The Voice of the West Village WestView News VOLUME 17, NUMBER 7 JULY 2021 $2.00 A Very Concerned Citizen Speaks By Steve Romano, MD I and many of my friends and fellow residents the northwest corner of Washington Square dicts get to do whatever they want to do, of the West Village are at the end of our rope. Park is driving many of my neighbors out of and at all hours of the night. They scream, It is the character of youth to rebel, but what I serve on the coop board of 136 Waverly the area and the city. We are losing longstand- fight, and fornicate (yep—not kidding). has been happening at night in Washington Place West and have been a resident of the ing members of the community and giving in It is important to underscore that there Square is not just the natural excess of youth building for nearly 31 years. I've lived through completely to petty theft, vagrancy, drug deal- is a component of people who are seriously but the abandoned behavior sometimes in- some rough spots such as the crack days of ing (on my corner and Gay Street behind a psychiatrically ill. It's despicable that this duced by substance abuse—public urination, the 90s, but I've never seen things as bad and temporary boiler), and people urinating and richest of cities does nothing to intervene defecation and partial nudity, and over the as ominous as they are now. I'm a physician defecating on our stoops. These are streets of- meaningfully with this needy subset. top resistance to police orders. What follows is and pharmaceutical executive, and have en- ten full of pedestrians, residents and children Bottom line, this has got to stop. I my- a letter sent to me by a doctor which I read to joyed living in one of the more vibrant areas attempting to go about their business. self am close to moving and will gladly pay the overflow crowd at a recent Police meeting of NYC. But the criminal element (please Sadly, the police seem to do little (it taxes somewhere where quality of life and addressing the situation (see page 3). don't call them "homeless"—the majority certainly isn't visible to me), and these criminal activities are taken seriously. —George Capsis have no interest in services) on my corner and screaming, fighting, alcohol and heroin ad- What can we do?

SATURDAY, JUNE 26 SUNDAY, JUNE 27

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES: A large was administered first aid by NYPD senior the park loudly and exuberantly, something New Yorkers, and shortly after the curfew crowd of young people danced to live music community partner Alan Silverstein (see page neighbors complain about as well. When law was lifted, and the NYPD began taking a at Washington Square Park (left) as NYPD 3). Earlier in the month, the City enacted a enforcement attempted what many at the more de-escalated approach to the crowds officers kept watch over the crowd (center) 10 p.m. curfew in an attempt to get a handle park considered a heavy-handed approach at the park on weekends. Time will tell what during the last Saturday evening in June. on some of the problems at the park (hard- by showing up in riot gear to enforce the strategies will work most effectively in solving Just a day later, the crowd would explo- drug use, petty crimes and an increase in curfew, it led to a clash between park-goers the numerous issues that exist at different le- de again, pitting NYPD against an unruly violence), which are problems of a different and the NYPD, with over 20 people being vels of severity at the park. Saturday photos crowd resulting in injuries (right). The victim scale. The majority of people are enjoying arrested. The clash was deplored by many by Bob Cooley. Sunday photo by Andy Gold.

Then and Now explores the Eco-Renovating Fashion Wars Little Island evolution of Piers 54 and 55 Local Designer Dusty Berke A look back at the often SEE PAGE 12 delivers a smart and stylish challenging milieu of renovation on a budget. photographers in fashion's heyday.

SEE PAGE 8 SEE PAGE 26 2 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org WestView WestViews Published by WestView, Inc. by and for the residents of the West Village. Correspondence, Commentary, Corrections Publisher / Executive Editor George Capsis Central Park Traffic Threats High Line so that his firm, Edison Parking, I saw that I was devastated. Although I Managing Editor / Art Director could build high rises over the track beds Kim Plosia Last year, Transportation Alternatives which he owned. He would have insured the didn’t see Christine very often, having left Advertising Manager teamed up with Parks Commissioner loss of one of the greatest Manhattan parks NYC in 1978, any time I visited the city Dana Costantino Mitchell Silver to wave bye-bye to the very since Central and Riverside Parks were built. over the years, meeting up with her was Advertising Designer last motor vehicle on the Central Park Car- The election of Mayor Michael Bloomberg a high point of my trips. We first met in Stephanie Phelan riage Drive and open up the drive to its put the kibosh on Mr. Nislick’s greedy ambi- Greenwich Village in 1966 when she was Traffic Manager original purpose, an exclusive road for horse just 16 years old and I was 19. Liza Whiting tions, when the mayor designated the High drawn carriages, later joined by thousands Line as parkland. New Yorkers will have to I am hoping one of your readers might be Photo Editor of pedestrians and bicyclists. Now from remain continuously vigilant to protect our able to provide me with contact informa- Darielle Smolian out of the dark and distant past (NY Times parks from the selfish real estate barons. tion for her family members or friends. Her Photographers June 8, 2021) comes along the real estate —Barry Benepe closest family are her late husband’s (Harvey Maggie Berkvist, mogul, Steve Nislick, with his cronies from McLaughlin) sisters, whose names I have Chris Manis, Bob Cooley NYCLASS, to bring back the cars and once Christine McLaughlin Googled, but as they are all quite common, Associate Editors again try to eliminate the horses and car- it’s difficult to connect to the right ones. I Justin Matthews, Anne Olshansky riages which have trodden there since the Hello George, very much would like to reach out to the Comptroller Jolanta Meckauskaite mid-nineteenth century. The livelihoods My name is Jo Grossman and I recently family to share my condolences. I appreciate of the carriage drivers would be lost. The grew concerned about a dear friend in your help and hope to hear from you. Architecture Editor Brian Pape horses would become dog meat and their NYC, Christine McLaughlin, after try- —Jo Grossman stables would be replaced by Nislick’s high ing to reach her and learning that both her Business Editor Caroline Benveniste rises. Thousands of residents and visitors phone numbers were disconnected. Imme- Bedbugs of Bethune, printed in the June would lose the pleasure of slowly ambling diately knowing something was wrong and issue of WestView News, asked people to Fashion Director through the verdant groves. not having any mutual friends, I Googled respond by email if they wished to share Karilyn Prisco This is the same Steve Nislick who con- her name and found your April 2021 is- stories. We regret that the email address was Music and Eldercare Editor Hannah Reimann spired, fortunately unsuccessfully, with for- sue in which there was a photo and details not printed. Please send any comments to mer Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to destroy the of her passing. I feared the worst but when [email protected] Science and LGBTQ Editor Kambiz Shekdar, PhD Regular Contributors J. Taylor Basker, Barry Benepe, Caroline Benveniste, Mark. M. Green, Robert Heide, Anastasia Kaliabakos, Bob Kroll, Thomas Lamia, Kieran Loughney, Keith Michael, Michael D. Minichiello, Penny Mintz, Brian J. Pape, Anthony Paradiso, Spectacular Roger Paradiso, Bruce Poli, Alec Pruchnicki, Roberta Russell, Christina Raccuia, Hannah Reimann, Karen Rempel, Catherine Revland, Ede Rothaus, Brownstone Donna Schaper, Stanley Wlodyka

We endeavor to publish all letters received, including those with which we disagree. Apartment The opinions put forth by contributors to WestView do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or editor. For Rent WestView welcomes your correspondence, comments, and corrections: www.westviewnews.org ELEGANT APARTMENT Contact Us on the top floor of the (212) 924-5718 [email protected] Sinclair Lewis house with Charles Street Rosner, Zoe P, and Zoe A. from their re- Association News spective colleges! two marble fireplaces and Welcome Back West Village is gearing Dear neighbors, up to bring some fun events that will be two bedrooms, Thank you for coming out and helping re- sure to get you out of your home office and store Charles Street to its natural beauty! enjoying the neighborhood! We have food, parquet floors, Already, these flowers are putting a smile to fun, and interactive events for the whole skylight and all the faces when strolling down the street. family and our neighbors. To maintain our flowers throughout the MARK your calendar: Tuesday August magnificent kitchen summer, these tree-beds will need plenty 3rd on Charles St. Between Hudson St. of water. Please kindly remind your super and Bleecker St. starting at 6pm. Please or building manager to water them. We join for National night out against crime. wouldn’t want to disappoint our newest Food and drinks will be provided! Bring Pee-wee planters, three year olds Oscar and the kids and neighbors for some fun! Call George at Popi S, and five year olds Miwa and Popi B. who assisted with planting this year! 212-924-5718 MIA SAYS: the decisions made for you are Congratulations to Daniel Circotti, and Follow us on instagram seldom the best. Photo © Joel Gordon. Buster Pratt H.S class 2021, and Leah @CharlesStreetAssociation www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 3

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ATTENDEES AT THE 6TH PRECINCT BUILD THE BLOCK MEETING. Photo Credit: Dusty Berke. Scotty is a long time West Village resident, broker, and neighborhood By Frank Quinn advocate and enthusiast. Go to www.westvillagebroker.com for detailed info park are far louder. Jackie Toboroff, a life- on buying/selling/renting and to support local. long Village resident with two children, is On Wednesday, June 16th, the 6th Precinct a Republican candidate hoping to replace Let's keep our mom and pop businesses alive! held a “Sector A Build the Block” meeting City Councilmember Margaret Chin. She Scotty Elyanow at Our Lady of Pompeii Church to discuss offered her explanation of the dilemma: Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker conditions at Washington Square Park. “Washington Square Park used to be a bu- Manhattan & Brooklyn Market Expert Many local media reports described it as an colic refuge with an eclectic mix of down- [email protected] “emergency meeting.” town personalities, musicians, performance M: 917.678.6010 As a regular attendee at 6th artists, and poets. Now it scores a deadly tri- @villagescotty Precinct meetings, what this reporter found fecta: it’s dangerous, dirty, and a full-blown unusual was the size of the crowd and the sig- drug den—a dramatic degradation of a pre- nificant media coverage. Otherwise, it was a cious community resource. Proactive polic- typical community police meeting where the ing worked before and it can work now, but cops asked for support, local residents griped, only if our elected officials let officers do and a few speakers offered substantive remarks. their jobs and stop undermining them.” Later that night, a large group of visi- NYPD Chief of Department Rodney The Rewards of Giving tors congregated in the center of the park Harrison was joined by Assistant Chief well after midnight. There was loud music, Stephen Hughes and Manhattan Borough By Alan Silverstein skateboarders, motorbike riders, and a very Parks Commissioner William Castro at the On Sunday June 27, the hundreds of festive dance party. It was a semi-organized “Build the Block” meeting. They explained imaginatively dressed gay pride march- event, promoted through social media, at length the efforts being made to address ers found their way to Washington where many participants explain their mo- the issues at the park, including recent ac- Square Park. As the senior civilian com- tives and intentions. As one person stated, tions to enforce the curfew and address the munity partner of the New York Police “the youth of New York have been cooped “quality of life” problems. Notably, they de- Department, I discovered myself on the up for a year and want to stay out late in scribed a June 8th call with representatives north side of the park when I heard the our park.” Enforcing a park curfew would from 26 city agencies that concluded with- aggressive screams of a woman shout- undoubtedly be resisted by large numbers out agreement on how or when to enforce ing at one of the attendants of the food of these park revelers, and police knew this. a curfew, and expressed their desire to use cart facing the Washington Square The meeting was closed once the church the meeting to obtain that consensus. Arch. She kept screaming “you owe us hall reached capacity, and many would be at- Some attendees considered it significant an apology” and was soon joined by a "HABIBI, YOU SAVED MY LIFE." Alan Silverstein (left) reunites with Nader Has- tendees were turned away. A raucous protest to note who was absent from the meeting. growing chorus of Pride marchers voic- saneen (right), who he helped to safety then ensued at the corner of Bleecker and Mayor de Blasio, who many have thought ing the same demand. Suddenly, the at Washington Square Park on June Carmine Streets. Confrontations occurred is the ultimate decision-maker on this sub- young marchers heaved milk crates at 27th. Photo courtesy of Alan Silverstein. between residents and park users demonstrat- ject, was not in attendance. Nor were City the three men (who I later discovered to ing for social justice and unimpeded park ac- Councilman Corey Johnson, State Sena- be Egyptian-born food cart attendants). bleeding profusely from his mouth, nose cess. Inside the meeting, many who described tor Brad Hoylman, or Assembly Member Suddenly the crowd exploded into a and head. themselves as “long-time residents” expressed Deborah Glick, all of whom serve as elect- mob of 40 to 50 marchers who were de- As I discovered and treated his many what they described as an unprecedented rise ed officials for the neighborhood. lighted to support the protest with a hail bleeding cuts, I became anxious for his in drug use, violence, and outright disrespect, In attendance were Manhattan Bor- of cans and bottles. A marcher broke off life and was relieved when we were able making the park practically unusable for law- ough President Gayle Brewer, Community an American flag attached to the stand to carry him to the ambulance. abiding citizens. However, others expressed a Board 2 Chair Jeannine Kiely, and Andrew and attempted to replace it with a parade I received a call from his son to meet desire for tolerance for park users with differ- Kunkes from the Mayor’s Community Af- banner. As the aging attendant reached them at the very same spot where the ent aspirations. fairs Unit. City Council Member Margaret to retrieve the flag, he was struck from incident occurred two nights prior. One musician described how he requires Chin, whose district includes Washington behind and staggered into a mob of Upon seeing me he spoke rapidly in an amplifier to perform with his guitar. Cur- Square Park, sent a staff member. swinging marchers who punched him as Arabic “Habibi, you saved my life, how rently, the strict code that prohibits ampli- Competing interests vying to use the park he fell back unconscious onto the street. could I ever thank you. You are now fied music is considered to be unfair because as they see fit will require leadership from I rushed forward and discovered him part of our family forever.” drum and horn players who frequent the elected officials to solve the differences. 4 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org A Tribute to Detective Stanley Dash By Lisa Smith from work, my family, and my friends. Dear Detective Dash, or may I call you So many people helped me in the battle Stanley? to regain my self-esteem and normalcy: the You’re gone now, having died from CO- district attorney’s office, the domestic vio- VID on May 29th, so you won’t be read- lence counselors at Sanctuary for Families, ing this, but I want the world to know: and the NYPD. I am forever grateful. you were one of the good guys that helped Thankfully, I had you and the 6th Pre- put me back together. You know my entire cinct by my side. I doubted that I’d get story, as you were assigned to my case and through it, but you always reassured me heard it again and again. that I would be OK. You helped me I was strangled and suffocated, nearly to through the most horrific and difficult pe- death, in my Manhattan apartment by a man riod in my life. Without you, I would not I’d dated for three months. At the time, as have survived that nightmare. I gasped for breath, I thought, “When is he Every day, each one of you devotes your going to stop? Am I being murdered? This time to serving our community for the bet- can’t be happening to me.” Looking up at my ter good. You sacrifice time away from your ceiling, lying nearly lifeless on my back, I re- families, and risk your lives, to bring safety alized, “This is really happening to me!” to our streets. Your roles and hard work go Finally, he stopped, as perhaps he didn’t unrecognized and unappreciated. want to get put away for murder. Evidence I am especially grateful for you, Detec- was all over my body. My neck was badly tive Dash. You devoted 30 years of ser- bruised, I could barely speak, and I was vice, as a veteran and to the NYPD’s anti- paralyzed by fear and paranoia. I didn’t crime unit and detective squad. You faced know where to turn to or what to do. Still, crime and violence, daily, to help complete to this day, I haven’t told most of the com- strangers. You had such a wonderful sense plete story to my parents, family, or friends. ing to work and domestic violence counsel- Menacing in the Second Degree (perpetra- of humor, considering. Over a week after the incident, desperate, I ing with me to ensure my safety as I fought tor has a weapon). He served time in fed- For me, New York City feels a little did finally file a police report. for my life. You called, you checked up on eral prison, thanks to you, Detective Dash. less safe without you here, yet I know The first time that we met, you were me, and you made me laugh. But most of While the attacker was at Rikers, I re- that you will always watch over me. You dressed in casual clothes and had a huge all, you made me feel safe. ceived eight letters and 53 phone calls from are a true hero. smile on your face. You were so calm, Two weeks before you arrested him, jail. Due to a five-year order of protection, Rest in peace, Detective. friendly and approachable. I immediately you appeared in my dream. I was standing I filed two more police reports and you, felt at ease. You reassured me that I would across the street from you and my attacker Detective Dash, went to Rikers—twice— Lisa Smith, author of “Unschooled,” is be OK. You told me, “Don’t worry Lisa, we was coming out of a building. You looked to re-arrest him. launching Relationship Truth—a high will get him.” And I knew that you would. at me, I nodded my head yes, and you ar- I’ll never know or understand why that school and college workshop that educates You were a man of honor, of your word. rested him right there in front of me. happened to me, Detective Dash. I cried and empowers young adults about healthy During the month between filing the The attacker was charged with Criminal and cried for months afterward. It felt like and unhealthy relationships—to build an police report and my attacker’s arrest, you Obstruction of Breath/Applied Pressure, tears way past what the human mind could unapologetic, uncut, unbreakable movement watched out for me on the streets—travel- Strangulation in the Second Degree, and comprehend. I spent countless hours away to end relationship abuse. Importance of Summer Camp for Kids This Year By Oma Amores viding fun, academically-oriented ac- matically. But as the summer progressed, This year, as circumstances and protocols Summer is traditionally a time for kids to tivities, camp programs can engage your things improved. Kids began to gain con- continue to evolve, we plan to adapt with have fun after a busy school year. This has child’s brain and halt the “summer slide.” fidence and became more comfortable so- them, keeping campers in groups being been a school year like no other, with many Increasingly, camps are providing more cializing with each other. mindful of social distancing. students spending some—or all—of their science, engineering, technology, arts and Studies have shown that the disruptions to time learning remotely. A year with limited music programming. daily life brought on by the pandemic, includ- KIDS NEED SOME FUN AFTER A YEAR OF opportunities to socialize with peers and It is impossible to know how much learn- ing social isolation, have had a tremendous SO MUCH LOSS engage in fun activities like sports and arts ing loss students have suffered the past year impact on children and adolescents, and could It’s been a difficult and stressful year for could have lasting impacts on the mental due to remote learning. Academically enrich- have long-term effects on their physical and everyone, and our kids have felt that stress health and wellbeing of children. ing activities such as trips to museums and mental well being. It’s crucial that kids spend too. They need an opportunity to decom- This year parents are looking to find en- creative writing are more important than ever time this summer socializing with their peers. press in a fun and enriching environment, riching summer activities that support their this summer. Additionally, it’s been shown while discovering new talents and inter- children academically, and help them rebuild that the physical activities traditionally as- RESPONSIBLE CAMPS ARE TAKING ests and forming lifelong friendships and their social skills and form bonds with other sociated with summer camp have long-term MEASURES TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE memories. kids, while giving them space to have fun. benefits for academic performance. When we opened our camp last July, there Camp runs July 6th – August 27th Fortunately, many community organiza- was a lot of understandable fear and hesitation tions throughout the City offer the perfect KIDS NEED IN-PERSON SOCIAL CONNEC- from parents. But we, like others, launched Omar Amores is the Director of the Green- solution to help children experience some TION AFTER A YEAR OF ISOLATION our program with three basic principles al- wich House Youth Community Center. summer fun while developing resilience, Last summer, Greenwich House was one ways in mind: take time and care to protect Greenwich House’s Summer STEAM Camp self-esteem, creativity, independence and of the only summer camp programs open in our campers, our staff, and our broader com- runs from July 6 through August 27. This critical thinking skills: summer day camp. the City. Campers had finished the school munity; and as parents saw those principles summer, the Greenwich House Music School The right camp can help address sum- year remotely, and most of them hadn’t in action they became more comfortable with is offering PLAYBILL’D, a theater-making mer—and school year—learning loss socialized with kids their own age in four sending their children to camp. intensive for children ages 8 through 11, from On average, kids lose one month of months. During that period, we noticed Last summer we kept groups small and July 19 through July 30. For more informa- learning over the summer break. By pro- their socialization skills had dropped dra- followed guidelines and best practices. tion, visit GreenwichHouse.org. July 2021 WestView News 5 Stop the Soho/Noho Rezoning Debacle

