downtown
DANCE
®
VOLUME 20, NUMBER 40
Not your typical walk in the snow
On Sunday afternoon in Tribeca two brave souls and their dog trudging through knee-high snowdrifts.
9/11 Health Bill awaits Prez sig.
Local pols praise
bill’s passage
BY ALINE REYNOLDS
Thousands of 9/11 sur-
vivors’ wishes came true
last week when Congress
passed a modified version of
the James R. Zadroga 9/11
Health bill. Last Thursday,
all the key players held a
press conference in front
of 7 World Trade Center to
express
praise the bill’s passage.
After several exchanges
with Republican lawmakers,
New York Senators Kirsten
Gillibrand and Charles
Schumer finally man-
aged to reach a bipartisan
agreement with Oklahoma
Continued on page 11
THE NEWSPAPER OF LOWER MANHATTAN
How the Zadroga
miracle happened
BY TERESE LOEB
KREUZER
The U.S. Senate office
buildings seemed empty. A
few doors remained open,
with junior staffers manning
the phones next to brightly
decorated Christmas trees,
but many offices were closed.
In front of some, were piles
Downtown Express photo by Milo Hess
of cardboard boxes as their
former occupants made
way for the newly elected
Congress.
Not knowing who would
be there to hear them on
December 21, a group of
people from New York and
Continued on page 14
DEC. 29, 2010 - JAN. 5, 2011
One survivor from 9/11
returns home, for good
BY ALINE REYNOLDS
One steadfast survi-
vor of 9/11 was brought
back to its home at the
World Trade Center site
last Wednesday.
The callery pear, nick-
named the “survivor tree,”
was nearly destroyed in the
9/11 attacks. Nine years
later, the tree, back in
good health, was returned
to Ground Zero and
joined 124 swamp white
oaks now planted at the
National 9/11 Memorial.
Richard Cabo, the tree’s
primary caretaker since
9/11, was all smiles last
Wednesday morning as he
watched workers lower his
beloved tree into a ditch at
its permanent home on the
plaza. Cabo plans to return
to the site next April to
check up on the tree.
The “survivor tree” is a
“testament [to] our ability
Downtown Express photo by Jay Paterson
Kim Noble Must Die!
D
DA NCE COMPANY
OPEN HOUSE,
PAGE 23
to endure the symbol of
our unshakable belief in a
brighter future,” accord-
ing to Mayor Michael
Bloomberg, who kicked off
the 9/11 Memorial planting
ceremony last Wednesday.
Themes of endurance and
renewal the tree evokes,
he added, are central to
the holiday season. The
mayor previously appeared
at the plaza to witness the
planting of the 50th oak
tree in October.
“This tree is a key ele-
ment of the memorial pla-
za’s landscape,” said Joe
Daniels, president of the
National 9/11 Memorial
and Museum. The W.T.C.
site, once emblematic of
destruction and “hellish
conditions,” Daniels said,
now symbolizes “beauty
and peace.”
Continued on page 17
Page 19
2 December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 downtown express

www.DowntownNY.com

MULCHFEST /
E-WASTE
RECYCLING
Downtown Express photo by Milo Hess

The wind that accompanied the snowstorm created whiteout conditions.

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IORZHUVVKUXEVRUVWUHHWWUHHV
Meet NYC’s Recycling Characters, who will make a
special appearance to add holiday cheer. NYC Compost
Project staff also will be on hand to answer all of your
questions about composting and how to use mulch.
The Downtown Connection Bus will transport you and your
tree to MulchFest–for free! Visit www.DowntownNY.com or call
212.835.2789 for details.
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WKHKROLGD\V"'RQrWWKURZRXW
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%RZOLQJ*UHHQ3DUN
The Lower East Side Ecology Center’s 8th Annual
“After the Holidays” E-waste Events will bring a total of
ten events to NYC this January.
We will be accepting working and non-working computers, monitors,
printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, cables, TVs, VCRs, DVD players,
phones, audio/visual equipment, cell phones and PDAs.
Visit www.lesecologycenter.org or call 212.477.4022 for details.
SPONSORED BY:
The white Christmas that
wasn’t, barely
BY ALINE REYNOLDS
The blizzard of 2010 struck the city with
full force on Sunday evening and Monday
morning, forcing thousands of New Yorkers
to stay at home or to abandon their cars on
the streets.
Snow continued to fall until 9:30 a.m.
Monday morning, and blizzard conditions
lasted until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The Downtown Alliance cleared more
than 50 crosswalks, 35 bus stops and a
dozen Lower Manhattan subway entranc-
es of snow, according to Joe Timpone,
senior vice president for operations.
Timpone assigned workers to hit the
streets bright and early Monday morning,
clearing crosswalks, sidewalks, plazas,
and subway and bus stops of snow for the
300,000 workers, 55,000 residents and
thousands of holiday tourists currently in
Lower Manhattan.
The Downtown Alliance’s 20-man sanita-
tion crew, clothed in red coats, used snow
blowers, plows and shovels, and sprinkled
more than 1,500 pounds of salt. The only
streets that hadn’t been paved as of 1 p.m.
Tuesday was Cedar Street between Broadway
and Nassau Streets; Cedar between William
and Pearl Streets; and Nassau Street between
John Street and Maiden Lane.
On Monday afternoon, State Senator
Daniel Squadron phoned in, reporting
a quiet and snowy Monday, but said
he enjoyed being amidst a winter won-
derland. He said he made it to all his
returned from Downtown Community
Center, where they took a swim indoors.
But many New Yorkers have phoned
Mayor Bloomberg’s office and other city
agencies complaining about the city’s
lousy clean-up efforts. As a result, the City
Council has scheduled a blizzard response
hearing for January 10 at 1 p.m.
The hearing, City Council Speaker
Christine Quinn said, “acknowledges the
reality… that something went wrong.”
The emergency response, she said, was
not up to standards New Yorkers are
accustomed to. “We will conduct a con-
structive fact-finding effort with the goal
of preventing it from happening again,”
said Quinn.
Bloomberg said that it’s the biggest
snow removal the city has ever had to
undertake. Apart from plowing the snow,
workers were forced to dig out and tow
away more than 1,000 stranded vehicles
and buses. “The bottom line is we are
doing everything we possibly can, and
pulling every resource from every pos-
sible place to meet the unique challenges
that this storm is posing,” he said at a
press conference held at the city’s Office
of Emergency Management Headquarters
in Brooklyn.
The mayor asked for New Yorkers’
patience and encouraged them to donate
blood, if they are able, in order to help out
with city’s low blood supply. He urged them
to walk with care, since the snow re-freezes

morning meetings held near his office in
Tribeca.
Other New Yorkers enjoyed the day
off, and had fun playing in the snow.
Steps away from Ground Zero, Downtown
resident Malachy Sherlock took his four-
and-a-half-year-old son, Kiefer, sledding
on Monday afternoon. They had just
overnight and creates slippery conditions on
the sidewalks.
Bloomberg also cautioned drivers to
check their exhaust pipes for snow block-
age. “If it is [blocked with snow],” he said,
“your car can fill up with carbon monoxide,
which is toxic and we just don’t need more
deaths.”
downtown express
D OWNTOWN
DIGEST
Pace to open new dorm in 2013
Pace University plans to open a new Downtown dormi-
tory for its students at 180 Broadway, at the corner of John
Street. The endeavor is part of University President Stephen
Friedman’s master plan to offer Pace students a place to live
within a five-minute walk from its main campus at 1 Pace
Plaza, just east of City Hall.
The new, 24-story residence hall is anticipated to
be “a major enhancement for generations of Pace stu-
dents who value the experience of living and learning in
Lower Manhattan,” according to William McGrath, the
University’s senior vice president and chief administrative
officer. Over half of Pace’s undergraduates now reside on
campus, according to the university, prompting the need for
convenient dormitories.
The new hall will replace the 600 dorm rooms that Pace
now rents out for its students in Brooklyn Heights.
The University signed the lease for 180 Broadway with
SL Green Realty Corp., Manhattan’s largest commercial
office landlord, to build and open the dorm by 2013. In
addition to student living space, the building will have retail
shops on the first three floors and a student activity and
amenities area on an upper floor.
Pace’s other Downtown residences are located at 55
John Street, 106 Fulton Street, and 1 Pace Plaza.
Not enough cash to keep dialysis unit running
BY ALINE REYNOLDS
Downtown Hospital patients suffering from kidney fail-
ure will soon have to go elsewhere to get their weekly dialysis
treatments.
The hospital’s hemodialysis unit will be closing in the
middle or end of March, according to Kit Yuen, the unit’s
administrative director of nursing. Its board of trustees
decided in November that the center, which serves an aver-
age of 50 patients per year, is too costly and high-mainte-
nance to keep open.
“Principally, due to the small size – seven stations – of
the hospital’s outpatient dialysis unit, the service is unable to
operate in a solvent manner,” according to Jeffrey Menkes,
the hospital’s president and chief operating officer. The unit
would require significant capital costs, he explained, to
upgrade existing infrastructure in order to meet new federal
and state health codes.
The new regulations, Yuen said, requires isolation rooms
in every dialysis unit, which the hospital couldn’t afford to
construct.
“Unfortunately, hospitals are businesses,” said Warren
Licht, chief medical officer at the hospital. “Every year, you
have to evaluate every service to make sure you’re not losing
money.”
Yuen had trouble conveying the news last week to her
patients. She herself feels sad to be leaving the unit — it’s far
easier, she explained, to join a new department than to leave
one that is shutting down.
Yuen’s patients rely on artificial dialysis to stay alive,
making visits to the hospital three times a week to rid their
blood of toxins that their failing kidneys aren’t able to filter
out.
December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 3
NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-7, 10-17
EDITORIAL PAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
YOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-23
Lux condo scrapped for sober house
What was once intended to be a luxury five-unit condo-
CLASSIFIEDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
minium in Tribeca is now slated to become a sober-living
facility targeting young adults in New York City.
C.B. 1
M
Developer Brad Zackson, owner of the Tribeca Five units
on 283 West Broadway, is close to finalizing a deal with the
worldwide Hazelden sober-housing facility.
The non-profit Hazelden New York plans to provide
EE TING S
services for recovering addicts ages 18 to 29 struggling to
overcome drug and alcohol abuse. A schedule of this week’s upcoming Community
The second through sixth floors of the treatment center Board 1 committee meetings is below. Unless other-
will house 30 patients, with six on each floor. And with per- wise noted, all committee meetings are held at the
mission from the City, Hazelden will use the basement and board office, located at 49-51 Chambers St., room
first floor for group meetings. 709 at 6 p.m. The Community Board offices are closed
Zackson filed his property for bankruptcy in January on Thursday, November 11 in observance of Veteran’s
2010 and owes the New York State Supreme Court rough- Day.
ly $14 million in various loans and fees. The Hazelden
Center will tentatively pay $10 million for 283 West ON TUES., JAN 4: C.B. 1’s Battery Park City
Broadway. Committee will meet.
Hazelden hopes to share their plans with the Lower
Manhattan community early next year. “They said they ON WED., JAN 5: C.B. 1’s Financial District
would welcome the opportunity to appear before our Tribeca Committee will meet.
[Committee] on January 12,” said Noah Pfefferblit, district
manager of Community Board 1, according to The Real ON THURS., JAN 6: C.B. 1’s Plannity and
Deal. Community Infrastructure Committee will meet.
daughter.
Yuen and her colleagues are now focusing on transferring
their patients to other dialysis units in Lower Manhattan and
elsewhere in the city. Options below 23rd Street include the
Chinatown Dialysis Center, the Lower Manhattan Dialysis
Center, the South Manhattan Dialysis Center and Beth Israel
Medical Center.
The process of moving patients, Yuen said, will take
approximately three months. “I foresee there’ll be a smooth
transition,” she said.
The board now awaits approval from the New York City
Department of Health to officially close the unit. Yuen and
other staff will be reassigned to other departments in the
hospital; none of them, Yuen said, would be laid off.
Downtown Express photo by Nikki Dowling
The Downtown Hospital’s Dialysis Unit is set to close
by April.

