WestView News

01/29/2019

Visions of Vija: A Villager’s Journey -

The West Village is an extraordinary place as much for its physical landmarks as for its living ones. WestView contributor Stanley Wlodyka profiles 95 year old Vija Vetra, celebrated for bridging the East and West through dance. Spoiler Alert: she's still moving and grooving!
http://westviewnews.org/2019/01/visions-of-vija-a-villagers-journey/

By Stanley Wlodyka Almost 90 years ago, Vija Vetra peeked through a hole in the wall of a dance studio where ballet classes were taught. Who knows which adolescent boy had carved out the peephole, looking to stoke the fire kindled by adolescent hormones, watching the girls plié and rond de jambe th...

01/24/2019

10 Ways Village Seniors Cope with Winter Blues -

Brrrr... the chill in the air, that frost on the pavement. "No sir! No gracias. I am staying in!" Well, just wait til you read WestView contributor Jane Heil Usyk's top 10 Winter activities, and you'll be bounding out the door.

http://westviewnews.org/2019/01/10-ways-village-seniors-cope-with-winter-blues/

By Jane Heil Usyk I really hate winter. It’s so cold! And besides that, it’s often slippery, and slushy, and wet. I could stay in all winter, except I need my walking exercise, and I have to get groceries, and go to the library, and watch movies, mail bills, and do a number of other

01/22/2019

Bird of the Year 2018 -

It's awards season and our nominees have been wearing their red carpet best all year long. WestView's resident avian Keith Michael and his faithful pup Miss Millie the corgi host the 13th Annual Bird of the Year Awards!

http://westviewnews.org/2019/01/bird-of-the-year-2018/

By Keith Michael As the National Audubon Society wraps up this Year of the Bird 2018—bringing international attention to the plight of countless bird species and the effects of climate change for us all—it is time, once again, here in the West Village, to celebrate our local ecosystem with the 1...

01/20/2019

Why Do Google and Hi-Tech Firms Expand in the Lower Westside? -

Everyone is talking about Amazon's impending colony in Long Island City, but WestView Architectural Editor Brian J. Pape wants you to look closer to home. Tech companies have some major plans in your slice of the Big Apple.

http://westviewnews.org/2019/01/why-do-google-and-hi-tech-firms-expand-in-the-lower-westside/

By Brian J. Pape, AIA, LEED-AP For those who have lived or worked in our area, the answer is obvious; we love the charm, character, mish-mosh of building styles and sizes, and the crazy streets, like nowhere else in the city. But are we loving it to death? Landmarked properties and districts help so...

11/02/2018

music.atstveronicas.org |

Tomorrow night! Come one, come all to the start of the new At St. Veronica's concert series. Hosted by WestView News, tomorrow night's program is entitled "A Sense of Place". Find out more and RSVP online at www.AtStVeronicas.org

WestView News Presents: Music at St. Veronica's Saturday (November 3, 2018) 149 Christopher Street 7:00 PM Get TicketsMake a Donation ; The Program Sense of Place Felix Mendelssohn- The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave) Overture — Intermission— Antonin Dvorak- Czech Suite Felix Mendelssohn– Symphony ...

10/23/2018

Mia Says -

Tails always wagging, it's obvious that dogs have deep wisdom to share with us human folk. Check out what Mia, the WestView mascot, has to say this month!

http://westviewnews.org/2018/10/mia-says-17/

Mia Says: It is easier to hate than to love, making love more precious and longer lasting. Photo by Dusty Berke.

10/14/2018

Jim Fouratt’s REEL DEAL: Movies That Matter -

Did someone just turn down the thermostat around here?! Suddenly, there's a chill in the air. Fall has arrived. It's the perfect time to get nice and cozy indoors, and where better than a movie theater? The Oscar bait is tasty this year and Jim Forrat will let you in on the most delectable treats in his monthly column Reel
Deal:

http://westviewnews.org/2018/09/jim-fouratts-reel-deal-movies-matter-3/

Awards season has arrived! A deluge of quality films will fall almost daily between September 1st and December 31st. In order to qualify for consideration of an Oscar, a film must run one week in New York City and Los Angeles. So you could buckle yourself into a theater seat for the next three month...

