The Lo-Down Magazine - October 2013

7/27/2019 The Lo-Down Magazine - October 2013

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LO-DOWNTHE

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News from the Lower East Side

OCT.013

ESSEXCROSSINGREVEALED

ESSEXCROSSINGREVEALED

SPURAbreaksgroundin 2015

SPURAbreaksgroundin 2015

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Its a project a half-century in the mak-ing, one that longtime Lower East Sideresidents were convinced they would neversee. If all goes according to plan, constructionis set to begin 18 months from now on EssexCrossing, a billion-dollar initiative to f inallytransform the former Seward Park urban re-newal area after decades of failed efforts.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg came to anabandoned building of the Essex Street Mar-ket Sept. 18 to announce the plan, which in-cludes 1,000 apartments, retail shops, cultural

facilities, schools, a culinary incubator and arooftop urban farm. Standing alongside thedevelopment team selected after a highlycompetitive bidding process, Bloombergcalled the 1.6-million-square-foot project awonderful thing that will bring the newhousing, jobs and open space Lower East Sid-ers want and need and deserve.

Three well-known real estate developers,L+M Development Partners, BFC Partners,and Taconic Investment Partners, paid thecity $180 million for the nine parcels at thefoot of the Williamsburg Bridge, sites that in-

clude the 1940 Essex Street Market buildingsas well as several parking lots south ofDelancey Street. The price was steeply dis-counted because the developers are requiredto build 500 units of subsidized housing andto create other community amenities, includ-ing an expanded public market and openspace. The design team is being led by twoNew York-based f irms, ShoP Architects andBeyer Binder Belle.

The plan closely follows guidelines ap-proved by Community Board 3 in 2011, fol-

lowing years of tense negotiations amongneighborhood groups. While about 150 apart-ments are designated as condominium units,most will be rentals. There are separate set-asides for low- and middle-income tenants.These units will be targeted for New Yorkerswith household incomes ranging from$31,700 to $133,000 per year for a family offour. City off icials said 20 percent of the condounits would be available for purchase bymiddle-income residents. Former site ten-ants, forced from the urban renewal area in1967, will be given top priority.

The centerpiece of the project will be anew Essex Street Market facility, located onthe southeast corner of Essex and Delanceystreets, which will double the size of the cur-rent market; the old market buildings will bedemolished. All the existing vendors will beoffered space and help with moving expens-es. Adjacent to the market building will be a90,000-square-foot concourse, called the Mar-ket Line, running from Essex Street to ClintonStreet. It will feature 40 subsidized micro-stalls for startups, a food incubator, a center

for people to learn craft skills and to sell hand-made merchandise, as well as a small-scaleretail project curated by the creators of theBrooklyn Flea. Essex Crossing will also includea large grocery store and an urban farm on theroof of the Essex Market building.

Cultural and entertainment offerings in-clude a 18,000-square-foot branch of Pitts-burghs Andy Warhol Museum, to be locatedat Broome and Ludlow streets. There will alsobe a movie theater, a bowling alley and a smallpark on Broome Street.

Two of the Lower East Sides oldest social

service organizations are part of the projectteam. Grand Street Settlement, the lead com-munity partner, will oversee the creation of100 apartments for low-income seniors on asite just to the east of Clinton Street. It will alsorun a community center, Head Start programand provide counseling and training pro-grams. Another nonprof it, Educational Alli-ance, will debut the nations f irst two-genera-tion school. The school, which the organizationhas been piloting for the last couple of years, isdesigned to both serve children in Head Start

and help their low-income parents obtain col-lege educations. In addition, a parcel has beenset aside for a new public school. At the mo-ment, the Department of Education is sayingtheres no need for another school in theneighborhood, but the community board andlocal elected off icials are campaigning for thenew facility.

Essex Crossing is expected to create 4,400construction jobs and another 1,600 perma-nent positions once the complex is fully opera-tional a decade from now. At the news confer-ence, City Council member Margaret Chin

By Ed Litvak

Developers Chosen, Plans Unveiled For Seward Park SiteDevelopers Chosen, Plans Unveiled For Seward Park Site


Left: a rendering of Broome Street from the Essex Crossing plan. Right: a rendering of a proposed rooftop urban farm at Essexand Delancey streets. Both images by DSA/ShoP Architects.


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urged the developers to hire union labor.I expect you to work with the labor

unions because the jobs were going to createhere, I want to see those as middle-class jobs,good paying jobs for the neighborhood, Chinsaid.

Ron Moelis, CEO of L+M Partners, re-plied, its our intention to engage as soon aspossible with the [trade unions to create jobswith] fair and good middle income wages.

Both the mayor and the developmentteam praised the local community and cityagencies for their collaboration over the lastf ive years. Over the decades, numerous devel-opment plans were derailed by oppositionfrom various neighborhood groups.

Progress was f inally being made, themayor said, because the city made one basicdecision letting the community take thelead in shaping this proposed development.Moelis pledged to continue the collaborationwith local residents, adding it is a life goal ofmine and I think my partners to do this kindof community work I hope it will be amodel for other communities.

A task force appointed by the communi-ty board, the f irst of its kind in New York City,helped advise city planners in the selection

process. The developers have agreed to meetquarterly with the group as f inal plans takeshape and construction issues arise. They areexpected to f ill in details of the project at ameeting of Community Board 3s land usecommittee meeting this month. (Check thelo-downny.com for details.)

