The Voice of the West Village WestView News VOLUME 13, NUMBER 6 JUNE 2017 $1.00 St. Luke Asks: The Ego Fight for Who Do We Let In? By George Capsis and Managing Director of Well- Diller Island spring Consulting, summarizing I received a carefully-worded in- the firm’s findings. By George Capsis In 2010, Novogratz was ap- up the legal costs for the law- vitation from Wellspring Con- St. Luke was founded in 1820, pointed to the Board of the Hud- suit when the main backers of sulting, a firm that “provides which makes it nearly 200 years In a recent two-part article by son River Park Trust (HRPT) Riverkeeper threatened to cut strategic planning for nonprofit old. During that time, the church Lincoln Anderson, the now and followed Douglas Durst off funding. (Riverkeeper is an organizations,” to attend a meet- would have identified the com- years’ long ego tussle to control as Chairman of The Friends of organization, based in Ossining, ing to help explore how St. Luke munity needs, and indeed that the development of the Hudson Hudson River Park (FHRP). New York, which aims to guard Church in the Fields could “ex- seems to be the case. Since the River Park was traced, culmi- Novogratz’s four kids play in the waterways and defend clean pand its service offerings to 1980s, for example, St. Luke has nating in the now locked-horns park and he lives near it, prompt- drinking water.) meet the needs of the West Vil- had an HIV/AIDS program in- court battle to stop Pier 55, also ing perhaps his proprietary feel- The Hudson River Park is the lage community.” Following that viting victims of that now-con- known as Diller Island. ings. However, his verbal attack wreckage of the multi-billion dol- meeting, I received a letter from trolled pandemic for Saturday As we go to press, an appeal by on the members of the City Club lar, federally-sponsored West Way, Christopher Keevil, the Partner continued on page 3 the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- and his competitors for control of which would have extended the neers to allow construction may the park, including Tom Fox and island by 500 feet with landfill and be approved. We may then have developer Douglas Durst, reveals resulted in a partially submerged yet another court action by The Trump-like adolescent excess— highway. It would have allowed City Club of New York (City he calls the City Club leaders “a West Villagers to walk on grass to MoMA Lost My Art Club) to stop, or at least slow, the group of old guys who still want the shore of the Hudson River but By Martica Sawin In 1979, MoMA curator Kynas- island’s construction. to be relevant.” protest to save the breeding ground ton McShine was walking along Without question, the domi- One of those “old guys” is of the Stripped Bass. The federal SoHo’s West Broadway when he nant ego has been billionaire Tom Fox who was an early di- government withdrew their bil- noticed a display of exquisitely- TriBeCa dweller Michael No- rector of the Hudson River lions for the park development and decorated artificial cakes in the vogratz who recently bought Park and headed the New York now we have a tussle between the window of the Holly Solomon Robert De Niro’s spread. In 2015, Water Taxis. He says that the egos of billionaires. Gallery. He tracked down the he was ousted from Fortress In- HRPT and Diller met in se- Two years ago, WestView’s Ar- artist, Pat Lasch, and commis- vesting due to two very wrong cret and presented the island as chitecture Editor Brian J. Pape sioned her to create a monumen- multi-million-dollar investment a fait accompli. Douglas Durst priced out the then-proposed tal cake for the Museum’s 50th decisions relating to Brazilian was the head of FHRP in 2012 enormous mushroom-shaped anniversary celebration. Lasch, at debt and the Swiss franc. He and offered a plan to construct piles upon which the 2.7-acre that time a young artist connect- walked away with a $255 million offices on Pier 40. HRPT head island of reinforced concrete ed with the woman’s cooperative package, leaving him still very Madelyn Wils is now offering would be draped and predicted Artists In Residence (A.I.R.) much a billionaire, and with an that plan to no takers. that they would be exorbitant. Gallery, accepted the challenge. ego to match. After last month’s court vic- It proved to be so much that the Working in her Westbeth Stu- The key to Novogratz’s brawl- tory, which shut down Diller Is- contractors would only bid cost- dio, she produced a multi-tiered ing personality is that he was the land construction, I called City plus, so the design was flattened. five-foot-high sculpture in acrylic captain of the wrestling team Club President Michael Gruen Now, to meet the concern of over a wood base, festooned with at Princeton and continues to to ask if he had received any con- flowing liquid concrete into gi- roses, pure gold leaf, spun gold sponsor public school programs. gratulations. The otherwise staid ant mushroom molds, the build- thread, feathery embellishments He was the one who offered to Gruen paused and changed tone ers offer an even flatter version made from Arches archival pa- pay $90 million for the air rights as he recounted the tsunami of (more like concrete lily pads). MISSING ART: Pictured here is Pat per, and encircling garlands of of Pier 40, which was sneakily exhilarated bravos he received. By the time you read this, the Lasch’s lost five-foot-high artificial acrylic lace. (See the accompany- passed in at the end of the Al- Novogratz accuses and Durst courts may have reversed, allow- cake. Photo by Pat Lasch. continued on page 7 bany session by Deborah Glick. agrees that he (Durst) picked continued on page 6

The Future Carnegie Hall Lessons Through Sports Read about Franco Noriega's enthusiasm Concert Read about how effective coaches for the future of his Vocal coach Sylvia Olden can help children gain valuable restaurants in the face Lee's 100th birthday is lessons in teamwork and leadership. of epic closures being commemorated at throughout the Village. Carnegie celebration. SEE PAGE 20 SEE PAGE 5 SEE PAGE 28 Additional Performers: Friends and leading former students of Ms. Lee, the photo credit: Al Fuchs Sylvia Olden Lee Centennial Chorus Selections from: Verdi, Mozart, Schubert, Donizeei, Beethoven, et. al; and African-American Spirituals

TICKETS: $28 - $75 carnegiehall.org | CarnegieCharge | 212-247-7800 Box Office at 57th and Seventh For more info and special rates: 718-709-8722 | fftrocc.org

concert Performed at The verdi proper tuning A=432 hz 2 WestView News June 2017 www.westviewnews.org WestView WestViews Published by WestView, Inc. by and for the residents of the West Village. Correspondence, Commentary, Corrections

Publisher WestView Delivers get published in WestView or if they just nell Medicine is at the Vanguard of Treat- Executive Editor George Capsis Relevant, Local News have publication envy. Who cares? I feel ing Stroke Patients—for Whom ‘Time is blessed to live in the West Village AND Brain,’” by Heather Salerno.) Managing Editor Andreea Ioana Pantor Dear Editors: to be a contributor to your enviable This enables neurologists to see stroke pa- Associate Editor enterprise. tients immediately, rather than waiting un- Andrew Buemi I must comment on something about Please don’t stop doing what you’re doing. til they reach the emergency room. For Dr. Design and Production Manager which I feel most strongly: the quality and —Roberta Curley Matthew E. Fink, Chairman of the Neurol- Kim Plosia depth of WestView News’ coverage. ogy Department at Cornell Weill, mobile Advertising Manager & Designer In order to economically survive the im- units are “representing a shift in how pro- Stephanie Phelan Mobile Stroke Care pact that email, digital media, and video Innovation viders deliver overall emergency care.” Photo Editor have had on their bottom lines, media out- How can such a life-saving vehicle be in- Darielle Smolian lets have been wallowing in trivia, desper- Dear Editors: corporated into our already nomadic system? Traffic Manager ately reaching out to a (perceived) newer Thank you for your continuing focus on Liza Whiting —Rosanne Levitt audience. But WestView has remained health care issues in our community! A Photographer Maggie Berkvist steadfast. Its concentration on articles sig- short time after attending the May 4th Many Thanks for My Comptroller nificant to the West Village and beyond meeting announced by Arthur Z. Schwartz Jolanta Meckauskaite has always been both timely and meaning- in WestView News, to discuss the crisis in Ziedonis Article Architecture Editor ful. Keep it up! our area’s health care, I went to Weill Cor- Dear Editors: Brian Pape —Elliott Gilbert nell Medical Center on York Avenue to Thank you very much for my article on Film, Media and Music Editor hear a talk, which included the topic of ad- Ziedonis. Everything is fine, and the layout Jim Fouratt Praise for WestView vanced stroke care. looks great. I have had quite a few compli- Food Editor Reminders of the 60-minute ideal “gold- ments not only on the article, but on your David Porat Dear Editors: en hour” of time for medical intervention paper as well, which was unfamiliar to most Distribution Manager Thanks so much for seeing merit in my after the onset of symptoms seemed an il- of my friends and acquaintances. Timothy Jambeck “Seniorhood” piece for the May issue of lusory goal given our fragmented, failing —Bitite Vinklers Regular Contributors WestView. It is beautifully laid out, giving system. However, Weill Cornell, Columbia Barry Benepe Caroline Benveniste it the feel of a true prose poem. I happen to University Medical Center, and the New P.S. Maybe you should have a poem in ev- Maggie Berkvist have a large number of ‘oldster’ friends and York Presbyterian Hospitals have imple- ery issue. This is a good (and needed) time Jim Fouratt most identified with the writing; they got a mented a mobile stroke unit—“a custom- for poetry, as expressed in my article. Also Mark M. Green sort of serious chuckle out of it. ized emergency vehicle that brings a high- take a look at the front-page article in Robert Heide Getting published in my local paper is a ly-specialized team of experts, diagnostic the New York Times on April 21st regard- Keith Michael Michael D. Minichiello huge ego boost for me and I will continue equipment, and stroke-specific drugs right ing the science march and the poet Jane Clive Morrick to submit oldies but goodies as well as new to a patient’s doorstep.” (Consult the Hirshfield—“American Poets, Refusing to Brian Pape inspirations. March 23, 2017 article in Early Interven- Go Gentle, Rage Against the Right,” as Joy Pape I can’t figure out if my fellow poet and tion, “With a State-of-the-Art Mobile well as subsequent articles and YouTube David Porat writer friends are jealous that they can’t Unit and Pioneering Research, Weill Cor- postings. Alec Pruchnicki Catherine Revland Arthur Z. Schwartz We endeavor to publish all letters received, including those with which we disagree. BRIEFLY NOTED The opinions put forth by contributors to WestView do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or editor. Follow-up on have call forwarding or use of the answer- might be recovered, please let Magie Domi- WestView welcomes your correspondence, comments, and corrections: Ellis Nassour’s ing machine.) nic know. She is the curator of the Caffe www.westviewnews.org “Villager Heaps Scorn Since the outage on March 26th, due to Cino archives at NYPL at Lincoln Center. Contact Us a sliced cable on Gansevoort Street, and Her email address is: magiedominic@hot- on Verizon” following the article published in West- mail.com. (212) 924-5718 This is the author’s update to the article published [email protected] View, I’ve heard from readers as far South —Robert Heide in the May 2017 issue of WestView News. as Thompson Street who have also been On May 24th, I was informed that the affected. Approximately 80 phones still date we were told service would be re- have no service. stored (May 22nd) wasn’t met, and that —Ellis Nassour service won’t be restored until late May or early June. Missing I thank WestView News Publisher Mr. Caffe Cino Plaque Capsis and the many readers of WestView for your calls expressing concern, and ask- on Cornelia Street ing for information, which hasn’t always Pó Restaurant, at 31 Cornelia Street (near been easy to give. Bleecker Street) for 24 years, closed sud- After pleading with Verizon, I was fi- denly, and the bronze Caffe Cino plaque nally sent a “voice box.” Don’t be sur- that was on the outside wall of the venue has prised if the customer service reps don’t disappeared. (Read more about Pó Restau- know what that is. However, it is a Veri- rant’s closing on page 16.) The owners have MIA SAYS: With sad eyes, I plea for a zon-sanctioned device that you plug your sent an email stating that they know noth- pat from a stranger, and with each loving phone line into to get service—at least on ing about it. Caffe Cino was in the space stroke, become friends. Photo by Andreea one phone. It isn’t especially good service, for 10 years back in the 1960s. If anyone Ioana Pantor. but it’s better than nothing. (You will not has any information as to where the plaque www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 3

WHAT DID YOU LOSE? Post No Bills Except Ours— Makers of The Lost Village Query Publisher NYPD A few weeks ago, I was walking home from postings—$75.00 per flier for the first of- Cinema Village on 12th Street after viewing fense—which increase for subsequent of- The Lost Village—a film cataloguing how our fenses. How often the DSNY actually old, familiar West Village is being shattered by metes out such fines I do not know. I do inflation. The film featured interviews with know, however, that the DSNY did issue female NYU students who are turning to pros- fines to several political candidates whose titution to pay the breathtaking tuition and operatives illegally draped their election also Village restaurant owners who are hang- placards around lampposts and traffic signs ing on by a thread until their next lease. at election time. If I remember correctly, Bill When I arrived at 6th Avenue, I viewed a Thompson was fined hundreds of thousands conservative blue-tinted 20-inch by 14-inch of dollars the last time he ran for mayor. The poster announcing the monthly 6th Precinct same applied to Michael Bloomberg. I do Public Meeting at St. Anthony’s Church, neatly not know whether they actually paid. The taped to the steel lamppost. It was accompanied political candidates, of course, NEVER by the usual pastiche of torn and dirty ads. return to clean up after themselves. One Whoa, a 6th Precinct poster taped to a lamp- would think that someone running for of- post! Hold on! Pasting ads or notices on lamp- fice, and seeking our trust, would comply posts must be illegal. However, the 6th Precinct with the law. Well, many obviously don’t. Community Affairs Officer, Jim Alberici, said Interestingly, the DSNY’s fines for posting that it was not. In fact, it was a decision made ILLEGAL posters, are the same for ripping by the 6th Precinct Community Council “and down LEGAL posters. Hence, if you remove they even pay a guy to put them up.” He sug- a ‘No Parking,’ ‘Street Fair,’ or ‘Rat Poison’ gested that I check with Ben Benson, the expert poster, you may receive the same fine as for Director Roger Paradiso questioned, on camera, WestView Publisher George Capsis on the subject who has devoted some of his re- an illegal poster. Sometimes you might see a as to what he has lost in the rapidly changing West Village. Capsis recounted an tirement time to removing ad stickers. tug-at-the-heartstrings ‘Lost Dog’ or ‘Miss- early morning walk to St. Vincent’s Emergency Room with his wife who was expe- Ben knows more about sticker/poster rules ing Person’ flier. Technically, however, they riencing an uncontrollable nosebleed induced by blood thinners. During that visit, that any City official, so I offer his comments are also illegal, and may be removed. he discovered his neighbors in need: (1) a very young girl at a Village party who is below to supplement my point. offered drugs for the first time and has a bad reaction, (2) a friendly neighbor who comes in with his elderly father who is having chest pains, (3) a young NYU student —George Capsis who cannot make it home after drinking too much at a party. Capsis argued in the (Date: May 19, 2017) film that the hospital was an integral part of the community. Text by George Capsis. Dear Mr. Capsis: Photo by Maggie Berkvist. If you read Sanitation Code Title 10-119 and Title 10-121, the anti-posting law ex- empts certain “official” government notices from the NYC Department of Sanitation St. Luke continued from page 1 (DSNY) anti-posting law. You will always dinners and Sunday teas. In fact, the sec- 3. Foster spiritual fulfillment (Keevil ex- see a ‘No Parking Saturday’ or a ‘Street ond Sunday service has attracted a largely plained that there is little patience for Fair’ poster going up the week before a fair. Gay attendance. old-fashioned religion but there is a Another example of an authorized posting I arrived at the meeting late, with a staff- yearning for “something.”) is ‘CAUTION, Rat Poison,’ which for ob- er who regularly attends Al-Anon meet- 4. Provide flexible space for community vious reasons, I would never rip down. ings in the same room, in response to the activities (hmm, I’m not sure what The fact that government entities have alcohol abuse problem of family members. this means but maybe we should keep DSNY-issued permits to post, though, I thought: This is exactly the kind of orga- space open for the next social need.) does not make the streetscape any prettier, nization the church should support. There could not have been more than 25 but that’s how the Sanitation ordinance is Reverend Stacy had just left and the people at the meeting, but sitting in a tight written. As for the 6th Precinct Commu- meeting was in progress with Christopher group were a number of African Ameri- nity Council meetings, which I support, I Keevil, who one might easily mistake for a cans. We learned that they belong to fringe have always, right or wrong, put them in minister. Keevil had projected the follow- groups who now use the open community the ‘NYPD/NYC Government’ category. POLICE INVITE POSTINGS: The 6th Precinct Community Council encourages illegal post- ing statistical portrait of us West Villagers: room after they come in on the PATH I assume that you cannot rip them down ings by displaying its own. Photo by Maggie About 55% of us live alone and are el- train for a day of gathering on the piers. until the event is over, which I frequently Berkvist. derly, versus 32% for the rest of the City I sensed that this group was afraid of be- do. Whether or not these are authorized (this is a bit of a shocker and maybe ex- ing shut out in favor of poor seniors and so by the DSNY is debatable; I have not A note of caution: A couple of years plains why our readers still want to hold they quickly recited their protest mantras. checked with the agency. Those who post ago, a ‘Lost Dog’ poster turned out to be a newspaper in their hands). 84% have a Later, I asked one of them why they did ‘Street Fair’ and ‘Street Closure’ posters, in an ad for a dog grooming service in Union Bachelor’s degree or higher, versus 36% for not use the LGBT Center on 13th Street. their defense, are pretty good at cleaning Square! A ‘Missing Person’ poster turned the rest of the City. 6% have incomes below He rattled off a complaint, which I think up after themselves, although not always out, at one time, to be a modeling agency the federal poverty level, versus the City was that they did not have enough room thoroughly. In fact, today, in Chelsea, I re- seeking talent! So, everything is not always average of 21%. And, oh, we have the least or services. moved a couple of ‘Street Fair’ posters for a what it seems. In the last few months, I have amount of parkland in the City. But now Now, St. Luke is finishing a condo tower street fair held two weeks ago! noticed, in the East Village, a sign saying the important stuff—Wellspring Consult- on its parking lot which should keep them Another posting category is the ‘Movie/ “Please do not remove this sign,” and noth- ing’s conclusions—the need to: solvent and, yes, allow them to “better Filming’ posters that go up for a commer- ing else. Maybe they are testing the waters. 1. Support the elderly to reduce social serve the community.” cial or movie on a particular block. Movie Naturally, I immediately took out my nail isolation, help with basic needs, and But the question is: What community? companies always obtain permits to post but clipper, ripped several, and dumped them assist in crisis. Perhaps Reverend Stacy hired a consult- sometimes do not clean up after themselves. into the nearest trashcan. The next big test 2. Prioritize early childhood care by ing firm to discover THE West Village Many times, I have ripped down such fliers will come with the Jane Street Street Sale on providing out-of-school recreational “community” that is really fitting and two and three weeks after filming! June 2nd. They typically saturate the entire space for children and families. proper to “serve?” The DSNY prescribes fines for illegal continued on page 7 4 WestView News June 2017 www.westviewnews.org 11 Jane Street and Other Sorrows—What Are We Losing Here? By Robert Widmann

