letterniece8-blog

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Get your Gem Spa t-shirts or photos of Madonna — at Gem Spa!

[Photo from last evening]

Starting this evening (Friday!), Gem Spa will have a limited supply of Gem Spa t-shirts for sale at the shop here on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place.

In recent weeks, they've been filling orders for people who purchased them via PayPal. Now they'll have an extra supply on-hand. (The t-shirts come with a Kiehl’s lip balm that the company donated.)

As we've been reporting, the venerable shop has been struggling of late, in part due to its temporary ban on selling cigarettes and lottery tickets and various landlord issues.

Parul Patel, who is running the shop for her father Ray, the owner since 1986, decided to sell the t-shirts to help raise money for the shop.

Meanwhile, longtime St. Mark's Place resident David Godlis is pitching in to assist the longtime corner shop. He's donating prints of this photo of Madonna outside Gem Spa in 1984 during filming of "Desperately Seeking Susan" ... you can order various sizes of the photo at Gem Spa...

View this post on Instagram

Desperately Seeking GEM SPA. Once Upon a Time in the East Village, in 1984, Madonna was outside @besteggcream GEM SPA making history. But now this East Village landmark could be history - or worse, a Citibank - and needs some help. I’m giving them High Quality signed oversized postcards of this image in various sizes. Available for donations exclusively at GEM SPA. GO TO @besteggcream for details. All proceeds go to GEM SPA. GET A GEM SPA T-shirt too. Or stop in for an egg cream. Corner of St Marks & Second Ave. PASS THE WORD. 📷©️GODLIS

A post shared by Godlis (@godlis) on Aug 15, 2019 at 1:14pm PDT

Previously on EV Grieve: Will you buy a Gem Spa T-shirt?

What is happening at Gem Spa?

A visit to Gem Spa

Source: https://evgrieve.com/2019/08/get-your-gem-spa-t-shirts-or-photos-of.html

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Puppetsburg + Wine Tasting

Check out an interactive Puppetsburg show for infants-4yrs + experience a 'Some Good Wine' curated WINE TASTING for the parents + any family who wants to join!

Plus, play 'Pin-the-manbun-on-the-hipster' featuring James Franco + Adam Driver editions! A contemporary take on a classic game!

3:30pm: Wine tasting begins/ Pin-the-manbun  3:45pm: Puppetsburg show

Please purchase a ticket for each adult and each munchkin attending. So if you're two parents and two munchkins, you should purchase four tickets. Use 'fourormore' for a 10% discount on families of 4 or more attending. 

Buy tickets: https://www.hisawyer.com/puppetsburg-1/schedules/activity/camp/541696?schedule_id=camps&tab=semesters

      Puppetsburg does interactive shows that involve music, instruments, dancing, and plenty of one-on-one time with our artisanal, handmade puppets. Based in Brooklyn, you'll love the pop-cultural references and Celebripuppet guests. We have a brand new show each week--- enjoy shows like "The Beyonce Show", "Farm to Table with Old McDonald", "Clem goes to BOLLYWOOD", and more!

Join us for a weekly show in Brooklyn or Manhattan (we're at Some Good Wine every Friday! 11am for 0-4yrs and 12pm for infants only!) or book us for a PARTY!

Source: https://www.localwineevents.com/events/detail/733120/Puppetsburg-Wine-Tasting

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MNPS Teachers Call for Day of Action on 5/16/19!

Wearing red, teachers at H.G. Hill Middle School pose with signs May 1, 2019. They want a raise six times more than the 3% Mayor David Briley has offered.

Nashville, TN – Metro Nashville Public Schools’ (MNPS) teachers across Nashville have organized a “Day of Action” that includes rallies and a march on Thursday, May 16th. Led by a coalition of Sick MNPS Teachers and Nashville Red4Ed, the action will coincide with the first presentation of the MNPS budget to Metro Council. The current Board of Education budget requests the funding both groups believe is necessary to provide Nashville’s students the education they deserve. This includes 10% raises for all employees, in addition to cost of living adjustments, increased paid days for paraprofessionals, raises for bus drivers, and increased funding for social and emotional support for students. The proposed MNPS budget also supports students by increasing funding for textbooks and pre-K. The budget put forth by Nashville Mayor David Briley currently only has funding for raises of 3% for metro employees.

“Our wages have been basically frozen for a decade,” says Red4Ed organizer and MNPS middle school teacher Jayne Riand. “In some cases they have actually gone backwards. Adding 3% to what the city was giving us in 2008 is not really fixing the problem. Teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, we’re all really struggling to be there for the kids and still be able to pay our bills.”

Both groups see the lack of funding as responsible for the almost 700 classroom teacher vacancies currently in MNPS and agree that a high turn-over rate for teachers harms student achievement, especially the 72% of Nashville students who live in poverty.

Last week, Sick MNPS Teachers tweeted, “We are sick of the vacancy crisis. We are sick of losing great teachers. We are sick of not making public education a priority in Nashville. Now we are here, advocating for ourselves and our students.” The group then staged a number of sick-outs that totaled over 1400 absences.

Both groups and their supporters are also calling on city law-makers to increase revenues through a property tax rate adjustment to fund the MNPS budget and ensure other public entities have what they need.

The Day of Action to Fund MNPS will include noontime rallies around the city, a march from the pedestrian bridge at Cumberland Park to Public Square at 2:30, and a rally at Public Square from 3:00-4:00.  Finally, supporters will fill the Metro Council chambers when school officials present the budget at 4:30. Supporters are asked to wear red on that day.

