The Voice of the WestView News VOLUME 16, NUMBER 6 JUNE 2020 $1.00 Village Stage for Outrage engulfed in flames. As they burned, pro- On the evening of Saturday, May 30th, The testors spray-painted them with slogans. Village became the stage for what appeared to Riot police came running down the street, be a well-orchestrated demonstration against causing panic in the crowd. But there was police for the Minneapolis killing of George nowhere to run. In every direction, police Floyd, ending with the skilled firebombing of vans and cars erupted into flames, with so several police vehicles. Covered by WestView much smoke billowing out of them that it News photographer Chris Manis, he was actually became hard to see and breathe. struck by what appeared to be a core group that This attack appeared to be highly orga- issued instructions both moving and harangu- nized, with car fires erupting simultaneously ing the crowds. Manis followed the action to in every direction. It was also clear that the University Place, where he captured the photos persons who started the fires were long gone for this article. His eyewitness account follows. before the riot police arrived at the scene. By Chris Manis I must give credit to the police, who were I arrived at Union Square around 10 p.m. surprisingly restrained in their response as to a line of approximately 200-300 riot they formed a line and pushed the crowd police spanning from University Place away from the burning cars so that the fire to . Behind them, in the park, department could get through and extin- a large crowd of 400-500 had assembled. guish the blazes. Although several bank and All seemed very peaceful and calm. Most store windows were smashed, the vast ma- people (including the police) were on their jority of damage was clearly aimed at police cell phones and looked quite bored. I then property. Also, as the police vans were burn- noticed, and apparently the police did not, ing, there were several loud explosions that that the crowd started quietly but quickly came from inside the vehicles. streaming out of the park in different di- WESTVIEW PHOTOGRAPHER CHRIS MANIS captured this photo on University Place on Sat- It's my observation that the police were rections—almost as if on cue. One group urday, May 30. For more exclusive images, visit www.westviewnews.org caught absolutely by surprise, and it took went down Broadway, another down Uni- them quite a while to organize a response. versity Place, and others headed toward to follow a story, so I walked down Uni- firecracker-type explosions occurred simul- It appeared that the police were up against . versity Place to see what was going on. As taneously. I heard breaking glass and more a highly organized and capable group who I know the streets well and I know how I arrived at 13th Street, several large, loud, explosions, and spotted several police vans knew how to incite mayhem. Pandemic May Shutter Small, Local Biotech Addressing COVID-19 By Kambiz Shekdar, Ph.D. and We are two of the co-founders of such his main science project. He was desperate a brand new job as associate at a large law Christian Kopfli a private biotechnology company, called to find a solution and came up with an idea firm in City where he worked Chromocell Corporation. Kambiz original- that had the potential to overcome the - with many companies including some of We have heard about restaurants and their ly invented the foundational biotechnology rier. The university filed a patent application that era’s most exciting start-ups. We were struggles in this pandemic, but few have behind Chromocell when he was a 24-year on the invention that it would own, as Kam- friends and when we started talking about heard about an atypical group of promising old graduate student in a Nobel-Prize win- biz was considered an employee. the science and how it could help speed biotech companies that are private and in ning laboratory at The Rockefeller Uni- Meanwhile, Christian had just gone from through and overcome obstacles in the lab, jeopardy. The unique biotechnologies these versity. At the time, Kambiz’s research was simultaneously completing his masters in we decided to give it a go and start a bio- companies offer to help address COVID encountering challenges as the then-used law at and his Ph.D. tech company together, with Christian as its may perish as collateral damage. methods for engineering cells slowed down in law from the University of Zurich to start continued on page 50

Cuomo at Bat Directory Milestones Raffle Nightlife An analysis of the Gov- Our Village Directory Two full pages of LGBTQ Subscribe to WestView COVID's impact on every ernor's COVID response, provides a list of open historic milestones, events News for a chance to win aspect of life is examined and a look forward at restaurants, grocery stores and accomplishments. Sure great prizes—including through the lens of per- challenges to come. and other businesses. to be a collector's item. Sarah Jessica Parker shoes! formers and night spots.

SEE PAGE 5 SEE PAGE 18 SEE PAGE 28 SEE PAGE 30 SEE PAGE 34 2 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org WestView WestViews Published by WestView, Inc. by and for the residents of the Correspondence, Commentary, Corrections West Village. WestView Triumph writing just so on a page. I also love the blue part of the WestView community. Publisher Dear George and WestView, ink in the ‘7 p.m.’ title. Thank you and an incredible staff for al- Executive Editor The May 1st issue is a wonderful gift from It really draws a subtle attention to the ar- ways enriching our lives. George Capsis you George, and your writers, to our West ticle. I hope I get some offers from house- —Roberta Curley Art Director Village community. cleaners after the paper circulates. My place Kim Plosia I have always loved reading WestView, but is still a ‘virtual’ mess—though I’m unclear as Kudos to Kelton Advertising Manager and Designer this was something more—a healing balm to what ‘virtual’ means anymore… Anyway, I To the Editor, Stephanie Phelan knowing our community will go on, and a know for sure many will identify with me and I was thrilled to see the May issue contained Traffic Manager Liza Whiting testimony to all you and WestView provide my plights. I totally agree with the letter to another personal story “Mom’s Lessons for our neighborhood. the editor re: both the April and May issues. on Love” by Nancy Davidoff Kelton. Her Photo Editor That WestView was not silent while our They show a concern, a warmth of feel- Washington Square and Wegmans pieces in Darielle Smolian entire neighborhood was locked down fac- ing, an invitation for a slow healing to West previous issues showed her warm authentic Photographers ing a hundred year threat is an achievement Villagers, and an empathy that disseminates funny voice. She did that again in this issue. Maggie Berkvist not to be forgotten. to whomever opens the paper. Particularly Keep them coming. Chris Manis Many thanks George to you and the en- great job, especially considering the enor- —David Rose Associate Editors tire WestView team. I will both subscribe and mous gravity of some of the material you are Justin Matthews, Anne Olshansky, Bruce Poli make my small donation to your great effort. working with. A Very Short Letter Comptroller —Steve Wilson Kudos, kudos, kudos on a publishing vic- Jolanta Meckauskaite tory in a time of unusual stress and woe. This will be the shortest article you will Architecture Editor Your words echo even clearer now—we read in this WestView News issue. I planned Brian Pape An Appreciative Contributor NEED a local paper, in print if possible, to to write about the problem of crowding, Fashion Editor Dear George, sew up the “holes” Governor Cuomo spoke no masks, and little social distancing in the Karen Rempel I am so pleased with everything about how of. That includes WestView’s guidance as to Hudson River Park. Mask-less joggers and Film and Media Editor my article came out this May. The pics what and what not to open, and the paper’s bikers expel streams of microbes as they Jim Fouratt framing it are so worthy. Like they say, pic- ad regarding an upcoming All Bach live- pass by. Large groups congregate on the Food Editor tures tell a thousand words. Thank you so streamed concert at St. John’s in the Village piers. The NYPD declared a new policy to David Porat much for publishing my heartfelt piece. Be- on May 25th, 2020. You and Emily Dickin- remedy these problems beginning in May. Music and Eldercare Editor cause it was rather graphic, I think it was son share something wonderfully inspiring, After repeated calls to the 6th Precinct’s Hannah Reimann relatable. In fact one of my brothers, after George.You both possess hope—whether or community relations department, I have not Science and LGBTQ Editor reading it, said now everyone was going to not it has feathers is beside the point. You yet been able to speak with anyone there to Kambiz Shekdar, PhD think I had coronavirus (if I god forbid had, and your paper CREATE hope and share it. answer questions on how their new strategy Regular Contributors I would never have been able to do all that Hope is a darn great commodity at all times. is working. I still see no masks in the park. J. Taylor Basker, Barry Benepe, cleaning up!). You and your finessing staff As a bonus, you allow us to air our sugges- Stay tuned. Caroline Benveniste, Charles Caruso, uncannily knew how to place the piece of tions and concerns by inviting us all to be a Jim Fouratt, John Gilman, —J. Taylor Basker Mark. M. Green, Robert Heide, Thomas Lamia, Keith Michael, Michael D. Minichiello, Penny Mintz, Brian J. Pape, Joy Pape, Bruce Poli, Alec Pruchnicki, Christina Raccuia, Suicide at 45 Hannah Reimann, Karen Rempel, Catherine Revland, Martica Sawin, Donna Schaper, , 84 Arthur Z. Schwartz, Stanley Wlodyka I received an early call on Tuesday, May We endeavor to publish all letters received, 18th, from an obviously alarmed elderly Godfather of AIDS Activism and the Force including those with which we disagree. women who said a neighbor at 45 Chris- The opinions put forth by contributors Behind ACT UP and GMHC to WestView do not necessarily reflect the topher Street had committed suicide by views of the publisher or editor. jumping out of a rear window of the tall West Villager Larry Kramer, American playwright, WestView welcomes your correspondence, apartment house. author, film producer, public health advocate, comments, and corrections: The women who called lived near #45 LGBT rights activist and the principal founder of www.westviewnews.org and was alerted by the very early-morning ACT UP and GMHC, died May 27 at the age of Contact Us appearance of police and an emergency ve- 84. As the foremost and most vocal and pro- (212) 924-5718 hicle. She would not give her name but was active leader in the fight against AIDS, he was [email protected] most anxious to talk and revealed that she a public foe of , New York's closeted was living in a five-story family building all former mayor who refused to address the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. They were neighbors at Two alone; “I am getting it cleaned up,” she said. Fifth Ave, where Edie Windsor and Bella Abzug I sent our photographer Chris Manis to had also lived. the building where the unfortunate inci- dent occurred, but by the time he arrived Renowned as a playwright for The Normal Heart, all was quiet. However, he did have a friend an autobiographical play focusing on the early who lived nearby and had some informa- days of the AIDS crisis, Kramer was a firebrand tion: the women who died had lived with and forceful leader who was known for posing her husband, had mental problems, and LARRY KRAMER, 2010. Photo the Hamletesque provocation—either we fight or talked about having the coronavirus. Her credit: David Shankbone / CC we die—at the LGBT Community Center in March death was reported by a neighbor who saw BY 2.0. 1987, leading to the creation of ACT UP. the body from her window and called the In Kramer's own words, “I was trying to make people united and angry. I was super who then called the police. The pub- known as the angriest man in the world, mainly because I discovered that anger lic information office of the police could got you further than being nice. And when we started to break through in the not give me the victim’s name but did give media, I was better TV than someone who was nice.” MIA SAYS: Forgiving prejudice is the best me her age, which was 77. —Bruce Poli way to end it. Photo by Dusty Berke. — George Capsis www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 3 Pride in the Time of Corona By Chauncey Dandridge would have ever expected. It has been ac- companied with great loss and death, finan- One of the things heavily lamented by cial uncertainty, hardship and resounding members of the LGBTQ community cur- fear and anxiety, but perhaps it was necessary rently, is that this will be the first time in fifty to stand still and regroup, and reinvent and years that there will actually be no organized reclaim our own Pride. We needed to reassess Pride March conjured up to light up The our value and values. We needed to relearn Big Apple in rainbow colors. Considering respect. We needed to remember our history that last year, celebrated the and prepare for our future. fiftieth anniversary of The We still do not have any understanding as well as played gracious host to World of how and when and if the nightlife com- Pride festivities, the void left in the wake of munity will rebound after this crisis and coronavirus will be wildly ominous and felt threat is over. Will our favorite watering around the world. Pride season in Gotham holes survive? Will dance floor capacities City promises to be peculiar, painfully anti- be cut in half? Will plexiglass stand be- climactic and disorienting. It will be a stark tween you and your bartender? Will your contrast to joyous, countless celebrations handshakes be rationed out? Will your that stretched throughout every corner and hugs be looser or tighter? Will you have to borough of the city that never sleeps. Luck- find a dark corner in a dive bar to remove ily, some of the positively resounding traits your masks and experience your first kiss? of the LGBTQ community are defiance, So, so many unknowns. This community THIS YEAR WILL BE A STARK CONTRAST TO PREVIOUS ONES: For the first time in 50 ingenuity and resilience. There have been has won many battles, survived many at- years, there will actually be no organized Pride March. Photo by Maggie Berkvist. too many successes, too much progress, too tacks, climbed many mountains and still much climbing and resisting and reconcili- have the luxury and honor of being one of Immediately after the initial shutdown, continues to morph and master its tech- ation to stop. Like the members of a church the resident DJs and event producers at the shows and talk shows and dj sets popped niques. And we do it in one of the greatest say, from the priest to the parishioner, you bar, and when I was hired back in 2013, up everywhere and filled the vacuum. Fans classrooms in the world, New York City. don’t have to be in church to experience I had no idea the sheer magnitude of ex- adjusted and assimilated to this new way of We have a current administration that is God, because God is everywhere. This year, citement and glory that would reverberate experiencing art and performance as certainly not in our best interest, and as we will be reassured that Pride doesn’t need within those walls and outside the front technophobes learned their way around a the letters in our acronym multiply so do a parade to exist. Pride is everywhere, in ev- door when the anniversary of the riots Zoom dance party and learned how to Ven- our enemies. In solidarity, please remember eryone and every day. grew closer in 2019. mo someone a tip. It has been quite remark- that in November on Election Day. And Nostalgia is usually reserved as an emo- Fast forward to March of this year, and able to witness and participate in as well. I this June, remember that, like God, Pride tion one feels about moments in their life New York City nightlife has been com- have found that I and many fellow artists are is everywhere, in everyone and every day. that happened many years ago. In 2020, we pletely upended, the proverbial rug quickly finding newer ways to express ourselves while will be forced to feel nostalgic about all the and carelessly ripped out from under us. discovering talents we were aware of but had Chauncey Dandridge is a DJ, event producer, magic and madness that occurred simply The static and chaos of uncertainty has never fostered before. Activists are leading multidisciplinary artist, author and activist one year ago. The entire month of June filled the blank space where the music once by example, volunteering at food drives and in NYC. Currently enjoying a residency at is usually chock full of events from rallies played and has left dance floors barren and soup kitchens, using the captive audiences The , Chauncey helps produce to fundraisers to circuit parties to outdoor barstools vacant. Remembering their inner glued to their phones to valiantly preach their the annual Dance Parade and Urban Bear concerts and everything in-between. It is a divinity, the drag queens, the DJs, the mu- political messages and somehow, despite the NYC Weekend as well as a weekly radio show magical time for tourism, as people from sicians, the dancers, the artists, the activists obvious physical and social distance, make and monthly variety show “Freak Out” which around the world plan to spend their Pride and the audiences have not stopped creat- stronger connections. showcases local queer talent. He has lent his in the city where Pride began and most ing, fighting, surviving or watching. Instead This ‘pause’, as they have dubbed it, has time and talents to countless fundraisers over revelers make sure their itinerary includes of the arts and nightlife community going been obviously life changing, revealing much the years. Follow him on Instagram @house- a journey to Mecca: The Stonewall Inn. I underground, we have simply gone digital! more about ourselves and others than we ofdandridge and @djchaunceyd The Day the Village Stood Still: Mayday By Roger Paradiso both the PPP and the Disaster Loan. They through this crisis.” say there is no more money left in the fund. Jamal was checking in with me by text I remember they used to play this con game, They offered me a business loan at 2.5 per- every other day: “So I talk to other business Three-card Monte. They played it over by cent at another bank, but a week later they on Bleecker and they said they got nowhere the subway kiosk on and West called and said they can’t do it. I started yell- with anything the government was offer- . You just need a cardboard box. ing at them. What do you mean? I’m your ing. The PPP and all that. They’re thinking Pull out the cards, shuffle the deck, and play customer? You make money off of me. You of shutting down. My landlord is pushing Three-card Monte. Nobody ever won that need to get me a loan. He blamed the gov- me for the rent. He wants all three months game, right? I don’t know where those scam ernment for not giving them more money.” on June 9th. I have some very hard deci- artists went; maybe to Washington D.C. Brock Blake, CEO of Lendio, the larg- sions to make in the next couple of weeks. They must be running the banks too. Right est-business lending marketplace in the Right now, I would say I am moving out.” now, the question is: where’s the money to U.S., stated, “Ninety-four percent of small I emailed Nick, owner of Cinema Village save the small business owners? business owners, many of whom have ap- (and two other theaters in the boroughs), WHERE IS THE MONEY TO SAVE THE I check in with my friend Jamal who is plications pending with Lendio and other and he responded, “Difficult times are here. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS? Village Music facing the loss of his forty-year family busi- lenders, have been left to fend for them- Cinema Village is not looking for any grants, World, above, has yet to receive monetary ness. It’s called Village Music World and is selves. I estimate that nearly $850 billion gifts that will be a burden to our city. All we relief due to the lack of government funds. on the now-barren . Jamal is what it will take to get small businesses are asking is help from anyone that can get Photo credit: Roger Paradiso. said, “I was turned down by HSBC Bank for continued on page 10 4 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org Where Have All the Feel the Power White Folks Gone? opportunity on June 23rd to vote for the Vote on June 23 Sanders slate of delegates. I am one of By Alec Pruchnicki aides, and many others who are essential those candidates—in the 10th congres- for the working of the city. They are often By Penny Mintz sional district. If I am elected I will work There are numerous accounts of COVID paid poorly and can’t afford to miss work, to motivate the national party to focus infecting and killing more people of color or risk being fired for not coming in. I can There is a primary election coming up on on issues that are important to us regular (African-Americans and Hispanics) than only imagine that they ride the subways June 23rd. For a while, it looked like the people: universal health care, environmen- whites in New York and other cities. This because they have to. presidential primary was off—canceled by tal protection, shifting the tax burden to has come from health statistics, govern- Not only does this put them at contin- a decision of the New York State Board of those who can afford to pay, and protec- ment agencies, and investigative reports on ued risk of contracting COVID on the Elections. But things changed when An- tion from corporate overreach. TV and in newspapers. There is one more subways, like the over 50 MTA workers drew Yang, joined by more than a dozen If you live in the 66th State Assembly strong source of evidence that I have no- who have died from it, and on their jobs intervening Bernie delegates and mem- District, you will also see my name as a ticed: the subways. where protective equipment might be in bers of the New York State Democratic candidate for membership in the Demo- I usually get on the 2 or 3 Seventh Av- short supply, but they then go back to their Committee, sued to maintain the right to cratic Party State Committee. The state enue express at and take it up communities where their potential infec- vote even though there was no question, committee is the governing body of the to my office near 110 Street and Lenox tions can be spread even further. presumably, that Joe Biden was going to Democratic Party in the State of New Avenue during the morning rush hour. At There are many reasons why poorer be the presidential candidate of the Dem- York. While I have been part of the strug- night, I make the reverse trip. Before this people who constitute a disproportionate ocratic Party in November. I am one of gle to maintain the right to vote in NY pandemic started, most of the riders from number of minority individuals can suffer those interveners who fought to preserve and make democracy greater, my oppo- 96th Street to 14th were a mix of all dif- from COVID. Poverty itself, poor housing, that right to vote because there are still nent in the race, Rachel Lavine, has been ferent races. Although I wasn’t keeping a poor nutrition, higher rates of other diseas- important issues to be determined. using her position in the state committee close count, retroactively I would estimate es, inadequate health care service, and oth- The Board of Elections claimed that to limit voters’ effectiveness. that there might have been a roughly 50- er reasons can all contribute to this. Going the presidential primary was no more than In recent years, Lavine has opposed fu- 50 ratio of white to black with a smaller to work in the middle of a pandemic only a “beauty contest” because the nomination sion voting, which enables a minor party percentage of Asians. At 96th many school adds to this. of Joe Biden was a foregone conclusion. A to run a candidate who is also running kids and elderly of all races would get on. Then, of course, there is the question of federal judge disagreed. In reinstating the on other party lines. That gives people At , what looked like office race. Poorer treatment of minority popu- election, Judge Analisa Torres ruled that the chance to vote for a mainstream workers, of all races, got on. lations by the healthcare system itself has the cancellation “deprived Democratic candidate while also expressing support After the quarantine was started, and the been documented over the years. How voters of the opportu- for the policies of city went into widespread lockdown, all much of these poor outcomes (as we in nity to elect delegates a minor party. So, that changed. The total number of riders medicine euphemistically refer to death [to the national con- However you choose for example, if you decreased dramatically during both rush and disease), are racial and how much eco- vention] who could want Andrew Cuo- hours. Sometimes I would get on a train nomic? Healthcare statistics on income are push their point of to vote, just be sure to mo to prevail over with just a few other riders and there was sometimes harder to get than those broken view in that forum.” his Republican rival almost always enough space to keep dis- down by race. I hope when this epidemic is Ordinary voters— cast that ballot. It is but you would also tance between us, if not exactly six feet. But studied, social scientists will look at mor- you and I—have limit- like him to support the overwhelming majority of riders were bidity and mortality broken down by in- ed avenues of influence precious and powerful. strong unions, you black and Hispanic, with almost all white come. What is the difference between dis- on big public issues. can express that by and Asian riders gone. This has been con- ease rates of poor vs middle class vs upper But, as Judge Torres voting on the Work- sistent throughout the quarantine. class people within the same racial group? recognized, one of the powers that we ing Families Party line instead of on the The most logical explanation for this Meanwhile, for those of you who ride the enjoy is the power to vote for convention Democratic Party line. is that many of these riders where there subways or buses, let me know if you agree delegates who share our views. Torres Lavine, as chair of the Progressive Cau- because they had to be. Many of the es- with these qualitative observations. I could noted that, besides anointing the party’s cus, proposed a resolution to the caucus sential jobs that require staff to come in be wrong in my perceptions, or explanations presidential candidate, the delegates “in- that would have eliminated fusion voting. are low paying positions that can’t be done for them. I also hope that when this crisis fluence the party platform, vote on party The caucus voted down Lavine’s resolu- remotely. Along with the doctors, nurses, has mostly past someone will study these governance issues, pressure the eventual tion, and Lavine betrayed her own caucus and hospital staff members (which also questions so that we might be a little more nominee on matters of personnel or pol- by submitting the failed resolution to the are heavily minority), there are delivery ready for the next epidemic that will surely icy, and react to unexpected developments full committee in her own name. people, food service workers, home health come down the road in the future. at the convention.” That makes our votes On the issue of fusion voting, Rachel meaningful and, because so few people Lavine’s resolution attempted to achieve vote in the primaries, much more power- exactly what the New York Board of Elec- ful than a vote in the general election. tions had tried to do in the presidential Some people argue that a vote for primary—reduce the voters’ opportunity Sanders in the primary is effectively a to express their views. Lavine wanted to vote for Trump. That is simply not true. get rid of the opportunity voters have A vote in the primary is not like voting had to express their views by voting for a for a third-party candidate in the general mainstream candidate on a minority party election. It does not reduce the number line. Without fusion voting, the voters’ of general election votes for Biden. It voices are diminished. cannot act as a spoiler. Nor does it divide I hope you vote for me on June 23rd. or weaken the Democratic Party, which However you choose to vote, just be sure to faces much greater danger of alienating cast that ballot. It is precious and powerful. young voters who might see the party as If you are uncomfortable about voting unresponsive to their concerns. As Judge in person due to the dangers of COV- Torres concluded, the presidential pri- ID-19, request an absentee ballot by go- mary vote is an opportunity for voters “to ing to www.NYCAbsentee.com. Check express their support for delegates who the box for “Temporary Illness” on the ap- share their views.” plication. Every registered voter can vote I, for one, plan to take advantage of this by absentee ballot in the June election. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 5

REALITY CHECK—COVID: Into the Middle Innings

InWe these fondly unimaginable remember and the challengingloved ones times,we’ve I hopelost. everyoneTo our first is staying responders safe, supportingand essential local workers: via delivery where we can, and reflecting whatTHANK is meaningful YOU! in our lives.NYC Weis coming will get throughback. thisPlease soon support and I look our forward tolocal seeing restaurants! our community PROTECTED FROM THE VIRUS...BUT AT WHAT COST? Graphic artist: Genaldri Tjahjadi. rebound joyously. By Jesse Robert Lovejoy some perspective. He must recognize that he does not understand the suffering inflicted by For a starting pitcher, the most dangerous in- the shutdown and the pain of being jobless ning is the first. He isn’t really warmed up, and and hungry. He has to stop talking about lives Visit www.westvillagebroker.com he doesn’t know what’s working that day. If his versus the economy. That is a phony issue, and for information on staying fastball has life and his command is good, he the talk is disrespectful. The governor’s only safeFor Candovi dprotected. Resource s and a note can settle in, begin to mix in the curve, and job is to restart the economy as fast as possible Newfrom info Sco availabletty on th one m buyingarket, andplea se cruise the first two times through the order. with as little damage to health as possible. sellingvisit w inw wthe.w Westestvil lVillage.agebroker.com But the third time through looms ominously. There are tons of details to get right—like Batters have seen the fastball and the curve a the criteria for reopening. The CDC has Scotty Elyanow Long time West Village few times. A starter needs a third and even been wrong a lot. Their dictates for reopen- westvillagebroker.com fourth pitch. He’s going to have to throw sink- ing need to be analyzed, not blindly adopt- Resident/Broker/ (new and updated) ers, cutters and changeups. Andrew Cuomo is ed. Be incisive; throw a cutter. Does it make Community Volunteer M: 917.678.6010 [email protected] starting his third time through right now. We sense to set the same hurdles for reopening Lic. Associate RE Broker villagescotty are going to learn a lot. in the sparsely populated North Country as Cuomo’s first time through the order in the densest-packed city in America? How was all fastballs. He shut down schools and can people trace all contacts in a city where businesses, found ventilators and PPE, ex- millions have already been infected? Can panded hospitals by 50 percent, reorganized parents go back to work before the schools the state hospital system, and sparred with open? These issues need more analysis. Washington about most of it. He spoke on The governor will also have to work his TV for an hour every day to report progress. way out of trouble. The virus is tough, and It was all cheese and strong command. he will make mistakes. The State must keep The second time through the order moving forward when infections increase, Cuomo mixed in the curve. He negotiated because they will. Several states and nations with Trump and got a lot of federal help, have already seen it happen. Cuomo likes effectively and without partisanship. It was to quote Churchill: “When you’re going surprising, and it worked great. Cuomo through hell, keep going.” Take that to heart. asked, Trump delivered, Cuomo said thank Cuomo also has to get funding from you. Refreshing. A plus curveball. Washington to fill the hole in the state But it is rare for a leader to make no mis- budget. This is going to call for a changeup. takes, and Cuomo certainly made a few, in- You can’t sneak a fastball past Mitch Mc- cluding the brutal error of requiring nursing Connell. Put aside your party’s wish list of homes to admit COVID-positive patients, programs and its platform for November. with tragic results. Just ask for the actual costs and the actual The early surge was flattened, but now shut- lost revenues. That’s all. down orders have crushed the national econo- Maybe the governor’s battle against CO- my. Forty million Americans—including two VID can even begin to reinvent an honor- million New Yorkers—are out of work. U.S. able role in public service—the guy who joblessness approaches 25 percent. Hundreds reaches across the aisle and gets things done. of thousands of small businesses are bankrupt, There was a time when eminent people did the owners’ life-savings are gone. The drop in that. It could turn out to be important once second quarter GDP will be like a bottomless again, and there’s zero competition for the elevator shaft. This virus will be out there until job. If he does it all, that’s four plus pitches. we have a vaccine, but the American people Cooperstown? Let’s not get ahead of our- have to get back to work fast or everybody is selves, but he gets the start next Tuesday. going to be busted and starving. This—right now—is Cuomo’s third Jesse Robert Lovejoy, a lifelong New Yorker, time through the order. Is he just another worked in for over 50 years in strong-armed kid, or does he really know law and finance. He now operates a personal how to pitch? consulting business. With all due respect, the governor needs Edited by: Felix von Moschzisker 6 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org For LGBT’s Future… Notes From Away Partisan Democracy(an Oxymoron) Allies Make a Difference By Tom Lamia In expanding the First Amendment pro- On the road to partisanship, we have trav- tection of free speech to include campaign eled all but the last mile. If there is no off- financing, unlimited and anonymous con- ramp to be found before or at the November tributions in support of political causes elections many, if not most, of our represen- gained protection from regulation, corpo- tatives in Washington, D.C., in our state rations included. Those seeking election capitals, and in the cities, towns and special no longer can get by on placards, posters purpose districts throughout the country and policy handouts. The big money is will continue their accustomed role of serv- there to be had; it only requires faithful ing their individual interest in winning their devotion to the cause, a condition insepa- next election. I could include in this group rable from heavyweight financial support. the unelected staff, aides and bureaucrats Chamber of Commerce support was once whose expertise in legislation and adminis- enough for Republican votes. More is now tration is fundamental to good governance. needed. Their jobs, and careers too, now seem de- The character of a president in the cur- pendent on pleasing the President; and they rent social, political and financial environ- are not just his political appointees. ment seems the only protection that our Backed by the Attorney General, the Constitutional government can rely on, and President claims a free hand under Ar- that is a slim reed. If we can elect (“ . . . a ticle Two of the Constitution to adminis- system that gives power to a celebrity [etc.] ter all executive power without constraint, . . ..”) a person with no knowledge or appre- whether of law or custom. Using that ciation of our form of government or of our simple idea, and extending it as a shield founding principles and historic reliance on against Congressional or Judicial oversight, checks and balances within government—a

LGBT EQUAL RIGHTS depends on active, visible ally support. Photo credit: © Suzanne Poli.

By Bruce Poli, Executive Director, tion and a variety of social barriers and fears Equal Rights Foundation which of course influence young people and the psychological composure of an en- In 1961, future U.S. Attorney General tire sexual orientation in our country that Ramsey Clark was sent to Mississippi for has never been seen as ‘right in God’s eyes’ Civil Rights work by then Attorney Gen- by millions. Far worse, people eral Robert Kennedy. are literally being killed every month. This was in anticipation of support for Racism, sexism, hatred, bigotry, name it Kennedys’ political Civil Rights agenda, what you will—the human condition—is which led up to the Civil Rights Acts of to defend itself against those not like us. 1964 and 1968 and the Voting Rights Act Unlike African Americans, Latin Ameri- cans or any other ‘immigrant’ group, you of 1965, the latter two of which Clark ARTICLE ONE OF THE CONSTITUTION enshrines the right of the people to a democracy drafted and supervised under Lyndon Ba- cannot see Gay, though there is something acting through an elected Congress. ines Johnson. called “Gaydar” (yes that’s short for Gay They changed America. radar) which is being developed and pro- he has hired, fired, demoted, transferred, person who does not respect public officials, In the following years, hundreds of ‘white’ moted as an extra sensory perception. humiliated, disgraced and sought the in- other than himself—both we and our sys- men and women flooded the South follow- One of the reasons I feel so supportive vestigation and criminal prosecution of tem have failed to protect the democratic ing the murder of three young activist work- of LGBT rights is that I recognize a so- those who have crossed him—all without republic entrusted to us. A system that has ers in Mississippi (depicted in the filmMis - phistication, intelligence and awareness effective reprisal. This is not representative allowed this result is not a working democ- sissippi Burning), under Alabama Governor that seems natural and inherent to the Gay democracy; it is medievalism of the kind racy. It has fallen into partisan control in George Wallace’s racist white supremacy community. Also, when we look at our cul- that existed in England before the Magna the most naked of terms: control no longer rule. ture, there have been hundreds of historic Carta. The heads of all who do not please lies with the individual citizen; it has passed White people were allies to black people figures—from Leonard Bernstein to Ed- the monarch are on the chopping block. to the representatives of special interests. in the 1960s. Without their visible public ward Albee to Melissa Etheridge to Lily As a foreign observer commented re- It has become a dictatorship of a partisan support, the two Presidents would never Tomlin—who have contributed to some of cently in a London publication, “The pro- “base” (an electoral core for whom loyalty to have been able or had the courage to pass the greatest aspects of American culture, democracy cause [outside the U.S.] has been a leader is the definitive issue). Such a “par- such important progressive legislation. arts and science. We would not have the weakened drastically since Trump took of- tisan democracy” is an oxymoron. My wife Suzanne and I have been in- NYC / West Village character of Ameri- fice. How do you defend a system that gives Devotion and loyalty to a person who volved with and supportive of Heritage of can leadership without a disproportionate power to a celebrity with no knowledge of holds power over others based on extor- Pride, the LGBT Center and the LGBT contribution by LGBT, Gay and international relations who filed for corpo- tion and fear is not a basis for democracy. Civil Rights movement since the mid- pioneers, artists and cultural leaders who rate bankruptcy half a dozen times?” Well, Our form of state and federal represen- 1980s.I believe it is true that allies are as have shone the light of human intelligence one might say, that would be easier than de- tative government has evolved over our important to legislative rights for the LGBT and awareness progressively upward. fending an unelected dictator, but that would history. It has never been stagnant, never community today as they were to Martin , the historical Gay activ- not fully offset the criticism. Democracy perfect, always subject to and open to criti- Luther King’s movement in the 60s. And it ist famously held the sign saying “Gay is does demand a free exchange of ideas, free cism. With the exception of the years im- is time for allies to become VISIBLE. Good.” Gay is more than good; it’s the elections and a free citizenry. Partisan regi- mediately before and after the Civil War, Despite the right to marry, the momen- fabric of our beautiful diverse nation and mentation is incompatible with these needs. the constitutional tenets of our federal re- tous celebration of World Pride last year, we allies are responsible for stepping up Our current dilemma is a primary con- public, have been generally honored, if not and seeming acceptance in NYC in 2020, and making ourselves known in the more sequence of Citizens United v. FEC, the always praised. When disagreements over gays still face homophobia, job discrimina- than half century fight for LGBT equality. 2010 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court. continued on page 7 www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 7 Even Without a March, Pride Marches On By Erik Bottcher ebrates LGBTQ Pride with events around the world that mark the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising. This tradition began here in the Village, one year after LGBTQ people fought back against op- pression, when New Yorkers and LGBTQ people from across the Northeast gathered around the corner from the Stonewall Inn to demand their civil rights and to assert their humanity. Carrying banners and signs, they walked defiantly up Sixth Av- enue to in the first Christo- pher Street Liberation Day March. Year after year we’ve gathered as a com- munity to celebrate the progress we’ve made, take stock of where we are, and forge ahead with renewed determination to rid ERIK BOTTCHER the world of hatred and discrimination. This year is the 50th anniversary of New The LGBTQ community is as vastly di- York City’s first LGBTQ Pride march, yet, verse as humanity itself. Like a brilliant paradoxically, for the first time since 1970 rainbow, we occupy every gradient in the there will be no march. spectrum of race, gender, nationality, socio- Though we won’t be marching or rally- economics and more. ing at the Stonewall Inn this year, we must Yet, we are bound together by a com- still celebrate and commemorate pride. mon thread, a shared experience rooted in This will be a test of our creativity as a com- a feeling of “otherness” that is always there munity, but it’s a challenge we must meet. and will always be there. Our shared expe- That is why this special LGBTQ Pride is- rience is also rooted in our sense of pride as sue of Westview News is so important. I a community. want to thank the publishers and contribu- For me, this sense of community was tor Kambiz Shekdar for making it happen. forged by my experience growing up as an Somewhere, a young LGBTQ person will isolated gay teen in the Adirondack moun- find this issue and know that not only are tains. in the early nineties Finding the they are not alone, but that they are also LGBTQ community saved my life. Nev- part of an incredible community. er could I have imagined that being gay would be a gift, not a curse, and a source of Erik Bottcher is Chief of Staff to City Coun- pride, not of shame. cil Speaker Corey Johnson and a candidate In June of every year, our community cel- for City Council, District 3.

