The local paper for the Upper West Side
Camp Guide
2020
FAIRWAY’S FUTURE LOOKS A LITTLE BRIGHTER
BUSINESS
ShopRite owners plan to buy five Manhattan locations as company files Chapter 11 BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
Neighbors rallied in support of the doomed bookstore on January 9. Photo: Ema Schumer
THE BELL TOLLS FOR BOOK CULTURE NEIGHBORHOOD
The owner announces that the iconic Columbus Ave. bookstore will not reopen BY JASON COHEN
After having a city marshal’s lock placed on the door of its 450 Columbus Ave. location two weeks ago, Book Culture announced on Jan. 21 that the popular neighborhood bookstore will remain closed. The iconic store owed more than $100,000 in back rent. Owner Chris Doeblin said
Last week was a rocky one for the Fairway faithful. After rumors circulated that the beloved New York grocer could shut its doors forever, a report from the New York Post seemed to confirm customers’ worst fear: Fairway Market would be
closing and liquidating all of its stores. But that report was quickly disputed by Fairway, which put out a statement that it has no plans to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy and close all of its stores. The reality of Fairway’s fate was revealed Thursday when the market filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced it would sell its five Manhattan locations — the Upper West Side flagship, Upper East Side, Harlem, Chelsea and Kips Bay — and its distribu-
tion center for approximately $70 million to Village Super Market, Inc., the parent company of ShopRite. “After careful consideration of all alternatives, we have concluded that a Courtsupervised sale process is the best way to meet our objectives of preserving as many jobs as possible, maximizing value for our stakeholders, and positioning Fairway for long term success under new ownership,” said Abel Porter,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 31
it’s never easy to lose a business, but he is a glass-halffull kind of guy. “I chose optimism,” he said. “I’ve got a very difficult path with this business and just being a person is not easy. I pull on the coat that says persistence and try and go do my best.” On Facebook, Doeblin said he was hoping to enter into an agreement that would have allowed the store to quickly reopen under new management, but those plans fell through.
WESTSIDE SPIRIT.COM @WestSideSpirit
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INSIDE
BYE BYE BYFORD NYC’s subway chief departs unexpectedly after tensions with Cuomo. p. 2
ALL ABOUT HYPERTENSION
ROM, BUT NOT SO COM ANYMORE What it's like to watch "Working Girl" in the #MeToo era. p. 5
DIVERSITY IN COMIC BOOKS
A festival celebrating black creators, artists and publishers draws thousands of fans. p. 32
“This is the saddest and
WestSideSpirit W
JANUARY
The “silent killer” is an all-too common condition, but it can be managed. What you need to know about diagnosis, treatments and risk factors. p. 6
Financial Pressures CONTINUED ON PAGE 34
WEEK OF WEEK OF JAN-FEB
Customers were relieved that the Upper West Side Fairway would remain open. Photo: Emily Higginbotham
Crime Watch Voices NYC Now City Arts
3 5 8 10
Restaurant Ratings 31 Business 32 Real Estate 33 15 Minutes 35
WEEK OF AUGUST
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THE GOAT VOTE And the winner is...
chair of the City Ydanis Rodriguez, committee, Council’s transportation street s afety on speaks at a rally for steps of City Hall legislation on the McCarten/NYC May 8. Photo: John Council
IS VISION ZERO WORKING? SAFETY
has seen a surge Five years in, NYC and uctuating in cyclist deaths – and motorist numbers of pedestrian fatalities BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
year that saw 299 In 2014, after a traffic-related incipeople killed in Mayor Bill de Bladents in the city, eliminate all traffic sio set out to
CONTINUED ON PAGE
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p. 2
A HAPPY AUGUST TRADITION store” “Pop-up department an NYPD judge recommend at City Hall after Photography Office holds a press conference Appleton/Mayoral Mayor Bill de Blasio 2019. Photo: Michael Friday, August 2,
firing Officer Daniel
Pantaleo on
THE BILLY AND GILLY SHOW
A free ready for helps families get school. p. 5
WOODSTOCK SOJOURN
day of peace, Kamala HarJon Friedman on a 8 Warren, Cory Booker, and Bernie love and music. p. debates,” longris, Amy Klobuchar for the September Pete strategist George Sanders, South Bend Mayor time Democratic doesn’t have former Texas Rep. Artz says. “De Blasioare way down Buttigieg and both Beto O’Rourke. the donors, and close, but none of A few others are in the polls.” Hank Sheinde Blasio or GilliPolitical consultant that either them are named kopf says it’s “50-50” “Any- brand. returned reBY STUART MARQUES will make the next round: Neither campaign but they’re not quests for comment. thing can happen, agree that Warde Blasio faced to qualify.” Pundits generally When Mayor Bill held off the more Gillibrand – likely a minimum of SURVIVNG YOUR Candidates need to ren and Sanderson the first night. off with Sen. Kirsten Democratic presi- 130,000 unique donors and have SUMMER COLD moderate field and eight other seasonal in four qualigot high marks on – on July 31, it How to deal with thefeel worse Booker and Yang at least 2 percent and dential hopefuls the last Billy hit candidates have the second night, but Biden virus that makes usp. 2 a might have marked presidential fying polls. Eight polls. the assured in and are still ahead at the than a winter bug. hit those marks 12 Harris are and Gilly Show largely igin Houston on Sept. De Blasio and Gillibrand debates. ei- spot onstage Presiawful tough for are former Vice 7 “It’s going to be and and 13. They Senators Elizabeth CONTINUED ON PAGE get the donors dent Joe Biden, ther of them to needed to qualify polling numbers”
POLITICS
dim for Presidential prospects Democratic New Yorkers on the debate stage
Crime Watch Voices
3 8
14 Restaurant Ratings 16 Business 17 R l Estate
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BYE-BYE BYFORD TRANSPORTATION
NYC’s subway chief departs unexpectedly after tensions with Cuomo BY DEEPTI HAJELA, ASSOCIATED PRESS
The president of New York City’s subways announced his resignation on Thursday, two years after being brought in to help turn around the beleagured system. No reason was given for the unexpected departure of Andy Byford, a British executive with experience in transit systems all over the world. But there had also been tensions, notably with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who largely controls the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the agency that includes the subways that Byford oversaw. In a statement on his resignation, Byford said he was “very proud’’ of what had been accomplished during his tenure.
“This is a real loss for New York City’s subway and bus riders.” - Mayor Bill de Blasio Speaking briefly at a board meeting Thursday after his resignation became public, Byford thanked Cuomo for giving him the opportunity and gave him credit for the efforts he and the Legislature made in securing capital funds for system improvements. He thanked New Yorkers “for bearing with me, putting up with me, giving me this wonderful opportunity to live in this amazing place. This really is the absolute pinnacle of any transit professional’s career. ... It’s been my honor and privilege to serve New Yorkers.” Patrick Foye, chairman and CEO of the MTA, said in a statement that Byford “was instrumental in moving
New York City Transit President Andy Byford unveiled “Fast Forward,“ a proposal to modernize the city’s subway and bus systems, in May 2018. Photo: Marc A. Hermann /MTA New York City Transit
the system forward.`` There was no immediate comment from Cuomo on the resignation. Byford, who came to New York City from running the trains in Toronto and has also worked in Sydney and London, arrived to a system beset by delays and breakdowns. He has been credited with helping push through improvements that have
improved how well the trains run. The news of the resignation caused an outcry from city politicians and others lamenting his departure. Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted, “This is a real loss for New York City’s subway and bus riders. The MTA needs people like Andy Byford - now more than ever.” John Raskin, executive director of
the public transit advocacy group Riders Alliance, said, “Subway and bus riders are grateful to Andy Byford for his historic service at New York City Transit. In two years, Andy made subways faster and more reliable, he tackled longstanding challenges to improving bus service, and he crafted the first plan in a generation that would truly modernize the transit system.’’
Sign up for low or no-cost health insurance today! The annual Open Enrollment Period is from November 1, 2019 – January 31, 2020. GetCoveredNYC is the City of New York’s official health insurance outreach and enrollment program. Get free in-person assistance in your language to help you find and sign up for the coverage that’s right for you!
Call 311 Text CoveredNYC to 877877 Visit nyc.gov/GetCoveredNYC
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JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020
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CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG MUGGING ARREST
STATS FOR THE WEEK
Police said that at on Monday afternoon, Jan. 13, a 16-year-old male entered the subway at West 86th St. and Central Park West when a man approached him on the stairs and tugged at his backpack and jacket from behind. When the victim turned around, police said, the suspect displayed a knife and said, “Give me all your stuff!â€? According to the police report, the two struggled briey and the man punched the teen in the back of his head, causing swelling and pain. The man then took the teen’s property and ed, police said. The victim later told police that the suspect was accompanied by two other men. The victim was taken to Cornell Hospital. Michael Lopez, 26, was arrested on Jan. 17 in connection with the incident and charged with felony assault and other offenses.
Reported crimes from the 20th precinct for the week ending Jan 19
SHOPLIFTING, STAB THREAT ARREST Police reported that at 4:05 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, a man entered the CVS store at 540 Amsterdam Ave. near West 87th St., removed items from a refrigerator case and put them in a large black suitcase. Police said a male employee approached the suspect, who pulled
Week to Date
Year to Date
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2018 % Change
2019
2018 % Change
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1 0
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3 2
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Grand Larceny
1 11
1 14
0.0 -21.4
5 34
4 25
25.0 36.0
Grand Larceny Auto
0
0
n/a
0
0
Murder Rape Robbery Felony Assault Burglary
Photo by Tony Webster, via Flickr
a syringe from his jacket pocket, said he had AIDS and threatened to jab the employee with the needle. The suspect then ed the store on foot without paying, police said. The items stolen included a number of Naked drinks totaling $100. Gregory Nigro,34, was arrested on Jan. 18 in connection with the incident and charged with robbery, burglary, criminal trespass and more.
KNIFE-WIELDING SHOPLIFTER At 5:35 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19,
police said, a man entered the Duane Reade store at 609 Columbus Ave. at West 90th St. and put store merchandise inside his jacket. According to police, when an employee said “Can I help you?� the suspect pulled out a chef’s knife with a black handle and silver blade and started swinging it around, saying, “Get away from me!� The suspect then exited the store with the merchandise, heading north on Columbus Ave. The employee was not injured. Police searched the neighborhood but did not locate the suspect. The items stolen included
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WOMAN SOUGHT IN STABBING Police said that at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19, a 32-year-old man was having a verbal dispute with his girlfriend inside 133 West 98th St. when she allegedly stabbed him with an unknown sharp object. The victim SERVING BROOKLYN AND THE ENTIRE TRI-STATE AREA
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sustained a stab wound on his left shoulder blade, police said, and walked to the Mount Sinai urgent care facility at 633 Columbus Ave. before being transported to Saint Luke’s Hospital for further treatment. Police said the victim provided information to help them locate his alleged assailant and told them the woman was not under the inuence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident.
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Drawing Board
Useful Contacts
BY MARC BILGREY
NYPD 20th Precinct
120 W. 82nd St.
NYPD 24th Precinct
151 W. 100th St.
212-580-6411 212-678-1811
NYPD Midtown North Precinct
306 W. 54th St.
212-767-8400
FDNY Engine 76/Ladder 22
145 W. 100th St.
311
FDNY Engine 40/Ladder 35
W.66th &Amsterdam
311
FDNY Engine 74
120 W. 83rd St.
311
Ladder 25 Fire House
205 W. 77th St.
311
FIRE
CITY COUNCIL City Council Councilmember Helen Rosenthal 563 Columbus Ave.
212-873-0282
Councilmember Mark Levine
212-928-6814
500 West 141st St.
STATE LEGISLATORS State Senator Brad Hoylman
322 Eighth Ave. #1700
212-633-8052
State Sen. Jose M. Serrano
1916 Park Ave. #202
212-828-5829
Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal
230 W. 72nd St. #2F
212-873-6368
Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell 245 W. 104th St.
212-866-3970
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INTERVENE! AND PROTEST! BY BETTE DEWING
First, thanks to concerned citizen and column reader Susan Siskind for her addition and correction to my previous column “The Troubling Bail Reform Law.” It’s about the victim of the unreformed bail law often used as a moving example for its recent controversial reform. Eighteen-year-old Kalief Browder committed suicide in 2015, not in his jail cell, as my column mistakenly said, but in his home. This tragic act was reportedly due to his three-year jail ordeal for allegedly stealing a back pack while on probation. That is appalling, and so are the details Siskind shared about Browder’s early home life – a family reportedly torn by drug addiction and neglect. Such stories so desperately need to get out there so infinitely more is done to overcome whatever causes such heart- and spirit-breaking conditions. The verb “overcome” of course reminds us of Martin Luther King Jr., and his birthday just passed. And surely such terrible, or any such neglect and abuse, so need to be overcome. Ah, and King being a reverend reminds us of faith group involvement. And infinitely more must be said about the 12-step groups, which often meet on their premises. The real life before-and-after stories heard at 12-step meetings so need to be widely heard, where so much regrettable and worse behavior never occurs sober. Intervention is still too seldom used. And it’s just not true that “users” must want to get treatment before they can get help. Intervention does work, and thanks to former first lady Betty Ford and her family for making this ultimate saving measure so
widely known. If ever a first lady’s contribution as told in a book should stay out there it’s Ford’s autobiography “A Glad Awakening.” For information for 12 step groups and other programs, call 866-554-7472, a national substance abuse help line. groups call.
