Issuu

YOUR WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CHELSEA, HUDSON YARDS & HELL’S KITCHEN

Port Authority Plans Reignite Displacement Concerns BY YANNIC RACK The Port Authority is moving ahead with its plans to build a new bus terminal in Hell’s Kitchen, thwarting hopes by local residents and Community Board 4 (CB4) that the agency might erect a new commuter station across the river in New Jersey instead — and thereby steer clear of displacing longtime residents and businesses in the West Side neighborhood. At a meeting last month, the agency’s board of commissioners voted to replace the “aging and outmoded current facility” with a brandnew terminal, whatever its cost, but did not Continued on page 6

Community Counseled on Preventable Crimes BY SEAN EGAN The community came out in full force — two-dozen strong — on Wed., Mar. 30, to attend the 10th Precinct’s monthly Community Council meeting. While the precinct’s commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Michelle Irizarry, was absent due to a prior engagement, Executive Officer Captain Angel Figueroa took the podium and helmed the session capably. He opened the meeting by noting to the standing-room-only crowd that the precinct was down almost 20% in crime for the year so far. In addition, he stated that enforcement was up, particularly singling out traffic violations, Continued on page 7

‘STRIKE A POSE’

AT THE TRIBECA FILM FESTVAL

A documentary catching up with dancers from Madonna’s 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour is just one of the 21 films featured in the preview that starts on page 16.

Photo by Tom LeGoff, courtesy HBO

“Class Divide” collaborators Marc Levin and Daphne Pinkerson on the High Line with Elliot-Chelsea Houses residents Rosa and Joel.

Side by Side and Worlds Apart:

‘Class Divide’ Gets to the Heart of Today’s Chelsea BY EILEEN STUKANE Rosa does gymnastic twists on the Elliott-Chelsea playground bars as she expounds the wisdom of an eightyear-old: “I hate money. I hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate money…People fight over money, and I hate that they fight over money. Money was made by the Devil, I think, because God didn’t say, ‘Oh, you have to pay for this.’ ” The words from the Book of Isaiah, “and a little child will lead them,” could be the subtitle of the Blowback Productions documentary “Class Divide,” which engages children on both sides of 10th Ave. between W. 25th and W. 26th Sts. — those growing up in the Elliott-Chelsea Houses on the east side and those attending the private Avenues, The World School on the west — and lets them speak in their own voices about lives that are close geographically but worlds apart economically. Anyone watching “Class Divide” during its upcoming run at the IFC Center (Apr. 13–19) will learn more from the soulful

insights of the young in this film about the rapidly changing West Side, the effects of income inequality, and the gentrification of Chelsea, than they will from the many urban economists who write books and give speeches. The result can be emotionally charged. Originally created as an HBO documentary, “Class Divide” will air on that premium cable channel in the fall. The movie won a 2015 DOC NYC Grand Jury prize, which included the IFC theatrical release that is part of the qualifying process for Academy Award eligibility. Blowback director/producer Marc Levin and producer Daphne Pinkerson had produced two other documentaries for HBO that focused on the way global economic forces touched the lives of real people: “Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags,” about the risk and fall of the Garment Center, and “Hard Times: Lost on Long Island,” about

Continued on page 2 VOLUME 08, ISSUE 13 | APRIL 07 - 13, 2016

Chelsea-Based Documentarians Turn Their Focus to Neighborhood Disparities

Photos by Tom LeGoff, courtesy HBO

Juwan (left) and Brandon with “Class Divide” producer Daphne Pinkerson.

side and the projects on the other!’ Then we said, ‘Maybe what we’ve been looking for is right here where we live.’ ” Levin and Pinkerson went to Hudson Guild. One introduction led to another and they met Juwan, Brandon, Danny, Rosa, Joel and others. At Avenues, one student introduction led to another until Isabella, Sophie, Nick, Luc, Yasemin and others agreed to talk to them. The understanding, empathy and parallel life experiences the filmmakers found reveal the humanity that can get lost in policy debates over economics. Juwan’s mother and brother died when he was young. Across the street at Avenues, Isabella’s mother died when she was barely 10. Juwan says, “It’s not your fault if you’re born poor, but it is if you die poor.” At Avenues, 16-year-old Edgar says, “I think anyone who goes to a school like this feels the pressure to succeed in life, to get As, to get a good job.” On each side of the street, children express concern about how they are perceived by the other. At Elliott-Chelsea,

Continued from page 1 unemployment after the Crash of 2008. “Class Divide” is the completion of a trilogy, and it manages to cover a lot of ground — income inequality, housing, gentrification, immigration, education, the history of Chelsea, hopes, and dreams — in a 74-minute running time that never feels crowded. Last week, the two producers spoke with Chelsea Now from their W. 26th St. production office, where they recalled the moment of inspiration for “Class Divide” — watching a scene unfold on the spur of the High Line, in view of the ElliottChelsea Houses and Avenues School. “We had looked at the tech bubble and gentrification in San Francisco, Florida where the housing crisis had hit hard,” says Levin, “and watching all the tourists taking photos and speaking in French, Italian, Chinese, we looked at each other and said, ‘Do they even know what’s in that frame? Avenues on one

Manhattan Cat Specialists Your Cat Deserves Expert Feline Care

$25 OFF

First veterinary appointment *When you mention Chelsea Now. Offer good for new client’s first appointment only.

Feline-Only Full Service, including:

Open 7 Days a Week In-Clinic and House Calls

Physical Exams - Diagnostics & Labwork Dentistry - Spay/Neuter - Surgery - Vaccinations Pharmacy - Diets - End-of-Life Care

230 W 76th Street | 212–721–2287 | www.manhattancats.com

April 07 - 13, 2016

Yasemin, a student at Avenues School whose “115 Steps” project brought the two sides of the street together.

Hyisheem, who by the end of the film has graduated from college and is progressing to a masters degree in social work, offers a profound personal reflection: “It’s not racism here, it’s classism. They don’t care what color you are. It’s the fact that you don’t have what they have. I can go up to an African-American male, a doctor say, from Cornell or Harvard, and he will look at me like anyone else will look at me — as a kid from the projects.”

THE WEST SIDE LAND RUSH The push by landlords and developers to make life as uncomfortable as possible for rent-regulated tenants, through tactics that include harassment by construction, the shutting-off of cooking gas, and the falsification of Department of Buildings permits, has succeeded in causing an exodus of low-and-middle-class wage earners, and a head-spinning influx of high-wage earners and foreign investors into newly renovated or newly constructed buildings. Meanwhile, the 2,400 residents of Elliott-Chelsea public housing pay 30% of their income for rent, which averages about $436 a month, according to New York City census data. The latest Manhattan Market Rental Report notes that a Chelsea studio apartment without a doorman averages $2,400 a month, while a studio with a doorman is about $3,200. Mayor de Blasio’s Tale of Two Cities paradigm for describing the NYC class dynamic is more powerful than ever. The children in Elliott-Chelsea attend free public school or low-cost parochial school. The children in Avenues go to classes that cost over $47,000 a year in tuition. Even when one thinks he or she

may be getting a boost in crossing the divide, there can be downsides. Brandon, who works as a doorman near Lincoln Center, grew up in Elliott-Chelsea, gained an apartment in a neighborhood luxury building through an affordable housing lottery, and thought he was doing well. He explains in the film that in the upscale building where he lives, people have locked their doors when he walked down the hall or looked at him as if he didn’t belong there. These are real, on-theground issues that affordable housing policies just do not address. In “Class Divide,” Clinton Housing Development Company Executive Director Joe Restuccia explains: “In the ways of gentrification and what’s happening on the West Side, always the new residents have integrated into the neighborhood. This is different. This is trying to create a new identity for what our neighborhood is. The development you see here has all happened since 2005. There has been a land rush west of 10th Ave., and there has also been the museum of architectural innovation. Every building is trying to outdo each other.” The High Line has driven a real estate boom in Chelsea, as has the development of Hudson Yards, which in “Class Divide” Restuccia calls “Our Hong Kong on the Hudson. There are going to be 13 residential buildings, some of which are 60 to 90 stories.”

CROSSING THE DIVIDE Nevertheless, hope springs forth. Yasemin Smallens, who was a 17-year-old junior at Avenues during the making of “Class Divide,” undertook a project she calls “115 Steps” (115steps.com), named for the number of steps it took to walk across 10th Ave. from Avenues School to Elliott-Chelsea Houses. Her aim was to start a dialogue between Avenues and ElliottChelsea through photographs and interviews with students. The filmmakers captured her making connections with Juwan and others as they learned about each other. “The interviews weren’t, ‘Tell me what you think about Avenues and the community, what you think about gentrification,’” says Yasemin today. “I asked those questions, but more than that, it was interesting to see the people being human, getting their biographies and showing the similarities, the shared experiences that exist on both sides of 26th Street, because there are a lot of things about being a teenager that I think both sides can kind of relate to; general struggles.”

Continued on page 13 .com

• Instructores con experiencia •Enfermeria Asistente de Salud domicillaria • Instructores con experiencia a •• Auxiliar de EFFICIENT CARE Auxiliar de Enfermeria 40 Hour Instructor Development Course estar estarcertificado certificado se seofrece ofrece diario. diario. ent CourseCENTER • Cursos de Dia y TRAINING CENTER TRAINING TRAINING CENTER aa division of EFFICIENT CARE • Electrocardiosram y filebotomia division of •• C ursos de Dia yyCENTER de Noche • Assistimos en buscar trabajo TRAINING CENTER • Assistimos en buscar trabajo C ursos Dia& de Noche TRAINING CENTER EFFICIENT CARE TRAINING CENTER Instructors: Tom Flynn Loveridge EFFICIENT CARE TRAINING Loveridge Instructors: Tomde Flynn & Bob Loveridge de Loveridge •Bob •experiencia Asistente Asistente deSalud Saluddomicillaria domicillaria le TRAINING CENTER • Instructores co • Auxiliar de Enfermeria • Instructores con • Instructores con experiencia OPENING eza Jacket ••Electrocardiosram Electrocardiosram filebotomia •• Assistimos buscar trabajo •en Cursos de Dia y de Noche yyfilebotomia SuSu Futuro Empieza • Assistimos en b Futuro Empieza Jacket Assistimos en buscar trabajo aa division Home Health Aid Training Su Futuro Empieza division of of Name Name Su Futuro Empieza • Instructores con experiencia • • Auxiliar Auxiliar de de Enfermeria Enfermeria Starts NOW! NT CARE Starts NOW! AHORA! a division of EKG & Phlebotomy 4C EFFICIENT EFFICIENT CARE 4C 6 6x x 5.69 5.69 para AHORA! es? EFFICIENT CARECARE • Assistimos ende buscar trabajo a division of AHORA! • • C C ursos ursos de Dia Dia y y de de Noche Noche G CENTER CNA CNA Courses Courses Cada curso tiene que necesitas para AHORA! TRAINING CENTER CENTER io.TRAINING RAINING CENTER ••Instructores Instructores con conexperiencia experiencia Your Future Starts NOW! Cada curso tiene que necesitas para 54-06 Myrtle Avenue, 2nd Fl. estar certificado se ofrece diario. 54-06 Myrtle Avenue, 2nd Fl. We We have have NYS NYS DCJS DCJS mandated mandated Security Security Guard Guard Training Training Courses: Courses: •• 8 8 Hour Hour Pre-Assignment Pre-Assignment Training Training Course Course •• 16 16 Hour Hour On On the the Job Job Training Training Course Course •• 8 8 Hour Hour Annual Annual In-Service In-Service aa division of division of Specialty Specialty Courses: Courses: •• Fire Fire Guard Guard Prep Prep Class Class

aining Courses: raining Courses: ourse ourse s Home s Home Health Health Aide Aide Training Training rse rse