More information about the event can be found on Facebook at Nashville Red4Ed Community Page, SickTeachers on Instagram and Facebook, and @sickteachers on Twitter.

Source: https://www.blackpressusa.com/mnps-teachers-call-for-day-of-action-on-5-16-19/

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The Hadid Clan Really Wants to Live in Hell (Square)

Sister models Gigi and Bella Hadid, along with their model mother Yolanda, might together take up residence inside Ben Shaoul’s gold-bricked development at 196 Orchard Street. The family has been searching for a Lower East Side residence that can accommodate this “compound” lifestyle. Hell Square could be the place.

According to a tabloid bit in the New York Post last week, the Hadids might combine a 1,500-square-foot, two-bedroom unit with a large terrace ($4.2 million) with a 2,048-square-foot, three-bedroom unit with a separate terrace ($6.5 million).

Gigi Hadid, for her part, is no stranger to Lower East Side living. She once lived at 250 Bowery, but sold her apartment back in 2016.

The mixed-use project at 196 Orchard took nearly five years from start to finish. Landlord Ben Shaoul, along with Real Estate Equities Corp., together purchased the gargantuan assemblage of twelve single-story stores in 2014 from the Magnano family (which owned and operated the Ray’s Pizza), plus the valuable air rights from Katz’s Deli, for a combined $75 million. (Katz’s Deli reportedly made off with $17 million of the total.)

Source: https://www.boweryboogie.com/2019/04/the-hadid-clan-really-wants-to-live-in-hell-square/

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‘Inokim’ Rolls into LES with Delancey Street Scooter Store

The recently upscaled retail strip at the base of the Williamsburg Bridge just welcomed its newest tenant. Electric scooter company Inokim planted two wheels in the space formerly occupied by Cricket Wireless.

Under the moniker of “urban freedom,” the store at 164 Delancey Street is essentially a showroom pimping the various scooter models. It’s the sole city outpost and flagship for the brand; the 6th Avenue location is no longer operational.

As vehicular traffic only worsens around Essex Crossing, the situation could be a boon for scooter sales. But, more than likely, another bust…

Source: https://www.boweryboogie.com/2019/07/inokim-rolls-into-les-with-delancey-street-scooter-store/

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Google Defends Tipping Off Drivers to NYPD Cameras as a ‘Safety’ Feature

Google has no intention of backing down on what the NYPD believes is a “criminal” effort to help drivers learn the locations of police enforcement checkpoints and speed cameras — because the tech giant thinks it’s best suited to improve public safety.

In a statement to Streetsblog on Wednesday, the California-based Internet monolith disputed the NYPD’s contention that tipping off drivers constitutes a safety hazard that “only serves to encourage reckless driving.”

“Safety is a top priority when developing navigation features at Google,” the company said in a statement. “We believe that informing drivers about upcoming speed traps allows them to be more careful and make safer decisions when they’re on the road.”

The NYPD disagreed with the company’s “belief” in the safety efficacy of alerting drivers to what Google refers to as “speed traps,” but pedestrians, cyclists and law-abiding drivers call safety measures.

“If people are speeding through areas that don’t have speed cameras because they are able to avoid areas that do, that is a significant public safety concern,” said NYPD spokesman Phil Walzak.

How Streetsblog broke the story.

Google declined to answer any follow-up questions from Streetsblog. The company’s statement came hours after Streetsblog reported on details of Google’s latest Maps feature — which shows the locations of speed cameras — and the NYPD’s hostile reaction to the app, which led the agency’s chief legal officer to write a cease-and-desist letter to Google over the weekend. That letter has not been answered, Walzak said.

The Streetsblog report has prompted national coverage and discussion. NBC News did a segment on the NYPD letter to Google, and scores of comments filled the Streetsblog story, with some defending Google, but others pointing out the gray areas in what normally would be a straightforward debate about how best to enforce posted speed limits.

“It’s very simple,” posted one reader who gave only the name Andrew. “If the goal of speed cameras is to reduce speeding at a handful of locations that have cameras, then announcing the presence of those cameras is a good idea. If the goal of speed cameras is to reduce speeding everywhere, at far more locations than there can possibly be cameras, then announcing the presence of cameras is a bad idea.

“If you own a store that suffers from a shoplifting problem around the clock, but you can only afford the extra personnel for shoplifting stings a few hours each week, do you prominently post the hours that enforcement will take place, or do you let people figure out that they’re best off never shoplifting since they don’t know when they’ll be caught?”

Fellow reader Ferdinand Cesarano added his concern that the app would merely “lead drivers to avoid routes with cameras,” which would enable more speeding.

“It would be great if … the app therefore just alerted drivers of the need to drive under the speed limit on all streets,” he added. “This [camera locator] feature is offered only because the company knows that its customers desire it. This is a reminder that drivers don’t even accept the premise that they are meant to follow the law. They go so far as to deny the very legitimacy of traffic laws.”

Source: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/02/07/google-defends-tipping-off-drivers-to-nypd-cameras-as-a-safety-feature/

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ATLANTIC AVENUE EL PLATFORM, 1999

In 1999, I got this shot on an elevated train platform in East New York. I was on a “fantrip” with the redoubtable subway historian Joe Cunningham exploring the Canarsie Line, which as a lot of quirks or former quirks including a two-level station, one platform in a subway and the other on an el; a former connection with the Long Island Rail Road; and a former grade crossing at East 105th Street. I got interested in the trains along after these things had disappeared, though.

However, in 1999 there were still a number of relics around the East New York interchange with the Jamaica Avenue line (J) and IND (A, C) that included connections to the Fulton Street El, which closed up shop in these parts in the 1940s.