Cause for Alarm As for the new bill reform bail law, all out attention must be paid to the dark side, where some who qualify will become repeat offenders. This quote from a Jan. 25 Daily News story, “Bail Reform Stirs Crime Surge: Shea.” (Shea is the new NYPD commissioner, of course.) is cause for alarm: “The rise in crime in the first few weeks of 2020 is directly tied to the bail reform law that took away judges’ discretion to lock up potentially violent offenders.” Attention must be paid, and in the paper of record. And of course, register your concern, with local city officials. (See this paper’s Useful Contact column.) And yes, get involved with your police precinct community council The 19th precinct community relations officers can be reached at 212 452 0613. Call 311 for more information.
Safe walking conditions a must! And of course, it’s not only about violent crime, but whatever makes our community life less safe. And that, my friends, surely means safe walking conditions – strict enforcement of the laws that provide it, especially for electric bikes and scooters. Why did the governor okay this without first demanding license plates and riding tests for these fast-moving machines. And of course, enforcement, enforcement enforcement!
5
Voices
ROM, BUT NOT SO COM ANYMORE ON THE TOWN
o his sofa, he undresses her on a puts her in his bed. (Conand se was not “a thing” back sent th then.) Tess wakes up beside him an and takes his word that nothing ha happened. Buckle up: she finds no none of this alarming or a deterren rent to doing business with him. ■ During a firm cocktail party, Kat Katharine takes it in stride when pro propositioned by a handsy male cou counterpart. “Today’s junior (explet pletive) is tomorrow’s senior par partner.” Putting up with sexual inn innuendos and inappropriate tou touching were tolerated as just par part of doing business.
BY LORRAINE DUFFY MERKL
“Working Girl” doesn’t work as a lighthearted rom-com anymore. In 1988, the Oscar and Golden Globe winner was an inspiration to many young women, myself among them, because ambitious, outer borough secretary, Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith), leaned in to make it in Manhattan. Now, viewed through the lens of Times Up, I wished my 22-yearold daughter Meg was home on our last snowy Saturday when it aired for a teachable moment. The 9-to-5 of Tess isn’t just a different LinkedIn-free world, but another planet, where “having a head for business and a bod for sin” is her elevator pitch. It’s a #MeToo time bomb, with almost every scene the basis for a phone call to HR, SVU or high-priced attorneys. The movie demonstrates what an embarrassment corporate culture looked like when I was coming up the ranks, and why people like R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein were able to get away with scurrilous treatment of women for so long.
Who’s running this place?
■ “You don’t get ahead in this world by calling your boss a pimp,” chastises Petty-Marsh Hiring Manager, Olympia Dukakis. She blames the victim unapologetically, instead of writing up the two suspender-wearing stockbrokers who set up Tess on a date with sleazebag Bob in Arbitrage, under the guise that she’s going on an interview for a high-profile assistant job. The men’s behavior isn’t even called into question. The problem: Tess’s reaction, and that she took offense at all. ■ Tess is transferred and her new boss, Katharine Parker (Sigour-
Photo via Amazon.com
ney Weaver), is the lone double X chromosome C-Suite executive. One woman at the boardroom table was considered striking a blow for equality. ■ After pulling an all-nighter over at Dewey-Stone, Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford) defies propriety by confusing his glasswalled office with a locker room and changes his shirt, oblivious to whether his naked torso might make female co-workers uncomfortable. They treat his disrespect with humor because “boys will be boys.”
Where’s Olivia Benson when you need her?
■ Let’s unpack the Bob in Arbitrage incident. The meeting about the non-existent position is in a limo replete with champagne, cocaine and porn. Their final destination: a hotel suite. Reporting a “master of the universe” type would have been futile. The closest thing to justice is Tess making it out of the car unassaulted. ■ Tess blacks out at a work event after washing down Valium (provided by her friend Cynthia to help her “chill ever so slightly,”) with tequila, courtesy of Jack. He takes her to his apartment, but rather than letting Tess sleep it off
Let the litigation begin.
■ The faux interview episode, today, could reap for Tess quite the chunk of change from PettyMarsh as well as Bob. ■ Katharine would sue for her job back, claiming if she were a man who appropriated someone else’s client-winning idea, he’d be considered a go-getter. ■ Because transparency has replaced subterfuge, a job offer for Tess from Orin Trask would not be forthcoming. Instead, he’d bring a suit against her, as well as Trainer, Petty-Marsh and DeweyStone for false representation. Unfortunately, sexual harassment and other inappropriate workplace conduct are not as dated as this movie, but woman and men subjected to them are speaking up and companies are taking claims seriously. Another reason I’d like Meg to stream “Working Girl” is to understand that when you stand up for yourself, not everyone will be supportive, a la the reaction from Tess’s ex, Mick (Alec Baldwin): “Who died and made you Grace Kelly?” She left him on Staten Island. Lorraine Duffy Merkl is the author of the workplace novel “Back to Work She Goes.”
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ALL ABOUT HYPERTENSION HEALTH
The “silent killer” is an alltoo common condition, but it can be managed. What you need to know about diagnosis, treatments and risk factors. BY TONIA KIM, M.D.
If you have high blood pres-
sure, also known as hypertension, would you even know it? It is estimated that 1.13 billion people in the world have hypertension. In New York state alone, 31.7 percent of adults — 4.9 million people — have the condition. One in four men and one in five women have high blood pressure, and some of them don’t know it because there can be no symptoms. There is a reason it is called a
“silent killer.” Hypertension is a leading cause of heart disease, and stroke, which combined kill more New Yorkers than any other disease. But there is hope and there are things you can do to ensure good health.
What is hypertension? Blood pressure is the force of blood exerted against the walls of arteries as the heart pumps
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Photo: agilemktg1 via Flickr blood throughout your body. There are two numbers in blood pressure readings. The top number is called systolic blood pressure, the bottom number is called diastolic blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg or lower. If the top blood pressure number is between 120 and 130 mm Hg, and the bottom blood pressure number might be less than 80 mm Hg, it is considered elevated blood pressure. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is when blood pressure readings are averaging higher than 130/80 mm Hg. If your blood pressure is between 130/80 and 140/90 mm Hg, you have Stage 1 high blood pressure. If it's higher than 140/90 mm Hg, you have Stage 2 high blood pressure. The higher your blood pressure, the more damage it can do. In addition to heart disease and stroke, it can also lead to kidney disease, and sometimes these can be life-threatening. But controlling hypertension will help minimize the risk or even prevent these diseases.
Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors Because there are usually no symptoms at first, people can develop heart disease and kidney problems without knowing they have high blood pressure. Although most people with high blood pressure do not have any symptoms, severely high blood pressure can lead to headache, vision changes, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
The vast majority of people have primary hypertension, also called essential hypertension. The exact cause of is still not clear, even with cuttingedge scientific research that is going on now. Age can affect blood pressure because your blood vessels become stiffer as you age, which makes blood pressure rise. Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure caused by another medical condition such as sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease, heart or vascular conditions, or hormonal conditions such as thyroid disease. In addition, some cold or headache medicines, corticosteroids, some antidepression medications, and certain cancer treatments can cause high blood pressure. In general, you have a higher risk of getting hypertension if you are: ■ Overweight or obese. ■ Diabetic ■ Over-stressed or anxious ■ Have a family history of high blood pressure ■ A smoker Drinking too much alcohol and eating too much salt also increase your risk.
Diagnosis and Treatments Diagnosing high blood pressure early is crucial to prevent heart disease, stroke, vision problems, and chronic kidney disease. Because blood pressure can fluctuate throughout the day, it will be measures several times before a diagnosis is made. Your doctor will also do
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@LighthouseGuild @LighthouseGld @LighthouseGuild
The Experience to Give You Exceptional Results. Est. 1997. Serving clients throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester County, and Long Island
212.877.7319 | WWW.PAMELAGWESTESQ.COM
a physical exam to look for signs of heart disease, damage to the eyes, and other changes in your body. Blood and urine tests may be done to check cholesterol levels, kidney function and to see if there is protein in the urine, which can occur with hypertension. In some cases, an electrocardiogram or EKG will be done to check the heart. High blood pressure can be lowered with lifestyle changes. It is important to: ■ Eat a heart-healthy diet or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which focuses on fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and less sodium or salt. ■ Exercise. ■ Quit smoking. ■ Drink less alcohol. ■ Reduce stress. ■ Lose weight if overweight. ■ Remain properly hydrated. ■ Sometimes, medication, in conjunction with lifestyle changes, is necessary to lower high blood pressure. Blood pressure medications include: ■ Diuretics to help eliminate extra sodium and water. ■ Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium-channel blockers, and vasodilators, which help to relax blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure. ■ Beta-blockers to lower the heart rate and output of blood, which in turn lowers blood pressure. Your doctor will work with you to find the most effective medication regimen. It can take time to determine the best medications in combination with lifestyle changes to control your blood pressure. But it is possible and well worth the time and effort to ensure your best health.
The Bottom line Hypertension is a serious disease, but it can be controlled, and risk of damage to the body from hypertension can be minimized or even prevented. Every adult should know what his or her blood pressure is. Blood pressure readings are easy to do and can even be taken at home with a blood pressure monitor. If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, please make sure to take your medication as prescribed, watch what you eat, and see your doctor. Tonia Kim, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Medicine (Nephrology) for the Mount Sinai Health System
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SEE THEM HAPPY. IN A NEW WAY. OCEANA MEMORY CARE — ONLY AT INSPĪR If a loved one is dealing with memory loss, you may think happiness is behind you. But we can help you see things differently. Oceana Memory Care is an exclusive program at Inspīr. We crafted an environment of vibrant, intentional living and opportunities for your loved ones to make meaningful connections. With every detail designed to provide whole-person wellness. See memory care in a new way at inspirseniorliving.com/newway
1802 Second Avenue | New York, NY 10128 | LEASING GALLERY: 1450 Lexington Avenue | New York, NY 10128 | 646.978.9040
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NEIGHBORHOOD’S BEST To place an ad in this directory, Call Douglas at 212-868-0190 ext. 352.
CAMPS
NYCNOW
EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES FOR YOUR ONE-OF-A-KIND KID!
Discover the world around the corner. Find community events, gallery openings, book launches and much more: Go to nycnow.com
ART
MON-SAT 10:30AM-6PM | SUN 12PM-6PM
www.youngurbanadventures.com
212.355.4400
Young Urban Adventures is the original summer camp and travel concierge, curating extraordinary encounters for a week, a month or the entire summer in New York City and around the world - personalized so each experience is distinctive, offbeat and unforgettable. Young Urban Adventures curates world-wide meaningful and marvelous vacation interactions for your youngsters during holiday excursions.
HOME CARE
LOCKSMITH
www.the-maac.com
Come visit the nation’s largest art & antiques center featuring 100 galleries and over 40 categories. Enjoy time on our 3 floors of antiques, fine art, and every category in-between Buy or sell, we welcome your visit 7 days a week.
1050 2nd Ave. bt. 55th & 56th Sts.
Residential / Commercial Locksmith Service
Baldwin, Mul-T-Lock, Medeco, Schlage, Marks USA, Master Lock & More
& Full Service Hardware Store
(877) 212-4222
toll-free
CUSTOMIZED CARE DEMENTIA TRAINING FOR THE AIDES SOCIAL WORK SERVICES INCLUDED Visit cohme.org or email referrals@cohme.org
Sat 1 DAVID DARWIN, THE ONE MAN SIDE-SHOW 11:00 a.m. $14-17 symphonyspace.org
212-288-7773 / www.locks.nyc
Call 24/7 for a free consultation!
EDITOR’S PICK
Symphony Space 2537 Broadway
PERSONALIZED HOME CARE
34 Years Experience
Calendar
212-864-5400 Be prepared to laugh yourself out of your seat as David Darwin juggles, dances, spins, contorts and sings (with both legs behind his head!) in amazing acts that earned him an appearance on NBC's America's Got Talent. Photo: onemansideshow.com
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Inclusive Children’s Theatre Classes • No Audition Required. • Saturday Classes (7 East 96th St.) Call/text: 646-508-3620
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RELIGIOUS Mass Times Saturday:
Mon-Fri:
7:30AM 12:10PM 5:30PM Sunday 8:30AM Family Mass 10:00AM Spanish 11:15AM Choir 12:30PM 5:30PM 7:30AM, 12:10PM, 5:30PM
SPANISH MASS: EVERY OTHER WED. AT 7:00PM
CHURCH OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT 152 West 71st Street New York, NY 10023 212-877-3111 • blessedsacramentnyc.org
KARPOFF AFFILIATES is your single stop for senior life transitions and real estate brokerage needs. Compassionate Senior Move Manager & Expert Real Estate Broker
Chickenshed nyc.org
Marilyn Karpoff www.KarpoffAffiliates.com mkarpoff@karpoffaffiliates.com 212.358.8044 290 Third Avenue, Ste 26C, NYC 10010
FUNERAL PLANNING A modern Funeral Experience simple cremation - burials life celebrations clean and transparent pricing free exploratory phone call www.dtefunerals.com 347-729-0417 917-826-7010
Thu 30
Fri 31
Sat 1
MEDKNITATION
LINE DANCE FOR FUN AND FITNESS
NOW SPINNING: CAROLE KING’S TAPESTRY
Knitty City 208 West 79th St 6:30 p.m. $10 MedKnitation turns your knitting or crochet into a form of meditation that reduces stress, helps to focus your mind, and lowers blood pressure. knittycitynyc.com 212-787-5896
Jackie Robinson Park 85 Bradhurst Ave 7:00 p.m. Free An evening of line dancing where you’ll learn various dances such as the Wobble, Cupid Shuffle, and Electric Slide. Work at your own pace and have fun! This dance is low impact and no prior experience is needed. nycgovparks.org 212-234-9607
West End Lounge 955 West End Ave 7:00 p.m. $25 Spend an evening singing along to some of your favorite Carole King favorites! Now Spinning is a full album concert series performing iconic albums from start to finish with a live band featuring some of the city’s greatest musicians and singers. thewestendlounge.com 212-531-4759
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CREDIT
Women entrepreneurs: establish an easy-toaccess business line of credit up to $100K Eligible applicants must have been in business for a minimum of one year and have at least $50,000 in
Sun 2
Mon 3
Tue 4
▲VIETNAMESE LUNAR NEW YEAR WITH VHC
FILM: THE TRAITOR (2019)
EAT DESIGN: MAKING MEANING THROUGH MATERIAL CULTURE
New-York Historical Society 170 Central Park West 1:00 p.m. $10-15 Celebrate the 2020 Lunar New Year with the Vietnam Heritage Center. Tickets are discounted if purchased through the VHC website and grant access to the entire museum. vietnamheritagecenter.org 707-418-8438
Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center 144 West 65th St 12:30 - 9:20 p.m. $12-15 Italian auteur Marco Bellocchio directs this decades-spanning true-life narrative of Tommaso Buscetta, the mafia boss turned informant who helped take down a large swath of organized crime leaders in Sicily in the eighties. filmlinc.org 212-875-5232
Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew 263 West 86th St 6:30 p.m. $10-40 What does it mean to eat? Sonja Stummerer and Martin Hablesreiter investigate the historical and social background of our eating behavior and the way the design of dishes, cutlery, and dining furniture not only reflects societal norms but also determines them. eventbrite.com 212-362-3179
annual revenue.
