Monthly Archives: September 2009

Breakfast of candidates

Sun: Brooklyn Celebrates Its Bookishness at Festival

EOS_6187e The Brooklyn Book Festival is a huge, free public event presenting an array of literary stars and
emerging authors. The
festival, which is this Sunday in and around Brooklyn Borough Hall, is organized around themed readings and devoted to timely and
lively panel discussions. The inclusion of top national and
international authors and new partners has expanded the festival’s
reach while continuing to celebrate and enhance Brooklyn’s contemporary
and historic literary reputation.

There's much to do at the fest: panels, speakers, readings, tables full of books. And this, which I thought sounded interesting:

I wanted to let you know about my panel at 2pm on the International Stage
outside. Would love a shout-out on your blog, to see you there, or help
facilitate interviews with my fellow panelists. More info:
 
The Naked City: Urban Realism and the Global City in Fiction &
Non-Fiction. A discussion exploring the gritty urban realism of the contemporary
global city as seen through recent works of fiction and non-fiction about Delhi,
New York, and Mexico City. Featuring David
Lida (First Stop in the New World), Meera Nair (Video),
and Hirsh Sawhney (ed., Delhi
Noir). Moderated by Cheryl Harris Sharman (Nightshift NYC).
Civics and Urban Life

NY Times: At Home with Amy Sohn

10sohn650.3 From the Home section of the New York Times:

"ONE recent afternoon, the writer Amy Sohn sat at the Third Street
Playground in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, a few blocks from her apartment,
and explained the central paradox of her neighborhood. “Every mother
knows what a Park Slope Mother is, but no one thinks she is one,” she
said.

"Ms. Sohn was referring to the
stereotype of the overprotective, militantly organic, so-called
helicopter mom. Looking around the playground, there appeared to be a
few in attendance.

“If you went to Pierrepont Playground in the
’70s, when I was there,” Ms. Sohn, 35, said, referring to the Brooklyn
Heights neighborhood where she grew up, “the mothers sat on the
benches, and let kids work things out. If you come here, you see
parents on the structures. There’s a quickness to intervene. Shouldn’t
we allow some degree of ‘Lord of the Flies’?”"

Civics and Urban Life

A Streetcar Named Desire Directed by Liv Ullmann with Cate Blanchett

1 Comment

Streetcar570x380 Need I say more? And how come I just heard about this production at BAM.

Nov 27—Dec 20*
By Tennessee Williams
Sydney Theatre Company
Directed By Liv Ullmann

"…how often do you get to watch an actress of such virtuosity pulling out every stop of her instrument and then some?" —The New York Times on Cate Blanchett

Tennessee
Williams has a way with his women. Both sympathetic and merciless, he
cuts to their core, revealing their longing, vulnerability, and pride.
His most poignant creation—and the dream role of every leading
actress—may be the narcissistic and deeply troubled Blanche DuBois of A Streetcar Named Desire.

An
aging Southern beauty, Blanche is all artifice, pomposity, and need,
traits that Cate Blanchett, a transcendent performer (who made her New
York stage debut at BAM in 2006 as an unforgettable Hedda Gabler),
conveys with the most delicate balance of hysteria and pathos. Playing
off of Joel Edgerton as the remorseless monster Stanley, and Robin
McLeavy, as her conflicted sister Stella, Blanchett and the outstanding
ensemble cast of the Sydney Theatre Company bring new life to this
celebrated work.

Liv Ullmann—whose own soul-baring performances
in the films of Ingmar Bergman defined an era—directs, granting
Williams' fraught characters a full spectrum of emotions while
witnessing the old South's losing battle against a coarse modern world.

BAM Harvey Theater
145min with intermission
Tickets: Tue—Thu: $30, 65, 95; Fri—Sun: $40, 80, 120

*Nov 27 & 28, Dec 1, 2, 4, 5, 8—12, 15—19 at 7:30pm
Nov 28, Dec 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, & 19 at 2pm
Nov 29, Dec 6, 13, 20 at 3pm
Dec 3 at 8pm (Belle Rêve Gala)

Civics and Urban Life

Out with the Hangar in with the Clamshell at the Atlantic Yards.

1 Comment

32_36_atlanticyardsplans2009_2_zThe Brooklyn Paper reports that Ratner has scrapped the airplane hangar design and has opted instead for the clamshell pictured to the left.

"The new renderings of the $800-million arena are a collaboration
between that firm, Ellerbe Beckett, and a new partner, the New
York-based boutique firm SHoP Architects.
“The Barclays Center will quickly become an iconic part of the Brooklyn landscape,” Ratner said in a statement issued on www.barclayscenter.com
a Web site with the fresh renderings. “The design is elegant and
intimate and also a bold architectural statement that will nicely
complement the surrounding buildings and neighborhoods. The Barclays
Center will be innovative in its look and use of materials, including
weathered steel and glass, and will be the best place in the world to
watch a basketball game and other forms of sports and entertainment.”

Obviously Ratner thinks it's the cat's pajamas but what do you think of the new design?

