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November 2011
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Good Morning!

We’ll see rain off and on today with high winds and a high of 68. The showers continue tonight and into tomorrow and Thursday.

Cyclist Hit By Van at Grand and Norfolk Streets

Police officers interviewed cyclist Tom Sganga after the accident; he sustained minor injuries.

Tom Sganga was riding eastbound on Grand Street around 7 p.m. this evening when, he says, a minivan pulled out of parallel parking spot right into his path.

His leg was hurt in the collision, and the frame of his electric Kysmo bike bent, but mostly, he was just fuming. Continue reading Cyclist Hit By Van at Grand and Norfolk Streets

Squadron Holds Community Meeting on Lower East Side Tomorrow Night

State Senator Daniel Squadron is holding an event tomorrow night – a community conversation with residents of the Lower East Side.  It’s a follow-up to his third annual Community Convention, held earlier this year. Squadron will report back on concerns expressed during that initial meeting –  including school overcrowding, pedestrian safety and subway service issues.

Any constituent who wants to express an opinion or just listen to what the senator has to say is invited to attend. The event takes place at the BRC Senior Center, 30 Delancey Street.  Please RSVP to Jordan Levine at 212-298-5565 or jlevine@nysenate.gov.

Confronting Gun Crimes on the Lower East Side

Captain Peter Venice.

The NYPD’s monthly “community council meetings” are in all honestly not generally the most newsworthy events in the world.  But last week’s 7th Precinct gathering was actually pretty informative, although the most relevant details about crime in the neighborhood were made apparent in a fairly roundabout way.

The news came by way of the regular “police officer of the month awards,” given by Captain Peter Venice, the precinct’s commanding officer,  to cops who have gone “above and beyond the call of duty.”  The awards were presented to police officers Jeffrey Millenbach, Steven Stiller, Paul Pedersen, Brian Little and Sergeant Stephen Spataro.  In one way or another, they were all involved in arrests for gun-related charges in recent weeks. Continue reading Confronting Gun Crimes on the Lower East Side

Art Installation Takes Over Extra Place

We stopped by Extra Place yesterday, where a group of artists is giving the sterile alley behind what used to be CBGB’s some much-needed creative energy.  We met the co-curator, Keith Schweitzer, at East Broadway gallery Allegra LaViola several months ago.  Moving several blocks north, he’s teamed up with FABnyc for the latest in a series of temporary installations called “ArtUp.” Continue reading Art Installation Takes Over Extra Place

Scaffolding Causes New Concerns at 135 Bowery

135 Bowery is the white building on the left; 133 Bowery, next door, is covered by scaffolding.

Here’s an update on 135 Bowery, the 194 year old federal house facing demolition.  In September, the City Council reversed the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s decision to protect the three-story structure. The owner, First American International Bank, plans to redevelop the parcel.

In the last several days, scaffolding has gone up next door, at 133 Bowery.  According to Buildings Department records, the owner (Chu & Lee Realty) plans “facade repair.”   Preservation groups have unsuccessfully fought to protect the 1814 building, which was originally used as a candle and soap shop.   As they continue to hold out hope that First International will agree to save 135 Bowery, they are concerned that repairs to the neighboring building could destabilize an already fragile facade.

Construction permits were recently filed regarding 135 Bowery, as well. The application calls for “emergency repair and partial demolition to stabilize rear and front facades” and to “install shoring.”  First International intends to put up a new commercial building, offering at least some office space to neighborhood businesses at below-market rents.

 

My LES: Robin Muller and Erick Jimenez

Erick Jimenez and Robin Mulle. Photo by Tobi Elkin

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?

Erick: We teach philosophy. We met in graduate school, and now we’re in the adjuncting racket. I’ve just recently completed my PhD and teach at Fairfield University. in Connecticut; Robin is plugging away at her dissertation and teaches at Fordham University.

How long have you lived on the LES?

Robin: I’ve been on Clinton Street since 2007; Erick moved down from Avenue C about 2 years ago.

Favorite block in the hood?

Continue reading My LES: Robin Muller and Erick Jimenez

Ludlow Manor Preps Official Opening Next Weekend

Ludlow Manor, at the corner of Delancey and Ludlow.

The team behind Ludlow Manor, the three-story nightlife multi-plex on Delancey Street, is not letting its troubles with Community Board 3 stand in the way of a good time.  Last week, Page Six revealed that Luc Carl, Lady Gaga’s ex, is teaming up with the operators of “The Delancey,” to open this massive new venue.  Last month, CB3 prevailed upon the owners to withdraw their liquor license application until they could come up with a “better plan” for controlling late night crowds and noise.

As we noted in our story last week, there have already been some preview parties, including a big Halloween bash. Judging from twitter traffic over the weekend and blurry tumblr photos, Ludlow Manor unofficially opened Saturday night.  One guest tweeted, “soft opening of the Ludlow Manor was amazing. definitely what a three story playground should look like.”  Another blogged, “it’s such a dope space I had to share…6,000 sq ft of lounging…drinking…eating…and one of the best rooftops (I think) downtown.”