Call 311 or visit we.nyc/we-fund-credit
TM
ACTIVITIES FOR THE FERTILE MIND
thoughtgallery.org NEW YORK CITY
Wed 5 ◄BOOK TALK WITH AUTHOR ERIC K. WASHINGTON: BOSS OF THE GRIPS Arsenal in Central Park 830 Fifth Ave 6:00 p.m. Free An illustrated talk about the nearly forgotten life of James H. Williams, the former African-American chief of Grand Central Terminal’s iconic Red Caps -- the baggage porters who once formed the essential labor force of America’s most august railroad station. nycgovparks.org 212-360-8114
Stoic School of Life | Stoa Nova: Prosoche or Not Prosoche? On Stoic Mindfulness
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, 6PM N-Y Historical Society | 170 Central Park West | 212-873-3400 | nyhistory.org Philosophy professor Massimo Pigliucci looks at the Stoic practice of attention. He’ll raise questions like, do the Stoics use mindfulness? and is it similar to the Buddhist tradition? ($5).
Preet Bharara: Doing Justice
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH, 7:30PM Symphony Space | 2537 Broadway | 212-864-1414 | symphonyspace.org Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York until he was fired by Trump, presents the paperback launch of his New York Times-bestselling book, Doing Justice: A Prosecutor’s Thoughts on Crime, Punishment, and the Rule of Law ($26, $35 with book).
Clips & Conversation | Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jim Rash: Downhill
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH, 8PM 92nd Street Y | 1395 Lexington Ave. | 212-415-5500 | 92y.org Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns to the Y with Oscar-winning director Jim Rash for a look at her new film, Downhill. Louis-Dreyfus stars opposite Will Ferrell in a story of a married couple’s narrow escape from an avalanche and the ensuing reevaluation of their lives together ($40).
For more information about lectures, readings and other intellectually stimulating events throughout NYC,
sign up for the weekly Thought Gallery newsletter at thoughtgallery.org.
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GOLDEN GADGETS AND AN AGE OF REASON EXHIBITS
IF YOU GO
The Met offers a dazzling show that opens windows on different times, thoughts and cultures
WHAT: Making Marvels: Science and Splendor at the Courts of Europe WHERE: The Met, 1000 Fifth Avenue Gallery 999, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Exhibition Hall WHEN: Through March 1
BY MARY GREGORY
The gee-whiz factor is off the charts at the Met’s “Making Marvels: Science & Splendor at the Courts of Europe.” A fifty-three pound solid silver fountain and basin used for chilling glasses, a 41-carat green diamond, and a selection of automatons that walk, play music and even pick up a pen and draw are decidedly jaw-dropping. But are opulence and gadgetry enough for a show at the world’s greatest museum? You can see plenty of both in store windows all over Manhattan. What turns this collection of gem-encrusted curiosities into an exhibition is the story they tell.
Art is a form of communication. The one who commissions it often determines the message. These royal knick-knacks belonged to the kings and queens, dukes and duchesses of Europe from about 1550 to 1750. They were flaunted at fancy dinners and filled Kunstkammers, or cabinets of curiosities – a popular way to display, protect and enjoy rarities like fossils or ostrich eggs – at the same time as they announced their owner’s erudition.
Encyclopedic Collections The message of these wonders of workmanship is expressed by exhibition curator, Wolfram Koeppe, in the wall text. “Scientific and artisanal knowledge was equated with the practical wisdom, self-mastery, and moral virtue required of a successful leader. Rulers proclaimed their divine right to govern by assembling encyclopedic collections that d e m o n strated an understanding of nature’s secrets.” Met director Max Hol-
This Astronomical Clock with Orpheus Frieze on loan from The Adler Planetarium in Chicago incorporates a clock and an astrolabe, so not only does it tell the hour, but also the age, phase, and aspects of the moon in its monthly cycle.
lein noted, “The masterpieces in this exhibition, many of them precursors for some of today’s most innovative technological devices — are remarkable for their astonishing capabilities.” But there’s a wider story that these objects hint at – as wide as the oceans. They focus on discoveries, inventions and engineering, from the years just after Columbus’ voyage through the dawn of The Enlightenment. Travel and trade beyond Europe brought discoveries and new understanding, and the Age of Reason blossomed with advancements in science, mathematics, engineering, discourse and philosophy. Never-before-seen shells, like those of the nautilus and coconut from distant shores, were marveled over and mounted in glittering gold stands. It was an era that celebrated curiosity and exploration, led by people like Galileo Galilei, Nicolaus Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton and Francis Bacon, who is quoted in the exhibition. The support and patronage of the wealthy and the demand for the newest, most fantastic devices and rarities led to an unprecedented surge of collection, study and invention. These objects reflect that zeitgeist.
Fascinating Curios...and Automatons One of the most visually spectacular is a Goa Stone and case from India. With three layers of gold work, encompassing carving, repoussé, and casting, it’s covered in tiny animals, flowers, and decoration. Within is a spherical stone made of ground bits of bezoar (animal gallstones) gems, clay, shells, amber, musk, resin, and even narwhal tusk; the combination was believed to be an antidote for poison. It’s a beautiful, fascinating curio that opens windows on different times, thoughts and cultures, as does the exhibition as a whole. Save time for the final gallery, where machines come alive. Or try to. Automatons ranging from walking dolls, to scurrying spiders, to a portly Bacchus that raises his glass, rolls his eyes and sticks out his tongue, to an automated chess player, are astonishing, even today. Mechanical paintings with changing
JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020
“The Draughtsman-Writer” made by Henry Maillardet, ca. 1800, captivated audiences for more than 200 years before it inspired Martin Scorsese’s awardwinning film “Hugo.” Photos: Adel Gorgy the machine age, automation, mass pictures may have been the first communication and even artificial movies. Many of the machines are intelligence. shown activated, in videos. The most astounding is the final work in the show, “The Draughtsman-Writer.” An incredibly complex set of gears drives the hand of a metal figure. It picks up a pen, puts it to paper and writes poems (two in French and one in English) and even draws sketches. Made in 1800, it revealed what might be its final secret during a 20th century restoration which activated the machine to sign its maker’s name, “the automaton of Maillardet.” During the Age of Reason, science was embraced, and the wealthiest spent lavishly to have the newest, best, most amazing gadget. Engineers, inventors, builders, and artists pushed boundaries as they jockeyed for commissions. The results far surpassed the glory of these The Met’s “Goa Stone and objects. They were the foundation of Case” from India (late 17th–early 18th century).
Camp Guide
+ A Change of Heart + The Happy Camper + The Sleepaway Decision + and more
2020
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A CHANGE OF HEART How one reluctant camper came to appreciate tough trails and the beauty of nature
BY MATTHEW O’REILLY
As I looked up the steep hills I still heard my mom’s voice echoing through the long, rugged trail. “Don’t worry, it will be very fun!” she would always say. Right! I was about to stomp the ground, but I remembered that I could not walk straight with my heavy backpack. I was at camp. Our group was doing a thing called an expedition. Hiking, camping, swimming and finding water and food for five days. Camp was a tradition in my family, and just to be clear, I did NOT want to go. “Every day will be a new adventure,” were my Dad’s final words before he abandoned me. “Some adventure!” I scoffed. Our trail was the worst of them all. It was an entire uphill trail, if you could call a
We finally arrived at our campsite. I felt proud of what I had overcome. I was nervous for the day ahead, but I completed the first challenge, and I was proud. rocky, muddy, wet, barely cleared out path a trail. I hated it. I hated hiking, I hated camping, basically everything that this “trip” entailed. My backpack was heavier than me, though I may not be exactly heavy. I couldn’t jump higher than up to my ankles. Time went on, and it was just tree after tree after tree. “Look at all of this beauty! The trees the fresh ai-” “Yep!” I sarcastically said, cutting off my hippie counselor. There were ticks crawling up and down my sweaty socks. I hated it. “Nice job, guys!” said my
counselor, who was barely fazed by the five miles we just trudged through. I was happy it was over. “Almost halfway there!” “WHAAAATTTT!?!?” I exclaimed. At least I had time to take my bag off and eat a sandwich. Too bad they were rotten, hot and disgusting. As our journey continued, I was getting really tired. Like, REALLY tired. I asked for a water break, and my counselor responded in his obnoxiously jolly voice, and said: “No rest for the best!” I whined, but had nothing better to do and kept going. I may not have liked it, but one thing I had going for me was that I was determined. I don’t know what would have happened if I just gave up.
Pretending to Enjoy the Hike We finally arrived at our campsite. I felt proud of what I had overcome. I was nervous for the day ahead, but I completed the first challenge, and I was proud. We had a fire and packed it in for the night. “OK,” I thought to myself. “If I try really hard, maybe I can pretend like I will enjoy tomorrow’s hike. It will be long, hard, and just all around boring, but I will have to just suck it up.” If I kept it to myself I wouldn’t harm the rest of the group. I needed to make sure that people thought I enjoyed it. I didn’t, but I was not going to be annoying about it. The day came and I was as nervous as a pig going to a slaughter house. It was about six in the morning, fifty degrees and buggy. I thought: “Don’t do it. You won’t enjoy it, and it will be hard, so do not do it.” No. I knew that wasn’t an option. I had come this far and I wouldn’t back out now. “Is everything alright, Matt?” my counselor asked.
A Feeling of Pride I nodded. We left our campsite and headed to the foggy mountains. I saw an amazing sunrise on the way there. Cool, I thought. I realized that the hike up wasn’t so bad? No! Dressed up for chapel at camp.
The author with his camp gear. Photos courtesy of the O’Reilly family
I hated hiking. That was what I repeated all the way up the mountain. As I neared the top, I felt a feeling of pride so different than anything I felt before. I saw a view that looked like a picture on a computer lockscreen. I was trying to act like it wasn’t much, but wow! It was so cool. The sunlight was sneaking in between the trees trying to find me. I looked around and saw things in nature that I never saw before. “Wow! That tree looks like an animal.”
I wonder if my dad saw this and thought the same things I was feeling. I kept looking at trees in a different way. The nature-hating side of me died. Was that piece of moss alive before me? Never in a million years would I have thought that I would look at a view off a mountain and think, wow, that looks cool! Hey, maybe hiking isn’t so bad! I never would have felt this if I quit. If I just didn’t go. Imagine what would have happened if I was grumpy, mad or annoying the entire
way up? I wouldn’t have been able to finish the mountain. I wouldn’t have known that I liked hiking, that nature wasn’t so boring after all. The rest of the summer I tried things that I would never have thought I would have liked. Like fishing or canoeing. Turns out, I did! I liked all of it. Always try new things because you will never know what you like if you don’t.
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Drawing Board
BY SUSAN FAIOLA
Riverside Park Conservancy Multi Sport Camp If your little performer loves creating stories, making up their own characters, or just hamming it up for a crowd, Atlantic for Kids offers Summer Acting Camps to nourish every young actor’s mind! Kids and teens aged 4 – 18 can choose from a wide variety of one-week camps, including musicals, improv, film, scenework, and more. Actors spend their summer creating their own work, rehearsing a performance, and developing the confidence to act for an audience. All camps culminate in a final performance at the end of the week for family and friends. Whether you have a tiny tyke or a talented teen, Atlantic has an opportunity for them to create and grow – making lifelong friendships along the way. Camps run June 15 – August 14, 2020.
