www.thelodownny.

com 1
LO-DOWN T
H
E
www.thelodownny.com
FEBRUARY
2013
News from the Lower East Side
A Synagogues
Last Stand?
BETH HAMEDRASH
HAGADOLS
DOWNWARD
SPIRAL
Also inside
My LES:
Roni-Sue Kave
Altagracia Salon
hair + make-up
212. 964. 0611 | www.altagraciaunisex.com
245 East Broadway, New York, NY
Haiicurs Coloi Higlliglrs Lxrenrions
Keiarin 1iearmenr Relaxeis Peims
^ake-u Alicarion
Blow-dries start at $20
EAST
BROADWAY

PI ZZA
AUTHENTIC NEW YORK PIZZA
Back in the neighborhood
with our traditional recipes.
SPECIAL
Free 2 Liter Soda
With Large Pie
$14
FREE DELIVERY!
181 E. Broadway
between
Essex & Clinton
646.756.4448
eastbroadwaypizza.com
LO-DOWN T
H
E
February 2013
letter from the Editor:
The new year is always a time for fresh
beginnings. In the case of The Lo-Downs print
magazine, which we debuted in the middle
of last year, 2013 is an opportunity to build
on something that started as an experiment
but which has become a central part of our
community news mission. Were happy to be
back this year with 10 monthly issues (July/
August and December/January will be double
issues). The magazine has allowed us to
augment our daily online news coverage with
fresh, original reporting such as this months
cover story focusing on the endangered
Norfolk Street synagogue, Beth Hamedrash
Hagadol. The Lo-Down covers a lot of different
topics, but at its core the website and the
magazine are about neighborhood change.
The synagogues bid to demolish and rebuild
its landmarked building is a big story on its own
merits. But it also points to a larger question:
is there an appetite for historic preservation on
the Lower East Side, a neighborhood that has
already changed dramatically in recent years
and which is poised for a huge new building
boom? Community leaders and residents will
ultimately decide whether a place in which
the old and the new are still intermingled
(although theres a lot more new these days)
can keep that diverse character as gentrication
marches on during the next decade. Were
looking forward to another intriguing year
covering this and other important stories in our
community.
in this issue
Cover Story
A landmarked synagogue faces possible
demolition
New Arrival s
Brian Procell Vintage, Massimo Salon,
Garis & Hahn Gallery
Neighborhood News
A teenager is murdered, bar battles,
developers ready Seward Park proposals
Calendar/Feat ured Events
Bob Mould at Bowery Ballroom,
Chinese Lunar New Year Parade,
Old Jews Telling Jokes
Arts Watch
A queer bookstore pops up
The Lo-Dine
SakaMai signals change on Ludlow Street
My LES
Chocolate maven Roni-Sue Kave
Cartoon
Lower East Sideways
4
11
16
17
12
14
20
18
On the cover: The Beth Hamedrash
Hagadol synagogue at 60 Norfolk St., by
photographer Mark La Rosa.
Visit his website at
marklarosaphotography.com.
*
Ed Litvak
LO-DOWN T
H
E
Ed Litvak
Editor-in-Chief
Traven Rice
General Manager/Arts Editor
Jennifer Strom
Associate Editor
Kim Sillen Gledhill
Art Director
Evan Forsch
Cartoonist
Jac Zagoory
Account Executive
Advertising inquiries:
ads@thelodownny.com
Story tips: tips@thelodownny.com
Contact us: 646-861-1805
The Lo-Down is a publication of Lo-Down Productions LLC, 2013.
Check out our Second Location
at 21st and 2nd Ave.
362 Second Ave.
www.pushcartcoee.com
646-476-8416
4 www.thelodownny.com 4 www.thelodownny.com
F
or more than 160 years, a stately
house of worship has graced the
corner of Norfolk and Broome streets, a
bright beacon in a constantly changing
neighborhood. First serving Baptists and
Methodists, the Gothic Revival building
eventually became a center of Jewish life
on the Lower East Side, home to Beth Hame-
drash Hagadol, the oldest orthodox syna-
gogue of Russian Jews in America. It wel-
comed generation upon generation of a
congregation that at one time numbered
1,400, as New York City evolved from the
industrial age to the 21st century. When
nearby homes and businesses fell to bull-
dozers in the name of urban renewal, its
longtime rabbi protected it by securing
landmark status in 1967.
In recent years, however, the syna-
gogues light has steadily dimmed. The
dwindling congregation struggled to keep
up with the costs of maintaining the cav-
ernous building. A 1997 windstorm and a
:ooi nre udded to the mounting dumuge
inf licted by neglect and old age, eventually
resulting in its abandonment as an active
house of worship six years ago.
Various rescue and restoration efforts
nzzled, including ut leust one cuse in which
grant money was returned to the state for
lack of matching funds.
Opinions abound across the communi-
ty regarding responsibility for its current
sorry state, but one thing is clear: Beth
Hamedrash Hagadol now faces the biggest
threat in its illustrious historydemolition.
The synagogues congregation, led by
Rabbi Mandl Greenbaum, has petitioned
for permission to knock it down, saying it
has exhausted all other options.
That news, which emerged from the
citys Landmarks Preservation Commission
just as the clock ticked down on the year
2012, hit many members of the neighbor-
hoods Jewish community very hard.
