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washington square news Vol. 40, No. 48
TUEsdAY, April 17, 2012
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Brooklyn to receive rooftop farm By Ana Luisa Crivorot BrightFarms, Inc., is planning to build a farm on the 100,000-squarefoot rooftop of the Liberty View Industrial Plaza in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, which will provide New Yorkers with high-quality, fresh produce. The farm will include an array of lettuces, tomatoes and herbs, which the organization said will be superior in flavor and in freshness to packaged supermarket products. BrightFarms, Inc., an organization dedicated to bettering local food systems and diminishing the carbon footprint left by the current produce supply chain system, looks for large rooftops where farms can be built. This farm is projected to open in the beginning of 2013 and will partner with a local supermarket, where the farm’s products will be made available to the community. Kate Siskel, BrightFarm’s marketing
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GLORIA LEE/WSN
Students gathered for “Your Deepest Darkest” event, which featured boards of secrets submitted by members of the NYU community.
Students reveal their deepest, darkest secrets By Claire Zajdel Students had the opportunity to anonymously share their secrets yesterday. “Your Deepest Darkest,” an event hosted by the Commuter Assistants, attracted many students to the Commuter Lounge in the Kimmel Center for University Life.
LES restaurant brings ‘Munch Brunch’ By Katya Barranik
Epitomizing a man with a classic case of the munchies, “Half Baked” character Brian famously says, “Get some sour cream and onion chips with some dip, man, some beef jerky, some peanut butter. Get some HäagenDazs ice cream bars, a whole lot, make sure chocolate, gotta have chocolate, man.” With Lower East Side restaurant Sons of Essex’s special brunch menu this Friday, you too, can satisfy your crazy cravings. After the recent success of the restaurant’s weekend brunches, Sons of Essex owner Matt Levine began exploring the idea of serving brunch during the week. “We just launched brunch on Saturday and Sundays which has been a success, and with the growth of budding businesses and daytime foot traffic in the Lower East Side, we thought it would be great to open for a weekday brunch, see how it goes, cater to our neighborhood,” Levine said.
Their first weekday brunch will be held on Friday, April 20, commonly referred to as 4/20, and will be served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The “Munch Brunch” menu will include foods like a mac ‘n’ cheese omelette, truffle mushroom pizza, burgers, salads and more. Each brunch dish will be a discounted $4.20, and all cocktails will be 50 percent off. In addition to the delicious food, they will be showing three movies throughout the day: “Cheech & Chong: Up in Smoke,” “Dazed & Confused” and “Half Baked.” Free Wi-Fi (they’re calling it “Wi-High”) and complementary homemade brownies will also be provided. What exactly those homemade brownies contain, no one can be sure, but expect the best as they will be made with love and care by the talented pastry chef. Kristen Shirey, executive Assistant at Brandsway Hospitality, which provides operations and management services for
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CAS senior and event coordinator Angelica Lemos said the event is something unique on campus and that it could benefit everyone by encouraging conversation about tough subjects. “Anyone — a classmate, TA or total stranger — can be going through a whirlwind of emotion, and you wouldn’t even have a
clue,” Lemos said. “This event will hopefully encourage others to not judge someone so quickly because there may be more to the person than just the image they portray on the outside.” The event was inspired by a training activity that the CAs held before the fall semester to prepare them for handling the
delicate and personal situations of their commuter mentees. It is based on PostSecret, an online community project, which allows people to anonymously submit secrets to be published for others to read. A few weeks ago, the CAs gave
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‘Suburgatory’ creator discusses ABC hit By Bob Teoh One of the biggest new hits of the television season, ABC’s “Suburgatory,” recently returned after a short hiatus. Series creator Emily Kapnek talked with the Washington Square News to share her excitement. “Suburgatory” features a protagonist that many NYU students may be able to empathize with — Tessa, a sarcastic, wise-cracking teen from New York City played with ferocity by Jane Levy. Forced to move to the suburbs by her father George (Jeremy Sisto), who assumes the worst when he discovers condoms in her room, Tessa must learn to survive the nightmarish world of suburbia, replete with nosy neighbors and backyard barbecues. While Tessa may fear this alien world, the town of Chatswin is home to some of the industry’s most talented comedians. From Cheryl Hines to Ana Gasteyer and Chris Parnell, viewers will likely recognize many of Chatswin’s hilarious residents. “I hit the jackpot,” said Kapnek of her cast. Singling out Levy, Kapnek said,
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“Suburgatory” is about a family adapting to life outside the city. “She has incredible range. Tessa is a grounded character with her humorous moments, but [Levy] has the ability to play both humorous and serious scenes.” The ability to work with such a talented cast has been refreshing for Kapnek, who may be best known as creator of the former hit Nickelodeon cartoon, “As Told by Ginger.” As Kapnek noted, working on an animated series didn’t allow for as much interaction with actors as she would have hoped.
