This morning’s Daily News recounts the tearful testimony of Vietnamese kung fu actress Ly Huong, who’s on trial in Brooklyn for kidnapping her own child in 2005. According to the article, she fled this country to escape her husband, restaurant owner Tony Lam (“the King of Canal St.”). Huong said she left her successful acting career in Vietnam and came to the U.S. to be with Lam, owner of “Bun” on Grand Street. Reporter John Marzulli explains:
When she got to New York, Lam forced her to work in a pizza joint, talked about bringing home hookers and slapped her around, she claimed. “I just wanted to get a knife and cut my throat,” Huong cried. Lam testified he wouldn’t last a minute in a fight with his ex-wife, who is an expert in Thai boxing and Continue reading Kung Fu Actress Faces Off Against Ex-Husband, the “King of Canal Street”
Last night there was a fire in an 18th floor apartment of the Seward Park Cooperative on Grand Street (it was in 268 East Broadway/near Montgomery). Resident C Merry reports on her blog, LES NYC Window, that she heard two “explosion sounds” and that a burning object fell on to a walkway. The Fire Department, located just a block away on Pitt Street, arrived quickly. The fire was extinguished in just a few minutes. We’re checking to see if anyone was hurt. C Merry also posted the photo after the jump. Jac Zagoory sent us the photo from the lobby of the Seward Park building.
UPDATE 11:01AM: Seward Park General Manager Frank Durant said he could not discuss any details without the permission of the people who live in the apartment. Witnesses say two residents were hospitalized overnight (see oshma’s comment below). We’ve decided to refrain from using their names unless/until they give us their permission.
UPDATE 5:24pm: One resident remains hospitalized tonight but is going to be okay. The apartment is very badly damaged.
A few minutes ago I ran into Din Yates, the very friendly owner of Cheeky Sandwiches, 35 Orchard Street. He had some good news to brighten this gray winter day. To celebrate the shop’s first anniversary, he’ll be giving away those delicious New Orleans-style sandwiches all day long (or at least while supplies last).
Din makes just eight types of sandwiches, including: fried chicken with coleslaw on a buttermilk biscuit, pork with caramelized apples and onions on challah and and oyster and shrimp po’ boys. Din has gotten a ton of great reviews during his first year in business and attracted a big following in the neighborhood.
John Shapiro (pictured), a facilitator working with Community Board 3′s SPURA task force, has his work cut out for him when the panel reconvenes this evening. As we reported Friday afternoon, a group of community activists will try to finalize a set of draft guidelines presented to the committee last month. Even before they gather, it’s pretty obvious various factions still have a ways to go to reach a consensus on a redevelopment plan for the Seward Park Urban Renewal site.
In an email blast shortly after we posted our story, neighborhood preservation group, GOLES, alerted its members, “Time to Fight: Community Board’s Draft Plan… Allows Up to 60% Market Rate Housing.” The email continued, “tell the community board we will never accept a plan that would give most of our land to people who can afford to pay $6000 a month for rent.” Continue reading CB3 Panel Seeks to Finalize SPURA Guidelines Tonight
You may have noticed that hundreds of Santas took over neighborhoods throughout Manhattan on Saturday. It was all in the name of “Santacon,” an all-day event that promoters described as “a non-denominational, non-commercial, non-political and non-sensical Santa Claus convention that occurs once a year for absolutely no reason.” Thanks to reader Carol Anastasio for these photos. More photos on HuffPo here. Continue reading Too Much Cheer For Some at Santacon
A pickpocket who was picked up in Chinatown tried to bribe her arresting officer, sources said. “I’ll give you all the money in my wallet, which is over $1,000, or I can write you a check if you let me go,” Ha Vasko, 67, allegedly told the cop after he handcuffed her at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday near the corner of Hester and Elizabeth streets. Vasko had allegedly just swiped a wallet from a woman at that location and 10 minutes earlier had lifted a billfold from a mark on The Bowery near Grand Street.
Here’s an item that’s pretty far removed from life on the Lower East Side but close to another topic we care a lot about — hyperlocal news. Our friends at the Westside Independent have put the popular community news site up for sale on ebay. Right now the top bid is $500 (the auction closes this coming Thursday). The Westside Independent was started on the Upper West Side about a year ago and has broken some great stories. The winning bidder will own the domain name, a database of articles, as well as accompanying Facebook and Twitter accounts. DNA Info wrote about the sale a few days ago.
On Monday night, it’s back to work for members of Community Board 3′s SPURA task force. They’ve had a lot to think about since last month’s meeting, in which CB3 leaders unveiled draft guidelines for the redevelopment of the 7-acre Seward Park site. Dominic Pisciotta, CB3 chair, says the upcoming session will be focused on finalizing the guidelines, which will eventually be sent to the mayor’s office for review. A community board vote will hopefully occur in January, he told me.
The guidelines lay out plans for a mixed use, mixed income community on 10 parcels near the Williamsburg Bridge (read them for yourself here). For the first time since the three-year planning process began, the proposal spells out how much affordable housing could be built in a financial self sufficient project (between 40-60%). Now that a benchmark has been established, committee members face some tough decisions. It appears a direct conversation (steadfastly avoided up until now) about who should live on the SPURA site is finally at hand. Continue reading SPURA “Stakeholders” Face Tough Decisions
Living Legend Judith Malina has been hard at work on a new show with her vigorous ensemble of players at The Living Theatre. Now in their 63rd season, (you read that correctly) Malina has begun previews for her latest experimental production, KORACH. They note that the piece is “a new play based on the Biblical account of Korach, ‘the first recorded anarchist in history,’ who challenged the authority of Moses over the Israelites; a pivotal point in their 40-year trek through the desert after their liberation from Egyptian slavery.” For more about the show and the historic Living Theatre, visit (Off)broadwayworld here. The show will officially open on December 16. $20 (Wed. pay-what-you-can) // Wed.-Sat. // 8pm // 21 Clinton Street.
Founded in 2009, Kickstarter has quickly exploded in to the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world. Founders Perry Chen and Yancey Strickler will be in conversation at the New Museum on Saturday, discussing this “new form of patronage and commerce,” and what it means to the art world, with artists who have successfully used Kickstarter to complete their projects. $8, free for members // 3pm // New Museum Theater // 235 Bowery.
In celebration of Seward Park Cooperative’s 50th Anniversary, Producer/Director Neal Young and Abrons Arts Center are hosting the Lower East Side Talent Showcase this Sunday at 3pm. Young reports, “We have a good line up of about 13-14 acts consisting of bands, singers, dancers, comics etc., all with LES connections.” Continue reading Lower East Side Talent Showcase This Sunday
This morning’s Daily News recounts the tearful testimony of Vietnamese kung fu actress Ly Huong, who’s on trial in Brooklyn for kidnapping her own child in 2005. According to the article, she fled this country to escape her husband, restaurant owner Tony Lam (“the King of Canal St.”). Huong said she left her successful acting career in Vietnam and came to the U.S. to be with Lam, owner of “Bun” on Grand Street. Reporter John Marzulli explains:
