V i s i t u s o n l i n e a t w w w .T h e V i l l a g e r. c o m
THE December 19, 2019 Volume 89 • Number 50
Greenwich Village, East Village, Lower East Side, Soho, Union Square, Chinatown and Noho, Since 1933 •
PLUGGED IN All-electric buses now running on 14th St. Busway
Page 3 PHOTO BY GABE HERMAN
The first electric articulated bus, at Union Square during its inaugural run on the M14 SBS route Sunday morning.
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Kael film debuts in The Village Page 16
Tin Pan Alley buildings get landmarked Page 4
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All-electric buses hit the 14th St. Busway BY GABE HERMAN
T
alk about an electrifying move for Manhattan! The MTA rolled out on Sunday morning its first all-electric articulated bus, one of a new fleet that is part of the agency’s plan to shift away from dieselpowered buses in the years ahead. The 15 new electric articulated buses will serve the M14 Select Bus Service route. They are the first electric buses that New York City Transit owns; they currently lease 10 other electric buses in use throughout the city. The MTA’s 2020-2024 Capital Plan allocated $1.1 billon for 500 new electric buses, and eight bus depots for them, which will include 100 articulated buses and have the first deliveries start in 2020, according to NYC Transit President Andy Byford. About 100 of the buses are scheduled to be delivered each year after that. Byford said the electric buses will be distributed across all five boroughs. By 2029, the MTA plans to only purchase electric buses for its fleet. “We’re very excited to be here today, because today’s a milestone in our Fast Forward plan,” Byford said on Dec. 15 at a Midtown bus depot, moments before the first electric articulated bus left for 14th Street. The Fast Forward plan is Byford’s multi-faceted initiative to modernize the city’s public transit. Byford said the electric bus plan was the right thing to do for the environment, and it provides New Yorkers better technology for transportation. There are 16 charging stations at the
PHOTO BY GABE HERMAN
NYC Transit President Andy By ford speaking at the bus depot in front of an electric ar ticulated bus.
Midtown bus depot, at West 40th Street and Eleventh Avenue, noted Craig Cipriano, acting president of MTA Bus Company and senior vice president of NYC Transit’s Dept. of Buses. Charging the buses takes about three hours and will be done overnight. Buses can go about 50 to 90 miles on a single charge. “Today we are taking a huge leap forward,” Cipriano said. “I want to say to everyone in New York: Ride the bus and save the planet.” Environmental advocates lauded the new articulated electric buses, and said that transportation was the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in
New York State and nationwide. Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters, called it “an important step forward,” and said emissions can cause health problems, including asthma. “Reducing emissions means a healthier New York for everyone,” said Lauren Bailey, Director of Climate Change Policy for Tri-State Transportation Campaign. She noted that electric buses were also quieter, and called for electric buses to be used statewide. Each electric articulated bus is 60 feet long and costs $1.4 million. Cipriano said each bus will save about 90 tons
of carbon emissions and 8,000 gallons of diesel gas in a year. Cipriano also took the opportunity Sunday to tout the success of the M14 busway, providing new data that indicated buses are traveling at higher speeds. Speeds on the corridor between Third and Ninth Avenues have doubled since last year, Cipriano said, going from an average of 2.4 miles per hour to 4.8 mph (average speeds include time for stops and traffic lights). He said top speeds during the day reached 6.1 mph, compared to 4.8 mph during a similar time last year.
Old trash cans out at Washington Square Park BY GABE HERMAN
W
hen it comes to Washington Square Park’s garbage, it’s out with the old and in with
the new. The NYC Parks Department finished in recent weeks installing 58 new trash receptacles in the park. They replaced 48 garbage cans that were over a decade old and in poor condition, according to the office of State Senator Brad Hoylman, who secured a $100,000 discretionary fund grant for the project. The hefty price tag went toward the purchase, delivery and installation of the Scarborough Litter Receptacles. Hoylman thanked the Washington Square Park Conservancy, Community Board 2 and the Greenwich Village community for their help in the efforts. “Washington Square Park is a jewel of our community – a true public space that’s open and accessible for all New Yorkers,” said Hoylman. “I’m thrilled to have secured more than $100,000 in Schneps Media
COURTESY STATE SEN. BRAD HOYLMAN’S OFFICE
A look at some of the old trash cans that were replaced.
state funding to install these brand new trash receptacles in Washington Square Park and I’m confident they will help make sure the Park is a clean, pleasant respite in our busy urban landscape.”
George Vellonakis, Washington Square Park Administrator and Conservancy Executive Director, credited Hoylman with making the upgrade happen.
“A broken trash can isn’t just ugly, it causes real problems for the Park,” said Vellonakis. “The old cans were prone to overflow, leading to piles of trash on the ground and giving rodents easy access to a buffet of refuse. These new cans are stronger, sleeker, and easier for staff to empty and keep clean. “It seems like a small change,” he added, “but it makes a big impact on the overall feel of the Park – no one wants to read a book next to a pile of trash. State Senator Hoylman is in the Park all the time, so he understood very quickly what a problem this was and committed to finding a solution.” Washington Square Park gets 12 million visitors annually, bringing hundreds of thousands of pounds of garbage, Hoylman’s office said. The new trash receptacles, made of heavy-duty black metal, can hold up to 30 gallons. The project also provided 10 more receptacles to be held in reserve for replacing trash cans that may get damaged or broken.\ December 19, 2019
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Air rights deal for St. Marks Place rejected BY ALEJANDR A O’CONNELL-DOMENECH
C
ommunity Board 3’s Land Use committee rejected an air rights transfer application from developers wanting to build a 10-story office building at 3 St. Marks Place. In June, Real Estate Equities Corporation was given the green light by the city’s Landmark Preservation Commission to buy $4 million worth of air rights from the landmarked building across the street, the Hamilton-Holly House, former home of Alexander and Holly Hamilton. If REEC were to buy the air rights of Hamilton-Holly House, it would allow them to increase floor space by 20 percent, further expanding ‘Silicon Alleys’ borders, opponents said. After approval from the commission, the developers formally entered the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Process ( ULURP) the first step of which is community board vetting. Although community board’s are advisory entities that can not actually stop a project from progressing, the vote reflects the communities contempt for the project. The vote against the transfer was unanimous. Many of those in opposition, including preservation group,
Rendering of 3 St. Marks Place development.
did not agree with the public benefit that the REEC was offering with the transfer. As part of the deal, $200,000 of the $4 million would go towards maintaining the landmark in perpetuity.
“The feeling was universal that it was not a worthwhile trade,” said Andrew Berman, executive director of Village preservation. The meeting hosted a healthy turnout from the preservationist group, Berman said.
Community Board 3 will hold its full-board meeting on Dec. 19. After the full-board votes on the air rights transfer, the resolution will be sent to be sent for consideration by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.