Breakfast of candidates

What It Took To Win the 39th (and other districts) in 2001

I just got this email with a link about the 2001 race.It was sent to me by a life-long Brooklyn resident who says that he tries to  to stay engaged with
local issues and politics. He writes: "Admittedly, it is a little geeky to know
that the New York City Board of Elections publishes vote tallies on its
website…"

 I was living in south Park Slope in 2001 and of course remember
that September well.  I recalled that the race had a crowded field and
when you reported the 2,000 vote figure I was curious to check it out.
I very much apreciate your coverage of the local elections (along with
your blogger colleagues all over Bklyn), and thought you might want to
reference the link below; Bill diBlasio won in 2001 with about 1,600 votes over
his nearest rival, taking just 32% of the total cast in a six-way race.
http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/pdf/results/2001/primaryelection/2001p.pdf (see pages 74 & 75 for the 39th's actual tally in 2001 Dem Primary)
Breakfast of candidates

What Will It Take To Win the Race in the 39th?

Some people are estimating that 200 votes will decide the election for Bill diBlasio's city council seat in the 39th district.

200 votes?  Wow. That's not a lot of votes.

In 2001, I heard that Bill diBlasio won by 2,000 votes. But that was 2001. It wasn't nearly as tight a race as this one.

So, 200 votes will make or break a candidate. That's why a voting block like Borough Park is so important. The Satmar community votes according to recommendations from its chief rabbi. Whatever the rabbi says…

That said, the candidates are running hard in Borough Park—and all over the rest of the district.

So who are the front runners?

Brad Lander and Josh Skaller are running neck in neck no doubt. At the moment, Lander is trying to distance himself from his Yiddish newspaper brouhaha. I'm not sure if voters in brownstone Brooklyn are aware of it or even care about it.

Bob Zuckerman is at their tail. He just came out with a very funny animated spot that shows cartoon versions of Lander and Skaller attacking each other.

John Heyer is running close to Zuckerman as he has a strong following among conservative democrats in Carroll Gardens and possibly Borough Park.

Gary Reilly, arguably the most honest and forthright is in last place.

In a local election like this every vote really does count. It is important that every Democrat in Park Slope take a long, hard look at all the candidates and get out there on Tuesday September 15th and vote.

Civics and Urban Life

The Borough Park Vote and The Politics of Playing the Game

1 Comment

Gatemouth of Room 8 in a comment to OTBKB complains that I am  extremely naive—even delusional—about the Lander Der Blatt ad.

He suggests that it was actually a member of Lander's campaign, who placed the ad in Der Blatt as part of the effort to win votes in Borough Park, a community of conservative Hasidic Jews of the Satmar sect.

Okay, I am taking my rose colored glasses off, Gatemouth. You and others are saying that Lander tacitly allowed the ad by looking the other way when a campaign member by the name of Fleisher (with strong ties in Borough Park) placed the anti-gay ad in Der Blatt???

Omigod!

Sure, Lander is running hard for the votes in conservative Borough Park, as is John Heyer, who is against same sex marriage and abortion. Clearly, Heyer's conservative social views are more in line with Borough Park's Jewish community.

But Brad Lander is a liberal who openly supports gay marriage and abortion. His views on Israel are progressive. He is a member of Kolot Chayenu, a Jewish congregation in Park Slope, with openly progressive views about Israeli politics. Here's what it says on their website:

"We are creative, serious seekers who
pray joyfully, wrestle with tradition, pursue justice and refuse to be
satisfied with the world as it is. As individuals of varying sexual
orientations, gender identities, races, family arrangements, and Jewish
identities and backgrounds, we share a commitment to the search for
meaningful expressions of our Judaism in today's uncertain world."

Ellen Lippmann, the rabbi at Kolot Chayenu, is a lesbian for Chrissakes.  

So why would Brad Lander look the other way? Is he that desperate for votes? I guess that's possible.

 Is it that he has learned to play the game required to win votes in Borough Park? Also possible.

According to Gatemouth, the answer is yes:

"This was not the work of another campaign; as was reported in City Hall News, Lander's Borough Park guy went to Der Blatt with a picture supplied by Lander and asked for an ad similar to the homophobic crap Heyer had run; he got it."

So, can you ever trust politicians?

I was hoping so. Back in the spring of the City Council race, I was impressed with this intelligent—and principled—group of individuals, who had decided to run for Bill di Blasio's seat. I now understand that what it takes to win a political race in NYC (and probably everywhere) requires a lot of "playing the game."

Indeed, functioning in the NYC City Council also requires playing the game. Sadly, from what I've learned, life in the City Council is largely about slush funds, pandering to the council speaker, and scratching the backs of the powerful.

I suspect that what it takes to win a race is similar to what it takes to succeed in the City Council. That's why it's important to vote for someone who at least works hard to stay above the toxic and sometimes corrupt frey of NYC politics.

