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Chelsea VOLUME 11, ISSUE 45
YO U R W E E K LY C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R S E R V I N G C H E L S E A , H U D S O N YA R D S & H E L L’S K I T C H E N
BOARDING TIME
MTA platform plans for 14th St. busway
NOVEMBER 14, 2019
New boss at local BID Page 14
On the march for Vets Day in Midtown
Page 3 DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION
Bus boarding platforms like the one above will be installed at seven stops along the M14.
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Bus platforms on the way to 14th Street BY GABE HERMAN
A
s the city declares the 14th Street Transit and Truck Priority program for faster bus service a success thus far, the MTA and Department of Transportation are starting the next phase of the program by installing bus boarding platforms along the M14 line. The platforms, which will be put in place at seven M14 A/D Select Bus Service lines, would free up more sidewalk space for pedestrians and speed up bus service since buses wouldn’t need to pull into a stop at the curb, officials said. The MTA said pulling in can take between 20 seconds and over a minute during peak times at each stop. The platforms, which are part of DOT’s 14th Street Transit and Truck Priority (TTP), have been previously installed at other Manhattan locations, including for the M23 SBS, M15 SBS, and for routes along Seventh Avenue in Midtown. Construction at each bus stop will take about six days and be done in phases along the route. Buses will skip the stop where construction is being done. Work already began on Thursday at the westbound Seventh Avenue stop, and the overall project is expected to be
MTA
The installation schedule for the boarding platforms.
finished in December. “DOT has installed bus boarding platforms, where bus riders have found that a wider sidewalk makes hopping on a bus even faster and more convenient,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “Especially along 14th Street, where our busway has helped spur dramatic increases in M14 ridership, this should be another step that
should help our month-old pilot work even better.” The city previously announced that the priority bus lanes on 14th Street have led to increased ridership and faster travel times. As a result, the buses have seen 37 percent more riders on weekends and 17 more on weekdays compared to last year, according to city figures.
The plan to install bus boarding platforms was lauded by several local elected officials, including Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Council Member Keith Powers, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “The initial success of the 14th Street Transit & Truck Priority has been one of the most exciting transit developments in the city in the last few years, and these new bus boarders should continue to improve the experience,” said Johnson when the announcement was made. “These platforms will make waiting for and boarding the bus easier and safer in addition to creating more badly needed space for pedestrians. I look forward to their debut on 14th and hopefully to continued good news and positive data about the busway.” The DOT also announced that work is being completed this week on adding permanent pedestrian space at 14th Street, just south of Union Square at a former westbound traffic lane. It will be a painted pedestrian space with new bollards and security barriers. DOT noted the new permanent space is being installed just ahead of the opening of the Holiday Market nearby at Union Square, which often creates more pedestrian traffic.
Pols skeptical over MTA plans for access & debt BY MARK HALLUM
S
tate leaders are questioning the MTA on how it plans to modernize the transit system in its $51.5 billion five-year capital plan. Tuesday’s joint hearing between the MTA and members of the state Senate and Assembly was filled with equal parts cynicism and frustration, with much of the angst focused on the lack of ADA-accessible subway stations and the authority’s plans to service debts from bonds. MTA Chairman Pat Foye said $3.5 billion would go to new signal systems which have shown to increase service and on-time performance for the 7 train earlier this year. The massive investment would also have the potential to create $350,000 new jobs, according to the chair. About $15 billion will contribute to congesting pricing, tolls on cars entering Manhattan below 60th Street. State Senator Gustavo Rivera needed extra reassurance that the 22 subway stations in his northwest Bronx district would see ADA accessibility. Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber stated that one of the top priorities in the capital plan would include installing elevators. Those plans are already in the works, but the agency was already “bundling” the work for when the funds come through, Lieber said.
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PHOTO : MARK HALLUM/AMNEWYORK
MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber and Chair Pat Foye at Tuesday’s hearing. (Photo: Mark Hallum/amNewYork)
“We are preparing for the moment when the [MTA Capital Program Review Board] approves the capital plan that we will be able to move substantial chunks of the capital plan into procurement,” he said. “That includes 15 to 20 stations bundled together – ADA stations. “Customization is the enemy of
budget and schedule combined.” A more detailed update on the preliminary sequence of ADA accessibility will be available once the CPRB approves the capital plan. Foye said the 500 new transit police officers ordered by Governor Andrew Cuomo — a controversial plan decried CNW
by transit advocates as a waste of resources amid falling crime rates — will be included in the capital plan. The MTA will use $5.7 billion on Long Island Road Road improvements such as the third track between Floral Park and Hicksville as well as East Side Access, expanding LIRR service through a new terminal in Grand Central. While the funding for the capital plan has already been approved in the budget, it has not granted to the agency, which also has $2.7 billion in annual debt. The MTA must pay back $9.7 billion by 2032 for the capital program alone. Senator John Liu asked Foye and two other high-ranking leaders was how the agency could fathom issuing interestonly bonds without having the funds to back them up, let alone considering the $1.8 billion deficit forecasted by 2023. “Are you saying that you’re not going to actually deal with … $10 billion of MTA bonds until 2032?” state Senator Liu asked. “We basically will create a troth, if you will, we will refund certain amounts of debt to give us the ability to sell bonds with interest only during the latter 20s and then have principle that matures after that,” Chief Financial Officer Robert Foran responded. “We’re not talking about refunding this debt until probably 2025.” November 14, 2019
3
Patriotic pride & protests at Vets Day Parade
PHOTOS BY TEQUILA MINSKY
The Manhattan chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America was among the various groups who marched at Monday’s Veterans Day Parade.
Par ticipants in this year’s Veterans Day Parade included Al DiRaffaele, who has been a Charleston Street resident (Hudson Square/ West Soho) for 34 years. This Bensonhurst-raised Brooklynite ser ved in Vietnam in 1966 & 1967. He waited on the corner of 24th Street to join Vietnam Vets as they walked the parade route.
With President Trump attending the parade, there were plenty of protesters there to greet him.