As parking garages go, this one was something of a sweet- couple of broken teeth in an otherwise promising smile. heart, like an old love you could count on—never over- Discussion ensued. Commissioner Michael Devonshire bearing, always sort-of cheery, not too gassy. When return- spoke eloquently in defense of the garage, which, he re- ing from places dark and distant, she welcomed the lonely minded, had grown into a landmark-class building over sojourner looking to find home, with her low-rise crenel- 50 years. Several other commissioners agreed, pointing ated fortress-top beset with eight diamond-shaped panels out that old-school garage buildings were becoming an of art-tiles outlined in contrasting brick. Even after being endangered species, especially in the Village, thanks in no painted over (ceramic art-tiles and all) a garish white, here small measure to the decisions of the LPC. But the Chair, was a neighborhood friend that said, “Welcome back to Ms. Srinivasan, declared that the garage building had no Jane Street. You’re back where you belong.” value, no architectural merit, and could go. Forty minutes I knew this was going to be a big part of my life ever into the meeting, she further declared that one of the most since I got to Jane Street in 1959. The garage was right troubling features of the proposed structure, a 61-foot next-door. It gave off an aura of the Jazz Age, prohibition, 4-inch street wall, was okay with her. That was the ball- OLD-SCHOOL GARAGE BUILDINGS ARE AN ENDANGERED and the roaring twenties—flappers and flivvers, powerful game. Most commissioners fell into line with the Chair, SPECIES: The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission Packards and Pierce Arrows—of F. Scott Fitzgerald and found no architectural value in the great old parking garage fussing and futzing only over design details for Minskoff his “Coffin Nose” Cord and maybe even Hemingway and located at 11 Jane Street. Illustration by Kazuya Morimoto Equities’ inevitable replacement structure. his Chrysler New Yorker. There was a speakeasy on the (KayzuyaMorimoto.com). Where was the Mayor in all of this? The LPC is a may- corner of Jane and West 4th Streets where the Corner Bis- oral agency. Commissioners are appointed by and serve at tro is now located (behind a flower shop front). ing. Meanwhile, commissioners would have time to think the pleasure of the Mayor. So, did this decision bring the OK, that was then. About a year ago, Minskoff Equities about it. Things looked good. Mayor pleasure? Nobody’s saying. But the decision may proposed the demolition of our old garage in favor of a six- But one month later, when the hearing reopened with not have hurt his charitable trust. Local and national news story luxury condo on the site. But first, Minskoff forces only three days’ notice, the community was largely absent… outlets, as well as the FBI, noted the connection with de- had to secure approval from the Landmarks Preservation and the fix was in. Rather than opening with a discussion velopers. But no indictments got handed down. Commission (LPC). The old girl was almost, but not of adaptive reuse, the rostrum was put into the hands of So now, here sits our dear old garage, abandoned and quite, able to stand up to a total of four public hearings. the developer’s super-star architect, Sir David Chipper- alone, awaiting the moneyball of demolition for dollars— At the first hearing, in mid-June of 2016, in the Mu- field. In a soft but insistent voice tempered by a rawther her exterior plastered with asbestos warnings; her innards nicipal Building, the community rocked the place. The upper-British accent, Chipperfield chipped away at our soaked through with ethyl lead from 70 years of exhaust day belonged to the people. Near the close of this hearing, garage, citing a 50-year-old Designation Survey wherein fumes; her guts infiltrated with benzene, lead, and toluene Commissioner Adi Shamir-Baron proposed that consid- the garage had been labeled an “intruder” and “non con- from decaying gas tanks below grade. eration be given to adaptive reuse of the garage. The Chair, tributing.” “Veddy vernacular. Veddy Grand Concourse.” What is to be done? What can be done? Maybe we Meenakshi Srinivasan, in tabling both the motion and the (The garage’s original architect had designed buildings on should talk. (Comments are welcome via email to RWid- hearing, agreed to take this up at the next public hear- the Grand Concourse.) He made the garage sound like a [email protected].)

THE VANISHING VILLAGE: For more than 80 years, the El Faro sign was a landmark for good food at cheap prices. Now, the building owners invite a new tenant for a restaurant or boutique. Photo by Maggie Berkvist. www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 5 We Cannot Save What 372 Fifth Avenue, 5L We Have Already Lost Wonderfully Priced True Loft in Manhattan. 12ft ceilings, renovated kitchen, large bedroom, additional usable loft space for 2nd bedroom/office, excessive closet space, doorman, full service buildingwith a liberal cooperative. Now just $915,000. While We Were Away Bank Street Townhouse Triplex - RENTED West 11th Street Townhouse - RENTED 80 Charles Street 1 bed - RENTED 425 Park Avenue South 3d - IN CONTRACT 56 Jane St 1 bed 2 baths - SOLD

“LOVE THY NEIGHBOR-- SUPPORT YOUR MOM AND POP WEST VILLAGE BUSINESSES”

Scotty Elyanow Lic. Associate RE Broker Longtime West Village Broker and Resident 917.678.6010 [email protected] scottyely

Real estate agents affiliated with The Corcoran Group are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of The Corcoran Group. The Corcoran FRANCO IS THE FUTURE: Fashion model Franco Noriega opens his third Peruvian Group is a licensed real estate broker located at 660 Madison Ave, NY, NY 10065. restaurant in what he confidently predicts will be a chain. Photo by Maggie Berkvist.

By George Capsis essentially, going out of business shortly af- ter signing a new lease. The evening of May 24th, I met the Pe- But you can’t cure a problem unless you ruvian-born, and very young (age 28) and understand exactly how it works. To say handsome (he is an underwear model, art- that this City has inflation is certainly true ist, and former student at Le Cordon Bleu), and to say that it is accelerating is also true. owner of the week-old Baby Brasa—Franco You have only to look at the ‘LUNCH Noriega. The restaurant is located at 173 7th SPECIAL’ signs that quickly went from Avenue South, near Greenwich Avenue—its $5.95 to $9.95 and now $14.95, in the last 100-plus seats were nearly all filled when I 24 months. I called back a waitress when visited. Franco was positive and smiling as he I discovered that a $1.00 bottle of beer at spoke about the start of his “chain” of organic Trader Joe’s was $9.50 on my credit card chicken restaurants (they only serve chicken). receipt for the restaurant I visited. Yes, it is natural for us to be skeptical I am waiting to see who moves into the when a young person, after opening just Rudin/St. Vincent’s Condo. What will two restaurants, talks about a “chain” (the they look like, those people who can write first one, also very recent, is at 129 Allen out checks for $12 million? And, why oh Street, between Rivington and Delancey why do they want to live on 7th Avenue Streets) but there was nothing boasting or with all the traffic facing that strange big, posturing in Franco’s demeanor. He was white, toothy building? Just to say, “We just calmly reading the first pages of his fu- bought in the Village?” But it is not the ture, already written in large clear letters— Village of just a few years ago and certainly it was beyond confidence. not the Village of 70 years ago, when a As I gazed at his relaxed face, I thought of glass of porter at the White Horse Tavern the hard, tight, grim countenances of those was 50 cents. (Owner Ernie used to talk restaurant owners who have lost everything about his flights on the Hindenburg.) and more till, at last, they put the padlock on Inflation is a natural phenomenon, if you the door. Why do some restaurants succeed can call something mathematical natural. from the day they open and others die a not- In the depths of the recession, the govern- too-slow, but very expensive, death? ment tried to stimulate inflation (no kid- There is no question that we have an ding) but they just wanted a gradual infla- epidemic of closings, so many that Man- tion, not $9.50 for a lousy bottle of beer. hattan Borough President Gale Brewer got I don’t have any answers as to how we volunteers to count the number of ‘To Let’ can save whatever we think of as the “Old signs on Broadway. She wanted to make a Village.” Of course, you can never save the case for some kind of civic action, if not past, but in the face of young Franco, I see a law, that would prevent businesses from, the future. 6 WestView News June 2017 www.westviewnews.org Parks and Gardens of the West Village: Exploring the Church of St. Luke in the Fields and Jane Street Gardens the Hawthorne) brought from the sacred Avenue, it suggests—with its distribution site in England in 1840. of low-medium and tall shrubs and trees— The other main section, the Barrow a small, compact forest. Its center, sur- Street Garden further south, is made up rounded by a path, is planted with low, of- of four triangular quadrants with a vari- ten flowering plants, and ends at the holly ety of plant species. Though created in the toward the northeast corner. 1950s by landscaper Barbara Leighton, In winter, the three or so mid-height ev- its four-sectioned bed design, with low- ergreen holly trees (a plant sacred to both shrub margins and brick borders, recalls a Celts and Saxons, and common in gardens design most common in country gardens. of the English style) dominate on the east. Indentations in the quadrant’s inner cor- With the lower bushes, they evoke a sort of ners accommodate benches facing a small sacred grove. The branches of a few taller bed centered on a Kentucky Yellowwood, trees overhead overlap for a forest canopy which fosters a contemplative mood. effect. The garden overall has, especially The garden and church are sheltered from toward its margins, the look of a natural- the street partly by a mid-height red brick istic grove. wall and partly by an iron fence. Though Sadly, the naturalistic woodland effect small, and away from the street, the garden has been compromised by the creation of seems expansive, sheltered, and pastoral. a discrete metal-bordered gravel path (re- placing a more subtle trail of embedded PRESERVING AND COMPLEMENTING HISTORICAL HERITAGE: The Barrow Street Garden, THE JANE STREET GARDEN stones). This path, circling the middle, and a main part of the Gardens of St. Luke in the Fields, is made up of four triangular quad- rants. Photo by Justin Matthews. Though only several decades old, the Jane in front of the various benches, has affected Street Garden also follows the naturalistic the continuity of the planted areas, more By Justin Matthews brick rectory, which is newer but contains English style. Even in its small triangular definitively isolating them and occupying Gothic windows and decorative Roman- space on the corner of Jane Street and 8th more of the available space. The West Village contains a variety of parks esque recesses. and gardens, several of which, along with The garden is made up of several sec- hosting native bird species, preserve or comple- tions. The Rector’s Garden, the oldest, ment the abundant historical heritage of the from circa 1840, lies at the church’s south area. Here, we’ll explore two in particular. side in front of the attached rectory. One small path leads along the church. The rest THE GARDENS OF THE CHURCH OF ST. is like a small wilderness largely covered by LUKE IN THE FIELDS low vegetation, with trees growing gradu- The Anglican Church of St. Luke in the ally denser away from the gate. Further Fields is located on Hudson Street, just back, part of the Rector’s Garden behind a below Christopher Street. The church ruined stretch of original wall (with Gothic and bordering houses date back to 1820, windows), appears to preserve much of the though its grounds have gradually devel- area’s original pastoral character—an Eng- oped over time. lish park style, meadow-like, and thinly in- The church itself, though from the fed- terspersed with bushes and trees. Many of eral period, has relatively few distinctively the oldest trees are in this area. federal traits (those it has are muted). Although the graveyard has been re- Despite its subtle neoclassical moldings moved and the graves relocated, several along the pediment and low-pitched roof, prominent trees survive in the Rector’s it recalls an older, more timeless provincial Garden. They evoke the tradition of fo- English style, with rectilinear lines and a cal churchyard trees—associated with the square, plain frontal tower. It resembles souls of the dead in a British tradition with the Jamestown and St. Luke’s churches of pre-Christian roots—preserving the aes- Virginia, and somewhat those of the An- thetic of the English churchyard. Some THE LOOK OF A NATURALISTIC GROVE: The Jane Street Garden follows the English style glo-Saxon period. The church’s archaizing are century-old maples, and some descend and suggests, with its spread of shrubs and trees, a small compact forest. Photo by Justin tendency allows it to blend with the red from a graft of the Glastonbury Thorne (of Matthews.

Diller Island continued from page 1 ing Diller to go ahead and build his $200 CAST YOUR VOTE! Mail your vote and contribution to 69 Charles Street, New York, NY 10014. million island for a few pop concerts dur- ing the clement months. The only thing this small community 1. ___ I think Barry Diller should donate $200 million to build a concrete platform for outdoor concerts. newspaper can do is allow you to vote. You can now vote to have the $200 mil- 2. ___ I think Barry Diller should donate $200 million towards the construction of a hospital in the West Village. lion spent to build a hospital to partially replace St. Vincent’s. And, since we have 3. ___ I would like to donate to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, The West Village Fund, to restore a hospital in the West Village. more than one billionaire living in and Here is my donation of $______. around the West Village, we invite them 4. ___ I don’t have any spare cash but I think those who can afford it should contribute to building a hospital so it is like, Kenneth Langone, to donate $200 there when I need it. million. We will name the hospital after them. 5. ___ I don’t plan to have a heart attack or any medical emergency so don’t build a hospital. www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 7

MOMA continued from page 1 rated condition would have been to consult ing photo.) This sculpture was mentioned the artist about conservation measures to in a New York Times account of MoMA’s be followed. anniversary celebration in November 1979. Interviewed in the Westbeth studio that At the time of the commission, Lasch she has occupied for 47 years, Lasch re- INSPIRED was told that her sculpture would enter the counted: “One of my collectors who saw Museum’s study collection. A drawing by the Times article wrote to MoMA’s Direc- Lasch is currently part of the MoMA Per- tor, Glen Lowry, protesting the Museum’s manent Collection. careless handling of the artwork. In his Over the years, Lasch created many more response, Lowry claimed that it was, “an “cakes” as well as figure sculptures, gold ‘event-based object’ and that, although it FITNESS and copper-leaf “prayer cloths,” and sinis- had been kept at the Museum for years, the ter black constructions of wire and found materials were such that it had deteriorated IT’S WHAT WE DO. materials. Her work in various media has beyond repair.” been exhibited in many solo and group “I know the piece couldn’t disintegrate,” exhibitions. Lasch has become known for said Lasch. “The Palm Springs Museum her adherence to an independent course, is showing three pieces from the same resulting in unique artworks that give form year made of similar materials, all in mint to her own emotions. condition; one five-foot piece is part of When a retrospective exhibition of their permanent collection. I think I was Lasch’s sculptures was scheduled for the just perceived as a woman artist—they Palm Springs Art Museum, the curator, wouldn’t have thrown out a plaster Olden- Mara Gladstone, sent a loan request to burg hamburger. Why wasn’t I contacted? MoMA asking to borrow the anniversary Why wasn’t it kept in a protective case? On cake. Eventually, an answer came back a personal level, it made me feel disrespect- from the Museum’s Registrar saying that, ed. On a larger level, I was shocked that a after a thorough search, the object could museum could treat an artwork in such a not be located. cavalier way. I had thought it was protected In the fall of 2016, Lasch had a residency and safe—it was one of the major pieces of at the famed artists’ colony, Yaddo. She told my life.” JOIN NOW AND the story of the missing cake/sculpture to The cake image may suggest something a fellow resident who happened to be a edible and ephemeral, but Lasch is an art- GET JUNE FREE! colleague of New York Times writer Randy ist of skilled and solid craftsmanship, and Pier 60 | 212.336.6000 chelseapiers.com/gym

Kennedy. The result was “A 1979 Sculp- is zealously attentive to the quality of ma- Offer valid through 6/30/17. Restrictions apply. Photography: Scott McDermott ture’s Vanishing Act,” an article by Ken- terials. She may have started with applying nedy with three photographs in the Times’ frosting in her father’s bakery, but she has Arts section in January 2017. The piece produced exquisite sculptures in bronze and SC West View 6-17.indd 1 5/18/17 5:58 PM questioned why MoMA, with its sterling porcelain and was in charge of the welding reputation as a protector of art, did not at studio during her years on the faculty at the the very least contact the artist. Standard University of Massachusetts. Her creations procedure in the case of a work’s deterio- are not prone to self-destruction.

Post No Bills continued from page 3 pensers, mail boxes, etc. Graffiti, however, area with a blizzard of illegal lamppost fliers. to the best of my knowledge, falls within a I haven’t yet decided what to do about it, but separate jurisdiction. I mention this since, past history has shown that they never clean in your initial email, you said that the “6th up after the event. Precinct Board exempts [itself ] from graf- fiti laws.” The 6th Precinct Community (Date: May 20, 2017) Council does not scrawl graffiti anywhere, A point of clarification: I believe it is im- whereas it does post announcements in the portant to distinguish between GRAF- form of fliers on lampposts. According to FITI, which is an NYPD issue and IL- my lay interpretation of the anti-posting LEGAL POSTINGS, which are a DSNY laws, the 6th Precinct Community Council issue. Graffiti and illegal posters often ap- fliers most likely fall into the ‘NYPD/NYC pear on the same surfaces, such as lamp- Government’ category. posts, traffic signal boxes, newspaper dis- —Ben Benson

Dina Andriotis, Chris Tsiamis, and Nikitas Andriotis (from left to right). The Cyber Hand in Your Pocket 77 Christopher Street By George Capsis my Chase card? Between Seventh Avenue and Bleecker Street And what about this email from “FRAUD I recently opened this email…“CHASE PROTECTION SERVICES” in San An- Pharmacy Hours: FRAUD PROTECTION SERVICES: tonio, Texas—a phony name if I ever heard Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM Please tell us if you, or somebody you au- one? Anything from Texas has to be fake so Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM thorized, charged your card for: Navy Yard I went to the bank. The nice, young Chase Sunday 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM Gas $96.85.” officer furrowed his brows and phoned the On this day, the cyber crooks went right security office. A rapid, hard voice instantly Telephone: 212-255-2525 • Fax: 212-255-2524 around the globe from the U.S. to China clattered forth and demanded I close and email: [email protected] and Russia with sweeping electronic speed open a new card right away. I obeyed. www.newyorkchemists.com and the exquisite arrogance of complete But wait! I publish a newspaper and I impunity. Were they now buying gas on continued on page 25