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4 December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011
POLICE BLOTTER
Plea in 9/11 shrine arson
Brian Schroeder, 27, pleaded guilty on
Tues., Dec. 22 to arson, burglary and crimi-
nal desecration of a cemetery in connection
with the Oct. 31, 2009 torching of a chapel
on E. 30th St. where the Medical Examiner’s
office kept unidentified remains of victims
of the Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center
attack. Schroeder, a Harvard Law gradu-
ate, said he was drunk when he set fire to
mementoes and photos left at the chapel
by family and friends of the victims. His
sentence of one year in jail was suspended
on condition that he is not arrested again
in the coming year. Judge Rena Uvillier also
ordered Schroeder to pay $67,000 in restitu-
tion and to perform 100 hours of community
service.
Drags passenger
Police arrested a cab driver on E. Houston
St. on Sat., Dec. 18 and charged him with
robbery, assault with a motor vehicle and
reckless endangerment for stealing a cell
phone from a passenger and then dragging
the victim for 14 blocks after closing the
window on the victim’s arm.
The driver, Eddy Brizard, 56, found a
cell phone that the passenger left in the cab
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and demanded $20 for return of the phone,
police said. The passenger replied he did not
have $20 and the driver refused to return it.
When the passenger put his hand in the driv-
er’s window to retrieve his phone, the driver
raised the window, catching the victims arm,
and drove off, dragging the victim about
three quarters of a mile until police made
the arrest around 4:50 a.m. on E. Houston
between Elizabeth St. and Bowery, according
to the complaint filed with the Manhattan
District Attorney.
The passenger sustained nerve damage to
his arm, police said.
Triple robberies
William Woodruff, 20, was arrested on
Dec. 22 and charged with three robberies in
Soho and Tribeca.
The suspect was charged with trying to
rob the Citibank branch at 127 Hudson St.
near Beach St. on Dec. 20. He approached
a teller’s window around 4:15 p.m. and said,
“This is a robbery. Give me all of your large
bills. Don’t do anything stupid,” accord-
ing to the complaint filed with Manhattan
District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. When the
teller refused to comply, the suspect repeated
the demand but the teller refused again and
the suspect fled.
location
Woodruff and another defendant, Charles
Smith, are charged with robbing the Choice
Forex Currency Exchange, 401 W. Broadway
at Spring St. around 3:55 p.m. Dec. 7, the
District Attorney’s office said. Smith stood
watch at the door while Woodruff went to
a window, sprayed an inflammable liquid
in a tellers face, pulled out a lighter and
threatened to blow up the building unless he
was given money. He took $1,000 and fled
with Smith running north on W. Broadway,
police said.
On Dec. 4, Woodruff and another
accomplice stopped a pedestrian on Sullivan
and Spring Sts. around 12:45 a.m. when
Woodruff pulled out a handgun, grabbed the
victim’s jacket and forced the victim to give
up $80. The suspect and the unidentified
accomplice fled.
Police apprehended Woodruff and Smith
around 1 p.m. Dec. 22 while they were peer-
ing into the window of the Forex Exchange
at 401 Broadway, according to the charges.
Firefighter in DWI
Police arrested Hugo Diaz, 35, an off-
duty firefighter, on Fri., Dec. 24, around
9 a.m. when he rear-ended another car on
West St. at Vesey St. Diaz, a three-year
FDNY veteran assigned to a Brooklyn fire
company, registered above the threshold .08
on a field Breathalyzer test, police said.
Arms cache
James O’Donnell, 39, who was arrested
on March 16 on St. Marks Pl. with a dagger
in his belt and a backpack containing hand
guns and a silencer, was indicted for criminal
possession of weapons in connection with a
stash of unlicensed guns and daggers that he
had in his rented Manhattan Mini Storage
locker at 220 South St. near Pike St.
O’Donnell told State Supreme Court
Justice Bart Stone on Thurs., Dec. 23 that
he had was in the military for two years but
declined to be more specific. Authorities
in Germany have a file on O’Donnell with
20 arrests but there is no U.S. record of
him, according to a Daily News article. The
indictment charges that O’Donnell has two
9 mm handguns, a .22 pistol, three silencers,
an electronic stun gun and several daggers in
the South St. Mini Storage locker along with
more than 300 rounds of ammunition.
Bad cold
Police charged Andrew Taylor, 33, and
Xavier Oneil, 16, with larceny on Thurs.,
Dec. 23 at a CVS store at 129 Fulton St.
between Nassau St. and Broadway for grab-
cine from the shelves and stuffing them into
a foil-line bag. A store employee stopped the
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pair as they attempted to walk out without
paying for the items.
Fleeced on Broadway
A 19-year-old Brooklyn resident told
police he was walking down Broadway from
Canal St. around 8 p.m. Sat., Dec. 18, felt
himself bumped and jostled a few times and
by the time he reached the Starbucks at 405
Broadway between Walker and Lispenard
Sts. discovered that his wallet had been
lifted, along with $40 in cash, an expired
Nevada driver’s license and a Nevada library
card. The victim told police he might have
been followed from a barbershop.
Skirting the law
The owner of the PIF Margarita Aymerich
clothing boutique at 56 Greene St. told
police she was helping customers when three
women who entered the shop around 1:45
p.m. Sat. Dec. 18 grabbed two vests and two
shawls designed by Alberto Mahali, with a
total value of $1,600, hid them under their
long skirts and left without paying for them.
The thefts were caught on the shop surveil-
lance camera, police said.
Lost in Soho
A woman visitor from Munich told police
she was at Le Pain Quotidien. 100 Grand St.
at Mercer St. around 10 a.m. Fri., Dec. 17
when her bag, which she had placed on the
floor behind her chair, was stolen, along with
$100 in cash, a camera and credit cards. She
discovered that an unauthorized charge of
$689 had been made on a credit card at an
Apple store.
Bad credit
An employee of J & R Music at 23 Park
Pl. stopped a man at the cash register around
1:14 p.m. Fri., Dec. 17 who was having
trouble with a credit card to pay for a $726
laptop computer. The employee discovered
that the card, backed by a European bank,
was not registered in the man’s name and
called police. The suspect, Rashid Fairley,
31, had five other bogus credit cards, police
said. He was charged with grand larceny.
Beauty supplies
A New Jersey woman, 27, was shopping
at a Solutions Beauty Sources. 138 Fulton
St., around noon on Fri., Dec. 17 when
she felt a tug on her bag. She discovered
later that her wallet, with $145 in cash, her
driver’s license and a cell phone was missing
from the bag.
— Alber t Amateau
downtown express
Clean sweep in bitter BID battle as 3 boards say O.K.
BY LESLEY SUSSMAN
Supporters of a business improvement
district for the Chinatown area came a step
closer this week to having their dream real-
ized at a stormy Community Board 3 meet-
ing marred by disruptions and a dramatic
walkout by opponents who believe the BID
plan would incur additional financial hard-
ship for local small businesses.
But when all the tumult had finally
calmed down, C.B. 3’s full board, which met
on December 21, voted almost overwhelm-
ingly in favor of the district plan, which
now needs to gain approval from the City
Planning Commission and, ultimately, the
City Council before it can be implemented.
The meeting, attended by nearly 200
people, was hailed as a victory by mem-
bers of the Chinatown Partnership Local
Development Corporation’s BID Steering
Committee, which has already won approval
for its plan from Community Boards 1 and
2.
Patrick Yau, executive director of the
First American International Bank and a
steering committee member, said he was
very pleased with the support.
“This BID project is very important to the
future of Chinatown,” he said. “I’m so happy
that Community Board 3 predominantly sup-
ported its formation.”
The C.B. 3 vote was also described as a
“historic moment for Chinatown” by City
Councilmember Margaret Chin, a longtime
advocate for the BID plan.
“Now three Community Boards support
the plan,” she said. “So it’s connecting
all three neighborhoods. It’s historic and
unprecedented because all the businesspeo-
ple in Chinatown will be working together
with the different communities. It’s a great
start.”
The Chinatown Partnership L.D.C., a
civic association that believes Chinatown’s
top community need is sanitation, followed
by jobs and affordable housing, is seeking
a BID designation because funding pro-
vided by the Lower Manhattan Development
Corporation in a program known as “Clean
Streets” is about to run out. For the past
three years, this program has paid for
extra street cleaning and garbage pickup.
Community leaders, however, are concerned
December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011
Councilmember Margaret Chin, in red jacket, followed the proceedings as anti-BID
protesters made their presence known at C.B. 3’s full-board vote.
that conditions in the already grime-plagued
neighborhood would worsen if there was no
replacement cleanup program to supplement
the city’s street cleaning efforts.
The new BID would be a public-private
partnership in which property owners pay
annual assessment fees for extra cleanup of
Chinatown’s streets and for other business
improvements. The BID would also advo-
cate for a fair share of government services
for the district, undertake sidewalk cleaning
and snow removal projects, sponsor holiday
lighting, fight for traffic improvements and
help existing businesses preserve the area’s
unique small business character.
Assessments for the program would
come from landlords, who would pass on
the assessment to their commercial ten-
5
ants. Also, residential properties would be
assessed, but at a lower rate than commer-
cial ones. Properties owned and occupied
by nonprofit groups, generally, would not
pay any assessment fees. At least 50 percent
of property owners in the proposed district
must approve of the plan, though generally
BID’s are only started when there is much
more substantial support.
Although it may have been just a few
days before Christmas, it was anything
but a silent night at the C.B. 3 meeting, as
about 30 opponents to the district plan dis-
rupted speakers in favor of the BID, waved
placards, chanted slogans and then staged
a walkout in protest over the way the meet-
ing was being conducted. The meeting got
so contentious at one point that a police
officer and school security guard asked a
protester to leave the auditorium to calm
down.
The protest was organized by the Chinese
Staff and Workers Association, a coali-
tion of property owners, businessmen and
residents who have accused the Chinatown
Partnership of misusing funds and not caring
about working people in the neighborhood
charges the Partnership and other civic lead-
ers have vigorously denied.
Speaking before the Community Board,
Photo by Lesley Sussman
C.S.W.A. staff organizer Josephine Lee, said,
Continued on page 16
Fighting to make
Lower Manhattan
the greatest place
to live, work, and
raise a family.
Assemblyman Shelly Silver
If you need assistance, please contact my office at
(212) 312-1420 or email silver@assembly.state.ny.us.
6 December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011
Mayor’s office had behind the scenes role in Park51
BY ALINE REYNOLDS
A slew of e-mails between Mayor Bloomberg’s office and
Park51 organizers reveal that the Mayor has done more than
just verbally champion the proposed Islamic community
center.
A recent Freedom of Information Act request of the
mayor’s Community Affairs Unit has publicly exposed
nearly 100 pages of e-mails dating back to August 2009.
The exchanges, many of them between Courtney Erwin, the
Cordoba Initiative’s former chief of staff, and Fatima Shama,
commissioner of the mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs,
address strategies of garnering support for Park51 and quell-
ing the opposition to the project.
“We need some guidance on how to tackle the opposi-
tion,” Daisy Khan, executive director of the American
Society for Muslim Advancement, wrote Shama last May.
Commissioner of the C.A.U. Nazli Parvizi also ghost-
wrote a letter to Community Board 1 in mid-May, thanking
Chairwoman Julie Menin for her support and asking that they
withdraw its former request for a resolution on Park51 in
order to quiet the media maelstrom surrounding the project.
But Menin said she never received the letter, and that
it wouldn’t have impacted the board’s May 25 passing of
the resolution about the project. “My view is that we are a
very independent board and always will be,” she said in an
e-mail.
The correspondences were uncovered as a result of an
amended lawsuit filed by the American Center for Law and
Justice in October which accuses Bloomberg of refusing to
respond to a request to release documents it says would
“shed light on any political influence or pressure placed dur-
ing the landmark process.”
Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, said it is
unseemly that governmental officials would coordinate with
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a controversial group, writing their key letters for them and
coordinating a press strategy. The mayor belied his involve-
ment in the project, according to Fitton, by claiming to be a
“disinterested party” when in fact he was acting as an “arm
of the [the project’s] public relations strategy.”
J.W. filed a separate lawsuit in November demanding the
requested documents. Both suits are currently pending in
State Supreme Court.
“A group of political opportunists
are trying to create divisions and
whip up ugly tensions over this
issue.”
— Borough President Scott Stringer
Stu Loeser, Bloomberg’s spokesperson, contended that this
type of assistance is typical of the C.A.U.’s regular work.
“The [C.A.U.] exists to help groups navigate city govern-
ment… from helping prepare for a papal visit to expediting
approval of a Jewish Sukkah in [Bryant] park,” said Loeser.
Nevertheless, the suit alleges that the e-mails raise ques-
tions about the integrity of the city’s Landmarks Preservation
Commission decision made last July not to grant landmark
status for the proposed site. According to the suit, the L.P.C.
violated the law by allegedly allowing Bloomberg to influ-
ence the decision.
The suit references an e-mail that Park51 attorney Shelly
Friedman wrote last May stating that C.B. 1’s backing of the
project would help discourage the landmark designation of
45-51 Park Place.
“I do know that [L.P.C.] chairman [Robert] Tierney was
looking forward to having the ‘political cover’ their support
would bring him,” Friedman wrote.
Loeser, however, denied any correlation between the cor-
respondences and the landmarks decision, saying the L.P.C.
based its assessment of 45-51 Park Place solely on the archi-
tectural and historical significance of the building.
Fitton contends the mayor’s office held out until last
week to release the documents in order to bury the issue
Whitney eyes spring groundbreak
BY ALBERT AMATEAU
The Whitney Museum’s executive director gave Community
Board 2’s Institutions and Art Committee an updated
look Monday at designs for the new museum planned for
Gansevoort St. at the High Line’s south end.
Whitney Director Adam Weinberg said the museum was
on track to acquire the city-owned site in early 2011, begin
demolition of existing structures in February and hold an
official groundbreaking on May 24.
Completion is expected in 2015, but Weinberg could not
be more specific.
Although details like the exterior color of the Renzo
Piano-designed museum have not yet been decided, Whitney
executives said the museum’s highest elevation will now be
166 feet, a bit shorter than originally proposed.
Piano is also designing the High Line maintenance-and-
operations building, which will connect to the elevated
park but not to the museum. The “M & O” building should
be completed by the same time as the museum, Weinberg
said.
Members of the committee, chaired by David Gruber,
waxed enthusiastic at the presentation of a new Whitney
downtown express
around the Christmas holiday. Loeser wouldn’t comment on
Fitton’s allegation, since litigation is still active.
The exchanges also reveal involvement by the mayor’s
office in renewing a City Department of Buildings permit
in order for prayer services to be held at 49-51 Park Place.
Park51 additionally donated $300 in cash to a Ramadan
function held in August 2009 at Gracie Mansion.
In defense of the C.A.U., Loiser said that it’s standard pro-
cedure to help navigate government departments for permits,
and that the mayor regularly solicits financial support for all
mayoral events at Gracie Mansion to help defray the costs.
The mayor’s office has in no way broken the law, accord-
ing to Peter Herb, a lawyer based in Lower Manhattan that
has no ties to Park51 or the mayor’s office.
“While there appears to be a considerable amount of
government energy going into the project, it doesn’t strike
me as any different than any other initiative Bloomberg has
rammed through,” said Herb.
The question the investigation begs, Herb said, is why
people are vetting the involvement of the mayor’s office in
this case. Indeed, both the A.C.L.J. and J.W. began ques-
tioning the project and all involved parties from the very
beginning.
In a blog entry on www.biggovernment.com, conservative
blogger and activist Pamela Geller, who spearheaded the
Park51 opposition last spring, said Mayor Bloomberg gave
“inappropriate political support” and favoritism to the proj-
ect, which she believes influenced the landmarks decision.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer released a
statement, saying he is proud that his office engaged in what
he calls a “transparent consultative process” with the commu-
nity board and the mayor’s office on the project, regardless of
pernicious attacks coming from the A.C.L.J. and J.W.
“A group of political opportunists,” he said, “are trying to
create divisions and whip up ugly tensions over this issue, with
no regard for the sensitivities of the people who live here.”
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf issued a written statement last
week, saying that Park51 and its leaders are appreciative of the
support from the Bloomberg administration. “We are thankful,”
he continued, “that the Bloomberg administration continues to
play a critical role in facilitating valuable economic and com-
munity development projects like Park51… in areas like Lower
Manhattan where there is such a great need.”
The A.C.L.J., meanwhile, is now accusing the mayor’s
office of withholding additional documents, and is seeking a
court order for full disclosure shortly after the New Year.
A rendering of the Downtown Whitney, with the High
Line in the foreground.
that will be returning to the neighborhood it left in 1930,
when it moved from W. Eighth St. to the Upper East Side.
“This is the best project I’ve ever seen since I’ve been on
the board,” said committee member David Reck.
downtown express December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 7