The architectural f irms have alreadybegun designing Essex Crossings buildings.The renderings on display at last monthsnews conference were only meant to illus-trate an overall design vision. The f irst phaseof the project, scheduled for completion in2018, will include the new Essex Street Mar-ket complex, as well as four other buildingssouth of Delancey Street, including the f irst

580 apartments. Work on two parcels locatedon the south side of Delancey, between Nor-folk and Clinton streets, as well as the north-ernmost sites will come later. Completion ofEssex Crossing is planned by the year 2024.

Asked about lingering opposition toSeward Park and the possibility that the nextmayor would shelve the project, Bloombergsaid, everything is a compromise Theresenormous support for this in the neighbor-hood and weve signed contracts, so this is adone deal. Drawing the future

Renderings by DSA/ShoP Archi-

tects illustrate how the streetscapesand architecture of the Essex Crossingplan may eventually look.

1. Interior of the Market Lineconcourse along DelanceyStreet.2. Looking east on Delancey

Street, at Essex.3. Map of the Seward Parkproject from the NYC EconomicDevelopment Corp.4. Gardens along BroomeStreet.5. An annex of the Andy WarholMuseum, proposed for EssexStreet.6. A view of Essex Street, northof Delancey, looking south.7. A wide view of the project,from Delancey Street.

1.

2.3.

4. 5.

6.

7.


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The Rising States

newarrivals

ANTLER BEER &WINE DISPEN-SARY (123 Allen St.),a new venture fromproprietors James Hen-drick and Scott Garrythat opened in August,is a low-key spot forhigh-quality brew orvino and snacks inthe form of meat andcheese plates, crostiniand avocado green

chile deviled eggs.Both namesake bever-

ages are on tap, and theres a selection of special-format beers and box wines, as well as sangria andother mixed drinks. (No hard liquor.) The bar is opendaily 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and accepts only cash.

www.thelodownny.com

HOLL NEW YORK(188 Orchard St., hollnyc.com) is anew menswear and accessoriesboutique founded by designerGabriel Holl and opened in mid-September. His work features up-scale knitwear and accessoriessuch as scarves, ties and custom-tailored hats. His products aremade right here in New York byreal New Yorkers. The boutiqueis open Tuesday through Sundaynoon to 8 p.m.

DIMES CAF (143 Division St., dimesnyc.com) brings Los Angeles-tyle healthy eats and juices to a tiny 18-seat space. Owners Alissa

Wagner and Sabrina DeSousa are veterans of a long list of popularneighborhood-style restaurants, including the East Villages Northern Spy.The caf, which opened in early September, offers dishes made fromocally sourced and organic ingredients in a no-fuss atmosphere, withakeout also available. Future plans include a beer and wine license. The

caf serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Major credit cards are accepted.

THE RISING STATES (168 Ludlow St., therisingstatesnyc.com)is a womens clothing boutique founded by proprietor MeaganDelaney and named after a 19th-century Lower East Side bar.Opened in early September, it stocks a collection of thoughtfullycurated fashion and objects from emerging designers, including ItsOkay My Dear and Etienne Deroeux, whose $555 red leather pleatedskirt was highlighted in a New York TimesFashion Week feature. Theshop is open Monday through Saturday noon to 8 p.m. and Sundaysnoon to 7 p.m.

Antler Beer & Wine Dispensary

Holl New York

PAPA DISH (6 Clinton St.), opened in the former home of DessertTruck Works at the end of August. It offers pizza for $1/slice, plus a stan-dard selection of sandwiches, salads and burgers all priced less than $8

each. Breakfast is served starting at 6 a.m. The restaurant is open Mondaythrough Saturday until 7 p.m. and delivers (212-598-9988).

edited by Jennifer Strom

Dimes Caf

Papa Dish


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nightlife

The tension between liquor license applicants and

neighborhood residents seeking curbs on the nightlife

scene erupted at a Community Board 3 subcommittee

meeting Sept. 16. A week later, subcommittee member andbar owner David McWater announced he would resign from theboard. During a hearing in which the transfer of a bar permitat 120 Orchard St., the former Gallery Bar, was considered,McWater confronted members of the LES Dwellers, a group oflocal residents who have mobilized against the proliferation of

bars in the neighborhood. Irritated by testimony that insinuatedhe showed favoritism toward applicants in his decisions, McWaterleaped out of his chair into a close-up face-to-face with residentsthat drew intervention from District Manager Susan Stetzer.McWater announced he planned to step down, saying the boardwas very time-consuming and emotionally debilitating. As of

presstime, he was expected to make his decision official at a meeting Sept. 24. Meanwhile, on the nightof the blow-up, the committee voted to deny the application that initially sparked the confrontation. Andin another controversial matter on the agenda that night, the renewal of a liquor license for the DL, thebig nightlife venue at 95 Delancey St., the LES Dwellers came prepared with a robust report assailingthe bar, complaining of noise from the rooftop, sidewalk overcrowding, and boisterous, drunkencustomers terrorizing the neighborhood. Others testified that the venue ignores stipulations it agreedto follow (including a prohibition on promoted events and dance parties). In the end, the committeevoted to deny the renewal, even though the State Liquor Authority has already approved it.

