I have written to you in the past about PHHPC, the state board that advises the Department of Health on plans to enlarge or diminish hospitals. Well, the state board is meeting this Thursday, January 23rd, to consider Mount Sinai’s plans for closing the current Beth Israel and replacing it with a much smaller, new
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Breaking News: Governor Cuomo Vetoed 8-Story Building on Pier 40
As WestView was about to go to press on December 31, Governor Cuomo vetoed the legislation which would have allowed an 8 story plus office building to be built on Pier 40. In his veto message he highlighted the need for green space in Manhattan. My threat to sue over the structure was carried broadly
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Karen’s Quirky Style
You might not recognize me this month with my new hair color. Even though the color has changed with each month of this column, this time it is a real surprise. Brunette! When she first saw it, my friend Rhonda at LifeThyme said, “Karen, what happened, your hair is normal!” She was shocked. The brunette was inspired
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Maggie B’s Quick Clicks
Last January the Quick Clicks layout sent special greetings to “My Fellow Creatures of Habit”, including these stalwarts who are still going strong, bless them: And still i get to enjoy my cozy cocktail hour—thanks to the wonderful people who spoil me rotten at Left Bank, who gave me a permanent reservation on my
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The Bus Stop Cafe
By Gordon Hughes Immigration is such a hot topic today. I guess this is an issue that has always faced us as a nation going back to the Know Nothings of the 1830’s, 40’s and 50’s. There have been those that see immigrants as a threat to our country, and those that see them as
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The West 13th Street Alliance’s Upcoming Community Events for 2020
By the West 13th Street Alliance The West 13th Street Alliance is pleased to announce its initial 2020 Community Events offerings. On Thursday, January 30th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Lenox Health GV (200 West 13th Street) we are proud to invite the New York Aquarium’s Director of Communications John K. Delaney for a lecture called
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Style on the Street: Keeping Winter Bright
By Dusty Berke New Yorkers carry the cold in stride, and with holiday festivities to get to, you can be sure to see plenty of color and style on the street. Here are a host of Villagers keeping the winter bright. Left to right: White Chocolate: Jeanne is rockin’ her winter white pumps and jeans
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Then&Now: Lower Fifth Avenue
By Brian J. Pape, AIA, LEED-AP THEN: Once the most fashionable high-end residential neighborhood in the rapidly expanding metropolis, lower Fifth Avenue was home to wealthy and influential residents who fought to improve the military parade grounds built over the potter’s field burial grounds. On the far left of this archival panoramic photo from the
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Clarkson Towers Promises Affordable and Senior Units
By Brian J. Pape, AIA Patient visits doctor and asks, “How am I doing?” Doc: “I have good news and bad news.” Patient: “What’s the good news?” Doc: “Your knee surgery went very well.” Patient: “Yeah. What’s the bad news?” Doc: “You have lung cancer.” We have good news and bad news about the new
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Off the Beat Sports: Sky Rink’s All Stars Team Third in Nation
By Anthony Paradiso In 1969, the twin-rink ice arena called Sky Rink opened its doors to the public at Pier 61. It is one of the three major facilities at Chelsea Piers that has an entire pier to itself. It was renovated in 1995 and is the only indoor ice arena in Chelsea, and the
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Bird of the Year 2019
By Keith Michael We are standing under the canopy of a cloudy winter sky on the corner where the 14th traditional presentation of the Annual West Village Bird of the Year Awards, “The Millies,” is held. This tourist-confounding intersection of West 4th and West 12th Streets is where a rosy-hued House Finch was heard and
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IN AND OUT
Open 232 Bleecker 232 Bleecker Street at Carmine Street The Dig Food Group, the parent company of fast casual chain Dig Inn has opened 232 Bleecker, its first full-service restaurant in the space that used to house Trattoria Spaghetto. The chef, Suzanne Cupps, was previously at Untitled at the Whitney, and before that at beloved
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Mini Melanie and Hot Bread Kitchen Incubates
By Caroline Benveniste There is a new stand in Chelsea Market called Mini Melanie and when you find it you will be astounded at the elaborate display of intricate mini sweets. There are cakes and truffles and cookie cakes and mini cupcakes and cake pops. The offerings are colorful, fun, and delicious. Mini Melanie is
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Silvernest and OATS Celebrate and Improve Aging
As part of WestView News’ ongoing efforts to improve the lives of seniors in the West Village and to create community for all ages in our neighborhood, I interviewed Wendi Burkhardt, CEO of Silvernest, a national online home sharing service, and Thomas Kamber who created the celebrated Senior Planet and OATS (Older Adults Technology Services).