By Brian J Pape, AIA, LEED-AP Community response: this is false; these neighborhoods have made a place for a In an unprecedented attempt to destroy a diverse population of makers, services, and world-famous historic area of NYC, a ma- income levels, as shown in examples below. jor income-generating tourist magnet, the city has proposed and certified a massive CITY PREMISE NO. 2: the current neighbor- misguided upzoning of SoHo and NoHo hood contains little or no affordable hous- neighborhoods. ing, and the new housing being introduced Only four percent of all NYC buildings would be more affordable than current are within historic districts, yet the city housing. wants to target those areas for rezoning. The Community response: this is false; there is city calls historic districts “high opportunity a good chance that the rezoning will result areas” because they consider them capable in a net reduction in the amount of afford- of absorbing higher density development; in able housing in the neighborhood, and in other words, historic areas are not as dense the number of low-to-moderate income with skyscrapers as midtown areas are. The residents. It will allow grossly out-of-scale proposed rezoning will allow developments development and a flood of super-luxury of up to ten million square feet, as tall and condos at prices averaging over $6 million, as dense as in midtown, FiDi, or on “bil- as well as large new office buildings and lionaire’s row” at Central Park, according to big-box chain stores. Village Preservation studies. Destroy the neighborhood to make it more CITY PREMISE NO. 3: the city’s upzoning dense, feed the greed of development—these plan will create a significant amount of new seem to comprise the city’s mantra. affordable housing. The SoHo and NoHo neighborhoods— Community response: This is very doubt- south of Houston Street to Canal Street ful, as the upzoning will likely destroy a THIS SOHO STREETSCAPE shows a blend of famous cast-iron facades and older masonry on both sides of Broadway, and north of considerable amount of affordable housing. loft buildings, while contemporary new structures of similar height and floor lines can be Houston on the east side of Broadway Numerous examples show that new afford- compatible, contrary to the World Trade-sized towers allowed under the proposed city to East 8th Street—have a limited infra- able housing is actually disincentivized in upzoning plan that the community is fighting. Credit: Brian J Pape, AIA. structure to absorb massive development, the plan, which calls for big-box stores and as anyone walking the crowded shopping restaurants far exceeding current limits, and is ignoring the clear evidence of the negative reflected in the draft scope. Another CB2 sidewalks most afternoons or evenings can prioritizes commercial use, not housing. impact which this plan would have on SoHo, report will be issued in mid-July. attest to. The sidewalks are typically nar- NoHo, Chinatown, and the Lower East The AIANY (American Institute of Ar- row, the sewer, water, and waste services CITY PREMISE NO. 4: there is no danger of Side—and, eventually, other neighborhoods chitects New York) held a webinar during are strained to the limit, and open space is the proposed upzoning pushing out people such as Greenwich Village and the Meat- which the panelists showed examples of almost non-existent or threatened. This is of lower incomes or leading to the elimina- packing District—continuing a pattern of new development in historic city districts not a neighborhood that can “absorb high- tion of existing affordable housing. wildly inaccurate projections and prognosti- around the world. New buildings con- er density.” Community response: this is false; the cations about what their rezonings would do. formed without exception to the maximum The city precedent for historic districts proposed upzoning will create tremendous In a MAS (Municipal Arts Society) 2018 height of the historic buildings, yet these in NYC is to actually rezone the areas to economic incentives to demolish many report, A Tale of Two Rezonings: Taking a limitations didn’t prevent creative design be more compatible with the historic char- four to six-story buildings that house resi- Harder Look at CEQR (City Environmental features that made the cityscape dynamic, acter of the districts, which reinforces the dents with more modest incomes, which Quality Review), a key recommendation is interesting, and allowing for existing and efforts to preserve the special qualities that contain a significant amount of remaining strengthening the city’s flawed prediction historic buildings to adapt new uses or con- exist. Now the city wants to reverse that, affordable housing, and will probably cre- process. CEQR looks at land use actions tinue prior uses. Height limitation was a key throughout the city, including in Green- ate about 80 percent less affordable hous- under consideration by the City Planning feature that made the newer, denser, mixed- wich Village and the Meatpacking District. ing than projected (see the historical ex- Commission (CPC) or other city agencies, use, and affordable housing buildings such When more than 250 people attended a amples below). as identified and evaluated for their signifi- complementary neighbors—no building public meeting in February, 2019, and wrote cance to the community. Two city-spon- stood out-of-scale with the others. 211 comments about how the neighbors CITY PREMISE NO. 5: the rezoning plan will sored rezonings, in Long Island City (2001) Testimonies given by outraged neigh- wanted to preserve the special character of make for a more racially diverse and equi- and downtown Brooklyn (2004), have bors at recent community board hearings the architecture and the artists’ lofts, the city table neighborhood. shown drastically different outcomes from have declared the upzoning of SoHo and promised continuing community involve- Community response: this is very doubt- what was projected. MAS has also produced NoHo as “all wrong” and “you can’t tweak ment and transparency preceding any future ful, since the city’s SoHo/NoHo upzoning a website 3D map showing the potential a terrible plan; we must resist it entirely.” implementation of recommendations for plan will more likely make these neighbor- impacts of the SoHo/NoHo rezoning. Just say NO! rezoning. But now the community demands hoods richer and whiter as housing prices The Cooper Square Committee issued a have been dismissed by the city and devel- overall become much more expensive than May 2019 report, In Context; Out of Reach, Brian J. Pape is a LEED-AP “green” opers’ demands have taken their place. they are now, based on the evidence of nu- about the 2008 rezoning of the East Vil- architect consulting in private prac- Initially, the city put forward the six merous previous upzonings. And there are lage/Lower East Side, again showing vastly tice, serves on the Manhattan District premises listed below to rationalize the re- no provisions to preserve the artistic and contrary results. 2 Community Board Landmarks Commit- zoning efforts; public hearings have since creative diversity. The Manhattan Community Board 2 re- tee and Quality of Life Committee, recorded responses from the community, ported many shortcomings to the CPC in is co-chair of the American Institute of also summarized below. CITY PREMISE NO. 6: the proposed upzon- December, 2020, pointing out that project- Architects NY Design for Aging Com- ing won’t negatively impact adjacent areas ed historic district sites have distinctions mittee, is a member of AIANY Historic CITY PREMISE NO. 1: the current neighbor- like Chinatown and the Lower East Side. not reflected in the draft scope, and poten- Buildings Committee, and is a journalist, hood is not socio-economically diverse. Community response: this is false. The city tial development sites have distinctions not specializing in architecture subjects. 6 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org The Evolution of Democracy: How America’s Founding Fathers Were Influenced by the Ancient Greeks By Anastasia Kaliabakos to establishing the mostly-stable democratic Freedom. Such a simple word, but one that world governments we see in place today. has millennia worth of meaning—the core America’s founders were undoubtedly principle of our nation, the very fabric that influenced by the Greek perspective on holds society as we know it together. It is government. Many were well-versed in the what allows us to debate principles, express classical tradition and it was from there that our ideas, and go through our lives with they gleaned their sense of law and what a the ability to think for ourselves. America’s government should look like. In fact, the founding was so momentous and inspiring Second Continental Congress had the theo- because of freedom. The American Revo- ries of natural law in the front of their minds lution sparked a fire inside so many other when developing the document demanding nations to fight for their own freedom of freedom from their British overlords. They expression, and July 4th, Independence believed that the British had violated natu- Day, serves as a reminder of this every year. ral laws and, therefore, their revolution was However, our Founding Fathers and the justified by the laws of nature. framers of the Constitution did not em- America is undoubtedly unique in many phasize the ideal of freedom by chance: ways, but the radical ideas found in the THE DEATH OF SOCRATES (1787) by Jacques-Louis David. In 399 B.C., one of the most their underscoring of freedom has its ori- Declaration of Independence and the Con- famous philosophers of all time, Socrates, was sentenced to death by poison. The political gins in Greek Philosophy and Natural-law climate in Athens had begun to turn against him, but instead of fleeing the country to ensure stitution were not entirely new—they were theories developed by the Ancient Greeks his own safety, Socrates chose to die. His contributions to the development of Western preceded by the supreme and great Greek thousands of years ago. philosophy are still relevant today. Photo credit: Wikipedia. thinkers of Athens who came along thou- Long before the concept of America was sands of years ago. The ideals and practices even brought into existence, famous Greek integrated into Western Christian thought ing knowledge—that is, the relationship that eventually led to the American demo- philosophers Plato and Aristotle established by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century, between the knower and the known. Their cratic republic that was established after their own theories of natural law. By means although it did undergo development and grasp of rationality influences every aspect July 4th, 1776, owe themselves to Ancient of this theory, everything was assumed to some change upon contact with the Catho- of Greek thinking and contributed greatly to Greece. Morality, ethics, independence, have an inherent purpose. Going through lic church. Whether natural law could exist Greek political thought. Before the Greeks, the separation of powers, mixed govern- life, man would be able to imitate those in the same way if a God existed simultane- government had been something almost ment, the significance of natural law, and who already were aware of their purpose- ously was brought into question, but, ulti- arbitrarily in place that was primarily held freedom—these are what have molded fulness, moving towards their own perfec- mately, the consensus was that the Greeks together by beliefs in religion. Governments America into what we celebrate today. So, tion through the “chain of being.” Using his had begun a widespread revolution of ideas were despotic, unpredictable, and often this fourth of July, do not only remember intellect and reason, man was significantly that had deep implications in the function- short-lived. The Greeks transformed how the heroes of the American Revolution and and uniquely poised to grasp his own nature ality of what was becoming modern society. governments were structured into what we our Founding Fathers, but also remember and perceive his natural good. This origi- The Greeks were the first people to really know as ancient democracy—still imper- our ancient Greek fathers who continue to nally Greek concept of natural law became think about these significant issues regard- fect, sure, but a huge step on the long road influence the world we live in today. A Big Thank You to Morrison & Foerster! By Kambiz Shekdar, Ph.D. biotechnology that holds promise to cure AIDS and pursued and secured U.S. and An estimated 38 million individuals are European patents for prospective nano- currently living with HIV/AIDS world- medicines to cure AIDS. wide. There exist two individuals who Four current and former partners of have recently been cured of AIDS. Using MoFo serve on RFTCA’s board of direc- biotechnology originating from The Rock- tors: efeller University, Research Foundation to Chet Kerr initiated the firm’s relation- Cure AIDS (RFTCA) intends to take the ship with RFTCA where he currently underlying science and develop a broadly- serves as treasurer. Thanks to Chet’s me- applicable cure for all those in need. But ticulous work ethic, RFTCA’s housekeep- how does one go from an idea to a chari- ing and records are in such order that we table worldwide cure? More than twenty can, for instance, account for every dollar volunteers from Morrison & Foerster have ever received and/or spent. As an organiza- been hard at work helping us find our path. tion that values and respects each donated The international law firm Morrison dollar, this is of utmost importance to lay & Foerster LLP (MoFo) has been rep- the foundation for being able to account to resenting RFTCA on a pro bono basis our donors and to ourselves. since before inception. MoFo incorporated Karen Hagberg is RFTCA’s board chair RFTCA as a legal entity, secured the or- where she has created a collaborative en- ganization’s IRS tax exempt 501(c)3 status, vironment that brings the diverse leaders WORLD AIDS DAY 2014 at Morrison & Foerster, celebrating the creation of Research Foun- put in place a license agreement that pro- who serve on our board together to focus dation to Cure AIDS as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Photo credit: RFTCA. vides RFTCA with an exclusive license to continued on page 8 www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 7 It’s Been An Amazing Year By Arthur Schwartz surer Penny Mintz (who worked scores The primary for City Council in Green- of hours as a volunteer in the field), my wich Village, Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen Tweeter Jack McClatchy, my field support is largely over. Although Erik Bottcher Dan Marcus, Bruce Poli, Jacob Schwartz did not get a majority, his margin of vic- (my son) and Nick Glasser, my graphic de- tory over me is large enough that it seems signer Andrew Jones, my daughter Devin mathematically impossible for me to win (who organized high school students to once the Ranked Choice process begins. work on Primary Day), Lucy Anderson I want to offer Erik my congratulations. who interned for us, my wife, Kelly, who He ran a positive, optimistic campaign, tolerated all of this, and last but not least, and I hope that his prediction of “bet- Jacob Chen, a rising star at Beacon High ter days ahead” comes true. I remain the School, who not only interned but became Democratic District Leader in Greenwich a key cog in our last few weeks of the cam- Village, I am still in court challenging the paign. He has “future leader” stamped all constitutionality of the PACT/RAD pro- over him. Also, my other opponents, Leslie gram at NYCHA, and I remain the Politi- Boghosian Murphy, Phelan Dante-Fitz- cal Director of the NY Progressive Action patrick, Aletta LaFargue, and Marni Hal- Network, so we will have lots of opportu- CAMPAIGNS ARE PERIODS OF GREAT LEARNING: Arthur Schwartz with supporters during sa, all turned out to be wonderful friends, nities to work together. I consider Erik a his campaign for City Council. Photo courtesy of Arthur Schwartz. who I will, I hope, work with on issues in personal friend, he has always been kind to me the end of the campaign feels like an cess, about who my friends are, about the the future. my family, and I am happy that his dream opportunity, finally, to fully (I pray) move genuineness of people’s expressed political I won some nice battles along the way. has come true. I do hope he takes a stron- on from that horrible year. I am not going views, and about myself. Beth Israel Hospital isn’t closing. Full ser- ger stand against luxury development in anywhere. I continue to be Special Counsel I won’t address all of that here. I can say vice has been restored to the F and C lines. Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, the Village and to TWU. I continue to be an activist law- that many WestView readers provided in- Elevators are coming to two 14th Street Soho than Corey Johnson did; if he does yer. I continue to be a dad and a husband. valuable support, financially and emotion- stations. Tenants at 401-419 West 19th he will be a hero. Campaigns are periods (for me) of great ally. And for that I thank you. I want to es- Street have had their gas restored. And I started running late last July, during learning: about the issues of concern to my pecially thank my full-time campaign staff, Ranked Choice Voting, which I defended a hiatus in the Pandemic lockdown. For neighbors, about the fairness of the pro- Kyle Nash and Jason Coniglione, my Trea- in court, seems here to stay. Why the West Fourth Street Basketball Courts are Famous and Still Popular Today By Anthony Paradiso The West 4th Street basketball courts, aka “The Cage,” house small basketball courts encircled by a 20-foot-high fence. The courts are right across from the legendary Sixth Avenue IFC movie theater. The West Fourth subway en- trance is nearby, on Sixth Avenue and West Third Street. The entrance is marked by the big green sign beside it that reads, “West 4th Street Courts” in thick white lettering. West Fourth Courts games always attract a crowd that spills out onto the sidewalk because the court itself is too small for big crowds. Street ball involves players getting together for pick-up games. They form teams and strike pick-up games on the spot, rather than establishing a team before they gather. According to Nycgovparks.org, the West Fourth Street Courts are “one of the most famous streetball destinations in the world.” It’s been said that NBA players such as An- thony Mason, who played for the New York Knicks when they reached the 1994 NBA Finals, and former Knick star point guard, Stephon Marbury, both played at the West Fourth Courts. Four days before WestView News went to print, I visited the West Fourth Street Courts, seeking an interview with a player or basketball organizer. Upon arrival, there were at THE CROWD GATHERED at the West Fourth Street streetball courts for a Men's League tournament on Sunday June 27. least 30-40 people on the court. Photo by Anthony Paradiso. I approached a young African American man with a t- shirt that read “MSU Red Hawks.” His name was Edward storeowners and their son, Tayo Drougas, who told me what players have played there,” Drougas said. “SNL is there Emedoh and he said that a men’s league tournament called he has gathered over the years about the famous courts, one of all the time filming, and Jimmy Fallon played there once. Kenny Graham’s West Fourth Street had been organized for the most popular streetball locales in the world. When you walk by and they’re filming, it’s likeWhoa .” that day. Tayo told me that he had seen 2012-13 NBA scoring Throughout the summer, Villagers can walk by the West After going to the Courts, I came back to visit “Unop- champion Carmelo Anthony, who played for the New Fourth Street Courts on Sixth Avenue and watch part of pressive Non-imperialist Bargain Books” on Carmine Street. York Knicks, play at West Fourth Street Courts. a streetball game. Who knows who you might run into Inside I discussed the West Fourth Street Courts with the “It’s a classic place to play basketball. So many famous playing there? 8 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org

Thank You continued from page 6 How to Renovate An on our mission and goals. Under Karen’s leadership, RFTCA established research Spectacular alliances with Columbia University Medi- Apartment While Recycling cal Center, New York Stem Cell Founda- tion and Lehigh University in connection By Brian J Pape, AIA, LEED-AP ment, but new appliances were needed Brownstone with our grant application to NIH in re- When it comes to renovating rental apart- too. Enter Renovation Angel, or rather, sponse to their first call seeking proposals ments, saving money and time is key. The enter George and Dusty into Renova- to cure HIV infection. sooner the work can be done, the sooner tion Angel’s Fairfield, NJ showroom. Apartment Jim Hough is an RFTCA board member a paying tenant can be living there. And Renovation Angel has the high-quality, who, most recently, organized a firm-wide given the age of many West Village apart- name-brand appliances and fixtures they fundraiser at MoFo on behalf of RFTCA ments, the need for renovation can be needed, at a price that beat any big-box ELEGANT APARTMENT for LGBT Pride month this June. On June long overdue. store brands. Rowan Groth, at the Fair- 1, an email went out to partners, associates, This was the situation our publisher field store, said, “We sell everything as-is, on the top floor of the team and alumni of MoFo providing in- George Capsis found himself in dur- and a good portion of what we sell comes Sinclair Lewis house formation about RFTCA, outlining some ing the Pandemic shutdown, having lost in unused. The warranties depend on the of the many ways some 20+ dedicated all his tenants. Apartment 3F needed a item, so customers can deal directly with with two marble lawyers and team from throughout MoFo quick fix-up to appeal to new prospective the manufacturer. If an item is busted, we have volunteered their support and solicit- tenants. take returns within 2 weeks.” fireplaces and two ing financial support. Donations have been Dusty used her interior design skills to Renovation Angel is a recycling com- coming in throughout the month. The arrange for a plan to transform the tiny pany that specializes in luxury kitchens bedrooms, Parquet MoFo Foundation also pledged $15,000 in kitchen and worn-out bathroom into and interiors, originating in Greenwich, floors, skylight and matching grant support. something modern and fresh. By using an Connecticut in 2005, and is a donation Dario de Martino is RFTCA’s new- L-shape kitchen layout, it was possible to program of Recovery Unlimited, a section magnificent kitchen est board member from MoFo, joining in add more counterspace and larger appli- 501(c)3 non-profit organization also es- April 2021. Dario had already been sup- ances, while also creating a buffer space tablished in 2005. Steve Feldman, found- porting RFTCA as a partner at the firm, between the living room and the bath- er of Renovation Angel, says that 7300 where he and his team have provided us room. The bathroom got new fixtures and kitchens have been recycled, either from Call George at with input and agreements for our relation- marble highlights that matched the exist- showrooms or private owners, enabling ships with our partners and where he had ing marble floor. the donors to reap a donation credit. Ren- 212-924-5718 an instrumental role in advising us about The kitchen cabinets came from a ovation Angel, in turn, has distributed our crowdfunding platform at https://free- friend who was renovating their apart- over $2.3 million to charitable programs. fromaids.org/. In addition, Dario is also an active leader in the MoFo’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, through which RFTCA has had the pleasure to get to know many allies. By taking on RFTCA as a pro bono client of the firm, MoFo laid RFTCA’s legal foundation and made it possible for interested individuals at the firm to join our effort, from partners to paralegals who have reached out to say how important this cause is to them personally. Chet talked about how it all started in a Zoom meeting that was organized as part of MoFo’s firm- wide fundraiser for RFTCA this June. He and I first got to know each other from the board of a local theatre called P.S. 122 where I was a biotech inventor and he was a lawyer. When I heard of how the first pa- tient was cured of AIDS and realized the potential of technology I had invented to help develop a global cure based on this early success, I reached out to Chet to see if he would be open to hearing more and helping establish a charitable effort to de- velop a cure on a not-for-profit basis. I’m so grateful that Chet took this back to MoFo and fondly remember coming in to make a presentation to Chet and several of his col- leagues, which included Karen at that very first meeting too, and for every individual who has considered this cause and decided to take it on since then too.