A new plan to improve west-

bound traffic flow alongGrand Street is in the works.Last year, the transportationdepartment changed thesetup around Clinton Streetto allow cars to access theWilliamsburg Bridge from GrandStreet. The move was part of alarger street redesign program

intended to improve pedestrian safety on Delancey and the surrounding area. Since the changeswere implemented, however, auto gridlock extending almost all the way to FDR Drive has become aneveryday occurrence, and the intersection is even less hospitable for people on foot. Last month, a DOTplanner briefed a Community Board 3 subcommittee on the agencys response to the communitys

concerns, saying the DOT is working on adjustments aimed at encouraging alternative routes to thebridge and improving signage to alert motorists to those options. First of all, DOT has already addedfive seconds to the signal at Clinton and Delancey streets, so a few more cars can make a right turnonto the bridge. Secondly, engineers will create a second lane of traffic on Grand Street by eliminating apainted median, so that drivers who prefer to access the bridge via Norfolk Street can pass through theClinton/Grand intersection. Still to come: new signs on FDR Drive to advise motorists about the NorfolkStreet route. The road signs will also direct cars to the bridge via Houston/Essex streets. This part of theplan will take some time to implement because the state has jurisdiction over FDR Drive. While therewas some talk over the summer of eliminating or reducing the size of the Clinton Street bike lane, DOTleaders decided against this move because the bike lanes in the area are so heavily used.

www.thelodownny.com

neighborhood newsedited by Jennifer Strom

transportation

transportation

Noahs Ark Deli, one of the last

remaining kosher restaurants inthe neighborhood, may not reopenafter closing last month for theJewish holidays. The deli, which hasoperated at 399 Grand St. since 2003,advised its staff it would close indefi-nitely as of Sept. 4, and indicated thebusiness had been sold. Owner NoamSokolow, who also operates delis inTeaneck, N.J., did not respond to inqui-ries from The Lo-Down seeking details.For many months, the restaurant hasbeen listed for sale, with broker MarcBerger marketing it as a highly suc-cessful kosher deli grossing approxi-mately $1 million/year. According toBergers website, the 1,700- square-foot space (including a finished base-ment) rents for $5,500/month. The

asking price is $795,000. Last spring,Sokolow told us no sale was imminent.According to the Seward Park Coop-erative, the restaurants landlord, anownership change would have to gothrough the board of directors, whichhas not occurred as of presstime. Inthe past, Seward Park board membershave indicated that the deli had a longhistory of failing to pay its rent. Theyhave also suggested that AssemblySpeaker Sheldon Silver, advocating forGrand Streets Orthodox community,has lobbied to keep Noahs Ark open.

restaurants

Despite opposition from local parents and City Coun-cil member Margaret Chin, the citys Department ofEducation is formally proposing to co-locate a newhigh school within a Monroe Street building that iscurrently home to University Neighborhood HighSchool. The school, a career and technical education pro-gram offering early college and workforce training options,would debut in 2014 with up to 85 ninth-graders, eventuallyenrolling up to 510 students. According to the DOE, Univer-sity Neighborhood High School will be serving 275 studentsduring the 2013-14 school year. The Education Departmentclaims the building is underutilized and that its target ca-pacity is 694 students. At a protest rally in late August, Chinand parents said the DOEs calculations are deeply flawed.Not only are many rooms in the 1903 building undersized,the building lacks many features, including a dedicated gym,lunch room or auditorium. Lisa Donlan, head of the District 1Community Education Council, noted that University Neigh-borhood High Schools performance has improved dramati-

cally in the past year, from a D to almost an A. She also saidDOE officials have conceded in public meetings that theresno room to add new schools in District 1. This new proposal,she suggested, is part of a desperate rush, in the waningdays of the Bloomberg administration, to push throughas many new initiatives as possible. A public meeting isscheduled for 6 p.m. on Oct. 7 at the school building, 200Monroe St., to hear com-munity feedback aboutthe plan. The Panel ForEducation Policy meetsto vote on siting the newschool on the LowerEast Side Oct. 15.

education

Community Board 3 last month rejected three requestsfrom interstate bus companies to add or expand busstops in Chinatown and the Lower East Side. The panel,which heard from many Chinatown residents venting frustra-tion with the buses, voted against an application from Yo! Busto increase its roundtrips from 14 to 28 daily at its stop at 2Pike St. The center median is already very busy during muchof the day and evening. The committee agreed, however, tosupport the companys bid to extend its hours of operationfrom 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. CB3 members also turned down applications from two companies offer-ing service to Atlantic City casinos: Asian Express Travel at 30 Pike St. and A & W Inc. at 9 ChathamSquare. The committee supported two other permit proposals from New York Style Limo (95 CanalSt.) and Blue Sky Bus (51 Chrystie St.). The final decision is up to the citys Department of Transpor-tation; CB3s votes are merely advisory opinions. City Council member Margaret Chin weighed inagainst permits for bus operators offering service to casinos, saying new state legislation she sup-ported was meant to accommodate bus carriers offering service between Chinatown communities(in Washington, Philadelphia, etc.), not to foster shuttle service to gambling destinations.

Trac backs up on Grand Street.

Trac backs up on Grand Street.

The DL, 95 Delancey St.


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unprepared. In the past 11 months, commu-nity organizations, government officials andproperty owners have been grappling withhow to protect the city, including the low-lying areas in our community.

From Knickerbocker Village, to the pub-lic housing projects near the waterfront to thelarge cooperative buildings a few blocks fromthe river on Grand Street, levels of disasterpreparedness vary greatly.

Overall, its clear that some positive stepshave been taken; its equally clear that muchmore is required.

