YOUR WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CHELSEA, HUDSON YARDS & HELL’S KITCHEN
State Bills Would Curb Sidewalk Sheds BY YANNIC RACK Businesses in Chelsea are hoping for relief from the sidewalk sheds that routinely spring up across the city and often stick around for years. A set of bills recently introduced in the State Legislature aims to kick the sheds to the curb — by ensuring building owners do actual work rather than let them languish on the sidewalk, where they can become a nuisance for those hidden underneath. Javier Quintans, who owns and runs the seafood restaurant Francisco’s Centro Vasco Continued on page 2
After Ebb and Flow, Pier 57 Gets CB4’s ‘Go’ BY LUCAS ROPEK Passions, like the tide, sometimes run high — especially when waterfront property is involved. And although the reception from local residents was decidedly choppy during a Feb. 3 presentation to Community Board 4 (CB4), it seems as if there will be smooth sailing ahead for plans to revitalize Pier 57. Development firm Youngwoo & Associates and RXR Realty are poised to transform the archaic, semi-abandoned structure (at W. 15th St., in Hudson River Park) into a multifaceted complex that includes a public park, retail shops, and a foodie-focused “hawker’s marContinued on page 4
SNOW WHITE, THE XIV WAY
There’s no such thing as a bad apple in the bunch of Company XIV productions. Their latest stage show, “Snow White,” dazzles with sensual acrobatics and visual pyrotechnics. See page 15.
Courtesy Mathews-Palmer Playground Mural & Arts Program
The empowering message of Arnold Belkin’s 1972 mural endures — and Hell’s Kitchen residents are determined to return the faded artwork to its former glory.
At Winter Gathering, Mural Hopes Spring Eternal BY TRAVIS STEWART The images may be faded, but the message endures — and it’s one that Hell’s Kitchen needs now more than ever. Created by artist Arnold Belkin (1930-1992) in the heroic socialist tradition of Mexican muralists such as Diego Rivera, “Against Domestic Colonialism” depicts working class community members, shoulder to shoulder, fighting eviction and exploitation by wealthy overlords. Over four decades after its 1972 unveiling, the work is in disrepair — and a group of neighborhood residents have made it their number one priority to fix the wall and recreate the mural, which looms large inside of Mathews-Palmer Playground (btw. W. 45th & W. 46th Sts., and Ninth & 10th Aves.). On Mon., Feb. 8, a group of West Side citizens gathered at the Landmark Tavern (626 11th Ave., at the corner of W. 46th St.) for the annual convening of the West 45/46 Block Association. A loose alliance of three preexisting local groups (the West 46th Street Block Association, the West 45th Street Block Association, and the Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood
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Association), their joint efforts have come to be known as the Hell’s Kitchen Commons. According to Stephen Fanto, President of the West 46th Street Block Association, around 25 people attended the informal event. The night was cold and damp, but the enthusiasm of the volunteers was palpable in the cozy, convivial pub atmosphere. The main item on the agenda was the ongoing project to recreate the mural, located at MathewsPalmer Playground (on W. 45th & W. 46th Sts., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.). The mural “is a shadow of its former self,” said Kathleen Treat, Chairwoman of the Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood Association and a Hell’s Kitchen resident for 28 years, “[The recreation of the mural] is one of the easier things in this neighborhood to become engaged in. I love its ’30s WPA [Works Progress Administration] sensibility. It’s very New York. I love the painting itself and I love its philosophy. It’s a lovely amenity.”
Continued on page 5 VOLUME 08, ISSUE 06 | FEBRUARY 11 - 17, 2016
Sidewalk Sheds Go Up, Business Takes a Dive tion in general,” she added, “and so people are experiencing what seems like an overload of these sidewalk sheds.” The block where Francisco’s Centro Vasco sits, between Sixth and Seventh Aves., is a microcosm of common complaints about sidewalk sheds. Most of one side of the street is shrouded in scaffolding, and the other businesses affected are no fans of their situation either. “It’s bothering me very much,” said Boris, who is the manager of Chelsea Hair Studio (115 W. 23rd St.), and declined to give his last name. He said the shed, which went up in August, has taken a toll on business at the barbershop. “It’s scaffolding, it’s dark. People just walk by and don’t even see us, and I can’t do anything,” complained Boris, who said the building owner claims he is repairing the roof, but added that he hasn’t seen any workers use the shed for months. At Tekserve, an electronics store whose 119 W. 23rd St. location is just a few doors down from Chelsea Hair Studio, another sidewalk shed was put up in June. “We’ve seen a drop in foot traffic of 20 percent every month since the scaffold was put in place,” said the company’s Vice President for Retail Sales and Service, Teresa Rivera. Rivera estimates that Tekserve is now losing over $100,000 every month, and had to spend more than $50,000 for marketing in the last six months to make up for the drop in foot traffic. “Many people, including myself, don’t like to walk under scaffolded buildings, and will purposefully cross the street to avoid doing so,” she said.
Continued from page 1 (159 W. 23rd St., btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.), said his business has suffered under a sidewalk shed for the past 12 years. “We’ve lost so many customers because of this,” he said, adding that the shed actually belongs to the building next door — which has been abandoned since the restaurant moved to its current address in 1999. “In the beginning, when it went up, we took them to court to take it down. It really affected our business,” he said. “They took it down for a couple of months, but then they put the scaffolding back up and it’s been there since 2004. We couldn’t afford to spend all that money on litigation again.” The bills now in the State Senate and Assembly would mandate that extensions to sidewalk shed permits be granted only when the scaffolding was actively used for at least 10 days every month in the previous year. Quintans said there has been no work using the sidewalk shed next door
Photo by Scott Stiffler
Business has suffered at the W. 23rd St. seafood restaurant Francisco’s Centro Vasco ever since the sidewalk shed went up 12 years ago.
