|
|
 This morning we headed over to The New Museum to learn more about the Festival of Ideas for the New City, an ambitious new event designed to “harness the power of the creative community.” The festival was announced last year but, at a news conference held today, organizers detailed elaborate plans for the three-day extravaganza.
The New Museum describes the event, to be held May 4-8, as “a major new collaborative initiative involving scores of Downtown organizations, from large universities to arts institutions and community groups, working together to affect change.” Continue reading Plans Unveiled for Festival of Ideas
 
This afternoon, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has announced 310 appointments to the city’s 12 community boards. The City Charter authorizes the borough presidents to select board members. Half of the appointments are made in consultation with relevant City Council members. Here’s a look at the new members Stringer selected for Community Board 3:
- Gary Tai
- Charlotte Miles
- David Conn
- Natasha Dillon
- Karen Blatt (Margaret Chin)
- Carlina Rivera (Rosie Mendez)
- Jack Waters (Rosie Mendez)
If you would like to see the complete list, including re-appointments, click here.
 There’s some progress to report today on proposed state legislation that would authorize NYC to more strenuously regulate the intercity bus industry. We hear from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s office that the bill has been passed by the transportation and codes committees. Next step: scheduling a vote of the full Assembly.
In the Senate, the bill has been referred to the transportation committee. Given Republican control, the legislation’s prospects there are less certain. The bill is being pushed through by Silver and Senator Daniel Squadron. It is a response to growing concerns about congestion, safety and pollution on the Lower East Side and Chinatown — as the result of a rapidly expanding discount bus industry. The bill was introduced before two fatal bus crashes this month, but those incidents have heightened the will to act in Albany.
If passed, the legislation would allow the city to set up a permit system for intercity buses. The Department of Transportation is generally supportive of the proposal but has concerns about some of the fine points in the bill.
Here are musician Ken Beasley’s top music picks on the Lower East Side this week:
 The Defibulators
THE DEFIBULATORS - Fri. Apr 1 І 11PM at Rockwood Music Hall Freshly back from playing their butts off at SXSW, the barn-storming Defibulators play Rockwood’s 2nd stage this Friday. Playing an excellent array of original songs with a vintage twang and a Brooklyn edge, the group is made up of six guys and one gal. The music from their current CD “Corn Money” is not exactly old style country, it’s a jumping, pumping, modern version of old style country. FREE//196 Allen St. St.
Continue reading Weekend Music Picks
 Jeffrey Ruhalter, Saturday morning, February 26, at the Essex Street Market. We have an update today on Jeffrey Ruhalter, the Essex Street Market butcher who temporarily closed up shop earlier this month. Yesterday, Jeffrey was in his old space shooting a television pilot, along with LES chef Marja Samsom (formerly of the Kitchen Club).
He’s hopeful a network will have interest in the series proposal (the details of which are under wraps). It’s at least the third pilot concept Jeffrey’s pitched.
Jeffrey and Danny McNeill, the Ruhalter family’s business manager, both said they hoped to reopen in the next few weeks. They’d take a smaller space (perhaps a half or a third of the old shop). But it’s apparent the financial troubles that prompted the closing are not yet resolved. McNeill said they continue to talk with investors who might be willing to back the business. Continue reading A Comeback for Jeffrey’s Meats?
Later today, we’ll have a recap of last night’s CB3/Seward Park redevelopment confab. But here’s a first look at an intriguing 3D model prepared by Beyer Binder Belle, the architectural firm hired to guide the community board through preliminary urban design issues. The styrofoam pieces in this model were moved around several times during the evening to help committee members better understand building “height and bulk” options. While it does not represent “a plan” for the site, the miniature neighborhood gave members a glimpse of what might be possible on the 7-acre parcel.
Here’s Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s statement on the early passage of New York’s austere $132.5 billion budget:
Speaker Silver and the Assembly Democratic Majority congratulate Governor Cuomo on the completion of the Administration’s first budget, the result of which is the enactment of the first “early” state budget since 1983. We are confident that this will be the first of many agreements the Legislature will reach in concert with the Governor; agreements that will restore New Yorkers’ faith in our government, make it more efficient and more productive, and help to make our great state a better and more prosperous place in which to live, to work, and to do business. The final product, the 2011/2012 state budget, is a sobering one. Difficult and painful decisions had to be made to address the fiscal reality facing our state. The Assembly Majority, working with the Governor, was able to achieve some critical restorations that will soften the cuts affecting working families, students, senior citizens and or most vulnerable populations. We also supported the Governor’s economic development strategy, particularly the plan to spur job creation throughout Upstate New York. Although “the millionaire’s tax” was not included in the final budget agreement, we will continue our efforts to convince our partners that it was and is the right thing to do at this time.
 Photo by Phillip Kalantzis Pope. A high of 44 today with rain — continuing through tomorrow. Looks like we’ll see a pretty nice weekend, though. Continue reading Good Morning!
 Photo credit: Grub Street. In food news:
- The Times features Shi Eurasia, at 143A Orchard, where you can buy hard to find products from Europe and Asia all in one place. A few examples: vegemite from Australia, calamansi juice from the Philippines, chili-spiked canned tuna from Malaysia and Polish chocolate-covered dried plums. Incidentally, Grub Street had a “first look” at this shop in February.
- Keith McNally and his new chef, Tony Liu, talk about the remaking of Pulino’s after a rough freshman year.
- Serious Eats says the banana gelato (which includes crushed animal crackers) at Stellina is pretty great. Having just visited this place ourselves, we’d have to agree. A perfect end to a great meal across the street at Congee Village.
 This afternoon in Washington, D.C., a Senate subcommittee examines the topic of intercity bus regulation. The issue has become a national priority in the aftermath of the deadly bus accident in the Bronx earlier this month (many of the victims were Chinatown residents).
The hearing will focus on why the Department of Transportation has not implemented recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board. Those recommendations include: requiring seatbelts for all passengers, windows and exits that are easier to open in the event of an emergency and stronger roofs.
Government safety officials will testify. You see the complete witness list here.
Prosecutors say a well-off woman from Florida – a frequent visitor to New York’s Chinatown – is a prolific pickpocket. 67-year old Ha Vasko is now being held at Rikers Island on $124,500 bail. According to the New York Times, the cases date back to June of last year, when Vasko was arrested for stealing $500 from a woman’s bag at the corner of Canal and Mulberry Streets:
That arrest, the authorities said, led to a cycle in which Ms. Vasko would return to New York for court dates in Lower Manhattan and then head to Chinatown to lift cash and wallets. Prosecutors said in court on Tuesday that Ms. Vasko, who was born in Vietnam, told the police that she did not like Chinese people. By the time of her last arrest on March 21, Ms. Vasko, who was living in Melbourne, Fla., had been charged with three felonies and two misdemeanors, including “jostling,” which is legal jargon for trying to pick someone’s pocket or handbag. Prosecutors said all her victims were Chinatown residents. Continue reading Chinatown’s Serial Pickpocket Sees Herself as “Robin Hood”
On Sunday, April 3, kids can prepare for Passover by baking their own Matzah! At Model Matzah Bakery (201 Warren Street) kids can bake matzahs and craft their own seder plate, in between enjoying light refreshments and getting prizes. Event starts at 2:30pm and costs $8 a child, kids 2 and under free. Call (646) 770-3636 to RSVP or visit Chabad Battery Park City.
For information about this and other kids events, visit our kids page.
 Image via Lainii's Flickr photostream. Sunny to start the day with a high of 51. Turning cloudy tonight, with rain/snow showers beginning around 10pm. We’re not expecting much in the way of accumulation. Continue reading Good Morning!
|
|
