April 2015 Issue

4 6 24

T RIBECATRIB

Tiny Tribeca coffee shop trades parking spot for seating Trinity Church is brainstorming its way to a new building P.S. 89ers show their stuff in a talent extravaganza ‰ ‰

THE

Vol. 21 No. 8

APRIL 2015

www.tribecatrib.com

EYES ON The 14th Annual

TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

[PAGE 17]

REVISITING THE SURREAL COMEDY OF MONTY PYTHON

A scene from Monty Python’s “The Meaning of Life” (1983), screening at Regal Cinemas in Battery Park City on Sunday, April 26.

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APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

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THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

Aerial view of proposed renovated south portion of the 2.5-acre plaza.

The company plans to restore the landmarked Noguchi Sunken Garden, adding new lighting and benches. On the west plaza, not shown here, the owners say they will add a new sculpture. The piece would be positioned as a focal point for people entering the plaza from two new entrances.

Remaking One Chase Manhattan Plaza Landmarks scrutiny over proposed retail additions and plaza overhaul

The existing black granite base of One Chase Manhattan Plaza at the corner of Liberty and William, far left, and,the proposed glass storefronts and entrances for that corner. The current base, 18 feet high at this corner, “is not enlivening the street and is not welcoming its neighbors to the plaza,” SOM architect Frank Mahan told CB1.

“This is a huge improvement,” said committee member Corey Sharples. “I A scant number of structures built in the city since the mid-20th century have think everyone here really appreciates the restoration and the investment.” achieved landmark status. Sixty-story One Chase Manhattan Plaza, with its disWhile the committee and later in the mont the full board passed an advisory tinctive dark granite base and elevated plaza, is resolution in support of the plan, there were major misone of them. givings about the brightly lit storefronts shown in the Completed in 1964, the building was an archirenderings. tectural pioneer of glass and steel among the “I know you’re trying to make it open and inviting masonry canyons of the Financial District. and light,” committee member Vera Sung told Mahan, The landmark’s new owner, China-based “but there’s too much illuminated glass.”

Fasun Property Holdings, has big plans for its “It’s overwhelming,” added fellow committee mem$725-million purchase, now called 28 Liberty. ber Susan Cole.

The company wants to cater to a residential popThe committee also rejected a proposal for a glass ulation that has grown more than tenfold since parapet along the perimeter of the raised plaza. The origthe building was completed. Its proposal includes inal parapet, a solid wall-like structure, had been transforming much of that black granite into glass replaced by the current partial-glass parapet before One storefronts, with the addition of 200,000 square Chase Manhattan Plaza was designated a landmark in feet of retail at street level and three floors below.

2009.

The company also proposes to refurbish the The original parapet and plaza. The parapet was later Bring back the old parapet, committee members said. plaza, restoring the landmarked Noguchi Sunken modified with an upper portion of glass.

The original parapet, a solid wall-like structure, had Garden, adding new lighting and benches and increasing access to the plaza with been replaced before One Chase Manhattan Plaza was designated a landmark in two new stairways.

2009.

The Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) plan, to be presented to the “We want that parapet to be close to or matching the original,” said commitLandmarks Preservation Commission on April 7, was unveiled by its architect tee chair Bruce Ehrmann, noting that the structure was a major reason that One Frank Mahan last month to Community Board 1’s Landmarks Committee, who Chase Manhattan Plaza had been declared one of the rare modernist landmarks. was unanimous in its praise for the overall project.

“It’s probably the most important design element of this building.”

BY CARL GLASSMAN

It’s a Tough Win for Duane Street Seats 4

APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

Despite concerns, CB1 okays city-sponsored seating outside a Tribeca coffee shop

BY AMANDA WOODS

Laughing Man must be smiling.

The tiny and popular Tribeca coffee shop gained approval from Community Board 1 to put seasonal seating in a parking space outside its store at 184 Duane St. But it didn’t come easily.

The structure, expected to be put in place in May or June and remain until October, is part of the city Department of Transportation’s Street Seats program, which provides temporary public spaces on the streets next to sponsoring businesses that pay for them. At six feet wide and 28 feet long, the installation will be flush with the curb, with wooden decking and collapsible seats that fold down at night. It also will include two sets of movable tables and chairs and two planters.

Anyone can sit in Street Seats, but for Laughing Man, and its customers who often congregate on the sidewalk, Street Seats provides a particularly valuable amenity.

At two contentious meetings before CB1’s Tribeca Committee and again at the full board meeting where it was finally approved, some members insisted that the structure would exacerbate what some described as traffic problems on the street and even be a safety hazard. In February, an SUV struck a woman in the intersection of Duane and Greenwich streets, and in December, a minivan jumped the curb at that same intersection before crashing into the patio of Roc Restaurant. “I think sitting out there in what is really the point of a still-narrow street is a big safety concern,� said committee member Allen Tannenbaum, who a few doors down. “You have the tractor-trailers coming through, not just the box trucks but the big trucks,

group Tribeca Trust, described the street seats as “a nice way to capture the roadway for people.“ “I think it’s a lovely addition to the human part of [the street],� she said. “And it’s not affecting any of the buildings.� “It’s almost an extension of [Duane] park, in a big way,� said Steve Wygoda, a nonvoting public member of the committee.

Laughing Man’s coowner and CEO, David Steingard, who lives MATHEWS NIELSEN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS with his family above the store, called the project an experiment and repeatedly implored the board to give it a chance. “I am more than willing to come back and review this year after year,� he said. “If it turns out that none of our fears come true, then great. I think it’s a beautiful addition.�

Still, some board members, such as Alice Blank, worried that Steingard was getting special treatment. “I just don’t think it’s fair to give one merchant the ability to take over a piece of public property without anyone else having a shot at it,� she said.

Not so, said the seating’s designer, landscape architect Signe Nielsen, who owns two units above Laughing CARL GLASSMAN Top: Rendering of design for a Street Seats installation outside Laughing Man, a popular Man and lives across the street. coffee spot at 184 Duane St. Above: Laughing Man owner David Steingard shows the plan “If they are willing to step forward at a second meeting before the Tribeca Committee. and contribute the capital, the maintesometimes express buses. I think that director for public space, said the nance and the storage that Laughing it’s taking away spaces for commercial department has evaluated the safety of Man is prepared to do, then knock vehicles.� placing the seats in that space. yourself out,� Nielsen said at the full “My concern is sticking people out “We are the guys who are the engi- board meeting. “So to simply say that there,� said committee member Jeff neers at the DOT,� he said. “We deem Laughing Man is taking away someEhrlich. “Duane forks left and right this to be safe.� body else’s rights is completely and people who don’t know that, comSupporters of the project called it a wrong.� ing around fast, suddenly have to beautifying addition to the block, and In committee, the proposal make that decision. And that’s right one that would do no harm. squeaked by in a 4-3 vote. At the full where this would be.�

Duane Street resident Lynn board, it passed 21-10, with two But Nick Peterson, the DOT’s co- Ellsworth, founder of the preservation abstentions.

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THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

Flood-Protection Funds Head Downtown

BJARKE INGELS GROUP (2)

Rendering of a Battery Park City section of the BIG U, a proposed berm project for flood protection designed by the Danish architects Bjarke Ingels Group.

Local leaders press state and city officials for storm money; it starts to pays off

BY AMANDA WOODS Lower Manhattan will finally receive a long-awaited $14.75 million in city and state resiliency funding to protect the area from future storms like Sandy.

The funding, announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office last month, includes $6.75 million from the city and state for flood protection planning for an area from Montgomery Street south to the Battery and up the west side of Manhattan to Jay Street in Tribeca.

Another $8 million in city capital funds will go toward the design and implementation of a flood protection system in Battery Park.

“This is good news for the residents and the workers of Lower Manhattan,” said Community Board 1 Chair Catherine McVay Hughes, who had been a strong proponent for the resiliency funding.

The announcement came after a months-long push from CB1 and elected officials for the city to dedicate storm

protection investment in Lower Manhattan.

In January, McVay Hughes and other CB1 members questioned Daniel Zarrilli, director of the Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency, about why $4.21 billion in disaster recovery funds from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development had not yet found its way to Lower Manhattan.

Zarrilli told them that the city is working on a flood protection plan, called the BIG U, that is still decades away. Using sea-level projections for 2050, it proposes a series of barriers to wrap around the lower part of Manhattan, from West 57th Street to East 42nd Street. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has designated $335 million to build a 19foot-high fortification for the section of the “U” between Montgomery Street and East 23rd Street, where the three-year project will begin in 2017. But funds had yet to be allocated to the area south of Montgomery.

“The real place to focus on is the coastal protection gap,” Zarrilli explained. “That is hundreds of millions of dollars that we don’t have right now, but we’re taking the first steps forward to

Rendering shows Bjarke Ingels Group’s concept of how the berm might protect Battery Park City from flooding as the Hudson River washes onto the esplanade.

understand what that number is and how to move that ball forward.”

Hoping to speed up that process, CB1 passed a resolution voicing the board’s concern that nothing is being done to protect Lower Manhattan from flooding in the short term. The resolution also called on local elected officials to advocate for the reallocation of the HUD funds “to address unmet resiliency needs in Community District 1.”

State Sen. Daniel Squadron called the funds allocation a “big step” in flood protection planning, from Montgomery Street to Battery Park City.

“The city’s acknowledgement of Lower Manhattan’s resiliency needs as part of its massive citywide plan is a great sign of its responsiveness,” he said in a statement.

“While that doesn’t correct all the issues caused by Sandy, it certainly is a step in the right direction,” Melissa Gindin, Squadron’s district liaison, told Community Board 1 last month. “I’m glad we’re making some steps forward.”

“We got the funding,” added Councilwoman Margaret Chin, who met with the mayor’s office twice to push for resiliency measures in Lower Manhattan. “[But] it’s still the beginning, and we’re

going to make sure that we will continue to advocate on that.”

Jessica Lappin, the president of the Downtown Alliance, told the board that Sen. Charles Schumer recently called Lower Manhattan his “top priority” in the National Disaster Resilience Competition, a two-phase process that will competitively award nearly $1 billion in HUD Disaster Recovery funds to eligible communities.

“That wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t laid the groundwork over the past few months,” she said.

In the coming months, the city will issue a request for proposals, seeking a consultant team to study flood protection measures for Lower Manhattan, as well as the potential “secondary benefits” of those measures, including improved or expanded waterfront access, and enhanced water quality and habitat, the mayor’s office reported in a release. The team would also design and construct a first-phase capital improvement project for resiliency in Battery Park.

McVay Hughes called this effort “the first step of many.”

“Mother Nature has her own timeline,” she said. “We just need to make sure that we get ahead of it.”