“The set is a very creatively open place,” said Kapnek of her current show. “It’s a loving and fun place to be. We have a script, but we let [the actors] play a little afterward.” And while the show may feature more eccentric characters than the typical sitcom, the heart in “Suburgatory” is an important component. Kapnek cited at least one moment that made her cry on
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Washington Square news | tuesday, april 17, 2012 | nyunews.com
on the side
Compiled by the
WSN staff
staff recoMmendations “The Blind Side”
The Horrible Crowes
“The Blind Side” tells the uplifting, heart-wrenching story of a boy with a tough childhood whose life is turned around by a trophy family and his love of football. Based on a true story, “The Blind Side” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture and earned Sandra Bullock her first Oscar. While the film may not be perfect, “The Blind Side” is undeniably effective when it comes to giving viewers an emotionally powerful experience. — Ana Luisa Crivorot
via flickr
via wikipedia
“Lizzie McGuire”
It’s hard to believe that Hilary Duff just gave birth to a baby boy. It feels like just yesterday that she was making herself a household name on the Disney Channel with her performance as awkward middle school student Lizzie McGuire. While the show may seem awfully ridiculous in retrospect, “Lizzie McGuire” overflows with nostalgic value, especially as Duff has now grown into a young woman with a family. — Jeremy Grossman
The Gaslight Anthem’s lead singer and guitarist Brian Fallon delivers beautiful ballads and emotional tracks in his side project, The Horrible Crowes, which released an album titled “Elsie” last year. Fallon’s voice is as rough and powerful as ever, but he ditches his bombastic rock sound for something reminiscent of the slower tracks off of Gaslight’s album “American Slang.” For fans and newcomers alike, Fallon is always a treat to hear. — Jonathon Dornbush
via flickr
“Infinite Jest”
“Heat”
David Foster Wallace’s “Infinite Jest” is ubiquitous as a touchstone of the contemporary literary canon. While everyone’s heard of it, the work is not often tackled given its sprawling length. But once you’re sucked in by his magnum opus, you’ll find it difficult to climb out, thanks to the sheer entertainment value and literary pyrotechnics. — Christopher A. Gellert via wikipedia
via flickr
TODAY
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11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Grey Art Gallery 100 Washington Square East
5:30 p.m. | Kimmel Center, Room 802 60 Washington Square South
“Storied Past: Four Centuries of French Drawings from the Blanton Museum of Art” and “French Art from NYU’s Collection” This new exhibit of French art at NYU’s own Grey Art Gallery opens today.
Before Al Pacino and Robert De Niro soiled their careers with appearances in “Jack and Jill” and “Little Fockers,” they starred together in “Heat,” one of the best crime thrillers of the past 20 years. Directed by Michael Mann, “Heat” follows a professional crime team led by De Niro who is being trailed by Pacino’s Vincent Hanna, a cop who is struggling to reconcile his personal and professional lives. The performances are fantastic, and the dialogue is instantly quotable. And, with small appearances by Danny Trejo, Jeremy Piven and William Fichtner, “Heat” has a plethora of familiar faces that will take you forever to recognize. If you liked “The Town” but wished it had a lot less Ben Affleck, then “Heat” is great choice. — Josh Johnson
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Students for an Environmentally Friendly NYC
The Roosevelt Institute Campus Network and Clinton Global Initiative University are hosting this event for students to network and brainstorm eco-friendly ideas.
5 to 7 p.m. | The Humanities Initiative at NYU | 20 Cooper Square, Fifth Floor
Book Launch: “Bird on Fire: Lessons from the World’s Least Sustainable City,” by Andrew Ross
Social and Cultural analysis professor Andrew Ross is celebrating the launch of his new book about sustainability in Phoenix, Ariz.
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university Julie devito city/state emily yang investigative hanqing chen arts jonathon dornbush features jessica littman sports daniel hinton multimedia david lin copy maximilíano durón senior editor jack brooks,
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SNAPSHOT
ON THE WIRE
Subway hero
When 24-year-old Charles Sonder and a friend boarded an uptown train on Thursday to meet friends for drinks, they decided to bring some snacks with them. As the train rolled along, a fight broke out between a man and a woman complete with curses, punches and kicks. Sonder came between them and acted as a barrier between the couple, calmly eating his snacks. The whole incident was recorded, and the video now has received over one million views on Youtube. He has even earned the nickname Snackman from local news media. Sonder told DNAinfo.com that he’s received marriage proposals in the aftermath. — MSNBC
Yale University
Admins get social media training — Yale Daily News
University of Kansas
A puppy looks on in envy toward the Madison Square Park Dog Run.