Sing a song for landmarking of Tin Pan bldgs. BY GABE HERMAN
T
he city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) this week officially designated five historic buildings on West 28th Street that were part of the legendary Tin Pan Alley for sheet music publishers. The five adjacent buildings, between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, are buildings number 47, 49, 51, 53 and 55 on the block. They are Italianate-style row houses and were all built between 1839 and 1859. Tin Pan Alley was the center of music publishing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its name was given around 1903 and was based on the racket of piano music that could be heard throughout the street. Famous songs that came from the block included “God Bless America” and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” The LPC said that Tin Pan Alley brought ragtime to worldwide audiences, and Jewish and African American artists and publishers were able to create new, unprecedented opportunities in mainstream American music. Some of the artists included Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, Harold Arlen, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Noble Sissle, James Reese Europe and J. Rosamond Johnson.
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December 19, 2019
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION
The buildings at 47-55 West 28 St.
The LPC also said in its brief on Tin Pan Alley, when noting it popularizing ragtime: “However, as relatives of musical forms which were popular in minstrel shows, some of Tin Pan Alley’s compositions were built on objectionable caricatures of African Americans in the tradition of blackface perfor-
mance. Their employment of slurs and caricatures reflects systemic racism in the post-Reconstruction era and a particular lineage of racist stereotypes in American entertainment. Some African American songwriters on West 28th Street deliberately tried to rework stereotypes that were popular in music
of the time.” “Tin Pan Alley is the birthplace of American pop music and now we’re ensuring that it will be here for future generations,” said Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “Like much of American history, the story of Tin Pan Alley is complex and controversial, but preventing its demolition will give future generations the opportunity to learn from it.” Relatives of Tin Pan Alley composers said they were glad about the buildings’ designation. “I am so pleased that this designation has preserved the remnants of this cornerstone of New York business and history,” said Melanie Edwards, granddaughter of composer J. Rosamond Johnson. “From the Brill building to the home-made studios of hip-hop, they all had their beginnings on Tin Pan Alley, and this history can now be shared with every music lover.” “Tin Pan Alley made it possible for African American composers like my grandfather to promote their talents to the broader public,” said James Reese Europe III, grandson of James Reese Europe. “My grandfather had many of his early compositions published by music publishers once located on this block.” Schneps Media
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Police Blotter East Village man attacked and robbed A 19-year-old male was mugged in the East Village on the evening of Friday, Nov. 8, police said. Around 6:30 p.m., opposite 217 First Ave., two males approached the victim and briefly engaged him in conversation, police said, before allegedly chasing after him, knocking him to the pavement and taking his property, which included a jacket, a hooded sweater, a coin pouch, his cell phone and a credit card. The two men fled on foot in an unknown direction. An investigation found that on the same day, around 7:20 p.m., inside the McDonald’s at 966 Third Ave., one of the robbers used the victim’s credit card to make $33.69 worth of purchases.
COURTESY NYPD
Teddy the toy poodle, who was allegedly taken from an unlocked car.
Dog snatched from unlocked car A dog was taken from a parked car in Lower Manhattan on Sunday, Dec. 1, police said. Around 7:20 p.m., a man approached a parked car in front of 135 Walker St., officials said. He then allegedly open an unlocked door to the vehicle and took a black carrier which contained a 6-year-old cream colored toy poodle named Teddy. The man then fled with Teddy and the carrier, police said. Shoplifter threatens employee A woman shoplifted a jacket from a store on East 14 Street, then threatened an employee who tried to stop her, according to police. The incident occurred on Monday, Nov. 4, around 10:50 a.m., at Nordstrom Rack at 60 E. 14 St. The woman allegedly took a coat off the rack, put it on and walked toward the exit. When a 30-year-old male employee tried to stop her from leaving, the woman said she was armed with a Taser and
mace, according to officials. The woman then fled on foot in an unknown direction. Robbery pattern of unattended bags
There was a string of thefts in the Village where women had wallets and bags stolen by a man while they were left unattended, according to police. Three of the incidents occurred on Wednesday,
Nov. 6. The first was at 2 p.m. inside the New School at 63 Fifth Ave., when a 26-year-old woman was inside the resource center and put her backpack on a chair. When she went to retrieve her bag before leaving, she discovered that her wallet had allegedly been taken, officials said. An investigation found that a man tried to use her credit cards at MetroCard machines at Penn Station and Union Square. The second incident was 30 minutes later, also in the New School, when a 33-year-old woman was in the teacher’s lounge and placed her property on a table. When she returned after leaving to make a phone call, she found that her wallet, containing $200 and credit cards, had been taken. An investigation found the same suspect tried to use the credit cards at the same MetroCard machines, officials said. Thirty minutes later on the same day, at The Greenwich Social restaurant at 74 Fifth Ave., a 32-year-old woman put her purse on the back of a chair and left her seat. She returned to discover that her wallet, containing credit cards, had been taken, police said. An investigation showed the male suspect on surveillance video removed the property and then fled the location, according to police. The final incident was on Tuesday, Nov. 12, around 12:50 p.m., inside Luke’s Lobster Union Square, at 124 University Place. A 25-year-old woman left her seat with her purse hanging from it to get a beverage, and when she returned she found that her purse, containing $50, credit cards and a cell phone, had allegedly been taken. An investigation found the same suspect took the property and then fled in an unknown direction, police said.
Subway crimes and convenience store assault in Chelsea Subway creep sexually assaults woman: Cops A woman was groped inside the Union Square subway station on Friday, Nov. 29, police said. Around 5 p.m., on the platform for the downtown R train, a man approached an 18-year-old woman from behind and allegedly touched her crotch over her pants. The creep then ran from the platform and fled the station on an uptown 4 or 5 train, officials said. Macy’s coat nabbed A pricey coat was stolen from the Macy’s at Herald Square on Thursday, Dec. 5, officials said. Around 2 p.m., a 20-year-old employee at the store, at 151 W. 34 St., discovered that store merchandise had been tak-
en and contact the police. An investigation found that earlier in the day, around 12:00 p.m., a man entered the store and allegedly took a coat worth about $3,500, before fleeing in an unknown direction.
left cheek bone and eye area. The victim was taken to Lenox Health Greenwich Village for treatment. The other woman was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
Subway argument turns violent A dispute at the subway station at 14th Street and Eighth Avenue led to a woman being arrested, police said. On Friday, Dec. 13, around 8:20 a.m., a 39-year-old woman got into an argument with a 16-yearold female after bumping into each other on the stairs, officials said. The younger woman told police that it turned into a physical altercation and the other woman punched her in the face, causing swelling to her
7-Eleven assault A 7-Eleven employee was attacked on Saturday, Dec. 14, police said. Around 1:50 a.m., inside the store at 368 Eighth Ave., the 64-year-old male victim said that a man came into the store and punched him on the right side of his face, causing pain to the area. The victim said the other man had no reason to strike him. He refused medical attention at the scene. The attacker, a 33-year-old man, was arrested for misdemeanor assault.
COURTESY NYPD
Teddy the toy poodle, who was allegedly taken from an unlocked car.