In June, Mayor Michael Bloombergunveiled a $20 billion plan to protect the cityfrom rising sea levels and extreme weather.

According to a 438-page report that contained250 recommendations, the plan includeserecting both temporary and permanentbarriers along the East River and storm-proof ing older buildings. In the spring, NewYork received approval to spend nearly $1.8billion in federal aid, the f irst installment of amassive recovery package. The fundseventually will be made available to largehousing complexes, such as KnickerbockerVillage, in the form of community block

grants. But as victims of previous naturaldisasters have discovered, waiting for moneyfrom Washington can be a frustrating andprotracted ordeal.

More than a week after electrical powerwas restored throughout the Lower East Sidelast November, word began to get out thatKnickerbocker Village was still in the dark.While few tenants knew it at the time, thehurricane had destroyed the Depression-eradevelopments mechanical systems. Therewas a complete breakdown in communica-tions and no support for residents, includingabout two dozen homebound seniors, untillocal nonprof it organizations and electedoff icials began mobilizing relief efforts, going

door to door with food, water and medicalsupplies. As anger continued to build, Knick-erbocker Villages management f inally cameface to face with tenants Nov. 14 in a publicmeeting organized by State Assembly Speak-er Sheldon Silver. James Simmons, an execu-tive with AREA Property Partners, promisedthat full power would be restored within 24hours and he vowed, we will ensure that nota penny of rent is paid on days in which youdid not have essential services. Finally, Sim-

www.thelodownny.com

Nearly a year after Hurricane Sandydevastated Knickerbocker Village,the historic affordable housing complex justtwo short blocks from the East River, StevenWong cant shake the memories from those17 days his family sat in the dark and cold. Onat least f ive occasions following the Oct. 29natural disaster, Wong carried his frail grand-father on his back from an 11th-floor apart-ment down the pitch-dark staircase for dialy-sis treatments.

He was extremely agitated, Wong saidof 89-year-old Sui Chan, whos bedridden andreceives daily care from a nursing aide. Butwhat was he going to do? He lived there 40years and had no place to go.

As the f irst anniversary of the superstormfast approaches, the residents of Knickerbock-er Village would be comforted to know theirhomes are better protected for the next hurri-cane. Unfortunately, however, they are still

waiting for federal disaster assistance to ar-rive. Promised rent rebates have not material-ized. And if an emergency plan for future di-sasters has been created, tenants havent beentold about it in any detail. In short, many resi-dents living in the 1,590 apartments locatedbetween Market and Catherine streets feelmore vulnerable than ever before.

For most people on the Lower East Side,the effects of Hurricane Sandy were not long-lasting. Businesses suffered lost revenues anda small number of residents were displacedfrom their homes indef initely. But comparedwith places like Staten Island and the Rocka-ways, the LES bounced back quickly. Afterthe f l00dwaters receded and the lights cameback on, though, a new reality sunk inthroughout the neighborhood. We couldntescape the fact that Sandy was not a f luke,that future storms are sure to be even moredamaging and that we remained woefully

by Ed Litvak

A Year After Sandy:Knickerbocker Lags

in Recovery, butProgress Elsewhere

The Knickerbocker Village complex


10/17


functional during future storms and coordi-nating with grocery stores to make sure ade-quate supplies of food are available. As a re-sult of the organizations efforts, Aase said, Ithink we are better prepared. We have bettercommunications and many more specif icconnections [among LES social service agen-cies] and other community-oriented groups.

Gigi Li, chairperson of Community Board3, believes the Long-Term Recovery Group isdoing good work, but she would like to seethe city focus in a more comprehensive wayon Lower Manhattans most vulnerable com-munities. CB3 as a whole does not thinkmuch of Bloombergs proposal for SeaportCity, a new community envisioned on the

East River with luxury housing and a multi-billion-dollar levee system.

Seaport City should not be the focus, Lisaid. I dont think public housing has beenlooked at seriously enough post-Sandy. Idont think Knickerbocker Village has beenlooked at seriously.

The residents at Knickerbocker obviouslyagree with this assessment wholeheartedly.Tenant leader Bob Wilson said he has nodoubt that recovery funds will eventually ar-rive but in the meantime, he told tenants lastmonth, You are at substantial risk. This is arisky place to live.

completely renovated. Torres, whos not shyabout criticizing the housing authority whenshe thinks its deserved, praised NYCHA for itsperformance during and after the storm.There was a sense of unity and the staff atSmith has been great, she said.

After Sandy, another large housing de-velopment, the Seward Park Cooperative,lagged behind other co-op buildings onGrand Street in restoring heat and hot waterbecause it relied on steam service from ConEdison. This month, two new boilers are com-ing online, meaning the 1,700 apartmentsthere will no longer be at the mercy of an out-side utility. General Manager Frank Durantsaid more emergency generators have been

purchased and systems are being put in placeto provide emergency lighting. A residentsurvey was conducted in January to help theco-op identify in which apartments vulnera-ble residents live. A comprehensive emergen-cy plan is also in the works, he said.

Chin said one of her top priorities is iden-tifying new emergency shelters. During theheight of the storm and immediate aftermath,all 800 beds at Lower Manhattans existingshelter, Seward Park High School, were occu-pied. Generators there failed, creating adiff icult situation for seniors and familieswith young children.

Seward Park High School is not suff i-cient, Chin said. We have to start looking forother sites. Churches and other small commu-nity facilities should be looked at to augmentthe citys existing shelter system, she said.