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Brainstorming a Building Into Existence 6

APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

Trinity Church brings the public to the table to plan for parish/community quarters

BY CARL GLASSMAN

The leaders of Trinity Church are getting lots of inspiration these days, and it’s not all divine.

Well over 100 people from within and outside the congregation are weighing in on what will be at least a five- or six-story multipurpose parish building that is slated to replace the church’s two 92-year-old structures at 68-74 Trinity Pl., next to the former American Stock Exchange.

Just what should go in that building—aside from Trinity offices that will be consolidated there—is the subject of a series of unusual community conversations that will culminate in the presentation of designs for the building in September.

“It’s brave and innovative of them to open up the discussion of their headquarters and invite the community, not one but six times, in a public dialogue, listening to what the needs are of the community,” Catherine McVay Hughes, the Community Board 1 chair, told the gathering last month in St. Paul’s Chapel.

Beekeeping on the roof? Cabaret theater? A climbing wall? A library? A temporary homeless shelter? These are among hundreds of ideas offered in two “charettes,” or public brainstorming sessions, held at the chapel in February and March, with suggestions arriving online as well.

Seated at tables organized by themes—athletics and wellness, arts and performance, community outreach, education, gathering spaces— participants voiced their ideas, which were written down and later presented to the whole group, highlighting common themes that were emerging.

The discussions are being facilitated by staff from Pelli Clarke Pelli

vision to your ideas,” he added.

In September 2013, the firm and church leaders had an initial vision for the project that was not well received.

There was dissent among some parishioners and objections from members of Community Board 1, among others.

In preliminary renderings presented to a CB1 committee and promoted

by Trinity’s then-rector, the Rev. James Cooper, the Pelli Clarke Pelli plan showed a glass-and-steel parish building topped by a 400-foot-high glass residential tower. Revenue from the tower would finance the parish building.

Some saw the tower, designed to stand 70 feet taller than Trinity’s current building, as an unsightly presence behind historic Trinity Church when viewed from Wall Street.

“The last thing [people] need to see is another building in the Wall Street area that looks like it’s on East 59th Street,” said Financial District Committee member Joel Kopel.

Peg Breen, president of the New York Landmarks Conservancy, called TRINITY WALL STREET

Above: At the first charette, participants offer ideas for the new parish building at one of the theme tables in St. Paul’s Chapel. Left: The Rev. William Lupfer speaks to the gathering about the planning process, which takes place over six months.

Architects, the firm that will design the structure. It is their job to help winnow down the wide-ranging ideas and turn them into a physical layout.

“They’re going to take our hopes and dreams around the programming and then translate them into a building for us,” Rev. William Lupfer, Trinity Wall Street’s newly installed rector, told the group before the start of the first charette.

Fred Clarke, a principal of the firm, deemed the CARL GLASSMAN process “messy” but assured participants that it was under control.

“It might get scary at moments,” he warned them. “It might appear that things are not coming together where there are more ideas out there than are possible to fit into this site or [you] can possibly afford. But don't worry about it.”

“It’s our job to bring substance and

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THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

PELLI CLARKE PELLI ARCHITECTS

PELLI CLARKE PELLI ARCHITECTS

Left: An iconic view of Trinity Church from Wall Street, with one of the two Trinity buildings behind it that are slated to be demolished. Above left: Architect’s concept of the same view with a new glass residential tower in its place.

The tower drew criticism as an unfit backdrop to the historic church. Above right: Rendering of a proposed concept, now abandoned, of the parish building. The architects now say glass and chrome will “absolutely” not be used.

the design a “shiny box backdrop” to the church and a poor replacement for the existing buildings.

Now the future of a residential tower is yet to be determined and, according to Clarke, the not-yetdesigned parish building will not be glass and chrome.

“I can absolutely assure you of that,” he told the gathering at the second charette. “Our inspiration will come from Trinity Church itself. The Trinity grounds are warm, they’re welcoming, they have warm hues, bronze hues, certainly not cold chrome colors.

That’s the opposite of what we want.”

As for the tower, the church’s vestry or governing body, had four choices, accordCARL GLASSMAN ing to Lupfer.

One of them was to rehabilitate the current building, but at $70 million it was deemed too costly. And they rejected the idea of a condo tower above the parish space. “We would have to sell the ground under us and we don’t want to do that, either,” he said Lupfer said church leaders are now trying to choose between building a rental tower over the new parish building or have no tower at all.

“As we’re doing this,” he told the group at the beginning of the second charette, “our vestry has a parallel

process of discovery and discernment about how a rental tower would affect all of this brainstorming that we’re doing.”

The next public meeting takes place at St. Paul’s Chapel, Broadway and Fulton Street, on May 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During that time, broad themes from the first two meetings will be discussed along with design

priorities for the first floor.

“This is a rare opportunity to make the building yours,” Lupfer told the gathering. “So please take advantage of it.”

For more information on participating, either in person or online, in what the church is calling a “community conversation,” go to trinitywallstreet.org.

‘Hopes and Dreams’

Many people have offered ideas for what they would like to see in the new Trinity Wall Street parish building/community center. Here are some.

• soup kitchen • community garden • soft room for children • interfaith chapel • museum for Trinity objects • showers for cyclists/homeless • indoor/outdoor track

• kitchen for culinary arts • return of the preschool • summer theater on the roof • spaces for counseling • technology for teens • flexible performance space • crisis center

• basketball court • art gallery • billiards • knitting and craft spaces • video theater • library • quiet, contemplative spaces

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Tribeca Neighbors Protest Plan for Third Venue THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

BY AMANDA WOODS A building in northern Tribeca that already houses two catering spaces could soon be home to a third event space, a prospect that some nearby neighbors are calling nothing short of a “nightmare.”

The first floor of the building, at 205 Hudson St., corner of Desbrosses Street, most recently housed the now-shuttered restaurant American Flatbread. Owner William Reilly wants to use that ground floor for an event space that can accommodate 400 people, according to his application to the State Liquor Authority.

The application also calls for outdoor seating for 28 people.

The license would allow the space to open Sunday through Thursday at 7 a.m. and close at 2 a.m., with bar service beginning at 10 a.m. On Friday and Saturday it could open at 10 a.m. with a 3 a.m. closing.

When Rosa Sanchez, a representative for Reilly, told the plans to Community Board 1’s Tribeca Committee last month for advisory approval, she got an earful from several residents who said the area around 205 Hudson has been disrupted enough by Reilly’s two existing venues, Tribeca Rooftop and Three Sixty.

“People come out loud and drunk and they all come out at once,” said Bruce Bromley, who lives at 181 Hudson St. “They wake people up and now we’re going to have more on the first floor?”

In a photo taken in 2012 by a resident at 195 Hudson St., a crowd gathers for a Tribeca Rooftop event. The owner of the former American Flatbread is proposing to put a catering hall in the ground floor of the same building at 205 Hudson St.

“How are they going to soundproof the windows, with the sound of DJs and parties and whatever?” asked another resident who did not want her name used. “Besides, the same building will have three catering spaces in this tiny little street that is mainly residential.”

Sanchez tried to assure the neighbors that Reilly, who did not attend the meeting, will try to prevent problems.

“He’s never going to put the dance floor on the Desbrosses Street side,” she

said. “The dance floor will always be either in the middle or towards the back and maybe towards the front entrance.”

Although the legal capacity of the space is 400, Sanchez told the committee that no more than 220 people would be using it. And as Reilly has done in the past, Sanchez noted, he will hire private security to prevent guests from congregating outside the building.

But it’s not only noisy patrons that neighbors are concerned about. In the

past, the other two catering spaces have created traffic tie-ups and the new venue will make problems worse, they insisted.

“We had an emergency with one of my children and the ambulance couldn’t come through Desbrosses,” said James Montague, who lives at 195 Hudson.

“There is no place to accommodate all the car traffic for the space,” added Mary Hoeveler, a resident of 463 Greenwich St. Lewis Taffer, who lives at 195 Hudson St., later said in a phone interview that the congestion on Desbrosses Street can begin early in the morning when trucks make deliveries for an evening event. And trucks collecting the trash from the two event spaces create additional congestion, he added.

Seeing little chance of approval from the committee, Sanchez said she would delay filing for the catering license and return to the committee this month.

“That way we can work everything out and discuss everything,” she said.

According to the Tribeca Committee’s April agenda, however, they will not be appearing. And in any event, neighbors are skeptical that a satisfactory resolution is possible.

“The notion of adding a third one and not inconveniencing people here is an insult to intelligence,” Taffer said.

Contacted by phone, Reilly declined to comment.

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Fears Over Locals’ Future Access to Ball Fields 10

APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

BY AMANDA WOODS For the second time in three months, local residents are accusing the Battery Park City Authority of taking valued amenities from the community.

In January, operation of the North Cove Marina was handed over to Brookfield Office Properties despite widespread support for Michael Fortenbaugh, a local resident who had long run a marina sailing school and club. Now, the threat of restricted community use of the Battery Park City ball fields is troubling local leaders.

Worries over the future use of the fields by Downtown sports leagues and other local community and school groups has been sparked by the authority’s decision to open the field permitting process to organizations outside Lower Manhattan. The three-year agreements that had granted near-exclusive permits to Downtown Little League, Downtown Soccer League, Manhattan Youth and local schools ended in 2014.

For the coming Downtown Little League season, at least, all but one of the 16 organizations granted permits are based in the Community Board 1 area, Robin Forst, the authority’s spokeswoman, said in an email. Ninety-five percent of the spring field time has been allotted to youth nonprofit groups and schools, Forst said, with for-profit youth organizations getting four percent of the

CARL GLASSMAN

field time and adult groups the remaining one percent.

Late last month, six elected officials met with Shari Hyman, the president and CEO of the authority, to voice their concerns about local access to the ball fields as well as renewed public programming in North Cove Marina. “We acknowledged our shared priority to provide local nonprofit youth leagues, along with schools and schoolbased organizations, with field time,�

Hyman said in a statement following the meeting. “The current spring season

reflects this commitment as these groups received 95 percent of the total available permits for the season.�

But it is future access to the fields that troubled the officials. “We will continue to push until we have a firm commitment going forward and a positive outcome in the neighborhood, at North Cove Marina and the ball fields,� the officials said in a joint statement.

Members of CB1’s Battery Park City Committee shared those concerns when they met with Forst early last month.

A game between I.S. 89 and I.S. 276. Both after-school teams use the BPC fields.

Andrew Zelter, president of the Downtown Little League, said the ball fields already “don’t even come close to supporting� the 1,100 Little Leaguers and 1,800 Downtown Soccer League children who are expected to register this year. For the coming season, he said, the Little League will lose about 20 hours per week of play on the fields. “Really, to me this is a question about what the future looks like for these types of activities for our kids,� he said.

