By Brian J. Pape, AIA You know that you are in a popular neighborhood when there seems to be construction on every block. This stroll covers one small area of the West Village. Let’s start along West Street, just south of the condo at 1 Morton Square. Ian Schrager and his development partners tapped Herzog+de
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Quoth the Raven: Homage to Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven
By Keith Michael In the dark, alarm clocks ring-a-ling, Millie’s tags upon her jingling, Interrupt my pulling clothes on, as she’s likely thinking, sore, “Hey, it’s way too early morning. You just woke me without warning. I dreamt marrow bones were warming, asked for, yapping, something more. Let me go back happ’ly napping, oh, so
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IN AND OUT
Summer is always a slow time for openings, with only three this month. A number of places closed or will close temporarily (or so we’ve been informed) and one scandalous closing has been in the news. Fortunately, a couple of ice cream pop-ups have opened for the summer, joining the growing list of established spots
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Housing a Legend: Alice Mackler’s Residency
By Katie Lee Since 1909, Greenwich House Pottery has fostered some of the most prominent artists in New York City, from Jackson Pollock to Ghada Amer. Today, it houses the brilliant Alice Mackler. Mackler’s recent work, such as her 2013 solo exhibition, has been hailed as “nearly perfect” by the likes of Art F City
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Senior Summer Safety Tips
By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC Take summer seriously. The season can be hot and hazardous to your health. Here are some tips for you to stay safe during the summer months. Avoid getting overheated. As you age, your internal cooling system doesn’t work as well as it used to. You may not even feel
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Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso Everyone laughs at the boss’ jokes. ___ The term ‘summer reading’ is absurd. You should read all year long. ___ Nothing serious over the phone. Face to face only. ___ When you stay at a hotel you’re sleeping on a bed <br> that a perfect stranger slept on the day before. ___
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Jim Fouratt’s HAVE YOU HEARD?
August 2017 Good news: Once again, the Village, like in old times, is ground zero in the NYC battle against the Trump administration and its attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Rise and Resist (RAR), a grassroots, direct action political group, meets every Tuesday night at The Church of the Village (201 West 13th
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West Village Original: David Greenspan
By Michael D. Minichiello This month’s West Village Original is playwright and actor David Greenspan, born in Los Angeles in 1956. The author of such plays as: She Stoops to Comedy; Go Back to Where You Are; The Patsy (he also performed in the latter two); and I’m Looking for Helen Twelvetrees; Greenspan is also
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Out and About
By Keith Michael June, July, and August are when my exhausted academic schedules get crammed into binders for the summer and I get out! Yes, I love the West Village—my morning, afternoon, and evening walks with Millie circumnavigating her corgi-friendly blocks continue to delight me with their sights. But, give me a map to unfold
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Notes and Perspectives from Away: Maine Sources and Methods
By Tom Lamia As I suggested last month, Maine has sent more than its share of respected political personages to the national stage—to the U.S. Senate in particular. Former Senators include: Margaret Chase Smith, Edmund Muskie, William Cohen, George Mitchell, and Olympia Snowe. They distinguished themselves and their home state by principled, effective leadership within
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IN AND OUT
June seems to be a popular time for openings. Last year, we counted 12 new spots, this year seven. We were happy to see a small, independent antique store open on 7th Avenue. Two big name restaurants started service this month as well. High rents were cited again as a reason for restaurant
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How to Cure the Opioid Epidemic
By Katie Lee Since the 2000s, following the mass over-prescription of opioid painkillers, opioid abuse has become rampant throughout the country and especially severe in New York City. The New York City’s Mayor’s Office reports that in 2016, about 1,300 individuals died from drug overdoses, more than any year on record. Of these deaths, approximately
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Digital Literacy Sessions at Jefferson Market Library
By Nancy Aravecz In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, one buzzy phrase has been seemingly everywhere: fake news. The proliferation of online news content, social media, and a relentless news cycle is making it more and more difficult for consumers to stay on top of what’s truth and what’s fiction. As the online
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Do You Have Dry, Scratchy, or Runny Eyes?
By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC Dry eye is a common chronic disease, or condition, seen most often in older adults. The medical term for dry eye is keratoconjunctivitis sicca. It occurs when there are not enough “quality” tears to lubricate and nourish your eyes. Tears are important for the health of the front of
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Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso There is nothing as beautiful as a girl carrying flowers. ___ Our choice of heroes reveals everything about us. ___ Never tell a joke to a surgeon working on you. ___ Can anyone imagine Hamlet going to the bathroom? If Elsinore had a bathroom. ___ The whole world is on a Trumpoline.
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Jim Fouratt’s REEL DEAL: Movies that Matter
JULY 2017 It has happened. Manhattan has become the capital of movies for serious filmgoers. With the addition of the new Quad Cinema, bought and completely renovated by the Cohens (the real estate family with a love of film), the family has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to many festival films from around the world.
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Notes and Perspectives From Away: Republican Democracy
By Tom Lamia From early January to mid-April of this year, I was in New York having a knee repaired. My surgery was on January 20th, the day that politics and governance took a new direction. Every day since has brought something new for discussion, with no one sure where it is all headed. Your
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IN AND OUT
This month, we saw a large number of store closings of all sorts. The closing of Pó was widely reported, and with the previous closing of Home, and the news that Cornelia Street Café is struggling, the outlook for the Cornelia Street restaurant scene is not rosy. On the positive side, two interesting openings and
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Nest. Egg.