Class be Class be certified certified is is offered offered daily. daily. ED ED gg Courses) Experienced Courses) Experienced Instructors Instructors

aa division division of of

•• OSHA OSHA 10 10 •• OSHA OSHA 30 30 •CPR •CPR // AED AED

ance Provided tance Provided

Accesible a traves de: a division of estar certificado se ofrece diario. sitas para M M o Cada curso tiene que necesitas para 168-25 Jamaica Avenue Fl.Empieza Ridgewood, NY 11385 •• Asistente domicillaria • • Assistimos Assistimos en en buscar buscar trabajo trabajo Ridgewood, NYEvery 11385 course Asistente de de Salud Saludse domicillaria you need to be Q58, Q55, B52, Every course you need to be estar certificado ofrece diario. Q58, Q55, B52, EFFICIENT CARE TRAINING CENTER TRAINING CENTER B26, B54 • Electrocardiosram y filebotomia Jamaica, NY 11432 54-06 Myrtle Avenue, u Futuro Empieza diario. B26, B54 • Electrocardiosram y filebotomia 54-06 Myrtle Avenue, 2nd 2nd Fl. Fl. Cada curso tiene que necesitas para certified is offered daily 718-307-7141 certified is offered daily Accesible a traves de: M estar certificado se ofrece diario. 54-06 Myrtle Avenue, 2nd Fl. Su SuFuturo Futuro54-06 Empieza Empieza Accesible a traves de: 2nd Fl. M • Asistente dedeSalud domicillaria Myrtle Avenue, ORA! Avenue, 2nd Fl. 54-06 Ridgewood, NY •• Auxiliar Enfermeria 54-06••Myrtle Myrtle Su AHORA! Ridgewood, NY 11385 11385 Auxiliar de Enfermeria pieza Home Health Aid Su Futuro FuturoaEmpieza Empieza Q58, Q55, Ridgewood, NY pieza AHORA! HomeAvenue, Health2nd AidFl. M Q58, Q55, B52, B52, Ridgewood, NY 11385 11385 a division division of of M a a division division of of 718-609-1674 B26, Ridgewood, NY 11385 • C ursos de Dia y de Noche • Asistente de Salud domicillaria • Electrocardiosram y filebotomia B26, B54 B54 NYPhlebotomy 11385 •• EKG estar certificado se ofrece diario. • C ursos de Dia y de Noche 718-307-7141 Q58, Q55, B52, EKG & & Phlebotomy 718-307-7141 AHORA! Ridgewood, Q58, Q55, B52, 718-307-7141 B26, • Instructores con experiencia • CNA Course B26, B54 B54 Accesible a traves de: LL

a division of

Accesible Accesible aa traves traves de: de:

Accesible Accesible aa traves traves de: de: LL

M LL Q58, Q58, Q55, Q55, B52, B52, B26, Cada B26, B54 B54 paraestar Cada curso curso tiene tiene que que necesitas necesitas paraestar certiﬁcado certiﬁcado se se ofrece ofrece diario. diario.

AHORA! AHORA!

araestar certiﬁcado paraestar certiﬁcado se se ofrece ofrece diario. diario.

necesitas para Siguenos • Instructores con experiencia aue 718-307-7141 • en: CNA Course • Electrocardiosram • Auxiliar de Enfermeria en: 54-06 y filebotomia Asistente de salud Siguenos iaria 54-06 Myrtle Myrtle Avenue, Avenue, 2nd 2nd Fl. Fl. Accesible Asistente • deAsistente salud domiciliaria domiciliaria de Salud iaria Accesible aa traves traves de: de:domicillaria •• Assistimos • • Day 54-06 Myrtle Assistimos en en buscar buscar trabajo trabajo Day and and Evening Evening Courses Courses (Cursos de Myrtle Avenue, Avenue, 2nd 2nd Fl. Fl. (Cursos de de Dia Dia yy 54-06 de Noche) Noche) M Ridgewood, NY 11385 erso ofrece diario. • C ursos de Dia y de Noche M Ridgewood, NY 11385 Siguenos en: Siguenos en: Ridgewood, NY 11385 • Auxiliar de Enfermeria • Experienced instructors tiene que necesitas• Experienced para instructors Instructores con experiencia Ridgewood, NY 11385 Siguenos ia Q58, Instructores con experiencia Siguenos en: en: ia Q58, Q55, Q55, B52, B52, •enElectrocardiosram y filebotomia aa division B26, division of of micillaria A •• Job provided Assistimos buscar trabajo B26, B54 B54 • Instructores con experiencia 718-307-7141 omicillaria jo Job assistance assistance provided Assistimos en718-307-7141 buscar trabajo jo Siguenos en: • C ursos de Dia y de Noche Siguenos en: rtificado ofrece diario. da da curso cursose tiene tiene que que necesitas necesitas para para CARE filebotomia • Auxiliar de Enfermeria • Assistimos en buscar trabajo filebotomia TRUCTOR EFFICIENT aa division division of of

TRUCTOR e de Salud domicillaria

aa division division of of

EFFICIENT CARE

• Assistimos en buscar trabajo

• Instructores con experiencia de Salud domicillaria aae EFFICIENT CARE ent Course ar ar certificado certificado se se ofrece ofrece diario. diario. • CSiguenos ursosen: Siguenos en:de Dia y de Noche TRAINING CENTER Accesible Accesible aa traves aa traves de:de: Accesible Accesible traves traves de: ardiosram y filebotomia aade: division oche 54-06 54-06 Myrtle Myrtle Avenue, Avenue, 2nd • Assistimos en buscar trabajo division of of oche 54-06 54-06 Myrtle Myrtle Avenue, Avenue,2nd 2nd 2ndFl. Fl.Fl. Fl. TRAINING CENTER EFFICIENT CARE TRAINING CENTER overidge TER M M overidge M M stente istente de de Salud Salud domicillaria domicillaria • Instructores con experiencia sistente Ridgewood, Ridgewood, NY NY 11385 11385 de Enfermeria LL LL

riencia Ridgewood, Ridgewood,NYNY11385 11385 Q58, Q58, Q55, B52, de Enfermeria riencia aining Courses: Q58, Q58,Q55, Q55, Q55,B52, B52, B52, aining Courses: B26, B26, B54 B54 urse B26, B26, B54 B54 aa division ectrocardiosram ctrocardiosram y y ﬁlebotomia ﬁlebotomia urse 718-307-7141 718-307-7141 trabajo de Dia y de Noche • Assistimos en buscar trabajo division of ofEmpieza Su Futuro trabajo se se ores con experiencia uxiliar xiliar de de Enfermeria Enfermeria lass lass aa division os en buscar division of ofSiguenos mos Accesible ursos rsos de deDia Diatrabajo yyde deNoche Noche Accesible by: by: Siguenos en: 54-06 Siguenos Siguenosen: en: en: 54-06 Myrtle Myrtle Avenue, Avenue, 2nd 2nd Fl. Fl. D

Su Futuro Empieza

AHORA! AHORA!

LL M and M and Ridgewood, NY 11385 para Cada curso tiene que necesitas

Ridgewood, NY 11385 para Q58, Q55, B52, Cada curso que necesitas Q58,B54 Q55,tiene B52, B26, structores tructores con conexperiencia experiencia B26, B54 718-307-7141 718-307-7141 Cadaestar curso tiene que necesitas certiﬁcado se ofrece diario. para • Asistente de Salud domicillaria sistimos sistimos en en buscar buscar trabajo trabajo • Asistente de Salud domicillaria ssistimos TRAINING CENTER estar certiﬁcado se ofrece diario. Accesible Accesible aa traves traves de: de:

54-06 54-06 Myrtle Myrtle Avenue, Avenue, 2nd 2nd Fl. Fl. Ridgewood, Ridgewood, NY NY 11385 11385

L L

M M

Q58, Q55, Q58,B54 Q55, B52, B52, B26, B26, B54

718-307-7141 718-307-7141 Siguenos Siguenos en: en:

54-06 54-06 Myrtle Myrtle Avenue, Avenue, 2nd 2nd Fl. Fl. Ridgewood, Ridgewood, NY NY 11385 11385

718-307-7141 718-307-7141

Accesible Accesible aa traves traves de: de: LL

M M

Q58, Q58, Q55, Q55, B52, B52, B26, B26, B54 B54

•• Electrocardiosram yy ﬁlebotomia 54-06 Avenue, Electrocardiosram ﬁlebotomia 54-06 Myrtle Myrtle Avenue, 2nd 2nd Fl. Fl.

LL M M • Asistente dedeSalud domicillaria Ridgewood, NY •• Auxiliar Enfermeria Ridgewood, NY 11385 11385 Auxiliar de Enfermeria Q58, Q58, Q55, Q55, B52, B52, on sion 52, ofof •• C yy de • Electrocardiosram filebotomia B26, B26, B54 B54 araestar Cursos ursos de de Dia Dia718-307-7141 deyNoche Noche araestar certificado certificado se se ofrece ofrece diario. diario. •• Instructores con Instructores con experiencia experiencia • Auxiliar de Enfermeria 54-06 aria 54-06 Myrtle Myrtle Avenue, Avenue, 2nd 2nd Fl. Fl. Accesible aa traves de: aria aa division of Accesible traves division of de: •• Assistimos en buscar trabajo ue, Assistimos en buscar trabajo ue, 2nd 2nd Fl. Fl. LL M Ridgewood, NY 11385 • C ursos de Dia y de Noche M Ridgewood, NY 11385 85 aa85 Siguenos Q58, Siguenos en: en: Q58, Q55, Q55, B52, B52, aa division B26, division of of B26, B54 B54 • Instructores con experiencia 718-307-7141 1oo • Assistimos en buscar trabajo

de: de:

ieza ieza AHORA! on sion 52, ofof

Accesible Accesible a traves a traves de:de:

B26, B26, B54 B26, B26,B54 B54 B54

Siguenos Siguenos en: en:

Accesible Accesible aa traves traves de: de: LL

M M

Q58, Q58, Q55, Q55, B52, B52, B26, B26, B54 B54

Siguenos Siguenos en: en:

Accesible Accesible a traves a traves de:de: Myrtle yrtle Avenue, 2nd division of of Myrtle yrtle Avenue, Avenue, Avenue,2nd 2nd 2ndFl. Fl.Fl. Fl. L L MM aa division L L MM wood, ood, 11385 wood, ood, NY NYNY NY11385 11385 11385 Q58, Q58, Q55, B52, 54-06 Myrtle Myrtle Avenue, Avenue, 2nd 2nd Fl. Fl. Q58, Q58,Q55, Q55, Q55,B52, B52, B52, 54-06

307-7141 07-7141

Siguenos Siguenos en: en: Accesible Accesible aa traves traves de: de:

Accesible Accesible aa traves traves de: de: L L

Ridgewood, Ridgewood, NY NY 11385 11385

M M

Q58, Q55, Q58,B54 Q55, B52, B52, B26, B26, B54

718-307-7141 718-307-7141 Siguenos Siguenos en: en:

enos uenos en: enos uenosen: en: en:

54-06 54-06 Myrtle Myrtle Avenue, Avenue, 2nd 2nd Fl. Fl. Ridgewood, Ridgewood, NY NY 11385 11385

718-307-7141 718-307-7141 Siguenos Siguenos en: en:

Accesible Accesible aa traves traves de: de: LL

M M

Q58, Q58, Q55, Q55, B52, B52, B26, B26, B54 B54

DISCOVER THE PONCE DIFFERENCE: HIGHER RATES 5 Year IRA CD

2.36%

APY*

5 Year CD

1.85%

APY*

Discover | SINCE 1960

Manhattan

^^^ WVUJLIHUR JVT

319 1st Avenue

*APY is Annual Percentage Yield, effective as of February 8, 2016. To qualify for the promotions, $1,000 minimum balance is required to open the account and obtain the APY. $500,000 maximum. Other restrictions apply. Early withdrawal fees may apply. Offers are subject to change without prior notice. For more information, visit your nearest branch or contact 718-931-9000.