Okay. Rose colored glasses off, I am mulling over what this all means. Here's my question. If you are a politician: How do you run for office without playing the game? Is this sort of thing endemic to being a politician? As citizens, are we, too, supposed to look the other way as our candidates—and politicians—look the other way.

I hope not.

While Gatemouth says that it is unlikely that  Lander personally authorized or had knowledge of of the contents of the ad, he does say this:

"It is virtually certain that Fleisher authorized the paper to print an ad of the substance of the one which appeared. As I noted, Fleisher virtually admitted this to City Hall News."

If any of this is true, I agree with Gatemouth that  Lander must publicly dismiss Fleisher from his campaign ASAP, "using the strongest possible terms, or be held accountable for what appeared."

If none of this is true, that Lander has no idea who placed the ad in Der Blatt, I rescind my charge that even a smart, right-thinking candidate looked the other way when a member of his campaign "played the game."

Which of the candidates running for City Council in the 39th is least likely to play the game? It might not be considered smart politics but it is the higher road to take in a city rife with compromising political thoroughfares. 

Music

OTBKB Music: Leaps of Faith

David Mead Tonight I'll be checking out two artists I've never seen but who come
to me recommended by friends whose opinions are always worth
considering.  Since both artists are playing one after the other at The
Rockwood Music Hall tonight, it's an easy path to discovery.

Art from Connecticut emailed me the other day saying that he was going
to be in NYC today to catch David Mead at The Rockwood.  Art described
David as being a kind of pop balladeer with overtones of Harry
Nielson.  He added that Bill DeMain was going to be playing with David.

If Art's recommendation wasn't enough, the Bill DeMain connection
certainly put this show on my radar.  Bill is one half of the duo Swan
Dive.  Even more, he co-wrote Keep It to Yourself, with Amy Rigby, a
song that manages to combine wheedling, attempted murder, a plausible
alibi and the bossa nova into one hilarious package.  So between Art
and Bill, I have two reasons to catch David's 8pm show tonight.

Charlie Faye Last July Pierre of  The Gigometer mentioned Charlie Faye to me. 
Charlie is an Austin-based musician who appears in NYC from time to
time usually backed up by the same musicians who used to back up Amy
Speace.  I tried to see Charlie when she was last here in July, but the
outdoor show she was to appear at was canceled because of the summer's
ever present rain.

A listen to some of the tracks on Charlie's Myspace confirms her
reputation for playing rock, blues and Americana.  I'm looking forward
to finally seeing Charlie in the 9pm slot tonight.

David Mead (8pm), Charlie Faye (9pm), The Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen Street,
(F Train to Second
Avenue, use the First Avenue exit, cross Allen Street and walk a half
block south), no cover.

 –Eliot Wagner

Civics and Urban Life

Funny Animated Political Ad for Bob Zuckerman

City Council Candidate Bob Zuckerman, who is running in the 39th district of Brooklyn to replace Council Member Bill De Blasio, released the first animated advertisement ever used in a New York City Council race.

That's an interesting milestone.

The ad, which has a funny opening with animated characters based on Brad Lander and Josh Skaller (I'm sure they can take a joke) arguing and flinging attacks at one another. The animated ad was a joint project created by Zuckerman and Andrew Arnold, a political animator based in Washington, DC, takes a humorous, lighthearted look at this competitive City Council race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FenENwlM4aw

Music

Saturday Night: Loom at Sycamore

The band with the great pedal steel guitar player will be playing at Sycamore in Ditmas Park on Saturday night. I just got this email from John, who is one of the band members.

Just wanted to let you know that we're very excited to be
playing at Sycamore (http://sycamorebrooklyn.com/2009/04/12/the-loom-w-sydney-price-saturday-september-12th-doors-830pm/ )
this Saturday night (9/12).
 
Also playing will be our very own Sydney Price (http://www.myspace.com/sydneyprice) as well as
Norwegian singer Hanne Hukkelberg (http://www.myspace.com/hannehukkelberg) so it promises
to be a very special night.
 
Doors are at 8, Sydney plays at 830, we'll play at 10 and if you
are able to post anything about the show or would be interested
in coming that would be awesome!

Civics and Urban Life

A Dull Ache

Everyone says that the one year anniversary of a parent's death is tough. And they're right. More than anything I feel a dull ache; a sad recognition that I'll never be with my father again.

Looking at the picture of him I posted yesterday that I took at the New Greek and Roman Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in September 2007  makes me sad. There is so much of my father in that shot: the  way he looked at art; the fun we had at the museum after those chemo sessions on the Upper East Side; all the good times we had visiting museums and galleries together.

He was a great appreciator  of art and culture; he was ever so fun and funny to be around.

NYC just isn't the same without him. Browsing the New Yorker and the Arts and Leisure section's art and music listings I feel a dull ache. No one to say: Hey look who's in town; look what's at the opera; how's that show at MOMA? 

Even watching TV, I can't run to the phone and say: did you see that on The Jim Lehrer Show? Or How'd you like that performer on American Idol? Yes, he enjoyed American Idol and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. 

