To Go
Frequently, I’m unwittingly asked the trio of “favorite” questions:
1) What’s your favorite bird? (The one I’m looking at.)
2) What’s your favorite season? (This one.)
3) What’s your favorite place to see birds? (Where I am.)
Year: 2026
Democrats, Don’t Forget Staten Island
Of all the political races heading to this November’s vote, the one I am most interested in is for the House of Representatives NY-11 District. This includes all of Staten Island, and several areas in Brooklyn such as Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and Bensonhurst.
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The Loneliness Epidemic Hiding in Plain Sight Among NYC’s Older Adults
Many of the older adults who come through Greenwich House’s Older Adult Centers are navigating some kind of loss. A spouse or partner may have passed away. Friends they’ve known for decades may have died, one by one. Their children may have grown up and moved away, and the calls and visits may have become less frequent. Over time, those losses can shrink a person’s world in ways that aren’t always immediately visible.
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Pull Your Boots On!
In 2016 Donald Trump’s chief lieutenant, Kellyanne Conway, created a fresh starting line for the political lie, introducing “alternative facts” into the political vocabulary. Voila! Trump gets elected and sets about his version of governing, while the Washington Post keeps a running count of the lies: 30,573 in his first term; a number so outrageously high that the press, public and political opposition turn away with disgust and horror. The lying continues, but the counting stops. The liar learns that if no political price is paid, the lie becomes mere backdrop.
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New West Village Mansions on Charles Lane Continue a Trend
The West Village has many historic, century-old brick townhouses and warehouses, and has one of the larger historic districts in the city. Now, larger buildings or parcels are getting the mansion treatment, especially properties located outside of the historic districts, with fewer restrictions on development. Case in point: numbers 7 and 11 on Charles Lane will soon be developed by Aurora Capital Associates.
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The Quiet Brick Building On Washington Street
I’ve walked by this ultra-simplistic brick building at 777-781 Washington Street weekly, noticing the ‘private property’ signs but never seeing any activities there. Curiosity got me to look for information in the public realm and here is what I found to explain this unusual building.
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My Healing Journey
I did my first cleanse at an ashram in the ‘80s, where I learned about internal hygiene and other wellness practices used in Ayurveda to keep the immune system strong. It stopped my acute neuralgic pain. I intended to do another cleanse, but the time was never right. In 2018, I was retired with chronic health problems ─ and forgetting words and keys. It was time.
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Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit
As a film columnist who does not generally use ratings, I can only say that Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit comes as close to a perfect score as any documentary can. The film was a joy to watch, this comprehensive dive into the history of jazz in Detroit.
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Felix Morelo: “Good Luck Spot” Artist
When I met Felix Morelo, he was sitting on one of the benches that connects the center of Washington Square Park to its Northeast corner. His legs were stretched into a chalk-drawn circle, containing the declaration: “Good Luck Spot.” Under his right arm was a box of cardboard slabs, each with their own miniature scrawled Good Luck Spots for sale. Don’t ask me how I knew, but I went up to him and asked if he was the guy behind these installations. My intuition didn’t fail me; he said yes.
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Kenny Aronoff: The Drummer Who Refuses to Stop Improving—The Beat Behind a Lifetime of Hits
For Kenny Aronoff, greatness is not a destination. It is a daily obligation. “I’ll never be as great as I want to be,” Aronoff said recently. “But I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be as great as I can be.”
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David Rothenberg ─ Founder of The Fortune Society
Sometimes an event happens that changes a life forever. For David Rothenberg, it was that night when he realized what his play said about real life for former prisoners. It seems unlikely that a theater and television producer would become a staunch advocate for prison and parole reform, but sometimes fate steps in. Rothenberg’s multilayered life has thrust him into Broadway‘s brightest lights, prison riots, political campaigns, civil rights sit-ins, and a Central American Civil War.
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How Clean Is the Hudson River?
In April, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) announced that New Yorkers could eat some fish from the Lower Hudson River for the first time in 50 years. It marked a milestone for a river with a toxic reputation and an infamous designation as the country’s largest Superfund site.
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Date-Night Vibes, Kid-Approved Fries
I was a little bit nervous when I was walking in with my mom and my sister. We had a Tuesday 7 p.m. reservation and the restaurant (Capitaine) was quite full. Plus, the whole place gave complete date night vibes. Couples on dates. Girls with friends. I saw no kids in the whole place. But when they led us to our seat, thankfully I spotted a family next to us with two children.
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Chelsea Hotel Artist Staring Down Eviction
Stepping into Gerald Decock’s apartment is like stepping into one of his psychedelia-inspired paintings — every surface bursts and shimmers in vibrant color, from the floors to his entirely pink ceiling. Decock is one of the last artists residing in the iconic Chelsea Hotel, which now functions mainly as a luxury hotel. But after a years-long legal battle, he is probably going to have to leave.
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It’s Time to Let Dapolito Go
Most prominent in leading the demand for Dapolito renovation was Andrew Berman, director of Village Preservation, who was present by Zoom. I have enthusiastically supported many of VP’s proposals, but not this one. Berman encouraged the audience to ignore Caccapolo’s direction and discuss both Dapolito and 388 Hudson as they are linked by community needs, budget, and geography.
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America at 250
- Autumn Safety Tips for your Pets
There’s nothing like the crisp, cool air and luscious foliage to get you excited for the changing seasons. But fall is also a time of lurking dangers for our furry friends. From household poisons to cold weather hazards, there are important safety issues to consider to keep your pet safe, happy and healthy during the autumn months.