monthly, season on the fact that 12 of the 18 men on Prattonia yearbooks, photos, catalogs, and the team were freshman and the fact that our crumbling scrapbooks of precious news- team only practiced for three months while paper clippings. the opposing team practiced year round. It Through these I was able to find the real should be noted that this swim meet did not reason the Pratt Pool closed, and it’s a lot less take place in our pool, but at the Bedford glamorous than a lawsuit over a wrongful YMCA with only 15 spectators in attendance. death. I am almost reluctant to reveal the Meanwhile, the coeducation movement answer because it is such a typical explana- slowly swept across America and Pratt tion. Let’s instead start with how it all began. Institute introduced mixed-sex physical edu The “Swimming Tank,” as it was called, cation classes. Aptly written in a 1952 issue had a grand opening along with the “new of the Prattler, “The swimming classes are gymnasium” on January 12, 1897. Pratt now co-ed, and do the fellows object – No fun spent $40,000 to turn the old they say, in co-ed dips. We gals Most students don’t mind, we’re hospitable. Trade School building into an “athletic palace” (now our cur- today don’t even In fact, male company is always rent Student Union building). Isn’t it funny how know it exists athepleasure!” The unmarked newspaper clipopposite is true today? I ping goes on to boast the pool as being “the know my high school was full of girls who first in Brooklyn to be opened for women,” flat out refused to participate in the swim unit and that “they [the women] have their because people, namely the guys, would get own set of lockers and they have as many to see them in a swimsuit. swimming days as the boys have.” Pratt’s As the issues of The Prattler progressed THE “SWIMMING TANK” through the years 1897
1940
swim team the grand opening 14 | T H E P R AT T L E R
1956
1966
practice
cartoon from an issue of The Prattler
2010
present condition T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 15
to the mid 1960s swimming seemed to be one year from now, $1,000,000; and two mostly advertised by the W.R.A. (Women’s years hence, possibly up to $2,000,000. The Recreation Association) as a total construction cost (without A swimming pastime activity. A small 1966 the pool) now stands at under 5 pool on campus million dollars total”. Prattler article titled “WRC Can Satisfy Your Inner Needs” became a rumor And just like that a swimcoaxes, “for you girls there ming pool on campus became a of the past will be nights when instead of rumor of the past. The old pool trying to tackle your projects immediately, was mentioned once again in the “Rumor you can think about it while swimming in the Has It” column a year later, saying that it pool,” and offers refreshments for all (who was to be filled up and turned into office could deny that offer?). By this time the swim spaces (that obviously didn’t happen either). team had become extinct, with no record of Most students today don’t even know it exists. them in any publication from that era. The few who know of it compare rumors Plans for the ARC building began to take briefly before carrying on with their business. form in 1973. The original outline called Although I have uncovered the truth, surely for an L-shaped building where a bigger this issue of Prattler will fall into oblivion like and better pool would be built right where all the others and the pool will once again Cannoneer Court dorm stands today. The regain it’s romantic obscurity. old pool had heater problems, filter prob- On a finer note, October 1st of last year lems, and possible leakage that would cost was the beginning of an option to swim at too much to repair. The old pool was closed Long Island University’s newly built Wellness, in the early 1970s with consolation that a Recreation and Athletic Center (WRAC). new one would replace it. Nevertheless, a Their spacious six lane, 25 yard length pool September 1973 issue of The Prattler crushed is located on their Brooklyn Campus at this idea with hard fiscal facts. In the original 161 Ashland Avenue. Faculty and staff are plan, a large pool and a diving area were to not invited but current students may use it be included in the complex. However, in the during fall and spring semesters. Swim caps subsequent plan no pool is included, although are required and you need to bring your own space for expansion at a later date is provided. lock to use the lockers. Hours are Monday The situation is this: included in the initial through Friday 7am-7pm and Sunday construction, the pool would cost $300,000; 10am-2pm.