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November 14, 2019
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November 14, 2019
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Police Blotter man hitchhiked with an unidentified man, officials said. The victim said he entered the vehicle, which had another unidentified man in the rear passenger seat. After a short drive, the victim went unconscious and was eventually woke up and realized his wallet and watch had been taken, officials said. Police said that they later found video surveillance showing the suspect in front of the West Village restaurant Catch NYC at 21 Ninth Ave., making
— Gabe Herman Early morning night club theft Man falls asleep in car, is robbed A man was robbed after getting a ride from a stranger in Manhattan, according to a police report. On Sunday, Sept. 26, at 2:55 a.m., a 25-year-old
Cyclist mugged in Chelsea
He’s sliced at the pizza shop There was a recent burglary at the Rumpus Room night club at 249 Eldridge St., according to police. On Sunday, Oct. 13, around 6:30 a.m., a man entered the location through the front door after the establishment was closed. Once inside, he took about $760 from the cash register, then fled in an unknown direction, police said. — Gabe Herman
Attacker comes up empty handed A man was robbed at night on the corner of Allen and Rivington streets, according to police. On Thursday, Nov. 7, around 9:20 p.m., a 34-year-old man was walking after closing a barber shop, when another man came from behind and demanded his necklace. The man grabbed the victim, police said, and then fled the location without any property. The victim suffered a minor scratch on his right ear and refused medical attention. — Gabe Herman
Group mugs man on Ave. C A man was attacked and robbed in the East Village on Saturday, Oct. 26, police said. Around 12:25 p.m., in front of 26 Ave. C, a 35-year-old man was walking when two people approached and started a conversation with him. Two other people walked up as well, and the group of four then took turns punching the man until he fell to the ground, police said. The group continued to punch and kick the victim in the head and upper torso and took his property, including his jacket, boots, sunglasses and a $1 bill, police said. The victim suffered cuts and bruising to his head and torso.
Police are looking for two people they say slashed a man inside the 99 Cents Fresh Pizza store in Greenwich Village over the weekend. On Saturday, Nov. 9, at about 8:50 p.m., a 67-year-old man got into an argument with an unknown man and woman, which escalated into a physical fight, police said. The male suspect attempted to stab the victim but ended up cutting the victim’s hand before the two suspect fled to a nearby subway station, police said. EMS took the victim to Mount Sinai Beth Israel to treat his injuries. On Monday, police released surveillance photos and video from the vicinity of where the incident took place. The suspects are described as 30-40 years old — the woman was in all white and the man was in all dark clothing. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS with info on the case. — Shaye Weaver
Crooks force victim to withdraw from ATM Robbers took a man’s cellphone and money after forcing him to take cash out of several ATMs, police said. At about 10:50 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27, in front of 355 W. 16 St., between Eighth and Ninth Aves., a 23-year-old man realized he no longer had his cell phone. Two men then approached him and said they knew where to find his phone, but he would have to pay them to retrieve it, police said. The victim got into their vehicle, officials said, and he saw a knife on the dashboard. He was then taken to several ATMs, where he withdrew a total of about $400 and gave it to the men, but the suspects did not give the man his phone like they had promised, according to police. — Gabe Herman
A woman was attacked and robbed while riding a Citi Bike outside 163 12th Ave., along the West Side Highway, according to police. On Friday, Oct. 4, around 10:40 p.m., the 23-yearold victim was riding a bike when she was grabbed from behind, knocked to the ground and punched several times in the face by an unknown person, police said. The attacker allegedly took the victim’s cell phone and case, which contained a bank card. The victim had minor cuts to her face and was treated at the scene. A later investigation found that two men allegedly made $19 worth of unauthorized charges with the victim’s bank card at the Sun Sweet Fresh Market, at 838 Sixth Ave., around 11:50 p.m. — Gabe Herman
No peace for her A woman was assaulted after trying to break up an argument at the corner of 10th Avenue and West 42 Street, police said. On Saturday, Nov. 9, at 1:15 a.m., a 26-year-old woman said she saw a man arguing with another woman, at which point she asked the man to stop and walk away. The man then pushed her to the ground, by picking her up and throwing her three times, according to police. The woman suffered a cut to her tongue and refused medical attention at the scene. Aaron Mays, 25, was arrested for misdemeanor assault, police said. — Gabe Herman
For more news & events happening now visit www.TheVillager.com 6
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New Yorkers join DACA court case rally in DC BY TEQUIL A MINSK Y
H
undreds traveled from around the country to rally outside of the Supreme Court in Washington DC, yesterday. Seven hundred people traveled from New York State —13 buses full of people from Buffalo to Long Island— with the New York Immigration Coalition to support Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Dreamers as the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether to nix the program, which would affect the future of over 700,000 young people. DACA is an American immigration policy allowing some undocumented individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and become eligible for a work permit, driver license and attend college in the U.S. It was announced by executive memorandum by President Obama in 2012. President Trump wants to end the program. There are 42,000 recipients in New York State. To be eligible, applicants must have arrived in the U.S. before age 16, and were no older than 30. They must have lived in the country for the previous five years, were in school or a veteran, and had committed no serious crimes. The application costs $500, must be reapplied for every two years and does not provide a path to citizenship.
PHOTO BY TEQUILA MINSKY
With the Capitol Building as a backdrop, hundreds of New Yorkers from Buffalo to Long Island, who traveled by bus with the New York Immigration Coalition, rallied with hundreds of others outside of the Supreme Cour t as the future of DACA was presented.