Gov Island progressing, needs anchor tenant

BY ALINE REYNOLDS
Governors Island has come a long way
since opening to the public in 2004.
But there’s still considerable work to be
done before it becomes the premier tourist
destination it hopes to be.
The Trust for Governors Island, respon-
sible for maintaining the grounds since it
was transferred to the city last April, has
spruced up the island’s public space and
has already made $24 million in renova-
tions to it historic buildings. Some of them
are already being used to house art exhib-
its, cultural programs and a school.
The island’s partial makeover contrib-
uted to the record 443,000 visitors that
took ferries to the island last summer – a
60 percent increase from 2009. Due to
popular demand, the island will open on
Memorial Day next year, prior to the offi-
cial start of summer in June.
But the massive overhaul of the island,
which will cost an estimated $200 mil-
lion, isn’t slated to begin until Fall 2012.
Currently, it is still in the design phase.
To date, $30 million has already been
allocated to refurbish some of the island’s
parks and public space, a major catalyst
for the island’s transformation, according
to Leslie Koch, president of the T.F.G.I.
She outlined the various phases of the
overhaul project at a City Council hearing
chaired by Councilmember Margaret Chin
two weeks ago.
Renovations to the island’s 87 acres of
park and public space include an upgrade
of Soissons Landing, the arrival point
of ferry riders commuting from Lower
Manhattan; new benches and lighting in
the public domain; and additional outdoor
recreational areas for biking and team
sports. The T.F.G.I. also plans to create
40 acres of parkland and a clear-cut prom-
enade for bikers and walkers that wish to
circle the island.
Koch will be presenting the T.F.G.I.’s
first-phase design plans to Community
Board 1’s planning and community infra-
structure and waterfront committees in
February. Next summer’s programming
and events itinerary, she said, will be ready
by March.
“We plan to do ongoing public out-
reach, so people can see the evolution of
these designs,” said Koch.
Securing tenants is an equally integral
part of the T.F.G.I.’s master plan: apart
from 33 southern acres that have been
designated for new development, 52 build-
A rendering of the South Battery at Governors Island, one of the numerous public
spaces the Trust is revamping.
committee, who testified at the hearing.
“We want to still have Governors Island
be a community asset, a place that people
could go and enjoy,” said Galloway.
Certain kinds of development, he added,
may or may not be consistent with the
Board’s recommended mission to preserve
green space. “We just have to see what the
[development] plans would be,” Galloway
said, before making a general assessment.
The island’s existing athletic fields that are
used by Downtown Little League, Manhattan
Youth and other Downtown sports leagues,
he noted, are in poor shape.
“What we’d like to see is those fields
be made more permanent and up to stan-
dards,” said Galloway, to accommodate the
recent influx of Downtown sports teams.
But construction and occupancy in the
southern part of the island seem to be far
off. The T.F.G.I. has received few requests
thus far for future tenancy, attributing the
lack of interest to the struggling econo-
my. The companies or organizations that
would occupy the space, Koch explained,
would be responsible for construction
costs, and many of them aren’t prepared to
make such capital investments.
Koch is confident, however, that leasing
activity will pick up once the renovations
Image courtesy of the Trust for Governors Island
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council rented
out artist studio space for nearly 50 artists,
the Water Taxi Beach hosted a summer
concert series and served food and bever-
FedEx, DHL, USPS, & Freight
Cannot be combined with other offers. Exp. 12/31/10
ages to visitors along the waterfront.
These tenants, like any future occupants
of indoor space on the island, underwent a
competitive Request for Proposals process
administered by the T.F.G.I. The R.F.P.s
for future business will be released on a
need-by-need basis, depending on feasible
tenancies and market interest, according to
T.FG.I. spokesperson Elizabeth Rapuano.
The December 17 hearing coin-
cided with Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s
announcement of an initiative to create an
engineering and applied sciences research
center. The mayor is considering opening
the facility on Governors Island, among
other possible sites.
“The City is committed to finding the
right partner and providing the support
needed to establish such a facility because
research in the fields of engineering, sci-
ence and technology is creating the next
generation of global business innovations
that will propel our economy forward,”
Bloomberg said in a statement.
Koch didn’t comment on the mayor’s
endeavor, but said the T.F.G.I. is on the
lookout for an “anchor” academic institu-
tion or research facility on the island.
Governor’s Island once served as a
military base until 1997. It derived its
name from its occupancy by British royal
governors, who used it as a retreat prior
to the 1800s.
5, 12, 19 11AM - 4PM

ings in the island’s Historic District will be
available for tenant occupancy, according
to Koch.
Some C.B. 1 members, however, fear
that new development on the island could
take away from additional recreational
green space that is lacking in Lower
Manhattan.
The existing natural landscape should
be preserved and the T.F.G.I. should avoid
creating artificial turf, which is costly
and encourages commercial development,
according to Jeff Galloway, chair of C.B.
1’s Planning and Community Infrastructure
continue. “We think, starting with the park
and public space, we’re demonstrating the closed 12/25 and 12/26
public sector’s commitment to the island,
and also with the high standards of design
to that space,” she said. “We’ll be setting
standards for design for future new con-
struction on the island as well.”
The island, Koch explained, has already
EVEN MORE
made modest strides in attracting tenants.
The Urban Assembly New York Harbor
VALUABLE
School moved into the island’s historic COUPONS AT
buildings last September, achieving a bet-
ter attendance rate than at its previous site MBETRIBECA.COM
in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Last summer, the
8 December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 downtown express

EDITORIAL
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
John W. Sutter
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Looking back, looking forward
Before we even realized it, the end of another year has snuck up on us. are only a few steps away from being able to hang the “mission accom-
John Bayles
And so it’s time to reflect on some of the major, ongoing stories that plished” banner.
ARTS EDITOR occupied us in 2010 and that will assuredly top our story list once again However closing these agencies should be carefully planned and the
Scott Stiffler in 2011. community should be involved in every step of the process. We look for-
ward to being able to celebrate their accomplishments in an even greater
REPORTERS fashion in 2011 when their jobs are officially over.
Aline Reynolds
Albert Amateau PARK 51
Lincoln Anderson At Community Board 1’s full board meeting on May 25, chair Julie
Menin moderated a mob scene that foreshadowed a summer full of 130 LIBERTY
SR. V.P. OF SALES protests illustrating the best and worst of the democratic process. What Barring another blizzard, the former Deutsche Bank building at 130
AND MARKETING began as an “as-of-right” local zoning issue concerning a needed com- Liberty Street, the future site of Tower 5, should be completely demol-
Francesco Regini munity center here in Lower Manhattan spiraled into one of the nation’s ished by February. Once demolished the eyesore that has been a constant
SR. MARKETING CONSULTANT most dominant and divisive issues of 2010. reminder of the 9/11 attacks will be gone. Not gone however will be the
Jason Sherwood A single floor in a proposed 15-story building became branded as the fact that two lives were lost in an accident that was totally avoidable. State
“Ground Zero Mosque” and Lower Manhattan was dragged into the fray Senator Daniel Squadron introduced legislation in Albany to make sure
ADVERTISING SALES
of Islamic prejudice and a disturbing sense of nationalism. such an accident never happens again and we applaud him for that. In
Allison Greaker
Michael Slagle Our mayor shined, however, when, at a press conference with the the New Year we look forward to putting the saga, and the tragedy, of 130
Julio Tumbaco Statue of Liberty as a backdrop and flanked by religious leaders of all Liberty behind us for good.
faiths, he reminded all of New York and beyond of the tolerance and
RETAIL AD MANAGER open-mindedness that we have forever embraced, cherished and been
Colin Gregory known for, the world over. N.Y.U
BUSINESS MANAGER / CONTROLLER In the New Year, we extend a welcome hand to the proposed Park 51 As part of New York University’s ambitious growth agenda, the uni-
Vera Musa Islamic Community Center and believe it will be a needed benefit to our versity seeks to add 6 million square feet, including up to 2 million on its
community. two South Village superblocks.
ART / PRODUCTION DIRECTOR N.Y.U. simply must scale down its superblocks plans. Yes, perhaps
Troy Masters on some architect’s table somewhere it might somehow have appeared
ART DIRECTOR “HOLE IN THE GROUND” BEING FILLED IN that a fourth tower could be jammed into the landmarked Silver Towers
Mark Hasselberger After three governors and two mayors, the rebuilding of the World complex. But Architect I.M. Pei, Silver Towers’ designer, and his partner,
Trade Center site began to show marked progress in 2010. Today, Tower Henry Cobb, recently made it emphatically clear that it was the wrong
GRAPHIC DESIGNER One is beyond the halfway mark. Last week a “survivor tree” was planted spot for a new tower. Yes, N.Y.U. can build “as of right” on its Morton
Jamie Paakkonen at the site of the future National 9/11 Memorial, joining over 100 other Williams supermarket site. But any development there must be reasonably
CONTRIBUTORS trees that have also been planted and that signal the return of the first sized and contextually designed
Terese Loeb Kreuzer • David sign of life to the site. The progress would not have been possible had
Stanke • Jerry Tallmer • Larry Silverstein and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey not
Helaina N. Hovitz reached an amicable agreement and began working together toward the ST. VINCENT’S
common goal of returning Lower Manhattan to its prominent position This past year was devastating for Lower West Side healthcare with
PHOTOGRAPHERS in the world of business and enterprise. May this progress continue into St. Vincent’s Hospital’s closing. The health-needs assessment now
Lorenzo Ciniglio • Milo Hess
2011, culminating in the cathartic opening of the Memorial on 9/11/11. underway is, in our view, required to make the best case for whatever
Corky Lee • Elisabeth Robert
• Jefferson Siegel level replacement health facility we can hope to get, from a full-service
hospital on down. Lawsuits aren’t working. And the recent New York
INTERNS SUN SETTING FOR DOWNTOWN AGENCIES Post report that Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah is mulling buying the
Andrea Riquier This year we called for two major Lower Manhattan agencies, the St. Vincent’s site and restoring a hospital is, so far, unsubstantiated.
Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and the Battery Park City Political wannabes have been exploiting this emotional issue; what we
Published by Authority, to begin seriously considering shutting their doors. Both agen- need instead is cooperation and a realistic appraisal as to what’s truly
COMMUNITY MEDIA, LLC cies have done commendable jobs in accomplishing their goals and both achievable.
145 Sixth Ave., NY, NY 10013
Phone: (212) 229-1890
Fax: (212) 229-2790
On-line: www.downtownexpress.com
E-mail: news@downtownexpress.com