Rockefeller University alumnus and biotech inventor Kambiz Shekdar, Ph.D., is the president of Research Foundation to Cure THE SMALL, OUTMODED KITCHEN in Apt. 3F was in serious need of an upgrade. AFTER: An expanded footprint allows more gener- AIDS and LGBTQ editor at WestView ous counter space and larger appliances to be fitted into the apartment. High-end appliances were sourced through Renovation Angel. News. To support RFTCA, go to https:// Photos by Dusty Berke. rftca.org/. www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 9

The Pro Act (Protecting the Right to Organize): Potential Implications of the Most Transformative Labor Bill Since the 1940s By Samuel Dobre, Esq. & Michael that many other administrative statutes have. ability to opt out of paying union dues. join collective or class-action litigation. Kratochvil Currently, the NLRA only permits (1) make- (III) Employers would be prohibited whole remedies (i.e., reinstatement, back pay, CHANGING DEFINITIONS from taking adverse action against an em- While the Biden administration has quick- etc.); (2) informational remedies (i.e., the post- Currently, independent contractors, supervi- ployee, including those with management ly ushered in a number of changes to the ing of signs concerning conduct that violates sors, and other management staff are largely responsibilities, in response to that em- administrative side of the National Labor the NLRA); and (3) injunctive relief. unprotected by the NLRA. The PRO Act ployee participating in protected activities Relations Board (NLRB), Congress has With the PRO Act, employees would be would alter the definition of employees, su- related to the enforcement of the prohibi- been considering an even more consequen- able to receive monetary damages for viola- pervisors, and employers to include more tions against unfair labor practices. To put tial labor matter: the Protecting the Right tions of the NLRA. In addition, the NLRB individuals under the gamut of the NLRA. it in simpler terms, whistleblower protec- to Organize (PRO) Act. would be able to assess further penalties for tions would be expanded considerably. This bill has already made it through noncompliance with NLRB orders. Add- ALTERING RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES AND (IV) The dynamics of union elections the House of Representatives but faces an ing damages and civil penalties (potentially EMPLOYERS would be altered by (a) preventing employ- uphill battle in the Senate because of its ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 for un- There are a number of other changes impact- ers from requiring or coercing employees significant implications for labor relations lawful discharge or “other serious economic ing the rights of employees and employers: to attend employer meetings designed to throughout the country. harm to an employee” if the employer has Employees discourage union membership and (b) per- Specifically, the PRO Act promises a num- committed a similar violation within the The PRO Act would reverse long-standing mitting employees to vote in such elections ber of changes to the National Labor Relations preceding five years) would significantly case law and permit secondary strikes, mean- remotely by telephone or the internet. Act (NLRA), a statute that has governed labor raise the stakes of labor relations to a level ing that unions could picket a neutral em- The future of the PRO Act is undeter- relations in the United States since the 1930s. never before seen in this country’s history. ployer for the purpose of coercing it to stop mined. Nevertheless, employers and em- While the NLRA has been relatively unal- doing business with the primary employer. ployees should remain on notice given the tered since the 1947 Taft-Hartley Amend- ELIMINATING “RIGHT-TO-WORK” LAWS Employers widespread legal implications of these po- ments, the PRO Act presents a new effort to In 28 states, employees laboring as a part of a The PRO Act would prohibit certain con- tential changes. shift the balance of power from employers to unionized workforce are not obligated to pay duct by employers in an effort to increase the employees and unions. The following details union dues. In other words, even if a union power of employees in the following ways: Please contact Bond, Schoeneck & King’s labor four key potential changes, among others: has been duly elected to represent a group of (I) Employers would be prevented from and employment attorneys if you have any workers, any employee in that group would permanently replacing employees who par- questions or would like additional information BOLSTERING REMEDIES have the right to refuse to pay union dues ticipated in strikes. regarding the potential scope of exposure, miti- The NLRA has been criticized by many indi- while still retaining the representation of that (II) Employers would no longer be able gation, and/or other legal developments arising viduals in the labor field for lacking the “teeth” union. The PRO Act would eliminate this to limit an employee’s right to pursue or in labor relations. Everything Old is New Again in the West Village By Gordon Hughes That said, on a positive note, Claude Noelle’s French antique store Le Fan- As Peter Allen once sang, “Everything ion is open, and what fun it is to old is new again.” Boy, that sure is the browse through her new additions from case in the West Village. I was going Provence. All the wonderful bookstores I through some of my past WestView News wrote about, like Three Lives, are back. columns the other day and was delighted Now, you may remember that I do most to see that so many activities I have writ- of my writing from Panino Mucho Gus- ten about over the years are returning as to Cafe; however, all those other coffee COVID is winding down. joints, like Jacks & Joes et al., are also For instance, young mothers in yoga back, and serving new exotic coffees (my pants and nannies in uniform are back favorite being a skinny latte to help stave Maximize Benefits Minimize Risk with their amazing array of perambula- off weight gained during the pandemic). tors. Of course they are taking up way too Yes, all this is happening for the return- With one of the largest labor and employment law practices much space, once again, at Cafe Panino ing West Village natives. And speak- in the Northeast, Bond offers familiarity with workplace Mucho Gusto. ing of returning, so have the tourists. I issues, practical solutions and strategic litigation defense. The dog-walkers are back with re- have counted any number of backpacks, newed energy; what fun to watch their Village tourist maps, fanny packs and We represent management, exclusively, in organizations gaggle of beasts doing just what they did cameras (tons of cameras), and all those of all types and sizes. Count on Bond to maximize your prior to the pandemic. Village Cigars is goofy sneakers with the wide white benefits and minimize your risk. hopping again, as is Bus Stop Cafe, two soles. Perry Street is practically blocked of my favorites. by young women in front of the “Sex in Some places are gone, like Chum- the City” brownstone and, of course, the ley’s—the redo after the fire was just not long lines have returned at the Magnolia the same as the Chumleys I used to go Bakery. to, which makes the demise of Arthur’s The resilience of the West Village is ALBANY BUFFALO GARDEN CITY NEW YORK CITY ROCHESTER SARATOGA SPRINGS SYRACUSE UTICA Tavern all the more tragic. truly amazing and heartwarming. 600 Third Avenue - 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10016 • 646.253.2300 • BSK.COM 10 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org

LOYALTY PROGRAM • GIFT CARDS FREE DELIVERY A Great Victory— Beth Israel to Stay Open GREENWICH VILLAGE

512 HUDSON STREET • NYC 10014 WWW.SEAGRAPEWINES.COM • 212-463-7688

Native Manhattanite and West Village resident ARTHUR SCHWARTZ, ALONG WITH COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, celebrated Mount Sinai’s decision for the past 42 years. to refurbish Beth Israel Hospital and keep it open. Photo by Jason Coniglione. Licensed in Real Estate for the past 21. Board Certified New York Residential Specialist (NYRS®). By Penny Mintz nity review in January of 2017. Here to help you and yours find your next perch or move on Arthur Schwartz, who called this outcome a “great vic- whether in New York or elsewhere, when the time comes again. In a closed Zoom meeting on Tuesday morning, June 15, tory,” called for the reopening of cardiac surgery, pediat- Alexander de Bordes 2021, representatives from Mount Sinai informed Com- ric intensive care, and neonatal care, the other three units 917-640-3707 munity Board #3 that Beth Israel Hospital will remain summarily closed in 2017. Schwartz’s 2017 lawsuit against [email protected] open. I was not invited to attend. Nor were most of the Mount Sinai and the NYS Department of Health played community health activists involved in the struggle to a crucial role in slowing down the closure of Beth Israel keep Beth Israel open. But I learned that, during that until COVID ultimately showed the danger of Mount Si- meeting, Jeremy Boal, Mount Sinai Health System’s chief nai’s original closure plan. medical officer and president of Mt. Sinai Downtown, State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein also spoke. recognized what community organizers have been saying Before being elected to office, Epstein played a pivotal for years: A reduction in beds from the approximately 800 role in demonstrations, petitioning efforts, and the orga- capacity at Beth Israel Hospital to 72 at the planned new nization of the Community Coalition to Save Beth Is- facility on 1st Street makes no sense. rael. After his election, Epstein and State Senator Brad In a note to Beth Israel employees, Boyle wrote that Hoylman, another speaker, urged the legislature to make Mount Sinai wanted to have the capacity to respond to the hospital-closure review process more transparent and the kind of pandemic we have just experienced as well to put consumer advocates on the PHHPC board, which as other disasters. Mount Sinai plans to retrofit the Beth reviews those applications for the NYS Department of Israel building on East 16th Street and First Avenue to Health. bring it up to modern medical standards, and they will be Other speakers were health-rights activists Anthony selling the nearby Bernstein building and shifting all men- Feliciano, director of the Commission on the Public’s tal-health services to their facility on Rivington Street. Health System, Lois Uttley, director of Community Cata- 70 GREENWICH AVE. • WEST VILLAGE • NYC As soon as the news came out, Progressive Action of lyst, a consumer health advocacy organization, and Mark • • Lower Manhattan (PALM) and the 504 Democratic Hannay, director of Metro New York Health. Feliciano, Club started organizing a celebration/press conference Uttley, and Hannay have been strategizing the effort to Hourly Handyman Services for Wednesday morning, June 16. Since Council Mem- save Beth Israel and educating the public on the negative Professional Painting Projects ber Carlina Rivera was also organizing a press conference, impact that closure would have on the health and eco- Electrical & Carpentry Work PALM and 504 joined with her. nomic life of the community. MICHAEL RUSSO, PROPRIETOR CM Rivera thanked Mount Sinai for its decision and For once, their effort does not have to be labeled “an 917.476.4146 • [email protected] called upon Mount Sinai to reopen Beth Israel’s maternity ongoing effort.” department, which was first shut down without commu- This is, indeed, a great victory. Serving the West Village for 11 Years

ADVERTISE IN WESTVIEW NEWS Imagine your ad on these pages, reaching residents throughout the West Village. The best deal in town: Your first ad free! Then 3 months at 10% off! Contact our advertising manager: Dana Costantino 917-693-4234 • [email protected] See westviewnews.org/rates for details. www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 11

that this new life that could not have acted Notes from Away: through any knowledge of the situation, sensed approaching doom. It reacted by plunging headlong toward its mother and New Life brood mates on the far side of the road. For- tunately, its effort to escape danger fell short By Tom Lamia of disaster. The car’s wheels passed over the last bird’s path with an inch to spare. A re- It is late spring in Maine, a season that for lief; a life preserved; survivor guilt avoided. most of the state opens the planting and Did I not mention, in this softhearted nurturing process for home gardeners and is tale, that I see before me every day the re- preceded by the mud season (early spring). sults of spring birthing and the competi- Mud season is not a highly productive time. tion for resources that will see this new life The spring thaw produces mud that seduces through to maturity? It is all there every those long imprisoned by cold and COVID day and in every corner of the landscape. to believe, for a moment, that their release Young things have a fragile existence. is imminent. On farms, like mine, farmland Some, like the alewives that spawn in the has been productive of crops for two cen- headwaters of local rivers, are so regular in turies or more, but now that a lot of it, like their travels that predators, including hu- mine, lies fallow (a farmer’s term for dor- mans, wait patiently for their spring arrival. mant) seasonal work is less often done. The Others, like turkey poults, are the targets of annual tasks of draining, channeling, shor- small animals that themselves are famished ing, and related inspections of the works come springtime: raccoons, foxes, coyotes, (like dams and ditches, natural and con- skunks, bald eagles and, I am told, bears. structed) must continue if flooding, seeping, In this allegory of dangers, discomforts and adverse movement of thaw-induced and seasonal challenges on the farm, I see mud into living, working and transportation lessons for the defense of our way of life. space is to be prevented. If the divergent partisan forces that control Long-time local residents tell a story (a our governance are not brought to civility, I tall one no doubt) of what the mud season fear that we are making a fateful charge into was like in their youth: black flies as big as existential danger, with the same mindless, butterflies, impassable routes to necessary panicked urgency of that helpless turkey places (docks, boats, outhouses) and the re- chick. Our good fortune at governing and lated imminent arrival of mosquito season, defending ourselves over nearly 250 years mud season’s harbinger of a summer of dis- POULTS ON PARADE. Photo by Susan Lamia. was providential, but not accidental. comfort. Today those stories seem exagger- ated, but the onslaught of black flies, mos- I slowly opened the door. As I did I saw quitos and mud are a part of life that starts a progression of five baby turkeys briskly with the snowmelt. Much of that life is to- walking along the base of the wall. These WE’RE OPEN—FREE ON DEMAND DELIVERY day evident in my fields and woods. Much were the poults of the hen that had been of it is welcome. Some not without misgiv- standing on my wall, but had now crossed ings, but the bad does come with the good. the road to await the arrival of her babies. Several broods of turkeys roost in the The poults could not climb or fly over the VILLAGE woods that encircle my farm fields. These wall and so were heading toward an open- birds are permanent residents who very hap- ing in the stones that would allow them pas- pily find food and safety in their daily com- sage. Fumbling with my phone as I tried to ings and goings. New life has come in this keep all this action in sight, I could not get APOTHECARY spring season to at least two families of these a shot of this entourage before the poults turkeys. A few days ago I came across a hen were through the wall opening. The mother THE COMMUNITY PHARMACY THAT CARES and three poults (newly hatched young) pa- hen had set up her position on the opposite rading in tight formation at the edge of my side of the road. I could see disaster com- field. In my surprised reaction to this sight I ing. Route 129 is a busy road. Traffic from must have planted myself between this group the south comes in groups heading north in Come in and the field where they had been feeding. series order after gaining access to north- for your I had no camera, so could only stay still and ern progress when the swinging bridge in fREE watch as the hen headed to a wooded area the South Bristol gut closes following the next to our farm pond. While I watched, passage of boats between Johns Bay and the those birds somehow were absorbed into Damariscotta River. One such group was WELCOmE a bush from which they seemed not to exit now emerging from the south. No break and were gone when I approached. Two days in this traffic seemed likely. Again, I froze. later, I was at my front door preparing to go How, if at all, was I to aid this turkey fam- out when I saw a turkey through a side-light. ily in finding safety and feeding ground in KIT! I froze for a moment, and then went for my my neighbor’s field? I tried waving my arms phone and its camera. My next view was of and shouting (all that came to mind) to no BRInG THIs CARd In And RECEIVE $10 off the turkey standing on the stone wall that effect. By serendipitous good fortune, three runs in front of our farmhouse and separates of the five baby birds got across safely as a O n A n Y P u RCHAs E O f $25 OR m ORE it from Route 129 and a farm on the opposite speeding car approached. It was Russian (or side of the road. That farm and my farm were Turkish) Roulette for the last two adventur- Store HourS: Mon - Fri 8aM - 8pM • Sat 9aM - 6pM • Sun 10aM - 5pM one until a bit over a hundred years ago. Per- ers. By good luck and nothing more, the haps my turkeys have long genetic memories first bird was straddled between the tires of 346 Bleecker St • Greenwich VillaGe, nY 10014 • VillaGeapothecarY.com of access to the seeds, grubs and grasses of the speeding car and emerged untouched, that neighboring field now separated from leaving only the last, the runt of the brood, 212.807.7566 them by this Route 129. in danger. It was clear from its next action 12 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org Then&Now: Pier 54, 55, and Little Island By Brian J Pape, AIA, LEED-AP

THEN: The Pier 54 gate header has the faint lettering CUNARD WHITE STAR, dating back to the pier’s heyday when this was part of a row of grand buildings embellished with pink granite facades that totally blocked the waterfront docks from the city. In testament to the prominence of the world’s busiest seaport, both freight and passengers moved through these gates. Pier 54 docked Cunard’s RMS Carpathia, which delivered the survivors of the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic in April of 1912, greeted by thousands who had been following the news reports of the disastrous loss of over 1,500 passengers and crew. In 1915, Pier 54 was the departure point for the RMS Lusitania’s voyage to Liverpool. 1,198 civilian passenger and crew lives were lost when the ship was sunk by German U-boat torpedoes near Ireland. The unprovoked attack contributed to the U.S. entry into World War l. Pier 54 was also used by U.S. troop ships during World War II. Credit: NYC Municipal Archives, undated (est. 1920s).