PHOTO BY Julie DeVito
Despite drop in rankings, interest in University School of Law increases — The University Daily Kansan
sales representatives
Kaitlyn O’Brien, MICHAEL RYAN, Melissa Ynegas
advising editorial adviser
keith leighty EDITORS-AT-LARGE
jaywon choe kelsey desiderio russell steinberg KIRSTEN CHANG francis poon terka cicelOVa About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jaewon Kang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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nyunews.com | tuesday, april 17, 2012 | Washington Square news
Sunset Park to receive rooftop farm and press associate, said the project will also provide new jobs for local farmers and lead to a stronger local food system. “[Our mission] is to grow fresh, local produce for supermarkets in a way that is better for people and the planet, at competitive prices,” Siskel said. But Joel Kupferman, the executive director and senior attorney for the New York Environmental Law and Justice Project said that while he and his organization support the greening of New York City, there are some concerns about this project that should be taken into consideration. Since the farm will be in an area where people live and work, Kupferman was concerned that the soil might accumulate lead and should be regularly checked. “The farm should be as greenfriendly and as pesticide-free as possible,” Kupferman said. Additionally, the attorney said accessibility for all — including those with disabilities — should be a factor in the design of the garden. Siskel said that levels of lead in soil will not be an issue, since BrightFarms will cultivate its own soil. As the project is still in the design stage, there are no concrete plans to make the farm wheelchair-accessible or determine pesticide usage. Despite these potential issues, Christopher Schlottmann, a clinical assistant professor and a director of envi-
ronmental studies at NYU, agreed with what BrightFarms is trying to do. “Rooftop farming is an innovative use of valuable real estate and might help people learn about food systems,” he said. Steinhardt freshman Haley Kim echoed thoughts that the project would be beneficial to the environment and to the city. “It’s a very interesting concept, especially when it’s in the middle of the city,” she said. “I think it shows a growing trend of a greater focus on the environment and keeping things green.” Similarly, Eric Fuchs-Stengel, a Gallatin sophomore and student leader of NYU’s organic farming initiative Farm to Live, said he hopes to see much more movement from the local population of New York City and policy makers to work harder to grow food locally. He also said he believes that more students throughout college campuses, including NYU, are becoming interested in sustainable agriculture. “The environmental movement is alive, but the food movement is growing in force,” he said. “In places like NYU where young people decide what is cool and what is not as well as bring on new trends and ideas, it is no surprise urban farming and sustainable food has caught on in full force.” Ana Luisa Crivorot is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
Deaf rapper makes return to NYC By Feiye Wang
After a performance two years ago in Washington Square Park, deaf Finnish rapper Marko Vuoriheimo, also known as Signmark, returned to the city once again on Monday night to promote deaf culture and music. This time, the venue was NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study and also featured notable guests such as actor and comedian CJ Jones. The event was hosted by the Gallatin Student Council and by Gallatin junior Jesse Warner. Warner, who is concentrating in Community Music Therapy, said she wanted to bring an important part of deaf culture to NYU students. There was even a wait list for event. “I’m looking at the ways music can connect communities and bridge cultures,” said Warner, who is minoring in sign language. “[These] musicians are deaf and are using music to bridge that gap. I just kept meeting people that I needed to use sign language with. I don’t think people really realize the rich culture that exists and cultural norms and different trends that are so different than the hearing community.”
NYU students awarded national science honors By Eric Benson The National Science Foundation granted 14 NYU students Graduate Research Fellowship awards last week. The prestigious honor, which celebrates highly competitive students who plan to pursue a research-based graduate degree, awarded about 2,000 nationwide recipients a $30,000 annual stipend and a $10,500 cost-of-education allowance to the institution at which they are continuing their studies. According to the NSF, the fellowship awards are granted to highly motivated college students studying NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited institutions in the United States. Last year, 13 NYU students were offered the award. Noelle Catarineu, a CAS senior studying chemistry who was awarded one of the grants, said the award will support her as she earns her Ph.D. degree at the University of California, Berkeley. “I won’t have to worry about being supported financially by the grants the professor I do research with receives,” Catarineu said. “NYU helped me win the fellowship in every way I was evaluated for the fellowship.” Fraida Fund, a NYU-Poly senior and another award recipient, will earn a bachelor of science
degree in electrical engineering from NYU-Poly this spring and will enter the Ph.D program in electrical engineering this fall. Though Fund focused her undergraduate research on 4G wireless networks, she remains undecided on what she will pursue in her graduate research. “In the context of my work so far, I’ve been exposed to a lot of interesting problems within the field of wireless telecommunications,” Fund said. “It’s going to be very difficult to narrow my focus and choose just one thing to work on for my doctoral research because it’s all so exciting to me.” Fund attributed much of her success to the resources and creative energy environment available at NYU-Poly. “The campus is full of incredibly smart, talented, and interesting students and faculty who are working on all kinds of amazing
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things, whether for coursework, for profit, or for fun,” she said. “It’s really inspiring. There’s something about realizing that the guy who sits next to me in Electronics has lights woven into his dreadlocks, or seeing the school’s robotic fish lab on the local news, that just makes me feel really lucky to be here.” Chadly Stern, a GSAS first-year graduate student researching social psychology and an award recipient, said he is grateful to be awarded the fellowship. He added that he will dedicate the money to his research in graduate school. “The extensive guidance and support I’ve received at NYU have been pivotal to developing the ideas that helped me to win this award,” Stern said. Eric Benson is a deputy university editor. Email him at ebenson@nyunews.com
VIA POLY.EDU
NYU-Poly senior Fraida Fund was an award recipient.
Many of the attendees expressed interest in seeing this intersection of hearing and deaf culture come to life at the event. Signmark also works as a special assistant to the UN foreign affairs administration to work for disabled human rights. “Through music it’s really easy to kind of change people’s minds and attitudes, but politically it’s not [as easy],” he said. “If you have a dream, a goal in mind, something that you want to do, just do it. Don’t let anything stop you from doing it. Follow your dreams.” Attendee Esther Kabalkin has been a fan of Signmark since attending his first Washington Square Park concert. She brought along her friend and fellow Signmark fan, Albert Santiago, who had previously only seen the rapper on YouTube videos. Santiago, whose parents are deaf, and Kabalkin, who studied American Sign Language during college, are already familiar with the deaf community and believe that Signmark and Jones serve as good role models. “We like the fact that he’s advocating for deaf rights and equality,” Kabalkin said of Signmark. Other audience members,
such as CAS freshman Matt Rayuara, were less familiar with the artist. “I’m going in with an open mind,” Rayuara said. “I think the best way to approach this is not knowing what to expect.” As a current ASL student, he hoped to broaden his understanding of sign language and deaf culture through interacting with both hearing and deaf attendees. Gallatin senior Ella Crivello, one of the event organizers, said the response from the audience signifies the merging of communities. “It isn’t going to be an only NYU audience,” Crivello said. “It’s going to be the whole deaf community here.” Despite communication barriers, both communities came together to laugh at jokes made by Jones and sway to hip hop music by Signmark. Feiye Wang is deputy investigative editor. Email her at fwang@nyunews.com.