photos courtesy of Pratt Archives
Three years later I am writing a proper 1897-1898 catalogue lists classes as being article on the mystery. This time around held on weekdays from 3pm-6pm. Women I did some real investigative work with in- could attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays valuable help from Pratt’s Archivist, Paul while the men were scheduled for Monday, E. Schlotthauer and Pratt’s Chief Engineer, Wednesday, and Fridays. Not quite equal, but Conrad Milster. Conrad has been at the who’s counting? school since 1958 and gave me the time line Not much was ever said of our swim team, of what I was looking for. Schlotthauer was however I found an embarrassing review in endlessly patient as I requested various back a 1951 Prattler blaming the third loss of the issues of The Prattler, Pratt Institute Monthly, season on the fact that 12 of the 18 men on Prattonia yearbooks, photos, catalogs, and the team were freshman and the fact that our crumbling scrapbooks of precious news- team only practiced for three months while paper clippings. the opposing team practiced year round. It Through these I was able to find the real should be noted that this swim meet did not reason the Pratt Pool closed, and it’s a lot less take place in our pool, but at the Bedford glamorous than a lawsuit over a wrongful YMCA with only 15 spectators in attendance. death. I am almost reluctant to reveal the Meanwhile, the coeducation movement answer because it is such a typical explana- slowly swept across America and Pratt tion. Let’s instead start with how it all began. Institute introduced mixed-sex physical edu The “Swimming Tank,” as it was called, cation classes. Aptly written in a 1952 issue had a grand opening along with the “new of the Prattler, “The swimming classes are gymnasium” on January 12, 1897. Pratt now co-ed, and do the fellows object – No fun spent $40,000 to turn the old they say, in co-ed dips. We gals Most students don’t mind, we’re hospitable. Trade School building into an “athletic palace” (now our cur- today don’t even In fact, male company is always rent Student Union building). Isn’t it funny how know it exists athepleasure!” The unmarked newspaper clipopposite is true today? I ping goes on to boast the pool as being “the know my high school was full of girls who first in Brooklyn to be opened for women,” flat out refused to participate in the swim unit and that “they [the women] have their because people, namely the guys, would get own set of lockers and they have as many to see them in a swimsuit. swimming days as the boys have.” Pratt’s As the issues of The Prattler progressed THE “SWIMMING TANK” through the years 1897
1940
swim team the grand opening 14 | T H E P R AT T L E R
1956
1966
practice
cartoon from an issue of The Prattler
2010
present condition T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 15
We have a pool?
16 | T H E P R AT T L E R
We have a pool?
16 | T H E P R AT T L E R
I’m sure everyone remembers that day
WHERE’S YOUR PRIDE? BY SARAH RATINETZ
18 | T H E P R AT T L E R
senior year of high school when your best friend walked into school sporting their newly accepted college sweatshirt. You were excited for your friend, but deep down you knew that you had chosen to do something different for the next four years. We didn’t come to There wouldn’t be pep Pratt to shake our rallies or football games, b u t i n s t e a d g r u e l i n g pom-poms and paint nights in the computer our chests with P’s labs or in front of a model trying to figure out your next move. We as Pratt students chose a different path because something interested us so much that we needed a concentrated environment for it to thrive in. Lately I’ve been hearing this noise, a noise that has been getting louder and louder during my three years at Pratt. This noise, as it turns out is the sound of negativity towards our school. The negativity that surrounds Pratt doesn’t come from U.S. News or The Princeton Review, but from its very own students. I know we didn’t come to Pratt to shake our pompoms and paint our chests with P’s, but where is the pride? I hear statements that range from “Pratt doesn’t let us do anything,” to “I can’t wait to get out of Pratt.” Wasn’t going to college about making a mature decision to better ourselves? If we as the student body don’t attempt to strengthen the school’s reputation then who will? There is a strange impression that Pratt is a third-rate institution that doesn’t value its students, but why do we romanticize other art and design schools and ignore their shortcomings? Pratt is taking part in a great deal of student and faculty promotion, and it doesn’t include cheesy subway advertisements. Even students from other art schools know about Pratt’s collaborations with West Elm and Barnes & Noble. Pratt works to align itself with current art and design innovators Not everything m a k i n g i t s s t u d e n t s here is perfect aware of what goes on beyond our little bubble. Pratt has an excellent online database that lists top internship and job offerings. We are able to take free yoga classes and rent films that we cannot readily access
Q&A Having heard and read countless reviews of Pratt Institute spanning the last ten years, I decided to speak to some of our peers to better understand current issues school and also to give some perspective to students about what people like and dislike about Pratt Institute. What do you think it the biggest issue at Pratt Institute right now? As an international student I notice that a lot of my friends usually have trouble registering. We never get into the classes we want. Graphic Design, Senior
T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 19
I’m sure everyone remembers that day
WHERE’S YOUR PRIDE? BY SARAH RATINETZ
18 | T H E P R AT T L E R
