New Visitor Center Showcases the Pasts of New York's African Americans

In a fitting sendoff to Black History Month (February), a new visitor center in lower Manhattan opened in New York City yesterday—it’s at the African Burial Ground National Monument, on Broadway between Duane and Reade Streets.
In the Center, visitors can learn how the burial ground was discovered in 1991 during construction on a federal building. Information also details the history of both free and enslaved African Americans in what was first New Amsterdam, and later, New York City. It also focuses not just on the lives of the African Americans in New York, but also on their backgrounds in Africa.
Approximately 15,000 African Americans were buried in the more-than-six-acre area for about 100 years, from about the 1690s until the 1790s. The space, right outside the boundaries of what was New Amsterdam, was later lost because of landfill and development.
The visitor center, which includes many interactive elements, offers a theater, four exhibition areas, and a store. A resource library and tours are also available. The burial ground was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1993; it’s also a National Monument. Original and replica artifacts are on view, ranging from textiles to maps. Recreations of scenes, such as depictions of mourners gathered at a burial, are also included.
Admission to the center, which is part of the National Parks of New York Harbor, is free. The center is located inside the Ted Weiss Federal Building. More information can be found at nyps.gov.

Come On, Everyone: Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve for New York

Do you love New York? Or, rather, do you (heart) New York? The creator of the iconic New York logo, Milton Glaser, has just been awarded the National Medal of Honor by President Obama.
Glaser created the logo in 1977 pro bono for advertising agency Wells, Rich, Greene. The agency had been hired by New York State's Department of Commerce to develop a marketing strategy for New York. Glaser is quoted as saying that he thought the image would be used briefly, and then disappear. Now, the image is so familiar it can be seen pretty much everywhere in the city, everyday. It has also spawned pretty much an entire industry of other "I (heart)---" logos.
Glaser is also known for founding “New York” magazine, along with Clay Felker, in 1968, as well as creating the “DC Bullet” logo used by DC Comics for almost 30 years. He also designed the “Brooklyn Brewery” logo, a graphic black, green, white and yellow image that can be seen hanging in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; as well as a striking, near-psychedelic profile of Bob Dylan for a poster.
The “I (heart) NY” logo is set in a typeface called American Typewriter. It is still used to promote tourism in New York. Although the image was intended to promote New York State as a whole, it is now thought of largely as a tribute to New York City, and the image on t-shirts, bumper stickers, and mugs is ubiquitous. It was widely used after the September 11 attacks in 2001 to rally support for New York City.

Catch the Letters of a Reclusive Author at the Morgan Library

Some of the personal letters of iconic author J.D. Salinger, who died last month, will be on view for the first time at New York’s Morgan Library and Museum.
The letters were written to his Connecticut neighbor and friend Mike Mitchell, who was also the illustrator of the image on the cover (a carousel horse—fervent readers will immediately understand the allusion) of the first edition of Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye.”
Although the library was given the letters more than 10 years ago, the decision to let the public view them was not made until after Salinger’s death on January 27. They deal with such seemingly mundane issues as parenthood and marriage, but also touch on writing, middle age, and issues with his publisher. They’re revealing because Salinger was so deeply private that not much is known about the everyday details of his life. (The letters were not previously put on view out of respect for his deep need for privacy.) One set of letters will be on view from March 16-April 11. A second set of letters goes on view from April 1-May 9.
Salinger was known as much for his reclusive behavior as he was for “Catcher in the Rye,” a novel that all but defined the coming-of-age story and is now rightly considered a classic. His other works include another classic, the dark “Nine Stories.”
The Morgan Library and Museum is at 225 Madison Avenue and 36th Street (212 685-0008.)

Happy Hour May Be a Little Less Happy, Thanks to a New Tax

That daily beer at your nearby bar in New York may come with a heftier price tag in the near future, thanks to a new projected tax on liquor: The Health Department is considering a tax increase on alcohol.
Supporters are hugely in favor of the tax--they it’s a step towards encouraging New Yorkers to drink less and generally get healthier.
Among the increases being considered: A 10-cent tax on a bottle of Budweiser, bringing the total tax to 17 cents on a bottle of beer. Some bottles of wine could see an increase of nearly 50 cents.
What are the current taxes? Well, if you’ve bought a bottle of beer in New York lately, you paid 7.4 cents tax on it. And if you’re buying hard liquor, you could be paying--get ready--more than three dollars in taxes on it.
The state loves its so-called sin taxes—it collected more than $260 million in taxes from alcohol alone last year. But health advocates say that more than just money is at stake. They claim that hitting New Yorkers where it hurts--in their wallets—will be the most effective and efficient way to see a change in people’s behavior: In other words, taxes go up, drinking goes down.
Taxes on soda and sugary items are also being considered, and are strongly favored by Mayor Bloomberg.
Seventeen hundred deaths were attributed to alcohol in New York in 2008. Supporters of the bill say it will also reduce high-school drinking as well as drinking-related hospital visits.