Register Online: atlanticactingschool.org/ kids-and-teens/summer Email us: education@atlantictheater.org Call us: 212.691.5919
Dwight Summer Camp Dive into summer with us! We offer a wide range of age-appropriate, creative, and action-packed activities for children ages 4-12. Campers enjoy well-rounded experiences in sports, the visual and performing arts, and much more. Campers can also focus on one specialty in our Spark Camps, including theater and water sports. With swim instruction in our indoor pool, trips to great destinations, and theme days, the fun never ends! Attend an Open House to meet our team of camp professionals and tour our great facilities: Ages 4-5 March 7, April 4, May 16, 10am-1pm Dwight Preschool, 144 Riverside Blvd.
Ages 6-12 March 6, April 3, May 15, 4pm-7pm Dwight School Athletic Center, 2116 First Ave.
Chaperoned bus transportation with parent GPS, day passes, and extendedday options are available. Choose the number of weeks you want; mix and match sessions to make this summer the best ever! To receive a 10% discount, use code STR20 Learn more: director@dwightsummercamp.org | 917.551.6424 dwightsummercamp.org
The Sports Camp program is a 12-week camp that offers the choice of five sports that takes place in Historical Riverside Park. The program this coming summer will run from June 8th to August 28th Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 3:30pm with options for early arrival and late pick up as well as transportation if needed. Kids of Summer provides Baseball, Basketball and Flag Football, COSA provides Soccer, and Riverside Clay Tennis Association offers Tennis. The camp serves all youth from mostly from ages 4-16 with scholarships offered on a needs basis. The youth have a choice of Baseball, Basketball, Tennis, Flag Football, Soccer, and multisport program. The Camp is geared to provide fun healthy training, and knowledge of the respective sport a family might choose from experienced coaches and staff. The camp allows beginners to learn skills sets to feel comfortable in participating in a sport, or more advanced training for the family looking to excel their performance on a school or community team, while maintaining the atmosphere of a summer camp. The park serves as common ground for different cultures and walks of life to come together in name of healthy sport. We provide each child with a nutritious snack during program, plenty of water and cooling stations. Since the program takes place outside into the park we now offer indoor spacing for all programs, so there are no cancellations of programs during the summer. The camp uses the sports fields and courts in Riverside Park between 96th and 110th Streets that are 4 baseball fields, 1 soccer field, 2 full length basketball courts and several tennis courts, come join and enjoy the summer in Riverside Park. Sign up today at https://riversideparknyc.org/sports-camp/. For more information please contact Ahmed Cohen at sports@riversideparknyc.org
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Summer STEAM Camp 2020 June 22 – July 31
Weekly Sessions Include: Programming • Robotics • Circuits • 3-D Printing • Woodworking Cooking • Baking • Stop-Motion Video • Engineering • Game Design • Art
Outdoor Games and Activities Every Day!
Sign up today at cathedralnyc.org 1047 Amsterdam Ave at 111th St. For kids entering K-6th Grades
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SAFETY FIRST AT SUMMER CAMP What to consider when choosing the best place for your child
BY JESS MICHAELS
When choosing a summer camp, it’s important to do your research. One of the most important aspects of your search will be to take a close look at the safety aspects of the camp to make sure you are selecting a camp that is committed to the safety of children. The American Camp Association, NY
and NJ recommends families consider the following when looking for a camp for your child.
1.
Make Sure the Camp is Licensed. There are thousands of unlicensed single purpose camps in New York which have no oversight by the Department of Health. This means that camps that offer one activity, such as soccer or gymnastics, aren’t required to check the state sex offender registry before hiring staff, don’t need to maintain mini-
mum staff to child ratios, and don’t require medical staff at camp, among many other safety aspects. Ask the camp if they are inspected by the Department of Health at a minimum and if they choose to be Accredited by the American Camp Association which goes above and beyond DOH licensing.
2.tor?Who is the Camp Direc-
Inquire about who the camp director is, how much experience they have, if being a camp director is their full time job and how long they have been at the camp for. You should also look for a camp director that is happy to answer your questions about camp safety and other aspects of the program. You are forming a partnership with the director and you want to know that you click with the director and feel comfortable with this person taking care of your child.
3. Staff & Staff Training.
Ask about the age of the staff, experience, pre-season & ongoing staff training, background checks, instructor qualifications and reference checks. Also ask if topics such as behavior management techniques, appropriate staff and camper behavior, child abuse prevention, water safety and emergency proce-
The Cathedral School’s Summer STEAM Camp
Located on the Upper West Side, The Cathedral School’s summer STEAM Camp combines immersion in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math with classic summer camp activities for 5-12 year olds. Our STEAM Camp encourages collaborative problem-solving, critical thinking, risk-taking and perseverance through project-based learning. From field trips to summertime carnivals, our campers’ days are filled with fun. For each two-week session, STEAM Camp focuses on a specific theme. Campers spend the morning participating in age-appropriate projects geared towards instilling a passion for exploration and creative thinking. Each classroom is staffed with a senior classroom teacher and Cathedral alumni counselors. Every day, campers will enjoy activities led by The Cathedral School’s Athletic Director and PE teachers on our 13-acre campus or in the surrounding parks and playgrounds. Sign up for one — or all three — of our camp sessions. Session I: Sustainability (June 22 - July 3) Week 1: Restaurant Week: sustainable food sourcing and camp restaurant Week 2: The Power of H20: water, water everywhere Session II: Coding and Robotics (July 6 - July 17) Week 3: Circuit Circus: computer coding, circuitry, and the power of computers Week 4: Beyond R2D2: our very popular robotics week Session III: (July 20 - July 31) Week 5: Block-by-Block: building, testing, and creating as engineers Week 6: STEAM Design: digital design and music production Sign up today at cathedralnyc.org. For more information, contact Camp Director Mike Demianiuk at steamcamp@cathedralnyc.org
Photos: ACA, NY & NJ
dures are covered, among other topics.
4. Special Considerations.
If your child has special considerations, whether it’s food allergies, sleep issues or ADHD, ask how they handle similar issues. Remember to be completely open and honest about your child’s needs with the director. You want to make sure the camp can properly accommodate your child’s needs.
5. Emotional Well-Being.
Besides the physical safety of your child, you want to ask how the camp handles issues
YMCA Camp Mason Camp Counts! TM
At YMCA Camp Mason, we say Camp Counts because our experience is transformative, helping build the skills and values kids need to grow and thrive. For 120 years, we have welcomed campers to our inclusive community to be valued, cared for and grow physically, emotionally, intellectually, morally and socially. Our programs for campers ages 8-15 encompass almost any activity you can dream of. We offer pool swimming, archery, boating, arts & crafts, music, horseback riding, a climbing tower, zipline, court & field sports, hiking, skateboarding, photography & movie making, biking, FREE trips to off site fun and so much more. If you are ready for your child to make new friends from around the globe, develop a positive sense of self, build their independance and discover all they can achieve, please register today at www.campmason.org or call us at 908-362-8217. We look forward to providing your child with the BEST SUMMER EVER!
that affect your child’s emotional well-being from bullying to homesickness. You want to feel good about how the camp handles certain situations that may arise during the summer.
6. Medical Staff.
Ask if there is a doctor or nurse in residence or on call for campers at all times. Parents also want to make sure the camp has epi-pens and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on site and that the camp has trained staff members to use them.
7. References.
One of the best ways to find out about a camp’s safety record is to ask the camp for references. Ask other parents about the experiences of their children at the camp and if they are going back next summer. Be specific and ask for a reference from your neighborhood or child’s age group to ensure the camp isn’t giving out the same few phone numbers to each parent.
Still looking for a camp? Families can contact Renee Flax at the American Camp Association, NY and NJ for free, one-on-one advice in finding a summer camp. Call 212.391.5208 or visit www.acanynj.org
With 5,500 educational adventures in more than 150 countries and all 50 states, not-for-profit Road Scholar is the world leader in educational travel for adults. Among our most popular types of experiences are our Grandparent and Family adventures. For 40 years, we’ve been bringing grandparents and grandchildren to exciting new places to learn, bond and create memories for a lifetime. Whether it’s discovering Aboriginal artifacts in the archives of a remote Australian museum or the wildlife of America’s National Parks, we bring a vibrancy to each destination that your family won’t find with any other organization. Get a Free Catalog
www.roadscholar.org/summercamp (877) 426-8056
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• Swim daily with lessons from NYC’s best instructors. • Sample a variety of sports with guidance from expert coaches.
BUILDING CHARACTER, CONFIDENCE, AND COMMUNITY June 29 - August 21, 2020 • Ages 4 ½ to 15
• Exercise your creative side in urban gardening, arts and crafts, dance, science, theater, yoga, and more. • Venture beyond our campuses for exciting field trips. • Embrace our core camp values and apply them to school, sports, and social settings. • Bus service available in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
REGISTER TODAY AT asphaltgreen.org/camp UPPER EAST SIDE • 555 E. 90th St. camps@asphaltgreen.org
BATTERY PARK CITY • 212 North End Ave. campsagbpc@asphaltgreen.org
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JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020
HOW TO PICK A DAY CAMP 7 factors to consider for your child’s summer experience
BY JESS MICHAELS
Thinking about day camp for your child? A summer spent at camp will provide your children with the opportunity to swim, play sports and zip down the zipline — all while building life skills that will last a lifetime. Each day camp is different, so it’s important for parents to do their research and ask questions to find the right camp. Here are seven things to consider when choosing a day camp for your child this summer.
1. Mission.
Each camp has its own mission and philosophy. Genna Singer, Director of Camps for Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, says families should find out what the primary values of the camp are. “Ask how the camp brings the vision of the mission to life and make sure that it’s consistent with the values of you and your family.”
Choosing a camp is similar to finding a caregiver or picking a school. You want to pick someone who will share the journey of raising your children with you.” Genna Singer, Director of Camps for Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
2.
Licensed/Accredited.
Families want to make sure the camp they are choosing is licensed by the Department of Health at a minimum. “Parents often assume that certain safety aspects are taking place at all camps when that is just not the case,” says Doug Volan, Owner and Director of Mount Tom Day Camp in New Rochelle, NY. “Unlicensed summer camps have no rules or regulations. It means there are no minimum camper to staff ratios, no minimum age requirements of staff and staff members who are hired without reference checks. Making sure a camp is inspected by the De-
Camp Ramaquois is not like every other camp. Our day camp for boys and girls ages 3 to 15 in Pomona, NY (only 20 minutes from the Mario Cuomo Bridge) provides a truly authentic camp experience. Our magnificent 44 acres, 5-acre lake, 9 heated swimming pools, and exceptional facilities and programs allow us to provide children with a dynamic and memorable summer filled with love, warmth, and being part of a special community. Our campers are encouraged to take healthy risks, learn new skills, develop relationships with their peers and counselors, develop independence and assume responsibility.
partment of Health or Accredited by the American Camp Association, which goes above and beyond state licensing, is one of the most important factors in deciding on a camp.”
3. The Camp Experience.
Think about what you want from the camp experience. “Decide what you want camp to look like for your child. Do you want your child to walk away just learning soccer skills or are you interested in your child developing life skills like independence, communication and resilience that takes place in the traditional camp environment,” says Volan. “Your child can still hone their soccer skills during electives while still swimming twice a day in 90 degree heat instead of sweating it out on the soccer field for 4 hours at a time.”
4.
Camp Director. Ask who the camp director is. “Choosing a camp is similar to finding a caregiver or picking a school. You want to pick someone who will share the journey of raising your chil-
Photos: ACA, NY & NJ
dren with you,” says Singer. Volan says you should ask if the director is a year round camp employee or seasonal. “Full time camp directors work on camp year round. It’s a profession, not a second job that is part time. We work year round to create the best possible program for your child.”
5. Amenities.
Find out what the camp offers and what you
Make your child’s summer a fun-filled and educational experience by enrolling in Children’s Summer Day Camp Program at China Institute! Designed and tailored for different age groups from 2 to 14, China Institute’s Summer Day Camp Program offers classes in Chinese language, history, literature and culture within an exciting and interactive environment to students of all proficiency levels. Language instruction is led by experienced Chinese language teachers, and courses include exciting historical themes designed to inspire learning, participation and engagement. For over 20 years, our camp has provided a unique authentic experience of Chinese language and culture for children throughout New York City. With immersive thematic Chinese language, art, and music classes designed for multiple levels and ages, a variety of cultural programs, and fun field trips to museums and other institutions in NYC, our camp inspires and sustains a life-long interest and passion for Chinese culture for all of our campers. Learn more about our Summer Camp Program, and upcoming Mandarin Immersion Preschool (in Fall 2020), at: chinainstitute.org
are to supply. It’s also helpful to see the camp ahead of time when possible. “Does the camp serve lunch and what does it look like? Is snack provided? Does the camp have towel service?” says Singer. “Know ahead of time what the expectations of the camp are and what yours are as a family. Also think about the facilities and how they lend to the program.” Volan adds, “Ask if the camp has its own facilities or if the campers do
a lot of day trips because there isn’t a camp facility. It’s also great to see the camp’s facilities before registering. Touring allows parents to get a feel for the camp and ask questions while in the camp environment.”
6. Safety.
Safety should be of the utmost importance to a camp’s leadership team. “Inquire about what the overall safety and security plan is,”
Summer day camps at the West Side YMCA, located across the street from Central Park and near Columbus Circle on the Upper West Side, offer a fun, safe, and enriching experience for kids ages 3 to 14. We offer Kinder Camp (ages 3-5), Day Camp (ages 5.5-11), Arts Camp (ages 5-12), Sports Camp (ages 7-12), and Teen Camp (ages 12-14). Campers utilize the West Side Y facility, including the gymnasium and pools, and enjoy days filled with arts and crafts, field trips, sports, STEM classes, and more! All activities are geared to be fun and build lifetime memories! Registration is now open! Financial assistance and sibling discount is available. Early Bird Special expires April 18. Please join us at our free Open Houses: March 21 , April 18 (Healthy Kids Day!), May 16 & June 6 at the West Side Y at 5 West 63rd Street. For more info, visit ymcanyc.org/westside or contact 212-912-2617 or wsycamp@ymcanyc.org
JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020
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YMCA CAMP MASON OVERNIGHT CAMP RANCH CAMP ADVENTURE TRIPS
CAMP COUNTS!