Partisan Democracy continued from page 6 slavery erupted in secession and war, the folded its tents and the federal government country was saved only by military victory folded its cards in 1865. Now we have reb- that came at an appalling price. Lincoln’s els in every corner of the country believing assassination and the elevation of a South- that their resentments are also worthy of ern sympathizer to the Presidency side- recognition and accommodation under the tracked Reconstruction and led to the early banner of Confederate flags and the para- removal of troops from the phernalia of armed resistance. former Confederacy. The lesson was that Partisanship will keep us from our goal neither the law on the books nor military of peace, security and good government victory, alone, can compel unity and rub through representative democracy, unless we away the resentments of defeat. A victory recognize the danger and defend against it. requires a defense of what has been gained. In January 2021, we could have a new As military victory brought power and President, one who can lead us out of the control to the North and held the country awful partisanship and mean-spiritedness together, allowing enactment and ratifica- that now engulfs us. tion of the Civil War Amendments (XIII, These combative factions—the white XIV and XV) to the Constitution, what nationalists, American Nazis, hinterland might have been a regionally unpopular anarchists, gangster militias, media trolls, but peacefully enforceable mollification and other “good people on both sides”— and law enforcement process of reunifi- are a part of the solution because they‘re a cation, left the defeated South to nurse part of the problem. Somehow a way must resentments and to deny full rights of be found to put the positive whole before citizenship to the formerly enslaved. These the negative part. If we cannot do this we resentments linger “on both sides,” as our will have run out of democratic road and, President likes to say. The Union Army finally, be consumed by partisanship. 8 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org Celebrating in Severe Times By Robert Heide writer and producer of the Candy Darling documentary In June 1961 my one-act play West of the Moon opened as Beautiful Darling; Albert Poland who co-authored the Off an off-Broadway production at New Playwrights Theater, Off Broadway Book with Bruce Mailman and his own just on West Third Street at Thompson. It was produced and published Stages: A Theater Memoir which chronicles his ca- directed by Lee Paton (later called Lee Nagrin) who had reer as a veteran theater manager and producer of more than first introduced the early one-act plays of Eugene Ionesco 90 Broadway and off-Broadway productions; and Doric at the Theater. At New Playwrights, West Wilson, co-founder of the gay theater company TOSOS, of the Moon was part of a triple bill with my play Hector, a a playwright, and a bartender at the Christo- work that starred Henrietta Strom and The Blood Bugle, pher Street tavern Boots and Saddles, who later marched in an anti-war play written by Harry Tierney Jr. whose father many of the annual Pride Parades held yearly since 1970 in had written the musical Rio Rita which had a long run on commemoration of the Stonewall uprising. Broadway. The young characters in my play were cast with For me this revolution was in the air starting in the early two top Broadway actors, Paul Giovanni who played a sixties with the civil rights movement in full swing, the beat down and out street hustler named Luck, and Joe Poneze- poets Allen Ginsburg, Jack Kerouac, Gregory Corso, Jack cki who played an innocent young man named Billy. The Micheline, Taylor Mead and the rest over at the Gaslight two meet in a Village doorway during a rainstorm. When on MacDougal Street, and the rousing music of folk singers the triple bill opened, the critics from all top seven news- like Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Peter, Paul and Mary (We papers arrived in the lobby. One of them, Judith Crist from Shall Overcome), Gale Garnett (We’ll Sing in the Sun- the New York Herald Tribune, even before seeing the pro- shine), Bobby Darin (A Simple Song of Freedom), Bob duction, aggressively cornered the producer/director and Dylan (...’the answer my friend, is blowin’ in the wind’), asked her “where the hell did you get the money to put on Roger McGuinn and The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Jop- these plays?” Word had gotten out that my play featured lin, The Stones, the Beatles and so many more. One floor ‘homosexual’, i.e. ‘gay’ characters, and in those days such below me in my own building on Christopher Street I lis- a subject was verboten. Newspapers, like the New York JUNE 28, 1969: Robert Heide (left) and John Gilman on tened to my neighbor Zal Yanofsky and his girlfriend, Jackie Commerce Street. Later that night, they joined - Times, and the others, never even used such words in print. Burroughs, with John Sebastian and the rest of the Lovin’ wall Riots on Sheridan Square. Photo by Philip Cohen. West of the Moon was singled out and condemned with one Spoonful singing Do You Belive in Magic? Academy nomi- critic stating, “Robert Heide will never write another play and the actors to different engagements all over town. nee Sally Kirkland and Fluxus founder Dick Higgins, who again.” And another writing, “Heide should go home and Recently, re-reading the first book about the 1969 gay both lived upstairs, as well as John and myself, all believed break his typewriter over his hands.” revolution Stonewall, by historian and activist Martin Du- in the magic of the time. ’s no-holds-barred On the night of the day I read these attacks I went to berman, I found a quote from the author describing West of Pop Art lifestyle acted out all over New York and the world, the famous San Remo Tavern on Macdougal Street for a the Moon officially as one of the very first gay themed plays in the tabloids and in movie theaters (in 1966 Andy filmed drink. There I encountered with his pro- ever done off Broadway. I must add that Duberman’s book my play The Bed which premiered at the Filmmakers Cin- ducer Richard Barr. Edward’s play The Zoo Story was run- highlights many stories about one of WestView News' edi- ematheque) his gigantic silk-screens of Marilyn Monroe, ning at the moment at the Provincetown Playhouse, and tors and writers, Jim Fouratt, and a young, handsome Jim Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley and Campbell’s Soup cans the play focused on a straight married man who stabs and in a striped shirt in a gay protest march is also pictured on coming to life everywhere in unimagined ways. PS—there kills a beatnik drifter in Washington Square. Barr said to the cover. A later book, entitled Stonewall: The Riots That is a big, fantastic new Warhol biography out this month by me with a snicker, “Well Bob, what are you gonna do now?” Sparked the Gay Revolution, considered definitive and most Blake Gopnik. Lots of drugs, marijuana and LSD included, I thought, “Yeah, what?” What I was thinking was that I comprehensive, was written by David Carter who, in ad- added to these enhanced trips. And also, let us not forget, probably never would write another play. Some time later dition to being a major consultant for a TV documentary Judy Look for the Silver Lining Garland, the Somewhere I ran into Joe Cino, who said he had seen West of the Moon about the Stonewall, also worked closely with the National Over the Rainbow girl who had coincidentally and tragi- and wanted me to write another one just like it for his Caffe Park Service on the Obama era designation of the Stone- cally died June 22 in London and was brought to New York Cino which was on Cornelia Street. Subsequently I wrote wall Tavern, Christopher Park and the surrounding area as for her laying out. The body of the great singer and movie The Bed, an existential time-warp scene wherein the two a National Historic Monument. Like Duberman, Carter star went on display in a clear glass casket at Campbell’s men, drinking and drugging, could not get out of their bed interviewed me about the events of the Stonewall riots Funeral Home, almost like Snow White, where long lines for weeks. Surprise! This one got a great review from The that played out over several days and nights in late June, of gay men waited to have a last look at their idolized icon. Village Voice critic Eleanor Lester who wrote about it again 1969, setting the stage for the new . Sadly he In some strange way her death added to the gay revolution in Magazine stating, “Heide brings two passed away in early May from complications of a heart about to happen. singularly appropriate characters literally lying in the bed attack possibly related to the coronavirus. For now, self quarantined and in isolation, only going of their dissolution. Two men on a bed when ‘sex is dead’ In these Stonewall books and other written and verbal out for necessities in facemasks and latex gloves, we are and ‘God is dead’ is what the play is about. Here is the ulti- accounts, readers will find a wealth of information from the told not to congregate and “Stay Home” is the motto— mate hang-up, psychologically and metaphysically, and the participants of those days and nights fifty-one years ago. It and, oh yes, it is officially—“Welcome to The New Great playwright focuses hard on the essence of the matter. The was then and there I became, with my partner John Gil- Depression.” The world community is stuck, and so are playwright clearly establishes that what we are witnessing man, a rebel with a cause (not to cast aspersions on the we—but then we all must persevere to have hope and here is the anguish of existence.” Her review gave the play great James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause). You will come cheer for better times to come. quite a jump-start, and after the run at the Cino, the direc- across the names of Marsha P. Johnson, also known simply tor, Robert Dahdah, who also directed in as ‘Black Marsha,’ a cross-dressing man who could kick and The recently published volume Robert Heide 25 Plays her theater debut at the Cino, , took the play fight like a superman if needed, and his friend includes The Bed and many essays and original production (memorial statues in for these two are photographs. It’s available on Amazon. currently in the planning stages); Rollerina waving a wand as she sailed past on roller skates in a light blue chiffon gown with a flowered straw hat; Ruth Truth, the gay Statue of TUNE IN: THE BED—LIVESTREAM ON Liberty, dressed in pale green, walking on large wooden SATURDAY, JUNE 20 AT 6 PM NYC’S PIZZA PIONEERS SINCE 1987 platform shoes with bright flame colored hair, a face cov- The TOSOS Theater Company production of Rob- ered with glitter and holding aloft a torch; fashion editor ert Heide’s play, The Bed, featuring Christopher Borg HERE FOR YOU, at the New York Times Robert Bryan, who like other gay and Desmond Dutcher and directed by Mark Finley THROUGH THICK (Sicilian & Grandma) men had been in other raids in bars but this time decided to will be live-streamed to YouTube, launching at 6 pm fight back and really enter the fray;Village Voice ‘Scenes’ col- Saturday, June 20. After the launch it can be uploaded AND THIN (unique cornmeal crust)! umnist Howard Smith who was actually barricaded inside on YouTube with a search of the title—THE BED. the Stonewall Tavern with the police; Jeremiah Newton, www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 9

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Northwell.edu/ForTheVillage 10 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org A Nobel Laureate Crying Out in the Wilderness By Stanley Wlodyka Jiménez reality of how the deeply corrupt government was planning further oppress its citizens. “Everything is going to change because The devil was exposed in the details. of this pandemic. Everything about life as Though post-coup President Lobo (who’s we know it is going to change. Nothing is name, fittingly, is the Spanish word for going to be the same. It will be a sharper “wolf ”) signed a decree naming Romer and break than many people realize from the life four other individuals to a transparency com- that was familiar to us a few months ago,” mission in 2011, the decree was never pub- said 2018 Nobel Prize in Economics recipi- lished in a Honduran newspaper. The revela- ent Paul Romer in a recent interview with tion that the Honduran government failed WestView News. “I’m afraid, frankly, in many to satisfy the public notice requirement for ways it’s going to be a change for the worse.” new legislation—a common enough legisla- If that’s not a popular thing to say, then it tive practice employed throughout the world, won’t be the first time that Mr. Romer has ruf- even in New York—and, more importantly, fled some feathers. In October of 2016 he was maliciously manipulated Paul Romer’s inter- chosen as the Chief Economist for the World national celebrity to attract investor interest, Bank amidst much fanfare, only to resign in “A CRISIS IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE,” Paul Romer famously proclaimed back in led Romer to soberly report to the media at January of 2018 because he lacked “confidence 2004. Here construction (essential?) workers signing up to get tested at the CityMD on the time, “the Transparency Commission in the integrity” of the World Bank’s relation- 14th Street and 6th Avenue. Photo by Stanley Wlodyka Jiménez. does not exist in the eyes of the law and the ship with Chile, as well as their self-governing five named members have no legal basis for ideology, about which he stated, “The worst economy’s death knell. chairperson of a Transparency Commission reviewing any agreements.” word I’ve ever encountered [is] operationaliza- Romer feels that testing is the nation’s best for the government of Honduras, then the Regarding the actions taken by authorities tion; this is used at the World Bank,” Romer hope of getting out of this unprecedented most murderous nation in the world and em- concerning the pandemic, Romer contin- shares as something of an explanation. “It’s a moment in history with the least number of broiled in political turmoil due to a coup right ues to take the risk of his big ideas getting terrible way to communicate. It’s the worst wounds to lick. Test fast, test often, and test around the time of the famous TED Talk. hijacked by less-than-genuine partners, be- type of bureaucratic jargon.” everyone! For some, these ambitions may Criticized by some who viewed it as “neo- cause of what he fears are stakes on the line By December of 2018 he married his bring up anxiety about a government with colonial,” the charter cities proposal called for that are just too high. “Our job right now is to fiancé (who teaches littérature française a license to kill, so to speak—Big Brother developing nations to invite outside investors defend the things that are important to us.” at Barnard College) and was awarded the with a double-speak that extends beyond to build cities within their borders that would “When there’s a sudden loss…people tend Nobel Prize on the same day. even operationalization. People are worried be exempt from the host country’s laws and to go in a couple directions. One is denial: Now at , as the about their civil liberties. constitution. The post-coup government of you just can’t believe it’s happened. Another founding director of the NYU Stern Urban- “That’s one risk that we face right now. Honduras was keen on the idea. However, is recrimination: whose fault was this? Who ization Project, Romer much prefers clarity. There can be incursions of civil liberties. when investors were lured to snatch up some should be blamed? Denial is keeping us from “Clear communication is the heart of social There could be a further erosion of privacy,” of that Central American country’s famously responding to the presence of this virus ef- life, and it’s the heart of economic activity.” Romer concedes, but asserts, “Just to be clear, beautiful coastlines, it turned out that the fectively. Recrimination is going to lead to Since the shutdown, Romer has been work- my plan [for testing] is designed to make sure Transparency Commission—supposedly an attacks on strangers. At least, the discus- ing every waking moment to clarify the sit- we don’t need any kind of digital tracking.” objective third party organization that would sion, the language, the discourse of hostility uation, throwing his full weight into ringing Who said the road to hell is paved with oversee the rollout of charter cities in Hon- to strangers, to foreigners, to those who are the alarm: the United States should invest good intentions? Paul Romer is perhaps best duras—was a sham. Romer resigned as Chair not like us, those who are threats to us. That $100 billion per year on testing. With the known for a 2009 TED Talk about his Char- when he realized, along with everybody else, ugly side of human behavior, around us ver- shutdown costing $500 billion per month, ter Cities Proposal. Not long after that went the irony of a Transparency Commission sus them, is going to get worse in the wake he hopes that he isn’t actually sounding the viral, Romer put his plans into action as the formed for the sole purpose of obscuring the of this crisis.”

Mayday continued from page 3 apply for up to 250 percent of their month- those struggling little businesses that need have raked in over $10 billion on the first SBA to approve our pending loan applica- ly payroll: if your payroll is $100,000 per it desperately, and that this city certainly phase of the PPP.” tion.” Nick, who is his own landlord and ten- month, you can apply for a $250,000 loan. will need when this disastrous lockdown I pass by the kiosk where Three-card ant, emailed again, “I operate Cinema Vil- The loans are forgiven if 75 percent of the finally ends.” Monte hustlers used to hang out before lage at 22 East 12th Street for all these years money is used to pay employees. Banks, So yes, the PPP is a poorly written scam they went to work for the banks. They were (since 1964). Although my credit is excellent, naturally, will profit. Collecting fees ranging of sorts, conceived by the Three-card Monte right there behind the subway kiosk. The I am willing to give a personal guarantee and from one percent for loans over $2 million crowd in the swamp in D.C. and adminis- dealer was always looking for a sucker. The whatever it takes to get through this while all to five percent for loans under $350,000, tered by the banks. OMG, is there a snow- mark has no chance whatsoever of win- our revenue, 100 percent, has being wiped they stand to make billions from the PPP.” ball’s chance in hell of this ever working? ning. Zero chance. The only one winning out by the NYC order to shut down, while I check in with Torrie at the Half Pint on Jamal called me on May 18th. “I got the is the shill who is part of the hustle. They we must pay full rent/property tax, and we West 3rd and Thompson Streets. In desper- PPP but this is crazy; it’s at half what I ask. spot a cop car and boom! They scatter like will pay every dollar back.” I tried to help ation she has started a delivery service but They gave me seven grand for eight weeks. rats leaving only an empty box. Nick, but he wasn’t getting responses from explains, “there’s no one around, no kids in I need double that. And where is the rent When I called or emailed several own- the people I referred him to. the dorms, nothing.” Torrie thinks that the coming from? No customers now. I lose ers of iconic village businesses there was James Drougas of Unoppressive Non- insurance companies need a bailout so that money for what?” I tell him there is hope. no May Day this year, which is the official Imperialist Books on Carmine Street called businesses can collect on their losses due to They can extend the PPP and fix it. “I’m celebration of spring. When I visited the me to say, “I applied for the various loans the pandemic. A pandemic is an exclusion going to the bank,” says Jamal. “Now Ja- Village later in the month, I thought of the on offer with no success and very little on the policy. She says, “If nothing happens mal,” I say, “don’t get into a fight.” “No, I other definition of “mayday,” which is the communication except basic acknowledge- soon, we’re all shutting our doors for real.” tell them I’ll take the personal loan,” he re- international call of distress. If things don’t ment, by email, and subsequent apologies I emailed my friend, Mark Crispin sponds. I ask what percent the loan is. “6.5 change with aid from our government, I’m for running out of funding. At least I know Miller from NYU. He teaches media and percent,” he says, for $10 thousand. “But if afraid we will crash and there will be a lot they got the applications.” culture and knows the Village inside out. I put up my house I could get more; but I of casualties. There is still time to prevent I read an article in the Los Angeles Times: Mark says, “The PPP is a disaster in it- really don’t want to put up my house.” I see this crash by contacting your elected offi- “The PPP is a Small Business Administra- self, providing millions in assistance to the the Three-card Monte guys smiling. You cials; or send a letter to the editor at West- tion loan program designed to give small banks and other mammoth enterprises that following the cards? View News, at [email protected], and we businesses financial relief. Businesses can don’t need it while giving far too little to According to Motley Fool, “the banks will forward it to local officials. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 11 How We Survive By Jim Fouratt We wanted to picture a world where we were liberated and I am looking forward to celebrating the anniversary of not afraid. We invited over four weeks of announcements the first Christopher Street March for Liberation. It is at the GLF weekly meetings that anyone who wanted to important to honor the 200 brave people (including my- be in the poster should just show up. Peter had us run- self) who left Sheridan Square and marched up to Central ning down a street (actually below Houston in what later Park on Sunday, June 28th, 1970. By the time we got to became Soho). Peter took the photo (I was in it): the Park we were over 500 people. We marched into the and gay men smiling and not hiding in shadows, a sharp Sheep Meadow filled with what looked like thousands of contrast to the fear a closet culture had built to defend

New Yorkers sunning and picnicking on a perfect late June itself against homophobia and misogyny. sunny, but not too hot, day in the Park, Brenda Howard was active in the GLF women’s caucus Yes, there were also Marches in LA and SF and a gath- and joined me at that meeting, When we finished we set ering in that I knew of that day, but New York’s a new date to meet. Craig announced he was going to ask was first. The language of the signage we carried reflected the newly forming Gay Activist Alliance to join our orga- the politics of the early movement’s desire for liberation, nizing group. He did, and despite GLF and GAA’s heated equality, and freedom. We were amused that the New York political difference, we planned the March together.

Times said we were thousands, But the truth is our actual History was made. A West Village Bake Shop serving cinnamon buns, numbers, not counting all the sun-worshipers in the Sheep We marched without a police permit, not knowing if pastries, bagels, custom cakes and more! Meadow, was much less than a thousand we would be arrested or attacked. Our energy was high But it was the beginning because we were out and we were together. 72 Bedford Street • harrisbakes.com The person most responsible for organizing the March Looking back, these marches have become quite different, was the owner of the Oscar Wild Bookstore, . reflecting not only our success at being visible everywhere, We were friends before the Stonewall Rebellion. He had but also because we have become a market to be exploited. bravely opened the Oscar Wilde Bookstore, a lesbian In the ’70s at one point, the Mafia took control of the and gay bookstore on a side street just above Washington march and named their bag man at the Stonewall Inn, Square and right in the heart of NYU’s campus. I remem- Ed Murphy, an Irish gay thug, as Grand Marshall. They ber I would visit frequently. We would sit around and talk changed the name to parade, and the word stuck to the politics. Sometimes Robert Martin, a Columbia University dismay of older activists. Murphy invited Marsha P. John- student, would join us. I was in my hippie anti-war organiz- son, a GLF member and co-founder, along with Sylvia ing drag and Craig a cross between bookseller and beatnik. Rivera of STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolution) We developed a close friendship. It was late October to ride with him in his official convertible. Marsha did…. 1969 when he called me and said, “Come over to the store, in complete male drag. Marsha had always identified as a I have something serious to talk to you about Digger, gay man who liked to dress up and be pretty. Marsha told (Digger was my hippie name sometimes). I got there and me that “Gay Day” was always the happiest day of his life he said right after he let me in. “We have to do something The ’80s and 90s brought the AIDS pandemic, parades to celebrate our year of coming out and building a move- became more militant with the emergence of ACT UP ment as out gay people.” and became Marches for our lives. I was very much involved in the The success of the LGBT labor organizing efforts over at the time. GLF had over a dozen active cells in the New 30 years made it safe for corporations to publicly support York City chapter. They focused on everything from politi- their LGBT workers. This is a victory. The success of the cal actions to community outreach to reflect the diversity of commodification of our community as a market (meaning who we actually are to cells for women, Hispanics; cells for co-optation) and the money that flowed into the organi- conciousness-raising (gender-specific); cells for organizing zations that had rebranded liberation as PRIDE was self- our dances and other social events as an alternative to the evident. The tension between a celebration of some of our bars and finally to publishingCOME OUT, our newspaper! success, and the increasing issue of racism, police enforce- Independent chapters were springing up all across the ment, gender expression repression, and elected officials’ tion of Church and State, a foundation of our Democracy country, mostly on college campuses. I remember being actions or inactions, resulted in a break up of unity. and Constitution; the increasing success of the religious- in a cell that would go to other cities to help people form It meant that in the year of what should have been a nationals who seek a theocracy, not a democracy. We have their own GLF. We held demonstrations in front of the celebration of 50 years of change and advancement instead a Vice President who believes in conversion . We Village Voice (because the liberal paper’s advertising direc- brought about the creation of ReClaim Pride dedicated to have a Supreme Court now stacked with Justices who ap- tor refused to take our ad announcing a gay dance); we returning to the radical roots that produced the Christo- pear to let religious bias temper their rulings instead of demonstrated at the Women’s House of Detention in sup- pher Street Liberation March. equality and protection under the law for all. port of Angela Davis; we joined anti-war marches wel- In 2019, in NYC, the birthplace of the Stonewall Rebel- These are dangerous times: The COVID-19 pandemic come or not. The lesbians targeted homophobia in the lion, the “Queer March” took place in the very streets that is being used to control population growth and frighten woman’s movement. had produced the Stonewall Rebellion. 40,000 LGBTQ+ people into compliance. At this time “gay” was the word being used to include people marched to show solidarity as out homosexuals These are dangerous times, heightened by a worldwide both men and women, GLF was co-gendered. It was and gender expression rebels committed publicly that we health pandemic and the failure of the current economy to agreed it had to be reflected in our language; it soon be- would fight against racism both in and out of our com- guarantee equality and full life as promised in the Declara- came a GLF principle that when we said gay it meant munities, fight for justice equality, fight for workers docu- tion of Independence for all citizens, It is a “...let them eat men, lesbian was used to signify women. mented or not, fight for sane gun policy, and an environ- cake” moment. We were coming out across the country. We were be- ment where we can breath and all life is sustainable, and Homophobia, sometimes called transphobia, is on the coming visible. finally, and perhaps most importantly, the right to control rise again. My communities have survived pandemics But we still had no job protection, we could be fired for our own bodies. when we were left to die. My community endured cen- being homosexual, for fulfilling our erotic desires. These are dangerous times: The Supreme Court will de- turies of the quarantining of our desires, and we survived Craig invited a small group again in mid-December and cide this year if we have the right to be different in gender These are dangerous times. AIDS taught me that when this time he was prepared, He stood up and unfolded the expression and appearance, and whether neither will be we come together to fight hate and disease, we will also GLF COME OUT recruitment poster that Peter Hujar the basis for being fired or not hired for work; the right fight inequality in every corner where it hides. and I had worked on. It was to be a recruitment poster for for all citizens regardless of race, gender, age, ability, and These are dangerous times. It is time to WAKE UP, cast GLF and published by the COME OUT newspaper. Peter gender expression to be treated equally under the law. off fear and the feeling of powerlessness, take action, by and I had decided that COME OUT would be our theme These are dangerous times: The attacks upon the separa- any means necessary: I choose the vote, and you? 12 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org

humanity in our decisions. We do not see beyond today’s weather report. We are blind, Society Is Ready for a Renaissance deaf and absurdly primitive in the way we approach and tend to solve problems. What scarce and people were fearful and looking for age for a new world, a rebirth of our cruel and this pandemic is obviously depicting is how a scapegoat to blame for the crisis, which in unfair society where capital accumulation and disparaged our society has been toward the that case was the Gay community as a whole. selfishness dominates every aspect of it. have nots who happen to be the vast majority. This unfortunate reality has been com- I thought for a time, that when we re- These are difficult times for all of us. mon throughout humanity’s history. It hap- sumed our lives, we would be stronger and These are moments of majestic importance pened with the imprisonment of Japanese healthier and look at these devastating for our well-being and that of our commu- American citizens who were placed in con- times as a point of departure for the birth nities as we collectively face a rollercoaster centration camps in American territory, to of a new civilization. ride that is impacting the whole planet in the European Jewish people during WW2, A place where people would be respect- ways we never imagined. to Muslims in Croatia, to the Kurds, to in- ed as individuals and not just as numbers; This global pandemic is making us realize digenous tribes all over the world, to the where women will be equally valued; where how interconnected we all are and how similar FILMMAKER CALOGERO SALVO at his Nepalese, to the Indian Muslims and most all minorities would have a chance to con- our trajectories are across the world. I believe it home in Williamsburg, . Photo recently to Mexican immigrants in the USA trol, and reshape their communities; where is of paramount importance to react with se- Credit: David Hubschman. who were also placed in detention camps. LGBTQ+ people would be able to safely renity but with courage because such is needed By Calogero Salvo The weak, the different, the so-called “black come out everywhere; where medicine and to regroup, rethink and relaunch our new so- sheep” have to pay for the ignorance, racism, education would be available for everyone ciety. If we ever had a chance for change, per- During this reclusive period, my mind has classism, bigotry, sexism and homophobia that no matter their social status; where econom- haps this is the moment—carpe diem. been flying to other moments of my life continues to be rampant the world over. ics would be seen as a tool to create growth A quote by Confucius has been stuck where, similar to the current experiences, I These are our constant plagues that have and betterment for everyone and not just in my mind: “When it is obvious that the felt fear. The fear I lived during the AIDS no end in sight. the typical status quo; where government’s goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the pandemic in the early 80’s when I was a As we continue to quarantine in our iso- functions would be to ameliorate our com- goals, adjust the action steps.” young man was extraordinary. I thought lated homes I cannot stop thinking about munities and not as a never-ending, dishon- Now more than ever we need everyone’s death was imminent. My life and that of my what will it be like when all of this is over. est, distorted, ugly and absurdly expensive vision, diligence, guidance, smartness and partner, friends and the community where Will society really change? Will individuals blah blah blah of political campaigning. toughness to help us move forward and I lived seemed to be coming to an end as lose their narcissism and give to society more But as the days of confinement became overcome these arduous and painful times. many of us saw no hope and no future. For- than they take? Will the economic turbulence longer, my dream dissipated and I grew It will not be easy and it will not be fast ty years later, during the COVID-19 crisis, subside and life will be restored to “business angrier and restless as I kept realizing that but the opportunity is before us. Society is I have been experiencing similar feelings of as usual”? Will poverty, disenfranchisement, whatever we had before the pandemic was ready for a renaissance. panic, doubts and anxiety. Of course the ac- homelessness, sexism, sexphobia, bias, big- already unstable, decrepit and filled with tual situation is not exactly the same. otry or apartheid cease to exist? false expectations. Calogero Salvo, is an independent filmmaker At the very beginning of the AIDS pan- At this instant I am sad to admit that I What would become of the homeless, living in NYC. Originally from Venezuela, demic mostly gay men were pointed at, ac- have doubts there will be major changes. the poor, the migrants, the sick, the disen- Salvo has been part of the independent film cused, attacked and in some cases killed. We For a moment during these long days en- franchised and the ecosystem itself? community since the beginning of his career were persecuted, fired and evicted from our closed in our cocoon together with my hus- I was disturbed and scared because we con- and has served on the Boards of Directors of homes. The information about the disease was band, I dreamt of a better future, a coming of tinue to be unprotected, we continue to lack many organizations. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 13

Please join us in showing Pride and Solidarity! Let us work together to end all forms of systemic oppression!

The Church of the Ascension in the City of New York at Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street

On-line worship and fellowship/discussion, Sundays 11am, weekdays 5:30pm For information on all our programs and how you can be involved: [email protected] 212-254-8620

tained. Experience of it is very personal, being about 40% LGBT+. And our col- yet it’s definitely not something that can be lective pride inside steadily leads to vari- mine alone. Neither can my pride be over ous hands-on ways of growing that living Pride Inside and against yours. That living energy wants energy in ourselves and others. Whether By Ed Chinery to expand and come to characterize all of it’s hunger relief (pantry program), subver- known how to help me, but what was going humanity. Wants to be communicated in sion of immigration injustice (hosting New Do you know that feeling that everything’s on in the world did. I still cherish those first the world in ways that affirm shared vul- Sanctuary Coalition trainings), combatting okay? When you’re safe and loved? Feel like inklings of pride in who I truly am and how nerability in the human need to feel loved voter suppression (film program/postcard you belong? And the opposite. A sense of that changed the world and me. and safe and that we belong. campaign) or supporting local efforts to foreboding. Uneasy in mind, body or spirit. The fears I had as a secretly gay boy don’t Then maybe that’s the best part of the cure AIDS (go RFTCA!)—we’re all about What difference do these feelings make in live in the front of my consciousness any- . It’s a celebration, the living joy-filled inward recognition and outward your thinking and behavior? more. And, honestly, I don’t think so much energy of which also wants to spill over into demonstration of making safety, belonging I was born in 1957 and have known since about ‘pride’, either. Sure, I totally work all of life, so attendees will go forth empow- and feeling loved the reality for everybody! age five that I’m gay. I didn’t have a name the Pride Parade in June. It marches right ered by our own pride inside, and know we for it then, but I knew I wanted what mom past the Episcopal church on Fifth Avenue can always draw from that well. Know we Ed Chinery is Associate Rector of The and dad had, except with a boy. It didn’t where I currently serve. But for me—and I can adopt, as a result, kinder ways of think- Church of the Ascension – 5th Avenue and take long, even as a child, for me to realize mean no disrespect—the parade has become ing and behaving that generate and share 10th Street. For further information on that because of who I was, there was less about entertainment and marketing. Sure, the living spirit of pride, in our homes, their programming: 212-254-8620, belonging for me and less safety. Both at there’s tons of belonging, which is great, but neighborhoods, and city. [email protected], home and in the world. questions sometimes hang over it, for me, The faith community I serve celebrates [email protected] In my teens, though, things began to about how the event helps make connection change. Women, blacks, gays—no longer with deeper meanings of love and safety. able to remain ashamed and hidden—we I probably wouldn’t be making observa- stood up, one after another, with what seemed tions like this if it weren’t for quarantine. a newly invented brand of pride. Pride was It has me considering lots of things differ- declared in both speech and action, and it ently and has led to hidden wonders about was breathtaking. A new enlightenment was layers of pride deep within me. making for fresh understanding of common “Pride inside” is partly my response humanity, and it was happening just as I be- to social movements that have wrought gan to feel grown-up. Best of all, it meant I change. But the underlying longing to no longer felt I had to keep running to get make manifest or strengthen safety, feel- away from that foreboding that comes of not ing loved and belonging—that longing is belonging. My otherwise loving family hadn’t like a living energy field that won’t be con- 14 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org Tipping the Balance of Power NYU Graduate Student Workers Sick-Out Protest Due to COVID By Anthony Paradiso perate for help from the University during On Mar. 9, New York University moved the unforeseen circumstances that the pan- all of its classes to remote learning and on demic has set forth. Beckman glosses over Mar. 13 NYU officially closed its campus NYU’s responsibility to assist its graduate buildings due to the onset of the COV- student workers during a pandemic that ID-19 pandemic. As a result, the graduate has left most of them poorly equipped to student workers, who help teach classes as continue their studies and unemployed. teaching assistants at NYU have lost their NYU says on their website NYU.edu that jobs and become dependent on financial they have not received the “Federal CARES assistance from the University to make Act funding” they are supposed to get. NYU ends meet. goes on to say “If and when NYU takes pos- “NYU Sick-Out” was a three-day-strike session of the funds, the University is com- 1984 CANDIDATES FOR ELECTED OFFICE in the front row: (L-R) Bill Thom, Civil Court mitted to using all the money it receives for Judge, Larry Seabrook, Bronx State Assembly, and Chuck Hitchcock, State Assembly can- organized by a group of NYU graduate stu- direct student assistance, including con- didate from Long Island. FAIRPAC Boardmembers appear in the back row. (Author: back dents who wanted to protest what they felt row center.) Photo credit: Roberta Raeburn. was a lack of financial support from NYU to tinuing the COVID-19 emergency grant address the needs of its students during the program through the rest of the spring, By James Roman two of our nine boardmembers, the politicians pandemic. On Mar 31, the Sick-Out sent the summer, and the fall for students with who blocked gay civil rights needed to feel an financial need.” According to an article in Discrimination was legal in the early an open letter to NYU’s Provost outlining indignant bitch-slap from the gay community. Forbes titled “The Colleges Getting The 1980s. Gays could lose their homes, jobs, the demands they wanted the University Could thousands of gay dollars tip the balance Most Money from the Stimulus Bill” NYU custody, you name it, because there were to meet. Those demands include providing of power? We were the first ones to try. will receive $25 million from the “coronavi- no laws to prevent it. New York City had graduate students with “three months of City Council races were two years off. rus relief package” that Congress has desig- an Ordinance: No discrimination based on emergency summer funding in the form of Our test run came one year earlier, as FAIR- nated for higher education institutions. The race, color, creed, age, gender, or disability. a living wage” and the “option of a degree PAC supported candidates for State Assem- article also shows that the relief funding To that list, gay New Yorkers requested extension for all graduate students.” The bly. In the photo, FAIRPAC contributed to designated for NYU is the second highest three more words: “and sexual orientation.” letter also demands the University provide the 1984 campaigns of Bill Thom, a gay among private, non-profit higher education For eleven years, those three words incited “immediate support for international and Civil Court Judge, Larry Seabrook, a candi- institutions in the United States. some of the angriest, ugliest debates in the undocumented students,” who are facing date for Bronx State Assembly, and Chuck According to a resource document detail- City Council, where the “Gay Rights Bill” the end of their Student Visas. Hitchcock, a gay State Assembly candidate ing NYU’s finances, these are the three high- consistently failed to earn votes by a two- Jackson Smith is a doctoral student at from Long Island. (FAIRPAC Boardmem- level administrators at NYU, who earn the thirds majority to secure its passage. NYU, who was among the core organiz- bers appear in the back row.) richest annual salaries: President Andrew I attended those hearings. I saw who ers of the Sick-Out. Smith described how Larry Seabrook’s candidacy gave FAIR- Hamilton’s “annual compensation” is $1.9 voted against gay rights. In 1983, when graduate students at NYU came together PAC a terrific start, a black man living in million, NYU’s Chief Investment Officer the bill’s passage failed for its tenth con- to start the Sick-out in late April. a black neighborhood that had never been Jacobs’ annual compensation is $1.5 million, secutive year, I took action. Out of my own “A group of us got together at this town represented by a person of color. Incumbent and NYU Law Academic Director R. Stew- pocket, I hired an attorney and registered a hall last Wednesday to talk about how Vincent Marchiselli was a devout Catholic art’s annual compensation is $8.7 million. political action committee that could raise we could escalate this campaign and our who consistently voted against Abortion According to the document, NYU pays its funds in New York City and State. I invited demands,” Smith said. “Then someone and Gay Rights; he didn’t even live in the graduate students a stipend worth $28,145. nine friends with money, responsibility and brought up the idea of having a sick-out neighborhood. To defeat him, FAIRPAC Meanwhile the document estimates that the enormous rolodexes to join me in forming and using our guaranteed sick days in our gave Seabrook the legal maximum, then cost of living in New York City is $37,000. FAIRPAC, to “support the friends and de- contracts as TAs to withhold our labor as staged a press event at the Gay Community The document also reveals “In 2018, NYU’s feat the enemies of gay rights legislation.” TAs. So we decided to get the ball rolling Center where we introduced our candidates. President received the equivalent of 67.5 In that pre-Internet era when most orga- on it from there.” Months earlier, Jesse Jackson made head- graduate student stipends.” nizations kept records on paper, FAIRPAC The graduate students who met at the lines as a candidate for US President, calling According to the document, NYU has had a computer. We pooled our rolodexes, town hall on April 30, held a vote to de- his diverse supporters “The Rainbow Co- a $4.264 billion endowment, which it can and our computerized mailing list was cide if they should follow through with the alition.” Now, Seabrook stepped up to the use with respect to “donor restrictions,” so it born. From my midtown office, we printed Sick-Out. Smith said, “we voted on [the podium with tears in his eyes. He looked is not completely available. The document slick solicitations, then rallied an army of sick-out] and it was supported by more at the Press and announced: “I am here to also says that NYU is receiving an estimated volunteers to stuff envelopes; we convinced than 95 % of the attendees.” tell you what Jesse Jackson told me. There $25 million in federal bailout money”, and donors to send our solicitations to their Nevertheless, NYU has not been stirred is LAVENDER in the Rainbow Coalition!” that “50 % will be used as emergency finan- mailing lists too. As persistent mercenar- by Sick-Out’s momentum. That statement earned a huge laugh; this cial aid student grants for expenses due to ies raising money within gay networks, we “The provost didn’t really respond to [sick- friend to the gay community won his race, campus disruption.” It remains a mystery succeeded promptly. out] and said that we’d have to wait longer and launched a lengthy political career. where the other 50% of that federal bailout Next task: locate the incumbent enemies, for any response. Meanwhile the semester is FAIRPAC succeeded too. In the follow- money will be used. NYU has campuses then identify candidates who are “friends” coming to an end and NYU graduate stu- ing year, we supported seven candidates across the globe and may need it to prop up to replace them. It was shocking to discover dents, most of whom don’t get paid over the in NY City Council races, and saw six of its expansion plans. how far a small donation could stretch. We summer and instead rely on jobs and sources them win. In 1986, when the Gay Rights Jackson Smith described how NYU were legally permitted to donate a nickel- of academic funding for research and teach- Bill came up for a vote, it passed by one could change the way it handles its financ- a-name for every registered voter in each ing that is now not available or less available vote. On that historic day, FAIRPAC once es in the future to provide better financial district. A one-time donation of just $2500 due to the current economic crisis.” again tipped the balance of power. assistance to its student workers during the to a friend seeking to defeat an enemy ab- On Mar 31, 2020, NYU Spokesperson, pandemic. solutely tipped the balance of power. John Beckman responded to Sick-Out “We think this is time for NYU to shift From our growing war-chest (a first for the A third-generation New Yorker, James and said, “a job-action by graduate workers some of the wealth it has away from its fledgling gay community), we donated the Roman served on the faculty of New York would be a violation of the contract they capital plans, away from its real-estate maximum legal amounts to the campaigns University and as Sales Manager at The signed and agreed to.” portfolio and towards student workers that of our enemies’ opponents. This was no dip- Halstead Property Company. His “Chron- Beckman does not acknowledge the fact rely on this institution to make a living in lomatic effort to win hearts and minds. With icles of Old New York,” is available for sale that the student workers decided to orga- New York City.” friends dying of AIDS every month, including online and in bookstores everywhere. nize the Sick-Out because they were des- www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 15 Let’s Get Real About Aging: COVID-19 and Ageism