The Villager (USPS 578930) ISSN 0042-6202 Copyright © 2019 by Schneps Media is published weekly by Schneps Media, One Metrotech North, 10th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201. 52 times a year. Business and Editorial Offices: One Metrotech North, 10th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201. Accounting and Circulation Offices: Schneps Media, One Metrotech North, 10th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201. Call 718-260-2500 to subscribe. Periodicals postage prices is paid at New York, N.Y. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Villager, One Metrotech North, 10th floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Annual subscription by mail in Manhattan and Brooklyn $29 ($35 elsewhere). Single copy price at office and newsstands is $1. The entire contents of newspaper, including advertising, are copyrighted and no part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher - © 2019 Schneps Media.
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Greenwich Village soup kitchen served its last meal BY ALEJANDR A O'CONNELL-DOMENECH
R
enovations at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church forced a soup kitchen to find a new home. St. Joe’s soup kitchen, which has operated out of the church’s basement for the last 40 years, will be relocated to First Presbyterian Church at 12 West 12th Street and Fifth Avenue. Although the soup kitchen’s new home is not far, the move represents the end of a 40-year-long tradition run out of the basement of St. Joseph’s Church. Hungry New Yorkers stopped by St. Joseph’s for the last time on Saturday, Dec. 14. The move to the new location will happen this weekend. “I’m sad to see them move, but happy that they will continue to serve those in need,” said Father Boniface Endorf in an email. “The parish and the soup kitchen along have tried work out some way to keep the soup kitchen in the basement for the last year, Father Boniface added. But given the work needed to renovate the building and bring the basement up to code, “the soup kitchen decided that it was best to fulfill their mission at a new location.” The soup kitchen at the St. Joseph’s serves meals at 1:30 on Saturday afternoons. First Presbyterian Church did not respond to a request for comment.
PHOTO BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELL-DOMENECH
Scaffolding covers the facade of St. Joseph’s Church on 6th ave. Renovations have forced a soup kitchen run out of the church’s basement to find a new home.
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December 19, 2019
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MetroCard scams cost MTA $40M in revenue BY VINCENT BARONE
T
he MTA is losing tens of millions of dollars each year to MetroCard scammers, according to the transit authority. As part of a crackdown on fare evasion, the MTA and police will in part focus on vandals who break MetroCard vending machines to sell swipes at turnstiles. The crime costs the MTA between roughly $30 million and $40 million each year, Pat Warren, the MTA’s new chief safety officer, said Monday. The MTA estimated it lost more than $200 million in potential revenue to fare evasion in 2018–not including roughly $40 million it spends sending staff to repair tampered-with MetroCard machines. Warren believes targeting scammers could help the MTA’s goal to recoup roughly $50 million via fare evasionrelated enforcement. “We have a focused effort looking at trying to gain back some of those monies by policing those areas,” Warren said, of stations where there is a high rate of scamming and fare evasion. The authority is also monitoring stations and times of day where evasion is high. “By looking at this tactical effort as where fare evasion occurs and applying our resources, in this case, police forces, to those locations we’re pretty confident that we’ll be able to get to $50 million [in savings] annually,” Warren continued. A persistent issue for the MTA over the years, scammers typically vandalize vending machines within stations and then sell swipes to commuters looking to get through the turnstiles, deploying one in a stack of MetroCards they’ve acquired, according to Warren. “It’s a business to these swipers,” Warren told am-
FILE PHOTO
The MTA repor ted losing millions annually due to fare beaters at MetroCard turnstiles.
NewYork. The scammers could collect time-based MetroCards, or cards from tourists near airports as they leave the city, according to Warren. Sometimes tricksters will don a safety vest; open an emergency gate and charge riders a dollar or two to walk through at high-volume stations—like those near sporting events, he said.
“They’ll pretend like they’re the MTA: ‘Oh, the turnstile is broken; give me two bucks or three bucks.’ People think, ‘Oh, how nice of the MTA.’ Well, it’s not the MTA,” Warren said. “We don’t do that.” Tried and true tactics of swipe-sellers also include “jamming” up machines with paper or other garbage or pouring honey or syrup on the keyboard to disgust riders enough not to touch the machines, Warren said.
Keeping Older New Yorkers Safe on Sidewalks With an increasing number of people on New York City sidewalks and streets, all New Yorkers must keep in mind the importance of pedestrian safety for frail or slowpaced older adults. Older New Yorkers walk more than older adults in any other city in the United States, despite crowded streets. For someone with balance or mobility issues, an accidental bump from a rushing passerby could cause a life-threatening fall. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older Americans. What’s more, experiencing a fall as an older adult is both physically and emotionally painful. To avoid this, older pedestrians are cautious. They walk in the crosswalk and use crossing signals, but if struck by a vehicle, they are more likely to be injured. The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Safe Streets program is an initiative focused on the safety of older pedestrians. In 2018, older 10
December 19, 2019
adults ages 65 and older accounted for 13% of the City’s total population, but 50% of pedestrian traffic fatalities. Accidents from motor vehicles are the largest concern. As we work to reduce these traffic fatalities, we must not forget the importance of cyclists observing the rules of the road to keep vulnerable pedestrians safe. Nearly eight hundred thousand New Yorkers ride a bicycle regularly, and this number is increasing. Bikes are a healthy and environmentally friendly solution to the city’s crowded transportation system, but without safety considerations and enforcements, they can be dangerous.
Not yielding to a pedestrian might save a few seconds on a bike commute, but it could also cause a severe injury. Cyclists must utilize the City’s designated bike paths or lanes and leave the sidewalks open to pedestrians. New York City has 1,240 lane miles of bike routes. In the last five years, the City has expanded on-street bike lanes by more than 330 miles, with 66.1 miles installed in 2018. The City is doing its part to keep pedestrians safe. Alongside DOT, the New York Police Department (NYPD) makes sure cyclists abide by the rules of the road. This year, the NYPD has issued 37,916 moving violations to cyclists, compared to 34,257 in 2018, an 11% increase. I am confident that there is enough room for cyclists and pedestrians alike. As we strive to be a truly age-inclusive City that accommodates dwellers of all ages and with disabilities, I encourage all New Yorkers to look out for their neighbors on the sidewalk.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez is Commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging. Prior to joining the de Blasio administration, she served in executive leadership roles with AARP, EmblemHealth and other organizations. She also served as New York’s first Latina Secretary of State. Schneps Media
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December 19, 2019
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Editorial City must commit to full NYCHA fix The public advocate’s office has created a new rite of winter in its publication of the “Worst Landlords List,” an annual rundown of property owners across the city who are notorious for neglecting their buildings and tenants. These landlords demand prompt payment of monthly rent from their residents while subjecting them to terrible conditions — from rodent infestation, to mold, to broken infrastructure, and more. Even with the incursion of violations from city agencies, as the Worst Landlords List outlines, many of those property owners continue to ignore them. But there is one entity which Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said on Monday tops every other bad landlord in the city — the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). For years now, NYCHA has been vilified for failing to adequately address the myriad problems on its properties: boiler breakdowns in the dead of winter, broken elevators, plumbing problems, mold growth, just to name a few. The de Blasio Administration has taken plenty of heat for the situation, which wound up in federal court. A federal monitor was appointed to make sure that NYCHA cleaned up its act. The leadership at NYCHA was also shaken up to ensure a new, more positive direction. And yet, as Williams noted Monday, there are still some 350,000 outstanding NYCHA work orders for improvements — which is actually up from 2018. With the neglect and disrepair so extensive, one could argue that it was only natural to expect things at NYCHA to get worse before they could get better. But its track record of failure, and years of ignorance from City Hall, does not leave much room for enthusiasm. Although Williams identified NYCHA as the city’s “worst landlord,” the title ought to instead go to City Hall and the Mayor’s office. The buck stops with the people at the top, the legislators and the city’s chief executive, both of whom are responsible for NYCHA’s stewardship. The neglect goes back several administrations, however, so we’re not going to scapegoat specific lawmakers who presently or previously occupy city government. But it would be absolutely refreshing if the de Blasio administration, and whoever succeeds it, would fully reform and repair NYCHA with the same vigor and commitment as they’ve instituted other recent, important public policy changes. The residents of NYCHA deserve a caring landlord, and a livable home. Our city is obligated to provide them both.
