News
Demand Your Right to Quality of Life in Hell’s Kitchen! Close the Homeless Shelters in Our Neighborhood Now!
This petition was from my next-door neighbor letter.
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Nick Accardi. I am the owner of Tavola, Tavolino (formerly Jax BBQ), Vito’s Slices and Ices, and Rocco’s Pizza.
I am also the initiator of the Hudson Yards Grass Roots Movement in response to the unruly and unlawful conditions of late in the neighborhood where I work and reside. The decision by the Mayor of the City of New York to house up to 2000 homeless unfortunates, drug/heroin addicts, and mental patients concentrated in a three-block area has made the lives of both business owners and local residents a nightmare.
Our neighborhood has recently had to endure everything from numerous break-ins, burglaries, public defecation, urination, indecent exposure and physical and verbal threats. As you can see from the attached photo file, many of these have been performed in full view of, and towards, customers at the same outdoor dining tables that the city allowed restaurants to install as compensation for the absence of indoor seating.
I have also drafted and circulated a Community Petition addressed to the Mayor and City Council that included the signatures of many local business owners and residents alike. A copy of the Petition is attached. I have participated in a couple of Zoom conferences with neighborhood business owners, community coordinators and activists, public advocates and representatives from the Mayor’s office and that of Councilman Corey Johnson.
In a recent Crain’s magazine, it was suggested that these same businesses lacked compassion and empathy for the homeless. This is far from the truth. Since as far back as 1990, members of the Tavola family have not only contributed time and money, but cooked and served meals regularly in soup kitchens and Holiday Welcome Tables for churches such as St. Xavier and Holy Apostle, so it is particularly disheartening to be vilified as “Unsympathetic” to the plight of the homeless.
The issue here is not the homeless, but the violent, aggressive, mentally ill and criminal element that was dropped into our midst without a word of warning from the city. In addition, the area already houses a needle exchange and methadone clinic, both of which should be removed so that the gentrification of this once rundown neighborhood can continue to thrive. The combination of these two elements has created a pervasive atmosphere that is unsafe and, at times, very dangerous.
We, as a neighborhood coalition, have been gaining strength on a daily basis due to the lack of response from the local police and elected officials. We come to you in good faith, but we will do whatever is necessary to protect our homes, our families, our employees and our livelihood and see that these contracts with local hotels are terminated at the earliest possible date.
WE, THE RESTAURANTS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS OF THE HUDSON YARDS/HELL’S KITCHEN COMMUNITY, HEREBY PETITION NEW YORK CITY MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO AND NYC COUNCIL SPEAKER COREY JOHNSON to address the increased level of homelessness and ensuing criminal behavior that has recently affected our New York neighborhoods.
WE STATE OR BELIEVE:
1. That the petitioners are residents and business owners in New York City.
2. That there has been a surge of illegal activity in the neighborhood since the city began housing the indigent and criminal element at hotels within close range of our homes and businesses.
3. That the activity, especially in the evening hours, has become increasingly aggressive, and often violent, with no regard for social distancing or COVID-19 protection. There have been incidents of public urination and defecation, often in full view of diners or customers. The neighborhood has begun to smell like a public toilet.
4. That several of the petitioning businesses have experienced break-ins, stolen merchandise, random vandalism and shattered storefront windows.
5. That the Governor’s Phase 2 reopening strategy to add outdoor seating has only backfired in that customers are being harassed as they dine, which results in complaints to the business owner and further loss of business.
6. That these neighborhoods have become stages for overt drug deals, drug use, and “shooting galleries” for heroin addicts.
7. That the local police are hindered and rendered ineffectual in their enforcement attempts due to the current restrictions posed by the pandemic. Often, the perpetrators are identified and apprehended, only to be freed the following day to repeat similar offences.
8. That since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many local business have struggled to stay alive. Several have failed. To have this activity undermine the efforts of the city to come back to life is like throwing gasoline on an already raging fire.