For Street Vendors, Taking a Break Comes at a Price

File this under the “More than you ever wanted to know about the people who sell you hot dogs on the street” category.
Starting January 1 of this year, food carts in New York that are left unattended can be seized by officials from the Department of Health.
Street vendors protested yesterday in downtown Manhattan, claiming they are being unfairly singled out. They say they could lose their licenses if they even run into a store or restaurant, to, um, use the facilities. Vendors sometimes ask a friend to watch their carts while they’re away, but that’s not always possible. They say the law should be eliminated, or at least changed, to provide for necessary time away from the cart, like a bathroom break, health issue, or emergency.
One peanut vendor near City Hall had his license taken away last week after leaving his cart to use a bathroom. (The vendor, who has worked for the last 12 years, was gone for about half an hour--he said that long lines prevented him from returning earlier.) Many supporters say that actually seizing the license was a first.
Supporters of the law, however, say that leaving carts unsupervised, even briefly, is a public safety hazard. Department of Health of officials countered the vendors’ arguments by saying that short breaks are allowed (although the exact time vendors are allowed away from their carts has never been specified), but that the food must be secured before the vendors leave.

Small Fixes Instead of Big Changes Coming to a Subway Near You

When your apartment looks dowdy, do you change the entire space, or make small fixes? (Assuming you're on a budget like the rest of us, that is.)
If you said “small fixes,” then bingo! You’re taking the same approach as New York City Transit with the subway stations.
Instead of overhauling each New York subway station whole hog; “station renewal” is now the name of the game.
What’s the difference? Instead of completing revamping a station, smaller changes will be made: individual items that need to be upgraded or fixed will be taken care of (stairs, lighting, signage), while everything else will be left alone. (Um, shouldn’t they have been doing that already??)
Work is slated to begin in the first targeted stations next year.
It costs approximately $60 million to completely renovate one station, as opposed to $15 million for a partial fix. The budget that has been allocated for this program should allow 130 subway stations to be spruced up, in addition to overhauling 25 others. (For the same price, about 14 stations could be completely overhauled.)
In the 1980s, the MTA had the lofty goal of completely revamping all 468 stations in 35 years. Thirty years have passed--and not quite half of them have been done.
One teensy weensy problem exists, however: The plan hasn’t been approved by state leaders yet—because—wait for it--no one seems to know just where the money is actually coming from.

For Shakespeare Raps and Enormous Elephants, Head to the New Victory

Got kids? Looking to entertain your niece and nephew when they visit from Omaha?
To your list of must-see New York stops, try adding something a little different: The New Victory Theater.
Now in its 15th year, the New Victory offers an almost year-round program of international works for kids and families. But we’re not talking puppet shows of “Little Red Riding Hood” or adults dressed up like barnyard animals.
Unless, of course, the puppets are part of a centuries-old troupe focusing on the retelling of classic fairy tales, and the barnyard animals are really part of a rap/acrobatic/trapeze/slam poetry celebration.
Well, you get the idea.
The works are sophisticated, thought-provoking and, often, unlike anything you’ll see anywhere else. Even better, they still only cost an average of $18 a ticket.
Coming up in March, for instance, the theater will offer “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare,” 100 minutes of parodies of all 37 of the Bard’s plays. Three actors start off with “Romeo and Juliet” and whiz their way, through, well, everything else, including a rap of “Othello.” It’s presented--no surprise--by The Reduced Shakespeare Company and runs from March 5-14.
The theater also offers works for families and teens, in everything from circus arts to tap.
Coming up later in the year? “46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes” (one must be done really, really fast) presented by Australia’s Circa (March 19-April 4).
From April 23-May 2, get ready for “Elephant,” a celebration of African song and dance from the Dodgy Clutch Theatre Co. with the Market Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and Johannesburg, South Africa.
Expect, puppets, yes--but banish thoughts of anything cringe worthy or amateurish.
The New Victory Theater is at 229 West 42nd Street (646 223 3010).