By Gail Evans staff and ignore quality of care concerns because fines and penalties were low, and, “The pandemic has amplified ageism,” anyway, they could count on society turn- read the headline in the May 1st Los An- ing a blind eye. Now, we are horrified at the geles Times. “It’s open season for discrimi- deaths. But where were we when alarms nation against older people.” If anyone can were raised decades ago? Things now may speak to ageism, it’s my friend Jack Kupfer- not be as bad as they used to be, and I’m man, I thought. So, I called and asked him not saying all nursing homes were a disas- to weigh in. Jack is President of New York ter. Nursing homes being petri dishes for City’s Gray Panthers, an advocacy organi- infection, we probably would have had this zation that’s been fighting for the rights terrible outcome no matter what. But there of older people since the early 70s. Work- needn’t have been this dramatic and exces- ing with the Florence Belsky Foundation, sive loss of life.” Gray Panthers recently developed Senior Jack cited other examples of institutional Strong NYC (www.seniorstrongnyc.org), a ageism. “Home care workers are notori- Resource Guide with sections on how to ously underpaid because we don’t value the live well and, yes, even thrive, despite being lives of the elders they care for. We have shut-in by the coronavirus. yet to learn how to get the best from older Jack agreed that we’re seeing more in- employees in the workforce, overlooking stances of overtly ageist behavior and their experience and institutional memory rhetoric. But he is less concerned about the in favor of technological expertise. Older flare-up of anti-elder sentiment than about people are under-represented in medi- the deeply embedded institutional age- cal clinical trials. In fact, data collection ism uncovered by the pandemic. As with about older persons lags across the world, homophobe- so we don’t ism, racism have enough and sexism— research to the other suggest evi- “isms” that dence-based plague our so- solutions and ciety—there approaches to are personal improve not and inten- only elders’ tional acts of health care ageism, and and economic then there welfare, but to are the more THE SENIOR STRONG NYC campaign, above, is a good create oppor- insidious and example of how to stand up to invisibility. tunies for them pernicious in- to fully partici- stitutional biases. These pervade our social pate in their societies. Even in social ser- structures and affect how we distribute re- vices, elder abuse is only beginning to get sources, power and opportunity. Systemic the attention given to domestic abuse.” and diffused, they are hard to eradicate. If the economy continues to falter, age And because their noxious nature is dis- discrimination will be emboldened, Jack guised as societal norms, we unwittingly believes. “The idea of a fair share for se- accept and even subscribe to them. Ageism niors will go on a back burner. It’s been a perpetuates inequalities in the workplace, battle to get senior housing, and that push housing, medicine, marketing, advertising, will weaken. There will be retrenchment entertainment, the media—the list could and competition for resources, so retirees go on. It works by devaluing older people who use their expertise as consultants in a as a group, shunting their interests aside in gig economy won’t have a chance. There policy and practice decisions, and treating will be cutbacks in senior services.” them either with pity, or with contempt I asked Jack how we fight ageism. “By and neglect, solely on the basis of their age. re-envisioning the relationship between Institutional ageism in long-term care the generations and creating partnerships,” has now come home to roost in the hor- he answered, “and by seniors themselves rific spread of the virus in nursing homes, not yielding to marginalization and in- Jack pointed out. “Profit has won out over visibility. Our Senior Strong NYC Cam- people, time and time again,” he said bit- paign is a good example of how to stand terly. “Nursing home residents are mostly up to invisibity. Especially in these times, old, shut away, have no voice, and are liter- it’s critical that every older person has the ally invisible, so they’re easily expendable. resources to ensure health, love, security, Even before the pandemic, many homes dignity and rights. Living your best life, run by for-profits were cited for poor even when shut-in, is the best antidote to infection-disease control and inadequate ageism.” The campaign (@SeniorStrong- and ill-prepared staffing. But the operators NYC) is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter didn’t care. They continued to underpay and LinkedIn. 16 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org COVID-19: Tales from the Frontline

plastic shields. one has a mask on. Who do we test? Do we thought when I chose a career in medicine I think the best way to share and paint have tests? Will we have tests tomorrow? that it would be hard to find work. The Ur- this crazy picture is to separate my clinical Things are a bit different in the other gent Cares were hit hard and many closed settings. My main clinical setting is an inter- hospital. It is on an island that is primar- their doors. It wasn’t until recently that I city Level I Trauma Center Emergency De- ily a vacation destination with 20,000 full returned to work there. partment. Sometimes here it feels like anger time residents. In the summertime the Many Urgent Cares are again starting to painting. Things are just insane and all over population is almost 250,000. The number see an uptick in volume. Many are offer- the place as we see about 135,000 patients of COVID-19-positive patients when I ing drive through COVID-19 swabbing, per year. Oddly enough, until recently our was last there was 12. and where I work they offer bloodwork for numbers have been down. I think people They were incredibly well prepared and antibody testing. It has become our bread were and still are just afraid to come into the had an infectious disease specialist with and butter. I am starting to see the simple department. This is a “be careful what you Ebola experience help prepare them. Tyvek things again. For example, sprains/strains, wish for” type scenario. At times, we have suits, PAPRs (protective breathing appara- lacerations, pink eye, etc. hoped that some people wouldn’t come to tus) N95 masks, separate areas to take on I have seen a lot of interesting, crazy, WELL-PROTECTED: Matt Razon, above, in the ER. The runny noses, belly pain for a and off your PPE, a place to get out of and amazing things over the last 20 years. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). year, and hangnails. However, now the folks your hospital supplied scrubs, shower, and Nothing at all compares to what I have By Matt Razon that aren’t coming are the chest pains, facial get back into your street clothes. seen since the beginning of the COVID-19 droops, and appendicitis that has been go- On the island there is a tent set up out- Pandemic. In an ever-changing world, I Before I get to telling you all about my expe- ing on for four days and now has burst. I side the hospital, staffed with a nurse and am grateful that one thing hasn’t changed. rience as a frontliner in the fight against CO- worry what the long term ramifications of a provider. We triage people as COVID vs Every day that I go to work, regardless of VID-19, let me tell you a little about myself. I COVID-19 will be for these patients. non-COVID risks. The COVID risk pa- where, I am able to put my PPE and do my am a Physician Assistant and have been prac- Now, what you have all been waiting tients are walked through the ambulance best to make a difference in people’s lives. ticing in Emergency Medicine for almost 20 for. What about the COVID-19 patients? bay and into the “dirty” side of the depart- This is more important to me than ever, as years. I currently work in several locations. I They are sick!!!! Intubated (on breathing ment. Some who are young, healthy and patients are not allowed family or friends to work in a Level I Trauma Center, a Critical machines), proned (on their stomach), not acutely ill are tested and sent home to accompany them. We will get through this Access hospital and an Urgent Care Clinic. and on high-flow oxygen. Now we have quarantine with a seven plus page docu- but we have to do it together. Stay safe!!! Therefore, what I have seen varies greatly. all heard that the old and people with pre- ment on how to do that correctly. I have to say however, I have been ex- existing conditions are at most risk, but ev- After the patient leaves the tent, everything Matt Razon PA-C is a Physician Assistant tremely lucky that all my locations have eryone is sick. Young and healthy are sick is wiped and sprayed down with a bleach so- with 20 years of experience in Emergency supplied me with great PPE (Personal as well. People are dying that shouldn’t be. lution. It is then not used for at least 10 min- Medicine. He currently works in a Level Protective Equipment). Some better than It has changed the way things are done. utes and another cubicle is utilized. Once the I Trauma Center, a Critical Access Hos- others, but nonetheless, I have been ex- Rooms are closed with signs not to go in nurse or other clinician is finished in the tent pital and Urgent Care Clinics throughout tremely well protected and I feel for those without PPE. No one is in the hallway they undergo a 10-15 minute rigorous sani- Massachusetts and Connecticut. Matt also that haven’t been. My PPE has varied from anymore. They are holding ICU (Inten- tizing process which includes being sprayed has experience and expertise in Wilderness N95 masks and Tyvek suits, and helmet sive Care Unit) patients in the ED because down with a bleach solution. Medicine and is part of Wild Med Adven- and face shields to N95, paper gowns and there isn’t room for them upstairs. Every- Lastly, is the Urgent Care Center. I never tures, www.wildmedadventures.com. Find Your Sparkle and Supercharge Your Immunity By Timothy Stahl heart, kidney, skin, and mood disorders, I call this the quiet killer. It can be a part- Coach Tim, CHHC, AADP, HIVegan and a significant increase in dementia and time job keeping things together and many HIV/AIDS, once an obvious killer, is now Alzheimer’s. We’re only beginning to un- fail miserably. You don’t have to. quiet and subtler. I don’t know about you, derstand what it means to age with HIV. I want to help. In 2013, nearly nine years but I’m tired of hearing about PrEP, viral I care about your health and can coach you after being diagnosed, I was suicidal, with suppression, meds, doctors, etc. After all, to live your best life, being thankful, even brain fog, insomnia, acne, stomach issues, we’re adults and should have the basics un- grateful, to have HIV. Yes, grateful. Take this endoscopies and colonoscopies, eye exams, der control. That’s where I come in as your as a wakeup call you must answer. We didn’t throat exams, etc. I went through it and you life, health and wellness coach, guiding you come all this way to let those less fortunate don’t have too. Nothing helped, not switch- down, and must live and give respect to those ing meds or specialists. Although my num- through what comes next. When learned I COACH TIM, CHHC, AADP, HIVegan. had HIV in 2004, I wanted to know more who gave us this great opportunity. bers were ok, I suffered with wanting to stay of how to control my own health and thrive The LGBTQ community can be cau- alive, depression, anxiety, loneliness and de- thing I can to stay healthy into my fifties, with HIV. Something told me there was tious, even pessimistic, for obvious rea- feat. Little did I know a holistic approach to sixties and seventies. You should be doing more than appointments and meds. sons. We’ve been through hell to be true to life and nutrition could help me thrive with the work now, reducing inflammation, so Not to make light of HIV education and ourselves. I don’t blame naysayers for be- HIV. I wish someone had told me in 2004 your body will hold up for decades to come. the importance of medication and viral ing skeptical of a health coach about HIV; what to expect and what was possible. If you are coachable, let us set up a free twen- load suppression, but there’s much work it’s not them I want to coach. You must be Doctors are good at the basics but less so at ty minute immunity consultation by phone or being done in this area, and little informa- coachable and want, not to only survive, discussing nutrition and a holistic approach computer and discuss how I can assist you to- tion reaching a community seeking more. but thrive with this disease. to HIV regimens once meds are controlled. wards better health; physically, mentally and HIV is no joke; the meds are tough on There’s a notion that becoming HIV I don’t blame them; our healthcare system emotionally. Check out my website at www. the body, even if you don’t feel these ef- positive is a now walk in the park; many only allows so much time to spend with us timothyericnutrition.com. You can also sign fects. Although they help us live as long stay silent thinking they’ll be fine. Silence and much of that is paperwork. up for an appointment on my Facebook busi- as our HIV-negative counterparts, they is deadly and I acknowledge that it’s not My life changed when I took control ness page at TEN, Timothy Eric Nutrition. age us significantly, putting our organs in easy living with HIV; we need to talk of my health and my doctor became part I have one goal, to share my knowledge super overdrive and continual inflamma- about that and support each other. Some of my tribe. It takes a village. My t-cells with you and support you anyway I can. To tion. Being positive gives a smaller win- of us have guilt for surviving, are in denial, tripled, my meds remained the same, and be a friend and mentor in this crazy world, dow for mistakes with our health, carry- or think we're indestructible. Many think everything melted away. I still have hard while living with a shitty dis-EASE. To be ing complication-risks including cancers, we should suck it up, after all, we’re living. days, but now I know I’m doing every- a part of your village. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 17 The Last Stand of St. Vincent’s: Healthcare Heroes in Another Pandemic By Drew Davis Although hospitals were mandated to take in the sick, many did so reluctantly. Pride will feel different in the West Village They found various excuses for why they this year, but the LGBTQ community has couldn’t treat patients; at the time, unbri- persevered through hard times before. Our dled homophobia and fear afflicted some vibrant pocket of New York City stood first, healthcare workers too. But word began to and stood tall, for the gay community in the spread through the gay community about a midst of another pandemic 40 years ago. At place to go if you needed help. NEW YORK CITY AIDS MEMORIAL PARK. Photo by Maggie Berkvist. that time, staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital, a “If other hospitals could find a way to flagship of New York City healthcare from delay, postpone, or obfuscate the symp- care as excellent as existed anywhere. Pa- with AIDS, the hospital entered a financial 1849 to 2010, showed that heroes tend to toms, saying ‘we’re not capable,’ the word tients weren’t patients, they were family. hole it never emerged from and finally shut wear scrubs more than capes. Dr. Victor got out that St. Vincent’s would take you.” “From a personal point of view and from its doors in 2010. Today, all that remains Keyloun, a physician at St. Vincent’s in the Under the compassionate leadership of an institutional point of view, it was a dev- is the New York City AIDS Memorial lo- early 1980s, shared this story. the Sisters of Charity nuns, the healthcare astating time. But through it all, the entire cated in the park on Seventh Avenue across In the late 1970s, medical journals began workers at St. Vincent’s took in those who AIDS epidemic, they were heroic.” from where the hospital stood. to describe case studies of young, previously had nowhere else to go. No matter how As the years passed, therapies emerged Those days passed, and the perseverance healthy men across the nation who’d been sick, gay, or poor they might have been, St. that could slow the advance of AIDS and, of the LGBT community during subse- afflicted with uncommon disorders like Vincent’s welcomed them. And as people finally, combination therapy replaced pal- quent challenges is one reason why Pride Kaposi’s sarcoma and pneumocystis pneu- with AIDS gravitated to this sanctuary liative care. And while people with AIDS holds such a special place in so many hearts. monia. Before long, the epidemic reached West Village hospital, the doctors and desperately needed this treatment haven, This year, even though rainbows may shine New York City, and young gay men who’d nurses there, only five blocks north of the St. Vincent’s had also relied on AIDS pa- through our screens instead of in our streets, suddenly become very ill showed up at Stonewall Inn, became increasingly adept tients out of financial necessity—another there’s still cause to rejoice. The story of hospitals, often having been turned away at caring for these tragically sick individu- reason they took in these sick young men St. Vincent’s reminds us that acts of kind- by family due to phobia about their sexual als, evolving into national leaders in the without judgement. This hospital that had ness for those in need can outlast any virus. orientation and the pathogen they carried. charge against AIDS. Of course, compas- served the city through disasters like the That’s something worth celebrating. “By 1981, it became pretty obvious that sion and spirit alone weren’t a cure; these sinking of the Titanic and the 1918 Span- whatever was infecting this group of peo- were heartbreaking times. But day after ish flu was running out of money before Drew Davis is a copywriter entering medi- ple was devastating, because they were dy- day, the dogged St. Vincent’s staff came AIDS emerged. Even with the financial cal school in the fall. Originally from Mary- ing very quickly.” to work, put on their scrubs, and provided support that came from caring for people land, he moved to New York City in 2018. WHAT IS MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN?

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a new health condition associated with COVID-19. SEEK CARE IF YOUR CHILD HAS PERSISTENT FEVER PLUS ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS: Irritability or decreased activity Abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting Conjunctivitis, or red or pink eyes Red, cracked lips or bumpy tongue Swollen hands or feet Lack of appetite Rash

IF YOUR CHILD IS SEVERELY ILL, GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM OR CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

For more information, call 311 or visit nyc.gov/coronavirus. O 18 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org

Village Directory

PARTIAL LISTING OF OPEN BUSINESSES Compiled by Hannah Reimann and Caroline Benveniste

RITE AID PHARMACY HUDSON & CHARLES ANDY’S DELI CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL Resources for Home- (212) 727-3720 GRASSFED MEATS (212) 989-0648 Open for takeout and delivery bound and Elderly 501 6th Avenue at 13th Street (212) 675-7075 106 7th Ave. South near Bleecker Street Order on the app only VILLAGE APOTHECARY 524 Hudson Street between West 10th & AUNT JAKE’S 504 6th Avenue at the corner of West CITY HARVEST (212) 807-7566 Charles Streets 212-253-9333 13th Street For hungry New Yorkers including the 346 Bleecker Street at the corner of W. HUDSON GROCERY & DELI 47 West 8th St. between 5th & 6th Avenues COCU ROTISSERIE unemployed 10th Street (646) 850-2378 https://auntjakesnyc.com/ 646-952-0179 (646) 412-0600 WEST 14 APOTHECARY 514 Hudson Street Between West 10th & AUX MERVEILLEUX DE FRED BAKERY 26 Carmine Street west of 6th Ave CITYMEALS ON WHEELS 212-727-7979 Christopher Streets (917) 475-1992 CORNER BISTRO (212) 687-1234 312 West 14th Street between 8th and JAPANESE DELI & GROCERY MI-NE 37 8th Ave near Jane Street (212) 242-9502 GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER 9th Avenues (917) 675-6942 BAR PITTI 331 Jane Street near 8th Ave (212) 294-8100 www.West14Apothecary.com 496 6th Ave (212) 982-3300 Cash Only for Take Out [email protected] Near 13th Street Delivery by Caviar, Uber Eats & DoorDash INVISIBLE HANDS DELIVER 270 6th Ave south of Bleecker Street For at-risk community members facing LIFETHYME NATURAL MARKET BETHEL GOURMET FOOD DOS TOROS MEXICAN COVID-19 (212) 420-1600 (212) 645-3855 11 Carmine Street near Bleecker Street (732) 639-1579 410 6th Ave between West 8th & West 79 Greenwich Avenue near 7th Avenue Online only 9th Streets South DUNKIN’ DONUTS SIXTH AVENUE Grocery Stores Available on mercato.com BLACKSTONE COFFEE ROASTERS (212) 727-0444 & Purveyors MYERS OF KESWICK (212) 989-6131 544 6th Avenue between West 8th & For Doctors 634 Hudson Street 502 Hudson Street near Christopher West 9th Streets email orders—[email protected] Street E.A.K. RAMEN THE MIGRANT KITCHEN ABINGDON MARKET OTTOMANELLI & SONS MEAT MARKET 646-863-2027 Feeds doctors, employs people (212) 243-2449 BLEECKER FARM DELI (212) 675-4217 469 6th Avenue between 12th and 13th Nasse Jaber, owner 421-425 Bleecker St on 8th Ave 212-229-1587 285 Bleecker Street near 7th Ave. South Streets DoorDash works with them 272 Bleecker Street BROOKLYN FARE Available on mercato.com www.eakramen.com (212) 706-0623 Near Jones Street 666 near Christopher PUERTO RICO IMPORTING COMPANY BLUE HILL FABRIQUE ARTISAN BAKERY Street Coffee Beans, Tea, etc. 212-539-1776 (917) 261-2476 (212) 477-5421 348 W 14th Street Between 8th & 9th Pharmacies & CITARELLA 75 Washington Place between 6th Avenue 201 Bleecker Street, east of 6th Ave and Washington Square West Avenues Vitamins 424 Avenue of the Americas between www.portorico.com West 9th & West 10th Streets While the restaurant is closed, they are FIASCHETTERIA “PISTOIA” 7TH AVE. ANSONIA PHARMACY Citarella.com VILLAGE SQUARE MARKET offering to-go boxes with produce, meat (Christopher Street location is temporarily (212) 677-6710 (212) 989-1125 and fish from their suppliers. Reserve on closed) CONVENIENCE STORE (212) 242 0672 11 8th Ave at West 12th Street the website for pick-up. https://www. 646-360-2052 58 7th Ave 446 6th Ave. between 10th and 11th St. SERGIMMO SALUMERIA bluehillfarm.com/dine/new-york 167 7th Avenue South Near West 14th Street Open 7 days, 5:30pm – 10:30 pm CO BIGELOW APOTHECARIES (212) 352-1490 & (212) 352-1491 LA BONBONNIERE D'AGOSTINO'S (212) 533-2700 462 6th Ave. between 10th Street and (212) 741-9266 FLIP SIGI (212) 691-9198 412 Avenue of the Americas, between 11th Street Cash Only (833) 354-7744 790 Greenwich Street West 8th & West 9th Streets Google and order online, too 28 8th Ave near West 12th Street 525 Hudson Street between West 10th & DAINOBU JAPANESE DELI GROCERY Charles Streets CVS PHARMACY WESTSIDE MARKET BONSIGNOUR (212) 645-0237 (212) 373-9401 (212) 807-7771 (212) 229-9700 FOUR WAY DELI 498 6th Ave. 360 6th Avenue at Washington Place 77 7th Ave South on West 14th Street 35 Jane St at 8th Ave (212) 449-0085 Near West 13th Street On-line ordering now available 251 6th Ave at Bedford Street CVS PHARMACY BOULANGERIE MARIE BLACHÈRE ELM WELLNESS HEALTH FOOD STORE (212) 337-3242 WEST VILLAGE GROCERY (917) 261-4344 FRESH 2GO MARKET (212) 255-6300 475 6th Avenue at West 12th Street & SMOKE SHOP marieblachereus.com 500 Hudson Street near Christopher Street 56 7th Ave. South (212) 924-0134 BRODO BROTH CO. GALANGA THAI COOKING DUANE READE PHARMACY At 14th Street 42 8th Avenue at 14th Street (212) 243-2446 Deliveries with Mercado.com (212) 366-0600 (212) 228-4267 77 7 Ave South at the corner of West or pick up by calling the number above 496 Hudson St. near Christopher St. 149 West 4th Street 14th Street Between Sixth Avenue & MacDougal Street FAICCO’S ITALIAN SPECIALTIES BUS STOP CAFÉ GROVE DRUGS (212) 243-1974 212-206-1100 HAO NOODLE & TEA (212) 929-7527 260 Bleecker Street 597 Hudson St. at the corner of Bank St. 401 6th Avenue between West 8th Street 320 West 12th Street at 8th Ave Near Jones Street Restaurant & Food Open 9-9 and Waverly Place THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER Delivery from Chelsea location on Caviar INVITE HEALTH GARDEN OF EDEN GROCERY Take Out & Delivery www.haonoodle.com Vitamins & health supplements (212) 255-4200 917-388-2132 (212) 777-0008 7 E 14th Street at 5th Avenue ANALOGUE 581 Hudson Street between 11th & Bank IL MATTONE 434 6th Ave. Streets (646) 370-6875 FRESH FARM GROCERY & DELI 212-432-0200 invitehealth.com 19 West 8th Street between 5th and 6th Take Out Only Pizza restaurant (212) 463-8689 450 Hudson Street near Barrow Street NEW YORK CHEMISTS 65 West 13th Street at 8th Ave Avenues CHAMA MAMA (212) 255-2525 Open Wed-Sat 2pm-9pm A Taste of Georgia JACKS COFFEE H & H FRUITS AND GROCERY 77 Christopher Street http://www.analoguenyc.com/ (646) 438-9007 (212) 929-6011 471 6th Ave. West of 7th Ave. South ARDYN 149 West 14th Street near 7th Avenue 10 Downing Street & 6th Ave Near 11th Street www.chamamama.com Hours or services may vary due to COVID RITE AID 646-490-8772 HEALTH & HARMONY 19, please call ahead (646) 486-1048 33 West 8th St. between 5th & 6th CHIP COOKIES AND CREAM (212) 691-3036 534 Hudson St at Charles Street Delivery Only (Dinner, Thurs - Sat) 646-858-0229 470 Hudson Street near Barrow Street 24 Hours at the time of this printing https://www.ardynnyc.com 298 Bleecker St. near 7th Avenue South continued on next page www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 19

To be listed in this Directory email or call Hannah Reimann Village Directory and take out a one-year, $12 subscription to WestView. [email protected] • 212- 924-5718

JACK’S COFFEE MANOUSHEH READY TO EAT SUSHI KATSUEI ZU SIK KOREAN FUSION (212) 929-0821 (347) 971-5778 (212) 229-1013 212-462-0039 (646) 370-5331 138 West 10th Street between Greenwich 193 Bleecker St. near Macdougal St. 525 Hudson Street 357 6th Avenue 202 W. 14th Street west of 7th Avenue Ave and Waverly Place MARBLE DESSERT BAR Between West 10th & Charles Streets www.sushikatsuei.com/west-village-ny [email protected] Hours or services may vary due to CO- (646) 919-0879 RED FARM Order pick-up or delivery from Caviar Order for delivery or pick-up on Uber Eats, VID-19, please call ahead Coffee and pastries to go Upscale Chinese Food/Whole Peking SWEETGREEN MEATPACKING GrubHub or Seamless JOE’S PIZZA 27 Bedford Street near Downing Street Ducks available 32 Gansevoort Street (212) 255-3946 and (212) 366-1182 MIGHTY QUINN’S BBQ (212) 792-9700 Pick up and delivery with sg app and 7 Carmine Street near Sixth Avenue 646-524-7889 529 Hudson Street between West 10th online only Liquor Stores JOHNS OF BLEECKER STREET PIZZA 75 Greenwich Avenue between West 11th Street & Charles Street sweetgreen.com 212-243-1680 and Bank Streets RENATO’S PICCOLO ANGOLO SWEETGREEN CASA OLIVEIRA WINES & LIQUORS East of 7th Ave South Order on-line at mightyquinnsbbq.com 212-229-9177 261 6th Avenue at Bleecker Street (212) 929-0760 98 7th Ave South Temporarily closed, plan to resume take- MINETTA TAVERN 621 Hudson Street at Jane Street Pick up and delivery with sg app and Between Grove Street and Barrow Street out and delivery on May 7th (212) 475-3850 GrubHub, Seamless, UberEats, Postmates online only INSOMNIA COOKIES 113 Macdougal Street at Minetta Lane & Caviar sweetgreen.com CROSSROADS WINE & SPIRITS 304 West 14th St. between 8th & 9th Aves Order on the website or call the restaurant All bottles of wine 30% off TACO MAHAL 52 West 14th St. between 5th & 6th Ave. insomniacookies.com https://www.minettatavernny.com/ ROCKY’S BRICK OVEN PIZZA & RES- 646-719-1553 212-924-9463 https://www.crossroadswines.com/ [email protected] MÓLE MEXICAN BAR & GRILL TAURANT 73 7th Ave. South 10% off your first order–no contactless ISTANBUL GRILL (212) 206-7559, molenyc.com 212-242-2345 Order for delivery or pick-up through the pick up, but delivery available. 212-463-8626 57 Jane Street at Hudson Street 304 W 14th Street between 8th & 9th Aves website http://www.tacomahalnyc.com/ 310 West 14th Street between 8th & 9th Margaritas and beer to go with food Open for delivery and take-out, faster if menu or by phone GOLDEN RULE WINE & SPIRITS you order directly by calling the restaurant (212) 924-6340 Avenues MURRAY’S BAGELS TAÏM FALAFEL & MIDDLE EASTERN 457 Hudson Street near Barrow Street JOE & THE JUICE (212) 462-2830 SAM’S DELI FOOD Must wear a face mask to enter 549 Hudson Street at Perry Street 500 6th Ave. between 11th & 12th St. 275 West 4th Street (212) 691-1287 Between Perry Street & West 11th Street 222 Waverly Place near Perry Street $10 off your first order of $30 or more – KING DELI Order at murraysbagels.com Pick-up and Delivery by calling the store Order online http://taimfalafel.com/ and order online (212) 620-0845 NUMERO 28 PIZZERIA select the West Village store for contact- IMPERIAL VINTNER 448 Hudson Street between Barrow & 212-463-9653 SANPANINO SANDWICH SHOP less delivery, pickup & curbside pickup. (212) 929-6222 Morton Streets 28 Carmine Street west of 6th Avenue (212) 645-7228 494 Hudson St. near Christopher St. TAVERN ON JANE 579 Hudson Street between West 11th KUBEH MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD OLIO E PIÚ Order on-line for pick-up or with Seam- (212) 675-2526 & Bank (646) 448-6688 212-243-6546 (and say Neighbor for less for delivery 31 8th Ave at Jane Street A favorite of our WestView photographer 464 6th Avenue at 11th Street 20% off your order) NYC Health Care Appreciation Meal Available for delivery through Seamless LA VID WINE & SPIRITS eatkubeh.com 3 Greenwich Avenue at 6th Avenue Full size sandwich, potato chips, choco- and GrubHub (212) 242-4545 LELABAR OMAKASE ROOM BY TATSU late chip cookie, $13.50 315 6th Avenue between Carmine and (212) 206-0594 TOMOE 212-367-2067 SHAKE SHACK 212-777-9346 West 4th Streets 422 Hudson Street near Leroy Street 14 Christopher Street at (lower (646) 517-1541 172 Thompson St. Houston & Bleecker St. MANLEY’S WINES & SPIRITS $25 % off bottles, $10 glasses of wine level). Orders may be placed starting 225 Varick Street Tomoe is open for take-out and delivery, 212-242-3712 At Home Happy Hour $55 at 1pm by calling the restaurant or on Order with the Shake shack app, Grub- Tuesday thru Sunday, 1-3pm and 4:30- 35 8th Ave near Jane Street THE LEROY HOUSE Caviar. Sake available by the bottle with a Hub, Seamless or at shakeshack.com 8:30pm. Open, with a good selection of Provence Rosé (646) 590-0640 50% discount 11 AM – 9 PM 430 Hudson Street near Morton Street TUE THAI FOOD POP THE CORK WINE MERCHANTS PASTICCERIA ROCCO Tues – Sat 1-8pm SHU HAN JU 212-929-9888 (212) 807-1010 (212) 242-6031 $4 beer $10 cocktails (212) 428-8800 5 Greenwich Avenue near Christopher 145 7th Avenue South at Charles Street 243 Bleecker Street near Leroy Street $20 bottles of wine 465 6th Avenue at 11th Street Street “Wine makes daily life easy, less hurried, Available for delivery through Mercato Order for pickup or delivery from shu- www.tuethaifood.com HUDSON CLEARWATER and with fewer tension and more toler- POSH POP BAKE SHOP hanjunyc.com (212) 929-3255 TWO BOOTS PIZZA ance” – Benjamin Franklin (212) 674-7674 447 Hudson Street between Morton and SIMO PIZZA (646) 863-2620 SEA GRAPE WINE SHOP 192 Bleecker Street near Macdougal Barrow Streets 90 Gansevoort St., west of Washington St. 101 7th Avenue South at Grove Street (212) 838-7500 Street Napoletana pizza in 90 seconds or less Order on twoboots.com for pick-up and JAJAJA MEXICANA 512 Hudson Street between Christopher for $10 and under. Order from Caviar for delivery. One customer allowed in the 917-262-1084 POULET SANS TÊTE & West 10th Street delivery or pick-up. store at one time: employees will wear 63 Carmine Street west of 6th Ave 117 Perry Street at Greenwich Street https://www.seagrapewines.com/ masks at all times, staff members will be [email protected] Open for delivery and take out from 4 to SNACK TAVERNA $5 gratuity added to all deliveries on 8 pm daily. (212) 929-3499 tested for fever before each shift, and Two orders placed on the website JEFFREY’S GROCERY Order at https://www.pouletsanstete.com/ Boots is providing their employees private, 63 Bedford Street at the corner of Morton VILLAGE WINES & SPIRITS 172 Waverly Place at Christopher Street When you order, you’ll have the opportu- sanitized vehicles to and from work. Street (near 7th Avenue South) (212) 255-0539 Phone: (646) 398-7630 nity to donate $10 to get a hot meal to a Order for pick-up and delivery on the WEST VILLAGE FINEST DELI 486 6th Avenue near West 12th St. Jeffrey’s Grocery is back... as your front line worker and those in need. Neighborhood Grocery Store. Open Wed website snacktaverna.com (212) 255-5509 Specializing in Small Batch Scotch, to Sun. Shop at jeffreysgrocery.com then RAHI SPUNTO THIN CRUST PIZZA 84 Seventh Ave. South near Bleecker St. Domestic, & World Whiskies 212-373-8900 Delivery with GrubHub and Seamless pick up with contactless pick-up. Meal kits, (212) 242-1200 WAVERLY WINES AND SPIRITS 60 Greenwich Ave. between 6th & 7th prepared foods, fruits, vegetables, pantry 65 Carmine StreetwWest of 6th Ave WESTVILLE (212) 727-0483 Order on the website or by phone for staples, wine and beer, etc. Open 4 PM – 9 PM, no fee delivery from (212) 741-7971 394 6th Avenue near West 8th Street pick-up, also, delivery through Uber Eats, their website: https://www.nycthincrust. 210 W. 10th St. On Facebook, or email waverlywines@ LI-LAC CHOCOLATES GrubHub, etc. Donate to Staff Relief fund, (212) 924-2280 com/location/spunto-thin-crust/ Order online at https://order.westvillenyc. gmail.com and buy gift cards at 25% off. com/ and receive 15% off your next two 75 Greenwich Avenue Near 7th Ave South https://www.rahinyc.com/reserve STRAWBERRY DELI Delivery also available through Mercato (212) 627-0049 orders with code West15 RASA 352 W 14th St. between 8th & 9th Avenues WOLFNIGHTS GOURMET WRAPS THE LITTLE TACO HOUSE 212-253-9888 Laundromat (646) 719-1600 Order online from strawberrydelinyc.com 646-791-5411 25 West 8th St. between 5th & 6th Avenues 235 Bleecker Street west of 6th Avenue 246 West 4th Street near Charles Street www.rasanyc.com SUPREMA PROVISIONS ITALIAN & Cleaners RESTAURANT Order on website for pick-up or delivery MAGNOLIA BAKERY RAY’S SUPER DELI (Bleecker store) ABC DRY CLEANERS AND LAUNDROMAT (212) 462-2572 (646) 964-4994 (212) 242-7912 305 Bleecker Street at 7th Avenue South Donate for meals for first responders (212) 620-0899 401 West 11th Street & Bleecker Street 452 Hudson Street near Barrow Street https://www.wolfnightsusa.com/ 619 Hudson Street near Jane Street Open 7 days Order for delivery from DoorDash 20 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org