for video coverage, scan here
SECRETS continued from PG. 1
Students share confessions
GLORIA LEE/WSN
Postcards made by commuters and other students as well as from PostSecret were featured at “Your Deepest Darkest.” commuters and other students the chance to do the same. They passed out cards on which students could scrawl their secrets and left envelopes around campus for submissions. Today, the cards were displayed for the first time. “I love PostSecret, and I go on it often,” Stern freshman Kimberly Waugh said. “They’re always updating it with the most touching things. Unfortunately I didn’t get to submit to Deepest Darkest, but I think it’s so cool.” The project featured a board filled with secrets from the PostSecret blog as well as secrets submitted by students. The secrets were poignant and included touching confessions like “I’ve never dated a guy I’ve actually liked” and “Sometimes I wear my
sister’s clothing when no one is home. I’m her older brother.” CAS freshman Angela Bouriba found the secrets more sentimental and dramatic than she expected. “I thought that the secrets that people submitted would be funny secrets like ‘I pick my nose when people aren’t watching,’” Bouriba said. “It was nice to connect to something like that.” The event included the display of submitted secrets, a video by PostSecret and a discussion of the catharsis caused by the confessions. “It’s through programs like these that we can talk about these intimate issues,” Stern freshman Rosario Giarranta said. Claire Zajdel is a staff writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | tuesday, april 17, 2012 | nyunews.com
dining
edited by Hannah borenstein dining@nyunews.com
Nutritionist’s Notebook
Dining in zen: food and yoga combine on the Lower East Side By Katya Barranik The Divine Dish, an organic vegetarian cafe on the Lower East Side that feels as homey as a friend’s living room, is the newest addition to the dreamy, Indian-inspired Stanton Street Yoga. Stanton Street Yoga, run by Dhyana and Syama Masla, is much more than just a yoga studio. “It is a place where you can fully nourish your body through yoga, food, Ayurvedic treatments and leave feeling more inspired,” Dhyana said. “It is a community where we try to live by human ideals.” Chef Lisa Rubenstein, who started out cooking 1,800 gallons of soup a day at the Chelsea Market’s Hale and Hearty Soups, has an Ayurvedic — a traditional Indian approach to medicine — style to her cooking. “In the United States most diseases are inflammatory,” said Rubenstein. “Spices such as cumin, turmeric and cayenne tend to help [free the body of] pollution, asbestos and any other pol-
lutants that are in the air. An Ayurvedic meal touches on all the senses, balances your body and leaves you feeling satisfied. Most of the time [the goal is] for people to leave there feeling like every taste bud has been pleased.” Because of the variety in income levels in the Lower East Side, the Divine Dish offers a fixed menu of seasonal dishes under $10 as well as a daily “Divine Dish,” which is donation based. While visiting the Divine Dish I enjoyed a filling quinoa-stuffed acorn squash with beets and brussel sprouts in a miso maple dressing and a chai drink with ginger, cumin and other spices. I finished off my meal with a gluten-free, buttermilk lemon cupcake. Visitors can also stay at the urban boutique retreat located on the second floor of the yoga studio, which has 11 apartment-type living spaces available for short-term stay. “The whole intention of bringing together the two floors is to create something NYC doesn’t have,” assistant director India Weinberg
said. “It’s a boutique retreat center where anyone can stay as long as they want. In the morning they can come down for a yoga class, eat some breakfast at the Divine Dish and then go off, exploring the city. Then after their day they can take a winddown yoga class.” Each room, which is equipped to be handicappedaccessible, has a full kitchen, TV, Wi-Fi, private patio and high-end mattresses. “You don’t feel like you’re staying in a hotel, but you get the comfort of it,” Weinberg said. The grand opening of the Divine Dish at Stanton Street Yoga will be on April 22 and will include snacks, a film and a Brahmin priest who will perform a traditional, ancient Indian purification ceremony. The first yoga class is free, and NYU students who mention this article can receive $20 off the price of unlimited monthly yoga. Katya Barranik is a staff writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com
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Brunch for holiday munchies
FILE PHOTO BY EMMA PLISKIN
Sons of Essex will offer a special brunch menu this Friday. for Sons of Essex, describes the restaurant as “chill, comfortable, old-school Lower East Side ... and people have described it as ‘Bowery Boys’ meets ‘Gangs of New York.’” LSP freshman Spencer Carle appreciates the openness of the restaurant regarding this holiday, which is quickly moving from subcultural to mainstream, and encourages NYU students to stop by. “I think it’s pretty cool that they’re open about [4/20],” Carle said. “Weed isn’t a fringe cultural phenomenon anymore, even though it’s still illegal.”