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Independent jeweler looks to stay alive in Village BY GABE HERMAN
R
etail business on Bleecker Street has been struggling for many years now, but there are some independent stores that are hanging on and trying to keep Greenwich Village’s neighborhood feel alive. One such shop is Inaya, a jewelry store at 215 West 10th St., just a few doors east of Bleecker Street. It was started by sisters Inna and Anyuta Zelikson, who design the jewelry themselves. The sisters came to New York with their parents in 1991 as political refugees from Belarus. They started this business 17 years ago by taking their products to local fairs and markets, and have now been at the West 10th Street location nearly 13 years. There is also a second location in Grand Central Terminal. Inna recalled that when the store first opened in the Village, there were still many small businesses in the area and a relaxed vibe. “With some time, everyone has left,� she said, noting that big brands came in and then left soon after. “This is a neighborhood. It’s not Fifth Avenue.� The influx of big brands led to increased property taxes, Inna said, and customers left the area as more retailers closed up shop. “Unfortunately, people don’t realize there are still shops here that are independently owned,� Inna said. She noted that the store has struggled and is trying to hold on. “But we’re still here and we love it. Things have changed and we’re hoping they will change back, or at least for the better.� Inna said she would rather not complain, and instead focus on the positives of having the store. “I’m happy,� she said, “I get to do what I love. We
COURTESY INNA ZELIKSON
Anyuta, left, and Inna Zelikson founded Inaya and design all of the jewelr y.
get to create.� Inna and Anyuta design the store’s jewelry, which puts out three or four collections every year. Right now, they are gearing up for their holiday offerings. The store uses high-quality, natural materials, including gold, silver, gemstones and special one-ofa-kind pieces that can be carved ruby or precious pearl. The store’s name was recently changed from Innasense to Inaya, which is a combination of the two sisters’ names. The store is a small space, and it has enough of
a customer following to stay in the area, Inna said. Some people will tell her they’re surprised that the shop is still there. “I thank them,� she said, “and say, ‘it’s because you keep coming back.’� “I love this area,� Inna said of the Village. “It still has the neighborhood vibe. I see kids growing up, I hug my mailman. Every day it’s great.� While the Grand Central location gets very busy, Inna said it’s a treat to work in the Village shop, where the pace is mellow and she can spend more time with customers. “We try to help people fi nd the perfect thing,� she said. Inna makes sure to support other local businesses too. “I try to leave as much of my money here as I can, because the neighborhood needs it,� she said. Surviving at the Village location remains a struggle, and Inna described the 12 years there as a rollercoaster ride. Two years ago, they sisters decided they had to leave, and it felt awful, Inna recalled. “It was like losing your home,� she said. But they were able to reach a deal with their landlord to stay. Inna said they are lucky to have a decent landlord. Their property tax is basically the same as the rent, but she said the landlord said they could just pay the rent, which allowed them to stay. “It’s a major issue,� Inna said of the high property taxes. “Speaking to owners, it’s truly something that can do a business in.� She added, “It doesn’t seem like it’s a fair system. There has to be a better way.� The store’s lease is up in two years, and the future is uncertain. “The hope is to stay,� Inna said, “but that means a lot of things have to happen. People have to see us and we have to be able to afford the rent.�
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November 14, 2019
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Editorial Bloomberg’s bid and moderation The Democratic presidential primary got a shakeup last week when former Mayor Michael Bloomberg began taking steps toward formally entering the race. After the word got out that he filed paperwork to enter next year’s Alabama Primary, the news spread quickly, as did the reaction to his potential late entry into the crowded field of candidates. Most of the reaction was mixed, to say the least, with some suggesting his late bid would upset the Democrats’ apple cart in their bid to defeat President Trump. Pundits also pointed to Bloomberg’s rather moderate position — with some believing it a strength, and others seeing it as a liability. The former three-term mayor wouldn’t be the first presidential candidate to jump into his party’s primary within a year or less from the actual presidential election. History shows the results have been mixed. The late Senator Robert F. Kennedy joined the race in March 1968, shortly after the New Hampshire Primary, and was seemingly on his way to the nomination when tragedy struck. Retired General Wesley Clark also joined a wide-open Democratic field in 2003 after a public draft movement, but his campaign fizzled out within weeks. How will former Mayor Bloomberg perform? That’s up to him — and, more importantly, the voters. His three terms as mayor of the nation’s largest city were largely successful, as he helped lead the rebuilding effort following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Bloomberg also spurred further development across the five boroughs and helped diversify its economy by attracting businesses in a wider variety of fields from healthcare to technology. Bloomberg’s record certainly qualifies him to be part of the presidential conversation. As for moderation and moderate candidates, we don’t believe either should be eschewed by the voters. Even before Bloomberg’s entry into the race, candidates like former Vice President Joe Biden and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg were getting a raw deal because they’re not as far to the left as others. But moderation is a strength; polarization leads to dysfunction, as we have seen during the current administration. We believe most American voters want someone who will tilt left or right, but stay grounded toward the center, and put the country — not the party — ahead of agenda. We’ll find out in time if that candidate is Bloomberg or someone else from the Democratic field. Either way, the Democrats need to get it right — as another four years of Donald Trump would be disastrous for the country.
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his photo, from the Nov. 13, 1980 issue of The Villager, shows a tenant rally in Tompkins Square Park. The photo was part of a story about tenant activists in Loisaida fearful that large-scale real estate speculation in the area would force rents up and local residents out. Brent Sharman, an organizer with the group Adopt-A-Building who is on the left in the photo, told The Villager, “Gentrification is now the strongest trend, stronger than abandonment, as a destroyer of low-income housing.” -Gabe Herman
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November 14, 2019
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS JOSHUA SCHNEPS ROBERT POZARYCKI GABE HERMAN ALEJANDRA O’CONNELL MARK HALLUM MICHELE HERMAN BOB KRASNER TEQUILA MINSKY MARY REINHOLZ PAUL SCHINDLER MARCOS RAMOS CLIFFORD LUSTER (718) 260-2504 CLUSTER@CNGLOCAL.COM GAYLE GREENBURG JIM STEELE JULIO TUMBACO ELIZABETH POLLY
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Op-Ed
Hotel special permit plan offers no help to neighborhood
Answering op-ed on Lenox Hill plan BY ANDY GASPAR AND ANDY SOUSSLOFF
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PHOTO BY GABE HERMAN
Buildings in the area just south of Union Square.