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explains Singer. “Understand that many organizations won’t share the details but knowing there is a plan and they are constantly reviewing it is imperative. You should feel a level of comfort asking
about security when you ask in the winter and spring then again as camp begins.”
7.
Staff. Find out who the staff is, how they are hired
FOR AGES 3-14
and how old they are. “Staff is everything,” says Volan. “Ask about the hiring process and if there are adults on staff. You want to make sure the camp isn’t just kids taking care of kids with no adults on site.”
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Early Bird Special expires April 18. Financial assistance and sibling discount available.
WEST SIDE YMCA
SUMMER CAMP PLEASE JOIN US AT OUR FREE OPEN HOUSES! MARCH 21 APRIL 18 MAY 16 JUNE 6 WEST SIDE Y 5
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wsycamp@ymcanyc.org ymcanyc.org/westside
Outdoor Pool - Skatepark - Archery - Boating - FREE Daily Trip Options Campers & Staff from Around the Globe - Ropes Courses - Music Program Horseback Riding - Nature/Farm Program - Mountain Biking- Hiking Climbing Wall - Safe & Supportive Environment - Scholarships Available Comfortable Lodging - Fun and Rewarding - Superior Staff - So much more!
REGISTER TODAY! CAMPMASON.ORG
OPEN HOUSES 3/8, 4/5, 5/3 1pm start
www.campmason.org information@campmason.org 908-362-8217
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JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020
AN ANTIDOTE TO DIGITAL LIFE Why summer camp? It’s an oasis away from screens and a chance for kids to actually talk to each other
BY ANDY PRITIKIN
“Hey Dad,” My teenage daughter beckons, “I was talking to my friend today…” I interrupt her. “Hang on sweetie, were you actually talking to your friend?’ Her: “What do you mean?” Me: “I mean, was there sound coming out of your mouth, going into her ear and vice versa?” Her: “Duh, of course not, I never talk on my phone except to you and Mom!” Oy. This is where we are at in 2020. The word “talk” has lost its meaning. Communication skills are going the way of the dodo bird, with human interaction being reduced to snaps, selfies, digital acronyms, embarrassing memes, and absurdly entertaining TikToks. Young people are more
digitally connected than ever before, while being significantly less personally connected as human beings. You may think our kids talk to each other at school, but most schools are now handing children laptops or tablets to stare at for much of the day. When they come home, what do they want to do, of course? They are little screen addicts - and they take after most of us. Parenting in 2020 is seriously difficult. Trust me, I know. It takes a level of discipline and commitment that our parents never had to deal with - mainly because of digital devices. From the little ones in our pocket, to the 72 inch, hi-def, six zillion shows at our fingertips ones. Then there’s social media OMG! smh! Likes, loves, friends/unfriends, follows/unfollows, online bullying, predators and pornography - all just clicks away, if you aren’t paying attention. So pay attention!
Join us at Summer@Avenues! Avenues New York is thrilled to offer a host of exciting programs this summer for children ages three through 8th grade. With child-to-adult ratios that ensure every camper has a memorable camp experience, all camp sessions are held in our state-of-the-art learning center adjacent to The High Line in West Chelsea. The Summer@Avenues experience nurtures the whole child in all developmental areas, including social-emotional, cognitive, language and physical growth. Choose from our engaging camp selections including our signature immersion camp in Chinese or Spanish, STEAM camps, the dramatic arts and dance, social entrepreneurship and so much more! Pick your favorite camp or choose a tailored selection from our offerings for a magical summer of learning! Avenues: The World School 536 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001 646.664.0982
Campers are put into challenging situations requiring them to critically think through possible solutions - just like real (adult) life.
Photos courtesy of © Liberty Lake Day Camp
A Step Back in Time What is the antidote? How can parents battle this evergrowing monster, especially during summer vacation when kids have even more free time and boredom to feed their screen addiction? Well, there is an answer, an oasis away from screens, where children actually talk to each other using the ancient art of speech and body language. A step back in time,
before digital data began stressing us all out: summer camp. Now, there are lots of programs that call themselves “summer camp,” and most have their merits, but I’m talking about traditional summer camp: outdoors with grass, trees, humidity, sunscreen, bugs, and dirt. Learning how to swim, and how to hold a baseball/softball bat, a paint brush, and a guitar.
Pok-O-MacCready Camps The surreal surroundings of the Adirondack mountains serve as the backdrop for our amazing summer camp experience dating back to 1905. Rich in tradition a summer at Pok-O allows for campers to explore all that our location has to offer, while participating in new experiences, learning new skills and making new friends. Our philosophy is to help each camper develop an awareness of and appreciation for the natural environment. These opportunities are presented in a safe and supportive environment that fosters self-confidence, leadership and sportsmanship. With over 35 activities including: Wilderness trips, horseback riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, sailing, and theater, we are able to create a place for campers to grow and experience more than they ever could at home. Being technology free enables our campers to live in the moment and appreciate all elements of camp life, from the chorus of screen doors slamming in our rustic cabins, to gathering around our cobblestone fireplace of the dining hall. Come explore our wonderful camping experience and learn what it means to have the “Pok-O” spirit.
www.pokomac.com • (518) 963-7656
Where kids muster the courage to talk to strangers, ask for help, climb a rock wall, leap onto a stage or off a zipline platform. And what happens when it rains? I’ll tell you what doesn’t happen - kids don’t melt like the wicked witch of the west! They actually have a blast, jumping in puddles, getting soaked, and playing. It’s what kids are supposed to do when they are kids. Because
once they morph into adults … they just might end up getting paid to stare at screens all day! Research confirms that today’s children are more emotionally fragile than ever before, unable to cope with adversity. Half of students going off to college aren’t making it to graduation day, yet most parents are on an unwavering mission to protect their children from the hardships of life. Kids are kept inside when it’s too hot, too cold, too rainy, too icy. We bring them their schoolwork when they forget it at home. We wake them up in the morning, help them with their homework, and then get mad at ourselves for doing it. But at summer camp, their cool camp counselors can tell them to “figure it out” when they have a problem, and the kids usually listen to them without debate. If our children don’t start figuring out things for themselves, and
Debate Camp provides an engaging, skills-enrichment summer opportunity for students in grades 5 through 10. In 2020 we are excited to once again bring Debate Camp to New York. We offer a well-loved program in public speaking, parliamentary debate, Model United Nations and general confidence-building for the aspiring young speaker! Debate Camp is open to all ability-levels and programs are challenge-levelled - with instruction available for novice to competitive speakers. Campers work in small groups to develop their ideas, and speak in partnership as part of 2- and 4-person teams representing their side of the debate resolution (parliamentary-style). Young speakers at all levels are generally amazed at their growth and development over 1 week. All instruction and supervision ratios are set at 1:8. Our daily schedule also includes organized games, impromptu speaking, drama and interactive activities to ensure camp retains a fun and balanced approach to learning. Model United Nations simulations and mini-tournaments complete the week. The feedback we encounter is often on the theme of genuine surprise at just how enjoyable an academic enrichment and skills-development program can be. Manhattan families - join us in 2020! Full details and dates available on our website: https://www.debatecamp.com/newyork
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Even better than summer camp ...
deal with the inevitable challenges of life, we may find them living at home for a very long time, or moving back when things don’t go their way.
Investing in Life Skills Humans are not born with great social skills. These are skills we learn and practice. As babies, we scream when we are upset, but eventually learn how to express ourselves to our parents and caregivers. Camp is a continuation of that process. Campers are put into challenging situations requiring them to critically think through possible solutions just like real (adult) life. Sometimes they will overcome obstacles and succeed, and sometimes they will simply fail, which is a super important life lesson, achieved more likely without parental interference. Parents routinely spend or borrow inordinate sums of money for college to prepare their children for life. Comparatively speaking, an investment into summer camp
An adventure with Grandma and Grandpa! Grandparents and grandchildren create memories of a lifetime and bond over a love of learning and adventure. All details are taken care of: meals, lodging, gratuities and expert-led experiences. Choose from nearly 200 educational travel adventures for two or three generations … is a bargain for the life skills it develops in a young person. Communication, collaboration, creativity, independence, and the ability to make and keep friends are the “soft skills” that employers are seeking in the 21st century, as well as typical outcomes of an American Camp Association accredited camp. So consider giving your kids an old-school, summer camp experience that they will learn from and cherish for the rest of their lives- It
could end up being the wisest parental investment you ever make. And if your kids are high school or college students, encourage them to work at a Summer Camp to hone those same vital skills, along with empathy and a serious work ethic.
• Harry Potter in Oxford • Craft Workshops in Corning, N.Y. • Robots & Space Exploration • Art & Culture in Paris • Costa Rica Wildlife • Revolutionary War in Boston • Washington, D.C. • Yosemite National Park • Much, much more.
Andy Pritikin is Owner/Director of Liberty Lake Day Camp, Past President of American Camp Association NY/NJ, and host of “The Day Camp Podcast.”
The surreal surroundings of the Adirondack mountains serve as the backdrop for our amazing summer camp experience dating back to 1905. Rich in tradition a summer at Pok-O allows for campers to explore all that our location has to offer, while participating in new experiences, learning new skills and making new friends. Our philosophy is to help each camper develop an awareness of and appreciation for the natural environment. These opportunities are presented in a safe and supportive environment that fosters self-confidence, leadership and sportsmanship. With over 35 activities including: Wilderness trips, horseback riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, sailing, and theater, we are able to create a place for campers to grow and experience more than they ever could at home. Being technology free enables our campers to live in the moment and appreciate all elements of camp life, from the chorus of screen doors slamming in our rustic cabins, to gathering around our cobblestone fireplace of the dining hall. Come explore our wonderful camping experience and learn what it means to have the “Pok-O” spirit. For more information email Kat at pokomac@gmail.com or call 518-963-7656. We look forward to meeting you!
Pok-O-MacCready Camps Willsboro, NY • 518-963-7656 ACA Accredited
Request a free catalog at www.roadscholar.org/summercamp or call toll free at (877) 426-8056 Road Scholar is a not-for-profit educational travel organization founded in 1975.
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JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020
BUSTER KEATON’S GHOST A camping trip within haunting distance of a famous Hollywood cemetery gives parents the willies
BY DAVID NOONAN
It was the summer of 1996. We were living in Los Angeles and our sons, David and Ray, were 8 and 6, too young for sleepaway camp, but the perfect age for day camp. Of course, the only word they heard during conversations about all this was the word “camp.” Which is why they were somewhat disappointed to discover on the first day that the Y day camp we signed them up for was held at their elementary school in Sherman Oaks. They spent that summer in the same classrooms and on the same blacktop playground that they spent the rest of the year, and one of their daily activities was picking up litter on the campus. On the other hand, they didn’t have to do homework or take tests. It was a good camp, though, with plenty of new things for them to try, arts and crafts, team sports, trips to the great
Los Angeles Zoo and more. During a trip to the Sherman Oaks Castle, a chaotic, kidpacked, candy-fueled emporium with miniature golf, batting cages and arcade games, they jumped into a photo booth together and took what remains to this day their mother’s favorite picture of them as little boys. Their happy, smiling faces reveal only joy and excitement. The grand finale, the highlight of the summer, was to be an overnight camping trip. The boys came home with a list of things to pack. They were going to sleep in tents, at a campsite in the sprawling wilderness of LA’s Griffith Park, the 4,200-acre location for countless movies and TV shows, and home to an impressive array of wildlife, including coyotes, rattlesnakes and mountain lions. We lived in Toluca Lake, just a few minutes drive from the northwest corner of the park, where the boys would be spending the night. Late that afternoon, my wife Susan and I decided to swing by and see how they were getting along. I brought a sleeping bag, in case I decided to say with them.