senior year of high school when your best friend walked into school sporting their newly accepted college sweatshirt. You were excited for your friend, but deep down you knew that you had chosen to do something different for the next four years. We didn’t come to There wouldn’t be pep Pratt to shake our rallies or football games, b u t i n s t e a d g r u e l i n g pom-poms and paint nights in the computer our chests with P’s labs or in front of a model trying to figure out your next move. We as Pratt students chose a different path because something interested us so much that we needed a concentrated environment for it to thrive in. Lately I’ve been hearing this noise, a noise that has been getting louder and louder during my three years at Pratt. This noise, as it turns out is the sound of negativity towards our school. The negativity that surrounds Pratt doesn’t come from U.S. News or The Princeton Review, but from its very own students. I know we didn’t come to Pratt to shake our pompoms and paint our chests with P’s, but where is the pride? I hear statements that range from “Pratt doesn’t let us do anything,” to “I can’t wait to get out of Pratt.” Wasn’t going to college about making a mature decision to better ourselves? If we as the student body don’t attempt to strengthen the school’s reputation then who will? There is a strange impression that Pratt is a third-rate institution that doesn’t value its students, but why do we romanticize other art and design schools and ignore their shortcomings? Pratt is taking part in a great deal of student and faculty promotion, and it doesn’t include cheesy subway advertisements. Even students from other art schools know about Pratt’s collaborations with West Elm and Barnes & Noble. Pratt works to align itself with current art and design innovators Not everything m a k i n g i t s s t u d e n t s here is perfect aware of what goes on beyond our little bubble. Pratt has an excellent online database that lists top internship and job offerings. We are able to take free yoga classes and rent films that we cannot readily access
Q&A Having heard and read countless reviews of Pratt Institute spanning the last ten years, I decided to speak to some of our peers to better understand current issues school and also to give some perspective to students about what people like and dislike about Pratt Institute. What do you think it the biggest issue at Pratt Institute right now? As an international student I notice that a lot of my friends usually have trouble registering. We never get into the classes we want. Graphic Design, Senior
T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 19
photos courtesy of Pratt Archives
What was your original impression of Pratt and has it changed since you have been a student here? When I toured the school a lot of the students told me it would be a lot of work and they were right. There is a lot going on inside the school and a lot of good resources. I love the community. Industrial Design-Junior Do you have one or more faculty members you have made a connection with? I definitely have good connections with my professors. They have been accessible and helpful. Advertising-Senior Do you spend a good amount of time on campus/ using the facilities? I think it depends on the kind of person you are. Some people don’t leave 20 | T H E P R AT T L E R
their beds when doing their work but I use the computer labs and workrooms in the dorms all the time. Undecided-Freshman Have you taken part in Pratt events such as internship fairs? I’m not really much of an activities person but I did go to the internship fair twice. The company that I was really interested in never came. Advertising-Senior Has Pratt faculty and Career Services ever helped you to find an internship or job opportunities? I found some opportunities on my own but I did speak to the Career Services office awhile back. They were really helpful, I should go back. Industrial Design-Senior
Have you ever spoken to a chairperson about changing something in your department? My chairperson was extremely helpful to me when I was thinking about switching majors. When I asked her about this we discussed that to do so I wouldn’t have to spend another year in school so she allowed me to take courses in the major I wanted to switch into instead. Graphic Design-Senior If you could change anything about your experience here what would it be? I wish that our freshman foundation classes could have prepared us more for our intended majors. Interior Design-Senior
at the Blockbuster on Myrtle Ave. We can go to our favorite museums free of charge and our professors know more about us than just our names. We are able to walk to our classes without having to interfere with the rest of the population of New York City and sit on our green campus while having coffee with friends. Can students at Parson’s and SVA say the same? Ok, so this is the part where I bite my tongue and admit not everything here is perfect. The workload is demanding, sometimes so much that we compromise our health and sanity. The poorly run bursar and financial aide offices have been enough to make people lose their tempers, and sometimes violently. The food in the cafeteria is overpriced and at times borders on inedible (I was once served frozen falafel). The security guards are too busy talking on their cell phones to care about us. The dorms that we’re supposed to consider our temporary homes are infested with mice and cockroaches. All of these imperfections can be downright maddening at times and have been enough to make people lose faith in Pratt as a place of higher education. Are we willing to sacrifice our education to a disorganized system? The college experience and especially the Pratt experience is not a painless one. I am in no way saying that my transition to Pratt was easy and I skip to class every morning. I’ve contemplated transferring like many of us have when things weren’t exactly as we thought they would be. I made the choice to come to Pratt for a reason and when I looked beyond the experiences that made me think otherwise, like having to a build a cantilever out of sticks that could hold a We are in control brick, I found my way to the faculty who understood the of our education kind of person I was and the classes where I produce my best work. Going to school in New York City allows for us to have constant opportunities. We are in control of our education, majoring in areas that we hope to spend the rest of our lives’ practicing. Let’s move beyond the annoyances and remember why we really decided to spend four years of our lives here. Pratt Institute can be a success if we make it one.
Aside from your major’s required courses do you find your other courses to be challenging or interesting? The liberal arts classes are definitely what you make them. If you want to be in a hard liberal arts class you can be and if you want an easy A you can find those classes as well. It all depends on the teacher. You’re really in control. Graphic Design-Senior The general consensus I received after speaking with students on campus one afternoon is that despite the well known problems your experience at Pratt Institute is in your hands. A meeting with an internship advisor or your department’s chairperson is an e-mail away. There will always be problems and hopefully you won’t let them dishearten you. Don’t let your time in college pass you by with complaints and hearsay.