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December 19, 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
n the April 2, 1987 issue of The Villager, some 200 activists marched through the East Village and Lower East Side as part of a campaign to get drug dealers out of their neighborhoods. Organizers, including Cooper Square Committee and other groups, said that a bad problem had gotten worse lately.
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Letters to the Editor
Harbor flood plan insufficient
The verdict on new Lumet bio On the new biography out about Lower East Side native and film director Sidney Lumet: Being a fan of Lumet’s movies, I got this book and just started it. The stories of Lumet’s childhood, his bravado even as a child, his early comic theater performances, may feel familiar to Lower East Siders and Villagers who go for unique and creative characters. The writing is refreshingly candid and a pleasure to read so far. Regan Heiserman
BY ROL AND LEWIS AND K ATE BOICOURT As the world warms and rising oceans threaten the future of the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region, the US Army Corps of Engineers is conducting the largest study you’ve never heard about to reduce our risk of flooding — without fully considering flood risk. Superstorm Sandy was a brutal wakeup call for New York and New Jersey. The storm caused loss of life and tens of billions of dollars in damage, but it also launched a path forward in the form of federal funding to help rebuild and adapt our region. Part of this relief package was an award to the Army Corps of Engineers to formulate a plan—the New York-New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Study (HATS) — to reduce the area’s risk for flooding. The Corps has since developed five alternatives to do just that, ranging from a surge barrier spanning the mouth of the Lower New York Bay, to levees at strategic area shorelines, to doing nothing. Though it carries a potential price tag of $119 billion and affects every community in the metropolitan area, you may not have heard about this study. That’s because the Corps, working with limited funds allotted for public engagement, has hosted nine public scoping meetings, drawing only a few hundred participants in a region of 16 million. The number of participants in New Jersey? Less than 30. The States of New York and New Jersey, supposed partners on the huge project, have remained largely quiet. And, maddeningly, the study fails to look at the whole problem: the fact that the seas are rising inexorably as the planet warms and causing floods unrelated to storms. The Corps study looks solely at how to reduce risk caused by a large storm. Sea level rise is included in the study merely to gauge how high to build gates and levees. The result is a manufactured bias toward harder measures that offer few other benefits. There is a better way. Start with robust public outreach and education about the options and trade-offs to adapt our region to sea level rise, and allow the Army Corps the flexibility to adjust to local input. Second, incorporate Schneps Media
PHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
cutting-edge science and authorize HATS— and all coastal adaptation and infrastructure projects—to prioritize strategies that reduce flood risk caused by storms and sea level rise. With scientists projecting that rising waters will permanently flood most of Coney Island, the Rockaways, Red Hook, Broad Channel, towns bordering the Meadowlands, and other areas by the end of the century, one thing is quite clear: regardless of how much greenhouse gas we are able to reduce, the waters will rise. Any plan to mitigate flood risk must address this. We should learn from the City of Boston, whose Green Ribbon Commission tossed out the idea of a harbor-wide barrier in favor of more cost-efficient measures that better address sea level rise and storms, such as the purchase of flood-prone properties and proactive investment in landward flood risk reduction. The States of New York and New Jersey must step up and fulfill their obligations as project partners, and actively seek more input from communities at the frontlines. Equally important, our state and local officials need to take a public stance when vetting the Army Corps approach. Given the stakes, this is no time for quiet consultation. As a region, we need federal funding to tackle the challenge of adaptation, but we need to get it right. Using better science to address all types of flooding and a better public process would give us a more flexible, equitable, fiscally responsible, and faster path. As the world warms and the waters begin to swallow whole communities, we need a better plan. Pronto. Roland Lewis, president, and Kate Boicourt, director of resilience, serve the Waterfront Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and revitalizing New York’s waterfront.
Lamenting Hotel Chelsea Regarding construction at the Hotel Chelsea: This Hotel has so much wonderful history. How I hope that the new owners will honor it. Dear Mr. Stanley Bard, may he rest in peace, created such
an ambiance and welcomed different and creative people. So many talented people lived there. It is so very sad that things can’t just be left alone to stay the same. The older I get, the more I appreciate the way things used to be. I guess I’m just a romantic. Cindy Robinson
Thanks for Tequila About the recent holiday celebration at Father Fagan Park: Tequila Minsky’s captures the spirit of our neighborhood with a unique perspective. Her photographs and story lines create a compelling narrative and we have enjoyed following her in The Villager for the last decade. Anna Nuchtern
EXTRA! EXTRA! Local News, read all about it!
