Posts published in December, 2012

The Bowery Mission Braces for Winter

Michelle RickSkilled, unemployed, homeless, on The Bowery. At exactly 4:45 a.m. everyday, Albert Alston flicks on the lights to rouse the men asleep on what passes for a dormitory annex at the Bowery Mission–its chapel floor and pews. “I do it the same way I did it as a platoon sergeant,” he said. “I know […]


Making It | Barbara Shaum, ‘Solopreneur’

Suzanne RozdebaBarbara Shaum in her workspace on East 4th Street. When you’ve been in business as a ‘solopreneur’ since 1962, you find you’re known for a few things, and you pay no mind about taking your time to relay all the details to anyone within earshot. For Barbara Shaum, 80-something, the legend behind the institution […]


At the Ninth Precinct, It Looks a Lot Like Christmas

Annie FairmanSteve Torres with family, after winning a bicycle in a “Gangnam Style” danceoff Last Saturday got off to an early start at the Ninth Precinct. At 2:30am, police were called to Beth Israel Hospital after an 18 year-old man entered the emergency room claiming to have been shot in the hand in Campos Plaza. […]


Five Questions with Sarah Shanfield About the End of the World

Picture courtesy Sarah Shanfield.Sarah communes with the globe While there are good reasons to be skeptical about the Mayan calendar prediction that the world will end today, The Local decided to ask journalist, savant, thought-leader, and Local contributor Sarah Shanfield for words of advice and comfort. Q. Sarah, the end of the world seems to […]


A Robbery Pattern Emerges

While robberies remain lower than expected for this time of year, a pattern has emerged in the last 28-day period. On November 20th, police say a Hispanic male in his late twenties dressed in a baseball cap and dark jacket approached a male victim from behind and put him in a choke hold on East […]


The Day | Make We Merry

Scott Lynch Good morning, East Village. Make we merry, yes, but maybe not too merry. Look at the calories in this stuff. But before the party starts, Lucky’s Famous Burgers is feeling out of place on East Houston–imagine–and is looking to “Houstanize” (sic) its design. If there was ever a reason to scamper across neighborhood […]


Street Scenes | What’s Cooking?

Suzanne Rozdeba Avenue A


Thirteen Portals to Art

Dana VarinskyArtists Nicolina Johnson and Perola Bonfanti at “Portal 0” Two abandoned doorways got a touch up this week, thanks to artists Nicolina Johnson and Perola Bonfanti. The artists told The Local that the new installations at Avenue C and Seventh Street, and Second Ave and Third Street, are the first of a series of […]


Arabella 101 on Avenue D Almost 100 Percent Full

Suzanne Rozdeba Arabella 101, the new rental building that began leasing apartments last August, is almost filled to capacity on Avenue D, where luxury apartments and new businesses are quickly and dramatically changing the landscape. Today The Local got a tour of the 78-unit building, located at 101 Avenue D between 7th and 8th Streets, […]


We Got It Covered

Suzanne Rozdeba Avenue A this morning. Suzanne Rozdeba We know how to deal with hazards in the East Village. And then, someone got creative with it. What next? Tinsel, and a fairy on top?


Ellen Grossman, Jay-Z, and Her Art

When Ellen Grossman met Jay-Z on the subway, the media paid attention. The Local visited the East Village artist to take a closer look at her art.


The Day | Chilly Days Ahead

Suzanne RozdebaEast Seventh Street Good morning, East Village. It looks like the changes to the south side of East 14th Street between Avenues A and B could be more extensive than the loss of Petland and Bargain Express. Details began to emerge yesterday of the sale of eight lots at the end of November. Could […]


Street Scenes | Take a Seat

Suzanne Rozdeba East Seventh Street


Scaffolding Prompts Concerns at Mary Help of Christians

Workers were spotted carrying scaffolding into Mary Help of Christians Church last Friday, prompting concern among some neighbors as to whether there were any developments about the church’s future. Suzanne Rozdeba Around 3 p.m. late last week, “There was a huge Penske moving van and several workers in front of the church. The church doors […]


Ray Sumser’s Cartoon Universe

Ray Sumser, a Californian artist who recently moved to the East Village, has been working on a series of cartoon projects. His goal: to portray the “most recognizable characters” from popular cartoons. He’s been bringing his art to public spaces like Union Square too.


Sexton Responds to No-Confidence Vote Threat

N.Y.U. president John Sexton responded in writing yesterday to last week’s decision by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences to hold a vote of no-confidence in his leadership. Faculty members are said to be unhappy with the university’s plans to expand in Greenwich Village in the face of local opposition, and aspects of its international […]


Victoria Roberts Sketches at the Strand

Susan Keyloun Victoria Roberts at Strand Books “Have you ever dreamed of owning a unique, hand-drawn picture by a New Yorker cartoonist?” read the invite to the special event held last night at Strand Bookstore. The answer was yes, as swarms of fans lined up to watch Victoria Roberts, a popular cartoonist for The New […]


The Day | Suzy Snowflake Comes to Town

Scott Lynch Good morning, East Village. As David Schwimmer’s East Sixth Street mansion nears completion, residents displaced by Hurricane Sandy are getting a little more help this week. Listings geared to their needs are being posted in a special section at the no-fee rental site Urban Edge. Reports say landlords will strive to be flexible […]


Street Scenes | Compost This

Scott Lynch Union Square


An Inside Look at Unsilent Night

Last Saturday, the event known as “Unsilent Night” took place in the East Village for its 20th year. This winter time annual event has garnered participation from cities around the world, including San Francisco, Chicago and Melbourne. But it all started in New York. The Local embedded with creator, Phil Kline, in the days before […]