But, like Hyman, Forst made no promises. “We really welcome all community organizations to apply and take advantage of the wonderful ball fields that a lot of people here were involved in building,� she said, “and we hope to see a variety of uses on the fields.�

Leyna Madison, a site director for Manhattan Youth, said that in previous seasons her teams had to rush to clear the field and make way for the Downtown Little League. “If we’re going to put more people on this field, how much more can we rush?� she said.

In its resolution, the committee urged the authority to establish a process that would require consultation with a community ball fields task force before making any future permitting decisions. “What happened has happened,� committee chair Anthony Notaro said. “We need to fix the future.�

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Clooney and Roberts Reunite in FiDi for 15 Days of Filming

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THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

T AC R NT O C IN

55 White Street

NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR

Julia Roberts and George Clooney will be filming “Money Monster” in the Financial District.

BY CARL GLASSMAN Julia Roberts and George Clooney: Coming to a street near you.

The Financial District will play host to the stars this month. “Money Monster,” a thriller directed by Jodie Foster, is set to shoot in FiDi for half the month of April. Clooney plays a TV financial guru/huckster whose bad tip drives an angry investor to take him hostage. Roberts is the show’s producer.

She keeps the camera rolling and the ratings soaring as the drama unfolds. The two are reuniting in their first movie since “Oceans Twelve” in 2004.

Locations include Beaver, Nassau and Liberty streets, Maiden Lane and Federal Hall. Filming in FiDi will begin

April 8, with a Wednesday-through-Sunday shooting schedule, according to Joe Guest, the film’s location manager, who told the plans to Community Board 1’s Financial District Committee last month.

Guest said there will be no night shoots.

“We’ve had some concerns about situations that involve a lot of police, or people portrayed as police, massing in a certain area,” said committee chair Ro Sheffe.

For big scenes, one or two blocks will be used, with pedestrians allowed to pass through, Guest said. But on some days, he added, “The plan is to really control the [area]. I mean, we’re depicting an NYPD response to an emergency.”

If you are interested in a place where neighborhood reigns supreme, where the street life is rich with warm and enduring relationships among people, where the connection to the sky is often direct and where the landscape is dotted with architecturally beautiful structures, Tribeca is the neighborhood for you.

For expert advice...a human touch helps

Barrie Mandel Licensed Associate RE Broker (o) 212.941.2550 bdm@corcoran.com

Equal Housing Opportunity. Real estate agents affiliated with The Corcoran Group are independent contractors and are not employees of The Corcoran Group. The Corcoran Group is a licensed real estate broker located at 660 Madison Ave, NY, NY 10065.

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APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

Mini-Golf Season Begins

The greens on Pier 25, at the end of North Moore Street, are due to open on April 15, though if the weather is particularly clement, the season will start earlier. This month, hours are noon to sunset; later in the season, the course will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $5 per child and $6 for adults. Cash only.

Go to Facebook (Pier 25) to check on weather-related closings.

A Uno Tribeca 123 West Broadway

(corner of Duane St.) 212.227.6233

also visit us at aunotribeca.com and a-uno.shoptiques.com

A Uno Tribeca celebrates Spring and the Tribeca Film Festival Anett Rostel Sarah Pacini Hayne Bogut Rundholtz

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REAL HAIR REAL PEOPLE REAL PRICES

Jazz at Bogardus

The annual Bogardus Garden Jazzfest will take place on Sunday, April 26, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Three jazz ensembles will perform. There will be free children’s activities, including arts and crafts with Church Street School for Music and Art, cookie decorating, a dance performance from Playgarden, and food and beverages from Tiny’s, Sazon and Laughing Man. The Bogardus Garden is at Reade and Hudson streets.

Trees for Tribeca

Vaults lie beneath most of Tribeca’s sidewalks, limiting the number of places trees can be planted. However, trees in planters can go on top of these hollow spaces. Trees for Tribeca, a project sponsored by Friends of Duane Park, can arrange to have a cherry tree or serviceberry tree in a planter with an ivy ground cover placed on the sidewalk in front of your building for $1,800, including delivery. For planter guidelines and maintenance details, go to duanepark.org/trees.

Zen at the Library

A Moment of Zen is a meditation group that meets monthly at the New Amsterdam Library to learn, practice, and discuss meditation. No prior experience is necessary. The next meeting is Thursday, April 16, 1–1:45 p.m., 9 Murray St.

Course That Can Save a Life

We are pleased to announce that Vincent and Michael have joined our staff.

Aquage, Aveda, Framesi, Phyto CERTIFIED SALON

Learn to prevent and respond to emergencies at swimming pools and in the open water by taking the American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification this month, April 6–10. The 40-hour course meets New York State Health Department regulations for lifeguards and includes CPR/AED and first aid skills.

Participants must be at least 15 years old.

The cost of the course is $425. For more information go to bpcparks.org.

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The Knickerbocker at Pier A

In keeping with the newly reopened 130-year-old Pier A, just above Battery Park, the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra will perform American music from the late 19th century, including such popular songs of the era as “After the Ball,” “Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay,” “There’ll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight” and “A Bird in a Gilded Cage.” The fundraising event at the pier, on Monday, April 20, from 6 to 8 p.m., is billed as “Soirée: Music of the Gilded Age,” and will also feature wine, champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets start at $125. Information at knickerbocker-orchestra.org.

Looking at Dance in Progress

ShowDown is a monthly free performance series in which emerging and mid-career dancers seek feedback for works in progress. This month features Sarah Friedlan, Krissy Harris and Dan Van Note, Sunday, April 19, 5:30–7 p.m. at Gibney Dance, 280 Broadway (entrance at 53A Chambers St.). Reservations: gibneydance.org.

The Birth of the Cool

Miles Davis and the Royal Roost, a midtown jazz club that was a center of bebop and modern jazz in the 1940s, will be remembered at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St., with a documentary, a talk, and a concert.

On April 10 at 7 p.m., there will be a free showing of documentary footage of Miles Davis’s “Birth of the Cool,” plus an interview with Grammy-winning sax player and arranger Bob Belden by Willard Jenkins. A concert at 8:30 p.m. will feature Bob Belden on soprano sax, Pete Clagett on trumpet, Roberto Verastegui on synthesizer, Jair-Rohm Wells on electric bass and Matt Young on drums. Tickets are $25 at tribecapac.org.

Teaching Writing to Teens

Karen Benke, the author of books to help teens write—”Leap Write In!,” “Rip the Page!” and the forthcoming “Write Back Soon! Adventures in Letter Writing”—will lead a writing workshop for middle-schoolers at Poets House, 10 River Terrace, on April 18, 11 a.m. Benke, who uses zany prompts, games and other fun techniques to unleash children’s creativity, is a California Poet in the Schools. $10. Registration required; write to Mike Romanos at mike@poetshouse.org.

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THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

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Foes of Seaport Plans Present Their Own Ideas 14

BY AMANDA WOODS For more than a year, the grassroots group Save Our Seaport has been railing against the Howard Hughes Corp.’s proposed 50-story residential tower in the Seaport, along with its larger redevelopment plans for the area. Now they are coming up with a plan of their own.

Last month, they released what they say is the first part of an alternate proposal, with entirely different ideas for two major structures.

The group suggests that the New Market Building, which the Hughes Corp. wants to demolish to make way for the tower, be turned into a center for maritime activities as well as performance and arts spaces. They say that the upper floors of the landmark Tin Building could be used as a recreation center or middle school, or house a culinary facility such as a cooking school or caterer that would have “synergy” with a ground-floor food market.

Since November 2013, when the Hughes Corp. unveiled its preliminary development plans, the group has convened several meetings to voice its opposition. At one of them, in August, Roland Lewis, the president of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, urged the group to turn their anger into persuasive ideas.

“They’re moving forward with the Howard Hughes development,” Lewis told them. “What do you really, really

APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

AMANDA WOODS

Last May, Save Our Seaport members Julie Finch and David Sheldon stood on Pier 16, holding their group’s banner in front of an informational wall about the development plans.

want?”

For David Sheldon, a Save Our Seaport leader, the answer is clear.

“We want to see that district fulfill what it was originally designed to do, which was to be a place where you not only would bring your kids, but you’d want to come back to as an adult,” he said in a phone interview. “We’d want to have things going on there that are part of the maritime area but also part of a living neighborhood.”

Besides its vision for the New Market and Tin buildings, the group’s plans

include an outdoor public market and berths for historic ships. It also calls for a halt to pending approval processes for the plans, saying that the mayor should launch a community-based master planning effort to establish a new vision for the historic district.

In the meantime, Hughes Corp. should find a new development site for its tower, possibly by transferring its air rights from the Seaport Historic District, according to Save Our Seaport.

The group did not say how its proposals would be paid for, but suggested

that “public/private funds” could finance a middle school or recreation center in the Tin Building. They see the Seaport Museum earning income from a shared revenue arrangement with Hughes Corp. on retail spaces.

Lisa Gorke, a member of Friends of the Seaport, a group that supports Hughes Corp.’s plans, said that “much of what [Save our Seaport] is saying is already in the proposed plan.” She also contended that the group’s proposals fall short of addressing the Seaport’s needs.

“Nothing in this plan supports or helps businesses,” Gorke said in an email. “It doesn’t serve our community or provide housing for anyone. So we’ll end up with a blighted neighborhood with a museum and a community center.”

Community Board 1 has issued a mixed bag of approvals and disapprovals on Hughes Corp.’s plans within the historic district. The next step is for the developer to present those plans to the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, but a date for that hearing has yet to be set.

In a joint letter, Councilwoman Margaret Chin and Borough President Gale Brewer have urged Landmarks Commission Chairwoman Meenakshi Srinivasan to hold off consideration of the proposals until a city review process for the entire plan—including the controversial 500-foot-high tower—begins.

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THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

As Old Ferries Age Out, New Ones To Be Designed The oldest ferry in the Staten Island fleet, the John F. Kennedy, went into service in 1965.

BY AMANDA WOODS Just what sort of Staten Island ferry will carry passengers into the second half of the 21st century? That’s the question now being asked by the designers and engineers of the city’s next generation of vessels.

Before the three new boats can make their first 22-minute voyage in 2019, they will go through an extensive series of design and engineering phases that has already begun. Elliott Bay Design Group, the firm designing the vessels, has completed a preliminary design “investigation” of the ferries, which includes studying passenger preferences, the reliability of current ferries, and an increase in security, among a host of other considerations.

“We’ve looked at ridership demand, and trying to forecast out 20 years down the road how the growth on Staten Island or transportation patterns might change in the area,” John Waterhouse, chief concept engineer at Elliott Bay, told a

Community Board 1 committee earlier this month.