But don’t think Friday’s Munch Brunch is just for the “Dazed and Confused” crowd. With upscale versions of favorite classics like truffle grilled cheese and tempura-battered bananas in a PB&J sandwich, Sons of Essex is the place to be anytime you’re in the mood for some classic, oldschool hip hop, good food and an even better crowd. Sons of Essex is located at 133 Essex Street (between Stanton and Rivington). Katya Barranik is a staff writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
Consuming calories
Question: With finals approaching ,many students will be staying up very late. Is the time of day important in relation to when you are consuming most of your calories? What are some good latenight, study snack options for students? Answer: Having just written a book about calories, they are much on my mind. Here is one take-home lesson from the book. If you look only at body weight, calories are the determining factor. If you eat more calories than you need, you gain weight no matter where the calories come from. But if you care about health, the source of the calories is crucial. What can be confusing about this distinction is that eating a healthy diet — one with plenty of vegetables, fruits and grains and only occasional junk food — makes it much easier to balance calories. The two results of what you eat — weight and health — are closely linked. Does when you eat matter? From a strictly caloric standpoint, no. If you haven’t overeaten during the day, adding calories late at night should not be a problem. But if you habitually add late-night calories to full meals during the day, you might find your weight creeping up. Some studies show that the more times a day people eat, the more calories they consume. But others find that consuming small amounts of food throughout the day helps people
maintain weight. You need to figure out for yourself which pattern works best. The only way to tell if you are eating the right amount of calories is to weigh yourself regularly. If your weight is going up, you might want to avoid adding calories in late-night snacks. What’s a reasonable snack? Any real, relatively unprocessed food is always a good choice: fruits, vegetables, nuts, yogurt, cheese, crackers, sandwiches, salads. Even pizza can do the trick if it’s thin crust and not overflowing with cheese. Marion Nestle is the Paulette Goddard professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development. She is the author of “Food Politics” and, most recently, “Why Calories Count: From Science to Politics.” Each week, she will answer student questions about nutrition, health and food. Marion Nestle is a contributing columinst. Email her questions at dining@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF MARION NESTLE
Curry chain comes to Greenwich Village By Angel Chang We’re familiar with classic American comfort foods such as macaroni and cheese, fried chicken and mashed potatoes. What most of us aren’t wired to glorify, however, is delicious Japanese curry. Go! Go! Curry!, a grab-and-go katsu curry chain hailing from Ishikawa, Japan, opened its second New York City location in Greenwich Village last month. The conception and establishment of the curry chain is a tribute to legendary big-league baseball player Hideki Matsui. “The founder of Go! Go! Curry! is a big fan of Matsui and so was inspired by him,” said Tomoko Omori, president of Go! Go! Curry!. This statement cannot be taken lightly — the entire focus of the shop is dedicated to this one heroic baseball player, who is also from Ishikawa. The name of the restaurant chain stems from Matsui’s baseball career: In Japanese the number five is pronounced “go,” and Matsui’s uniform number is 55. The enthusiasm concerning the number 5 at Go! Go! Curry! is perhaps one of its most interesting features. There are seasonal deals such as “Go Go Day,” which occurs three times a month, on all days ending with 5. Custom-
ers on these days receive a coupon for a free topping on their next visits. The annual May 5 “birthday special” serves all dishes for five dollars, and five coupons are given for the next visit. On its opening day, the Washington Square Park location offered a price of 55 cents per curry dish for the first 555 customers. The sized portions — “Walk,” “Single,” “Double” and “Triple” — range from $5 to $7.50; extra toppings include cheese, natto, pork katsu, pork sausages and shrimp. The most famous dish, the Grand Slam, includes a large portion of chicken cutlets and pork with sausages, eggs, shrimp, curry, rice and cabbage for $12.50. “Curry is a beloved comfort food in Japan,” Omori said. “Compared to other types of curry, katsu curry doesn’t use as many herbs and spices. Its flavor comes directly from the meats that are added.” As one of the only places in New York that specializes in Japanese katsu curry, Go! Go! offers a unique regional dish that is aged 55 hours before it is served on the table. “Our recipe is very original and our sauce very unique,” Omori said. “All the toppings are freshly re-fried at the order
carina wong/wsn
Go! Go! Curry! offers up authentic Japanese cuisine. because freshness is our greatest quality.” Go! Go! Curry! also embodies authenticity true to Ishikawan style; dishes are served on stainless steel platters and with only forks. Bring this article to Go! Go! Curry!’s Washington Square Park location today, and get a coupon for a free topping. Go! Go! Curry! is located at 231 Thompson St. (between West Third and Bleecker streets). Angel Chang is a staff writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | tuesday, april 17, 2012 | Washington Square news
arts
edited by jonathon dornbush arts@nyunews.com
‘Girls’ charms despite lack of momentum By Daniel Fuchs Some shows have the ability to perfectly capture a point in time. “Seinfeld,” for example, encapsulated ’90s culture during its nine-season run. HBO’s “Girls,” created by Lena Dunham and produced by Judd Apatow, may not yet have the momentum and quality of “Seinfeld,” but it succeeds in smartly depicting the lives
of its 21st-century characters. “Girls” has a truly original voice, one that will undoubtedly connect with a collegeaged demographic. “Girls” focuses on a group of twenty-something women, centered primarily on Hannah (Lena Dunham), who has just been financially cut off by her parents. As an unpaid intern at a publishing company, she is unable to cope and turns to her
COURTESY OF HBO
“Girls” captures the lives of college graduates in New York City.