.com

April 07 - 13, 2016

Congregation Beit Simchat Torah:

The exterior of CBST’s new synagogue, on W. 30th St.

Photos by Donna Aceto

CBST’s new sanctuary.

Rabbi Kleinbaum shows one of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah’s five Torahs.

Architect Stephen Cassell of Architecture Research Office.

BY ANDY HUMM On Sun., Apr. 3, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), the city’s LGBTQS (the S is for “straight”!) synagogue and the world’s largest such body, marched at noon from its longtime space in Westbeth in Greenwich Village, to its rented Friday worship space at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church on Ninth Ave. in Chelsea, to the 2 p.m. dedication of its new home at 130 W. 30th St.

It is a journey long in the making for a congregation that survived rejection at its outset in 1973 and the devastation of AIDS in the ’80s and ’90s to come together 15 years ago to begin raising $23 million for a permanent home — one that is stunning in its architecture and reflective of its mission to embrace LGBTQ and non-gay people from a wide variety of Jewish traditions.

April 07 - 13, 2016

Sharon Kleinbaum, the senior rabbi of CBST for almost a quarter of a century, said that its Westbeth space deep inside the courtyard of a huge artists’ apartment complex “reminds me of an old lesbian bar: you have to know where to find it and once you’re inside, no one knows you’re there.” The new synagogue in the 18-story landmarked 1929 Cass Gilbert Building, which is now residential,

has floor-to-ceiling windows (explosion-resistant in these perilous times), with the 50-foot length of its street frontage opening into the high-ceilinged Sheffer Family Lobby and social space on the way to the 299-seat Wine Family Sanctuary in the rear. That space was also opened up to natural light by ceiling windows in a design by Stephen Cassell of Architecture Research Office, where 15 to 20 staff members toiled on the project. CBST will also have administrative offices on the first and second floors and a lower level that includes the multiuse Kuriel Chapel, the Evan Wolfson Community Hall, and meeting/classrooms, including the Hibsher-Orient Room, named in honor of longtime gay activist and attorney Bill Hibsher, who was the driving force behind the capital campaign from the beginning. The gender-neutral restroom — private stalls and a line of sinks with walls covered with CBST history — required a variance from the city that acknowledged the diverse make-up of the community (though it could be a model for all new restrooms as society fights over who can go where). When the architects were engaged in 2007, 40 spaces were looked at before the W. 30th St. space was chosen. “This space reflects our soul — our rich and complex history.” Kleinbaum said. The scores of members who died of AIDS will be remembered, though the synagogue now has a board president in his late 30s who “doesn’t know a single person who died of AIDS.” When CBST was formed in 1973, no synagogue in New York would rent them space, and they turned to Holy Apostles, which had been welcoming gay groups since before Stonewall. At the Sunday dedication, 36 Jewish groups and congregations were represented, including rabbis from all Jewish movements. Mayor Bill de Blasio, Governor Andrew Cuomo, and LGBT movement leaders were also on hand. A few years after being founded, the congregation made a home in Westbeth, but eventually required larger space for Sabbath worship, and was back in Holy Apostles on Friday evenings. Its High Holy Day services, which bring in thousands, will continue at the Javits Center, and the LGBT Pride service will also need to be held

Continued on page 5 .com

Coming Out and Coming Home Continued from page 4 in a larger space, but all regular worship and social justice gatherings will be housed in the new space. The layout of the sanctuary — moveable oak benches on three sides and a three-sided balcony — creates an intimate worship space that bears a marked resemblance to the intimate Donmar Warehouse theater in London (which the architect has never seen, so great minds think alike). But while that theater is a black box, this is a richly detailed sanctuary that lets shifting light in, and is centered on a three-layered ark large enough for the congregation’s five Torahs. “CBST is radically traditional,” Kleinbaum said, endeavoring to satisfy the desires for: “1) music and liturgy, 2) intellectual life, the life of the mind, and 3) community and social life.” She said most synagogues are good if they can satisfy one or two of those needs. CBST hopes to provide all three well into the future.

Photo by Donna Aceto

A wall of gratitude about to be uncovered.

www.burnerlaw.com

(212) 867-3520

Please join us as we discuss…

Estate Planning and Medicaid Basics April 12 at 6:00 PM

Greenwich Village Bistro, 13 Carmine Street, New York, NY 10014

Elder Law 101 Breakfast April 28 at 9:00 AM

Petite Abeille, 401 East 20 Street, New York, NY

RSVP at (212) 867-3520 or by e-mail at burnerlaw12@gmail.com .com

April 07 - 13, 2016

Courtesy West Side Neighborhood Alliance

Chelsea Now file photo by Zach Williams

Members of the West Side Neighborhood Alliance discussed the potential impact of the project at their monthly meeting last week.

The Port Authority is committed to replacing its 66-year-old bus terminal at Eighth Ave. (btw. W. 40th & W. 42nd Sts.) with a new station located nearby on the West Side.

Port Authority Commits to Building Bus Terminal in Hell’s Kitchen Continued from page 1 specify the new facility’s exact location. “By committing to build a much-needed 21st century bus terminal on the West Side of Manhattan, with the understanding that no bus terminal will be built in New Jersey, we are making a crucial investment in our region’s economic growth,” Port Authority chairman John

Degnan said in a statement afterwards. “This is a vital service for the many thousands of riders who rely on this critical link for their daily commute for decades to come.” A design competition for the new terminal, which is projected to cost around $10 million, was launched on Fri., Mar. 11. The Port Authority expects to receive final submissions in late summer, and announce a winner by the early fall.

IT’S TAX TIME AGAIN At Gilman Ciocia, you’ll receive 25% OFF your tax preparation fee. And that’s only the beginning.

• Individual tax returns • • Business tax returns •

Call to schedule an appointment!

212–901–4298

177 East 87th St, Ste. 306, New York, NY 10128 www.gtax.com

Jim Ciocia, Founder and Chairman

42 W. 38th St., Ste. 901 New York, NY 10018 Tel: 212-302-8970 www.goldburd.com

For first time customers only. Includes: basic federal and state return. Does not include any additional forms and/or schedules, which will incur extra charges. Offer available for 2015 tax returns only. Limit one coupon per customer. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Non-negotiable. No cash value. This discount must be requested at the time of service. No credits will be issued after the tax return has been filed.

Introducing Manhattan Express’s “Tax Time” Guide, highlighting the best ways to get ahead this tax season! This is an exclusive offer with limited availability.To advertise:

ads@manhattanexpressnews.nyc 6

April 07 - 13, 2016

718-260-2555

Although there are no definitive plans yet, a majority of members of a Port Authority working group agreed at a board meeting last October that the terminal would be best located between Ninth and 11th Aves., west of the current station. But locals fear the project could displace longtime tenants and businesses, and destroy a vibrant part of the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare.

“In order to accomplish what they’re looking to accomplish, there’ll be disruption no matter what — regardless of the design,” said CB4 chair Delores Rubin. “We need to remind them that this is still a neighborhood. And there are ways to create a best-in-class terminal while not obliterating an entire community.” Proposals for the project are sup-

Continued on page 15

THE NEW SOUND OF

BROOKLYN The Community News Group is proud to introduce BROOKLYN PAPER RADIO. Join Brooklyn Paper Editor-in-Chief Vince DiMiceli and the New York Daily News’ Gersh Kuntzman every Monday at 4:30 for an hour of talk on topics Brooklynites hold dear. Each show will feature in-studio guests and call-out segments, and can be listened to live or played anytime at your convenience.

SPONSORED BY

WITH

JOSEPH LICHTER, D.D.S.

VINCE DIMICELI

GERSH KUNTZMAN

LISTEN EVERY MONDAY AT 4:30 PM ON BrooklynPaper.com/radio .com

Road Closures, Homelessness Among Issues at 10th Precinct Meeting 3024 QUENTIN ROAD • BROOKLYN NY

718-339-0700

STONEYCREEKCREMATION.COM Stoney Creek Cremation & Burial Society is an alternative to costly funeral home and cemetery services and merchandise, allowing us to leave a more meaningful, healthier, greener society to those we leave behind. Join our Society today and know you have chosen to leave a footprint for the future. Photo by Sean Egan

L-R: Detective Mike Petrillo, Officer Benkos, and Captain Figueroa listen to community complaints at the Mar. 30 Community Council meeting.

Continued from page 1

.com

For more info, please email us at stoneycreekcremation@gmail.com or mail coupon to our address: ❑ YES, please send me more information on Stoney Creek! Name_________________ Address__________________________

✁

in accordance with Vision Zero policies. He then took a few moments to praise the efforts of the community in aiding in the fight against crime. “I always like to emphasize at every meeting the importance of you guys in helping,” he said. “It is important that you spread the word.” He then went on to give a few tips about preventing avoidable crimes — particularly involving thefts from unattended bags, especially at nighttime hotspots. “When you’re on the dance floor or having that drink, no one else is watching that for you,” Figueroa warned — except, perhaps, the people you don’t want watching your bag, waiting for an opportunity to snatch valuables or empty bank accounts. He then opened the meeting for discussion, which was kicked off by Stanley Bulbach of the West 15th Street 100 & 200 Block Association, who brought to the public’s attention a number of worrying traffic situations. First, he noted that the crosswalk striking fades too quickly, and very much needs to be replaced, at the northwest to northeast corner of W. 14th St. and Eighth Ave. — but 311 calls take too long to work. “It’s less expensive to repaint a crosswalk than take someone to the hospital,” Blubach quipped. Later in the meeting, Bulbach brought up the continuous problems surrounding the repeated closure of W. 17th St. since a fire struck on Oct. 20, 2015, which causes traffic to backup near the intersection of W. 15th St. and Seventh Ave. — as well as the frequent closure of W.

For those wishing to preplan their final contribution to society, if paid in full today we will include the cost of the crematory. ($995 Society’s Service Fee)

Tel:____________________Email____________________________ Acting as a for profit organization. Crematory fee is not included, death certificates and disposition permits not included in service fee. Courtesy West 15th Street 100 & 200 Block Association

Signage alerting residents to the current closure of W. 17th St., which resident Stanley Bulbach noted causes significant traffic issues.

15th St. to allow for construction on the Google Building. “We have never seen complete street block-offs handed out like candy,” stated Bulbach, a W. 15th St. resident since 1969. After the meeting, Chelsea Now learned via an email correspondence that, through the efforts of Bulbach and the office of Councilmember Corey Johnson, the contractor doing work on W. 17th St. has agreed to display detour signage in order to mitigate the traffic problems at W. 15th St. and Seventh Ave. With the floodgates opened, others chimed in with various traffic issues they had noticed around the neighborhood, which Figueroa listened to while noting the progress being made by the precinct. “There’s an array of traffic issues we deal with…a multitude,” observed Figueroa. “It’s not something we’ve ignored.” Another large portion of the meeting was spent focusing on the issue of a

Continued on page 11

LIVE OUT LOUD

Young Trailblazers PRESENTS THE 15TH ANNUAL

Gala

April 25th Come The TimesCenter Celebrate New York City

LIVE OUT LOUD GUIDES AND EMPOWERS LGBTQ TEENS TO LIVE AUTHENTIC LIVES. EVERY WEEK, WE'RE OUT IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY BRINGING TOGETHER STUDENTS AND ROLE MODELS. TOGETHER, WE CREATE VALUED CONNECTIONS.