Gay City
NEWS
TM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
a sweet and superficial survey that pretends when it was in its heyday. I read Jerry’s (may I call
Jack would have hated it to be a nice way of saying goodbye to some- him that?) most recent column with astonishment.
Downtown Express is published every week by one with that kind of talent and courage. But Even in his hoary old age he can really write, and
Community Media LLC, 145 Sixth Ave., New
York, N.Y. 10013 (212) 229-1890. The entire To The Editor: I’m confident, even comforted, by the convic- what a subject he chooses, the days of the bombing
contents of the newspaper, including advertising,
are copyrighted and no part may be reproduced
Re “Jack Levine, 85, an artist who always tion that he would hate it, fearlessly, just as of Pearl Harbor, almost 70 years past.
without the express permission of the publisher -
© 2010 Community Media LLC.
kept it real” (obituary, Dec. 22): he did so many other, deserving things. I was on that day being circumcised, so that
I talked, briefly, with Jack a few years ago what Jerry writes is all that more important to
PUBLISHER’S LIABILITY FOR ERROR
The Publisher shall not be liable for slight when he was suffering from emphysema. He Ed Lynch me. I am part of a twin and was born in October
changes or typographical errors that do not
lessen the value of an advertisement. The said he deserved it, after a life of smoking. of that year and I was too small for the eighth
publisher’s liability for other errors or omissions
in connection with an advertisement is strictly
This suited him, as little as I knew him, since day, and found myself under the mohel’s knife
limited to publication of the advertisement in any when I did some research I found his famous on Sun., Dec. 7, and here is a wonderful
subsequent issue.
quotes: “As far as I’m concerned, I want to Tallmer is a treasure account of Jerry and his Ford and of college
Member of the
New York Press remain the mean little man I always was.” I days. The best writing to appear in your pages
Association talked to another painter who knew him much To The Editor: in a very long time and I doubt anyone will be
Member of the better, who said, “Jack was a great hater.” Just Re “A streetcar named Pearl Harbor: Getting able to top it.
National look at his work. onboard” (notebook, by Jerry Tallmer, Dec. 22): Jerry, to 120 years and more wonderful writ-
Newspaper
Association
Reading this Villager piece is like a trip I am in awe of the treasure you possess by the ing.
to a candy store compared to the real life of name of Jerry Tallmer. I have been reading his work
© 2010 Community Media, LLC Jack. I suppose no one should complain about since I first found the Village Voice 50 years ago, Bert Zackim
downtown express
TALKING POINT
Assange and the ever-expanding definitions of rape
BY CATHY YOUNG
One unexpected consequence of the
WikiLeaks saga has been to turn the spot-
light on the debate over rape, sex and
consent. Julian Assange, journalism’s mis-
begotten enfant terrible, has been hounded
by accusations of sex crimes after he vaulted
to fame by releasing leaked classified docu-
ments on the Internet. The charges were dis-
missed but then reinstated; Assange is now
out on bail in London and he vows to fight
extradition to Sweden. The nature of these
charges has revived questions about where
the law should draw the line between bad
behavior and criminal acts, and whether the
feminist rethinking of rape has made it easy
for any man to be targeted.
As is widely known, Assange is accused
of sexual offenses against two women: Anna
Ardin, a left-wing activist who helped orga-
nize his speaking tour in Sweden last August,
and photographer Sofia Wilen. The prosecu-
tion asserts both encounters started out as
consensual but later turned into assaults
— partly, it seems, because of Assange’s
failure to use a condom despite the women’s
wishes. The triviality of the offenses is
compounded by the women’s un-victim-like
behavior afterward: Ardin had sex with
Assange again and threw a party for him;
Wilen made him breakfast. It was only when
the women learned of his two-timing that
they went to the police — initially intending
to force him to get tested for sexually trans-
mitted diseases.
In the United States, the sex charges
have been met with near-unanimous derision
across the political spectrum. Conservative
media personality Glenn Beck and feminist
writer and activist Naomi Wolf have both
satirized the case as one in which the man
acted like a jerk and the women are seeking
payback for hurt feelings. This unanimity
is no doubt partly due to the fact that, on
the left, the instinct to back women claim-
ing sexual abuse by men has been blunted
by Assange’s status as a rebel fighting the
power — while on the right, scorn for
feminist sexual ideology has proved stronger
than distaste for Assange. Along with the
Assange prosecution, Swedish sexual assault
laws have also come under ridicule for defin-
ing the offense so broadly that half the male
population could end up in the slammer.
Some feminists are not amused. In The
Washington Post, Jessica Valenti, a star of
the feminist blogosphere, has lashed out at
what she considers distorted accounts of the
case while offering her own highly selective
summary of the facts. Valenti thinks the
real problem is “our country’s overly nar-
row understanding of sexual assault,” which
falls woefully short of Sweden’s far better
standards.
And what is this “narrow understand-
ing”? According to a feminist lawyer quoted
by Valenti, “we’re deeply wedded to the
notion of rape as forcible” instead of focus-
ing on consent. Actually, sexual intercourse
without consent is virtually always a part
of the legal definition of rape. But typically,
December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 9
American law also requires force or threat a hesitant or coy “Maybe we should stop” be subjected to special standards of resis-
of force — though, as a result of feminist — perhaps accompanied by actions that tance or chastity. These days, the demand
advocacy, some states have moved toward contradict the words? Is the man guilty of for special treatment is so blatant that some
a strict construction of “no means no,” so rape if the woman says early in the evening activists openly support abolishing the pre-
that, if a woman says no and the man doesn’t that she does not want to have sex, but does sumption of innocence for rape cases and
stop, he can be found guilty of sexual assault not rebuff his overtures later? Is the woman requiring the accused to prove consent (a
even if she submits without being physically a rapist if the roles are reversed? Writing the proposal Valenti cites with obvious approv-
subdued or threatened with violence. “forcible” part out of the definition of rape al). In an ironic twist, these activists actually
makes it much more of a two-way street. seem to hold women in very little esteem: in
Valenti laments that U.S. law is “ill- their world, women are too timid to push a
equipped to actually protect women in real- man away if he won’t take no for an answer
istic scenarios.” But, in realistic scenarios, and too addled to know that they have been
Assange comes across sexual relationships are complicated and raped.
messy; it is an area where people often don’t The Julian Assange who emerges from
as a narcissistic cad and think rationally, and context is everything. the legal documents in the case is not a sym-
When a man initiates intercourse with a pathetic man. He comes across as a narcis-
a user, not unlike some woman who is asleep — one of the accusa- sistic cad and a user, not unlike some men of
tions against Assange — the existence of a the 1960’s Left who saw the women in the
men of the 1960’s Left. prior sexual relationship is hardly irrelevant. movement as servants and sex toys rather
Perhaps that is why Valenti has to concede than comrades. And yet his tribulations may
that, under Sweden’s admirably progressive well become a “teachable moment” that will
sex crime laws, only 20 percent of rape com- help draw attention to the dangers of ever-
Valenti also laments that American law plaints ever go to trial and only half of those expanding definitions of rape and overzeal-
is mired in the archaic notion that once result in a conviction. ous prosecutions. In that case, as with the
consensual penetration has occurred, the Earlier generations of feminists argued WikiLeaks saga itself, Assange will have
woman has no standing as a victim if she that rape should be treated the same as any done some good no matter how dubious his
withdraws her consent and the man pro- other violent crime: the victim should not motives.
ceeds against her wishes. As evidence of
just how archaic the American mindset is,
she asserts that in 2007, Maryland’s Court
of Special Appeals not only upheld this
doctrine but also explained in its ruling
that “anything after the initial ‘deflowering’
of a woman couldn’t be rape because ‘the
damage was done’ to her virginity,” and that
the injured party wasn’t even the woman
herself but the “responsible male” — father
or husband.
It seems unbelievable that any U.S. court
would use such reasoning in the 21st centu-
ry. And, in fact, it didn’t: Valenti’s quotes are
from a passage in which the court describes
(but certainly doesn’t endorse) historical
attitudes toward rape. The court did rule
that rape is not committed when consent is
given and later withdrawn, but solely on the
grounds that this interpretation was rooted
in legal tradition and should be changed
through legislative action, not judicial fiat.
Few would deny that a man who holds
down a struggling woman and forces her
to have sex is committing rape, regardless
of initial consent. But things are rarely so Photo by Milo Hess
clear-cut. The Maryland defendant was a
teenager who took about five seconds to
stop after his partner told him to stop. The The latest cool thing in the
rape charge would seem absurd if it weren’t
for the overall context: the young woman,
alone in a parked car with two teenage boys,
Meatpacking District
had been subjected to repeated, aggressive When it was a working Meat Market, the Meatpacking District used to be known for its
unwanted advances. Applying such rules to “coolers” and refrigerated warehouses, in which cuts of meat, poultry and fish were stored until
a genuinely consensual situation seems like a purchased by wholesalers and restaurants. Today, only a dozen or so old-style coolers remain
good recipe for a nightmare. as most of the meatpackers have relocated to Hunts Point and elsewhere. This past weekend,
Once, feminist reformers rightly fought however, a new kind of chill hit the once-gritty enclave as The Standard Hotel softly opened the
against laws that required a rape victim Meatpacking District’s first-ever ice skating rink. Located in front of the hotel, on the former
to fight her attacker “to the utmost.” But spot of a seating area, the 3,000-square-foot skating rink is open to the public seven days a week,
removing any element of actual or threat- from 10 a.m. to midnight. The ice scene will be chilling all winter long and features three types
ened force from the crime of rape makes it of skates to rent, as well as an “après skate” menu, featuring hot chocolate with marshmallows,
too easy to criminalize miscommunications apple cider and cheese fondue. Tickets are $12, and skate rentals are $3. The Standard Hotel is
and morning-after regrets. Should non-con- located at 848 Washington St. at 13th St. For more information, visit standardculture.com .
sent require a firm “Stop!” or does it cover
10 December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 downtown express























'  )   (  &      '  

)
    '  *  !
  '       +  Downtown Express photo by Helaina N. Hovitz

,

  -
  $       &  -
 Fernando Dallorso is prepared to do whatever it takes to keep customers coming
though his bistro’s doors.
)
               
   

 


%

 
 
 
 

  Bistro owner adapts

 


 
 


   

to patrons and economy
adding Argentinean and Asian flavors to the
 
 BUSINESS mix. They’re also adjusting the menu to fit a
more economy-friendly budget. As Dallorso
   
     
SPOTLIGHT points out, most restaurateurs in this economy
are lucky to walk away with even a 10 percent
 
  
 BY HELAINA N. HOVITZ profit. He could easily start charging customers
It was Christmas Eve and a party of ten for use of the restaurant’s lounge, which they
     decided to come in for dinner at 5:30 p.m. For can reserve for a small business meeting — for
   the owner of Stella Manhattan Bistro, Fernando as few as three people — or for an entire wed-
Dallorso, that meant putting his own holiday ding reception; but additional charges, he said,
 
   on hold. are not an option, even though most of the time,
Dallorso owns four restaurants, but spends he makes almost no profit on such events.