T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 21
photos courtesy of Pratt Archives
What was your original impression of Pratt and has it changed since you have been a student here? When I toured the school a lot of the students told me it would be a lot of work and they were right. There is a lot going on inside the school and a lot of good resources. I love the community. Industrial Design-Junior Do you have one or more faculty members you have made a connection with? I definitely have good connections with my professors. They have been accessible and helpful. Advertising-Senior Do you spend a good amount of time on campus/ using the facilities? I think it depends on the kind of person you are. Some people don’t leave 20 | T H E P R AT T L E R
their beds when doing their work but I use the computer labs and workrooms in the dorms all the time. Undecided-Freshman Have you taken part in Pratt events such as internship fairs? I’m not really much of an activities person but I did go to the internship fair twice. The company that I was really interested in never came. Advertising-Senior Has Pratt faculty and Career Services ever helped you to find an internship or job opportunities? I found some opportunities on my own but I did speak to the Career Services office awhile back. They were really helpful, I should go back. Industrial Design-Senior
Have you ever spoken to a chairperson about changing something in your department? My chairperson was extremely helpful to me when I was thinking about switching majors. When I asked her about this we discussed that to do so I wouldn’t have to spend another year in school so she allowed me to take courses in the major I wanted to switch into instead. Graphic Design-Senior If you could change anything about your experience here what would it be? I wish that our freshman foundation classes could have prepared us more for our intended majors. Interior Design-Senior
at the Blockbuster on Myrtle Ave. We can go to our favorite museums free of charge and our professors know more about us than just our names. We are able to walk to our classes without having to interfere with the rest of the population of New York City and sit on our green campus while having coffee with friends. Can students at Parson’s and SVA say the same? Ok, so this is the part where I bite my tongue and admit not everything here is perfect. The workload is demanding, sometimes so much that we compromise our health and sanity. The poorly run bursar and financial aide offices have been enough to make people lose their tempers, and sometimes violently. The food in the cafeteria is overpriced and at times borders on inedible (I was once served frozen falafel). The security guards are too busy talking on their cell phones to care about us. The dorms that we’re supposed to consider our temporary homes are infested with mice and cockroaches. All of these imperfections can be downright maddening at times and have been enough to make people lose faith in Pratt as a place of higher education. Are we willing to sacrifice our education to a disorganized system? The college experience and especially the Pratt experience is not a painless one. I am in no way saying that my transition to Pratt was easy and I skip to class every morning. I’ve contemplated transferring like many of us have when things weren’t exactly as we thought they would be. I made the choice to come to Pratt for a reason and when I looked beyond the experiences that made me think otherwise, like having to a build a cantilever out of sticks that could hold a We are in control brick, I found my way to the faculty who understood the of our education kind of person I was and the classes where I produce my best work. Going to school in New York City allows for us to have constant opportunities. We are in control of our education, majoring in areas that we hope to spend the rest of our lives’ practicing. Let’s move beyond the annoyances and remember why we really decided to spend four years of our lives here. Pratt Institute can be a success if we make it one.
Aside from your major’s required courses do you find your other courses to be challenging or interesting? The liberal arts classes are definitely what you make them. If you want to be in a hard liberal arts class you can be and if you want an easy A you can find those classes as well. It all depends on the teacher. You’re really in control. Graphic Design-Senior The general consensus I received after speaking with students on campus one afternoon is that despite the well known problems your experience at Pratt Institute is in your hands. A meeting with an internship advisor or your department’s chairperson is an e-mail away. There will always be problems and hopefully you won’t let them dishearten you. Don’t let your time in college pass you by with complaints and hearsay.
T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 21
TOP 5 BEST AND WORST THINGS ABOUT NYC SCHOOLS by Joe Maruca
Yo r k N e w ro s n i e its p lleg ny co state has student a t a r th ack to its ate o ems I t s e i t h e r p r i v i t c o m e s nything b ool a h e C i t y o n s w h e n on’t hold ir own sc aze d m c a n d Students garding th tion or a nd a e ra . r t y d is d n e e o in it h b adm ently vis t NYU, re w r o o m o y a an ts re c ’s p e to tuden od. I her it whet feteria fo s to ten s ter Colleg y n a e u c v r H g u s d in d out IT, an passe arsons, F ctive. e P SVA, me persp so gain
22 | T H E P R AT T L E R
T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 23
TOP 5 BEST AND WORST THINGS ABOUT NYC SCHOOLS by Joe Maruca
Yo r k N e w ro s n i e its p lleg ny co state has student a t a r th ack to its ate o ems I t s e i t h e r p r i v i t c o m e s nything b ool a h e C i t y o n s w h e n on’t hold ir own sc aze d m c a n d Students garding th tion or a nd a e ra . r t y d is d n e e o in it h b adm ently vis t NYU, re w r o o m o y a an ts re c ’s p e to tuden od. I her it whet feteria fo s to ten s ter Colleg y n a e u c v r H g u s d in d out IT, an passe arsons, F ctive. e P SVA, me persp so gain