Get Your Fair Share: New Taxi Options Mean More Ways to Get Around

Do you work and play well with others? Do you like to share?
If so, you're a perfect candidate for the taxi fare-sharing program that will be rolled out this Friday, February 26 in New York. (You’re also ready for preschool, but that’s another story.)
“Group ride” rates are being started this week: Share a cab with strangers, and save big.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission is planning a series of initiatives that will be rolled out over the next year. First up: the yellow cabs will have drop-off and pick-up areas during the morning rush hour, 6 am to 10 am.
Also planned: Later in the year we’ll see “ride sharing,” where riders can hail cabs that already have passengers and split the fares. How will people know where the cabs are going? Some kind of signage will display the neighborhood towards which the cab is heading.
Starting Friday, cabs will depart from areas including West 57th Street and Eighth Avenue, with drop-offs on Park Avenue between 57th and 42nd Streets; West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue, with drop-offs on Park Avenue from 72nd Street to 42nd Street, and East 72nd Street and Third Avenue, with drop-offs on Park Avenue from 72nd Street to 42nd Street.
More than one person has to be in the cab for the discount to be applied, and fares per person will be $3 or $4, depending on location. Once a ride has started, no more passengers can be picked up.
Fewer vehicles on the street; more transportation options; less money for passengers to shell out: Sounds like this ride is going the right way.

Get Your Outdoor Fix Now: Many Parks Slated to Close

Financial difficulties in New York State have affected everything from transportation fees and services to store closures--and now many of the parks are at risk.
The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation proposed a list of park closings across the state yesterday, as part of the effort to address the massive financial problems plaguing New York.
Although many were in Long Island, Westchester and upstate New York, two fall under New York City’s domain: Riverbank State Park in upper Manhattan and Bayswater Point State Park in Queens.
The proposal affected some parks more than others; many may be closed down entirely, while others are on the list to have services and programs cut or greatly reduced. (Reducing hours and eliminating programs are the most common cost-saving strategies, after completing closing down a facility.)
For Riverbank State, for example, the proposal includes reducing operating hours, closing the outdoor swimming pool, and eliminating classes for seniors as well as some other community and cultural events.
Riverbank State Park was modeled after urban rooftop designs in Japan. It includes facilities for roller skating (summer) and ice skating (winter), an athletic complex, and a restaurant. It’s also unusual in that unlike many state parks, it’s reachable via public transportation.
The plan includes closing 41 parks and 14 historic sites, as well as reducing service at 23 parks and 1 historic site.
Fee increases for the parks are expected to be added at a later date.
The park closings would start April 1.

Penguins Are King At The Zoo, At Least For Now

First the Winter Olympics…and now this.
Yes, there’s more big news in the world of winter events, but it has nothing to do with Lindsey Vonn: Four new king penguins have joined the flock at New York’s Central Park Zoo.
The renovated Polar Seabird exhibit—“Polar Seabirds: Life on the Edge of the World”--was reintroduced to the public yesterday. The addition of the king penguins (which join other kinds of penguins, including the wonderfully named gentoo and chinstrap) is part of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Species Survival Plan. The newbies’ names? Lyle, Slappy, Will and Robert. (They’re all male; no word on how the names were chosen).
What else has changed in the penguin house? New graphics and videos now highlight penguins in their native lands. In addition, new lighting proves a clearer, more distinct view of the birds.
King penguins are native to Antarctica and the Falkland Islands. They are among the largest--and deepest-diving--penguins. These birds stand about three feet tall, and are distinguished by the orange feathers at their neck. (They do have the same tuxedo plumage as the gentoo and chinstraps, and only the Emperor penguin is larger.)
The zoo now houses more than 60 king, gentoo and chinstrap penguins. While these types of penguins are not endangered, their native habitats face environmental threats ranging from overfishing to potential climate change.
The Zoo is located at Fifth Avenue and 64th Street. (212 439-6500)

No One Can Really Understudy the Great Dame...But Someone Will Try

The great Dame Edna (otherwise known as Barry Humphries) has no equal. But now she has an understudy.
Auditions were held yesterday in New York to find an “honorary” understudy for the soon-to-open Broadway vehicle “All About Me.” (It starts previews on Monday, February 22 at Henry Miller’s Theater and opens Thursday, March 18.)
Actors (who of course came dressed as the Great Dame) performed a two-minute audition, including a monologue, performance piece, or dance movement. They were also asked to sing.
What were the criteria? Contestants were judged on costume, makeup, accent and “Dame-like demeanor.” You’d know it if you saw it.
Judges included the dame herself, as well as Michael Feinstein, who co-stars in the production, as well as several media bigwigs: Broadway critic Michael Riedel (The New York Post), entertainment writer Michael Musto (The Village Voice), and NY1’s Frank DiLella. The show was co-written by Humphries and Feinstein, along with playwright Christopher Durang ("Beyond Therapy").
The Dame, the alter ego of comedian Barry Humphries, has to her credit performances for the royal family, television appearances, Broadway shows, books, and the adoration of fans worldwide. Her hometown, Melbourne, renamed a city street in her honor. She is known for her lilac hair and cat’s-eye glasses.
The winner of the contest—ta-da! was Scott Mason, who has worked professionally as a Dame Edna impersonator. He will receive a Playbill credit.