because the building has been abandoned for years, and was only recently sold. “We hear complaints about it fairly frequently, both from commercial enterprises and from residents,” said State Assemblymember Deborah Glick, who co-sponsors the sidewalk shed bill in her chamber of the legislature. “And it does
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sometimes appear that it is being used as a vehicle for driving people either out of their homes or businesses [into giving up] their lease,” she said. There are currently around 7,700 of the wood-and-steel structures scattered around the city, according to the Department of Buildings (DOB), which issues permits for scaffolding whenever building owners build or make repairs to their façade. In many cases, they are clustered around the same block, according to DOB data. An analysis by amNewYork last year also found that over 1,300 projects are more than 18 months old — even though permits are usually issued for only a year. The sheds not only block the view to businesses, but can become problematic for residents and passersby as well. “It creates a dark area, debris can accumulate. If it’s not properly lit, it can be a safety concern,” Glick said. “I think it’s always been an issue, it just seems that there is more construc-
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Photo by Lucas Ropek
Courtesy HRPT
RXR Realty’s Seth Pinsky gave a PowerPoint presentation addressing key components of the Pier 57 project.
The roof’s approximately 90,000 square feet will be used as a public park, with free events open to the general public.
Pier 57 Public Comment Period Ends Feb. 16 Continued from page 1 ket” curated by peripatetic celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain (host of the CNN travel and food show “Parts Unknown”). Despite Bourdain’s star power — and the promise of economic benefit — locals have regarded the plans with concern since Youngwoo approached the Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT) in
2009 about leasing the property. The public comment period, which began on Dec. 17, extends through Feb. 16. Though an official public hearing on the pier occurred on Jan. 20, the CB4 meeting served as another opportunity for neighborhood residents, board members and developers to discuss the project before HRPT officially approves it. Noreen Doyle, Executive Vice President of HRPT, began the meeting by expressing
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her support for the renovations. “This is a really exciting project for the Hudson River Park, and we think it’s equally exciting for the surrounding neighborhood, the community board, and for the city as a whole,” she said, before turning things over to Seth Pinsky, Executive Vice President and Investment Manager of RXR Realty. Pinsky then gave an extensive PowerPoint presentation addressing key components of the project. “These are the conditions of the pier today,” said Pinsky, displaying images of the building’s empty and dilapidated basements. “As you can see, there’s really nothing in it. It’s an impressive structure, but it needs a full reworking,” he said, noting that one of the pier’s most recent uses was as a storage area for MTA buses. Key to this “reworking” are the addition of mezzanines to each of the pier’s two already extant levels, a move that would transform it into a four-story structure. Pinsky took residents through the proposed building, explaining each individual level’s function as he went. On the ground floor will be the market area, which Pinsky likened to
Pike Place (a farmers market in Seattle). Though “still evolving” conceptually, the developers want to transform the space into a kind of seaside bazaar, replete with fishmongers, food vendors, and fine dining establishments. Below the market will be a caisson, or basement area, where an internal roadway will be used to deliver goods for the retail and restaurant venues. The deliveries will flow into entrances on W. 16th St., but gated entrances will also be available on W. 17th St., in the event of overflow. Adjacent to the market, 34,000 square feet of new esplanade space, will be added, creating a publicly accessible walkway that will wrap all the way around the pier. Above the market, the third and fourth floors will be devoted to office space, and will host a slew of local and international businesses. The developers believe the offices will be a means of driving traffic to the pier on a yearlong basis, since they predict the pier’s largest influx of patrons will occur during the summer months. Google has already signed a lease
Continued on page 14
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Courtesy HRPT
Out of the 110,000 square feet devoted to public use, there are no current plans to accommodate nonprofits, or youth/community groups. .com
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Continued from page 1 While it was announced in June of last year that work on the mural would soon begin, the project stalled in August when “insurance issues� prevented the needed wall repairs that must precede the painting’s restoration. Allison Tupper, Vice President of the West 46th Street Block Association, said the Hell’s Kitchen Commons group hopes to have crews contracted to get that phase moving again by March. “Our hope is to get the work on the actual mural done in May and June, so that when school is out, the kids will have the playground to play in.� The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation has also announced a $1-3 million project to reconstruct Mathews-Palmer Playground itself, with work slated to begin sometime after August 2016. According to Tupper, approximately $12,000 has been raised to date for the mural recreation project, which will require an estimated $90,000 to complete. “Applications have been sent to the New York State Assembly and it looks like that [funding] will happen,� noted Tupper. “We’re also reaching out to foundations, and crowdfunding through the website Crowdrise. The building management people are prepared to pay for the wall repairs themselves, but it will be more expensive to also make the wall ready for the mural restoration [specifically a recreation; parts of the artwork no longer exist on the wall], so we’re raising money for that aspect as well.� Professional muralist Denise Penizzotto, whose past work includes projects at the BAM Harvey Theater and Universal Studios Japan, will oversee the recreation of “Against Domestic Colonialism.� Penissotto has been involved in the Belkin mural restoration project for nearly five years. “I wasn’t there from the beginning, but I was there from the middle,� she said, adding, “There’s a lot I love about this mural: the curves, the forms, and the colors. It will be a beautiful thing to try to recreate a Belkin. His work has a history and a message. I’ve gotten to know some people who actually worked with him, like the painter Peter Ruta, who studied under Diego Rivera. He’s 98 and still painting.� Penissotto noted that efforts are being made to solicit the input of Belkin’s widow, Patricia Quijano, although a response is “still pending.� .com
E V E N T
Photos by Travis Stewart
Allison Tupper, VP of the W. 46th St. Block Association (above, in red), says the Hell’s Kitchen Common coalition hopes to get the mural restored by June.
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Around 25 members from various community groups — under the Hell’s Kitchen Commons umbrella — held their annual winter meeting on the damp night of Feb. 8.
