Jacobs returns! Jane Jacobs will return to the Village for a discussion on her role in the creation of the West Village Houses. Jacobs, who wrote what many consider to be one of the most important books ever written on the principles of human-scale city planning, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” and who is called the “Godmother of the American City,” will speak at Village Community School, 272 W. 10th St., between Greenwich and Washington Sts., Fri., May 7, at 7 p.m. Live jazz and refreshments will follow the program. Tickets, $30, are available from the West Village Houses Tenants’ Association. Call 212-886-4598.
BAMRA Derby: Just what exactly is going on in BAMRA-lot, as in the Bleecker Area Merchants’ and Residents’ Association? All we know is that, after a strangely long delay — the organization hasn’t even met in four months — there will (finally) be an election sometime soon. Charles Wolf, BAMRA’s resident co-chairperson, told Scoopy he will be making a surprise announcement to membership within the week. Meanwhile, there’s no question Lois Rakoff is raring at the bit to replace Wolf as resident co-chairperson.
Almost Abing-done: Parks designer George Vellonakis tells us Abingdon Sq. Park’s renovation will be finished by the end of May or beginning of June. In fact, he said, a woman who was a staunch opponent of the renovation — a member of the Friends of Old Abingdon Sq., no less — recently complemented him on how the park is shaping up…. In addition, Vellonakis said this summer he’ll have some new plans to show on the redesign of Washington Sq. Park.
Queens Kimmel: At the Chamber of Commerce’s Dinner Dance last week, held in New York University’s new Kimmel Center, some attendees were a bit nonplused at the interior of the penthouse event space, which sports yards of gleaming chrome and vivid pink, floor-to-ceiling wall-sconce lights. “Looks like a Queens diner to me,” commented one Community Board 2 member.
Latte Starbucks talk: An increased level of chatter has been picked up from Lower East Side bloggers on the possibility of the first east of First Ave., south of 14th St. Starbucks, possibly on Avenue B at Sixth St. There goes the neighborhood, but not without a fight. Some would set up and serve normally priced coffee outside, but would it be good?
Jessie takes a stand: Jessie McNabb, a member of a Westbeth group seeking to compel the nonprofit operator of the complex where they live to produce all documents relating to Westbeth’s administration, has another cause she’s working on. McNabb filed a small-claim action last month against The West Village Committee to recover money that she donated some time ago to the committee of which she’s been a member for about 30 years. “It was a small amount of money that I’d given a long time ago for a lawsuit that didn’t happen,” she explained, adding, “They said they’d return it but they went back on it.” Betty Rinckwitz, secretary of the West Village Committee, said the claim “doesn’t make much sense. We’ve looked up her donations and they were all made for things she believed in.”
Rain check: Community Board 3 cancelled its forum on Nighttime Noise that was scheduled for April 29. Also scheduled for April 29, the Council committee hearing on David Yassky’s “Paid Detail” bill to allow off-duty police to be hired by bars was postponed; reportedly, Speaker Gifford Miller may be adding some amendments to the bill and there may be some discussions with the Police Department.
Congrats: Gregory Brender, community liaison for Assemblymember Deborah Glick, married his longtime girlfriend, Melissa Gasparotto, on Saturday at St. Bartholomew’s Church on Park Ave.