BY ANDREW BERMAN In October, developers of the Tech Hub on city-owned land on 14th Street redubbed their under-construction project ZERO IRVING (it’s located just below Irving Place’s start). Appropriately enough, a week later the City released its plan to require ‘special permits’ for new hotels in Greenwich Village and the East Village south of the Tech Hub and Union Square, ostensibly to respond (well over a year after the fact) to community concerns about the impact of the City Council’s approval of the large commercial upzoning for the Tech Hub on neighboring areas. Unfortunately, this plan offers zero help to these neighborhoods, currently beset by oversized and out-of-character development, and falls far short of the protections promised by local City Council Member Carlina Rivera as a condition of her Tech Hub vote. This proposal is the sole zoning change offered by the city and Rivera as mitigation for the Tech Hub and the increasing wave of demolitions and out of scale development we are seeing. In recent months, low-rise buildings at 112-120 East 11th St., 110 University Place, 799 and 809 Broadway have been demolished, to make way for high-rise hotels, office towers, and condos. But if such permits are refused by the CounSchneps Media
cil and Commission, will our low-rise, often historic, and usually residential buildings at least be spared the wrecking ball and replacement with commercial high rises? Unfortunately not. In their own analysis of the special permit proposal’s impact, the City projects sites in the area which would have been developed with hotels will simply be developed with office towers instead, of equal size and height. So why are the city and Rivera doing this if it would have no effect upon protecting this area? Press reports indicate the mayor is pushing this forward at the behest of the Hotel Trades Council in a seeming quid pro quo for their endorsement of his presidential campaign (the only union to do so). Much more needs to be done to protect these neighborhoods and to fulfill Rivera’s 2017 campaign promise that she would only support the Tech Hub if neighborhood protections came along with it. Village Preservation is actively campaigning for landmark designation for this area, and encourages the public to attend Community Board hearings on the special permit plan Nov. 13 and 20. Berman is the executive director of Village Preservation, an organization working to preserve the architectural heritage and cultural history of Greenwich Village in Manhattan. TVG
he Upper East Side community refuses to believe Northwell’s lies on the expansion of Lenox Hill Hospital – and it is time for our elected officials to do the same and oppose this plan now. In March 2019, Northwell Health announced a controversial scheme to expand Lenox Hill Hospital. The 10-year, $2.5 billion proposal would see the development of a 516-foot hospital tower – which would be the tallest in New York City, and the second tallest in the world – and a 200-unit, 490-foot residential tower that will help finance the renovation and expansion of the hospital. The proposed hospital tower, with a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 15 would be the most massive structure ever built on the Upper East Side. The proposal has been met with skepticism by Upper East Side residents and the local community board from the time it was first disclosed to the public. Instead of addressing these concerns, Northwell Health has decided to ignore them. That is why we were shocked to read a recent op-ed in this paper by Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling and Dr. Jill Kalman which falsely stated that they are taking a community-centric approach. In the piece, Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling and Dr. Jill Kalman state that they “…are committed to open communication and working collaboratively with the Upper East Side and citywide communities.” Nothing could be further from the truth. On the night of Oct. 23, with hundreds of concerned Upper East Side residents looking on, Community Board 8 voted overwhelmingly – 36 to 3 – to reject Northwell Heath’s grandiose development plan. In its decision, the community board cited reservations relating to existing zoning variances, health hazards, and perceived negative impacts on local small businesses.
Why? Because the reality is that Northwell’s 10-year development would be a disaster for the Lenox Hill community and the entire Upper East Side. Unfortunately, Northwell has not yet offered a direct response to Community Board 8’s vote and has essentially treated that vote as if it never took place. The Lenox Hill Hospital site has been zoned to protect against the kind of over-development proposed by Northwell thanks to sensible zoning regulations that have helped maintain the area’s residential fabric. Because Lenox Hill is in a contextual zoning district, new buildings must conform to the scale of the neighborhood – and Northwell is refusing to do so. Furthermore, a decade of active construction would release deadly pollutants known as particulate matter (PM) into a densely populated residential neighborhood and create new traffic and congestion problems for years to come. It will also severely impact the health and mental state of the patients they claim to serve – the same patients that will be subject to continual noise and dust pollution if Northwell attempts to keep the hospital open throughout construction. Ongoing construction would also threaten to cut off foot traffic to local businesses. In light of Northwell’s refusal to address our community’s concerns and its new op-ed meant to silence our voices, the next steps are clear: our elected officials must announce their opposition to this scheme. By signaling their opposition, Borough President Gale Brewer and Council Member Keith Powers have the power to prevent Northwell from moving forward and compel it to work with the community. Northwell can ignore us now, but the campaign to halt this disastrous scheme will only grow stronger as public awareness of Northwell’s land grab increases. Andy Gaspar and Andy Soussloff lead the Committee to Protect Our Lenox Hill Neighborhood
November 14, 2019
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Union Square BID gets a brand new boss BY GABE HERMAN
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nion Square Partnership has announced the hiring of Ed Janoff, who has years of experience with projects involving green space, pedestrian and bicycling initiatives, as its new deputy director and chief of staff Union Square Partnership (USP), the local nonprofit which runs the business improvement district (BID), said that Janoff would work with executive director Jennifer Falk on urban design, strategic planning, fundraising and advocacy. A native New Yorker who studied urban design and architecture at NYU, Janoff recently worked at Street Plans Collaborative, where he led projects across U.S.
cities related to public space, greening, pedestrians and bicycles. He also worked previously at Bryant Park Corporation and Madison Square Park Conservancy. Janoff was also at the Dept. of Transportation during the Bloomberg years, co-writing the city’s Street Design Manual and helping to launch public plaza and pedestrian streets programs. “Union Square is one of the City’s most recognizable and iconic neighborhoods, and where evolving public realm and transportation improvements are having a major impact both locally and nationally,” Janoff said. “I look forward to working alongside the Union Square Partnership team to provide valuable leadership and guidance that contribute to the eco-
COURTESY UNION SQUARE PARTNERSHIP
Ed Janoff, the new deputy director and chief of staff at Union Square Partnership.
nomic development and growth of the area through all the BID’s programs, services, and projects.” Janoff’s recent work at Street Plans involved awardwinning projects to add art and public space to urban pedestrian areas, including adding a large street mural as part of a project in Asheville, North Carolina. “Ed is a talented and passionate leader in planning and designing the urban public realm,” said Jennifer Falk in a statement. “We are excited for Ed to bring his expertise in economic development, streetscape operations, and the beautification and maintenance of city parks to enhance USP’s programs. His deep knowledge of transportation planning, open space stewardship and community engagement will be valuable additions to our team.”
