2010 August | The Lo-Down : News from the Lower East Side

A new operator wants to serve alcohol at the home of the old White Slab Palace, which was shuttered by authorities last year.

Liquor License Applications: A Preview of February’s List

Back to School: Bureaucrats Fix Spelling Error!

Scenes From Chinese New Year Celebrations

Weekend Mayhem, East River Rescue, What a Shang

Three people were hurt after gunfire erupted outside a bar near the South Street Seaport (Daily News).

Saturday night on 13th Street: one man shot in the hand, another cut in the face during a brawl in an apartment building lobby (Daily News).

NYPD divers pulled a man out of the East River (Post).

An in-depth investigation of Summerstage’s bike valet service (Capital NY).

The Shang take-down: the restaurant in the Thompson LES is “off the rails.” (Eater).

Good Morning!

Williamsburg Bridge. Image from newhannibal112's Flickr photostream.

92 degrees and mostly sunny today, with a chance of thunderstorms tonight.

Kavanagh Weighs in on Girls Prep Situation

State Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh is now out with a statement on the Girls Prep matter:

Earlier this week the State ruled that the New York City Department of Education has failed to meet its legal obligations to consider the needs of the P94 school community and to publicly disclose its plans for addressing these needs before reducing the space allocated to P94 in order to accommodate the expansion of Girls Prep Charter School. The Department’s mishandling of this matter and its announcement that it will nonetheless proceed with its plans are troubling on a number of levels. Continue reading Kavanagh Weighs in on Girls Prep Situation

Squadron, Chin, Mendez Sharply Criticize DOE Handling of Girls Prep Situation

We’ve already heard from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer on the DOE’s handling of the Girls Prep situation. They strongly criticized Chancellor Joel Klein’s decision to allow the LES charter school to expand, in spite of a ruling from the state education commissioner blocking the plan. Now State Senator Daniel Squadron, as well as Councilmembers Margaret Chin and Rosie Mendez are weighing in. First Squadron’s statement:

“I urge the Department of Education to heed Commissioner Steiner’s decision. The new NYC school governance law is clear. The ‘emergency exemption’ is not meant to be a loophole to drive a mack truck through. There is a process in place for the state commissioner to determine whether parents have been meaningfully consulted, and the Department must adhere to it.”

Chin and Mendez have sent a letter to Chancellor Klein. You can see the full text of that letter after the jump. Continue reading Squadron, Chin, Mendez Sharply Criticize DOE Handling of Girls Prep Situation

Weekend Music Picks

Here are musician Ken Beasley’s top music picks on the Lower East Side this weekend:

Superbravo

SUPERBRAVO – Friday, August 6 at 8pm

Not to be confused with the oddly authentic bluegrass band Superbravo from Norway, this SuperBravo from Paris is a sensitive singer-songwriter, with a charmingly innocent delivery of her honest, uncomplicated songs. Continue reading Weekend Music Picks

Rachel Ray Brings Healthy Habits to LES

A class chops potatoes with Chef Instructor Hollie Greene at Rutgers Housing Development

We caught up with some young chefs in a cooking class at the Rutgers Housing Development last week. They were making a vegetarian meal that included a cold melon soup, potato salad, and sauteed string beans with caramelized onions. Along the way they were introduced to all kinds of fresh herbs. They were learning to describe the food as savory, sweet, spicy or sour, in order to determine what they liked or didn’t like about it.

Continue reading Rachel Ray Brings Healthy Habits to LES

Weekend Arts Wire

Hot! Festival comes to a close this weekend at Dixon Place. They note on the FB page: Gee – we’re actually kind of sad Hot Festival is ending this weekend. It’s been a great summer and the artists, audience, interns, press, and cocktails have been amazing. At least you’ll have Fringe Festival at Dixon Place for the rest of August – and our Lounge is open every night – see ya’ll in the Fall!

Everyone is now gearing up for FringeNYC, which begins August 13th and will feature nearly 200 theater companies. Many venues on the L.E.S. will host some of the productions.