For more information please visit our website at www.liveoutloud.info April 07 - 13, 2016

Rhymes With Crazy

THE WEST SIDE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Publisher

Jennifer Goodstein

Editor Scott Stiffler

Editorial Assistant Sean Egan

Play Can Teach

What Nonstop Schooling Can’t

Art Director Michael Shirey

Graphic Designers Rhiannon Hsu Chris Ortiz

Contributors

Lincoln Anderson Stephanie Buhmann Jackson Chen Sean Egan Winnie McCroy Colin Mixson Puma Perl Yannic Rack Paul Schindler Trav S.D. Eileen Stukane

Executive VP of Advertising Amanda Tarley

Account Executives Jack Agliata Allison Greaker Jim Steele Julio Tumbaco

Published by

NYC Community Media, LLC

One Metrotech North, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Phone: (212) 229-1890 Fax: (212) 229-2790 www.chelseanow.com scott@chelseanow.com © 2016 NYC Community Media, LLC Member of the New York Press Association

Chelsea Now is published weekly by NYC Community Media

LLC, One Metrotech North, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. (212) 229-1890. Annual subscription by mail in Manhattan and Brooklyn $75. The entire contents of newspaper, including advertising, are copyrighted and no part may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher - © 2016 NYC Community Media LLC, Postmaster: Send address changes to Chelsea Now, One Metrotech North, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

PUBLISHER’S LIABILITY FOR ERROR: The Publisher shall

not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher’s liability for other errors or omissions in connection with an advertisement is strictly limited to publication of the advertisement in any subsequent issue.

April 07 - 13, 2016

BY LENORE SKENAZY In ancient times — say, the 1950s, or ’60s, or ’70s or maybe even the ’80s — children were expected to waste a good deal of their time riding their bikes to nowhere, making up basketball moves, or drawing with chalk. Their parents didn’t worry that this meant they were going to end up as drug addicts, or at least at a second-tier college. In fact, most parents were eager to shoo kids out of the house. But that was before something began taking over all waking hours of the day. School. When we think about how different childhood is today — structured, supervised, stressful — we tend to blame helicopter parents, or the culture of fear that has made stepping outside without mom or dad into an activity mentally accompanied by scary organ music. After all, every parent’s worst nightmare could be just around the corner! But Peter Gray, author of the basic psychology textbook used in colleges across

the country (including Harvard), says that while “increased fears from the media” are partly to blame for this new, constricted childhood, there’s another force at play. Or, rather, not at play. “Part of it that we don’t give enough weight to is the increasing amount of influence of schooling.” Think about how school dominates the lives of kids today. When Gray, now a white-haired professor, was growing up, the school year was five weeks shorter. I remember that, too — a three-month summer vacation. Bliss! No one was freaking out about the “summer slide” — kids forgetting the lessons they left behind in May. Summer was seen as the charger kids needed, not a drain. As for what happened during the school year itself, there was little or no homework in the lower grades, unless the kids had to do something like gather leaves for a project. No nightly homework sheets. No nightly reading log, the bane of

my existence as a mom. (Forcing your kids to read a certain amount each day turns out to be the perfect way to make them hate reading. Try it!) Gray, who is at Clemson University this week to give a talk at the Rebooting Play Conference, as am I, says that those logs are just one hint of how parents are now supposed to continue the school day at home. They are expected to review their kids’ homework and, often, to sign it. They’re also expected to volunteer at the school, as reading buddies, or run the book sale. It’s as if school has become the biggest force in our lives, inescapable from morning to night. Parents are told that this is how it has to be if they want their kids to succeed. Once parents are taught to be “school partners,” says Gray, “all of society develops the view that children grow best when carefully monitored and guided. And it used to be children grow themselves.” This is not to say that kids learn algebra by climbing trees. But they do learn how to gauge risk, and handle fear. Playing a game of catch, even against a wall, they learn how to do something over and over to get it right. (Think how much easier it is to learn that lesson on the playground than in the classroom.) Playing with friends, they learn how to control their impulses, share, throw it a little easier to the youngest kid — a trait also known as empathy — all the arts of being human. These activities don’t

stunt intellectual development, they make young minds curious and creative. In an essay titled, “Be Glad of Our Failure to Catch Up with China in Education,” Gray compares our education system to China’s, where grammar school kids spend nearly 10 hours a day studying. By high school, they face a 12-and-a-half– hour school day. Kids are forced to endure this “to get a high score on the ‘gaokao,’ the national examination that is the sole criterion for admitting students to college,” writes Gray. What happens to those high-scoring winners? “A common term used in China now to refer to the general results of their educational system is ‘gaofen dineng,’ which means, literally, ‘high scores, but low ability.’ Because students spend nearly all of their time studying, they have little chance to do anything else,” like develop interests, physical stamina, or social skills. That’s a “success” America would do well to avoid. To raise the kind of engaged and eager kids who grow into entrepreneurs and simply happy citizens, we need to stop school from seeping into every hour and activity of the day. Fooling around turns out to be the best schooling around. Lenore Skenazy is a keynote speaker who authored the book, and founded the blog, Free-Range Kids (freerangekids.com). .com

Being sick and hungry is an urgent crisis no one should face. Help us deliver hope, compassion and love, all wrapped up in a nutritious meal.

Volunteer. Donate. Advocate. godslovewedleiver.org

.com

April 07 - 13, 2016

POLICE BLOTTER PETIT LARCENY: Shave and a haircut, two-bit thief While learning to cut your hair might be a good way to save some money, one thrifty man’s quest to become his own stylist wound up costing him far more than an uneven trim. At around 5:30 p.m. on Fri., Apr. 1, police responded to a call from employees of a Duane Reade (131 Eighth Ave., btw. W. 16th & W. 17th Sts.). When they arrived at the scene, the assistant manager informed them that a man had attempted to leave the store without paying for a $21.76 set of Remington haircut clippers. The 34-yearold barber/shoplifter was arrested.

GRAND LARCENY: Lifted manlift On Thurs., Mar. 31, a 34-year-old construction worker with Alpha Piping Corp., while returning to his worksite inside of 501 W. 30th St. (btw. 10th & 11th Aves.), noticed that the control box to the workers’ manlift (a single-person verticle platform) was miss-

BESPOKEMATCHMAKING

ing. The $1,168 box was seen the day prior, and did not turn up by the time the crime was reported at 6:30 a.m. on Fri., Apr. 1. Making the answer to the disappearance more mysterious is the fact that multiple people had access to the area during the intervening time, and no video surveillance is available of the location.

ASSAULT: Relief not sweet for gotta go-getter At around 3:45 a.m. on Sat., Apr. 2, a 22-year-old Suffolk County man suffering from a full bladder and an empty sense of good judgment decided to relieve himself on a residential building on the 200 block of 10th Ave. Understandably, this did not sit well with a 21-year-old resident of the building, and a verbal dispute erupted. Eventually, things escalated to the point where the resident, looking out for number one, punched the woeful whiz kid with a closed fist multiple times — causing bleeding, redness, and swelling to his

EXECUTIVE GAY MATCHMAKING FIRM

face. He then fled into his home, but was quickly caught and arrested after police conducted a canvas of the building. The unfortunate urinater was admitted to Bellevue Hospital.

GRAND LARCENY: Same old swindle Sometimes you’ve just got to wonder how people continue to fall for obvious online scams that long ago claimed their place in the annals of Internet lore. While he may not have made a blunder of “Nigerian Prince scam” proportions, on Sat., Apr. 2, a 39-year-old Manhattanite explained to police how he and a man he met online entered into an agreement in which the soon-to-be-victim would be wired $8,000 in order to purchase and send four MacBook Pro laptops to his new online buddy. Apparently not seeing anything suspicious about this transaction, and noticing that $8,000 had appeared in his bank account, the man went ahead and purchased the computers. A few days later, he was notified that his bank account had been overdrawn by, you guessed it, $8,000 — after, of course, the man had already shipped off the shiny new Apple products. Now, all police have to go on is the (quite possibly fake) name that the scammer provided to his too-trusting target.

HARASSMENT: IRL aggressor

FIND LOVE Bespoke Matchmaking works with exceptional gay men and lesbians who are serious about meeting the right person and who are ready to begin a loving relationship. Our firm provides a highly regarded alternative to the typical forms of dating. Contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation

1-888-422-6464

BESPOKEMATCHMAKING.COM

April 07 - 13, 2016

employee. With the real world tension escalating as quickly as online arguments can, he lunged at her during the dustup, and warned her, “You better watch your step,” making the woman feel unsafe. While the troublesome troll left the scene, he was not granted the anonymity of the Internet, as he left his email address and name, as was required by the event’s signin process.

UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE: Unjust joyride On Wed., Mar. 30, a 38-year-old East Sider went to check into a hotel at about 9 p.m., and decided to let the acquaintance he arrived with park his car while he made the arrangements. Apparently the individual thought the 2015 foreign-made sedan was quite nice — and he simply took it, driving off with the vehicle, and leaving his friend to (literally) hold the bag. While reporting the incident to the police on Sun., Apr. 3, the victim noted that his fickle friend had gotten into an accident in his car while in Milton, NY.

—SEAN EGAN

CASH FOR GUNS

Perhaps he should have saved his anger for the comments section. At about 6:30 p.m. on Thurs., Mar. 31, a man was visiting YouTube Headquarters (75 Ninth Ave., btw. W. 15th & W. 16th Sts.) for an event, where he got into a verbal altercation with a 29-year-old

$100 cash will be given (no questions asked) for each handgun, assault weapon or sawedoff shotgun, up to a maximum payment of $300. Guns are accepted at any Police Precinct, PSA or Transit District.

THE 13th PRECINCT

THE 10th PRECINCT

Located at 230 E. 21st St. (btw. Second & Third Aves.). Deputy Inspector: David Ehrenberg. Call212-477-7411. Community Affairs: 212-477-7427. Crime Prevention: 212-477-7427. Domestic Violence: 212-4773863. Youth Officer: 212-4777411. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-477-4380. Detective Squad: 212-477-7444. The Community Council meets on the third Tues. of the month, 6:30 p.m., at the 13th Precinct. The next meeting is Apr. 19.

Located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.). Commander: Deputy Inspector Michele Irizarry. Main number: 212-741-8211. Community Affairs: 212-741-8226. Crime Prevention: 212-741-8226. Domestic Violence: 212-741-8216. Youth Officer: 212741-8211. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-924-3377. Detective Squad: 212-741-8245. The Community Council meets on the last Wed. of the month, 7 p.m., at the 10th Precinct or other locations to be announced. The next meeting is Apr. 27.

.com

10th Precinct Advises Residents on DHS Protocol GARNETWINE.COM

NEW STORE POLICY:

PERMANENTLY & FOREVER OFFERING THESE DISCOUNTS NEW OWNERSHIP

A recent view of the homeless encampment in the parking lot of Fulton Houses.