Village Directory

BEST CLEANERS GARBER HARDWARE We Don't Need 82 West 12th Street, east of 6th (646) 681-5388 Avenue 710 Greenwich Street between News Stands 212-337-9987 West 10th & Charles Streets Call or text for pick-up and Open 7 days SIXTH AVENUE NEWS & delivery TOBACCO WestView. 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Between Jane & Horatio Streets THE UPS STORE HOSPITAL can become a memory. And then along comes the Virus and Open Monday, Wednesday and (212) 518-4355 Friday 212-633-7400 Of course I like WestView, it gives me closes the few restaurants and shops 480 6th Avenue near West 12th 75 8th Ave Street something to do and when I have an that were advertising. Our very best real Open 7 days/week, also offering opinion I don’t have make the TV re- estate advertiser sent a very polite letter Open Monday - Saturday Telemedicine appointments pairman listen to it. I can write it in the that they would end their ads because Hardware Stores SMALL DOOR VETERINARY paper and maybe 10,000 people will see the condo clients were all in the Hamp- & Locksmiths (212) 933-9044 it and a hundred even read it tons for the duration. Cell Phones [email protected] And of course our regular contributors Alright, alright, I don’t want to close 15 7th Avenue at 12th Street BARNEY’S HARDWARE love it—Brian Pape, our Architectural it down, and yes, I will allow myself to METRO PCS T-MOBILE Open Monday-Saturday (212) 675-3846 Editor, can have as many as four excel- (212) 929-1899 Drop-off appointments only, also believe for yet another month that you 467 6th Avenue between 11th 100 West 14th Street roundtrip pickup and dropoff of lent articles in each issue. Nearly all our reading this will go to our website and and 12th Streets Near 6th Avenue pets within Manhattan for a flat fee regular contributors live in the West Vil- subscribe or donate and—most impor- Open M-F 8am-2pm Open, but with reduced hours. of $40. 24/7 live chat for members. lage—they walk to our regular monthly tant—pay online. contributors meetings. If you write for Now I have a feeling that many of us you will be invited to attend. our readers do not have a computer— Library Resources But Sarah Jessica Parker was right— they don’t even know a neighbor who the April issue was our most important has one—so they mail us a check or and hence our best issue because it re- more often cash (it is exciting to dis- GET A LIBRARY CARD AND BORROW E- able Now" under Videos to find titles. ported on the virus. We printed two full cover a crumpled $100 bill). BOOKS. As long as you are physically in COMMUNITY SUPPORT RESOURCES: pages of drawings from Northwell on You know, almost as nice as getting New York state, you can sign up online for NYPL has collected a selection of links to how to deal with it, and our readers can $24 for a one year subscription is getting a card through the Library’s app SimplyE help our patrons find important informa- keep those handsome clinically correct a handwritten note saying how much you (available on the App Store or Google Play). tion and help with economic resources, drawings around as useful reminders. like the paper. But it is not my paper—it Once you’ve received your barcode and PIN, health and wellness services, and hous- And, if you were going to ask “do we is your paper—so ask a Village friend or explore SimplyE to discover hundreds of ing information during these challenging really need a local paper,” look at the Jan- neighbor to subscribe to your paper. thousands of e-books and online resources. times. Visit: https://www.nypl.org/about/ uary issue when we discovered that it is —George Capsis BORROW E-AUDIOBOOKS. Once you have remote-resources/community-resources legal for a lawyer to pay somebody to al- your library card number and PIN, you ONLINE BOOK DISCUSSION: The first low him to sue a shop thousands of dol- can download the Overdrive app or the meeting of our online book discussion lars for not having handicapped access. OK George. Do not let the Virus close Libby app (available on the App Store or is May 5th at 2pm. We'll be discussing Gee, I forgot, there are things a com- down the paper—I am here to help. Google Play) on to your device to browse "The Friend" by Sigrid Nunez via Google munity paper can do better than an on- and borrow e-audiobooks. hangouts. Join us and sign up on Hudson line newsletter. Too bad it is too expen- ❑ Six months subscription $12.00 READ MAGAZINES ON FLIPSTER. Access Park Library's website: https://www.nypl. sive. Are readers going to send you $24 ❑ 12 months subscription $24.00 over 100 popular magazines on the Flipster org/events/programs/2020/05/05/online- a year so they can take it over to their ❑ Contribution of $______app. Visit https://www.nypl.org/collections/ book-discussion-friend-sigrid-nunez favorite chair, put on the good light ❑ Contact me to discuss advertising articles-databases/flipster to learn more. VIRTUAL STORYTIME: Visit https://www. and, with an occasional sip of McNulty READ THE NEW YORK TIMES. You can ac- nypl.org/education/kids/storytime to en- coffee, read it? Name______cess New York Times articles from the last joy weekday storytimes brought directly to Yes, after 15 years we have raised the forty years here: https://www.nypl.org/ you by our expert children's librarians as price of the paper from $12 to $24 a year. Address ______collections/articles-databases/new-york- they read beloved books, sing songs, and Our accountant tells me we are paying times-1980-present share early literacy tips. $5.70 in postage to send it domestically. ______BORROW MOVIES. Use the Overdrive app REMOTE LEARNING RESOURCES: NYPL on your device to browse and borrow a has collected a list of great resources to help Mail to 69 Charles Street, New York, NY 10019 small selection of available movies. Click with remote learning at https://www.nypl. or subscribe online www.westviewnews.org on "Collections" and then select "Avail- org/about/remote-resources/kids-and-teens 21 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org The Bicycle Thief We The People ® DOCUMENT PREPARATION SERVICES

They Died Without a Will...

Aretha Abe Lincoln Prince Do You Have a

HAVE THE PANDEMIC GUIDELINES increased the demand for bicycles of all descriptions? Rider- WILL? ship is higher than ever, so watch out for keeping your bike secure wherever you go. A group of young riders take a break at a Christopher Street deli recently. Credit: Brian J. Pape, AIA. Peace of Mind for just By Brian J. Pape, AIA, LEED-AP cal bike shops, but all they had were their $199 used rental bikes, bare bones. I soon discov- Ever since the pandemic created stay-at-home ered, even on Craigslist online, the prices for We The People is Open For recommendations and closed shops, theaters, lesser bikes would add up to the cost of a gyms and restaurants, looking for recreation new one if I added fenders and backrack to Business Via Email-Online can become very limited and boring. match my old Trek bike. (Speaking of on- Discovering bicycle rides, with full pro- line shopping, how would I know if those Health Care Proxy • Power of Attorney tective gear, turns out to be fully compliant offerings were not stolen as well?) Fast Turnaround with social-distancing guidelines: I go for So, the decision was made to look for a long stretches speaking to no one, touch- new bike, but not too fancy since I didn’t Virtual Notary Option ing nothing but the bike, and getting close want it to attract too much attention. Once to no one, even when passing other bikers. again I made the rounds of my local bike info @ WTPNY.com My usual ride has been over the East River shops: Waterfront Bikes, Echelon Bikes, Bi- bridges to Brooklyn and Queens and back, cycle Habitat, Trek Bikes, Specialized Bikes. or around the 9/11 Memorial-Battery Park Enter the world of Supply and Demand! greenway, or up to Central Park. The supply chain is all centered in China, With more time for these outings, I chal- even for American manufacturers like Trek, lenged myself to go on longer rides. One cool Specialized, and Jamis, so you can guess sunny day, I determined to complete the cir- that those factories have been shut down for cumference of Manhattan Island, about 33 awhile! And the demand? I confirmed over miles in four hours. Approximately 75 per- and over that it was “through the roof!” That cent of Manhattan’s waterfront provides bike makes for a very difficult market. Shops can’t paths or greenway lanes; the other 25 percent get deliveries, warehouse are running out of is city streets and stoplights. This means that every style, prices are going up. Though the leaving the shoreline route is an uphill climb; bike shops are labeled “essential businesses” in some places, like the George Washington and are open, they are all very cramped, Bridge or the Highbridge Park areas, the hills packed with bikes and parts, so only one or are as high as 10-story buildings! two people at a time can enter, slowing any Several such long rides, and longer ones service you can get. Lines form quickly. deeper into Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, When I got my chance, I ordered from and even Staten Island (masks are required the local dealer’s in-store catalog for the on the ferry, though it’s almost empty in perfect, in-stock (at the warehouse) Amer- both directions!), really felt rewarding, and ican manufacturer bike, promised to arrive I looked forward to more. and be assembled for me in two or three Then in early May, on a mid-day ride up days tops. I was thrilled! to Central Park, I stopped on Eighth Av- Two weeks later, despite my repeated enue to check out a green grocer cart on the calls, visits, and pleading, the dealer has sidewalk; the carts had disappeared in my yet to receive delivery and the warehouse is neighborhood, so I took notice of this one. too busy to return calls and can’t be certain I leaned my bike against a post so I could when it would ship! look at the produce, turning my back but a I’m using the heavy Citi Bikes, but just moment, and when I turned to go back to for short rides. the bike it was gone, nowhere in sight. Just Oh well, I am thankful I can breathe and like that, I was deprived of my reliable trans- still enjoy the fresh breeze as I ride. portation (I was reminded of the wild west, where horse thievery was a capital crime!). Brian J. Pape is a LEED-AP “green” ar- Thus began my exposure to one more chitect consulting in private practice, serves side-effect of the pandemic—the insane de- on the Manhattan District 2 Community mand for bicycles! I immediately set about Board, is co-chair of the American Institute shopping for second-hand bikes, hoping for of Architects NY Design for Aging Commit- a quick replacement. First, I stopped at lo- tee, and is a journalist. 22 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org

Street) has opened in the Bar Sardine lords, in addition to them keeping my se- Also Re-opened space. Their theme is “Stayin’ in the City? curity deposits (most of them three months There are suddenly many more options Us too. Let’s have some fun. Like Mon- and in excess of $60,000), are entitled to— for delicious Mexican food: Los Tacos IN tauk in Manhattan”, and their dinner menu and likely will—sue me personally for my No. 1 (Chelsea Market, 75 9th Avenue) and has lobster rolls, shrimp rolls, cold fried obligations under my various leases.” Stul- is back, and in addition to their usual of- OUT chicken and shrimp cocktail. Breakfast and man recently re-opened Jeffrey’s Grocery ferings, they are featuring a “Make-Your- by Caroline Benveniste lunch are still to come. Gabe Stuhlman, as more of a grocery than a restaurant, with Own-Taco Bar” which can be ordered for the head of Happy Cooking group (for- meal kits, prepared foods, fruits, vegetables, 2 to 10 people. Each serving comes with a Last month I took a break from In & Out so I merly Little Wisco) which includes a num- pantry staples, wine and beer, etc. as a way protein or vegetarian option, sides, chips, could work on the Village Directory. But this ber of local spots such as Joseph Leonard, to hire back some of his employees. salsa and guacamole and four warm tor- month In & Out is back, with a new open- Fedora, Fairfax, and Jeffrey’s Grocery Miznon (Chelsea Market, 75 9th Avenue tillas. Dos Caminos Meatpacking (675 ing, a number of recently re-opened spots, and recently wrote a letter to local officials en- between 15th and 16th Streets) has re- Hudson Street at 14th Street) has also re- a couple of closings. Some of the trends we’ve couraging them to support Bill 1932-2020 opened (their West 72nd street location opened, and Taqueria Empellon (230 West noticed are family/large format meals, restau- which would “temporarily prohibit the en- has been open throughout the pandemic). 4th Street at West 10th Street) opened for rants pivoting to selling groceries and “do it forcement of personal liability provisions There are two ways to order, either from one day only, on Cinco de Mayo and of- yourself kits”, and limited menus. in commercial leases or rental agreements the regular menu, or from the Miznon fered a taco bar option as well. While the involving a COVID-19 impacted tenant. Shop which carries large format dishes, West Village location remains closed, sister Open This would apply to businesses that were kits, pantry staples and an impressive se- restaurant Empellon al Pastor in the East Pane Pasta (58 West 8th Street between impacted by mandated closures and service lection of wine, mostly French Burgundies. Village has re-opened with delivery avail- 6th Avenue and MacDougal Street) limitations in the Governor’s Executive Ordering from the shop must be done by able through Caviar. Most Starbucks were “Pane Pasta …the Sicilian experience in the Orders.” In his letter, Stulman elaborates: 3 PM on Wednesday for 3-5 PM pick-up open at the beginning of the pandemic, but heart of the West Village” opened in mid- “We have applied for every loan and grant or delivery on Friday (this arrangement re- about a month ago the company decided to March just before the shelter in place order that we’ve deemed worthwhile…To date, minds me of a trip to Tel Aviv, where we close all its non drive-thru stores as it felt took effect, and then re-opened in early we have not been approved for a single ap- saw that on Fridays, many vendors offered they were too crowded. Now, a number of May. Their delicious-looking carb-loaded plication. Without aid (whether private or prepared food that people could pick up in them have re-opened, but customers must offerings are available for take-out and de- government funded)—specifically in the advance of the Sabbath). order in advance with the Starbucks phone livery. In addition to pizza and pasta, the form of GRANTS—we will likely close Roey’s (1 Perry Street at Greenwich Av- app. The store at 122 Greenwich Avenue (at menu features panini, arancini, and desserts, multiple businesses. I believe my current enue), the all-day dining replacement for Bank Street) remains closed, but the new- including the krapfen, a giant filled donut, circumstances are shared by the majority of Rosemary’s Pizza and part of the Casa ish Starbucks Reserve at 1 7th Avenue (at available with vanilla or chocolate cream. small restaurant owners in New York City. Nela group which includes Rosemary’s, 11th Street) will open again after Memo- The owners are both from Sicily so the food Emotionally and financially, I am prepar- Bobo and Claudette has re-opened. The rial Day. Café Kitsuné (550 Hudson Street is authentic, and also quite inexpensive. ing for this possibility of going bankrupt founder, Carlos Suarez, explains: “Casa at Perry Street), the café/wine bar affiliated and belly up. Not being able to pay ven- Nela restaurants suspended delivery ser- with French fashion brand Maison Kitsuné Recently Re-opened dors, utility companies, taxes, etc. should vice in March, we did so for the health and reopened towards the end of May. Its Paris The Corner at Bar Sardine (183 West be enough—however, that is not where this safety of our teams. With the restaurants location re-opened on May 11th. Pastis (52 10th Street at the corner of West 4th story ends. I am concerned that my land- closed, my team and I invested our time in Gansevoort Street between Greenwich and developing Casa Nela Commits—our­ plan Washington Streets), which had re-opened to ensure that your next order from our in its new location last summer, closed again restaurants will be easy, safe, and delicious. in mid-March, but is now offering its menu With our safety plan in place, I am pleased of French comfort bistro food for take-out to announce that we are beginning the and delivery, with wine and cocktails avail- process of reopening for delivery and take able too. Mémé Mediterranean West Vil- away, starting with Roey’s, which has re- lage (581 Hudson Street at Bank Street), a opened for delivery as of Wednesday, May West Village favorite is now open as well. 20th. Bobo, Rosemary’s, and Claudette Three Owls Market (800 Washington will also reopen for delivery and take away Street at Horatio Street) has re-opened, of- within a few weeks.” If you order directly fering their prepared foods and salads, as through the restaurant website you can get well as a new HUNGRY OWL BOX which a 10% discount with code “ROEYS10”. is a rotating selection of dishes meant to last Jeju Noodle Bar (679 Greenwich Street at for a few days. The store is open for pick-up, Christopher Street) has recently re-opened. delivery can be arranged through Mercato, They are offering two multi-course tasting and the HUNGRY OWL must be ordered meals, but no ramyun (Korean ramen noo- at least 48 hours in advance. Some Three dles), their signature offering (the owner Owls recipes, including their delicious shal- felt they would not travel well). We have lot jam, can be found on the Meatpacking Delivery at the Speed of Life heard from people who’ve tried the food District website. Finally, for those of you that the portions are large and can be eaten following the chronicles of Myers of Kes- over two meals. A drink menu with wine, wick (634 Hudson Street, between Horatio www.maxdelivery.com beer, barley beer, soju, and other Asian bev- and Jane Streets) by WestView photographer erages is also available. In mid-April, anti- Maggie Berkvist, you’ll be happy to know "Did a full grocery order and had everything within an hour! Asian graffiti appeared on the restaurant, that after a closing in mid-April, they are Fantastic service." something that other Asian establishments back, offering savory pies, sausage rolls, and had had to contend with. a selection of British favorites. - Kristen D Nami Nori (33 Carmine Street, between "Fast delivery and excellent customer service!" Bedford and Bleecker Streets) has re- Re-opening Soon opened and is offering its signature hand Via Carota (51 Grove Street, between 7th - Jamar F rolls for take-out or delivery. The hand Avenue South and Bleecker Street) will, rolls are not the usual cone shape, but according to Grub Street, begin offering rather resemble a taco, with nori (seaweed) take-out and delivery, hopefully by the end instead of a tortilla. Since nori quickly gets of May. The owners, Rita Sodi and Jody soggy, it is wrapped separately, and instruc- Williams are Village denizens and in ad-

$25 off coupon good for $25 off the 1st order with $50+ in products, excluding Alcohol and Restaurant Partners. Wine and Spirits sold by external companies and are not tions are provided on how to remove the dition to critically acclaimed Via Carota, affiliated with MaxDelivery, LLC. One coupon per household See web site for terms & conditions of service. Offer expires 12/31/2020. Void where prohibited. wrapping before eating. continued on page 54 www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 23 A View From the Kitchen By Isa Covo shoppers, tenement dwellers, and park visitors. The energy in the paintings of Still quarantined, or confined which I like George Bellows of prizefighting, the “river OUR better. So what I observe from the window rats” youths bathing in the East River, and are sunnier days, more (but not excessive) car the beach, William Glackens with his af- traffic, a bit more pedestrian traffic depend- fectionate depictions of the density and the ing on the time of day. At night the streets PACK exuberance of the city, and George Luks are still empty of people and the number of and his interesting scenes of the Lower cars decreases. Also, for the first time a cou- East Side, is apparent. ple of days ago, I saw taxis—not many, but The Ashcan School painters parallel it was something I had not noticed recently. SUPPORTS the French Expressionists, and I think that In midtown, where I had to go this some may have visited France and very week, I was surprised at how dreadful it likely admired their works, but the Ameri- looked. If not for the presence of a few cans painted with more realism, especially cars, you would have thought that it was PRIDE regarding New York and they are worth a ghost town. Very few people, and those discovering all of them, for those who were mostly essential workers such as utili- haven’t done so yet. Next time we meet , I ty repairmen, guards, and a few pedestrians hope we will all be out of our homes. as well as some homeless and their posses- Use code “PRIDE2020” for a free side with any purchase made through wolfnightsusa.com or our app.* *Offer valid through June 30, 2020. One free side per person.

235 Bleecker St | 99 Riv ing ton Street Hours: 11:30 AM to 10 PM daily | wolfnightsusa.com sions. The post office, FedEx, and a couple Scallops are one of the quickest foods to prepare, of small delis were open, so I assume that they can also be served as a first course or a main some offices were also busy. There was a course if doubling the quantity. If you do not Whole Foods that seemed open, but would have a skillet large enough to contain the scal- not accept walk-in customers, only pre- lops in one layer, use two. Photo by Isa Covo. orders and deliveries. Strange. Everything else was closed, dark, boarded, neglected. Scallops Sauteed with Surprisingly, there were two or three small Fresh Herbs clothing stores, with their lights on, their windows displaying dressed mannequins, 20 to 24 scallops but they were closed. I passed a well-tend- 2 garlic cloves ed vest-pocket park that was completely 3 medium shallots empty. A couple of kiosks were selling 3 tbs. unsalted butter their wares at price-gouging prices ($2.99 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves for a small bottle of water). 1 pinch of freshly grated nutmeg Out of nostalgia I have been looking 2 tbs. dry Vermouth, brandy, or white wine through some art books with works by Salt and pepper to taste painters depicting, among other sites, New 8 sprigs of chives, snipped York. As many do, I like Edward Hopper, and I was surprised to see something I 1. Peel and chop the shallots and garlic hadn’t noticed before: Hopper was paint- cloves finely. ing distancing. Such is the lone woman 2. Heat the butter over medium high at the Automat, here is the waiting room heat and add the minced shallots and with people sitting away from each other, sauté a few minutes until the shallots here is the famous Nighthawks where ex- become transparent. cept for a couple close together, the third 3. Add the thyme and garlic, then the customer is seated well away, and even scallops, salt and pepper. Stir and cook the counterman does not lean towards the until the moisture of the scallops has couple. And so on. evaporated. On the other hand, the Ashcan School 4. Turn the scallops over and add the painters had another view. Their paintings vermouth, stir and cook about one or of the city were full of its motion and the two minutes. diversity of its people. John Sloane made Distribute the scallops equally to individual several paintings of the iconic McSorley plates and sprinkle with chives. Ale House. He also painted street urchins, Yield: 4 Servings as a main course. restaurant patrons, movie theaters, elegant Halve servings for a first course. 24 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org

A CALL TO DUTY: Feeding Our Frontline Hospital, and Memorial Sloan Kettering. She’s also partnered with her patrons’ and Workers neighbors, Justin and Angela Clair, Found- ers of GlobeTrotters, who started the Go- FundMe initiative “to provide free meals to the healthcare heroes at NYC hospitals.” Collectively, the GoFundMe team has de- livered over 1000+ meals to over 12 New York City hospitals. Mamoun’s Falafel on Macdougal Street and St. Marks Place recently launched a “Buy One, Feed One” fundraiser. For each falafel sandwich purchased in April, Ma- moun’s made an equivalent donation to the Food Bank For New York City to cover the cost of one meal. FRONTLINES OF THE COVID-19 Sarina Prabasi of Buunni Coffee is daily sending coffee to multiple hospitals, nurs- ing homes, pharmacies, post offices and more. The coffee is sent with cups, spoons, sugar and regular and oat milk, and there’s an option to send pastry as well. The coffee is JOYCE APPLEMAN. Photo credit: Barbara delivered by community volunteers from Up- Sibley. town Community Church. They’re also part- By Joyce Appelman nering with Everyman Espresso and Odeko to serve coffee to even more people, uptown When our local government ordered a shut- and in the Bronx. To donate: https://www. down of all in-room dining at restaurants to buunnicoffee.com/products/pick-me-up stop the spread of COVID-19, our chefs, Jessica Taige of Jessie’s Nutty Cups de- restaurants and foodservice colleagues rose livered over 1,300 two-packs, which were to the challenge by shifting to take-out and distributed to Brooklyn Methodist, Lenox delivery and mostly feeding first responders Health Greenwich Village (Northwell and food-insecure New Yorkers. Health), Weill Cornell, and Beth Israel. She Many chefs are finding ways to give back was matching the value of all orders that to health care workers and other essential came in through her website. Susan Palmer employees. Barbara Sibley of East Village of Little Red Kitchen Bake Shop has been La Palapa and La Palapa Tacos at Gotham donating her amazingly delicious Chocolate West Market, has been delivering meals Chip, S’mores, and Lemon Sugar cookies. to healthcare workers and food-insecure Both Jessica and Susan are involved with New Yorkers. In one week, her team served Founders Give, a streamlined approach to 2,000 meals. She’s had the support of her donate to hospitals. They act as the mid- team, World Central Kitchen, Gotham dleman for distribution to hospitals by pro- West Market and Hospitality Workers viding warehouse space and trucks for de- United to make it all possible. She also livery, all of which is being donated. Learn partnered with Dr. Meryl Rosofsky for a more on their website: https://www.found- weekly donation to three departments at ersgive.co/our-story. Mt. Sinai Hospital. She’s launched https:// These are just some of the businesses and www.gofundme.com/f/la-palapa-meals- people that have quickly responded to sup- for-hospitals and the food insecure. port our community and help get through Piatto, Blend on Vernon, Centro Italian this crisis. Kitchen, Vernon Grille, Manetta’s, Bella Via You can join their causes where your dona- and Little Chef, Little Cafe in Long Island tions, not only help feed healthcare profession- City have been providing free grab-and-go als, but also supports participating businesses. meals on weekdays in partnership with LIC Relief to students and families. To support Joyce Appelman is an award-winning residents in the borough, LIC Relief is cur- writer, communications and public relations rently collecting donations to continue pro- consultant supporting culinary education, viding free meals. For each meal a restaurant training and scholarships, and has been provides, LIC Relief gives $5 in relief to a instrumental in opening career opportunities local business. The organization’s goal is to for many young people in the foodservice and provide meals until New York City schools hospitality industry. She was the Commu- reopen. To donate: https://licrelief.org/ nications Director of C-CAP, the nonprofit Chef Maria Loi of Loi Estiatorio has she helped found, and is a board member delivered hundreds of nutritious, healthy for New York Women’s Culinary Alliance meals to the frontline healthcare work- (NYWCA) and Association for Training ers at NYU Langone, Northwell Health’s and Success (AFTSMentors.org). She is a Lenox Hill Hospital, The Floating Hos- contributing writer for Total Food Service, a pital, NY Presbyterian-CUMC, Bellevue B2B foodservice publication. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 25 God’s Love We Deliver: ODE TO Proudly Making a Difference, One Meal at a Time, since 1985 CORONA By Emmett Findley Yorkers who rely on us for food spend much infectious virus is once more changing the By Randee Mia Berman Director of Communications of their time at home and alone—but our fabric of our city, our intervention keeps God’s Love We Deliver daily meals are a reminder that the broader everyone safer. Medically tailored meals Was planning a trip to Verona God’s Love We Deliver was founded New York community cares. relieve some of the pressure on a heav- But now we’re trounced by Corona in 1985 at the height of a health crisis. We know that food is love, and we also ily burdened healthcare system and keep We’re all in a panic The AIDS pandemic was forever chang- believe that food is medicine. Our meals some of the most vulnerable to this illness We’re getting quite manic ing the fabric of NYC, and many of our are designed by our registered dietitian in their homes. Next year in Barcelona? clients—homebound individuals living nutritionists to keep our clients strong, June is usually a moment of immense The virus wickedly spreadin’ with HIV/AIDS—were living alone fac- comfortable, and more in control of their joy at God’s Love We Deliver. We take the So where in the world is this headin’? ing stigma, illness, and hunger. In those lives. Studies conducted by the national month to reflect on Pride, and we observe Some stay quite calm early years, when many of them were Food is Medicine Coalition, of which how far we have come as a community. We Like we ‘re in a sitcom; turned away by others, we brought food, God’s Love We Deliver is the convener, celebrate our history, our future, and our Others feel it's like Armageddon. love, and dignity to neighbors, friends, have shown that medically tailored meals unwavering commitment to those living family members and total strangers who (MTM) can reduce in-patient admissions with HIV, to diversity, to LGBTQ+ rights, Optimism starting to sink? were dying of this disease. In 2020 so by 50 percent, allowing people to remain and to our entire community. Try an opposite think much has changed, as we now cook and in their own homes. Recipients of MTM This year, our celebration will be Reverse the brain deliver more than 50,000 medically tai- experience better mental health, lessened changed. The Pride March, an annual mo- Against gluten grain lored meals every week to clients living food insecurity, and dramatically reduced ment of physical togetherness, will happen Turn charcoal gray to pink! with more than 200 different diagnoses. medical costs. Ours is an intervention that at a distance. However, the strength of our The glass is 1/2 sipped But as much as things have changed, our improves the lives of recipients and reduc- community has always existed in more The wires 1/2 tripped concern that every person should receive es the strain on the healthcare system. than a gathering or a physical space. It lives The light beams fantastic a beautiful nutritious meal cooked and This year, once again, we are facing a in the reaffirmation that we will continue Though measures are drastic home-delivered with love has not. healthcare crisis and are at the frontlines. to “be there” for each other, even if, for the The globe is 1/2 gripped Over the last 35 years, we have played an In March and April we added 1,000 new time being, our “theres” are separate. essential role for New Yorkers who are liv- clients to our program and we anticipate From our kitchen to yours, we’re The path is prickly clear ing with serious illness. We provide life-af- that we will add an additional 1,500 by wishing you health and happiness dur- But I choose to persevere firming meals and nutritional therapy that July. We are honored that the city has ing these difficult days, understanding Just look up at the moon help our clients stay strong and face their named us an essential services provider be- all the while that we’ll get through this Dancing over the Dune treatments. Many of the thousands of New cause in this current climate, when a highly once again, together. Half full she doth appear.