Harold Heshy Jacob has been walk-
ing past Beth Hamedrash Hagadol all his
life. The board chairman of the United Jew-
ish Council of the East Side and an inf luen-
tial f igure in Grand Streets Jewish commu-
nity for many decades, Jacob says he was
always comforted to know that despite its
dilapidated condition, at least the historic
synagogue still stood. While he does not
blame the synagogues leadership, Jacob
says, To lose a building like this is to lose a
part of our Jewish history. It is a pity.
Historic preservation controversies are
nothing new on the LES. Just this past year,
there were major differences of opinion about
the future of the Bialystoker nursing home
building on East Broadway before the Land-
marks Commission decided in December to
move forward with an application to protect
that 1927 structure. But Beth Hamedrash Hag-
adol is different. Everyone agrees the syna-
gogue is a nationally important Jewish land-
mark, a living testament to the Russian
immigrant experience in Americawhose
crumbling facade now presides over wind-
whipped mounds of trash behind a rickety,
rusted fence barricading its grand entryway.
www.thelodownny.com 5
By Ed Litvak
Peril

Sy n a g o g u e
H I S T O R I C
in in

Sy n a g o g u e
Peril
H I S T O R I C
Inside Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, Fall of 2012
6 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 7
In approving the landmark status
application 45 years ago, commissioners
declared, the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol
Synagogue has a special character, special
historic and aesthetic interest and value as
part of the development, heritage and
cultural characteristics of New York CityIt
is a striking example of Gothic Revival
architecture, [in] that its austere simplicity
has dignity and character and [in] that it
houses the congregation of the oldest
Russian Orthodox synagogue in America.
Decades after that pronouncement, the
looming battle for Beth Hamedrash Hagadol
is sure to shine new light on the value of
preservation in New York City, and to reveal
whether a gentrifying neighborhood has
the desire and the will to save the last rem-
nants from its storied past.
Rabbi Greenbaum has been the care-
taker of the synagogue since the 2003 death
of his father-in-law, Rabbi Ephraim Oshry,
an internationally known scholar who
headed up the congregation for 50 years and
led the 1967 preservation campaign.
Now Greenbaum stands in the line of
f ire, facing criticism of his stewardship.
The rabbi acknowledges the decision to
seek demolition is not a popular thing...
painful for us and painful for the communi-
ty. He asserts the synagogue was left with
little choice, since it has no money for even
the most basic restoration effort. A lengthy
search for a developer willing to partner in
renovating its existing building was unfruit-
ful, he says. After months of failed overtures,
he said, it became clear that high restoration
costs were scaring potential investors away.
At one time, the Lower East Side Jewish
Conservancy, part of the the United Jewish
Council, was well on its way to raising the
estimated $3.5 million that would have been
required to restore the damaged building. It
had secured more than $1 million in city
and state grants.
But the projects momentum ground to
a halt several years ago. The rabbi attributes
the lack of progress to unfortunate circum-
stances, but others disagree, arguing that a
series of decisions at Beth Hamedrash Hag-
adol had the effect of unnecessarily derail-
ing restoration efforts.
In 2006, the City Council awarded the
synagogue $750,000 to make repairs and es-
tablish a visitor center. But the money could
not be spent until a not-for-prof it corpora-
tion was established, a process that took an
unusually long time. According to court re-
cords, the synagogue f inally transferred
ownership of the building to the new entity,
Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Restoration, Inc.,
in July of 2007. By that time, the economic
downturn had hit New York hard, forcing
the city to rescind funding for all projects
that were not already under way, including
the synagogue restoration.
Subsequently, the rabbi chose to return a
$230,000 historic preservation matching
grant from the state.
We couldnt raise the matching money,
he explained. The funds just werent there.
Rabbi Greenbaums critics also point to his
decision six years ago to close the synagogue
based on safety concerns, which effectively
dispersed the handful of congregants who still
came to pray at 60 Norfolk St. They argue that
it would have been relatively easy and inex-
pensive to make the building habitable.
More broadly, some activists see a dis-
turbing pattern.
The request for a demolition permit is
part of an epidemic of self-inf l icted destruc-
tion of Jewish sacred sites occurring on the
Lower East Side, said Joyce Mendelsohn, an
historian and leader of the preservation
group Friends of the Lower East Side.
The memories from the 2006 collapse
and demolition of the First Roumanian Syn-
agogue on Rivington Streetin which of-
fers of help had been made and declined
are still fresh in the minds of many
preservation advocates and local residents.
The onetime home of the Young Israel Syna-
gogue on East Broadway remains an empty
lot, three years after a deal with a developer
for a mixed-use condo/synagogue complex
disintegrated.
For his part, Rabbi Greenbaum insists he
had little choice but to close the synagogue
and bristles at the notion that he didnt do
enough to raise restoration funds.
Anyone who was involved with us
knows that it is a lie, he asserted.
The request now being reviewed by the
Landmarks Commission, known as a hard-
ship application requires the synagogue to
prove that the landmark building is no lon-
ger adequate or suitable for carrying out the
orgunizution's churituble purposes. Ihe nl-
ing notes that zoning regulations permit a
45,000-square-foot building on the site.