The Wild Life Has Gotten Wilder in New York's Parks

How do you vaccinate a raccoon?
Very, very carefully.
A plan to vaccinate raccoons in New York City’s Central Park, Riverside Park, and Morningside Park is underway.
Since December, more than three dozen documented cases of rabies among raccoons have been reported. A dog and two people have been bitten by rabid raccoons since the end of last year; all of those bitten received treatment. The raccoons have been sighted largely in Central Park and upper Manhattan.
The New York City Department of Health says the project is to protect both the raccoons and the community around them.
The raccoons will be caught (humanely) by wildlife experts. They will then be vaccinated, tagged, and released in the same location. (Unless, we hope, they were found wandering around a store on Broadway or some such place.)
The whole process will take four to eight weeks, and will be repeated next summer to vaccinate the raccoons born this spring.
Obviously, people, do not touch, pet, or in any way coo over a wild raccoon should you encounter one, whether it be shopping at the Food Emporium or strolling through the park.
And in other news documenting the fact that wildlife in New York is indeed getting wilder, a trio of coyotes was spotted at Columbia University earlier this month.
Coyotes have also been spotted in New York suburbs, proving that despite the many lures of the 'burbs, a wildlife-free zone isn’t one of them.

It's a Dog-Beat-Dog World at the Nation's Top Dog Show

Who let the dogs in?
If they’re purebred, groomed to the hilt, and strutting their stuff in front of adoring fans at New York’s Madison Square Garden, then they’re there by invitation only, thank you very much, and they’re competing in the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
The show began last night and finishes up tonight with the all-important Best in Show award. (Rumor has it that a Scottie named Sadie is strongly favored.)
Last night, four groups competed: Hound (Whippets, Greyhounds) Toy (Poodles, Pekinese), Non-Sporting (Bulldogs, Chinese Shar-Pei) and Herding (Pulis, Bearded Collies). Tonight we’ll see the Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups, as well as Best in Show.
The event is limited to 2,500 dogs, with individual breed judging taking place between 8 am and 6 pm on both days.
Although records are fuzzy, the show has its origins possibly as early as 1876, when a group of gentlemen met regularly to talk, among other things, about their talented dogs. They form a group--and name it after their favorite hotel. A dog show is eventually held--and more than 130 years later; toy poodles with pink bows in their hair are flouncing across the floor of Madison Square Garden.
So if you couldn’t score tickets, never mind: tonight it will be televised on the USA network from 8-11 pm, and you’ll most definitely see a bump in interest in whatever breed wins.
So tear yourself away from men’s Olympic curling for one evening, and watch competitors of a furrier, cuddlier nature for just one night, pink bows and all.

Barbie Has a New Career, Lego Comes Out to Play at Toy Fair

Technically Barbie may be in her dotage, but this year she also has a new career as a TV news anchor (her 125th--she's fickle, that girl.) She comes, of course, with the all-important desk and microphone.
The word comes from New York’s Toy Fair, which opened yesterday and runs through Wednesday, Feb. 17 at the Javits Center.
While the general public doesn’t have access to the show, many of the toys will become available by the end of the year. The event showcases the toys that are destined to be under the tree next Christmas, and presages the bestsellers throughout the year.
From Lego we’ll see new Duplo building blocks aimed at younger kids, as well as new Mindstorm robots.
And a new updated version of Chinese checkers is being released by toy company Pressman (what can they possibly do to it??). With the economy the way it is, more families are rediscovering game night, so their timing is canny.
More than 1,100 exhibiting toy manufacturers, distributors and agents set up shop at the event, which feeds into the $75 billion toy industry; almost 32,000 people from almost 100 countries are expected to attend. It’s the largest international toy trade show in the western hemisphere.
Programs throughout the week include such events as the "Toy Trends Tea”; a session on environmentalism and toys; and a guide to exporting.
So even if you can’t be there, the buzz will start soon--so avoid the hassle, parents, and pick up the toys as soon as they hit the market, rather than waiting furtively on line next Christmas Eve.

