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REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 13, 2016
COMING HOME Hometown Girl Returns, Takes Apple
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BY ANDE RICHARDS
ur trip started off in the usual way, we met two hours before departure at the United Airlines terminal. Everything was going smoothly until I turned around to see Richard talking to a TSA representative. His face revealed no emotion, but he appeared to be sweating. He had warned me on the ride to the airport that he applied for his ID, but it just hadn’t arrived yet. Some long minutes later Richard joined us at the baggage inspection only to submit to what he described as a gentle but thorough body search. Headhunters and Cannibals It was a quick trip to the Big Apple, spent mostly uptown in the Theatre District where the College Media Advisor’s convention “NYC 16” took place. Five Collegian buddies and myself went there to attend workshops, check out the work of other student journalists, pay visits to notable media outlets and attend the NYC 16 Apple Awards. That being said, we managed to have some fun. Prior to checking in, we spent time in nearby Central Park where we enjoyed a gorgeous spring day. We took in the beauty of the park and watched people jog, ice skate, play chess and sit in the sun. We splintered off at one point, and my friend Richard and I walked around until we found ourselves at the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) – we had to go inside. I’ve been to the Met many times, but its magnificence never gets old. This time, I entered the $18.3 million Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. This particular installation displays hundreds of objects from Oceania. Rockefeller disappeared in 1961 while on expedition to collect artifacts made by the New Guinea tribesmen, the Asmat, who are known for headhunting and cannibalism. I was awestruck by the 20-foot ceremonial poles carved with fertility figures, which were collected by Rockefeller on his final trip, as well as the re-creation of a ceremonial house, and the boats the tribe used to traverse their islands, which cover over 1/3 of the earth. Tired from a long trip, and the long walk to the museum, and the walking inside the museum, we decided it was time to head back to the hotel. To our horror, we quickly realized it was at least 30-blocks away. As we painfully hobbled down Fifth Avenue, we noticed the trademark blue of Citibikes. These bikes were introduced into the city landscape a few years ago and are for rent to anyone 16 years or older. Citibikes can be rented daily, weekly, or annually for just $95 and are accessible 24/7, 365 days a year. Strategically placed in various parts of the city and New Jersey, they provide residents and visitors an alternate way to navigate the metropolis. However, we bypassed them, and opted to walk the 30 blocks so we could admire the architecture and the beautiful people – groups of families, friends and tourists of all nationalities and ages joyfully co-existing. Cutlines and First Amendment Rights Back at the hotel, we checked in and strategized our time for the next couple days of workshops and media tours. We were able to attend the NYC 16 convention because of scholarship money we had in the bank, which was matched by a donation from our LACC Foundation. It was money well spent. The workshops covered a wide range of material, but the most interesting topics spoke to the craft of journalistic writing and to the rights of journalists. “Breathing Life into your Cutlines,” stands out along with another workshop that creatively tackled an ongoing issue student journalists face, “Celebrating the Five Freedoms on your Campus,” a review of First Amendment rights and how to teach others about them.
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WORKSHOPS COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF MATERIAL, BUT THE MOST INTERESTING TOPICS SPOKE TO THE CRAFT OF JOURNALISTIC WRITING AND TO THE RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS.”
PHOTOS BY ANDE RICHARDS AND CURTIS SABIR/COLLEGIAN
Clockwise from left: Families stroll down Fifth Avenue in New York City on a bright spring morning on Saturday, March 14, 2016. The Los Angeles Collegian wins the Apple Award for “Best Two-Year College Newspaper” at the NYC16 College Media Advisor’s Convention. “I was so proud of the work we did covering the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. The spirit of our hard work and sincere dedication to our neighbors could not be beat,” said Collegian Opinions Editor Ande Richards. Passengers chat on the southbound E train in Manhattan. One of the oldest public transport systems, the New York City subway has been in operation since 1904. Collegian Editor-in-Chief Sorina Szakacs walks through Manhattan’s Times Square. Times Square is a continuous of hub of activity and is home to the one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world. The Halal Guys are so popular fans of their food created a website devoted to their fare. Patrons patiently wait in line to order their meals on 53rd and 6th Avenue in Manhattan’s Theatre District.