What can I say. My Dad was cool, fun, and great to be around. And now he's not around.

At the cemetery yesterday we sat on the steps of the family masoleum. I read aloud Emily Dickinson's poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death (my dad liked Emily Dickinson).

My sister read the last page and a half of The House at Pooh Corner. And then we all recited the Kaddish together in English. You're supposed to have a minyon (ten people, sometimes men in that Jewish sexist way) but we're not religious anyway.

All of us said said a few words and we had a few moments of silence.

Driving home from the cemetery, past the Unisphere and the old World's Fair grounds I remembered what Hugh had said standing next to a tree on the tiny lawn of the masoleum.

"I have a long list of things I want to talk to Monte about." 

Civics and Urban Life

Greetings from Scott Turner: ST’s Personal Guide for Voters

Here are Scott Turner's endorsements for Mayor, City Council and Public Advocate. These are strictly Scott Turner's  views and not the views of OTBKB. Keep that in mind, folks. I haven't decided whether I am endorsing. though I probably will. Good to hear Turner's thoughts, of course.

Greetings, Pub Quiz Voter's Guide Perusers…

Because New York is so unlike anywhere else — doing all it can to ignore the vast majority of New York that's exactly like everywhere else.  The big election day is a week from today, September 15th.  The Primaries.  With republicans numbering in the very tiny numbers, it's the Dems' primaries that are often the final say.

With that in mind, we present the Rocky Sullivan's Pub Quiz 2009 Voter's Guide.

It's different from most Voter's Guides:

  1. It's the opposite of "comprehensive."
  2. There's little spelling out of our reasons for endorsing a certain candidate — though, our myopic one-track-mind view of Brooklyn (rhymes with Fat Tantric Bards) would have something very large to do with it.
  3. Sometimes more than one candidate get the nod, as in "one of these would rock."
  4. Only races we have the vaguest idea about are included — i.e., it's a short list
  5. This is only about the Dems.  There are fabulous Green Party
    candidates gearing up for the general election in the fall.  Keep an
    eye on them, since, really, a two-party-only system isn't that much
    more democratic than a one-party system.

Brooklyn's 33rd City Council District: Ken Diamondstone, Ken Baer, or anyone else named Ken.  Diamondstone and Baer are straightshooters, excellent AY stance, and environmentally sound

http://www.vosizneias.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/diamondstone.jpghttp://kenbaerforthecommunities.com/images/content/kenbaer.jpg
Ken Diamondstone, Ken Baer

Brooklyn's 35th City Council District: Letitia James. 
The bravest politician in NYC these past five years, speaking the truth
to power.  Her chief opponent is bankrolled by Forest City Ratner.

http://council.nyc.gov/d35/image/james.jpg
Letitia James

Brooklyn's 39th City Council District: Josh Skaller.  Hands down.  When you say "why can't we ever get somebody good
into office?", it's Josh that you're wishing for.  Smart, brash,
compassionate and uncompromisingly principled, Josh is it.  Also, an
elected official whose name sounds like a scrubbing pad is nothing to
sneeze at.

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/assets/photos/32/31/32_31_newjoshskaller_z.jpg
Josh Skaller

Public Advocate: Norman Siegel.  Also hands down. 
Siegel is a fighter, and won't let the office atrophy like Betsy
Gotbaum, the current PA.  Bill de Blasio is a leaning tower of
Bloombergian accommodation and Mark Green bundles the worst aspects of
"liberalism." Eric Gioia ripped Con Ed a new one for the Queens
blackout a few years ago.

http://newbrooklynnetwork.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54ef311e38834010536c3cede970c-200wi.jpg
Norman Siegel

Comptroller: who knows?  Here's the one not to
vote for: David Yassky.  Brooklyn has gotten soaked from Yassky's
Schumeresque fence-sitting.  All of the candidates in this race are
part and parcel careerists, blandishments, exaggerators,
moustache-wearers, maybe-child-sweatshop workers and
money-from-real-estate-developers takers.

Mayor:  Tony Avella.  Tony Avella.  Tony Avella.  Tony Avella.  Tony Avella. 
How many times can we say it?  Avella's the one.  You hear all the
candidates say "I'll stand up to special interests."  Avella has, with
no regard for his political career.  Avella surfs on The Right Thing To
Do wave, constantly coming to Brooklyn from Queens to support Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn's
fight against the Atlantic Yards projects.  There a politicians blocks
away who won't do that.  Forget about "electability."  Choose the one
you believe in.  If you love New York City and wanna stop it's
out-of-control careen down the Bloomberg Road to Ruin, vote Avella.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/avella_tony_headshot.jpghttp://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/avella-06-2008.jpg
Tony Avella

Of course, in the general election, a
three-way tilt between Avella, the Rev. Billy Talen and Bloomberg would
be a death-cage match for the ages.  In that race, we'll go with the
Two out of Three Ain't Bad option, with the Moneyed Mayor no longer
mayor

Civics and Urban Life

A Flotilla to Celebrate Quadra-Centennail of Henry Hudson’s Voyage

Thanks to Craig Hammerman, District Manager of Community Board 6 for this info:

As
part of the NY400 Celebration commemorating the Quadra-centennial of
Henry Hudson's voyage into New York Harbor, the Dutch government is
sponsoring a visit by a flotilla of 20 historic Dutch "flat bottom"
boats. These traditional Dutch sailing vessels are similar to the
sloops that cruised New York's waters throughout the 19th and early
20th centuries.

