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In and out
August was a surprisingly busy month—and since I was away for a couple of weeks I was particularly grateful to WestView readers for their observations. There were two major cocktail bar openings, a couple of restaurants, and the first shop to open in one of the properties that Brookfield purchased on Bleecker Street. Chelsea Market
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West Village Original: Carmen Grange
By Michael D. Minichiello This month’s West Village Original is Dr. Carmen Grange, born in 1922 in Colón, Panama, to Jamaican parents working in the Canal Zone. Grange studied pre-med at Trinity College in Dublin and returned to the U.S. to do her residency, eventually opening a practice on West 13th Street. A resident of
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Tech Tips & Tricks
By Peter Rooney Welcome to a monthly column to help you turn your computer into a friend, brought to you by one of the oldest computer clubs in the world—right here in the West Village. We are the New York Amateur Computer Club, http://www.nyacc.org. Each month we’ll explore a technical topic, and attempt to answer
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Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso The man in the seat gets the heat, the fame or the blame. ___ Dogs are not as stupid as cats think. ___ In these mass shootings, pity the gunman too. Think of the hell the poor devil went through before he cracked. ___ Geography is history. ___ New sex site: Orgasm.com
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Then & Now: Ninth Avenue Meatpacking District
By Brian J. Pape, AIA THEN: On May 4, 1927, Hudson Street, in this view looking south from West 14th Street, shows the Herring Lock and Safe Company Building on the right (c.1849; northern third, c.1854-60). It was a five-story “Flatiron-type” factory, built in “Vernacular/Neo-Grec” style for Col. Herring, which is still virtually intact. The
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Jim Fouratt’s HAVE YOU HEARD!
SEPTEMBER 2018 VOTE AS IF YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT! If you are a registered Democrat in New York it is important to vote in the Democratic primary on September 13, 2018. I also know that most people in the City ignore the primaries. I know from personal experience. When I replaced Arthur Schwartz who
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IN AND OUT
July is usually a slow month, but this year there was lots of activity. In particular, the Village has become more of an Asian food hub with the opening of three Chinese restaurants and one Japanese ramen bar; and another Japanese restaurant is in the works. Open TOP OPENINGS Junzi Kitchen (170 Bleecker Street at
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Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso Roof workers are good company on a grey morning. ___ How to lose 120 pounds in one day: get divorced. ___ Another day, another dolor. ___ When you stay at a hotel you’re sleeping on a bed that a complete stranger slept on 24 hours before. ___ We hear a lot about
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Have You Heard!
June 2018 Nice to be back at WestView after the nightmare of Housing Court. After almost three years of fighting my new landlord’s attempt to evict me from my six-floor walkup in the heart of Greenwich Village, the Judge ruled against the landlord. The Court ruling said I was credible — the landlord’s witnesses were
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Notes from Away: God and Country
By Tom Lamia Hypocrisy: It comes at you in waves of indignation and self-satisfaction on cable news, where spokesmen (and they all seem to be men) for religious organizations give us their views on politics and government. Oddly, these views often seem contrary to the fundamental principles of their religions. Are they hypocrites? All religions
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“…It’s Superbird!”
By Keith Michael After shaking out my umbrella, I slide the patio door closed with a shudder. Surprise, surprise, for this spring, it’s raining! The outside drain was clogged once again with leaves (as well as with pink flowers from a neighbor’s garden on the roof), collecting a wading pool of spring showers. Millie is
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In and Out
At the end of April, The Wall Street Journal and other news outlets reported that Brookfield Properties was purchasing seven storefronts on Bleecker Street, all located on the three blocks between West 10th and West 11th Streets. The properties are 350, 367-369, 382-384, and 387 Bleecker Street. Some of the storefronts had shops that recently
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Mia’s Mystique—Is It Love … ?