In March, a large number of neighbor-hood organizations came together to form theLower East Side Long-Term Recovery Group.The participants have been meeting regular-ly to coordinate disaster readiness plans.Melissa Aase, University Settlements execu-tive director, sits on the groups executivecommittee. The organization, she told The Lo-Down recently, is working on a wide range ofinitiatives, including the development ofcommunity reception centers and volun-teer coordination networks. Theyre devel-oping communications systems that will be

ate action. Last month, a spokesperson for thecitys housing agency told The Lo-Down thataid for the development is a priority, but

added, there is a process that is necessary inorder to meet the federal requirements of thefunding which can take several months, in-cluding environmental requirements, f lood-

plain notices and tenant notice require-ments. During the f irst week of September,management posted a notice in public areas

indicating that initial steps had been takento prevent damage from future storms.Flood gates for various locations on Cherry

Street were being manufactured and retain-ing walls were to bebuilt, the memo stat-

ed. But Bob Wilson, alongtime tenant lead-er, was dismayed,telling fellow resi-

dents at a meetinglast month, thestates foot-dragging

is despicable. Wil-son said, in essencetheyre telling us to

drop dead.In a recent interview, City Council mem-

ber Margaret Chin, who spent a lot of time atKnickerbocker Village in the aftermath of the

storm, said shes pushing legislation thatwould set up a registry for the elderly andother vulnerable populations. She is also ad-

vancing a proposal requiring property own-ers to publish evacuation plans. In her travels

through the district, she said, its become ob-vious some buildings have done a lot to pre-pare for the next storm; others have made lit-tle progress.

At the Alfred E. Smith Houses, a publichousing development, Tenant AssociationPresident Aixa Torres was preparing lastmonth to distribute emergency kits,

containing items such as bottled water andf lashlights, to residents. At the Smith Houses,Sandys waters forced sewage to back up in 21

ground-level apartments. Residents havebeen relocated, as the apartments must be

mons said Knickerbocker Village was com-mitted to planning for the future. I dont be-lieve its the last time the East River crosses

Cherry Street, he warned.In most apartments, power was, in fact,

restored the next day, and heat and hot waterfollowed. The immediate crisis ended and,

like many of their neighbors elsewhere onthe LES, residents returned to work and re-sumed their daily routines. But in the weeks

and months that followed, as another hurri-cane season loomed, it became obvious thatlong-term solutions at the complex, in the

citys 100-year f loodplain, were not material-izing.

During the sum-

mer, there were scat-tered power outages,elevators continuedto malfunction and

management said itwas unable to offerrent reimbursements

until KnickerbockerVillages insurancecarrier approved a

multi-million-dollarclaim. A petition signed by more than 1,500residents was delivered to Gov. AndrewCuomo Sept. 4 in which residents pleaded

with the governor, who has oversight au-thority of the affordable complex, to order theowners to implement a disaster plan. In an

appeal to the New York State Off ice of Homes& Community Renewal, which has direct su-

pervision of Knickerbocker Village, theywrote, both the property and its occupantsare even more exposed to a catastrophic eventthen they were a year ago. We appeal to you

to provide the necessary resources and direc-tion to management so that our emergen-cy requirements are accomplished on an im-mediate basis.

State off icials told the tenants that NewYork City is responsible for distributing anyfunds Knickerbocker Village might receive.

The mayor did not reply to a letter from localelected off icials in which they urged immedi-

LOWER EAST SIDE READYA month-long series

In collaboration with the Lower EastSide Long-Term Recovery Group,The Lo-Down presents a seriesduring the month of Octoberoffering tips and information to helpresidents and businesses preparefor the next storm.

Visit thelodownny.com/les-ready

for more details.

The Lower East Side was powerless afterHurricane Sandy.


11/17


calendar

Chris Burdens Ghost Ship at New Museums First Sat-urdays for Families: Explore the American arti sts exhibi-tion with New Museum educators and learn how Burdenhas investigated ideas of limits, speed and play throughhis artwork. After visiting the galleries, head to the SkyRoom and create your own fleet of boats using a varietyof everyday materials. 235 Bowery, 10 a.m.-noon, free,newmuseum.org.

Visit our CALENDAR online at

www.thelodownny.com/calendarfor more details and

to add yourownevents.

what to do inOCTOBER

Miguel Gutierrezs myendlessloveat Abrons: Catchthe entrancing Guggenheim Fellow in this rare repriseperformance about sex, desire and objectificationwhich incorporates movement, video and music. Thepiece unravels as a search for the poetics of gay sex,exploiting time-honored clichs about sentimentality,longing and how we look beyond ourselves for love.466 Grand St. in the Underground, Oct.9-12 and Oct.16-19, 8 p.m., $20, abronsartscenter.org.

Amazing Amy the Contortionist at OldMan Hustle: First-prize winner in theConey Island Circus Freaks and SideShow Geeks Talent Show category, therubber-bodied Yoga Yenta improvises

and contorts on the stage of our neigh-

borhoods newest performance space. Sheis accompanied by musician Rachel Mason and violinistMarc Golamco. 39 Essex St., free, 8 p.m., oldmanhustle.com. (For more about Old Man Hustle, see Arts Watchon page 21.)

