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December 2011
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Hanukkah on the Lower East Side (Updated 4:37 p.m.)

Seniors at the Educational Alliance's Whittacker Center light a menorah.

As we mentioned this morning, Hanukkah begins at sundown tonight.  Here are a few events happening on the Lower East Side in connection with the Festival of Lights. Continue reading Hanukkah on the Lower East Side (Updated 4:37 p.m.)

East Village Video Game Designer Draws on Neightborhood For Inspiration

Video game guru Dave Gilbert with his wife, Janet.

The following article was written by Patrick Hickey, Jr. of the web site Review Fix:

As a video game designer, East Village-native Dave Gilbert creates brand new worlds, full of weird and interesting characters. He prefers to keep them on his doorstep. The founder of Wadjet Eye Games, Gilbert and his wife Janet, earn a living making games based on their neighborhood. “You write what you know,” David said. Continue reading East Village Video Game Designer Draws on Neightborhood For Inspiration

Morning Reads: LES Redistricting, Avenue C Building Sold, Another Schnabel Attracts a Celebrity Crowd

  • Common Cause thinks Sheldon Silver’s district (AD-64) should be redrawn to incorporate all of the Lower East Side, including Latino-leaning areas north of Houston Street. More affluent neighborhoods, such as Battery Park City, would be eliminated (WNYC).
  • 145 Avenue C sells for $9.7 million (EV Grieve).
  • A 3D animator loses his studio on Avenue A (The Local EV).
  • A Soho boutique pops up on Stanton Street (Racked).
  • The stars come out for the opening of Lola Montes Schnabel show at the Hole Gallery on the Bowery (NYT).

Good Morning!

Pell Street, Chinatown.

Cloudy with a high of 45 today. We’re expecting rain tomorrow.  Happy Hanukkah! The Jewish Festival of Lights begins at sundown tonight.

 

New Rental Building Envisioned at 255 East Houston Street

255 East Houston Street.

According to Crain’s bids are due tomorrow for an L-shaped parcel at East Houston and Suffolk streets which is apparently envisioned as the site of a new rental building. The property has two addresses: 255 East Houston and 171 Suffolk Street. Continue reading New Rental Building Envisioned at 255 East Houston Street

Checking in With a Lower East Side Ice Cream Entrepreneur

Paul Nasrani at Fine Fare on Clinton Street.

As the temperature dipped into the 20′s this past weekend, ice cream might not have been the first thing on your mind.  But Paul Nasrani thinks about ice cream all year long. As the founder of Adirondack Creamery, an all-natural, independent ice cream company based in Kingston, NY, it goes with the territory.  Recently we stopped by Paul’s apartment in the Seward Park Cooperative on Grand Street to find out how things are going in the premium ice cream business. Continue reading Checking in With a Lower East Side Ice Cream Entrepreneur

Scenes From Saturday’s “East Meets West” Christmas Parade

On Saturday, it was the fifth annual “East Meets West” Christmas Parade in Little Italy and Chinatown.  There were five floats; marching bands from the Boy Scouts of America, the NYPD Emerald Society and Little Italy’s own Red Mike Festival Band; Chinese Lion and Dragon Dance troupes; pop singers, including Jenna Esposito and marching groups from local community organizations; and, of course, Santa Claus. Valarie D’Elia, contributor to NY1, and New York City Comptroller John Liu were the grand marshals.  Click through for more photos. Continue reading Scenes From Saturday’s “East Meets West” Christmas Parade

My LES: Timothy Wong

Timothy Wong on Hester St. between Ludlow and Orchard. Photo by thelodownny.com.

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 am the Founder and Managing Partner of M&M Environmental. We are an eco-friendly indoor air quality testing and pest management company.  We have been located at the same storefront at 32 Orchard St. between Canal and Hester streets for over 10 years and have seen huge changes to the neighborhood and the community, especially over the past 5 years.

How long have you lived on the LES?

I grew up on the Lower East Side, on Eldridge St. specifically, and have lived and worked here for over 35 years. In fact, I am the proud graduate of PS 42 Elementary School along with all of my siblings. Many of their children are now actually students there which blows my mind!