22 | T H E P R AT T L E R
T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 23
illustrations by Katy Filarski
24 | T H E P R AT T L E R
T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 25
illustrations by Katy Filarski
24 | T H E P R AT T L E R
T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 25
FOOD
PILAR
FERDINANDO’S FOCACCERIA
MAX & MINA’S
a cuban restaurant
an italian restaurant
an ice cream parlor
393 CLASSON AVENUE, BROOKLYN
(718) 623-2822 OPEN FOR : breakfast,
26 | T H E P R AT T L E R
71-26 MAIN ST, QUEENS
Last year I reviewed Gino’s an Italian restaurant in Bay Ridge, which I believed to be the archetypal New York Italian restaurant. When I ate there, I was blown away by the rich buttery food and amazing pastas, and I truly thought I would never find a better Italian restaurant outside of Italy. I was wrong! Recently, I stumbled across Ferdinando’s Focacceria in Carroll Gardens. Since the end of the 1800s Ferdinando’s has been operating out of the same small building and making some of the best authentic Sicilian soul food around. While Gino’s is still amazing, I have to say Ferdinando’s mops the floor with Gino’s on every level. Ferdinando’s famous rice balls (a large risotto ball stuffed with meat, fried, and then served in homemade sauce and whipped ricotta cheese) have to be one of my favorite dishes of all time. Pair that with the “old world” atmosphere and friendly staff and it’s no wonder Ferdinando’s is considered a city landmark. Oh yeah, did I mention it’s cheap. That rice ball will run you between three and six dollars depending on what you get it with.
Like most people I love ice cream, I mean I love it. If I could eat it for every meal I really would. Even ice cream lovers get tired of the every day stuff, however, and need to mix it up a bit. So, what do you do when you get tired chocolate and vanilla? You say there are far more flavors than just those two. And your right, but what do you do when you are tired of every flavor of ice cream? You go to Max and Mina’s in queens. With ice cream ranging in flavors from red wine to donuts, and beer to the color purple, Max and Mina’s is the place to go for and adventure in ice cream. And if you are a little unsure about beer ice cream you have no need to fear, Max and Mina’s has an unlimited sample policy and very friendly staff who are used to people taking an hour to order. If you go I highly recommend calling ahead. While their hours are not that strange, I personally have had bad luck getting there when its open.
(718) 855-1545 OPEN FOR :
(718) 793-8629
lunch and dinner
lunch and dinner
ENTREES:
ENTREES :
$5-$16
$6-$15
HOURS:
HOURS:
T - F: 9am to 9pm Sat: 10am to 9pm Sun: 11am to 6pm
M - Th: 11am to 8pm F - Sat: 11am to 10pm
reviewed by Harrison Hine
maduros, & tomato, avocado salad, $9.00) as well as the hard-to-resist potato, leek, and gruyere croquettes ($1.75) After the food arrived, the gracious owner also brought my friend a sample of his homemade chorizo saying, “I just thought this would go really well with the plantains.” Pilar is named for the boat owned by Ernest Hemingway during his time in Havana. The boat, built in Brooklyn in 1936, seemed a fitting way to connect the restaurant’s Cuban influence with its location here in Clinton Hill. While it’s still a fairly new restaurant, it’s clear that Pilar has enough personality and great food to be a neighborhood staple for years to come. I will definitely be going back soon.
reviewed by Sophie Johnson
It was 9:30 AM on a Wednesday and my morning class was cancelled, so I decided to get some breakfast. While Mike’s or Bergen Bagels were the first places that came to mind, I was feeling a little adventurous so I decided to head down the street from my apartment to a little hole-in-the-wall eatery called Pilar, located on Classon and Greene. The tiny, but clean and brightly lit restaurant features an array of “Modern Cuban” fare that utilizes traditional ingredients like chorizo, black beans, plantains, corn, and yucca in a contemporary style. The Pressed Cuban Sandwich, with marinated pork, swiss, and pickles on cuban bread was highly recommended by fellow patrons. However, as a vegetarian, I opted for a breakfast sandwich made with eggs, tomato, cheese, and Pilar’s own habanero sauce ($5.50) with maduros (sweet, sticky, fried plantains) on the side($3.00). Vegetarian dishes aren’t typical of Cuban food, so I was pleased to see that Pilar offers several options for non meat eaters such as the vegetarian platter (black beans & rice,
151 UNION ST, BROOKLYN
T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 27
FOOD
PILAR
FERDINANDO’S FOCACCERIA
MAX & MINA’S
a cuban restaurant
an italian restaurant
an ice cream parlor
393 CLASSON AVENUE, BROOKLYN
(718) 623-2822 OPEN FOR : breakfast,
26 | T H E P R AT T L E R
71-26 MAIN ST, QUEENS
Last year I reviewed Gino’s an Italian restaurant in Bay Ridge, which I believed to be the archetypal New York Italian restaurant. When I ate there, I was blown away by the rich buttery food and amazing pastas, and I truly thought I would never find a better Italian restaurant outside of Italy. I was wrong! Recently, I stumbled across Ferdinando’s Focacceria in Carroll Gardens. Since the end of the 1800s Ferdinando’s has been operating out of the same small building and making some of the best authentic Sicilian soul food around. While Gino’s is still amazing, I have to say Ferdinando’s mops the floor with Gino’s on every level. Ferdinando’s famous rice balls (a large risotto ball stuffed with meat, fried, and then served in homemade sauce and whipped ricotta cheese) have to be one of my favorite dishes of all time. Pair that with the “old world” atmosphere and friendly staff and it’s no wonder Ferdinando’s is considered a city landmark. Oh yeah, did I mention it’s cheap. That rice ball will run you between three and six dollars depending on what you get it with.