The Ballet Hispánico School of Dance is a leading center of excellence in dance education - serving over 1,000 students and celebrating 50 years of dance and culture - and offers accessible, high-quality dance training to students of all levels ages 2 and up. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance, it empowers students by offering a holistic approach to movement discovery, including pre-professional training and classes for the novice dancer. Through its pre-professional and professional studies program,the School trains eclectic,versatile dancers who stand out in a competitive professional environment for their mastery of the classical ballet tradition, contemporary techniques, and Spanish Dance. Dance training also goes beyond the classroom through cultural enrichment activities at venues across NYC, giving students a comprehensive view of the dance community at large. Summer programming includes Dance Camps, ELEVATE! Dance Boot Camp, Summer Intensive, and ChoreoLaB. To learn more, visit ballethispanico.org
Nine years into our LA life, we had probably been to Griffith Park a hundred times or more. But as we followed the directions the boys had brought home, I realized that the campsite was in a spot we’d never visited. We were intrigued. And then, when the directions led us through the grand entrance to Forest Lawn Memorial Park, the final resting place of Bette Davis, Buster Keaton, Liberace and countless other stars and celebrities, we were mystified. There must be some mistake, we thought, and double-checked the directions. But there was no mistake. We wound our way through the manicured burial ground, past hundreds of headstones, as the sun continued its slow descent and the shadows grew longer. What the hell? Were they actually camping in a cemetery? Whose crazy idea was this? At the top of a long slope the headstones finally ended and we crossed into the park, the narrow road now flanked by tangled brush and trees. A minute or so later we came into a large clearing. The school bus the kids had come
David and Ray Noonan at day camp in 1996. Photo: Courtesy of Susan Noonan
in was parked among a half dozen cars. Some of the campers, including David, were splashing around in an above-ground pool. As you might expect of a six-year-old, Ray, who was not swimming, spotted us immediately. He started to cry a bit when his mother hugged him. He wanted to go home. We let David swim as I explained to one of the counselors that Ray was going home with his mother, but I would
Asphalt Green Summer Day Camp builds character, confidence, and community. Children ages 4½ to 15 express themselves through sports, arts, and innovative programming. Asphalt Green fosters a supportive community that encourages each camper to be creative, explore interests, and step out of his or her comfort zone. State-ofthe-art indoor and outdoor facilities combined with expert instruction create the ultimate camp experience at two locations—Upper East Side and Battery Park City—in Manhattan. Swim in a 50-meter (Upper East Side) or 25-yard (Battery Park City) pool, play sports on a 1.5-acre field (Upper East Side) or a full-court gymnasium (Battery Park City), go on adventurous field trips, and more! camps@asphaltgreen.org
be staying. I was told that Ray could leave, of course, but I could not stay. I don’t remember the reason, I guess it made sense. And if it wasn’t for the damn cemetery we might have left David there. He was having fun and, as we later learned, the boys hadn’t even noticed the cemetery. But Susan and I were both freaked out by the proximity of Forest Lawn to the makeshift campsite. So we pulled the plug on the cemetery slee-
pover and took David and Ray to their favorite restaurant for dinner, and then home to sleep in their own beds. We had seen “Poltergeist” too many times to leave our sons at the mercy of hundreds of ghosts, even if there were a few Oscar winners among their ranks. And what about all the Oscar losers? Who knows what kind of hijinks they might get up to in the night?
Row New York’s rowing camps are a unique opportunity for those who would like to spend the summer outside getting fit, having fun and making friends. Rowing is a challenging sport that builds strength and endurance while using 85% of the athletes’ muscles. Both mentally and physically, rowers become stronger, more powerful and more resilient. They’ll work hard with teammates to strive for perfectly unified strokes. Together, they’ll learn to move boats fast. Together, they’ll laugh when everything clicks and the boat flies over the water. Not yet an athlete? Not a problem! No matter if you are a complete beginner, a novice or an experienced rower, Row New York has the right camp for you. Registration is now open for June, July and August camps for youth ages 13-18. Visit rownewyork.org/camps for more information.
JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020
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SUNSHINE. WATER. FRESH AIR.
SPEND THE SUMMER OUTDOORS
JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST ROWING CAMPS OPEN TO YOUTH AGES 13-18 ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS WELCOME REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
ROWNEWYORK.ORG/CAMPS
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JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020
The author with faculty member Raj Bhimani turning pages. Photos: Mark Whitaker
2020 SUMMER DANCE CAMPS LOS EXPLORERS (AGES 3-5) · LOS ADVENTURERS (AGES 6-8) 3 One-Week Sessions · July 6-10, July 13-17, and July 10-24 Send your Explorers and Adventurers on a multi-sensory journey around the rhythms and stories of the Caribbean, Spain, and Venezuela! Boys and girls build creative skills in a safe, inclusive environment while celebrating dance and culture in Ballet Hispánico’s diverse summer experience.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN SAVE ON YOUR TUITION! Early bird special pricing available through April 17, 2020. Bring a sibling or register for multiple sessions for even more savings.
Visit ballethispanico.org/classes for details. Ballet Hispánico 167 West 89th Street New York, NY 10024
@ballethispanicoedu
Questions/¿Preguntas? E-mail school@ballethispanico.org or call 212-362-6710, ext. 72.
@ballethispanico
Michelle Manzanales, Director, School of Dance Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO
A WEEK AT PIANO CAMP – FOR ADULTS The Pianophoria! program offers great teaching, enforced practice and help with an issue everyone has experienced: stage fright
BY ALEXIS GELBER
The morning begins at 9:15 with coffee and conversation in a paneled room of the Bloomingdale School of Music. The students come from all over – nearby on the Upper West Side, but also Brooklyn, Westchester and New Jersey. They are amateur pianists who are also scientists, teachers, business executives and therapists. There’s a range of experience, from relative newcomers to the piano to those who play advanced repertoire. The dozen students then head off to their assigned practice rooms. Soon, muffled sounds of Bach, Chopin, Brahms and Schubert fill the hallways. After a break for lunch, there are lectures, workshops and duets – and
more practice, practice, practice. This is Pianophoria!, a week-long summer program which bills itself as a “Piano Day Camp for Adult Students.” Now in its 17th year, the program originally had its home at Hunter College, then moved to the Bloomingdale School of Music on West 108th Street in 2017. The program offers instruction by three superb pianists and teachers – founder and director Marcia Eckert, Raj Bhimani and Deborah Gilwood. Every year there’s a focus on one particular composer or type of music. Last summer it was Russian music; 2020 will be devoted to Beethoven, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth. As a lapsed pianist looking to get back into practicing, I went to Pianophoria on and off in the Hunter College days, then returned last summer after a break of several years. I enjoyed meeting new members of the group as well as re-
connecting with familiar faces.
Performance Anxiety Sessions I was surprised to see that last year’s schedule featured some changes. Most notably, Eckert added sessions to address a vexing issue everyone has experienced: stage fright. (She once showed us a button with a slogan that read: “I Played it Better at Home.”) In the new performance anxiety sessions, we would play a piece for the group and tell everyone how we felt afterwards. Typical responses: “My hands were shaking” and “my heart was racing.” We’d get feedback from the teachers and students, who were invariably helpful and supportive. Then we would play the piece again and talk about how it went the second time around. It was almost always better. Eckert explains why she introduced this technique. “About a year ago, I realized that every performer felt the
JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020 same thing to varying degrees – that performance nerves had hampered his/her performance,” she said in an email interview. “That was the overriding response, even from people who played very beautifully … I started to feel that this is a crucial topic to discuss and normalize for everyone, all performers, and certainly for adult amateurs.” She added: “I did some research and developed the class on performance anxiety, trying it out for private students of mine last spring. The idea of playing twice and noticing carefully what one felt and thought the first time around, and then addressing those things as much as possible by counteracting them, or some other way of adjusting, was what I was after. Some pretty amazing things happened in that class and the empathy and encouragement coming from the other players was a big part of it. We also had a lot of laughs. It seemed like a very good thing to try at Pianophoria.” One other, related innovation: the week used to end with a concert-hall recital attended by fellow students, friends and family. It could be a nerve-wracking experience. But last year the program also included daily “Play Time” sessions, where participants would perform more informally for their peers before the final-day recital. “For a number of years, participants had been asking for more opportunities
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Advantage Camps – giving NYC kids the best summer ever! East Side & West Side, Advantage means fun! Lots of indoor and outdoor activities offering something for everyone! Advantage Day Camp offers a variety of sports, swimming, art, enrichment and experiences for kids 4 to 14. Advantage STEAM Camp is where campers 5 to 9 explore, discover, collaborate and enjoy. Advantage Junior Tennis Camp helps players 7 to 17 focus on the game, with drills & match play, plus swimming. Advantage QuickStart Tennis Camp is tennis customized for age, ability and fun, for ages 4 to 7! 2 great locations— Roosevelt Island Racquet Club & Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club/The Beacon School. Choose full days, half days, weeks or all summer. We even offer an extra hour of supervised time before and after full day camps – at no extra charge! Sign up now!
To find out more, go to advantagecamps.net. From left to right: Marcia Eckert, Deborah Gilwood, intern/percussionist Brendan Ko and Raj Bhimani receive flowers from students at a dinner after the closing recital.
to play for each other, partially so that the end-of-session recital didn’t turn into a scary future event that loomed over the whole week,” Eckert said. “I think the Play Times really helped with this. Last
summer’s recital seemed much less fraught and everyone could enjoy it more. We will keep these going forward!” For more information about Pianophoria!, go to pianophoria.com.
450 West 43rd St - Manhattan & 281 West Main St., Roosevelt Island, New York, NY 10036 & 10044 Or contact East Side – Chuck Russell at 212.935.0250 or crussell@advantagecamps.net. West Side – Paul Fontana at 646.884.9649 or pfontana@advantagecamps.net
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SWIM SPORTS ARTS ADVENTURE
THE SLEEPAWAY DECISION Sending your child to overnight camp doesn’t mean you don’t love them
BY JESS MICHAELS
973-831-9000 WWW.SLDC.COM Just 25 Miles from the GWB
For parents who didn’t go to sleepaway camp themselves, the thought of sending their child away to camp can seem like a bizarre idea. Why would someone who loves their child choose to send them away for the summer? Camp professionals and youth development experts would argue that some of the best learning happens when children are away from their parents. Here are just a few of the ways your child will grow after a summer spent at overnight camp.
Gain
independence
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“When a child attends camp for the first time, they may be a little nervous about making decisions without their parents there to guide them. But once a child learns to be responsible for themselves such
Photo: pxhere.com
as make their own bed, decide on the foods they would like to try at meals and pick their own elective activities, they gain independence and a belief in their ability to take care of themselves,” says Renee Flax, Director of Camper
Placement for the American Camp Association, NY & NJ. “This is often the first time in their lives that they are given this much autonomy and it’s something they come to appreciate and enjoy about camp. This is a gift that will
JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020
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Summer@Avenues Has It All! Join us at Summer@Avenues! Avenues New York is thrilled to offer a host of exciting programs this summer for children ages three through 8th grade. With child-to-adult ratios that ensure every camper has a memorable camp experience, all camp sessions are held in our state-of-the-art learning center adjacent to The High Line.
Photo: ACA, NY & NJ
last them throughout adolescence and beyond. Studies have shown that children who attended camp do much better their first year in college than those students who never left home.” Sense of identity – “Children establish a sense of identity at overnight camp, where they begin to truly advocate for themselves and foster strong levels of trust with their friends and counselors instead of just their parents, ultimately helping them to navigate through the world on their own,” says Brian Krug, Director of Camp Canadensis, a coed overnight camp in PA. Confidence – Flax explains, “Confidence comes in various ways at camp. When a child tries something new that at first she was nervous about
but then overcomes her fear, she builds confidence in her own abilities. Sometimes confidence comes when a child speaks up for herself. Finding your own voice and being able to express yourself is an empowering feeling.” Community living – “The group living dynamic at sleepaway camp teaches children so much including inclusiveness, teamwork, cooperation and respect. Campers are also asked to be mindful of their own belongings as well as others,” comments Krug.
Children establish a sense of identity at overnight camp, where they begin to truly advocate for themselves and foster strong levels of trust with their friends and counselors instead of just their parents.” Brian Krug, Director of Camp Canadensis
The Summer@Avenues experience nurtures the whole child in all developmental areas, including social-emotional, cognitive, language and physical growth. Choose from our engaging camp selections including our signature immersion camp in Chinese or Spanish, STEAM camps, the dramatic arts and dance, social entrepreneurship and so much more!
Visit www.avenues.org/summer to learn more.
Trying New Activities –
“Trying something new is one of the greatest parts of camp. Often a child is pleasantly surprised when they try a new activity and learn that they love it,” says Flax. “Counselors and fellow campers also encourage their fellow bunk-
mates and cheer them on which makes it even more rewarding. Challenging yourself to work through things that don’t come easy will also reinforce the feeling of confidence and make it easier to try new things in the future.”
536 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001 | 646.664.0982
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For 44 years, Fordham Prep has been offering its Higher Achievement Program (HAP) to rising eighthgrade boys. This unique five-week program combines academics, athletics and creative enrichment activities that prepare participants for 8th grade, the high school application process, and beyond. In the mornings, participants take part in critical thinking, reading, and math classes. After lunch, HAP offers both individual and team sports and games. This includes sports clinics run by members of the Fordham Prep coaching staff. In past years, we have also offered unique activities such as graphic design, cooking, rocket building, astronomy, and art. HAP participants will also take part in a service project. HAP runs from June 29 through July 29 and is located at Fordham Prep on the historic Rose Hill Campus in the Bronx, easily accessible by bus, train, and car. Applications are currently available at fordhaprep.org/HAP. Contact us at hap@fordhamprep.org or 718-367-7500 x263
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JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020
CIRCUS AND ROCK SHOP AND MUSICALS, OH MY! Manhattan kids discover talents they didn’t know they had, and make new friends who share their passions at a co-ed arts camp in the Catskills
BY CECE KING
French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts is where Maroon 5 formed. It houses the largest children’s circus in the world, and countless Broadway stars got their start performing here. French Woods is also a sleepaway camp where I found a home each summer from 2012 to 2016. Nestled in the Catskill Mountains, French Woods is a co-ed arts camp for kids
aged 7-17. It offers four threeweek sessions plus a shortened fifth. Most campers stay for two sessions, although some stay the whole summer while others just go for just one session. Days are divided into six, one-hour periods: three majors and three minors. Campers commit to attending the same majors every day at the start of each session. The most exciting part of camp is looking at the endless list of major and minor options. Majors give campers the opportunity to deeply engage in a particular area of interest. Most performance-based activities like circus or musical theater take up these time slots. Even
The author, performing in 2015, developed a passion for aerial arts at French Woods.