Continued from page 7 homeless encampment in the parking lot of Fulton Houses (btw. W. 16th & W. 19th Sts. and Ninth & 10th Aves.), which is home to a man who locals say has regularly harassed, and been confrontational with, tenants of the buildings. A group of five concerned individuals attended the meeting in order to present their case on the matter, prepared with a photo of the encampment, and a petition signed by residents of the building seeking a solution to the pressing problem. Further compounding their discontent that evening was the fact the individual — who they identified as “Rico” — was arrested the night before, after beating his wife, and had to be corralled by about 10 cops. By the day of the meeting, however, Rico was out of jail and once again at the encampment. “I have a very soft spot for homeless people,” one of the residents in attendance asserted. “This is a different situation. This is a violent man.” Another resident present, a physician, expressed serious concern for the man’s health, and advised that he be screened and examined at Bellevue Hospital. Miguel Acevedo, president of the Fulton Houses Tenants’ Association, was also in attendance, and able to provide a little background on the situation. According to Acevedo, who has known Rico for nearly 20 years, “He’s been under our buildings, in our parks,” and that because he grew up at the complex, “he comes right back to us at Fulton Houses,” after any troubles or run-ins with the law. “There’s nothing legally .com

WE DELIVER!

Courtesy West 15th Street 100 & 200 Block Association

An image from the second closure of W. 17th St., in Nov. 2015.

we can do about it,” said Figueroa, who explained that the police were at the behest of new policies in place from the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), which did not permit them to take a more aggressive approach (such as throwing out belongings) in combatting the problem. “We cannot do a removal without DHS saying we can do a removal,” he noted, explaining that police can only intervene when the individual is a clear and imminent danger to himself or others. “We always know where he is,” assured Detective Mike Petrillo, who praised the “great work” those assembled had done thus far. “The next step is pressure,” he noted, that “has to go from you guys to DHS.” Petrillo then provided the group with contact information for the Department. Figueroa wrapped up the meeting quickly by thanking those who came out once more, and inviting them back for next month’s Community Council meeting: 7 p.m., Wed., Apr. 27, at the 10th Precinct (230 W. 20th St., btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves.).

ORDER ONLINE FOR OUR MOST COMPETITIVE PRICES

20% OFF 15% OFF

ALL STILL WINES

ALL LIQUORS

Enjoy every day discounts. No coupons needed! No Limit – All Sizes Garnet Wines has recently come under NEW OWNERSHIP! OUR GOAL IS TO ALWAYS BE THE LOWEST PRICES IN MANATTAN As a way of saying “hello”…we are now permanently and forever oﬀering:

FREE DELIVERY IN MANHATTAN

212-772-3211 | GarnetWine.com Mon-Wed 8am – 9pm Thurs – Sat 8am – 10pm Sun 12pm – 7pm 929 Lexington Avenue (Between 68th & 69th Streets) April 07 - 13, 2016

WeddingPrideDirectory CELEBRATING GAY AND LESBIAN MARRIAGE

ATTORNEYS Law Office of Rachel Einbund, PC 118 East 28th Street, #1005, New York, NY 10016 212-252-2125, rachel@lo-re.com http://lo-re.com Law Office of Rachel Einbund is a boutique immigration law firm specializing in family petitions, marriage-based green card applications, and LGBT visa processing. We combine a one-on-one client-centered approach with cutting-edge legal analysis.

CENTER PIECES Edible Arrangements 133-22 Springfield Blvd. 718-528-3344 158-18 Cross Bay Blvd. 718-848-3344 1357 Fulton St. 718-622-3344 1557 Ralph Ave. 718-451-3344 www.ediblearrangements.com/ stores/StoreLocator.aspx

CEREMONY AND RECEPTION VENUES Cove Haven Entertainment Resorts* Our Pocono Wedding Packages provide the perfect intimate celebration for 2, with as little or as much privacy and intimacy and as your hearts’ desire. Beside the backdrop of the beautiful Pocono Mountains, or from a candlelit indoor ceremony, a Wedding Concierge can help you plan a special day that’s uniquely customized for you in every way. Discover all the ways you can create a Wedding to remember. 800-972-3820 CoveHaven.com/Pride Edison Ballroom Delivering Happiness One Event at a Time. 240 West 47th Street, New York, NY 10036 212.201.7650 info@edisonballroom.com Entertainment Cruises* Emilie Hagon • Wedding Specialist 646-358-3117 • ehagon@entertainmentcruises.com Erin Trinidad • Wedding Specialist 646-358-3116 • etrinidad@entertainmentcruises.com Grand Oaks Country Club Grand Oaks goes above and beyond when it comes to setting the standard for superiority in the industry. Award-winning chefs are dedicated to provide customized menus for the most selective tastes. 200 Huguenot Avenue, Staten Island. NY. 10312 718-356-2771 grandoaksnyc.com Highlands Country Club 955 Route 9D, Garrison, NY 10524 845-424-3254 The Highlands Country Club offers a unique blend of romance and elegance in a country setting, just one hour north of New York City. Established in 1898, the Highlands Country Club includes a grand ballroom and several indoor and outdoor spaces that blend old world elegance with the verdant surrounding landscape to accommodate up to 150 guests.

The Hotel Andrew 75 North Station Plaza, Great Neck, NY 516-482-2900 www.andrewhotel.com Leave the details in accommodat-

April 07 - 13, 2016

ing your friends and family the the professionals at The Andrew, Great Neck’s Boutique Hotel, where chic sophistication meets the timeless essence of Long Island’s Gold Coast.

La Marina 212-567-6300 La Marina, located in upper Manhattan, offers a variety of indoor and outdoor event spaces for parties of 50 -1,500, right on the shore of the Hudson River. Step into our extraordinary venue where the food, the scene and the music share a stage; where the George Washington Bridge consumes the panorama; Boasting unbeatable views and large open spaces, both indoors & outdoors La Marina can be your dream wedding. Landmark Venues 866.683.3586 LandmarkVenues.com Landmark Destination Weddings, Crave Caterers, The Boathouse At Mercer Lake, Stone House at Sterling Ridge, The Ryland Whitehouse Station, Celebrate At Sung Harbor, Hotel Du Village, Liberty House Restaurant & Catering For over 25 years, we have been celebrating beautiful weddings at our venues across News York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Marble Collegiate Church* Weddings at Marble Collegiate Church, renowned for our inclusiveness and diversity, we have many unique spaces to offer, from our elegant Sanctuary, to more intimate sacred venues. At Marble, your Wedding can be spiritual, beautiful and memorable. It’s a celebration of love. That’s what Marble Collegiate is all about. 1 West 29th Street, New York, NY 10001 212-686-2770 www.MarbleChurch.org Plaza Athenee 37 East 64th Street at Madison Ave, New York 212-644-0202 plaza-athenee.com Le Trianon, our ceremony space is elegantly appointed in natural earth tones with ten windows overlooking the townhouses of East 64th Street. For your wedding reception, the venue’s dazzling, gold-domed Arabelle restaurant provides one of the most unique settings in Manhattan with its blend of murano glass and brass chandeliers, chiffon colored walls and murals of Asian pagodas. Russo’s on the Bay 162-45 Cross Bay Boulevard, Howard Beach, NY, 718-843-5055 russosonthebay.com Exemplary service and exquisite cuisine combined with professional attention to detail was the best way to achieve customer satisfaction. Sirico’s Caterers Sirico’s is a tasteful event planning and catering hall in Brooklyn, maintaining a beautiful facilities with top-notch event services. With three event halls accomodating 300 guests. They pride themselves on elegant wedding receptions and private events that are second to none. In The Heart Of Dyker Heights 8015/23 13th Avenue Bklyn, NY 11228 718-331-29008–331–2900 www.siricoscaterers.net Soleil Caterers 212-316-5000 Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life and we at Soleil Caterers would love to be a part of it. No matter what your theme or food preferences are, we

will work closely with you down to the last detail to be sure that every moment is exactly as you picture.

Terrace On The Park 52-11 111th Street Flushing, NY 11368 718-592-5000 www.terraceonthepark.com Award winning food, breath taking views, and impeccable service. Tio Pepe 168 W. Fourth St. in New York 212-242-9338, tiopepenyc.com At Tio Pepe you have a choice of atmosphere. The skylight dining room supplies a touch of romance while the enclosed sidewalk cafe provides a room with a view of Greenwich Village. The Vanderbilt at South Beach Waterfront Facility 300 Father Capodanno Blvd., Staten Island, NY 718-447-0800 www.vanderbiltsouthbeach.com Boasting both a luxurious banquet hall, as well as magnificent outdoor oceanfront space. Vavaldi’s 201-10 Cross Island Parkway Service Road Bayside, NY 11360 718-352-2300 www.vavaldiny.com Woodhaven Manor Caterers & Banquet* 96-01 Jamaica, Ave., Woodhaven, NY 11421 718-805-8500 woodhavenmanorny.com We have created the ultimate venue for the most special of celebrations!

ENTERTAINMENT Amazing Bottle Dancers Add a touch of tradition and excitement to your B’nai Mitzvah or Wedding! bottledancers.com 800.716.0556 East Coast Band New York’s Ultimate Party Band 516-354-2372 EastCoastBand.com Soul System Orchestras 1650 Broadway, Suite #503 New York, 800-466-7685 soulsystemorchestras.com Soulsystem Orchestras bands have been on the leading edge in providing “elegantly hip” wedding entertainment for the past 15 years. Clients can choose from a 3-piece ensemble to a 20-piece swing orchestra and beyond.

FORMALWEAR Lindman NewYork What the dress is to the bride, the necktie is to the groom. Well, perhaps not quite, but it is important. Well-designed neckties for you, the best man, and the groomsmen will capture—as well as add to—the style and sophistication of the wedding as a whole. 917-364-6675 LindmanNewYork.com

HEALTH & BEAUTY Central Park Cosmetics 200 West 57th Street Suite 1005 10th Floor NYC www.centralparkcosmetics.com 646-692-3248 Look and feel your best! Laser Hair Removal,

Coolsculpting Ultherapy™ Microdermabrasion IPL Skin Rejubenation Facials

HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS Sand Castle on the Beach 127 Smithfield, Frederiksted St. Croix, Virgin Islands 340-772-1205 sandcastleonthebeach.com Our quaint, beach side boutique hotel is designed to meet your personal vacation style. We maintain a sense of intimacy and freedom in this seaside oasis. It’s our home and we invite you to relax and unwind in this comfortable and tranquil setting. Villa Amor Camino a Playa los Muertos, Sayulita Bahia de Banderas Nayarit, Mexico 619-819-5407 hotelvillaamorsayulita.com. “Sweeping ocean vistas and a sexy room concept do away with outside walls and invite you to see Sayulita through a rustling fringe of palm fronds.”Travel+Leisure.

JEWELRY Fortunoff Fine Jewelry New Jewelry Boutique by Esther Fortunoff 1504 Old Country Road, Westbury, NY 11590 FortunoffJewelry.com 800-636-7886 Shop 24/7 - Phone appointments available Solomon Jewelers 74 Manetto Hill Plaza Plainview NY 11803 516-681-6111 www.solomonjewelers.com A third generation family business with seventy years of experience, Solomon Jewlers is the only premiere certified Verragio Dealer in NY State.

