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November 17th, 2009
David McWater, chairman of a CB3 committee charged with formulating a plan for the redevelopment of the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area (SPURA), threatened tonight to put the panel's work on indefinite hold. For months, the economic development committee has been working towards a goal that has eluded the LES for 42 years: a plan all of the neighborhood's constituencies can accept. But this evening, McWater told committee members he was unwilling to continue deliberations because some factions on the committee were "pursuing their own agendas."
After a tense 30 minutes of debate, McWater agreed to add SPURA to the December agenda. But he vowed to walk away from the table if future meetings became a forum for protests and name-calling, rather than negotiation and compromise. McWater also said he was "100-pecent certain" city officials, who recently began collaborating with the committee, would end their involvement if they sense the community is not unified.
Continue reading McWater Threatens to Suspend Work of SPURA Committee
November 17th, 2009
Girls Prep, the LES charter school seeking to expand, will be discussed once again at tomorrow night's District 1 Community Education Council meeting. The school, located n P.S. 188, made its case for adding grades and taking over more classroom space, at last month's meeting. School officials and District 1 representatives will discuss possible scenarios for expansion during tomorrow's gathering. Some parents and advocates of traditional public schools are strongly opposed to the expansion. The meeting takes place at 6pm, at P.S. 20, 166 Essex Street. Anyone wishing to speak should sign in at 530.
November 17th, 2009
It's been a good fall for one of this year's hottest newcomers, An Choi. Owner Tuan Bui tells us the Orchard Street banh mi/pho emporium has seen a 30-percent sales increase since his beer and wine license finally came through. He doesn't think it's the only factor. An expanded menu has helped, as well. Among the new items: thit kho, caramelized pork belly with Vietnamese pickles, and com suon bi, a grilled lemongrass pork chop with shredded pork skin over rice. There are also some heartier banh mi offerings, including one featuring a grilled pork basil meatball and hanger steak. Tuan says the continued positive buzz in the neighborhood and in widely read publications (including a mention in Details Magazine) have not hurt. Tuan mentions that pop-up sensation "Asia Dog," a weekly visitor over the summer, is taking a bit of a break.
November 17th, 2009
It’s a rare occurrence when all of the members of CB3′s SLA committee are in agreement. But it happened last night, during the debate over “Grand Park,” the elaborate, glass-enclosed Italian restaurant Jesse Hartman wants to open on Grand Street. The committee approved a full liquor license in June, but because lease negotiations with the Seward Park Co-op (Hartman’s prospective landlord), have dragged on, he was forced to return to CB3 for an extension. It didn’t take long for the committee to conclude, as board member David McWater put it, “this is a co-op battle and not our issue.”
Several residents, who had not been aware of last summer’s debate over “Grand Park,” came to the meeting to speak out. Among them, Ernest Marshall, who distributed letters to all 1700+ Seward Park apartments last week, critical of the proposed restaurant. “With children, elders and working parents, students who attend school all within a hundred feet of this proposed bar,” he asked last night, “why do we need another
bar in the neighborhood?”
Continue reading CB3: Fate of “Grand Park” for Co-op to Decide
November 17th, 2009
WNYC-FM's David Garland (Spinning on Air) will host a marathon concert to benefit Mode Records at Abrons Arts Center this Saturday beginning at 6pm. The concert will celebrate the label's 25th year of cutting edge modern classical, avant-garde and new music. There will be an "early show" (6pm) with a special solo performance by Philip Glass and a rare performance of John Cage’s “Concert for Piano and Orchestra” with special guests.
Continue reading Philip Glass, John Zorn to Play Benefit for Mode Records
November 17th, 2009
The Gotham Gazette has a roundup of the first City Council meeting since Mayor Bloomberg's re-election. The Council passed four bills designed to loosen parking restrictions, including a muni-meter "grace period," Bloomberg has promised to veto.
The NYPD has ordered a large reorganization of its Organized Crime Control Bureau, which includes the anti-street gang units.
Continue reading Parking Pushback, Silver Supports “Leandra’s Law,” Saluting the Strokes
November 17th, 2009
The New Amsterdam Market will be back down on South Street this Sunday for their Thanksgiving Market from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Start with a coffee tasting, then grab some cheese from local Saxelby Cheesemongers and pick up your pre-ordered turkey and a pie for the big feast.
November 17th, 2009
From the Educational Alliance:
The Educational Alliance Preschool
on the Lower East Side is currently accepting applications for the 2010-2011
school term. With its large, bright, airy classrooms, the Preschool offers
classes by age group, including “Almost 2s”, 2 year olds, 3 year
olds and a brand new classroom for 4 year olds – created in
response to the restricted number of Universal Pre-K spaces in this
neighborhood.
Continue reading Educational Alliance Accepting Preschool Applications
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