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A camp production of "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown." Photos: Courtesy French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts
Spring Lake Day Camp Celebrates 31 Years of FUN Ringwood, NJ is home to Spring Lake Day Camp located just 25 miles northwest of the GWB. With a private 5 acre lake, heated pool complex, indoor and outdoor shaded facilities, SLDC is the number one choice for Manhattan kids. Swim, Sports, Arts, Zip Lines, Ropes Course, Trips and Special Events all blend together to make SLDC truly amazing and unique. Discover 30 acres of FUN designed to fit the needs of all campers. The property feels like an overnight camp in Maine yet just minutes from NYC. Unplug, relax and trade concrete for country. Staff is led by professional teachers, coaches and counselors ensuring a 3:1 camper to staff ratio to create an enriching and SAFE environment. Catered lunch, snacks, uniform shirts, and door-to-door, a/c minibus transportation are all included.
if the major isn’t working on a production, they end in a capstone project. If you take video, you might be featured in the camp film festival. If your major is Rock Shop, you can write songs with your band and record them. You can also sew costumes for shows, play in the pit orchestra, or learn how to silkscreen. Minors are non-committal, exploratory electives the campers sign-up for at breakfast each day. Curious what leather-working means? Sign up for the minor! I did, and I ended up making giraffe sculptures. I had so much fun, I ended up majoring in leather-working the following year.
Auditions and New Experiences The first two days of camp are a whirlwind of auditions. Auditions can be stressful, particularly for returning campers who want to place into a higher level dance class or get a bigger part in a musical than the year before. While getting a coveted spot in the cabaret or improv troupe is no easy feat, camp is for learning and auditions are the portal to that experience. I had never been in a circus act before French Woods, but auditions were basic assessments of campers’ strength and flexibility. I tried out on a whim and placed into static trapeze. That experience was catalytic. I found I had a real passion for aerial arts and joined a small circus troupe in
New York City when I got home. Even auditions for theater can be last minute and pressure free. Some campers spend months working on a song with their voice coach, but others sing “Happy Birthday.” My first year, I was too scared to sing in front of other campers, so a head counselor let me audition alone, before the official start time. Regardless of ability or preparation, each camper is taken seriously and given an accompanist, and everyone who auditions for a musical is guaranteed to be cast. Callback lists are taped to the side of the most central theater the following day, and kids wake up at the crack of dawn and huddle in a mob, waiting to storm the theater to see what they got. Ultimately, these crazy days of auditioning become just another camp tradition.
Respect and Autonomy My friend and former bunkmate Tali Natter said, “French Woods is more intense than any normal camp, but it’s still a summer camp.” The bugle sounded at 7:30 a.m. every morning, igniting a cacophony of groans from my 12 bunkmates snuggled in bed. I always got stuck with a top bunk, so it took extra motivation to climb down and get ready for breakfast. Tali would always mobilize and turn on the “Next to Normal” or “Dogfight” original cast album. Soon enough the grog-
giness would fade and we’d be belting show tunes while brushing our teeth. Twice a session, campers are gifted a “lazy day” to take a break from our hectic schedules. Mia Goodman, another friend and former bunkmate, said, “Outside of our bunk there was this beautiful grassy area. I remember someone bringing their guitar, and we’d just lie around and sing.” If it was raining, you might go to a movie. Other times, you could take a trip to see a Broadway show and meet the cast. We also had super bunk clean-ups each session. Winners were taken out for ice cream at The Cow Lick. Some overly zealous bunks had themed cleanups, like “under the sea.” One of my favorite traditions was Brain Freeze night. Each age group would gather for trivia followed by karaoke. At the end of the night, Camp Director Isaac Baumfeld would request “Piano Man” and sing at the top of his lungs. When I asked Mia and Tali what unifies French Woods loyalists, Tali said , “Passionate and driven would be the two words I’d use to describe a typical French Woods kid.” Mia said, “Everyone is artistic in some way.” French Woods is an empowering space, particularly for middle schoolers who are navigating cliques and conformity. At camp, each individual is celebrated for themselves and taken seriously as an artist. This level of respect and autonomy is a
Mitchell & Michelle Kessler, proud residents of the UWS, are the owners/ directors of SLDC since 1989. Nothing compares to a Spring Lake Day Camp summer. Check out www.sldc.com and call us to set up your personal tour today.
gift most young people don’t get to experience until college. Goodman said: “When you go somewhere where everyone is passionate about what you’re passionate about, it changes everything. These people I met five years ago, they’ve stayed in my life.”
Spring Lake Day Camp 234 Conklintown Road, Ringwood NJ 07456 Phone: 973-831-9000 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook
J E S U I T E D U C AT I O N
FORDHAM PREPARATORY SCHOOL HIGHER ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM (HAP)
JUNE 29 TO JULY 29 Applications Open January 2020 For rising 8th graders only Academic Subjects Include Critical Thinking iSTEAM Math Writing
Activities Include Art Languages Music Science Labs Service Project
Sports Clinics Include Baseball Basketball Football Rugby OF CURRENT STUDENTS Track and Field AT FORDHAM PREP Wrestling ATTENDED HAP
43%
fordhamprep.org/hap • 718-367-7500 x263 • HAP@fordhamprep.org
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JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020
CITY CAMPS FOR CITY KIDS! 4 ADVANTAGE CAMPS ON THE EAST SIDE & THE WEST SIDE!
DAY CAMPS
Advantage Day Camp—best day camp in NYC! • Every kind of fun imaginable, for campers 4 to 14 • Swimming, art, gym & field sports, enrichment, STEAM programs & excursions • Rock wall climbing at West Side location • Starts 6/15 East Side, 6/29 on the West Side
Advantage QuickStart Tennis Camp— best introduction to tennis ever! • Customized by age & ability, for campers 4 to 8 • Friendly atmosphere, specialized instruction • Starts 6/15 East Side, 6/15 on the West Side
Advantage STEAM—best summer learning ever! Advantage Junior Tennis Camp— best tennis camp in NYC! • Players 7 to 17 focus on tennis, up close & all summer long! • Drills, games & match play plus swimming • Starts June 8, East Side & West Side
• For children 5 to 9 • Kids explore, discover, collaborate & have fun • Exciting partners for 2020! Kasparov Chess Foundation and Snapology, learning through play with LEGO bricks & more! • Starts 6/15 East Side, 6/29 on the West Side
Pick your Camp. Pick your location. Earn unlimited $25 camp credits!* Choose East Side/Roosevelt Island or West Side/midtown Manhattan Quick & easy to reach NYC locations! Contact Bob Ingersole at bingersole@advantagecamps.net or 212.935.0250
Sign up today at advantagecamps.net * To earn Camp credits, refer a child who is new to Advantage Camps and enrolls. No time limit on referrals.
JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2020
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RESTAURANT INSPECTION RATINGS JANUARY 16 - 22, 2020 The following listings were collected from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s website and include the most recent inspection and grade reports listed. We have included every restaurant listed during this time within the zip codes 10019, 10023, 10024, 10025. Some reports list numbers with their explanations; these are the number of violation points a restaurant has received. Big Apple Cafe
891 Amsterdam Ave
A
Churrascaria Plataforma
316 W 49th St
A
Cravath Cafe
825 8th Ave
A
Ella Kitchen And Bar
249 Columbus Ave
A
Morning Star Restaurant
879 9th Ave
A
Pizza Rollio
1 W 58th St
A
Pj Carney’s
906 7th Ave
A
Shakespeare & Co
2020 Broadway
A
The store features produce and specialty products. Photo: Emily Higginbotham
FAIRWAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The Boilery Seafood 710 Amsterdam Ave And Grill
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The Peninsula New 700 5th Ave York/ Clement/ The Gotham Lounge/ Salon De Ning
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Tsq Brasserie
Not Yet Graded (18) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
858 10th Ave
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Chief Executive Officer for Fairway. About 2,300 Fairway workers in the New York area are represented by UFCW Local 1500, according to a report from the Times. A union representative could not be reached by press time. Fairway has struggled since the Glickberg family, who had owned and operated the chain since it opened as a produce stand in 1933, sold their stake to a private equity firm in 2007. Since then, the company has seen losses as it has expanded outside on New York City and out to Connecticut and New Jersey. In 2016, it filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the first time, and was eventually brought out of it by another investment firm. The grocery stores will remain open during the process and the court will supervise the sale of the remaining markets in the tri-state area.
“Concerned About the Future”
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To the relief of longtime Manhattan customers, Fairway will keep its name and signature, specialty products under the new ownership. “We appreciate that Fairway’s loyal customers are concerned about the future, and if we are successful in our bid, we are committed to
keeping Fairway, including its name, unique product selection and value, a part of this community,” said Robert Sumas, CEO of Village Super Market, Inc. The Sumas family owns and operates Village Super Market, a family run grocery chain that operates 30 ShopRite stores in New Jersey and one location in the Bronx. In 2019, Village purchased three Gourmet Garage stores in Manhattan and has maintained them. On Monday, customers at the Upper West Side location were relieved that Fairway would remain open. Norb Joerder, who has lived on the Upper West Side for 35 years, said that it’s the only true market in the neighborhood. “There’s Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s — but we used to have Westside Market. We used to have D’Agostino’s. They’re all gone,” Joerder said. “We have no choice. This is it.” He did hope that shopping at Fairway might become a more pleasant experience under new ownership, referring to the cramped and crowded aisles. “The little old ladies with their carts who run you over … you might have to gird your loins before you go in there,” he said. Robert Abdoo, who lives on the East Side, agreed with Joerder and hopes that
We used to have Westside Market. We used to have D’Agostino’s. They’re all gone. We have no choice. This is it.” UWS Fairway customer Norb Joerder ShopRite’s ownership will have a positive impact on Fairway and it’s prices. He said he sometimes shops at the Upper East Side location, but often opts to go to the Key Food near his apartment because it’s cheaper. “The prices have really gone up in the last year or two. I don’t know if it’s because of California or what’s going on,” said Abdoo. “I’m hoping with ShopRite — where the prices are lower — that might have an impact.” Another shopper named Ruth (who declined to give her last name) said that what matters most is that Fairway remains open. “I need Fairway. My family needs Fairway,” Ruth said. “I do all of our shopping here.” Ruth was not concerned about ownership changing hands and is confident that Village Super Market won’t make any drastic changes to the iconic grocer. “It’s doing well,” she said. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
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Business
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY IN COMIC BOOKS PUBLISHING
A festival featuring black creators, artists and publishers draws thousands of fans BY CHRISTIAN SPENCER
The Black Comic Book Festival celebrated its eighth annual convention at the Schomburg Center this month, its biggest draw being its promotion of diversity. With about 10,000 attendees over two days, a mostly black gathering of comic fans showed their respect for black comic creators. As New York City’s only exclusively black comic book convention, the free Harlem event at was a creative outlet for people of color to participate in panel discussions, film screenings, cosplay shows, competitions, and exhibits, with representation being its primary objective.
Black Comic Book Professionals
Being a minority in the comic book industry has its challenges, such as being unrecognized and overlooked among predominantly white creators and characters. However, the festival provides a creative outlet for independent comic artists and merchants of color. Andre Batts, who has attended six out of eight events, owns his own publishing company, called Urban Style Comics, in his hometown of Detroit. His creation, Dreadlock, a blind African-American superhero whose powers come from the sun, is a series he has been working on since 1996. Batts said he has been a comic fan for most of his life, and pursued a career in the industry because he felt there was a lack of representation.”There was nothing relating to [African-American] struggles, so I created some-
Joamette Gil holding her comic book, The UnCommons.
thing,“ Batts said. The Festival is one of Batts’ most profitable conventions as a vendor. Considering that his art has been featured at several mainstream conventions, Batts credits his success to convention-goers who appreciate his pro-black themed comics. “It really depends on the crowd, who you’re catering to,“ he said. “An event like this, between 80 and 90 percent will buy [my comics] whereas at [predominantly white conventions], maybe five percent will buy [my comics]. My success comes from the people that I meet. When people hear that I have been doing this for so long, it motivates the youth to go out and do their own thing.” Joamette Gil, a first-timer at the Festival, is a queer Afro-Cuban cartoonist, illustrator, publisher, and writer promoting her comic, The UnCommons. “The UnCommons is the story of a girl named Iris. She is from a fantasy version of Western Africa, where she is from a civilization of magic warriors,“ Gil said. Gil would not be considered a newcomer in the comic scene, having a Prism awardwinning, Kickstarter series called “Power & Magic: The Queer Witch Comics Anthology,“ a collection of short fantasy comics by women of color and woman-aligned, non-binary people of color. But she said the Black Comic Book Festival is important to signal comics like hers for specific people. “I feel having a series like ours, we are creating an intentionally diverse world with a strong black-lead female character, Gil said. “Even though people who want that kind of story exist everywhere and go to conventions
Andre Leroy Davis, Darryl McDaniels (DMC), Dawud Anyabwile Osaze, Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur (front row) and Kadiatou Tubman, manager of Education Programs and Outreach at the Schomburg Center, pose with DMC’s original character, DMC. Photos: Christian Spencer
all over the country, this is a specific space that has been created for that type of person who lacks that kind of representation.”