NOW: The skeletal structure of the Pier 54 archway on the West Street side of Hudson River Park, near West 13th Street, now marks the entry to what has been reimagined as “Little Island,” Manhattan’s newest attraction. As Barry Diller remarked, without a hint of rancor, when responding to questions about the delays, lawsuits, and cost over-runs, during a local TV interview on the May 21, 2021 grand opening day, “In New York, anything worth doing is going to get some resistance. It was worth it.” Starting with initial conversations between Diller and HRPT (Hudson River Park Trust) in 2013, an idea to save Pier 54 (since Pier 55 was already demolished) de- veloped into the 2.4-acre square pier that is now supported by 132 pot-shaped concrete structures high enough above the water to avoid flooding. In October, 2017 the CCNY (City Club of New York) agreed to cease litigation, and in a joint statement with Governor Cuomo and Diller, expressed that its priorities were always the com- pletion of Hudson River Park and the environmental protection of the river. With the resistance quelled, construction was allowed to continue. Community members feared that this billion- aire’s folly (privately-managed “public” space) would turn into a private party space, or that the HRPT couldn’t sustain the long-term maintenance, or that the Hudson River esplanade would be degraded by the tourist crowds. And what was the purpose of the new pier anyway? Although Little Island is relatively small, it takes several visits on successive days to ab- sorb the many nooks and crannies and features and vistas that this park offers, and one is hard-pressed to find fault now that it is open to all. Little Island is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., with timed free tickets after 12 noon. A brief description of features can’t do Little Island justice; it is a visual delight, peaceful, diversely attractive, and affords a unique perspective of the Hudson River and its environ- ment. The broad bridges that connect the esplanade with the island rise gently to reach the bridge, there is a xylophone type musical instrument available for visitors to play. Along the main plaza level where the central pavement is furnished with sunshades, picnic tables, and paths are whirligigs that fascinate the eye as they rotate. The restrooms burrowed under the food vendors, and which may include tavern-type servings in the future. hillside feature a den-like cave of sprayed concrete ceilings. Little portholes in the hallway There is no question that the landscaping is the dominant feature of Little Island, but the give a surprising view of the underside of the pods and the water below. views at every step of the way are equally enticing. More than 66,000 bulbs and 114 trees As we make the climb to one of the observatory peaks we pass the exposed small have been planted, some of which will grow to 60 feet tall. Flowering vines climbing up openings between the pods and can appreciate the detail of the gently curving pod edges, the netting of the railings along the stairways will soon create a living screen of their own. guarded by the unique steel rods that mimic the wood piling remnants of the abandoned Grassy hills meant to encourage visitors to walk on and play on rise up, enveloped by wind- piers. The heavy timber wooden benches even get special attention, as the planks are ing stairways and gently sloping pathways. Another set of ramps and stairs climb up to the hand-carved and sculpted with softened edges. Beyond a ridge overlooking the wide Hud- top of the entry arch pods facing West Street. son River a 687-seat amphitheater is tucked into the slope. Don’t miss the embedded music checkerboard just as you pass under the arching Last but not least, of course, Little Island is a great people-watching spot, with people from pods at the south, which sends delightful chime tones floating through the air. At the north around the world and around the city coming to take in this newest attraction or just to relax. The majority of the 500 events planned for this year will be free ticketed events or low-cost, with performances and educational programming six days a week, offering music, dance, cir- cus, or spoken word. No private parties or rentals for weddings, etc. will be allowed. Currently, there are four artists in residence who are the curators for programming: tap dancer and chore- ographer Ayodele Casel; playwright and award-winning director Tina Landau; actor, singer, and music director Michael McElroy; acting, storytelling, and musical group, the PigPen Theatre Co. The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, founded by Barry Diller and his wife Diane von Furstenberg, committed to pay for the construction cost of $260 million, plus another $120 million over the next 10 years for maintenance and theatrical productions. The city contributed an additional $17 million for the esplanade and two access bridges, and the state contributed $4 million. Designed by Thomas Heatherwick’s London studio, teamed with NY landscape design firm MNLA, this is a gift that will keep on giving to the city and the world. “Every time I come to Little Island I’m struck by the same sense of wonder,” MNLA founding principal Signe Nielsen said. Displays on the esplanade railings provide historic reminders of Pier 54’s past. I still think the “54” on the arch would be a nice commemorative finishing touch. Photo credit: Brian J Pape, AIA.

Brian J. Pape is a LEED-AP “green” architect consulting in private practice, serves on the Man- hattan District 2 Community Board Landmarks Committee and Quality of Life Committee, is co-chair of the American Institute of Architects NY Design for Aging Committee, is a member of AIANY Historic Buildings Committee, and is a journalist specializing in architecture subjects. www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 13 The Princeton Problem: Cancel Culture and the Future of Classics What you want is trust in a Real Estate Broker- someone looking“ out for the people ing Greek or Latin was removed. These involved and not just the deal, it’s a home changes to Princeton’s requirements for the after all. Frank is someone you can trust. Classics track were instituted in order to create a more inclusive and “equitable” pro- gram of study, according to the members -STEVEN HAFT, ESQ of the department. Although the school Member - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Trustee Emeritus - claims that this change will incentivize Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute, Producer - Hocus Pocus, more students to become majors, what are 290 West 11thDead Poets Street, Society, Jakob Apt the Liar. 2D $699K the true implications of their decision? Are In Contract Over Asking/Multiple Bids! Buyers Are Back! the Princeton professors admitting to the fact that Classics as a field is racist, thereby invalidating and tarnishing their entire ac- As a long time West Village resident and a Real Estate Broker ademic careers spent studying and teaching with over 20 years of experience working with buyers and sellers, THE APOTHEOSIS OF WASHINGTON (1865) I’m proud to let my reviews speak for themselves! by Constantino Brumidi. Washington, ascen- the subject? This can’t possibly be the case. ding into heaven, is depicted similarly to a Or are they saying that some students at decorated Roman general during the Roman Princeton University are in fact incapable Republic and is surrounded by various of succeeding in these rigorous language Classical mythological figures. Photo credit: courses? It’s impossible to wrap your head Frank Veilson Wikipedia. around this issue without coming to these Lic. as Francis H Veilson | Lic. Associate RE Broker m 646.734.2314 | o 212.444.7863 conclusions. [email protected] By Anastasia Kaliabakos I understand that the privilege to study Classics is not afforded to all. Communi- Real estate agents affiliated with The Corcoran Group are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of The Corcoran Group. Equal Housing Opportunity. The Corcoran Group is a licensed real estate In 2019, I wrote an article for WestView ties of color and students in underrepre- broker located at 590 Madison Ave, NY, NY 10022. All information furnished regarding property for sale or rent or regarding financing is from sources deemed reliable, but Corcoran makes no warranty or representation called “Keeping Ancient Greek and Latin sented groups in the United States have as to the accuracy thereof. All property information is presented subject to errors, omissions, price changes, changed property conditions, and withdrawal of the property from the market, without notice. Alive.” Back then, I was a starry-eyed se- indeed suffered from a lack of access to nior in high school who was just begin- the Classics. However, this is beginning ning to appreciate all that the Classics to change. There are a multitude of up- had to offer. I had been studying Latin coming initiatives in middle schools, high since middle school, had travelled to schools, and universities to incorporate Rome through a summer “Latin immer- more BIPOC (black, indigenous, and sion” program, and had been exposed to other people of color) and underprivi- Greek culture my entire life as a second- leged students into their Classics depart- generation Greek American. At the time, ments. I personally have been involved in I was also deciding the next major step in these types of programs—in high school, Do You Need Home Care? my life—where to go to college. I chose to I volunteered through the Paideia Insti- attend The College of the Holy Cross in tute’s Aequora program, which is driven Worcester, Massachusetts—not just for its by the belief that “Classics [is] an inclu- Continuity Home Health Care welcoming community and high-level ac- sive, diverse, and socially engaged field.” ademics, but for its robust and expansive I also currently am on the Classics Inclu- Classics department. I was immediately sion Committee at Holy Cross, which amazed by the sheer number of professors upholds those same values. Classics has Where Healing Continues... in the department and the fact that all of long been considered a very niche subject, A licensed home care agency providing them were so supremely knowledgeable but this doesn’t have to be the case: with health care services, both professional about a vast assortment of topics, ranging enough effort, Classics can become open and paraprofessional, for individuals from Greek tragedy to Classical archae- to all who wish to study it. Simply giv- living at home since 1996. ology to even gender in antiquity. The ing up and saying that students of color opportunities to expand my own capabili- are at a disadvantage at becoming success- ties as a Classics student were seemingly ful Classicists is plain wrong and, frankly, endless. I wholeheartedly admit that I offensive. If the Classics department at would not be as well-rounded and capable Princeton University, one of the “best” Call Tim Ferguson at (212) 625-2547 of a Classicist as I am today without the universities in the entire world, does not brilliantly and expertly crafted language truly believe in their students’ intellectual or drop in to 198 Avenue of The Americas courses offered by the Holy Cross Clas- abilities—and their desire to step up to sics department. the challenge of fully immersing them- As someone who is so passionate about selves in these ancient languages—how We accept most private my field of study, I was heartbroken to are the students expected to believe in insurances learn that Princeton University recently themselves? and private pay. announced that its Classics majors will Rash decisions made on the presump- no longer be required to learn Greek or tion of “inclusivity” (while actually being Latin: the “Classics” track was eliminated the very antithesis to real and more expan- [email protected] altogether (which required intermediate sive inclusion) will undoubtedly lead to the proficiency in either Latin or Greek to death of Classics in the classroom… and it enter) and the general requirement of tak- may well arrive sooner than you think. 14 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org

GREENWICH VILLAGE LEGENDS Robert Allen Zimmerman aka Bob Dylan Eternal Legend of the Village As Bruce Springsteen said, when he heard Like a Rolling Stone while riding in By Bruce Poli the car with his mother, “It kicked open the doors of my mind…” and thus ignited an- Yes, it’s him again…at 80. other great rocker of our time. And it’s always about him…and us: If there were two verses with which we can advise the younger generations, they would be: Einstein disguised as Robin Hood “There must be some way out of here,” said the with his memories in a trunk joker to the thief passed this way an hour ago There’s too much confusion, I can’t get no relief with his friend a jealous monk Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth He looked so immaculately frightful None of them along the line know what any as he bummed a cigarette of it is worth” and he went off sniffing drainpipes and reciting the alphabet “No reason to get excited, the thief, he kindly spoke You would not think to look at him There are many here among us who feel that but he was famous long ago life is but a joke” for playing the electric violin EVERY YEAR, HUNDREDS OF COUPLES COME TO JONES STREET in Greenwich Village to But you and I, we’ve been through that, and on Desolation Row create their own version of Don Hunstein’s iconic photo from the cover of Dylan’s album The this is not our fate Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Not even the pandemic could stop fans from making the pilgrimage He wandered, lived, breathed, spoke, sang So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is get- to be a part of Dylan’s legacy. Photo by Bob Cooley. and played Greenwich Village. There is no ting late” Village without Dylan. To paraphrase Anto- I start my Village Tours in Sheridan The stories are etched into our memory nio Salieri (played by F. Murray Abraham) Square with the civil rights theme and of the 1960s like “We Shall Overcome” As the inspiration for the Beatles and at the end of the filmAmadeus : “They are then pivot to music walking down to West and “I Have a Dream” are etched into our Rolling Stones through Leonard Cohen, my audience, and I am their patron saint.” 4th Street where the iconic picture of both memories of the civil rights movement. Phil Ochs, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Few people who know the music of Bob Dylan AND Greenwich Village appears: And if 1963 isn’t your Village year of Eric Clapton, Peter, Paul and Mary, Joni Dylan know that verse from Desolation Row. We all repeat stories of Dylan at the Li- greatest resource, I don’t know what is. Mitchell, Carole King, Nina Simone, Sam But here in the Village, it’s what we do. on’s Head, the Sazerac House, the White In ‘63, Dylan lived with Suze Rotolo Cooke, and all the greats of folk and rock Because we are the source of so much of Horse Tavern, Gerde’s Folk City, and at … at 161 W. 4th, top floor in the back…five ‘n’ roll, Dylan was the touchstone of the what’s creative in America. hold your breath…Café Wha? footsteps for his boot heels to be wander- ’60s revolution—changed us and made us ing to the Music Inn. reach to a higher order of awareness…a I celebrate him at 80 years old (May 24, higher intelligence. 1941) as a tribute, as well as to celebrate my In the recent Martin Scorsese film Rolling Greenwich Village Tours 50th high school reunion this month— the Thunder Revue, Robert Allen Zimmerman quote in my yearbook was “Yes, to Dance from Duluth, MN says, “People talk about Beneath the Diamond Sky with One Hand finding themselves…they don’t understand, Waving’ Free…” you have to CREATE yourself.” Sounds like Congratulations West Village…you’ve the theme of Greenwich Village. given us 60 years of the greatest leap of Thank you Bob Dylan, you are the leg- consciousness that music has ever pro- end among legends. duced. It injected our brains with a force You have left the Village glowing for we’ve never let go of. decades!

Village Legends and the Storied Life of American Culture Enjoy the great legends, stories, sights and history of the renowned New York neighborhood which has helped shape our American culture.

See the Village homes of Woody Guthrie, Sinclair Lewis, Edie Windsor, Emma Lazarus, Berenice Abbott, Thomas Paine. Hear the theatre and music history of Edward Albee, Eugene O’Neill, Bob Dylan, John Belushi, James Baldwin, Bette Midler, Allen Ginsberg, John Lennon and Yoko Ono and so many more. See the sights and hear the stories of Chumley’s, Magnolia Bakery, Sex and the City, Provincetown Playhouse, Cherry Lane Theatre and more. A percentage of ticket sales will go to WestView News. 2 hours for info: [email protected] • 917 450-3323

Above, left to right: Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan, Dustin Hoffman (Photos by Fred W. McDarrah) www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 15 Olives for World Peace

SUMMER IS OLIVE-GROWING SEASON: The International Olive Council estimates that over 139 olive varieties are grown in 23 countries worldwide. By Mia Berman treaty. Frenemies like Lebanon, Turkey, Is- rael, Jordan, and Syria are all on the list of There’s Olive Oyl, (Popeye’s girlfriend); top 20 producers. Dina Andriotis, Chris Tsiamis, and Nikitas Andriotis (from left to right). Olive Garden; olive tree; olive branch. And The origin of National Olive Day, you then there’s the olive. ask? Phil Meldrum founded FOODMatch 77 Christopher Street Let’s face it—the world is divided. We 25 years ago to bring artisanal Mediter- Between Seventh Avenue and Bleecker Street see mounting violence—from guns on city ranean foods to the American market, to Pharmacy Hours: streets to mayhem in Gaza. We’re weary preserve centuries-old traditions, and to about what’s woke, inundated with infra- enhance our quality of life. His mission Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM structure, and submerged with cyberhack- was to deliver the authentic flavor of olives Saturday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM ing. We’re exhausted by cartels, cancel across the oceans, so that when Americans Closed Sunday culture, and COVID. We’re arguing about taste the olives they feel as if they are actu- prison reform, defunding the police, catch ally in the Mediterranean. Telephone: 212-255-2525 • Fax: 212-255-2524 and release, and reopening schools. We’re According to Brandon Gross, FOOD- email: [email protected] barraged with international crises, from bor- Match’s VP of marketing, “The Mediterra- www.newyorkchemists.com der crossings to Middle East missiles. We’re nean lifestyle is one of balance and modera- overwhelmed by inflation and immigration, tion…olives are an iconic part of the heritage and crave de-escalation. With all this global and culture of the region.” Phil and Bran- talk about civility and hostility, methinks we don are like Mediterranean food minstrels, need a completely new approach. spreading the word of the rich traditions of Call it OLIVE-ILITY. Enough politics. growing, harvesting, and curing olives. Pyazza.com Let’s go with something radical yet inter- Even the biological classification of the national—like olives. Yup. You heard me. olive is a unifying lesson for humanity. Olives. And not just for martinis. Regardless of mankind’s countless nation- Forget bitcoin, SpaceX, and electric alities, races, and cultures, we are all one: Same Day Delivery cars. Now that the G7 summit and French Homo sapiens. Ditto for the olive. De- Open are over, and Harry and Meghan are spite the hundreds of varieties, flavors and in Less Than 2 Hours done venting, we need something to bring colors, they all stem from the same olive us all back together—not in competition, tree species, Olea Eurpoaea. We are the but in camaraderie. world—the World of the Olive. Raining? Snowing? Or just wanna stay cozy in bed? Consider the facts. The International Olives abound in ancient history and Olive Council estimates that over 139 olive modern culture. Goddess Minerva had an Pyazza can shop for you! varieties are grown in 23 countries world- olive branch in her hand, and as she was the wide. The olive branch is an ancient offer- goddess of wisdom she must have known ing of peace. In Genesis, the dove came to something. The UN flag waves a crown of Noah after the flood with an olive leaf in its olive branches. The winners of the Olympic Get fast delivery from a friendly neighbor for just $8.00. mouth. Olives even enhance global well- games were crowned with olive branches. ness—they are an excellent source of heart- And…the Tutankhamun tomb contained healthy monounsaturated fats, important assorted crowns with olive branches. Visit Pyazza.com to have items from Union Square fatty acids, natural antioxidants, and iron. Artists and poets have been using the ol- Even James Bond switched over from the ive muse for centuries. Homer and Virgil Greenmarket delivered to you during market hours. lemon twist to an olive-garnished martini revered it. Pablo Neruda wrote about it in The list of vendors selling at the market since his early “shaken not stirred” days. In his Ode to Olive Oil. the film Spectre, 007 selected a muddled “Among the good things of the earth I is updated daily. Sicilian green olive. set apart olive oil, your ever-flowing peace, Summer is olive-growing season. We your green essence, your heaped-up trea- just celebrated National Olive Day, and sure which descends in streams from the August is National Olive Oil Month. olive tree.” Maybe we could all use a tiny bit of what- Suffering artist Van Gogh painted his ever it is that seems to unite more than 25 beloved olive grove 18 times. Those olive countries around the globe—olives. Per- trees were his salvation. (917) 924-2495 [email protected] haps we could solve the Middle East crisis And finally, how could we not cherish with the simple little oval olive—black or the olive…and bring the world together. At this time we only deliver in our West Village, SoHo and TriBeCa communities. green. Or even establish an OLIVE peace After all, it contains the word love. 16 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org Mercer Street Books & Records: Maggie B’s Quick Clicks An Interview with WHATEVER THE WEATHER Owner Wayne Conti Whether the weather be fine

Or whether the weather be not

“A BOOKSTORE FOR READERS AND WRITERS," is what Wayne Conti says of his Mercer Bookstore, which he opened in 1990. The wonderfully eclectic shop at 206 Mercer Street is filled with everything from signed editions to classics and contemporary books to classic vinyl records. Photo by Bob Cooley.