THE COMMUNITY PHARMACY THAT CARES

346 Bleecker Street (Corner West 10th) 212.807.7566

Open 7 days Monday-Friday 9 am-9pm Saturday 9am-7pm Sunday 10am-5pm

Most insurance plans accepted, ADAP, Medicaid & Medicare

20% Discount with Mention of this Ad Visit us at www.villageapothecary.com NOW! For breaking news, WestView Extra... see page19 www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 9 Lenox Health Greenwich Washington Square Village Wins Prestigious Award Music Festival for Excellence in Preservation THE WASHINGTON SQUARE MUSIC FESTIVAL’S 59TH SEASON By Barbara Osborn tive feature of the building’s original de- Main Stage, Washington Square Park sign—now encloses the waiting and pa- Free and Open to the Public In May 2017, Lenox Health Greenwich tient rooms. www.washingtonsquaremusicfestival.org Village (LHGV), located at the corner of “When St. Vincent’s Hospital closed 12th Street and 7th Avenue, was recog- in 2010, this historic building was nearly Tuesday, June 6 at 8:00 pm nized by the New York Landmarks Con- lost,” said Alex Hellinger, Executive Direc- servancy for excellence in the restoration tor of LHGV. “It has now been reborn as a CARMINA BURANA and adaptive use of the historic New York modern healthcare hub in the West Village Tuesday, June 13 at 8:00 pm City building, which it occupies. LHGV while still retaining all the cultural value HARP MASTERPIECES received the Lucy G. Moses Award, which and its landmark status.” is given to organizations for their out- Lenox Health Greenwich Village, which Tuesday, June 20 at 8:00 pm standing commitment to preserving New is part of Northwell Heath, is a state-of- SONGS FOR VOICE AND CHAMBER ENSEMBLE York City’s neighborhoods and landmarks. the-art medical complex representing a Specifically, LHGV was honored for its new model of community-based care. It Tuesday, June 27 at 8:00 pm revitalization and sensitive restoration of offers a full range of medical services and MOSTLY ARGENTINIAN: TANGO AND MORE the landmarked National Maritime Union access to 24-hour emergency care. Building. It was designed by New Or- Northwell Health invested over $150 The Washington Square Music Festival is made possible with public leans architect Albert C. Ledner and built million to renovate the landmark building, funding through Council Member Margaret Chin and the New York City in 1964. Once named the Joseph Curran beginning with the opening of Manhat- Department of Cultural Affairs along with the New York State Council Building in honor of the National Mari- tan’s first free-standing emergency center on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and time Union’s founder, the six-story struc- in 2014. The medical facility is now home the New York State Legislature. Generous grants from the Earle K. & ture is an architectural fixture in Greenwich to a state-of-the-art Imaging Center and Katherine F. Moore Foundation, the Washington Square Association, the Music Performance Trust Fund, the Margaret Neubart Foundation Trust, Village. The nautical-inspired building is later this summer will open an ambulatory New York University Community Engagement and the NYU Community widely recognized by its porthole-shaped surgery center, physician offices, and a new Fund, the Salamon-Abrams Family Fund, the Hilaria and Alec Baldwin windows and rooftop bulkhead resembling conference space for the community. Foundation, Con Edison, the Washington Square Park Conservancy, a steamship smokestack. Through careful “As it begins its next half-century, this Three Sheets Saloon/Off the Wagon/Down the Hatch, and Sanford L. restoration, LHGV developed a brand new historic building is now providing a wide Smith Associates are deeply appreciated. medical building center while also preserv- range of medical services as distinctive as ing the structure’s original aesthetic. its community and its architecture,” said The façade was returned to its original Hellinger. appearance and the interior was renovated with nautical-inspired decorative elements. Northwell Health is New York State’s largest The light fixtures are round, the roof re- health care provider and private employer, sembles a boat’s sail, and the floors in the with 22 hospitals and over 550 outpa- emergency room evoke a deep-sea bottom. tient facilities. For more information, visit Over 25 Years of Experience – The glass-block ground floor—a distinc- Northwell.edu. Family Owned Fully Licensed and Insured New York, New Jersey Cities Are for Walking and Pennsylvania By Barry Benepe the victim and the driver the perp. This 5 Star Rating Thumbtack butchery took place alongside a pleasant and Home Advisors When I was but six years old, I accompa- protected pedestrian refuge created by the Servicing ALL types of Roofing nied my father on Saturday morning walks conversion of four blocks of heavily traf- from Gramercy Park to Madison Square ficked streets into landscaped promenades. Quality of Work – Reliability – Pricing – Honesty Park; his office was on the 12th floor of Only last year did Mayor de Blasio and the Victoria Building at 230 5th Avenue. his Police Commissioner recommend that Additional Services Including: One warm spring morning, as we crossed this oasis be destroyed and returned to Windows • Gutters • Siding • Painting • Demolition • Concrete Madison Avenue, we heard the screeching vehicular pandemonium. This was mo- of brakes. A yellow cab had struck a pe- tivated by the Mayor’s objection to the Verified Reviews from West Village Satisfied Customers: destrian who lay lifeless on the pavement. virtually nude, tall, statuesque women and TRULY A FIVE STAR JOB: Jason and his crew did an excellent job replacing the roof of As he was lifted to an ambulance, his head costumed cartoon characters who strolled my Greenwich Village brownstone. They were completely professional and did the job glowed like a red billiard ball. I was struck the plaza for opportunistic photos with exactly as described in the price quote. They were careful, friendly, and left my house by the enormity of this sudden awful blow, admirers. Their somewhat overpower- in perfect shape. Thank you JCS Roofing. —A nnette d. on November 2, 2016 one which started me on a life-long quest ing elegance recalled the feminine power as an urban planner—to make our cities of statues by Aristide Maillol or Gaston ROOF REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE: Our roof required replacement and we found that safe for walking. Lachaise. Fortunately, that space and its JCS was not only the best price over the other contractors, but they were fast and The horrific crash that took place in contented habituées remain protected, but considerate during the repair. Jason is a friendly person, honest and you can always Times Square on Thursday, May 18th much of our City does not. Pedestrians are reach him by phone.We are in the West Village and would recommend them to at around noon, left a string of damaged regularly mowed down by motorists who anyone needing any work on their home for any reason.—Sandra J. August 2016 bodies like a nightmare necklace along often don’t even get a ticket. It happened three blocks of 7th Avenue, from 42nd to to me on a bicycle in 1987, at the intersec- 201-598-8890 / 732-791-6500 45th Streets. The automobile is a deadly tion of Greenwich and 6th Avenues, after [email protected] weapon in which the pedestrian is always continued on page 10 10 WestView News June 2017 www.westviewnews.org Washington Square Park The Black Mounds in Designer Nabs Dual Role Washington Square Park By Geoffrey Croft of Washington Square Park during the By George Capsis kids in P.S. 41 and couldn’t take the train Bloomberg administration (he subsequently to Washington, D.C. to join a White The irony. received his landscape license after his lack I was reminded of an unpleasant incident House protest. So, instead, protest against George Vellonakis, the controversial of licensure became widely known). when I read Barry Benepe’s pleasure at the establishment took the form of break- NYC Department of Parks & Recreation The renovation plan drew considerable the removal of the black asphalt mounds ing into and running P.S. 41 (I mean (NYC Parks) landscape architect behind public opposition. Controversial elements in Washington Square Park. (See his ar- that’s pretty cool—breaking into a public the much-vilified $30 million renovation included: (1) moving the fountain to align ticle on this page.) Barry evidently does school—wow)! of Washington Square Park, has recently with the arch (it had been in the center of the not know what they were or how they Bang. At last the strike was over but the been appointed to head the historic park. park since 1870), (2) reducing the size of the got there—I do. break-in parents were reluctant to give the On May 15th, Vellonakis became the fountain, (3) eliminating the park’s popular The mounds were demanded by the school back to the Principal, Mr. Kreitz- Washington Square Park Administrator, a mounds, (4) installing a wrought iron fence ‘Crazies’—a radicalized group of P.S. 41 berg. So, they decided to run for President City job, as well as the Executive Director of to close the park at night, and (5) remov- parents that broke into and operated P.S. 41 of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) the private Washington Square Park Conser- ing numerous trees. The City was forced to in the final hard, cold days of the month- and make his life a living hell. It was the vancy. He replaces Sarah Neilson (who left in make several concessions after community long school strike in 1968. They melded biggest political race ever in the Village, 2016)—the former Chief of Staff for Jonna backlash; the park’s infamous nine-year ren- with the Gorilla glue of collective hatred with sound trucks and placards. I mean, Carmona-Graf, who is the Chief of Capital ovation was completed in 2014. into a single, hard civil action fist just in they were not going to lose this race. No, Program Management at NYC Parks. The formation of a conservancy for the time to say something about Washington never—they wanted their school back. With these developments, Mr. Vellonakis park also raised the ire of the public; it was Square Park, which was being renovated. Now a confession. I was campaigning has stepped down as a landscape architect for established behind the scenes with the help “We want skateboard mounds for the against the Crazies because I had run the NYC Parks after more than 35 years. His ap- of actor John Leguizamo’s wife, Justine, and kids,” they demanded, still smoking hot emergency school and they hated me be- pointments will certainly ruffle a few feathers. socialite Veronica Bulgari. The role of a City from the school break-in. (They came with cause I represented the establishment. Vellonakis, the then-unlicensed land- employee simultaneously holding a park ad- their sleeping bags and just stayed. What Dr. Matt Fergerson, a General Practitio- scape architect—and licensed real estate ministrator job while serving as the head of fun for forty-ish moms and dads—their ner whose office was across the street from salesperson for Brown Harris Stevens—was a nonprofit affiliated with the same park has last radical hurrah). P.S. 41 on 11th Street, threw a party for responsible for the controversial re-design raised serious conflict of interest issues. The strike began when a newly-created the teachers to keep them around until the local African-American school board in 7:00 p.m. PTA meeting and vote. A gaggle Brooklyn voted to replace the white prin- of giggling teachers helped vote me Presi- cipal. The strident United Federation of dent. But it was not over. Praising George Vellonakis Teachers (UFT) President, Albert Shanker, The Crazies came en mass to the first called a strike on the first day of school and PTA meeting and sat as a hard-shelled and Washington Square Park then called strike after strike. He tried to articulated snake across the auditorium break the back of the opposition and make with a single voice. Every time I spoke, By Barry Benepe lonakis of the [NYC Department of Parks & it clear that he was the President of the all- they shouted me down—it was hope- Recreation]…“I love the restoration,” said powerful UFT. He called the shots. less. I turned to Principal Kreitzberg and With all due respect to Geoffrey Croft, I feel Betsy Ely [Chairman of the Board of Direc- Gradually, the strike split the commu- handed him the mic with, “Here, this is that we are fortunate to have George Vellon- tors]. “Now, what can we do to help maintain nity from those who supported an emer- your problem.” He stopped my exit and akis in charge of the design and maintenance its beauty?” “We work together as a team,” gency school that taught in churches and chastised the parents as if they were in a of Washington Square Park, probably one of added Gwen [Evans, Treasurer of the Board]. meeting rooms using the very same P.S. kindergarten class. the most heavily utilized and historic parks “The park is a glorious mosaic of activities and 41 teachers. Those participants did not It was then that I went before the Chan- in the City. Through careful and thoughtful people. There is something for everyone.” have to cross the picket line nor interact cellor of the Board of Education to get the research on the park’s original 1836 design, "Vellonakis began to return [Washington with those who broke into the school and empty P.S. 3 building to absorb the P.S. 41 Vellonakis has returned the contemporary Square Park] to its original form in 2012. took it over—the ‘Crazies.’ overcrowding. When the imperious Chan- park to its welcoming traffic-free green sur- [Since then, the] park has…become the sylvan The break-in radicals exalted in their cellor sneered at my demand, we sued and roundings while at the same time retaining paradise it once was, exclusively for those on action since these were the why-are-we- won. The day we got P.S. 3, the Crazies its contemporary music, dance, and cultural foot. It now has an abundant, rich planted in-Vietnam-anyway days; they had two took over and have had it ever since. attractions. The popular, but unsightly, black texture with broad green lawns, arching trees, asphalt mounds were replaced with even and banks of shrubs and flowering plants. The more popular green grass mounds where curvilinear paths provide a relaxing stroll to- Walking continued from page 9 adults and children can roll and lie as well as ward the central fountain, which still attracts run up and down. More trees, robust flower- a wide range of activities." a truck ran a red light, fractured my col- over 150 years ago. ing shrubs, and plant beds border the paths. "A new handsome administration center larbone, and broke open my scalp, which I also wonder why the City allows over It is truly a people’s park. has replaced the former ordinary brick main- required a hundred stitches. a million free parking spaces, which could Vellonakis has also used his talents to tenance building. The controversial black- Despite the dangers, walking in the generate between $100 and $200 mil- improve City Hall Park, Abingdon Square, topped play mounds have been replaced by a City can be a great, wholesome pleasure. lion dollars per year. Such an investment and other City parks. He is nature’s poet, green turfed hill and dale design which is a The rhythm of walking restores a sense could help make streets safer, more beau- following the steps of such luminaries as village of pure delight for the many children of well-being and brings us a constantly tiful, and more efficient and also improve Robert Nichols and Bobby Zion. The who run up and down its slopes while care- changing and evolving experience of urban transit service, deliveries, unloading, and Washington Square Park Conservancy and takers relax on the grass like those with the delights—other people, store windows, re- emergency response times. That space the City are lucky to have him. morning dappled sunlight spilling over their laxing outdoor cafes, glorious trees fram- could provide more room for pop-up parks Vellonakis’ unique perspective and de- heads…[like] in the paintings [of ] French ing rich historic architecture, and a filigree and cafes as well as places to sit and to ride sign acumen also shaped a WestView article Impressionist, Georges Seurat." of white clouds dancing against deep blue bicycles in a more tranquil environment. I authored in July 2014. I have provided "[Washington Square Park] continues to re- skies. One really feels the topography of an Major steps were taken in this direction some excerpts below. main one of the earliest formal parks in the ever-changing city on foot. As I tramp the under the Lindsay, Koch, and Bloomberg City, an attraction for visitors throughout great granite slabs around Union Square, I administrations and are being continued "The [Washington Square Park Conser- the world as well as a refuge for thousands of share the millions of foot falls which those by NYC Department of Transportation vancy] respects the extraordinarily beautiful residents who walk in from the surrounding slabs have sustained and wonder about the Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. We restoration design prepared by George Vel- Greenwich Village." heroic labors of workers who laid them should cheer their accomplishments. www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 11

Hold the Mayo! The Future of Grocery

Prices in the West Village www.nyl.nyc By W. Russell Neuman the true quality of Thai restaurants. Con- noisseurs of night club balladeers might I know I should, but I don’t pay a lot of request a classic song like “New York, attention to price tags in stores. I should New York” to test the mettle of an aspiring also keep track of sale items and I don’t do songster. For me, the price of a standard that either. But when I picked up a jar of 30-ounce jar of Hellmann’s “Bring Out the Hellmann’s Mayonnaise at a chain grocery Best” Real Mayonnaise is my metric for store/supermarket in the West Village re- verifying the grocers. cently, I had to say, “Wait a minute!” So, I’m in the aisle holding the mayo I somehow remembered paying about jar with one hand and scratching my head Discover the half that amount best of downtown in a similar gro- cery store across with real estate’s the river, in New New York Libby Jersey. I know real estate prices are Travel along with Libby and enjoy particularly high historical facts and trivia about New in these parts, but York on her snappy webisode series. a 100% markup? Check out the latest at www.nyl.nyc. Really? What is And reach out to New York Libby for doubly puzzling is any and all of your real estate needs that, despite these at [email protected] or prices, the gro- (212) 635-2500. cery stores in the area seem to be in some sort of fi- Libby Collins is a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson at nancial meltdown. The Corcoran Group Mrs. Green’s 30 Iriving Place NY, NY 10003 on Hudson Street survived only 14 months before shutting down. D’Agostino hit a cash crunch with the other. When I’m at the New Jersey last year, and after a few weeks of nearly Shore in the summer, Hellmann’s is $3.99; bare shelves, was saved by a last-minute here it is $7.99. That could represent a investment from John Catsimatidis’ $4.00 profit on this single non-perishable Red Apple chain, which also manages staple. What are these guys spending that the Gristedes stores in town. There are $4.00 on? I doubt that it is due to higher newspaper reports that Fairway, Whole labor costs in New York City. Foods, and Trader Joe’s are also strug- In New York, they pay grocery associates gling financially. an average of $10.51 per hour compared to Mayo is my measure. Some folks order $11.33 in New Jersey (the hourly rate in a particular dish like Pad Thai to compare the West Village could be somewhat high- er because the older grocery chains tend to Available at be unionized). True, commercial rents are Three Lives and Curious about higher here, typically $200.00 annually per square foot compared to $40.00, and often other bookstores Hellmann’s? lower in New Jersey. The national average in grocery sales is $500.00 per square foot, on June 20 Hellmann’s was invented right here in so I remain puzzled about why the local New York, at 490 Columbus Avenue, by Richard Hellmann in 1905. Hell- folks are struggling. mann had arrived in the states from Mayor de Blasio remains adamantly op- Germany only a few years before. He posed to Wal-Mart and other “big box” made his own mayo within his deli. stores setting foot in Manhattan. I under- Join us at the book launch Customers loved it and he would sell stand his concern about wages. But what it to them in small amounts and to about the prices Manhattanites pay for for Blue Money other delis in bulk. Hellmann’s recipe food given artificially limited competition? Thursday, June 29 continued to win culinary awards and For the record, I’ve compiled the latest the business expanded into major sampling of local Hellmann’s sticker pric- 7 pm manufacturing; it was ultimately ac- es. Some stores carry only the 15-ounce Book Culture quired by mega-giant Unilever. Pretty size so prices per ounce tend to be even much the same product (just slightly 450 Columbus Avenue (Between 81st and 82nd) more lemony) is sold with the same higher. Clearly, the direct delivery guys are blue ribbon label as “Best Foods Real making a point about competitive pricing New York street life in the 70’s: Mayonnaise” west of the Rockies. and free delivery. So, “big box” prices are cathouses, gin mills and dead-end relationships Now you know. available in the Village online, just no “big box.” Yet. 12 WestView News June 2017 www.westviewnews.org Local Residents Challenge Democratic Candidates at Village Forum

