Scott Lynch Good morning, East Village.
East Village-based Travel Agency of Change, which uses hip-hop travel to influence at-risk youth, “has taken about a dozen young people from all over the city to experience Berlin’s hip-hop community and is currently raising funds to bring several more 18- to 25-year-olds to Barcelona, Spain in April.” [DNA Info]
A sobering assessment of the Upright Citizens Brigade: “As it has grown, the theater has chosen to keep ticket prices low and has put money into renting real estate (its East Village space led to $1 million in debt) and not to paying for onstage talent.” [NY Times]
“Orchard Street between Canal and Grand streets has emerged as the epicenter of the Lower East Side’s gallery scene in recent years, but that stretch seems to be extending to the north, especially with the arrival of two more players on the strip: Brooklyn transplant Muriel Guepin Gallery at 83 Orchard, and New Jersey-based newcomer Broadfoot and Broadfoot at 155 Orchard.” [Art Info]
Among the items that are up for auction from Joey Ramone’s estate are his passport, Rolodex, and record collection. [NY Observer]
Alec Baldwin admits that he told a Post reporter “I want to choke you to death,” but says it was in jest, and insists he didn’t use racial slurs on a photographer. [Gothamist]
Alex Stupak of Empellon Cocina is a James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalist and is cooking a special 9-course meal with L.A. chef Jordan Khan. [Grub Street]
Speaking of the Beard awards, David Chang of Momofuku is a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef and Jewel Bako gets a nod in the Outstanding Restaurant category. Local toques Marco Canora (Hearth), Sara Jenkins (Porsena), Dan Kluger (ABC Kitchen), Wylie Dufresne (wd-50), and Alex Stupak (Empellon Cocina) are all in the running for Best Chef: NYC. [Grub Street]
A group of downtown influentials gathered to celebrate the publication of “Jews: A People’s History of the Lower East Side,” edited by Clayton Patterson and Mareleyn Schneider. [The Lo-Down]
Lit, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, will celebrate number 11 on Friday. Expect DJs Leo Fitzpatrick, Joshua Wildman, JR, Prince Terrence, and more.