By Dana Jean Costantino is...everything. The older customers Mercer Street Books & Records is a long- have wonderful gifts of gab. So much to standing store on Mercer Street, right here hear. Faculty from Yale, NYU, and Co- in the Village. It is a true New York City lumbia, mainly. classic, a place where you can spend hours combing through the racks and finding Q: What do you love about living down- Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot treasures in the form of used books. I have town and being part of the Village com- spent countless hours inside this fabulously munity? old school space. When I walk in I feel as A: What I love as a 40+ year resident of the though I have been transported to a New Village are the memories. Don’t I sound York City of another time—old New York like Joe Franklin? The Village was full City. One that so many of us crave daily, no of irritable refuges from Europe or New matter what our age. Jersey. Everyone argued, everyone lis- When I enter the store, somehow I im- tened, then argued some more. No one mediately feel as though I am a beat poet, had any money, including the landlords. college student, or writer in search of the Life was great if you were not too hun- next big idea. I can most assuredly count gry. We were thin. on an intriguing conversation with owner Wayne Conti if he happens to be behind Q: What do you hope for the future of the front counter. To keep this bookstore Mercer Street Books? alive and to share it with those of you that A: I do not know what to hope for Mer- We'll weather the weather whatever the weather already support it or maybe do not know cer Street Books, my business of more about it but should, it was a great pleasure than 30 years. The second six-year term to conduct an interview with Wayne. I of Bloomberg was a disaster. De Blasio? share with you here some of our delightful conversation. Please be sure to take some Q: What are the current hours of Mercer time out of your day and stop into Mercer Street Books? Street Books & Records. It is an absolute A: My current hours are 12 noon to 8:00 must for anyone that loves a good book or p.m. That is enough reality for me right just loves supporting the very best of New now. York City in the form of local businesses. Please find your way to Mercer Street, Q: For how many years now have you been and then find your way to the front door running Mercer Street Books? of Mercer Street Books & Records. Walk A: I have been running Mercer Street down the few steps into the store and begin your journey into the best of this city. Whether we like it or not! Books for 31 and a half years. Q: What is the best part of running this Mercer Street Books & Records is located at All photos by Maggie Berkvist. business? 206 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012. A: The best part of running the bookstore Phone: 212-505-8615. CARING FOR THE VILLAGE TAKES A VILLAGE

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seafood restaurant from the operators of the former Dame Sandwich shop. One of my favorite Village restaurants was pop-up next door. The good news is that the fish and chips BLT Burger at 470 6th Avenue (between West 11th and and Eton mess are still available, the bad news is that it is West 12th Streets), and when they closed in 2014, Horchata virtually impossible to secure a reservation. Sabor Argen- took over the space and remained there until 2019. After IN tino (57 7th Avenue South between Bleecker and Morton that, the space remained empty, but now signage has gone Streets) took over the Raviolo location and features a varied up heralding the arrival of stea, serving “Modern Shanghai and menu with Italian-influenced appetizers and sandwiches Cuisine With a touch of Nostalgia”. The cursed space on OUT and the obligatory Argentinian grilled meats. Café Tola the Greenwich Street side of 99 Bank Street is finally show- by Caroline Benveniste (124 MacDougal Street at Minetta Lane) serves empa- ing some signs of construction. An application for a liquor nadas, with meat and vegetarian fillings. Fifth & Madison license was filed in February 2020 for an entity named “On There were lots of openings this month, and many more still (92 Greenwich Avenue at West 12th Street) moved into the Corner, LLC”, but a hearing does not appear to have to come. One trend we’ve observed is Brooklyn spots coming the space last occupied by “clean beauty” spot Follain. This been held yet. Most recently, the space housed the excellent to Manhattan, perhaps because of attractive rent deals. We Boston-based business carries candles, diffusers, bar soaps Bistro Pierre Lapin which closed pre-pandemic, and the continue to see restaurants that we thought were gone for good and body scrubs. 8 Street Pets (44 West 8th Street) offers chef/owner there, Harold Moore, is now the executive chef re-opening, sometimes in the same spot, and sometimes near- walks, grooming, boarding and “doggie daycare.” Mr. K (152 at Charlie Palmer Steak in midtown. Emmett’s on Grove by. While there are always neighbors who complain about the 7th Avenue South between Charles and Perry Streets) is (39 Grove Street between Bleecker and Bedford Streets) is “Open Streets” program, the rest of us see in it a sense of opti- a tiny storefront with a large menu of Japanese street food an offshoot of Emmett’s, the Soho restaurant which serves mism and exuberance. such as okonomiyaki (savory pancake), katsu sando (fried Chicago-style deep dish pizza. According to the owners, breaded pork cutlet sandwich), takoyaki (octopus balls), ya- Emmett’s on Grove “will feature Chicago’s tavern-style Openings kitori (skewers), and soba and ramen noodle dishes among thin crust pizza alongside updated American-Italian clas- Brooklyn Kolache (185 Bleecker Street near MacDougal others. Bandits (44 Bedford Street at Leroy Street) is an sics in an upbeat, informal setting.” One of our observant Street) has made the move to Manhattan and serves kolach- old-fashioned looking cocktail bar with craft cocktails, readers noticed a sign in the window of the old Manatus’ es, a kind of Danish pastry of Czech origin that can be sweet “dressed up beers”, bar snacks and other drinking food. The space announcing the arrival of Saint Theo’s (340 Bleecker or savory. In addition to its eponymous offerings, Brook- tater tots are a signature offering and are enhanced with Street between Christopher and West 10th Streets). Ma- lyn Kolache features rotating sweet buns, with a rainbow Mexican, Indian or Middle Eastern seasonings. Their elab- natus closed in April 2014. I was confused, because for pride bun available in June. For those who love soft-serve orate outdoor structures are in the shape of classic diners. years I believed that a restaurant called Amos on Bleecker an.mé (249 Bleecker Street between Leroy and Cornelia would be opening at that location. The description of the Streets) is a children’s store that sells clothing, toys and some restaurant read: “Amos on Bleecker is an all-day kitchen and furniture. The original location is in the East Village. cocktail house embracing the vibrant energy of the West Village. Serving inspired New York comfort food in an up- Re-Openings scale environment, our story welcomes guests to reminisce On the same stretch of MacDougal Street, both The Mer- on Amos Street, the original name for West 10th Street, and maid Oyster Bar (79 MacDougal Street) and JG Melon the unyielding beat of NYC’s avant garde culture. Rooted in (89 MagDougal Street at Bleecker Street) closed in the the spirit of a 1920s-era Jewish-Italian grocery, our menu last few months, but now new outdoor structures outside and thoughtfully designed space transport guests to a play- JG Melon are sporting Mermaid Oyster Bar signage. The fully elegant environment where they can soak in our new Original Sandwich Shop closed, but its reincarnation is ar- school of hospitality.” Our same reader later walked by the riving a few doors down at 64 Greenwich Avenue. The new location again, and this time he spotted a woman in chef ’s THE "PRIDE BUN" from Brooklyn Kolache (above), and spot will be called The Village Sandbar and will feature whites who introduced herself as Ashley the chef. She also SURREAL CREAMERY'S "CHOCOLATE BLACKOUT" (below): sandwiches and libations where the Meatball Shop used to told our reader that Saint Theo’s would be opening the first chocolate ice cream, chocolate crunch, chocolate syrup, be. Village denizens were sad when Philip Marie (569 Hud- week of July, and would be serving “Coastal Italian and Ve- Cocoa Puffs, and Oreos. Photos by Caroline Benveniste. son Street at West 11th Street) closed. Some watched the netian” cuisine. Justine’s (518 Hudson Street at West 10th site carefully for any signs of life, and were rewarded with Street), a neighborhood spot with ingredients from Europe new outdoor structures, new interior and exterior paint jobs, and from local farms, dairies and artisans is opening where and newly tiled steps. There is a rumor that the owner of a Starbucks used to be. The owner also operates two wine The White Horse Tavern is taking it over, but employees at stores. B’Artusi (520 Hudson Street, near West 10th Street), the White Horse say that Philip Marie is returning. and Via Porta (522 Hudson Street) are two new spots that are coming from the L’Artusi team. B’Artusi will be a wine Closed/Closing bar, and Via Porta, a sandwich shop that will assume the Urban Outfitters closed its store at 526 Sixth Avenue (14th increased take-out business that L’Artusi saw during the Street). The retailer had been at that location since 1999. pandemic. When restaurants were closed for indoor dining, L’Artusi offered meal kits for take-out, but when restaurants Coming Soon were able to operate at increasing capacity, L’Artusi did not A number of spots around the city have started offer- have the bandwidth for a take-out business. Previous ten- ing breaded hot dogs on a stick, a popular Korean street ants were The Quarter from 2014-2018 and Hudson and food. Unlike corndogs, these are breaded in rice flour. Oh Charles Dinette from 2018 to 2020. ice cream, there is a delicious new option in the Village: K-Dog (70 7th Avenue South between Barrow and Com- Surreal Creamery (126 MacDougal Street between West merce Street) will offer a varied menu of fried items on a Moving/Other 3rd Street and Minetta Lane) has some Asian flavors (taro, stick: some hotdogs are stuffed with cheese, and others are Cursive New York (23 8th Avenue below Jane St), a gift matcha, Vietnamese iced coffee) and some more standard not hotdogs at all, but just breaded cheese. The location shop selling stationary, home goods, cards, glassware and ones (Monster cookies and cream, which is blue, and vanilla, on Ludlow Street often has a long line of eager custom- more is moving to 543 Hudson Street (between Perry and strawberry, chocolate, etc.) Each order of ice cream comes ers. Previously, Ramen Thukpa occupied the space. Pappas Charles Streets) which was formerly Hudson Barber Shop. with up to four toppings. The ice cream comes in different Taverna (103 MacDougal Street between Bleecker Street A wooden panel with the words “Fiddlesticks Pub” has sizes, with the largest served in a mason jar. There are also and Minetta Lane), a Greek restaurant, is coming to the gone up in the window of the Original Sandwich Shoppe bubble tea and ice cream concoctions. Yuco (33 West 8th massive Panchito’s space. It is named after a Greek restau- (58 Greenwich Avenue) which is adjacent to Fiddlesticks. Street near MacDougal Street), short for Yucateco Cocina, rant opened in 1910 on East 14th Street by the owner’s Could this mean that Fiddlesticks will be expanding into serves regional Mexican food from the Yucatan Peninsula grandfather and two great uncles. Instead of grilling food, that space? It would not be too surprising as it has been in the former Ardyn space. The bar and more casual dining the cooking will be done in a Greek wood burning oven. one of the busiest spots on Greenwich Avenue during room are located in the front, and behind a velvet curtain The restaurant is expected to open in the fall. Bagel Pub is the pandemic. As we reported before, L’Antica Pizzeria is the main dining room where tasting menus are featured. coming to 418 6th Avenue (at 9th Street) to compete with da Michele is coming to 81 Greenwich Avenue (at Bank The wine list is more ambitious than at many Mexican res- Murray’s Bagels, a couple of blocks north. This shop has Street). We can’t say for sure when it will be opening, but taurants. Dame (87 MacDougal Street between Bleecker two locations in Brooklyn, and also properly hand rolls and the other day, delicious smells of pizza were wafting out of and West Houston Streets) is the long-awaited English kettle boils their bagels. The space was formerly a Lenwich the still papered-up space. www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 19 A View From the Kitchen By Isa Covo the cream, vanilla and salt, and pour into We stayed indoors for months, looking the butter-flour mixture. Mix with a fork out of the window, wishing for escape, for until the dough almost holds together. travel. Knead the dough lightly with fingertips Now the doors are cracking open slight- until it becomes smooth and even. ly, and I have started to think of destina- 4. Leave the dough in the bowl, cover it tions. I would like to go to England and and let it rest 15 minutes in a cool place. have a proper afternoon tea. But in the 5. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. meantime, I made cream scones, which 6. Separate the dough into two equal are usually featured as part of tea. For the pieces, place them on a cookie sheet most authentic presentation, serve with and flatten each one into a circle six jam and clotted cream (available at Myers inches in diameter. of Keswick), but if you don’t have clotted 7. Score each of the cakes into four or six cream, whipped cream works well too. equal triangles, but do not separate them.

Photo by Isa Covo. Rich Cream Scones 8. Brush the tops with the remaining INGREDIENTS cream, being careful not to drip it on the 2 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour sides. Sprinkle with the additional sugar. 1 tablespoon baking powder 9. Bake until thoroughly cooked and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar golden on top, about 15 to 20 minutes. + 1 tablespoon for dusting 10. Let the scones rest five minutes on a 4 tablespoons of chilled unsalted butter, rack and then separate. cubed Yield: 12 scones 2 large eggs MONDAY THRU SATURDAY 10 AM-7 PM 1 teaspoon vanilla FOR ORANGE OR LEMON SCONES, add 1 SUNDAY 11 AM-5 PM 1/3 cup heavy cream teaspoon of grated orange or lemon rind (preferably not ultra-pasteurized) and one tablespoon or two of lemon or Maximum of four people + 1 tablespoon for brushing on top orange juice to the cream mixture. Instead Pinch of salt of the sugar you may press some slivered allowed in the store at one time almonds into the top of the scone. Bake DIRECTIONS as above. Masks Required 1. Combine the flour, sugar, and baking powder in a large bowl, and whisk the FOR WALNUT-RAISIN SCONES, add 1/3 212-242-5351 ingredients to combine thoroughly. cup of coarsely chopped toasted walnuts 2. Add the butter to the flour mixture and 1/3 cup of dark or golden raisins, or, and cut it in with a pastry blender or even better, currants, to the dough, Pro- two knives until the mixture looks like ceed as above, but add 1 scant teaspoon coarse meal. of powdered cinnamon to the sugar sprin- 3. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with kled on top.

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE www.westviewnews.org/subscribe 20 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org Fifth Year Commemoration of the Pulse Nightclub Shooting By James Tigger! Ferguson and age of each of those 49 victims. We Five years ago, an unspeakable massacre wanted to be silent witnesses at Pride, to occurred at Pulse nightclub. We live in a honor the 49 Human Beings who were country that worships guns—the power, robbed of their chances to ever celebrate the money, the violence and the hatred Pride again. that guns represent. So it certainly wasn’t Fortunately, we heard about a new activ- the first massacre, nor would it be the last. ist group that was also moved to action by And though it was the deadliest shooting the Pulse tragedy, and they were about to in this country at the time, even that didn’t have their first meeting. last long. Each of these senseless attacks Gays Against Guns was and is the per- is a devastating tragedy, but this one felt fect home for our Human Beings. They personal. This was one toxic, bigoted bas- brought the Rage, so we could focus on tard’s attempt at queer extermination in the Grief. our sacred sanctuary, a gay bar. This was an The overwhelming impact we felt that attack on all of us. day, each of us cocooned behind our veils, When you grow up queer, you tend to is impossible to describe. grow up with a part of you just waiting And yet…five years later, here we are. for something horribly violent to hap- Obviously, that effort wasn’t enough. Not pen. And all too often it does happen to yet. so many of us. But most of us who’ve been I’m deeply grateful that Gays Against bashed survive it. My stitches healed. But Guns keeps on fighting and that they keep those 49 Human Beings are gone forever. our vision of a living memorial alive, to No one who loved them and no one who honor the ever-increasing number of hu- was at Pulse that night will ever fully heal. man beings who die from gun violence. And it happened in a gay bar, the one place But I’m also enraged that the NRA hasn’t where many of us first felt safe, where we died instead of all those people. And I’m finally felt at home. enraged that it’s so goddamn easy for I knew I had to do something more racists, misogynists, homophobes, trans- than sign petitions. My husband Scott and phobes, religious bigots, and other haters I recognized that there had been so much to murder in minutes. Enraged that it’s so gun violence in this country that most much easier to get an assault rifle than de- people had become numb to the num- cent mental healthcare. bers. All those staggering statistics didn’t If you share our grief and feel our rage, feel real anymore. We agreed that people please make it productive. Honor the dead needed to experience what the absence of with action and fight for change. Other- 49 people looks like. They needed to see wise, this nightmare will continue to play one human being standing in for each hu- out for people of every color, gender, sexu- man being who was murdered. So we de- ality, and age, in every city. We could all cided that we needed to gather 49 of us to be next. all dress in white. (No more black because Thank you. there were already too many funerals.) We would be silent because it’s not about us, James Tigger! Ferguson is an actor, bur- and we would be veiled to mourn our dead. lesque artist, and activist who created the Instead of showing our own faces, each of Human Beings as a living memorial to us would carry a sign with the face, name, victims of gun violence.

BEFORE, AFTER, AND TAGGED AGAIN—TWO WEEKS LATER. Members of the Sixth Precinct graffiti removal squad painted over these mailboxes in May. Within a few weeks, they had been tagged again. An officer told us that they get vandalized almost as soon as they are painted over and that the problem is city-wide. Photos by Paul Vlachos. DEBUT OF THE “49 HUMAN BEINGS LIVING MEMORIAL” at the June 26, 2016 NYC Pride March. Photo Credit: Sam Hodgson. www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 21