Continue reading My LES: Timothy Wong

Report: Alleged Purse Snatcher is Arrested

In this morning’s New York Post Police Blotter:

Looks like a serial purse snatcher who mugged three women in as many days in the Lower East Side will be behind bars for the holidays, authorities said yesterday. Wilberto Navarro, 44, began his spree at 1:30 a.m. Dec. 9, when he choked a woman from behind in her Pitt Street apartment building, court papers allege. When the woman’s purse fell, Navarro allegedly took out her wallet and ran. The next day, at 5:10 p.m., he attacked a 73-year-old riding a motorized scooter in the elevator of a building on FDR Drive, court records charge. He allegedly slammed her head into the handlebars, then ran off with her purse. On Dec. 11, he pounced on a woman he’d followed into her East 12th Street apartment building at 2:30 a.m., according to court records. He was arrested the next day and held on $255,000 bail.

Morning Reads: Trouble at Marta Valle HS?, Dangerous Elevators, CHARAS Protest

  • Some parents and former employees believe Marta Valle High School is downplaying violent incidents (Post).
  • A check of Building Department records shows the elevator at 129 Ridge Street is one of the city’s most dangerous (Post).
  • A review of a federal immigration program that awards green cards to foreigners who invest in real estate indicates the “rules are being stretched.”  The development zone includes the Lower East Side (NYT).
  • There were some arrests at yesterday’s event on East 9th Street marking a decade since the eviction of CHARAS (EV Grieve, Observer).
  • The Post’s Fred Dicker says Sheldon Silver was a “winner” in 2011 because he “avoided serious clashes with (Governor) Cuomo while predicting, accurately, that the governor would reverse course on the millionaires tax.” Silver, he added, “also continues to remain immune to a challenge to his 17-year-long leadership.” (Post)

 

Good Morning!

Cleaning the Windows

Photo by Roey Ahram.

After a blast of cold air over the weekend, we’ll see some warming today. Mostly sunny skies and a high of 47.  The temps will hover in the mid-40′s and 50′s all week.

 

Holiday Parade Underway

Photo

On Mulberry Street, the annual East Meets West holiday parade is underway…

“Tricked: An Exhibition of Special Effects” Opens at Culturefix

Joe McKay, UFO #7, digital c-print mounted on aluminum - featured in “Tricked: An Exhibition of Special Effects” at culturefix

Our friends at culturefix are hosting a special gallery opening reception tonight for their show, “Tricked: An Exhibition of Special Effects.” It’s the last show that will be produced by their gallery director, Lia Woertendyke. They write: “Lia has curated the majority of our past shows and has helped produce nearly all of them.  In addition, she has helped build our business from the ground up.  Culturefix invites you to celebrate Lia’s last exhibition here and encourages you to show your support for a person who has played an integral roll in developing culturefix’s gallery.”

Continue reading “Tricked: An Exhibition of Special Effects” Opens at Culturefix

Sponsored Post: Grand Street Apartment of the Week

Hi Floor 1BR/Balcony with River Views!

Sunny southeastern exposures and wide open views to the East River are yours from this spacious 1BR/Balcony with windowed eat-in kitchen. Four spacious closets including 2 walk-ins and a windowed bath. Bring your renovation ideas to make this airy, high floor, light filled apartment your own unique home. The Seward Park Coop features 24 hour security/attended lobby, two private gated parks, in building laundry, fully equipped gym and more…! Two blocks to the F at East Broadway or 3 Blocks to F,J,M and Z trains at Delancey and Essex. M14A bus stops right at the building. Continue reading Sponsored Post: Grand Street Apartment of the Week

Protesters Demand Justice For Danny Chen

Su Zhen Chen, Danny Chen's mother.

Hundreds of community activists and concerned residents marched from the Army recruiting office at 143 Chambers Street to Columbus Park last night, asking one question: “what happened to Danny Chen?”   It has been two-and-a-half months since the 19-year old private – who grew up on the Lower East Side – was found dead at a military base in Afghanistan.  The tragedy has struck a nerve in Chinatown, where reports that the young man was tormented, beaten and subjected to anti-Asian slurs have understandably caused great alarm.

The rally was planned by the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), which has been leading a coordinated campaign not only to pressure the Pentagon to conduct a fair and thorough investigation, but also to address anti-Asian bigotry in the Armed Forces. A number of elected officials spoke last night, demanding justice. Chen’s mother, Su Zhen Chen, stood at their side, holding a framed photo of her son and occasionally weeping. Continue reading Protesters Demand Justice For Danny Chen