9. That until the homeless/criminal element is removed from the area, a stronger police presence could possibly prevent most of these offences from recurring and our community can actually begin to heal.
To sign click here
If you never heard of a restaurant/bar called Milady’s on Prince Street, you’ll know it now! That’s where Richard Jay-Alexander chose to celebrate his 70th Birthday and it was truly a WOWZA evening…the setting, the food, the peonies, the curated music PLAYLIST (assembled by longtime friend and assistant, Nellie Beavers), the craft cocktails and even a film crew (led by longtime pal, Brian Morgan) in the back, taping BRAVO-style “confessionals” with each guest, about the BIRTHDAY BOY. The guests in attendance ranged in age and interests, like a perfect jambalaya of an accomplished life. Even friends from his High School, in Solvay, NY! The most impressive part of who Richard is was quickly revealed in his post “blowing out the candles of his cake” moment when he looked around the room (clearly moved) and explained that the reason we were all there was, “because I have a story with each and every one of you.” Needless to say, there was much talent present throughout the room and plenty of legendary New Yorkers, raising a glass to a pretty special guy. In reality, it is he that entered into our lives and our stories and happily so. This is how you do it!
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
58
59
60
Tina Turner, the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll has died, after a long illness at 83. Turner was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016 and underwent a kidney transplant in 2017.
Her life story was told in the 1993 smash film What’s Love Got to Do with It and in the 2019 Broadway musical Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, starring Adrienne Warren in a career-making performance.
Born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, in Nutbush, TN, Turner became famous in the late 1960s as the singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Their major hits included: “River Deep – Mountain High” and “Proud Mary.”After leaving husband Ike Turner following years of physical and emotional abuse, she staged what remains one of the greatest comebacks in pop music history, scoring massive hits in the 1980s such as “What’s Love Got To Do With it”, “Private Dancer” and “The Best,” with an estimated 180 million albums sold worldwide, 12 Grammy Awards won and sold-out stadium tours around the world.
Turner scored another smash single in 1985 with “We Don’t Need Another Hero, from the Mel Gibson-George Miller threequel Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. She played the ruthless leader of Bartertown in the movie and delivered the memorable line, “Welcome to another edition of Thunderdome!”
She returned to the Top 20 later that year with “It’s Only Love,” a duet with Bryan Adams from his Reckless album, and also was part of the global smash “We Are the World.” That 1985 famine-relief single — written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced by Quincy Jones and credited to USA for Africa.
Turner also appeared at the intercontinental charity concert Live Aid that summer, performing a raucous, sexually charged duet with Mick Jagger in Philadelphia on a medley of his solo single “State of Shock” and the Rolling Stones’ “It’ Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It).”
Turner’s status as a musical pioneer extended to 1980s television when she became a staple of MTV.
A private funeral ceremony is expected for family and close friends and family.
If there’s anyone who deserves to be featured in TIMES SQUARE CHRONICLES, on this particular day, May 24, it would be this guy, Richard Jay-Alexander. Born in 1953, today he turns 70 years old, here in New York City. He has walked these city streets more than most, as he pursued and has enjoyed a 49 year career, working on Broadway, in most theaters, clubs and majestic musical institutions, such as Carnegie Hall and The MET. He’s touched many, many lives and has a passion for this business that continues to burn and just this past Sunday, he helmed a thrilling evening, celebrating BroadwayWorld.com‘s 20th Anniversary, at midtown’s historic Sony Hall. On the eve of his birthday, he attended his favorite Tuesday night happening, Susie Mosher’s The LINEUP at Birdland Theatre, and treated the audience to a couple stories, observations on this important birthday and then, with Billy Stritch at the piano, John Miller on Bass and Clint De Canon on drums, performed a moving and heartfelt (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Richard clearly has a gift and a passion for the stage and for music and we are all the better for it, on the receiving end.
Happy Birthday, Young Man! Here’s to many more.