The flat bottom boats will homeport while in New
York at Atlantic Basin in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Many of the crew members
— about 120 or so — will live on board the boats during a two week
period providing them an opportunity to interact with local residents
and enjoy local restaurants, stores, and sites.

Date: September 13, 2009
Location: Atlantic Basin, Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, south side of Pier 11 (see map on downloadable flyer).
Access: Enter by foot on Pioneer Street or by car via Bowne Street
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00PM

Description:
The
flat bottoms will return to Atlantic Basin after a day in the Harbor.
The public will be able to watch these historic boats enter Atlantic
Basin and tie-up and hoist their ceremonial colors. Crew members will
disembark the boat and be greeted by NYCEDC President Seth Pinsky and
invited guests, including Councilmember Sara Gonzalez , Rep. Nydia
Velazquez, Borough President Marty Markowitz, along with other
community leaders and groups. After welcoming remarks the public will
be invited to mingle with the crew and enjoy a light repast from local
Red Hook eateries.

More information about the boats can be found (in Dutch) at www.spts.nl.

Also, PortSide NewYork is producing a Vistor's Guide to Red Hook + the Dutch Flat Bottom Fleet for the event.  Click here for full details on the guide (which will be going live on September 9) and event or use the following link:

http://www.portsidenewyork.org/PortSideRedHook+FlatBottomFleetGuide.pdf

Civics and Urban Life

Update: Weird and False Emails and Ad Are Weird and False

1 Comment

Sadly, it seems pretty clear that someone associated with one of the
other campaigns or some kind of political entity is
working pretty hard to attack Brad Lander (candidate for City Council inthe 39th district) with a wild and crazy fake ad
in a Yiddish newspaper and weird emails (with plenty of mispellings)
about his appearance on the Dov Hikind Radio show. Hikind is a assemblyman in the 48th district which includes Borough Park (part of the 39th).

Even Gatemoth, who doesn't much like Brad Lander, has decided that the "Media Watch" attack email was false. I could have told him that and I never even listened to the radio show. But Gatemouth listened to the radio show in question online and came to his own conclusions.

Today Gatemouth eats crow and writes on Room 8: 

This space was
previously used to solicit a copy of recording of Saturday night's Dov
Hikind radio program to check out whether an email report of the show's
contents was accurate. When soliciting the info, I posted my own
suspicions that the assertions made within were unlikely to be true.

When someone provided the recording (a link of which is here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/cwel4v), I took the solicitation down.

A
bout of insomnia has caused me to listen to the contents; as I
suspected, the veracity of the allegations in the email ranged from
arguable to unveriable, although this may because I was half
asleep. However, everyone I've sent the recording to who listened and
emailed back agreed with my conclusion.  

There were some curious
and/or questioanble remarks, and some dead air where assertions of a
dubious nature were left without comment–perhaps I will address some
of this in the week that remains of this campaign; perhaps not;
however, I did not find any great smoking soundbyte.  

Certainly, there is enough to chew upon in this campaign without distorting reality.


Civics and Urban Life

Brave New World To Perform The Tempest on the Beach at Coney Island

Brooklyn’s Brave New World Repertory Theatre is bringing the
Bard to the Boardwalk in September with two open air performances of
"The Tempest" by William Shakespeare to be staged on the Coney Island
beachfront. Here are details:
 
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27
3pm each day
Free 
On the Boardwalk at Coney Island – near 10th Street (by the NY Aquarium)
The
production will feature over a dozen of the professional actors who
make up Brave New World Repertory Company—as well as 30 8th grade dance
students from Mark Twain Intermediate School for the Gifted and
Talented, located in Coney Island. 
 
Based in Brooklyn, Brave
New World Repertory began its path of bold, critically acclaimed
site-specific productions in 2005 with its cutting edge production
of To Kill a Mockingbird, staged on the Victorian front porches of a
tree-lined Ditmas Park street.  Since then, they have staged Fahrenheit
451, The Great White Hope and Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, based on Walt
Whitman’s Leaves of Grass all for Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect
Park band shell, and most recently On The Waterfrontby Budd Schulberg,
on the Waterfront Museum Barge in Red Hook, and on tour to Pier 84 in
Manhattan and Hoboken.  Learn more about Brave New World at: http://www.bravenewworldrep.org

In addition to coming to the show – please show your support for great theatre by donating to Brave New World Repertory Theatre Company. Your
contributions will help offset the tremendous costs of staging a free
production like this one and make it possible for the company to plan
future performances of this scale.  Any donation is welcomed and will
be generously matched dollar-for-dollar by The Brooklyn Community
Foundation.  
Please click here to donate now:    DONATE TO BRAVE NEW WORLD REPERTORY THEATRE 

Or donations can be mailed to 
Brave New World Repertory Theatre
303 Westminster Road
Brooklyn, NY 11218

Breakfast of candidates

Politics Requires Grains of Salt. Many.