DMC Another independent creator at the festival was none other than Darryl McDaniels of DMC, a founding member of the legendary hip-hop group Run–D.M.C. The acronym DMC has four definitions: it’s the initials of McDaniels’ real name and his alter ego, Devastating Microphone Control. It also stands for his independent publishing company, Darryl Makes Comics. And, finally, it is the name of his main character and the namesake of the comic series. DMC, the book series, takes place in an alternative uni-
verse set in New York City. Its stark influence of 80s hip-hop culture and contemporary problems during that time gives it superheroes a retro, yet modern feel as it addresses social anxieties with superpowers, i.e. vigilantism vs heroism during the AIDS epidemic. As of now, there are only three DMC comic books available since its first debut in 2014. The character DMC is an Adidas tracksuit and sneakerwearing, masked vigilante who fights with brass knuckles. DMC’s editor-in-chief, Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, has also created his own comic book, La Borinqueña.
La Borinqueña Miranda-Rodriguez is the creator of “Ricanstruction:
Reminiscing & Rebuilding Puerto Rico,“ an anthology featuring contributions from writers and artists from the comic book industry supporting Puerto Rico. In Ricanstruction, Mirdanda-Rodriguez got the chance to collaborate with DC Comics to join forces with La Borinqueña, an Afro-Puerto Rican superheroine who tackles environmental issues. “La Borinqueña is an original superhero I created in 2016 as a direct response to what the real effects of climate change would be in Puerto Rico,” MirandaRodriguez said. “How the current economic crisis which came from a $74 billion debt was actually crippling the island’s way of being and also leading to a humanitarian crisis.”
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BOOK CULTURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 most destructive outcome we had imagined,” Doeblin said on Facebook. “The community surrounding our stores provided a lifeline in lending to us these past six months. That lifeline now sits, wasted, behind the locked doors. Twelve employees who absolutely lived paycheck to paycheck are now out of work.” Doeblin told Straus News that he saw the writing on the wall about 20 years ago, when Amazon starting putting people out of business. According to Doeblin, at one point in 2019, the company, which operates two other stores on the Upper West Side and one in Long Island City, owed four months’ rent, more than $175,000, on the Columbus Ave. store, which is located between 81st and 82nd Sts. For a time, Doeblin explained on Facebook, the landlord “was gracious enough to show the forbearance that allowed us to stay open and make payments while we
clawed our way back to viabili ty.” Then, five days before Christmas, Doeblin said, he received an eviction notice.
A Career in Books Doeblin, 58, who lives on the Upper West Side but grew up in Buffalo, never imagined operating a book business in New York for 20 years. Years ago, after travelling around the U.S. and Europe, he returned to the city and needed a job. He landed one at Papyrus on 114th and Broadway, then worked as the receiving clerk in the basement
A Changing Business When Book Culture launched, Doeblin said, independent bookstores were everywhere. But soon, chains like Barnes & Noble and Borders had them on the endangered species list. The real killer, though, was Amazon, which arrived in full force in 2000. “Books were the first thing that got affected by Amazon,” he said. They were fortunate to be near Columbia University, he said, and they eventually expanded. They began to offer more items, such as children’s books, but sales continued to decline. “We tried to grow and change, and I think every business has to,” Doeblin said. But it wasn’t enough.
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Book Culture owner Chris Doeblin. Photo: Emily Higginbotham
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of the old Book Forum, which was located across from the main gate of Columbia on Broadway. In 1997 Doeblin and his partner at the time, Cliff Simms, founded Labyrinth Books t 536 West 112th. A decade later, Book Culture became an independent company when Doeblin bought out his partners. He said that unlike some first-time businessmen, he wasn’t scared. “When I was growing up, I hitchhiked all over the country,” he explained. “I slept under bridges. So having a job and owning a business was small potatoes.”
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YOUR 15 MINUTES
‘THE UNIMAGINABLE DID HAPPEN’ HISTORY
Theatrical virtuoso Eleanor Reissa marshals her writing, stage skills and family history as the daughter of Holocaust survivors to make sure the 20th century’s darkest chapter is never forgotten BY DOUGLAS FEIDEN
She’s been dubbed the “Jewish Beyonce” and the “Reigning Queen of the Yiddish Cabaret.” She’s a singer, actress, playwright, choreographer, librettist, translator, memoirist, Tony-nominated director, and master of the Great Yiddish Songbook – and her credits include Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theater, film, TV, improv and stand-up. Eleanor Reissa has performed in Carnegie Hall and Town Hall, Paris and Warsaw, and she served from 1998 to
2003 as artistic director of the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene. That vast creative output is only part of her life story. The Brooklyn-born, Upper West Sider, product of the city’s public school system and graduate of Brooklyn College, is the daughter of Polishborn Holocaust survivors. She’s also the narrator and host of a new podcast, “Those Who Were There: Voices from the Holocaust,” which taps first-hand testimony from the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies at Yale University. On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Monday, Jan. 27, which is observed as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we chatted about the imperative to remember, why for decades the victims rarely spoke of the inferno, the horrors her own family endured – and even bringing the dead back to life. Excerpts:
To read about other people who have had their “15 Minutes” go to westsidespirit.com/15 minutes
In our first conversation, you said this: “I knew them, I touched them, I loved them, I kissed them.” Who were you talking about? I was talking about all the refugees, the Jews who lived through the war, whose mother tongue was Yiddish, who loved and lived simply and directly. They were a community of not only relatives but friends of family and were plentiful in my life. They were in the bungalow colony in the Catskills, in the shul, in the grocery store. All over. They once walked the earth, like dinosaurs.
After all this time, why do the survivor stories matter now? It was such an unspeakable event, such an inhuman event, such an impossible event, that we need to know that it was indeed possible. The unimaginable did happen. The stories in the podcast, told by the people who lived through that nightmare, puts a face on the horror. It shows the humanity of the inhumanity. The crime didn’t happen to faceless numbers. It was the murder and destruction of specific human beings, men, women, children, who loved and were loved, who cooked and painted and sang. They were alive – in the wrong place at the wrong time. What happens when we find ourselves in such a place? These real-life stories honor those who fought like hell to live to tell the tale. It is from them we will learn to beware of the signs of such things happening again, although I suspect we are blind to the marching boots until they march directly to our own door.
Is that why we remember this dark past?
A two-year-old Eleanor Reissa with her father, Chaskel Schlusselberg, an Auschwitz survivor, in the East New York section of Brooklyn.
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Millions of people, my own father, lived in an unimaginable hell created by mankind, in an indescribably grotesque situation, and that such a thing could happen in a so-
Singer-actress-director Eleanor Reissa at the Kurt Weill Festival in Dessau, Germany. She brings her perspective as the daughter of Holocaust survivors to a new podcast, “Those Who Were There: Voices from the Holocaust,” which she narrates and hosts. Photos courtesy of Eleanor Reissa called civilized, modern society must always be remembered so it never happens again.
In the blink of an eye, the survivors will be gone. Your podcast offers a last chance to meet them. Tell us about it. At one time, not so long ago, these survivors walked the face of the earth. You could meet them and speak to them. But they are disappearing. The end of that era is approaching. “Those Who Were There” keeps the voices of the survivors and witnesses alive and offers us the miracle of their company, and with it, their insight and knowledge, their heart and soul. It’s an enormous opportunity, not to be missed, and it’s free and available to everyone.
The survivors we meet endured the worst atrocities on earth. Yet they waited decades to tell their stories. Why? I think time had to pass before the survivors themselves could actually speak about it. They were broken and
ashamed and guilty and bereft. With what words could they speak? Primo Levi came as close as anyone I know in his “What is Man?” The world wasn’t ready either. It didn’t want to know. Why? Their own shame? How much reallife horror can one bear?
Your own father, Chaskel Schlusselberg, barely talked of his ordeal at Auschwitz. What do you know of his story? He really didn’t speak about it. One or two small details. About how he slept on his shoes so they wouldn’t be stolen, and that someone once gave him bread that helped save him. I asked about it, but it was clearly a source of pain to him, so I didn’t want to inflict anymore upon him. I always felt that it was my job to cheer him up, to make his life better. I found out later, years after his death in 1976, that he was in Auschwitz from 19431945 and was on the death march, that he had another daughter with his first wife, who were both killed; that he managed to send his son to safety on a kinder transport to
England in 1938. Before the war, he was a vibrant, active man. Here in the USA he was a broken man – a sweatshop worker who was always “the other.”
Once upon a time, the world turned its back on the Jews. Two words, “Never again,” became a mantra. Are we doing enough to ensure it never happens again? Clearly not. I’m afraid there are some people who think “never again” only applies to their own people, their own religion or ethnicity. I’m afraid they don’t understand that “never again” applies to those who are made to feel as though they are “others” – strangers on this earth and vulnerable to the cruelties of powerful men. invreporter@strausnews.com
This interview has been edited and condensed for space. To read the complete version of the conversation with Reissa, go to westsidespirit.com.
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K T K Y R T M F D S L F A R Y
Z B D X E C V R O N R T X N N
J O I R N O V V K I T L M F D
X J S H O U E C D O Y F E A A
O M H S S N B G A T Z N D U P
O Q W A V T E O L B X L R C L
E B A R Q E I G T L I Z A E F
U T S H W R P U M T D N W T O
U I H Z U S P A T U L A E S P
8
G L E N O J A Q D J J E R T P
The puzzle contains the following words. They may be diagonal, across, or up and down in the grid in any direction.
A E R E H T C E U Z V T S S S
Bottles Cabinets Counter Dishwasher Drawers Faucets Fridge Island Kettle Knobs Oven Sink Spatula Tile Toaster
ANSWERS D
A
H
I
L
S
E
P
47 42
43
44
E
48
T
R
F
L
N
U
S
K
R
A
N O
E
T
T
I
U
K
27 21
22
O
L R
H S
28
12 1
2
E
L 4
I
Y
19
P
D
E
E
26
E
A
31
C O
U
N
S 7
U
E 8
E
L
32
T S
33
N K
A
13
C
D
I
20
R
16 6
I
25
A
54
E W
G A M U
30
D
S
N
53
35
T
C O Y
5
N
Z
S
N
N
52 41
38
24
A N
D
37
E
51
T
46
A
40
A
23 3
O
A 29 18
15
H
50
P
45
A
A
34
A O
39 36
R
49
T
C
D
I
17
A
14 9
P
W E 10
K S E D
11
Y N C U M K S H G M B L S C G
K T K Y R T M F D S L F A R Y
Z B D X E C V R O N R T X N N
J O I R N O V V K I T L M F D
X J S H O U E C D O Y F E A A
O M H S S N B G A T Z N D U P
O Q W A V T E O L B X L R C L
E B A R Q E I G T L I Z A E F
U T S H W R P U M T D N W T O
U I H Z U S P A T U L A E S P
G L E N O J A Q D J J E R T P
A E R E H T C E U Z V T S S S
5 9
1 7
4
3
6 2
8 4 5
7 3 1
9 6
8
2
6 2 8 1 3 9 7 5 4
3 6 2 5 8 4 1 9 7
4 8 1 9 7 3 6 2 5
9 5 7 2 1 6 8 4 3
7 3 9 4 6 2 5 8 1
2 1 5 3 9 8 4 7 6
8 4 6 7 5 1 2 3 9
29. ____ Grey 31. “Right on!” 32. Time magazine cofounder 33. Stash 37. A can __ person 38. Microwave 40. Rake over the coals 42. Furnished with footwear 43. Retreat 44. One way to stand by 46. Holier ___ thou 48. Easter item 49. LA player from the 80’s 51. Running bird 52. Fish-fowl connection 53. Some fraternity men 54. It often appears to the right of you
W P N S K B X O O I Y X N G F
Q V I V L O Z A C H S O G M G
60
K E T T L E L H P T B X H K W
W P N S K B X O O I Y X N G F
59
2
WORD SEARCH by Myles Mellor
K E T T L E L H P T B X H K W
58
54
E
57
53
R
56
52
U
55
51
S
50
R
48
48. Stat for Clemens 50. Reddish-brown 55. Engine need 56. Beano’s target 57. French love 58. Ironic 59. Universal time 60. Hospital figure Down 1. Hobby shop buy 2. Beehive state native 3. Curry side 4. L___ and Stitch 5. Lip-___ 6. Cottage cheese, i.e. 7. Dos Passos trilogy 8. Day’s end, in poetry 9. Dry riverbed 10. Monumental 11. Writing surface 19. Granola bit 20. Work the dough 21. “By yesterday!” 22. Hold sway over 23. Nautical measure 25. Circumference ratio 26. Nervously irritable 28. Mine tunnel
6
Level: Medium
46
47
Across 1. Model and actress, the face of Dior in 2012, Mila ____ 6. Hint 9. Tie the knot 12. Soccer 2006 Word Cup winners 13. Practice 14. A mimic 15. Carpentry joint 16. Didn’t hold 17. Insult, in slang 18. Atlantic catch 20. Gun’s recoil 21. Genesis vessel 24. Poplar variety 27. Cliched movie ending 30. Worthy principles 34. Maui greeting 35. Full range 36. Firecracker 38. Louisiana dance music 39. Plant life 41. Fresh, in terms of paint 42. Open, as an envelope 45. Decide 47. Featured
49
5
41
U
45
9 5
8
38 40
44
4
9
A M O
43
1
7
N
39
7
4 6
4
57
37
5 8
1
35
36
42
32
6
60
34
31
1
T
29
26
7
S
28
25
3
G A
27
24
7
G M
23
9
4
56
22
20
Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9X9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3X3 squares. To solve the puzzle each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult.
59
21
19
11
Y
18
10
L
7
I
6
R
5
D
4
O
3
SUDOKU by Myles Mellor and Susan Flanagan
by Myles Mellor
55
2
CROSSWORD
58
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