Salvador Peter Tomas Sang His Farewell Aria at 101
By J. Taylor Basker Operas often have tragic endings. Some of their greatest music has been written for characters who are dying. Death is seen […]
The West Bank Meets the West Village
By J. Taylor Basker Westbeth Artists Housing is located at the convergence of West and Bank Streets on the west bank of Manhattan. Here, technology […]
Edith Stephen: From Sound into Silence
By J. Taylor Basker We lost our Westbeth icon, the dancer/choreographer/filmmaker Edith Stephen, on March 18th at 6:55 p.m. Her friend and neighbor, jazz guitarist […]
Palestinians Persecuted During the Pandemic
By J. Taylor Basker The Pandemic has not only caused illness and death to Palestinians but provides an opportunity for Israel to increase its persecution […]
Release from Jerusalem Prison Inspires Bestseller
By J. Taylor Basker Long time peace activist, Frank Romano, was released from prison in Jerusalem last year, where he was held on two felony […]
It’s Hard to Vote If You’re Old or Sick in NYC
By J. Taylor Basker New York State has a long list of “Your Rights as a Nursing Home Resident in New York State and Nursing […]
100 Years Old, Gay, Black, Proud and Still Singing
By J. Taylor Basker On June 22, 1920, Salvador Pius Thomas, aka Tomas, was born in the county of Harrison in Mississippi. On June 22nd […]
Airports Are Petri Dishes for Virus
By J. Taylor Basker Two of my friends returned recently from countries embattled in the fight against the Coronavirus, but there was no health check […]
Staying Emotionally Connected: Corey Johnson and Westbeth Artists
By J. Taylor Basker Despite Coronavirus isolation, attempts to prevent voting and misinformation for citizens, Democracy can still work! Residents at Westbeth Artists Housing held […]
The W Hotel Sign: A Hazard to Humans and Fish
By J. Taylor Basker In 2005 the Applied Development Company and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide began construction on a new W Hotel in Hoboken, […]
Westbeth Winter Exhibit Heat Zone
Winter is a cold, grey, often depressing season to endure. Westbeth’s Winter Exhibit was a hot, eclectic mix of visual arts media that heated you […]
100 Years of Non-Solitude and Creativity
by J. Taylor Basker Friends, family and fellow creatives celebrated Edith Stephen’s 100th year birthday in Westbeth Artists Housing in Greenwich Village with two parties: […]
9/11—My Survival and Memories of Mysterious Visitors
By J. Taylor Basker April is my birthday month. I have an opportunity to celebrate another year of life due to my third graders in […]
Frank Romano: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
By J. Taylor Basker Frank Romano, part-time resident of Greenwich Village, peace activist and professor of law in France, was arrested and deported from Israel […]
Westbeth Announces Opening of Wait List After 12 Years
By J. Taylor Basker Westbeth Artists Housing, the largest artist housing community in the world with nearly 400 units, is located between Bethune and Bank […]
Corey Johnson’s Vision for City May Need Glasses
By J. Taylor Basker Corey Johnson, City Council Leader, delivered his State of the City speech presenting his proposal ‘A Case for Municipal Control and […]
Depressed About Trump? Go on Jury Duty
By J. Taylor Basker I received the dreaded letter demanding that I show up for grand jury duty right after the New Year. I had […]
Mayor de Blasio Waves His Baton Over New York City
By J. Taylor Basker At Symphony Space, punctuated by cadences of applause, our Mayor revealed his new orchestration of the citizens of NYC. In his […]