Depending on the amount of funds available, it will take Penissotto and a crew of three or four about a month to complete the recreation, “give or take a week.� She has reached out to a few colleagues who have shown some interest in helping with the project, but plans to make a more formal call for artists once the time frame for that phase of the project is better known. In the meantime, the Hell’s Kitchen Commons membership is devoted to “raising funds and raising awareness.� “We need to slow down gentrification in New York and keep housing affordable,� said Tupper, “The message of this mural is still relevant, maybe more relevant than ever.� To help raise funds for the mural project, visit crowdrise.com/mathewspalmerplaygro1/fundraiser/allisontupper. Also visit mathews-palmer-playgroundmural-arts-program.com. For the Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood Association, visit hknanyc.org.
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CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH
Why Growing Teeth Need a Specialist BY DR. TANESHA FRANCIS As someone who specializes in the treatment and care of little people’s teeth, parents often ask me how important it is to take children to a pediatric dentist. In fact, many don’t realize that this is an option in the first place. Yes, there are options! There are dentists, like me, who specialize in the unique needs of infants, children, and young teens’ teeth. Alternatively, there are family dentists who are qualified to care for patients of all ages. Naturally, I believe that pediatric dentists are the way to go when parents have the option, and here are my reasons:
TEETH DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN Think six plus six! Generally speaking, a baby’s first teeth will begin to break through at six months; those teeth will stay put until about age six, when they begin to fall out and be replaced by permanent, adult teeth. Although children lose their first set of
teeth, poor oral care in those early years can lead to issues and disease that lasts throughout life. A pediatric dentist specializes in instructing families on how to care for teeth before there are even teeth! Parents often think of troublesome sicknesses such as asthma and allergies; however, dental problems such as early childhood caries (an infectious disease also known as baby bottle tooth decay or bottle rot) are five times as common.
WHAT SETS PEDIATRIC DENTISTS APART Pediatric dentists have a lot to learn! Unlike general dentists, pediatric dentists are required to complete up to three additional years of specialty training in the unique needs of children’s teeth. Some of the topics we study that are unique to working with children include behavior management, pediatric pharmacology, interceptive orthodontics, speech, minor oral surgery, sedation, traumatic injuries, dental care
for children with developmental disabilities, and more. Since the dental journey includes growing a first set, losing them, and then growing an adult set, there’s a lot to keep up with during each stage. We specialize in helping families make it a healthy journey from the start. We also offer key advice on maintenance through those critical candyand-sweets-eating years.
SPECIALIZED TREATMENT OPTIONS Parents know that taking care of children — especially health exams like regular dentist visits — can be stressful at times. Pediatric dentists are great at knowing how to make visits as painless and pleasant as possible. Our offices are full of color, activities, and warmth that can make kids’ experiences fun and educational, too. Dentists often recommend dental appliances and corrective treatments during the childhood and adolescent years. We also have the most up-to-date
knowledge about treatment options and advancements in the field for children. In the end, children and teens are all about the “cool factor” — and with a pediatric dentist, our finger is on the pulse of colorful and engaging tools and appliances that will keep them interested in their own dental health. We all want the best for children. When it comes to keeping their mouths, teeth, and gums healthy for the long haul, a pediatric dentist just makes sense! Dr. Francis can be found at Park Slope Kids Dental Care (150 Fourth Ave., btw. Douglas & Butler Sts. in Park Slope). Call 718-488–0200.
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POLICE BLOTTER
THE WEST SIDE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Publisher
Jennifer Goodstein
Editor Scott Stiffler
Editorial Assistant Sean Egan
Art Director Michael Shirey
Graphic Designers Rhiannon Hsu Chris Ortiz
Contributors
Lincoln Anderson Stephanie Buhmann Jackson Chen Sean Egan Winnie McCroy Puma Perl Yannic Rack Lucas Ropek Paul Schindler Trav S.D. Eileen Stukane
Executive VP of Advertising
OBSTRUCTION, GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION: Blade runner At about 12:27 a.m. on Sat., Feb. 6, a 24-year old man was seen in front of Fulton Houses (418 W. 17th St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.), in plain public view with a quantity of marijuana and brandishing a knife. After officers spotted him, he ditched the pot and the blade while fleeing the police. The perp wound up being caught and arrested anyway — at which point the cops discovered the other two knives he had on his person.
CRIMINAL TRESPASS: Dim bulb with low battery A man with a phone low on juice made the mistake of making himself at home in a swanky apartment complex on Sat., Feb. 6. The 41-year-old entered the lobby of 1 River Place (650 W. 42nd St., btw. 11th & 12th Aves.) at about 4:08 p.m., and began to charge his phone. When it became clear that the individual was not a resident, nor did he know any residents of the building, the 27-year-old
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February 11 - 17, 2016
woman working the front desk asked him to leave. The man began to yell and refused to move — until police arrived at the scene to arrest him.
ASSAULT: Don’t let the door hit you on the way in The Dream Downtown Hotel (355 W. 16th St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.) turned into a bit of a nightmare on Sat., Feb. 6, when a woman was (literally) shown the door. At around 10 p.m., an officer witnessed a man, along with a posse of 10 or so people, blocking the entrance to the hotel. When the woman attempted to enter the hotel, the man pushed the door into her face, causing substantial pain and visible swelling to the right side of her face. The 24-year-old man who was responsible was arrested.
GRAND LARCENY: Hotel room, cleaned out (twice) The Dream Downtown Hotel was the scene of yet another crime, in the early morning of Sun., Feb. 7. After a night of drinking in his room, a male victim told police that at about 6:45 a.m., a female
THE 10th PRECINCT Located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.). Commander: Deputy Inspector Michele Irizarry. Main number: 212-741-8211. Community Affairs: 212-741-8226. Crime Prevention: 212-741-8226. Domestic Violence: 212-7418216. Youth Officer: 212-7418211. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-924-3377. Detective Squad: 212-741-8245. The Community Council meets on the last Wed. of the month, 7 p.m., at the 10th Precinct or other locations to be announced. The next meeting is Feb 24.
broke into the room’s hotel safe and removed a $25,000 Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Geographic wristwatch. From elsewhere in the room, she took a $600 pair of black leather suede Alexander McQueen boots, and a white denim jacket ($200). He let police know about the theft, but checked out of the room that morning — at which point the hotel’s staff cleaned the room, compromising the scene of the crime.