It makes the case that a redevelopment
Beth Hamedrash Hagadol in 1933 Fall of 2012
Beth Hamedrash Hagadol in 1901
Photo credit: Jewish Encyclopedia
8 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 9
STORE for RENT
29 ESSEX STREET
(BETWEEN GRAND & HESTER STREETS)
Listed with GRAND SUCCESS REALTY
212-353-9375
APPROX. 350 SQ. FEET
ADDITIONAL BASEMENT
SPACE AVAILABLE
SUITABLE FOR COFFEE,
JUICE or WINE BAR.
FROZEN YOGURT/SORBET
IDEAL FOR OFFICE,
WHOLESALE, RETAIL
SPACE, GALLERY,
BOUTIQUE & MORE
NO COOKING
GREAT LOCATION!
ONLY STORE ON ESSEX
STREET AVAILABLE FOR
RENT CURRENTLY
WILL NOT LAST!
(continued on page 20)
es there, the options for carving out residen-
tial units would be very limited.
According to the hardship application,
the synagogue explored expansion possibili-
ties, utilizing the sites air rights. There is a par-
cel, now used for parking, directly behind the
synagogue, which is owned by the Chinese
Planning Council. David Chen, the organiza-
tions executive director told The Lo-Down
that senior housing and a community facility
will one day be built on that property. While
its theoretically possible to build above the
synagogue, that would be quite an engineer-
ing feat and might not meet with the Land
marks Commissions ap-
proval.
In the rabbis view, all
of these factors add up to
an unfortunate reality: de-
molition is the only realis-
tic alternative. As it stands,
Beth Hamedrash Hagadol
is not holding services any-
where and there are no
prospects for protecting the
synagogues legacy. If a
deal with a developer for a
new building can help to
reassemble whats left of
the congregation, the rabbi
said, I hope the communi-
ty will be thankful.
Preservationists are
now weighing how to respond. One concern is
the potential precedent that could be estab-
lished if the synagogue gets its way. Lisi de
Bourbon, Landmarks Commission spokesper-
son, said there have been only 18 hardship ap-
plications since 1965. Just 13 have been grant-
ed. Some activists say a yes vote by the
commission would make a mockery of the
landmarks law.
Anne Friedman, director of the Sacred
Sites Program at the Landmarks Conservan-
cy, u nonpront group thut hus provided fund-
ing to the synagogue for emergency repairs,
said its a complicated issue. On one hand,
plan that includes worship space for Beth
Hamedrash Hagadol would save the insti-
tution on the LES, even as the historic build-
ing meets its demise.
It is the congregations principal goal to
preserve the synagogues presence in the
community, the application states.
Theres no doubt the lot on which the
synagogue sits is an enticing redevelopment
opportunity. Last month, the city invited de-
velopers to submit proposals for the Seward
Park Mixed-Use Development site, a six-acre
parcel surrounding the synagogue. Demand
for nearby properties has already skyrocket-
ed. Late last year, suspicions
arose that real estate inter-
ests were, in fact, making a
play for the synagogue
when a new company was
formed, 60 Norfolk Devel-
opers, LLC. Its headquar-
ters, according to state re-
cords, are at Two Trees
Management in Brooklyn,
one of the citys bi gges t
developers, which re-
developed DUMBO and
more recently acquired-
the Domino Sugar factory
site in Williamsburg.
Contacted by phone last
month, Two Trees staff mem-
bers said they had no knowl-
edge of the new company. Asked about the
matter, the rabbi said there is no developer
waiting in the background for the Landmarks
Commission to sign off on the demolition.
Last fall, Michael Bolla and Ron Castel-
lano, the team that converted the historic
Forward Building to condos, toured the syn-
agogue with an eye toward refurbishing it
and creating luxury apartments inside. In a
recent interview, Castellano said its an
amazing space with great architectural de-
tails. The problem, he added, is that the inte-
rior is not very big, only about 5,000 square
feet, and since the congregation wants to re-
turn to a refurbished facility and hold servic-
Some activists
say a
yes vote
by the
commission
would make a
mockery
of the
landmarks law.
Vinyasa Yoga
Postnatal (Prenatal coming soon.)
Beginner classes
Advanced classes
Buy one get one free for all new
students
10% off our New Student Special
of 2 months of unlimited Yoga for
$200 when you mention the
Lo-Down, through April
Yogahighnyc.com
98 Forsyth, 2nd floor
between Grand and Broome
646-678-311
Openi ng Feb. 10, 2013
i s movi ng t o Gr and and For s yt h!
Dr. Shu Ping Rong, D.D.S. P.C.