05/31/2018

A Quick and Current History of Your Christopher Park -

It’s easy to take for granted something we see pretty much every day. As Villagers, the things we pass by without a second thought can very likely have deep cultural, social and political significance on an international scale. So it is with Christopher Park! What memories of this iconic slice of green space have you had through the years?

http://westviewnews.org/2018/05/quick-current-history-christopher-park/

By Scotty Elyanow Christopher Park, the triangular park located at the intersection of West 4th, Grove, and Christopher Streets with Seventh Avenue to the West and Waverly Place to the East was created back on April 5th, 1837 due to demand for an open space from the local residents after overcrowdin...

05/29/2018

Celebrating the Legacy of Joe Cino’s Legendary Caffe Cino Coffee House Theater -

It all starts in the Village! Though that’s not 100% the case, it’s astounding how much cultural phenomena sprouted in the Village’s fertile creative soil. Playwright Robert Heidi takes you into a timewarp, back when the Caffé Cino was the arbiter of all things hip, the coolest of the cool, and the source of wonderfully weird vibes that would go on to take the theatrical world by storm. What other fads and phases had their start in the Village. Tell us some trivia in the comments section below!

http://westviewnews.org/2018/05/celebrating-legacy-joe-cinos-legendary-caffe-cino-coffee-house-theater/

By Robert Heide On Sunday, April 22nd at 6 p.m., 50 years after the closing of the legendary coffee house theater Caffe Cino on Cornelia Street in Greenwich Village, now officially considered the first off off Broadway theater, a panel convened, moderated by theatre critic, Charles Isherwood. The pa...

05/25/2018

Something draws a crowd on Bleeker Street, ask two of the bystanders and you get two very different stories. The same, it seems, is true about West Villager Cynthia Nixon’s bid for Governor of New York. WestView contributors Alec Pruchnicki and Arthur Z. Schwartz go head to head on her candidacy. What do you think- “Yay” or “Nay” on the actress turned activist?

-Photo courtesy of Cynthia Nixon for New York

http://westviewnews.org/2018/05/two-takes-cynthia/

05/21/2018

It was a gloomy Saturday, but these gals kept dancing at the 12th Annual Dance Parade New York (which went down 5th Ave and turned right at Astor Place). Thanks to them and all our readers who attended last night's Atstveronicas concert, the sun came out to shine today. Looks like Spring has sprung! How will you enjoy the lovely weather?

05/18/2018

WestView News Presents: Music at St. Veronica's

It's tomorrow night! WestView News is proud to present another concert at the Church of Saint Veronica on Saturday, May 19th at 7pm. We love getting to know our readers, so we hope to see you there. It’s all for you! This time come and enjoy Bach’s renowned Brandenburg Concerti. The acoustics in the church are heavenly. Can we count on your attendance?

Get your free tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/westview-news-presents-music-at-st-veronicas-tickets-45861557152?aff=eac2

You are cordially invited to the May concert of Music at St. Veronica's! This time round, you'll enjoy Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, widely regarded as one of the best compositions of the Baroque era. History of the Concert Series: The Church of St. Veronica, a 130 year-old Catholic church on Cristo...