As part of those connections, which are ably explained on Joe Brennan’s Abandoned Stations page as well as NYC Subway’s Canarsie Line page, even after the Fulton Street El was demolished, the northbound and southbound Canarsie Line ran on two separate trackways over two separate streets (Van Sinderen and Snediker) before coming together again at Sutter Avenue and points south. After 2001, the section over Snediker was demolished as was one of the Atlantic Avenue platforms.

As you can see, the original incandescent station lamps were still in use as they were in 1916. In the background, you can see the two separate trackways. The Canarsie retains a connection to the Jamaica line, but it’s not used for passenger service.

Snediker and Glenmore Avenues, looking north, 1999. As you can see there was only one set of tracks. L trains stopped using them by 2001, and all service was moved to the Van Sinderen Avenue portion. Snediker is now open to full sunshine, while Van Sinderen remains shrouded.

Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop, and as always, “comment…as you see fit.”

3/7/19

Source: https://forgotten-ny.com/2019/03/atlantic-avenue-el-platform-1999/

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Black Films and Artists Thrive at 2019 Tribeca Film Festival

By NNPA News Wire Film Critic Dwight Brown

The 18th annual Tribeca Film Festival featured films, docs, shorts, TV, tech seminars and immersive experiences. It was a 21st century gathering place for filmmakers, artists and fans.  

Black films, directors, actors and artists shared the glory and attention with other contemporaries who were proud to have TFF as an international venue. As the festival inches towards the two-decade mark, it’s only getting better and maturing like a fine wine.  

Black Films, Filmmakers, Actors and Artists

17 Blocks (****) Life expectancy in the U.S. averages out to around 79 years of age. That statistic skews much lower in this poignant and profound documentary about a Washington, D.C. family that’s on a different path. In 1999, nine-year old Emmanuel is given a movie camera. He uses it to chronicle the exploits of his mom, older brother, older sister and extended family. His lens captures the love in the air, the danger outside and the hope he brings to his family for a son who could be the first in their brood to go to college. Drugs, gangs and violence lurk. Emmanuel’s destiny takes a turn that will leave viewers spellbound. Over a 20-year period, this family’s dynamics, conflicts, breath throughs and tribulations are recorded like an urban allegory. The span of time is reminiscent of the Oscar-nominated drama Boyhood. The soul of a young man gets an enduring legacy thanks to the power of film.

The Apollo (***1/2) The Apollo Theater was always so much more than a performing arts venue. Since 1934, it’s been a community center, talent scout hub, training ground for countless artists and a mecca that is destined to be both a shrine and a progressive cultural home—for years to come. Director Roger Ross Williams helms this ambitious project, Lisa Cortes is a producer and the perceptive writing by Cassidy Hartmann and Roger Ross Williams pays respect to the hall’s past and its extended family. The footage is most exciting when it depicts performances by legendary artists (Ella, Duke, Dinah, Billie), Motown (Smokey, Supremes, Temptations) and comedians (Moms Mabley, Richard Pryor). Veterans (e.g. Patti Labelle) share their anecdotes. The late Ralph Cooper recollects starting Amateur Night. Rarely has a history lesson been so damn entertaining.  

Burning Cane (***) And what were you doing at age 17? Phillip Youmans was writing his first script, which he turned into this Southern Louisiana melodrama about a mother (Karen Kaia Livers) who deals with an alcoholic adult son (Dominique McClellan), his boy (Braelyn Kelly) and a recently widowed and stressed-out preacher (Wendell Pierce). The sun beats down on this luckless family, who grinds itself into a deeper and deeper hole. Youmans’ premise and maturity go well beyond his years. He puts his characters in an angst that hovers over the entire production. For tone and drama, he gets an A+. For storytelling, a B-. For tech elements a C. The gritty feel is reminiscent of a John Cassavetes movie. Youmans’ cinematography needs developing; camera placement is questionable as is the lighting. If the footage has a Beast of the Southern Wild synergy, it’s because this movie’s executive producer, Ben Zeitlin, was that film’s director. 

Devil’s Pie—D’Angelo (***1/2) Lots of musicians attract a following, but D’Angelo’s fans can be classified as an avid cult with extremely good taste in soul music. Part of the Grammy winner’s mystique centers around his 14-year-absence from recording (Voodoo in 2000; Black Messiah in 2014), which stunned his admirers. That mystery, his childhood, resurgence, live shows, recording sessions and musings are on view in this wonderfully crafted homage. Home movies and photos depict his upbringing, influential grandmother and days as his church’s organist. Personal anecdotes reveal his problems with alcohol and drugs. Attesting to his musical savvy and eccentricities are Questlove, Dave Chappelle and Erykah Badu. Though many put D’Angelo in his own niche (R&B, soul, funk, sexy songs with a hint of jazz), Prince’s influence is quite obvious when the singer wails. Thank documentarian Carina Bijlsma for the candid glimpse at a musical innovator who should be called a genius. Get ready to tap your toes and sing along to “Brown Sugar.” 

Gully (*1/2)  Music video director Nabil Elderkin steps into the deep end of feature filmmaking and flounders. His technique is solid, especially the ways he moves the camera (cinematographer Adriano Goldman) around on evocative shots of palm tree-lined streets in Los Angeles. However, he’s wasted his talent on a misguided script (Marcus Guillory) that focuses on three unlikable and aimless adolescents (Jacob Latimore, Charlie Plummer, Kelvin Harrison Jr.). The trio go from playing violent video games to assaulting people on the streets—without any obvious motivation. Yes, they each have troubled pasts, but nothing that warrants physical attacks. Never believable. Never compelling. Pointless. Kids have excuses for making bad decisions. Adults, like the ones who made this repulsive drivel, do not. 