The Seattle-based company, which has designed ferries for other transportation systems around the country, including those of Massachusetts, Washington and Alaska, showed an initial concept design for a double-ended vessel that carries 4,500 passengers (slightly fewer than the two Barberi class of vessels being replaced), with what Waterhouse said are “some of the best features of the John F. Kennedy above the main deck and some of the best features of the

The Samuel I. Newhouse, another vessel that will be replaced by the new class of ferries.

years.

“We’ve been able to keep the Kennedy running,” DeSimone noted.

“The hull is in very good shape. We stripped parts off the two sister ships, which were disposed of when the last class of ferry was delivered.”

The new vessels will make the trip between Staten Island’s St. George Terminal and Lower Manhattan’s Whitehall Terminal in the same travel time as the old ones, Waterhouse said.

“If the ferry went twice as fast, it really wouldn’t change the transit time very much because you have 15-minute service right now during the peak commute hours. And you just can’t get out of the other boats’ way [quick] enough.”

The firm has also considered amenities for the vessels, including food service and exterior seating.

“We’d like to think that this new class of vessels will be providing good service for New York City for a long time to come,” Waterhouse said.

Barberi [class] for under the main deck.”

The Kennedy and Barberi class of vessels—three boats altogether—will be going out of service. The John F. Kennedy, 50 years old, is past retirement age. Two other boats, the Andrew J. Barberi and the Samuel I. Newhouse, both 34, are reaching their golden years and also need to be replaced, according to Jim DeSimone, the chief ferry officer for the city’s Department of Transportation.

The usual service life for ferries, DeSimone said, is between 35 and 40

Elliott Bay Design Group’s concept of the new ferry that will replace three current vessels.

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THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

“GORED”

FEST14

M

The Tribeca Film Festival April 15 -26

ore than 200 films over 12 days and, for us lucky filmgoers, a thousand and one vicarious experiences that, once again, carry us away psychically, spiritually and geographically.

And this year, for the first time since the festival’s early days, many of those movies can be seen below Canal Street.

The Tribeca Film Festival, which had become a “Tribeca” event nearly in name only, is returning to its Downtown roots, with all 11 theaters of Battery Park City’s Regal Cinemas screening festival movies.

Spring Studios, the 150,000-square-foot creative production house at 50 Varick St. in Tribeca will serve as what the Festival is calling its “hub,” bringing filmmakers and audiences, together in numerous talks and panel discussions. Awards nights and other events will take place there as well.

As always, the festival’s filmmakers offer a wealth of subjects among the narratives and

docs, feature-length films and shorts, many of which you may have no other chance to see.

From the challenges of romance among autistic people in Matt Fuller’s moving documentary “Autism in Love,” to devotion of an entirely different kind in Erik Shirai’s “The Birth of Saké”; from the violence of the Mexican drug war portrayed in Matthew Heineman’s “Cartel Land” to Pakistan and the training of children for jihad in “Among the Believers.” They’re all here.

So, too, are the surviving members of the Monty Python troupe, on hand for a celebration of the 40th anniversary of “Monty Python and The Holy Grail,” with screenings of other Python films (“Monty Python’s Life of Brian,” and “Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life”).

Premiering at the festival will be “Monty Python: The Meaning of Live,” a behind-thescenes look at the making of a live show, followed by a Q&A with the Pythons themselves.

A schedule of all films and events is at tribecafilm.com.

TICKETS Single ticket sales start March 31 for American Express card holders, April 5 for local residents, and April 6 for the general public. Tickets: $18, evening and weekend screenings; $10, weekday matinee and late-night screenings; $35 for most Tribeca Talks events. Students with IDs, seniors 62 and over and Downtown residents (with proof of residency) receive $2 discounts on evening and weekend tickets and a $5 discount per Tribeca Talks ticket, available in person at ticket outlets only. Details at tribecafilm.com.

SIDESHOWS FAMILY STREET FEST SAT., APRIL 25, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Eight blocks on Greenwich Street, from Hubert to Chambers, again come alive with a dizzying array of activities, including Broadway performances, storytelling, puppetry, filmmaking workshops, music, chess matches, games, and a screening of “Back to the Future” (6 p.m. at Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St.). Also expect plenty of food for sale and free popcorn.

FREE DRIVE-IN AT BROOKFIELD PL. Seating and programs begin at 6 p.m. Screenings start at dusk, approximately 8:15 p.m.

THUR., APRIL 16: CLUE The 1985 mystery comedy stars Tim Curry and revolves around six house guests who work together to solve a murder.

FRI., APRIL 17, LADY AND THE TRAMP The Disney animated classic follows the adventures of a pampered cocker spaniel and a street-smart mutt.

SAT., APRIL 18: A FASTER HORSE Directed by David Gelb, the documentary traces the Ford Mustang’s 50-year history.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FILM Discussions with producers, directors, writers, actors and cinematographers are on tap for the annual Tribeca Talk series. The line-up includes Christopher Nolan speaking about his ability to push boundaries, Amy Schumer on the subject of sex, relationships and others of her favorite topics, director Gus Van Sant and guests recalling the making of “Good Will Hunting” and numerous other creative voices who share their film wisdom in one-on-one conversations and on panels.

Individual tickets are $35. For a complete schedule and tickets, go to tribecafilm.com.

FEST 14 CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE

FEST14

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APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

NARRATIVES F

F

DOCUMENTARIES

rom shady underworlds to seedy nightclubs to the Devil himself, the following foreign narratives are unafraid to go to dark places, such as middle school. That is the setting of BEING 14 (France), which plays like cinéma vérité while it tracks the challenging and changing lives of a young trio of friends during their final year of middle school. Similarly, NECKTIE YOUTH (Netherlands, South Africa) is presented in a documentary style (it’s even in black and white) and follows a day in the life of disaffected 20-somethings in suburban Johannesburg. But the day begins with a suicide and then gets worse. What unfolds is a story of innocence lost as the privileged kids are forced to finally reckon with real life in a race-torn city. A gang of teenage toughs and the trouble they get into are the subject of WE ARE YOUNG. WE ARE STRONG. From Germany, the film is based on a 1992 anti-immigrant riot in Rostock.

There is something rotten in BRIDGEND (Denmark).

The dark tale is based on a true story of a depressed Welsh town where 79 teenagers have killed themselves since 2007. Documentary director Jeppe Ronde makes his first foray into narrative by telling the story through the eyes of a teenaged girl, freshly arrived and newly in love in a town haunted by tragedy. Will she make it out alive? THE SURVIVALIST (Northern Island, UK) is set in a post-apocalyptic landscape where the odds of living out the day depend on the number of people you share it with.

Here, the struggle is against starvation as our hero, the farmer, must find ways to sustain himself and the newcomers to his land.

The landscape is far more lush in VIAJE (Costa Rica), the tale of a pair of young lovers who ren“SUNRISE” dezvous in a forest, exploring nature and testing the boundaries of noncommittal love. VIRGIN MOUNTAIN (Iceland, Denmark) is not a destination but an unfortunate description of the hulking 40-something man at the center of a quirky tale that involves his family coaxing him to take dance lessons in hopes that he might step up his game.

Things are more complicated in SWORN VIRGIN (Albania, Germany, Italy, Kosovo, Switzerland), where a village woman in Northern Albania decides to live as a village man. That means taking an oath of lifelong virginity. But, as the film explores, life is long and the temptations far greater outside the village. In EL CINCO, from Argentina, we meet an aging and fiery soccer star who must adjust to life off the pitch where not all scores can be settled by feet and fists.

It is 1835 and a lawman and his son are on the trail of a runaway gypsy slave in AFERIM! (Romania). Though black and white, the film is a vivid look at Romanian culture and countryside. A jazz club owner’s debts have been called in by an underworld kingpin in WEDNESDAY 04:45 (Germany, Greece, Israel). What follows is the tense tale

rom wry cartoonists, to a “Cannibal Cop,” to the most gored bullfighter in history, documentary offerings this year promise a slew of wild tales.

In short, there are some real characters here.

Consider the man behind the mask in ORION: THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING. Who is this guy who looks, and more important, sounds just like Elvis Presley? Fans still mourning Presley’s death are desperate to believe the mystery man is actually The King in disguise. The film explores the life and career of the performer who wore the mask, and however briefly, the crown. Then there is the guy who proclaims himself Pastor Crocodile, a savior for the destitute and drugaddicted youth from the streets of Mariupol, Ukraine. He comes in for his close-up in CROCODILE GENNADILY, but the portrait reveals that his vigilante methods may only lead to more violence. (T)ERROR is the tale of a counterterrorism informant for the FBI, never named, who is setting up one last sting. But the case is flimsy, maybe even fraudulent. This window into the cloak-anddagger world of counterterrorism raises questions about ethics, privacy and politics. DREAM/KILLER is the story of the wrongful conviction of a young man for murder and a father’s decade-long quest to prove his son’s innocence. THOUGHT CRIMES is a look at the eye-opening case of “Cannibal Cop” NYPD officer Gilberto Valle, who was convicted and then acquitted of conspiring to kidnap, kill and eat his victims. The only evidence of Valle’s conspiracy was found in his online search queries and chat-room fantasizing.

He might be crazy, the film posits, but is thinking crazy thoughts a crime?

AUTISM IN LOVE is a more hopeful journey, following four lonely hearts, each on the autism spectrum and each of them unique in the

“NECKTIE YOUT

of a man desperate to protect his life and life’s work.

Business is also bad in STRANDED IN CANTON (Sweden, D and narrative that follows the misfortunes of a fictional entrepre sell his wares. SUNRISE (India, France) is a noirish film, set in t most populous city in India, where a father pursues a shadowy disappearance.

Finally, as promised, the Devil comes to town in LUCIFER (B Biblical story, he appears in his original form as a fallen angel. and make mischief in a modern-day Mexican village makes it a choice to frame the sinister proceedings through a camera of h widescreen: the Devil delivers his lines in circle screen.

F

“SONG OF LAHORE” ways of love. The film follows their sweet and sad struggles to find, keep or experience a romantic relationship. A COURTSHIP peeks into the parlor of Christian courtship where women are not expected or allowed to follow their hearts to find a husband, but to leave it to their parents and God to decide. A FASTER HORSE is a love story of another sort, the love of the Ford Mustang. As the 50th anniversary of the iconic sports car approaches, the film follows Ford executives as they seek to rekindle the romance, and revive the company, with a redesign.