    80 percent of his time at Stella, making sure that “We are a restaurant, and we’re going to make

      
  
    
      everything at the downtown eatery is running money off of food and drink only,” said Dallorso.
 !
"#$
    smoothly. He sets up shop in neighborhoods that “We’re in a recession, and we aren’t going to start
have charm, personality, history and heart, and charging our neighbors other fees.”

                    that’s what drew him to Front Street. Dallorso is a regular at almost every monthly
    
   
  %
      The Battery Park City resident bought the Community Board 1 meeting, and knows the
restaurant in April 2008, after his friend’s haunt, importance of being a good neighbor. “We allow



    Stella Maris, spent a year struggling to stay those who use the lounge to have a DJ, but after
afloat. Latin for “Star of the Sea,” the ocean- a certain point, we ask them to turn it down,”
&   '(  themed eatery was just missing the mark, and
'!

 Dallorso had a different vision for the restau- Dallorso arrived in Queens from Buenos
rant. He saw a Downtown bistro, influenced by
French cuisine, with an atmosphere that was
elegant, chic, and warm. What he envisioned
was Stella Manhattan Bistro.
“You can come to Stella in your pajamas
on a Saturday morning or in formal wear
Thursday night,” said Dallorso. “It’s an all-
purpose place.“
Stella saw booming business during its first
year, but that changed when they lost the major-



















ity of their customers in the winter of 2008.


“We used to see a huge business crowd, but




































he said.
Aires in 1991, and has come a long way from
the Forest Hills Ice Cream Shop he managed
as his first gig. He opened his first restaurant,
Novecento, in 1995, followed soon after by Azul
and Industria Argentina. Only a few of Stella’s
menu items are prepared with a South American
flair, but those left wanting more can take free
tango lessons at the restaurant on Wednesday
evenings once the weather warms up.
Dallorso said he’ll do whatever it takes to
keep Stella Manhattan Bistro from sinking,
which means appealing to a wider demographic,
 






 now we only get some of Wall Street, mostly for





















































































  
! of our old regulars will stop in for a drink to let
staying kid friendly, and offering stellar ser-
lunch, on a budget,” explained Dallorso. “Some
“Today’s crowds want everything when
us know they’re thinking of us, but they just
can’t afford it anymore.”
Now, Stella’s getting a menu makeover,
vice.
they go out to eat; good service, good food,
good prices, and a good atmosphere,” explained
Dallorso. “And I want to give it to them.”
downtown express
Local pols praise bill’s passage
Downtown Express photos by J.B. Nicholas
New York Rep. Jerold Nadler
Continued from page 1
Senator Tom Coburn and Wyoming Senator
Mike Enzi. Earlier in the week, Coburn had
threatened to delay the bill in the Senate.
Gillibrand and Schumer said that, in the
final 24 hours before the bill’s passage, the
Republicans negotiated “in good faith” to create
a final workable package. The bill “will protect
the health of the men and women who self-
lessly answered our nation’s call in her hour of
greatest need,” Gillibrand and Schumer said in
a written statement.
The law was down to its final days, since
lawmakers were about to go on Christmas
recess and reconvene on January 5, when
a new, Republican-dominated House of
Representatives would have likely blocked it
from a vote.
Schumer referred to the bill’s passage as a
“victory lap” on Thursday. “Unlike a victory
lap when you run a race, where you just feel
good, this one matters,” he said, “this victory
lap saves lives.”
The New York health care clinics that the
law is funding, Schumer continued, now have
their work cut out for them. “We have to make
sure that this law, when it’s enacted, provides
the best health care for everybody,” he said.
Schumer was joined by a host of elected
officials and advocates at Thursday’s press
event. One of them was John Feal, president of
the FealGood Foundation, who compared the
strenuous fight for the bill’s passage to warfare.
“While we lost a lot of battles along the way…
we came back on the bus [Wednesday] night
knowing we had won a war,” he said at the
press conference.
It was a battle that looked quite bleak
at times, according to Community Board 1
member Elizabeth Williams, who spoke at the
press conference on behalf of Catherine McVay
Hughes, vice chair of C.B. 1. The long fight, she
said, made the victory all the more gratifying.
Congressman Jerrold Nadler, one of the bill’s
chief proponents since its inception, said the
triumph was undoubtedly the proudest moment
of his 34-year career in government.
“For seven years, we have struggled to pass
this bill that would provide justice to these
December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 11
Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand were all smiles at Thursday’s press Long Island Rep. Peter King
conference hailing the passage of the 9/11 Health bill.
heroes and survivors,” he said. “And, today, for Gillibrand. a voice vote in the Senate and a 206-60 vote in
we redeem the honor of the United States and In the meantime, the lawmakers and 9/11 the House of Representatives. The bill was then
demonstrate that our nation does not forget sufferers are reveling in victory, even though shipped to Hawaii for President Obama to sign
those who have served.” the law isn’t quite what they envisioned it into law, and is scheduled to go into effect in
The bill’s passage, Nadler added, doesn’t to be. “On a scale of one to 10, this bill is late spring 2011.
come a moment too soon. The plight of 9/11 a seven,” Feal said. “If we came home with The new version of the bill lowers the
responders and survivors, he said, is “very seri- nothing, we would have had a zero. And zero available health and compensation funds from
ous and immediate.” doesn’t save lives.” more than $6.2 billion to $4.3 billion, com-
“Thousands are sick and, until now, justice The legislation will provide continued medi- pensates 9/11 survivors for the next five years
has seemed so far away.” cal care to workers, residents and students who rather than the next eight, and caps the amount
Councilmember Margaret Chin, chair of were injured on 9/11. The bill, first introduced awarded to attorneys that represent the sick
the Council Committee on Lower Manhattan in early 2004, was approved last Wednesday via survivors in court.
Redevelopment, said in a statement that the
law’s passage is “the fulfillment of a promise
to our men and women in uniform, and to the
heroes of September 11th, who we will never
forget.”
9/11 survivor Mary Perillo breathed a sigh
of relief when she heard the news from her loft
at 125 Cedar Street, facing the World Trade
Center. “I feel like I can exhale for the first time
– I know if I have trouble inhaling in the future,
maybe, there’ll be health care, at least if it’s in
the next five years,” she said.
Perillo has recently had trouble breathing
when ascending subway stairs. She went for
a preliminary check-up at Bellevue Hospital
Center, one of the health care clinics that will
be funded by the new law, but decided not to
return for a lung function test.
“I think I was waiting to find out if there
was going to be a place to go for much longer,”
she said. “Now I know [the clinic] is funded,
I will go back, I will take the stress test, I will
take the breathing test, and we’ll find out how
I’m doing.”
The health care clinics, she added, now
have the opportunity to prove their value to the
law’s opponents. “Maybe we won’t have to go
through this nightmare to try to get it approved
for another five years,” she said.
The politicians are indeed convinced that
Congress will reauthorize the bill in 2015.
“We feel confident [that] after the program has
been in effect – how efficient it is, how well it
works, how many it treats — it’ll be far less
politically controversial,” said Ilan Kayatsky, a
spokesperson for Nadler. “And, generally speak-
ing, it’s a lot easier to reauthorize a bill than
get it to Obama’s desk the first time around,”
according to Bethany Lesser, a spokesperson
12
Downtown Express photos by Terese Loeb Kreuzer
Lobbying on heroes’ behalf
The final push to pass the James Zadroga
9/11 Health and Compensation Act took
place on December 21 and 22, 2010. A
group from the FealGood Foundation went
to Washington, D.C. on December 21,
attempting to visit the offices of senators
who were known to oppose the bill. That
night, the group stayed in a motel on the out-
skirts of Washington. The next morning, the
group visited some more senatorial offices
— their mission complicated by the fact that
many legislators had already left for the holi-
day. The Zadroga bill came up for a vote in
December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 downtown express
the Senate shortly after 2 p.m. on December
22 and was passed by unanimous voice vote.
A celebratory press conference followed,
and then the FealGood group went to the
House of Representatives, which approved
the bill as amended by the Senate at 4:39
p.m. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand came down
to the basement level of the Capitol building
to see the group off. She signed autographs
and posed for pictures. As they departed for
the bus to take them back to New York City,
they glimpsed her walking down the hall,
with her shoes in her hands.
downtown express December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 13
14 December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 downtown express