Oh wow! The election for Mayor and other Audience members were familiar with sundry City offices is coming up fast—on Sep- the records of the established candidates, all SAL ALBANESE: Mayoral candidate. SCOTT STRINGER: Incumbent Comptroller tember 12th. And, although there has been of whom described themselves as “progres- Former Brooklyn City Council member. seeking second term. some disenchantment with Bill de Blasio, no sive.” Manhattan Borough President Gale for-real opposition candidate has emerged. Brewer emphasized the way she’s reached At a recent meet-the-candidate rally at the out to community groups and other stake- LGBT Center on 13th Street, the only sparks holders to promote practical solutions to were over the Mayor’s insistence to build se- meet the needs of the borough’s residents, nior housing on top of the Elizabeth Street from making sure that schoolchildren have Garden. Our own WestView News contribu- fresh fruits and vegetables to working to tor, Dr. Alec Pruchnicki, who treats seniors, save Beth Israel Hospital. strongly supports housing on that site. (I am Seeking re-election as Comptroller, Scott sure he hears heart-wrenching tales of seniors Stringer spoke briefly about his record of fis- losing their homes after decades. Read his ar- cal probity and how he balances his fiduciary MICHAEL TOLKIN: Mayoral candidate. GALE BREWER: Manhattan Borough ticle on page 26 of this issue.) responsibilities with his progressive political CEO and founder of Rooms.com. President seeking second term. Personally, I am in favor of keeping the views. Public Advocate Letitia James made park a park. It will serve a lot more seniors as a compelling case for her re-election, focus- a place to sit in the sun than as apartments—a ing on her work on housing issues. place to sit and watch TV. Cyrus Vance, who is running for his third —George Capsis term as Manhattan District Attorney, said that the Trump administration is putting By Edward Yutkowitz communities at risk with policies that will al- low more guns on City streets. Pushing back The Democratic primary for City-wide of- against an audience member who pressed fices is months away, but at a candidates’ him on privacy issues, he spoke of law en- forum held at the LGBT Center, on 13th forcement’s need to access electronic devices Street, downtown Democrats began the to obtain evidence under proper, court-or- KEVIN COENEN: Mayoral candidate. DAVID EISENBACH: Public advocate candi- Retired FDNY Lieutenant. date. Faculty Member, Columbia University. formal process of assessing the incumbents dered circumstances. He noted, “Cell phones and their challengers. have revolutionized our lives [but] they’ve Some 200 members of the public, in- also revolutionized the lives of criminals.” cluding many members of the downtown The forum also gave several lesser-known Democratic political clubs, participated in candidates the opportunity to introduce the forum, which was sponsored by five po- themselves. Mayoral candidate, Sal Alba- litical clubs representing Lower Manhattan: nese, a former Brooklyn City Council mem- the Village Independent Democrats (VID), ber, was rough around the edges, but both the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, idealistic and pragmatic. Decrying pay-to- the Village Reform Democratic Club, the play corruption, he said, “New York should Downtown Independent Democrats, the be Athens.” He called for bold, creative ideas Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, and the for mass transit, and reminded the audience BOB GANGI: Mayoral candidate. Co-founder LETITIA JAMES: Incumbent Public Coalition for a District Alternative. of his progressive credentials, ability to work of Police Reform Organizing Project (PROP). Advocate seeking second term. “It’s important for us to have our voices with Albany, and refusal to take contribu- heard on the issues that affect Lower Man- tions from lobbyists or real estate developers. hattan,” said Erik Coler, President of the Long-time advocate for prison and police VID. “We particularly wanted to give some reform, Robert Gangi blasted the de Blasio of the lesser-known candidates for public of- administration’s approach to criminal jus- fice the opportunity to address issues that af- tice. Calling himself an “honest progressive,” fect our community and the City as a whole.” he promised to implement truly progressive City Council Member Corey Johnson reforms should he be elected Mayor. introduced Mayor Bill de Blasio with a Warning that the status quo is unsustain- ringing endorsement. Not surprisingly, able, the two youngest candidates foresaw the Mayor faced the most criticism from a dire future for New York City if govern- BILL DE BLASIO: Incumbent Mayor seeking CYRUS VANCE: Incumbent Manhattan the other candidates and the most pointed ment doesn’t act quickly and imaginatively. second term. District Attorney seeking third-term. questions from the audience. They were Mayoral candidate Mike Tolkin, an en- particularly angry about the administra- ergetic high-tech entrepreneur, proposed a tion’s policing practices and his plan to de- strategy to ensure New York’s “economic velop affordable senior housing on the site resilience.” He called for government of the Elizabeth Street Garden. But the “companies” to help the City meet the cri- Mayor stood his ground, emphasizing that sis of automation, but didn’t flesh out the affordable housing is his highest priority details of his intriguing ideas. for the City. He also defended his pro- Running for Public Advocate, David C. gressive credentials and his record on both Eisenbach, a historian and art professor at housing and policing. The Mayor was also Columbia University, had the intriguing idea

applauded for his commitment to main- of guaranteeing lease renewal through arbi- All photos by Edward Yutkowitz. taining New York as a “sanctuary city.” continued on page 26 COREY JOHNSON: Incumbent City Council ERIK COLER: President, Village Independent Member seeking second-term in District 3. Democrats. www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 13 Getting to Know the American Tap Dance Foundation By Kelly Bayer fordable place to tap dance in the City. New students pay just $9.00 for their first class. What do you get when you mix African That is unheard of in a place where most stu- tribal dance and an Irish jig? Tap dance— dios charge about $20.00 per class regardless America’s traditional dance form. of whether it’s your first time or not. If you’ve ever wanted to give it a try, get Don’t have tap shoes? No problem. The your kids involved, or even just watch the ATDF has a wide selection of shoes avail- pros have at it, the American Tap Dance able for students to borrow during class, a Foundation (ATDF) is a fantastic resource great feature for those who want to try tap for classes and entertainment alike, and it’s dance but aren’t ready to invest in their own right here in the West Village. shoes. To top it all off, the studio is right by Inconspicuously tucked away on the sec- the water, so when you get out of class you ond floor above the New Ohio Theatre at can revel in the natural beauty and serenity 154 Christopher Street (between Wash- of the riverfront. ington and Greenwich Streets), this two- The ATDF also regularly hosts events to room studio is a home base for some of the enrich and develop the tap community, such world’s greatest contemporary tap dancers as seasonal Tap Talks, workshops, tap jams, and choreographers, as well as a fun and choreography showcases, and annual festi- affordable practice space for dancers of all vals like Tap City, and the New York City ages and skill levels. Tap Festival, which is coming up in July. WESTBETH

• THE WESTBETH GALLERY • THE COMMUNITY ROOM 55 BETHUNE STREET • NYC WESTBETH ORG •

Do You Need Home Care?

AMERICA’S TRADITIONAL DANCE FORM: Tap dancing is featured in the “Rhythm in Motion” choreography showcase held at The Duke on West 42nd Street. Photo by Amanda Gentile. Continuity Home Health Care

Originally founded in 1986 by legend- Last month, the ADTF hosted its annual ary tap dancers Brenda Bufalino, Tony choreography showcase, Rhythm in Mo- Waag, and the late Honi Coles as a tour- tion, a five-day event at The Duke at 229 Where Healing Continues... ing tap dance ensemble, the ATDF is now West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Av- A licensed home care agency providing a nonprofit organization dedicated to pre- enues). There, many of the studio’s resident health care services, both professional serving tap dance history and keeping the artists performed self-choreographed piec- and paraprofessional, for individuals art form alive. es, which demonstrated the versatility of tap living at home since 1996. With adult and youth classes offered ev- dance as an art form. Dancers used tap to ery day of the week, ranging from Absolute tell stories, make political commentary, and Beginner to Advanced, the ATDF is the express a wide range of emotions, concepts, only dance studio in the neighborhood ex- and themes. Given the current political, en- clusively dedicated to tap dance. vironmental, and social climate, it was very Call Tim Ferguson at (212) 625-2547 The ATDF provides students the unique refreshing to see art and hear commentary opportunity to learn directly from the pros. expressed in this way, from the feet up. or drop in to 121 West 11th Street opposite PS 41 There are several knowledgeable Artists in Whether you’re looking to take up a Residence available for instruction, all with new hobby, an art form, a fitness regimen, different cultural backgrounds, musical a musical instrument, or even Alzheimer’s We accept most private tastes, and influences. One thing they all prevention, tap dance is worth a try. If insurances have in common, however, is credentials. you’ve had the itch, the ATDF will help and private pay. Each teacher fills a unique niche in the tap you scratch it. Set your souls on fire. Come community through choreography, running tap dance at the ATDF! their own tap companies (such as Dorrance [email protected] Dance), or performing on Broadway or in For more information on The American Tap other productions like STOMP. Dance Foundation, call (646) 230-9564 or What’s more, the ATDF is the most af- visit atdf.org. 14 WestView News June 2017 www.westviewnews.org Notes and Perspectives From Away: Republican Democracy By Tom Lamia found in 1789. The moral dilemma resulted in war and a bitter national division that continues today. This les- From early January to mid-April of this year, I was in New son is not likely to be forgotten. Economic issues often York having a knee repaired. My surgery was on January divide state and national interests and are hotly contested. 20th, the day that politics and governance took a new di- The State of Maine must find common ground on trade rection. Every day since has brought something new for (of lumber, lobsters, cod). The City of New York has been discussion, with no one sure where it is all headed. Your challenged in its basic industries (e.g., finance, publishing, choice of news source likely determines what you hear and the arts) by parts of the country whose cultural values dif- what you think. All sides seem to agree on one thing: The fer. We have gotten through these differences. new president tapped a populist revolt among working The recent election may suggest that the world is going class rural whites. That category covers most of my Maine to Hell, with all of us sharing the ride. But do not aban- neighbors. As I lay immobile on Horatio Street, I thought don hope. The country has President Donald Trump; about the prospect of an urban elitist like me finding ac- Maine has Governor Paul LePage. These men are more ceptance in South Bristol, where guns are everyday tools alike than different and not in ways that I admire or ap- and pompous elitists are not welcome. prove. I voted for neither, but I see in each the qualities After ruminating on this, I concluded that all of us that appealed to the voters who put them in office. The within the American Republic are safe, at least until some critical question is whether our constitutional system is further political catastrophe occurs. strong enough to help them govern while protecting us Our form of government arose in rebellion against a from their governance. king. It has multiple layers of protection against autocrats In the last year, I read Ron Chernow’s Alexander Ham- and tyrants because such protection was critically impor- ilton and Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First tant to those who wrote our Constitution. Constitutional Century. They give me some confidence that we can keep NEW BRIDGE IN SOUTH BRISTOL: The bridge represents a principles, including the separation of powers, have kept our heads as all about us are losing theirs. Piketty, if I can compromise between town and state. Pictured above is the the country together for 228 years, from our agricultural synthesize, provides the income and wealth data for most Town Hall in South Bristol, Maine. Photo by Tom Lamia. roots to our urban industrial present. These principles have of the western world since the 17th century. It shows a been tested many times and they will see us through. But massive shift in the nature of dominant wealth (from agri- on our country. Hamilton was a man of such intelligence, that is not our only protective umbrella. cultural to industrial) and the income distribution associ- energy, ambition, and self-confidence that he was both Powers not given to the federal government are reserved ated with it. Inequality of wealth and income has persisted feared and admired by political opponents. If not the prin- for the states. But state governments are not all cut from throughout the 250 or so years covered by the data, except- cipal author of the Constitution, he was the principal force the same cloth. Have they the power to restrain federal ing periods of war, in which wealth (capital) was destroyed. in explaining and selling it to the states whose approval ambitions? To keep their way of life intact when economic The loss of capital decreased incomes, resulting in greater was necessary for its promulgation. and political times change? I believe so. The Constitution equality. As war has ceased to be a practical device for in- gives the federal government the right to regulate inter- come redistribution in the nuclear age, political resistance Point Two: A few among us possess the qualities to state commerce, for example, but the police power is re- in the Bernie Sanders model must now serve to restrain a carry us through to political salvation. We need only served for the states. Already this power is being used to growing inequality. get out and vote. protect state interests in “sanctuary cities.” State and local These high-minded thoughts have practical local ap- governments will use their reserved powers to fiercely de- Point One: Our constitutional system and democratic plication even in rural and coastal Maine. Next month: fend local interests thought to be in peril. traditions provide a political tool to deal with economic Maine’s contribution to good government—from Fran- The Civil War was fought over an issue that the U.S. inequality. We need only get out and vote. ces Perkins to Angus King, with due credit given to Ed Constitution had finessed, not because slavery was over- Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton describes Muskie, George Mitchell, Margaret Chase Smith, Wil- looked, but because no political solution to it could be the extraordinary impact of a single, exceptional individual liam Cohen, Olympia Snowe, and Susan Collins.

good design = great sales

Whether you’re selling your product or your services, we can help you with stunning logos, ads, collateral and publications DIGGING THE BEAT: After watching students from and a well-designed, easy-to-navigate website. the American Tap Dance Foundation in their an- nual show on May 21st, these two youngsters View the website at phelandesignworks.com were quick to get into the groove on the Christo-

[email protected] • 212-620-0652 pher Street Pier. Photo by Maggie Berkvist. www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 15 Blue Money: Maggie B’s Quick Clicks A Scathing Debut Memoir by Janet Capron FAMILY AFFAIRS: The celebration of by Unnamed Press) made an impression. Mother’s Day was launched well ahead of People are already raving about it. West- time by Sam Mercado’s D’Agostino mural, already greeting customers on May 1st. View Publisher George Capsis called it But whether it was at the annual Perry “electric” and the five-star reviews are pil- Street Fair, Perryphrenalia, on May 6th, or ing up on Amazon Vine Voice (one Vine on The Day itself two weeks later, neigh- Voice called it “a masterpiece”). Even a sales borhood dads were certainly very much manager couldn’t resist emailing Unnamed involved in all the festivities. Press: “This is an amazing volume, truly. I can’t get over how damned good the writ- All photos by Maggie Berkvist. ing is….genius really.” Here is some of the early praise from other writers:

“Smart, lurid, and engrossing, Blue Money AN “ELECTRIC” DEBUT: Author Janet Cap- reads like an authentic dispatch from the ron’s new memoir is earning early praise. dark side of 1970s New York.” Photo courtesy of Janet Capron. —Drew Nellins Smith, author of Arcade

By Andreea Ioana Pantor “I was struck by how wonderfully Blue Money paints such a sharp picture of that The controversial new memoir Blue Money time.” is about to hit bookstores on June 20th. For —Kenneth Bowser, filmmaker and writer/ its author, Janet Capron, prostitution was director of American Masters’ a defiant retort, an exotic adventure that Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune didn’t impede her ongoing search for love amid the ruined landscape of drugs and “A modern-day Moll Flanders...terrifically rock ‘n’ roll in the streets of 1970s New York. entertaining and brilliantly written.” WestView News likes to defy convention —Phillip Lopate, preeminent essayist and too, which is why Blue Money (published recent author of A Mother’s Tale Trump and the Saudi Connection By Gary Tomei rowed money, the new fund could invest more than $100 billion in infrastructure Trump recently traveled to Saudi Arabia projects. and told the Saudis that they are our friends, So, if I understand this correctly, Black- even though they espouse a type of Islam, stone and the Saudis will essentially be known as Wahhabism, which essentially partners in this scam. preaches hatred of America and promotes We seriously need to upgrade our in- Jihadism. Trump made this connection even frastructure, but having private companies though the Saudis are, in fact, the leading hand out contracts for those projects pres- promoters of terrorism in the world—what ents huge opportunities for cost gouging Trump calls “radical Islam.” But, never let and corruption. principle get in the way of a business deal! Imagine how it will work: Instead of Trump is now planning to outsource our the government hiring engineers and con- government’s obligation to maintain the struction companies directly, our govern- national infrastructure (which is part of ment will contract with Blackstone/the the general welfare) to the Saudis. The Ar- Saudis. Who will hire the entities who will abs get a huge windfall when we pay them actually do the work? Both Blackstone/the for their generosity and the public gets the Saudis, and the company doing the project, bill—and gets screwed again. will have to make a profit. Even without Do you believe that the Arabs are ex- overcharging and stealing, the increased ecuting this deal because they love us? Of costs to the citizenry are evident. course, America’s con men won’t let the America appears to be obsessed with the foreigners make all the money. Apparently, idea that private business always functions U.S. billionaire Stephen A. Schwarzman better than government. The fact that the arranged the deal with the Saudis. private contractor, Halliburton, wasted and/ Mr. Schwarzman’s company, Blackstone, or stole billions of dollars during the Iraq announced that Saudi Arabia’s sovereign war should have disabused us of that idea. wealth fund had committed $20 billion It is evident to me that the present trend to infrastructure projects, primarily in the to privatize government functions in ev- United States. It appears that Blackstone erything from schools to prisons is lead- will commit another $20 billion to the ing us down the garden path to our own fund and, all told, including potential bor- demise. 16 WestView News June 2017 www.westviewnews.org