Ntozake Shanges Lost in Languageand Sound at the Nuyorican: Dontmiss this premiere of a new choreo-poem by esteemed novelist, poetand Obie-winning playwright NtozakeShange. A talk-back/panel discussionwith Ntozake will follow the perfor-mance. 236 E. Third St., 7:30 p.m.,$20/$15 students, nuyorican.org.

11th Annual OpenhouseNewYork Weekend: Make a day out ofAmericas largest architecture and design event that offers free tours ofsome of the citys most intriguing spaces that you might not ordinar-ily have access to. Highlights in the neighborhood include tours of theHenry Street Settlements historic headquarters, the Eldridge StreetSynagogue and the quirky new 60-square-foot museum housed in aformer elevator in Chinatown. Also Sunday, Oct. 13, ohny.org.

People of the Books: AMonthly Book Club at

the Museum atEldridge Street: Joinmuseum Scholar-in-

Residence Regina Steinfor a monthly discussion

of popular Jewish contempo-rary fiction and nonfiction, starting withThe Aleppo Codexby Matti Friedmanand followed by What Do We Talkabout When We Talkabout Anne Frankby Nathan Englander. Lively discussions encouraged and participants arenvited to add their own suggestions tothe group reading list. 12 Eldridge St.,11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $10/session or$50/8 sessions, eldridgestreet.org.

Sat.

5

Mon.

7

Sat.

5

Sat.

12

Tues.

15

Wed.

9

Edited by Traven Rice

Habitats: Private Lives in the Big Cityat Tenement Talks:Join author and New York Timeseditor Constance

Rosenblum as she opens some tantalizing portals,telling intimate and surprising stories about where,how and with whom New Yorkers live. For this event,Rosenblum interviews five New Yorkers, ranging in age

from twentysomething to ninetysomething, about howthey live. 103 Orchard St., 6:30 p.m., free, tenement.org.

Wed.

23

Tues.

15Lower East Side Pickle Day:

Celebrate the rich history of pickle vendorsof the Lower East Side by indulging in arange of brine-soaked delicacies from oldneighborhood institutions such as Guss

Pickles, which first sold pickles from barrelson the streets 100 years ago, to neighborhood

newcomers like Mission Chinese, which will serve upa surprise pickled dish.The festival is part of the Day-

Life neighborhood event series put on by the LowerEast Side Business Improvement District. OrchardStreet, from Delancey to East Houston, noon-5 p.m.,free, lowereastsideny.com.

Sun.

27

Nightmare Haunted House, the team thatproduced last years wildly popular Killers,returns to the Clemente Soto Velez CulturalCenter with Killers 2, a horrifying, immersivehaunted house experience about our obses-sion and fascination with serial killers bothreal and fictional. Visitors navigating thetormenting labyrinth will encounter variouspsychopaths, including Harrison Graham,Aileen Wournos and Charles Manson,among others, who are neither glorified norromanticized, but rather presented for what

they are. Focusing on both the perpetra-tors and their victims, both historical andcontemporary, Killers 2 sets out to prove thatthe most haunting experiences are thosethat are real. There is nothing more frighten-ing than the monsters that walk among us.Please note that this experience is designed

for adults: children under 10 are not admitted and parents are strongly cautioned about bringingchildren under 16. Through Saturday, Nov. 2, 107 Suffolk St., ticket prices range from $20 for studentsto $60 for VIP entry (see website for details), nightmarenyc.com. (For a list of Halloween events that aremore kid-friendly, check out thelodownny.com later in October.)

N i g h t m a r e K i l l e r s 2a t C l e m e n t e S o t o V e l e z

CMJ Music Marathon 2013: Musicfans and industry insiders descend ondowntown venues for five nights (anddays) in hopes of discovering newmusic, with more than 1,400 up-and-

comersgiven a chance

to showcase their talents.Many LES music venues

participate; see indi-vidual venue websites forspecific show schedulesand cover charges.Through Oct. 19,cmj.com/marathon.

throughout

Oct.


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Out With the Crook,in With the Crusader

By Susan LaRosa

Henry Street Settlement in 1893 to f ight thesocial causes of poverty, and worked tirelesslyto help vulnerable residents of the Lower EastSide lead better lives. During her tenure atHenry Street, Wald founded the VisitingNurse Service, placed the f irst nurse in a pub-lic school, opened the f irst playground in theneighborhood, established the f irst pure milkprogram for children, supported racial inte-gration and was a founding member of theNAACP, supported the labor movement andfought for child labor laws, conceived theidea for the federal Childrens Bureau, lobbiedfor womens suffrage and established the f irsttheater in the nation (now the Abrons ArtsCenter) for a low-income community.

In 1922, The New York Times namedWald as one of the 12 greatest living Ameri-can women, and she later received the Lin-coln Medallion for her work as an Outstand-ing Citizen of New York. On her 70thbirthday, Sara Delano Roosevelt read a letteron a radio broadcast from her son, PresidentFranklin Roosevelt, in which he praisedWald for her unself ish labor to promote thehappiness and well-being of others. In1970, she was elected to the Hall of Fame forGreat Americans.

It has been 14 years since the sorry truthabout Dickstein came to light. Its time for thecommunity to right a wrong, and replace hisname with Walds. In life, she embodied thebest of the Lower East Side. In death, her lega-cy lives on in Henry Streets work, whichhelps more than 50,000 individuals each yearthrough social service, arts and health careprograms, making the neighborhood and theentire city a better place for everyone.