Like most people I love ice cream, I mean I love it. If I could eat it for every meal I really would. Even ice cream lovers get tired of the every day stuff, however, and need to mix it up a bit. So, what do you do when you get tired chocolate and vanilla? You say there are far more flavors than just those two. And your right, but what do you do when you are tired of every flavor of ice cream? You go to Max and Mina’s in queens. With ice cream ranging in flavors from red wine to donuts, and beer to the color purple, Max and Mina’s is the place to go for and adventure in ice cream. And if you are a little unsure about beer ice cream you have no need to fear, Max and Mina’s has an unlimited sample policy and very friendly staff who are used to people taking an hour to order. If you go I highly recommend calling ahead. While their hours are not that strange, I personally have had bad luck getting there when its open.
(718) 855-1545 OPEN FOR :
(718) 793-8629
lunch and dinner
lunch and dinner
ENTREES:
ENTREES :
$5-$16
$6-$15
HOURS:
HOURS:
T - F: 9am to 9pm Sat: 10am to 9pm Sun: 11am to 6pm
M - Th: 11am to 8pm F - Sat: 11am to 10pm
reviewed by Harrison Hine
maduros, & tomato, avocado salad, $9.00) as well as the hard-to-resist potato, leek, and gruyere croquettes ($1.75) After the food arrived, the gracious owner also brought my friend a sample of his homemade chorizo saying, “I just thought this would go really well with the plantains.” Pilar is named for the boat owned by Ernest Hemingway during his time in Havana. The boat, built in Brooklyn in 1936, seemed a fitting way to connect the restaurant’s Cuban influence with its location here in Clinton Hill. While it’s still a fairly new restaurant, it’s clear that Pilar has enough personality and great food to be a neighborhood staple for years to come. I will definitely be going back soon.
reviewed by Sophie Johnson
It was 9:30 AM on a Wednesday and my morning class was cancelled, so I decided to get some breakfast. While Mike’s or Bergen Bagels were the first places that came to mind, I was feeling a little adventurous so I decided to head down the street from my apartment to a little hole-in-the-wall eatery called Pilar, located on Classon and Greene. The tiny, but clean and brightly lit restaurant features an array of “Modern Cuban” fare that utilizes traditional ingredients like chorizo, black beans, plantains, corn, and yucca in a contemporary style. The Pressed Cuban Sandwich, with marinated pork, swiss, and pickles on cuban bread was highly recommended by fellow patrons. However, as a vegetarian, I opted for a breakfast sandwich made with eggs, tomato, cheese, and Pilar’s own habanero sauce ($5.50) with maduros (sweet, sticky, fried plantains) on the side($3.00). Vegetarian dishes aren’t typical of Cuban food, so I was pleased to see that Pilar offers several options for non meat eaters such as the vegetarian platter (black beans & rice,
151 UNION ST, BROOKLYN
T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 27
ART
BRION GYSIN DREAM MACHINE BY SARAH RATINETZ
“Brion Gysin was a subversive” are the
“Intersection Reading”
28 | T H E P R AT T L E R
years most extensively on a project they first words you read when walking onto called “The Third Mind” which was a metathe second floor at the New Museum lo- phor for the collaborative process. Fusing cated at 235 Bowery. Brion Gysin: Dream words and newspaper clippings Gysin Machine exhibits the prolific work of the and Burroughs created Meant to be artist including his paintings, mixed media, works, which questioned film and sound works. Having collaborated the authority of the printviewed with with William S. Burroughs, Keith Haring ed word. Gysin’s use of your eyes closed and The Rolling Stones, art critics called non-traditional materials Brion Gysin the best-known unknown made some his works cohesive despite artist of the 20th century. As Gysin’s first a wide range of subject matter and style retrospective in the United States The such as the use of a common paint roller New Museum showcases how although to create grids. deceased his work is influential to artist’s While most of the retrospective looks practices today. The museum offers free like your run of the mill exhibit of paintings i-Pod audio tours for the show, which in- hung and display cases, a small-darkened cludes interviews with Gysin and music to room stands in the middle the show. Surrounded by pillows is the Dream enhance the experience. Walking into the exhibit the viewer is Machine; a metal cylinder with a painted inundated with sound and color. The exhi- interior and cutout shapes that cause a bition space is divided chronologically into light inside to flicker as the cylinder spins. four sections calligraphic paintings and Considered the most successful of his drawings, the “Cut-Up Method,” The Third works the Dream Machine is one of the Mind, and the Dream Machine. Pressing few works of art meant to be viewed with play on my i-Pod I tried my best to follow your eyes closed. Using the flicker effect The Dream Machine creates a the audio tour but found it difficult with so many different The best-known visual sensation across your mediums to experience. It is unknown artist of eyes. A museum employee stood outside the room and clear that Gysin did not follow the 20th century helped me become acquainted one school or style when creating his works but many. Inspired by with the process. He also reminded me to the cultures and people he experienced play