OFFICIANTS Alisa Tongg Storyteller & Celebrant For AisleBound Couples Ceremonies from Scratch Serving NYC, New Jersey and Pennsylvania 570-369-3955 www.alisatonggcelebrant.com For This Joyous Occasion Officiating Services & Seaside Ceremonies Andrea Purtell NJ Wedding Officiant Weddings, Vow Renewals & Baby Blessings Certified in NJ All Faiths/Non-denominational Traditions/Lifestyles Point Pleasant Beach Atlantic Highlands Red Bank Asbury Park Ocean Grove Island Beach Long Beach Island www.forthisjoyousoccasion.com thisjoyous@gmail.com 848-333-9948

Mitch the Minister Mitchell S. Maged Wedding Officiant and Minister 201-410-6834 www.mitchtheminister.com email: mitchtheminister@aol.com 70 Oneida Avenue, Oakland, NJ 07436 Ny Life Events Mary A. Carroll – Universal Life Minister 201-410-0782 – In your home or venue • Wedding/Civil Union – NonDenominational • Evenings/Weekends – NJ-NY-NYC www.NJLifeEvents.com Reverend Greg Kits, DD NY & NJ Wedding Officiant 973-220-9400 text/cell Gregg37@optimum.net Servicing NY, NJ, & NYC www.GayWeddingMan.net www.TheWeddingMan.net Reverend Luisa’s Holistic Weddings & Ceremonies Interfaith Minister Bilingual English & Spanish Wedding Ceremonies for Tristate Couples 2014 ABC-NY Sparkle Award Top Wedding Vendor Officiant 2015 Couples Choice Award Wedding Wire 917-572-4831 revluisaceremonies.com Reverend Samora Smith Common Ground Ceremonies Ordained as an Interfaith Minister Specializing in all types of ceremonies Commongroundceremonies.com 711 East 11th Street, New York 646-709-2090 Sacred Journey Healing* Reverend Kyle Applegate Interfaith Minister 212-777-1119 kyle@sacredjourneyhealing.com sacredjourneyhealing.com Stephen David DYM/WEDinNYC LGBT Wedding Officiant Creating Custom Wedding Ceremonies for you and your partner. www.WEDinNYC.com 917.855.6830

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO Glamour Me Photo & Video* 109-19 Rockaway Blvd. South Ozone Park, NY 11420 718-504-1970 www.glamourmestudio.com

REAL ESTATE SERVICES Accurate Building Inspectors 1860 Bath Ave. in Brooklyn 718-265-8191, accuratebuilding.com Accurate Building Inspectors is a full-service home and building inspection firm servicing the tri-state area since 1961.

Rev. Kyle Applegate Interfaith minister 212-777-1119 kyle@sacredjourneyhealing.com www.sacredjourneyhealing.com

PICK UP THE LATEST ISSUE OF WEDDING PRIDE TODAY!

.com

Limited IFC Run a Chance to See Chelsea Gentrification Documentary

Continued from page 2 Yasemin’s crossing the divide had a personal impact on her. While realizing that she has been fortunate in her life circumstances, “It has made me seek out environments that are diverse and seek out colleges that have diversity in terms of race and socioeconomic class.” The 115 Steps project has also had an impact on Avenues itself. The school instituted its first annual Awareness Day and it is becoming more involved in the community. Avenues Community Engagement (ACE), as Yasemin explains, “has started doing cooperative projects at ElliottChelsea. For instance, some of the language classes visit the senior citizens who speak Spanish and Chinese and they talk together about their experiences. The kids from Avenues learn about their life stories, what they faced, and I think the people at Elliott-Chelsea see that we’re really trying to engage with the community as much as possible.” Avenues also accepted its first student from public housing, from Fulton Houses, for the current 2015–16 school year. In an email statement, Bill Leahy, Global Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management at Avenues, writes: “Avenues actively recruits qualified students from local public housing as part of our efforts to foster economic diversity, with an emphasis on low and moderate income families in the Chelsea community. Avenues offers financial aid, including full scholarships for qualified students with demonstrated financial need, with students in CB4 receiving preference. We are proud to have a student from Fulton .com

Houses who is a strong contributing member of our community, and we look forward to expanding our student body. For the 2016–17 school year, we have admitted five students from low and moderate-income families in Chelsea, and one student from public housing. In addition, we are offering eight full summer scholarships to students from Elliott-Chelsea, Fulton and Harborview Houses.” Hudson Guild Executive Director Ken Jockers says he had two reactions to the film. “The first is that it is painful to watch because it so starkly describes how different people’s experiences are based solely on how much money they have, and how people who are poor or working poor in this neighborhood struggle every day just to meet their basic needs. That’s hard to watch. It’s painful,” he admits. “My second reaction, though, is that Chelsea is now the poster example for gentrification. We’ve got the widest variety of economic circumstances of any place in the city of New York. We have an opportunity to be the example for how individuals and families can live together in the neighborhood. We have the opportunity to be the example for how rich and poor and people in the middle can share a neighborhood successfully. We’ve got to figure out how to do that, and that’s exciting.” “Class Divide” will have an Academy Award-qualifying run at the IFC Center (323 Sixth Ave., at W. Third St.), Apr. 13–19, as part of the DOC NYC Grand Jury prize programming. Q&A with director Marc Levin will follow the evening screenings on Wed., Apr. 13 and Thurs., Apr. 14. For info, visit ifccenter. com/films/class-divide.

Photography courtesy of Enrico Varrasso. See more at www.enricovarrasso.com

Photo by Eileen Stukane

“Class Divide” director/producer Marc Levin and producer Daphne Pinkerson in their Chelsea-based Blowback Productions studio.

LOIS RAKOFF, COMMUNITY DIRECTOR OF THE POE ROOM, AND NYU ANNOUNCE

OPEN CALL TRYOUTS FOR “VISIONS OF POE” Creative individuals of all ages are encouraged to audition for the chance to illuminate the life and legacy of Edgar Allan Poe through mediums such as dance, drama, music, painting, sculpture, readings, performances, or other forms of expression. Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis until Monday, April 18. Make your submission online at goo.gl/N2QitB or call 212-998-2400. And save the date for “Visions of Poe,” on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 6:00 pm at the NYU School of Law, Furman Hall, 245 Sullivan Street, Room 216 (between West 3rd and Washington Square South). RSVP today at www.nyu.edu/nyu-in-nyc or 212-9982400. Community members and NYU come together and partner on the Poe Room event each fall and spring.

April 07 - 13, 2016

Coleman Organic

SPLIT BREAST AND DRUMSTICK COMBO PACK NON-GMO Project Verified, All Vegetarian Diet, No Antibiotics, Free Range

SAVE $1.50 LB

$ 99 lb

Pirate Brands CHEDDAR PIRATE’S BOOTY

FOR

Late July Snacks TORTILLA CHIPS

4 oz

FOR

Kashi WAFFLES

FOR

10.1 oz

UP TO

SAVE $4.58 ON 2

OFF

Some of our favorite NON-GMO Partners

April 07 - 13, 2016

5.5 oz

ga n

SAVE $1.98 ON 2

2$ FOR

10-20 oz

Dr Bronner’s CASTILLE SOAP 32 oz, Assorted Varieties

OFF

Bob’s Red Mill BRAND SALE

Kashi GOLEAN CEREAL

Select Varieties

SAVE $1.98 ON 2

SAVE $2.98 ON 2

Mrs. Green’s supports clean and healthy food, which is why we partner with the NON-GMO Project. We carry thousands of NON-GMO verified items. Just look for this symbol.

OFF

Visit MrsGreens.com

Shop April 8th through 21st .com

Locals Brace for Bus Terminal Construction Disruption Continued from page 6 posed to be based on five broad concepts that the Port Authority drew up last year, which include rebuilding and expanding the current terminal (on Eighth Ave. btw. W. 40th and W. 42nd Sts.) as well as razing it completely to erect a sprawling new complex. Although the concepts differ in size and configuration, all of them would require taking over private property on Ninth Ave., between W. 39th and W. 41st Sts. — which the community board and residents of the area are vehemently opposed to. “Eminent domain is really at the forefront of everyone’s mind. That’s scaring folks, particularly those who might be displaced by the expansion,” said Bennett Baumer, an organizer with Hell’s Kitchen based legal services group Housing Conservation Coordinators who works with the West Side Neighborhood Alliance. At their monthly meeting on Thurs., Mar. 31, Baumer said the group’s members mostly struggled with the fact that, so far, the future look and impact of the terminal is still up in the air. “It’s all a big question mark at this point,” he said. “Pretty much all of our members live within a few blocks of the terminal, so this will potentially impact their livelihoods.” Local elected officials have also expressed concern over the prospect of eminent domain, the controversial process through which government takes over private property to make way for projects that are considered important for the public. “Clearly, the current Port Authority Bus Terminal is obsolete,” said City Councilmember Corey Johnson, whose district covers the area. “But I am opposed to any plan that displaces Hell’s Kitchen residents, institutions or businesses through eminent domain.” Degnan, the Port Authority chair, recently told Crain’s New York that the agency would try to forgo eminent domain, but some are worried that the seizure of property will likely be part of any design proposals since it was not excluded at the outset. “The Port will strive to have the smallest possible impact on adjacent

properties that we don’t already own,” Degnan was quoted as saying. “I’m very hopeful that if eminent domain is necessary — and I’m not convinced it is — it will be insignificant.” Rubin said the initial plans from the agency released last fall were worrying enough, and that CB4 has repeatedly sent letters to the Port Authority asking them to prioritize reducing the impact a new terminal will have on Hell’s Kitchen. “That really set off some alarms,” she said of the building scenarios. “There still was the hope, after that initial idea, that there was an opportunity for the Port Authority to consider having some type of facility in New Jersey. “It’s very obvious now that they are committed to staying on the West Side and in our district,” she added. “We were not surprised per se, but certainly disappointed that it was so definitive.” The already crowded current terminal will only become more packed in coming years — as many as 270,000 daily passengers are expected to pass through the station by 2020, up from around 220,000 today. Rubin agreed that it was time to update the station, which is generally considered an eyesore, but said that the most important issue now was to involve the community early on. “One of the biggest concerns is that decisions will be made without consulting the community,” she said. “We need to be involved, so we can alert them to the fact that this is not just a terminal for commuters to come in — this is a community, a neighborhood with long established businesses and residents.” CB4 is planning a public forum later this month to discuss issues around the future terminal with all relevant stakeholders, and Rubin said she hoped the Port Authority would participate, so it can get a head start on addressing the community’s concerns. A letter addressed to Degnan was scheduled to appear on the agenda of CB4’s Wed., Apr. 6 monthly full board meeting. Once again calling for involving the community, it notes “some puzzlement, since the Port Authority has neither solicited public input nor kept the public informed about the content or the release date of the [design] competition despite repeated requests by the Clinton/

Chelsea Now file photo by Zach Williams

Locals are worried that a new Port Authority Bus Terminal along Ninth Ave. will divide their neighborhood and displace longtime tenants from the area.

Hell’s Kitchen community, this board, and our elected state and city representatives.” It also notes that the area encompassed by the agency’s guiding proposals includes 183 apartments and 28 businesses, as well as neighborhood institutions such as Metro Baptist Church.

Accurate Building Inspectors® CONSIDERING BUYING A HOME OR APARTMENT? Buying an apartment or house can be a scary process even for the most knowledgeable and experienced buyer. First timers can feel completely overwhelmed. Our professional and patient inspectors will examine the property and explain all aspects of your new home. We will provide a full written report with photographs that will explain the property in question in common terms. We are not only inspectors; we are building and home educators. All Accurate Building Inspectors® are fully licensed and insure in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Our Inspectors have over 100 years of combined Experience.

Lawrence Ubell

WWW. .com

.COM

“This board believes that it is crucial to preserve the homes, businesses, and institutions in this area in order to maintain our neighborhood character,” the letter concludes. “We look forward to working with you to ensure that the selected design takes the appropriate measures to help us achieve this goal.”