From Icy Hearts to Warm Ones, It's a New York Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine’s Day!
Whether you revel in this holiday, choose to ignore it, or haven't even checked your calendar, New York certainly offers its share of events, from the romantic to the just plain…odd.
For starters, take a trip to Times Square (soon) where a 7,000-pound ice sculpture in the shape of a heart is slowly melting its way into viewers' hearts--and onto the ground.
Designed by Robert and Granger Moorhead, two architects who also happen to be brothers, the sculpture was actually created to melt away in what they call a celebration of its temporary nature.
A commentary on love? Relationships? A way to while away the time? Who knows?
The 10-foot-tall heart, which was finished on Friday, is made of blocks of ice and is designed to act like a kaleidoscope, magnifying and refracting the lights of Times Square.
Over at the Empire State Building, the lights are red, pink and white in honor of the holiday, and 14 couples were married there yesterday, courtesy of wedding website theknot.com. (A heads up: Tomorrow the lights switch to red, white and blue in honor of President’s Day.) One couple was married at the 86th floor Observatory, while the others got hitched on the 61st floor.
More than 200 couples have been married in the building, which has been open for weddings since 1994. This is the only time of year that the building allows these ceremonies to take place.
So celebrate as you like-in New York, Valentine's Day can be whatever you want.

Yes, Chairs in Times Square Will Be a Permanent State

Love the Pedestrian Mall in New York’s Times Square? Hate it? Completely indifferent to its presence? Well, whatever your feelings, it’s here to stay—at least for the foreseeable future.
An eight-month trial called Greenlight closed 42nd to 47th Streets to traffic. The trial was undertaken to see if getting rid of the three-way intersection where Broadway meets Seventh Avenue would speed up traffic.
Some business, drivers and even pedestrians preferred the old set-up, while many people hailed the plaza and the chance to hang out, read a book, and have lunch, especially during the warmer months.
Mayor Bloomberg announced this past Thursday at a news conference that traffic in the area is down as result of the changes; in addition, he claims that traffic speed increased by approximately seven percent.
(Many people disagree, and say that the function of the plaza is merely to increase tourism to the area, and that traffic flow has not been helped at all. A number of people wander over to see the set-up out of curiosity, and neighborhood restaurants have benefited by being able to send the overflow of customers to the additional outdoor seating.)
Safety conditions also improved, Mayor Bloomberg added, and public response, overall, appears to be favorable; tourists, New Yorkers and businesses were all polled for their reaction.
Now that the plaza is moving into more permanent residency, plans to put in new paving and redesign the space are afoot.

New York Reaches Olympic Heights: Percy Jackson Fever Takes Over

If you have, know, or have spoken to a preteen over the last year, you have probably seen them clutching one of the “Percy Jackson” books. Now, the first movie based on the series (five books in all) by Rick Riordan finally opens today in New York (and across the country).
The series highlights a group of kids who are demigods: Each one has a parent who is an Olympic God: Greek mythology made modern.
Plot? Young Percy, who’s the son of Poseidon, is wrongly accused of stealing a powerful lightning bolt from the gods and must set about to clear his name, all while dealing with adolescent issues. Oh yes, his mom gets kidnapped and taken to Hades, his two best friends (a satyr; the daughter of Athena) have issues of their own, and so on.
What makes the movie especially intriguing for New Yorkers, however, is that much of it is set here, and much of it was filmed here.
Pivotal scenes take place in and around The Metropolitan Museum of Art; the museum will actually be running family workshops inspired by the book in March and April. (Semi-spoiler alerts approaching: the Greek galleries play an important role, and much filming took place in front of the building last summer.)
Another important landmark in the book: The Empire State Building, or, to be more specific, the top of the Empire state Building and beyond...)
Central Park also plays a role, as does the Upper East Side.
So when you’ve seen the movie, check out the actual landmarks that inspired the scenes--and get ready for Percy Jackson fever to take over.

Forget Down, Focus on Tweed: It's Fall Fashion Week

Forget the slush and cold currently making its home in New York, and turn your thoughts to autumn leaves and riding boots: It’s Fall Fashion Week in the city. (It’s officially knows as Mercedes Benz Fashion week). For you fashion followers, this event marks the last time that the shows will be held in the tents at Bryant Park: They move to Lincoln Center in the fall. (A dispute between the designers and the park management led to the move.)
The shows, which kick off tonight, run through Feb. 18 and feature top-name designers showing their wares for next autumn. Today’s shows include menswear designer Duckie Brown and upscale lingerie designer La Perla, as well as “The Heart Truth Red Dress Fashion Show.” The latter focuses on heart disease in woman; actresses and models from Heidi Klum to Felicity Huffman and Valerie Harper will walk the catwalk in red to bring awareness to the number-one killer of woman. Designers such as Carolina Herrera, Donna Karan and Rachel Roy are represented.
Another fashion extra is model Naomi Campbell's “Fashion for Relief” (Feb. 12), an all-star spectacular designed to raise money in aid of CARE; it’s to raise funds to help rebuild the healthcare system for mothers and children in Haiti.
Other designers showing this week include 3.1 Phillip Lim, Isaac Mizrahi, and Tommy Hilfiger.
And don’t fret if you can’t actually be there, placing orders and rubbing shoulders with gossip girls and catwalk strutters for a first look: eventually, whatever is shown now will work its way down to the rest of us.