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THE NEXT DAY I WAS UP EARLY TO VISIT THE VILLAGE VOICE. THE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 80 YEARS, AND I REMEMBER IT FOR IT SGREAT MOVIE REVIEWS, CLUB REPORTS, AND MICHAEL MUSTO’S ICONIC COLUMN. ALWAYS REBELLIOUS AND INFORMATIVE, FOR ME, THE VOICE WAS A MUST-READ.” A Rainy Day in Chelsea/Oxtails and Old Friends
In between putting the newspaper to bed, attending workshops and media tours, I took little bites out of the city. I met with a friend and headed to the new Highline Park, which is built above ground on what used to be an old train depot. This site was new to me, so I was excited to check it out. What wasn’t new to me was my old friend: the subway. One swipe of our metro cards and we were on our way. After climbing what seemed to be an eternity of steps, which my friend decided to take two at a time, we ended up in Chelsea. It was a raining and the atmosphere was calm, romantic. Our walk culminated with a stop at an old pub where my friend drank a hot toddy and chatted up the regulars, and I sipped on Early Grey tea and observed the interactions. Later that day I went to visit the Emmy-award-winning ProPublica, an independent, non-profit, newsroom focused on investigative journalism. Our group of about 15 people learned about their notable projects and collaborations. We had the opportunity to ask questions about anything related to the media industry – and we did, ask and ask. After our visit, I decided to walk around the Soho neighborhood a bit. I ended up at “Miss Lily’s,” a Jamaican restaurant where I met up with two friends; it seems, from two past lives. One, a childhood friend I grew up with in the Bronx, and the other, from the time spent in London. I was disappointed by my meal. The traditional sides that come with oxtail, rice and peas, cabbage and plantains were now reduced to a trendy à la Carte presentation of lonely oxtail stew – minimal and sad. Luckily my friends were quite the opposite, filled with life and happiness. Peep Shows and Candy When I returned to the hotel, my Collegian friends and I took a stroll to Times Square. It was all lights, theatre marquees and shops. Although it’s a different Times Square than the one I grew up with, it still retains its magic. Once upon a time, peep shows would take all of your cash, now it’s the M&M store. Brightly colored, the M&M store, like the candy, gives you a sugar high just being inside. In addition to a multitude of M&M merchandise, you can buy their candy in bulk. They have what appeared to be 9-foot silos; each filled with a variety of M&Ms – plain, peanut, crunchy, peanut butter. You are the proverbial kid in a candy store. Richard misread the pricing for the bags, he thought it was per pound, but it was per half pound. His bag was filled to the rim; he had almost $50 of M&M’s. We left the store shortly thereafter, sans the goodies. Rebels and Icons The next day I was up early to visit the Village Voice. The weekly newspaper has been around for 80 years, and I remember it for its great movie reviews,
club reports and Michael Musto’s iconic column. Always rebellious, and informative, for me, the Voice was a must-read. The visit to the Voice did not disappoint. The staff was warm and generous with their knowledge, and I was encouraged to discover that their content was still provocative and inspirational. Their March 2 issue featured a cartoon of the late Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia on the cover. The article, “The Post-Scalia Crisis,” alludes to possible dark undertones in our judicial system sub-culture. After the Voice visit I should have headed back up town to attend the awards, but the city had me in its grasp. I left the Voice and walked around the Financial District neighborhood where their offices are located. I saw the Sept. 11 Memorial with the names of the fallen engraved in bronze panels. I stood momentarily listening to the eternal rhythm of the waterfalls pouring into the hole that marks the spot where the towers fell. The magnificent One World Trade Center is truly awesome. I felt the strength of the longstanding and resolute St. Paul’s Chapel; Manhattan’s oldest public building in continuous use – witness to the great fire of 1776, host to George Washington on inauguration day and survivor of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks reads the plaque at the entry gate to the church. As I walked uptown, I noticed an unfamiliar street name, and as I stood there trying to figure out how this new name came to be, a voice a few feet away asked me what I was looking for. I wasn’t looking for anything per se, I was just lost in my thoughts about how the city has changed, and yet remained the same. New York City. The city I grew up in, the most famous, the most loved and the most envied. Sorry Paris. The voice I heard was that of a policeman sitting in his squad car, and he was doing what I remember cops doing when I was young – he was being helpful.
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NEW YORK STILL HAS ITS MAGIC, ALBEIT TINGED WITH A BIT OF SADNESS. MAYBE IT WAS THE RAIN, OR MY NOSTALGIA, BUT THE APPLE IS STILL SWEET AND TEMPTING.” Burgers, Udon, Falafel and an Apple
Once again I traveled uptown, and as I walked someone handed me a coupon for a meal. It was perfect timing, as I had not eaten breakfast, so I went into the restaurant and ordered an Angus beef burger, delicious, but a wee small. This would not be a trip remembered for its meals, with one exception, the Halal Guys food cart on 53rd and 6th street. When I first spied the truck, I noticed people in business suits waiting in a quickly moving line. Then, barely a few feet from the cart, they would perch themselves on the side of the building to eat their meal. Large bowls of perfectly prepared rice cradled falafel for vegetarians, and chicken and beef for meat eaters. They were served with a side of special white sauce, or if your adventurous a very, very, hot sauce. Both versions are complemented with a modest salad of lettuce and tomato, and garnished with strips of pita bread. For the price of $7, I enjoyed two meals, Richard, blissfully ate his in one sitting and made a mad dash back to the cart before we left for the airport so he could get a gyro for the trip back to L.A. – he’s still talking about the Halal Guys’ food. Before I left I wanted to connect once more with my childhood friend Jacqui. I met up with her at a Japanese market and restaurant where we noshed on traditional Udon soup and dried seaweed. It was almost time to leave when I got the news: we won the Apple Award for “Best Two-Year College Newspaper,” a perfect way to end our trip. New York still has its magic, albeit tinged with a bit of sadness. Maybe it was the rain, or my nostalgia, but the apple is still sweet and tempting.