Celebrates NYC Pride #FeedYourPride

GLWD.ORG/FEEDYOURPRIDE 26 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org

I relish the old days. When some freak (UK), Beyond Blue (AU), Every Life Mat- Punk Pride with Rose Tints got onstage and pushed the boundaries, ters (Scotland) suicide prevention. God’s for a brief moment you got to not be so Love We Deliver (NYC), Food Chain By Martin Belk Goodbye Edwin Rose. Monday, April freakish. This is why the corporatization, (London) food. Pôle Jeunesse (Paris), Het- 4th: phone rings just before midnight. victimization and drugification of Pride is rick-Martin (NYC) young people. Aging “Dr Kim, Beth Israel/Mt. Sinai…” An- problematic. in Place (L.A), SAGE (NYC) senior peo- gel, “…I’m treating Edwin ‘Rose Royale’ Out of the Closet, into the Woodwork: ple. A personal favorite: Research Founda- Shostak.” I scramble, and within fifteen In 1992, something changed. AIDS fa- tion to Cure AIDS. And all’s not rotten on minutes I’d gathered many of Eddie-Rose’s tigue? Everyone fell into a GAP ad. The TV. Big props to Bob, Eureka and Shange- friends on a conference call, to go “live” and Calvin Klein Marky Mark thing—‘dunno. la in HBO’s “We’re Here” series. Takin’ it say a hasty, final goodbye. Veteran New Suddenly, my community started to eat it- to the streets in six-inch heels, staring hate Yorker—active painter, first Warhol facto- self. White t-shirts, gyms, steroids, straight- in the face and inviting it to a party. ry crowd. Exhibitions at MOMA. One of acting, crystal meth, soulless music (thump- I once met Clarence B. Jones, author Andy’s first boyfriends. Recent years: Jack- thump), whatever. Cloning went from of part one of MLK Jr.’s “Dream” speech. ie 60 stalwart; host at Sweetie-B’s Cheez anecdotal to abject. The great gay subdivi- They protected Bayard Rustin, gay super- Whiz (a Scissor Sisters launchpad); host sion began. Pride became a for-profit circuit mind of black civil rights. I asked, what’s at Lucky Cheng’s. No hugs, no handhold- party. From New York to Tel Aviv: being their secret to success? “We realized, early ing, or kisses—no last looks. Dies alone. I gay is no longer unique, it’s legal. Just busi- on—in order to get those in power to cede thought we were done with this shit. ness. Hang the DJ? any power, we had to first convince them Into the Groove, 1987: I was adopted By ‘95 or so, ActUP floundered: govern- that it is in their best interests.” Worked by the old Danceteria/Hurrah/Factory ment infiltration and special-interest con- then...what might this look like now? First, crowd. Haoui Montaug kidnapped me troversy. The younger AIDS-untouched bring the history: Pride began long before MARTIN BELK. Photo credit: Jonathan Daniel Pryce. from Uncle Charlie’s, far from my Dad’s trickled-down from Ohiolinasylvan- 1969. Use it for a new, deeper, more orga- midtown world. I was tossed in the mid- niaconsin, and embraced Dorian Corey’s nized, formidable Pride. London calling… European epicentre dle of namedrop, namedrop. With this body-in-the-cupboard theory: “The old Keep it simple. Catch bees with hon- of viral stupidity. This is not a love song. crowd, Pride was ubiquitous—straight, gay, school is interested in what you can create, ey. Focus on the similarities. We all need Tough love poem from an expat New type, income, race, gender (or none of the the new school is interested in what you healthcare, homes, food and employment. Yorker-cum-rock ‘n’ roll queer—perhaps. above)—welcome. No size fits all. can acquire.” Who failed whom? Start over, start there. Include Kalamazoo. Pandemics have historically handed power They, and Eddie-Rose, accepted me be- These days, it seems keyboard warriors, Talk to people, take a pass on clickbait to grassroots—India, 1918; or right now, fore I could even consider what Pride really revisionists and pronoun pro- squabbles. Listen. in Rome: the anti-right #6000SARDINE meant. Boy Bar to Wigstock. Dean John- tagonists have chewed the flavor from a Put principles over personalities, dump movement. Is this an opportunity? son’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Fag Bar to eye-opening worn-out piece of gum. Who needs West- identity politics, word police, and social COVID-19 rings eerily of AIDS. The Edelweiss. Deep in vogue uptown, deep in boro when you’ve got word police? Some- media wars. It’s useless, just ask Lady Bun- villains have changed, the agenda hasn’t. dick downtown. All in the face of a colossal one always gets punched. ny. Pull a Bartleby: “I prefer not to.” Elect Then: Get out! ActUp! Now: We can’t, yet. die-off. Where’s Haoui, Marty, Billy, name, The facts are: new HIV cases are still “a new champions. You. Yes, you. Run for an Time for introspection. name? Still dead. Long live the names. thing.” are still being lynched; ad- office—any office. Step up. Don’t blame, diction and alcoholism are still rife. Queer infiltrate. Face to face, not Facebook. kids still have the highest suicide & home- My dream? Locally grown, internation- lessness rates and need healthcare and em- ally active—but sensitive to other cultures. ployment. Queer people are being herded Create teachers, not targets. Something and killed by fascists—Hitler style—in that sidesteps armchair narcissism and Russia, Chechnya, and Uganda. Pride pop-shop celebrities and would make Lar- floats? Try trucks to concentration camps. ry Kramer or Audre Lorde proud. They too, die alone. That’s my two pennies. The astrology Gay marriage hasn’t solved any of this. Nor is Pluto in Capricorn. Last time this hap- did log cabins, chemsex, circuit parties, iden- pened—so did the American and French tity politics, new flags, baby adoptions, PrEP Revolutions. Too far? FOMO, patron saint or pronouns. Nor have new episodes of Will of millennials, help you. A reality TV show & Grace, Pose, or RuPaul’s Drag Race. The ‘star’ and Roy Cohn protégé is president now. revolution will not be televised, remember? Too much? Sue me. Gore Vidal taught me My take: at-all-costs, “visibility” is not how to palimpsest. Silence (still) = Death. progress. The media: just another busi- It’s 3:00 a.m. I wish I could call Eddie-Rose. ness. Queers are the new black. Performing Minstrels. Want proof? Netflix’s “Holly- Martin Belk is a writer/playwright, expat wood” portrays Rock Hudson as a young New Yorker, and former producer of “Squeeze- sexual victim. The facts? He was a willing Box!” living in London. His memoir, “Pretty casting couch surfer. More tired old-gay Broken Punks: lipstick, leather jeans, a death predator tropes. Yay. of New York” was published in 2012. He What’s good, you may ask? A lot. Very currently hosts the “Late Supper with Martin short list: Trevor Project (USA), CALM Belk” podcast, latesupperpodcast.com. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 27

Thanks to all our friends and the many businesses and organizations who filled the Hello Quarantine pages of the June Pride edition of WestView This solitude cannot compare to News. We're all New Yorkers and this is how we The aloneness roll: PAride-in-Quarantine! of society’s mask decree of “normalcy” —Kambiz Shekdar, President, Research This pandemic cannot Foundation to Cure AIDS & WestView News Take away the memories —Bruce Poli, Pride-in-Quarantine Community The bittersweetness of June Liaison Of a system already broken —Dusty Berke, Community Outreach Told you so —George Capsis, Publisher Over some Zoom disco ball As we jump rope with the rainbow I don’t know WHAT we would do without our small —Karen Finley, Artist @the_yam_mam but mighty @westviewnews. Now more than ever. They are keeping us informed, finding ways to During times of crisis you see the best in support small businesses and making certain our people. We have come together in unity and seniors and most vulnerable neighbors have all the solidarity from all different walks of life to information they need to feel safe. battle this invisible enemy. This is a war like —Sarah Jessica Parker, any other and we have suffered casualties, but Friend of WestView News we will come out stronger on the other side of went into the pandemic. If we use this crisis as Join The Digital Quilt because we are Stronger COVID-19. We are New York Strong! AIDS is the gift that keeps on giving to Big an inflection point to demand greater justice and Than Stigma, More Powerful Than AIDS. —Alex Hellinger, Executive Director Pharma and the Insurance Industry. Truvada equality and transform our society, that might be —Zee Strong, Founder, Lenox Health Greenwich Village / and similar prophylactic treatments are NOT a a silver lining in the end. The Digital Quilt, @zeestrong Northwell Health cure for HIV. Pharmaceutical companies profit —Anthony D. Romero, irrationally from HIV-positive Americans who ACLU Executive Director Although the COVID-19 pandemic continues Though we won’t be marching through the depend on the medications forever. As president, to impact our lives and livelihoods and pose Village or rallying at the Stonewall Inn this year, how would you finance a CURE and scale back Karma is a bitch—now everyone understands tremendous challenges on all of us, New York we must still celebrate and commemorate the avarice of pharmaceutical companies. how gays felt during AIDS outbreak. City’s true character has only grown stronger. pride. This will be a test of our creativity as a —Larry Kramer, Founder, ACT-UP & Gay —Jacqueline Taylor Basker, Why? Because we are confronting these community. But it’s a challenge we must meet. Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), question Contributing Writer WestView News challenges together. This LGBTQ Pride, although That is why this special LGBTQ Pride issue of as submitted by Larry and asked by we are not together physically, we are coming WestView is so important. Somewhere a young James Roman during CNN’s Oct 2019 I am always filled with tremendous gratitude for together to celebrate our pride, determined to LGBTQ person will find this issue and know that Presidential Townhall a community that reached out and embraced take on all challenges that come our way. I want not only are they are not alone, but they are part our family during our darkest and most to thank Westview for this special edition. To all of an incredible community. Larry Kramer was a giant in our movement. difficult time of grief with support for the Tyler New Yorkers, have a safe and happy Pride! —Erik Bottcher, Chief of Staff to City He was the grandfather of AIDS activism. All Clementi Foundation from the very beginning. —Corey Johnson, Council Speaker Corey Johnson & of us learned from him even when we didn’t This year’s Pride Festivities will certainly look NYC City Council Speaker Candidate for City Council District 3 always agree. He was there at the founding of and feel very different as we live through institutions such as GMHC and Housing Works. some very challenging and difficult times of The Center has a long, rich history of helping We’ve been thru horrors like AIDS, Guiliani, And, his cultural contributions, particularly Normal physical distancing, illness and death. But the people find community in both the most 9/11, Hurricane Sandy and now, COVID-19 and Heart, spoke eloquently to not only our minds but strength, vibrancy, courage and love of the challenging and most celebratory of times. We’re we will, as always, rebound and create, create, our hearts. Larry, you will be sorely missed. LGBTQ+ community that I have found cannot be offering all of our services virtually and are here create as we always have. I can’t wait till I can —Michael Weinstein, to uplift our community 365 days a year, so that silenced, it will shine through and be celebrated raise a glass to my fellow gays, laugh, dance on Founder and President, no one has to feel alone before, during or after even in these most challenging moments. Fire island, love, hug and smile without a mask. AIDS Healthcare Foundation Pride. It is our connection to each other and the —Jane Clementi, Co-founder & CEO —Daniel Nardicio, Owner, affirmation of all of our diverse, vibrant identities Tyler Clementi Foundation and Club Cumming Productions My community endured centuries of the that makes us so special, and that always quarantining of our desires, And we survived. deserves celebrating. Happy Pride! NYC Pride is thankful to all those who are Love flickers even in darkness friendship is My first boss in the AIDS field told me early —Glennda Testone, Executive Director, The on: “THIS IS A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT. USE working to keep New York strong. We are the antidote to isolation. We have lived through LGBT Community Center especially thankful to the dedicated volunteers, pandemics and survived. YOUR RESOURCES ACCORDINGLY. —Bruce Anderson, Former President, members and staff who continue to work hard —Jim Fouratt, LGBT Pioneer & WestView Thank you for voting Club Cumming best LGBTQ The LGBT Community Center to keep the mission of our organization going. News Contributing Writer bar in NYC. I wish we could invite you all to —David A. Correa, Interim Executive join us during Pride. Let’s remain united in the Director, NYC Pride, We saw what happened when AIDS was At certain times of the year, particularly during virtual world and the pages of New York City’s politicized. We are watching COVID-19 be Pride, there is a strong, broad focus on the WestView News! They don’t see me coming. I look like a good old politicized. We must demand active democracy urgent need for a cure for AIDS. The Research —, Actor & Founder, boy. I walk like a good old boy. I talk like a good and be treated as citizens not consumers. The Foundation to Cure AIDS is focused on that goal Club Cumming old boy. I pray like a good old boy. It helps me get future is now. on a daily basis, year in, year out, and we ask their guard down, it gets me in the door. I hold —Penny Arcade, you to join it in its efforts to reach that goal. Writer, Maker, Cultural Critic —Karen Hagberg, Board Chair, Gay Pride has been a powerful source of strength that door open and I make sure they see me do Research Foundation to Cure AIDS in our community. From it and with it, the earliest it. White, Irish-American, Catholic, Cop and Queer brave persons reminded us that we are each as F*ck. The establishment will remember me. I I remember how the AIDS epidemic fueled my precious and valuable. infiltrated their system, and I will destroy it. own activism in my twenties and how it turbo- The pandemic is unprecedented but it will pass, —Brian Downey, President, Gay Officers charged the movement for LGBTQ equality. As too. What will be remembered is the courage —Jim McGreevey, Proud Gay American & nd Action League (GOAL) we celebrate Pride in the middle of another and creativity that we mustered in this time. 52 Governor of NJ pandemic, I have to believe that the country that —Christian Kopfli, CEO, Chromocell emerges from COVID-19 will be more fair, more Corporation & Board Member, #STAYSAFE#STAYCREATIVE#STAYPROUD Meow! just and more equitable than the country that Research Foundation to Cure AIDS —Mondo Guerra, Designer/ Activist —Sherry Vine, Drag Legend 28 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org LGBTQ Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

1665-1969 1969 Patrons of the Stonewall Inn in 1983 The LGBT Community Center opens Greenwich Village refuse to cooperate 1984 Heritage of Pride is formed with arresting vice-squad officers, 1665 New York colony laws make sodomy triggering a four-day riot 1984 Outdoor annual drag festival Wigstock a capital offense begins 1867 bar opens in the West Village 1986 U.S. Supreme Court effectively renders gay sex as illegal by upholding sodomy 1867 Homosexuality is defended publicly laws before a government body for the first time 1987 ACT-UP is formed 1895 Oscar Wilde is sentenced to prison 1988 World AIDS Day is commemorated on December 1st for the first time 1919- First large-scale black/urban LGBTQ 1929 enclave in the U.S. is established during the Harlem Renaissance 1990-1999 1924  is established 1990 Deborah Glick is elected as first openly as the first legally-recognized gay rights gay NY state legislator organization in the U.S. 1991 The Red Ribbon is created to raise 1928 Well of Loneliness is published as a awareness for HIV/AIDS novel about lesbian love 1991 bar opens Photo credit: Laura Rubin 1933 Nazi forces destroy Institute for Sexual 1993 President Bill Clinton signs “Don’t Ask, Research 1970-1979 Don’t Tell” into law 1933- Homosexuals are prosecuted under 1970 Street Transvestite Action 1993 Drag begins at Bar d’O in the 1945 Germany’s “Paragraph 175,” forced Revolutionaries (STAR) is formed West Village to wear a Pink Triangle and sent to 1970 Police raids at the Snake Pit bar in the concentration camps 1995 Life-saving HIV/AIDS drug cocktail is West Village result in 167 arrested developed 1950  is formed as one of 1970 First Christopher Street Liberation Day 1996 Club kid Angel Melendez is murdered the first LGBT organizations in the U.S. march goes up 6th Ave. to Central Park

1958  U.S. Supreme Court upholds the right to 1970 Gay Liberation Front (GLF) is formed send LGBT-related literature in U.S. Mail Photo credit: © Suzanne Poli 1973 Lesbian Herstory Archives is formed 1975 American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its list of mental disorders 1979 First National March on Washington for LGBT rights

1980-1989 1980 First year the Christopher Street Liberation Day marches up 5th Ave. 1980’s AIDS pandemic emerges 1980s Pink Triangle is adopted as a symbol by the gay community Photo credit: Fred W. McDarrah 1966 First “Sip-In” at Julius bar is staged by 1981 St. Vincent’s Hospital becomes the Mattachine Society to challenge laws center for compassionate care of barring drink service to homosexuals AIDS victims 1967 Oscar Wilde Memorial bookshop opens 1982 Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) is in the West Village as first gay bookstore formed in the U.S. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 29

From oppression to achieving the right to life, WestView News invites you to send in addi- CREATED BY: liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we are tional milestones to expand our timeline so that VICTOR SALVO proud to present our selection of LGBTQ his- it reflects the full lens of our rich LGBT heritage Co-Founder and Executive Director, The Legacy Project toric milestones, events and accomplishments. and foundation. You are also welcome to sub- We did not aim to provide an encyclopedic mit photos for our pages and video montage. overview but rather a scenic tour where we aim We prefer photos that give you goosebumps BRUCE POLI Executive Director, Equal Rights Foundation to convey the arc of LGBT progress with a lens or ones that grab your attention. Include on the West Village. The AIDS pandemic and photo credit and a brief caption. Send all KAMBIZ SHEKDAR, PH.D. President & Founder, club culture, two forces that continue to shape LGBT Timeline and Milestone submissions to: Research Foundation to Cure AIDS the LGBT experience, are also reflected. [email protected].

1983 The LGBT Community Center opens 2007 The Limelight (a.k.a. Avalon) perma- 1984 Heritage of Pride is formed nently closes 1984 Outdoor annual drag festival Wigstock 2007 First AIDS patient is reported cured begins of AIDS (“Berlin Patient”) 1986 U.S. Supreme Court effectively renders 2010 U.S. Senate repeals “Don’t Ask, gay sex as illegal by upholding sodomy Don’t Tell” laws 2011 President Barack Obama signs order 1987 ACT-UP is formed to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” 1988 World AIDS Day is commemorated on 2012 Trudava / PrEP is introduced as an AIDS December 1st for the first time medication to help prevent HIV infection 2015 U.S. Supreme Court legalizes same-sex 1990-1999 marriage 1990 Deborah Glick is elected as first openly gay NY state legislator 2016 The NYC AIDS Memorial opens across the former St. Vincent’s Hospital 1991 The Red Ribbon is created to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS 2018 Corey Johnson is elected as the first openly gay and HIV-positive NYC City 1991 Henrietta Hudson bar opens Council Speaker 1993 President Bill Clinton signs “Don’t Ask, 2019 Second AIDS Patient is reported cured Don’t Tell” into law of AIDS (“London Patient”) 1993 Drag cabaret begins at Bar d’O in the West Village 2020 Larry Kramer, playwright and co-founder of ACT-UP & GMHC dies 1995 Life-saving HIV/AIDS drug cocktail is developed Photo credit: Adian Aggenbach 1996 Club kid Angel Melendez is murdered

Photo credit: © Suzanne Poli Photo credit: Gabriel Beaton Credit: Gran Fury Future Milestones 1997 Palladium is purchased by NYU for use as student dormitories Conversion therapy is outlawed worldwide 1998 Tom Duane is elected as first openly No one is bullied or killed for being LGBTQ gay and HIV-positive NY state senator

Immigration equality is achieved 2000-2020

2001  nightclub closes under pressure LGBTQ rights are established worldwide from NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s Quality of Life campaign HIV/AIDS is eradicated for good using 2003 President George W. Bush implements broadly-available vaccines and cures the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS

Relief (PEPFAR) to make life-saving Equal human rights for all are achieved AIDS medications available worldwide

2003 U.S. Supreme Court decriminalizes All people achieve life, liberty and happiness gay sex

2006 Christine Quinn is elected first openly gay NYC City Council Speaker The LGBTQ community wishes #BLACKLIVESMATTER equal success

© WestView News | Follow us on Instagram @westvierwnews | www.westviewnews.org 30 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org A Vodka Bottle with an Important Political Message; Sex and the West Village; Her Shoes Could be Yours! The fate of local community newspapers is, ultimately, in the hands of the reading public. When the public supports its local paper it thrives and the community benefits (and by support, I’m talking about subscrib- ing). WestView News is a paper that is valuable to our part of New York: interesting, well written, informa- tive and feisty. But it is not well-enough subscribed to, and it may not be long before the West Village is without its local voice. On the 50th anniversary of Gay Pride our WestView News, along with its gifted staff and publisher George Capsis, is taking the bull by the horns and going directly to the neighborhood with a fundraiser to keep the paper afloat! We’ll be raffling off valuable and (in many cases) locally produced items and celebrity fare to qualified ticket holders. And, when we say qualified, we mean those who are subscrib- ers. You have to subscribe or make a donation of any size by June 30th to win. Donations may include raffle items. Examples of raffle items: art objects, high fashion clothing, collectibles, house tours, meals (safely prepared and served). Winners will be announced by name in the July issue.

By Robert Kroll his life starring Sean Penn as the late super- News raffle. The winner will be able to pick mixed media artist. She produced and do- Artists, television and movie notables, mu- visor and gay rights activist. any pair from the Evergreen line. nated a fascinating image entitled “Bruce and sicians, and vodka moguls, among others, The bottle label art-work, featuring Ms. Parker has said that she reads West- his Handbag” with neon tones, curved chairs, will be offering their products, their merch, Milk holding his iconic bullhorn embla- View every month, cover to cover, and and stark outlines that evoke a simpler time. their time, their energy and creativity to zoned with his motto: “Hope will not be cherishes the value it provides to creating Her work has been on solo exhibit in the cause of local journalism. Vive la West- silenced,” was reproduced as a mural in the a community in the West Village through Vancouver in 2015 and in March, 2020 in View News. Roll the presses. Castro District of San Francisco. shared information and memories. She is the West Village. Her photos have been Here are the items that will be up for Manhattan bartender Yusef Austin of also a supporter of LGTBQ causes. published in Ripe Magazine (2000), Circles grabs in the June raffle: the Boom Boom Room will supply his of the Mountain, and other publications. special cocktail recipe using the vodka, PRIVATE BACH CELLO SUITE "LIFETIME" MARBLE SCULPTURE A STOLICHNAYA VODKA and will present a personal Zoom class CONCERT PERFORMED BY A BY ROSE M. RAY LIMITED EDITION on preparing it to the winner of the Milk FOUNDER OF THE KNIGHTS TRIBUTE BOTTLE bottle. He has created CBD, health and Eric Jacobsen, a highly talented co-found- Local sculptor Rose M. Ray has produced a Stolichnaya Vodka, a product of Lativia wellness, and mocktail recipes to elevate er of the Knights chamber orchestra, will sculpture, Lifetime, a white marble piece suit- produced with the raw ingredients from the and sharpen people’s minds. He uses perform the Bach Cello Suite No. 1 in G able for a shelf or cabinet. original Russian recipe, has issued an edi- ayurvedic spices and herbs for unique- Major, first movement, in a special Zoom Rose Ray is a visual artist who works in tion of vodka bottles honoring the late Har- flavored cocktail recipes. performance for the winner of this raffle. drawing and sculpture. She uses paper, vey Milk—an LGBTQ icon—on its label. Jacobsen and his brother Colin Jacobsen, pencil, and ink to create documentary This collectible bottle was released on Quarantine Cocktail first chair concert violinist, founded the sketches of her daily life. Stone carving is 2018, to commemorate 2 oz. Stoli Knights orchestra soon after graduating her primary sculptural medium. Current 40 years since Milk was sworn into office, 1 oz. Passion Fruit Juice from the Julliard School in Manhattan. interests include incorporating mathemati- at an unveiling of a mural in San Francisco’s 3/4 oz. Star Anise and Cardamom Syrup* The Knights have performed and re- cal themes and tools, which she has used in LGBTQ district with the identical work of 1/2 oz. Fresh Lime Juice corded with Yo-Yo Ma, Dawn Upshaw, her 40 years of work as an applied statisti- art. It will be an immediate collectible dur- Pink Peppercorn Dust Bela Fleck and Gil Shaham. Recently, they cian, into the subject matter of her pieces, ing Pride Month, as this is the LAST of Martini Glass have performed at , Tangle- and creating a visual expression of the kin- 25,000 one-litre bottles and 25,000 750ml ______wood, and the Vienna Musikverein. Their esthetic sense that she experiences while bottles that were issued, all signed by the Shake all ingredients and strain into a Mar- talents are voluminous and prodigious and creating her with her hands. Her goal is to renowned Paraguayan artist Oz Montania, tini glass. Light dusting of pink peppercorn as cover every medium of entertainment and create works that are meant to be touched, and individually numbered. garnish. *NOTE: Take 10 cardamom pods and musical style. picked up, and handled. In this way her Milk was already a well-known gay rights 5 star anise to 16 oz. of simple syrup and let This live performance will be inspiring audience will experience the work through activist when he was elected to the San simmer for 15 minutes. Let cool. Strain. (Sim- and provide a long-lasting memory of a their own kinesthetic sense. Francisco County Board of Supervisors in ple syrup is equal parts of sugar to water. Get musical event that will dazzle. Dr. Ray has studied stone carving at the 1977, the first ever openly-gay public official the water boiling. Add the sugar. Mix until it’s College of Marin and at the Compleat Sc- in San Francisco and California. Tragically, clear and all sugar is dissolved.) BRUCE AND HIS HANDBAG upltor in NYC, 3D design at Berkeley City he and his friend and colleague, San Fran- BY KAREN REMPEL College, experimental drawing at Cooper cisco Mayor , were gunned SARAH JESSICA PARKER— Mixed media ink on canvas with sparkles— Union, and basic drawing at the Educa- down by a political adversary in November, HER SHOES COULD BE YOURS 32”x 24” framed in black and silver—by artist tional Alliance in NYC. 1978. (Full disclosure: as a reporter for the Long-time very ardent WestView News sub- Karen Rempel. Berkeley Daily Gazette, I covered the news of scriber and supporter, actress Sarah Jessica WestView News fashionista Karen Rempel is Robert Kroll, contributing writer for West- the assassination in City Hall). Milk was the Parker, has donated a pair of her SJP by Sar- not only a photojournalist and videoblogger, View News, is a journalist, retired lawyer, protagonist of a feature-length film about ah Jessica Parker line shoes to the WestView but also an accomplished photographer and and Japanese woodworker Our Mission TransNewYork’s mission is to bring awareness to the issues facing the transgender non-conforming (TGNC) community and give guidance and support to individuals and their loved ones within an open and safe environment. We provide individual and group counseling and monthly meetings, in which we address issues such as gender dysphoria and encourage transgender individuals to share their stories. We wish to be an informative source for transgender resources, activities, and events.

TransNewYork is implementing the following Digital services to help the LGBTQI Community cope with the Mental Health effects of Covid-19:

We are establishing a 24/7 Mental Health Hotline/Chat to help members of the LGBTQI community cope with the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

We are implementing a Tele Counseling Video Platform

We are implementing a Virtual Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Treatment plan for the LGBTQ community We are developing a Workforce Development plan for the LGBTQI community to help them establish employment

To support our organization go to: www.transnewyork.org 32 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org

Cityzen by Azin. Does the purplish line curving down the dress look familiar? It is the East River! I am actually Karen’s Quirky Style wearing an aerial view of New York, with Manhattan on By Karen Rempel | Fashion Editor the left and Brooklyn on the right! This scarf is one of a stunning collection of wearable art featuring beautiful cit- Everyone who loves fashion knows that The First ies from around the world. The collection is also available Monday in May is the highlight of the year, when the as framed art. The scarves come in a variety of shapes and glitterati put on their most fantabulous creations and sizes. Mine is a blend of modal and cashmere. Modal is a head up the red carpeted steps into the Met. (Check super-soft fiber from beechwood trees, made into fabric us- out the wonderful film Ocean’s 8—which premiered at ing an environmentally-friendly chemical process. Alice Tully Hall in 2018—to see how it’s done behind Aerosoles have long been known for their comfort and the scenes.) The official theme for this year’s gala fun- style. These vivid purple suede shoes with latticework draiser at the Museum of Art was About across the vamp are especially appealing. The shape of the Time: Fashion and Duration. Although the gala event shoe with its blocky curving heels reminds me of King was cancelled, the Costume Institute’s exhibit is sched- Louis XIV’s aristocratic court shoes. Our current con- uled to open on October 29, 2020. My birthday! Fingers sumer habits are non-sustainable for the planet, and the crossed! This year’s theme is meant to show how fash- fashion industry is especially guilty of planned obsoles- ions from different eras weave in and out, combining cence, so I was glad of a fancy dress-up event that allowed and influencing each other. me to raid the closet (again) for existing treasures. Since the gala was cancelled, a group of twitter fash- On May 4, as the DIY Met Gala lit up the Twitter- ionistas @HFMetGala decided to host a virtual event sphere, I loved watching other style genii posting their that we could all participate in. Using items found in creations all day long. So inspiring and over the top! our closets! To be environmentally friendly and to pro- Check out the fabulous fashion at #HFMetGala and tect our peeps, buying new clothes was frowned upon. #HFMetGala2020. For more details and photos of my This was a chance to play dress-up like a kid. Having Met Gala outfit, including 70s makeup and tattoo, see dreamed of attending the Met Gala, but knowing it is karensquirkystyle.com and connect @karensquirkystyle. out of reach to this humble fashion writer, I was de- lighted to throw off my home isolation routine and put STYLE NOTES together a Met-worthy outfit. Though the stakes were GOLDENROD, PUMPKIN, AND MULBERRY MODAL AND not as high, and in fact formal attire was not required! CASHMERE SCARF, draped into a dress. Cityzen by Azin, Combining harmonious numbers with my wish to New York-based, online only. Gift from a friend. cause a collision between time periods, I contrasted a INDIGO-PURPLE SUEDE SHOES with lattice cut-outs. 70’s look with shoes that are reminiscent of an earlier Aerosoles, 63 E. 8th Street. century (1770’s maybe?). The dress is actually a scarf, COPPER OPEN-COLLAR NECKLACE WITH CUBES. draped to look like a dress by tucking it in my bra! (And INVITED TO THE MET GALA AT LAST! West Village Barre3 West Village Studio, 63 W. 8th Street. it’s open at the back!) This is the illusion of style... Fan- model Karen Rempel pulls from the Dress Up Trunk tasy all the way. for the High Fashion Twit Met Gala 2020. Photograph “VERSAILLES PARIS LUMIÈRE” HAIR COLOR by L’Oréal The scarf is a creation of New York design house by Alex Rempel-Price. Paris Superior Preference, self-applied. From a box!

Style on the Street: Proud Villagers—Rockin' the Rainbow

Photos by Dusty Berke and Karilyn Prisco. Follow us on Instagram @styleonthestreet_WestViewNews Submit your favorite neighborhood fashion looks for a chance to be featured. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 33 NYC Drag Queens Throw Their Own Met Gala

By Alexey Kim ing but time. All over social media people are talking about ways to stay sane during the Due to the coronavirus pandemic, one of the quarantine, and one thing everyone swears most-anticipated fashion events of the year, by is “staying creative.” Many artists have dug the Met Gala helmed by Anna Wintour, that deeper into exploring their passions and have usually takes place on the first Monday in found ways to acclimate to the new reality May, has been officially cancelled. Leave it up quickly. “It’s just adapting—that’s what we do to the NYC drag queens to take matters into as human beings, and if anyone knows how their own hands and keep the fantasy alive. to adapt, it’s drag queens. We are constantly CT Hedden, one of New York City’s adapting, we don’t fit in a social norm—I prominent drag nightlife personas, came don’t care how big a television show gets. We up with an idea to throw his own version are still ridiculed, we are still a minority, but it of the Gala, inspired by social distancing. never stops us. That’s the thing—we are resil- “I feel like as an entertainer, it’s our job to ient people,” says CT. entertain even in tough times,” says CT on In 2019, the first people to attend the Met the idea of throwing an apocalyptic hom- Gala in drag were Violet Chachki and Aquar-

NYC PROUD AND STRONG! WISHING THE WEST VILLAGE A HAPPY PRIDE.

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2020 Pride Virtual Art Contest WEST 13TH STREET ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES "A RAINBOW IS STRONGER THAN COVID-19" All New York City residents are invited to celebrate Pride Month and enter a Virtual Art Contest with a $300 cash prize for the winner. “We are asking New Yorkers to draw or paint something related to PRIDE and the impact of the Coronavirus on KEEPING THE FANTASY ALIVE: Prominent drag nightlife persona, CT Hedden, above, threw the LGBTQ community,” says West 13th Street co-founder, Angel Vladimir Olive- his own version of the Met Gala, inspired by social distancing. Photo credit: Alexey Kim. ros. Contestants are asked to email a picture of their finished art piece as well as a 2-3 sentence artist statement about their piece by June 19 to: w13alliance@gmail. age to the actual Gala, “people look to us to ia, both winners of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Just com. Project NYC will provide some art supplies. The Board will meet two days lift their spirits. I’ve been doing live shows a few years ago it would have been an un- before Pride Day, on June 26, to select and announce a winner. and I had this woman talk about how she imaginable feat for any (possibly was going to have elective surgery for can- besides RuPaul himself) to be invited to the cer, and she’s been watching my shows and world’s most elite fashion event like the Met laughing about it. It’s about expressing art Gala. Instead of waiting for his turn to be in- and just making people smile.” vited, CT decided to involve some of New During the five-hour shoot on the steps York’s most notable trans and drag personali- of The Met, countless numbers of people ties to create their own version of the event. stopped by to say hello to the queens dressed “I think we are really creating a moment in their best “QuarantQueen” looks and this morning and that’s really what it’s thank them for brightening up their day. about,” says CT on his way to the steps of Since the end of April, at least 21 US the Metropolitan Museum. “It’s so impor- states started partially reopening, just a tant,” he goes on, “when you see a garment month and a half after the nation’s imple- on someone, it touches you. Fashion is an mentation of stay-at-home orders. Mean- emotion, whether it’s good or bad. And this while, New York remains the epicenter of is about having that inner happiness. You the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, with gotta know that life is still happening.” the quarantine still going strong. Mayor Bill de Blasio has recently expressed that it Alexey Kim is a New York City-based A COLORFUL FLASHBACK TO PRIDE 2019. The West 13th Alliance turned the tree was a possibility for New York City to start independent queer artist, writer, journalist, beds on West 13th between 7th and Greenwich Avenues into a rainbow in June of partially reopening in the first half of June. and photographer. He is the founder of and last year to commemorate World Pride on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Ri- After the government’s orders to shut main contributor to the LGBTQ+ vertical ots. Artist and Alliance co-founder, Angel Vlady Oliveros filled the beds with colored down all non-essential businesses back in the www.sidewalkkilla.com. Alexey was born mesh over wood frames to create the colors of the rainbow gay pride flag. Each was middle of March, a lot of freelance workers in Kazakhstan, formerly part of the USSR, finished with a colored bow. Funding for the public art materials was provided by found themselves stuck at home with noth- eventually moving to the US in his teens. Citizens Committee for New York City. 34 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org An LGBTQ+ Ambassador’s Quarantine Life Perspective on Social Distancing By Patrik Gallineaux