GRAND LARCENY: Thievery Plan A for OTC criminals Morning after pills and OTC gastroesophageal reflux disease medication are not necessarily items designed for Costco-sized bulk purchase — which makes the supersized, Sun., Feb. 7 theft of said items raise eyebrows. Two unknown male perps entered a Duane Reade (131 Eighth Ave., btw. W. 16th & W. 17th Sts.) at 6:12 p.m., and stole a host of pharmaceuticals. The presumed dyspeptic Casanovas managed to haul copious amounts of Prisolec, Nexium and Prevacid (all of which are used to treat heartburn/acid reflux), and nearly $500 worth of Plan B One-Step Contraceptive — for a grand total of $1,409 worth of stolen drugs. While no arrests were made, video surveillance of the incident is available.
THE 13th PRECINCT Located at 230 E. 21st St. (btw. Second & Third Aves.). Deputy Inspector: David Ehrenberg. Call 212-477-7411. Community Affairs: 212-477-7427. Crime Prevention: 212-477-7427. Domestic Violence: 212-477-3863. Youth Officer: 212477-7411. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-477-4380. Detective Squad: 212-477-7444. The Community Council meets on the third Tues. of the month, 6:30 p.m., at the 13th Precinct. The next meeting is Feb. 16.
—SEAN EGAN
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Q Q B B
DOB Sweep Nets Non-Compliant Sheds
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February 11 - 17, 2016
Photo by Scott Stiffler
Tekserve has seen a dramatic decrease in foot traffic since scaffolding was put up in June of last year.
Continued from page 2 Under Local Law 11, buildings above six stories must undergo periodic inspections for the conditions of the façade once every five years, meaning the sheds spring up in regular intervals. Rivera said the shed wrapping 119 W. 23rd St. was put up by the owner for precisely that reason, and has now been up for the past eight months. “We were told the reason for the scaffolding is to allow ‘repointing of the brick façade,’ which is required periodically by New York regulation,” she said. “There was no concrete timeline for how long it would be up, but they indicated ‘a few months.’ ” A DOB spokesperson said the department recently performed a sweep of all sidewalk sheds in the city and found that over 150 of them were no longer required. “Inspectors looked for safety problems and common eyesores that reduce people’s quality of life, including sheds that haven’t been painted in years or are covered with graffiti, where the lighting is out, or where there are missing boards or structural supports,” the spokesperson told Chelsea Now, adding that inspectors issued more than 600 violations. He added that DOB was currently reviewing the state legislation. It is not clear how the department — which is notoriously understaffed when
it comes to building inspectors — would ensure owners are meeting the 10-day minimum every month, or how much of a deterrent the $1,000 fine for noncompliance would be. Glick, in an interview, emphasized that the language of the bill was up to the lead sponsor, East Harlem Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez, and that the bill’s purpose was not to micromanage the DOB. “It’s really a directive to the agency not to just automatically renew these permits,” Glick said, adding that she hopes this would at least eliminate some of the longer-term scaffolds around her district and the rest of the city. “There’s a balancing act between being punitive and whether or not you can get the legislation passed,” she said. As for Quintans, he said the legislation was welcome news — although it won’t repay him for the 30 percent of customers he estimates have avoided his restaurant for the past dozen years. It will likely also come too late to remove this particular sidewalk shed, since he said the building next door has now been sold and will be spruced up to house apartments. Nevertheless, he hopes the legislation might spare other business owners from a similar fate. “This can’t happen to another small business somewhere,” Quintans said. “Somebody who’s only starting out would have had to close [in our place]. And for what? It’s just not fair.” .com
.com
February 11 - 17, 2016
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NYC Critters
Marilyn Merlot: Dogged Blonde Groomed for Greatness
Photo by Victor Rosado
Photo by Valerie Durante
There’s no business like show dog business: Marilyn Merlot’s groomer, Mackensie Murphy, preps the promising pooch for competition.
L to R: Downtown Doghouse owner Nancy Chinchar and stylist Ani Corless.
One competitor to keep an eye BY FACEBOY on is Marilyn Merlot — a hot blonde As I write this on Sun., Feb.7, America is gearing up for one the who could very well win Best in most important sporting events Show! In preparation for the comin the country: Puppy Bowl petition, Merlot will be groomed XII! Presented on the Animal Planet by stylist Mackensie Murphy, at channel, this year’s competition fea- Chelsea’s Downtown Doghouse, tures Team Ruff vs. Team Fluff, owned by Nancy Chinchar. I spoke with Chinchar to learn and we’ll all be the on the edge of our seats to see who takes home more about this multi-award-winversion 3 if the ad is on the right side of right the title of MVP (Most Valuable ning princess of a pooch and was page Puppy). If you were watching some assured that all of the attention has other game and missed it this year, not gone to her head. “You know she worry not — you can still have your knows how to perform,” Chinchar fill of adorable fluff by catching says, “but around the shop, she’s the Westminster Kennel Club Dog everybody’s buddy.” One year and nine months of age, Show at Madison Square Garden (or watch it on CNBC and USA Marilyn Merlot is a purebred (of networks on, respectively, Mon. & course) American Cocker Spaniel whose formative months belied her Tues., Feb. 15 & 16).
Marsha P. Johnson, the iconic Queen of the Village and queer liberation pioneer, was found dead 7/6/1992 in the Hudson River.