the pre-loaded music on the i-Pod throughout his nomadic life. The cal- for the full effects. Kneeling on a black ligraphic paintings and drawings inspired pillow in a the dark room I held my head a by Japanese and Arabic lettering and few inches away from the Dream Machine brushwork left me wanting to know what allows the light to wash over my eyes they meant but were alone visually striking creating an effect that can be only be deusing a multitude of layered colors and scribed as psychedelic. brushstrokes. My favorite of Gysin’s works Brion Gysin: The Dream Machine held were his Cut-Ups, which he is attributed, my interest throughout the experience with being the first to create. A Cut Up uses because there was so much to take within pieces of images and wet media to create a smaller exhibition space. The New a new composition. Inspired by a construc- Museum did an excellent job of curating tion site outside his Paris window Gysin the show so that visitors would not feel created a similar structure to base his overwhelmed by his wide range of media. collage works around. Gysin and William Open until October 3rd, in New York the S. Burroughs collaborated for almost 30 show will be traveling to Paris in November. T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 29
ART
BRION GYSIN DREAM MACHINE BY SARAH RATINETZ
“Brion Gysin was a subversive” are the
“Intersection Reading”
28 | T H E P R AT T L E R
years most extensively on a project they first words you read when walking onto called “The Third Mind” which was a metathe second floor at the New Museum lo- phor for the collaborative process. Fusing cated at 235 Bowery. Brion Gysin: Dream words and newspaper clippings Gysin Machine exhibits the prolific work of the and Burroughs created Meant to be artist including his paintings, mixed media, works, which questioned film and sound works. Having collaborated the authority of the printviewed with with William S. Burroughs, Keith Haring ed word. Gysin’s use of your eyes closed and The Rolling Stones, art critics called non-traditional materials Brion Gysin the best-known unknown made some his works cohesive despite artist of the 20th century. As Gysin’s first a wide range of subject matter and style retrospective in the United States The such as the use of a common paint roller New Museum showcases how although to create grids. deceased his work is influential to artist’s While most of the retrospective looks practices today. The museum offers free like your run of the mill exhibit of paintings i-Pod audio tours for the show, which in- hung and display cases, a small-darkened cludes interviews with Gysin and music to room stands in the middle the show. Surrounded by pillows is the Dream enhance the experience. Walking into the exhibit the viewer is Machine; a metal cylinder with a painted inundated with sound and color. The exhi- interior and cutout shapes that cause a bition space is divided chronologically into light inside to flicker as the cylinder spins. four sections calligraphic paintings and Considered the most successful of his drawings, the “Cut-Up Method,” The Third works the Dream Machine is one of the Mind, and the Dream Machine. Pressing few works of art meant to be viewed with play on my i-Pod I tried my best to follow your eyes closed. Using the flicker effect The Dream Machine creates a the audio tour but found it difficult with so many different The best-known visual sensation across your mediums to experience. It is unknown artist of eyes. A museum employee stood outside the room and clear that Gysin did not follow the 20th century helped me become acquainted one school or style when creating his works but many. Inspired by with the process. He also reminded me to the cultures and people he experienced play the pre-loaded music on the i-Pod throughout his nomadic life. The cal- for the full effects. Kneeling on a black ligraphic paintings and drawings inspired pillow in a the dark room I held my head a by Japanese and Arabic lettering and few inches away from the Dream Machine brushwork left me wanting to know what allows the light to wash over my eyes they meant but were alone visually striking creating an effect that can be only be deusing a multitude of layered colors and scribed as psychedelic. brushstrokes. My favorite of Gysin’s works Brion Gysin: The Dream Machine held were his Cut-Ups, which he is attributed, my interest throughout the experience with being the first to create. A Cut Up uses because there was so much to take within pieces of images and wet media to create a smaller exhibition space. The New a new composition. Inspired by a construc- Museum did an excellent job of curating tion site outside his Paris window Gysin the show so that visitors would not feel created a similar structure to base his overwhelmed by his wide range of media. collage works around. Gysin and William Open until October 3rd, in New York the S. Burroughs collaborated for almost 30 show will be traveling to Paris in November. T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 29
illustration by Anthony Cudahy
SO YOU’VE GRADUATED, WHAT’S NEXT? BY DAISY CHUNG, ILLUSTRATION BY NADIA MOHAMED
