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June 30th, 2009
A few weeks ago we told you about the latest imaginative project from the guys at "Grand Opening" on Norfolk Street. In the past, they've turned their storefront (at 139 Norfolk) into a drive-in movie theater complete with a sky blue 1965 convertible, a ping pong parlor and an art gallery. Starting July 10th, it will be a Vegas style wedding chapel. We stopped by the soon-to-be chapel recently to get the scoop from the "wedding planners."
 In a past life, "Grand Opening" was a drive-in movie theater.
 A ping pong parlor was the first "business" to open at "Grand Opening"
Ben Smyth and his brother moved their business to the Lower East Side a couple of years ago, opening the storefront as an offshoot of their design firm. Ben says they wanted to do something to engage the community, tapping into the diversity and artistic spirit the neighborhood is known for. The concept behind "Grand Opening" is to unveil a new "business" every few months. So far there have been about 10 projects, some more popular than others.
 The wedding chapel concept seems destined to be a big hit. One of their employees, Kevin Fey (pictured), has gone through an exhaustive (about one hour) correspondence course to become a minister in the Universal Life Church. You get to choose the cheesy backdrop: beach, forest, whatever you want. Ben says there's already been quite a lot of interest. Some people are having real weddings in the 250 square foot space – others are renewing their vows or having a commitment ceremony. You can even rent a bride or groom. There is room for around 20 guests. They'll stream a live feed of your big day on the internet.
"Grand Opening" is raising money for the project on Kickstarter. They only have one more day to reach their fundraising goal of $3,000. There's still about 500 bucks to go. You can see more information about the Wedding Chapel and watch a video here.
June 30th, 2009
A State Supreme Court judge rules Senate Democrats and Republicans must meet together in the same room– just like actual adults.
The Civic Center Residents Coalition will endorse Bill Thompson for mayor today.
Summer in the city: an interesting night at Tompkins Square Park.
Another sign of gentrification on the Bowery: it looks like the Salvation Army's East Village Residence is about to become an upscale sushi restaurant/night club.
Tonight's Tenement Talks: behind the scenes. How did they put together their first exhibits… the story behind the restoration of 97 Orchard. 630pm at the Tenement Museum.
June 29th, 2009
Today we have the third installment of our series of interviews with the candidates running for the 1st District City Council seat currently held by Alan Gerson. The District includes the Lower East Side, Chinatown, Soho, Wall Street
and Tribeca. We have already heard from Margaret Chin and Pete Gleason, two of the candidates hoping to deny Gerson a third term. Today, it's PJ's Kim's chance to talk about the issues impacting the District.
Kim was vice president of Single Stop USA, a company that helps low income families access government services such as food programs and health care. He also worked as Director of Income Policy for FoodChange, now part of the Food Bank of New York. Kim graduated from Princeton in 2001, and moved to New York to work for McKinsey, the management consulting firm. He served on Community Board 1 for two years.
In these interviews, we want the candidates to be able to lay out their
positions fully. For that reason, editing was kept to a minimum. We
removed extraneous comments that were repetitious or not directly
related to the question asked, and streamlined questions. For more
information on the campaign, including our interviews with Chin and Gleason, see below. The full interview with PJ Kim can be found after the jump.
TLD Interview: Margaret Chin
TLD Interview: Pete Gleason
PJ Kim's web site
Gotham Gazette's Profile of District 1
City Hall News primer on District 1 race
Continue reading TLD Interview: City Council Candidate PJ Kim
June 29th, 2009
State politicians are warning that chaos will ensue in New York City's schools if the paralyzed Senate does not act to extend mayoral control by tomorrow night.
On Friday, police arrested two teens in connection with anti-Semitic acts on the Lower East Side.
Did Mayor Bloomberg suggest he supported the idea of reopening Park Row? Some Chinatown residents say he did, but the mayor's office denies it. The Downtown Express has the details.
This afternoon at 5pm, Norm Siegel, public advocate candidate, will be holding a campaign event in Columbus Park.
We reported it last week – now the Times has details of the lifeline being offered by the city to the cultural and community center, ABC No Rio.
Paparazzi/screaming girl alert: Rob Pattinson will allegedly be on Orchard Street near Grand today, shooting his new film, "Remember Me."
June 26th, 2009
New York 1 reports police are investigating who's responsible for a swastika that was painted on an interior door at the Bialystoker Synagogue on East Broadway. According to the report, a smoke bomb was also set off. The story includes comments from State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who's attended the synagogue his entire life. Silver indicated surveillance cameras might have recorded the suspects. See the report here.
June 26th, 2009
Mark Duplass and Joshua Leonard in Humpday.
Rooftop Films is back on the LES this evening on the Open Road Rooftop with director Lynn Shelton's Humpday, a "bromantic" comedy taken to extremes when two college buddies decide to test a limits of an art project by sleeping with each other. "And there's nothing standing in their way – except Ben's wife
Anna, heterosexuality, and certain mechanical questions." More info and tickets here.
John Kelly's Paved Paradise: Redux is still thrilling audiences at Abrons Arts Center through tomorrow night. You can read the NYPost review here.
 Pride Goes East presents a full day of events on Saturday, including 30 Gay Plays in 60 Straight Minutes. B.Y.O.L.C.
(Bring Your Own Lawn Chair) for Pride East Village-style, an afternoon
of free performances, rainbow kite flying, outdoor dining, and tickets
deals. www.fabnyc.org
June 26th, 2009
The Associated Press and the New York Times pick up the "Tru-Life" arrest story. The Times reports the Lower East Side rapper, whose real name is Roberto Rosado, faces second degree murder and gang assault charges in connection with the fatal stabbing of 20 year old Christopher Guerrero on June 15th. Another man Jason Gray was also stabbed – he was released from the hospital yesterday. Rosado's brother Marcus, was arrested yesterday, and the Times says he faces similar charges. Attorneys for the two brothers say they are not guilty. The dispute apparently began outside a nigh club on 46th Street, and ended in the lobby of an apartment building on 26th Street: Several
people drew knives, and in the violence that followed — part of which
was captured by a surveillance camera — Mr. Guerrero and Mr. Gray were
stabbed, the police said. Mr. Guerrero died from injuries to his
internal organs and blood loss, according to a complaint filed in
Manhattan Criminal Court.
June 25th, 2009
More on the arrest of Lower East Side rapper "Tru Life," which we mentioned in our news links this morning. The Daily News has posted a story online adding new details:
Roberto Guzman Rosado Jr.
- better known as the rapper Tru Life – was arrested three days ago for
the June 15 stabbings that left a second victim in critical condition.
The 33-year-old is jailed on Rikers Island on charges of murder, assault and weapons possession, police said. Rosado's brother, Marcus, also surrendered Wednesday night at his lawyer's office, sources said Thursday. Marcus Roasado is to be arraigned on murder charges. The
stabbings occurred around 9:30 a.m. as part of an ongoing dispute that
began earlier at Club Pasha on W. 46th St., police sources said. Rosado and his brother are accused of chasing Jason Gray, 30, and Christopher Guerrero,
20, into the lobby of a building on E. 26th St. Cops said the duo
pulled knives and stabbed Guerrero in the stomach and Gray in the
chest. Guerrero died of his wounds; Gray was critically injured. The original disagreement involved Black and Marcus Rosado brother, the sources said. Tru
Life was signed to a six-figure deal in 2005 by Jay-Z, who was won over
by Rosado's braggadocio in a face-to-face meeting. Rosado told the
hip-hop mogul that he was pronounced legally dead at Bellevue Hospital following a shooting, but survived.
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