By Jen Carlson
A grumble at the end of the tunnel builds into a roar, then a thunder. It’s a familiar noise in many New York City subway stations, the sound of an approaching train. But at the subway station at Spring and Lafayette Sts., servicing the Lexington Ave. line, the noise doesn’t end there. Instead, at this station with four separate tracks, when the 4 or 5 train whizzes past, or when the 6 train halts at the platform, the screech of the trains’ wheels against the metal tracks is so loud that conversation is inaudible, and people plug their ears while others wince.
Hillary bombs at V.I.D.; club backs Tasini for Senator
Turned off by Hillary Clinton’s position on the Iraq war, plus the recent news that archconservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch will be hosting a fundraiser for her, the Village Independent Democrats last week threw their support behind one of Clinton’s rivals, Jonathan Tasini, in the September Democratic primary.
It’s last call for The Falls as S.L.A. set to pull license
The Falls may be in for a fall. The State Liquor Authority has begun a process that could lead to revocation of the Lafayette St. bar’s license. The Soho watering hole gained notoriety as the last place college student Imette St. Guillen, 24, was seen alive on Feb. 25. Seventeen hours after she was said to have left The Falls, her body was discovered in a remote area of Brooklyn. A bouncer who worked at the bar, Darryl Littlejohn, has been charged with her murder.
Union Sq. north-end renovation gets final approval
The city’s Art Commission on Monday unanimously approved the much-revised renovation plan for the north end of Union Square Park, with some further modifications.
Chimney collapse rips through Bedford St. building
Workers repairing a chimney on Bedford St. caused it to collapse last Friday, sending a thunderous cascade of bricks, broken floorboards and debris crashing through the building. Miraculously, no one was injured.
B.S.A. skeptical on extra height for Arman project
The Board of Standards and Appeals told the developer of the triangular lot in Hudson Square where the late sculptor Arman turned scrap steel into art to come up with new drawings to justify a variance request for an apartment building larger than allowed under current land use rules.
Unlike N.Y.U., S.V.A.’s dorm won’t use the zoning bonus
In a relief to neighboring residents, the School of Visual Arts dormitory planned at Third Ave. and 10th St. will not use the community facilities zoning allowance. As a result, it will be six stories, as opposed to at least twice that height, which would be permitted with use of the zoning bonus.
Downeast Art Center feeling down, and will be out
The Downeast Art Center, a low-slung East Village storefront turned performing-arts space, is expected to close sometime this summer, possibly as early as the end of next month.
East Village turns out to save its ‘heart and soul’
Preservationists, community advocates and East Village residents packed the hearing room of the Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday to sing the praises of the former P.S. 64 on E. Ninth St.
At N.Y.U., Kennedy says Americans must spread peace
Beneath overcast skies, New York University last Thursday held what could be its last commencement in Washington Square Park before a planned $16 million renovation overhauls the historic park’s familiar geography.
Explore the waterfront for $10 on Working Harbor Day
Arts
Gallery experiment exposes plight of foreign artists
The White Box in Chelsea felt more like a prison than an art gallery last month, when 8 foreign artists were quarantined for five days as part of an interactive art show and contest put together by Berlin-base
Koch on film
‘Awake and Sing’ — alive and kicking, 1935-2006
Turning at the door of that Bronx apartment, his Hennie in his arms, Moe Axelrod throws a so-long to her alive and awakened kid brother Ralph. “I wouldn’t trade you for two pitchers and an outfielder,” hard-bitten Moe tells the newly hatched militant-in-the-making as the curtain comes down and the audience rises to its feet with a roar.
Women’s arts club courts new members
Janice Sands is a firm believer in the equal rights of artists. “Given that more women than men are graduating from arts school, [it’s a shame] they’re not represented in art shows, galleries, auctions,” said the energetic executive director of Pen and Brush, a historic all-female arts club on East Tenth Street. “Most of the gallery owners, as a percentage, are women. Most of the work that they are showing is men.”
Catching up with Aaron Dessner of The National
About a year ago, Brooklyn-based band The National was catapulted into the spotlight after the release of their third album, “Alligator.” Considered their best to date — and in my opinion, one of the best albums of the decade so far —it’s cast an even brighter light on the band’s barstool poetry and downtrodden yet anthemic sounds. Thanks in part to a tour with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, they’ve also won over new fans, and I couldn’t be happier for these Ohio transplants, composed of two sets of brothers and one best friend: Scott and Bryan Devendorf (guitar & drums); Aaron and Bryce Dessner (bass & guitar); and Matt Berninger (vocals). Recently I had a chance to ask bassist Aaron Dessner a few questions before their show at Webster Hall on Sunday May 21st.