Advocates’ final push leads to victory

Continued from page 1

New Jersey trudged through the halls, led by

John Feal, a first responder who lost half his
foot at the World Trade Center site. Seven
years ago, Feal started trying to help first
responders get the medical and financial
assistance they needed as many of them fell
ill and some of them died. Five years ago, he
founded the FealGood Foundation to formal-
ize and expand the effort on behalf of what,
by then, was known as the James Zadroga
9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
This was his 89th trip to Capitol Hill.
Others in the group had made dozens of trips
— they had lost count of how many. They
cheered when the $7.4 billion Zadroga bill
passed the House in September, but now it was
stalled in the Senate. A group of Republican
senators said they opposed it on fiscal grounds,
and three in particular — Tom Coburn of
Oklahoma, Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Mike
Enzi of Wyoming — had said they would do
anything they could to stop it by running out
the clock in the lame duck Senate.
At noon on December 21, Senators
Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer of
New York, accompanied by Senators Frank
Lautenberg and Robert Menendez of New
Jersey, held a press conference. As they
had many times before, they declared their
intention of getting the Zadroga bill passed.
First responders told their stories; some of
Downtown Express photo by Terese Loeb Kreuzer
them cried. Union officials and members of
the New York Police and Fire Departments At the press conference following the U.S. Senate’s passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, Sen.
talked about how many first responders had Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who spearheaded the bill in the Senate, was flanked by Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Harry
already died and how many were ill. Reid (D-Nev).
After the press conference, Feal suggested Zadroga bill through the House, was already said after the modified version of the bill the House version, it still had to go back to
to his group that they were there to lobby, standing. Schumer shook Nadler’s hand. had passed the Senate. “But even though the House. Many members of the House had
not to eat lunch, so lunch was foregone. The Moments later, Senator Gillibrand entered. I knew it was going to go, in the back of already gone home. “We’re going to have to
group went to see Tom Coburn. He wasn’t in. She and Schumer conferred with Nadler, my mind I knew that something could go move this out as quickly as possible before
A staff member asked the group to wait in the Maloney and King. wrong because this is Washington, D.C., anyone has a chance to change their mind,”
hall. They waited for more than half an hour. Gillibrand had an envelope full of red, and as you know, Washington, D.C. breaks Congressman Anthony Weiner quipped to
No one would see them. Finally they left, white and blue ribbons. She pinned them on all the time, but they seem to regroup and the first responders.
singing “God Bless America,” so at least the the lapels of her staff. When Vice President put themselves back together and have a The group hurried to the House visi-
people behind the closed doors would have to Joseph Biden arrived in the Senate cham- moment of clarity.” tors’ gallery to see the vote. At 4:39 p.m.
know they were there. Their voices and foot- bers, she shook his hand. He kissed her on Senator Schumer had another take on the numbers went over the top and cheers
steps echoed in the hallways. They boarded the cheek and she pinned a ribbon on him. the night’s events. “We nearly gave up last erupted both in the gallery and on the floor
a bus for a motel on the outskirts of town, At 2:20 p.m. Hillary Clinton arrived. She night,” he said at the press conference after of the House. The final vote in the House
where they were to have dinner and spend the and Gillibrand embraced and Clinton put the Senate passed the bill. He said he was in was 260 for the Zadroga bill, with 60
night. That evening, as they ate in the motel’s her arm around Nadler. his office and thought the bill “had all fallen against. One hundred sixty-eight members
Chinese restaurant, they saw news reports The debate in progress was about the apart. I sleep well, my family and friends and of the House had already left Washington
on the television set above the bar about the START treaty with Russia to limit the prolif- staff know that – I usually sleep through any- and didn’t vote.
Zadroga bill and what had happened — or eration of nuclear arms. Senator John Kerry thing, but I had a bad night last night. And “I always knew the bill would pass,” Feal
more precisely, failed to happen — that day. had just given an eloquent speech in favor when we woke up this morning, and when said. “I knew it would be ugly at the finish
The next morning, the group went back of the bill, when Senate Majority Leader Senator Gillibrand and I walked into Tom line. I’m not happy with the way the bill
to the Capitol for more lobbying, stopping at Harry Reid put the Zadroga 9/11 bill up for Coburn’s office expecting that they were just passed, but it’s passed, and that means that
Jeff Sessions’ office, where they pleaded with a vote. With Biden presiding, it passed by going to put barriers in our way, the first people are going to get help. And listen,
a young aide to take their message to the a unanimous voice vote, so quietly and so words he said was ‘We’re real close.’ And men and women who haven’t been able to
senator. It seemed doubtful that the message quickly that it was almost not clear what had you could see by his body language and the enjoy Christmas for the last eight years – this
would be transmitted. happened. The group from New York and tone of his voice that they really wanted to Christmas, while they might not be able to
Then, not knowing exactly when the New Jersey filed out of the visitors’ gallery. get this done. And it only took us about an open a check on Friday morning from the
vote would occur, the group sat in Senator It was only when they were downstairs at a hour, and so here we are. Those people who government, they’ll at least have peace of
Gillibrand’s office to wait. Some went down press conference called to celebrate the vote did rush to help us, who thought they were mind knowing that there’s help coming in
to the cafeteria for lunch. Shortly before 2 that the cheers erupted. being abandoned, are now in the bosom of 2011.”
p.m., they were told that the time had come. The bill that had passed was not what America, and this is a proud day for every- Feal said that he expects President
They filed into the Senate visitors’ gal- the House had passed. It had been cut back one who’s been involved in this effort and Obama to sign the bill while the president
lery. On the floor below them, Senator to $4.3 billion and was good for five years, for everyone who bears the title ‘citizen of is in Hawaii, but Feal added that he hopes
Schumer entered the room, where not for 10. the USA.’” to bring his group and others who worked
Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who, along What happened during the night was Gillibrand called the passage of the bill so hard to get the bill passed back to
with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and only recounted later. “I was being updated “our Christmas miracle.” Washington early in the new year – this time,
Congressman Peter King had shepherded the all the way until 2:30 in the morning,” Feal Because the bill had been amended from to celebrate.
downtown express
BY TERESE LOEB KREUZER
HELENE ZUCKER SEEMAN
MEMORIAL: When a drunk driver killed
Helene Zucker Seeman, a beloved resi-
dent of Battery Park City, this past June,
so many people thronged to her funeral
that additional rooms had to be opened at
the Riverside Memorial Chapel to accom-
modate them all. “Helene had friends
from all parts of her life,” said Marilyn
Greenberg, a painter and “a dear friend
of Helene’s for 26 years.” Greenberg said
that Helene never dropped a friend — she
just added new ones. Now some of them
have banded together to create a memo-
rial to Seeman, who was curator of the
Prudential Insurance art collection for
23 years, an art archivist, an author and
lecturer.
The Brooklyn Museum has agreed
to establish the Helene Zucker Seeman
Fund, which will enable the presentation
of an annual exhibit of the work of a
woman artist at its Elizabeth A. Sackler
Center for Feminist Art. “Helene cham-
pioned women and their art before it was
fashionable,” said Greenberg.
For the fund’s inaugural exhibition, the
museum has proposed a show featuring
the work of Eva Hesse, a German-born
American sculptor, who, like Seeman,
died too young. “Helene admired her very
much,” Greenberg said.
The show would open in September
2011 if the group backing the project
can raise $50,000 by February 1, 2011.
Donations in any amount are welcome
and are tax deductible. Checks should be
made payable to the Brooklyn Museum,
with a note designating them for the
Helene Zucker Seeman Exhibition Fund.
They should be sent to the Brooklyn
Museum Development Office, 200
Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11238-
6099, Attention: Paul Johnson, Deputy
Director. His phone number is (718)
501-6470 and his e-mail is paul.johnson@
brooklynmuseum.org.
STEAMERS LANDING TO CLOSE
AND REOPEN AS MERCHANTS RIVER
HOUSE: Steamers Landing opened on
the Battery Park City esplanade between
Liberty and Albany Streets more than
26 years ago, but Jan. 2, 2011 will be its
December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 15
last day. The restaurant will close for two
weeks. When it reopens on Jan. 17, it will
have a new name, a new menu and new
décor.
As Merchants River House, the res-
taurant will serve American regional food
with most appetizers, salads, burgers
and sandwiches priced under $10. Most
entrées will cost less than $18. The menu
will include pizza, rotisserie chicken,
prime rib, salads, steaks and pastas. There
will also be some seafood choices and
a special kids’ menu with items such
as mac and cheese, chicken fingers and Downtown Express photo by Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
vegetables. Wine will be available by the Steamers Landing on the Battery Park City esplanade between Liberty and Albany
glass, the carafe and the bottle, and beer Streets will close on Jan. 2, 2011 and reopen on Jan. 17 as Merchants River House
will be offered on draft. There will also be with new decor and a new menu.
a cocktail menu.
According to Merchants Hospitality,
the owners of this restaurant as well as
of SouthWest NY, Merchants Café and
Pound & Pence, “Merchants River House
will exude the feeling of an American bis-
tro” with a copper top bar, bistro chairs
and blue checkered tablecloths.
From now until January 2, Battery Park
City residents with a Local’s Card (which
brings a 10 percent discount on all food
and beverage purchases) can get 50 per-
cent off on all wines. The Local’s Card
will continue to be honored at Merchants
River House.
CHRISTMAS TREE MULCH: The
Battery Park City Parks Conservancy
would like your old Christmas tree, but
no decorations, please. Through January
28, 2011, the Conservancy will pick up
Christmas trees left at the curb outside
your Battery Park City apartment build-
ing and chip the trees into mulch.
“We use the mulch in the spring,”
said a Conservancy spokesman. “It helps
with the watering and keeps down the
weeds.”
Mulch protects soil from eroding dur-
ing heavy rains and helps maintain the
soil at a consistent temperature. It also
promotes root growth and provides a
habitat for earthworms and other soil
organisms.
For comments about Battery Park City
Beat or leads about events and people in
Battery Park City, e-mail TereseLoeb@
mac.com.
16 December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011
C.B.s give BID green light
Continued from page 5
“Community Board 3 is being misled to
believe that Chinatown wants a BID by a
group of developers and politicians who are
seeking to make money off the poor of this
community.
“The city is already forcing us to pay
higher taxes and fees and now this group
wants us to pay for services the city should
be taking care of,” Lee added. “Cleaning the
streets is the city’s responsibility. But this
group doesn’t care about small businesses
here. They won’t be satisfied until all the
Chinese are gone.”
What particularly infuriated protest-
ers was a request by C.B. 3 Chairperson
Dominic Pisciotta that those who were for
or against the BID plan stand up so that he
could get a better idea of who was who at
the meeting.
“Is this the way you vote?” a woman
angrily shouted out at Pisciotta. “It’s not
fair.”
Moments later, members of the C.S.W.A.
group angrily marched out of the auditori-
um in objection to the body count in which
they were outnumbered by at least 2 to 1.
Lee later told this newspaper, “If we knew
they were going to do this, we would have
brought more people with us.”
She also expressed anger over the meet-
ing’s timing and location.
“It’s ridiculous that they didn’t go to East
WE
Broadway or somewhere else in Chinatown
WANT TO SHARE OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE to hold this meeting so that more people
could attend,” she said. “Why don’t they go
TO THE SPONSORS WHO SUPPORTED AN AWESOME to the streets and talk to the people? And
why are they holding a meeting at a time
when it’s the busiest for most business own-
ers, so that they can’t attend?”
After the meeting, Pisciotta called the
protesters’ arguments weak.
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should have brought in more people any-
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downtown express
supporting and opposing,” Pisciotta said.
“And it didn’t matter if I had counted or
not. It didn’t influence the vote because
people could see who was here with their
own eyes. We showed fairness by present-
ing an equal number of speakers on both
sides of the issue.”
The chairperson added that the fact
there was not a single “no” vote by any C.B.
3 board member regarding the district plan
was further evidence that the body count
did not in any way influence the board’s
decision to approve the measure. Regarding
the meeting’s timing and location, he said,
“This is when and where we always have
our community board meetings. It’s always
here.”
The final vote on the BID also included
several amendments. C.B. 3 board mem-
bers said they wanted included in the
plan a promise that when a BID board is
formed it would review its activities and
canvass the Chinatown community every
three years.
Board members also asked that parks
in the BID area be excluded from BID
regulations and remain public. The pro-
posed BID’s boundaries are currently being
defined as Broome Street on the north;
Broadway on the west; Allen and Rutgers
Streets on the east; and White, Worth and
Madison Streets on the south. C.B. 3 also
recommended that the future BID board
pay people engaged in cleaning work a “liv-
ing wage,” as currently being proposed by
the City Council.
The Council’s “living wage” bill would
force developers and anyone else who
receives subsidies from the City’s Economic
Development Corporation and Industrial
Development Agency to pay their work-
ers at least $10 an hour with benefits and
$11.50 an hour without benefits.
The BID would provide 30 entry-level
cleaning jobs for people from the commu-
nity. Its organizers envision a first-year bud-
get of $1.3 million, with 78 percent used
for sanitation services and the balance for
holiday decorations and advocacy. If a BID
is formed, up to $1.9 million from other
government sources would be available,
according to the Chinatown Partnership.
downtown express December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 17

Survivor tree returns home

Continued from page 1
In October 2001, the callery pear tree
was uncovered at Ground Zero amid the
rubble with a blackened trunk, broken roots
and only one living branch. Against all odds,
the N.Y.C. Parks Department believed it
could be salvaged.
“Trees are pretty resilient things,” said
Parks Department Commissioner Adrian
Benepe. “It’s in their DNA to come back
from wounds.”
A month later, the tree was carefully
transported to the Arthur Ross Nursery in
Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, where
Richard Cabo, who now serves as the Parks
Department’s citywide nursery manager,
resuscitated it.
He and his colleagues stabilized the injured
tree by planting it in hearty soil and by fre-
quently fertilizing and pruning it. “Over time,
she took care of herself, but in the beginning,
it was a lot of care,” said Cabo.
Cabo affectionately refers to the tree as
a “she” because over time it became “more
and more dear” to him. And the Arthur
Ross team carved out an exclusive space for
the tree at the nursery and built a memorial
around it.
“We were just taking care of it ‘cause we
got attached to it, and it was important to
us,” said Cabo. Little did they know that,
years later, it would become the only survi-
vor tree to return to its home.
The tree’s resilience was tested yet again
when it was knocked over by violent winds
at the nursery last March. The team man-
aged once more to save its life.
“We watered it a lot so it wouldn’t go into
shock,” said Cabo, who filled the roots’ holes
with soil and added a layer of wooden bark
chips on top of the roots to limit its exposure
to the cold.
“Again, we and the tree refused to throw
in the towel,” Bloomberg said of the rescue
mission. “We replanted the tree, and it
bounced back immediately.”
The “survivor” tree dates back to the
1970s, when it was planted near Towers
Four and Five on the eastern side of the for-
mer W.T.C. site. It distinguishes itself from
the plaza’s oak trees, Benepe explained, by
sprouting white flowers rather than acorns.
“It’s very much a sign of spring when the
callery pears bloom, ‘cause it’s the first tree
to bloom before the cherries blossom,” said
Benepe.
The six other 9/11 survivor trees – three
callery pears and three leaf lindens – are per-
manently planted near City Hall and at the
Manhattan entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge.
‘We were just taking care
of it ‘cause we got attached
to it, and it was important
to us.’
— Richard Cabo
National 9/11 Memorial and Museum
Board Member Keating Crown, who also
spoke at Wednesday’s planting ceremony,
said, “It’s a privilege to be here today on the
planting of this special tree that survived the
9/11 attacks.” Crown escaped death on 9/11
when he descended the last usable stairwell
from the 78th floor in the south tower.
The tree, Crown continued, is a meaning-
ful symbol for 9/11 survivors such as him-
self. “The fact that this tree survived such
devastation reminds us all of the capacity the
human spirit can endure.”