next to the “Tiles for America” enticed many ing dishes reside on the breakfast section 10 years before. The restaurant received to stop for selfies, and finally, the restaurant of the menu, which includes a PB and Ba- positive reviews and will apparently reopen that spawned the sign has opened in the nana Croque (hot-pressed sandwich). in the East Village where the owners have IN space formerly occupied by Empire Szech- three sister vegan spots. Gingersnap’s Or- and uan Village. This is the second restaurant for ganic (113 West 10th Street, between 6th OUT Chef Franco Noriega who is a former model and Greenwich Avenues), which specialized by Caroline Benveniste known for his shirtless photos. I was excited in raw food, vegan food, cold-pressed juices, to finally have Peruvian rotisserie chicken cleanses, gluten-free, and was “all organic This month, we saw a large number of store available in the neighborhood. One can order all the time,” also didn’t last long. On the closings of all sorts. The closing of Pó was wide- half- and quarter- chickens (white or dark same block, Stolle (109 West 10th Street, ly reported, and with the previous closing of meat) accompanied by unusual sauces, as well between 6th and Greenwich Avenues) the Home, and the news that Cornelia Street Café as chicken sandwiches. The Tequeños appe- Eastern European sweet and savory pie is struggling, the outlook for the Cornelia Street tizer is delicious—wonton skins filled with purveyor is also gone. Malibu Dog Kitchen restaurant scene is not rosy. On the positive side, cheese and fried, then served with guacamo- (35 Christopher Street, near Waverly Place) two interesting openings and a 'Coming Soon' le. The Arroz con Choclo is an addictive pilaf has closed its doors after a brief run. Per- sign in Gansevoort Market are good news for of sorts with kernels of giant Peruvian corn, haps dog owners here are not as willing to this food court, which has experienced a high similar in taste to hominy. Pisco sours are the spend money on homemade dog food as level of turnover since its move to 14th Street. drinks of choice, with an outstanding passion they are in California. MM6 Maison Martin Additionally, one of our WestView contribu- fruit version. Good food, friendly staff, and Sushi by Bou/Sushi by Bae (Gansevoort Margiela (363 Bleecker Street, near Charles tors bemoaned the dearth of newsstands in the reasonable prices should make this a popu- Market, 353 14th Street, between 8th Street) is the latest Bleecker Street retail West Village. She explained, “There is no place lar destination. (See George Capsis’ piece on Avenue and Hudson Street): Next to clothing casualty. It opened in 2012 in the to buy a newspaper in the entire area from my page 5 of this issue.) Chick’nCone is another new stand, this space that had housed the literarily-named house on Morton Street heading east until the one serving sushi/omakase. At the eight- gallery, “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place.” At newsstand near the handball courts on 6th Av- seat counter, four seats are set aside for the time of its opening, the real estate listing enue and, heading west, until a deli on Hudson Sushi by Bou, which serves lunch and din- for the space referred to the location as “the Street.” Last month, we reported on the closing ner seven days a week. The menu is an af- Far West Village Gold Coast Retail Mecca.” of Perry News and Grocery, and recently we’ve fordable $50 12-piece sushi offering which Further east on Bleecker Street, we must noticed that the newsstand on 6th Avenue near must be consumed in 30 minutes. At the say ciao to bisous, ciao Macarons (235 8th Street has also disappeared, making it hard stand’s other four seats, different chefs Bleecker Street, between Leroy and Car- to get one’s print news (fake or otherwise). All will do pop-ups. Currently, Sushi by Bae mine Streets). For seven years, the store was photos by Maggie Berkvist. with Chef Oona Tempest is open Tuesday colorfully decorated with a large selection through Saturday for dinner. Each evening of macaron flavors. The parting note on the Openings Rahi (60 Greenwich Avenue, between there are three seatings, and for $100, you door promises “This won’t be the last you 7th Avenue South and Perry Street): The get an 18-piece omakase and 90 minutes in see of bisous, ciao.” Silk Day Spa (47 West space that housed the short-lived Tapes- which to eat it. 13th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues) try has been reincarnated as Rahi (mean- is now shuttered. It opened in 2003 and was ing ‘traveler’ in Hindi). The owner has not Closings an early entrant into the day spa explosion. changed, but the concept has: While Tap- With treatments like the Silk Emperor/ estry served Indian food with American Two long-standing village institutions Empress and Silk Melt Away Massage, it accents, Rahi bills itself as an “artisanal In- closed this month—Pó and Good. Pó (31 had more character and charm than the spa dian restaurant.” The maître d’ told us im- Cornelia Street, between Bleecker and chains popping up all over the West Village. mediately that they had poached the chef West 4th Streets), the Italian restaurant that Il Conte (310 West 14th Street, between from Michelin-starred Junoon. The menu opened in 1993 with Mario Batali (he later 8th Avenue and Hudson Street) had a simi- is divided into three sections—“In a New left to open Babbo) is gone. The remain- lar approach to pasta as the long-awaited Chick’nCone (Gansevoort Market, 353 York Minute,” “At Ease,” and “Leisurely,” ing owner, Steve Crane, told Eater that his Pasta Flyer; the pasta is partially cooked in 14th Street, between 8th Avenue and allowing diners to choose their level of $10,000 monthly rent was set to increase advance, and then finished at the time it is Hudson Street): The New York Post re- commitment. The entrée prices are still 120%. Good (89 Greenwich Avenue, near ordered, making the wait much shorter. Il ported on the opening of Chick’nCone high, so it remains to be seen whether this Bank Street), another spot popular with Conte was in the original Gansevoort Mar- with the headline: “The new Frankenfood approach to Indian food will work better. locals, has also closed. Neighbor Mimi ket on Gansevoort Street, and did not wait people are freaking out about.” This stand Sheraton bemoaned its passing in a New for the market to re-open. Instead, it moved is the first brick-and-mortar manifesta- York Magazine piece entitled “There Goes to a stand-alone shop where it remained for tion of a concept that started as a food the Neighborhood Restaurant – A regular’s less than a year. truck and at stalls in holiday markets. lament.” In it, she called Good her “go-to The chicken breast is breaded, fried, and place for lunches, dinners, and send-out.” In Coming Soon chopped into bite-sized pieces, then coat- this case, the rent increase was only 20%, but ed with sauce (there are five options) and owner Steven Picker explained that higher Skinny’s Satay Bar (Gansevoort Market, served in a homemade waffle cone, yield- staff pay and other costs meant he “struggled 353 14th Street, between 8th Avenue ing something that is #SoCluckingGood. with charging enough to stay profitable but and Hudson Street) promises that “Our If you enjoy the concept, you can also have not enough to drive away repeat custom- Chicken Satays will revolutionize the fast apple- or blueberry-filled cones topped Flip ‘n Toss (82 Christopher Street, be- ers.” It is unfortunate that, after surviving food industry.” Initially, this stand, which with whipped cream for dessert. tween 7th Avenue South and Bleecker the closure of St. Vincent’s Hospital and the plans to serve chicken, beef, and shrimp Street): For a while, we only observed clos- years-long construction, Good is closing, satays, was supposed to open on May 21st, ings on this stretch of Christopher Street, and just when that part of Greenwich Av- but now the opening has been delayed un- but recently we have reported some open- enue is benefitting from the opening of the til June. Two more Asian restaurants, Vil- ings (e.g., Hudson Bagels, Milk Bar). Flip ‘n lovely St. Vincent’s Triangle Park and NYC lage Express Asian Cuisine (33 Barrow Toss appears to be primarily a burger spot, AIDS Memorial. Perhaps the West Village Street, near 7th Avenue South) and Ms. but it does have a more extensive menu is just not a favorable location for vegan Mi’s Hot Pot (6 West 14th Street, near than you might expect. The “flip” includes restaurants. Gone is Ladybird (127 Mac- 5th Avenue) are displaying signage. blo grass-fed and vegetarian burgers as well Dougal Street, between West 4th and West blow dry bar (113 West 10th Street, be- as lobster rolls, while the “toss” comprises 3rd Streets), which opened in July 2016 and tween 6th and Greenwich Avenues) is the salad options. There are hand-cut fries, served “globally-inspired vegetable tapas.” It coming to the space just vacated by Gin- Baby Brasa (173 7th Avenue South, at Per- and the milkshakes come in various flavors had the same owners as meat-centric Bour- gersnap’s Organic and will offer blow-outs ry Street): The “I FEEL YOU BABY” sign including Oreo. Some of the most interest- geois Pig which had occupied the space for starting at $40.00. www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 17 A Food Tour of London’s East End—in the West Village able at the recently-opened 33 Greenwich, like a cross between corned beef and pas- her standing guard as you browse the shop’s and while not exactly the same, it is just as trami. We had a beigel and salt beef sand- large selection of British comestibles. decadently delicious. wich with mustard and a pickle; a number CHEESE: Our next stop was The House of people on the tour thought it was the Learn more about the East End Food Tour of Androuet (Spitalfields Arts Market, best thing we’d had. You could order a by visiting: eatinglondontours.co.uk/east- 10 Lamb Street), a chainlet of French corned beef sandwich at Murray’s Bagels, end-food-tour/ cheese shops. Unlike the ones I’ve been but to get an approximation of the artisanal to in Paris, two-thirds of this store was salt beef you must travel to Mile End in The West Village establishments men- dedicated to British cheeses. We tried a Noho and order a smoked meat sandwich, tioned in this article are listed below: muslin-wrapped unpasteurized Somerset ask to have it on a bagel (bagels are made West County Farmhouse Cheddar (ched- at the sister establishment Black Seed), and TEA AND SYMPATHY dar is the most popular cheese in England), add a pickle. 108 Greenwich Avenue, near Jane Street LENNY THE PUB CAT: British health codes which was nutty and assertive, and a three- 33 GREENWICH allow cats in pubs, so Lenny is a big draw at The Pride Of Spitalfields, and has a month-old Stilton. In the Village, at Mur- SALTED CARAMEL TART: Our final stop was 33 Greenwich Avenue, between Charles robust internet presence. Photo by Caroline ray’s Cheese, (which, like Androuet, has Pizza East (56A Shoreditch High Street), and West 10th Streets Benveniste. caves for affinage) you can try the Neal’s a trendy restaurant owned by the Soho MURRAY’S CHEESE Yard Dairy Montgomery’s Cheddar and House Group. There, we ended the tour 254 Bleecker Street, between Morton and By Caroline Benveniste the Colston Bassett Stilton. with a slice of salted caramel tart which had Leroy Streets a layer of caramel at the bottom, and above A SALT AND BATTERY Recently, while in London, we (my hus- FISH AND CHIPS AND MUSHY PEAS: Pop- it a layer of chocolate ganache. Yum! It was, 112 Greenwich Avenue, between Horatio band and I and about 10 other people) took pies (6-8 Hanbury Street) was our fourth in my opinion, the best thing we ate. The and Jane Streets a wonderful East End food tour. This was stop, and there we tried the food that kept closest one I could find in the Village was BLIND TIGER ALE HOUSE not really a surprise, as we’d previously gone the British fed during the Second World a miniature salted caramel tart at Le Pain 281 Bleecker Street, at Jones Street on an Eating Europe’s tour in Amsterdam, War. The fried cod and chips arrived in Quotidien. In this version, the caramel is SURYA which was equally brilliant. I didn’t know faux newspaper (the real thing was banned gooier and there is more of it and less of the 154 Bleecker Street, between Thompson much about the East End, which turns out in the 1990s for health reasons) and we chocolate. It may not be as amazing as the Street and LaGuardia Place to be a neighborhood with a long immi- each got a dollop of mushy peas on top. Pizza East version, but it comes close. MURRAY’S BAGELS grant history. Our engaging guide, actress A Salt and Battery on Greenwich Avenue One last item of interest: At the The 500 6th Avenue, between West 13th and Madi Dunne, explained that, in the 1700s, specializes in fish and chips and also carries Pride of Spitalfields pub, there was a resi- West 12th Streets Huguenots who fled France settled there. mushy peas, should you want some. dent cat named Lenny. The Blind Tiger Ale MILE END In the early 1900s, there were over 135,000 House does not have a cat, but Myers of 53 Bond Street, between Bowery and La- Jews in the area, and when they moved CASK CONDITIONED ALE AND CIDER: We Keswick does. Their cat, Molly, was briefly fayette Street out in the 1970s, Bangladeshi immigrants walked around the corner and stopped at famous in 2006 when she went missing and LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN replaced them. In the late 1990s, the area that most British of institutions, the pub. turned out to be stuck between two build- Multiple locations, including 550 Hudson was the largest red light district in Europe. This one, called The Pride of Spitalfields ings. The story was covered extensively, even Street, near Perry Street Slowly, things began to improve as people (3 Heneage Street) was crowded inside, abroad, and during the ordeal crowds con- MYERS OF KESWICK involved in food started to move in. so we stood outside and tried Bow Bells, gregated outside the store. It took 12 days 634 Hudson Street, between Jane and Madi took us to eight food purveyors a cask English Pale Ale from Truman’s to rescue her, but she is fine and you can see Horatio Streets that spanned a wide range of cuisines and Brewery. It was relatively uncarbonated, dishes. I enjoyed it so much that, when I unfiltered, and served at room tempera- returned to New York, I kept thinking ture, but pleasant nonetheless, with orange about it. Slowly, I realized that I could de- and lemon notes. We also had a cider called sign a reasonable facsimile with establish- Orchards, which was not as sweet as most ments (mostly) in the West Village. Here is ciders found here. On Bleecker Street, the the proposed itinerary: Blind Tiger Ale House carries cask ales and ciders on tap; the dark wood interior is BACON SANDWICH: A bacon sandwich reminiscent of a British pub. contains back bacon, which is cured pork loin with a small amount of pork belly at- CURRIES: Brick Lane is synonymous with tached (American bacon is called ‘streaky Indian (actually Bangladeshi) restaurants, bacon’ in England). We enjoyed ours at St. and we went to the oldest curry house John Bread and Wine (94-96 Commercial there called Aladin (132 Brick Lane). We Street), a nose-to-tail restaurant and one of ate Vegetable Bengali, Chicken Tikka Ma- the gentrifying food pioneers in the area. sala (apparently the U.K.’s national dish), The sandwich was served with homemade and Lamb Bhujon (prepared with tomato ketchup, but we were told that brown sauce puree, coriander, and fenugreek). The veg- is also an acceptable accompaniment. Ba- etable curry was my favorite; I found the con sandwiches are on the menu at Tea chicken a bit too sweet. For similar curries, and Sympathy, and if you ask nicely, they’ll head to Surya on Bleecker Street which bring you brown sauce on the side. serves colonial Indian cuisine. BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING: We went to The English Restaurant (52 Brushfield BAGELS: Coming from New York, I was Street) for pudding, which in England quite skeptical of English bagels, but I was just means ‘dessert,’ but in this case it was wrong to be. Two bagel stores on Brick actual pudding. Bread pudding was devel- Lane are all that is left of a once-bustling oped during lean times using old bread, but Jewish community. Beigel Bake (159 Brick this one was made with brioche and served Lane) is open 24 hours, and is famous both with custard sauce—“naughty goodness,” for its bagels and its salt beef, which is pre- MOLLY THE GROCER’S CAT: Myers of Keswick is popular with British ex-pats who enjoy the we were told, and it was. In the Village, a pared by boiling beef in salt and spices for large selection of British products and fresh-baked pies, not to mention the friendly feline. Bourbon Biscuit Bread Pudding is avail- four hours. The resulting product tastes Photo by Maggie Berkvist. 18 WestView News June 2017 www.westviewnews.org

Please visit us online at westviewnews.org and hit "subscribe."

Bring tears to George's eyes... Name ______

 I still can't afford a subscription but I do want a free subscription. Address______ May I have a one year subscription for $12.  May I have a two year subscription for $24. Email address ______Phone ______ I would like to make a $_____ gift for those who can't afford a subscription.  I would like to help sponsor a page dedicated to education and kids $______Send to... WestView News, 69 Charles Street, New York, NY 10014  I love WestView and would like to make a tax deductible gift of $______7th Avenue South to Get Bike Lane, But Residents Demand More Pedestrian Safety A DOT spokesperson recently indicated that work on the 7th Avenue protected bi- cycle lane between West 30th Street and Greenwich Avenue will begin this summer and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. However, the DOT does not ex- pect to begin construction of the protected bicycle lane between Greenwich Avenue and Clarkson Street/Carmine Street until 2018 due to ongoing utility work in the area. The DOT Plan is welcome news for many residents, but leaves others demand- ing more. The CB2 Committee has called for an additional signalized crossing at Le- roy Street and expanded pedestrian spaces, particularly at Grove Street, plus an exten- sion of the project down to Canal Street. Other residents point to the existing bicy- cle lanes and more robust pedestrian pro- tections on 6th and 8th Avenues, wonder- ing why it has taken so long for 7th Avenue to become a priority. The parents and faculty of P.S. 41 on West 11th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues), who since 2013 have been advo- cating for safety improvements along 7th SAFER COMMUTING FOR NON-MOTORISTS: The new 7th Avenue South corridor will contain a parking-protected bike lane, among other design elements. (4th Avenue is pictured above.) Image courtesy of NYC Department of Transportation. Avenue South, have been among the most vocal proponents of more robust change. By Andrew Buemi today retains much of its original layout. for the Village’s non-motorists: a protected Last June, a group of federal, state, and lo- In 1914, 7th Avenue, whose southern- bike lane on 7th Avenue, extending from cal elected officials wrote to the DOT on In 1811, the City of New York adopted an most point was 11th Street, was extended 30th Street to Clarkson Street. According behalf of the P.S. 41 community and CB2, urban design plan that became famous for southward to connect with Varick Street at to the DOT, there have been over 230 ve- calling for a “complete street redesign of its logical, navigable grid system. While it Clarkson Street (this required Varick to be hicle injuries, 175 pedestrian injuries, 96 bi- 7th Avenue,” which would “greatly im- has helped preserve the character of the widened, resulting in the destruction of sev- cycle injuries, and one fatality on this stretch prove pedestrian crossing times and reduce West Village, it has also contributed to eral landmarks). The extension allowed for of 7th Avenue from 2011 to 2015 alone. traffic collisions.” unintended consequences that continue to better passage of vehicles—and the facilita- Included in the DOT Plan is a parking- The Commissioners’ Plan of 1811 was, reverberate as the City evolves. tion of business—from Midtown Manhat- protected bicycle lane with concrete pedes- for all intents and purposes, widely effective The Commissioners’ Plan of 1811 in- tan to TriBeCa, which was a thriving com- trian islands on the east side of the street in facilitating the flow of goods and people tended to catalyze the structured street de- mercial district. Soon after, construction of (reducing four travel lanes to three); the at a time of rapid growth. It has also laid velopment of Manhattan from its southern the IRT subway line—today the 1, 2, and 3 installation of split-phase traffic signals bare the inherent issues with running a grid tip through present-day Harlem, while also lines—began. The 7th Avenue South exten- at the intersections of 14th Street and 7th design into the labyrinth below 11th Street, allowing the “free circulation of air” to stave sion hence became a critical artery connect- Avenue, Greenwich Avenue and West 11th where no two intersections are the same. off disease. By this time, the City had seen ing northern Manhattan to the Village and Street, West 4th Street and Christopher As the P.S. 41 community, cyclists, and the crippling effects of yellow fever and below. However, in the process, it spawned Street, and Bleecker Street and Barrow pedestrians living in and visiting the Vil- cholera epidemics during the mid-1700s odd plazas, multi-legged intersections, and Street; and the addition of mixing zones to lage would argue, the unique history and and early 1800s. Greenwich Village became dangerous conditions for bikers and pedes- all other intersections off 7th Avenue. present-day reality of the Village behoove a haven for those seeking the fresh air and trians in the Village. The project also describes additional pe- officials to take extraordinary precautions open land of what was, at the time, a small Last month, members of Manhattan’s destrian safety improvements like concrete when devising City-wide initiatives im- hamlet technically outside of the City lim- Community Board 2 (CB2) Transportation islands and painted curb extensions, which pacting the area. its. As a result, Greenwich Village—and Committee unanimously approved a De- will force vehicles to slow down while what has become the West Village—was partment of Transportation (DOT) initia- shortening the distance between sidewalks Visit nyc.gov/dot to learn more about the excluded from the Commissioners’ Plan and tive that will make commuting a little safer for pedestrians. DOT’s 7th Avenue South Plan. www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 19 The Village is Alive and Well (on West 4th & Bank Streets)!

Home of the Grandma RuleSM Alliance Homecare is a private home health care agency offering comprehensive services in New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland.