For more news & events happening now visit www.TheVillager.com
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Downtown couple makes beautiful music BY BOB KR A SNER
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hen Larry Krone first spotted his future husband Jim Andralis in 2004, the man was playing an accordion in the nowdefunct Starlight bar on Avenue A. Fortunately, Krone needed an accordion player for his upcoming debut at the same venue and, as luck would have it, he had a Friendster account (go ahead kids, look it up). Krone contacted Andralis through that equally defunct social media outlet, offered him the gig and they’ve been making music together ever since (when Krone is not designing stage clothes for the likes of Bridget Everett and Andralis has time away from his psychotherapy practice). Krone had been working odd jobs — waiter, art handler, painting — and performing with his ukelele in art galleries and museums in performances that involved “country music cover songs and costume changes,” he recalled. Andralis was a bartender in “various gay bars,” going to grad school and playing music with his band the Isotoners, which he describes as “adolescent gay gross out songs — but pretty.” Krone had come to the city in 1989 to go to NYU and after moving around the East Village for a number of years he managed to buy a place east of Avenue B in 1998. Andralis, who was living in Queens when they met, eventually bought an apartment upstairs in the same building.
PHOTO BY BOB KRASNER
L-R Jim Andralis, Leslie Graves, Julie DeLano, Larr y Krone, wearing t-shir ts created by Krone.
“That’s how I knew our relationship was serious!” says Andralis. “But first I thought, Is he f—ing with me? He wants me to live in his building?” Having two spaces in the same building was perfect for them, as some of their friends understood. “Half the people we knew thought it was a dream situation,” noted Krone. “The other half just didn’t get it.” Andralis’ apartment came with an additional burden though — the crazy next door neighbor. “The whole building put up with her for eight years!” he related. “She would bang on my door for hours. And she refused to repair her toilet, which overflowed constantly.” Continuing their walk through the corridors of places that are gone, they recalled when Krone was the opening act for the Isotoners at Fez, duet shows at the Starlight and others over the years. These
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PHOTO BY BOB KRASNER
(From left to right) Dor y Andralis Krone, Larr y Krone, Jim Andralis. Larr y wears a shir t of his own design.
days, whenever one does a show the other is always in it. “Jim is a better singer than I am,” admits Krone, “so it took me awhile to be confident onstage.” “You had to raise your game!” interjects Andralis, then admitting that he has stage fright, so he makes it a point to do a duet with Krone early in his shows. “When I sing with Larry, I relax,” he says. “It feels fun and easy.” Alternative cabaret star Bridget Everett has long been a part of their musical circle, going back to her collaborations with the Isotoners. “Whenever there was crazy, big singing necessary, she’d be that person,” recalls Andralis. “She wasn’t any more wellknown than any of us,” notes Krone. “We were all so poor together.” These days, Everett can be seen regularly on the Joe’s Pub stage, draped in a “House of Larreon” creation (the nom de couture created by Everett for Krone’s designs). She is also a part of their monthly songwriting group, which also includes Neal Medlyn (a.k.a. Champagne Jerry) and David Clement. “It forces us to each write a song every month,” notes Krone.
PHOTO BY BOB KRASNER
L-R Larr y Krone, Bridget Everett, wearing outfits created by Krone.
For Everett, the pair offer more than a creative outlet and a source of stage wear. “Jim and Larry are very open, loving and present together,” she confides. “Their music can’t help but be a reflection of that. It celebrates all the things in life that bring us the most joy. And it feels like home.” Krone mentions that, “our time together is at night, enjoying each other’s company. It’s really lucky that we can do something creative together.” “It’s all integrated,” he says. Ironically, Andralis and Krone have only written one song together and they did it via email. It’s called, “Keep Your Distance.” Jim Andralis and Larry Krone will be performing a free show with special guests (and cake) in celebration of their 50th birthdays at the 11th St. Bar on November 19th at 9 pm. Further info on muPHOTO BY BOB KRASNER sic and fashion at larrykL-R Jim Andralis, Larr y Krone. Larr y wears one of his t-shir t cre- rone.com and jimandralismusic.com. ations.
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November 14, 2019
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Drama Book Shop set to reopen BY ALEJANDR A O’CONNELL-DOMENECH
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he Drama Book Shop, which Lin-Manuel Miranda has called the “heart and soul” of the New York theater community, will reopen in March at 266 West 39th St., right near Times Square. In January, the store had to close the doors of its long-time theater district home on 40th Street, but the nearly 100-year-old business was given a second act after Miranda and friends purchased the store after hearing about its possible permanent closure. The director of “Hamilton” Thomas Kail, lead producer Jeffrey Seller and President of the Nederlander Organization James L. Nederlander also own now have a stake in the business. The store specializes in printing things from plays, screenplays, librettos to work on theater craft, music, dramatic techniques, biographies theater and films icons. Julie Menin, then Commissioner of The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, helped the”Hamilton” crew find a new home for the store, according to a press release. “It’s been an oasis in midtown for a century of storytellers and theater fans alike — a safe space to gather, to learn, and to find great books and
FILE PHOTO
The Drama Book Shop, currently on W. 23rd St., had been set to close before the end of this month after the rent became unaffordable for the former owners.
music,” said Miranda, who wrote drafts of ‘In the Heights’ in the store. The Drama Book Shop’s new look is being overseen by creative director David Korins. The interior will be inspired by 20th century European cafés in honor of their role in the exchange of creative ideas.
More details about the book store’s specific opening date will be announced soon, said “To the next generation of dramatists, actors, directors, composers, choreographers, designers, and theater enthusiasts: the stage is set…come in. Discover. Enjoy,” said Miranda.
Christmas tree arrives at The Rock BY MILO HESS
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t’s that time of the year: The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree made its way this past Saturday to Midtown, ahead of the tree lighting next month. The 77-foot-tall Norway Spruce arrived at Rockefeller Center in the morning by trailer from upstate Florida, NY in Orange County. The tree was raised off its trailer and put into place by crane as the Holiday Symbol of NYC. The approximately 70-75-year-old tree was donated by Carol Schultz (seen in one of the photos below). The tree lighting will be on Dec. 4, and on TV for those preferring to avoid the cold weather and crowds.