Chelsea | Greenwich Village | Soho | Clinton

SPRING
2011
SPRING 2011 REGISTRATION
IS NOW OPEN

Little League
Baseball + Softball
Baseball for Boys and Girls Ages 5-17
Softball for Girls Ages 9-16

For details go to:

greenwichvillagelittleleague.org
or find us on Facebook

Greenwich Village Little League

10 White Street
New York, NY 10013
Downtown Express photo by Aline Reynolds greenwichvillagelittleleague.org

Workers lower the callery pear, 9/11 survivor tree into its new resting place at the
National 9/11 Memorial last Wednesday.
18
MANHATTAN CHILDREN’S THEATRE Imagination reigns
supreme in the productions of this theater company whose ninth
season is dedicated to classic stories and characters (with a
twist!). Through Jan. 2, it’s the world premiere of Chris Alonzo’s
“Lula Belle in Search of Santa.” From Jan. 8 through Feb. 28,
MCT’s version of “Little Red Riding Hood” has a pair of bungling
wolves trying to outfox that little hood-wearing smarty as she
makes her way to Granny’s house. Later in the season, look out
for MCT’s revved up, wisecracking, revisionist takes on “Gol-
dilocks and the Three Bears” and “The Complete Works of the
Brothers Grimm (Abridged).” Performances are every Sat. and
Sun., noon and 2pm. At Manhattan Children’s Theatre (52 White
St., btw. Broadway & Church Sts., 2 blocks south of Canal St.).
For tickets ($20 general, $50 front row), call 212-352-3101 or visit
www.theatermania.com. For school, group or birthday party rate
info, call 212-226-4085. Visit www.mctny.org.
MARK TWAIN: A WONDERFULLY FLAT THING Kids who
may not be old enough to read Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn”
can get to know the quintessential American humorist— and
discover the wonders of children’s theater — all in one fun, cre-
ative experience. “A Wonderfully Flat Thing” is a modern twist
on Twain’s short story “A Fable.” The adaptation finds Twain and
his animal friends on a journey of self-discovery and magic. Pup-
pets, dance, music and interactive video are the new tricks that
help bring this old writer into the modern age. Manju Shandler,
who created masks and puppetry for “The Lion King,” designed
the puppets. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Sat., Jan. 8 & 15
at 11:30am, 2:30pm & 5pm and Sun., Jan. 9 & 16 at 11:30am &
2:30pm. At The 14th Street Y’s newly renovated LABA Theatre
(344 E. 14th St. btw. 1st & 2nd Aves.). For tickets ($15), call 212-
780-0800 or visit www.14StreetY.org/AWFT.
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE ART Explore painting, col-
lage and sculpture through self-guided arts projects. Open art
stations are ongoing throughout the afternoon — giving children
the opportunity to experiment with materials such as paint, clay,
fabric, paper and found objects. Sat., Jan. 1, from noon to 5pm,
the “Kurt Schwitters-inspired Collage” activity gives visitors ages
4 and up the chance to use the artwork of Kurt Schwitters as a
starting point for their own collage. On Sun., Jan. 2, from noon
to 5pm, the “Giacometti Inspired Sculpture” event encourages
those ages 5 and up to create an armature — then cover the sur-
face to create elongated figure sculptures like Alberto Giacom-
etti. Regular museum hours: Wed.-Sun., 12-5pm; Thurs., 12-6pm
(Pay as You Wish, from 4-6pm). Admission: $10. At the Children’s
Museum of the Arts (182 Lafayette St. btw. Broome & Grand).
Moving Visions’ Murray Street Studio
A Wise Choice for your child’s dance education!
Dance for Children and Teens
• Modern Ballet (ages 5-18) • Choreography (ages 8 & up)
• Creative Movement/Pre-Ballet (ages 3-5)
ADULT CLASSES Yoga - Tai Chi • Chi/Dance/Exercise for Women
19 Murray St., 3rd Fl.
(Bet. Broadway and Church)
December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 downtown express
DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER Youth after school
programs are happening NOW! For information on swim lessons,
YOUTH basketball, gym class, Karate and more, call 212-766-1104. Visit
www.manhattanyouth.org. The Downtown Community Center is
located at 120 Warren St.
ACTIVITIES THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE MUSEUM The “Junior Offi-
cers Discovery Zone” is an exhibit designed for ages 3-10. It’s
divided into four areas: the Police Academy; the Park and Precinct;
the Emergency Services Unit; and a Multi-Purpose Area for pro-
gramming. Each area has interactive and imaginary play experi-
ences for children to understand the role of Police Officers in our
community — by, among other things, driving and taking care of
a Police car. For older children, there’s a crime scene observation
activity that will challenge them to remember relevant parts of city
street scenes; a physical challenge similar to those at the Police
Academy; and a model Emergency Services Unit vehicle where
children can climb in, use the steering wheel and lights, hear radio
calls with Police codes and see some of the actual equipment car-
ried by The Emergency Services Unit. At 100 Old Slip. For info, call
212-480-3100 or visit www.nycpm.org. Hours: Mon. through Sat.,
10am-5pm and Sun., noon-5pm. Admission: $8 ($5 for students,
seniors and children. Free for children under 2.
SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT THE SCHOLASTIC
Photo courtesy of Sun Productions, Inc.
STORE Every Saturday at 3pm, Scholastic’s in-store activities
A dancing mouse in the house: See “Angelina Ballerina.” are designed to get kids reading, thinking, talking, creating and
moving. The Scholastic Store is located at 557 Broadway (btw.
ANGELINA BALLERINA: THE MUSICAL Prince & Spring). Regular store hours are Mon-Sat, 10am-7pm,
Anything can happen in the world of children’s cartoons: Dogs talk, daffy ducks spar and Sun, 11am-6pm. For info about store events, call 212-343-
with rascally rabbits and an aardvark named Arthur goes to school. But writer Katharine 6166. Visit www.scholastic.com.
Holabird and illustrator Helen Craig came up with something special when they intro-
duced us to a mouse who loves ballet. Now, that mouse (star of her own PBS series) POETS HOUSE The Poets House “Tiny Poets Time” program
comes to life — and comes to a stage near you — in “Angelina Ballerina: The Musical.” offers children ages 1-3 and their parents a chance to enter the
As the curtain comes up, everyone at the Camembert Academy is all aflutter because a world of rhyme — through readings, group activities and inter-
special guest is coming to visit. Angelina and her friends (Alice, Gracie, AZ and Viki) active performances. Thursdays at 10am (at 10 River Terrace, at
are excited to show off their Hip-Hop, modern dance, Irish jig and ballet skills — but Murray St.). Call 212-431-7920 or visit www.poetshouse.org.
will Angelina get that moment in the spotlight she’s hoping for? This show is appropriate
for children ages 3-12. Jan. 8 through Feb. 19, Saturdays at 1pm & 3pm and Sundays at DEAR EDWINA This heartwarming show about the joys and
1pm. At the Union Square Theatre (100 E. 17th St. btw. Union Square East and Irving frustrations of growing up has our spunky heroine (advice-giver
Place). For tickets ($39.50-$65), call 1-800-982-2787 or visit ticketmaster.com. Also extraordinaire Edwina Spoonable) sharing her wisdom on every-
visit angelinathemusical.com. thing from setting the table to making new friends. That it’s done
through clever, catchy and poignant songs makes the experi-
Call 212- 274-0986 or visit www.cmany.org. For group tours and Delancey St.) For info, visit www.artspiral.org and www.artasia- ence enjoyable and engaging for kids who know what Edwina’s
visit, call 212) 274-0986, extension 31. merica.org. going through as well as adults who remember what it was like.
Through Feb. 25 at the DR2 Theatre (103 E. 15th St.). For tickets
TUESDAY CHILDREN’S ART CLASSES Asian American Arts POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE’S COPS & KIDS BASKET- ($39), call 212-239-6200. For groups of 10 or more, call 646-747-
Centre announces their sponsorship of a Children’s Art Class pro- BALL SEASON Registration for the Police Athletic League’s 7400. Visit www.dearedwina.com for additional details and full
gram — to be held on Tuesdays after school, from 3-6:30pm. The (PAL) Cops & Kids Program is open through Jan. 10. Manhattan playing schedule.
classes are designed to stimulate a child’s creativity by exploring young people, ages 14 to 17, are encouraged to participate in the
their own artistic originality and cultural background. Children upcoming winter basketball season. Each year, 825 New York WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR EVENT LISTED IN THE
are introduced to the language of visual forms as well as those City Police Officers volunteer their time to coach and play bas- DOWNTOWN EXPRESS? Listing requests may be sent to
of Asian art forms. The semester begins Jan. 11. The first class, ketball, volleyball, soccer, softball and flag football. One of PAL’s scott@downtownexpress.com. Please provide the date, time,
from 3-4:30pm, is for ages 6 to 9. The second class, from 4:40- signature programs, Cops & Kids will help you perfect your half- location, price and a description of the event. Information may
6:30pm, is for ages 9 to 14. To register, speak to Jennie Lau at court shot. To sign up, call 212-477-9450, ext. 389. Visit www. also be mailed to 145 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY
212-358-9922. Tuition is $235, and includes all supplies. Classes palnyc.org. 10013. Requests must be received three weeks before the event
are held at the Asian American Arts Centre (111 Norfolk St. near is to be published. Questions? Call 646-452-2497.
TRIBECA DENTAL
For the Whole Family
General Dentistry & CosmeticDentistry + Implants
Bleaching + Orthodontics
Dr. Martin Gottlieb
Dr. Raphael Santore
Dr. Reena Clarkson,
Orthodontist
Dr. Ken Chu,
Dr. Sara Fikree
Pediatric Dentists
19 Murray Street
212-608-7681 (day) Between Church & Broadway www.TribecaDentalCenter.com
www.murraystreetdance.com
For an appointment, call 212-941-9095
downtown express
DOWNTOWNEXPRESSARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
Dixon Place, P.S. 122, Horse Trade are go
Ready/Set for fests, a ukulele warbler and our favorite ventriloquist lady
BY TRAV S.D.
Happy New Year! Hard to believe, but
this marks the one-year anniversary of this
little column, such as it is. It’s been a year
full of burlesquery, bawdiness, bunkum and
butt-kickin’ — and I haven’t even started
talking about the shows I saw yet!
I finished off 2010 by seeing a rather
odd hodgepodge of productions running the
gamut from high seriousness to low silliness.
“Emancipatory Politics” by Old Kent Road
Theatre (oldkentroadtheater.com) was an
earnest splicing of free-form fantasy and
autobiography with more valleys than peaks
— but plenty of risk-taking, and that was the
whole point.
On the other hand, Metropolitan
Playhouse’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” took
chances just by existing, and the gamble
paid off richly. This historical anti-slavery
melodrama directed by Alex Roe ought to
become a permanent part of their repertoire.
Overcome with holiday spirit, I also took in
Theater for the New City’s “A Christmas
Carol” — written, directed by and star-
ring Zen Manley. Zen’s performance as
Scrooge was a tour de force in the grand
old 19th-century tradition of spirit gum
and scenery chewing. I lapped it up like so
much Christmas pudding with booze poured
all over it. Lastly, I caught the Downtown
Clown Revue (newyorkdowntownclown.
com) in its new incarnation at Dixon Place.
The monthly showcase for red-nosed insid-
ers is well worth checking out. On the night
I attended, Big Apple Circus’s “Grandma”
showed up for a special unannounced per-
formance.
As for what to see in the coming month?
How about starting with what you missed
last year? From Jan. 6-15, Horse Trade
Theater Group will present “2010 Encores”
— a festival of shows that were hits for the
company during the past season. Almost
everything in the festival sounds interest-
ing to me, but here are some stand-outs:
Most notable perhaps is “The Event” (Jan.
10 & 14) — written and directed by
John Clancy, former artistic director of
the Present Company and the New York
International Fringe Festival. This meta-
physical “journey beyond the fourth wall”
was a hit of last year’s Fringe Festival, and
stars Clancy’s frequent collaborator, the
always excellent David Calvitto. Also in the
lineup (Jan. 7 & 9) is “Legs and All” — a
terrific clown piece by Summer Shapiro and
Peter Musante, which I saw back in March.
The duo work wonders armed only with a
large box and the hilarious pliability of their
bodies, which at times seem to do impos-
sible things. It even has romance!
Based on my knowledge of their past
work, I can also recommend Martin
December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011
Kim Noble, titular star of “Kim Noble Must Die” (in P.S. 122’s COIL Festival).
Dockery’s “Wanderlust” (Jan. 8 & 15),
Tanya O’Debra’s “Radio Star” (Jan. 7 &
14), Michael Birch’s “One Man Hamlet”
(Jan. 8 & 14) and Radiotheatre’s version
of H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine” (Jan.
8, 9 & 10). This festival alone ought to
keep you busy! For info and tickets, go to
horsetrade.info.
Not to be outdone, P.S. 122 will be run-
ning its 6th Annual COIL Festival, “fea-
turing hits from past, present and future
seasons” (Jan. 5-15). Of the 17 shows in
the schedule, several caught my jaundiced
eyed. Of particular interest (Jan. 5, 7, 9 &
11) is “Stories Left to Tell” —a revived pre-
sentation of unpublished and unperformed
works by the late Spalding Gray, read by
downtown pillars Bob Holman (the man
behind the Bowery Poetry Club), actress
Kathleen Chalfant, comedienne Hazelle
Goodman and playwright Ain Gordon. The
original production premiered two years
ago to great acclaim at the Minetta Lane
Theatre with some of the same cast. Gordon
will be presenting another work in the
festival as well. “A Disaster Begins” (Jan.
10) promises to reveal secrets connected
with the Galveston Flood, one of the worst
natural disasters in his country’s history. I
saw Gordon’s “Birdseed Bundles” at Dance
Theatre Workshop years ago, featuring the
great Lola Pashalinski. His writing is sharp
and insightful, and this one should also be
Photo by Jay Paterson
a safe bet.
I also have my sights set on “Green
Eyes” (Jan. 5-10, 12-15). It’s the New York
premiere of a Tennessee Williams rarity that
was first published in 2008. Director Travis
Chamberlain and I both worked as bookers
at Galapagos a few years back. Much confu-
sion and not much hilarity ensued as a result
of our common first name. But the main
reason I’ll be attending is the show descrip-
tion — which tells of a “ravenous Southern
woman determined to satisfy the darkest
recesses of her most deviant desires.” The
site-specific show actually takes place in a
room at the Hudson Hotel. How kinky is
that? Info on these and other shows in the
COIL Festival are at ps122.org.
Also returning this year is the Under the
Radar Festival (Jan. 5-16), curated by Mark
Russell (formerly of P.S.122) and billed
as a “Festival Tracking New Theatre from
Around the World.” This looks to be one of
their best efforts in years, with 13 foreign
countries represented among the festival’s
20 productions, and several local stars beef-
ing up the New York presence (including
Suzan-Lori Parks, JoAnne Akalaitis, David
Greenspan and Taylor Mac).
Most exciting to me personally, though,
is the presence of the great Reggie Watts. I
had occasion to watch this force of nature
perform back in October at the New York
Theatre Review launch party. Like all great
19
performers, he’s impossible to describe.
Visually, he resembles Alexandre Dumas.
His act is a mash-up of human beatbox
and other music parodies, and a stream of
consciousness comic monologue that calls to
mind everyone from Groucho Marx to Taylor
Meade. The current piece “Dutch A/V” (Jan.
5-16) is a bit of multi-media involving video
taken in the Netherlands with collabora-
tors Tommy Smith and Brendan Kiley. The
Netherlands: That’s where they have all that
legal marijuana isn’t it? I rest my case. For
more info on the 20 Under the Radar shows
at each of their eight venues, go to under-
theradarfestival.com.
In the club and variety
worlds, a number of
announcements grabbed
my attention. On Jan.
8, ukulele warbler
Sweet Soubrette will be
launching her new CD
“Days and Nights” with
a performance at Bowery
Poetry Club.
In the club and variety worlds, a number
of announcements grabbed my attention. On
Jan. 8, ukulele warbler Sweet Soubrette will
be launching her new CD “Days and Nights”
with a performance at Bowery Poetry Club.
Also known as Elia Bisker, don’t let the
“sweet” in the soubrette’s sobriquet fool you.
Her comic love songs are dark and biting,
even if the singer seems lithe and gentle as
can be.
The legendary Joey Arias will be tak-
ing his act to Le Poisson Rouge (Jan. 10).
A drag performer/ performance artist who
first made his mark in the halcyon days of
the 1980s, he’ll be singing that night with
musical director Ben Allison. Lastly, don’t
miss my favorite ventriloquist lady — Carla
Rhodes — as she does her monthly rock and
roll show at Arlene’s Grocery on January 23
(for info, carlarhodes.net and arlenesgrocery.
net). How hot is Carla? Let’s just say she’s
helping me get over that thing I used to have
for Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop.
See you next month!
20 December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 downtown express