• Recovering from surgery • Assisting with mobility Does your • Bathing and getting dressed loved one need help • Providing companionship • Preparing meals and grocery shopping at home? • Getting to appointments, events and family functions

Private Duty Nursing • Home Health Aides • Companions Professional Care Management • Physical Therapy • Nutritional Counseling Rehab to Home

Dedicated to ensuring aging in place with comfort, dignity & quality care. CELEBRATING 30 YEARS: The annual flea market at Le Fanion continues to offer treasures from the South of France. Photo by Emilee Dupré. Your family is our family. By Claude-Noëlle West Village residents; they get around by foot, rollerblades, or bicycles. They’ve kept In the Spring of 1987, two recent college up with the bohemian style that seduced graduates, who had brought wares from them 30 (or more!) years ago. Provence to the brocantes of NYC for more Over the years, Le Fanion hosted some than a year, decided to open a little store on wild Bastille Day parties with the help of the corner of West 4th and Bank Streets in Everett Quinton and the Ridiculous The- the West Village. The space had just been atrical Company, and with Laurent, a dy- renovated, and when a ‘For Rent’ sign ap- namic young French student who brought peared in the window, Claude-Noëlle ran 80 troubadours from Provence to dance the crazy idea by William, “I’m tired of the at Le Fanion’s Fête! Paloma Picasso once antique show schlepping. Should we?” He visited and bought cracked pots that she said, “Sure!” Two months later, Le Fanion “broke” into shards; she soaked them with opened its doors. her new perfume and gave them out as tes- Still run by the same yet not-so-young- ters. People still ask about the Annual Le anymore owners, William and Claude- Fanion Flea Market throughout the year. Noëlle, and shining as brightly as ever, Le It is a festive occasion that owners and cus- Fanion turns 30 years old this Spring and tomers look forward to—a chance to “visit,” continues to offer treasures from the South to catch up on what happened during the of France. year, to reminisce, or to show photographs Back in the 1980s, people moved to the of grown children or newly-adopted pets! Village to be around unique stores like Le The neighborhood has changed a great Fanion, to hang out in cafés and talk about deal. Most stores and restaurants from the art or literature, to stroll along Bleecker 1980s are long gone. Kids have grown up and Street and buy vintage clothes, or to shop become customers. Old-time customers have at Johnny Jupiter for a unique little some- moved—some to unreachable spheres. Sup- thing. You couldn’t find stores like these pliers and potters have retired or passed away. anywhere but in the Village. They were the Le Fanion has remained, in a consis- The mission of Camp Constitution is to enhance understanding of our Judeo-Christian moral heritage, our American true expressions of their owners’ person- tent and somewhat subdued way during heritage of courage and ingenuity, including the genius of our United States Constitution, and the application of free enterprise, which together gave our nation an unprecedented history of growth and prosperity, making us the envy alities, and a means of creating a sustain- all these years, a steady ambassador of the of the world. We want to motivate, inspire and activate this generation of Patriots as well as the next generation of able life for people like Claude-Noëlle and lifestyle of Southern France. At this very Patriots. We want to help find, develop, and train leaders in the freedom fight. William, who had fallen in love with the special corner in the West Village, Claude- We will also examine and expose some of the abuses and perversions that have brought our nation and economy neighborhood. Noëlle and William continue the neigh- so far down, and offer discussion to counter the negative influences in our lives, while providing recreational activi- The shops opened late because that’s borhood tradition—opening up a little ties that build our physical constitutions, as well as encouraging intelligent intergenerational conversation. how people lived in the neighborhood. At later than the rest of the City, maintaining We will publish a daily newspaper documenting – and sometimes spoofing – our activities while featuring the 9 a.m. they would head to a coffee shop relationships with neighbors, and bring- diverse talents and creative skills of our campers. Thus through participation, we will foster all-around growth in teamwork and individual leadership skills, both academic and creative. for breakfast and an early morning artsy ing the warmth and sunshine of Southern talk. Most of the people in the West Vil- France. “We feel both proud and honored We will have ample opportunity to enjoy our natural surroundings and celebrate our American cultural heritage, especially through our evening campfire programs which inspire our participation in melodic music, good humor lage were, in someway or another, involved to be such an integral part of the Village, and camaraderie, as well as inspiring respect for, and appreciation of, God, home, and country. in the arts; there were: journalists, writers, and to have played a part in this historical dancers, actors, musicians, and painters. neighborhood which has been home to so The two Le Fanion owners are still modest many famous and less-famous characters.” 20 WestView News June 2017 www.westviewnews.org Who’s Coaching Your Kids? By Paul Caccamo

It’s a challenge to raise kids in the West Village, which is why we need to take a much closer look at some of the adults with the greatest influence on them. One group, in particular, is their coaches. I’ve lived in the West Village for 20 years and have focused my career on the field of youth development. What I’ve learned is that kids often listen to their coaches more than their teachers, and sometimes, even their parents. And that may or may KIDS LISTEN TO THEIR COACHES: Coach not be a good thing. Any parent with a kid Delmy keeps the girls on her South Bronx in competitive soccer or baseball in this soccer team on the right path. Photo cour- City has seen the impact of good and bad tesy of Pauline Zalkin/Fineas Media. coaching. Bad coaches can make kids feel so much pressure that they begin to lose Training coaches to organize and custom- confidence in themselves—and that can ize the sports experience to keep every transfer from the playing field to the class- child engaged and to constantly foster room. I knew that if I could create a new these values is the hallmark of my pro- model for coaching, emphasizing values gram’s success. like teamwork, leadership, and inclusion, I Since launching the program, I have hired might just prove that sports are not only and trained more than 2,100 coaches from worthwhile but critical to inspiring the New York City to Los Angeles. I have also health and well-being of urban youth. been able to recruit an equal number of In 2010, I launched Up2Us Sports. With female and male coaches, which is badly public and private funding, I hired young needed if we are to extend the benefits of adults to spend a year as coaches in schools, sports equally to girls. Lastly, during the parks, and nonprofits in low-income urban past two years, I discovered that returning communities. In order to become a coach, veterans make incredible coaches for youth. they had to first complete extensive train- Their years in the military have taught them ing on using sports to inspire positive youth the same values of leadership and discipline development. that are critical to success on a sports team. Research has shown that sports par- The value of all this to West Villagers ticipation can lead children to better de- may be obvious but I’ll restate it as a ques- cision-making on and off the field, like tion: What kind of training is your kid’s saying no to drugs and/or staying focused coach getting? It’s worth asking before you on academics. Additional research has give that coach the responsibility of being linked the benefits of sports (e.g., physical one of the most important adult figures in activity, positive peer experiences, adult your child’s life. role models) with a greater ability to deal with stress and trauma, both of which dis- I welcome WestView readers to learn more proportionately affect urban youth. These about our coach-training program by visit- outcomes are not endemic to sports, but ing Up2UsSports.org and contacting me at are the product of intentional coaching. [email protected].

A QUARTER OF A CENTURY: Ariadne and Doric Capsis are joined by their daughter Sophia and son Theodore for a 25th Anniversary photo. Photo by XXXX. www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 21 West Village Houses: The Saga Continues

Mary A. Vetri Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker [email protected] 917-969-0048

• A proud Greenwich Village neighbor; born and raised in Brooklyn

• 24+ years as a Real Estate professional in the Village

• BHS 2015 and 2013 Manhattan Rental Broker of the Year

• Full service Residential Real Estate Broker MAINTENANCE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Recently, West Village Houses embarked on significant façade repairs and changes, including the addition of large picture windows in the stairwell walls. Photo by Brian J. Pape.

By Brian J. Pape, AIA its most vulnerable buildings. All information is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, prior sale or withdrawal Shareholders of WVH also mention the without notice. All rights to content, photographs and graphics reserved to Broker. Equal Housing Opportunity Broker. In the April and May issues of WestView garage at Washington and Perry Streets, News, I reviewed the history of West Vil- which produces some income for WVH, lage Houses (WVH), beginning with their but could also be sold for revenue. But to 1960s inception as residences to replace di- whom and for what type of development lapidated industrial buildings along the el- should it be sold? A meeting to discuss evated railroad on Washington Street. The those options will be held in May. railroad had erected the elevated tracks, Facing the expiration of its tax abatement starting slowly in 1929, due to public outcry in March 2018, which will significantly ELIMINATE STUBBORN FAT after years of deaths on the surface tracks raise everyone’s tax bill (one shareholder leading from the St. John’s Terminal build- says it will double his monthly charges), WITHOUT SURGERY OR DOWNTIME Call today to schedule your FREE consultation. ing at Clarkson Street to various manufac- WVH residents have mobilized informa- & FEEL GREAT FROM EVERY ANGLE.Get the results you're looking for. turers on the far west side of Manhattan. tion meetings. On April 20th, Julie Walpert 212-737-1308 The City-sponsored WVH residences and Jim Charleton of the City’s Housing got off to a rough start, both financially and Preservation Development (HPD) De- and aesthetically. Heavy-handed simplifi- partment presented a ‘Proposal to Extend cation of construction was forced onto it the HDFC,’ which would create a condo of Call today to schedule yourMFREEZakirconsultation.Sabry MD Plastic Surgeon to save costs. During the quarter-century two co-ops. One co-op would need to have Get the results you're looking forCall. today to schedule your FREE consultation. 20 Fifth Avenue 1-D under the Mitchell-Lama Housing Pro- at least 40 units committed to the HDFC Get the results you're looking for. BEFORE 212-737-1308New York, NY 10011 gram, residents saw the change from a option for at least 20 years, while the other 212-737-1308 www.zplasty.com Results and patient experience may vary. While CoolSculpting is safe, some rare side effects may occur. As with any medical procedure, rough-and-tumble maritime work area to co-op would contain units that revert to only your CoolSculpting provider can help you decide if CoolSculpting is right for you. In the U.S., the CoolSculpting procedure is a highly improved and desirable residential market-rate ownership, without restrictions. FDA-cleared for the treatment of visible fat bulges in the submental area, thigh, abdomen and flank. Outside the U.S., the CoolSculpting procedure for non-invasive fat reduction is available worldwide. ZELTIQ, CoolSculpting, the CoolSculptingMlogoZ,athekSnowflakir Saebdesign,ry MD Plastic Surgeon neighborhood. Since 2006, WVH main- The HDFC co-op maintains current and Fear No Mirror are registered trademarks of ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. © 2017. All rights reserved. IC1843-A 20 Fifth Avenue 1-D tained its affordability as a City-supported monthly charges, but caps sales prices M Zakir Sabry MD Plastic Surgeon 9 WEEKS AFTER 20 Fifth Avenue 1-DNew York, NY 10011 tenant-centered 420-unit complex—a and income restrictions for buyers (even Second CoolSculpting® Session Photos Courtesy of Edward Becker, MD New York, NY 10011www.zplasty.com housing development fund corporation if they are family members) as well as the Results and patient experience may vary. While CoolSculpting is safe, some rare side effects may occur. As with any medical procedure, www.zplasty.com (HDFC) cooperative increasingly sur- 25% flip tax. Call today to scheduleGet theonlyyour yourresultsCoolSculptingFREE you’reproviderconsultation.can help lookingyou decide if C oolSculptingfor. is right for you. In the U.S., the CoolSculpting procedure is Get the results you're looking for. Results and patient experience mayFDvaryA-cle.arWhileed forCoolSculptingthe treatmentisofsafe,visiblesomefat rbulgesare sideinefthefectssubmentalmay occurar.eAsa, withthigh,anyabdomenmedicalandprocedurflank.e,Outside the U.S., the CoolSculpting rounded by expensive condo towers. Rumors have circulated that WVH only your CoolSculpting provider canprocedurhelp eyoufordecidenon-invasiveif CoolSculptingfat reductionis rightis availablefor you.worldwide.In the U.S.,ZELtheTIQ,CoolSculptingCoolSculpting,procedurthe CoolSculptinge is logo, the Snowflake design, FDA-clear2ed for1the2treatment-7of3visibleand7Fefatar-bulgesNo1Mirrin3ortheare0submentalregister8ed trarademarkea, thigh,s ofabdomenZELTIQ Aesthetics,and flank.Inc.Outside© 2017.the UAll.S.,rightsthe Creserved.oolSculptingIC1843-A Recently, WVH has embarked on sig- could be sold to a private developer, who procedure for non-invasive fat reduction is 20%available worldwide. OFFZELTIQ, CoolSculpting, the CoolSculpting logo, the Snowflake design, nificant façade repairs and changes, in- could then build new condo towers at mar- and Fear No Mirror are registered trademarks of ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. © 2017. All rights reserved. IC1843-A cluding the addition of large picture win- ket rate. That would require a majority vote dows in the stairwell walls, opening light by shareholders, as well as major zoning M Zakir Sabry MD Plastic Surgeon and views. Bricks have been tuck-pointed and land use changes. However, this is un- 20 Fifth Avenue 1-D and replaced where needed; work on many likely and not getting serious consideration New York, NY 10011 of the 42 buildings has been phased over from shareholder groups. www.zplasty.com Results and patient experience may vary. While CoolSculpting is safe, some rare side effects may occur. As with any medical procedure, numerous months, at budget-bustingonly your cost.CoolSculpting providerWhatcan help isyou cleardecide if toCoolSculpting officialsis right forisyou. howIn the U.S.,difficultthe CoolSculpting it procedure is FDA-cleared for the treatment of visible fat bulges in the submental area, thigh, abdomen and flank. Outside the U.S., the CoolSculpting Superstorm Sandy flooded someprocedur eWVHfor non-invasive is fattoreduction developis available andworldwide. maintainZELTIQ, CoolSculpting, affordablethe CoolSculpting houslogo,-the Snowflake design, Tel: 212.737.1308 buildings, but those damages have andbeenFear No reMirr-or are ing.registered So,trademark Mayors of ZELTIQ Aesthetics,de Blasio’sInc. © 2017. goalAll rights rofeserved. 200,000IC1843-A 20 5th Avenue, Suite 1D, New York, NY 10011 paired with insurance coverage. The co-op affordable units over 10 years is indeed an www.zplasty.com has purchased a flood protection system for aggressive goal. Can it be achieved? 22 WestView News June 2017 www.westviewnews.org Nest. Egg. By Keith Michael

This little wren went to market, This little wren stayed home, This little wren had, well, caterpillars, This little wren had none. And this little wren went, “Wee wee wee” all the way back to the nest. —Anonymous

Let’s face it: Birds are baffling. They have feathers. They can fly. They either migrate incomprehensibly long distances or survive brutally cold northern winters, without long johns or down coats. (Oh wait, they do have down coats, but still, those twig legs!) Their eyes are on the sides of their heads. They hatch from hard eggs. (“Which came first…?” is the ultimate riddle.) And they build architecturally intricate nests. On the sidewalk, a bright blue Robin’s egg catches my eye (and Millie’s nose). At the end of her leash, Millie’s corgi-shortness is the perfect vantage point for examining this seemingly alien shell tottering in the summer breeze. I have to stoop to pick it AN ARCHITECTURALLY INTRICATE NEST: A wee House Wren goes “au natural,” nesting in a street tree cavity. Photo by Keith Michael. up while looking for the other half at the curb. Perfectly smooth, a bit of down feather to lay eggs and care for the hatchlings. In- Robin constructs what most of us think of in the T-bar pipe supports for the traffic stuck to the outside, and that color! Look credibly, the strategies and range of engi- as the classic bird nest: a comfortably rob- lights. Bluebirds and Kestrals have readily up. Where’s the nest? The branches of the neering skills employed for this safe place in-sized bowl woven of twigs and grass se- adapted to man-made nest boxes, though willow oak above are too dense to find it. run the gamut from the nearly non-exis- cured in the fork of a tree branch. The eggs they’re very finicky about floor plans, ceiling But that’s the point: Hidden is better. tent to the equivalent of raising a fortress are laid, obviously, in the center. Simple. heights, and accessible entrances. The basic purpose of a bird’s nest is simi- with sentries. But how do Robins know how to construct Larger birds such as hawks and herons lar across species: to build a protected place Our common red-breasted American this perfectly efficient nursery the first demand more real estate. Their piles of ever- time, every time? There are no pre-assem- larger sticks are more likely to be retrofitted bled starter models, no ‘How-To’ manuals year after year, whereas smaller birds pains- to Google, no Ikea instructions that come takingly start from scratch each season. An with all of the pieces in the box (one hopes) eagle’s nest can grow to nearly a ton and can and the note: “Some assembly required.” be reused for decades. On the ephemeral Aside from this classic nest, the variants of end of the spectrum, gulls, terns, and shore- style and ingenuity are nearly endless. Hum- birds that “nest” along the coast, travel light, mingbirds make a Lilliputian demitasse cup barely scratching an indentation in the sand from spiderweb silk and lichen flakes. Wood- before depositing their tidy clutch of eggs, peckers, rather than weathering the elements maybe pushing a few pebbles nearby as egg- of the great outdoors, prefer the arduous task like camouflage. Beach-nesting birds, oddly of chiseling a hole in the trunk of a tree, cre- enough, don’t sit on their eggs so much to ating a tidy round woodpeckers-only door- keep them warm, but to shade them so that way that keeps unwanted company out. The they don’t hard boil in the sun! fiery orange and black Baltimore Oriole has As for the ‘nest-as-fortress’ model, visit the opposite strategy. They’ve moved out to Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn and the suburbs at the very ends of tree branches look up at the imposing gothic gateway en- to weave a hanging silken pouch for their trance. At the top of the central spire is a eggs, choosing wind-blown leafy twigs so mammoth installation of sticks. Screaming tiny that even squirrels can’t trapeze to them. to and fro are dozens of green, blue, and Then there are the Barn Swallows and the white Monk Parakeets (their provenance Chimney Swifts who build elaborate mud from Argentina is another story). This pile nests under eaves or bridges (Swallows) or of sticks is a fly-up condominium with inside chimneys (Swifts), one mouthful of multiple entrances. Any predator should mud at a time. think twice (or even once) before raising VIEWS BY SUZE Birds known as cavity-nesters—Spar- the wrath of this boisterous coven of sharp- 50 + years in Greenwich Village rows, Starlings, Bluebirds, Kestrals, and tongued (and billed) birds. our wee-wee-wee-ing House Wren—prefer Millie has stood, or rather sat, in the hot See Views by Suze setting up housekeeping in a pre-fab home. sun quite long enough, and her eyebrows at the Abingdon Square Being near people, our buildings suit them inquire, “That egg shell is very nice, but Chase Bank Through just fine. We provide a bounty of nooks and can’t we go back to our air-conditioned crannies protected from the rain and iso- nest now?” I acquiesce. May andJune lated from homewrecking predators. Check 917-686-6542 out the Starlings gallivanting in and out of For more information about New York City [email protected] window pediments or roof cornices, and the WILD! outings, birding, photographs, or House Sparrow co-ops at every intersection books, visit keithmichaelnyc.com. www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 23 The Broadway Musical Trail— So-So Shows with One Exception By Robert Heide p.m. to midnight where host Rich Conaty plays 78 rpms of the 1920s and 1930s. Two shows which recently opened on The sad news is that, when you buy Broadway, Bandstand at the Bernard B. tickets to Broadway musicals these days, Jacobs Theatre at 242 West 45th Street there are few memorable songs. I would and Anastasia at the Broadhurst Theatre include the hit, super loud, and aggressive at 235 West 44th Street, are just so-so. shows Kinky Boots and The Book of Mor- Both are around the corner from Hello mon in this category. Dolly! at 225 West 44th Street on Shu- This is also true of Anastasia, which is bert Alley at the Sam S. Shubert Theatre, partly based on the film of the same name where the incomparable Bette Midler as starring Ingrid Bergman, Yul Brynner, Dolly Gallagher Levi is drawing Broad- and Helen Hayes. (Bergman won a Best way crowds like no show since Hamil- Actress Oscar for the role.) The film also ton. With great songs by Jerry Herman featured a beautiful popular song entitled and Michael Stewart, advance sales have Anastasia, which was recorded by several exceeded $40 million; some say that the top artists. The problem with the story is show might simply be called Hello Bette. that the film opens with the Princess, sup- Bette lived for many years in the Village posedly murdered in the Russian Revolu- on Barrow Street where she still owns prop- tion with the rest of her family, wandering erty; I remember her sweeping the sidewalk the streets of Paris 20 years later in a state in leopard leotards and high-heeled shoes of amnesia. The entire first act is given to in the 1970s. That was around the time she the Revolution and just getting the Prin- performed her one-woman shows at the cess to Paris with a pompous parade of the Palace Theatre and later starred in Clams on Czar’s family (mostly as ghosts) juxtaposed the Half Shell Revue. Those who saw these with dour scenes of Communist Russia. shows will never forget them. New Yorker Act Two picks up with Anastasia finally critic Hilton Als cited the filmThe Rose— in fashionable 1920s Paris. However, the made shortly after her Broadway successes, hoards of unruly and very young people, where she played a singer modeled after apparently huge fans of the animated 1997 Janis Joplin, opposite Fred Forrest as the film, screamed and laughed throughout love interest who couldn’t save her from self the show when I attended, completely destruction—as one of the best movie mo- shattering the writers’ good intentions of ments of her career. this latest and unnecessary incarnation of If I seem to be side-tracking, I am doing the mythological story (music by Stephen so only to describe the two so-so shows, Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, book by Bandstand and Anastasia, around the cor- Terrence McNally). ner from Dolly, both costing millions of Bandstand fares a little better. The sing- dollars to put on. I wonder why or how ers and dancers are good looking and do such money was spent and why or how well with their vocalizing, but to little avail; these shows ever made it to Broadway. the music and songs often fall flat. The di- Recently, I saw an interview with rection and dance routines by Andy Blan- composer Richard Rodgers from 1974 kenbuehler, who choreographed for Ham- re-broadcasted on CUNY TV. He com- ilton, have main actors singing, dancing, plained that nobody writes Broadway and playing several instruments on stage, musical songs that audience members which ultimately wears them out, along can hum or sing as they leave the theater with the audience. I kept thinking of a DOES YOUR LANDLORD anymore. Songwriters like Irving Berlin, long-ago Broadway show called The 1940s Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Radio Hour incorporating actual hit songs Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Arthur of the 1940s era, the great Big Band music, WANT YOU OUT? Schwartz, and others fostered by Tin Pan some of it upbeat, some positively senti- Alley, are largely responsible for what’s mental, all of it swell. It gave the bandlead- called the ‘American Songbook.’ For this, ers Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Sammy tune into Jonathan Schwartz’s (son of Ar- Kaye, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, and thur) music program on 93.9 FM Saturday vocalists Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Do- nights from 8 p.m. to midnight or Sundays ris Day, and Peggy Lee their due. Every- from noon to 4:00 p.m. Every Sunday you one was, if not dancing, at least humming can also catch the Big Broadcast from 8:00 and singing the music as they left. Call Joe Turco LOCAL FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHERS Tenant Advocacy Are you interested in the West Village, its people, places, politics, and more? Do you occasionally find yourself with time on your hands? [email protected] How about joining the Westview News team to help out from time to time on fun neighborhood photo assignments? (347) 854-7602 We'd love to hear from you. Please call George Capsis at 212.924.5718. 65 Oriental Blvd.,Brooklyn Ny 11236 24JUDSON WestView EASTER AD.qxp_Layout News 1 June 3/29/16 2017 5:50 PM Page 1 www.westviewnews.org A Restoration Without Shortcuts Did you know that 1750 people a week By Anne Olshansky commemorate Merton’s residency there. Joe also plans to move into 35 Perry go through the Judson doors for public, cultural, In 2015, Joe Ienco purchased the West Street when the work is completed, how- Village landmark building at 35 Perry ever, he’s not sure when that will be. Ini- artistic and educational purposes? Street. As an experienced property owner tially, he planned according to the renova- and landlord, he had plans to renovate and tion timeline, but soon discovered that the Did you know that 80% of Judson's restore its original beauty and character. building’s unstable condition warranted a Being a West Village resident for the past great deal more work. Foundation-related “Common Space” is used by the public? 30 years and a Village history aficionado, problems in the backyard required com- Joe dove enthusiastically into researching plete gutting and correction; the staircases the building’s unique past in order to ac- were unsafe and violated City codes; the Did you know that Judson needs a curately represent the landmark structure. building façade was detached from the side The four-story brick townhouse at 35 walls; and the beams were so severely rot- new elevator? Perry Street is one of three Italianate- ted that only plaster walls supported the style houses in a row constructed in 1852. ceilings and upper floors. This last prob- Would you like to help? Originally built as a one-family dwelling, it lem once caused a resident’s foot to punch was converted into a rooming house in the through the wooden floor of her apartment Contribute at www.judson.org 1890s. One of Number 35’s noted dwellers and the ceiling of the apartment below. during this time was the Trappist monk, Joe is adamant about using materials of writer, and social activist Thomas Merton, superior quality and is unwilling to compro- And, of course, you are welcome to who lived there in the 1930s while working mise his standards; this approach is more join us every Sunday at 11 on his graduate degree in English. In fact, aligned with the interests of preservation. am. at one point, to ascertain the dimensions of However, work permits are regularly de- You might enjoy worship in a different key. the outer balconies, Joe consulted Merton’s layed because all plans and changes need the own writings. In an excerpt from The Seven approval of the NYC Department of Build- Storey Mountain (which is on the National ings and their inspectors who must visit Review’s list of the ‘100 Best Non-Fiction the site to confirm that Joe’s improvements Books of the 20th Century’), Merton men- meet (or, in his case, surpass) the current Judson Memorial Church tioned sitting on the balcony; Joe knew to requirements. Joe is installing steel beams 55 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012 revise the dimensions of the previous plans and columns that will provide “fortification because they would not have accommo- which will last a millennium,” and is deter- www.judson.org for more information or to give us a lift. dated such an activity. It was meticulous mined to achieve a restoration that will rival research but personally rewarding to con- the solid structures of ancient Rome. tribute to preservation efforts. Joe feels that this approach to restor- After Merton, the building was reconfig- ing 35 Perry Street will not only add to ured again in the 1960s to accommodate pri- the aesthetic beauty of the block (he has vate apartments, and then became a co-op- replaced the balcony and added four flower Counselor At Law erative in the 1980s. In the video “A Merton boxes), but will also “keep history alive.” Pilgrimage,” produced by America Magazine, His neighbors are in agreement and have Contributing Editor Father James Martin supported his efforts. As Joe says, “It seems Disability Law stands in front of 35 Perry Street and ob- pointless to renovate a landmark building serves that there is no plaque in front of it. in a manner that wouldn’t last as long as When restoration is completed, Joe intends [it’s] been around.” He hopes that other Max Leifer P.C. to have a plaque affixed to the building to builder-renovators will follow suit.