1 2 8 Mo t t St . , Su i t e 5 0 7 , Ne w Yo r k , NY 1 0 0 1 3
Te l : 2 1 2 . 2 2 6 . 6 3 6 8
w w w. d r r o n g d d s . c o m
drrongdent al @gmai l . com
Monday - Sunday:
10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Implants, Braces (Metal/Invisible),
Gum Disease, Laser Surgery & Whitening
Cosmetics, Soft Tissue Surgeries, Crowns/Bridges, Root
Canal, Dentures, Childrens Dentistry, Wisdom Teeth Extrac-
tions, Veneers, Emergencies, Appliance Therapy, Full Mouth
Reconstruction, Invisalign
www.thelodownny.com 11
The CPA for Freelancers
The CPA for Freelancers
Jonathan Medows, CPA
www.cpaforfreelancers.com
As featured in:
Bloomberg Businessweek,
New York Post &
Accounting Today
517 Grand St., Fl 1
New York, NY 10002
Tel : 646. 415. 8011
info@medowscpa.com
Personal and Business Tax Returns %
Prior Year Tax Returns %
Tax Controversies %
Audit Representation %
Tax Planning & Entity Structuring %
Monthly Accounting Services %
GARIS & HAHN
(263 Bowery, garisandhahn.com),
is a new gallery launched by
directors Mary Garis, a veteran of
Sothebys London, Christies New
York and a variety of contempo-
rary art galleries in the city, and
Sophie Hahn, a former ne art
expert for AXA Art Insurance.
The gallery mounts exhibitions
focused on conceptual narratives
and relevant conversations in con-
temporary art. The new space
hosted its rst project last month,
After the Fall, a photography
show of works by seven Yale
MFAs, curated by Andrea Pember-
ton. It runs through Feb. 16. The
gallery is open Tuesday through
Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
SASHA WOLF GALLERY
(70 Orchard St., sashawolf.
com) is a new exhibition space
on Orchard Street featuring
contemporary photography
by emerging and mid-career
artists. The gallery, which
relocated to the Lower East
Side from Chelsea, is open
Wednesday through Sunday
noon to 6 p.m., and by ap-
pointment.
new arrivals
SWEET BUTTONS
(84 Rivington St., sweetbutton-
sdesserts.com) joins the Lower
East Sides cupcakes-and-
gelato-laden dessert scene
this month, specializing in
bite-sized treats because they
believe a little indulgence
every day is a must.
BRIAN PROCELL (5 Delancey St.) is the eponymous new store
from a long-time vintage purveyor. Procell, who got his start buying
up old stock of sports caps from stores in his native Elizabeth, N.J., has
made a name for himself on the Manhattan clothing scene by curating
vintage mens sportswear collections for Opening Ceremony and other
high-prole projects. His new shop specializes in 1980s and 1990s
items, including rare Keith Haring accessories; rap, rock and punk Ts;
outerwear; and caps.
DENTAL VITA
(114 Delancey St.,
dental-vita.com) is a new full-
service practice by Dr. William
Corbett and Dr. Elena Agilina
offering checkups, cleanings,
implants, oral surgery and
more. Corbett has practiced
on Staten Island since 2007.
Agilina has an additional ofce
uptown. Most insurance plans
are accepted. If youre inter-
ested in making an appoint-
ment, call 212-260-4646.
MASSIMO SALON (179 Orchard St., massimosalon.com), a
new hairstyle shop for men and women, opened in mid-January.
Massimo offers a cut and blow-dry ranging from $50-$85, as well as
single- and double-process coloring, keratin treatments, highlights
and kids cuts. The salon is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m.
to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m.
The Lo-Down is pleased
to introduce new Lower
East Side businesses to
our readers in this column
each month. If you would
like to be featured, please
drop us a line at jennifer@
thelodownny.com. Tell us
about your enterprise and
be sure to include your
contact information.
Garis & Hahn Gallery
Directors Mary Garis and
Sophie Hahn with curator
Andrea Pemberton
Brian Procell
ZIPCARD
AMAZING DEALS
& REWARDS
FOR BUYING LOCAL
& STAYING LOCAL
Sign up TODAY!
www.zipcarded.com
10002
STRIDE for ages 10-14
University Settlement
at the Houston Street Center
273 8cwery - {212) 475-5008
Contact us today for more info!
STRIDE@universitysettlement.org
MONDAY - PP|DAY 3:30pm - 6:00pm
NEW FREE THEATER
ARTS PROGRAM!
ACADMICS SPCR7S & FI7NSS
AR7S & LADRSHIP RCRA7ICN
bringing happy to your home.
designed on the l.e.s.
kimsillenprints.com
shop
12 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 13
crime
A teenager has been charged and three other men are being sought in the murder of 16-year-
old Raphael Ward last month. Ward, a resident of the Baruch Houses, was gunned down on
the sidewalk and collapsed inside a convenience store near the intersection of Columbia and
Rivington streets on the night of Jan. 4 after a dispute investigators believe involved stolen
coats. Timothy Montalvo, also 16, has been charged with second-degree murder and two counts of weapons
possession in connection with the shooting, which rocked the neighborhood in the wake of the holidays and
sparked further violence at a memorial service the following week. Police believe Montalvo furnished the murder
weapon to 20-year-old Walter Rodriguez, the alleged shooter, who was still at large as of press time. Two other
suspects seen in a convenience store security video are also being sought. According to investigators, the violent
chain of events began when a group of youths, including Ward, was accused of stealing a winter coat. A second
group, including the cousin of the teen whose coat was swiped, came into the neighborhood intent on stealing
Wards coat in retaliation, and gunre broke out. On Jan. 9, as a large crowd gathered at the Provenzano Lanza
Funeral Home to pay their respects to Ward, a ght began among some of the young people in attendance.
One witness reported a teen being beaten with a large chain and a frying pan; another source said at least one
altercation began inside the funeral home. Police ofcers responded to restore order.