LIFETALK WITH ROBERTA RUSSELL Sex on the Brain By Roberta Russell The stresses of aging are ongoing and cu- mulative. Inflammation rises, weakening our resistance to disease. Brain cells dimin- ish, requiring increased effort to remember the names and details that we once took for granted. Muscle strength and balance de- cline. Loved ones die and depart. Without compensatory efforts, isolation and loss of competence can cause problems. We be- come increasingly fragile. In time, the grim reaper claims us, one and all. But take heed. There is a joyous note in at least one redemptive prescription. You can slow down aging by having sex in a way that promotes genuine closeness—particu- larly, without a condom. You can live lon- ger, have more satisfaction, and, miracu- lously, get smarter. Research now reveals that the brain has neuronal regenerative powers. It is not lim- ROBERTA RUSSELL. Photo: Cheryl Eisen. ited to the neurons you are born with, as was previously assumed. It renews itself even Next in importance is a diverse diet with into one’s nineties. Sex with a loved one has many different fruits and vegetables and been shown to regenerate brain cells. Pro- enough small portions of meat to prevent fessor James Goodwin illuminates this pro- deficiencies in vitamins B12 and D3. cess, and presents practical advice on how to Gut bugs influence our brains. Ninety optimize our brain’s performance and halt percent of mood-affecting serotonin is pro- the depressing toll of cognitive decline dur- duced in our gut. Consequently, Goodwin ing aging in his book, Supercharge Your Brain advises that we go with our gut, by eating (2021), which offers a unique, multifac- a wide variety of nutritious fruits and veg- eted, evidence-backed perspective on how etables. Gut bacteria are suspects in many to foster a healthier and longer life. As an illnesses including ALS, Alzheimer’s, and evolutionary biologist and historian of brain Parkinson’s disease. Attention to gut bugs science, Dr. Goodwin presents research- is paramount as they affect our well-being based evidence for the eye-opening health for better or for worse. The goal is to use benefits of high-minded purposeful behav- what we learn to be able to intervene in the July 4th Fireworks ior, and sex with real intimacy. Surprisingly, aging process. sex without a condom confers even more regenerative benefits than sex with one. (No Are Back! pun intended.) The touch, feel, and flow of a An American version of Professor Goodwin’s loving partner is a life-enhancing elixir. The Supercharge Your Brain will be published by brain is an erogenous zone. Pegasus in January, 2022, and online and Intimacy is one of life’s greatest chal- audio versions will be available as well. lenges. There is the risk of being emotion- ally hurt as you expose your vulnerabilities to Roberta Russell is the author of R.D. Laing another person, but without the courage to & Me: Lessons in Love with R.D. Laing, overcome your probable mutual anxiety, the (Hillgarth Press, 1992), Report on Effec- full health benefits of meaningful sex and tive Psychotherapy: Legislative Testimony the thrill of real intimacy are not achieved. (Hillgarth Press, 1981, 1994), and Report As a cautionary note, be aware that sexu- on Permanent Weight Loss (Columbia ally transmitted diseases are on the rise in Academic Commons, 2017). She has also nursing homes, where sex without condoms been a contributor to various international is common and resistance to infection is low. magazines and journals including: Psycholo- In these times of on-line-dating it is pru- gie Heute (Germany), Japan Times (Japan), dent to get to know one’s partner’s exposure The Psychologist (U.K.), Human Potential before taking the plunge, no matter what Magazine (U.K.), Changes (U.K.), Clini- age you are. Studies have shown that feel- cal Psychology Forum (U.K.), Psychoanalytic ings of love and belonging matter even more Studies (U.K.), and Bottom Line (USA). than frequency of sex, as long as it is regular. Occasionally, Roberta hosts a New York City There are many behaviors that can slow cable television show, called Lifetalk, which aging. According to Goodwin, who is also has featured interviews with movers and a founding member of the Global Council shakers in controversial areas of psychology, on Brain Health and chair at both Exeter weight loss, nutrition, medicine, the environ- MACY’S WILL LAUNCH MORE THAN 65,000 FIREWORKS OVER THE EAST RIVER, their biggest display ever, to celebrate Independence Day this year. Starting University Medical School and Loughbor- ment, and population growth. at approximately 9:25pm, there will be viewing areas for both vaccinated ough University, exercise is the most im- [email protected] and non-vaccinated NYers while NBC broadcasts the display nationally. The portant way to change your lifestyle to in- mutualalliancetherapy.org fireworks display at Coney Island also returns on July 4th this year. Photo crease your healthy, creative, active lifespan. rdlaing.org by Bob Cooley. Sitting too much is harmful. effectivepsychotherapy.org 22 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org How Electricity is School Redefined: Learning and Generated from Sunlight Unlearning By Amanda Marlowe the process easier. Electrons belong to the world of quantum “We made it home!” Maylin shouted to the mechanics, a world sort of like Alice’s Adven- class as we approached Captain’s doorway. tures in Wonderland. Both the book and the “Home?” I wondered. “I thought we physics were created around the same time, were at school!” in the late nineteenth century, and in both “We are at school.” book and physics, nothing is what it seems. We felt a sort of comfort in this confu- Although electrons (which are estimated to sion. Looking at one another for an answer weigh about 10-31 kilograms each) can- seemed a bit silly. We all knew exactly what not be described in terms that make sense Mahylin meant. This was home, Captain’s to the world we are familiar with, we know technically. This was school, we had school how many of them there are in each kind here every Wednesday from nine to three. of chemical element. Each silicon atom, if it Why did this puzzle us? What was it about SILICON, PHOSPHORUS AND BORON, the three critical elements responsible for be in sand or pure silicon, has fourteen elec- our definitions that no longer aligned with converting sunlight to electricity. Photo trons surrounding the nucleus of the atom, the way life had shifted? courtesy of Mark Green. four of which are involved in connecting the August of 2020 brought a fever of un- Si atoms to the four surrounding oxygen at- certainty into every home. Parents with THE DWTN POD. Photo credit: O Zhang / shinebyoportraits.com Abstracted from “A Scientists View oms in sand or to four surrounding silicon young children were especially unsure of of Almost Everything” by atoms in the network of pure silicon. what the day to day would hold. Families Mark M. Green But the electrons in pure silicon are still hoped and waited for some form of direc- and helmed field trips—from the Met Electrons are the stuff of electricity, hence held too tightly to use the sun’s energy to tion from the schools. The usual comfort museum to a beekeeper’s home—infusing the name. And electrons are also what the get them to make electricity. To accomplish and thrill of gathering lunch boxes and each with insights about biology, fine art, world is made of. Every grain of sand is full the objective, a trick is used called doping. notebooks was not knocking on any doors ecology, language, and science. No longer of electrons. Everything is made of elec- Whereas silicon has four electrons available this year. Somebody needed to piece to- was there one person we could give the trons together with other unimaginably for its connections to other atoms, phos- gether something soon or this waiting title to as teacher and student. We honored small particles, which together constitute phorus has five electrons. When phospho- would be forever. Knowing this, Nikki Os- each other’s learning and unlearning. all the elements in that periodic table you rus is added in small amounts to the other- trower of NAO Wellness put the message The pursuit of a pod was both over- learned about in school. But it’s that grain wise pure silicon only four of phosphorus’ out that she was looking to create a pod whelming and humbling. As we cycled of sand that’s the foundation of creating five electrons are used to fit into the silicon school for her kindergartener. Connect- through the school weeks, the designs electricity from sunlight. network. One electron is left over. Boron ing through Facebook groups and friends laid out for each space began transform- Sand is made from the elements silicon atoms on the contrary only have three elec- in the downtown area, it became clear that ing homes into learning environments. Yet and oxygen. In fact most of the crust of the trons available for connections to other at- other families were looking to put their as each day passed, I came to realize that earth is made from silicon and oxygen. Sili- oms so that when boron atoms are added heads together to create an in-person and each home was already its own school. The con, symbol Si, exists in sand in a network of to pure silicon they make holes where elec- hands-on pod learning system as well. Four students were not asking me about which atoms in which each Si is surrounded by four trons are missing. These so-called holes families put trust in the plan of creating an kitchen cabinet held cups for our science oxygen atoms, so that the general formula for in the boron doped area then allow some education pod and hosting five children experiments or what library books we had sand is SiO2. Each oxygen atom is bonded of the extra electrons in the phosphorus at their homes once a week. Now that the on the shelf. I was asking them. to a silicon atom in this network so that doped area to move about causing adjacent classroom spaces were solidified, the next Traditionally, students are asked to con- each half of each of the four oxygen atoms areas of the silicon network to be positive- step was finding the teacher that fit. struct their education around the physical around one silicon atom “belongs” to that ly and negatively charged, like a battery. The families were looking for a new and space of the classroom set by the teacher. atom—hence SiO2. If we could use some of Movement of electrons stops at this point effective approach to this new schooling. The pod allowed for teachers to mold and those electrons in sand to make electricity a until light shines on the silicon network, After interviewing fifteen teachers, Randi scaffold on the life of the student. What great deal of electricity could be generated. which energizes the electrons to continue Zinn of the Going Beyond Movement seems to arise often in classrooms is the But the elements in sand hold their electrons to jump from one kind of doped region to connected us. Some emails led to a phone very opposite. The students enter a build- too tightly to be wrenched free by the sun’s another. With the proper conducting wires call and before I knew it, I was meeting ing and conform to the setting. Here, stu- energy. However, if the oxygen is removed attached, an electric current is generated the families and children one hazy sum- dents are free to explore the plasticity of from sand to obtain pure silicon, which can creating a solar cell. mer afternoon. Questions were asked and their space, ultimately exploring the flex- be accomplished by heating sand to very high Solar cells are serious business for the answered. Logistics laid out with as much ibility of their own minds. They exercise temperatures with charcoal, then we have a energy needs of the world. Sun-generated forethought available. Unknowns were seeing what is yet to be seen. This chal- substance in which the electrons can be made electricity, photovoltaics, is becoming a aired. None of us had ever done something lenged the students to find patterns in their into electricity using sunlight. very important enterprise with large corpo- like this before, including myself. If we world and adopt a routine. Each time they This chemical reaction makes sense. The rations created to advance the field. Huge wanted to make this work, we needed to entered a different home, they had to settle product of heating sand with charcoal is a amounts of money are pouring into this honor each other’s confusion just as much in again into new arrangements. It is here very stable molecule, carbon dioxide, al- technology causing an inexorable march as we believed in each other’s capacities. that patience becomes vital to keeping a lowing transfer of the oxygen from its con- for solar generated electricity to become Our work began here. We needed to pod strong. nection to silicon to a connection to carbon as cost-efficient as electricity generated rethink space and our interaction with it. If you are at all feeling drawn to creating in CO2. And this process only takes place from fossil fuels. These corporations want Kitchens became science labs, bookshelves a pod, return to patience. Remind yourself once to produce a material that makes a to collect from us when we plug into their became libraries, dining rooms became that progress comes with pace. Trust your great deal of electricity, not as in the burn- grid or sell us solar cells for our homes to lunch halls, and living rooms became stu- children and know that your pod is your ing of fossil fuels where CO2 is continu- reduce the fare we pay to the grid. dent-led classrooms. Parents led classes on family. Place yourself in a new point of ously produced. And helping this process What I’ll have to save for another day art, wellness, literature, music, engineering, view, and you are sure to see a new angle. is the formation of a very disorderly situa- is the irony that modern gasoline could and physics. The parents selected the cur- No matter our age, life demands of us a tion, a gas, CO2, at high temperature, from not be produced without also using silicon riculum they felt most comfortable with. belief in our own capacity and the knowl- a very orderly situation, the regular ar- based material in a process called catalytic From here, I created enriching lesson plans edge to know that our being can create rangement of the silicon and oxygen atoms cracking. But that’s another story about based on NYS Learning Standards, Singa- beautifully and inventively. in sand. Nature loves an increase in disor- silicon, the second most abundant element pore Math, and Logic of English Founda- I asked each child, “What is a pod? Who der, an increase of entropy, which makes in the earth’s crust after oxygen. tions. We led inventive, hands-on lessons, are we?” They responded, “Family.” www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 23 The Power (and Pain) of Water By Dana Jean Costantino plan I began to realize that eight glasses a day is just too much for me. As I got closer to that Recently, I was reminded of the fact that amount I noticed that I was running back and I do not drink nearly as much water as I forth to the bathroom way more frequently should. The subject was brought up by a than normal. I thought, “OK, maybe this isn’t good friend as we were taking a long walk, about living up to the water standard that’s and again on a lovely day with my broth- set as a general rule.” (Similarly, for many er, sister-in–law, and nephew at the Bronx of us the food pyramid doesn’t really work. Zoo. My brother said, after being asked if I We’re learning that it is slightly outdated.) would like a bottle of water and my declin- Maybe now it was time for me to consider ing, “Dana doesn’t drink water.” It made me and understand what my body needed, and think, “I really don’t drink enough water.” over the course of a week I realized that four Most days go by, and I have had maybe a glasses of water daily seemed to be the sweet glass. Lately I’ve been taking a look at a lot spot. I could get four glasses down, especially of different aspects of my life, inside and if I added a little cucumber, orange, lemon, or out, from a health and wellness perspec- lime. I even tried mint one day and that was tive. Over the years, water has always been THE THOUGHT OF DRINKING FROm 12-16 CUPS OF WATER A DAY is daunting for many, great! For a fun summer vibe, slice up some a struggle for me. So many people seem but studies show that most of us do not get all the hydration our bodies need on a regular watermelon, muddle it at the bottom of your to have such an easy time drinking 8-10 basis. The best approach may be a gradual increase in the amount of water you take in glass, and then pour the water over it. It is every day to work up to the recommended daily amount. Photo by Bob Cooley. glasses of regular water a day. NOT ME! absolutely delicious! We all have those friends that carry er ways in which to incorporate water into intake by four ounces more per day. How- So, don’t be too hard on yourself. Ac- around a water bottle no matter where they my life without feeling like it’s such a chore. ever, after day two, I found myself strug- knowledge what you might need to work go. It could be to the gym, on a walk, at Standard rules say that for every pound you gling slightly. That’s when I decided that I on, realize that water is important for the a party, at a bar, while traveling on a train weigh you should drink between 1/2 ounce was going to make water elixirs. body, and find a healthy balance for you. or plane. No matter what, they’ve got their and an ounce of water each day, so I was Then came the orange, the cucumber, the I’d love to hear about your joys and water right beside them. Me? I’ve usually drinking many tens of ounces of water less lemon, the lime—slicing these into a pitcher struggles with water. As readers of West- got my coffee, and in the evening I do enjoy than, technically, I should have been. (The of water and letting it sit overnight, having a View News, do you really love water and a glass of red wine. But I understand that key thing to remember here, though, is that little bit more of a tasty water at my disposal. drink it all the time? Do some of you find if we’re doing all the other things to keep everything isn’t an exact science, all bodies This definitely seems to be working; the wa- yourself not having a glass at all in a day? ourselves healthy, whether it be taking care and minds are created differently.) ter goes down easier. Although it has been Send me an email and let me know what of our mental health, going to a yoga class, Maybe we can approach increasing water said that carbonation bubbles aren’t good for your tips and tricks are. What are your fa- or taking those long walks, if we aren’t also intake in baby steps rather than immedi- you on a consistent basis, having club soda, vorite ways to make water fun? including the water that is required we re- ately going from one glass of water a day seltzer, or Pellegrino here and there in your Cheers to you all for a great summer ally are doing ourselves a disservice. to eight glasses of water a day. In order attempt to drink eight glasses of water a day ahead. Keep Calm and Drink Some Water. I realized that one of my biggest issues to build up to eight glasses, I decided to isn’t the worst thing to do if that will help with water is that I just don’t enjoy still wa- create a water challenge. Each day, start- you maintain hydration. You can reach me at Instagram @citydoor- ter that much. So I began a quest to discov- ing last week, I began increasing my water As I proceeded with my water increase ways or [email protected].

EVEN THOUGH THIS YEAR’S “OFFICIAL” PRIDE MARCH was only held virtually, over 3000 people joined in the Queer Liberation March held by the Reclaim Pride Coalition. The march started the afternoon in Bryant Park and ended at the Stonewall Inn, and was a wonderfully diverse crowd of ages, LGBT folk and allies, and no corporate enti- ties. The only large entries were created by artists, like Chris Williams' Pride Puppets, that marched along with the many who celebrated. Photo by Bob Cooley.

24 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org A Child’s Stay in Thailand: Some Glimpses By Carol Yost For Christmas we had no Christmas-type trees, of course, but we cut out green construction paper and put When British Prime Minister Anthony Eden bombed the it together in the outline of a traditional holiday tree. We Suez Canal in late 1956, the United States, fearing an all- taped it to the wall and put paper decorations on it. out Mideast war, ordered all American women and children We listened to records of Broadway musicals, including in the Middle East to be evacuated to Beirut, Lebanon. I Fanny and Li’l Abner. I remember Mother being tearful was living with my family in Damascus, Syria, and the very whenever she heard the song Love in a Home from Abner; night we got the news my mother, brother and I were air- she remembered her dashed hopes for the marriage that lifted by flying boxcar—“19 minutes,” my mother would say was doomed to failure from the beginning. over and over again—over the mountains to Beirut. At some point, probably in the United States, we saw While we were in Beirut my parents separated perma- the movie The King and I. Although I’d been in Thailand, I nently; my mother felt she could no longer live with my fa- didn’t realize then that Yul Brynner, a Russian, did not look ther because they’d fought constantly for years. My brother at all like a Thai king—but he was mesmerizing. was placed in my father’s custody while I stayed with my Eventually, Mildred told us she was taking a vacation and mother. After about eight months in Beirut, instead of go- going back to the States. We’d been in Bangkok about seven ing back to Damascus, my mother and I followed an adult months, as I remember. Mother decided we’d go back with friend, Mildred Teasley, we’d met in Beirut to her next em- Mildred, to stay permanently. We returned to Albuquerque, A modern approach to real estate with ployment position in Bangkok, Thailand. Mildred worked New Mexico, our home, in 1958, and never saw Mildred old-fashioned professionalism and two for the U. S. government as a part of USOM (I never learned again, although we corresponded for a while. It was in the decades of top-notch customer what that stood for). She’d been transferred to Bangkok. middle of a school term, and I was disappointed. I had a small service to our community. Before Mildred left she gave us her convertible, and we part in a play that a teacher had written for the students. I was Call Charlie Summers, proud West Village resident since 1985. marveled at how you could push a button and the whole part of the school music class in which we sang. My lines were Charles Summers top would roll back to rest on the rear of the vehicle. She’d based on the way the teacher saw me as a person—funny lines Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker nicknamed it Lapsy, for collapsible. Mother, whose full [email protected] were supposed to represent me. It was an entertaining little 917.376.1648 name was Frances Elizabeth Palmer Yost, sent a telegram to play, and I certainly wasn’t hurt. I wasn’t sure, but maybe the Charles Summers is an individual real estate agent affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed real Mildred in Bangkok: “CAROL LAPSY I COMING AR- estate broker and abides by equal housing opportunity laws. lines did represent me. Nevertheless, I didn’t get to be in the RIVE FIRST.” By that she meant the first of the month; play because we left before the semester was over. I can’t remember which month, but it was probably July. I I did get to take part in an earlier variety program that remember celebrating my 12th birthday in August in Bang- was held in Bangkok, however. We presented a skit about kok with American friends I’d met there and that one of my the United Nations. I represented the secretariat and had friends was named Nina Dabney. We attended an American just a few lines about the responsibilities of that office. I Horatio and Jane: school that held classes in buildings that were right over the recited the lines very stiffly. Before the program I joined water of the main river, and it was quite lovely. I was so petite some other kids as we lined up to get autographs from A Village Romance that I was given the nickname Molecule. Marian Anderson who was in the audience; she’d sung in The climate in Bangkok was tropical, of course, and it had Horatio Street and his lovely wife Jane concert earlier in the week. Unfortunately, I was unable to two seasons—rainy and dry. During the rainy season you Kept a townhouse near Abingdon Square. get her autograph because I had torn the paper I was going Through the fifties and sixties and even beyond often couldn’t really walk up to people’s front doors; you had to ask her to write on, not knowing that you never handed They were known as a dashing young pair. to walk on boards supported on cans, or whatever, and in the over a torn paper for an autograph! I felt very bad about water you could see leeches floating, waiting for prey. You Now, he was an actor while she used her brain that as I shared Mother’s admiration for this great singer. also saw fish. There were walking fish, too, that could walk To produce several besting-selling books. When I set out to write this article, I had no idea I would from one puddle to the next. Where the water life went dur- They had grace, they had charm, they had esprit de corps remember as much as I have. A life abroad stays with you. Not to mention insanely good looks. ing the dry season I had no idea. We loved riding in boats on the klongs—canals—where we saw many merchants riding The toast of Bohemia came to their door up and down with their many wares of fruit or flowers. We For the suppers and soirees they gave, visited the spectacularly beautiful temples, gilded all over, PLEASE JOIN US The talk was distinguished, the food was divine, with some of their decoration coming from broken china And the cocktails for none but the brave. IN SUPPORTING fragments that formed a beautiful mosaic. OUR GO FUND ME Then one day they sat on the terrace for tea, When Mildred heard we were coming—Mother was very Hung over and much worse for wear. assertive and could just tell people we were coming some- CAMPAIGN Perhaps it was time, it occurred to them both, where with no warning, but apparently there was no prob- WestView News has been a part of the To give birth to a namesake and heir. lem—she went out and got a charming little teak house that community for nearly two decades and was two stories high. In front, in a corner of the yard, there And so little Perry arrived right on cue, as we look to our future and all the was a small stone house-like structure on a post; it contained As gorgeous a child as could be. wonderful ways in which we seek to con- So the glamorous couple, Horatio and Jane, little stone images of spirits that were supposed to guard the tinue to serve and grow within our com- Were now a family of three. house. We never did anything to clean or restore them be- munity, we hope that you will cause we did not have religious beliefs in support of them; be a partner with us and help us in that The parties turned into much tamer affairs now I wish we had kept them clean and upright, out of re- mission. Thank You. And the wilder crowd from the coup flew. spect for the culture of the people we were living among. On gofund.me/fa5d9e7f It was early to bed and early to rise our second floor, because orchids were so plentiful, we had And soon there was child number two. our own orchids; to Mother, that was a luxury. Baby Charles was surrounded by love from the start. We had live-in servants. The woman who did most of He and Perry had fans to adore them. the work was named Pai Ling. As I recall, she lived with The luster of fame flickered ever more bright her husband in lodgings in the back of our house. She Round the boys and the parents who bore them. spoke little English and Mother spoke little Thai; but Mother improvised a combination of rudimentary Thai When Leroy was born and thereafter came Morton, and English to tell Pai Ling what was needed for a meal. The family joy seemed complete. Yet Jane and Horatio rallied once more, Pai Ling had little dogs for pets. I loved them. A friend Which is how we got Christopher Street. of mine gave her two more puppies from a litter she had. When a darling little dog named Mee was hit and killed by T. P. Miller a car in front of the house, Pai Ling and I grieved terribly. She rubbed the body and said, “Sleep.” www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 25