TheVillager.com December 19, 2019
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Unhinged man on street tear
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etectives are looking to track down a knifewielding loon who harassed and assaulted pedestrians on Manhattan’s Upper East Side three times on Monday morning. The NYPD released on Tuesday video footage of the creep wanted for the mid-morning rampage, which began at 10:43 a.m. on Dec. 16 in front of an apartment building on Park Avenue near East 82nd Street. According to police, an adult male victim began talking to the driver of a parked vehicle when the unknown suspect approached and said, “I know you are talking about me!� This led to a verbal dispute, during which the perpetrator displayed a knife. Cops said the knife-wielding loon chased the man around the car, then returned to the sidewalk and began walking away, heading eastbound on East 82nd Street before turning northbound on Park Avenue. Twenty minutes later, authorities said, the grumpy grinch attacked a 21-year-old woman in front of an apartment building on East 85th Street off Park Avenue. According to law enforcement sources, the young woman was minding her own business, looking at her cellphone, when the perpetrator smacked the side of her head, then walked away. The attack was caught on tape in the video footage police released Tuesday. Cops said the victim suffered pain and swelling to her face, but refused medical attention. The rampaging man then assaulted and harassed two pedestrians at the southwest corner of East 87th Street and Third Avenue at 11:13 a.m. Monday. Police said the individual purposely bumped into male and female victims as they were walking. The suspect then told the female victim to move, at which point, the male individual confronted him. According to authorities, the suspect displayed a knife at the male victim, and an eyewitness captured the moment on their phone. Seeing this, the angry suspect chased after the eyewitness into Third Avenue traffic, then fled. Police described the rampaging man as a 25-year-old man with a dark complexion and a thin build, standing about 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing about 115 pounds. He has a goatee and short black hair, and was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a threequarter length camouflage hooded jacket, blue jeans and black sneakers. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS; all calls are kept confidential. Schneps Media
Fire at Brevoort couldn’t stop holiday party BY TEQUIL A MINSK Y
H
ellen Osgood was on her way home from running errands around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, when the first fire truck arrived at her apartment building at 20 E. 9 St. Soon there would be 11 more units including EMS standing ready, filling East Ninth Street at the Broadway corner and at University Place. In all, 60 firefighters responded to the smoke conditions and electrical conduit fire at Brevoort East. The common areas and stairwells of the 27-floor multiple dwelling went dark and the elevators were out as acrid smoke from the burnt conduit filled the ground floor and stairwells. Fire fighters packed the lobby as the sidewalk was blocked with residents who, smelling smoke, had left their apartments, or many just returning home from work and were anxious. “I called my husband— the electricity was on in the apartment—and he said the smoke was not increasing, so I wasn’t worried,” Osgood said. “Initially, there was a lot of activity, but it seemed under control.” She added, “In times like this, you just have to let those in charge do their jobs.” The electrical fire was contained within the electric meter room and there was no need to evacuate. With building management’s okay, by 7:45 pm, using the flashlight on her cell phone, she made the trek up 11 flights to her apartment. Con-Ed crews were quickly on site to restore temporary service. Management communicates by email and by 9:30 p.m. they wrote: “It goes without saying that safety is a top priority. Please remain in your apartments as the staircases and hallways are dark.” By 8:30 a.m. the next morning, Management alerted residents, “Power has been restored. Currently the freight and one passenger elevators are up and running.” It was discovered that the breaker switch blew out in a panel, which caused the fire in the panel. Osgood describes how incredible the staff were, keeping everyone calm and people updated. Bob Miller, site super-
PHOTOS BY TEQUILA MINSKY
12 units and 60 firefighters responded to the smoke conditions on E. 9th St.
intendent, and Max Ramirez, concierge on duty, helped coordinate efforts with the FDNY, who went through the building and knocked on doors, especially those of the elderly residents. Saluting FDNY, Ramirez admired their timely response, welfare checks, and coordinated efforts to get the fire under control. The following night, Wednesday, as planned, and with two elevators still
EMS were on site for the electrical fire. There were no injuries. Schneps Media
not working, neighbors congregated in Brevoort East’s expansive lobby for the annual holiday party. While eating and drinking, residents remembered their power outage during Hurricane Sandy and how the building was affected. They spoke of how particularly seniors are affected during these occurrences. “The spirit during our holiday party shows how resilient we are,” Osgood
says. Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management have visited the building multiple times and have given an “all clear” on air quality. Additionally, American Fire Restoration placed air scrubbers with carbon filters on every floor to help alleviate the residual smoke odors and the electricians continue to work to restore all areas that were compromised by the fire.
The par ty must go on! In the building’s lobby, neighbors reminiscent about Hurricane Sandy. December 19, 2019
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New Pauline Kael doc unwrapped on Christmas Day BY GABE HERMAN
A
new documentary about the legendary New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael opens on Dec. 25 at the Film Forum, at 209 W. Houston St. “What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael,” directed by Rob Garver, explores Kael’s life and her impact as a film critic who loved movies and the arts, and was loved and sometimes hated for her often blunt writing and opinions. Pauline Kael (1919-2001) grew up in California, and took a winding road to becoming a film critic, and eventually a well-known critic at The New Yorker, where she worked from 1968-1991 as one of the most influential critics of the time. Kael had a daughter in 1948, and in the following years would work various jobs to provide support, though she always had it in her mind to be a writer. Garver said he was surprised to learn that Kael acquired a decent job in advertising in the 1950s, and the movie tells of her being promoted and getting her name put on an office door. But she knew she had to quit, because she’d be giving up her goal of becoming a writer with her own voice. Even when she wrote for The New Yorker, it was only for six months each year, and she struggled to earn a living wage, supplementing with other work like speaking engagements. Kael wrote about film for magazines in the 1950s, and worked to get away from an academic style and toward how people talk about movies. The film notes her love for movies of the 1930s and silent films, and she was passionate about her opinions. She once broke up with a guy over a disagreement about “West Side Story.”
Pauline Kael in the documentar y.
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December 19, 2019
The documentar y opens Dec. 25 at the Film Forum. (Cour tesy Juno Films)
The documentary uses famous film clips to help tell the story of her life, whether punctuating an emotion or showing a visual similarity of an event that happened to her. Garver got the idea as a way of adding in more fun. “She had this great sense of humor and was fun, and fun to read,” Garver said, “so the movie about her life should be fun as well.” There are also interview clips of Kael, and home movies, and her writing is read in the film by Sarah Jessica Parker. In one interview clip, Kael talked of women having more presence in the film industry than the world of critics, saying that men’s egos had a harder time accepting that a woman could be equal when it comes to using logic and reason. Over 35 people were interviewed for the documentary, including Quentin Tarantino, David O. Russell, Alec Baldwin, and other filmmakers, critics and artists. Tarantino notes that Kael could change the reader’s opinion of a film with one smart and subtle observation.
The film includes some peoples’ opinions that she could be overly harsh at times in her criticisms, with some saying she could be cruel and get too personal. “She was divisive, and loved and hated,” said Garver, who added that he wanted to tell an honest story of Kael’s life, including when people were hurt by her critiques. “That’s part of who she was and she was no saint, so I had to show that side,” Garver said. Kael was a champion of young filmmakers when she liked their work, including Scorsese, Spielberg and de Palma, and her influence made her part of film movements, rather than just writing about them. “She wasn’t just observing it, she was part of it,” said Garver, who had the idea for the film about five years ago and said he read her a lot in college. “It was her voice, her writing voice, she was a different critic,” he said. “A different writer than any other critic at the time.” Garver said she wasn’t a critic but a writer whose subject was the movies. The movies includes many letters that Kael received over the years from famous people in film who read her reviews, with some admiring her and some otherwise. “But I think there was a respect there,” Garver said. “She was relentless, she didn’t back down from her opinions. And she was always interesting to read.”
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Eats
Inside scoop on the new Museum of Ice Cream in SoHo BY ALEX MITCHELL
O
h how sweet it is. Downtown’s most magically delicious museum will finally be opening its doors to the public this Saturday — and what a treat that will be. Prior sprinkling into the museum’s three floors of melting goodness and other surprises, guests are encouraged to come up with their own ice cream name, taking inspiration from a wall’s worth of celebrity ones. Then the fun really begins as you head from room to room between the ground and second floors, starting off with a more so standard vanilla sample of ice cream. But things get a little more unique after heading upstairs. That’s where you can feast on an extensive dining room table’s worth of ice cream, cake pops, and plenty of other amazing desserts. Pro tip: it’s a marathon not a sprint, no need to be overzealous at the beginning. The next room requires some commuting, but rest assured that you don’t need a metro card for this subway ride to “Skybeca” and beyond. Up next is an opportunity to spell out everything that you’re grateful for for along with a few other ad-libbed inspirational messages plus more fun in the surrounding rooms.