Inna De Yard: The Soul of Jamaica (***) Showing admiration for reggae musicians from the ‘70s and ‘80s is this very inspiring doc’s goal. Shot largely in the hills above Kingston, British director Peter Webber gives a comeback platform to senior reggae stars like Ken Boothe, Winston McAnuff, Kiddus I, and Cedric Myton. Long past their heyday but still able to sell a song. Their stories of past triumphs are riveting and it’s a joy to watch them record again. They’re backed up by young musicians eager to play with their heroes. Judy Mowatt, legendary former Bob Marley backup singer, is a revelation. Reggae music, like Jamaica, is all about peace and love. That’s the takeaway. That’s what the audience will remember about this rousing, heartfelt documentary. 

A Kid from Coney Island (***) We’re well-acquainted with basketball’s most successful players who soared into fame and fortune (Kobe, Magic, Michael, Larry, LeBron). We’re less familiar with hoop dream athletes who struggled. Stephon Marbury grew up in the Coney Island projects, where the only choices for rising above the fray was becoming a rapper, drug dealer or basketball player. Obsessed with the sport from a young age, he was influenced by his dad and brothers and nurtured by his older sis and mom. Steph was destined for greatness. He became a city champion, college star, draft choice and NBA legend. Only fate tossed him curve balls. Under the prying eye of doc directors Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, viewers watch a very talented man withstand the death of a parent, depression, a career that stalls and a surprisingly spiritual path to redemption. In this eye-opening and sobering documentary, we see how an eight-pound orange ball can take an inner-city kid to the other side of the world. More ups and downs and as exciting as the Cyclone roller coaster ride on Coney Island.

Lil’ Buck: Real Swan (***) The kids in Charles “Lil’ Buck” Riley’s low-income outer Memphis neighborhood flocked to the local roller rink at night and waited for the skating to stop and the dancing to begin. Jookin’ is the local dance form, akin to Crunking, Gangsta Walking and Michael Jackson’s stop-start-twirls. Lil’ Buck won a scholarship to a Memphis dance school, and added ballet to his mix. His blend of urban dance and classic technique is amazing to watch. Equally entrancing is this beguiling look at a young kid who blossoms as a person and a dancer. A career in L.A., performances with Yo-Yo Ma and touring the world are like a dream come true. Director Louis Wallecan doesn’t miss one step. Interviews with family, friends and admirers highlight a hybrid street dance, an art form created by an innovator who transcends life and description. 

Only (**1/2) What if? What if after the apocalypse a virus became a plague that only killed women? That’s the premise of writer/director Takashi Doscher’s ultra-modern and very scary sci-fi nightmare. The focus is on a couple, Eva (Freida Pinto, Slumdog Millionaire) and Will (Leslie Odom Jr., Hamilton) who survive indoors using hazmat suits to stave off danger. Every scene is as creepy as the premise. Nice performances from the two leads. Ugly cinematography (Sean Stiegemeier) done in shades of gray, greens and browns make footage dreary. Can’t say Dosher is an accomplished filmmaker—yet, but this movie hits a nerve. Also, coming from a male director there is a misogynist undertone that just doesn’t feel right. 

Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project (***) Saying she liked keepsakes is putting it mildly. Librarian, TV producer and political activist Marion Stokes had an obsession: capturing the news as it was depicted on TV. From 1979 (Iranian hostage crisis) to 2012 (Sandy Hook tragedy), she recorded newsfeeds from the networks on 70,000 VHS tapes. For an enlightening and somewhat somber history lesson, view this documentary to see how far society has evolved and what it has left in its wake. Documentarian Matt Wolf handpicks clips, adds in the essence of Stokes’ personality and interviews witnesses to her hobby. He creates a thought-provoking look at the upheavals, controversies and conflicts that have shaped this country. Racial and social issues come to the forefront.  

Roads (**1/2) Actor turned director and writer Sebastian Schipper (Run Lola Runand Victoria) examines immigration with this vibrant road movie. British teen Gyllen (Fionn Whitehead, Dunkirk) steals his stepfather’s RV while in Morocco and heads towards France to visit his father. Along the way, he picks up a fellow traveler, William (Stéphane Bak), who is from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s interesting to watch the way they are treated differently as they travel. Gyllen makes his anger known and is oblivious to danger. The more reserved William knows danger way too well and can smell it before it happens. Their divergent points of view and cultural differences speak more about race relations than a college course. A thoughtful script (Schipper and Oliver Ziegenbalg), nice performances from the teens. Final scenes that depict refugees’ confined lives in France are solemn. 

Skin (***1/2)  Tsotsi was the 2006 Oscar-Winner for Best Foreign Film and it chronicled the evolution of a hoodlum who seemed beyond redemption. This very daring and similar drama by writer/director Guy Nattiv is equally emancipating in its own way. Bryon Widner (Jamie Bell, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool), a twentysomething skinhead is bullied by his adoptive parents (Vera Farmiga, Bill Camp) who are violent white supremacists. Life changes for him when he meets a single mom (Danielle Macdonald, Patti Cake$). It takes an even greater turn when he comes under the watchful eye of social activist Darlye Jenkins (Mike Colter, Luke Cage), whose foundation, One People’s Project, specializes in converting neo-Nazis. This is possibly the biggest character arc you will ever see in a film. Tense, suspenseful, dramatic, romantic and cathartic. Excellent performances from all in this stick-to-your-ribs true story. Watching human garbage turn into human beings can be extremely gratifying. Excellent. 