If you have any information about the case, we want to know. Please call
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February 11 - 17, 2016
future. “When she was a puppy she was extremely stubborn and I had doubts she would ever be a show dog,” Chinchar tells me, adding, “Mike and Linda Pitts [a handling team; the folks who show dogs in the arena] took her for seven months and turned her into a show dog.” In that short time, she was awarded the titles of Champion and Grand Champion, while also winning multiple group placement honors (achievements that normally take years). Merlot’s best friends are her roommates, two black Cocker Spaniels named Classy and Clooney (Merlot currently lives with Murphy, as it’s common for a show dog to live with her groomer/caretaker). Clooney can be very protective, and will bark at a stranger approaching Merlot — that is, until said stranger begins to pet him. Then, Chinchar reports, “He’s like ‘Oh yeah, never mind.’ ” Their friendship began the very first day Merlot entered the salon. “Right after Mackensie brought Marilyn in,” Chinchar recalls, “we were like, ‘Who is this blonde?’ She was very shy and curled up on the table, peeking her eyes up. Then she leaned over and started to lick Clooney. Clooney bumped noses and she felt reassured, so she began
to wag her tail and accept the attention.” Merlot also lives with Hoodie and Sawyer (Bedlington Terriers who resemble lambs), Tristan and Nick (both Poodles), and Oliver, a three-year-old human. Many animal lovers and advocates are concerned that show dogs may come from puppy mills, so rest assured that Marilyn came from the loving home of a responsible breeder. Please, dear reader: If you’re interested in raising a show dog, be certain of its origin. The ASPCA warns us on their website (aspca.org) that, “There is no legal definition of a ‘puppy mill’ so don’t be fooled by pet store owners who show you ‘papers’ or licenses to prove their dogs are from humane sources.” As I finish this article, I’m pleased to answer the question you’ve all been wondering about. This year’s Puppy Bowl MVP is 20-week-old Chow Chow/Labrador mix aptly named “Star.” Downtown Doghouse Pet Salon & Boutique’s Chelsea location is at 168 Ninth Ave. (btw. 20th & 21st Sts.). Daily hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. The Gramercy location (Tues.–Sat., 10 a.m.–6 p.m.) is at 215 E. 26th St. (btw. Second & Third Aves.). Visit downtowndoghouse.com or call 212-924-5300. .com
SPORTS
TOOT Your Own THE
‘The Empress’ of Overthrow Reigns as WBC Champ
MANHATTAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LGBTQ NET WORK PRESENTS:
HORN N E T WO R K I N G
Photos by Clayton Patterson
Alicia “The Empress” Napoleon, right, lands a right against Szilvia Szabados in their Jan. 29 title bout.
BY CLAYTON PATTERSON Number 9 Bleecker is back in full swing, albeit minus Dana Beal and the Yippies. However, Joey Goodwin, the place’s new proprietor, gets regular visits from Beal and Aron Kay (The Yippie Pie Man) when he is out of the hospital, and drop-ins by Alice Torbush when she is in town. The Yippies used to publish Overthrow newspaper out of No. 9, and Joey kept the name alive, by calling his new gym Overthrow boxing club — and the place (9 Bleecker St., btw. Bowery & Elizabeth St.) is jumping. The boxing classes keep many patrons in shape. Among those one can run into working out at the gym are Sean Avery, the former “Fighting Ranger” hockey player, the FDNY boxing club and the star of the place, Alicia “The Empress” Napoleon. Elegant and beautiful, The Empress is the head trainer and general manager at Overthrow boxing club. A hard worker and multitalented (she also sings), she has won four Golden Gloves titles, including the National Golden Gloves — and, best of all, she is now a world champion. On the night of January 29, in Queens, at the Five Star Banquet Hall, she beat the Hungarian champion Szilvia Szabados, winning the coveted and prestigious WBC championship belt in the 154-pound class, the super-welterweight title. .com
The fight was long and hard. Sweet outside the ring, but a raging tornado in the fight, The Empress won the 10-round bout by unanimous decision, and New York City now has another champion to celebrate. She is now 5-0 in her professional career. Overthrow boxing has been getting a lot of public attention. Soon there may be a reality TV show, judging by the presence of MTV and Bravo types asking a lot of questions. Find out what the buzz is about by visiting overthrownyc.com.
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Declared the winner, Alicia Napoleon proudly wears the WCB championship belt.
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13
Pier 57 Skeptics: ‘Hands Off Our Hudson’
Courtesy HRPT
Possibilities for the “still evolving” concept to develop Pier 57 into a kind of seaside bazaar, replete with fishmongers, food vendors, and fine dining establishments.
Continued from page 4
Photo by Lucas Ropek
Melvin Stevens accused HRPT of “selling out” the river’s waterfront to real estate developers.
for 250,000 square feet of the venue. Above the office areas is the roof — what Pinsky called “one of the most exciting” aspects of the project. The roof will be around 90,000 square feet, and will be used as a public park where summer events, outdoor movies, and potentially concerts will be hosted and made available to the general public, free of charge. The park will have lawns, walkways, and an elevated pavilion that will include a restaurant, concession
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February 11 - 17, 2016