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Harlem shines with holiday lights n e c b. c o m
S I M P LY FREE CHECKING Business or personal. PHOTO COURTESY OF 125TH STREET BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
BY ALEX MITCHELL
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arlem will shine a little brighter this holiday season when the uptown neighborhood’s 26th annual holiday lights are plugged in Thursday, Nov. 20. Called “Harlem Light It Up,� a parade of lights will march down 125th Street from Morningside Avenue and on with plenty of more festive fun planned throughout the day. Manhattan Community Boards 9 and 10 selected three grand marshals for that bright parade: Korey Wise — One of the exonerated “Central Park Five,� who is now known from the Netflix series “When They See Us.� Wise is also a public speaker and social justice activist, who has risen to prominence since he and four others were acquitted and released from prison for a crime that they did not commit. Laiona Michelle — An actor, singer, and writer who made her Broadway debut in the 2015 musical “Amazing Grace,� who recently broke box-office records at the George Street Playhouse with her performance as Nina Simone, in “Little Girl Blue� (which she wrote and starred in). She’s also now writing on a new musical headed for Broadway in 2020, based on the life of Nelson Mandela. Leah Abraham — An Ethiopian-American entrepreneur who brings “a dynamic multi-cultural foundation to everything she does,� organizers say, and has been a driving force to bring successful business into the Harlem community. Abraham has found numerous ways to give back to the neighborhood through her passionate commitment to the business she has helped establish, Settepani Restaurant. This year’s Parade of Lights will have a caravan of 10 floats – each sponsored by a Harlem community organization, local political leaders, community boards, as well as members of the local businesses community. “The participation this year has hit a new high,� said Barbara Askins, CEO of the 125th Business Improvement District. “The historic community of Harlem deserves the kind of attention that is often relegated to the downtown communities.� The light parade’s rain date is Monday, Nov. 25.
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November 14, 2019
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Vintage car tours roll through the city BY SHAYE WEAVER
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s the hands of time turn, the wheels of history roll. In a city full of buses, a new tour service that uses vintage Jazz Age cars to shuttle customers around launched Tuesday. Called Nowaday, the service essentially chauffeurs tourists and New Yorkers alike around historical landmarks while giving them a ride in one of 12 restored vintage cars, including a 1928 Ford Model, a 1932 Chrysler Imperial and a 1931 Chevrolet Series AE. On Monday, amNewYork gave the tour a spin with co-founder Jaime Getto. Getto and the tour guide, who was dressed in 1920-era driving garb, picked this reporter up at MetroTech Center before heading out for a jaunt in Brooklyn. Soon, admirers of all ages started taking photos with their cellphones and giving thumbs up to the guide. With the turn of a key, the 1931 Chevy Series AE roared to life. “It’s a head-turner every time we go out,” Getto said. While the company, which was founded by two 28 year olds, Getto and Heather Stupi, plans on expanding to other boroughs and neighborhoods (like Downtown in December) and eventually other cities, the tour currently does a 60-minute-long loop in midtown, circling from Central Park South to Carnegie Hall and from Grand Central Station to the Flatiron Building and back up, passing by several landmarks along the way. With all the comforts of a modern-day car, the Chevy’s sound system played the company’s Spotify playlist of electro swing/house music as the tour guide/tour operations guy, Josh Wardell, filled his three passengers in on New York City facts, like how one in 38 Americans call New York City home and the origin story of the name, “The Big Apple.” “Our mission is to tell the story of every city we’re in — New Yorkers who take the tour, even lifetime New Yorkers, get schooled in the history of the city,” Getto said. “We’re taking the content very seriously.” Each driver/tour guide, who is trained extensively both inside and outside the car, speaks in char-
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PHOTO BY SHAYE WEAVER
Tour guide Josh in his 1920s outfit poses next to a 1931 Chr ysler Model B-70, which is one of 12 vintage cars Nowaday uses.
acter and narrates the tour — even through traffic. Improvisation is definitely a part of the experience, too. Between facts, tour guide Josh shared his favorite candy — a piece of salt water taffy and talked about his time driving around the city (which looks quite different than it did in his time). Getto and Stupi wanted to offer history tours in vintage cars because they were less-than-impressed with the typical bus tours in the city that they’d take visitors on. “It’s a fun thing to do that’s more than dinner and drinks and it doesn’t make you feel like an outsider or tourist,” Getto said. Choosing Jazz Age vehicles to escort people
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around in was done to fit the story of New York City in particular — when a lot of the now-landmarks were going up in Midtown, these were the first cars on the road then, she said. When Nowaday expands to L.A., they’ll use cars from the 1950s-60s to best tell those stories, she added. “There’s a mystique to it — people really only see these cars on a movie shoot or at a car show. People say they feel like celebrities when they take a ride,” she said. “It feels like it belongs in NewYork City.” To find out more and book a tour, visit nowaday. com. Admission starts from $49.
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Eats
A taste of Hawaii in the heart of the East Village BY GABE HERMAN
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he East Village still offers a wide variety of cuisines, including upscale Hawaiian food at the restaurant noreetuh. The eatery, which opened at 128 First Ave. in 2015, is offering a new tasting menu from chef and co-owner Chung Chow, who was born in Hong Kong and grew up on Oahu. His 15 years of restaurant experience includes working with chef Thomas Keller at Per Se near Columbus Circle. The classics menu includes favorites of Chow, including Trout Belly Sashimi, Big-Eye Tuna Poke, Imperial Wagyu and Black Sesame Cheesecake. The menu is priced at $65, and diners can opt for a wine pairing for an extra $50. Other entrees include fish, pasta and meat options, including Mentaiko Spaghetti with smoked cod, Pineapple Braised Pork Belly, and Mochiko Fried Chicken with
PHOTO BY NATHAN MA
Big Eye Tuna Poke.
pickles and mac salad. The interior of noreetuh, which means “playground” in Korean, goes for an upscale feel that is also relaxed. It was designed by architect Ian Scrivner and includes wooden tables and Hawaiian features like a surfboard that highlights the restaurant’s specials. The restaurant is fairly popular on Yelp, with noreetuh averaging four out of five stars from reviewers. Most people said they loved the food, though there were some tepid reviews of dishes. And the service and ambience both got high marks. One reviewer said she liked the food, and especially recommended trying the fish dishes. “Service is attentive,” she added, “and the wine list is great. The restaurant has a neighborhood-y, intimate feel with clean, minimalistic décor. I will definitely be returning!” The restaurant is open every day during evenings, and more information on noreetuh can be found at noreetuh.com.