Down in Cuba, American muscle cars remain beloved. In HAVANA MOTOR CLUB we check in on the drag racing scene as a half-dozen entrants prepare for the first sanctioned race in the isolated island country since 1960. PALIO is about the world’s

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THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

AND DOMESTIC

OREIGN…

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Denmark, China). It is another hybrid of documentary eneur from the Congo who has arrived in China to the seedy nightclubs and back alleys of Mumbai, the y figure who might be connected to his daughter’s

Belgium, Mexico). In this telling, inspired by the That Lucifer literally descends a ladder to appear all the more strange a tale. Also odd is the director’s his own invention, the “Tondoscope.” Forget

here are recognizable characters here—bad fathers, good friends, black sheep, the rascally but wise grandparent—but they’re richly rendered and put to good use in the following tales, many of which explore what it means to know and love them. In other words, what it means to be family.

First up is ANESTHESIA, the story of a Columbia professor (Sam Waterston) whose life is changed by a mugging and by the strangers who come together in the aftermath. MEN GO “DIXIELAND” TO BATTLE, set in Kentucky in 1861, is a tale of brothers struggling to live together peacefully in the crumbling estate of the family hemp farm as winter and war approach. DIXIELAND is another Southern tale, this one set in modern Mississippi. Here the pair are lovers, an ex-con and an aspiring stripper, trapped in a life of petty pursuits and crime, who are desperate for love and a way out of town. KING JACK is similarly hardscrabble. Jack, only 15, is fatherless and mostly motherless but scrappy enough to fend for himself in a rough rural backwater. Things take a turn when a younger cousin comes to stay and Jack can finally claim a friend and family member.

A lonely philanthropist (Richard Gere) is also determined to find a family, even if that means forcing his way into one in FRANNY. He sees an opportunity by latching onto a late friend’s daughter (Dakota Fanning) and her newlywed husband. CRONIES explores the fraying friendship of childhood friends, now grown but hardly grown up 20-somethings. Executive-produced by Spike Lee, the film deploys the filmmaker’s staple documentary style to allow the characters to directly address the camera, when they are not fishing, smoking weed or crashing a dance party.

Friendship is the subject of BLEEDING HEART, which is about two sisters. One is a calm and centered yoga instructor (Jessica Biel), the other a street-smart but lost woman (Zosia Mamet) in need of rescue from an abusive boyfriend and chaotic life.

GRANDMA, featuring Lily Tomlin, comes on like a comedy as a teenage granddaughter and her misanthropic grandmother are paired for a road trip, but shifts dramatically as family secrets are revealed along the way. WHEN I LIVE MY LIFE OVER AGAIN is another drama with a sense of humor. This one is set in the Hamptons, where a failing would-be songstress (Amber Heard) returns to live with her father (Christopher Walken), a past-his-prime crooner determined to revive his career.

oldest horse race. The medieval pageantry that heralds the twice-yearly race through the Italian city of Siena seems untouched by time. But the race itself, often fixed, is a shadow of itself. Enter Giovanni, an innocent young jockey determined to defeat his corrupt former mentor and win fair and square.

Few would challenge Antonio Barrera for his title of “Most Gored Bullfighter in History.” In GORED, from Spain, we meet the aging bullfighter as he challenges himself to stand tall in the twilight of his career. In the survival tale DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: THE STORY OF THE NATIONAL LAMPOON, fans and the founders of the comedic institution explore its radical roots and lasting legacy. VERY SEMISERIOUS offers a peek over the shoulder of New Yorker cartoonists and hopefuls as

“IN TRANSIT”

they work their quietly funny magic for the magazine.

SONG OF LAHORE turns an eye and ear toward the musical tradition in that city, once a musical Mecca until the Islamization of Pakistan in the late 1970s. The film finds today’s musicians struggling to revive the scene and find an audience. PEGGY GUGGENHEIM, ART ADDICT is the portrait of the lover of art (and artists) and collector whose wild life seemed written for the big screen. DEMOCRATS follows the political rivals and unlikely bedfellows attempting to install democracy in Zimbabwe.

This seems a good spot to mention REQUIEM FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM, about the dying middle class and concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the elite. What that means for democracy is explained through interviews with philosopher and activist Noam Chomsky. THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES explores similar ground in comedic style, with English comedian and social commentator Russell Brand exposing how the poor have suffered far more than the rich during the financial crisis. There is, apparently, another revolution afoot in the culinary world. STEAK (R)EVOLUTION checks in with chefs, butchers, ranchers, food critics and others on the topic of how we like (and feed, breed and genetically modify) our steak. INDIAN POINT considers the uncertain nuclear future by focusing on the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant, whose continued operation, especially following the Sept. 11 attacks, has generated fear and controversy.

PRESCRIPTION THUGS takes a hard look at the epidemic of prescription drug use and abuse in America. And, in what amounts to a final bow, the late documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles (“Gimme Shelter,” “Grey Gardens”) offers IN TRANSIT. Maysles boarded the Empire Builder, America’s busiest long-distance train, and captured with his famous brand of candid realism the faces on the platform, the conversations in the crowd and the transient lives that the passengers lead between stations.

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APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

SHORTS

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From light and funny snacks to heavy and heartfelt appetizers, the following short films offer satisfying cinema in small portions. LIVE FAST, DRAW YOUNG is a comedic documentary sketch of a spunky 7year-old rapper navigating the harsh world of hip hop with the help of his parents. WE LIVE THIS is a behindthe-scenes look at the lives of young subway performers, following four boys working the commuter crowd together.

It would have been easy to make fun of the subjects in AMERICAN RENAISSANCE, but instead the documentary is a kind and considered portrait of the people who have made Renaissance fairs a way of life. The life and career of Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Nadia Comaneci, the first ever to score a perfect 10 in competition, is the subject of ETERNAL PRINCESS. A pair of enemy soldiers become blood brothers for life in MY ENEMY, MY BROTHER, the true story of an Iranian child soldier who risked his life to save an Iraqi enemy during the Iraq–Iran war. Years later, the pair reunite and return to Iraq and Iran in search of survivors, including a missing wife, son and parents. A brother and sister are at odds in KINGDOM OF GARBAGE. The young landfill scavengers have angered the self-proclaimed King of Garbage and their livelihood is in danger.

Things are not what they seem in the narrative short, A MIGHTY NICE MAN, in which a young girl gets in a car with a “kind” stranger. THE GNOMIST is a true fairy tale. The documentary goes in search of the mysterious creator of the magical-seeming fairy homes—tiny doors installed in the hollows of trees—that have sprung up in a suburban forest to the delight of children and their parents.

Then there are the shenanigans in MERRY XMAS. Here a mischievous father (Dick Van Dyke) calls his adult children to tell them that after 55 years of marriage, he and their mother are separating. The family is still growing in THE PARKER TRIBE. The sincere, funny narrative film is the tale of a family struggling to raise two children with disabilities while welcoming another to the tribe.

APHASIA is a science fiction story about the price of being perpetually

“MERRY XMAS” plugged into the digital world and what happens to a population that cannot keep their phones out of their faces. The future is uniquely dystopian in FUTURE RELIC, the tale of archivist (James Franco) who sifts through the tools of an “ancient” civilization (telephones, TVs, a camera) discovered long after the planet has been largely destroyed.

From records to cassettes to CDs to MP3s, THE EVOLUTION OF A GEN-X MUSIC PURCHASER is a biopic about Zack and how the major moments of his life can be charted alongside the advancement of music technology.

Finally, there is LAST CALL. Culled from thousands of photographs of customers and tales only a bartender could tell, the film is a loving look back at the Terminal Bar. FEST 14 CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE

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COMEDIES

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pen with a joke. That’s time-tested advice the festival takes to heart this year with LIVE FROM NEW YORK!, a documentary retrospective of “Saturday Night Live� that explores the origin and evolution of the comic institution. The comedies that follow over the next 11 days of the festival are campy, corny, silly, wild, dirty and weird. Whatever it takes, as another piece of advice goes, leave ’em laughing.

DIRTY WEEKEND is a merry mystery that follows a businessman (Matthew Broderick) and his colleague (Alice Eve) in their search to piece together what happened one drunken night in Albuquerque. THE DRIFTLESS AREA is a dark comic adventure about a young man (Anton Yelchin} unwittingly drawn into a criminal caper when he falls for quirky Stella (Zooey Deschanel). THE OVERNIGHT begins, innocently enough, with a playdate, but descends into a lusty lark once the kids are put to bed and their parents (Judith Godreche, Jason Schwartzman, Taylor Schilling and Adam Scott) pair off. Meanwhile, SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE features a normally promiscuous pair (Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie) who are convinced they can only make their budding relationship work if they don’t have sex—not with each other, anyway. Meanwhile, in SLOW LEARNERS, high school teachers (Adam Pally, Sarah Burns) are so comically inept at finding love as themselves that each sets out to be someone else over the summer.

The setting is New England–quaint and the setup more traditional in TUMBLEDOWN, the tale of a young widow (Rebecca Hall) who falls for a writer (once again, Sudeikis, that cad) who comes calling in search of a story on her late husband, a folk singer. Then there is APPLESAUCE, a sort of horror comedy about a man (Onur Tukel) who has said too much during a radio interview. His confession sets off a chain of horrible, hilarious events for the people closest to him.

The terrible teacher in TENURED has a maybe not-so-terrible plan to win his wife back by means of his fifth-graders and the school play. A high school student strikes up an unlikely friendship with his unlikely neighbor (Mickey Rourke),

21

“SLOW LEARNERS a former CIA assassin, in ASHBY. Things go badly in the dark comedy SCHERZO DIABOLICO (Mexico, USA), the tale of a mild-mannered accountant who kidnaps a young woman. Things are bad in a good way in RIFFTRAX LIVE: THE ROOM, a one-night-only live event that features the wisecracking trio from Mystery Science Theater 3000 cutting up during a screening of the cult classic THE ROOM. And now, for something completely different...MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL. The festival is screening the film, along with other Python films and a new documentary, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the classic which remains funny after all these years.

The festival promises the attendance of the surviving Python members (Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones) who, presumably, remain funny as well.