The British Are Coming! (To Lincoln Center, That Is)

To go, or not to go...well, of course you should go!
That is, to the Lincoln Center Festival in the summer of 2011, when the Royal Shakespeare Company sets up shop in New York’s Park Avenue Armory, as part of the Center’s Summer Festival.
An announcement was made this week at a news conference at Alice Tully Hall that the troupe, perhaps the most prestigious classical theater company in the world, will present 45 performances of Shakespeare’s’ works in repertory, for a six-week residence from July 6 to August 14, 2011. The five plays are being chosen from the company’s current offerings: “King Lear,” “Romeo and Juliet,” Julius Caesar,” "Antony and Cleopatra,” The Winter's Tale,” and “As You Like It.”
An exact copy of the Royal Shakespeare Theater is being built in Stratford, and will be shipped (in pieces) to New York and then assembled in the Armory’s Drill Hall. Is there room there, mayhap you are wondering? Prithee, do not fear: The Hall holds a whopping 55,000 feet of space.
The theater, modeled on a new one that is set to open in spring of 2011, will offer seating on three levels for 930 people. The seat farthest from the stage? A mere 49 feet away.
And the Royal Shakespeare is importing more than the stage: 44 actors, 23 musicians, and 30 other artists are coming along as well.
Although the Royal Shakespeare Company has been offering productions in the United States for the last 15 years, this is the first time they will undertake anything of this magnitude.

The Big Screen is Going Green at This Legendary Film Studio

You may see movies in color, but the name of the game at New York’s Kaufman Astoria Studios is now green.
The studio, currently home to “Sesame Street” and Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie,” starring Edie Falco (and future home of the “Smurfs” Movie, to be released next year--no, we can’t wait either) is converting to green energy. Kaufman Astoria is the oldest functioning movie studio in the city; more than 120 silent and sound films have been produced there. They include the Marx Bothers’ “Animal Crackers,” as well as “The Wiz,” “All That Jazz,” and Woody Allen's "Radio Days.”
The studio is switching from commonly used heating oil to a new mix of petroleum and biodiesel, produced by Brooklyn-based company METRO and known as “Greenheat.” It’s made from 5 percent biodiesel fuel (which includes used vegetable oil from restaurants, as well as soy and canola oils and algae) and 95 percent petroleum. The biodiesel burns much cleaner than oil and has no sulfur. The studio will be supplied with 80,000 gallons of the fuel each year, which will earn it the distinction of being the largest commercial user of Greenheat in New York.
METRO also supplies other distinctive clients--the Hampton Jitney (the bus service that ferries beachgoers to the tony Hamptons) and the City of New York.
The company will be opening a 110-million-gallon processing plant in Brooklyn later this year, which will add not just cleaner energy--but a spate of new jobs as well.

Black History Month in New York Offers Plenty to Do

Black History Month in New York means no shortage of ways to celebrate, educate yourself, or simply have a good time. Below, a smattering of events running throughout the month at institutions around the city.
If it’s art you’re after, check out the exhibition “African Americans: Seeing and Seen: 1766-1916” at the Babcock Galleries (724 Fifth Avenue, between 56th and 57th Streets; 212 767-1852).The show looks at both positive and negative portrayals of African Americans in fine art, going back to Colonial times.
Over at BAM (BAM Cinema; 30 Lafayette Street in Brooklyn; 718 636-4100), a schedule of films is running throughout the month under the heading “The Best of the African Diaspora Film Festival.” Coming up: “Made in Jamaica,” on Feb. 19, which explores the world of reggae music. Events are also running at the Brooklyn Public Library (10 Grand Army Plaza; 718-230-2100) and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum (145 Brooklyn Avenue; 718 735-4400).
Up at the Dwyer Cultural Center (258 St. Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan; 212 222-3060), both music and theater are on the bill. This week (Feb. 9) “Rivers Run Deep: The Paul Robeson Story” is being presented.
And New York’s Lincoln Center is offering a roster of performances throughout February. On Feb. 11, for example, swing to “Basie and the Blues” with Wynton Marsalis (Rose Theater at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway and 60th Street; call 212 721-6500.)
So beat those February blues with culture and education. Get out there!