Police responded to the fatal shooting at 101 Forsyth Street.
December and January brought a flurry of large real estate transactions throughout the
neighborhood. The sale with the biggest price tag was developer Ian Schragers $50 million purchase of
an empty lot at 215 Chrystie St., which is slated to become a combination hotel and luxury condo building, if
it clears some pending legal hurdles. In another high-prole deal, the Orenstein building at 15-17 Bialystoker
Place, a senior affordable housing center, sold to an undisclosed buyer for $28 million last month. In addition,
more than half a dozen commercial and residential buildings changed hands as the old year turned into the new
year. Among them were two collections of LES buildings sold as part of larger portfolios: 75 and 81 Orchard St.
were folded into one deal, and 55-59 and 61-63 Delancey St. were folded into another. Several tenement build-
ings were bought individually, including: 221 E. Broadway, the Beaux Arts Mayower building that is home to
Malt & Mold and Pushcart Coffee; 75 Ludlow St., a tenement building with a restaurant on the ground oor; and
70 Hester St., originally a 19th-century Roumanian synagogue and most recently a longtime artists loft.
real estate
Owners of two proposed LES bars who
have been battling with neighbors took
their arguments to the State Liquor Au-
thority last month, with mixed results. In
the rst case, an establishment called Eastwood
thats poised to open any day at 221 E. Broadway
had its permit application rejected. The SLA ruled
against the application because the bar is fewer
than 200 feet from two churches, a provision known
as the 200-foot rule. While the community board
ultimately supported Eastwoods application back
in June, neighbors were divided: some spoke in
favor of the establishment while others expressed
concerns about noise and late-night crowds. One
prominent opponent was Pastor Marc Rivera of
Primitive Christian Church, located a block or so
away from the proposed bar. Later this month,
Eastwood owners Sivan Harlap and Andrew States
plan to seek a beer-and-wine-only license; the 200-
foot rule only applies to full liquor permits. (Mean-
while, Eastwoods chip shop, a food counter
thats separate from its main space, opened Jan.
16 serving soup, sandwiches and falafel.) In the
second case, the owners of a restaurant planned
for 106 Rivington St., Jose Orlando Rodriguez and
Robert Payne, made their case for a full bar permit
at a proceeding known as a 500-foot hearing,
which is required anytime there are three or more
liquor licenses within 500 feet of a proposed estab-
lishment. Its opponents include Community Board
3, which approved a beer and wine permit but re-
jected a full bar license, and a group of neighbors
known as the LES Dwellers, which maintains that
particular block is already oversaturated with bars
and restaurants. A decision has not been rendered
in that case; another hearing is pending.
nightlife
Federal agents descended on several addresses on East Broadway during a sweeping investi-
gation of immigration fraud in late December. Several attorneys were among the more than
two dozen suspects charged as a result of the raid. Ofcials at the U.S. Justice Department char-
acterized the crimes as separate but overlapping immigration fraud schemes in which immigrants fab-
ricated claims of persecution to support their requests for asylum in this country.At least 10 New York
City area law rms created and submitted these fraudulent applications on behalf of alien applicants and
coached them on how to lie to immigration authorities, prosecutors said in a prepared statement fol-
lowing the days arrests, which shut down a large swath of East Broadway for several hours. Of the 26
defendants, 21 work at the various law rms, six as attorneys. Also charged are four translators who work
at an asylum ofce in Queens, N.Y.; and an employee at a church in Queens who allegedly provides train-
ing in basic Christianity to asylum applicants falsely claiming to have been persecuted in China for their
religious beliefs.
neighborhood news
immigration
On Feb. 11, the NYC Economic Development
Corp. will host an information session on the
request for proposals (RFP) it issued last month
for the Seward Park redevelopment project. The
city is soliciting specic plans from developers in-
terested in partnering in the massive revamping of
the six-acre Seward Park Mixed-Use Development
Site that stretches along Delancey Streets south
side near the Williamsburg Bridge. The process
thats now moving forward has been more than four
decades in the making; the development parcels
were bulldozed in the name of urban renewal back
in 1967. Proposals from developers are due May 6.
The city expects to select the winning bid or bids
by the fall of this year. The project includes 1,000
apartments (half affordable/half market-rate) as well
as up to 600,000 square feet for commercial uses.
The information session on Feb. 11 takes place at 2
p.m. at the EDCs ofces, 110 William St.
real estate
Sixteen-year-old Raphael Ward was shot to death Jan. 4.
Photo via Facebook
14 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 15
Don Cristobal, Billy-Club Man at Abrons: Award-
winning puppeteer Erin Orr explores the violent appetites
of Don Cristbal, Billy-Club Mans on-stage persona and
follows him off-stage to reveal his poetic possibilities.
Inspired by two comedic and surreal puppet plays by
Federico Garca Lorca, the piece features Orrs shadow-,
hand- and large-gurative puppetry, as well as evocative
original music by Rima Fand. Not intended for children.