Local author chronicles family’s journey to ‘the End’

BY JOHN BAYLES
Lewis Gross had a choice to make on the
day following the attacks of 9/11, and he
chose to keep moving. He woke up in his
mother’s apartment, where he and his family
had retreated and he chose to relocate his
life, along with his wife and kids, 90 miles
east to the hamlet of Montauk, commonly
referred to as “the End.”
“Montauk Tango” is the story not only of
that decision but also of the life lessons he
learned as a result and of one family from
Tribeca deciding to move on with their lives
after a life-changing incident.
It’s not a unique story that someone living
in Lower Manhattan was able to take refuge
in the enclave that is the Hamptons in the
months after 9/11. Indeed, Gross said he
even ran into some familiar faces once his
family made the move. And readers of the
book may even recognize a few characters.
But what is unique is the tale of a family
that chose to call the East End home and
then decided to make an impact on their new
community just as they had on their former.
Gross was known as the “mayor of
Tribeca,” though he admits the label was
contested. He said it could’ve very well been
applied to Bob Townley or former C.B. 1
Chair Madelyn Wils.
When you walk into his holistic dentistry
office on Park Place, there is a prominently
displayed award from the Downtown Little
League for his dedicated service over the
Dr. Lewis Gross holding a copy of his first book, Montauk Tango, at his dentistry
office on Park Place.
years. He also served on Community Board
1 for 10 years. He helped, in his words “turn
Tribeca into a community” and “a real neigh-
borhood” and likes to think his activism had
a lasting impact.
But when 9/11 happened, he simply
couldn’t keep still. He had to keep moving
and he had to keep making a difference.
Downtown Express photo by John Bayles
“Social activism can change a commu-
nity,” said Gross. “We went [to Montauk]
with that same mentality.”
“Montauk Tango,” though, is in a sense
an ode to his wife, to whom he turned over
the activist role after moving out east. This
much is alluded to in the book’s dedication
where Gross writes, “I want to honor my
wife, whose bust has proven the perfect
partner for my pedestal.”
Gross used the community board and the
Downtown Little League as a way to instill in
his kids and kids throughout the community
a sense of fulfillment and to advocate for an
environment that fostered his vision. Once
in Montauk, his wife saw an opportunity to
do the same, only through food. Opening up
the Gig Shack was her way of providing an
opportunity for local youth to learn about the
restaurant business and develop a sense of
what small businesses mean to a community.
“She wanted to apply the same community
activism for youth, but for 21-year-olds,” said
Gross. “We’ve always been a ‘foodie’ family.”
Gross said the Gig Shack was his wife’s
version of the Downtown Little League.
As for his account of the highs and lows
of opening a restaurant, Gross chose to take
some liberties. He mentioned the literary
fiasco that was James Frey’s (another author
who calls the East End home) so-called
memoir “A Million Little Pieces.”
“I felt a straight memoir would be subject
to a higher level of scrutiny,” said Gross.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of
“Montauk Tango” is the resistance the Gig
Shack encountered. There’s an eerie paral-
lel between the hamlet of Montauk and the
neighborhood of Tribeca. Both places have
their old-timers, their year-rounders and a
tendency, albeit often hidden beneath the
surface, to resist change.

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downtown express
Just Do Art!
COMPILED BY SCOTT STIFFLER
TERESA & SERENA WU, AT POSMAN
BOOKS
We all know mom knows best — but what’s
so special about what an Asian-American
mom knows? Teresa and Serena Wu have the
answer, and they’ll be doling out bits and piec-
es of it when they read from their new book
“My Mom is a Fob: Earnest Advice in Broken
English from Your Asian-American Mom.”
Fob, by the way, is a short & snotty way to
say “Fresh off the boat” — but don’t think for
a minute that means mom is uninformed. So
what if she still makes Peking Duck instead of
turkey on Thanksgiving? So what if she owns
a giant cleaver, wears a plastic visor for an
evening stroll or takes 24 more napkins than
she needs at Chipotle? She’s no fool. As for
the authors, the Wu sisters (through their hit
blog) have seized ownership of that derogatory
“Fob” term, by applying it to the ways Asian
moms adapt to American culture. Such nice
girls. Meet them both on Wed., Jan. 5, 6pm,
at Posman Books in Chelsea Market (75 Ninth
Ave. btw. 15th & 16th Sts.). For info, call
212)-627-0304 or visit posmanbooks.com.
BABY UNIVERSE
Here’s a sober thought for all you sunny
optimists among us: It may take a few more
billion years, but eventually the sun will
do a number on the earth and the planets
— and our solar system will be no more.
It’s no wonder, then, that our own looming
destruction inspires humankind to spin tales
of salvation in the face of hopelessness and
desperation. “Baby Universe” explores the
unavoidable repercussions of the way we live
today — with the help of over 30 puppets
ranging from 9 inches to 9 feet, masks, a
Stephen Hawking-inspired robot, animated
video projection and a space-age score. It
may not help you sleep at night, but it’ll at
“Baby Universe” knows our solar system’s days are numbered.
December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 21
least give you something to think about. This
production is appropriate for those seven
years of age and older, but it should also be
noted that this is not a children’s show — it’s
a theatre piece with puppets. At the Baruch
Performing Arts Center (5 Lexington Ave.
Enter on 25th St. just east of Lexington).
Through Sun., Jan. 9. For specific perfor-
mance times, and to purchase tickets ($30,
$20 for students/seniors), call 212-352-3101
or visit www.theatermania.com.
MUMMENSCHANZ
If you’re old enough to remember
Shields and Yarnell — or have already
seen Blue Man Group — or are discerning
enough to shun Cirque du Soleil, there’s
a show in town that delivers the artful
clowning, clever mime, surreal visuals
and subversive humor you crave. Their
current NYC gig is part of a national tour
marking the renowned Swiss performance
troupe’s first return to U.S. soil since 2003
— and features some of their most iconic
performances and characters (plus a few
new pieces). In a world where entertain-
ment is more wordy and frenzied than
ever, Mummenschanz’s throwback style
of silent vignettes, fantastical characters
and abstract shapes is a spectacle of sim-
plicity that deserves to be seen (even if it
can’t be heard). Through Jan. 8, at The
Skirball Center for the Performing Arts
(566 LaGuardia Place, at Washington
Square). For performance times, and to
order tickets ($45-$75), call 212-352-
3010 or visit mummenschanzNYC.com.
THE ANNIHILATION POINT
The Berserker Residents come to us
from Philadelphia. The three renegade
Continued on page 23
Photo by Rae Winters
Photo by Jim Baldassare
The future is now: Bradley K. Wrenn in “The Annihilation Point.”
22 December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 downtown express

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downtown express
Just Do Art!
Continued from page 21
time travelers in “The Annihilation Point”
come to us from the year 3037 A.X. (“After
Xenocide”). Although they’ve mastered
the art of millennium-jumping, it seems
their gobs of knowledge and futuristic
technology can’t help them shake off the
mutants, flesh-eating nanobots and inter-
dimensional droid vigilantes hot on their
heels. Will Astronaut Z, his cyborg com-
panion Dr. Doomstache and alien advisor
Gregory Tamborsky save humanity before
it’s too late — or, seeing as they’re from
the future, is it already too late? Physical
theatre, puppetry, music, sketch and prop
comedy conspire to deliver an immer-
sive theatrical experience that’s amusingly
apocalyptic. Sat., Jan. 8 at 7pm & 10pm;
Sun., Jan. 9 at 6pm & 10pm; Mon., Jan.
10 at 8pm; and Thurs., Jan. 13 at 8pm. At
the Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand St.,
corner of Pitt St.). For tickets ($15), call
866-811-4111 — and would it kill you to
visit berserkerresidents.com?
PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY:
OPEN HOUSE
When a new neighbor moves in, the
burden is usually on you to show up with a
plate of cookies and best wishes. This new
arrival will take the wishes, but wants you
to leave the cookies at home. They’ll be the
ones serving up complimentary food — plus
free performances and the chance to win
merchandise and tickets to The Paul Taylor
A traditional Tu B’Shvat seder with fruit, grains and other treats.
December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011
One of the boys from Company B. See “Paul Taylor.”
Dance Company. In the spirit of full dis-
closure by the new kids on the block, The
Company will perform Paul Taylor’s newest
work, “Three Dubious Memories” — which
will give the audience an opportunity to see
the piece before it premieres at City Center.
Photo by Kate Milford
Photo by Tom Caravaglia
Taylor 2 will perform the classic “Airs.”
It’s happening in celebration of their new
23
Tribeca studios. Free. Sun., Jan. 9, Noon
to 4pm at the Paul Taylor Dance Company
(551 Grand St., Second Floor). For info, call
212-431-5562 or visit ptdc.org.
TU B’SHVAT: WINTER GARDEN
Just as the French seem to have a
word for everything nowadays, the Chosen
People have their own ramped-up take on
a slew of beloved cultural observations
(Purim lets kids have Halloween dress-up
in March — and Hanukkah’s eight days
of gift-giving rivals that singular night
of presents under the tree). Now, get to
know the not-so-famous observance of Tu
B’Shvat. As explained by the folks at jew-
faq.org, “Tu B’Shevat, the 15th day of the
Jewish month of Shevat, is also known as
the New Year for Trees.” It’s also known
(according to event organizers at Museum
at Eldridge Street) as the Jewish Arbor
Day. Family tree-making, genealogy work-
shops, plantings, food demos are used to
unearth cultural roots and environmental
heritage. An architectural tour highlight-
ing the green restoration of the 1887
Eldridge Street Synagogue also puts a nice
spin on the fast-rising star of this holiday.
Sun., Jan. 23, 1-4pm, at the Eldridge Street
Synagogue (12 Eldridge St btw. Canal
and Division Sts.). For more info, call the
Museum at Eldridge Street at 212-219-
0888 or visit www.eldridgestreet.org.
24 December 29, 2010 - Januar y 5, 2011 downtown express

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