1860 Bath Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11214

Matthew Barnett

800-640-8285 accuratebuilding.com roxy@accuratebuilding.com April 07 - 13, 2016

Do The Math: Tribeca Film Fest x 15 = 2016 Vexed by ‘Vaxxed,’ TFF preps for scheduled slate, minus one BY SCOTT STIFFLER Set to take over a multitude of Downtown screens and scenes from April 13–24, the Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), now in its 15th year, is already making headlines with an embarrassingly adolescent misstep: its declaration that one previously announced selection won’t be seeing the flicker of a single TFF projector. “Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe,” a documentary taking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to task for suppressing information linking the MMR vaccine to autism, was pulled from the schedule after a brief but messy public outcry from those who said the film’s very presence would give credence to ill-advised parenting and medical quackery. “My intent in screening this film,” said festival co-founder Robert De Niro, “was to provide an opportunity for conversation around an issue that is deeply personal to me and my family. But after reviewing it over the past few days with the Tribeca Film Festival team and others from the scientific community, we do not believe it contributes to or furthers the discussion I had hoped for. The Festival doesn’t seek to avoid or shy away from controversy. However, we have concerns with certain things in this film that we feel prevent us from presenting it in the Festival program. We have decided to remove it from our schedule.” That was it for “Vaxxed,” as well as any further discussion on the matter. “We commented over the weekend,” said a TFF press representative, when asked to expand on why such a carefully curated festival — whose post-screening Q&As don’t shy away from robust discussion — would make the unprecedented move of launching a preemptive strike against one of its own. No amount of steak pressed against that black eye will soon restore the festival’s well-earned reputation for championing provocative work — and the

April 07 - 13, 2016

Photo courtesy Maurizio Cattelan Archive

Maurizio Cattelan kicks a burning baby carriage in Milan, in “Maurizio Cattelan: Be Right Back.”

fact that “Vaxxed” is currently screening at the Angelika Film Center further magnifies the perception that De Niro and his programmers were both asleep at the wheel and too quick to pull the kill switch. That said, we’re still proceeding ahead with our annual genre-structured preview of TFF flicks (all of them still booked as of press time!). So consider taking a chance on the following 21 films — a number that, unlike 15, references an age of maturity at which the stage is set for a lifetime’s worth of integrity and good judgment. Zing!

GOING HOME, GETTING REAL & LETTING GO A powerful strain of melancholy seems to have gripped the programmers of this year’s TFF, who’ve curated a festival with a robust quotient of films that task their main characters with returning to old haunts and — by choice, force, or circumstance — growing up. UK writer/director Rachel Tunnard

Photo by Alison Rosa

In “The Family Fang,” Jason Bateman and Nicole Kidman, as Baxter and Annie Fang, launch a search for their missing parents.

parlays her British Academy Film Awards-nominated short into a fulllength comedy about almost-30 Anna’s fits-and-starts attempt to acquire

“Adult Life Skills.” After the death of her twin brother, she moves back

Continued on page 18 .com

New Worlds for an Audience of One VR at TFF delivers 360 degrees of exploration BY CHARLES BATTERSBY When the Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) began in 2002, video games and interactive entertainment were still struggling to be taken seriously. In recent years, TFF programs like Tribeca Games and Games for Change have done their part to recognize the cultural impact and artistic legitimacy of these forms. This year, the festival takes another step further by augmenting its roster of films with events that take audiences out of the screening room and into new, immersive worlds. Storyscapes (a collection of interactive installations) returns to TFF this year, with several new virtual reality (VR) options. The Apr. 14–17 programming includes “DEEP VR,” a deep sea simulator that allows players to control the experience through their breathing, a documentary (“The Ark”) that puts the audience face to face with a nearly extinct species of rhinoceros, and “Notes on Blindness: Into Darkness.” Guided by the original audio-diary recordings of John Hull after losing his sight in 1983, a “binaural sound” headset helps users empathize with the way a blind person perceives the world. Another Storyscapes project represents the first VR game based on a graphic novel (Marc-Antoine Mathieu’s “S.E.N.S.”). Marie Blondiaux, a producer at Red Corner (the makers of “SENS”), describes what players will find when they put on their VR headseats: “An anonymous wanderer roams in a stripped down yet mysterious universe,” she explains. “You have to find a way within a maze without walls, with only arrows to guide you.” Those arrows manifest themselves in manners both obvious and hidden, often creating optical illusions. Players will control their character within this work, by looking where they want to go, with a motion-sensing helmet. The Virtual Arcade is a new event for the festival. It also uses VR experiences, and is open from Apr. 18–20. Among the virtual adventures is “Dragonflight,” an aerial combat simulator from Blackthorn Media, which allows players to fly on the back of a dragon. Although “Dragonflight” has plenty of action, Michael Conelly, Creative Director of Blackthorn Media, says, “There’s a collective hunch that [VR] is .com

a medium that’s here to stay, and that it matters from a storytelling standpoint.” Conelly assures that players who try “Dragonflight” at the arcade “are going to have a hell of an experience meeting our dragon in person. He drops down out of the sky and lands with a THUMP, and looks right at you from just a couple of feet away.” One of the films making its world premiere at TFF is the horror film “Holidays.” A selection in the Midnight series, the anthology puts a grim and occasionally bloody spin on various occasions for celebration during the calendar year. “Holidays: Christmas VR,” was conceived and executed by Scott Stewart, who also did the honors for the Christmas-themed segment of the film. “In VR,” notes Stewart about the difference between this new medium and traditional cinema, “the viewer is dropped into a 360-degree world wherein they have the freedom to look in any direction at any time. So as a storyteller, you need to view your composition as the ‘world surrounding your viewer.’ It’s more like staging an event around a single audience member.” Luis Blackaller, the Creative Director at Wevr, the VR production studio behind “Christmas VR,” points out that the narrative experience they provide is “closer to a vivid memory or a lucid dream. When telling a story in VR, it is important to figure out ways to make things come across around the viewer, regardless of what they are looking at. They might be browsing a bookshelf in a studio while the unexpected murder happens just behind their backs, and, yes, they might miss that moment. But they will get what happened because they were there.” Some of the VR projects in the Virtual Arcade will involve murder and horror. “Killer Deal,” the story of a machete salesman, is a humorous take on classic slasher films. Fans of horror/comedy will recognize its director, Anthony C. Ferrante, from the “Sharknado” films, along with leading man Ian Ziering. Irad Eyal, writer and producer of “Killer Deal,” says the lighthearted feel of this project will provide the viewer with an experience unique to this new form. “A lot of the VR that you see now

Photo courtesy Tribeca Film Festival

This year’s Tribeca Film Festival ups the ante of its interactive dare, with new VR tech and storytelling experiences.

Image courtesy Niki Smit

Control your experience by controlling you breath, in the underwater word of “DEEP VR.”

Image courtesy Marc Antoine Mathieu

Continued on page 21

The character of the graphic novel meets its avatar in VR, in “SENS.” April 07 - 13, 2016

I Dream of Genre: Tribeca Films Have Style WARFARE, PAST AND PRESENT

Photo by Alejandra Lopez

In “The Tenth Man,” Alan Sabbagh, as Ariel, drives around his old Buenos Aires neighborhood between bouts of navigating a complex relationship.

Continued from page 16 to her rural hometown — and into a dead-end job, and an even more depressing living situation (the shed in her mother’s back yard). A chance meeting and growing friendship with a troubled young boy in desperate need of personal growth has her contemplating serious changes in her own state of fantasy world complacency. From Denmark, “Parentis” has empty nest couple Kjeld and Vibeke reacting to the absence of their son by moving back into the apartment they shared while students. That nostalgic flight of fancy takes a surreal turn, when they greet the dawn of a new day to discover they’ve become 30 years younger. A underappreciated master of slow burns and exasperated expressions, everyman actor Jason Bateman has his sophomore directorial effort with “The Family Fang,” in which a brother (Bateman) and his sister (Nicole Kidman) come back to their childhood home and embark on a search for their missing parents. Argentinian director Daniel Burman’s “The Tenth Man” is a gently comedic, affectionately observed, homecoming tale taking place over the seven days of Purim. Called back to the

April 07 - 13, 2016

Jewish neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Ariel seeks to reconcile how his childhood dynamic with a caring yet often absent parent was shaped by his father’s acquiescence to the requirements of their religion.

In “The Fixer,” an exiled Afghan journalist lands a job at a small North Carolina town’s newspaper. Applying those war correspondent skills to the humdrum police blotter beat, his pursuit of one particular item leads down a familiar, yet foreign, rabbit hole of conflict, danger, and intrigue. Pursuing a stable relationship and resolving to make a new life for himself as a real estate agent, “The Loner” — a former child soldier in 1980s Iran — struggles to shake his opium addiction and gambling habit. This visually intense and artfully violent debut feature from Daniel Grove (who also wrote the screenplay) bathes the mean streets of Los Angeles in neon, pitting the title character (Reza Sixo Safai, seen in the 2014 Iranian vampire tale “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night”) against both sides in a feud between the Iranian and Russian mobs. Executive produced by Wim Wenders and Errol Morris, the documentary “National Bird” assesses the collateral damage — physical, psychological, moral — experienced by three military veterans of America’s predator drone program.

ART ON FILM Furniture designer, taxidermist, subversive satirist, defiant outsider, and art world darling: Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan has been all of this and more

over the decades, managing to elude categorization. Charting the journey from scrappy upstart to his rightful place in the contemporary art canon, Maura Axelrod’s documentary “Maurizio Cattelan: Be Right Back” takes a playful approach to its search for the real story behind Cattelan’s public persona and diverse body of work. A Sun., Apr. 24, 6:30pm screening at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a homecoming, of sorts, as the Guggenheim’s 2011 Cattelan retrospective cemented his place in the contemporary art canon. TFF seems to have a sweet tooth this year for art docs with a weakness for colons. Case in point: Matt Pizzano’s “Becoming: Bradley Theodore” (Apr. 15, 9pm) is an eight-minute short about how the titular artist turned his life around over the course of two years, through self-education, self-promotion, and sheer dedication. In “Burden,” directors Timothy Marrinan and Richard Dewey survey the 45-year career of Chris Burden, whose self-analysis and philosophical musings are interspersed with footage and commentary that recall projects infused with danger and personal sacrifice — literally. Besides having been crucified to a VW bug, Burden’s been shot at, and confined to a 2x2x3 locker for several days. The viral darling of stealth street art could be toppled by an upstart rival,

Continued on page 23

Photo by Lisa Guarnieri

L to R: Kevin Stea, Gabriel Trupin and Oliver Crumes III, circa 1990. “Strike a Pose” is a look at life during and after touring with Madonna. .com

‘Califórnia’ Dreaming Boosts Brazilian Bildungsroman Marina Person brings 1984’s sights and sounds to the screen BY SEAN EGAN “You kind of plan everything,” says Marina Person, a Brazilian writer/ director, on independent filmmaking. “But a lot of unpredicted things happen as well, and you have two ways of dealing with it. One: to get desperate and cry in the sidewalk, saying ‘I’m not gonna make it because we’re not gonna have the scene I really needed.’ Or you can [go] like, ‘Ah! What can I do?’ and invent something else. That happened a lot in ‘Califórnia,’ because we shot with so little money.” That wonderful, personal comingof-age film, which Person co-wrote and directed on a shoestring budget, will receive its US premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival against the odds of budgetary constraints. “If something goes really wrong, just relax, and try to look to the sides. The solution may be right in front of you,” she advises. From filming largely indoors to keep costs down, dealing with inclement weather, and shooting guerrilla-style on the street without permits, Person employed her own wisdom against numerous obstacles. However, most difficult (and important) of all for Person, a former MTV Brasil VJ, was the process of acquiring music rights. Set in early-80s São Paulo and centering on Estela, a music-obsessed teen, “Califórnia” firmly establishes its tone through the use of choice cuts from alternative and new wave artists — including Echo & the Bunnymen, Cocteau Twins, and New Order. Most tricky in Person’s long quest to curate the perfect soundtrack was securing the rights to The Cure’s “Killing an Arab.” The song, inspired by Camus’ “The Stranger,” has been mired in controversy since its release, due to racist misinterpretations of the song’s lyrics. Because in “Califórnia” it accompanies a particularly moving sequence and helps to define a major character,