Susan LaRosa is thedeputy ofcer for

marketing andcommunications atthe Henry Street

Settlement.

arts watch

By Traven Rice

Downtown performance maven Reverend

Jen has brought her weekly Anti-Slam, a wacky

and fantastic variety show, back to life at a new

performance space, igniting a glimmer of hope

amid the sad state of recent venue closures on the

Lower East Side. The Bowery Poetry Club hosted

the show for many years, but it closed for renova-tions and reopened as what she calls a generic

supper club, forcing Reverend Jen on hiatus.

The shows new home is 39 Essex St., where

the owner of the former Sweet Grapes Wine Bar,

Bill Frazer, has transformed his pint-sized space

into a hot dog shack and tavern called Old Man

Hustle. Offering a variety of dogs to choose from

during the day, at night the shack becomes an art

bar, with a diverse selection of craft beer and wine.

Frazer handed the entertainment side of

things over to show booker Mike Jarmuz. Jarmuz,

who is primarily responsible for the revamp of

the space and its new name, spent four years as a

A New Performance SpaceHustles to Essex Street

music promoter in Arizona before moving to NewYork. He is packing the weekly schedule at OldMan Hustle with stand-up comedy, live music,poetry, burlesque and any kind of variety show he

can f ind.October shows include Amazing Amy The

Contortionist, The Gotham City Beard AlliancesBearded Bar Night and local musical legendBrer Brians Open Jam Session. Reverend Jen,who has hosted her Anti-Slam in various incarna-tions for last 18 years or so, is excited to be in a moreintimate space. She says the Anti-Slam is the gluethat keeps a substantial community of downtownartists together, allowing them to continue experi-menting and performing in a safe environment.

Heres hoping this new venue is a sign of

more good creative things to come.You can check out Old Man Hustles calendar

of events and sign yourself up to show off yourtrue talent at oldmanhustle.com.

Send your commentary to us:[email protected]

Its time to practicesome much-neededrevisionist historyon the far east LowerEast Side.

Henry Street Set-tlement is petition-ing to change thename of Samuel

Dickstein Plaza, aone-block area at theintersection of EastBroadway and HenryStreet, to Lillian WaldWay, in honor of theSettlements founder.

Why bother? Please read on.Dickstein was a U.S. Congressman who

represented the Lower East Side for twodecades beginning in 1923, serving as vicechairman of a House subcommittee on un-American activities. He later became a StateSupreme Court justice. Dickstein died in 1954;the plaza was named for him in 1963.

In the 1990s, historians Allen Weinstein,who later served as the Archivist of the Unit-ed States, and Alexander Vassiliev were grant-ed unprecedented access to secret Soviet ar-

chives where they discovered evidence thatDickstein began passing information to theSoviets in 1937 while he was a seated con-gressman! He did so purely for money; he waspaid $1,250 per month by the NKVD, the Rus-sian security service. The quality of his infor-mation underwhelmed the Soviets; theyended their relationship with him in 1940.His code name, assigned by the Soviets, wasCrook.

Wald was one of the most respected andinf luential social reformers of the 20th cen-tury, a true progressive pioneer who founded

in myopinion

Reverend Jen hosts a weekly Anti-Slam at Old Man Hustle. Photo by Alex M. Smith.


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Street artist Tristan Eaton paid tribute to Audrey

Hepburn in a project commissioned by the Little Italy

Street Project. The mural is visible on the facade of

385 Broome St. Photo by Tim Schreier.

New Yorkers paused to remember the 12th anniver-

sary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Photo by Bahram Foroughi.

City Council member Margaret Chinwon a second term in off ice Sept. 10, defeat-ing challenger Jenifer Rajkumar. Chins vic-tory in the Democratic primary means thelongtime community activist will be return-ing to City Hall, representing the Lower EastSide and most of Lower Manhattan, becausethere is no Republican challenger in Nov-embers general election.

Chin garnered 8,303 votes (58.5 percent),while Rajkumar came in with 5,891 votes(41.5 percent).

Its just so amazing that we are able tobring everyone together for this solid, strongvictory for Lower Manhattan, Chin de-clared in her victory celebration at the Cha-

tham Square Restaurant in Chinatown.The council member was joined by As-

sembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who offeredhis congratulations and said to voters,thank you for giving me someone I canwork with again at City Hall.

Rajkumar, a political newcomer whomoved to the Financial District in 2010, of-fered a spirited challenge to Chin by tappinginto disgruntlement over big real estate de-velopment deals in several neighborhoods.Some residents argued that the incumbentcouncil member had not fought hard

enough against New York Universitys ex-

pansion plan in Greenwich Village and the

South Street Seaport redevelopment project.

Others objected to her support for business

improvement districts in Soho and China-

town. Jobs for New York, a political action

committee funded by the real estate indus-

try, spent nearly $300,000 to help Chin.

While she spoke out against third-party ex-

penditures in the campaign, Rajkumar

sought to use the PACs support to prove her

opponent enjoyed an all-too-cozy relation-

ship with developers.

Chin had the support of most local elect-

ed off icials, as well as labor unions, the inf lu-

ential Working Families Party and tenant

leaders in the Lower East Sides public hous-

ing developments. During her victory

speech, Chin said there are lots of things she

wants to get done in the next four years.

Opening new schools is a top priority, she

said, as well as seeing 500 units of affordable

housing constructed at the Seward Park re-

development site, along Delancey Street.

While Rajkumar lost the council election,

she was re-elected to her post as a district

leader on the West Side, so shes expected to

remain politically active.

