Pier 40 study: The Hudson River Park Trust has retained Bay Area Economics Consultants through a request-for-proposals process to study marketing Pier 40 at W. Houston St. to developers. Said Christopher Martin, the Trust’s spokesperson, in an e-mail statement: “They were the lowest qualified bidder. They specialize in performing real estate and market research analyses with particular experience working with public entities and projects. As part of their agreement with the Trust, the scope of work consists of several phases. Currently they are evaluating the market for Pier 40 as prescribed by the legislation, interviewing local members of the community, the [Trust’s] board and the developers from the last Pier 40 process and assessing development possibilities by looking at other cities’ experiences with similar projects and innovative ways of developing public properties. At the Trust’s discretion, they may also be requested to provide assistance during the drafting of a new R.F.P. for Pier 40. That decision would be made after the Trust has carefully reviewed the draft report due at the end of this month, which will later be discussed with the community. The Trust currently has no set date for issuing a new R.F.P., but will work to advance the process in the coming year.” Martin said he did not have details as of press time on how much the Trust is paying B.A.E.
Billy vs. Starbucks: Jury selection for Starbucks vs. Reverend Billy will commence Oct. 21, as the coffee giant charges the reverend with destruction of property and disturbing the caffeination of pseudo-bohemians. A cease-and-desist order already enjoins Reverend Billy, a.k.a. Bill Talen, from “disturbing, stalking, or sexually harassing” employees of the Starbucks Corporation. The Los Angeles Superior Court ruling specifies a 250-yard “No Billy Zone” around all Starbucks property in the state of California, effectively eliminating his passage through Los Angeles International Airport. Last Thursday Starbucks headquarters notified Talen of persona non grata status in “all Starbucks facilities in the known world.” The trial will review a retail intervention by Billy’s Church of Stop Shopping on April 19, where Reverend Billy exorcised a Northridge Starbucks cash register. Allegedly, this ritualistic laying on of hands ripped the machine’s plastic spit guard and gouged the reverend’s palm. More than 15 local activists and Billy’s choir members claim witness to the holy roller’s “stigmata,” but the reverend himself refuses to confirm if the wound bears mystical significance.
Free Concert: Norman Seaman, music producer and founder of Concert/Theatre Club, is offering free tickets for a concert at 8 p.m. Wed., Oct. 20, at Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W. 67th St. to all who identify themselves at the box office after 6:30 p.m. as readers of The Villager. The violin and piano duo Charles Libov and Nina Lugovoy, Columbia Records recording artists and winners of the Naumburg Award and Enesco International Competition, will play a program of sonatas by Beethoven, Poulenc and others. The free offer is in continuing celebration of Concert/Theatre Club’s 50th anniversary. The club distributes free tickets to fill unsold last-minute seats to top cultural events. For more information, phone 212-330-7930.
CARING FOR BUSH OR KERRY? The Caring Community has come up with a political theme for its annual bash, which takes place just one day before the election: “Bush? Kerry? Let’s celebrate before the votes are counted” is this year’s appeal to the Nov. 1 party at the Tribeca Rooftop, 2 Desbrosses St., just one block south of Canal St. This year’s honorees are Julie Chen of CBS’s “Early Show,” who has emceed the event for the past five years, and Dr. Dennis Fabian of St. Vincent’s Hospital, heralded for his hip and knee surgery and his great bedside manner. Cocktails are at 6 p.m., dinner at 7:45 p.m. There’s music, dancing and a silent auction — and no political speeches. Tab is $250 a head.
Resisting unjust arrests: Although Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau on Oct. 6 dropped disorderly conduct charges against 227 participants in the War Resisters League march who were netted by police on Aug. 31 as they departed peacefully from the World Trade Center site, the W.R.L. isn’t satisfied yet. Simon Harak, W.R.L.’s anti-militarism coordinator, said they plan to march from the Trade Center again site later this month, “because we need to reclaim that space for free speech.” Attorney Martin Stolar, who represented half of the defendants, negotiated closely with the D.A.’s office, helping lead to the charges being dropped.