THE YORK THEATRE COMPANY
NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 29 THE MUSICAL WORLD OF
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November 14, 2019
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RETURNING TO CITI FIELD THIS WINTER theworldsfare.nyc
Savor Superb Sichuan at Spy C in Forest Hills BY JOE DISTEFANO
As the Culinary King of Queens, I’m so very fortunate to live in the most diverse and delicious destination in all of New York City. Really I’m not royalty though, I’m an ambassador, and a hungry one at that. Today, we take a trip to Sichuan, China, via a most unlikely location, Forest Hills. The leafy streets of Forest Hills are worlds away from the madding crowd of downtown Flushing’s Chinatown where more than a half dozen restaurants traffic in the fiery fare of Sichuan. Nevertheless they’re home to one of the best Sichuan restaurants in Queens, Spy C. Before I ate there I was skeptical of Spy C for two reasons: the name and the location. “What a goofy name, and how good can a restaurant in a neighborhood with so few Chinese people be?” I groused to myself. Then I tasted the ma po tofu from Chef Zhen “Tom” Lei. The creamy curds of soybean bathed in a red chili sauce and shot through with ground pork sang with ma la, a combination of chili heat and Sichuan peppercorn tingle that’s a hallmark of the cuisine. I also thoroughly enjoyed the fu qi fei pian—listed on the menu as beef tripe with chili oil—a cool tangle of tendon, innards, and meat slicked with chili oil—better known among Chinese food cognoscenti as husband wife offal slices. Chef Lei turns that old warhorse spicy cucumber salad into a thoroughbred thanks to homemade chili oil and a perfect balance of sour, sweet, and spicy flavors. The cool sweet and spicy cucumbers are a great counterpoint to some of the more incendiary fare like dry pepper chicken, golden brown chunks of fried chicken riddled with dried red peppers and flavored with Sichuan peppercorn oil. A chicken wing version of the dish is even better.
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Other standouts include Hunan style braised fish with pickled mustard greens—a study in sour and spice flavored with pink peppercorns and of all things sliced lime— and crispy shredded beef. The latter, crunchy tendrils of fried beef, is great with beer. While the focus is squarely on the fiery bold flavors of Sichuan, not every dish relies on chili heat. One of the best things is the house special braised pork belly, wobbly mahogany colored chunks of meat resounding the flavor of five spice and soy. The deeply comforting dish, which Chef Lei says draws on the flavors of Shanghai, is one I will return
to again and again this winter. The same goes for the deceptively simple sounding braised beef with tomato noodle soup. All of the dishes at Spy C are remarkably balanced and often as as good or even better than their Flushing counterparts. That’s because the 34-year-old Chef Lei, who learned to cook at a top culinary school in Beijing, developed the menu for several of that neighborhood’s restaurants, including Szechuan Mountain House. Even though we do not speak the same language I’ve gotten to know Chef Lei over the course of several visits. We share a more important common language, a passion for Chinese cuisine. When a mutual friend told me Chef Lei was pretty critical of most restaurants in Flushing, I struggled with whether to tell him about my favorite Sichuan spot Chengdu Tian Fu, which closed over the summer. Like a nervous schoolgirl I showed him a photo of their infamous cold noodles on my cellphone. “Oh, yeah that place was great,” he said through a translator. Even though I still really miss my favorite Flushing haunt, I’m glad to have a new favorite Sichuan spot in Forest Hills.
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Address: 72-06 Austin St., Forest Hills Phone: 718-263-0357 Website: www.spycny.com
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Manhattan Happenings
Check out these awesome Man. events, Nov. 14-20 Thursday, Nov. 14 Young Dance Collective: Everything I Was Never Taught See the world through the eyes of six teenagers with this show about the pressures of high school. 7:30 p.m. at New York Live Arts Theater, 219 W 19th St., www.newyorklivearts.org. $15-20. Merchant’s House Museum Guided House Tours Experience Manhattan’s first landmark from 1832 with this guided tour. 2 p.m. at Merchant’s House Museum, 29 E 4th St., www.merchantshouse. org. General Admission $15; Students & Seniors $10, Free under 1.
Friday, Nov. 15 Strictly Tango at Gertrude Ederle Enjoy this free dance class with Strictly Tango NYC Dance School and learn something new! Come with a partner, or meet a new partner at the event. 12 to 1:30 p.m. at Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center, 232 W. 60th St., www.nycgovparks.org. Free.
Saturday, Nov. 16 CAAA 2019 Diwali Celebration in New York City Register now for Cornell Alumni Association’s second annual Diwali dinner for an evening of dinner and dancing to celebrate the festival of lights. Dress in formal wear or Indian ethnic wear, and enjoy a four-course Indian buffet. 7 to 9 p.m. at Zaika NYC, 230 E. 44th St., www.alumni.cornell.edu. $55. Salon du Chocolat NY If you love chocolate, Salon du Chocolat is the place for you. At this unique chocolate-filled event, you will learn about the craft and culture of chocolate from experts, artisans, and pastry chefs. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 W. 34th St., www.salonduchocolatny.com. $25 advance/$35 onsite adults, $10 advance/$12 onsite children (6-12), Free for children under 6.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK/SALON DU CHOCOLAT
If you love chocolate, Salon du Chocolat at the Jacob Javits Convention Center is the place for you this weekend.
org. Free.