What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali (***) Oscar-winner When We Were Kings focussed on Muhammad Ali’s “The Rumble in the Jungle” match. Does this doc have that much majesty? Almost. Director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) takes a more all-encompassing approach. Using never-before-seen archival footage, and with a great sense of pacing (editor Jake Pushinsky), Fuqua highlights Ali’s pinnacles and low points. He explores the champion’s social activism and personal life. Details about his entry into boxing, teenage years, relationships with Malcolm X and Sam Cooke are on the screen. The most surprising revelation is that Ali’s decision to flaunt a larger-than-life egocentric persona was influenced by the flamboyant wrestler Gorgeous George. Most of the memorable quotes come from Ali’s lips. It’s like he’s reaching back from the grave to remind us how brash and brave he was. Illuminating. 

Films of Note

After Parkland (****) Rarely if ever does a film put a lump in your throat and a tear in your eye for its entire length. Be prepared to be awed, humbled and inspired by the Parkland, Florida victims, survivors and activists. You’ve seen their faces on the news, now you get a close-up look at the people behind the headlines and the indomitable spirit they’ve collectively created that is bound to bring about change. The kids and adults are so bright and articulate that their words carry the film:  “Someone was hunting my classmates.” “Bullets shred anything in sight. Tissue, walls, desks, backpacks.” “We’re going to change the world.” Expert technique and sensitive filming by directors Emily Taguchi and Jake Lefferman make this an Oscar-caliber documentary.

Crown Vic  (***) The cop/crime/thriller genre gets a healthy dose of personal drama in this L.A.-based film noir that’s rough around the edges. First-time feature film director/writer Joel Souza pairs up two L.A.P.D. cops. The older crusty patrol officer Ray Mandel (Thomas Jane, Boogie Nights) shepherds the naive rookie Nick (Luke Kleintank, TV’s Bones) on an overnight shift. Meanwhile, two bank robbers/killers are on the loose. Mandel’s chilling words: “Take your badge off and put it in the glove box.” Their policing takes a turn towards the gutter. The beginning of the film is marred by too much dialogue in a claustrophobic patrol car, which kills momentum. Souza adds in a funny scene with a drunk lady, friction with undercover cops (Josh Hopkins, David Krumholtz) and a search for a missing kid to spice up the night. Jane is the glue and mortar. The dialogue is strong too. Mandel: ‘People Sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men do violence on their behalf.”  Someone call 911!

The Kill Team (**1/2) Dan Krauss made a doc about a true-life incident involving an infantryman in Afghanistan in 2010 who dealt with a commanding officer who was violent to innocent locals and his platoon too. He’s turned that project into a feature film, with varied results. Actor Nat Wolff plays the soldier and Alexander Skarsgård stars as the disturbed leader who doles out harsh reality to his men: “We kill people. That’s what we do. Do you have a problem with that?” The enlistee is in a quandary that could take his own life. How would you react? That intriguing premise saves the film. Edited down to 87 minutes (editor Franklin Peterson), the footage is never attractive (Stéphane Fontaine), the performances are only decent and the emotion never runs deep. Still, this film tells a powerful story.

Linda Ronstandt: The Sound of My Voice (***1/2) Singing in Linda Ronstandt’s family was as common as Sunday dinner, and she had the best voice, too. As a teen in a sibling folk group she developed a sense of harmony and a performance presence that kick-started her career in L.A. In the music industry, she stood out as a woman in a man’s world. She led her own band, made her own career decisions and went through a world-famous metamorphosis: Folk, pop, rock, soul, light opera, big band and Mexican folk music—she did it all. Directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman bless the footage with childhood photos, concert video and insights by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Bonnie Raitt. The very well-read Ronstandt herself pipes in with anecdotes and philosophies that underline her intelligence shed light on her battle with Parkinson’s disease. A trip down memory lane, done to the tune of Grammy-winning songs by rock n’ roll’s first female superstar. A visual and audio retrospective that sticks with you. 

The Quiet One (***1/2) The meek shall inherit the earth—and other stuff. Bill Wyman, the quietest musician in the Rolling Stones, is a historian. Director Oliver Murray gives the group’s bass player all the room he needs to shed light on his role as the band’s sober member. Fortunately for Stones fans, he was an avid collector of footage, photos and other memorabilia. You could almost classify him as a hoarder, except his stunning collection is so damn neat and organized. He’s stockpiled his knick-knacks in the most orderly filing system with documentation so elaborate it would shame a librarian. Hearing him talk about his idols Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Muddy Water and Howlin’ Wolf is heart-warming. Behind-the scenes details about the Rolling Stones’ tragedies, fiascos and creative process are equally fascinating. Oddly, the film does not cover Wyman’s controversial relationship with a teenager. Special shout out to Tim Sidell’s gorgeous cinematography and Anne Perri’s astute editing. Wyman is a quiet treasure and so is this doc.  

Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation (***) “Well I came upon a child of God, He was walking along the road, And I asked him, Tell me where are you going, And this he told me…” Director Barak Goodman and his co-writer Don Kleszy take audiences behind the scenes of Woodstock to the muddy fields, horrible weather and peace/love vibe that became the legend of the occasion. It’s an event that has never been repeated successfully. Still, from the viewpoint of the common people who went, we get a new perception that those “highly” spiritual and heady days were more than a one-time phenomenon, they spawned a vibe that far outlived the concerts. On the stages, in this temporary city of 400,000 hippies, musicians like Richie Havens, CSN, Jimi Hendrix and the bunch look like heroes, though not as quite as gusty or adaptable as the venue’s stunned promoters: John Roberts and Joel Rosenman. Refreshing and a complete joy to watch in this day and age of hate mongering. 