Through March 3. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Saturdays
at 3 p.m., Sundays at 5 p.m., 466 Grand St., $20,
abronsartscenter.org.
calendar what to do in FEBRUARY
Chinese Lunar New Year 14th Fire-
cracker Festival: Join in the festivities of
Chinese New Year as local Chinatown
organizations set off an impressive array
of recrackers and ring in The Year of the
Snake. After the recrackers drive away
every evil spirit for miles, there is plenty
of dancing and traditional food. The
annual parade through the streets of the
neighborhood takes place the follow-
ing week, Sunday, Feb. 17. Both events
start at 11 a.m. in Sara D. Roosevelt Park
(between Grand and Forsyth streets) and
are free. betterchinatown.com.
Belleville at New York Theatre Work-
shop: Preview the newest drama from
acclaimed playwright Amy Herzog
(4000 Miles, After the Revolution) and
heavyweight director Anne Kauffman
(Detroit, This Wide Night). The play
follows a couple of ex-pats to Paris, where
their relationship is put to the test in a chilling, Hitchcock-
ian look at the limits of trust, truth, deception and depen-
dency. Through March 31, see website for showtimes, 79
E. Fourth St., $70/$20 member guest tickets, nytw.org.
Fri.
15
Visit our CALENDAR online at
www.thelodownny.com/calendar
for more details and to add
your own events.
Tues.
12
Story Slam: Love in the Time of the
Internet at the Museum at Eldridge:
Got great stories about looking for
the one online? Bring your friends
and share your best bad dating
experiences and your triumphs at this
Moth-inspired story slam. Prizes will
be awarded for the most outrageous
tales. Hosted by Rachel Evans, whose
one-woman play Jew Wish explores
the ups and downs of online dating.
Non-storytellers welcome. Beer
and wine. 7 p.m., 12 Eldridge St.,
$10 adults/$5 for Facebook friends,
eldridgestreet.org.
Thurs.
21
Douglas Dunn & Dancers Cassations
at Danspace: Celebrated choreog-
rapher Douglas Dunn remounts his
venerated latest work for the sanctuary at
St. Marks Church in-the-Bowery. Through
Feb. 9, 8 p.m., 131 E. 10th St., $18, dans-
paceproject.org.
Thurs.
7
Old-school punk and alternative rock pioneer Bob Mould celebrates his inuential career
with his latest album, Silver Age. The album is a return to whats been coined aggressive
pop, coming together after a series of electric solo dates in 2011 supporting the Foo Fight-
ers. From the hardcore punk sounds of Hsker D (1979-87) that later turned into what has
dened the sound of alt-rock through the band Sugar (1992-95), to his many successful
solo endeavors, its hard to ignore Mould as someone who has heavily inuenced genera-
tions of rock stars.
In a recent tribute concert, Dave Grohl, the iconic drummer for Nirvana and lead singer of
the Foo Fighters, told the audience, If it werent for him, I wouldnt be making music the
way I do, or play guitar the way I do. His albums have really shaped me as a musician as
much as the Beatles, as much as Led Zeppelin. Hes a real hero of mine and a real Ameri-
can icon. Mould performs at the Bowery Ballroom with his live band, made up of bassist
Jason Narducy (Split Single, Verbow) and drummer Jon Wurster (Superchunk, The Mountain
Goats). Also Wednesday, Feb. 27, 9 p.m., 6 Delancey St., $25, boweryballroom.com.
Fri.
22
Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito
Garcia at the New Museum:
Widely regarded as the best hip-hop
radio program of all time, the Stretch
Armstrong and Bobbito Garcia Show
(1990-98) produced one of the few
independent, noncommercial forums
for hip hop in the 90s. The show is credited for introducing countless
MCs to the world, including Nas, the Notorious B.I.G. and the Wu-Tang
Clan. As part of Get Weird, the New Museums monthly music series,
the pair will discuss New York City street life and historical events circa
1993 through the lens of rap music. 7 p.m., 235 Bowery, $12,
newmuseum.org.
Old Jews Telling Jokes at the Tene-
ment Museum: A variety show based
on the hit web series, this Broadway
production has entertained knee-slap-
pers of all ages. Between punchlines, cre-
ators Peter Gethers and Daniel Okrent discuss
the intimate relationship between humor and Jewish
culture. 6:30 p.m., 103 Orchard St., free, tenement.org.
Detroit 67 at the Public:This world
premiere presented in association with
the Classical Theatre of Harlem focuses
on the Motown world of 1967 Detroit.
Pent-up feelings erupt between a
brother and sister running an after-hours
joint just in time for them to nd them-
selves caught in the middle of the 67 riots.
Through March 17, 7:30 p.m., 425 Lafayette St., $15,
publictheater.org.
Mon.
25
Tues.
26
photo: Peter Ellenby
BALLROOM
Tues.
26
Sun.
10
16 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 17
A couple of years ago, a chef toiling away at a
little spot on Ludlow Street told me what a strug-
gle it had been trying to focus on ne food on a
block built for boozing. Places like Libation, Motor
City and even the music clubs Pianos, The Liv-
ing Room and Cake Shop bring a certain kind
of crowd to the strip between East Houston and
Delancey streets. But a new venture, SakaMai, at
157 Ludlow St., aims to change all of that.
Dont get me wrong. SakaMai is denitely night-
life-centric. Dubbed by owners Tanner Fahl and
Natalie Graham as New Yorks rst dedicated sake
lounge, the place has high ambitions. The eclectic
interior features low lighting, a beautiful dark wood
bar and exposed brick. There are at least four dis-
tinct seating areas, including a cozy lounge with a
replace and a private dining room on the second
oor.