Max D. Leifer PC is an established law firm with over 40 years experience in Personal Injury, Caruso’s Quips Negligence, Social Security Disability, Long Term Disability, By Charles Caruso Commercial and Union Appeals. Cityscape: No curtains, ladder against a wall.___ Someone’s gone, someone new is coming. Everyone rewrites his life into a form he can live with. We are committed to providing ___ high quality representation Immigrant’s progress: from blue___ collar to white collar to no collar. and we work aggressively to obtain Spring is a promise___ summer doesn’t keep. the best possible results Where Hamlet got his furs: Rosencrantz___ and Guildenstern & Co. and protect the rights of our clients. Our politics come from our deepest gut. Free consult in person or by phone. ___ Even the saddest___ moment passes. Please feel free to contact us with any questions A man who calls a woman ‘Baby’ doesn’t know anything about women—or babies. and our friendly staff will assist you with your concerns. ___ Americans don’t know their own history, a real advantage for our rulers. ___ Boxer with the runs: Kayo Pectate. 214 Sullivan Street, Suite 3-C, ___ The one who calls is the one in need. New York, NY 10012 ___ Tel: (212) 334-9699 • Fax: (212) 966-6544 Yellow sneakers and white hair. Hmmm. [email protected] ___ Your jokes tell where your heart is broken. www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 25 One Guy’s Story and a MULLIGAN National Epidemic PLUMBING & HEATING By M. Zakir Sabry, MD tiple medications to manage the activities of “There was always a moment of inertia.” daily living. The estimated annual health care That was the best way that Guy could ex- cost of obesity-related illnesses is a staggering plain his every movement prior to having $190.2 billion, or nearly 21% of annual medi- weight-loss surgery. As he so eloquently cal spending in our country. put it, “Every time I moved, there was a The social aspect is a whole other story. pause of a second or two and, then my large Obese individuals are trapped in bodies they hanging skin and fat caught up with me.” can’t deny and somehow adjust to the new For years, this is how Guy managed his reality. According to Dr. Paul Thodiyil, Chief day-to-day business. Contrary to the con- of Bariatric Surgery at the Mount Sinai-Beth ventional preconception, Guy was not an Israel Medical Center in New York City, Since 1920 average couch potato who ingested large many, almost 60% to 70%, consider them- Three Generations of Mulligans amounts of processed and fried food and selves relatively healthy and without the need WE GET BETTER AND BETTER! watched TV all day. He was, and still is, a for any medical/surgical intervention. small business owner who runs a construc- The solution is multi-factorial—a com- tion company and does well enough to feed bination of behavior therapy, diet, and ex- his own family and 15 others. ercise. All of these factors are essential for Fast, Competent, Affordable How did Guy let himself go? He has success but there is a subset that includes a simple explanation, “I loved food.” He strictly surgical candidates. Post-surgery, Bathroom and Kitchen worked hard, earned enough, and spent not only do physical appearances improve, most of it eating while his family helplessly confidence levels also improve and, best of Renovations watched him getting bigger and bigger. So, all, medical problems disappear; most are eventually Big Guy became the new normal. able to discontinue their pills. Before Guy knew it, he was a mammoth However, once the heavy burden of obe- 322 lbs. One day, he realized that some- sity is lifted, most patients are left to deal (212) 929-1809 thing had to give, and it was his weight. with a new problem—the persistence of After having a very poignant conversation redundant wrinkly skin and the misdis- 14 A Morton Street, New York, NY 10014 with a friend who underwent weight-loss tribution of fat. This new problem can be Fax (212) 929-2007 surgery, Guy decided that it was time to let addressed only with staged body contour- the scalpel change his course. ing procedures including: abdominoplasty, Obesity is a national epidemic that is on lower-body lifts, thigh lifts, arm lifts, and the rise. More than one-third (35.7%) of sometimes face and neck lifts. adults are considered to be obese. More than These procedures are not always afford- 1 in 20 (6.3%) have extreme obesity and it able and may present complications. How- affects both sexes equally, about 36% of each. ever, the rewards can be overwhelming. Most people with obesity are at risk for type With changes in appearance comes the feel- II diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, ing of a new, jubilant life. In Guy’s words, fatty liver, osteoarthritis, certain types of can- “I feel incredible…like a different person. I cer (e.g., breast, colon, endometrial, kidney), feel [like] I’m 10 years younger. Today, I feel and stroke. These individuals often take mul- every part of my body, and know it’s there.”

Cyber Hand continued from page 7 cops so I emailed Jamie Dimon, the hand- must think of our readers who may experi- some young Greek-American Chase Presi- ence the same cyber theft. dent who went to Bronx Science. He came “How did they get the number of my right back with, “Sorry, we get so many of card?” I asked the nice, young Chase offi- these attempts we have to use computers.” cer who looked pained as he offered, “I don’t I foolishly boasted to my nice, young know.” He then called the Branch Manager Branch Manager that Jamie Dimon who politely talked in circles and circles and emailed me back. He, in turn, gossiped to handed me the official Chase pamphlet—30 the District Manager who went insane— pages of fine print. He referred to page 9, How could you let a customer send an paragraph 3 (I can’t find the book now so email to Jamie Dimon? The District Man- that may not be the right page). ager then had every copy of WestView re- Some time ago, I received a robot call moved and stuffed into other people’s news from Chase telling me that somebody boxes around the subway entrance. was trying to remove thousands of dol- My email protest went unheeded because, lars from my account. The voice asked if as I discovered later, you don’t send emails that was OK. After blurting out to the ro- to Jamie Dimon but to the lady in charge of bot voice that it was not OK, I marched reading Jamie Dimon’s emails. She decides with righteous indignation to the bank to if they should be put on his desk. Oh, but protest—With that much money about to last week the lovely new Branch Manager be stolen, a humanoid should have called, all on her own, without prompting, smiled not a robot! I received furrowed brows, a and offered “You can leave your papers.” sympathetic drone, and vague allusions to: Computers will not only rob our few “That’s how the bank does it.” bucks from the bank but the human ex- Yes, well, I am the man who slaps bullying change as well. 26 WestView News June 2017 www.westviewnews.org

LOYALTY PROGRAM • GIFT CARDS FREE DELIVERY Bread and Roses By Keen Berger rents. Mayor de Blasio and Councilmember Chin can fight for that instead of letting the real estate industry profit by 1. Affordable housing is a top priority. destroying a valuable garden. 2. Every community needs housing that is truly affordable. Making truly affordable housing available in every com- Yes and yes. I agree completely with both statements. I munity involves: (a) creating four times more affordable GREENWICH VILLAGE state this at the outset to prevent critics of the Elizabeth housing on Hudson and Clarkson Streets—an exchange Street Garden (including Mayor de Blasio and Council- that Community Board 2 (CB2) has made and that the City 512 HUDSON STREET • NYC 10014 member Chin) from implying that they are noble, and has not considered, (b) building housing on the former St. WWW.SEAGRAPEWINES.COM • 212-463-7688 fighting against greed. John’s Terminal site (for which CB2 and Corey Johnson ob- However, like a blind bulldog with a meatless bone, tained far more senior housing than Elizabeth Street Gar- some people fall into an ideological trap that makes them den could ever have), and (c) finding other neighborhood bite anyone who tries to look at the big picture. Housing locations where no thriving garden would be displaced. is a top priority—YES. Housing is the only priority—NO. The neighbors of Elizabeth Street (young and old) be- I taught at Sing Sing prison, where housing and food are lieve that their community is park-starved. Some WestView free for inmates. In doing so, I saw that people need more contributors disagree. But everyone should stop growling than a small room to thrive. What Elizabeth Street Garden over a bone and start recognizing that humans need more will continue to provide unless the lot is carved up by devel- than a place to sleep. Once the gnawing stops, we can join opers is: (1) a conduit for social support, (2) a community forces to keep Elizabeth Street Garden whole while creat- gathering space, (3) neighborhood friendship, (4) plant cul- ing low-cost housing in areas that now have neither parks tivation and growth, (5) fresh air, and (6) multi-generational nor affordable homes. interaction. People need all six components to live fully. To I write not only as someone who has taught in prison destroy them for very few apartments is like that dog with and in the poorest neighborhoods of the Bronx, but also PARAGONTAX the bone, unable to release its grip and see that people do as someone who has been displaced from her West Village not live by bread alone. Bread AND Roses are necessary home for nearly a year due to a fire. I have a safe room in This boutique tax preparation and business services firm (look that up on YouTube to understand the reference). Brooklyn, and I am grateful for it. But I realize every day offers expert personalized service. In order to make housing a top priority, we must have all that a place to sleep is only a start: People need community. Dan Pantor has 25 years of experience in: luxury developers offer half of their apartments at affordable Elizabeth Street Garden is, for many just that—community. individual, corporation, partnership, nonresident taxes, all state taxes, corporation setup, individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN), payroll for small companies, and sales taxes. Kill the Zombie Park Already 718.707.0606 / [email protected] / paragontax.us Part I: Build Housing By Alec Pruchnicki which sometimes includes community gardens. Elizabeth Street Garden advocates say that Community Board 2 (CB2) It should be dead, but somehow it’s still alive. Advocates lacks parks. But venture a few blocks north and east of CB2 continue fighting to keep the Elizabeth Street Garden and you’ll find a plethora of park space. entirely open space rather than a site for housing. Since Now, local business owners, including Allan Reiver, his WestView News first examined this issue in its articles: son Joseph, and a few others, have formed a new organiza- “Selfishness One, Housing Zero” (May 2016) and “Parks tion to sue the City and stop the building of housing. This Are Good, Housing is Better” (November 2016), the basic is unsurprising. Years ago, Reiver did a lot of work to fix up arguments are still the same. the garden and leased it from the City to store materials First, the City is experiencing a housing crisis. Home- from his gallery. Does this give him a proprietary interest lessness has increased more than three-fold since the Koch in this parcel indefinitely? Years ago, Arturo Di Modica administration—from over 17,400 in 1988 to over 62,000 placed his massive Charging Bull statue near Wall Street, people today. Beyond the numbers, it is plain to see all around at Broadway and Morris Street. When the Fearless Girl the City—they sleep on our sidewalks, panhandle, and show statue was erected in front of it, he claimed it infringed on up in our hospitals, prisons, and subways. On rare occasions, his freedom of speech by ruining the image of his work. they engage in horrific acts of violence. They live in crowded Does he have propriety rights on that sidewalk? No, this is INCOME TAX quarters with their families, often with resources stretched to stealth privatization of public space. PREPARATION the breaking point. They desperately need housing, not parks. How does this matter to the West Village? At a recent in the privacy of your own home... Second, there is no shortage of parks around Elizabeth town hall meeting, several prominent West Village politi- Street. The garden is made attractive by its lawns, flowers, and cal activists castigated Mayor Bill de Blasio for supporting very reasonable rates statuary, which other concrete-paved parks don’t have. But, housing instead of the garden. If he had taken their ad- Call Peter White within five blocks of the garden, there are six parks, concrete vice, he would have moved the housing to a lot on Hudson paved, but parks nonetheless. They have their own strengths, Street, in the heart of the West Village. 212.924.0389 including handball courts, athletic fields, playgrounds, water Though this debate only involves the West Village fountains, public bathrooms, and a food kiosk. Addition- slightly now, it may heighten a lot more in the near future. ally, these parks have extended hours and much more space, Stay tuned.