stand, and survey vantage points from which to view the sea and city. It will also purportedly be used to host the Tribeca Film Festival in the coming years. Even with these grand plans, locals still expressed concerns regarding the extent to which the development would benefit the surrounding community. Miguel Acevedo, President of the Fulton Tenants Association asked whether jobs from the construction and maintenance of the new project would go to Chelsea’s low-income residents. “I support the project, but there are a lot of unemployed people living in this community,” Acevedo said, before inquiring whether developers would assist in employing residents. Greg Clancy, Vice President of Development at RXR Realty, responded to Acevedo’s comments, saying that the project’s construction would be facilitated by the city’s unions. “We will work with the community board and community groups, and we are open to this conversation,” Clancy said, in reference to the prospect of future jobs. Several board members also questioned whether the retail area would be accommodating to local rather than international business, to which Pinsky conceded that he was unsure what the ratio would be in the future. Gwen Billig, a member of CB4’s Waterfront, Parks & Environment Committee, asked the developers if the current plan included areas for nonprofits, community and youth groups, or “educational” facilities. Pinsky cited a “requirement in our lease that there be a certain amount of space devoted to cultural and educational and entertainment use,” but noted that out of the 110,000 square feet devoted to public use, “We don’t currently have space reserved for community space…what we have is a pretty tight program, and there’s a lot of public amenities already. But, again, that’s something we’re happy to have conversations about.” Concerns over noise, the height and dimensions of the pier’s façade, and traffic flow surrounding the structure, were also broached. The developers and the Trust promised that these factors would not be a problem for locals. Not everyone could be sated by these promises, however. Melvin Stevens, local resident, and easily the most vociferous opponent to the deal, let loose during the public comment section, claiming that the developments were “nuts.” Stevens accused HRPT of
“selling out” the river’s waterfront to the real estate developers, and pleaded that the board vote to deny the 97-year lease, so as to leave the river as an “object of reverence.” Stevens ended on a firm note: “Hands off our Hudson,” he said. Numerous concerns expressed at the meeting notwithstanding, CB4 Chair Delores Rubin, in a Feb. 7 phone interview, told Chelsea Now that HRPT had always been very transparent with the Board about the project, and that, for the most part, the renovations are popular with the board members. “There hasn’t been any resistance from the community board,” Rubin said. “We’re actually very pleased that this historic pier will once again be useable, and that there is a very large amount of the project that is dedicated to open, public space.” A Feb. 9 letter — addressed to HRPT President and CEO Madelyn Wils and signed by Rubin, along with members of CB4’s Transportation Planning and Waterfront, Parks & Environment committees — expressed the board’s pleasure “that HRPT is entering into a formal lease for Pier 57 so that the revitalization of this pier may now start,” but suggested the lease include “stipulations that the vast majority of the deliveries would be done overnight to minimize potential conflicts with the bikeway.” CB4 also urged HRPT to install solar voltaic collectors on the roof and deploy small wind turbines. “These types of installations,” they noted, “will save on the cost of electricity use at the pier and will also serve as educational examples to others if installed in this prominent location.” Other suggestions included the incorporation of a rainwater capture system for use in cleaning, the watering of plants, and the HVAC water supply. HRPT and the pier’s operators were also urged to “focus on hiring local residents, both for the construction phase of this project and once Pier 57 is up and running.” Further advocacy for local representation came in the form of a request that “the operators of Pier 57 give priority to artists residing or working in the Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen/Chelsea district for future art installations on this site.” The public comment period is open until Tues., Feb. 16. Send an email to Pier57comments@hrpt.ny.gov; or mail to Amy Jedlicka, Esq., Hudson River Park Trust, Pier 40, 2nd Floor, 353 West St., New York, NY, 10014. .com
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT Polished ‘Snow White’ Has No Bad Apples Company XIV’s creatures are capable of miraculous metamorphoses BY TRAV S.D. Some things never worsen, only improve. I have been following Company XIV for almost six years, and their work just seems to grow richer, more beautiful and complex. Founded in 2006 by choreographer Austin McCormick, the company uses baroque dance as a jumping off point for productions that mash up high and low culture, incorporating elements of burlesque, opera, Weimar cabaret, masque, conventional ballet, jazz and modern dance, New Romanticism, camp, and circus arts. I try to see everything they do, and have had the pleasure of experiencing “Le Cirque Feerique” or “The Fairy Circus” (2010), “The Halloween Plays” (their 2010 evening of spooky short works with Brave New World Repertory), “Eliogabolo” (their 2011 collaboration with Gotham Chamber Opera), “Rococo Rouge” (their astounding 2014 variety revue), and their annual eroticized holiday extravaganza “Nutcracker Rouge,” which I’ve managed to catch twice. I’ve seen them in their old space near the Gowanus Canal (damaged by Hurricane Sandy — good riddance!), at the sexy after-hours night club The Box, at their own short-lived venue on Lafayette St., and, more than once, at the Minetta Lane Theatre, where their present show — “Snow White” — is ensconced. Fairy tales are a staple of the Company XIV repertoire. Their “Pinocchio: A Fantasy of Pleasures” was a hit of the 2011 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and they opened their 2015 season with a critically acclaimed “Cinderella.” McCormick’s treatments of the familiar stories are not for children, however. Beautiful bodies, male and female — provocatively adorned, and sensuously choreographed — are his stock in trade. In his schema, the body itself is a work of art. His Queen (Laura Careless) although not billed as “Wicked” (as is customary in retellings of the story), is most assuredly vain, surrounded by mirrors and videocams and a corps of lackeys festooned like her in Warhol-esque blonde wigs. Her “mirror, mirror” is a video projection on the back wall, and the news it reports is increasingly bad. Into her life comes .com
Photo by Steven Trumon Gray
Each member of the provocatively adorned and sensuously choreographed cast is adept at switching teams and displaying skills
Snow White (Hilly Bodin), although we might be forgiven for mistaking her for Rose Red when we first meet her, tricked out as she is in crimson lingerie. Gender, as always, is fluid in McCormick’s creations. Here, Snow White defies traditional archetypes by being tomboyish, with the compact body of a gymnast and closely cropped hair. Whereas the Prince (Courtney Gioannone) who eventually rescues her is not just played by a fineboned female, but portrayed in a manner