Tribeca is building a solid reputation as a film festival that values diversity, inclusion and new voices. It’s a champ at spotlighting emerging talent from around the U.S. and the world. 

It’s no wonder black films, artists, their fans and others are supporting the fest with their work, participation and attendance. 

For more information about Tribeca Film Festival go to: https://www.tribecafilm.com

Visit NNPA News Wire Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com and BlackPressUSA.com.

This article originally appeared in the Charleston Chronicle. 

Source: https://www.blackpressusa.com/black-films-and-artists-thrive-at-2019-tribeca-film-festival/

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Emma Kane: A Sad End in a Queens Theater

Often, when I get struck by an idea for a blog post, the digging required to find details about my subject ends up unearthing little nuggets of history that I never expected to find. And more likely than not, it’s those little mysterious tidbits that stick with me long after I’ve posted my main subject and moved on. What could I do with these stories, honestly? I could try to incorporate them into larger blog posts, and I’ve done just that on numerous occasions. But I fear the loss of importance the mini-story might suffer were I to shuffle it in amongst a thousand-word-long essay.

So I’ve decided to try to pay better attention to these little, forgotten, difficult-to-flesh-out tales. I don’t want to be the only person to be impacted by their mystery, and who knows who might find them more important somewhere down the line. My sincerest hope is that someone with more knowledge of the subject might stumble upon my page and either help fill in some of the blanks or at the very least feel comforted or thrilled by the discovery of some little story about a relative or a building or a time and place in the history of this great city.

The inspiration for today’s ramble came while I was trying to unearth information about the five spectacular “Loew’s Wonder Theaters,” which were opened in 1929 and 1930: the 175th Street Theater in Manhattan, the Kings in Brooklyn, the Paradise in the Bronx, the Jersey in Jersey City, and the Valencia in Jamaica, Queens.

The interior of the Loew’s Valencia as it appeared shortly after opening in 1929. (Photo uploaded to Cinema Treasures by user CharmaineZoe – click photo to visit the page)

The Valencia opened first, pulling its curtains for the first time on January 12, 1929. With more than 3,500 seats arrayed beneath a twinkling blue-sky ceiling and surrounded by such gilded opulence as the city of New York had never before seen, the Valencia was a cinematic landmark.

But as I searched for interesting facts and stories about the Valencia, I came across two paragraphs from 1943 about 70-year-old Emma Kane. Mrs. Kane, according to the article, had lost her husband two years prior and lived with her son Charles in Bellaire, Queens.

The home on 203rd Street in Bellaire, Queens, where Emma lived with her son Charles. (Screen grabbed from Google Maps)

Despondent since her spouse’s death, accoding to the article, Mrs. Kane went to the Valencia Theatre on April 2, 1943. Details are sparse regarding what happened next, but some time around 5:00PM, two girls entered the lounge to find Mrs. Kane slumped on the floor with a pistol next to her. She had taken her own life.

New York Times, April 3 1943

I can find no record of an Emma Kane on any other websites. No record of her death or burial, no photos, no other mention of her at all. 70 years of life for a daughter, wife, and mother, all ended in the downstairs lounge of a movie house, and summed up by the New York Times: “WOMAN, 70, A SUICIDE.”

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Source: https://keithyorkcity.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/emma-kane-a-sad-end-in-a-queens-theater/

[letterniece8-blog]

Interjet – $402: New York – Lima, Peru. Roundtrip, including all Taxes

This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers.

A good sale to Lima. However, be mindful that:

On this fare, Interjet will only allow you to have up to 22lbs of carry-on luggage.

Includes ONE checked bag up to 55lbs

This fare does not include advance seat assignment

Interjet is the “jetBlue” of Mexico. This means, it has very good legroom.

Sample Travel Date:

February 22nd – 27th, 2020

This is just ONE SAMPLE travel date, for more availability, please follow the “Fare Availability” and “How to Search for Availability” instructions below

Fare Availability:

Valid for travel from late February 2020 – April 2020. Availability is limited. Must purchase at least 3 days in advance of departure

Please note that while this fare is valid at time of posting, if this post is more than two days old, the fare is likely gone.

How to Search for Availability:

This is just to search for availability. To buy your tickets, scroll down to “How to Buy” section of this post

The ITA search page should be like below when all values are inputted

You cannot buy tickets using ITA. To buy, follow our instructions in the “How to Buy” section below.

Fare Class:

Routing:

JFK – MEX (Mexico City) – LIM (Lima) – MEX – JFK

Stopover:

Mileage:

Miles Flown: 9,452 miles or 4.3 cents per mile

How to Buy:

Support us by using our Priceline link to book with dates found on ITA Software Matrix Airfare Search.

Accommodations

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Background Information:

Visa Requirements: US Citizens – Not required. Other nationals, check the TIMATIC Visa Database

Currency: Peruvian Nuveo Sol (PEN) $1USD = 3.29 PEN

Tips for saving when using credit cards at international destinations:

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Source: https://www.theflightdeal.com/2019/07/08/interjet-402-new-york-lima-peru-roundtrip-including-all-taxes/

[letterniece8-blog]

looking east

looking east toward brooklyn

i used the pro camera app 

high res setting

then

i 

zooooomed

gave it a sort of water color effect

Source: http://onthem104.blogspot.com/2018/12/looking-east.html

[letterniece8-blog]

Black TV shows get the boot

The 2018-2019 TV season won’t be ending until this August, but the major broadcast networks have already decided on the future of many of their comedy and drama shows.