T his summer, Mark’s life took a turn in experiencing the real world as he held his first degree in his hands. Then he was left with a choice. Frantically looking for jobs, applying and applying to universities has gotten Mark’s free time to a bare minimum. He finally finds a job in the city, one he’s quite happy with. Searching for a job is like dating. You want a job, but you’re not going to get one by being all needy and clingy. You may find yourself in this situation soon, but really, what path will you go? Graduating college is a big milestone for many students. After four years of hard work and being in stuffy lecture halls and beerstained apartments, students find themselves with a brand new bachelor’s degree. The big question is, however, should you go and find a job to earn back all the money you spent over the past few years in college, or should you go straight for a masters? Recent Pratt graduate Daniel Oh also agrees with Mark’s way of thinking, “Yea, I‘d rather get a job. To me, it’s much more appealing that way, I’m getting a check and getting paid, it feels like I’m getting stuff done in life.” However, it’s just what you consider to be more important, going down an academic route or having career objectives. When asked what she did after college, Pratt alumni Miao Peng answered, “Life’s good, I’m living at an apartment in New York City with my husband and a good job. 30 | T H E P R AT T L E R
When I just got out college I was wondering what exactly to do as well. A degree does NOT entitle you to a job, searching for one was hard and stressful. I just didn’t give up, and everything worked out fine. I’m happy right now.” Ackert states, “It kind of depends on your major, I feel like certain majors would need intern experience before going to work rather than other majors. I personally prefer getting a job at the moment, I need the money,” he states, as he and many others spent the majority of their summer looking for suitable jobs that would accept them. Most people recommend securing a spot in a university before settling in somewhere. As a matter of fact, senior Yeji Lee stated, “I’d rather go straight into graduate school, or maybe if I can get in, maybe I’ll work one year while going to school, something like that. I just don’t know where I’m going to stay in the meanwhile though.” From most interviewees, it seems that most Pratt seniors seem to want to settle in for their Masters, but the majority of those who have graduated all have jobs or are still searching. You have only three choices: You either enter a grad program immediately after college, get some work experience before going back to school, or just getting out there in the real world and avoiding graduate school a l t o g e t h e r. T h e g o o d news is, you really can’t go wrong with any choice. T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 31
illustration by Anthony Cudahy
SO YOU’VE GRADUATED, WHAT’S NEXT? BY DAISY CHUNG, ILLUSTRATION BY NADIA MOHAMED
T his summer, Mark’s life took a turn in experiencing the real world as he held his first degree in his hands. Then he was left with a choice. Frantically looking for jobs, applying and applying to universities has gotten Mark’s free time to a bare minimum. He finally finds a job in the city, one he’s quite happy with. Searching for a job is like dating. You want a job, but you’re not going to get one by being all needy and clingy. You may find yourself in this situation soon, but really, what path will you go? Graduating college is a big milestone for many students. After four years of hard work and being in stuffy lecture halls and beerstained apartments, students find themselves with a brand new bachelor’s degree. The big question is, however, should you go and find a job to earn back all the money you spent over the past few years in college, or should you go straight for a masters? Recent Pratt graduate Daniel Oh also agrees with Mark’s way of thinking, “Yea, I‘d rather get a job. To me, it’s much more appealing that way, I’m getting a check and getting paid, it feels like I’m getting stuff done in life.” However, it’s just what you consider to be more important, going down an academic route or having career objectives. When asked what she did after college, Pratt alumni Miao Peng answered, “Life’s good, I’m living at an apartment in New York City with my husband and a good job. 30 | T H E P R AT T L E R
When I just got out college I was wondering what exactly to do as well. A degree does NOT entitle you to a job, searching for one was hard and stressful. I just didn’t give up, and everything worked out fine. I’m happy right now.” Ackert states, “It kind of depends on your major, I feel like certain majors would need intern experience before going to work rather than other majors. I personally prefer getting a job at the moment, I need the money,” he states, as he and many others spent the majority of their summer looking for suitable jobs that would accept them. Most people recommend securing a spot in a university before settling in somewhere. As a matter of fact, senior Yeji Lee stated, “I’d rather go straight into graduate school, or maybe if I can get in, maybe I’ll work one year while going to school, something like that. I just don’t know where I’m going to stay in the meanwhile though.” From most interviewees, it seems that most Pratt seniors seem to want to settle in for their Masters, but the majority of those who have graduated all have jobs or are still searching. You have only three choices: You either enter a grad program immediately after college, get some work experience before going back to school, or just getting out there in the real world and avoiding graduate school a l t o g e t h e r. T h e g o o d news is, you really can’t go wrong with any choice. T H E P R AT T I S S U E | 31