roommate Marnie (Allison Williams), her friend Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet) and Shoshanna’s cousin Jessa (Jemima Kirke). Throughout the pilot, we explore these characters’ insecurities as they struggle with their careers and relationships. Hannah’s story is the only compelling one, but it’s meant to be that way — Jessa is smug, and Marnie and Soshanna are not fully fleshed out in the pilot. But Dunham’s Hannah smartly captures a moment in life when it can seem impossible to keep moving, as if the whole world is out to crush her dreams. Dunham’s writing works for most of the pilot, evoking a number of visceral and emotional reactions. The opening scene between Hannah and her parents builds on the comedic tension which functions perfectly as each character inches to a breaking point. The tone of this show is clearly meant to be awkward, and “Girls” employs this to great effect. Scenes at Hannah and Marnie’s apartment feel appropriately mellow. The interaction between Hannah and
Indie rock act comes to the rescue with debut album By Rebecca Kovach
In a music industry largely dominated by pop, it is often difficult for a rock band to gain any sort of attention. Last summer, the New York-based indie rock band The Commuters bucked that trend by making waves with their first EP, “As I Make My Way.” With their debut album “Rescue,” the band is well on the way to positioning itself on the forefront of today’s rock scene. “Rescue” is a collection of 11 anthemic rock songs that are sure to place the band among others like The Fray and Coldplay. The album opens with the band’s first single, “As I Make My Way.” One of the band’s more up-tempo songs, it features echoing guitars that provide a warm and welcoming feel. It is big and bold, a fitting sound for a song whose narrator is
VIA THECOMMUTERS.COM
“Rescue” consists of 11 anthemic tracks.
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going on a journey and trying to “figure it out/ As I make my way.” Despite its slow start, “Kneeling” transforms into another of the album’s faster tracks. It picks up the pace as the bass drum and vocals make their entrance and continues to gain momentum from there. The chorus’s lyrics (“I can’t explain what I’m going through/ But it’s gonna bring me back to/ Distant days/ Another time”) provide comfort and reassurance that, despite what the listener may be dealing with, everything will work out. One of the most poignant songs on the album is “Fallen From Grace.” Slow and steady, “Grace” opens with a catchy acoustic melody that carries on throughout the track. The lyrics (“Is this a choice that I have made?/ Or is it just my fate/ To end up in this place?”) are a beautiful reflection on the past, questioning the circumstances that have made life the way it is. “Take A Step Back” is perhaps the most striking song on the album. It begins with a cautious piano tune that mirrors the tentative yet hopeful nature of the chorus, pleading with the listener to “See the view from above/ Take a step back/ It’s not that bad/ It’s not that tough.” “Rescue” is a solid debut from start to finish. The mellow feel that pervades the album provides perfect easy listening. With their catchy melodies and thoughtful lyrics about real human emotions, The Commuters are the latest worthy act to hit the rock scene. Rebecca Kovach is a contributing writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
her boyfriend is both intimate and incredibly uncomfortable. The writing only falters in its attempts at melodrama, which feel disconnected from the show’s tone. While the pilot may lack momentum, the inertia never feels out of place. Things happen on the show, but for the most part, nothing progresses. “Girls” possesses a droning energy that reflects the true lethargy of the time in life that it portrays. So while the show does feel a bit boring at times, it means to, and it does not fail to entertain. “Girls” displays an immense amount of potential. Few shows have been able to successfully replicate the slow, unfortunate time of post-collegiate life, and “Girls” surpasses expectations in this regard. It is not a guffawinducing comedy like “30 Rock” or “Community.” Rather, it’s a slow-burning show, and one that will inevitably have viewers hooked for the long run. Daniel Fuchs is a staff writer. Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.
SUBURGATORY continued from PG. 1
ABC sitcom creator discusses success set — the chemistry between Levy and Sisto during a father-daughter dance. This scene is indicative of what makes “Suburgatory” so unique. The comedy focuses on character relationships, including the budding romance between the single-parent divorcees played by Hines and Sisto, who are looking to recapture the romance that once existed in their lives. In season 2, Kapnek hopes to explore the relationship between Tessa and the absentee mother who abandoned her as a child. “That’s the thing about this show,” Kapnek explained. “It started as comedy ... but there’s a lot to explore.” “Suburgatory” also comes from a place close to Kapnek’s heart, having been inspired from her own experiences moving from New York City to Westchester. “The show is really a heightened and exaggerated version of suburbia,” she said, adding that she hopes her version will be delighting fans for years to come. Bob Teoh is a staff writer. Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.
Creators discuss new cop drama By Ana Luisa Crivorot
The television industry possesses no shortage of formulaic cop shows and procedurals. Jane Rosenthal and Richard Price, executive producer and creator of CBS’s “NYC 22,” are determined to prove why their new show could not be further from the norm. The show’s pilot was screened at the Tisch School of the Arts last Friday before its premiere on Sunday. The show’s plot focuses on six rookie police officers beginning their careers in the NYPD’s 22nd precinct. Though it occasionally succumbs to clichés, its introductory scenes give a strong indication that there is more below the surface of its diverse characters. Attendees received the show warmly — though perhaps that should come as no surprise, considering Rosenthal’s and Price’s impressive careers. Rosenthal, an NYU alum, produced “Meet the Parents” and co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival with Robert De Niro, who serves as co-creator and producer on the show. According to Rosenthal, what most attracted her to “NYC 22” was its medium — television — both for its speed
and because it allows her to be “much more creative than another ‘Little Fockers.’” Price, whose writing credits include episodes of HBO’s “The Wire,” had to adapt to writing for a major noncable network. HBO allowed for total creative freedom, but Price now faces restrictions about subject matter and its depiction. “TV work is so easily monitored that writing is the easy part,” Price said. He cited an intimate scene between two characters that was cut due to its physical nature as an example of network TV’s reservations. Having previously worked together on the 1986 film “The Color of Money,” the duo stated that the driving force behind this project was their mutual desire to work together again. Both wanted to accurately depict life in post-September 11 New York City through the eyes of the city’s finest. Rosenthal and Price shared a passion for characterdriven dramas in which complex and interesting characters are
essential for success. “One key character is the city itself,” said Price, highlighting the neighborhood of Harlem. As a Harlem resident, Price said she wanted to showcase the neighborhood’s complexity and wonders. Price said they hoped to “show landscapes that people don’t usually associate with NYC, especially green scenery.” “NYC 22” will air 13 episodes in its first season, and if the success of Rosenthal and Price’s screening is any indication, the show may have a prosperous future. Ana Luisa Crivorot is a staff writer. Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF CBS
“NYC 22” follows six NYPD rookies.