Your best bet is probably the bar, where Shingo
Gokan (formerly of Angel Share) and his team put
on quite a show, concocting some seriously sophisti-
cated sake-based cocktails. Theyre not cheap; pric-
es range from $13-$16. The Kuchinashi is made
from lemon, grapefruit, herb-soaked vodka and a
lychee liqueur made with a nigori-style sake. All of
the cocktails my cohort and I tasted were delicious
and lethal. There are sake ights and, of course, a
SakaMai Signals New Era on Ludlow Street
by Ed Litvak
wide selection of sake by the bottle, shochu (a dis-
tilled spirit something like vodka), plus a variety of
Japanese whiskeys and beers.
While the bar at SakaMai is impressive, its the
food that might end up giving this new spot stay-
ing power on the notoriously ckle Lower East Side
nightlife scene. Theyre calling it a Japanese gastro
lounge. The menu, featuring small plates and larg-
er dishes meant for sharing, is Japanese-accented
but unconventional. The chef is Takanori Akiyama,
formerly of Lan on Third Avenue. You might just be
satised to snack on some shishito peppers, if you
can take the heat ($7). More adventuresome types
will be tempted by the roasted bone marrow and
steak tartare ($22), a pretty amazing dish, or Egg
on Egg on Egg ($18), which is sea urchin and white
sturgeon caviar on a bed of scrambled eggs.
The service at SakaMai is extremely friendly.
As might be expected from any month-old restau-
rant, there are certainly some kinks to work out in
the kitchen, as well as in the front of the house. But
theyre denitely aiming to please.
SakaMai seems intent on making sake more ac-
cessible and showing that it can be paired with all
sorts of dishes (Japanese and American) with deli-
cious effect. Theres no doubt about it; at least some
locals will be turned off by the high prices. SakaMai
will have to be a destination spot if it is going to suc-
ceed. If they pull it off, maybe the nightlife and din-
ing mix on Ludlow will become a little more diverse
and interesting.
LO-DINE T
H
E
Editors note: Welcome to our new food col-
umn, featuring observations from staff members
and guest columnists on local restaurants.
arts watch
By Traven Rice
In todays world of vanishing brick-and-mor-
tar bookstores, its a pleasant surprise to see a new
one open in the neighborhood, even if its only
in a pop-up space for the moment. The Bureau of
General Services-Queer Division (BGSQD) is a new
bookstore, gallery and event space founded by
partners Greg Newton and Donnie Jochum. The
bookstore is unique by default there actually
arent any gay bookstores devoted solely to the
LGBT community left in Manhattan but it also
has the feel of a special, forward-thinking space.
Newton says their goal was to rethink what
it means to be a gay bookstore. They wanted their
place to have a different connotation so they de-
cided to go with the term queer bookstore.
For us, the term queer is somehow more ex-
pansive. You could say, on the one hand, opening
a queer bookstore is a narrowing of focus, but we
see it more as a space thats dedicated to queers and
queer topics, but its open to allies, Newton said.
There are people who have sex with members
of the opposite sex who identify with the word
queer, so it doesnt have rigid boundaries and at
the sume time it signuls to people, if you don't nt
in with the gender norms of society, or if you feel
that those norms ought to be challenged, this is
the space for you.
BGSQDs mission is to foster a community
invested in the values of mindfulness, intellectual
curiosity, justice, compassion and playfulness,
and their collection of zines, books, artwork, coy T-
shirts and merchandise ref lects just that.
Within its nrst two months in the temporury
space at Strange Loop Gallery on Orchard Street,
the store hosted two art openings, an exclusive
reading by the estimable author and Harvard pro-
fessor Edmund White, a magazine launch party
featured in Next Magazine, various live music
performances, a few poetry readings and a mem-
oir-writing workshop.
Newton is a former writing professor at Par-
sons whose nrst home in Hew York City wus ut El-
len Stuarts LaMaMa theater. (She charged him $5/
week for a room above the theater on East Fourth
Street.) He says the partners are determined to stay
in the LES because of its diversity and the creative
history here. Rent would have been cheaper in
Brooklyn, but they really want to be centrally lo--
cated and in a neighborhood that has a mature
A New Generation of Queer Pops
Up on Orchard Street
(continuedonpage20)
BGSQD co-founder Donnie Jochum, author and professor Edmund White
and co-founder Greg Newton
Egg on Egg on Egg
Photo courtesy of SakaMai restaurant.
photo by Lee Brozgol
18 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 19 18 www.thelodownny.com
food market just like the ones Id eagerly seek out
when traveling in Europe! How did I not know
about this place? When I saw the little spot in the
rear of the market (where Pain dAvignon is now)
with its windows all papered over, I knew I had
found the right home for Roni-Sues Chocolates.
The unique nature of the ESM was ultimately what
attracted me to the neighborhood. The rst few
times I came down to visit the market, I remember
wondering why so many places were closed and
shuttered when Id heard what a vibrant neighbor-
hood the LES is. Then I came down to check it out
at night and, lo and behold, all those places were
open and jam-packed! Ah, nightlife.