nally get outside, with my camera. That “cheepster” was still at it, accompanied by Feed Me three of its likely nestmates. Following the voices, I finally tracked down two of them By Keith Michael in the White Ash tree, second tree west from the northwest corner of Perry and It all started with a Sunday email from Greenwich Streets, nearly right across the WestView’s own “Maggie B’s Quick Clicks” street from Left Bank. One chick was on a Berkvist, forwarding an earlier email from branch to the right of the trunk, a sibling Left Bank’s maître d’ Danielle Marie: (likely a day or two younger) was still sit- “Maggie, we’ve got a new friend at Left ting on the nest to the left of the trunk, and Bank. He’s been sitting in the [flower] pots two more were high in the Callery Pear all morning. Hoping you can forward this tree to the west (heard but not seen.) Sud- to Keith? The little bird doesn’t seem sick denly, the “cheeps” accelerated, I focused but also hasn’t flown at all. He hops between my camera, and in descended Mom Robin plants. I think he might be hungry!” with a ripe White Mulberry, which disap- Having a reputation as “The Bird Man,” I peared in a blink. As did she. do receive frequent avian questions. Already White Mulberry? Hmm. The nearest this week, as well as Maggie’s query, there White Mulberry tree that I know of in the have been ID requests for an odd-looking neighborhood is along the Hudson River bird that turned out to be a House Sparrow Park bike path at Gansevoort Street. I sure- with an unfortunately deformed bill, and ly hope that there’s one closer in someone’s for a fancy pigeon seen hobnobbing on the backyard. Otherwise, this Mom Robin flew street in Queens. I don’t know fancy pigeon MOM’S WORK IS NEVER DONE: An American Robin chick about to indulge in a White Mul- 18 blocks round trip to provide this sweet- breeds but Google helped me out. berry delivery. Photo by Keith Michael. meat for Junior, and she was back in a min- The photo sent of the Left Bank visi- ute with another one! After a rotation with tor was clearly, to me at least, a recently weren’t finding their wayward chick. By the is our morning routine of going out early the other three chicks for food deliveries, fledged baby American Robin, a rust-col- evening, the news was that it had fluttered for her, uh, walk. It’s perfectly normal on a fifteen minutes later she brought a purple ored, spotted-breasted dumpling. The rest into a tree further north on Greenwich West Village street to endure an oblivious Juneberry to Chick #1—also, the closest of the description didn’t worry me. Though Street—after briefly alighting on a brunch someone pacing up and down the block Juneberry tree I know is in HRP at Charles young Robins just out of the nest do fly (re- guest’s head. shouting into their phone about a business Street. Mom’s work is never done. This markably, after only about two weeks from The next morning, even before I was misunderstanding, but it’s uncanny how chick knows how to sing for her supper. hatching,) they don’t fly well, so prefer to out of bed, I heard a Robin chick’s “cheep” many side-eyes and distancing side-steps It’s time for me to sing for MY supper hop, and, yes, it was likely hungry! Baby somewhere high outside my street window. one gets if you’re standing still on the side- (“Feed Me!”): “Hello, Left Bank? Danielle? birds are ALWAYS hungry. Their fre- Yes, I heard it through a closed window, walk staring up into a tree. Millie’s anxious Hi! I’m a little late, but I’m leaving now quent, sometimes metronomically regular, above the whir of the air conditioner, and indecision gave me the protection to stand to stop by for my pick up order. See you “cheeps” are like a dedicated ring-tone so amidst the clanging of yet another con- around “with a purpose,” watching and lis- shortly. Thanks.” that Mom and Dad know where to find struction shed going up across the street. tening for birds. Of course, I COULD still them for the next meal delivery. Perhaps These kids have lungs! One of the many do this on my own, but I don’t. this one had traveled far afield of its im- things that I continue to miss with the After answering a barrage of work emails Visit www.keithmichaelnyc.com or follow @ mediate backyard, which is why M & D loss of my corgi partner-in-birding Millie, from home that took until lunch, I did fi- newyorkcitywild on Instagram. She Paints While Dancing

Movement Artist Annika Rhea will perform and create her art in Revelation Gallery at St. John’s in the Village on September 28, 2021. Right, a shot from her premiere exhibit this month at The Box Factory on the Bushwick/Ridgewood border. The exhibit is open by appointment only on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 2pm-7pm through July 17th.

Appointment bookings avail- able on www.annikarhea.com. Photo credit: Sasha Bianca. 26 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org

female Keef. Blessings to all the Keiths out there. New York is a Type A town. But we know how to Karen’s get down! I went to Village Records on June 12, Record Store Day (thanks for the tip-off, Kim!). The store was absolutely packed with customers and staff, masked and Quirky Style gleeful to revel in vinyl. I picked up a new reissue from By Karen Rempel Keith Richards, Wicked As It Seems, with a live track of “Gimme Shelter” on the B-side. He’s still the scary-bad- Keith was an awfully good sport about being comedic dest boy in rock’n’roll. Check it out! fodder for my Catch and Release foray into fiction. When I saw this exquisite jacket from Engineered by For more fun Philip Maier photos, go to karensquirkystyle.nyc. Andrea T, I immediately flashed on Keith Richards— he would totally wear this jacket! So I decided to de- sign this month’s quirky style as a tribute to the fictional STYLE NOTES Keith, who bore such a seductive resemblance to the real live Keith Richards, circa 1989. MIDNIGHT BLUE AND BLACK BROCADE JACKET WITH SILK-SATIN LAPELS AND POCKET DETAIL. Engineered by In keeping with the rock’n’roll spirit, I knew I would Andrea T. 147 West 35th Street (by appointment only). wear these flared jeans, so that piece was easy. The next step was to get boots that would sync to the Keith Rich- VERONICA BEARD 1970S STYLE “BEVERLY” HIGH- ards image. I went to DSW by Union Square, and the WAISTED SKINNY FLARE JEANS. Bergdorf Goodman. minute I clapped my eyes on these studded red snake- 754 Fifth Avenue. skin beauties in the clearance section, I knew I’d found the perfect solution. I love them, to boot! BLACK JERSEY SPLIT CHEMISE WITH DIAMOND AND The final piece was the top. I was thinking a silver CHAIN T-STRAP AND COLLAR. Kookie Intl. 1201 Folsom chainmail tank, and I checked out a few places for booty, St. San Francisco. but my vision didn’t appear. So I just trusted something would turn up. On the day of the shoot, I dug into the RED SNAKESKIN BOOTS WITH SILVER STUDS ENCIR- CLING THE BASE. Charles by Charles David Dodger Chel- back of my closet, and found this sexy BDSM-collared sea boots at DSW. 40 E. 14th Street. number in the depths. I’d picked it up at a fetish shop in San Francisco many years ago, when I was doing train- WEST VILLAGE MODEL KAREN REMPEL pays homage ing at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Human To read this month’s chapter of Catch and Release, to Keith Richards in Engineered by Andrea T’s sensuous Sexuality. I never had an opportunity to wear it, but now go to westviewnews.org. the moment had come. The perfect finishing touch for a brocade jacket. Photo by Philip Maier.

“Camera 3! Get the Hem on the turn! Hem! Stay with her!” “Camera 1! There’s a lens in your shot! Lens in the shot! FashionWars Get that guy out of there!” We tried to work with the photographers ahead of time By Jeff Hodges to make sure we had clean shots. Even though we were In the early 1980s, when fashion was starting to loom large nestled into a thicket of cameras and lenses our videos had on the cultural landscape, I found myself on the riser with to look like they were from the only cameras in the room. a horde of fiercely competitive photographers who deeply “Can I see how you plan to be shooting?” we’d ask po- resented my presence. litely. Most of the time the photographer would oblige, but We were pioneering the use of video to record fashion not always. shows—a medium that ended up transforming staid run- “Can you sit on something a little lower? Or pull back closer way shows into highly choreographed spectacles. And al- to my tripod? I’m sorry, but I’ve got your camera in my shot.” though we didn’t threaten the mode of distribution claimed Sometimes a photographer, exhausted from his trek to by the photographers, we took up a lot of real estate with London to Milan to New York, would yell “Impossible! our big cameras and unwieldy tripods. And because the Impossible! I’m here to do my job just like you! Raise your designers had hired us, we couldn’t be bullied into altering camera!” our locations or configurations. “No! No! No!” the photographers behind would shout. Photographers were an unruly bunch in those days. Ar- “You’ll block my shot!” guments over positions or sightlines sometimes became Sometimes the only solution was to say into the head- shoving matches or fistfights. If a model didn’t display her set—“I’m having a problem with a photographer. I need a FIGHTING FOR THE BEST SHOT: Photographers and video- outfit properly, curses and imprecations would erupt from utility out here.” graphers in close quarters vying for access to the models. the riser. When the first girl hit the runway, shutters clicked Utilities were the guys who set up the cameras, ran the Photo credit: Sarah F. Chianese. and flashes popped and the venue took on the existential cables, and loaded in and out of the venues. They were large placed discourtesy and the utilities were called upon less intensity of a war zone. A lot of money was riding on getting and muscular and not endowed with a surfeit of patience. often. Late arrivals were hoisted onto the riser with the the perfect shot in this maelstrom of profit and pulchritude. A utility would glower over a photographer until a solution care and concern afforded shipwreck victims. You could We always had a portable control room somewhere was reached—most often with a subtle tweaking of a cam- still always tell a new guy by his rudeness and aggression; nearby, with a director who called the shots. Our headsets era position or a few simple adjustments in pitch and yaw. but more often than not we helped him find his comfort sounded something like this: Mishaps on the runway were not uncommon. Slips, falls, zone with the detachment of old T-group veterans. “Camera 1! Zoom In! Head to Toe! Give her Head wardrobe maladjustments, flash mob invasions by PETA In the past couple of seasons, smart phone cameras have Room! Head Room!” activists, broken heels, hopeless entanglements in ball started to appear on the riser. We shake our grizzled heads “Camera 2! Hit the Floor! Get the Shoes! Pan up to the gowns and bridal trains were often a part of the show. One and make wry jokes about “phoning it in” but as the num- Bag! Focus! Focus!” time a Japanese photographer, trapped backstage, bolted ber of big shows starts to dwindle and the maw of social “Camera 3! Get the Collar on the turn! Stay with her! down the runway, weaving through the girls like an er- media widens in technical acceptability, we may have to Stay with her!” rant running back. Long afterward, at the start of many a face the fact that fashion shows are changing once again. “Camera 1! Get the next girl! Zoom in! Zoom in!” fashion show, some wag on the riser would yell: “Cue the If fashion shows become downsized, and pandemics and “Camera 2! Head and Shoulders! Pull to a Waist-to- Japanese photographer!” carbon footprints keep us closer to home, ”zooming” into Face! Slowly! Slowly!” Eventually, we got easier on each other. Camaraderie re- a model may someday take on a much different meaning. www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 27 Style on the Street: These Boots Are Made For Walkin’

LORIS ZARA MIA BRANDON

AUSTEN ZORKA B GISELLE ULBOSS

Follow us on Instagram @styleonthestreet_WestViewNews Photos by Dusty Berke and Karilyn Prisco. Submit your favorite neighborhood fashion looks for a chance to be featured.

New Women’s Apparel Brand In 2020 my friend Adriana Berguer and I co-founded Ines, our women’s fashion brand. We live in a historic apartment in the West Village where we design pieces for our customers, individu- als that are looking to add versatile, high-end products that can live in their closets forever as their personal styles evolve. Our pieces are season-less and classic, taking our customers from the beach to soirees with a simple change of accessories. Our products reflect our values: American-made pieces with the highest quality, sustainable, and deadstock fabrics sourced from the Garment District in Manhattan and hand-produced in Detroit, Michigan, our hometown. We employ highly talented independent artisans to con- struct our garments. Our business strives to reduce our carbon footprint and, as such, all of our packaging is 100 percent biodegradable and made from plants. In an effort to further promote sustainability, as well as eliminate unnecessary markups to our customers, we have eliminated the need for a distributor and sell small batch limited-edi- tion collections seasonally, directly through our website and Instagram platforms. Our website is inesattire.com and our Instagram handle is @Ines Attire. —Adrianna Bojrab

CO-FOUNDERS ADRIANA BERGUER (LEFT) AND ADRIANNA BOJRAB on their block wearing the Ines Sienna Top and Ines Eclair Dress now available online. Photo courtesy of Adriana Berguer. 28 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org

the judge’s ruling and continued to keep us and Criminal Justice, he has never done homeless. anything for us resembling justice. Billionaire Slumlord On June 17, 2020 on a Zoom conference, In the context of bad landlords Green- By Deborah Privitello ability and for structural violations for the his attorney did not even show up for his berger gives Steve Croman, a run for his support joists that support the frame. own appeal. It was like Greenberger had money! it in the bag. One month later the appel- Twenty years of suffering, my husband Another Fourth of July is upon us, and I Deadly toxic mold was detected again lants took away the judgment! After three dead, we remain homeless, they continue write this in remembrance of my late be- and Greenberger denied that it ever exist- years still homeless, Greenberger continues litigation against us, emotionally, physi- loved husband Michael Privitello on what ed, with stachybotrys growing. My beloved to fight us ruthlessly and illegally in court cally and financially broken, our apart- would have been our wedding anniversary. husband died from a brain tumor directly with no repercussions whatsoever. ment decimated and our lives destroyed. My children and I have been rendered correlated to the mycotoxins found in the As the founder of his Center for Social homeless since April 2018 from our three- mold in our home. These dire conditions bedroom duplex on E. 50th Street. We have have been covered up for years—leaks, re- lived here since the 90s. Our billionaire peated flooding, compromised structures landlord Francis Greenberger/Time Eq- due to rotting pipes, holes in the founda- uites, dubbed the “Condo Co-op King” tion, and a cracked roof that has been leak- since the 80’s, has constructively evicted us. ing and has never been properly weather- We are the last remaining rent-stabilized proofed since their ownership. tenants. Our apartment is the most valu- In 2018, over 92 violations were issued able, worth well over three million dollars and our pleas for help ignored. The land- (more than he paid for the two buildings lord continued to force us out using every together). illegal landlord tactic to evict us, including His empire, headquartered at 55 Fifth taking away our grandfathered amenities Avenue, owns over 36 million square feet that were part of our tenancy long before of real estate, and nets over four billion in his ownership—the washing machine, fire- revenues across 5500 residential apartments. place, and fuse box room. Greenberger's credo, “it's the hold in real es- Greenberger uses the courts, agencies tate,” fueled his purchase of our building to and politicians at his disposal to get away convert to condos. He made sure to main- with harming us by using any means nec- tain his hold by managing the buildings. essary. In court he falsified papers and The cruelty toward us for the past 20 framed us, shifting and twisting the blame years has been so painful and scary. And that somehow we were responsible for for the last three years homeless, forced to these hazardous conditions. He even uti- live in hotels and 16 months of that in the lized Governor Cuomo, who started the pandemic. We have everything we owned tenant protection unit and who has done destroyed, including irreplaceable posses- nothing except get reduced office space sions of my beloved husband. rent and large campaign contributions all Just four days after September 11, 2001, these years from Mr. Greenberger. Greenberger managed to close on the build- The collapse in 2018 made headline ing while the world wept and the country news in NYC. The super was caught tear- was at a standstill. He even sent us a letter of ing down the vacate order put there by the eviction in 2005 for flying the American flag. Department of Buildings. Instead of im- This flag flew even prior to his purchase. mediately providing us with housing, he Since his ownership, we have been sub- had his PR firm take the story off the air jected to harassment, and our apartment and did nothing to help us. has been left to rot and fall into disrepair. While refusing to remediate, Greenberg- There have been numerous structural er took out another baseless lawsuit against emergencies with collapses of ceilings and us to force us to accept an unsolicited buy- caving in of floors—one in April 2018 out offer. Their lawyer and property man- and another just two months ago in April ager falsely obtained a default judgement 2021. The NYC Department of Buildings with a restraining order against us! They issued a second emergency vacate order for hid from the court their own deadly toxic our apartment, emanating from the leaks mold report for almost one year. A year coming from the main waste line in the later we were finally granted a dismissal of SINCE FRANCIS GREENBERGER/TIME EQUITIES' OWNERSHIP, Deborah Privitello's ap- building. Greenberger was again cited for their false proceedings and awarded dam- artment pre-Greenberger (top) has been left to rot and fall into disrepair (bottom). Photos failure to maintain the warrant of habit- ages. Greenberger immediately appealed courtesy of Deborah Privitello.

could you forget that poor girl?” Vivid im- were glad to let us take her.” I wanted a dog, The Slave ages came back to me as she talked. I see too. I had cut out photos of some big dogs to Joan’s Xiao Mei entered my life in 1940 when myself, up a tree, demanding my breakfast. show my parents, but I was given a handbag I was six years old and Shanghai was oc- I see her expressionless face as she awk- size pup, who yapped non stop. “It’s the per- cupied by the Japanese. World War Two wardly climbs up the tree and hands me the fect size dog for you. You won’t have to take meant less to me than the invasion of my tray. That image, which I suppressed for it for walks; you can run around the garden Shanghai life by this young girl, barely twice my age. years, cuts across my vision like it just hap- with it.” My mother, again, settling the issue By Joan Klyhn “So, are you planning to write about that pened; the day, the sun, the tree, being alone, without any chance of rebuttal. “You are not Joan’s Shanghai is a memoir of a childhood slave of yours?” asked Phyllis. I was visiting hating my life, hating my parents for forc- capable of managing a big dog.” Eventually in Shanghai in the ‘30’s and ’40s of the 20th her in the late ’80s at her home in Guelph, a ing on me this ugly, dull, sad, pockmarked I got fond of Blondie, who survived her fall, century. I am primarily writing it for my- Canadian town. I distinctly remember sit- girl. All I can think to do is punish her for but she was never the dog I wanted. Xiao self, extending it to my friends, and now to ting down suddenly. “I forgot all about her,” being alive. Just as I took the puppy I vehe- Mei was definitely not the friend I wanted. the many people who have shown themselves I mumbled. I had buried that time deep mently didn’t want and threw it down the At that age I began to shut myself in my fascinated with this period in my memory, but at that moment, my stairs and ran into my room and screamed room to have tantrums. Neither my father in the past. mind flashed back to my childhood. “Well and screamed and screamed. or my mother ever presented themselves at she spent at least three or four years with “Well, you needed a friend,” my exasper- these events. In that big house with its solid you,” Phyllis continued relentlessly, “how ated mother said, “and Xiao Mei’s parents continued on page 29 www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 29 The Digital Revolution and the End of the Film World as We Knew It The film industry takes another hit. Are more theater chains and studios ready to fall into the large pockets of FB, Google, and Twitter?