Mia’s monthly mug shots melt scores of WestView readers to their cores as her aura bounces off the page pure charm begs viewers to engage Mia resembles Doris Day exhibiting the star’s attributes in myriad ways sporting Doris’s perennially perky smile Mia’s fetching lips curl up in style Mia’s eyes are big love valentines her
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Maggie B’s Quick Clicks
THE RELUCTANT SPRING: We thought it would never get here, but at last, come mid-April… The magnolias burst into bloom Creativity blossomed Creatures great and small mirrored the mood And in Abingdon Square a gentleman enjoyed the novelty of sitting in the sun to strum a favorite tune for an appreciative friend.
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Notes and Perspectives from Away: New Life
By Tom Lamia Rejuvenation is a word I seldom use, but it has come to mind today as I think of what I might write to honor a new season. Spring is not here yet, not fully in the West Village, and certainly not here in Maine, but it is near enough to inspire. On
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L’amour
By Keith Michael A tuft of down is worrying Millie’s nose. A forceful shake of her head doesn’t dislodge it. It’s too high for her tongue to reach. And it’s an ordeal to stretch her leg around from the back for a good itch. Conveniently, her corgi legs make for a short dip to the
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In and Out
This month closings continued unabated. A specialist on high-rent blight, of the kind we are seeing on Christopher and Bleecker Streets, had a possible explanation for why landlords might keep stores empty rather than accepting a lower rent: if a landlord has a number of properties, and is looking for a loan from the bank
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Then & Now: The High Line on Washington Street: Before & After
By Brian J. Pape, AIA, LEED-AP It is too easy to forget; this neighborhood has been through many dramatic changes. Most of what is now land west of Greenwich Street was originally in the “North River” so as the riverbank was landfilled, the City laid out West Street by 1824, and bought the Newgate site,
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Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso Spring is a fraud. People get all excited about a nice day in April because it’s so rare. ___ Did Shakespeare talk Shakespeare when he was out with the boys? ___ No one should have guns except the army and police—as in the civilized countries. ___ The trees are waiting for spring’s
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Loon-acy
By Keith Michael Millie is pressing her corgi nose through the railing at Hudson River Park, eyes squinting into the wind. I’m pressing against the railing too, trying to keep my balance, also squinting into the wind (with eyes tearing from the cold), scanning the river for any blip in the white caps that might
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Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso Writers are at their best while writing. The rest of the time they’re just as dumb as everyone else. ___ Reducing your tip is a loss of face. ___ The one who calls is the one in need. ___ Animals are hard to like. They’re so much like people. ___ The real
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How Did You Sleep Last Night?
By Joy Pape Last month I wrote about sleep and how many of us have misconceptions about sleep. One misconception is we think our brain rests during sleep, when in reality, we now know it is a time our brain is actively going through needed cycles of sleep stages. I also wrote of the misconception
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Notes and Perspectives from Away: Reading the New York Times in Maine
By Tom Lamia In South Bristol, Maine, I keep up with events by watching television and reading. The New York Times online edition is a good source. It is adequate, but not fully satisfying. My God, do I miss reading the New York Times on paper. Having news of world events available from trusted sources
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In and Out
The sale of Chelsea Market by Jamestown Properties to Google has been finalized, and the good news is that Google has assured the community that “Jamestown will continue to manage the retail and food hall.” This month we sensed that Village landlords were beginning to accept the new rent realities: a “for rent” sign in
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Can You Spot A Killer?
By Peter Saitta DO How many times have you been suntanning with a large aluminum foil sun reflector with baby oil getting a killer tan? Most of us have and “killer” is a word I chose wisely. Statistically speaking, more than half of us will get a skin cancer because we have all been exposed
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Then & Now: Scenes Around Greenwich Village
By Brian J. Pape, AIA, LEED-AP This iconic landmark was almost destroyed in 1958 after the city and courts decided to vacate it. Through the concerted efforts of Village activists, a new Public Library branch was opened after restoration of intricate brick and stonework by architect Giorgio Cavaglieri from 1962-1967. More restoration was done in
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Greenwich House Raises the Bar (Literally) with New Taste After-Party Cocktail Competition
By Joe Salas What do a bar on the 65th floor of Rockefeller Center, a Fashion Week hangout, and a restaurant deemed one of the 10 most romantic in the world have in common? They are all among the participants helping to raise money for the local, nonprofit social service organization Greenwich House at its