Then you reach a room that features the world’s stretchiest ice cream, more commonly referred to as the non-alcoholic Booza ice cream, which has been around for many generations. That room also features some very enthusiastic employees as well. Afterwards comes a DJ’s delight, as two Serato turntables are on display and are welcomed to be scratched by all of the museum’s visitors. There’s also a cake and ice cream-filled table with some more goodies. Nothing makes a Thursday morning go by like some ICDM (ice cream dance music). Remember that slide going through lobby? That’s the most viable option to get you the museum’s next exhibit. A three-floor plunge takes you down into “the melting cave,” where employees have been known to do some “frozen yoga” during their breaks. On the topic of activities, the next room has plenty of those. The Museum of Ice Cream has its very own playground that features swing sets, jungle gyms, see saws, a “jacuzzi,” and a cone-like hoop into which you can throw mini-dodgeballs. Employees say that trick shots are encouraged. After walking by a nice little wall of encouragement by way of hand written notes from visitors, guests experience
the most aquatic part of the museum… the sprinkle pool which features a slide and all the works. Then sadly, you reach the last licks of the museum, but you’re parted with some very warm encouragement. If you’re not quite ready to leave then feel free to stick around in the muse-
um’s lobby where scoops and specialty sundaes are on the ready for kids and adults alike. This reporter recommends the peanut butter and pretzel flavor — man, that was good. Also, employees say that a milkshake machine is expected in 2020 — and will likely bring all the boys to the yard.
New West Village eatery offers baked pasta dishes BY GABE HERMAN
A
new Italian restaurant called P.F. Pasta Al Forno opened earlier this month in the West Village and bills itself as the only place in New York that offers “Baked Pasta Only.” The 800-square-foot space is at 167 Seventh Ave. South, at Perry Street. It’s a counter-service restaurant, and an homage to a restaurant in Florence, Italy, called Pasta Al Forno, which operated from 1964-2000. The menu includes baked pasta recipes of Italian “Timballi,” an
Italian baked dish. They are served at the counter as slices, for about $14-18, or as whole pies for about $80-90. Offerings include Lasagne alla Bolognese, Crespelle alla Fiorentina with spinach and ricotta, Broccoli Gratinati, Parmigiana di Malanzane, Tartufata di Patate with shaved black truffles, and Caponata di Verdure with assorted vegetables. The restaurant includes vegan and vegetarian options, and is open daily from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. More information can be found at pastaalfornonyc.com.
PHOTO BY COURTESY P.F. PASTA AL FORNO
The new restaurant is at 167 Seventh Ave. South.
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December 19, 2019
PHOTO BY COURTESY P.F. PASTA AL FORNO
Tar tufata di Patate. Schneps Media
Holidays
FDNY officials give back BY TODD MAISEL
T
he Uniformed Fire Officers Association presented bags of toys to Council Speaker Corey Johnson this morning at a Midtown Manhattan firehouse for distribution to underprivileged children at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen in Chelsea just before the Christmas holiday. The toy drive is part of a larger program by Johnson to collect and distribute toys throughout the city. The union — represented by their President Jake LaMonda, an FDNY battalion chief, and union trustees, — presented numerous bags of toys, gathered by firefighters and FDNY officers on Tuesday at Ladder 7 on West 31st Street. Johnson’s office staff then delivered the toys this morning to Reverend Anna Pearson at the church at 296 9th Ave. so they can be provided to children in time for Christmas. “We are proud to be part of this to help make a children’s day brighter,” said Johnson. “Year in and year out, Jake and his team give back to the community and they came to me saying they are organizing this toy distribution to children in the neighborhood and they give back to the community. These wonderful toys, the UFOA chipped in, is about gratitude and giving back to others. These are their values every single day.”
PHOTO BY TODD MAISEL
Council Speaker Corey Johnson and the UFOA Jake LaMonda are joined by his trustees and Holy Apostles members at Ladder 1 in midtown Manhattan.
LaMonda said his union and the speaker have an “open door policy” that makes for great partnerships, something he has worked to make happen all year. “We are proud to partner with the Speaker and use our great organization to help others,” LaMonda said. Pearson was grateful for the toys that she said her group will distribute before Christmas. “This will make
so many children so much happier, and make their holiday so much brighter,” she said. Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen is one of the city’s largest food programs, serving a cafeteria-style lunch, Brown Bag Lunch program, Backpack Pantry Program, Sunday Supper, and social services initiatives. They also hold programs for children in the community.
Nine great ways to bring family to B’way BY ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER
E
xposing your kids to a Broadway show is an invaluable experience that can lead to an appreciation of the arts for the rest of their lives. A live theatrical production not only engages kids, but it also infuses culture into a generation that relies on YouTube as their main source of entertainment. However, ticket prices on the Great White Way can be prohibitive. But there is no need to dip into your IRA for tickets. Here are 9 ways to see Broadway and Off-Broadway shows at discounted prices:
CHECK OUT THEATER DISCOUNT WEBSITES Look up www.broadwaybox.com, www.theatremania.com and www. playbill.com they all offer discounted tickets for a variety of shows for all seat categories. www.nytix.com offers top Broadway show tickets for as low as $29.
GO TO ‘KIDS NIGHT’ Once a year Broadway offers “Kids Night on Broadway,” where kids and teens 18 and under go for free at parSchneps Media
ticipating shows when accompanied by a full paying adult. The next “Kids Night” will take place February 25, 2020. It’s a program of the Broadway League and presented by the New York Times. Tickets on sale this month. www.kidsnightonbroadway. com
SIGN UP FOR THE HAMILTON DIGITAL LOTTERY Tickets for Hamilton are available for $10 through their lottery. You can download the Hamilton app Ham4Ham or go online at www.HamiltonBroadway.com/Lottery. Tickets are for 2 days in advance.
VISIT TKTS For last minute deals, head to one of New York City’s TKTS Discount Booths. You buy same-day theater tickets at up to 50 percent off. The booths are located at Duffy Square (47th Street and Broadway), Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium (Broadway at 62nd Street), and South Street Seaport (corner of Front and John Streets). Download the TKTS app to see what shows are on sale and prices in real time. There’s a $6 per ticket fee.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NYC BROADWAY WEEK
SIGN UP FOR A DISCOUNT PROGRAM
You can snag two-for-one tickets to a host of Broadway shows that takes place January 21-February 9. To increase your chances of getting great tickets, log on early the day tickets go on sale, which is January 8. Or you can go directly to the box office and avoid a fee. www.nycgo.com/broadway-week.