Treasures, Trash, and Everything in Between at the Outsider Art Fair

Let the Museums have their Picassos and Raphaels, their Monets and Renoirs. This weekend in New York, attention is on the unknowns at the Sanford Smith Outsider Art Fair (Feb. 5-7).
The fair includes almost 40 exhibitors from both New York and abroad, with lectures and events organized by The American Folk Art Museum. The event began 18 years ago as a way of recognizing an overlooked and unheralded market—art created outside of mainstream society. The artists are generally untrained or self-taught, and often work in primitive styles.
Presenters include New York’s Fountain Gallery, a not-for-profit cooperative highlighting works by artists living with mental illness; St. Louis’ Galerie Bonheur, which is focusing on the work of late Bahamian artist Amos Ferguson; and Galerie St. Etienne, which has a history of exhibiting works by artists who have gone on to gain fame in the mainstream art world, such as Grandma Moses.
What can you expect to see? Well, one artist showed up at the opening event wearing a coat she had made from human hair. Another uses trash boxes found in his work as a janitor. And another makes handbags out of Ramen Noodle packets. There’s even a work made entirely of beads, sewn by Haitian artist who lost all her material possessions in the recent earthquake in Haiti.
The fair is located at 7 West 34th Street, near Fifth Avenue; today (Sunday) it runs from 11 am to 6 pm. Sanford Smith and Associates can be reached at (212) 777-5218. The American Folk Art Museum can be reached at (212) 265-1040.
So come on, what’s the Superbowl compared to this?

So This is What Winter's All About: Get Out and Play at Snow Jam

Snow may be falling from the sky…but probably not enough to explain the drifts covering parts of New York’s Central Park today.
From whence the snow? Why, it’s Winter Jam NYC, a free sports festival from 11 am–4pm today near the Bandshell in Central Park (enter at 72nd Street.)
Watch the snowboarders riding the rails at Switch Academy Rail Jam. Head down to the Lake Placid Snow Jam, and strap on cross-country skis or show shoes. Or, what about pretending you’re five and just playing in the snow? ORDA (the Olympic Regional Development Authority, one of the co-sponsors, along with the NYC Parks Department), has been making snow for a week in preparation for the event. So get out there and make snow angels and snow forts and of course, the classic snowball.
Or, if you don’t feel like getting covered in snow yourself, watch “Red Bull Project X,” a documentary about Sean White training for the Olympics in Silverton, Colorado.
And what’s a snow day without hot chocolate? The Pride of New York Winter Market is the place to go. (Free samples will abound.)
In addition, kids can check out the inflatable Slap Shot Booth and perfect their hockey skills; and watch The Skyriders, trampoline acrobats (since when is that a winter activity??)
So come on! Perfect clean snow to play in without worrying about shoveling or getting to work through the resulting slush! How often does that happen in New York?

Can't Find the Subway? A New Phone App Will Find it For You

Forget that unwieldy, old-fashioned street map--a new phone app can help you find the nearest New York City subway station just by glancing around you.
Wayfinder NYC gives walking directions to subway and PATH stations that are calculated by GPS. The directions are superimposed over the phone’s camera.
The program won big last night (Thursday, Feb. 4) for having the best new use of city data online.
Wayfinder, which works on Android mobile phones, was designed in response to the city’s “NYC BigApps” competition, which gave programmers 170 sets of city data and the mandate to find new ways to use them online. Data provided included everything from restaurant inspection results to taxi info to library catalogues and traffic updates.
Mayor Mike Bloomberg presented the awards last night to Victor Sima and Steven Lao at the IAC building in Chelsea. More than 110 applications were submitted in this inaugural competition.
The point of the challenge? To give a nod to New York’s high-tech and media industries--and also to give New Yorkers much-needed improved services in certain areas. It was also designed to make New York City government more accessible to New Yorkers. The competition was part of Mayor Bloomberg’s initiative to make city government more transparent to the public.
Mayor Bloomberg, of course, made his sizeable fortune in information technology himself, so although the designers won about $7500 in prizes, who knows what’s next?