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Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Above 5 Badly rough up 9 Despot’s desire 14 Wife whose face was never seen on “Cheers” 15 Art Deco artist 16 Response to “Am not!” 17 Awestruck 18 Tons 19 Group valuing high I.Q.’s 20 *“Everyone off!” 22 *Exactly right 23 NATO part: Abbr. 24 Put-it-togetheryourself company 26 Toon Mr. ___ 28 *Often-restricted zone 33 Thanksgiving side dish 34 Cow catcher 36 Loft’s locale 37 *Bag remover, of a sort
39 *Jumper alternative 42 Singers of “Voulez-Vous” and “Waterloo” 43 Heroic Schindler 45 Many a “Star Trek” officer: Abbr. 46 *Wrestling move 49 Good to go 51 Norse prankster 52 Limit 53 *Deckhand, e.g. 57 Unfruitful paths … or a description of both words in the answers to the seven starred clues? 62 “In the raw,” “in the red” or “in the running” 63 Architect with an avian name 64 Cancel 65 Assassin in black
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE A R N A Z
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66 When repeated, a Polynesian island 67 Heroine in one of Salinger’s “Nine Stories” 68 Four Holy Roman emperors 69 U.S.M.C. truant 70 “Man and Superman” playwright Down 1 Ellipsoidal 2 Singer Suzanne 3 Cupid’s Greek counterpart 4 Shabby 5 Beefy entree 6 Janis’s partner in the funnies 7 Shangri-las 8 Court cry 9 Patagonian plains 10 Snack with a Double Stuf variety 11 Departed 12 Gas brand with a tiger symbol 13 Horse hue 21 Popular vodka, informally 22 Sun. message 25 Mall info source 26 Evasive response 27 Tiny creature 29 “Masterpiece Theatre” network 30 Reacted to a massage, maybe 31 Old pal
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nyunews.com | tuesday, april 17, 2012 | Washington Square news
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OPINION
edited by olivia gonzalez opinion@nyunews.com
American Culture
Managing corruption in sports teams By Atticus Brigham American society especially imbues Americans with the imperative to exert influence on matters that affect them. In short, American life is an unceasingly active enterprise. Nothing inspires participation more than passion. Passion, while often intimate in nature, explodes into the public sphere through sport. It is the implicit goal of professional sports to produce such passion, and consequent participation, in their fans. But the few owners curtail our engagement with and influence over the teams whose victories we relish and whose defeats haunt our dreams. Such domestic despots buy control over the direction teams take. In boon years we praise these financial backers’ decisions and in busts we wish they would sell the team to more capable hands, but owners’ carte
blanche never wavers. But our love for the teams for which we root precludes us from ever applying the most crippling form of public protest: all-out boycott. Deep-pocketed magnates continue to monolithically manage the direction of the teams they own. In Dallas, Jerry Jones’ overbearing ownership has inflicted a drought on a team once called “America’s Team” with credibility afforded by success. In Washington, D.C., Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder’s decade-long pattern of logic-defying acquisitions has crippled his team. But despite the fact that the majority of both the Cowboys’ and Redskins’ seasons in the past decade have been sub .500, they remain the top two highest-grossing franchises in the league. In Los Angeles, Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling has profited immensely by fielding low-payroll teams with hapless seasons. The New York Knicks’ legacy of
late is a catalogue of ineptitude in which there is not sufficient space to express disappointment. Broadly speaking, owners’ incentive to accrue capital outweighs their motivation to win (one does not entail the other). Thus, regional television blackouts and mandatory viewer subscriptions are of little concern to owners, however much they sap public support. Owners profit from tax-free financing and property tax credits, and they bill the city for new stadiums. When mascots are totems for zip codes and teams cause ecstasy, agony and rioting in the cities they represent, the only thing that is private is the profit. It is time for ticket holders to socialize sports by taking a degree of ownership over the source of their camaraderie and near-religious fervor. If supporters cared about what occurs in our state’s legislatures
and courts half as much as they do about what happens on the fields and courts on which New York teams compete, they could break the backs of owners under whose yoke of mismanagement they suffer. Revoking owners’ rights to represent our city in name or municipally quasi-repatriating teams to some extent with taxpayer dollars would be wise symbolic public venture capital. If we created communityowned, for-profit franchises or franchises that receive state funding (like state-sponsored university sports) in place of the current system, players would parade down our “canyon of heroes” as the state icons, not corporate employees. New management could manifest itself in any number of forms in accordance with various major league rules and contracts, ranging from an elected trustee serving as owner to a shareholder system similar
to that of the Green Bay Packers. Whatever the structure, the aim would be an investment that simultaneously increases local interest in athletics, publicly incentivizes improved team performance and pays limited dividends for public good. The great many already emotionally invested in our teams would have even more reason to be proud of our teams’ triumphs as if they were personal achievements. And they would be, to a small extent. Admittedly, this proposal is far-fetched and will not come to fruition in the foreseeable future. But, in sports as in life, we wish for what we want against all odds. That sporting spirit of idealism and optimism ought to expand from those devoted to the city’s teams to those devoted to the city itself. Atticus Brigham is a deputy opinion editor. Email him at abrigham@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Colombia visit overshadowed by Secret Service