By Roger Paradiso projection booths. The 50-to-75-inch TV The news that Amazon is acquiring has taken over movie screens. The theatrical MGM-UA is not surprising if you believe experience is now happening in your living that the big fish eats the little fish to sur- room, bedroom, or kitchen, or on your out- vive in this Darwinian and Amazonian door deck. Not so much anymore in those view of life. The question to come next is: multiplexes and marquee theaters. As we which industry giant or theater chain giant all know, the family-owned movie palaces topples in the near future? of yesteryear are now performance spaces At the MGM lot in Culver City, Cali- for the arts or have been knocked down for fornia, in 1986, after we completed Moon- condos or glass-box offices. The business of struck, there was talk of another movie America is big business, they say. being offered to me. What I remember of And this is happening when you, the AMAZON BUYS MGM-UA, and James Bond will be streaming on a TV or phone near you. that day is that MGM was sold to corpo- consumer, want it to happen. No more Photo: courtesy of MGM. rate raider Kirk Kerkorian of Las Vegas. waiting on lines or rushing to analog Many of the longtime workers at the lot clocks telling you the movie starts at 7:00 made dozens of years ago? No, you will get even worse, another strip mall. were in mourning. Things would never be p.m. sharp. The movie show time happens streaming premieres of many films. And The biggest winners of this deconstruc- the same, they said. And they were right. when you want it to happen. No more lines the big blockbusters? They will get to you tion of filmgoing will be the little art house Kerkorian and others made a killing fillet- at overpriced concessions where a popcorn soon enough. Maybe even the same day. theaters which will show modern indepen- ing MGM into many saleable parts. Ted and soda could cost you $6-12 per person. Or in just a few weeks. Meanwhile, watch dent films and some old classics. There will Turner of CNN fame got a library of films You can buy all the treats you want for a film classic, or an opera, or even a base- be a select audience for these spaces, which for his Turner Classic Movie Cable chan- your family for that price. Or better yet, eat ball game. Amazon has contracted with the are small and funky. This is where the film nel. The recent Japanese buyers of Colum- whatever you want to eat at home. Yankees to stream several games. intelligentsia will go, along with the high bia Pictures bought the physical lot and Will there still be movie theaters? Yes, So, what’s not to like? I haven’t even school and college film students. It will be got a much better location on the trendy but not as many. We will go to them like mentioned that many people watch mov- the home to underground films, noncom- west side of L.A., as opposed to the site in we go to baseball games or the theater or ies outside of their houses—on laptops and mercial indie films, and larger Studio ma- the valley of Burbank (which was formerly a concert. Once in a while, the studies say. phones. terial that thrill the art house crowd. I can a desert). The frugal studio folks moved Yes, there is nothing like sitting in a dark But there are theaters that will survive. see these theaters renting their downtime, out there for the cheaper land back in the theater or an outdoor baseball game with The grand and new movie palaces split up like mornings and afternoons on Monday 1920s. Other assets were sold to the de- thousands of fellow humans, except on a into 8-24 small movie theaters with 100- through Thursday, to community groups light of Kirk the corporate raider. MGM- cold snowy day or during flu season or a 300 seats each may survive if they serve that will show a local documentary or UA was left with a few trinkets, the biggest pandemic. So, going out to a movie as a better food and glitz up the lobby with a rock video series. I can even see young of which was the James Bond series which steady diet like in the old days is long gone? video games and other teenage wasteland children having a video game playground. kept them profitable to this day. Now it It died on our watch. activities. These new palaces of fashion will These art houses will lead the way to the will keep Amazon profitable. Nowadays, it is so much easier and more stream the tent-pole movies, the block- next New Wave of Film. So, don’t cry for me America. There will comfortable to stream your favorite movies busters, and the big studio movies. The I’ll talk about that next month. Write us still be films. Things will just be different. that you pick from a library of thousands boxy and square multiplexes will be bull- a letter, or should I say email your thoughts, Digital streaming has taken over movie of films. Will you only get museum films dozed down for another corporate park or, to the publisher.

The Slave continued from page 28 from the country. They have to sell their vas dowry bag. Just a few blocks away, we seeming neither happy nor unhappy. Xiao kids to survive!” His young sidekick Xiao turned into a side street, really a narrow alley, Mei emerged with an older woman and walls and doors, I could hear my screams be- Liu sneered “She’s ugly and dumb and her and my mother led us to a decrepit gate, and the two of them chatted briefly with my ing absorbed and gradually sounding hoarse, nose is always snotty.” But she was always confidently pushed it open. “This is where mother, who handed over the bag and a few pitiful and finally tiny. Xiao Mei’s job was to ready to care for the chauffeur’s baby. we got her originally,” my mother explained. banknotes. “Where’s the husband?” I asked. enter my room and try to deal with my rage. I can’t recall when I decided to scale Inside was a tamped earth area, a kind of My mother shrugged. “Hopefully working. She would come in timidly, and I would back my tantrums; probably when I be- courtyard. Someone was washing clothes in He gets the money I brought, not that he stare at her through my tears. She stared came friends with Raya, a girl I met in the a basin, and something was being pounded earned it. It’s Xiao Mei’s years of pocket back at me silently. I didn’t want her more garden behind my house where we used to in a bucket by another person. A few dirty money.” We left shortly afterwards, no tea than I didn’t want anyone or anything in my play after school. Xiao Mei was gradually children with requisite snotty noses were being offered. It felt a bit of an anticlimax, life. When I think of her now, I imagine she shifted to kitchen duties when it became crawling around, the backs of their smocks a letdown after years of barely communicat- just made herself blank. How could she ever obvious we were never going to bond. open, exposing their buttocks so they could ing with a being given to me “As your slave!” understand being off loaded by her family at My mother’s mother, Mary, had had a urinate and defecate at will. Judging from my aunt Phyllis would repeat, “That poor, the age of 12, and tasked to spend the rest of history of acquiring unwanted girls, training the stink in the area, they did just that. A poor child!” They didn’t respect her in the her childhood as my servant? them in household duties and using their man smoking a cigarette squatted silently kitchen, either. It was so easy for me to for- She would quietly put away the toys I had services until they reached a marriageable in front of the house in the background. It get my callous behavior towards Xiao Mei; thrown around the room. She had a way of age. That would be sixteen or so. My mother spread across the lot, a long front punctu- to forget her entirely, to not even remember shuffling as she walked; she always moved decided to follow suit with Xiao Mei when ated by doorways but no apparent doors. her face or anything distinct about her. Only very slowly. “How can we play badminton she reached sixteen. My mother picked out Xiao Mei just walked over to the house and years later did my memory dredge her up or ping pong; she’s hopeless!” Of course, she some serviceable clothing, a pair of gold went inside. “Well, that’s that,” said my together with a sadness, a nebulous regret. I was illiterate. Even her spoken Chinese was earrings, an umbrella, and sturdy shoes. A mother, ” For all my efforts! You never ap- never saw her again. I never went down that not the Shanghai dialect I knew. Hong said husband was selected, and my mother, Xiao preciated anything.” I looked around at the alley again, nor did she ever wander along contemptuously “the family are immigrants Mei and I set out one afternoon with a can- scene; I saw poor people living their lives, my boulevard either. 30 WestView News July 2021 www.westviewnews.org A Hundred Years From Today By Robert Heide There are many parallels today in 2021 to the years following the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 and 1919, which is estimated to have killed forty million people worldwide. As of this month the number of deaths worldwide from COVID-19 is reported close to 4 mil- lion people. It took many years to compile the statistics of La Grippe, as the 1918 flu was sometimes called, and the fatality num- bers of the COVID flu of 2020/2021 are, of course, still coming in but we know it’s not over yet. Another parallel, in my mind, is the four miserable years of World War I (1914- 1918) and the four horrendous years of the non-presidential Trump presidency—both followed by death dealing viruses world- wide. In New York in June 2021 shootings are up 64% from last year at this time and New Yorkers are not looking forward to what is expected to be a dangerous, violent, and gun-totin’ summer. The 1920s roared in after the devastation of the teen years, and America was ready for a big TWO CD'S—Left, The Charleston Era (from ASV Ltd), with a dancing flapper on the cover features 25 selections of 1920s jazz era dance music. Right, Hot Dance of the Roaring 20's (Edison Laterals) features 21 selections. CDs are digitally remastered from vintage original 78 comeback. The 18th amendment, Prohibition, RPM records. Photo courtesy Heide/Gilman. and the 19th, women’s suffrage, were passed in 1920 and both had far reaching results. As far wich Village there. Men donned Raccoon the French Revolution’s Inquisition, and 300 The Tramp Chaplin, Al My Mammy Jolson, as the ban on drinking, the opposite happened coats, drove fancy speedsters and applied so black people in the prosperous Greenwood Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, W. C. Fields, Har- almost instantly. Speakeasies opened up in cit- much Vaseline to their heads they looked like section of Tulsa were summarily killed and old Lloyd, Buster Keaton, cowboy stars Tom ies and towns and all hell broke loose when domes. The ‘flaming youth’ in this Charles- their businesses and homes burned to the Mix and Hoot Gibson, and the great dog gangsters like Al Capone and like minded ton era brought in many orchestras perform- ground. At the same time Sigmund Freud’s stars Rin Tin Tin, and Strongheart. businessmen-crooks began supplying illegal ing everywhere in fancy clubs; radio began psychoanalytic theories and insights swept What will happen in the 2020’s as we hooch to satisfy customers who couldn’t get transcontinental live broadcasts and floor around the world, Wonder Bread, Wise march into the future? Who can say. But enough of the hard stuff. It was drink, drank, and table model radios joined the household Potato Chips, Betty Crocker’s Gold Medal there is no doubt that we must be vigilant, drunk and getting plastered all the way be- along with 78 RPM records and the Victro- Flour and Chanel #5 were offered for the first persevere and fight on. I will conclude with came the unofficial theme of the decade. The la. Songs like Hotsy Totsy, The Black Bottom time and among many others Sears Roebuck a salute to Independence Day on July 4th by ‘speaks’ functioned behind closed doors where (named after a dance craze), Crazy Words, and White Castle’s opened up chain stores quoting the lyrics from a special, fun, patri- singers and hot jazz bands featuring the likes Crazy Time, Runnin’ Wild, You’re Driving Me across the country. Fantasy movie palaces otic song in a spectacular stage number from of Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington were Crazy, and Crazy Rhythm were on the air- in every city and town and every neighbor- the 1954 musical starring Shirley Booth By all the rage. J. Edgar Hoover, the infamous di- waves. I’d Rather Charleston sung and record- hood opened to accommodate the 35 mil- the Beautiful Sea which takes place in Brook- rector of the FBI, had his hands full trying to ed by Fred and Adele Astaire with George lion Americans going to the movies at least lyn’s Coney Island and which has music by keep a lid on it all but to little avail. Out in the Gershwin on the piano was a highlight for once a week to see their favorite heroines Arthur Schwartz and lyrics by Herbert and country people made their own beer in bar- me. The lyrics from one of my favorite songs including at the top of the list of the ‘silent Dorothy Fields. Following are the lyrics from rels. My father, Ludwig made his in the cellar (this one written by Victor Young in 1933) era’ the great Swedish ‘sphynx’ Greta Garbo, one of the songs, Hooray for George the Third. where one night one of his home made brews- popularized in more recent times by Peggy (her first American film wasThe Torrent), the in-a-barrel blew up. Prohibition, called the Lee and Frank Sinatra A Hundred Years From vamps Pola Negri, Mae Marsh and Vilma Hooray for George the Third Volstead Act, lasted from 1920 to 1933 when Today, includes these lyrics: Banky, the number one flapper—Joan Craw- If it wasn’t for George the Third the new president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Don’t save your kisses ford—in Our Dancing Daughters, the ‘sister Would there be a 4th of July? took office and abolished the ban, and every- Just pass them around. stars’—Norma and Constance Talmadge and one was singing the popular song of the day, Who’s gonna know that you passed them Dorothy and Lillian (Orphans in the Storm) No, there’d never be a 4th of July let’s have a glass of cheer again, happy days are around Gish, Myrna Loy, Claudette Colbert, the Then where would you be tonight—tonight? here again! A hundred years from today? red-headed ‘It’ girl Clara Bow, socialite Hope Where would you be tonight? The 19th amendment gave women the Hampton, Gilda Gray (I Wish I Could Shim- Without a Paul Revere? right to vote which they continue to do to- Why crave a penthouse fit for a queen? my Like My Sister Kate), Lupe Velez, Norma day in vast numbers. In addition, back then, You’re nearer heaven on Mother Earth’s green. Shearer, Mary (‘America’s sweetheart’) Pick- Without a Liberty Bell? they adopted short bobbed hairdos, above- If you had millions what would they all mean ford, Janet Gaynor, Dolores del Rio, Loretta Without a Bunker Hill, Without a Washing- the-knee skirts and they also threw morals A hundred years from today? Young, Anna May Wong, Fay Wray, Zazu ton Crossing the Delaware? out the window, drinking and dancing the Pitts and zany comedienne Pearl White, Charleston all night and into the morning So laugh and sing, make love the thing among many others. The male stars included Although it seems absurd light. Writers of what is now called The Lost Be happy while you may heartthrobs Rudolph Valentino (The Sheik, If it weren’t for George the Third Generation, like F. Scott Fitzgerald with This There’s always one beneath that sun Four Horsemen of the Apocolypse, etc.) Ramon Would there be a 4th of July, Oh no! Side of Paradise and The Great Gatsby and Sin- Who’s bound to make you feel that way (Ben Hur) Novarro, John Barrymore, Gary George started the whole damn show!! clair Lewis with Main Street and Elmer Gan- Cooper, Douglas (The Thief of Baghdad) try, contributed to the vast changes going on The moon is shining and that’s a good sign Fairbanks, William ‘Billy’ Haines, Mickey Starstruck—The Wonderful World of Movie in this period. Note: A plaque at the entrance Cling to me closer and say please be mine Rooney, Mickey Mouse—talking in the first Memorabilia written by Robert Heide and to 69 Charles Street, a brownstone which is But just remember darling you won’t see it shine sound cartoon in 1928 Steamboat Willie. As John Gilman published by Doubleday was now owned by George Capsis, the publisher 100 years from today. an aside these notables were also born in consulted for this article. His most recent and editor-in-chief of WestView News, attests One hundred years ago or so the Ku Klux 1928 including Andy Warhol, Shirley Tem- publication, Robert Heide 25 Plays is avail- that Sinclair Lewis wrote and lived in Green- Klan’s racist activities drew comparisons to ple, and playwright Edward Albee. Charlie able on Amazon. www.westviewnews.org July 2021 WestView News 31 Boffo Laughs, a Bagel and a Schmear By Kieran Loughney as serendipitous as the encounter in the all reached number one in sales. Mickey about a year of its debut. His parodies of “I’m picking up something for Joel Grey,” store, began in a dusty basement. A friend Katz schmeared some of these hits with cowboy songs included “Borscht Riders in said the young man next to me as I shopped was selling the inherited record collection his Yiddish humor and Klezmer arrange- the Sky”, “Yiddish Mule Train” and “She’ll at a store in the West Village. Excited by of his Dad. A serious collector, his Dad ments, and released his versions, The “Poi- Be Comin’ Round the Catskills”. High cul- Grey’s name, I exclaimed, “How cool!” The had stored these vinyl treasures on shelves, ple Kishka Eater” and “Knish Doctor” on ture received a similar skewering: the opera clerk ringing up my purchase, asked, “Do dividing them into distinct categories. I the album The Most Mishege that same year. Barber of Seville re-imagined as The Bar- you know him?” I told her, “I sure know found dozens of early rock and roll, big By that time, Mickey Katz had peddled ber of Schlemiel. Most listeners welcomed his work. I have some of his Dad’s stuff on band and jazz records filed there. What his schtick for nearly a decade. A talent- his records like a delicious bowl of matzo vinyl, too.” Actor, singer, dancer and direc- sparked my curiosity at the time, howev- ed jazz clarinet and sax player, he worked ball soup, but his songs also offended more tor, Joel Grey, now 88, is best known for er: the section labeled “novelty records.” I with Spike Jones’s Orchestra. Jones, with than a few folks, and by today’s standards would be dismissed as politically incorrect. Novelty records, often derided for their inherent goofiness and widely considered low brow, usually saw limited and brief suc- cess. Katz’s records (performed in a hybrid mix of Yiddish and English—Yinglish) occupied a sub genre of the novelty cat- egory, making hit record status all but im- possible. Mickey never soared in the charts and for most he has long since faded into obscurity. But to hear Katz’s priceless spoof of “How Much is that Doggie in the Win- dow” entitled “How Much is that Pickle in the Window” (his work is easily found on YouTube), is to bite into a warm pas- trami on rye in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s world. Discovering those Katz records and listening to them on my turntable for the first time felt like a weekend at a classic Catskills resort minus the gefilte fish. Katz’s Jewish heritage informed all his work, his records finding their most en- thusiastic fans within that community. Klezmer, an Eastern European Jewish tra- ditional dance music, featured prominently in many of his arrangements, usually in- cluding solos on his virtuosic clarinet. His comic sensibility, playful creativity (he re- leased a children’s record, Katz Pajamas, with comic versions of nursery rhymes), his seemingly helium-enhanced voice and his blending of ethnic and popular music styles VINTAGE SCHTICK: Sophisticated Silliness. Photo by Kieran Loughney. set him apart as an original. For Katz to have raised a son of such prodigious talent originating the master of ceremonies role climbed out of the basement with Vaughan his zany arrangements and topical musical as Joel Grey had to be destiny, or in Yid- in the Broadway musical Cabaret. He’s won Meader’s JFK parody album, The First spoofs is remembered as the Frank Zappa dish—beshert. an Oscar, a Tony, a Grammy and a Golden Family, Stan Freberg’s comical History of of the period. Katz left the group over a The young man at the adjacent regis- Globe. For me though, being a cash reg- The United States, Tex Ritter’s record Hill- pay dispute and formed his own band. He ter responded to my mention of Katz and ister and a couple degrees of separation billy Heaven and two Mickey Katz albums cranked out a series of records, combining spoke to me. “You’re familiar with Joel’s away from Grey’s father, Mickey Katz, was tucked under my arm. comedy and music informed as much by Dad?” he asked. I nodded, adding, “Yeah, a thrill. Novelty songs, while a rare blip on the traditional Yiddish culture as by the jazz tell Joel he has a fan in the neighborhood Mickey Katz occupies a niche in music charts today, once enjoyed status as a mu- and popular music of the day. His genius and tell him I think his Dad’s records are little remembered or understood today. For sic industry staple. This type of song takes took aim at any pop culture target. Katz re- brilliant.” Joel’s messenger smiled and said, years, Katz’s records appealed to my fasci- a popular phenomenon—a social ill (Fre- leased “K’nock Around the Clock”, a kosher “Joel will be more excited to hear you’re a nation with the intersection of music and berg’s takedown of the commercialization take on “Rock Around the Clock” within fan of his Dad.” comedy. My affection for the genre went of the holiday in “Green Christmas”), a beyond nostalgia. I had heard records from musical genre (gunfighter ballads were the 1950’s and 60’s by artists such as Stan spoofed with Big “Irving—The 142nd VIEWS BY SUZE Freberg, whose recordings featured voice Fastest Gun in the West” by Frank Gal- Suzanne McAndrews actor Daws Butler (Yogi Bear, Snaggle- lop), or an historic event (Sherman’s, “You 50 + years in Greenwich Village puss, etc.) and Sinatra’s bandleader Billy Went the Wrong Way Old King Louie”, May and by Alan Sherman (Camp Grana- a send-up of the French Revolution) and See Views by Suze da) who also used the richest orchestration exploits it for laughs and with luck, a quick at to back his silliest tunes. I loved their skew- buck, too. In 1958, seven of these odd and Bonsignour Café ering of everything from commercialism funny tunes hit the top five on the charts. Jane Street to politics to celebrity. These artists per- Of these, “Witch Doctor” by David Seville, and Eighth Avenue formed social commentary with a melody, “The Purple People Eater” by Sheb Wool- 646-689-3475 standup comedy that rhymed. ey, “Yakety Yak” by The Coasters and The [email protected] My introduction to Katz’s work, nearly Chipmunk’s “Christmas, Don’t Be Late”,