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January 2020 Classical Concerts in the Village
Saturday, January 18, 2020 7:00 pm WestView News Concerts presents The Strathmere Ensemble “Vivaldi meets Telemann in the Village” St. John’s in the Village 218 West 11th St., New York, NY 10014 Telemann String Quartet Vivaldi Violin Concerto from “The Four Seasons” (Spring) Vivaldi Violin Concerto from “The Four Seasons” (Autumn) Telemann Don Quixote suite
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CAP Beauty, Farm to People and Farm Vegetable Program for Seniors
CAP Beauty, NEW YORK FLAGSHIP + SPA 238 West 10 Street, New York, NY 10014 (212) 227-1088 A facial at CAP Beauty is a full-sensory experience leaving one feeling extremely relaxed, nurtured and looking great. Esthetician/healer Crystal Greene provided me with a deep facial massage and treatments from CAP Beauty’s select arsenal of all-natural and
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Safe Streets for Walking
By Barry Benepe “A city should be built to the convenience and satisfaction of those that live in it and to the great surprise of strangers,” so said a sixteenth century architect. “We have to improve the experience of all who walk around our city,” echoed City Council President Corey Johnson who initiated and shepherded
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“ACT UP! Fight Back! Fight AIDS!”
By Stanley Wlodyka Last month marked the 30th anniversary of an unprecedented event, one that saw worlds collide. Organized by AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP), approximately 4,500 people gathered outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral on 5th Avenue one Sunday in December of 1989. They were there to protest the Catholic Church’s response to the
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Sellout at Pier 40 and St. John’s Terminal!
By Arthur Schwartz An eight-story (or higher) office tower on Pier 40? A million-square-foot Google hub across the street? In case you blinked, that’s what the West Village is in for at the western border of West Houston Street. And what are our elected leaders doing about it? NOTHING? First, some background. Back in 1996
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Page 69 – Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Village Style
Nina and Rob Kaufelt Host a Downtown Celeb-Studded Bash in their Historic Gold Coast Brownstone Philanthropist storytelling host Nina Kaufelt and singer-songwriter Hannah Reimann in their sparkly holiday finery. Photo provided by Hannah Reimann. By Karen Rempel Celebrants roamed the Village in dazzling clusters on New Year’s Eve, attending parties in bars, restaurants, and residences. The
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West Villager Sally Sommer Retires from Dance Program
By Karen Rempel Friends, colleagues, students, and family of Sally Sommer gathered at Casa La Femme on Charles Street yesterday to celebrate West Village resident Sally Sommer’s retirement from Florida State University’s Arts in NYC program. Casa La Femme’s Egyptian décor and delicious passed hors d’oeuvres created the perfect ambience for a celebration with professional
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Privilege in the Village
By Emily Roemer What is privilege as it pertains to a village, you may ask? Let me explain. By definition, “vil·lage priv·i·lege” is a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to inhabitants of a particular set of streets in lower Manhattan. Sure, a glass of wine might be double (or triple) the
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La Petite Ecole, a Bilingual “Art-de-Vivre” Preschool in the Village
By Alexis Lloyd Frenchmen in New York, and Frenchwomen for that matter, usually avoid the company of other French people in New York. We want to become New Yorkers. This often leads to romance with Americans, which leads to the birth of New Yorker babies carrying two passports (or more). But every year, the
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Survivors of the Lost Village: James Drougas
By Roger Paradiso James Drougas always loved books. “When I was 12 years old, I used to visit a small book shop on Main Street in Patchogue, Long Island and decided early I wanted to make a career of it.” “I am trying to be a space that offers unknown treasures at irresistible prices that
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How to Sell: Act as the Buyer
By George Capsis Every once in a while I get a young voice on the phone that wants to know if I want to buy a building or sell mine. I sympathetically offer them from my own youthful experience that there is nothing worse than doing a “cold call.” But recently I got a call
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The Battle for Better Bus Service Still Not Won