When the seriousness of COVID-19 took effect and the country's first stay-at-home orders were issued, I had just left Philadel- phia for my home in San Francisco. I'd just completed only the second of 15 city events included in the 7th annual Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic, the brand’s annual LG- BTQ+ nightlife celebration and bartender competition that champions the legacy of gay bars as the original community centers and the bar stars who continue to serve pride today. For two days during the first shelter in place orders in California, I will admit I felt a panic unlike anything I had experi- enced in a very long time. It felt almost like I might wake up and find my whole life had been merely a dream. And then it hit me, as the LGBTQ+ Ambassador and Manager PATRIK GALLINEAUX AND THE SPIRIT for Stoli Group for over a decade, I had been OF STONEWALL STOLI PRIDE EDITION BOTTLE, Selfie, on the fire escape of living a ridiculously magical life. fabulousness. I have visited almost every LGBTQ+ community in North America on a rotating ”different” to achieve success in professions basis, keeping lists of as many gay bars as I I had considered such as law, politics or could discover. I’ve had the great privilege medicine. So, I did what every other way of becoming familiar with vital Pride Cen- too gay kid did in the 80’s and pursued a ters, non-profits, activists and leaders from musical theatre degree, which naturally led Sherry-in-Quarantine as many LGBTQ+ communities and Gay- to a trifecta career in hospitality, promotion tour around the world and this is the lon- borhoods as I could make my way to, again and event production. gest I’ve gone without being on a plane in and again, for years at a time. When the The discovery of my first , the about 20 years, lol! The important thing, world stopped, and especially in the internet now-closed Ladd’s in Purchase, NY, re- for me, is to keep my creative mind active. age, I was anything but alone; in fact, I had vealed a world where for the first time I I wake up each morning with, “What can already survived what in my life had been felt attractive, seen and at home. Over the I do today”? And I work hard all day un- the worst form of social distancing possible, course of the next many years—with ad- til the sun goes down then I pour myself a growing up in a small town in Western NY ventures saved for a future book—I was glass of wine and watch TV! during the Reagan Administration. buoyed by the arts and nightlife, holding on The best thing anyone can do to support I remember looking up at the sky as a kid long enough until the world had changed me, or any other artist, is to watch their wondering if there was even one other kid enough for a little company named Stoli to shows. I do a live online show every two like me. I had heard the name of only one really see ME. Stoli offered a once way-too- weeks and have a lot of fun parodies online important and publicly known gay person gay kid a rather exceptional job and career at www.sherryvine.com. I give a portion of during my early years, a man named Harvey path previously denied. all my tips to various charities. OR when Milk. I had heard of Milk on television in Today I believe that those who find the a performer does a video or Instagram/ relation to something about a “twinkie de- strength to hold on become the ones who FaceBook show, people can tip via PayPal fense,” sparking a brief conversation with continue to change the world. Beyond the or Venmo. It really does help and I feel like my father who always taught acceptance of funds, there has been authentic support from they are getting entertainment in return. others but probably lacked the language to Stoli Group to LGBTQ+ communities for It’s less money than if they went to a the- properly engage me about LGBTQ+ issues programming, charities and nightlife events. atre or club and had a drink. and identity. However, I do recall my father’s I am personally the most grateful that this DRAG PERFORMER SHERRY VINE. Photo The only words of hope I can offer is one offering; mentioning an event from 10 company has also authentically supported credit: Steven Love Menendez. to remember we are all—GLOBALLY— years prior at a New York City bar, that me. It is my responsibility to return the favor in this together. Wake up each morning made me think there might be a commu- to my community and try to make sure every By Sherry Vine and ask yourself, “What can I do today to nity (for me) out there. How magical that person has the opportunity to be seen. make me happy”? I am taking each day fast forward 40 years and that kid somehow And so, it took a pandemic to make me Girl, as a live performing artist, how are one at a time. It’s easier to end each day had the honor to befriend Harvey’s nephew realize the full gratitude for the work I have you surviving COVID Quarantine? happy, satisfied and fulfilled than freaking Stuart and help bring to life Stoli’s first LG- been blessed to do the past 10 years. This Well, I’ve always had a strong online out about two months from now. Some- BTQ+ Limited Edition bottle, the Harvey work has built and connected communi- connection since my early YouTube days. times binge watching Absolutely Fabu- Milk Tribute in 2018. The next year the ties. This hard work for visibility from each I put a “pause” on making videos about a lous all day is a legitimate, guilt-free way “Spirit of Stonewall” 50 year commemora- and every activist, event producer, Pride year ago because I wanted to do different to satisfy oneself. tive release Stoli Vodka bottled followed. festival and parade organizer, entertainer, things, but since Covid I have been turning I pushed through teen years that in- bar staff member and community leader out at least one video a week. Plus doing a cluded the suffocation of bullying, denial over the past 50 years is living energy. This series of videos like Golden Girls in Quar- International drag darling, Sherry Vine, of being able to hold a hand or have a first work will carry us through this unanticipat- antine. And also doing live online shows has 30 years under her sequined garter belt. kiss or dance…social distancing of a differ- ed change to originally planned program- and Zoom events. Sherry has a variety show on Hulu called ent kind. Those years included invisibility ming. And because of this work, we will As with every other artist, from Madon- She’s Living For This, performs her all live through studying hard, joining every club never again being truly socially distanced. na to local drag queens, we are all evolving singing and comedy shows all over the world and theatre group, and despite graduating so we can make enough money to pay rent and her parody videos have over 19,000,000 at the top of my class, being told by more Patrik Gallineaux is Stoli Vodka LGBTQ+ by becoming virtual artists. I am usually on views on YouTube. than one adult that I was too obviously… Manager and Ambassador. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 35 Henrietta Hudson Club Cumming in Queerantined COVID or Parker Posey or Jane Lynch and more. You can donate or bid on one of the auc- By Darren Dryden tions on the Club Cumming website: www. clubcummingnyc.com. Owning a bar in the age of Covid-19? Also in the works is a virtual telethon, Tricky. I wonder how many LGBTQi+ bars Jerry Lewis Style, where we will be raising and small businesses will survive this awful money for the Club Cumming staff and pandemic. Every day I read about big cor- performers but also for ROAR NY, a foun- porations filing for bankruptcy, and then dation offering financial relief opportuni- there are us little guys. As with most small ties for NYC restaurant workers ( www. business there isn’t a huge amount of sav- roarnewyork.org ), as well as Robin Hood, ings to stay afloat indefinitely. Landlords an organization that helps the poor (www. still want rent, and there are still bills to pay. robinhood.org ). The telethon will kick off Fortunately there has been some relief the evening of Friday June 19th. Check our through loans like the Paycheck Protection website for more details. Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Many of our performers and DJ’s have Loan. Club Cumming is in good shape— taken over our Instagram page on their regu- we will survive this and re-open when it is INSIDE HENRIETTA HUDSON, NYC's longest running for 29 years. Photo credit: larly scheduled nights to stay connected to safe, although who knows what that will look Molly Adams. our customers. My DJ partner, Sammy Jo, like. Opening with 25% capacity for a small and I have been doing livestreams of our Sat- bar such as ours? Again, tricky. But we will By Lisa Cannistraci out. I asked the gentleman, Michael, “Does urday night party, Haus of Cumming. Navi- navigate that when the time comes. Bars are that mean I am not getting the loan?” He gating newer technologies such as zoom and Henrietta Hudson has been serving the going to have to get creative, but gay people replied, “Yes, you are not getting the loan.” twitch has proven tricky for an old dog like West Village as a haven for the lesbian com- are nothing if not creative. I’m confident our Erik has since been very helpful in provid- me but I’m learning. It’s a new world. munity in NYC for almost three decades. community of businesses will rise to this ing other resources that we are now pur- Like all of us, I can’t wait until this is all The history of the West Village exemplifies challenge. We certainly have before. suing. (The problem with any loan is that over. I can’t wait to hear Lance Horne on the struggle for LGBTQ rights, and Henri- In the meantime, I worry about our staff we do not have any income and therefore the piano, Amber Martin belting out a song, etta Hudson, a lesbian-centric queer human and all the performers who are not working no way to pay it back. How can we borrow Catherine Cohen telling her hilarious jokes, bar that is known world-wide, has been a and unable to make money. From porters money when our business is closed?) William Francis slaying a house set, or just beacon for that cause, offering a safe space to the tech crew, dancers and drag queens We have applied for the PPP with SBA having a drink with friends and familiar fac- to the LGBTQ community at large. there are a lot of people who contribute to but were not privy to those funds either. es at the bar. I can’t wait to see everyone who We shuttered our doors at Henrietta the success of Club Cumming. Even if we got a loan, which we did not, works at Club Cumming and all the amaz- Hudson on Sunday, March 15th. The de- For our staff and performers we were it would not be a forgivable grant unless ing people who have supported over the last cision was made a day before Governor able to set up a community chest to help we adhered to the very rigorous guidelines two and a half years. I miss New York. Cuomo’s mandate as we saw the writing on that are not friendly to establishments in out those in need. Some very generous and could not, in good conscience, NYC. I would have to offer my staff their friends of Alan Cumming have contribut- remain open. On Friday, March 13th, I jobs back and they would make far less ed to our online auctions: a dress of Mindy Darren Dryden is co-founder of Club Cum- called my staff in and had “the talk” about than they are now making on unemploy- Kaling’s, a John Waters signed movie post- ming and EasternBloc, its predecessor, gay our imminent closure. Questions were ment. I refuse to hurt their quality of life er, a zoom coffee with Monica Lewinsky bars in Manhattan’s East Village. asked and answered. Emotions ran high. for a small grant, only 25 percent of which We talked about Henrietta Hudson and can be used for rent. There is an additional what it meant to each of us. Stories were laundry list of rules that would preclude us shared and tears were shed. of any loan forgiveness. I assured everyone that we would, in fact, Cut to: fundraising for the bar. With hat open when it was safe to do so. I stand by in hand I started a GoFundMe campaign that statement and remain committed to (https://www.gofundme.com/f/henrietta- do whatever it takes to reopen our sacred hudson1) to facilitate raising money to pay space. I mandated that each of the staff rent for the bar while we are closed. The members apply for unemployment benefits response from the LGBTQ community before they started their Friday night shifts. nationally and worldwide towards saving Although they were still stunned by the in- our iconic little bar in the West Village of formation, they obliged me and applied in New York City has been monumental! real time. When the NYC unemployment site crashed on Monday they called to thank me for encouraging them to be preemptive; Lisa Cannistraci, co-owner of Henrietta they were now safe and cared for. Hudson, is a lifelong community activist. It was time to pivot to the survival of She served on Community Board 2 in the the bar. As I was about to start research- West Village for over 15 years and has been ing grants and loans I received a call from involved with hundreds of nonprofits during Erik Bottcher, chief of staff to City Coun- three decades as a fixture in her community. cil Speaker Corey Johnson, asking what She will always go the distance to shed light the council could do for us. He apprised on discrimination of any kind, and take me of an interest-free 15-year loan of up to action to try to make things better for the $75,000 offered by the NYC SBS (Small LGBTQ community. Her bar is known Business Services) and sent me the link. I around the globe for its welcoming atmo- promptly applied. I found out six weeks lat- sphere and embracing all the colorful aspects er that my application never even made it of the gender-binary spectrum. It is one of DARREN DRYDEN WITH DAPHNE ALWAYS in his arms and James Shepherd on keys. Photo to the review process and the funds had run NYC’s true cultural establishments. credit: Jeffrey Campagna. 36 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org Where Have All the Bohemians Gone? By Donna Schaper with unusual conversations promote ideas paint or canvas. Bohemian is also some- Thank you, Judson. Thank you Internet. you’re not supposed to think and show- thing that can’t get too cozy with history Happy Birthday Larry. Some Bohemians Larry Kornfeld, Founder and Director of case thoughts very few people have. Cu- as it is much too flirty with the future. Its are even in California. the Poet’s Theater, long at Judson Memori- riosity is its theme. Judson’s main worship orientation is forward, not back. It may al Church, turns 90 on May 21. He lives in service has also gone online, and we have have a history and even have books writ- California with his wife, Margaret and his quadrupled our usual 200 or so worship- ten about it. But it leans young and for- The Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper is Senior daughter Sarah. Sarah has written a very pers in the “real” space to averaging 800 ward and new and next. Minister at Judson Memorial Church and fine book about growing up with nudity now, including lots of the people who have I just read The Greenwich Village Reader writes under the pen name of Dolly Mama. in plays in a church. Front row seat, age moved to Brooklyn (www.Judson You- and got to the poem written by John Reed seven. The Kornfeld family represents the Tube). We are also doing Sunday School called “The Day in Bohemia.” He called village of yore—Bohemian, edgy, irrever- online at 10 a.m., worship following at 11, Judson the “purest of hostelries this side of Brooklyn Rail is doing it. You can see ent. Judson maintains that brand as well as coffee hour by Zoom on Sunday following the Hudson.” a few examples of our conversations we can but truth to tell, we lost some of it worship and then Q and A about the virus Bohemians need hostelries and we don’t below, and can view all of them on the to Brooklyn a couple decades ago. Manhat- led by Dr. Allison Stokes from NYU nurs- mind crossing the East River to get to them Rail's Youtube page: tan, people say, is now a suburb of Brook- ing school. Wednesday nights we are doing either. What’s a boundary to a Bohemian? lyn. Brooklyn is where the action is and a virtual Judson Arts Wednesday. We really So, here is my conclusion—Brooklyn • Noam Chomsky with Paul Mattick • Dorothea Rockburne with Phyllis few of us aging hippies hang on in the Vil- regret we can’t serve the free food online. needs Greenwich Village and Greenwich Tuchman lage, while wondering how to stay Avant Can you be hip and avant while on a Zoom Village needs Brooklyn. We wouldn’t mind while aging. Here I poke at that subject, in • Peter Brook with Karen Brooks Hop- call or facing a screen? Stay tuned. We the cheaper rents either but that is the sub- kins and Bryan Doerries honor of Larry, who left NYC because of don’t know yet but we are trying. How can ject of another article. And virtual worlds, air pollution when he was 80 or so. Many • Stanley Whitney with Tom McGlynn we be Bohemian on line? where you don’t have to cross rivers or ride • William D. Adams with myself left the village because of the high rents. What is Bohemian? It is the permis- subways, can find each other much more • Lyle Ashton Harris with McKenzie It is WONDERFUL HERE but also ter- sion giving, judgement free zone where easily. Wark rifying, simultaneously. things that are normally discouraged are Bohemians are fundamentally folk who • Penny Arcade with Nick Bennett Just recently, as we are all morning to- encouraged. Ordinary motion that danc- host. They don’t behave as guests in the • Erica Hunt with Charles Bernstein wards virtuality and virtual life, I came es. Nudity. Free Thoughts. Conversa- universe. They behave as hosts, glad to be • Lauren Bon with Phong Bui across something genuinely hip that the tions. Stories that disrupt. Art that thinks. here, now, with. We can also host virtually • Julian Schnabel with Phong Bui Brooklyn Rail is doing. Thursday lunches Thoughts that find music or movement or or so it appears. Thank you, Brooklyn Rail.

100 Years Old, Gay, Black, Proud and Still Singing By J. Taylor Basker Roesch who founded the Women’s Sym- phony with the support of Dimitri Mitro- On June 22, 1920, Salvador Pius Thom- poulos. He was an ardent theosophist, and as, aka Tomas, was born in the county of master healer. Harrison in Mississippi. On June 22nd he As a Westbeth resident, he was active will turn 100 years old. Peter, as we know creating many events with an alternative him in the Westbeth artists community, tenants group he helped found— West- is a delightful and talented gentleman beth Artists in Residence (WAIR)— with a wicked sense of humor that is still which held a large celebration for Black sharp. He is an African-American whose History Month, including performing achievements have been awesome. He was and visual arts, film and poetry. He helped an opera singer and actor, and has graced plan and perform with WAIR’s “30 Years our hallways with dignity and pride. He al- of Global Arts at Westbeth” that included ways celebrated his birthday on Gay Pride events from dance, hip hop, poetry slams, Day so we could view the fireworks after films, jazz and opera. We produced and his party in his close friend Edith Stephen’s appeared in the filmAftermath: 9/11 and SALVADOR PETER TOMAS, 100 (right) with his Westbeth BFF’s Edith Stephen, 101 (left), river view apartment. Edith, 101 years and Jacqui Taylor Basker (center). Photo courtesy of J. Taylor Basker. New York Artists that examined the pro- young, describes Peter as full of joy and found effect 9/11 had on Westbeth and jokes, always looking to help his neighbors. ied music and acting at Trinity College in tinguished and his narrations included The the NYC art scene. After 9/11, when he witnessed the collapse London and at the Fontainebleau School Siege of Corinth, Peter and the Wolf, Oedipus Two years ago, the day after narrating of the towers downtown, he cooked meals of Fine Arts in Paris. When he returned to Rex, Abe Lincoln (The Little Black Train), for my filmA History of Jerusalem through for the 6th Precinct for months. His ascent New York he attended the Juilliard School the riveting St. Matthew Passion, and Black Art Peter had a fall and was placed in the in the professional classical music world and Columbia University Teachers Col- Cowboys with the Rod Rogers Dance Veterans Administration Community Liv- was difficult as an African-American, but lege. As a trained opera, oratorio and con- Company. However, he was most known ing Center in Queens. He still hopes to he persisted and developed a vast and im- cert singer with a rich bass-baritone voice, for his performance in Honegger’s King return to Westbeth. He has survived dis- pressive repertoire and reputation. he performed challenging roles as Scarpia, David that he narrated in major venues; crimination, the Nazis, and homophobia Schooled in NYC, where he began devel- Amonasro, Papageno, Schicchi, Figaro, he performed it at the Church of the As- for 100 years. He should also survive be- oping his extraordinary vocal talents, Peter and Elijah, oratories of Bach and Handel, cension on Fifth Avenue for over 25 years. ing surrounded by COVID-19! (although was drafted into the army during WW ll and Amahl and the Night Visitors at Al- George Rose of the Waldorf School wrote a recent leak from staff has disclosed 48 and served under dangerous conditions in ice Tully Hall. He also sang in important that, for weeks “the audience is still shaken unreported deaths at the facility). North Africa and Europe. To complete his premier performances of Moses and Aaron by your art.” And he is still singing. military duties he was sent to upstate NY. and The Enchanted Pear with the Boston Peter appeared as a classic and comic ac- The black soldiers, despite risking their Opera, the Bel Canto Opera, Opera Buffa tor in off-Broadway, Shakespeare, summer Jacqui Taylor Basker is an artist and film lives for their country, had to ride in the Company, and New York Lyric Opera. stock and dinner theater. He was a close maker who lives and works at Westbeth Art- back of the bus. After discharge he stud- Peter’s speaking voice was deep and dis- friend and collaborator with Clara Burling ists Housing in New York City. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 37 June Community Events from the West 13th Street Alliance By Birgitte Philippides-Delaney and will enable them to expand their already confidence to express themselves however Chandra/Jo Sgammato popular community programing among they feel comfortable. other things. The West 13th Street Alliance is working hard to help our neighbors at this Do-It-Yourself Hand and Foot Massage time of crisis and are grateful for the support Wednesday, June 10, 6:30-7:30 pm via Zoom. from Citizens Committee of NYC. In this one-hour session you will learn sim- ple hand and foot massage techniques that Community Sharing Zoom Gathering you can do on yourself. Suggestions will be Wednesday, June 3, 6:30-7:30 pm via Zoom given for how to create a relaxing, spa-like How Do You Feel? Come together for atmosphere with materials that are readily support and connection at this time. You available in your home. may express your thoughts and emotions, Taught by Nina Priya David, MA, longtime or just listen. West Village resident and Integral Yoga in- Facilitated by Chandra Jo/Sgammato structor who is also certified in Reiki, Reflex- ology and Natural Foods. As the pandemic crisis continues, the West Virtual Drag Queen Story Hour talks in Central Park for The American Mu- 13th Street Alliance also continues to pro- Saturday, June 6, 3:30-4:15 pm via Zoom Birdwatching 101: A Primer on Enjoying seum of Natural History and The Wildlife vide support for our neighbors and for resi- Co-sponsored by The Church of the Vil- Birds in New York City Conservation Society where he has worked in dents throughout the city and state through lage and The West 13th Street Alliance Wednesday, June 24, 6:30-7:30 pm via Zoom communications for over twenty years. He’s also Virtual Community Events. This month, Virtual Drag Queen Story Hour is a live- This virtual workshop will help NYC resi- a West Village resident. we are bringing back two popular events stream storytelling program designed for dents enjoy local birds in an informed way To RSVP for these events, please email that attracted more than 50 people in May children ages three to eight. A drag queen through pointers on basic visual identifica- Wayne Kawadler at Wayne@ThePro- and offering two wonderful new ones. will read picture books, sing songs, and in- tion of birds along with sounds and behav- jectNYC.org. You will receive an email The mission of the West 13th Street Alli- troduce the concept of drag as a form of ior. The workshop will also provide partici- response with the Zoom link. Please also ance is to help improve the quality of life on dress-up and self-expression—something pants with online resources for getting the email Wayne with any questions about us- West 13th Street between 7th and Green- all kids can relate to! Through storytell- most out of this fascinating hobby during ing Zoom. wich Avenues and beyond. They were just ing and creativity, DQSH teaches children the pandemic lockdown. awarded a Citizens Committee for New about gender diversity and all forms of dif- Taught by John Delaney, MA Biology, who is Join our email list at w13thstreetalliance@ York City All In Neighborhood Grant that ference to build empathy and give kids the an avid birder who has given bird tours and gmail.com

Ridiculous Theatrical Company, Yorick Theatre, and Theatre at St. John’s present

Starring: *Shane Baker ’s *Beth Dodye Bass Maude Lardner Burke Thomas Cambridge Justin Chevalier DER RING GOTT Tim Cusack *Géraldine Dulex Mark Erson Jim Freeman FARBLONJET Omi Ford *Christopher Johnson *Nancy Lindeberg A Live-Streamed Reading Series Nicholas Munson Karen Oughtred Celebrating PRIDE *Everett Quinton Lenys Samá *Jeanne Lauren Smith *Kevin McDowell Stevens Directed by Andrew Tejada *Jenne Vath

Everett Quinton Performers marked with an * appear courtesy of Actors’ Equity Sundays in June at 8 PM (EDT) Association.

This hilarious treatment of Wagner’s four opera Ring Cycle, will be presented over the four Sunday evenings of June (8:00 PM EDT) celebrating PRIDE. This is a special presentation to raise funds for Heritage of Pride, Inc (HOP). Join us on Facebook at: St. John’s Lutheran Church, NYC Make a donation to Heritage of Pride in honor of this event at GoFundMe (See: Pride Month Production for HOP)

38 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org

LIBERATE TODAY: 50th Anniversary of Christopher Street Liberation Day

literature, queer history, languages, politics street sign outside of St. John’s today. As with liberation for all, the group of people and so on. Soon, Leonard realised that this part of his process, Leonard likes to read who wrote the flyer that Leonard Bopp knowledge would be useful and not distract- the material out loud and just listen. He chose for his composition. ing to his music studies. Wisely, he notes listens to the words, the way it feels in Leonard says he wants the audience to that “...a knowledge of things beyond music the room, and slowly, the music begins to feel all the emotions he’s baked in. “I want only ever made me a better musician…” build itself around the inspiration, organi- it to lift their spirits...But they still need to He continued to hone his craft and ex- cally. What rhythms come out when it’s feel the pain of the people who wrote it…”. perience in music performance and culture read aloud? What notes appear? Leonard Truly, we are on the same journey that those by joining the Black Box ensemble. After a says it all starts with the melody. This flyer men and women who were just starting the January 2019 performance at St. John in the had that unique quality that makes a piece LGBT movement were on. It’s not over. Village, Leonard had a conversation with of art simple but multifaceted at the same We need to apply the message of libera- Father Graeme about his studies and his in- time. The language on the flyer is very cele- tion to our most vulnerable populations. On LEONARD BOPP. Photo courtesy of Leonard terest in conducting and composing music. bratory at first and then morphs into some- June 28th, 2020, the LGBT community Bopp. It just so happened that Father Graeme was thing more exciting as it talks about the gay will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the working on an LGBT gallery event and one liberation movement. In the end it sobers Gay Pride March and Christopher Street By Nate Holley of his calling cards is to procure live music, up and becomes more profound, stating “... Liberation Day. Through an online portal, As soon as Mr Bopp answered the phone, and even original music if he can, to mark what this will come to, no one can tell…” viewers will be able to purchase tickets and I knew that this was going to be a lively, the opening of a new exhibition. Leonard has put a lot of thought and experience Leonard’s amazing musical piece fun interview. He answered right away, Leonard saw this as a great opportunity personal attention into this piece, which he that honors the memory and the goals of and after my recording setup was ready, we and agreed to whip something up. But all of hopes will be transferred into the audience the leaders of the gay liberation movement. jumped straight into it. this confidence doesn’t come from nowhere, when they hear the performance. In our dis- Viewers who spend $25 will also receive the Leonard Bopp is 23 years old and is origi- as soon as he knew he wanted to start writ- cussion he made it a point to tell me that this music as a download they can add to their nally from upstate New York. Today, he lives ing music in undergrad, he began taking flyer wasn’t just written by people promoting private collection (see article below). in Ann Arbor Michigan where he is current- courses in composition and now has a solid an event. There was more than one group of To end the conversation, I simply asked ly enrolled in graduate studies at the Univer- foundation to present himself as an artist. activists and LGBT community members Leonard the same question we’ve all been sity of Michigan. Leonard, if I may call him With this new opportunity spurring him fighting for justice at the time, but they all asking the past two months, How you that, is quite an accomplished musician and on, the idea to compose something based could essentially be divided into two camps. holding up? is pursuing an advanced degree in orchestral on an event flyer was born out of the in- One group believed that to make progress He says that, as a musician, he struggles conducting. In my humble opinion, this is tentional blending of his broad interests. and to gain traction, the ‘gay’ movement with the fact that there’s very little live music probably one of the more intense musical He wanted the piece to feel like it was tied needed to focus on gay issues first and fore- going on and that live venues will not be open- endeavors. But, he doesn’t seem stressed or to the neighborhood and tied to the his- most. The other group believed that there ing up for some time. There are many artists phased by it at all. His voice is upbeat and tory of gay liberation. Usually, composers could be no ‘gay’ liberation without the lib- who are suffering because of COVID-19 and chipper, and listening to him, you can tell look for inspiration in poems or literature, eration of all disenfranchised communities Leonard is very aware of how social distanc- right away that this is what he loves. Music but Leonard wanted to use something less in america, women, people of color, disabled ing has affected the art community. But at is not a career path, it’s part of his identity. common. He wanted this piece to stand people, poor people, everyone. Leonard the same time, he’s keenly aware that art is So, I began the interview by asking him very out. While rummaging through the online knows what group he wants to keep alive the very thing we need to help us process this simply, how did you get here? files of the one National LGBT archive lo- and represent. He says that we need to bring moment. He has devoted his time and energy Leonard remembers loving music from a cated at the University of Southern Cali- attention to the immense stratification that during the quarantine to helping support the very young age. He began his journey play- fornia, he found a flyer for the inaugural still exists in the LGBT movement. Race, art and the artists he loves. “...How am I going ing the trumpet and initially had plans to Christopher Street Liberation Day parade. gender, and class still play an important role to make sure that we [musicians] are still active make trumpet playing his life’s pursuit. It The flyer itself has some special qualities in how activism plays out today. The murder and producing things that are still relevant…”. was in college that he noticed there was a that jumped out at Leonard and helped of black transgender women and encarcer- It’s my hope that we all take a note from range of topics that sparked his interest, and him shape the concept for the music. He ated LGBT people is something we have Leonard and tune in on June 28th to the they extended far beyond the usual bounds loved how the flyer felt innocuous or ‘hid- to acknowledge, hunt down and destroy in voices of those that came before us and add of music history and theory. He began to ex- den in plain sight’. It was the type of flyer order to join that group of people who be- their strength, clarity and openness to our plore these other subjects in earnest, such as that you might see taped to a lamp post or lieved that liberation for one can only come strength, clarity and openness to our lives.

Composer Leonard Bopp’s “Christopher Street Liberation Day 1970” Premieres Sunday, June 28 Music Celebrating 50 Years of Marching for Equality and Gay Rights

By Denise Marsa with the first Gay Pride Parades in United broadcast on Sunday, June 28, 2020, at 8pm event and simultaneously releasing the States history. The Stonewall Riots, as the EST. It features counter tenor Luke Pauli- mastered audio recording to coincide with Early Saturday morning on June 28, 1969, days-long protest became known, is cred- no, Jeff Pearson on violin, Jay Julio on viola, the broadcast. police staged a raid at the Stonewall Inn, ited as the spark that ignited the modern- and David Newtown on cello. Leonard Bopp’s Christopher Street Lib- a gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich day LGBTQ-rights movement. This year The program on June 28 will start off eration Day 1970 will be distributed Village neighborhood. Unlike the many marks the 50th anniversary of the first with newly recorded interviews featuring through all major music outlets, including previous raids that had taken place at the NYC Gay Pride March on June 28, 1970. Fr. Graeme, Mr. Bopp, and longtime West Apple Music, Amazon Music and Spo- Christopher Street establishment, this one To celebrate the anniversary, composer, Village resident, owner, and publisher tify. Tickets will be available at Musae at: inspired the bar’s patrons to fight back. The conductor, and trumpet player Leonard of the highly regarded WestView News, bit.ly/liberation-1970 and for more in- Gay Liberation Front (GLF) was formed Bopp has composed Christopher Street Lib- George Capsis. The three will discuss the formation about the project please visit: shortly after the riots. On June 28, 1970, eration Day 1970, using the text from an ar- Gay Pride movement and its growth over KeyMedia Music Group’s link: https://bit. a year after the riots, the Christopher chived GLF flyer as the libretto. The flyers the years as well as the working process ly/2TvRzPv or LeonardBopp.com. Street Liberation Day in New York and were handed out prior to the historic first for the young composer. Tickets and links the Christopher Street West Association march. Leonard Bopp’s Christopher Street to watch the event are available through Please note, all ticket purchases for $25 or in Los Angeles, a part of the GLF, marked Liberation Day 1970, written for counter- Musae.me. The indie record label Key- more will receive a free copy of the music the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, tenor and string trio, will have its premiere Media Music Group is producing the recording (MP3) upon purchase. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 39 Hoop Dreams and Quarantines onship “Team for the Ages.” tion…God knows what. and by association, my late husband. For True, I’d never been much of a sports fan, So, in November, 1991, when a straight the kids and me, it would just be clear sail- but back in the 90s this had to have been “The man named Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr., a ing, here on out. Greatest Show on Earth.” Where was I ? mega straight man, an ultra straight man, It’s a long time since. The kids are adults. Tonight it’s Game One of the 1991 NBA a pro basketball playing straight man, an- LGBTQ activists speak, and are heard. I’ve Championship. Chicago’s stadium is packed nounced—his wife by his side—he, too, found my voice, too, allowing me to openly to the gills with yelling, coughing, spitting had contracted HIV/AIDS, we wives in recall my beautiful young marriage, my fans in seats so close they’re in each other’s the church thought, for us, things might beautiful young husband, and the tragic laps. No six-foot distancing, no masks, no get just a little bit more “normal.” pandemic that brutally ended both. My quarantine. Those were the days. But there was nothing normal about emotional quarantine is over. And tonight, “MJ” is, apparently, meet- Magic Johnson, a celebrity and athletic su- Best of all, science has found a way to ing his match, the other legendary “MJ”: perstar, who blithely pawned off the reason save the lives of people with AIDS. Magic Johnson of The LA Lakers. for his unfortunate diagnosis on, “being But we’re facing another pandemic now, Suddenly, I remember where I was dur- a member of the sexiest, most glamorous one requiring a serious quarantine effort ing this 1991 game : in a church, with other team of all.” About his NBA player’s life on from us all. Unlike AIDS, this one, CO- HIV-Negative moms, “The First Presby- the road, Magic said, “There’d be 40 to 50 VID-19, you can get walking down the terian Church” on 11th Street, to be exact. women waiting in the hotel lobby to meet street. Like AIDS, it is highly lethal. We were holed up there conspiring how to us.” Nothing gay about him! As with AIDS in its early days, they don’t keep our children free from the stigma that Celebrity and its trappings allowed know enough about COVID-19 yet, either. was killing their fathers: AIDS. Magic Johnson to keep playing basketball I have faith science will, again, prevail. People couldn’t know our husbands had for a short time even after diagnosis, in- It’s scary, though, certain people, includ- NOW EVERYONE WILL KNOW, author Mag- AIDS or they’d quarantine themselves away cluding on the U.S. Olympic Team. It also ing several running the government, don’t gie Kneip's memoir. from us: not touching us, not walking with likely helped keep him from the horrific seem to agree. Nearly thirty years after his us, not even talking to us—though, doing ravages of an illness that, in just nine short AIDS diagnosis, maybe they should check By Maggie Kneip none of those things, could you get AIDS. months from his diagnosis, in 1991 took in with Magic Johnson on this, in large We knew, if people knew the truth about the life of my husband, and that of more part, thanks to science, alive and well. He Graceful, sinewy, jump, glitter and cool: our husbands, our lives would never be than 150,000 other mostly gay, young can set them straight. nothing like a little of that to relieve my normal again. And for us, normalcy was at American men. COVID-19 anxiety. a sky-high premium. The “straight men” So when I see Magic Johnson shooting Maggie Kneip is the author of, Now Every- I watch ESPN’s documentary series about we’d married were dying of a “gay,” sexually hoops, let’s just say, I don’t see basketball. one Will Know: The Perfect Husband, His Michael Jordan and The Bulls nightly, won- transmitted disease. How to tell the truth After my husband died, I embarked on a Shattering Secret, My Rediscovered Life, dering how it is I know so little about “MJ’s” about that, without people thinking you self-styled sort of “emotional quarantine” optioned for film by Lookalike Productions. remarkable athletic artistry, or this champi- and your kids were sick, too, not to men- designed to keep me separate from AIDS, in 2019.