Some theatre companies offer tickets at discounted prices for younger audiences at their shows. Lincoln Center Theatre offers LincTix, a program for ages 21-35, which is $32 for most of their productions www.lct.org/linctix. Roundabout Theatre Company offers Hiptix, which is $30 tickets for ages 18-40, and with $100 annual donation they are guaranteed orchestra seats www.roundabouttheatre.org/get-tickets/hiptix/. Manhattan Theatre Club offers $30 tickets for ages 35 and under www.manhattantheatreclub.com/ season-tickets/30-under-35/. Second Stage Theatre offers $30 tickets for those under the age of 30. www.2st. com.
DOWNLOAD DISCOUNTS APPS The app TodayTix offers discounts and handles the online lotteries for some Broadway shows. You can book up to 30 days in advance.
PLAY BROADWAY ROULETTE Beat the list price by signing up with Broadway roulette. The show is a surprise, but you can set preferences for the type of show you’d like and eliminate up to 11 shows you’ve seen or don’t want to see. Pick a date up to four months in advance, pay $49 or $59. Premium seats, which are guaranteed orchestra, are $79 weekdays and $89 weekends. Every current show on Broadway is a possibility– including Hamilton. The morning of your selected date you’ll receive a text or email telling you what show you’ll be seeing. Pick up tickets at the theatre.
JOIN TDF A nonprofit, TDF is TKTS’ parent organization and offers other discounts as well. An annual $40 membership fee gives you access to Broadway shows– $43 for plays and $49 for musicals per ticket. Teachers, nonprofit employees, civil servants, union members, retired and over 62, students and a number of other groups are eligible for TDF membership. To see if you’re eligible, go to www.tdf.org/join. Up to 9 tickets can be purchased per performance. December 19, 2019
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ANTIQUE & ESTATE BUYERS WILL TRAVEL ENTIRE TRI-STATE!
We buy anything old. One piece or house full. WILL TRAVEL. HOUSE CALLS. WILL WE HOUSE CALLS. WILLTRAVEL. TRAVEL. WE MAKE MAKE HOUSE CALLS.
37W 47TH ST, NYC 1029 WEST JERICHO TURNPIKE, SMITHTOWN, L.I.
FREE
Estimate
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CHRISTMAS EVEEVE 24 •• CHRISTMAS Annual Christmas Eve Annual Handel’s Performance of Handel’s Messiah
Messiah Concert Christmas Portion and Hallelujah Chorus
AT 7:30P.M. P.M. AT 7:30
SUNDAY, DECEMBERKwanzaa 27 E VSunday, ERYONE IS WELCOME! Kwanzaa Celebration N O T I29 CKETS REQUIRED December AT 11:00 A.M. Kwanzza Celebration A FREE WILL OFFERING
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W I L L B E TA K E N .
AT 11:00 A.M. 20
December 19, 2019
Schneps Media
Manhattan Happenings
Make some plans for the holidays, Dec. 20-27
ALEX MITCHELL
The Winter Village at Br yant Park.
FRIDAY, DEC. 20
Park West entrance.
U
Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-8pm, and Sunday 10am - 7pm
ncut Gems Pop Up Experience
T
he 13th Annual Menorah Horah
Open at 11 Bond street from 12-8 p.m. Mondays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays, and 12 p.m.-7p.m. Sundays throughout the Holiday Season.
The Schlep Sisters, Minnie Tonka and Dar-
Head into the Diamond District to experience
linda Just Darlinda, will bring the heat to this
TUESDAY, DEC. 24
ree picture with Santa at the Winter
F
holiday season through this performance.
limited edition merchandise, diamond en-
Village in Bryant Park
Along with several premier burlesque stars,
crusted merchandise, fresh pressed vinyls,
While the winter village stays open until
they’ll help you celebrate all eight nights of
M
along with some surprise guest appearances
March first, Santa will only be in town all day
Hanukkah in one evening!
One of the most awe inspiring religious events
and more.
free of cost until Dec. 22nd
parts of Adam Sandler’s film of the year with
H
G
oliday Basketball Classic
Cathedral
of the year will once again be open to all on 8 p.m. at Le Poisson Rouge at 158 Bleecker St.
6:30-8:30 p.m. 76 West 47th Street
idnight Mass at St. Patrick’s
rand Central Holiday Fair
Fifth Avenue this year. Although mass begins at early, it is advisable to get there early.
MONDAY, DEC. 23 FRIDAY, DEC. 27
One of the most architecturally pleasing
This 35 and older 3 on 3 basketball tourna-
holiday season and it is certainly felt at the
S
ment will show that you’ve still got some gas
Grand Central terminal holiday fair.
This immersive holiday shop will be pulling
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in over 40 different brand along with much
The Chelsea Rec Center at 430W. 25th
more to make for an unforgettable holiday
Street will be screening this wintery film with
shopping experience.
popcorn and more from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
spots in New York has it halls decked for the
in the tank. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Christmas Eve. Recreation Center 54 at 348 East 54th Street.
howfields popup in SoHo ovies Under the Stars
SATURDAY, DEC. 21
Y
eti Set Snow Holiday Puppet Making Workshop
The
Swedish
M
onograming by Food52 pop up at
Cottage
Marionette
Theatre
the Oculus
in Central Park hosts this creative tinkering
This Saturday the Five Two by Food52 will be
workshop where you’ll build your own work-
embroidering cloth kitchen apparel while of-
shop and hear winter stories about the snow
fering discounts throughout its pop up store
and much more!
as well.
Show begins at 11:30 a.m. and the workshop begins at 12:30 p.m.
M
olumbus Holliday Market
orningside Park Tree Lighting
solstice for this fun sing along on the park’s
Schneps Media
December 19 - Dec. 21, Tix $10 Three Nights Only! Thur, Fri, Sat 8PM
by Vit Horejs, December 19 - Jan. 05, Tix $18 Thur - Sat 8PM, Sat & Sun 3PM
God is a Woman and She is Black
by Alessandra Belloni, December 28 & 29, Tix $18 Saturday 8PM, Sunday 3PM
lawn from 5-6 p.m.