Person reached out to The Cure’s people before filming to receive tentative permission to use the song. However, by the time she was in post-production months later, and had the cash to secure the rights, she was greeted with an altogether different reaction. “The answer was like, ‘What?! You cannot use it! What?! Who told you you could? You know [Cure frontman] Robert Smith wants to forget he wrote a song called “Killing an Arab.” ’ They were really upset,” she reveals, postulating that the Charlie Hebdo attacks may have rendered parties more wary of giving the go-ahead. Nonetheless, she did not give up. “I said, ‘No, you know, you have to! I’m going to London and, like, go on strike. I’m going to do a hunger strike in front of Robert Smith’s house; he must let me use it!’ I was kind of desperate,” she recalls. Following this rejection came a weeks-long process, during which Person scribed several extensive emails detailing her reasoning behind wanting to use the song, which found their way to Smith — who tried to convince Person to use a different Cure track in its place instead. After much debate and handwringing, she was eventually granted permission, which brought Person some much-needed relief. “I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat. I was totally obsessed with it.” She was similarly obsessed with (and troubled by) getting the rights to David Bowie’s simultaneously melancholic and triumphant “Five Years.” This time around, Person was able to snag the rights to the composition, but was rejected in her efforts to secure the studio recording. After another desperate, weeks-long process appealing to the powers that be and receiving radio silence, Person got creative and made due with the resources she had. She recruited Clara Gallo, the actress who plays Estela, to

Photo by Aline Arruda

Every frame of “Califórnia” bursts with lovingly assembled ’80s accouterments. Pictured: Clara Gallo as Estela and Caio Horowicz as JM.

record a simple acoustic guitar-based cover, which was used for most of the film’s early festival screenings in lieu of the original recording, Then, out of the blue, the label changed their tune. “Somehow, in November, somebody said, ‘Oh, do you want to use “Five Years?” We have this version that is in “Ziggy Stardust.” ’ I said, ‘Version?!

Yes! What?! This is the original! This is the one I want!’ ” she explains, confirming that it would be present in the Tribeca cut. “I don’t know what happened, really I don’t. It was like a miracle.” Visually, the film bursts with a love

Continued on page 20

YOUR WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CHELSEA, HUDSON YARDS & HELL’S KITCHEN WWW. .com

.COM April 07 - 13, 2016

Person, on Snagging Songs and Shooting Guerrilla-Style is made of these moments, right? I like that kind of film.” Ultimately, the strength of “Califórnia” is not derived from any amount of art direction, song choice, or inspiration; it’s from the elegant universality at its core. “Essentially, we talk about things that everybody has gone through, or will go through if they are younger. You know, the teenage rites of passage,” Person says. “All the time you are asking yourself ‘Where am I? Where am I supposed to be? Is it here? What kind of person do I want to be?’ And so, these things, I hope people can connect to that.”

Continued from page 19 of music and ’80s culture — from stacks of records in a local shop, to posters of Estela’s musical idols lining her wall. Ever budget-conscious, Person helped keep costs down by providing resources from her own personal collection whenever possible. “Most of the records that appear, that stand out in the music store, are mine. I kept them from my youth,” she says. “Some of the Bowie photos that are cut from magazines are mine. I still have, you know, an archive with all the Bowie things I collected.” Every detail of the scenic design feels similarly lived in, in order to recreate 1984 — a “very special year in Brazilian history,” according to Person, due to the downfall of the military dictatorship, the rise of a new rock scene, and the emergence of AIDS. “The movie’s not about AIDS, the movie’s not about politics, the movie’s not about any of that,” she quickly notes. “But those things were important to me, and I wanted them to be present. The movie is essentially about

April 07 - 13, 2016

Photo by Aline Arruda

Writer/director Marina Person hustled hard to bring her film to the big screen.

a girl becoming a woman.” This use of a very specific socio-economic period as a backdrop for a simple story — along with its slice-of-life vibe and Person’s gentle, matter-offact directing style — recalls Richard Linklater’s work. Person also cites Francois Truffaut, and John Hughes’

“The Breakfast Club,” as inspirations in her filmmaking. “I guess I’m influenced by everybody — all the filmmakers I love,” she comments of these touchstones. “Nothing seems to be happening, but this is life, right? You know, there’s nothing special here, there’s no turning point; but life

“Califórnia” screens Sat., Apr. 16 at 6 p.m., Mon., Apr. 18 at 9:15 p.m., and Fri., Apr. 22 at 7:15 p.m. at Regal Cinemas Battery Park (102 North End Ave., at Vesey St.). Screens Thurs., Apr. 21 at 3:45 p.m. at Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea (260 W. 23rd St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.). Visit tribecafilm.com or call 646-502-5296 for tickets ($20 plus $3.50 phone or web processing fee; $10 for the Apr. 21 matinee, plus processing).

.com

Image courtesy Baobab Studios

“Invasion” lets you inhabit the body of a bunny, then join the fight against an attack from outer space.

Tribeca Film Fest Ventures Into Virtual Reality Continued from page 17 is pretty serious,” he notes. “And there’s a place for that. I think VR is really good for documentary film making...but it’s also very heavy. We wanted to give you an alternative to that, with something that’s campy, ridiculous, over the top, funny, and fun.” Eyal also discusses how audiences respond to the narrative in an interactive VR story, noting how the viewer is “naturally going to follow the action, the same way you would if you were in a room with a monster or a serial killer. You’re going to keep your eye on him.” Eric Darnell is known for directing animated films like “Madagascar,” but he also wrote and directed the VR project “Invasion,” which makes its debut at the Virtual Arcade. “Invasion” is the story of two cute bunny rabbits who repel an alien attack, with players inhabiting the body of one of those bunnies. VR, says Darnell, “is not just an advancement of cinema. It’s its own medium, with its own language that’s just barely being developed right now. It’s going to take time to realize all of the potential that VR has to offer.” The Tribeca Film Festival is also hosting its Games and Media Summit for the third year. This Apr. 18 event will feature hands-on play with new VR games, as well as panel discussions with game makers whose topics include how to create games for VR, new “biometric” technology for interacting with games, and using VR for empathy and journalism. .com

Image courtesy Michael Conelly

Azhdaya approaches the tomb of Vermithrax in “Dragonflight,” an aerial combat simulator that puts you on the back of a dragon.

As VR makes strides in being accepted as a form of legitimate storytelling, it is also becoming a more accessible experience to people who might have been turned off by early VR projects. Conelly, of “Dragonflight,” boasts of the refined control scheme to his game, which is intended to help people who are prone to motion sickness. “We don’t

want Robert De Niro getting on our dragon and getting queasy,” he jokes. All events mentioned in this article take place at the Festival Hub (Spring Street Studios, 50 Varick St., btw. Beach & Laight Sts.). Tickets to Storyscapse and Virtual Arcade events are $40 each, with discounted packages available. For more info, visit tribecafilm.com or call 646-502-5296. April 07 - 13, 2016

April 07 - 13, 2016

.com

Tribeca Film Fest Navigates Its Mid-Teen Years

Courtesy Vice Films

“SHOT! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock” surveys the career of Mick Rock, the man who captured iconic images of music royalty.

LGBTQ Continued from page 18 in this debut feature from directors Ian Roderick Gray and Dylan Harvey. Blurring the lines between fact and fiction, “The Banksy Job” is a frenetic art world heist caper tale told by AK47 — a former porn star and acid rave promoter who assumes the villainous role of art world spoiler by setting out, in broad daylight, to swipe a piece of Bansky’s work located in Central London. A more grounded (but no less affecting) portrait of an artist unfolds in “Everybody Knows...Elizabeth Murray.” Using vérité footage, exclusive interviews with art world luminaries, and excerpts from the painter’s private journals (as voiced by Meryl Streep), production designer Kristi Zea’s directorial debut is an intimate documentary following Murray’s formative years as an early feminist and mother of two, through a lung cancer diagnosis at the apex of her career. The film’s world premiere takes place on Sat., Apr. 23, 4:30 & 7:30 p.m, at the Whitney Museum of American Art, with another TFF screening on Sun., Apr. 24, 7:15 p.m. at Regal Cinemas Battery Park. .com

Weaving together footage from recently discovered home movies and unflinching excerpts from contemporary interviews, the act of contrition referenced in “Memories of a Penitent Heart” applies as much to the stigmatizing behavior of Cecilia Aldarondo’s family as it does to her uncle Miguel’s bid to reconcile his Puerto Rican/ Catholic upbringing with his sexuality, in the days leading up to his death from AIDS in 1980s NYC. The subsequent shunning of his lover, Robert, comes to a head when Aldarondo tracks him down 25 years later, and begins to ask questions about keeping secrets, second chances, and what we cling to in times of crisis. The long shadow of Madge hovers over the men who went from obscurity to worldwode scritiny and back again, as the dancers who accompanied Madonna on her 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour. “Strike a Pose” reunites seven of the artists 25 years later, to reveal “the emotional truth behind the glamorous façade” — not just of life on the road, but of the further scrutiny they faced as stars of the tour documentary “Truth or Dare.”

The documentary “Check It” follows a group of Washington D.C. gay and trans teens of color who respond to bullying, rape, and abuse by forming their own gang and sending a message that acts of physical aggression against one of their own will be met with equal, or greater, force. Three members of the group are focused on in particular, as they pursue careers in fashion as an alternative to the cycle of gang violence. Journeys of personal growth also figure into “King Cobra,” a selection in TFF’s Midnight series that documents the rise, so to speak, of gay porn actor Brent Corrigan (aka Sean Paul Lockhart, who later became a gay-centric and “mainstream” actor/director of some note). “Cobra” coils around Corrigan’s formative years, and the bitter break with the producer who made him famous. Garrett Clayton and Christian Slater star, respectively, as the feuding pair, alongside an ensemble whose marquee names include James Franco, Alicia Silverstone, and Molly Ringwald.

DO YOU LIKE GOOD MUSIC? Two childhood pals — one who grows up to be a comedian, the other, a

folk-rocker — take to the road and split the bill on whatever hardscrabble gigs they can book, in “Folk Hero & Funny Guy.” The documentary “Bad Rap” profiles the outsider quest of four AsianAmerican rappers struggling for artistic recognition. Hip-hop also exerts a pull on the young Palestinian protagonists of “Junction 48,” whose charged lyrics chafe against their conservative community and outside forces. In Arabic/ Hebrew with English subtitles. “SHOT! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock” is a documentary that surveys the prolific career of music photographer Mick Rock, who gives a first-hand account of capturing iconic shots of David Bowie, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Queen, and other famous names. In “Geezer,” Green Day member and Broadway composer Billie Joe Armstrong stars as the former lead singer of a punk band who, at 40, finds himself married, living in the suburbs, parenting two children, and pining for more of the glories he amassed from a misspent youth. For tickets and schedule info, visit tribecafilm.com or call 646-502-5296. April 07 - 13, 2016

NON-SURGICAL FOOT & ANKLE SERVICE

Our ямБrst line of treatment is this

[PRESCRIPTION FOOT ORTHOTIC]

not this

[SCALPEL]

Dr. Rock Positano, DPM, MSc, MPH, Director 519 East 72nd Street New York, NY 10021 212.606.1858

April 07 - 13, 2016

.com