can’t or won’t be able to soon. This par- ticular burst of busyness is partly a cop- A Guilt-Filled Gift ing mechanism, both helping me to get through this time and (for better or worse) By Eric Jacobsen sical lives existed in parallel. This moment offering me less opportunity to reflect on with them is musically priceless. The de- the state of the world. I worry about the I am a touring musician, married to a tour- sire to continue to push ourselves to create, future of live performance, which relies on ing musician, with a two-year-old-daugh- rather than binge Fleabag again, must have crowds gathering to share an experience. I ter. We spend about seven months on the something to do with wanting to seize the feel great despair for the suffering and loss road, apart. We maintain calendars for each moment. of lives in my city. I fear that the pandemic of us and for our daughter, with entire days A week or two into the lockdown, we has only heightened the already too-wide planned months or even years in advance. reached out to a friend who is on the cut- gulf between our country’s haves and its We both love what we do, and neither of us ting edge of recording technology. He sent have-nots. In the face of all of this, all I can can imagine doing anything else. And all us a truckload of audio equipment to create do—all I must do—is make music. of that careful planning came to an abrupt our own Brooklyn recording studio. And I can’t conduct right now, as there is end on March 12, 2020. Within a week, with his help recording us from 100 miles yet to be a socially distanced orchestra in my wife, Aoife O’Donovan, and I had lost away, we have ramped up our work load America—but it’s coming. In the mean- about six months of upcoming concerts in- over the last few weeks—so much so that time, I’ve had the luck of being in a house cluding many with my Brooklyn-based or- we feel as busy now as we were before the with my wife and kid, and upstairs, my chestra The Knights. Aoife, a singer/song- lockdown (but with Legos and obsessive brother and his family. We’ve isolated to- writer, was just starting a new tour, and I daily re-mountings of Swan Lake, Peter ERIC JACOBSEN. Photo credit: Dario Acosta. gether, and we have found a way through. had a jam-packed spring and summer. Like and the Wolf, and Coppelia by our daugh- most of the world, life as we knew it took ter and niece.) adrenaline-filled love of the stage. Over the an intermission. So—for me, life in Covid is a guilt-filled course of the last three months, we have Conductor Eric Jacobson is Co-Artistic My brother Colin and his family live a gift. It’s like a glass of wine at lunch. That probably spent as much time in the house Director and conductor of The Knights, few floors above us, and we have taken this glass tastes even better than at night, be- as we would have spent during two years of and also serves as the Music Director for time to play more music together. Colin, a cause it’s wrong, and you know it’s a rarity “real life.” I feel so much guilt because of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and violinist and composer, and I, a conductor that might not come again. Being in Brook- the joy I get from our overnight transfor- the Greater Bridgeport Symphony. Also in but also a cellist by training, have set out to lyn and not traveling for work, eating three mation from traveling musicians to a stay- demand as a guest conductor, Jacobsen has record much of the duo repertoire, as well meals a day with my daughter, and reading at-home-parent-team and zoomtologists. led the symphony orchestras of Baltimore, as creating new works or arrangements to her before bed every night, feels like the However, I have to face the truth: it’s a Detroit, Virginia, Alabama, the New World, with my wife of her music. gift that nobody besides yourself could ever horrible and wonderful gift. The heart of Naples, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Colin, Aoife and I are a natural band, but bestow, but you would never have dared to my guilt is recognizing the luck that we can ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, and the we haven’t ever really spent the time creat- take that much time off in fear of getting survive this way for now, while acknowl- Deutsche Philharmonie Merck. Photo credit: ing our own repertoire; until now, our mu- an addict-level coffee headache due to the edging that there are so many people who Dario Acosta. 40 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org Teaching in the Time A Good Smoke of Coronavirus By Dennis Bogusz connections with the cafeteria staff who nourish their bodies, the school librarian Education reformer Horace Mann once said who helps nourish their minds, the bus that education “is an organic necessity of a driver we trust with our kids’ lives, the human being.” As a teacher at the school public safety officers who put our kids’ lives that bears his name, I suspect Mann would first, and the school nurse who has always marvel at our ingenuity and adaptability to been important to their health and will be teaching in the time of coronavirus. Since even more so now. the shutdown, teachers have quickly moved There are also coaches, advisors, arts in- classrooms online, learning new technolo- structors, yearbook editors, psychologists, gies like Zoom while relying even more on learning specialists, college counselors, email to follow up on homework. We’re also technology experts, club supervisors, cho- teaching students how to be responsible reographers, band leaders, grounds keep- technology users. However, I suspect Mann ers, maintenance staff, administrators, as- would find that despite our best efforts, we sistants, and more. simply can’t recreate school online. The physical space is missed as well—class- Technology hasn’t made teaching any rooms, hallways, science labs, auditoriums, easier than it has parenting. We’ve shifted football fields—and the posters, trophies, full responsibility for daytime childcare and songs and dances that showcase student back to parents and caregivers, who now achievements. All these make education feel ONE OF THE LAST STANDING LANDMARKS IN OUR WEST VILLAGE: Village Cigars has realize how difficult teaching can be. Hav- human. We’re right to miss connecting with resided here since 1992. Photo by Gordon Hughes. ing greater expectations of them has made this “organic necessity.” Nevertheless, this next 100 years, until 1911. Prior to then the it clear that online learning is as much a end of the school year is an opportune time By Gordon Hughes Village had no real streets, not as we would problem of work-life balance as a solution. to reflect on how we’ve helped students man- think of them today. There had been Native Online classrooms have also made in- age during this health crisis. Rudyard Kipling once wrote, “And a woman American and animal trails which the Dutch equality among students more apparent. We need to figure out how to protect the is only a woman but a good Cigar is a Smoke.” and English had made into roads. While some have reliable internet and a health and safety of our students as we con- Now, reciting that line today will lead to So, 100 years after the first city grid was quiet space to work in, others share a single sider what returning to school will mean. one of a few results: it will get you tossed developed the city planners developed a computer and spotty internet with fam- Schools have been where students can bet- out of most social functions, confuse the new street plan that would extend Seventh ily members. Some are even joining class ter balance their school and home lives, be women you are with, or get you sued in to- Avenue from Greenwich Avenue to Varick from different time zones—a class I teach treated as equally as possible, secure their day’s litigious society (probably by a snow Street, and eminent domain would raze at 11:00 a.m. takes place at 11:00 p.m. for health and mental wellbeing, and, most im- flake that has no sense of humor). Keep in over 200 buildings, including the Voorhis one of my students. portantly, where they learn to be members mind this was written in 1886. So perhaps Apartment Building. That was the shot The newfound familiarity of seeing the of a community. Online learning does not we shouldn’t get too worked up about it. heard ‘round the world, or at least in the homes, babies, and pets of students and col- offer this. I hope the new normal will make Can’t wait to read next month’s letters to West Village. Mr. Hess fought the city leagues, though welcome, reinforces the irony the space for these connections once again. the editor. Watch out George… of online learning. We meet face-to-face but All that said, one evening Kipling’s quote tooth and nail but by 1913 the battle was we’re still distant because an online commu- came to mind as I exited the subway at lost and the building was torn down; and nity lacks the connections a school provides. Dennis Bogusz, Ph.D., teaches French at Seventh Avenue and Christopher Street. I the path was clear to make Seventh Avenue In addition to teachers, students miss Horace Mann School. always see the same setting and I hate say wider for commerce and room for the IRT it but I take it all for granted. I shouldn’t, subway to be constructed. Here is where because there before me is a venerable old the story becomes epic. In 1922 Hess dis- building that has been in place since the covered that the city engineers had miscal- early 1920s. The building has housed Vil- culated the dimensions of the lot where the lage Cigars since 1922. Voorhis had stood and left a 25.5-inch by where dogs play all day There is a great deal of myth surrounding 27.5-inch part of the parcel unaccounted for, which meant that little part of Manhat- that plot of land. Now, there are far bet- ter historians and reporters than I that have tan still belonged to Mr. Hess. Hess sued reported that history, and probably in this the city and won. It was now legally his. very paper. However, I think it is worth a When the city asked him to donate the plot tell once again because Village Cigars is he said something that not even Rudyard one of the last standing landmarks in our Kipling would say. Not only did he keep it, West Village. With buildings being torn but he erected an isosceles triangle tile mo- down and new people moving in, history saic in front of Village Cigars claiming the can get lost and forgotten. land as his. The triangle remains there to The short version is that before the turn of this day. After Hess passed away the family the last century there was a five-story build- sold the small parcel to the store in 1938 Code: WESTVIEW ing, at what was the corner of Grove and for $1,000. So, what had been the smallest for 15% off Christopher Streets. This building was the owned piece of Manhattan real estate was your first week Voorhis, an apartment house owned by the now a part of the store’s property. The store Hess family from Philadelphia. This is where itself, which has celebrated its 98th birth- the story of Village Cigars begins to make day, is a true gift to our Village. You can Full-service dog business, including dog walking and doggy daycare. Village history. The first street grid for Man- drop in and by a hookah and a can of soda. Personally, I prefer a mild cigar, but there Proudly serving the West Village since 2007. hattan was developed in 1811 and its design plan shows Seventh Avenue ending at West are plenty of others to choose from. www.citytailsnyc.com | 55B Leroy Street NY, NY 10014 | @citytailsnyc 11th Street and Greenwich Ave. According I wonder which cigar Mr. Kipling would to old city records it stayed that way for the select? www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 41 West Village Original: Suzanne Poli Signed Commemorative To support herself, for many years Poli Print of the First worked as a waitress in a Village restaurant called Kenneret. “I didn’t particularly like Heritage of Pride it. It was really hard. No wonder I made sure my daughter got an Ivy League educa- March in 1985 tion,” she says, laughing. “But through all of that I had my own dark room and studio, which was my passion and kept me alive and connected. I can only thrive if I have a special place. It would have been better if I had gone to school, but I didn’t have the support structure. It would have given me more confidence to take things for myself. But the journey has been worth it. My life was so full and rich anyway.” As for the “ar- tistic moment,” Poli claims the best one is when she’s creating the image. “That mo- ment is a very spiritual place to be. It’s a place that keeps evolving, a very soothing and healing place. It’s often said that my images are very thick with feeling. I work HAVING LIVED ON CHRISTOPHER STREET really hard on an image. I’m composing for over 50 years, Suzanne Poli, above, has and crafting it as I look through the view- seen her share of changes. Photo credit: finder. I like to say that’s a moment when Bruce Poli. I’m actually focused.” By Michael D. Minichiello Since the very first Gay Pride parade fifty years ago, Poli has been photograph- This month’s West Village Original is pho- ing it, both from her window and on the tographer Suzanne Poli, born in Gowanus, street. “I feel when I’m photographing that Brooklyn. Poli’s photographs are represented I’m actually moving a cause forward and in the collections of numerous institutions creating the change that is happening,” and have appeared in film and on television, she says. “Christopher Street was always a including the seminal drama “Stonewall” by place for protest and the march started as a Roland Emmerich. This month, NYC Pride protest against ill treatment. In a way, I feel is using her photographs of past Gay Pride I helped create the movement. I was very parades for an online story. Poli has lived on involved with gay rights because I thought Christopher Street for over 50 years. View her that everybody should have the right to be work at www.suzannepoli.com. who they are. I was also deeply involved with the AIDS movement. But whether “I’ve photographed ever since I was little,” the fight is about race, gender, or sexual says photographer Suzanne Poli. “I took preference I have to support it because this the family pictures for birthdays and holi- is who I am. I live for social causes and days. All of the ones we have, in fact. Then have very strong political feelings.” I began to paint and I loved it. I was really Having lived on Christopher Street for good at it. But I started to use the camera over 50 years, Poli has seen her share of as a means for recording my daily life. It changes. “It was very special and different was very exciting and gradually I stopped when I first lived here,” she says. “There painting and began photographing every were wonderful individual shops on the day.” Suzanne’s parents tried to nudge her street. I suppose all the fancy haute cou- along a different path, however. “There ture shops that eventually moved in made was always dialog about how I should be it ‘nice’ in that everything got gentrified a secretary and this other kind of person, and cleaned up. It made the neighbor- not the one I was,” she says. “So they were hood more upscale, but I don’t know. It’s surprised when ‘this other person’ found a still lovely and even today there’s a very Photographer Suzanne Poli and WestView News are proud to voice. They knew I was talented, but they thick palette of passion here. The change, discouraged me by saying ‘You have stars in though, is pretty drastic. I don’t know offer twenty 8" x 10” and five 20” x 24” archival quality prints your eyes’ or ‘You can’t do that.’ The push where it’s going but I’m sure it will always honoring the birth of the modern LGBT rights movement ($212 and pull of it all was tough.” sustain itself in some way. It will always The irony is that Poli definitely thinks she be a special place. When people come to small, $1012 large). The artist and her husband Bruce epito- got her artistic bent from her parents. “My the West Village they have a different way mize allies of the LGBT community. Each print includes a $12 father was very sweet, gentle, and kind,” she of treating the neighborhood. They have says. “There was a cultured quality about a certain kind of respect for it and find it subscription to your own copy of WestView News at $1 per him that I really admired. He was elegant very special.” even though the work he did was bad for his issue plus your chance to win a selection of prizes as part of health. My mother was very feisty, vivacious, our inaugural Subscriber's Raffle. If interested, contact su- and descriptive. She had a dark side, as well, Do you know a long-time resident who from a life that hadn’t been easy. This is would make a good “West Village Original?” [email protected]. Instagram @suzannepoli. where I got a lot of my talent from.” Contact [email protected] 42 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org

The June 1969 rebellion against police harassment by the patrons of the Stonewall Inn, at the eastern end of Christopher Street, helped to launch a national gay rights movement Then&Now: and make Christopher Street the social and cultural center of New York’s lesbian and gay community. Today, almost all of the attention to the historic gay scene is focused on the An Overlooked Christopher Street Gay Scene east end of Christopher Street, but there is another important area of Christopher Street By Brian J Pape, AIA that deserves attention: the west end.

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THEN: This stretch of West Street, looking northeast from its Barrow Street intersection, NOW: On this recent photograph, looking northeast from West and Barrow Streets to the represents several phases of construction spanning a century of development (from 1830 Weehawken Street Historic District, we highlight the histories that once occupied this wa- to 1938) along Greenwich Village’s Hudson River waterfront. The architecture illustrates the terfront scene at the west end of Christopher Street. Credit: Brian J. Pape, AIA. area’s long history as a place of dwelling, industry, and commerce, much of it maritime-re- lated, and is a rare surviving example of this once typical development pattern on Manhat- #1: 150 Barrow Street (384 West Street), built as the 6-story Knickerbocker Hotel in 1897- tan’s west side waterfront. On the far right in this 1929 photo, at the corner of Christopher 98 by architect Julius Munckwitz, was landmarked in 2007. From 1911-1929 it was the Street, is the Keller Abington Hotel, with the Christopher Hotel to its left. The tallest build- New Keller Hotel, then it became the Keller Abington from 1929 to 1993, at which time ings were the Keller and Bell Labs (now Westbeth) in the misty far-left background. the city transformed the hotel into a Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotel for the indigent. The City of New York reserved the block of West Street between Christopher and West Keller Bar, which occupied the West Street storefront (c. 1956-1998), was reputed to be 10th Streets, left-center in the photo, as the site of the Greenwich (Weehawken) Market NY’s oldest gay “leather” bar. Owned by the estate of William Gottlieb since then, it is finally house after they sold off the Newgate State Prison grounds in 1829. undergoing complete restoration work for residential mixed use, complete with the iconic A 1902 newspaper article referred to the piers between Houston and West 14th Streets as “hotel” corner sign. Will a Keller Bar return? “The Farm,” stating that “for years, especially in fine weather, it has at night been the resort #2: 180 Christopher Street (387 West Street) was built as the Hotel Christopher prior to of outcasts, drunkards, dissolute people, and a dangerous class of petty highwaymen.” By 1920. Remodeled as the Bailey-Holt House of supportive housing by New York City’s HIV/ the 1920’s, the area was called “a street of hotels.” The area with long-established wa- AIDS Service Administration (HASA) in 1986, it was the nation’s first residence for people terfront taverns, losing the rough seamen and longshoreman patrons by the 1960’s, had living with HIV/AIDS. become a nucleus for bars catering to a gay clientele (those bars that remain still draw nice crowds). The abandoned piers, especially at Christopher Street, became sites for clandes- #3: 388-390 West Street (14 Weehawken Street) was built as a one-story commercial cor- tine rendezvous. Credit: NYPL Digital Collections photo from 1929 by Percy Sperr. ner building for Benjamin Gottfried in 1937; it became West Beach Bar & Grill (c. 1970-80) and then Badlands Bar (c. 1983-91), both bars catering to a gay clientele. It has been an abandoned eyesore since 1992.

#4: 391 West Street (8 Weehawken Street): this five-story neo-Renaissance tenement (ca. 1902) was built for Solomon Lent; the ground floor commercial space was first a men’s furnishings store. Waterfront Bike Shop has operated out of here for many years now.

Charlie Caruso’s Quips #5: 392-393 West Street (6 Weehawken Street): Jane Jacobs wrote of this wood struc- ture in her 1963 book: “The quaintest building in the general popular view, the old wooden Never flirt with the boss' girlfriend. building (392 West Street) is not the oldest. This is apparently the remnant of the City Mar- ket erected in 1834” (an open wooden shed once covering most of the block). The earliest You must ask the right question of the right person at the right time. documented liquors/saloon business (c. 1849-1867) in the historic district was here. Choo Choo’s Pier (c. 1972), then Sneakers (c. late 1970s-99), were bars catering to a gay clien- Great books usually make lousy movies. tele here. It is now used for storage.

A father cannot be the friend of his daughter's lover. #6: 394-395 West Street (2-4 Weehawken Street): built as three-story brick multiple dwell- ings (c. 1848), with commercial ground floor use, is now under William Gottlieb ownership. Some people are tea, some are coffee. Charles Chabal’s Bar (c. 1950-60) and Sea Shell restaurant (c. 1960-76) preceded the Ram- Football will end as inevitably as rod Bar (c. 1976-80) which catered to a gay clientele. Currently, Bongo bar is the tenant. smoking, and for the same reason. #7: 396-397 West Street (305 W. 10th Street): north of 10th Street, this three-story neo- Renaissance Holland Hotel (ca. 1903-04) was built for restaurateur/saloon operator Albert “Iced” cream. Is that the proper spelling? A. Adler, later named the Clyde Hotel. The Peter Rabbit (c. 1972-88), catered to a gay Ice cream without the D makes no sense. clientele. The Antica Venezia Restaurant, which occupied the ground floor under William Everyone’s first reaction. "What’s in it for me?" Gottlieb’s ownership until Storm Sandy ruined it, is abandoned now. Youth is life on a roll—until it’s toasted. #8: 185 Christopher Street (13 Weehawken Street): built in 1837 as a warehouse, it was enlarged in 1871 to be a three-story tenement building. The O’Neil family operated it as O’Neil’s Hotel and Saloon (c. 1912-1920), then as a boarding house. The Dugout Bar (c. 1985-2006), and now the Rock Bar (c. 2007), are bars catering to a gay clientele on the ground floor. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 43 44 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org The Novogratz Waverly Kushner Real Estate in the Place Preservation Project Village: Another Slumlord million. She had entertained in the “pink newed the visa program in his first major house” amid her beloved and stage piece of legislation. costumes from her Rockettes days, accord- Although the Kushner Company has a ing to a obit. stake in more than 60 buildings in New Thanks to an Architectural Digest article, York City, including in Greenwich Village we learn that the expansive first floor, with and East Village apartments, in nearly half, black-and-white checkered floor and a wall they own less than 20 percent. of southerly windows, has great appeal. The A documentary series shown on Netflix second and third floors will comprise the mas- includes , and S2 E3, ter suite and bedrooms for the Novogratz’s Dirty Money Slumlord , is about the Kushner family school-age children. The basement boasts Millionaire businesses. surprisingly high ceilings, allowing for the Like all prudent landlords, each prop- older kids’ rooms, a gym, bedrooms, living erty may have a different LLC filing, often area, and its own kitchenette. The plan is to obscuring the owners behind it. One such keep the stairwell placement as it is on the east subset for Kushner is Westminster Living, side, but the family is installing an elevator. managing most of the Village properties. The top-floor vaulted artist’s studio (c. exposes the horrible 1920), which has a balcony mezzanine, a Slumlord Millionaire living conditions and predatory legal ma- fireplace, and huge windows, is where Ms. neuvers the Kushners use to extricate their THIS 2019 VIEW OF 114 WAVERLY PLACE Martin would famously throw beads from tenants or extract maximum fees; it is a dis- shows the Art Nouveau stucco façade and the exterior balcony to Gay Pride Parade pink colors that made the home of Ce- turbing sight to see. The Housing Rights marchers below. The Novogratz plan to 120 MACDOUGAL STREET (across from leste Martin (a former Rockette who died Initiative director Aaron Carr narrates the purchase a piano and regularly host events Café Wha?) was purchased by Kushner’s last spring at the age of 98), and the site Westminster Living group to expand their battles his organization has fought against of many of her famous parties, stand in the room, with a future bar space that holdings of walk-up tenements in the Vil- the Kushner practices. Some of those ex- out. Many interior details are also planned leads to a rooftop garden. lage. In other tenements, they forced rent- amples are on East 10th Street or Avenue for restoration in the well-preserved struc- Instead of building onto the back of the controlled tenants out with various pressure A, but the Kushners own others in Green- ture. Credit: Zillow. home, something most owners do to in- techniques. Credit: Brian J. Pape, AIA. wich Village, like 120 McDougal Street, crease livable square footage, the Novogratz across from Café Wha? By Brian J. Pape, AIA, LEED-AP want to keep the backyard as large as it is. And what are the Google reviews for The Novogratz, their name for their By Brian J. Pape, AIA, LEED-AP Bob and Cortney Novogratz are back in Westminster Living? line of furniture and home accessories, two Greenwich Village working on a truly pres- You may have heard that Steve Croman, “Kushner properties and their associ- popular reality TV shows, three coffee- ervationist project at 114 Waverly Place (ca. the notoriously abusive slumlord owner of ates Westminster Management are a dis- table books, and high-profile projects on 1826) just west of . many Village apartments, is back at work grace.” “Terrible awful people.” “Shady both coasts, are busy with six of their seven After a few years of living in the Holly- as an ex-convict. He seems to be joined real estate firm.” children, three are out of local schools, wood Hills of Los Angeles where they had by another landlord organization of ques- The reported, “More three are home from colleges, their oldest Associated Press an ongoing renovation project, they are tionable reputation, the than a dozen current and former residents is a working actor elsewhere. now navigating the coronavirus pandemic family. of the (184 Kent Avenue, Williamsburg) The present eclectic appearance of the by working on projects from their home in According to Wikipedia: Kushner Com- building told the Associated Press that they four houses at 108-114 Waverly Place are the Berkshires, teleconferencing with cli- panies LLC is an American real estate de- believe the Kushner Company’s relentless all that remain of a row of nine Federal-style ents, contractors and vendors. veloper in the New York City metropoli- construction, along with rent hikes of $500 three-story rowhouses built for Thomas R. You may remember that the ca. 1946 tan area. The company’s biggest presence a month or more, was part of a campaign to Mercein in 1826. #108 has a crenelated cor- residence they bought in 2007, at 400 West is in the New Jersey residential market. Its push tenants out of rent-stabilized apart- nice, sky-lit garret, and rough-hewn stone Street, then more than tripled in size as a founder, Charles Kushner, was convicted ments and bring high-paying condo buyers façades, added when it was heavily remod- five-story contemporary townhome with of tax evasion and witness tampering in in.” The Kushner Cos. was fined $210,000 eled in 1906 and 1927. #110 retains most of an indoor basketball court/screening room 2005 and served time in federal prison. As by city regulators last year after an Associ- its original look except for an added fourth behind the private garage, a stainless steel a result, he handed over the management ated Press report found that the company floor and cornice, and it now houses the res- and glass stairway and elevator, with five of the company to his son . had submitted paperwork to regulators taurant Babbo. #112 was altered pre-1965 bedrooms. When I visited the site right af- In 2017, Nicole Kushner Meyer joined her that claimed it had no low-paying, rent- from its original three-story design, with ter Storm Sandy flooded the ground floor, brothers Josh and Jared in Kushner Com- stabilized tenants in dozens of its buildings an added fourth floor and new brick façade one of their boys was washing out the ga- panies, serving as a principal. when, in fact, it had hundreds. The false composition; it displays a plaque commemo- rage and told me, “It’s not that bad.” The A study published by in paperwork, which allowed the company to rating Lorraine Vivian Hansberry’s home Bloomberg News building was sold in 2016 for $14.5 million December, 2017 indicated that Kushner avoid inspections and other scrutiny during there from 1960-1965; Hansberry was the to an overseas buyer. Companies owns a stake in over 60 build- construction work, has been noted by crit- first African-American woman to write a The bright pink four-story Art Nouveau ings in New York City. Major holdings in ics who have said that it is often used by Broadway play—A Raisin in the Sun. #116 stucco façade at #114 displays a complete the city include the Puck Building, the re- landlords to chase low-paying renters out. is an 1891 French Flats residence currently redesign in 1920 by architect William tail space at 229 West 43rd Street, and 666 Sadly, this corporate pattern of squeez- undergoing extensive remodeling. So, both Sanger for Murray P. Bewley; the en- Fifth Avenue (until its 2018 sale of 49.5% ing out rent-protected tenants is shared by #114 and 116 are shrouded in scaffolding trance was given an Italian styling, with an ownership to Vornado). too many landlords. Only strong laws will netting. English-style basement stoop and round- According to the Bloomberg article, the protect such abuse. arched doorway and windows. company is facing an increasingly “dis- Although it’s quite rare to find some- Brian J. Pape is a LEED-AP “green” ar- tressed situation.” Over the last few years, Brian J. Pape is a LEED-AP “green” ar- thing like this in Manhattan, with inte- chitect consulting in private practice, serves family members have sought substantial chitect consulting in private practice, serves riors untouched for so many years, when on the Manhattan District 2 Community overseas investment to deal with “troubled on the Manhattan District 2 Community the home’s previous and third-ever eccen- Board, is co-chair of the American Institute finances.” In the 2010s, developers such Board, is co-chair of the American Institute tric owner, Celeste Martin, died at age 98 of Architects NY Design for Aging Com- as the widely used of Architects NY Design for Aging Com- last spring, she left behind this home and mittee, and is a journalist who writes about the EB-5 visa to fuel a “high-end US resi- mittee, and is a journalist who writes about other nearby properties worth at least $25 architecture subjects. dential boom.” In May, 2017, Trump re- architecture subjects. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 45 The Dark Side of ADA Litigation By Samuel G. Dobre, Esq. and Mallory A. Campbell, Esq. the past few months, hundreds of class action lawsuits have been filed against res- Title III of the Americans with Disabilities taurants, retail merchants, and other busi- Act (ADA) prohibits disability discrimina- nesses claiming discrimination against tion and ensures that disabled individuals the visually impaired or blind due to the have equal access to public accommoda- unavailability of braille gift cards. At this tions. Some plaintiffs’ attorneys are abus- time, it is unclear how the courts will re- ing Title III’s admirable intent by “stick- spond to braille gift card lawsuits. ing up” businesses and lining their pockets ADA lawsuits are mostly filed by a rather than seeking to help the disabled. handful of the same lawyers. Typically, a The ADA permits the award of attorneys’ few attorneys select one person with a dis- fees to successful plaintiffs, which has cre- ability to file hundreds of the same boil- Bond ated an incentive for some attorneys to file erplate complaint against different enti- © nuisance Title III lawsuits even when the ties. Even worse, however, is an attorney Essential to Your Business plaintiff has suffered little, if any, monetary who posed as a representative of disabled Bond’s COVID-19 Recovery for Business is a multidisciplinary damages. These lawsuits are on the rise as plaintiffs who weren’t his clients in order practice supporting businesses and organizations as they the plaintiffs’ bar recognizes that it may to profit from the ADA. In November of navigate through new avenues of the law. 2019, a New York lawyer living in Flori- resume operations. Bond can help you assess the shifting legal The trend of abusing ADA regula- da was arrested on charges of mail fraud, landscape, avoid potential hazards and identify opportunities tions and allowances began by focusing on aggravated identity theft, obstruction of to get back to work safely and efficiently. physical barriers. The ADA Accessibil- justice, and making false declarations to a ity Guidelines are complex and must be court. From October, 2013 through May rigidly followed, which makes it difficult of 2018, this attorney stole the identities for many establishments to comply with of two individuals and filed more than 300 ALBANY BUFFALO GARDEN CITY NEW YORK CITY them. Complaints under the ADA have fraudulent lawsuits under the ADA, falsely ROCHESTER SARATOGA SPRINGS SYRACUSE UTICA alleged miniscule violations such as a toi- alleging that the individuals were unable to 600 - 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10016 • 646.253.2300 • BSK.COM let paper dispenser being a few inches too access certain public establishments. The high or too low. two individuals were unaware of the ADA The next wave of ADA lawsuits focused lawsuits filed in their names and had never on websites. Thousands of lawsuits have visited the entities that were sued. been filed by blind persons alleging viola- Businesses should ensure compliance of future litigation and should seek experi- Bond, Schoeneck and King’s Labor and Em- tions of the ADA because websites were with the law and get ahead of potential enced legal guidance to best avoid and pro- ployment practice: Samuel G. Dobre, Esq. not accessible to them. The latest trend of ADA lawsuits. Every business that oper- tect against ADA Title III lawsuits. at [email protected] or (646) 253-2320 and ADA lawsuits involves the failure to print ates a place of public accommodation or a Mallory Campbell, Esq. at mcampbell@bsk. braille information on gift cards. During website, or distributes gift cards is at risk If you have any questions, please contact com or (646) 253- 2339.

a delivery uniform and you’re deemed a hero PRIDE IN QUARANTINE because you have to have to have to stand strong in the viral storm By Robert Galinsky the kitchen drain unclogger Pride in Quarantine Pride in Quarantine the blue collar blogger is a system with low wisdom proud enough to discount “We are here for you, and our applause is how allows for no escape proud enough to reduce we uplift” from mortgage and utility costs proud enough to deliver to health care and rent fully assembled on the same day Pride in Quarantine to car payment and auto billing with a complimentary cup organizations corporations debt notices do not relent of fresh squeezed juice spit endless public relations “We are here for you, and our expedience is a gift” hidden behind a mask Pride in Quarantine called media and news would be much better spent Pride in Quarantine the word hero they incorporate if big business would stop ROBERT GALLINSKY. Photo credit: Timo- proud enough to label twist it and abuse facade and hyperbole thy C. Goodwin. proud enough to tag telling consumers with ceaseless redundancy for those dying alone proud enough to brag about “We are all in this together” to respect the frozen souls every grocery clerk and stowed in eighteen wheeler bins Galinsky is an activist artist living in counter employee Pride in Quarantine to shine a light on abusive spouses Alphabet City NYC and advocates for who packed a shopping bag where front line workers wear no cape who think their captives never win incarcerated youth, LGBTQ sisters and “We are here for you, and at least during your shift” nor costumes that dazzle brothers, the homeless and anyone with a nor a team logo as a crest Pride in Quarantine voice that is being stifled. He hosts a five Pride in Quarantine nor do they appear in shape is to praise without hype night a week talk show on Facebook Live proud enough to celebrate of a super human body to appreciate and acknowledge called ‘10pm With Galinsky’ and more can proud enough to elevate where we stare with mouth agape and show without faux fanfare be found on him at http://www.galinsky- proud enough to even masturbate just an apron that the greatness of humanity coaching.com the menial slogger a stethoscope “all in us together.” 46 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 47 Real Estate Goes Virtual

REAL ESTATE AGENT, SHELLY, shares screens with a client during a virtual property tour. Photo by Shelly Place.

By Shelly Place The famous line for performers is “the show must go on!” The saying for agents All of us are spending a lot more time at could be “the deal must get done.” Before home lately, giving us more reason to love COVID, that might have meant taking a and appreciate how incredibly important our packed subway ten times a day or traveling homes are to us. It’s no wonder that in-per- great distances to show a place or meet with son apartment showings have been the activ- someone. COVID changes all of that though. ity that the rest of the home-buying process Now, the most important thing I can do for has typically revolved around. A home has to my community is to stay home and continue “feel right” for the buyer, after all. to find creative, innovative ways to help and The process of buying or selling a home support my buyers, renters and sellers. has traditionally been a physical, tactile Sometimes that’s as simple as provid- one. You meet a lot of people, shake a lot ing information and reassurance. For the of hands, touch a lot of doorknobs. On first few weeks of this, I spent a lot of time March 22nd, Governor Cuomo put a ban simply assuring clients with pending deals on non-essential work in NY that included that their moving plans wouldn’t be dead in in-person real estate showings and open the water. Eventually the city’s brokerages, houses. Although this was unsurprising attorneys, bankers, and moving companies (most agents were already working from collectively figured out new processes for home), this ban was a blow to the real es- getting work done with as little face-to- tate community and anyone who had plans face contact as possible. It took a couple to move in the foreseeable future. In some weeks, but we’ve been chugging along (al- ways though, the ban brought me a huge beit, more slowly) since, with virtual home sense of relief. The message to all of NYC’s showings and closings. 30,000+ agents and their clients was clear: I’ve actually been impressed with how We were all in this together. We were all to much we’ve still been able to do. Some New stay home. No grey area. Yorkers have had to put plans on hold, of There’s a culture of action and tough- course. But for others, this has been an op- ness amongst NYC real estate agents that portunity and they’ve found silver linings makes sitting on our couches counter-intu- in a scary, uncertain time. itive. We’re out on weekends and holidays. Home buying is bound to look different We’re out in 105-degree weather and in after this pandemic though. I expect buy- negative 10-degree weather. We’re out in ers will do a lot more vetting of properties blizzards, thunderstorms, and hailstorms. online, and I expect sellers to spend a lot I personally have shed real blood (usually more time vetting buyers before they open from blisters), sweat and tears for this job. their homes to strangers. I expect technol- The same morning I found out my grand- ogy to get better through all of this and for father had passed away, I rode the 2 train virtual showings to be embraced more. But for an hour each way to show a buyer an in the words of Marvin Gaye, “Ain’t Noth- apartment uptown. I was OK with doing ing Like the Real Thing.” No matter what this because my client needed a place, and I shape the search process takes from here, loved the job and needed to be able to con- people need to feel like they’re at home tinue to justify (both financially and emo- when they walk through those doors. tionally) doing it. I ended up getting stood up. She forgot about our appointment. It Shelly Place is residential real estate agent happens sometimes. working in Manhattan and Brooklyn. 48 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org Then vs. Now HIV+ and Brain Cancer: A Marathon Runner and His Wife Celebrate Life couple of friends there had passed. In NYC, however, the AIDS crisis was in By Richard Brodsky full swing, and I landed a very interesting Imagine having it all: the perfect wife and job at one of our city’s AIDS Service Or- family, a successful architectural career, ganizations. Pre-internet and social media, and athletic prowess as a marathon run- my lifeline to friends and close family relied ner. Then imagine having to tell your wife mostly on the phone to be in touch with that your life is a myth and that you are not me back then. All had questions/concerns only bisexual but HIV-positive, too. That about my life and happiness, and all were was back in 1997. My wife chose to remain of course interested in the AIDS epidem- married to me and 15 months later I ran ic here and my work at GMHC. None, my fastest marathon, 3:23:23. In 2002, I however, asked about my own health and wrote the book, Jodi, the Greatest Love Story wellness. These were my nearest and dear- Ever Told, a gift to my wife for keeping our RICHARD AND JODI BRODSKY. Richard est, including many trained professionals. family loving and whole, plus a plea to get has worn this shirt in about 25 marathons And yet, and for whatever reasons, nobody AIDS medicine to AIDS sufferers all over and no one has ever said a harsh word to worried openly and directly that I could the world. I had a seizure at my Barnes & him. Photo credit: R. Kiper. become ill, be ill, or worse. Noble book signing in Greenwich Village BRUCE ANDERSON. Spring of 2020 is quite different. We’re of cash, toys, clothing, meals, medicine, Photo credit: Mitchell Klein. and was rushed to St. Vincent’s Hospital. all 35 years older and so maybe life seems A few weeks later I was diagnosed with homes for orphans and concerts has been By Bruce Anderson, MSW more precious to my cohort. What I’m terminal brain cancer. A year later I fin- donated,. For more information, visit www. curious about though, is that I now get ished the New York Marathon. richardmbrodsky.org, www.5kaidscancer. In 1986, I changed my life. Didn’t need to, daily texts, emails, and even old-fashioned In 2004 I established the Richard M. org, or www.worldaidsmarathon.com, or wasn’t desperate, had nothing to run away phone calls about my personal wellbeing Brodsky Foundation, which sponsored its write me at [email protected]. from. My life in Denver was pretty great. and health. Am I okay? Am I being safe? 14th annual World AIDS Marathon on To register for the 5K race click on the link Nonetheless, NYC called to me. Had an Of course, these expressions are precious to Dec. 1, 2019 in Kisumu, Kenya. In con- above. There will be a link to register for MSW from Denver University and about me and greatly appreciated. But, they also junction with the marathon, the foun- the World AIDS Marathon in August. five years of practice under my belt. No prompt inquiry: why now, and not back dation has sponsored 37 orphan dinner My wife and I never say IF WE CAN; it is job awaited me in NYC. Nor did I have then? My risks then were equally great, dances for 10,514 Kenyan orphans, and always WE CAN. In fact, she agreed to run an apartment. Nor a boyfriend! Just good and I probably felt more precarious with provided medical care, oftentimes lifesav- a marathon with me for my 100th birthday. friends back there who encouraged me to my health than now. AIDS was lurking. ing, for 2,511 orphans and caretakers. I really believe if you want something badly follow this dream. Not without signifi- I don’t know what personal and immedi- The foundation will be sponsoring its enough and you work hard and visualize it cance, I’d also navigated a divorce with a ate concerns other men in the city received 13th annual 5K AIDS Cancer Run Walk happening, it will happen. Jodi and I will woman from undergrad school and (due from back home, but mine were negligible. on October 4, 2020 in Baldwin Park, Long do everything we can to help eliminate the more to their mindfulness than my own), Distant siblings, relatives, and dear friends Island. There is never a charge for people stigma of AIDS. Some people think that if had left family and friends basically intact are certainly worried about us here and living with HIV or cancer. Running has you are HIV+ you cannot be a productive after coming out to them all. more importantly, about my personal vul- saved my life and I want others living with member of society. Recently, the president Work in Denver had been in the dis- nerabilities. But I wonder: why does being HIV or cancer to get a similar benefit. of the Greater Long Island Running Club abilities community, that connection com- a New Yorker elicit more concern and sup- According to the Internet there are no wrote, “there is no harder working team of ing from growing up on a farm in Nebraska port in 2020 than being a gay New Yorker other runners in the world who run mara- race directors on Long Island than Richard with a neighbor child who had Down’s Syn- meant back then? And would AIDS, in thons and are living with HIV and brain & Jodi Brodsky.” Donations are greatly ap- drome. Colorado and Nebraska family and and by itself, prompt a different response cancer. Having a marathon-running, loving preciated and can be made online via any friends expressed shock regarding my choice now? Maybe it only matters that we con- wife who ran seven marathons in 2019 helps website noted above. of going to NYC and, it being the mid-80’s, tinue to practice what used to called “safer a lot. I’m 67 and just ran my 67th marathon worried that New York was a dangerous sex” and we now call “social distancing.” in Kisumu, Kenya. I ran five marathons last Richard Brodsky, with the assistance of his place for a “boy” like me to move. HIV year to raise awareness about HIV+ people wife Jodi Brodsky, is the only HIV/AIDS testing was still an iffy proposition, and I’d Former President, The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual leading productive lives. Since the Founda- and cancer survivor who runs and organizes left Denver not knowing my status. Only a & Transgender Community Center, NYC. tion’s inception, more than $500,000 worth international marathons.

tempts to break into Europe, by boat across the refugees I met in Rabat. From their per- the Mediterranean, or through the barriers spective, Europe was a modern Ellis Island, a West Village Exile at the Spanish enclave of Melilla, could be gateway to a new life. They were hardly any ripped from yesterday’s headlines. different from Brodsky himself, cast out as a By Spencer Wolff quiet street in This may all seem a far cry from the leafy, young man by a brutal dictatorship. Desper- West Greenwich winding streets of the West Village. But grow- ate escapees, trying to survive in a hostile land On July 27, 2009 a group of some sixty Village to shield- ing up on Morton Street, just two doors down until they could find passage onward. When refugees, armed with rocks and makeshift ing my face while from the exiled poet-laureate Joseph Brodsky, they finally discovered that there was no way weapons, assaulted the UN refugee bureau rocks crashed into alerted me to the fact that refugees are hidden out, they took a stand worthy of a Holly- (UNHCR) in Rabat, Morocco. Windows my office, and a all around us. Like so many New Yorkers, my wood blockbuster. The Fire in His Wake tells were shattered, guards and police injured, battle raged before own family history testified to this: from great their story and that of a group of aid workers security cameras smashed to the ground. the UNHCR, lives in those pages as well. grandparents who narrowly escaped murder- whose best intentions only pave the way to Eventually the Moroccan army was forced In 2009, the UNCHR in Rabat tended to ous pogroms and undertook perilous journeys catastrophe. It’s a novel full of suspense and to intervene. Those of us in the building a small population of refugees, mostly from to the New World, to German relatives who unexpected humor, and there’s even a love barely escaped with our lives. the Democratic Republic of Congo. Arès, the never had that chance. We are an immigrant story thrown in for good measure. Many The story behind that dramatic day, and central protagonist of The Fire in His Wake is city and stories like these abound, etched into New Yorkers will likely recognize themselves why a group of refugees would attack the one—though the novel is also told through the kindly wrinkles in our neighbors’ faces that in its pages; Joseph Brodsky surely would. very institution sworn to defend them, is the eyes of Simon, a young employee at the we pass by every day in the streets. the subject of my forthcoming novel, The UNHCR. Arès’ narrow escape from certain Listening to such tales in my youth led The Fire in His Wake (McSweeney’s, 2020) Fire in His Wake (McSweeney’s, 2020). My death, and his epic trans-African journey, is a me to apply for a position at the UNHCR. is Spencer Wolff ’s first novel. It will be pub- own personal history, how I went from a classic story of migration. His numerous at- It also helped me understand the longings of lished on June 23, 2020.