By Barry Benepe Two additional encounters with the 14th Street SBS bus are also worth recounting followed by some reflections on DOT transportation policy or lack thereof. First, to understand terms, SBS refers to the equipment, not to the routes. The former buses, which loaded at the front with a metro card, have been taken
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14th Street Traffic
Limerick by Randee Mia Berma Is this a democracy? 14th Street is now auto free. They’re forbidding all cars. Are we on Mars? I need a cup of tea. City roads are getting chaotic. The honking is far from hypnotic. Lyft Uber & Via Are no panacea For New Yorkers becoming neurotic. The bike lanes
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Karen’s Quirky Style
Having trouble getting in the spirit this holiday season? I hope that Karen’s Kinky Christmas outfit, complete with Grinch-green wig, will put you in the mood for some holiday hijinks. Come on, tell Karen, have you been naughty or nice? I have a holiday gift for you if you can guess what I am holding
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Johnathan Blake’s Explosive Debut as Bandleader at the Village Vanguard
By Karen Rempel I first saw Johnathan Blake at the Village Vanguard in October 2015, where he was playing drums with Ravi Coltrane’s quartet. I was completely blown away by the intensity of his performance, and by the unique percussion elements he added. His dominance as a drummer was evident even to the neophyte I
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Maggie B’s Quick Clicks
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD Be prepared to expect the unexpected. All photos by Maggie Berkvist. From still lifes To street scenes— be they mysterious… enterprising… incongruous… or reminiscent of a Hopper painting.
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Beth Israel Forum on Monday, November 4th
By Penny Mintz Few people have any leverage over the large political goings on in Washington or Albany. But when it comes to quality of life issues here in our community, there is a chance, right now, to have an impact. Mount Sinai/Beth Israel (MSBI) has plans for Beth Israel Hospital and the medical services
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The West 13th Street Alliance’s November/December Community Event Offerings
By The West 13th Street Alliance The West 13th Street Alliance is pleased to announce its November/December Community Events schedule that aims to bring together the community in a fun way with events/classes/lectures like, Exploring the Original West Village, Intro to Zumba, Holiday Card-Making, Chair Yoga and Tea and Conversation. All of these events are
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Dusty Berke Joins the Ranks of Award-Winning Artists at the Salmagundi Club’s Village Preservation Exhibit
Dusty Berke received an award for her arresting photograph Playing Statues on Bleecker on October 16th at the prestigious Salmagundi Club. The photograph of West Village model and photojournalist Karen Rempel originally appeared in the “Karen’s Quirky Style” column in the May 2019 issue of WestView News. A combination of elements contribute to the photo’s
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Karen’s Quirky Style
By Karen Rempel | Fashion Editor With apple-picking season flying by and Thanksgiving fast approaching, I brought out my cowboy boots for this month’s adventure on Bleecker Street. The weather was still so warm on the day of the shoot that I decided to pair the boots with flared black shorts and fishnet stockings (think
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Style on the Street: Sunny Sunday
By Dusty Berke There is nothing like a sunny Sunday afternoon in The Village. So nice to see everyone out and enjoying the last days of sunshine. All photos by Dusty Berke.
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Then&Now: The Weathermen Bombsite—18 West 11th Street
By Brian J Pape, AIA THEN: The Greek Revival townhouse at 18 West 11th Street was originally built in 1845, one of four houses on the block built by Henry Brevoort Jr. for his children. It was later (in the 1920s) the home of Charles Merrill (of Merrill Lynch), whose son, the poet James Merrill,
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Hindsight: The West Village Committee in the Sixties
By Brian J. Pape, AIA Today’s residents of the West Village owe a lot to the activists who lived here before us. They say “Hindsight is 20/20,” but we still speculate on “what might have been.” Google the still active committee, WestVillageCommittee.html, and you’ll find a little history and their current activities, but you have
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November Means Thanksgiving in the West Village
By Gordon Hughes I sit on an outside bench at Cafe Panino Mucho Gusto in a heavy shirt, and there’s a chill in the air. As I enjoy my coffee on these fall mornings, I contemplate the things I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving. Being able to live here in the West Village tops my list.