Continue reading Weekend Arts Wire

NYT on Girls Prep, EV Hostel Transformed, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot

Girls Prep controversy: the DOE has 6 months to comply with a state ruling. The Borough President calls the Education Department’s decision to use its emergency powers a “brazen display of indifference.” (NYT)

Looking ahead to today’s jobs report, Rep. Carolyn Maloney says a recovery is underway (Huffington Post).

A lawyer representing 9/11 victims in a high profile lawsuit backs Maloney’s challenger (WSJ).

From illegal hostel to pricey townhouse on East 7th Street (Curbed).

Continue reading NYT on Girls Prep, EV Hostel Transformed, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot

Good Morning!

Image via cuttlefish's Flickr photostream.

Mostly sunny today with a high of 87. Saturday and Sunday? Almost exactly like today. No thunderstorms in the forecast the next 72 hours. Have a great weekend.

Girls Prep Ruling: the DOE Responds

We’ve just heard from the Department of Education about the Girls Prep situation. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver released a statement earlier today saying the DOE’s decision to implement an expansion plan for the charter school — in spite of a state order blocking it — amounts to a “breathtaking end run around both the law’s requirements and the right(s) of parents…” Continue reading Girls Prep Ruling: the DOE Responds

Silver Calls Klein’s Girls Prep Decision “Blatant Abuse” of Emergency Powers

Joel Klein

As we reported last night (via Gotham Schools), the Department of Education has decided to go ahead with the Girls Prep expansion plan in spite of a ruling by the state education commissioner blocking the proposal. The commissioner, David Steiner, said the DOE failed to consult with parents from P.S. 94, one of two schools sharing space with Girls Prep in a building on East Houston Street.

DOE Chancellor Joel Klein signaled his intention to implement the original plan, invoking a section of state law that permits the DOE to act unilaterally when it is, “immediately necessary for the preservation of student health, safety or general welfare.”

Continue reading Silver Calls Klein’s Girls Prep Decision “Blatant Abuse” of Emergency Powers

Community Wire

Educational Alliance: Job Fair for after school programs August 16th.

Grand Street Settlement: Grand Coalition of Seniors performing at Baruch Houses Family Day Saturday.

Abrons Arts Center: register for classes online.

Nuyorican Poets Cafe: Urban Word NYC Summer Justice Poets Performance feat, today at 3pm. Free.

Rooftop Dining, “Pop-Up” at Alias, the Essex Party

Rooftop dining at Silkstone, a restaurant scheduled to open on Orchard Street later this year.

What’s happening on the Lower East Side food front? Quite a lot! Continue reading Rooftop Dining, “Pop-Up” at Alias, the Essex Party

DOE Ignores Girls Prep Ruling, Previewing Cuomo vs. Silver, Pickle Press

More on the Girls Prep saga: “Chancellor Klein ignores court ruling.” (Daily News)

Two neighborhood schools – Shuang Wen and P.S. 130 – performed particularly well on state math tests (Gotham Schools).

Speaker Quinn stands up for community gardens (NYT).

More on 514-516 East 6th Street: Urban Justice Center attorney Harvey Epstein says a city ruling (ordering the owner to take down part of a rooftop addition) is a victory for tenants (NYT).

Continue reading DOE Ignores Girls Prep Ruling, Previewing Cuomo vs. Silver, Pickle Press

Good Morning!

Or is it good night? University Settlement posted this shot on Facebook, along with the caption, “There’s nothing like a nap on the air-conditioned subway after a long, fun day of summer camp!” 92 degrees today with possible thunderstorms this afternoon.

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Weekend Mayhem, East River Rescue, What a Shang

Good Morning!

Kavanagh Weighs in on Girls Prep Situation

Squadron, Chin, Mendez Sharply Criticize DOE Handling of Girls Prep Situation

Weekend Music Picks

Rachel Ray Brings Healthy Habits to LES

Weekend Arts Wire

NYT on Girls Prep, EV Hostel Transformed, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot

Good Morning!

Girls Prep Ruling: the DOE Responds

Silver Calls Klein’s Girls Prep Decision “Blatant Abuse” of Emergency Powers

Community Wire

Rooftop Dining, “Pop-Up” at Alias, the Essex Party

DOE Ignores Girls Prep Ruling, Previewing Cuomo vs. Silver, Pickle Press

Good Morning!

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