that emphasizes traditional notions of femininity. Butch and Femme are flipped, and all in the cast are, on some level, both male and female. The dancers themselves seem like the characters they play — mythological creatures, capable of miraculous metamorphoses. And yet all of them have more than one superpower. In this cast are an aerialist, an opera singer, a concert pianist, a bilingual narrator (who narrates in English and German), puppeteers, and
many acrobats of one sort or another — in addition to all the beautiful dance. While it is serious and profound, it never ceases to be fun, and even occasionally gets broadly humorous, as when numbers are staged to camp chestnuts like “A Corset Can Do a Lot for a Lady,” “Chapel of Love” and “Lucky Lips,” the latter featuring the entire chorus sporting large, clownish soup-coolers. Zane Pihlstrom’s set and costume designs leave one reeling from an explosion of graphic takeaways: Satyr-like men in high heels. Fosse-style broads primping in a dressing room. Hart horns on humans. Diamonds as ball gags. A birdcage crown. On the night I attended, even a video projection effect got applause. McCormick spoke about his long history with this story and why it inspires him: “This is our third version of ‘Snow White.’ Our first production was for family audiences in Carroll Gardens in 2008. Then we did a new version in 2010. This new incarnation is obviously for adults. Our version is based primarily on that of the Brothers Grimm. Our cast member Lea Helle is a native German speaker, so she was able to help us with the original German text as source material. The original version is terrifying. It’s more gruesome and has more scary imagery than the usual children’s editions, and we’re embracing that more. In our version the Queen is Snow White’s mother, not her stepmother.” Fairy tales, says McCormick, are “perfect frames for performance. They contain classical themes and familiar elements that everyone can understand and challenge. The challenge is in taking something people associate with childhood and revamping it in a sexy environment for grownups. But we still want what kids bring to the theatre, a willingness to be transported to a world of make-believe.” The Company XIV version centers around the Queen, as portrayed by Laura Careless, who attended Juilliard with McCormack. “I saw her in a ballet there,” he recalls, “and something just clicked, and we’ve worked together ever since. She’s not just a dancer, but
Continued on page 16 February 11 - 17, 2016
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The Time is Right for ‘Before Afterward’ Choreographer Vencl doesn’t dance around what matters BY SCOTT STIFFLER Choreographer Susan Vencl has taken that well-trodden “better late than never” trope, done a graceful pivot, and arrived at the point where the later you wait, the better it gets. A Hiram College class of 1964 magna cum laude philosophy major whose life was interrupted by a decade of “seemingly intractable depression,” 37-year-old Vencl reset her downward trajectory by taking up Spanish, then modern, dance. In 1992, four years after graduating from Case Western’s MFA program, the 50-year-old hopeful followed in the footsteps of countless just-off-the-bus others by arriving in the East Village “powerfully prepared” to realize her creative ambitions, yet “terribly ignorant.” Intense study of ballet, along with the Hawkins and Limon techniques, led to the formation of Vencl Dance Trio in 1997 and, later, Susan Vencl Dance (her current troupe). Touching upon the motifs of falling and dispersal, “Long Before Afterward” celebrates her own predilections (“an appetite for jumps, turns and complex stepping patterns”) alongside the equally idiosyncratic work of others. This 50-minute piece for five dancers — the fourth evening-length work of Vencl’s career — will be performed to a suite of expressionistic pieces by Londonbased American composer Arlene Sierra, and preceded by Sierra’s “Avian Mirrors,” a short musical piece featuring violinist Jesse Mills and cellist Raman Ramakrishnan.
Photo by Jonathan Slaff
Choreographer Susan Vencl’s “Long Before Afterward” premieres Feb. 19–21, at the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance.
Thurs.–Sat., Feb. 19–21, at 8 p.m., at the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance (55 Bethune St., at the corner of Washington St.). For tickets ($20, $15 for seniors & the disabled, free for children 12 or under), visit artful.ly/vencl-dance or call 212-388-9563.
Photo by Steven Trumon Gray
L to R: Hilly Bodin as Snow White and Laura Careless as the Evil Queen.
Photo by Mark Shelby Perry
Even the video projections garner applause, in the sensory feast that is Company XIV’s “Snow White.”
Beautiful Bodies, Provocatively Adorned and Sensuously Choreographed Continued from page 15 more like an actress who’s dancing; she invests a lot of personal context into her movement. We push each other. It’s a true collaboration. She’s definitely a muse to me.” Providing “more edge than usual” for
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February 11 - 17, 2016
the title role is recent SUNY Purchase graduate and first-season Company member Hilly Bodin. “Snow White is often cast as a young ingénue,” says McCormick. “I wanted somebody with more edge than usual, a Snow White who is interested in being seduced, who is moving towards temptation. Here, she is kind of a protégé of the Queen, and the Queen loves and
admires her.” And the audience is entranced by them both! Through Mar. 12 at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane, btw. MacDougal St. & Sixth Ave.). Performances are Tues.–Sat. at 8 p.m. and Sun. at 5 p.m. For tickets ($40-$65,
premium VIP seating $75-$105), visit ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000. “$30 Under 30!” rush tickets available at the box office beginning two hours prior to curtain for patrons under the age of 30. Limit of one ticket per ID. The show contains partial nudity — 16 & over admitted only. For more info, visit CompanyXIV.com. .com
‘Lance’ Boils Over With A Desire To Entertain Chatty wannabe does his darndest, as big break eludes
Photo by Giancarlo Osaben
First star I see tonight: “Late with Lance!” has its host pining for a visit from Liza, Hugh Jackman, and the entire Miami Sound Machine contingent.