1 Comment

THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED: Many grains of salt. That's what you need in these last days of the City Council race in Brooklyn's 39th district. People are flinging all kinds of crazy accusations about and you have to be careful what you believe.

Politics: it's wild and crazy and nasty and strange. Strange.
Strange. Strange. And there's a whole lot of curious stuff going on.

Much of it has to do with Borough Park, which is part of the 39th district. The candidates are vying for important votes in that community, which is largely made up of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews.

That said, who is fulminating this politics of attack? Is this sort of thing just par for the course during any race? I am assuming that the fake ad in a Yiddish newspaper and the following weird emails about the Dov Hikind Radio Show has nothing to do with the candidates and their campaigns.

Yesterday I got a very strange email from someone calling themselves Media Watch about Brad Lander. It was obviuosly ridiculous (the mispellings alone invalidate it in my opinion).

On Sunday (9-6-09) Josh Skaller and John Heyer bumped in to each
other  on 13th Ave and 40 St… Guess who they were [laughing] talking
about… Brad Lander
 
He told him that “Last night Brad Lander was in the studio of Dov
Hikind Radio Show broad casting (sic) live and he [Josh Skaller] Walked in on
them”… Lander Blushed… and it kept Lander Quite (sic) most of the half hour,
Dov Hikind had to do all the talking.
 
Walking with Josh is a guy with a white
beard, the Skaller campaign hired him for his bear (sic) to go door
knocking in Borough-Park.
 
Please keep source anonymous

Clearly someone is sending weird emails to bloggers. Gatemouth of Room 8 received the following email on Labor Day. NOTE: Gatemouth has since concluded that the email was absolutely ridiculous. I could have told him that. Again, the mispellings… Who wrote it?  See Gatemouth's column at Room 8.

To: Gatemouthnyc(at)hotmail(dot)com

Brad Lander pledged to support getting public tax dollars for the
private schools.

Brad Lander pledged on-air to join Dov Hikind on a
Support-the-Settlements trip to Israel and the West-Bank.

They tried to play down Lander's position gay rights and play up the
position of for gay rights of John Heyer who is getting lots of local
Hassidic support and appropriate his position against gay marriage.

Brad Lander was on the Dov Hikind Radio Show Saturday night (9-5-09).

Gatemouth had this to say In the Huffington Post and on the blog Room 8 

lf this were indeed true it would qualify as pretty amazing stuff,
since among other things, Mr. Lander's campaign has consistently
maintained that Israel is not a legitimate issue in this race, but if
this email is correct, the Mr. Lander has managed to evolve from the
lunatic left to the rabid right in a matter of a few short months. The
schools position would be news to his supporters at the UFT and the
other stuff would imply Mr. Lander sees no difference between marriage
and civil union.

Frankly, it is so mind-boggling as to make me dubious.

Therefore,
I am laying down both an appeal for help, and a challenge. The appeal
is to everyone out there. Can someone provide me with either a
transcript or a recording of this interview?

The challenge is to Mr. Lander and Assemblyman Hikind.

I
am asking that you provide me with either a recording or a transcript.
I am forwarding a copy of this column to Liz Benjamin, Azi Paybarah and
all the other candidates in this race. I believe at least some of these
candidates will join me in this request.

If by Wednesday at
6:00 PM a transcript or recording is not provided to the public, I will
assume that everything in this email is true and post an analysis. I
trust others will be making similar inquiries shortly after I've posted.

And who was responsible for placing an unauthorized Brad Lander ad in the Yiddish language
newspaper Der Blatt? The ad said it was "Paid for by Brad Lander for City
Council,” and it falsely claimed that Lander is against gay marriage; the article used homophobic and extremely offensive language.  

Lander sent out this message almost immediately:

We did not authorize, place, see, or pay for the ad.  As soon as the
campaign became aware of the ad last week, we publicly made clear we
did not have anything to do with it, denounced its gross and outrageous
content, and wrote letters to the NYC Campaign Finance Board calling
for an investigation of how it was placed (available here)
and to Der Blatt calling for a comparably-placed retraction.  I am
extremely angry that these homophobic statements were, in any way,
associated with me or my campaign. 

My consistent and strong support of marriage equality and LGBT rights
are widely known, including in Borough Park.  It has been a public
issue in the campaign, on our campaign website, and in multiple pieces
in the Orthodox Jewish press and blogosphere. 

And Today City Council
Speaker Christine Quinn and Empire State Pride Agenda Executive
Director Alan Van Capelle, sent out this press release to make it clear that Brad Lander had nothing to do with the ad in Der Blatt. Here's their
press release:

For Immediate Release: Monday, September 7, 2009

Statement of Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle

New York — Today New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and
Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle released
the following statement regarding the campaign for the NYC Council 39th
District seat. Both Quinn and Van Capelle have made no endorsement in
the 39th District and are supporting no candidate.