Potters Wheel by Gina Russell Tracy
Come visit the thrill of Columbus Circle until Christmas eve at its 59th Street and Central
A Christmas Carol by Zen Mansley A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa
Join the Morningside community on winter
C
212 - 254 - 1109 | www.theaterforthenewcity.net | 155 First Ave. NY, NY 10003
SUNDAY, DEC. 22,
January 2 - January 26, Tix $12 Thur - Sat 8PM, Sun 3PM
December 19, 2019
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December 19, 2019
Schneps Media
NOW OPEN AT HELLO PANDA FESTIVAL hellopandafest.com
Take a Tasty Trek to Tibet via Khampa Kitchen Inn 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 trek to Tibet via Roosevelt Avenue to explore the cuisine of Khampa Kitchen Inn, one of the most unique Tibetan restaurants in all of New York City. “Feel and taste like home,” reads Khampa Kitchen Inn’s motto, which graces the front of the menu at this spot opened by Thupten Bachan and his fiancée, the chef Tashi Dechen, last year. While that menu may first appear very Tibetan with dishes like momo—the dumplings that are ubiquitous in Himalayan Heights— and gyuma a rustic blood sausage, the inn is unique because these innkeepers hail from Tibet’s Kham region. Paoze, a quintet of fluffy meat filled buns served with a comforting split rice porridge and strips of sonlabu, a pickled radish, is a traditional breakfast in Kham, and in Jackson Heights too; the restaurant opens at 10 a.m. The juicy buns flavored with black pepper, chive, and garlic can be had filled with chicken, pork, veggies or beef, but I recommend the latter. “I used to eat it for breakfast as a kid, in Kham they use yak meat,” says Bachan who can usually be found pouring butter tea or in his antique shop filled with Tibetan artifacts to the left of the restaurant’s entrance hallway. Another traditional Kham specialty is the twice-fried beef ribs flavored with chili,salt and Sichuan peppercorn. Bachan says that Khampa Kitchen Inn is also unique in that it is the only restaurant serving Lhasa Shaday, a hearty plate of rice, potatoes and beef gone yellow from turmeric. The whole lot is topped with dried chilies. Need more spice? Avail yourself of the two homemade hot sauces: a chili paste singing with the flavor of Sichuan peppercorns or sepen, a fiery orange blend of chilies, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorn. It is not unusual to find a maroon robed Tibetan monk or two tucking into a plate of Lhasa Shaday as the Dalai Lama beams down from altar above the cash register. “They want to come here because we have traditional food. They feel like they have food from their home,” Bachan says. Khampa poethek, one of the best dishes is literally a home food, traditionally found at family gatherings. “This is a very joyful food for me,” Bachan says of the giant domed meat pie filled with beef and spinach seasoned with green onions, garlic, Sichuan peppercorn. There’s also another flavor that I’ve never had in Tibetan food, caraway seed. or gonyo as it’s called in Khampa. “It’s not traditional without that,” Bachan says. Khampa poethek, takes about a half an hour to make, but it’s well worth the wait. The braided pie is served with the saucer shaped lid cut open. Use it as a plate to present your guest of honor with the first serving. You won’t find it on the menu but for dessert there’s bhatsa marku, a sweet Tibetan pasta served with brown sugar and yak cheese. The little folded over bits of pasta resemble the Italian cavatelli, so much so that some Tibetan restaurant cooks have been known to cheat by using that, but not Dechen, who makes the dough fresh. The result is tangy and sweet and will make you feel at home even if you’ve never been to Kham.
Schneps Media
The Dalai Lama presides over the dining room from an altar set on high.
The chef, Tashi Dechen, preparing Khampa poethek, a giant meat pie traditionally eaten at festive family gatherings. “Each Tibetan has a responsibility to preserve their culture whether it’s food or the language,” Bachan says when asked why he and his fiancée opened the restaurant. In case you’re wondering the beef momo, crescent shaped dumplings that clearly show the chef ’s handiwork served a beef broth that’s been cooked for 24 hours are excellent.
.KDPSD .LWFKHQ ,QQ
75-15 Roosevelt Ave. Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Phone: (347) 507-0216
Paoze, fluffy meat buns served with rice porridge and pickled daikon are a typical breakfast in Tibet’s Kham region.
December 19, 2019
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December 19, 2019
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Extra! Extra!
Local News Read all about it!
www.TheVillager.com
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December 19, 2019
25
Real Estate
Over $9 billion in Man. real estate sold in 2019 BY ALEX MITCHELL
B
rokers sold more than $9 billion in real estate across Manhattan, according to a report released Monday. Manhattan real estate made up a net total of $9.25 billion, representing 80 percent of the city’s top 50 commercial sales list compiled by Metro Manhattan Office Space. The firm’s Dec. 16 report is based on rolling sales data from the city’s finance department’s data on closed sales from January through October, according to the website. The ever-booming Hudson Yards topped the list after WarnerMedia sold its own vessel at 30 Hudson Yards to Related Companies for a whopping $2.155 billion back in June. Related combined with Allianz on the deal with a $1.4 billion CMBS loan from Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo, according to Manhattan Office Space.
AP PHOTO/MARK LENNIHAN
This April 1, 2019, photo shows the Long Island Railroad storage yards and buildings at Hudson Yards in New York. Amazon has signed a lease for a new office space in Manhattan that will house more than 1,500 employees, less than a year after pulling out of a deal for a larger headquar ters in the borough of Queens after politicians and activists objected to nearly $3 billion in incentives. Amazon said the new office in a building near Hudson Yards will open in 2021.
Google’s acquisition of another Chelsea property, the Milk Building at 450 West 15th St., for $591,800,000 also made the peak of the list as the fourth largest office sale of the year. “Developers are working hard to keep up with the demand for NYC office space, from building groundup developments in areas like Hudson Yards to taking on redevelopment or adaptive reuse projects in neighborhoods like Chelsea or Brooklyn’s Williamsburg,” the report stated. The largest individual real estate deal outside of Manhattan this year took place in The Bronx. The BankNote building in Hunts Point saw a $64,582,900 transfer from Madison Marquette to iStar in August, which was the 24th largest in the city, according to the report. That 400,000-square-foot, renovated office space, visible from the Bruckner Expressway, isn’t the only major property expected to see a boom in 2020.
The Villager Sales Guide Listings selected at random. Courtesy StreetEasy.com and Google Maps GREENWICH VILLAGE
West 9th Street
CHELSEA
West 17th Street
LOWER EAST SIDE
South Street
Under $1 million 105 West 13th Street #2B Price:$949,000 Studio Bathrooms: 1 Broker: Elliman
Under $1 million 305 West 18th Street #5B Price:$939,000 Beds: 1 Bathrooms: 1 Broker: Immac
Under $1 million 453 FDR Drive #C501 Price:$565,000 Beds: 1 Bathrooms: 1 Listed by Loho
Under $3 million 3 Great Jones Street #5 Price: $1,495,000 Beds: Studio Bathrooms: 1 Broker: Stephen P. Wald
Under $3 million 450 West 17th Street #1118 Price: $2,295,000 Beds: 2 Bathrooms: 2z Broker: Southebys
Under $3 million 252 South Street #38L Price: $2,823,000 Beds: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Broker: Extell
Under $5 million 32 West 9th Street Price: $3,120,000 Beds: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Broker: Elliman
Under $5 million 130 West 19th Street #THC Price: 4,495,000 Beds: 3 Bathrooms: 2.5 Broker: Douglas Elliman
Under $5 million 252 South Street #75C Price: $3,849,000 Beds: 3 Bathrooms: 3 Broker: Elliman
26
December 19, 2019
SOHO
Crosby Street
Under $1 million 264 West 22nd Street #10 Price:$560,000 Beds: 1 Bathrooms: 1 Broker: Level Under $3 million 41 Crosby Street Price: $2,650,000 Beds: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Broker: Elliman Under 5M 565 Broome Street #N8E Price:$4,500,000 Beds: 3 Bathrooms: 3.5 Broker: Douglas Elliman Schneps Media
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December 19, 2019
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