Some of your favorite shows with Black leads are getting the boot. We’ve rounded up several shows we that are ending this year.

Power(Starz)

Seasons: 6

Empire (Fox)

Seasons: 5

 Lethal Weapon (Fox)

Seasons: 3

Happy Together (CBS)

Seasons: 1

Star (Fox) 

Seasons: 3

Fam (CBS)

Seasons: 1

The Fix (ABC)

Seasons: 2

Detroiters (Comedy Central)

Seasons: 2

Marlon (NBC)

Seasons: 2

This article originally appeared in the Defender News Network. 

Source: https://www.blackpressusa.com/black-tv-shows-get-the-boot/

[letterniece8-blog]

Citi Bike Adding Just Five Bushwick Stations Ahead of the L Train Shutdown

Bushwick’s bike-share fleet is growing — ever so slightly.

Department of Transportation reps presented the expansion to Community Board 4 on Thursday night: a meager five stations in a .2-square-mile zone that covers half the neighborhood [PDF]. It’s a far cry from what many people hoped would be a more major incursion into Bushwick back in August, when Mayor de Blasio revealed possible plans to expand the Citi Bike network east ahead of April’s L-train shutdown.

The proposed five stations would be slightly less than industry standards, which call for at least 28 stations per square mile. And locals argue more stations are needed because of the neighborhood’s coming transit apocalypse.

“Everyone was surprised by the low number,” said Transportation Alternatives senior organizer Erwin Figueroa, who attended the presentation to Brooklyn Community Board 4. “There’s another half of the community that’s not receiving this at all. These are areas that are poorer and have less access to transportation options.”

When the L train shuts down, most displaced riders will opt for other subway lines or substitute shuttle bus service over the Williamsburg Bridge. Riders wanting to avoid the crowds on mass transit may opt to bike: DOT anticipates the number of people cycling over the bridge each day to double, from around 7,000 today, and perhaps triple.

The five new bike-share stations coming to Bushwick. Image: DOT/Motivate

For many of those potential new cyclists, Citi Bike represents a low-cost, low-burden way to get into the city without having to worry about locking up or maintaining a bike. Unfortunately, it won’t be an accessible option for most residents of Bushwick and nearby Ridgewood.

“It’s going to be crowded, so there will be more reasons not to take the train,” said Bushwick resident Bianca Dorsey, who uses a bike to get around the city.

Of the five new Bushwick stations, two are near the M train and two are near L train stations that will remain open during the shutdown (though not providing service to Manhattan).

Viewed in context, Bushwick’s five Citi Bike docks are quite isolated from the rest of Citi Bike’s network, which ends just to the west in Brooklyn Community Board 1. There, the company plans to add more docks ahead of the L train closure, but only one new station [PDF].

The “in-fill” plan for neighboring Community Board 1 isn’t so great either.

The city just signed a contract with Citi Bike operator Motivate to triple the size of its fleet and double its geographic reach across the entire city. Reached for comment, both DOT and Citi Bike-operator Motivate, which was recently purchased by Lyft, pointed to those future plans for expansion into Bushwick and other neighborhoods.

“This plan reflects what Motivate had agreed to prior to the closing of the agreement wherein Lyft funds a $100-million expansion,” said DOT spokesperson Lolita Avila.

“These new Bushwick stations should be only considered a first step in those plans — to immediately prepare for next spring’s L tunnel closure,” Avila added.

There is no timeline for Citi Bike five-year expansion beyond a commitment to meet with local stakeholders beginning next year.

“These neighborhoods have been asking for Citi Bike,” said Figueroa. “For them to come in just four months before the train shuts down really doesn’t address the concerns of people who live in this neighborhood.”

The L-train shutdown, which begins in April, will divert more than 225,000 riders every day, according to the MTA and DOT.

Source: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2018/12/07/citi-bike-adding-just-five-bushwick-stations-ahead-of-the-l-train-shutdown/

[letterniece8-blog]

Mount Sinai Beth Israel files plan for 7-story hospital on 13th Street

[Photos from Sunday]

The initial work permit has been filed for part of the new Mount Sinai Beth Israel complex on 13th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

According to the permit filed last Wednesday, the "hospital building" will stand 7 floors — encompassing more than 112,000 square feet. (H/T New York Yimby!)

This will rise on the now-empty lot where a 14-floor building (321 E. 13th St.) stood that housed training physicians and staff of the nearby New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.

As previously reported in the fall of 2016, the Mount Sinai Health System is in the midst of its years-long project to rebuild Mount Sinai Beth Israel, transitioning to a network of smaller facilities throughout lower Manhattan. The plans include an expanded facility on 14th Street and Second Avenue, which includes this 7-story building.

Mount Sinai Beth Israel had not previously specified how many floors the new building would be. Officials briefed Community Board 6 in February, which Town & Village covered:

The new Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital planned for East 13th Street may be shorter than initially planned due to newly-discovered unused space at the adjacent New York Eye and Ear facility, representatives announced at a sparsely-attended Community Board 6 meeting ...

"We discovered that there was more property available inside the New York Eye and Ear building, which allowed us to reconfigure what we’re going to do with the new building on 13th Street," said Brad Korn, corporate director of community affairs for Mount Sinai Beth Israel. "We're not changing any of the programs or promises we made on beds or anything like that, but it just makes it a little easier and will be a little less intrusive in the new build-up."