“Homophobia has no place in our city and no place in any campaign for elective
office. The content of the ad placed in Der Blatt is offensive to all
New Yorkers. I know Brad Lander and am confident that he had absolutely
nothing to do with the ad. I was pleased that he took immediate action
to denounce it. Any attempt to use this ad against Brad is just plain
wrong. I urge all candidates to stop using homophobia for any personal
gain, and to engage in a discussion of the issues that are important to
the daily lives of voters in the District,” said New York City Council
Speaker Christine C. Quinn, New York City’s first openly gay City
Council Speaker.

“The contents of the ad in Der Blatt are
hateful and demeaning to our community, New York and especially our
families. I have reviewed this matter closely and I have personally
spoken with Brad. I believe his assertion that he and his campaign had
no knowledge or participation in placing this ad. Political attacks
against Brad, an ardent supporter of marriage equality, are unfair,
unwarranted and have no place in this campaign. When we lob charges of
homophobia that are without merit, we fundamentally undermine the
meaning of term when it is actually warranted," said Alan Van Capelle,
Executive Director of the Empire State Pride Agenda. ESPA and Alan Van
Capelle have not endorsed in this race.

Music

OTBKB Music Video: La Di Da – Sydney Wayser


OK, this video is at best underexposed.  But still, it will give you a
chance to hear the expressive voice of Sydney Wayser.  If you like it,
you can always go down to The Rockwood Music Hall at 7 pm tonight and
see Sydney and her band.  Not a bad way to end the long Labor Day
Weekend.

Sydney Wayser, Rockwood Music Hall,196 Allen Street (F Train to Second Avenue, use the First Avenue exit, cross Allen Street and walk a half block south), 7pm.

 –Eliot Wagner

Civics and Urban Life

Monte Ghertler 1929-2008: We Miss You

Dad_at_the_metropolitan_16
My dad died last September 7th at 4:15 p.m. I was with him when it happened. He
was in hospice in the sunny living room of his 27th floor Brooklyn Heights
apartment with its view of the Manhattan skyline he adored.

For most of the day he moaned softly. At 3:45 or so, my sister
played one of his favorite records, scratches and all, on the
phonograph: Kinderszenen or Scenes from Childhood by Robert Schumann.

I know he loved that piece because just three weeks before we listened intently to this LP in his bedroom.

Just before he died he took three labored breaths. But there was no fear, no panic in his eyes.

Monte Ghertler, legendary advertising
copywriter and creative director, author, songwriter, connoisseur of
art, literature, music, philosophy, birdwatching, opera, and
thoroughbred horse racing, died peacefully in his Brooklyn Heights home
on September 7, 2008 surrounded by loving family members.  Devoted
husband of Hillary, father of Louise and Caroline, father-in-law of
Hugh Crawford and Jeffrey Jacobson, grandfather of Henry and Alice
Crawford and Sonya Jacobson, Cousin of Joan Fisher and former husband
of Edna Ghertler, Monte leaves behind many family, friends, and
admirers who will never forget his way with words, his intellect and
many interests, his love of books and music, his great sense of humor
and his irresistible personality.

Photo of my dad taken by me at the New Greek and Roman Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in September 2007.

Civics and Urban Life

This Friday: Violent Folk with Pinataland

Pinataland1 Jus got an email from Doug of Pinataland. They'll be playing at Banjo Jim's in the East Village on September 11.

He writes: "After a recent performance featuring I and my beloved bandmates in
Brooklyn, a rather fragile and traumatized-looking woman approached us
and deemed our music "violent folk". She then commented that she wished
she had been "warned in advance". Well, consider yourself thusly;"
What: Pinataland and Curtis Eller (my personally favorite NYC musician)
When: Friday, September 11th, Curtis @ 9pm, Pinataland @ 10pm
Where: Banjo Jim's, 9th and C, East Village, NYC
What is it? Countrified, gypsy-eque original history tunes with
tinges of "violent folk", whatever that is. Curtis's music must be
beheld for yourself.
How much? A donation of your choosing
I am glad in advance to see you at this fun evening!
Doug
pinataland.com
curtiseller.com
banjojims.com
Civics and Urban Life

Coney Island Bell Raised From Ocean Floor

3 Comments

3893296139_286ae34fb4_m I got this note from Tricia Vita, administrative director of the Coney Island History Project about all the excitement surrounding the Coney Island Bell, which was raised from the ocean floor by diver Gene Ritter on September 3, 2009.

She writes: "Yesterday was just wonderful.  It was my favorite day of the entire
season. Everyone felt so happy and optimistic. After each person rang
the bell, everyone would spontaneously cheer.  I hope the bell brings
Coney Island good luck!  We're going to need it."