50 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org

Shekdar continued from page 1 have poured all of our personal assets into the company to keep it afloat. In this way, chief executive officer and Kambiz its chief epidemic. Christian presented this program we are no different than a local restaurant THE VIRUS scientific officer. at The White House as part of Chris Chris- or corner deli in the face of the pandemic. However, it took a good two years be- tie’s commission on the opioid epidemic. The same way we have made inroads and By Alec Pruchnicki fore we obtained the necessary rights to After establishing a robust R&D organiza- have much left to offer to help improve First, the virus came for the Chinese, the technology and set up a small incuba- tion, Kambiz left his day-to-day role at the our nation’s diet, to help address the opi- but I did nothing because I wasn’t tor laboratory upon Kambiz’s graduation biotech to establish Research Foundation oid epidemic, and to help accelerate a cure Chinese. with his Ph.D. in 2003. Fast-forward to to Cure AIDS, a public charity we created for HIV/AIDS, our platform technology 2020, we brought the technology to work and to which we donated a license to all our holds promise to help in the development Then it came for the New Yorkers, of treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. but I did nothing because I wasn’t However, as the pandemic has slowed a New Yorker. down the economy dramatically, we are Then it came for the nursing home facing an uncertain future. residents, but I did nothing because What our company hopes to find are in- I wasn’t a nursing home resident. dustry and financial partners that support Then it came for the minorities, our venture to bring novel sodium- and sug- but I did nothing because I wasn’t ar-sparing technologies to market, as well as black or Hispanic. proceeding with our therapeutic endeavors that hold strong promise to combat COV- Then it came for the prisoners, ID-19-related illness and to find vaccines. but I did nothing because I wasn’t We are grateful for this opportunity to a prisoner. share our story in our local community Then it came for the slaughter house newspaper, WestView News, where we are workers but I did nothing because very much a part of our community, dedi- I wasn’t a slaughter house worker. cated to doing our part to contribute to all Then the scientists said it would our lives and livelihoods. We only hope that last all year, but I did nothing because we will survive to do so. It will be critical for the President said it would be over our organization that the financing vehicles by summer. that the CARES act set up will be made available to organizations like ours. We have Then the doctors said to wear a successfully built a viable business for almost mask, but I did nothing because the 20 years. Having access to, for example, the President never wore a mask. INVENTED BY KAMBIZ SHEKDAR, PH.D., at The Rockefeller University and pioneered by Main Street Loan Facilities or other financ- Now I’m alone in the ER about to be Chromocell Corporation, Chromovert® Technology is a technology for cellular engineering ing options will be decisive whether we can intubated. My family isn’t here yet so I that utilizes fluorescent DNA probes and miniaturized robotic cell culture to gain access continue our work to further public health. can’t say goodbye to them before they to biological drug targets that had previously remained out-of-reach. Pictured here is the put me under. I’m a white Republican. pipetting head of one of Chromocell’s cell culture robots. Photo credit: Dennis Sawchuk. Kambiz Shekdar, Ph.D. obtained his doctoral How could this happen to me? degree at The Rockefeller University where he and used it to make pioneering discover- technology in order to develop a cure for invented Chromovert® Technology. Kambiz In 1946 German clergyman Marin ies in treacherously difficult scientific and AIDS that is available to all those in need, co-founded Chromocell Corporation based Niemoller wrote the original version business landscapes. Here is a taste of what regardless of ability to pay. upon the technology and served as its Chief of this as a way of confessing his lack of we used our science to accomplish. Finding all-natural salt taste enhancers Scientific Officer until leaving to establish action in face of the rise of the Nazis. We developed cells that mimic human and non-addictive pain blockers validates and head Research Foundation to Cure AIDS This updated version is not to equate salt taste biology and used these, like min- our science, but Chromocell is not a cash- (RFTCA). Christian Kopfli co-founded Chro- the death from WWII with this pan- iature taste buds, for turbo taste testing of rich company. Given the immediate ability mocell Corporation in 2002, serving initially demic, at least not yet. It is to equate natural extracts to discover new natural in- to commercialize some of the technology, as General Counsel before becoming Chief people’s ability to deny reality even gredient combinations that make table salt we decided to bootstrap the company with Executive Officer in 2005. Prior to joining when it stares them in the face. The taste more salty. The world’s largest food funding from friends and family. This al- Chromocell, he was an associate at Davis Polk voice of the writer is an imaginary per- companies as well as the most innovative lowed us to focus on projects that further & Wardwell. He received a doctoral degree in son, not me, but it should still make the startups are now starting to use our natural public health, both in the nutritional and law from the University of Zurich and earned point. But reality has a way of return- flavors to substantially cut sodium in food. the therapeutics space. his LL.M. from Columbia Law School in New ing and producing a lot of suffering, as We also created cells that mimic human We worked around the clock seven days York City. Christian is a Board Member of we are now relearning. pain perception and discovered non-addic- a week. The idea of a break or vacation was BioNJ and admitted to the Bar in New York tive pain blockers that the FDA fast-tracked a distant memory. We never cashed out, and Switzerland. To support our work, please for clinical trials to help address the opioid and more than once, including now, we contact [email protected].

The West Village is where Pride was born. WestView News is proud to nurture it along. For the first time in 50 years, the NYC Gay Pride parade is canceled and the LGBTQ community is celebrating Pride-in-Quaran- tine. Now, when no one can gather in our neighborhood, bars or streets, we have used our pages to share our collective experiences during this strange time. We would like to do more. See the facing page for eight curated organizations working to achieve the future LGBTQ milestone successes of the next 50 years. WestView News is proud to serve as the community newspaper of the West Village. From our home in the capital of the world, we aim to share news and raise awareness that ripples across the globe. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 51 The One I’m With

CONTENDER #1 FOR FAVORITE CORONA BIRD: SCARLET TANAGER. All Photos by Keith CONTENDER #2 FOR FAVORITE CORONA BIRD: ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK Michael.

By Keith Michael then again, I truly admire their resilience, ing at its gradation of blue, yellow, and or- stage name: I see you and I think Black- frequent entertainment value, and reliabil- ange coloring? Should I draw straws as to masked Warbler. Ovenbird? How many I’m still wearing a mask and Millie doesn’t ity. Can I really look at the nine fresh duck- whether a Blue-headed, Warbling, or Red- times am I asked why you are called an seem to care. Contrary to true corgi watch- lings dashing about the pool in Battery eyed Vireo is my favorite? Maybe I should Ovenbird? Okay, yes, you have that cool, fulness, as attentive as Millie is to every Park and say they’re NOT my favorites? just send them all a text message, “Sorry, brick oven-shaped nest on the ground: movement and nuance of routine, the addi- Among my 35 new corona birds, how do I I’m eliminating all three of you as candi- Honorable Mention for Architecture. tion of a mask hasn’t made any impression choose between my Abingdon Square Park dates for My Favorite Bird because y’all are But why are you called a warbler anyway? on her whatsoever. Her ears and eyebrows sightings of a Wood Thrush perched brief- just too hard to find—never staying in one You don’t ACT or LOOK like a warbler, still perk up when hearing the same words ly on a bench rail with its jauntily spotted place at the tops of trees. My neck hurts high-stepping it under the bushes as you even though she can’t see my mouth mov- breast or of a Veery’s buttery caramel color? from looking for you. Come on down to do. Black-throated Blue Warbler? My only ing, and if the hand dangling below the What about knowing that Barn Swallows the lower branches and I might still con- reservation is that jaunty “white pocket mask throws her a treat she’s in heaven. have, again, built their exquisite mud nests sider you for my Top Ten List.” Choos- handkerchief ” adorning your wing. I fear When I sent in my May article, Corona under Pier 40, and that there are already ing between a Baltimore and an Orchard that you are putting on airs. Birds, my West Village bird list had 41 chicks in those nests demanding to grow Oriole is a toss-up. Should I let the sum- I’m down to two super-flashy new spring species on it, and I said that I hoped to add up? Should I cross off the quandary from mer black-headed Laughing Gull supplant birds as my “favorite” contenders: Rose- “several dozen more” by this month. Well, my list, “Is it a Swainson’s Thrush with the the local Ring-billed, Herring, and Great breasted Grosbeak and Scarlet Tanager. I’m up to 76, and at least ten more species eye ring or a Gray-cheeked Thrush (which Black-backed Gull contenders just because Both are descriptively named. I saw both have been seen by friends! All in our little is browner and plainer) that I saw mo- the Laughing Gull has snazzy white eye- munching contentedly on fresh elm tree ol’ West Village. Cheers to us! ments ago in Hudson River Park?” Both of liner, or because I’m bored with the resi- seeds. I can’t decide. I’m going to write Paired with the sidewalk question, “When them survived flying here from as far south dent gulls, or because I’m feeling glum and their names on two different treats and see did you start watching birds?” another fre- as Argentina. Shouldn’t I cheer them on no the Laughing Gulls’ cackling bonhomie which one Millie prefers. Oh, she ate both quent inquiry that comes my way is, “What matter what? THEY know when they see cheers me up? nuggets. Sorry, the next time I see either is your favorite bird?” In the moment, I want one another whether they’re a Swainson’s What kind of a score card should I de- bird, THAT will be my favorite bird. to say, “The one I’m looking at!” (And if you or a Gray-cheeked Thrush. Goodspeed. vise for the migrating warblers? Yellow can’t tell, I’m smiling behind my mask.) Ac- I have so many questions. Should I en- Warbler? Yes, you’re bright yellow but SO tually, that’s mostly true. Sorry, Millie hates joy the Chimney Swifts, those “cigars with obvious. Black-and-white Warbler? Black Visit keithmichaelnyc.com for books, photo- my having ANY conversation on the street wings” chattering above Bleecker Street in and white palette, clever, very New York, graphs, and the latest schedule of New York so I have to answer fast. the early evening, more or less than locat- but you seem to be imitating a Nuthatch City WILD! urban adventures in nature Maybe I could eliminate the “common” ing a Northern Parula warbler (foraging with your crawling DOWN a tree antics— outings throughout the five boroughs (cur- birds from my favorites list: pigeons, spar- in a Perry Street tree) by its unmistakable you need more original material. Common rently on hold). Visit Instagram @newyorkc- rows, starlings, and Mallard ducks. But zz-zz-zzz-zzzeeee-wup call, then marvel- Yellowthroat? Sorry, you could use a better itywild for photos from around NYC. 52 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org You’re Not Alone. Not During Quarantine. Not During Pride. Maggie B’s Quick Clicks

TINY STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WAS A REAL MORALE BOOSTER.

After their disheartening lockdown in early WEST VILLAGE RESIDENT, Richard Eric Weigle, sharing his story with I'm From Driftwood April, discovering these favorite neighbor- founder, Nathan Manske. Photo credit: Damien Mittlefehldt. hood casualties back up and running felt like an encouraging step in the right direction. By Nathan Manske So push forward is exactly what we did, Executive Director, I’m From Driftwood and hard. In May, we launched a new pro- gram called “Story Update” in which we “You are not alone.” It’s a message that res- interview previous storytellers via Zoom onates with everyone, and it’s the message about updates on their stories and lives. I’m From Driftwood, through the power of And we kept pushing. In late June, we’re storytelling, has been sending to LGBTQ launching another new program, the I’m people for 11 years. From Driftwood Podcast, in which two Now, while the feeling of isolation is hosts listen to existing stories and lead a skyrocketing and revenue from fundrais- conversation about the topics of the stories, ers is plummeting, I’m From Driftwood is from love, immigration, and coming out, to faced with a common challenge confront- issues surrounding aging, gender identity, ing small nonprofits worldwide: do we and workplace discrimination. freeze or decrease our programming, which While we currently can’t meet people means in our case stop publishing first- face-to-face to create professionally-pro- person LGBTQ Video Stories every single duced Video Stories, we are sharing exist- week, so that our funds can be stretched ing stories in new ways and across more out longer? Or do we push forward and media, reaching more people, and leading continue sharing stories at a time when our conversations around important topics fac- community needs them the most, but risk ing the LGBTQ community. By doing so, our funds drying up? we are combating isolation in the LGBTQ The challenge reminded me of a con- community more than ever. And our mes- versation I had with our Board Chair after sage is being heard loud and clear. With All photos by Maggie Berkvist. a meeting. I was struggling with a deci- nearly 25 million views on YouTube alone, sion—I’ve since forgotten what it was even the need for these stories and the need for about—but I’ll always remember the guid- belonging has been heard from countries ance he offered. He said, “Look...we are all over the world. the very few people who get to determine To answer my Board Chair’s question, I what kind of organization I’m From Drift- want I’m From Driftwood to be like the wood is going to be. So think hard about LGBTQ community itself: adaptive, resil- what kind of organization you want it to be ient, strong, united, and focused. Fighting and make a decision based on that.” isolation has been a constant struggle for He didn’t push me in either direction, members of the LGBTQ community, and but he did help me refocus my thoughts to I hope you’ll join me this Pride month by what our singular mission is as a nonprofit: resisting that feeling of being alone. If you combat isolation in the LGBTQ commu- do feel alone—everyone does sometimes— nity. Thinking back to that conversation please know that you aren’t. And if it helps, helped me this past March when I wasn’t dive into our archive of stories until you sure if I should slow down our program- find a story that helps you know that even ming or not, and the decision became though we are physically isolated this Pride easier than ever. While it presented more Month, you are part of a large, welcoming, risk to us as an organization, if we’re not loving community. serving our community, what’s the point of our existence anyway? www.imfromdriftwood.org www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 53

PRIDE UNDER QUARANTINE IN THE WEST VILLAGE v The Natives Are Restless types of your building are on their own! And what about those under quarantine who do not have access to Netflix? A Super can extend Netflix privileges, shareth the access code, to those in need for the dura- tion of the special pandemic period of un- known duration. A Super has the authority, and the obli- • gation, to prevent hunger within his ranks. Please join the Strathmeremusic Ensemble for an Yea, provideth Door Dash, Grub Hub, and Uber Eats delivery services on the co-op’s account. Be sure you only forketh over for All Bach Concert LGBTQ friendly restaurateurs. There re- to honor our fallen heroes and victims of ally are not that many of the other kind in St. John’s in the Village anyway, are there? the coronavirus. Distribute a calendar to schedule resi- dents’ for access to the building’s roof gar- den. Social distancing must be observed Fridaythe June Village 5, 7:30 pm – Prohibited: square dancing or line danc- ing on the roof, even during Pride, without We willand be broadcasting WestView from News St. John’s Present in the Village. appropriate PPE. Those powder blue latex YouStrathmere can join us on Ensemble any device — in phone, a gloves would be a nice touch… Social distancing also should be main- tablet,Live computer, Streamed tv — or, Memorial for $8, we will Day send you a tained on the stoop. If the stoop is omni- Virtual Reality headset along with any ticket purchase. directional, that’s tough. Appoint a monitor to appropriately distance the up-goers from the down-goers. Again, Pride goeth before All BachProgram Concert the fall, and a fall could generate a lawsuit. Brandenburg Concerto #5 Distance-appropriate games should be Ouverture [Suite] Ouverture [Suite] Nr. 3 in D HOME. Photo montage by Robert Kroll. provided for co-opers in isolation. This Nr. 2 in B minor for Flute, major [original version for would not include Twister and Stretch-out Strings and Continuo strings and continuo] By Robert Kroll Sam but might include Clue, solitaire and Ouverture Ouverture strip poker. Any activities that get residents MondayRondeau MayAir 25, 4 pm What can an apartment building’s super active, alert and functioning after a several do to boost the experience of Pride Under Sarabande Gavotte month hiatus from life is wholesome and Bourree Enjoy this live streamed concert Quarantine in a West Village co-op? beneficial. Bourree Polonaise The Super of a co-op apartment build- Schedule a Zoom party to create “Stay on your computer, tabletGigue or smart phone at ing unquestionably has the responsibility well, wash hands, distance yourself ” greet- Menuet of seeing to it that his or her co-operators ing cards for fellow West Village co-op Badineriewww.youtube.com/stjvny survive intact, thrive, before, during and dwellers. You can never be too safe. Artists after Pride 50—Under Quarantine. Life At the Zoom meeting of the co-op Bart Feller, flute after COVID-19 must go on and it takes board of directors, get pre-approval for Mitsuru Tsubota and Karl Kawahara, violins a village, West Village, to show the world virtual “tenant talent nights,” discos, and Louise Schulman, viola Artists: how to do it and do it right. Broadway Elegance, karaoke etc. Daire FitzGerald, cello Survival means, not simply surviving For the ultimate in white glove treat- JackRobert Kulowitsch, Wolinsky, bass Harpsichord COVID-19, an important goal, but also ment, Supers who are positive for COV- BobTBA, Wolinsky, Flute harpsichord surviving Pride itself. Do not for a moment ID-19 antibodies, hopefully immune, and BillMitsuru Zito, archlute Tsubota. Violin forget the language of the King James ver- fully protected can provide in-apartment Eriko Sato, Violin sion of the Almighty’s text: haircuts and beard trims. Keep the clipping Louise Schulman, Viola Proverbs, 16:18, “Pride goeth before de- “in the family.” Daire Fitzgerald, Cello struction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. ... Pride in Quarantine month in the co-op If you’re struggling due to the coronavirus Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and Jack Kulowitsch, Double Bass venue should be LGBTQ-friendly, conve- Billsituation, Zito, Lute take advantage of our “Pay What You be clothed with humility: for God resisteth nient, and fun. Enjoy! the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Can” offer. If you’re able to pay more, to help The Super must resisteth not just the someone else pay less, please do! proud. She must resisteth and give grace only Robert Kroll is a contributing writer for to those who aren’t too humble and don’t WestView News, a Co-op apartment super, Tickets $20 have too much about which to be humble. journalist, retired lawyer and Japanese TICKET / CONTRIBUTION LEVELS In other words, rule 1: the “pains in the ass” woodworker. Free to Seniors and Children, $5 — butI Just registration Need to Smileis essential Right Now $10 –To Fan buy of a ticketStrathmere or to register, Ensemble IF THIS PAPER MAKES YOU THINK $20 – Supportercontact [email protected]. of Strathmere Ensemble We will print your thoughts in the next issue $50 – Patron of Strathmere Ensemble Send your letter to [email protected] ST. JOHN’S IN THE VILLAGE 69 Charles Street • New York NY 10014 at the cornerTickets/info: of West bit.ly/strathmere11th and Waverly Place 54 WestView News June 2020 www.westviewnews.org

In and Out continued from page 22 the offerings at Rahi were more upscale they operate, also in the Village, I Sodi, and fusion-y. Now, the take-out menu at Experiencing Emotions Buvette, and Bar Pisellino. While they Rahi has mostly familiar Indian dishes, and have not decided yet what they will offer, recently, they have added an earthen pot they may feature groceries and meal kits biryani option. I have had this dish at Adda and some of their signature dishes from all and it was definitely the best biryani I’ve During Covid-19 their restaurants. ever tasted. The biryani must be ordered By Dale Atkins at a separate website, biryanibol.com. Ac- Closed cording to the website: “The 16 layers of Our lives have been turned upside down Sadly, it is likely that many restaurants will ingredients are carefully laid in the tradi- by the coronavirus. Emotional responses never re-open, and we have already heard tional and ageless earthen pot, sealed with include fear, sadness, grief, anxiety, anger, that Takashi (456 Hudson Street near Bar- a bread so not even the slightest flavor can loneliness, and worry. Previously unno- row Street) is one of these. The restaurant escape, then cooked in the original “dum” ticed or ignored feelings that allowed for was known for tableside grilling at commu- techenique (sic).” The biryanis are available “normal” life-coping strategies may help us nal tables, something that does not translate for pick-up at Rahi and Adda, and starting grow and become “comfortable” with what well to take-out or delivery. In addition, since in mid-June, they will be available for de- is unfamiliar, uncertain, and scary. it is a small crowded restaurant, the new ca- livery. And the pot is yours to keep! Mag- Physical confinement can ignite feelings pacity restrictions that will be imposed with nolia Bakery (401 Bleecker Street at 11th of restriction or constriction. Without usu- restaurant re-openings would make it such Street) has remained open, and is popular al routines and distractions we feel more that the restaurant would not be able to do as ever, with long (socially-distanced) lines vulnerable and exposed. Worry can make enough business to survive. We have not outside. In an effort to make their store saf- it hard to access hope, gratitude, serenity, heard anything official aboutBlenheim (283 er, the owners are installing a new type of or kindness. West 12th Street near West 4th Street), the UV lighting that is safe for people, but sup- The potential for circumstances to be- farm-to-table restaurant that featured prod- posedly effective at killing coronaviruses. come traumatic depends on how we view ucts from the owners’ farm in the Catskills, Mah-ze-Dahr (28 Greenwich Avenue be- and process them. Emotional liberation but they have been closed since the beginning tween Charles and West 10th Streets) has can result if we consider how to adapt, help of the pandemic, their phone is disconnected, been closed since mid-March, but has re- and connect with others, and learn from and one of our contributors spotted people in opened for a few days at a time for pick-up situations as we find meaning in them. the restaurant carrying chairs out to a waiting and delivery of their delicious baked goods. Deeply saddened by personal stories DALE ATKINS. Photo credit: Marcia Ciriello. U-Haul truck. You can sign up on their pop-up website of grief, I offer hope and practical tech- https://www.mahzedahrpopup.com/ to get niques, when possible, to address over- tightly woven into her “fabric.” Many pho- Other notifications about future dates. whelming fear and concern. I also practice tos of her convey both pain and joy in the Rahi (60 Greenwich Avenue near Perry lovingkindness meditation to focus on the same moment. Street) and sister restaurant Adda in Long Please let us know what you have seen wellbeing of people I both know and do The lyrics to “Smile” remind me of the Island City are both highly regarded Indian around the neighborhood! Send an email to not know. positive effects of smiling during tough restaurants, but while Adda featured rela- [email protected]. As always, your It can be strengthening to quiet our- times. As a psychologist, I’m conflicted tively inexpensive traditional Indian food, help is invaluable. selves, breathe in, and recall times we about promoting a song that suggests “hide struggled, relied on inner resources, and every trace of sadness.” Yet acknowledg- prevailed. What helped then can help now. ing and validating feelings is not rumi- If not, we can develop new strategies. We nating and becoming paralyzed by them. can challenge our views of ourselves and Being present in pain allows discovery of the world, recognize our capabilities, and opportunities for gratitude, pleasure, and develop optimism. even laughter. Laughter helps to maintain We can also consider how role models sanity and has a positive influence on heal- handled challenges. I am awestruck and ing. Experiencing nature, meditation, con- inspired by the endurance and wisdom of necting with friends, and cherished photos survivors of horrific circumstances, how all help refill my emotional reservoir. their perception of their experiences be- I hope society will learn from this cri- came part of their lives, and how they have sis. We must work together to create a maintained realistic yet optimistic perspec- “new normal” where we care about each tives. They have gained meaning and per- other, appreciate what we have in com- spective by finding healthy ways to inte- mon, and refuse to go back to what was grate painful experiences. unhealthy. The GOOD STUFF that hap- I remember my recently deceased moth- pened while we were isolated needs to be er’s inner strength. Once, when I was 10, preserved. she cautiously navigated deserted back country roads in an extremely dark and dense fog. As she hugged the side of the Dale Atkins is a licensed psychologist with road, we sang the entire score of “The King more than forty years of experience as a and I” until we arrived safely home. In relationship expert focusing on families, 2003, when she was 81, we landed in Hong wellness, managing stress, and living a bal- Kong along with the arrival of SARS. De- anced, meaningful life. Author of seven books spite loved ones pleading for our return, we and many chapters, articles, and journals continued our journey, committed to keep- for popular and professional audiences, Dale ing safe. Our first purchases in Vietnam is a featured speaker who lectures and leads MY PLAGUE DOCTOR MASK FINALLY CAME. Now I’m really ready to face the were face masks. We wore them for much seminars worldwide and has appeared regu- pandemic. This is actually a real thing. During European plagues of the Miiddle of the trip, including in Singapore, where larly on NBC’s TODAY and CNN. She has Ages, there was a person in town in charge of inspections and caring for victims. we encountered bird flu. I have countless a private practice in New York City and has The long nose was filled with flowers and sweet herbs. The cause of plague examples of my mom’s adaptability, posi- been a member and advisor of several non- at the time was thought to be miasma, or foul smelling air. So the mask was tivity, and resilience. Despite being a wor- profit boards, including Jumpstart for Young thought to be protective, blocking the odor. The plague doctor also wore a hood, a hat and a full cloak. They carried canes to test pustules cause by Bubonic rier and ruminator, she was smart, judi- Children, from which she recently retired. Plague. —Anonymous, M.D. cious, careful, and jumped in and learned Her websites are www.drdaleatkins.com and from experience. Every adventure was www.thekindnessadvantagebook.com. www.westviewnews.org June 2020 WestView News 55 Life in a Plague Year—Life in the Time of COVID-19 lights went out on Broadway as all the the- meaning to wearing a mask. We do not stunned by “tell it like it is” street realness. aters shut down their shows, I thought of the know who we pass in the street. We do not They have never interacted with a battle- first Day Without Art created by the artist know their immunity, who they have lost, scarred New Yorker like me. and art professionals’ coalition, Visual Aids. who they are grieving. They think I am rude. I think they are On December 1st, 1989, to draw attention My neighborhood the LES/EV is filled machines. They don’t understand that I to the suffering and loss in the arts com- with 20, 30, and 40- somethings with- don’t give a good goddamn about what they munity due to the continuing pandemic of out masks or practicing social distancing. think of my manners, because I am con- AIDS, museums and performance spaces in These are the ones who haven’t fled home cerned about their manner of behavior, not New York closed for the night, went dark, in to the American suburbs, to their parents’ the manners that deliver it. This is not about solidarity, to bring attention to the fearsome houses. They crowd the sidewalks in front shaming or cooler-than-thou ethical superi- possibility of a world without art or artists as of walk-up bars—yakking it up—their ority. My life might very well depend on the the art community, hard hit by the HIV vi- simple mating rituals largely unchanged 30-something jogger, and vice versa. As Lou PENNY ARCADE. Photo by Jasmine Hirst. rus, buckled under the attack of AIDS. in the face of the pandemic. For many of Reed sang in There Is No Time: “This is no By Penny Arcade When I see people on the streets without them it is a form of extended spring break. time to count your blessings, this is no time masks, I feel so sad. NYC has always been a For others, it’s an escape from the routine for private gain. This is the time to put up or As I am someone who lived through the city with an innate sense of solidarity. In the of quarantine and lodging in place. I get shut up because this time won’t come again.” cruelest years of the AIDS epidemic, more than 50 years that I have lived here, it it; the novel coronavirus is no longer novel. Now is the time for all of us, despite, or younger people often ask me, “Was it like has always pulled together in crisis. We last Many of these younger people have bought in spite of, the politicalizing of COVID-19, this? COVID-19? Like the AIDS epidem- saw this in 2001 as the walls of our city were into the belief that they are not at risk, that to go beyond self-interest, to pull together, ic, the early years?” covered in flyers, the faces of people’s loved only “old people get it” even though that to, in the famous words of poet Allen Gins- The short answer is no. Because AIDS ones lost in the fires and collapse of the is old news, disinformation—as everyone, burg, “Put our queer shoulder to the wheel.” was hands-on and COVID-19 is hands off. Twin Towers were everywhere. No one who from neo-natal to children to teens and To be honest, I did not think I would live We took care of our dying friends, in the experienced it will ever forget. We openly people under 50, is affected, not only af- to see another plague. hospital and at home. We handled their wept in the streets, all of us. It made no fected but can also die. Climate change notwithstanding, ap- dying and dead bodies. We gathered and difference that it wasn’t our husband, wife, Joggers, maskless on the sidewalk, pant- proaching age 70, I thought whatever was wept, and held on to each other and raged sister, brother, mother, father, fiancé, family ing with spit spritzing from their mouths, coming would happen after I died. My against the injustice and inhumanity that member, or friend; we all lost everyone who run two feet from me. Yesterday, enraged by former patroness, who had been studying was visited upon us. was lost. We felt it—the searching for loved what I kept seeing—the lack of empathy and Mandarin and had developed friendships What is similar between the AIDS epi- ones, the hopelessness, the grief. We now all ethical consciousness, the inherent narcis- online in China, called me in mid-January. demic and COVID-19 is twofold—the over- know that wearing a mask is a way of pro- sism—I tried to stay even-keeled. But when She was homeschooling her son and warned flooded hospitals and the hospital understaff- tecting others. It also protects ourselves, to a 30-something maskless female jogger in me the coronavirus was headed our way. ing. Except in the rare times a nurse, aid, or a degree, but most of all it is a symbol of Lulu Lemon (all Gwyneth Paltrowed), tall, Then Italy became the epicenter and the doctor was stuck with an infected needle, the solidarity, care, empathy and community. slender and blonde, passed me, ignoring so- news from my family in Milan was dire. medical staff was not at risk for contracting In 1991 the members of Visual AIDS cial distance on the wide sidewalk, and chose They were surrounded by death and dy- AIDS as they are with COVID-19. Also, as gathered in a ramshackle loft to try to come to slide by less than eight inches from me I ing, the hospitals were overwhelmed, and with AIDS, the doctors working with COV- up with a symbol to show empathy for peo- hissed, “You would look great on a ventila- they were in lockdown. Hundreds of miles ID patients do not know what they are deal- ple with AIDS, but more so for the AIDS tor.” Yes, I am her wake-up call. I was taught south of Milan, where most of my family ing with. The learning curve with COVID, caregivers, many of whom were exhausted, by the meanest queens in NYC. lives in the rural village of Picerno in the as with AIDS, has been steep. bereft and grieving. We felt that if there was Her shock is that of the shallow, rooted remote mountainous region of Basilicata, We educated ourselves alongside the a symbol, not a brand but an iconic visual suburbanites who call NYC home now, but with only seven cases of the coronavirus in doctors. We also worked alongside the gesture that said “You are seen; we know who do not muck in. They do not feel part the entire state, they too were in lockdown doctors, nurses, and aides taking care of what you are going through; we are on your of our city. They did not come here to be and not allowed to leave their houses. our friends in the hospital, doing what the side,” it could bring peace of mind and sol- part of it all. They do not recognize com- nurses and aides would not or could not do. ace to many. This created the Red Ribbon. munity in anonymity, they only care for the Read Part 2 of Penny’s article at our website On Thursday, March 12, 2020, when There is a physical and metaphysical people they know. They are confused and (westviewnews.org).

elderly and low-income people? Where do motivating nature of our living rooms. We Silence Continues to Equal Death we go from here? As queer people, we have as queer people have always fought for the a responsibility to stand up for the people well-being of people who need it most, so By Drew Minard about the misinformation and conflict that facing prejudices similar to what our gay an- why should 2020 be any different? Can we, as a country, find any value in was equally present as well. Today, we’re cestors went through decades ago. Journalist Mark Schoofs brought upon comparing the similarities between the bombarded with so many different head- When our president shrugs his shoulders readers a set of lessons we have learned and Coronavirus and the health crises that our lines and varying information that it’s and says that the rich having an easier time can continue to learn in the age of an epi- country has faced in the past, or has it been sometimes too difficult to keep track. getting tested has practically been the “story demic: act as if you are infected; the govern- proven to be counterproductive? While we It’s also useful to think about the reasons of life,” it’s time to avoid caving in to the un- ment will not save you; everyone is at risk. have all the time in the world to spiral into why we, as a country, were so unprepared the uncertainty from the comfort of our for this crisis in particular. Was the last epi- own homes, it’s normal to get anxious and demic swept so far under the rug, that we Today, injustice prevails for all but some. TODAY By Drew Minard Yesterday, injustice prevailed for all but some. look to the past to learn from people who had none of the knowledge that was neces- Has that been “the story of life”? have come before. sary to face this one? Silence continues to People didn’t care about people dying of AIDS. Will the world be looked at a different way after For me, when the word “pandemic” be- equal death. Are the Trump administration’s There was no Netflix documentary to explain the lockdown? gan to be tossed around, my mind imme- words, “Chinese Virus” so unlike Reagan’s virus to those who were frightened. Will the flowers that bloomed while we were away Billions of dollars weren’t spent and there was no diately turned to the AIDS epidemic that “Gay Plague?” The continued categorizing look brighter? economic collapse. What will prevail after this crisis is finished is how was thrust upon thousands of queer people and racializing of the virus today has dem- But still we unleashed our power. each community continued to rise and connect forty years ago. There was an abundance of onstrated the alarmingly present xenopho- Sketching out Ronald and Donald’s pure and blatant through isolation and grief. strength, persistence, loss, and grief dur- bia and racism that has afflicted the country inaction, When injustice proved to be impossible to avoid, ing that time, and though I enjoy think- for centuries. Is the process of reopening we sketch out our need to act. where did each person look? People feel a weight behind their eyes as Forward? Backward? ing about the strength that was so bravely a number of states across the country ac- they recollect the memories of passing friends. conveyed then, it’s also necessary to think centuating the lack of respect we have for