In other races, Rosie Mendez won a

third term in Council District 2, which covers

the East Side above East Houston Street. She

beat Richard Del Rio, an East Village pastor,

81 percent to 18 percent. In the contest forpublic advocate, State Sen. Daniel Squadron

came in second to Letitia James, a City Coun-

cil member. Since no one garnered 40 per-

cent of the vote, a runoff election was sched-

uled for Oct. 1. If Squadron is victorious, a

special election will be held to f ill his Senate

seat. He represents the Lower East Side,

along with most of Lower Manhattan and

sections of Brooklyn. (Visit us online at the-

lodownny.com for the results of the public

advocate runoff.)

Chin Holds Onto Council Seat

The Free Art Society revealed Portal No. 7 in its 13

Portals project on the front door of local photogra-

pher Clayton Pattersons gallery at 161 Essex St. The

-

tions, with each unveiling offering people the chance

. Photo by The Lo-Down.

The Lower East Side Business Improvement District

presented a fashion show on a stretch of Orchard

Street above Grand Street last month to kick off the

fall season and to showcase LES designs.

Photo by Ethan Ries.

Photo by Joel Raskin.

the historic St. Augustines Church on Henry Street

celebrate 185 years on the LES. Photo by The Lo-Down.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver helps Councilmember Chin celebrate victory.


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back and forth. Its hectic, but Im so blessed to bedoing what I love for a living, youre not gonnahear me complain.

Whats your favorite spot on the LES and

why?

The Hillman playground next to the East Riverbuilding. Its fully shaded and the kids love it there.

Favorite cheap eats?

An Choi. I love the catfish vermicelli bowl.

Favorite place for a special night?

Honestly, we love Cafe Katja -- the food is amazingand one of the owners, Andrew, is another local.The staff is just amazing and youre given the sametreatment with or without your kids; as a parentyou couldnt ask for more.

How have you seen the neighborhoodchange?

Well, we live in a NORC [Naturally Occurring Re-tirement Community] and I love that about thehood and I embrace the seniors. As life goes,though, weve lost many over the years, includingsome good friends. Weve been changed by lifesnormal progression. People pass on and new fam-ilies come in. Its really nice seeing all the young

children mixing with the seniors and the joy thatthey bring to one another.

What do you miss from the old LES?

I miss some of the above-mentioned friends, but asfar as an institution, El Sombero, a.k.a., The Hat, ifindeed it is closing, will surely be missed.

Is there a new arrival you love? Why?

Although its not that new anymore, I love Top Hopson Orchard. The guys there are great and I love justsittin down and pickin a cold one from one of thebest tap beer selections Ive ever seen.

What drives you crazy about the neigh-

borhood?

I guess the Williamsburg Bridge traffic on GrandStreet in the evenings is the most annoying thingabout the neighborhood. Not bad if thats your big-

gest complaint, though.

Tell us your best LES memory.

Prior to this apartment, we had a two-bed, one-bath with a 200-square-foot terrace that over-looked the whole city, and every year wed have allour friends over for a Fourth of July party andwatch the fireworks (back when they were still setoff on the East River).

built a shelf in one of the bedrooms for the secondbed and in the other room there was a full-sizebed, but you couldnt even open the door all theway to get in or out.

Why did you move here?

We moved [to the Grand Street Co-ops] becauseit was the best bang for your buck when my wifeKaryn and I decided to buy. Were on the top floor,and out of the back side of the apartment you seethe Williamsburg Bridge and everything going up-town and out of the other side you see the riverand the other bridges. Its really great.

What do you do?

Im an actor. Currently filming the second seasonofHouse of Cardson Netflix. Its the best job Iveever had. Im just so proud to be a part of it. Itssuch a good show. The show is filmed in Baltimore,which is hard; I keep an apartment there and I go

How long have you lived on the Lower

East Side?

Around 10 years down here [in the East River Co-op], but we were on Houston and Attorney, rightnext to Parkside Lounge, for eight years prior tothat. When I first moved to New York in 94, I livedon East 12th Street, between Avenues A and B. Itwas me and two buddies from a small town inGeorgia in a tiny two-bedroom. There was aseparate bathroom (the tub wasnt in the kitchen)but you had to shut the door completely beforeyou could sit down and go to the bathroom. We

Michael

Kelly

For our regular feature spotlighting thepeople who live and work on the Lower

East Side, we talked with actor MichaelKelly, whos currently working on theEmmy-award winning Netflix series,

House of Cards..

photo: Alex M. Smith

Photo by Alex M. Smith

13Sat.

Dr. Shu Ping Rong, D.D.S. P.C.1 2 8 M o t t S t . , S u i t e 5 0 7 , N e w Yo r k , N Y 1 0 0 1 3

Te l : 2 1 2 . 2 2 6 . 6 3 6 8

w w w . d r r o n g d d s . c o m

[email protected]

Monday - Sunday:10:00 am - 6:30 pm

Implants, Braces (Metal/Invisible),Gum Disease, Laser Surgery & Whitening

Cosmetics, Soft Tissue Surgeries, Crowns/Bridges, Root Canal, Dentures,Childrens Dentistr y, Wisdom Teeth Extracti ons, Veneers, Emergencies,

Appliance Therapy, Full Mouth Reconstruction, Invisalign

Find us on zocdoc.com.

yelp.com and yellowpages.com.


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New York, NY 10002

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