Can't Get to the Academy Awards? This Year, They're Coming to You

Secretly longing to go to the Academy Awards? (Really, who isn’t?) Wishing you could jet off to the land of palm trees, paparazzi, and pampering like the stars? Well, we can’t promise you any of that unless you’re Angelina Jolie, but if you’re in New York City on Oscar Day (March 7) you too can have your taste of Oscar glamour.
This year, for the first time, a live viewing of the Oscars will be held at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, it was announced this week. The celebration, which comes complete with a cocktail reception (as well a minimum price tag of $150, depending on the package that’s purchased), is the final event in a weeklong celebration of Academy Award-winning movies that were filmed or took place in New York City; they’re being screened at the Film Society of Lincoln Center. (Tickets go on sale Feb. 11; call 212 875-5601) The website is nycgo.com/oscarnight.
It’s the first time that Oscar Night America, a series of events that take place across the country to raise money for various local charities, has set up shop in New York. Proceeds from the event will go to NYC & Company Foundation.
So quick--can you name any New York-centric movies?
For starters--pretty much anything by Woody Allen, as well as Taxi Driver, West Side Story, Midnight Cowboy, and even the recent Julie & Julia.
Who says LA has all the fun?

It's a Long Way to the Top, at Least in This Race

Think you’re in good shape? How does an 86-floor, 1,576-stair climb sound? Not going to try it any time soon? Well, yesterday (Feb. 2) more than 300 athletes raced to the top of New York’s Empire State Building, starting in the lobby and ending on the 86th floor Observation Deck. It’s a fifth of a mile, or 1,050 feet (although by the time you reach the top, it probably feels like a lot more.)
We’ll just stay put, thanks.
The race, which has been held 33 times since 1978, drew participants from 19 states and 17 countries. The overall winner was professional stair-racer Thomas Dold (yes, that's really what he does), with a time of 10:16--he took the top honors for the fifth year in a row. The fastest woman, Melissa Moon, hails from New Zealand, and is a 40-year-old mountain runner (You go girl!) Her time: 13:13. (The fastest the race has ever been run is 9:23.)
Nether of the top two women had ever climbed the Empire State Building before. The second-place woman was New York’s Gretchen Hurlbutt (let’s hear it for hometown girls!), who had never done any kind of stair race before.
And yes, it is a real thing, and that is a real term. Stair races are held all over the world, and are often used to raise money for charities. (One is coming up in Chicago at the Presidential Towers at the end of March, for example.)
But still, we’ll stick to the Stairmaster.

Hey, New York, Now There's Somewhere Else to Read

New York loves its libraries. New hardcovers that you don’t have to buy! A place that’s not your cramped living room to sit and read! Surreptitious glances at People Magazine!
Now New Yorkers have somewhere old-but-new-again to hang out and read.
One of New York’s City original libraries is reopening to the public after a 2-year, $9.5 million renovation. The St. Agnes Branch, on New York’s Upper West Side (44 Amsterdam Avenue, near 81st Street; 212 621-0619) opened its doors to the public in 1906. Before that, it was a parish library; it also housed a collection of books for the blind. It’s one of New York’s 67 original branch libraries, and has been in is present location since 1906.
Although the official opening ceremony is next week (Feb. 11); the branch is already open.
The three-story building was built with funds given to the city by steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie; they were designated for library branches to be built across the city. It was built by the firm of Babb, Cook and Willard. (In 1901, they also designed a mansion for Andrew Carnegie; it now houses the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum.)
What’s new? An entire floor dedicated to children’s books; 40 public computers; and a new story-hour room.
The Feb. 11 event will include a day of free events, from a morning ceremony to a branch tour to programs for kids and teens (balloon animas; magic; a singing program for preschoolers; gaming with Nintendo Wii) to a neighborhood history talk and job workshops.
So get out there and welcome back an old friend--with some great new facilities.

Trying to Stay Healthy? The City Wants to Help You

Honestly, now: How many of you look at the postcard you get in the mail reminding you to get a checkup (or a blood pressure screening; eye exam, etc.) and immediately rush to the phone to make an appointment?
Right, we thought so.
New York wants you to be healthier, people, and now someone’s doing something about all those reminder flyers you get in the mail.
They’re calling you directly.
So now, you can throw away, but you can’t hide.
A new initiative is being launched today in New York City that will notify people who are due for health services--and call them so they can’t wiggle out of it.
Aimed at needy patients, the new Panel Management Program will determine when someone is due for a blood pressure screening or cholesterol check, for example--and then, gently but firmly, we hope, get on the phone and ask patients to schedule an appointment right then and there.
The Health Department has partnered with 20 medical practices, and will use electronic health records to locate the patients. The two-year pilot program is being funded privately by Pfizer, and is part of Mayor Bloomberg’s initiative to reach out to needy New Yorkers. The goal is to catch high-risk New Yorkers before an emergency.
Those targeted include patients with diabetes, heart conditions, or are obese.
Last year, a modified program was tested in a few practices. City staff were lent to the practices to help do outreach—and as result, 567 patients with heart conditions were reached--and 60 percent of them went in for long-overdue testing.