Candidates continued from page 12 decisions affect their lives,” said Erik Coler. “The give- tration for small businesses. However, it wasn’t clear whether and-take between audience members and the candidates this would be legal or under the Public Advocate’s purview. demonstrated the knowledge and passion of our commu- Former firefighter Kevin Coenen seemed sincere in his nity and helps keep our elected officials on their toes.” disgust with corruption in City Hall, but wasn’t able to On May 11th, the VID endorsed Mayor de Blasio and articulate a clear rationale for his candidacy for Mayor. Public Advocate Letitia James; it declined to endorse “We were happy to provide an opportunity for our Cyrus Vance for re-election. The Democratic Primary will neighbors to speak directly to the elected officials whose be held on Tuesday, September 12th. Using State and City Law to Fight Bad Landlords By Joseph Turco, Esq. As usual, record-keeping and due dili- gence will come in handy at our upcom- The battle between landlords and tenants ing hearing in that case, where it’s alleged is epic. It’s like a jungle, where the landlord that the landlord had been deceitful and predator can smell weakness from a mile malicious regarding a rent-controlled away. apartment. That should be a red flag for In my April 2017 article in WestView anyone concerned about preserving afford- News, “Landlords: From Best to Worst able housing. Our client is fighting back (and So Much in Between),” I wrote about at the New York State agency, Division of a longtime West Village tenant, Lydia Homes and Community Renewal, whose Martinez. Her family had owned La San- main City-wide office is in Queens (visit gria back when Flamenco was regularly NYSHCR.org for more information). performed at their Hudson Street restau- Elsewhere in the Village, it is not a land- rant. Lydia’s residential landlord, Time lord raising our concern this week, but a Equities (owner/manager of 150 buildings cooperative board (co-op), which is some- City-wide), claimed that a mere four late times worse, especially when that co-op rent payments constituted a breach of her is badly managed and its financials are in rent-regulated lease. Hogwash. Once we disarray. If your co-op board has not held responded in court with counterclaims for a board meeting in years, leaves sharehold- the landlord’s failure to make required re- ers in the dark about important matters, or pairs, they backed down and withdrew the neglects its responsibilities, it is important case against her. to strike back and assert claims and de- Any lawyer will tell you that you must fenses early. As for common areas, outer Additional Performers: Friends and leading former students of Ms. Lee, the assert the “warranty of habitability” defense walls, structural issues like foundation and photo credit: Al Fuchs Sylvia Olden Lee Centennial Chorus whenever you can, and that’s what we did roof problems, and services like plumbing Selections from: Verdi, Mozart, Schubert, Donizeei, Beethoven, et. al; against Time Equities. That means that and electric, the co-op board is responsible and African-American Spirituals when a landlord uses your rent arrears as for all of it. That board will be held to the a basis for eviction, you break out the list same standard as any other landlord in this TICKETS: $28 - $75 of complaints and requests to repair. These regard. carnegiehall.org | CarnegieCharge | 212-247-7800 Box Office at 57th and Seventh requests are useful later in court, especially So, shareholders and residents, take note: For more info and special rates: 718-709-8722 | fftrocc.org when they are ignored. The greatest arrow in any tenant’s quiver— Our case against Time Equities was complaining about problems and demand- concert Performed at The verdi proper tuning A=432 hz successful because of Lydia’s good record- ing repairs—is available to any shareholder keeping, and her respectful vigilance when or resident in a co-op when the board is complaining by text and calling 311 when a suing for unpaid common charges. report was justified. (Is it just me or is 311 a They say when it comes to landlords, I much better service now than it was in the like “stickin’ it to the man,” which is true, v past?) The bottom line is that an empow- but I also take pleasure in negotiating ami- ered tenant makes all the difference (con- cable settlements, which we did recently sult the Tenant Rights and Responsibilities with landlord Ken Friedman of Chris- section at NYC.gov). topher Street. As landlords go, Ken is a A new case on our docket involves rent- pretty decent guy, agreeing to a concession controlled apartments on West 10th Street, that he did not have to, proving that there where a landlord named Julian Whiting ap- is some kindness among the 1%. pears to be bucking for a place on the Pub- I hope to write a future article with posi- lic Advocate’s 'Notorious Landlords' List. tive conclusions to these and other cases. Readers should be aware that, in addition to Sometimes landlords do see the light and the common defenses and actions available are compelled to behave better. That’s usu- to tenants in the City’s housing courts, New ally because the tenant or his/her advocate A Mediterranean Nisi York State law provides complaint forms displays a stiff upper lip, a thick skin, and (Greek for “Island”) and hearing officers if you feel that you’ve a strong spine—all necessary to survive in been retaliated against, denied service, ha- the jungle. Home-cooked Mediterranean classics rassed, or denied a lease renewal. All of the above seem to have happened in Mr. Whit- For more information on New York City hous- of the Aegean Sea. ing’s buildings. ing rights, visit metcouncilonhousing.org. Beautifully prepared by award-winning chef Nikola Karvela. Favorite Restaurants, Continued PICCOLO ANGOLO (621 Hudson Street, at Enjoy the warm family spirit and gracious staff Jane Street): In more than 20 years, I’ve Will you share your favorite West Village never had a bad meal at this family-run es- restaurant with the readers of WestView? which make Nisi a must-visit. tablishment. I’ve found it a little expensive Please limit each review to 50 words or less but always high quality. Its large portions and provide five ratings, each on a scale of 1 and diverse menu make it well worth the to 5, with 5 being the most positive. The rat- 302 Bleecker Street price. One caveat is that it can feel small ing categories are: Food, Service, Price, Am- and crowded, which has never bothered biance, and Noise (e.g., A “Price” rating of 4 (212) 727-7463 me, but might annoy others. would indicate a good value for the money; Food: 5 Service: 5 Price: 5 A “Noise” rating of 1 would indicate a noisy Nisi Estiatorio Ambiance: 4 Noise: 4 venue). —Alec Pruchnicki 28 WestView News June 2017 www.westviewnews.org Carnegie Concert to Honor Sylvia Olden Lee sic was the most powerful weapon…to achieve that objective. By Dennis Speed She believed that ‘Where words divide, music unites.’” The Foundation for the Revival of Classical Culture is pre- To that end, Sylvia developed a program entitled “Project senting a concert at Carnegie Hall, in collaboration with SYLVIA (Saving Young Lyric Voices In Advance).” This the Schiller Institute, New York Chorus, and Harlem Op- program entailed a comprehensive approach to teaching era Theater on June 29, 2017 at 7:30 p.m., to honor the voice training and proper voice placement, in the national 100th birthday of the extraordinary musician and vocal school system, from grade school through high school. It coach, Sylvia Olden Lee. Performers will include vocal- also focused on the preservation, maintenance, and devel- ists and instrumentalists that knew, worked with, and were opment of the vocal capabilities of matured professional deeply affected by Ms. Lee, including: Osceola Davis, El- and non-professional singers. Within the last decade of vira Green, Gregory Hopkins, Everett Suttle, Simon Estes, her life, Ms. Lee was involved in a non-stop crusade to Kevin Short, David Lofton, Richard Alston, and others. re-popularize classical musical performance and education Sylvia Olden Lee (1917-2004) was among the greatest among all youth. “The great voices of the operatic stage are vocal coaches of the 20th century, and an extraordinary singing in the garages, waiting on tables, and singing in the music teacher. As a talented young performer, she played showers of our country,” she often said. for Franklin Delano Roosevelt at his first inauguration at On June 29, 2017, the occasion of Sylvia’s 100th birth- the age of 16. A classical musician fiercely proud of her day, the Foundation for the Revival of Classical Culture African-American origin, Sylvia successfully rectified the HONORING SYLVIA OLDEN LEE: Students from the Founda- anticipates that at least 1,000 of the people that attend once-prevalent misconception that the spiritual was inferi- tion for the Revival of Classical Culture’s Summer Program Carnegie Hall for the tribute will be between the ages of or to the canon of classical music. She was a go-to person, display their various constructions of the “five Platonic 11 and 18. In addition, the Foundation hopes to form a in Europe and America, for countless promising singers solids.” Photo by Lynn J. Yen. 'June 29 Movement,' a choral association and network of trying to break into the world of opera and concert recitals. borne of her unflagging faith in a better future for all man- persons devoted to the research, performance, and teaching She worked with singers including: Elisabeth Schumann, kind. Fearless in the face of controversy, Sylvia toured in 1942 of spirituals and other elements of the classical repertoire. Kathleen Battle, Gerhard Hüsch, William Warfield, and with the great, and later much-maligned Paul Robeson. All who share an enthusiasm for this task are heartily Jessye Norman, among others. “Sylvia’s truth-telling teaching was intended to lift the hu- encouraged to attend the June 29th Carnegie Hall concert man spirit through music,” said Lynn J. Yen, Founder and and to help alert others to it. PROJECT “SYLVIA” Executive Director of the Foundation for the Revival of Clas- Sylvia Olden Lee’s great passion, and most enduring legacy, sical Culture. “She wanted…us to realize, as she [often] said, The Foundation for the Revival of Classical Culture may was her 60-plus years in teaching. In this field, she displayed that we are all one human race, and to discover that universal be contacted at (718) 707-8722 for more information and an energy, enthusiasm, and endurance that was authentic, harmony is the natural condition of mankind. For Sylvia, mu- group and discount rates for tickets.

Are We Alone? Ruminations About Extraterrestrial Life (Part One) By Josef Eisinger the formula outlined above; its remarkable stability and flexibility made Darwinian In these troubled times, it is enlightening and evolution possible. consoling to ponder our place in the larger While somewhat different biological scheme of things. We are today privileged to schemes may well have evolved under dif- have gained a realistic perspective of our place ferent conditions, it seems likely that they in the universe thanks to the great progress would employ the same matchless solvent, scientists have made in the past century. Their water, and would also employ carbon-based observations of the universe and the laws of molecules because the rules of quantum nature they discovered explain the physical mechanics (Pauli Principle) endow the car- and biological evolution that brought hu- bon atom with uncommon chemical versa- mankind to the state it is in. tility. In searching for extra-terrestrial life I find this insight most gratifying and it, it is, in any case, reasonable to look where in turn, raises the question posed in the ti- the prevailing conditions resemble those DID LIFE EMERGE ON OTHER PLANETS? This is an artist’s impression of the planet Proxima b, tle of this essay: Is our story of life on Earth which orbits our nearest star Proxima Centauri on the horizon. It is pictured with its companion on Earth—home of the only example of a unique or did life emerge on other planets stars Centauri A & B above it and to the right. Image courtesy of ESO/M. Kornmesser. successful biological evolution we know. scattered by the billions in our own gal- In Part Two of this piece, I will further axy, the Milky Way, and in the universe at the laws chemistry—or, more precisely, ac- components into a self-reproducing organ- explore the nature of the conditions neces- large? And beyond that, did life elsewhere cording to the rules of quantum mechanics, ism, remain hidden. The same chemical sary to foster extraterrestrial life. evolve to a technological state comparable which determine their affinities to each oth- building blocks are, incidentally, also found to that attained on Earth—a notion that er. The results of many experiments give us in meteorites—those messengers from outer Josef Eisinger, Professor Emeritus at the has some intrepid Earthlings contemplat- confidence that the same physical laws are space that land on Earth. Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New ing interstellar communications. valid in all corners of our universe. All forms of life on Earth, from the York, is the recipient of two Guggenheim The raw materials that make up a living The raw materials of extra-terrestrial lowly ant to the majestic whale, employ Fellowships, and the author of more than organism—its constituent atoms and mol- life—the elements and their chemistry—are the same biological master plan to create 150 scholarly articles that range from nuclear ecules—are at the base of all such specula- therefore very familiar to us, whatever planet a living organism: a genetic memory, cod- physics and molecular biology to the history of tions. We know from observations and the they find themselves on. But for a living or- ed with four letters (the bases of DNA), science. While at Bell Laboratories, Eisinger’s well-tested laws of physics that the same ganism to evolve from them, the prevailing which is expressed in proteins that consist research base for 30 years, he and colleagues 92 stable nuclei that exist on Earth are also conditions must be ‘just right,’ and must re- of some 20 different amino acids, strung developed the Hematofluorometer—a device found in all reaches of our universe. We also main so for a very long time. We know that, together in the particular order that de- for diagnosing lead poisoning. Eisinger is also know that, under suitable conditions, these under suitable conditions, the sun’s radiation termines each protein’s form and function. the author of Einstein on the Road, Einstein positively-charged nuclei are surrounded can generate the basic building blocks of life Other schemes for generating living or- at Home (Prometheus Books 2011, 2016) by electrons to form atoms and molecules (e.g., carbohydrates, amino acids) in water, ganisms may have existed on Earth in the and his memoir, Flight and Refuge: Reminis- that interact with each other according to although the crucial steps of assembling the distant past but could not compete with cences of a Motley Youth (Amazon 2016). www.westviewnews.org June 2017 WestView News 29

Jim Fouratt’s REEL DEAL: Movies that Matter

JUNE 2017 winning documentary on Edward Snowden, CITIZEN JANE: BATTLE FOR THE CITY It’s June: Festivals and Pride are in the air. Citizenfour. Julian Assange is the subject Director: Matt Tyrnauer In this era of “fake news,” 90-second sound of this well-crafted documentary contain- Jane Jacobs lived in Greenwich Village bites, fast food documentaries, and the ing subtle touches of artistic vision. Poitras for about 30 years. When she heard that constant “breaking news,” we welcome the first started shooting whistleblowers in 2011. city planner Robert Moses was going to 28th edition of The 2017 Human Rights Assange was the most prominent and she put a road through Washington Square Watch Film Festival (HRWFF), which is continued to follow him with her camera. Park, she said to herself “NO!” Robert co-presented by the Film Society of Lin- He and WikiLeaks lawyer Sarah Harri- Moses was well known for his bullying tac- LANDLINE: Jenny Slate and Abby Quinn coln Center (FSLC) and IFC Center ( June son (who I met at Fort Mead in Maryland tics and had an almost imperial presence in star in Gillian Robespierre’s new film. Image 9th through June 18th). This international, when we both attended the Chelsea Man- re-shaping New York City into something courtesy of BAMcinemaFest. traveling film festival is especially strong ning military court trial) were instrumental that would no longer point to the past but this year with 21 films and discussions tures like Girls Town and Our Song, he in getting Edward Snowden out of Hong to the modernist future. Moses either had showcasing courageous activists dur- “sings the song electric.” His new film, En Kong to safe harbor when the U.S. govern- the support of, or stood above, the politi- ing challenging times. The Blood Is at el Séptimo Día, which is about an immi- ment made it impossible for him to switch cians of the City and succeeded in imple- the Doorstep is about the killings of black grant, feels like it was ripped out of today’s planes in Russia. (Snowden got stuck at the menting his vision overall. However, Mo- people, mostly men and boys, in the U.S. newspapers. In fact, it is the story of people Moscow airport.) Poitras is upfront about ses went one step too far in wanting to put In Complicit, one worker stood up and who come from somewhere else to build her conflict between respecting the cour- the roadway in the middle of Washington said “NO!” to Foxconn and its Chinese a better life—a story that started with the age of Assange and maintaining a distanced Square Park. Jane Jacobs’ quiet outrage set government connections. Foxconn has 13 Pilgrims on the Mayflower. Also returning view of his personality as he lives confined to to challenge the giant not with a slingshot, Chinese plants that manufacture Apple is one of my favorite storytellers, Andrew a small apartment in the Ecuadorean Em- but her pen. Skilled at letter writing, she cell phones in slave-like working condi- Dosunmu, who has an eye for beauty and a bassy in London. While Assange has nerves choose her weapon carefully. Citizen Jane sensitivity for what lurks beneath the mask of steel, she also questions in a voice-over his is not a documentary which is neutral in of secrecy. The director of Mother of George, “creeping vanity.” Many people hate Assange, its viewpoint and, if you live here in the Dosunmu returns with Where is Kyra? from Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton vot- Village, you probably don’t want a neutral We also see the return of Obvious Child di- ers. The latter are still outraged that he had documentary. Citizen Jane is very relevant rector Gillian Robespierre with Landline. WikiLeaks publish the Democratic National today as we see our community being rav- Be warned: this festival sells out. Committee emails which showed that Clin- aged by real estate cabals united in greed— Really, BAM’s Rose Cinema is just a ton’s campaign was complicit in shutting out their frenzied building of luxury condos short subway ride away. Bernie Sanders. Poitras appears to take no even where a hospital used to stand and COMPLICIT: This film centers on the woman Gentrification and its effects on resi- sides in Risk and it is not a puff piece on As- serve the community. who exposed working conditions in the dents and small businesses in the City, sange. What she does, as in her other work, is Michael Bloomberg was the “socially FOXCONN iPhone factory. Image courtesy including Greenwich Village, is a subject present in a complex and challenging manner conscious and morally ethical” indepen- of BAMcinemaFest. important to older people who have lived living history. I came out of the theater think- dent, political entrepreneur mayor. He tions reminiscent of 1984. In Home Truth, here a long time. It borders on sentimental ing about Abbie Hoffman with whom I had saw development as the future of New murder made a newly-minted activist fight nostalgia for what once was. While docu- a close relationship in the 1960s. (Hoffman York City and placed Amanda Burden, a back and confront the police department’s mentaries are the logical place to put into was a charismatic narcissist, who was much woman born into a billionaire family and cover up of what actually happens. These context what has been happening in our loved by people who did not know him per- a member of the Social Register, as the are just part of the inspiring stories of the neighborhood, I recommend two award- sonally.) Risk is a compelling documentary head of the New York City Department HRWFF. A complete list of films can be winning narrative films by our neighbor Ira that moves like a thriller not the least because of City Planning. There wasn’t a develop- found here: ff.hrw.org. I will cover more Sachs, which you can view through all the of the soundtrack by Jeremy Flower. Poi- ment plan that Bloomberg wanted that extensively the films and panels on the normal streaming platforms (e.g., Netflix, tras has made what we see little of today in he did not get. This time, there is no Jane WestView website and my Reel Deal blog. Amazon Prime, etc.) popular, fast food documentary filmmaking. Jacobs to emerge like Joan of Arc to save Besides film, there are special events and Sachs puts into context how disruptive to It is easier to produce black-and-white ad- our community and so the “ghost con- panels and all the films will have Q&As family life and neighborhoods gentrification vocacy by taking sides on complicated issues, dos” have been built on the skeleton of after the screenings. If you have kids, or a is. Love is Strange, set in the Village with both political and personal. But Poitras, like a hospital. significant other, make a play date and take a cast of recognizable faces, tells the story Charles Ferguson and Alex Gibney, puts all I think it is critical for anyone who cares them to the HRWFF. of how one same-sex older couple loses its the facts on the table and allows the viewer about saving whatever is left of the Green- BAMcinématek ( June 14th through rent-regulated apartment and how its inter- to make the choice. Because of the political wich Village culture and community to June 25th) has, since its inception nine generational community of friends come to climate we are living in today, Risk should be see this film. Is it too late? Possibly! The years ago, become one of the most excit- the rescue (Marisa Tomei, who was brought seen by all, regardless of how one personally court win involving the NYU expansion as ing festivals in the U.S. Its programming up in the Village, is perfect). In Little Men, feels about Julian Assange. Risk raises ques- well as the local politicians’ and Commu- features some of the best new American which is set in Brooklyn, a house left to an tions of freedom of expression, freedom of nity Board 2’s (CB2) acceptance of the St. independent films. Now in lock step with actor and his psychologist wife becomes the the press, and the right of the public to know John’s Terminal waterfront project are MoMA and FSLC’s New Directors/New template for what happens when the high what its government is doing. poised to fundamentally rupture the infra- Films, it targets the Brooklyn millennial cost of living, taxes, and rents make it im- structure of what is now called ‘Greenwich filmgoers and the creative community. The possible for small businesses to survive. Village.’ The amount of people moving in line-up this year includes the big-screen How this affects the friendship of two boys to live and work within the boundaries of return of acclaimed New York filmmaker is the core of the story. Both of these narra- CB2 I think would give Jane Jacobs a ma- Jim McKay. He is back from the land of tive films capture the effects on individuals jor migraine. But I do believe that cinema the small screen after his move to Los An- when relationships are impacted by gentri- has the power to give people the will to geles where he worked in quality network fication. Sachs is a master storyteller and a stand up and say “ENOUGH!” Well, you and cable television and raised a family. genius at casting. can see what Citizen Jane has done to me. I have waited almost 10 years for him to Go see it for no other reason than to learn return to the kind of cinema so needed Let’s Go to the Movies... the history of Greenwich Village. these days, the kind that tells the stories of CITIZEN JANE: Jane Jacobs holds high everyday people. McKay is committed to RISK the signed petitions to stop the road [email protected] humanizing by making visible the people Director: Laura Poitras through Washington Square Park. Photo jimfourattsreeldealmoviesthatmatter.blogger. who ride public transit anywhere. In fea- Risk is Laura Poitras’ follow-up to her Oscar- courtesy of the U.S. Library of Congress. com

Modernism lives in Tribeca.

A collaboration of design visionaries. KPF. David Rockwell. David Mann. Edmund Hollander.