Sunday, Nov. 17 Commemoration of the Battle of Fort Washington Celebrate the 243rd anniversary of the Battle of Fort Washington, a key event in the Revolutionary War. Immerse yourself in the culture with arts, crafts, music, and games, and dress up in a 1700s-inspired costumes for a chance to win prizes! 12 to 3 p.m. at Fort Tryon Park, Cafe Lawn, www.nycgovparks.org. Free.
Monday, Nov. 18 Movie Mondays Watch “Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? (2006)” directed by Harry Moses in the Lower Level Community Room. 11 a.m. at Columbus Library, 742 10th Ave., www.nypl.org.
Anime NYC Experience New York City’s largest celebration of anime and manga. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Javits Center, 655 W 34th St., www.animenyc.com. $45.
Tuesday, Nov. 19 Organizing for Garden Success: Bylaws Keep disorganization out of your garden group with this free workshop series! Learn the importance of bylaws in decision-making. Please bring a photo ID to get through security. 5:30 to 8 p.m. at GreenThumb Office, 100 Gold St., www.nycgovparks.
Artists Anonymous Discuss the difficulties of the art world with other artists and guest speakers through this re-imagination of the 12-step program. 2:30 p.m. at Jefferson Market Library, First Floor, 425 Avenue of the Americas, www. nypl.org. Free.
Yet, Set, Snow This original marionette show follows a young girl named Widget as she befriends a yeti who doesn’t like the snow. This story is geared towards families with children ages 3 to 8. 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. at Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, Central Park, www. nycgovparks.org . Children $8, adults $12.
Wednesday, Nov. 20 InTandem InDoors NYC Parks presents this special spin-class for cyclists who are blind, have low vision, or another disability that keeps them from riding a bike on their own. 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Arsenal in Asser Levy Recreation Center, 392 Asser Levy Pl., www.nycgovparks.org . NYC Parks Recreation Center membership is required.
What’s going on in your neighborhood? Tell us! Email your events for our calendar to news@thevillager.com Schneps Media
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Fair & Conference Monday, November 18, 2019 9:30am - 5:30pm Hotel Pennsylvania
401 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001 REGISTER NOW:
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The Everything Autism & conference and resource fair will be a guiding map to inform parents, educators and caregivers with resources they may not have access to.
Hear from our experts discussing: Communication & Mindfulness Parent Journeys What are my child’s educational rights? A legal perspective Navigating Independence, Self Direction, and Financial Planning Integrating Methods of Learning 22
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Extra! Extra!
Local News Read all about it!
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Nightlife
SoHo’s ‘Sweet Rehab’ offers dessert therapy politan world of New York City,” said Jerome Assouline, who co-owns Sweet Rehab with chef Zaquine. “David and I partnered because we share the same passion for pastries and culinary delicacies,” he continued. “We combined my business background with his Michelin-trained background to create a dessert bar that brings a new concept to consumers. It’s more than ordering an item off the menu; it’s about seeing the full creation of a pastry, learning about the ingredients, watching and talking to the chefs while they work – an experiential dessert destination.” What’s on the menu? The menu will be seasonal and have vegan and gluten-free options. Some dishes include a peach blackberry/blueberry cake (made with saffron-infused peaches, fresh blueberry/blackberry jam, a white chocolate and crunchy granola mix, red fruit meringue, white peach glaze, and orange peach mousse) a lemon tart (with a crunchy almond dough, lemon jam, fresh mint, a lemon/lime cream, topped with a French meringue and pieces of lemon confit) and an orange/caramel coconut eclair (a choux pastry dough with hazel nut sprinkles, orange blossom/caramel pastry cream, dulce de leche chocolate, coconut chips, and orange/mandarin confit). The recipes use ingredients that are either imported like Moroccan oranges and vanilla from Madagascar — all of which are grown sustainably, according to Zaquine. Sweet Rehab will officially open on Nov. 25, Tuesdays through Sundays.
BY SHAYE WEAVER
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hose with an addiction to dessert can feed into their vice at Sweet Rehab, a new French patisserie opening this month that will create your delectable order right in front of your eyes. Located at 135 Sullivan St., the dessert bar will offer up traditional French sweets with a twist by chef David Zaquine, who has constructed fine French pastries for the Plaza Athenee and Le Cinq at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris and Bagatelle in New York. Unlike other dessert bars, Sweet Rehab will give customers a frontrow view of their orders being made through an open kitchen. “I want to show customers something they’ve never experienced before — a dessert bar that allows them to witness the creation of their desserts from start to finish, whether they’re stopping in for a quick snack, strolling by on their lunch break, or picking up desserts for a dinner party,” Zaquine said in a statement. The new spot, which will have both a 14-seat full-service cafe and a to-go patisserie, has been made to look like vintage Parisian storefront with imported and antique light fi xtures and mirrors and a brass and steel glass wall and an original 1904 brick wall. There is also a storefront countertop with a working chef station so passersby can stop in awe of the craft being done live before them. “Our goal is to open the kitchen and the French savoir-faire to the cosmo-
Get a great read, and drink, at this Village bookstore BY ALEJANDR A O’CONNELL-DOMENECH
A
new type of bookstore, where readers can drink as they read, has opened in the East Village. Patrons of Book Club, which had a soft opening on Saturday, can sift through the store’s collection of East Village history books with an espresso or glass of wine — the independent Third Street bookstore houses a cafe and bar inside. “If you are the kind of person that wants to read at the bar and then maybe talk about it, that’s cool,” said Nat Esten, co-owner Book Club with his fiancée and fellow East Villager Erin Neary. The couple was inspired to open Book Club in part because of their love of reading at bars.
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PHOTO COURTESY BOOK CLUB
The interior of Book Club offers a coz y place to sit and read. TVG
“It’s a nice juxtaposition to be in an open social place but to also be absorbed in a book,” Esten said. But the store has something for everyone — there is a faux fireplace with comfortable chairs in the back of the store for the truly solitary reader, bistro tables for book clubs to gather and an outdoor patio scheduled to open in the spring. “The space offers a lot of different options for different kinds of people,”said Esten. Book Club is now open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during weekdays and eventually will be open on Saturdays from 9 to midnight and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Visitors will not be able to purchase alcohol though until December when the store fully opens. Schneps Media
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