05/11/2018

Ready to Write Checks to Save Pier 40 -

The 3,600 steel piles that support Pier 40 are more corroded than the teeth of a kid locked in a candy shop! WestView Publisher George Capsis explains what Hudson River Park President Madelyn Wils plans to do to save it. Hint: it's no simple trip to the dentist...

http://westviewnews.org/2018/05/ready-write-checks-save-pier-40/

By George Capsis Oh wow, a Crain’s New York article from April 24th quotes Hudson River Park Trust engineer, Steven Perker on just how they are going to encase the 3,600 corroded steel piles now shakily holding up the 15 acres of Pier 40 (the largest pier in the Hudson) to allow it to provide

05/04/2018

May the 4th be with you! Through the years, Star Wars fanatics have made May 4th an international holiday celebrating all things Star Wars. This, because, it sounds very much like the salutation made by one Jedi (the good guys) to another: "May the force be with you." Take heed of the advice given by the greatest Jedi Master of them all, Yoda, and visit Hudson Park Library (66 Leroy Street) at 1pm today to take advantage of the free Internet for Beginners class!

04/22/2018

At St Veronica's Concert Footage and Interviews

Today's the day! Excited to see all of you @ the At St. Veronica's concert series- the church (closed since July of 2017) is gorgeous and, as the rehearsals proved, the music is spectacular! Very Spring-ey 🌻🐞⚘

Church of St. Veronica (149 Christopher Street) @ 3pm. Check out some of the memories you've already created:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-66fUdpbDQ&feature=youtu.be

A monthly concert series at the Church of Saint Veronica's, dedicated to serving and creating community. Created by George Capsis, publisher of WestView News.

04/19/2018

Catherine Revland dives deep into the 5Pointz case, where a group of street artists were awarded $6.75 million in February. The case is currently in appeal, but is already being lauded as a landmark case that will provide precedent for future artist rights issues. Find out all about it after the jump: http://westviewnews.org/2018/04/5pointz-decision-part-2-tuesday-morning-massacre/

04/18/2018

WestView News

03/22/2018

Ramsey Clark at 90: America’s Most Liberal Attorney General and Veteran West Villager (Part 1) -

Ramsey Clarke served as the U.S. Attorney General between 1967 and 1969, under the Johnson Administration. During that time, he supervised the drafting of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Bruce Poli recently caught up with Clarke to reflect on that period in American history, as well as the current political climate. Read Part 1 of this fascinating article in the March issue of WestView News: http://bit.ly/2FpWdJT

“The greatest crime since World War II has been U.S. foreign policy.”—Ramsey Clark By Bruce Poli Ask me why I live in the West Village, and I might say, “Because people like Ramsey Clark live here.” Considered one of America’s most liberal Attorney Generals, Ramsey Clark, who served in t...

03/16/2018

14th Street Traffic Plan: It’s Not Being Handled Lawfully -

This month, Arthur Z. Schwartz discusses the unlawful manner in which plans for the reconfiguration of 14th Street are progressing. Although the city describes plans as ‘tentative,’ the changes to the infrastructure of 14th Street are quite permanent and therefore subject to the State Environmental Quality Review Act. Visit WestView News for the entire story: http://bit.ly/2HlU12y

By Arthur Z. Schwartz It is rare to see our community so united. And when it is united in opposition to a government project, you know something is wrong. Over the last month, as a West 12th Street resident, and as Democratic District Leader, I have attended a series of meetings held by over a

03/11/2018

Acclaim from Sarah Jessica Parker -

Sarah Jessica Parker, the acclaimed actress and West Village resident, attended the Music of St. Veronica concert on February 10th. Her complimentary words about the performance and the musicians add further momentum to this valuable concert series. Read Parker’s full commentary here: http://bit.ly/2FwoOJH

Actress and West Village resident Sarah Jessica Parker provided the comments below following the February 10th concert at St. Veronica, which she attended. The content has been edited by WestView News. It’s funny that George thinks he needs an introduction, only because I feel like everyone in thi...

03/10/2018

From TAKI 123 to High Art: The 5Pointz Decision (Part 1) -

WestView News contributor and Federal District Court Judge, Frederic Block, recently issued a decision granting $6.7 million to 21 graffiti artists whose work was destroyed at 5Pointz. In his interview with Catherine Revland, Block explains the challenge of applying the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990. Ultimately, the artists successfully demonstrated that art merits protection under the law. Read more about this legal victory here: http://bit.ly/2DijBTz

By Catherine Revland Last month, when the art world learned that Federal District Court Judge Frederic Block had awarded maximum damages totaling $6.7 million to 21 aerosol artists whose work had been destroyed by a developer, the response was laudatory: “This will change perceptions of an art for...