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it’s finally spring, and on the heels of season’s arrival comes testing. this month, students in grades three through eight all over the city, state and country will take standardized tests in math and english language arts that last more than an hour a day for six days. each year brings controversy to testing, and this year is no exception. there are states that CONNIE are planning to SCHRAFT do away with the common core Learning standards and the around country there is growing protest against testing in general. but in new York state, Gov. anSCHOOL drew cuomo TALK has been pushing to give more weight to the state test results in teachers’ ratings— 50 percent, up from last year’s 20 percent. in his state of the state speech, Gov. cuomo said, “100 percent of the schools adopted a teacher evaluation system. that’s the good news... the bad news is they are baloney… 35 percent of third to eighth graders are proficient in math, but 98 percent of math teachers are rated effective. who are we kidding, my

KIDS

friends? the problem is clear and the solution is clear…we will eliminate local exams and base 50 percent of the evaluation on state exams.” the united federation of teachers and many parents in the city oppose this and other of the governor’s education initiatives, for a multitude of reasons. teachers worry that they will be forced to spend more time on test prep and less on the curriculum that they work on collaboratively with colleagues. from the teachers at the peck slip

from the uft, “the change [cuomo] wants won’t do anything to improve accountability or help teachers grow; it will only mean more stress for students and no meaningful learning.” there are parents who are joining forces against the state tests by having their children “opt out” and not take the tests at all. Generally, downtown kids do well on these tests. many have parents who read to them at night, pay for tutors and provide other kinds of enrichment. at any presentation about testing, you

In a controversial move, Gov. Cuomo has been pushing to give more weight to the state test results in teachers’ ratings—50 percent, up from last year’s 20 percent.

school, on the homepage of the school website, “the result would be pressure to impose more and more test prep on our children. we know that teaching to the test robs our curriculum of depth and richness. faced with the possibility of the loss of our livelihood, as well as the loss of careers that we love, these new proposals could push us to teach in ways we consider to be counter-productive. if the governor’s proposal goes through, schools will have to narrow their curriculum to some extent.” there are similar letters on the websites of p.s./i.s. 276 and the spruce street school.

will hear that the best test prep is good instruction all year long, and the downtown schools are known for teaching that prepares children for the multistep thinking required to pass the common core Learning standardsaligned tests. test prep is taught as a genre—students learn how to “read” them as they do fables, newspaper articles and poetry. and yes, they have lessons in “bubbling.” so, while politicians in albany are duking it out over education, downtown schools are at work, preparing kids to do as well as they can.

APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

schools are making arrangements for special education students who need more time or a separate location. teachers are given detailed instructions on how to administer the lengthy tests. for students who need extra help, there are early morning test prep sessions before school begins. when the test prep workbooks come out, students groan, “not the green books!” but that is not all they are doing. the third graders are beginning their spring study of new amsterdam with a unit on native americans, and are taking a trip to inwood hill park, to see an environment similar to what was once the home of the Lenape. trips go on, even in the weeks leading up to the tests. fifth graders are studying the plains indians, as part of their last social studies unit of elementary school—westward expansion, and the fourth graders will soon begin to explore the experience of the pilgrims and their arduous journey to the new world. we will see how the governor fares this month, whether his educational initiatives tied to the budget are approved. meanwhile, teachers, students, and parents will take deep breaths to keep the stress down and continue to strive for a balance between learning and testing.

Connie Schraft is the P.S. 89 parent coordinator. She can be reached at connie@tribecatrib.com.

23

THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

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APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

SUCH TALENT! More than 100 kids and 64 acts in this annual P.S. 89 extravaganza

rom Chinese yoyo-ing to comedy to soccer tricks—with plenty of singing, dancing and more in between—108 children from pre-K to 5th grade took the stage of P.S. 89 on Saturday, March 21, for the school’s 11th annual talent show, emceed by Tim Reed.

In less than three weeks, the kids went from “auditions” (actually, a chance to introduce the organizers to what they could expect from each young performer) to dress rehearsal and, finally, to four hours of performances in two shows.

Michael Dattoma, who organized the talent extravaganza with Warren Nelson, Gladys Henriquez and Paul Vercesi, said the kids showed improvement each step of the way. “They’re comfortable with the people in the audience and they’re over their initial jitters. It’s one of the great things to see.”

The notes he received from parents after the performance, he said, were a testament to the real success of the show.

“They say how elated their children were and how it was such a phenomenal outlet for them to step out of their comfort zone and do something that they didn’t think they could do—and then they get the reaction from the crowd.”

“For the kid,” he added, “it could be a really defining moment.”

F

Clockwise, from top: Ava Bobb-Willis sings “Annie.”

Chazz Rivera showed his DJ-ing skills.

Maia Steiner plays “May Song and Allegro.”

Lucas Fernandez dances to “Good Feeling.”

Cyrus Chiang performs tricks on the Chinese yoyo.

Zeyna Tai dances “Bharatanatyam,” a form originated in southern India some 2,000 years ago.

PHOTOS BY CARL GLASSMAN

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THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

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APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

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FOR KIDS

ARTS & PLAY

activities celebrating family, the spring and Qing Ming traditions. Children learn about the holiday, which means “Pure Brightness,” and make nature-inspired crafts, listen to classic tales, and create a community kite.

4/11, 12–4 pm. $10 plus museum admission. Tickets at mocanyc.org. Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre St.

g Dabble in Drawing Children explore the artwork of Tyrus Wong in the current exhibit and learn various drawing techniques from his portraits—sketching and shading, composing with charcoal, and playing with pastels. All ages and ranges of drawing experience are welcome. 4/4 and 4/18, 1–4 pm.

Free with museum admission. Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre St., mocanyc.org. g Futuristic Fashions Children use bubble wrap, plastics, metallics and foil to create clothes that a robot might wear, or the wardrobe for an outerspace traveler. Mon, 4/6, 2:30–4:45 pm. Ages 5 and up.

Children’s Museum of the Arts, 103 Charlton St., cmany.org. g Making a Collaborative Mural Inspired by Bradley Hart’s “Washington Square,” young artists will work on a large-scale, collaborative mural, learning how to maintain one’s own voice while working in a group. Using a variety of materials, they will learn about the art of collage in large-scale form. Tues, 4/7, 2:30–4:45 pm. Ages 5 and up. Children’s Museum of the Arts, 103 Charlton St., cmany.org. g

Future Scapes: A Diorama Workshop History and arts educator Angela Krame will ask children to imagine looking out a window 50 years in the future. Kids will then use collage to create models of the worlds they’ve envisioned. Ages 6–12. Sat, 4/25, Ongoing 12–3 pm. $5. Reserve online. Apex Art, 291 Church St., apexart.org. g

Elevator Construction After learning about the history and mechanics of elevators, kids build their own version out of cardboard. Sat, 4/4, 10:30–11:45 am. Ages 7 and up. $5 per child; free to members and BPC residents. Reserve by 5 pm on 4/3. The Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place, skyscraper.org. g Building Blocks Children learn about materials architects use to construct buildings. Then, using stacking blocks, they make models of famous New York City skyscrapers. Sat, 4/18, 10:30–11:45 am. Ages 4–8. $5 per child; free to members and BPC residents. Register by 5 pm on 4/3. The Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place, skyscraper.org. g

The Art of Mime Short mime performances followed by discussion and mime pieces creat-

g

Hot Peas ‘N Butter The children’s musical group incorporates elements of traditional Latin music, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, jazz, folk and rock. Their goal is to inspire caring and creativity in both kids and adults.

Sat, 4/11, 1:30 pm. $15. For all ages.

Tickets at tribecapac.org. Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St.

e

JAYNE PARKER

very day is better if you start it with a poem. that’s the belief of poets house volunteers who hand out pocketsized poems to residents and workers in Lower manhattan. on thursday, april 30, from 3 to 6 p.m., as part of poem in Your pocket day, children gather at poets house at 10 river terrace for a neighborhood poetry read-in. children of all ages are invited to bring a poem of their own to read or find one among the innumerable volumes at poets house. the event is free. for more information, go to poetshouse.org.

Children read from an anthology of their poems at a Poetry Read-In at Poets House.

ed with the audience. For all ages. Mon, 4/13, 3:30 pm. New Amsterdam Library, 9 Murray St., nypl.org. g Chess and Checkers Teens of all playing levels learn the rules of chess and checkers, or they improve their game by challenging one another and the library staff. Ages 13–18. Fri, 4/17, 2–4 pm. Free. New Amsterdam Library, 9 Murray St., nypl.org.

FILM g Especially for Kids Screenings of short films and animations. Daily, 10:30–11:30 am throughout the month. Free. National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, 2nd Fl., nmai.si.edu.

Summer Music & Art Camps in Tribeca

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Singing Stories A musical program for children and toddlers with singer and songwriter Lou Gallo. Tuesdays through 4/28, 11:15 am.

Free. Battery Park City Library, 2nd fl., 175 North End Ave., nypl.org.

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Qing Ming Family Festival An afternoon of

Open Ships on Pier 16 Explore the fourmasted 1911 barque Peking and 1907 lightship Ambrose. Visit the ships’ decks, captain’s quarters and sailors’ bunks. Learn about the history of the ships and the seaport district. Fridays–Sundays, 11 am–5 pm. $12; $8 students and seniors; $5 children, 2–11. Tickets online. The boats are accessible weather permitting. South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St., southstreetseaportmuseum.org.

STORYTIME g Indian Stories Listen to stories about spring and then make a corn husk dragonfly ornament to take home. 4/11, 1-2 pm. Free.

National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, nmai.si.edu g

Saturday Stories Weekly storytelling, Saturdays, 11 am. Free. Barnes & Noble, 97 Warren St., 212-587-5389. g Turtle and Me Robie H. Harris reads her book about a boy’s adventures with his plush toy turtle and their friendship. Free. Thur, 4/9, 11 am. Barnes & Noble, 97 Warren St., 212587-5389. g

Storytime Whimsical tales about traditions, holidays and families. Ages: up to 4. Wed, 4/15, 3:30–4:15 pm. Free. Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Pl., mjhnyc.org.

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g Neighborhood Movie Nights: “Adventures in Babysitting” (1987) Friday, 4/24. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Starts at 7 pm. Popcorn and drinks are served. Free. St. Paul’s Chapel, Broadway and Fulton, trinitywallstreet.org.

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g Writing Workshop for Middle Schoolers Sixth- to eighth-graders play with magic word tickets, zany prompts, dares and double-dares, and ripped-paged writing experiments. Led by Karen Benke, the author of Leap Write In! and Rip the Page! and a creative writing coach for kids. Pre-registration is required. 4/18, 11 am. $10. Poets House, 10 River Terrace, poetshouse.org.

Contact Noelle at Noelle@thebarclaystreetschool.org or 212.571.2715 275 Greenwich Street 74 Warren St

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ALL

TOGETHER

APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

NOW

Peter Seeger honored in dance on the P.S. 397 stage Top: The show begins with each dancer running across the stage and taking a leap.

Principal Nancy Harris, in footwear less conducive to such jumps, still makes a lively onstage appearance.

Left: Teaching artist Mary Kennedy closes out the program by leading all the 4th and 5th graders in a farewell dance.

Below left: Fifth graders dance to Parent Coordinator Julie Lam’s singing of “If I Had a Hammer” and, below right, Youri Da Silva with fellow 4th graders perform to the tune of Pete Seeger’s “Sailing Up My Dirty Stream.”