Vita continues:

"This following set of photos was taken on Sept. 5, the first day of the Bell's
display at the Coney Island History Project. and its second day on land
in 98 years!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27583836@N08/sets/72157622271706420/

"The
historic Coney Island Bell which once welcomed visitors on Dreamland's
iron pier was raised from the ocean floor by diver Gene Ritter on Sept.
3 after nearly 100 years underwater. The Bell will be on special
exhibition Labor Day weekend (Sat-Mon) 1-6pm  and next weekend (Sept
12-13) 2-6pm at the History Project under the Cyclone roller coaster.
Also on view will be period photos of Dreamland and the Bell. For more info visit http://www.coneyislandhistory.org/news/?p=203

"A
hose system was set up to keep the Bell constantly wet since it has
been underwater for 98 years!. The Bell has its original ringer and
people are invited to "Be a Part of History…Ring the Bell!" ($1
donation toward preservation efforts)

"Gene Ritter, the diver who
found and raised the Bell, has brought it to the History Project to be
displayed for the next  two weekends. Gene is a Coney Island native and
diver whose group "Cultural Research Divers" puts on educational
programs for school kids at schools, the pier etc. www.researchdivers.org/

"Beginning
today (Sunday), Gene will also have other artifacts found at the
Dreamland pier dive site such as bottles, china, lamps etc. on display.
(see photos)  Diving equipment will also be on view for people to see
or try on."


Monte Ghertler

Yahrzeit for My Father

2 Comments

I went to Met Food to buy a Yahrzeit (Memorial) Candles. They have them on a low shelf right near the dishwasher detergent.

A Yahrzeit Candle is a special memorial candle, which is traditionally lit for deceased relatives for whom one recites the Mourner's Kaddish. 

It is a Jewish custom to light a Yahrzeit candle at sundown on the eve of the anniversary of your loved one's death. I lit mine a little late: at 12:20 am. And it is sitting in the center of our dining room table. I feel like I should put a photograph next to it or something.

According to custom, one should also light a candle on the sundown preceding the start of Yom Kippur, Succoth, Passover and Shavout.

Special Yahrzeit candles, like the one I got at Met Food, can burn for 24 hours. It is a candle in glass not unlike the colorful Santeria candles you see in the Santeria shops on Fifth Avenue.

Only one Yahrzeit candle needs
to be lit per household. Some people use an electric bulb instead of a
candle today for safety reasons.

Apparently there is no special prayer that must be recited while lighting a memorial
candle. Every time I look at it I think about my dad. I am inspired to read a poem or a psalm or maybe look at one of his letters. Psalm 121, 130,
142 is suggested. I took out the copy of "The House at Pooh Corner" that we read at my dad's funeral last year. We read the last page and a half, the part that begins:

"Pooh, promise you won't forget about me, ever. Not even when I'm a hundred…"

My dad loved that section of the book and suggested that I read it at my high school graduation, which I did.

So what is the meaning of the Yahrzeit candle?

According to About.com:Judaism:

Judaism
see similarity between a candle's flame and a soul. The connection
between flames and souls derives from the Book of Proverbs (chapter 20,
verse 27): "The soul of man is the light of God." Just as a flame is
never still, the soul also continuously strives to reach up to God.
Thus, the flickering flame of the Yahrzeit candle helps to remind us of
the departed soul of our loved one.

Music

Summertime and the Music is Easy: What I’ve Been Listening To

1 Comment

I listened to my iTunes a lot this summer and I wanted to share my favorite music this summer…

1. My number one favorite new musical discovery and listen this summer was: The Adrian Hibbs Project

Feet Gosh I love this guy's music. I "discovered" him on Block Island where this summer he played at the Spring House bar on Friday nights. . But he used to live in Brooklyn and was a regular at the now defunct Black Betty in Williamsburg. In the winter he lives in New Orleans where he performs regularly. The Adrian Hibbs project only has a four song EP (available at CD Baby) But I love it. Especially the song: "Compromise."

2. My number two favorite listen this summer was:




Schumann: The Songs of Robert Schumann, Vol. 07 – Dorothea Röschmann & Ian Bostridge

The Myrthen songs by Robert Schumann are so beautiful they make your heart ache. This was a CD I got from my dad.

41V897EE2KL._SL500_AA240_ 3. My number three favorite listen this summer was:

Tracy Chapman: Where You Live

Beautiful singing and pared down arrangements on a group of poetic and powerful songs.

4. My number four favorite listen this summer was:

518dym6SHhL._SL500_AA240_ Gustavo Santaolalla's Ronroco

This 53-year-old Argentinean composer has written soundtracks for "Brokeback Mountain," "Che," and "The Motorcycle Diaries." His music is a fusion of traditional Latin and ambient music.

41H1R6QX15L._SL500_AA240_ 5. My number five favorite listen this summer was:

The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed

What can I say. It's a chillingly awesome record. 

Special Mention: One of my favorite songs was "Don't Forget Me" sung by Neko Case on her new album Middle Cyclone (another favorite album of the summer. The song is by Harry Nillsson.