Continue reading Ludlow Manor Preps Official Opening Next Weekend

Morning Reads: East Village Rape, Renovation Rush, Sorella TV

  • Police say a woman was sexually assaulted over the weekend on 1st Avenue near East 12th Street (The Local EV).
  • Work on 326-328 East 4th Street – the townhouses preservationists unsuccessfully fought to save – is proceeding at a “rather frantic pace.” (EV Grieve)
  • Around 45 people were arrested in Chinatown for selling fake “Angry Birds” merchandise (DNA Info).
  • Sorella’s Emma Hearst makes her favorite dish on CBS Saturday morning (CBS).

 

Good Morning!

Photo by Chiun Ng.

Thanks to Chiun Ng for sending this photo from La Plaza Cultural, the community garden on East 9th Street. Today it’s going to be rainy and windy at times with a high of 63.  Looks like the rain will stick around until mid-week.  We’ve updated our Calendar to start the week. As usual, there’s lots happening on the Lower East Side. You can add your own community events directly from the calendar page.

 

 

James Franco Summons Tennessee Williams at Abrons Today; Second Show Added!

Word just came from the Abrons Arts Center that they’ve added a second afternoon show today of “Three Performances in Search of Tennessee.” The project (part of the Performa 11 festival) features James Franco and Laurel Nakadate.  As you may have heard, the show is a bit unusual. Here’s the blurb from the Abrons event calendar:

(The project is) based around Tennessee Williams’ famous play The Glass Menagerie (1944). In part one, Franco and Nakadate will lead a séance in the Elysée Hotel in New York City, in the room in which Tennessee Williams died. With an invited group of participants, the artists will communicate with Tennessee Williams through an Ouija board and receive instructions from the author’s spirit. The group will pass his message on to the audience members, who will participate in the piece by following the spirit’s instructions. In part two, female actresses of all types will audition in front of a live audience for the part of Laura in The Glass Menagerie. In the tradition of karaoke, Laura’s lines will run along the bottom of a video-projection of Franco playing the “Gentleman Caller” as the actresses act out the given scene. A second audition for male actors will make up the final part of the project; this will be a live audition for actors wishing to play the role of Tom in The Glass Menagerie, all delivering the same monologue from the play. As with the women auditioning for Laura, Nakadate and Franco will intervene as “directors” as the actors’ attempt to inhabit the role. Three Performances in Search of Tennessee will be broadcast on the Internet.

The second performance begins at 1:45 p.m. Run don’t walk to the box office, 466 Grand Street.

Lady Gaga Book Launch at New Museum November 22

This will be quite the scene! The New Museum will be hosting the only U.S. launch event for Lady Gaga’s new photo book.  The book features more than 350 color and black and white photographs taken by fashion photographer Terry Richardson during the 10 month period between August 2010 and February 2011.

“Lady Gaga X Terry Richardson” will debut November 22nd, in the New Museum Store, from 6-8 p.m.  Gaga and Richardson will both be present to sign books.  “To attend this book launch,” the New Museum web site explains, ” you must pre-order the book in person at… the store; there is a limit of one book per person. Pre-orders will be taken on Tuesday November 15, 2011, starting 10:00 a.m., first-come, first-served. A limited number of books will be available.”

 

Sponsored Post: Grand Street Apartment of the Week

OWNER GIVING $5,000 CASH BACK AT CLOSING! Move right in to this spacious one bedroom with beamed ceilings, mint renovated bath, and large windowed eat-in kitchen! Exposures are east and north for excellent morning sun. Apartment is located in the middle section of the building in the rear overlooking a private gated park. A nice quiet oasis with soothing views to open sky and tree tops. Continue reading Sponsored Post: Grand Street Apartment of the Week

PS 110 Students Explore a Collision of Dinosaurs and Robots at Pop-up Exhibit

Students from PS 110 examine electronic creatures created by Christiaan Zwanikken, at a pop up exhibit promoting Convento, a new documentary screening at The Margaret Mead Festival. Photos by Evan Meszaros.

Yesterday, 25 Lower East Side children known as Josh Ditzion’s 4th Grade Class at PS 110, had what may be the least boring field trip of their young lives.

As they approached the 77th Street entrance of the American Museum of Natural History, they were met by Jarred Alterman, the director of a new one-of-a-kind documentary film called Convento, and his protagonist, internationally renowned Dutch artist Christiaan Zwanikken.

To celebrate Convento’s inclusion in the Museum’s Margaret Mead Festival, the longest running international film festival in the United States, the Museum’s powers green lit the first ever “pop up exhibit” within its hallowed walls—installed in the lobby, right near the iconic 33 foot canoe carved from a single large cedar tree that Holden Caulfield so greatly admires in Catcher in the Rye.

Continue reading PS 110 Students Explore a Collision of Dinosaurs and Robots at Pop-up Exhibit

Nippon Sushi Operating Without Health Dept. Permit

Nippon Sushi, which opened in May at 121 Ludlow St., was approved for a beer and wine license but does not have a health department operating license, according to officials.

Last month Community Board 3 voted to support a liquor license for Nippon Sushi, 121 Ludlow Street. But yesterday we discovered the restaurant is lacking something else –  an operating license from New York City’s health department.

At its October meeting, the board approved a beer and wine permit on several conditions for the small sushi joint, including that it operate as a full-service Japanese restaurant, not host live music and close at 10:30 p.m. during the week and 12:30 a.m. on the weekends.

However, Nippon Sushi, which opened for business six months ago, apparently has never received an operating permit from the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which is responsible for inspecting and grading restaurants. Continue reading Nippon Sushi Operating Without Health Dept. Permit