S

PHOTOS BY

pruce Street School 4th and 5th graders got an inspiring lesson is social activism along with a 10-week crash course in dance that culminated last month with a rousing performance honoring the late Pete Seeger.

National Dance Institute teaching artists Mary Kennedy and Emily Meisner put together a program that paired exuberant choreography with folk songs

by Seeger and others. (Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” was updated into a rap tune.)

“Watching children light up with music and dance means so much to me. It’s thrilling,” said Meisner, who noted the challenges of working with young non-dancers. “We know it will work but how it will all come together, that’s always the nail biter.”

CARL GLASSMAN

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A Retail Curtain Rises

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APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

Ground floor of the newly opened mall at Brookfield Place.

oh, my God, i love it!â&#x20AC;? exclaimed carly nathan. nathan, who lives across the street from the new retail complex that opened late last month in brookfield place, said she has anxiously awaited this day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;now iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m like a crazy woman!â&#x20AC;? after a $300-million renovation, 13 new high-end retail outlets, from michael kors to diane Von furstenberg to paul smith, have arrived at the downtown mall. six more, including salvatore ferragamo, burberry and (in spring, 2016) saks fifth avenue are on the way.

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profusion of breads, pastries, cheeses, a wine bar, meats, fish and prepared foods. mahina wang, a financial district resident who works in the building, said she was pleased by what she saw. â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more high-end than the existing shops, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all bunched together in a mall-like area, so thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty convenient,â&#x20AC;? she said. but bridget fullan, who recently moved to battery park city from the Village, considered the prices out of reach for the average shopper. â&#x20AC;&#x153;they need [places] for the regular new Yorker, not the one percent,â&#x20AC;? she said.

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Dada, in a Texas Town and Worth St. Storefront THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

BY JULIET HINDELL ada, dalia and dada in floydada. that’s the essence of the odd yet charming new play, “floydada,” now showing in a gutted storefront on worth street. ada and dalia are sisters, floydada (pronounced floy day-duh) is in texas and dada, you’ll recall, was the avant garde, artistic and literary movement born in reaction to world war i. it brought the world art created from familiar objects and free form performances of poetry, dance and music that challenged the traditional concept of what art could be. knowledge of the dada movement may help you settle into floydada as will the fact that the location is a tiny, rural town, but this is also a story about those who stay and those who go, love, family and the magical power of art. the play opens in 1927, as dalia, played with bohemian verve by nomi tichman, returns home from travelling the world. she brings with her exotic notions of modern art in the form of dada. along with some emotional troubles, she has in her baggage a piece of art that perhaps represents a sort of genie’s lamp with a strange power to inspire. it all seems very bizarre to ada, her younger, more conventional sister, played with passion by catherine porter. she has dutifully stayed at home caring for their parents and the family business, a dry

DAN LANE WILLIAMS

Nomi Tichman as Dalia and Catherine Porter as her sister Ada in a scene from “Floydada.”

goods store on main street. the store is now closed, providing the possibility of an empty space. and here we are in an empty storefront watching a play that features an empty store. the raw concrete floors, air conditioning ducts and holes in the walls lend a sense of dilapidation and decay. but the open space also allows for the creation of multiple environments. the sister’s living room, front yard, kitchen and storefront are all in our line of site on the minimal set by casey mcLain. beyond the area of the “stage,” new art inspired by dada is on show and

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there will be talks and recreations of dada performances in conjunction with the play. be warned, there’s not much in the way of heating and at a recent performance the audience sat huddled in coats and hats for the show’s duration. a frost also hangs over the sister’s relationship at the start, but as dalia introduces ada to the liberation that art can bring, a deep warmth returns between them. ada is even allowed to read dalia’s letters from baroness elsa von freytag-Loringhoven, though her name sounds like a playwright’s invention she was a real-life dadaist credited

with spreading the movement to new York. the two sisters set about performing free form poetry with music (played with gusto by dalia on a toy piano) for the local community. there are hints that the good citizens of floydada don’t know what to make of the eccentric sisters’ rhythmic, abstract chants. for the tribeca audience, perhaps more attuned to such things, the performances within the play are intriguing not least for the feat of memorization required as the “poems” are close to very loose word association in some cases. the “happenings” are enhanced by collage-like images projected on the backdrop. these are created as we watch by “projection puppeteer” Leila Ghanazi, who also does sterling service with some very homemade sound effects throughout. playwright barry rowell writes in the program that it was a visit to floydada that inspired him to create ada and dalia with the two actors here in mind. despite a rather slow, flat start, the notion that spread to the hinterland is entertaining. but perhaps it’s best to adopt a dada attitude in approach to this play and just wait to see what happens to ada and dalia and dada in floydada.

“Floydada” plays at the Merchants Square Building, 40 Worth St., until April 11. Tickets at peculiarworks.org.

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APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

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The Modern Makers

ARTS

THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

George Nelson, Marshmallow Sofa, 1956.

33

An exhibition on the midcentury aesthetic and the Jewish designers who helped create it.

Henry Dreyfuss, Princess Phone, 1959

Ernest Sohn, coffee pot & casseroles, 1963

Alvin Lustig, upholstered chair, 1949

Muriel Coleman, desk, 1957

“Designing Home: Jews and Midcentury Modernism,” now at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, is a remarkable assemblage of home furnishings, housewares, fabrics and graphics. Created and organized by The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, the show, which runs through the end of the year, gives a rare view of how the Modernist movement was fueled by the talents of Jewish designers and architects.

Below are excerpts from a conversation between the exhibit’s curator, Donald Albrecht, and April Koral of the Trib.

You often use the word optimism when you refer to this period. Why is that? after the end of the second world war, in the u.s., there was a revved-up, booming economy. there were new freeways and new housing developments with new suburban houses that were being filled with new plastic radios and plywood furniture and princess phones. the designers used bright colors, humorous patterns, dynamic stripes, glass walls. people wanted to enjoy the fruits of life. a british architectural historian, raymond bannin, who visited the u.s., went back and gave a lecture in which he said, “i have seen the future. i have been to Los angeles.”

This is an ambitious show. One really understands from it the breadth of the Modern movement.

Yes, i wanted to show the impact on every aspect of life—on the houses, the furniture, fabrics, dishware, books, record covers. but i was interested in not just doing a purely esthetic show. i like to tell the cultural and social stories behind the objects. this was a great opportunity to do that because it was really embedded in a historical moment.

What was that historical moment? i think in some ways modernism was free of negative associations of europe and for first generation Jewish designers born to immigrant parents, it was a way to move forward without that baggage.

And then there was the flood of Jewish émigrés fleeing the war in Europe who brought their own ethos to the movement.

Yes, the émigrés could start over in america and modernism was the startover style. they could embrace the american look and embrace america. almost 40 designers in the show either came from or were influenced by the bauhaus in Germany, who believed that good design should be for every-

has the geometric patterning that is like mondrian.

Did you make any discoveries as you were putting the show together? when i was working on the show, i bumped into a friend who had written his master’s thesis on ernest sohn, a tableware designer. i had never heard of him. i also discovered that saul steinberg did wallpaper! Like most people, i only knew him as a new Yorker cartoonist.

How do you think these designers

The modern kitchen from an illustration in “Designing Home,” the exhibition catalogue.

body, not just for the aristocracy. people from moma like alfred barr and philip Johnson had gone to the bauhaus and knew many of the designers.

I was surprised to learn about the role that MoMA and other museums around the country played in promoting Modernism. there was a real fervor to make the average person go modern. moma was very propagandistic. they wanted to affect consumer taste. in 1949 moma did a show, “modern art in Your Life,” in which it said, “You don’t have to own a picasso to own modern art. You can buy this record cover that is inspired by picasso. or you can buy this cabinet that

would feel if they knew they were in a show of Jewish designers? many would probably not like it. many of them didn’t identify as Jews or were very assimilated. the daughter of eva Zeisel (a hungarian-born ceramic artist) did not want her mother’s work to be in the show. she said her mother wouldn’t want to be seen in a show of women designers or of european designers either. i think that people should enjoy this as a design show that connects these people in an interesting way, a design show that has this link of very sophisticated Jewish talent who fled europe with our home-grown talent of Jewish designers.

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Native Films, Daily and Free

APRIL 2015 THE TRIBECA TRIB

NE W FO CLA RS EN SSES IOR S Computers Made Easy Cooking with Chef Richard Temple Line Dancing

Independence Plaza North Senior Center 310 Greenwich St, Side Entrance . 212-267-0499 SEE A FULL SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES AT www.greenwichhouse.org/seniors

“Racing the Rez,” produced and directed by Brian Truglio, will be shown daily in April.

there are free movies every day at the national museum of the american indian this month. in “racing the rez,” navajo and hopi cross-country runners from two rival high schools in arizona put it all on the line for community pride and state championship glory. there is also a mini-festival of films from the navajo nation. “diné spotlight: a showcase of navajo film” will highlight the work of diné filmmakers through two nights of screenings and roundtable discussions. the series will kick off april 9 with “drunktown’s finest,” a narrative about

three navajo girls who decide to build their lives outside the reservation. a collection of shorts will follow on april 11, including “u:uranium,” a look at the contamination of water near the Grand canyon, and “share the wealth,” the story of a homeless native woman living with cultural stereotyping. the day will close with “chasing the Light,” a feature about a struggling screenwriter’s attempts to finish his script. discussion will follow with the film's director, blackhorse Lowe, and cast members. for a schedule, go to nmai.si.edu

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THE TRIBECA TRIB APRIL 2015

35

A SELECTION OF DOWNTOWN EVENTS

DANCE g

Gibney Dance Abigail Levine’s work, “Well Mother,” features one dancer and four 50-foot extension cords. Accompanied by a live electronic score by Ted Coffey, the work is a nod to Robert Motherwell’s monumental painting cycle, “Elegy for the Spanish Republic.” In “Median,” a piece about race, seymour::dancecollective uses Al Young’s poem, “A Dance for Militant Dilettantes” and Ralph Ellison’s novel “Invisible Man” as entry points to challenge the audience. It includes musical selections from Chopin to Biggie Smalls.

The last dance is Sophie Sotsky’s Tyke Dance, “i am an empath,” which, she says, “presents movement that neither relies on classical notions of technique and virtuosity nor relinquishes the primacy of physical challenge in dance performance.” Thur, 4/9; Sat, 4/11; 7:30 pm. $20; $15 students and seniors. Gibney Dance Performing Arts Center, 280 Broadway, entrance at 53A, gibneydance.org.

g Bad Bitch Poetics with Sally Wen Mao A workshop that explores what this style of poetry means, examining the techniques of poets, singers, rappers, artists and other pop culture artists. Participants will work on their own pieces and explore work by such poets as Marilyn Chin, June Jordan, Sonia Sanchez and Bhanu Kapil as well as Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé.

