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Last week, we noted that the East River Park rehabilitation project appears certain to miss another deadline. On the Parks Department web site, an advisory still points towards a “fall 2011″ reopening of the promenade, which has now been closed for a decade. We also noticed a barge owned by the city’s beleaguered contractor, Pile Foundation Construction Company, had disappeared.
A reader left a comment saying the company had “gone into receivership” and that the new company “has to go through 10 city agencies when they need supplies.” We contacted the Parks Department press office for an update. According to a spokesman, Pile Foundation, which has been fined by state regulators on numerous occasions, has finished its part of the East River project.
Continue reading Latest E. River Park Completion Date: “End of the Year”
 
The Seward Park Library’s LES Heritage Film Series returns for a second season Tuesday night. Series curator Sean Ferguson digs up some real gems from the New York Public Library’s vast film archive. The screening room (the library’s basement) is not glamorous (if you’re old enough you might even have a flashback or two to elementary school). But the films are often fascinating.
Tomorrow, the series features “Hester Street,” the highly regarded 1975 portrayal of immigrant life on the Lower East Side near the turn of the 20th century. Continue reading “Hester Street” Kicks Off LES Film Series
 Lesley Heller in her gallery, Lesley Heller Workspace, at 54 Orchard Street. Photo by A. Jesse Jiryu Davis For some time we’ve been intrigued by the shows at Lesley Heller Workspace on lower Orchard Street. So I was excited to sit down with owner Lesley Heller recently to learn more about her approach to curating shows and hear about the sorts of work that makes an impact on her. Currently on view at Heller’s space are Tom Kotik and Head Case.
TLD: You moved your gallery to Orchard St. from the Upper East Side in 2010. What sparked the move?
Lesley Heller: I knew I wanted to move to a more dynamic neighborhood and I thought there were so many galleries in Chelsea. And the Lower East Side was just beginning to be a neighborhood of galleries. My gallery was on 92nd St. off Madison for two years, and 77th St. off Madison next to The Castelli for two years.
Continue reading TLD Interview: Gallery Owner Lesley Heller
 Royal Young - photo by Lee Brozgol  This weekly feature spotlights a wide variety of people who live and work on the Lower East Side. If you know someone you would like to suggest be featured in “My LES,” please email us here.
What do you do?
I contribute literary coverage to Interview Magazine (as well as the new website, Holy Diver). I also recently completed my debut gritty Manhattan memoir “Fame Shark.”
How long have you lived on the LES?
I was born on a five-flight walk up on Crosby Street and lived there for my first year, while my artist social worker father and neuropsychologist mom removed hypodermic needles, rats and mountains of garbage from an old tenement building on Eldridge Street. I would grow up in this building until dropping out of Bennington College and getting kicked out of my parent’s house at 20. I lived in sketchy apartments in Brooklyn for the next six years and went through intense family therapy, before returning to the Lower East Side and my own crib a (couple) weeks ago.
Continue reading My LES – Royal Young
- For the family of Army Private Danny Chen, “grief laced with suspicion.” (NYT)
- The BID’s Bob Zuckerman and Lost Weekend co-owner Michael Little talk about modernizing Orchard Street (NY1).
- New owner of 86 East 4th Street says no new leases for current tenants (EV Grieve).
- The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater debuts on East 3rd Street (NYT).
- “Another hip boutique,” Spiritual America, comes to Rivington Street (Racked).
Here’s the view of East River Park, as seen through the grating of the Williamsburg Bridge. After our wild Saturday storm, it will feel practically balmy today. A high of 53 is expected with partly cloudy skies. We may see some showers tomorrow. Our November Calendar is freshly updated – please feel free to add your own events. Happy Halloween, LES!
Earlier this month, we featured Knishery NYC, a new venture reinterpreting a Lower East Side classic. Noah Wildman, a Lower East Side resident, planned to debut his bite-sized knishes at this weekend’s Hester Street Fair. When word came late this afternoon that the expected snow happening had forced the cancellation of tomorrow’s fair, Noah feared he’d be stuck with 500 knishes. But his despair did not last long! Here’s the note he posted on his web site. Continue reading A Knish Crisis: What’s a Guy to Do? Give ‘Em Away!
Here’s the scary map from the Weather Channel. As you no doubt know by now, snow is in the forecast tomorrow. The winter blast has claimed its first victim: the final 2011 weekend of the Hester Street Fair. This is the message they just posted online:
We regretfully announce that the Hester Street Fair will be closed tomorrow, Oct. 29th, due to the weather. Thank you everyone for making the second season of Hester the best. We’ll see ya’ll next year!!!
 Hockeem Smith. NYPD Photo. Police tell us this afternoon that they have made an arrest in the October 16th murder of Lower East Side teen Keith Salgado. 24-year old Hockeem Smith was taken to the 9th Precinct yesterday, where he remains today. According to an NYPD spokesman, he was arrested at approximately 1:30 a.m. Smith faces charges of murder, robbery and criminal possession of a firearm.
Salgado was shot and killed two weekends ago, following a game of late night dice at the Campos Plaza public housing development on East 12th Street. Earlier this week, Crimestoppers released a photo of Smith — and made a plea for information about his whereabouts.
Smith will likely not be arraigned before tomorrow at the earliest.
 "Foundation" is going back before Community Board 3's liquor licensing committee next month. Community Board 3 is out with its November meeting agendas. Here’s a look at the liquor license applications to be considered at the November 14th SLA hearing. Continue reading CB3′s November Liquor License Agenda
From our in-box, word from Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance about tomorrow’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Program. His office, in partnership with several federal agencies, is setting up 15-drop-off locations across the city. There are two locations in the neighborhood: the fire house at 25 Pitt Street and St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, at 263 Mulberry Street. Unwanted prescription drugs can be dropped off between the hours of 10 a.m.-2 p.m. In a press release, Vance said, “I encourage all New Yorkers to join us in our fight against prescription drug abuse this weekend by donating their unused and expired medication to collection sites across the city.”
 Photos by Tim Schreier. The New Museum is looking a bit like an amusement park these days. The just-opened Carsten Holler exhibition is definitely generating a lot of media buzz. This weekend, we’ll begin to see whether the show, which includes a 102 foot slide, will be a hit with museum goers. As usual, there’s lots going on in the neighborhood on this Halloween-themed weekend. Check out our Calendar and see more photos from Carsten Holler: Experience, courtesy of neighborhood photographer Tim Schreier. Continue reading LES Weekend: A Wild Ride
 Trick or Treaters from The Neighborhood School - (Halloween 2010) by Mark Reinertson Our friends at The Neighborhood School will be hosting their Annual East Village Halloween Parade on Monday and the community is invited. To participate, join them in the recess yard at 4:30pm. Marching will commence at 5:15p.
Two Bedroom Balcony Value!
As you enter the front door this apartment just feels like home. First, you are ushered into an ample and welcoming dining foyer which then opens to an airy living room with huge south facing picture window and double exposures. Next, step outside onto your own private balcony to more fully appreciate the peaceful park views to blue sky, mature trees and lovely green space below. Continue reading Sponsored Post: Grand Street Apartment of the Week
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