03/10/2018

DESTROYED: “Beauty and the Beast” by Esteban del Valle, was an exhibit in the 5Pointz
trial. Photo courtesy of 5ptz.com.

02/23/2018

Flamenco and More at the Creative Cultural Center at St. Veronica -

For the past 15 years, Jorge Navarro has infused the West Village with the passion and beauty of flamenco. The lessons he offers at the Community Cultural Center at St. Veronica reflect the tradition and ongoing evolution of this dance form. In effect, Navarro has fostered a community space for different forms of artistic expression: http://bit.ly/2E8xLIu

By Caroline Benveniste All too often, we report sad real estate stories—buildings being torn down and replaced with condos or offices, local shops closing because of steep rent increases, and other changes that make the Village less unique. Finally, we have a story that starts like all the others ...

02/16/2018

Keeping America Free -

This month, Michel J. Faulkner addresses the unapologetic racism which President Trump conveyed through the term ‘s-hole countries.’ Faulkner posits that such viewpoints compromise American ideals, ideals that must be shared with all (including Dreamers), not just white Americans: http://bit.ly/2E9hvqy

By Michel J. Faulkner The contempt for people with dark skin that slipped out of the mouth of our president caught the anger of every white liberal, but how did it make African Americans feel? I am one of them, and after a lifetime of hurt, I have a hardened, protective scar, and I am

02/07/2018

Music I Grew Up With… and Starting A-Fresh: -

In preparation for the February 10th concert at St. Veronica, Michael Feldman looks back at his musical roots. He reminisces about the Mozart, Beethoven, and Mahler recordings (among others), which inspired his love of music, and also explores the value of fresh interpretations. Join him, and all of the talented musicians, at the upcoming concert: http://bit.ly/2BfvUTs

A Primer for the February Concert at St. Veronica By Michael Feldman When I was a young lad, just getting my feet wet in the enormous repertoire of classical music, I recall my first expedition to the Sam Goody record shop. (Was it on 49th Street?) To this day, I remember the recordings I picked

02/07/2018

God at the Drafting Board -

This month, Publisher George Capsis proposes an innovative housing concept called Senior Share. In this scheme, young residents receive affordable apartments in exchange for providing support services to senior occupants. Capsis suggests Houston Street and 6th Avenue as the ideal location for this housing type. Read more about this topic in the February issue of WestView News: http://bit.ly/2EMQzy5

By George Capsis If God sat down at the drafting board to design a perfect solution for seniors now living alone in a five-story walk-up, with an ancient dog that has to go four times a day, what would He come up with? He would have a nice, fresh-faced youngster offer a strong arm to

02/07/2018

SENIOR SHARE APARTMENTS: For seniors trapped in walk-up, rent-stabilized apartments, WestView proposes connecting apartments which offer affordable rents to the young occupants in return for support services to the seniors. Shown above is a proposed building on Houston Street and 6th Avenue. Rendering by Marcus Wilford.

01/23/2018

Bird of the Year 2017 -

This month, WestView News’ avian expert, Keith Michael, presents the 2017 Bird of the Year Awards (aka the 12th Annual Millies). In doing so, Michael highlights the ‘Congeniality Award’ (presented to the Buff-breasted Sandpipers) and the ‘Best Revival Award’ (won by the Common Raven), among others. Visit the WestView News website for additional, feathery award recipients: http://bit.ly/2DEOHt6

By Keith Michael Remarkably, it is time for the 12th Annual Millies: the coveted Bird of the Year Awards! After 12 months of doom and gloom, Twitter fume, and fear of a big boom, the birds of the West Village and New York City have continued to be resilient—offering color, cheer, and laudable savo...