Thursdays, 4/2–5/7, 6–8:30 pm. $325. Poets House, 10 River Terrace, poetshouse.org. g

A Fantasy Salon Kelly Link, Marly Youmans and Lev Grossman read from their new fiction.

Readings and signings will be followed by a Q&A. Tues, 4/14, 7 pm. Free. For ages 21 and up. Pen Parentis Literary Salon, Andaz Wall St., 2nd fl., 75 Wall St., penparentis.org. g

“Keep the Change” In his new book, Spiller explains why greenbacks are green and what happens to worn-out bills, and shares some currency legends and lore. Wed, 4/29, 12:30–1:30 pm. Talk will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. $5 tickets include museum admission; students free. Guests may bring their lunch.

Museum of American Finance, 48 Wall St. moaf.org.

FILM g

Silent Films Clara Bow stars in “It,” the 1927 iconic flapper story in which she plays Betty Lou, a young woman who works at a department store and falls in love with the boss’s son. She tries to fit in with high society, to impress him and win his heart. With live theater organ accompaniment by Ben Model. Sun, 4/19, 2 pm. $12; $8 students.

Schimmel Center at Pace University, 3 Spruce St., schimmel.pace.edu.

WALKS g George Washington’s New York The Museum of American Finance's 90-minute walking tour of the Financial District, with an emphasis on George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and 18th-century financial history. Fri, 4/10, 11 am– 12:30 pm. Meets at the museum; $15, includes museum admission and talk by Thomas Fleming.

Guests may bring their lunch. Museum of American Finance, 48 Wall St. moaf.org.

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Big Night Chef Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and businessman Secondo (Stanley Tucci) are brothers from Italy who open their dream restaurant, Paradise, in New Jersey. However, Primo’s food is too authentic for local tastes. When a famous Italian-American bandleader agrees to appear at Paradise, the two brothers put all their efforts into the meal that will decide the eatery’s fate. Tues, 4/7. Movie trivia at 5:30 pm; film at 7 pm.

Brookfield Place Winter Garden, 220 Vesey St., brookfieldplaceny.com.

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Winners of an International Portfolio Competition. Photos of Greenland by George Greenstein, New Mexico by Ruth Raskin and abstractions by Irene Greenberg. Other artists include Peter Agron, Jay Matusow Sonia Toledo and Robert Kalman. Wed, 4/8–5/2. Opening reception Tues, 4/7, 6–8 pm. Soho Photo, 15 White St., sohophoto.com.

MUSEUMS Navajo Jewelry More than 300 unique pieces of jewelry made by members of the Yazzie family of Gallup, N.M. The show, “Glittering World,” is ongoing throughout the year. National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, nmai.si.edu. Admission is free.

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Cerámica de los Ancestros More than 150 objects from seven regions representing distinct Central American cultural areas that are today part of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Spanning the period from 1000 B.C. to the present, the featured ceramics were selected from the museum’s collection of more than 12,000 pieces from the region and are augmented with examples of work in gold, jade, shell and stone. 4/18–1/17.

National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, 2nd fl., nmai.si.edu.

MUSIC g

Bach on Broadway The Choir of Trinity Wall Street and Trinity Baroque Orchestra perform the cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach at St. Paul’s Chapel, 209 Broadway. All concerts are free.

ET CETERA

ronze reliefs and expressionistic and figurative sculptures by tribeca artist Lynda caspe are on display at the gallery of the office of manhattan borough president Gale brewer until april 30. the reliefs, such as “absalom caught in the tree,” above, are based on stories from the hebrew bible. reception april 2, 6–8 p.m. the gallery, at 1 centre st., 19th fl., is open weekdays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

GALLERIES

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Jones and others. Tues, 4/14, 7 pm. Apex Art, 291 Church St., apexart.org.

Complete schedule at trinitywallstreet.org/music. g

The Art of the Jazz Singer Clips of Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter, Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee performing at the peak of their careers. Followed by discussion about how these artists differ from today’s pop singers. Tues, 4/7, 7:30 pm. Free. Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St., tribecapac.org.

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Gracias a la Vida: The Rebel Spirit of Violeta Parra A tribute to Chile’s most important singer, songwriter and storyteller. Parra's songs of struggle, defiance, and triumph were the basis for Latin America’s “New Song” (Nueva Canción) movement, which affected music and politics worldwide. This program features Chilean artists Illapu and Colombina Parra, whose music is influenced by her aunt Violeta with styles ranging from nueva canción to rock and pop. Fri, 4/17, 7:30 pm. $29. Schimmel Center at Pace University, 3 Spruce St., schimmel.pace.edu.

TALKS

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A City for Children: Women, Architecture, and the Charitable Landscapes of Oakland, 1850-1950 Marta Gutman’s book provides a compelling model for building urban institutions and demonstrates the central roles children, women, charity and the built environment play in our understanding of modern cities. Gutman teaches architecture at the Spitzer School of Architecture and is an editor for Designing Modern Childhoods. Tues, 4/7, 6:30–8 pm. Free.

Email programs@skyscraper.org to reserve. The Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place.

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Profits and Persecution: German Big Business and the Holocaust Peter Hayes, professor at Northwestern University, examines how the German business community cooperated with the new Nazi regime in 1933. $15. Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Pl., mjhnyc.org.

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Double Take XII Organized by Bookforum editor Albert Mobilio, this reading series asks awardwinning and emerging poets, novelists, editors and artists to share experiences. Featuring McKenzie Wark, Jackie Wang, Ellis Avery, Tayari

g A Moment of Zen Meditation Group A monthly gathering to learn, discuss and practice meditation. No prior experience is necessary.

Thurs, 4/16, 1–1:45 pm. New Amsterdam Library, 9 Murray St., nypl.org. g

Scrabble Day Enjoy a game of Scrabble with other adults. Mon, 4/6, 12–2 pm and Mon, 4/20, 12–2 pm. New Amsterdam Library, 9 Murray St., nypl.org.

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Death Cafe An informal gathering where participants can share questions, concerns and experiences regarding any aspect of death. Mon, 4/20, 6:30–8:30 pm. Trinity Church, 74 Trinity Place, 2nd fl., trinitywallstreet.org.

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Free Senior Swims For 65 and over. At the Downtown Community Center, 120 Warren St. Mon–Thurs, 12:30–2 pm. Senior water aerobics classes also available. Go to “Aquatics,” manhattanyouth.org or call 212-766-1104 ext. 221.

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Jazz at Bogardus The annual Jazzfest on Sun, 4/26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. features three jazz ensembles and crafts with Church Street School of Music and Art, cookie decorating and more.

Reade and Hudson streets.

TOURS g Museum of the American Indian Daily free tours of what was once the U.S. Custom House.

Designed by Cass Gilbert and completed in 1907, the building is a National Historic Landmark and includes an elliptical rotunda with a 140-ton dome skylight designed by Raphael Gustavino, murals by New York painter Reginald Marsh, and woodwork by the Tiffany studios. Free.

National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, nmai.si.edu.

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Expansive living room with 22ft ceilings, huge skylights & 2 wbfps. $7.5M. WEB# 10313333.

David E. Kornmeier 212-588-5642

GRAMERCY PARK 3BR CONDO Gramercy Park West. Outstanding direct views of Gramercy Park. 45â&#x20AC;&#x2122; entertaining expanse. 3 bedrooms plus library. Large windows, excellent light. Perfect move-in condition.

CAC. $7.5M. WEB# 11395268.

John Burger 212-906-9274

Craig T. Filipacchi

Rentals Deborah E. Gimelson

Ginnie Gardiner

ARTISTICALLY FURNISHED LOFT SoHo. Sprawling 2BR, 2.5 bath LOFT &EATURES CUSTOM lNISHES CHEF S kitchen, and living areas with 13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; ceilings, exposed brick, and oversized windows. $24K/monthly.

60 GRAMERCY PARK NORTH WEB# 10244272.

Downtown. Spacious 3BR, 2 bath w/ Craig Filipacchi and Jacques Foussard formal DR, sep LR, wndwd fully 212-452-4468 equipped kitchen, high beam ceil, hdwd flrs, tons of closets, FS DM Co-op gym.

TRIBECA SUMMIT bike room, cntrl ldry, pet frndly, key to TriBeca. In the heart of Tribeca, GP. $2.7M. WEB# 11996214. this 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath apartment Rajan D. Khanna 212-588-5625 boasts a Bulthaup kitchen, soaring 12ft ceilings, and sundrenched PARK GRAMERCY Downtown. Rare opportunity to combine space. $12.75K/monthly. large 1BR w/ adjacent studio to make 3BR, WEB# 11482582.

Craig Filipacchi and Jacques Foussard 3 bath in FS pet friendly condop that runs 212-452-4468 like a condo w/ roof deck, central laundry Jason Schuchman 212-452-4461 and bike storage. $2M. WEB# 11865998.

Rajan D. Khanna 212-588-5625 LUMINOUS TWO BEDROOM LUXURY Chelsea. Luxurious Chelsea modern corner 2BR, 2 bath. Great views and light, high-end open chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen, SS, W/D, closets galor. 24/7 DM, roof deck, gym, high line. $9K/monthly.

WEB# 11996417.

Brahna R. Yassky 212-906-0506 LIVE / WORK WITH FRONTAGE 4RI"E#A 'ROUND mOOR UNIT WITH 15 ft. of frontage on cobblestoned MORSE BUILDING LOFT FiDi. Glorious light illuminates this street. Features include exposed brick, modern kitchen, high spacious 2BR, 1 bath corner loft w/ CEILINGS AND NATURAL STONE lNISHES 13 wndws facing S & W. Abundant $7.5K/monthly. WEB# 9849936.

CUSTOM STORAGE %)+ HDWD mRS

7 $ AND HOME OFlCE NOOK - Craig Filipacchi and Jacques Foussard 212-452-4468 WEB# 11335046.

Jason Schuchman 212-452-4461 Leslie A. Mintzer 212-452-4473 HIGH FLOOR / SKYLINE VIEWS Downtown. High floor, spacious 1397SF sunlit 1BR, 2 bath w/ home office. Open kitchen, W/D, doorman/concierge, gym, pool, roof deck, squash & basketball courts. $1.875M. WEB# 11803648.

Danielle Grossenbacher 212-906-9303 Holly T. Shamask 212-906-9272

Jennie J. Holman

Kelsey Hall

Leslie Mintzer

BPC/FiDi

Mary A. Vetri

Richard N. Rothbloom

Sophie P. Ravet

Steven Marvisch

All information is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice. All rights to content, photographs and graphics reserved to Broker. Equal Housing Opportunity Broker.