Brad Beckstrom, senior director for community and government for Mount Sinai, told CB6 that the new plan will connect to the New York Eye and Ear building "so it will become an integrated hospital."

Find more info on the Mount Sinai Beth Israel restructuring at their FAQ page.

Previously on EV Grieve: An empty lot awaits the future home of the new Mt. Sinai Beth Israel Hospital on 13th Street

Permits filed to demolish Mount Sinai's 13th Street residential building

[No. 321 in 2016]

Source: https://evgrieve.com/2019/04/mount-sinai-beth-israel-files-plan-for.html

[letterniece8-blog]

American – $582: Chicago / Boston / Dallas / Miami / New York / San Francisco / Washington D.C. – Osaka, Japan. Roundtrip, including all Taxes

This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers.

A good sale to Osaka.

We found availability from:

Boston [BOS]

Chicago [ORD]

Dallas [DFW]

Miami [MIA]

New York – JFK [JFK]

San Francisco [SFO]

Washington D.C. – Dulles [IAD]

Pricing will vary between $582 and $588. Better availability than yesterday’s Osaka deal as availability extends into 2020.

Ozakajō Castle, Osaka, Japan – Photo: Joop via Flickr, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)

Sample Travel Date:

Sample from Chicago

September 18th – 25th

This is just ONE SAMPLE travel date, for more availability, please follow the “Fare Availability” and “How to Search for Availability” instructions below

Fare Availability:

Valid for travel from September – November or January 2020 – March 2020 for Monday through Thursday departures and returns. A 5 day minimum stay is required. Availability is limited. Must purchase at least 7 days in advance of departure

Please note that while this fare is valid at time of posting, if this post is more than two days old, the fare is likely gone.

How to Search for Availability:

This is just to search for availability. To buy your tickets, scroll down to “How to Buy” section of this post

The ITA search page should be like below when all values are inputted

You cannot buy tickets using ITA. To buy, follow our instructions in the “How to Buy” section below.

Fare Class:

Fare Class:

Routing:

ORD – NRT (Tokyo – Narita) – ITM (Osaka) – NRT – ORD

Stopover:

Mileage:

Miles Flown: 13,088 miles or 4.4 cents per mile

Elite Qualifying Miles: 13,088 miles

Redeemable Miles: 2,360 miles

How to Buy:

Support us by using our Priceline link to book with dates found on ITA Software Matrix Airfare Search.

Accommodations

HotelsCombined - One of the leading hotel meta-search engines. Search all the hotel and online travel agencies with one search.

Car Rentals

Rental Cars - One of the world’s leading car rental agencies. Includes all the major brands like Hertz, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise etc.

Activities and Tours

Viator – The world's largest marketplace for destination activities and tours

Background Information:

Visa: US Citizens – Not required. Other nationals, check the TIMATIC Visa Database

Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY). $1USD = 109 JPY

Tips for saving when using credit cards at international destinations:

For more of the latest cheap Boston Flight Deals:

For more of the latest cheap Chicago Flight Deals:

For more of the latest cheap Dallas / Fort Worth Flight Deals:

For more of the latest cheap Miami / Fort Lauderdale Flight Deals:

For more of the latest cheap New York Flight Deals:

For more of the latest cheap San Francisco / Bay Area Flight Deals:

For more of the latest cheap Washington D.C. / Baltimore Flight Deals:

* The Flight Deal will receive a commission if you use the Priceline, accommodation, car rental, activities, or travel insurance affiliate links to make a booking or apply and is approved for a credit card using our link above. Thank you for your continuing support.

=====

To make sure you receive our latest deals, LIKE our The Flight Deal Facebook Page, follow us on Twitter @TheFlightDeal, or subscribe to The Flight Deal RSS Feed or Subscribe via Email (Once a Day)

The Flight Deal does not sell travel products or services. We provide you with information about third-party travel suppliers’ offers, and link you to their sites. The information posted by The Flight Deal is valid at the time of publication. However, we have no control over the suppliers, and we therefore do not warrant or guarantee that their offers will not change or become unavailable. Nor are we responsible for their products, services or site content. Please see their sites for their most up-to-date offer information and all applicable terms and conditions.

Stay Informed on the Latest Deals

Sign up to receive The Flight Deal Daily DealsLetter, to stay up to date with the latest and greatest flight deals available.

Source: https://www.theflightdeal.com/2019/05/18/american-582-chicago-boston-dallas-miami-new-york-san-francisco-washington-d-c-osaka-japan-roundtrip-including-all-taxes/

[letterniece8-blog]

On 2nd Avenue, 16 Handles is temporarily closed for the season

[Photos by Steven]

The 16 Handles outpost on Second Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street is currently and temporarily closed, per the sign on the front door...

The email to people on the 16 Handles mailing list notes that this location is "temporarily closed for the season" (thanks to the EVG reader who shared this) ...

The Chelsea and Murray Hill Handles remain open. This location, which opened 10 years ago, has been closed several times before (here and here and here) for renovations ... but never for the season.

Source: http://evgrieve.com/2018/12/on-2nd-avenue-16-handles-is-temporarily.html

[letterniece8-blog]

Affinity Photo - New York City

From our road trip to America.. first stop NYC. Photo taken from Dumbo, Brooklyn, with the view of the Manhattan sunset..

 First we walked over Brooklyn Bridge, found a local bar, and waited for the sunset..

 Taken with iPhone X, with the Camera+ app, and processed in Affinity Photo

Done

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariusmellebye/44263933800/in/pool-35034350743@N01