Photo by Giancarlo Osaben
Have scotch, will strip: “rogue stewardess” and burlesque maven Kitty Cockpit joins Lance on Feb. 14. .com
BY SCOTT STIFFLER Don’t think of him as a downscale entertainer just because he doesn’t make that sweet SAG-AFTRA money. “No union affiliation…YET!” reads the resume of veteran Ice Capades and children’s theater performer Lance, whose work as “Patient” you might recall from the dental training video “Ouch — That Hurts.” Unencumbered by a firm grasp on reality, this indefatigable cruise ship stage manager has high hopes for the NYC residency of “Late with Lance!” — despite unsuccessful attempts to secure guest appearances from the likes of Hugh Jackman and Liza, via stalker-level use of his Twitter account. Still, Lance has somehow managed to book a bit of Big Apple star power for this desperate attempt to secure talk show legitimacy (and the approval of his two emotionally
distant gay dads). Providing a welcome bit of counterprogramming as Super Bowl spectators occasionally cheered for what was happening on the big screens behind the bar, Downtown chanteuse Tammy Faye kindly consented to a Q&A at last weekend’s show, which took place at the theater space below Chelsea’s Triple Crown Ale House. Always a class act, even when it’s not part of the act, Faye didn’t rub Lance’s nose in the fact that she usually plays classy venues like Joe’s Pub — and indulged the thoroughly flummoxed host by reading a scene from her old role in “Co-Ed Prison Sluts” (dim bulb Lance stammered through his part, which required a zest for innuendo and foul language the poor guy just isn’t capable of mustering). On Feb. 14, 1960s era “rogue
stewardess” Kitty Cockpit (aka improv and sketch performer Kirsten O’Brien) is poised to mortify Lance with a lusty burlesque routine. “Forbidden Broadway” vet and YouTube diva impressionist Christina Bianco will make a guest appearance at Feb. 21’s final show, where her ability to channel Liza will probably whip our excitable host into a royal tizzy. “All of these local celebrities begged me to share the spotlight to talk about themselves and their upcoming projects,” claims the fellow who wears a Superman shirt but lacks the power to take a tall leap over his occasionally debilitating insecurities. Still, a good time will be had — because the man who inhabits Lance is actually in possession of the goods his talent-challenged alter ego craves. SOLOCOM festival founder and Peoples Improv Theater faculty member Peter Michael Marino garnered real-life rave reviews for a 2015 tour of “Late with Lance!” that took him to the Orlando, Hollywood, and Edinburgh Fringe festivals. Like all hapless wannabes whose flame won’t be snuffed out just because they lack the requisite skills to achieve those big dreams, there’s something inherently likable about Lance’s original song parodies (a tribute to one-name celebrities set to a “Chorus Line” tune), slavish devotion to musical theater (“The Sound of Music” performed in five minutes), and disastrous attempts to put himself on equal footing with his accomplished guests (see the abovementioned interaction with Tammy Faye). “Lance has suffered for his art,” the press release says. “Now it’s your turn!” That’s one of the few promises he’s capable of keeping — along with the handwritten note on the basement door that links an enhanced theatrical experience to the purchase of drinks at the upstairs bar. At 7 p.m. on Sundays, through Feb. 21, at Triple Crown Underground (basement space of the Triple Crown Ale House, 330 Seventh Ave., btw. 28th & 29th Sts.). Admission is paywhat-you-can. Info at lanceshow. com and petermmarino.com. Venue info at triplecrownnyc.com. February 11 - 17, 2016
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February 11 - 17, 2016
.com
Rhymes With Crazy
Valentine’s Day Memories That Won’t Tarnish BY LENORE SKENAZY There are holidays filled with joy, love, laughs and a gladdened heart. And then there’s Valentine’s Day. “I’m not sure he ever recovered,” recalls a friend I’ll call Clarissa, thinking back on the Valentine’s Day when she was engaged to the man of her dreams, who gave her a pair of heart-shaped silver earrings. Nice, right? Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong. And wrong. “When I put them on, I realized they were tarnished. I went insane!” says Clarissa. “I thought, ‘This is the end of our relationship!’ I remember going down the street, crying my eyes out and calling my friend, ‘Matt bought me these tarnished earrings (sob) and I don’t want (sob) to speak to him again!’ It was like the tarnish was a metaphor for our relationship. I remember my family talking me down, ‘He doesn’t mean it. He loves you. It was inadvertent.’ But what kind of man gives a woman a tarnished gift?” A man who’s pre-t-t-t-y worried about giving her a gift again, I’ll tell you that. Looking back now — with her 30th anniversary coming up (yes, to Tarnish Man!) — Clarissa can’t understand why she went so ballistic. But I do. Valentine’s Day is to relationships what pythons are to picnics. Another friend whose name I can’t use — do you sense a pattern here? — had been married for a few years and V-Day was upon him. “Of course, I was one of those last-minute shoppers,” he admits. “So I was on Fifth Avenue and I just popped into a Victoria’s Secret to get her something.” He pauses. “I learned a lot that day.” Lessons you males out there may wish to note: .com
• Buying a negligee for a woman is sometimes perceived, perhaps unfairly, as more of a gift for you. • Silk is an expensive material, long valued for its drape, feel, and cost. • Polyester is a cheap, manmade material that can, to some benighted (ex) boyfriend or husband, seem just like silk. • It’s not. Once my friend had learned this lesson the hard way, he never bought his wife any clothing again — not even a scarf. In fact, after that, it was mostly gift cards. “Let her handle it,” he says now, sounding a little shaken. Still married. But shaken. And then there was the “funny” Valentine’s Day that entrepreneur and corporate keynote speaker Peter Shankman arranged for his date. They’d been going out for five months — “Long enough for her to know my sense of humor.” Or so he thought. “Did you know that on Valentine’s Day, White Castle takes reservations and puts out waiter service, placemats, candy hearts, etc.?” He told the girlfriend to dress up: “We’re going to someplace romantic.” They drove to Queens. They pulled into White Castle. The girlfriend assumed they just needed a place to park. But — surprise! During dinner, she cried. They broke up a week later. He has since married someone more fun. Of course, sometimes the gift a guy gives is actually quite perfect. That doesn’t mean all goes as planned. “One year, I happened to get three bouquets delivered at work,” recalls Manhattan author
and poet Elinor Nauen. “Bouquet No. 1 came from Johnny, my new boyfriend at the time. Bouquet No. 2 was from a guy who worked there and had a hopeless crush on me.” The third bouquet was a thank-you from a writer whose story she’d published. The gift just happened to arrive on Feb. 14. “I kept getting interrupted to go to the front desk for yet another delivery, and the small muttering that came at the second bouquet got pretty loud by the third,” says Nauen. And what were those co-workers’ mutters? “Everyone seemed to think I’d sent them all to myself!” So a day to revel in popularity became a day to realize: All my co-workers think I’m a neutered, friendless, narcissist. Gee, thanks! Luckily, she is still with Johnny — he of Bouquet No. 1 — decades later. And the fact that he has never given her flowers since is something they’re both okay with. Maybe the key is to simply sleep through the 14th. Or do what my husband did in the early, giddy days of our relationship: Buy your beloved a pound of bologna. Not as a metaphor. Just as a guilty pleasure that isn’t made out of polyester and can’t tarnish. What’s more, it is unlikely your sweetheart will get three pounds on the same day. Lenore Skenazy is a keynote speaker who authored the book, and founded the blog, FreeRange Kids (freerangekids.com). February 11 - 17, 2016
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