By Keith Michael This little wren went to market, This little wren stayed home, This little wren had, well, caterpillars, This little wren had none. And this little wren went, “Wee wee wee” all the way back to the nest. —Anonymous Let’s face it: Birds are baffling. They have feathers. They can fly. They either
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Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso Cityscape: No curtains, ladder against a wall. Someone’s gone, someone new is coming. ___ Everyone rewrites his life into a form he can live with. ___ Immigrant’s progress: from blue collar to white collar to no collar. ___ Spring is a promise summer doesn’t keep. ___ Where Hamlet got his furs: Rosencrantz
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Favorite Restaurants, Continued
Piccolo Angolo (621 Hudson Street, at Jane Street): In more than 20 years, I’ve never had a bad meal at this family-run establishment. I’ve found it a little expensive but always high quality. Its large portions and diverse menu make it well worth the price. One caveat is that it can feel small and crowded,
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Jim Fouratt’s REEL DEAL: Movies that Matter 7
JUNE 201 It’s June: Festivals and Pride are in the air. In this era of “fake news,” 90-second sound bites, fast food documentaries, and the constant “breaking news,” we welcome the 28th edition of The 2017 Human Rights Watch Film Festival (HRWFF), which is co-presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center (FSLC) and IFC
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What’s In a Name?
By Keith Michael “My name is Alice, but—” “It’s a stupid name enough!” Humpty Dumpty interrupted impatiently. “What does it mean?” “Must a name mean something?” Alice asked doubtfully. —Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll “Milton! Sitting down to scratch your head in the middle of the crosswalk is not a good idea!” Countdown: Ten,
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Notes and Perspectives From Away: Maine Character(s)
By Tom Lamia In the April issue of WestView, I spoke of a long-ago first visit to Maine. That visit was an introduction not only to the splendor and rigors of coastal Maine, but also to the rugged and resourceful character of its people. Moral strength, wisdom, mental and physical toughness, humility, taciturnity, and
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My Favorite Handyman
Sooner or later, all of us need a handyman to repair a piece of furniture, adhere loose tiles, clean windows, replace a light switch, or assemble an IKEA chair. One of our readers suggested that we create a monthly section inviting readers to offer their “favorite handyman,” which may include carpenters, plumbers, electricians, computer technicians,
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IN AND OUT
by Caroline Benvieste The big news this month is the re-opening of the Quad Cinema which was purchased by lawyer, film buff, and real estate developer Charles S. Cohen back in 2015 and has been under construction ever since. Many famous people came to the opening on April 13th, including Harvey Keitel, Julian Schnabel, and
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Of the Park: Joe Mangrum, Sandpainter
By Brian Pape and Joy Pape Among the many performers that frequent Washington Square Park on nice weekends, there are musicians, acrobats, athletes, and artists, all of whom make the Park a very special place. One of the most colorful and fascinating performers is the sand artist, Joe Mangrum, whose temporary spontaneous works at the
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New Location Brings New Programs at the Children’s Safety Project
By Joe Salas By May 1st, the Children’s Safety Project at Greenwich House will have left its home of 30 years, behind an arched window on a classic Greenwich Village street, for a larger space on the Lower East Side. However, partnerships will continue to make it a distinctly Greenwich Village program. The Children’s Safety
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Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso Everyone wants to go to Heaven but no one wants to die. ___ Sunrise doesn’t start the day. Coffee does. ___ Dogs are nicer than people—better dispositions, more loyal. ___ Mourn the victim but pity the shooter. Imagine the hell the poor devil went through before he cracked. ___ In a season
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Be HIP, Not Hyped
By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC Keeping up with the latest health care advice can be confusing. What I’ve learned in the many years I’ve been a health care provider is to help people learn or continue to be content and happy. That’s what many centenarians claim is their secret to a long life. It’s
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Jim Fouratt’s REEL DEAL: Movies that Matter
MAY 2017 As I sit to write about the last three weeks of attending the Tribeca Film Festival press/public screenings, I’m glad to finally be sitting in a room full of light. Readers know I am a big champion of going to film festivals. You get to see films of merit. At festival screenings the
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Notes and Perspectives From Away: First Visit: South Bristol, Maine (1968)
By Tom Lamia My association with the State of Maine began as a chapter in a courtship that led to marriage. In early 1968, after two years of teaching law, first in Nigeria and then in Zambia, I visited Nairobi, Kenya, where I met a vivacious and seductive fellow-adventurer who would become my wife. I
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Maggie B’s Quick Clicks
DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? It turned out to be a month when those observing the world around them became as interesting as the objects of their scrutiny-whether it was Jefferson excited by the falling snow (#1), attendees at the Whitney (#2) and Westbeth (#3) art exhibitions, or the little girl fascinated by the
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In and Out
This month saw fewer closings than February. Plus, two long-awaited restaurants finally opened—Greenwich Steakhouse and Hot N Juicy Crawfish. One Italian restaurant opened and an Italian sandwich shop/grocery store is coming soon. Is this a trend? Is the Village returning to its Italian roots? Open 1. Tfor (14 Bedford Street, near Downing Street): This Italian/Mediterranean
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Inside Out
By Keith Michael With a glass of wine in my hand and Millie’s corgi nose slumbering across my foot, the late afternoon sun draws shadows down the walls. Well, that’s not quite accurate: The glass of wine sits beguilingly blocking my monitor as I type, and Millie is flattened far across the floor in her