What is your favorite block in the neigh-
borhood?
I love wandering the side streets over by Tomp-
kins Square Park. I also like walking from the LES
to the EV where I live. Fun to see the surround-
ing crowds change from hipsters to aging hip-
pies (such as myself).
What do you do?
I own and operate Roni-Sues Chocolates in the
historic Essex Street Market i.e., I make candy
for a living. Woo-hoo!
How long have you lived on the LES?
I opened Roni-Sues in October 2007, so Ive been
working down here for over ve years. I just nally
moved from East Harlem to the East Village in June,
though, so at last I can walk to work..
What drew you to the neighborhood?
I had been hearing about the Essex Street Market
for a few years but never had been way down to
the LES until January of 2007. I couldnt believe
my eyes when I came into the market for the rst
time. Here in the heart of NYC was a fabulous local
What is your favorite date spot in the
neighborhood?
Second Floor on Clinton, a hidden gem up the
back staircase inside Barramundi so sophisti-
cated, a beautiful grown-up space with fabulous
artisan cocktails and warm attentive service. Its set
up like a lovely drawing room with comfy chairs,
nice lighting and a relaxed vibe. Good place to
talk and get to know someone. You can actually
hear one another, too
What is your favorite coee in the neigh-
borhood?
Porto Rico Importing in the market is our go-to,
regular spot, of course. Sometimes I take a walk to
the new spot Caffe Vita on Ludlow, for a change of
pace.
Favorite cheap eats in the neighborhood?
Puebla Mexican is good and they deliver to ESM
quickly. Also like Wacky Wok for healthy stir fry.
Love their tempura string beans (OK, maybe not so
healthy).
Where do you take your visitors when
theyre here?
Ive taken friends to the Tenement Museum, which
is pretty cool, and the New Museum. I love to go to
the greenmarket at Tompkins Square on Sundays
and out for meals at my fave places in the hood.
Alias is a great spot, reasonable prices, delicious
food and warm welcoming staff. Theres always
some music to hear, too, of course, maybe at Ella
lounge.
How do you feel about recent changes in
the neighborhood?
I dont think I can really speak to the recent changes
since one could argue Im one of them!
What new establishment(s) have you been
wanting to try?
The new menu at wd~50, Mission Chinese, Pig
& Khao.
Favorite LES memory?
The rst year after I started Roni-Sues, my friends
and neighbors in the ESM threw me a surprise birth-
day party. I remember looking around the room
and thinking Im home.
Roni-Sue
Kave
For our regular feature spotlighting the
people who live and work on the Lower
East Side, we talked with artisan chocolatier
Roni-Sue Kave.
Send us your story tips,
ideas and photos from
the neighborhood:
tips@thelodownny.com
sign up for our
newsletter
thelodownny.com
We want to hear from
you!
Contact us at: 646-861-1805
T
H
E
LO-DOWN
Find out whats happening
on the L.E.S. every day
as its happening!
PSYCHOTHERAPIST & COUNSELOR
Specializes in OCD and related
disorders: generalized anxiety,
depression, and the
challenges of aging.

Contact her by phone:
646-449-0604
or email: jenerate8@yahoo.com
Jenifer Wolf, LMSW
20 www.thelodownny.com
nightlife and art scene. We feel right at home
here, he said.
As far as the current narrative about small
independent bookstores closing, Newton says he
thinks people are starting to remember they didnt
move to New York to sit at home in front of their
computers and TVs. Human interaction is still a
fun and important activity! he says.
arts watch
(continued from p.16)
Visit BGQSDat Strange Loop Gallery (27 Orchard St.)
Tuesday-Saturday, 11a.m.-7 p.m. and Sundays noon-
6 p.m. Newton and Jochum are currently seeking
investors tohelpthemestablishapermanent home
ontheLES. If youareinterestedinsupportingthem,
dropthemalineat: contact@bgsqd.com.
(continued from p.8)
she explained, the hardship provision exists
for a reason, making the landmarks law via-
ble. At the same time, her organization has se-
rious concerns about losing a synagogue that
has been a New York City landmark for near-
ly nve decudes.
In the past, the Jewish Conservancy
planned to create a visitor center, museum
and, perhaps, an events space inside the build-
ing, while providing room for the congrega-
tion to return to its historic home. As of now,
theres no community-wide consensus on the
ideal use for the building. But many people
believe u nrst step is simply un intervention,
saving the building from the bulldozers.
Heshy Jacob, the United Jewish Councils
board chairman, said its a cause that should
strike a chord with Jews everywhere, not just
on the Lower East Side.
Beth Hamedrash Hagadol is a part of
Jewish history, he said. I would like to see
someone |with nnunciul resources| step for-
ward with the money to save it.
Reach 35,000 people
on the Lower East Side.
Reach 35,000 people
on the Lower East Side.
Your Ad HERE.
Become a sponsor
and reach your target audience today!
Contact us for more info: ads@thelodownny.com
Call us at: 646.861.1805
Ask us about discounts on
our Annual Sponsorship packages.
LO-DOWN
Sign up for our
daily newsletter
online at
thelodownny.com
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
Paid
Permit #1512
New Brunswick, NJ
*******************ECRWSS****
Residential Customer
New York, NY 10002