This weekend, President Obama visited Cartagena, Colombia, for the Summit of the Americas. Unfortunately, Obama’s friendly trip did not earn as much attention as it would on a normal occasion. Eclipsing his visit was the heavily publicized Secret Service prostitution scandal. An investigation that remains underway has implicated eleven Secret Service members for having solicited the services of Colombian prostitutes. In the aftermath, their security clearances were revoked. Although details of the story are still being released, Obama has voiced his anger at the prospect of these allegations. He made sure to preface his statement with a reminder that the
Secret Service’s work is invaluable. Government representatives are bowing their heads in embarrassment. But unfortunately, this situation is more dangerous than it is blush-worthy. The misconduct of the intelligence personnel can potentially compromise secret information pertinent to national security. Naturally, the media have been drawn to the allure of scandal; but this time the Secret Service’s misconduct is not only embarrassing on an international level but also poses risks that cannot be pardoned by the forgiving attention span of tabloids. Should a government officer be blackmailed or coerced, secrets imperative to the United States’ interests and presidential duties could be released through the back door. This would add insult to injury. While government officials have been involved in scandals of sexual escapades for years, this situation would do more than tarnish the reputation of a few individuals. It would serve as a mark against American influence in the international community. Lost in the kerfuffle of this Prostitution-
gate was the real reason for Obama’s visit to the region. The officials’ misconduct is only amplified by the timing. Controversial American policy announcements concerning the lingering effect of violence in Latin American drug cartels and policies concerning Cuban involvement, trade and regional security are overshadowed by the much more controversial scent of scandal. While these American policies will play a vital role in the upcoming election, they are garnering little or no debate in light of this incident. The most bruising aspect of the Secret Service scandal — international embarrassment aside — is that American citizens will have lost trust in their government officials. The American people certainly see the disgraceful lack of decorum in the Secret Service, whose role is to bring a sense of integrity to government officials. If the United States is unable to keep its most respected and dependable officials in line, how can we subsequently guarantee the safety of American secrets?
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.
Editorial Board: Olivia Gonzalez (Chair), Atticus Brigham (Co-Chair), Sanchay Jain (Co-Chair), Chris DiNardo, Emily Franklin, Matt Kao, Ben Miller, Peter Murphy and Richard Zhang.
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Washington Square news | tuesday, april 17, 2012 | nyunews.com
SPORTs
edited by daniel hinton sports@nyunews.com
New York Red Bulls game provides enjoyment for soccer fans By Sebastein Van Heyningen
“Soccer will never be popular in America.” I cannot count how many times I have heard this phrase. Every time I take out my Manchester United jersey or sit down at a sports bar to see a Champions League match, this topic of conversation is bound to arise. It is always negative. In the United States, where talent is evaluated by success, soccer won’t be popular until the quality on the field matches that of other leagues around the world. Yet a sport’s popularity should be about more than performance. The experience is what matters. There is no one who can tell me baseball isn’t at least as boring as soccer can be, but baseball teams work hard to make your day at the ballpark an enjoyable one. Last weekend I went to see if the New York Red Bulls subscribed to that same philosophy. The New York Red Bulls play in Harrison, N.J., only a 20-minute ride from downtown Manhattan. I was easily able to get a ticket online, and just like that I was on my way to see the Red Bulls take
on the San Jose Earthquakes — two of the premier teams in Major League Soccer. The stadium itself is impressive. It is the third largest stadium in the MLS and every seat is a good one. The game was far from sold out, but with such low prices I was happy to be in attendance. I recommend going to games this summer for anyone who wants to learn more about this beautiful sport. The play on the field was fantastic. The crowd was treated to an exciting backand-forth match that ended in a 2-2 stalemate. French national and Red Bull star Thierry Henry found teammate Kenny Cooper with a masterful pass early in the game, and the scoring started five minutes in. Only ten minutes later, the Red Bulls’ defense broke down, and Earthquake midfielder Rafael Baca netted a goal off of a pass from teammate Khari Stephenson. The Red Bulls took the lead again with some exciting play by winger Dane Richards. He overpowered an Earthquake defender and sprinted down the right side like a rocket, then crossed the ball to midfielder Dax McCarty, who slotted it home. All three of these
goals happened within 22 minutes of kickoff, and it looked like an exciting, high-scoring affair was ahead of us. However, both team’s defenses improved for the remainder of the game, and San Jose was only able to tie the game after star striker Chris Wondolowski knocked in a powerful header. Wondolowski has scored seven times in the Earthquake’s first six games this year and is on fire at the moment. The MLS is stocked with hidden talent, and the play on the field impressed this seasoned European fan. To add to the enjoyment, as soon as the final whistle blew, the players were rushed off the field and replaced with firework cannons. Every loyal fan who stayed for the whole game was treated to a fireworks show that matched the beat of a music montage. Overall, it was a very fun day at the ballpark, and ticket prices were much lower than the standard price for a Yankees or Knicks ticket. As the weather gets better, I won’t miss the opportunity to drive out to a game and tailgate. Sebastien Van Heyningen is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
VIA FLICKR
Crowds cheer as the New York Red Bulls tie the San Jose Earthquakes.