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
BILLY STRITCH & RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER & SUSIE MOSHER
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
SETH SIKES, NICOLAS KING, CARLOS CLEMENZ, RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER, STEPHEN SOROKOFF, EDA SOROKOFF
DOUG MIDDLEBROOK, RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER, EDA SOROKOFF
BILLY STRITCH, KATE SHINDLE, President Actors’ Equity Association, RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
SUSIE MOSHER & RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RJA
Cabaret
My View: A Glamorous Celebrity Filled Night With Lorna Dallas at The Laurie Beechman Theatre
It was a celebrity filled audience last night and the glamor of Manhattan Cabaret nightlife was in abundance for Lorna Dallas and her show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre titled “Glamorous Nights and Rainy Days
Ms. Dallas returned to New York City with a wonderful new show. This was Ms. Dallas’ first appearance in this town since she performed at the Bistro awards prior to the lockdown of 2020. The three years respite has done nothing to dim the luster of Ms Dallas’ exceptional instrument. She stayed in fine voice all evening long. But she is more than just an excellent vocalist. She is also a compelling actress. Her show, skillfully crafted by director Barry Kleinbort, and sensitively accompanied by one of this city’s best musical directors, Christopher Denny, was a joy from start to finish. The star studded audience at the Laurie Beechman theater responded heartily to every one of Lorna’s numbers. Evening high points ran the gamut, from standards like “I Have Dreamed,” to “When the Sun Comes Out;” from an hilarious “By Strauss” by the Gershwin’s to a dramatic “Silent Spring” by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. She also premiered a new song written especially for her by Ann Hampton Callaway and Amanda McBroom, “In My Dreams,” which wowed the savvy New York crowd. Hopefully, Lorna Dallas will return to these shores on a more regular basis. Three years is too long a wait for this powerful soprano’s next appearance..
LORNA DALLAS
CHRISTOPHER DENNY & LORNA DALLAS
LORNA DALLAS & DONNA McKECHNIE
LORNA DALLAS & MELISSA ERRICO
MARILYN MAYE & LORNA DALLAS
LORNA DALLAS & CHARLES BUSCH
PENNY FULLER & LORNA DALLAS
MELISSA ERRICO & EDA SOROKOFF
DAVID ZIPPEL, LORNA DALLAS, JAMIE deROY
LORNA DALLAS & REX REED
LORNA DALLAS & KT SULLIVAN
SUSIE MOSHER & LORNA DALLAS
DAVID SABELLA & LORNA DALLAS
CRAIG RUBANO & LORNA DALLAS
MARIEANN MERINGOLO & LORNA DALLAS
GEORGE DVORSKY, LORNA DALLAS, ROSIE BENTINCK
EDA SOROKOFF,MARILYN MAYE, CHARLES BUSCH
KT SULLIVAN & ELIZABETH SULLIVAN
KURT PETERSON, LORNA DALLAS
ANN TALMAN &LORNA DALLAS
LORNA DALLAS & SANDY MANLEY
JOYCE BREACH & REX REED
LORNA DALLAS & RICHARD HILLMAN
BARRY KLEINBORT, DIRECTOR
LORNA DALLAS
LORNA DALLAS
LORNA DALLAS
CHRISTOPHER DENNY & LORNA DALLAS
Tony, Grammy, and Emmy award winning composer/writer/musician David Yazbek and his band were on the stage of 54 Below last night playing some of his new songs from an upcoming album. They also played some great music from the Yazbek songbook and from his Broadway musicals.
In addition to being an award winning composer and lyricist David Yazbek is a formidable pianist possessing a fearless technique generating an extraordinary combination of intoxicating melodious dissonance. . A highlight of the evening for me was when he displayed his unique harmonic and rhythmic pianistic concepts on the Great American Songbook Standard “Over The Rainbow”. Norbert Leo Butz also starred in the the 54 evening titled “David Yazbek and The Bludgeoneers” and he brought the house to it’s feet with the “Dirty Rotten Medley”
The Band: Javier Diaz (Percussion), Tony Orbach (Sax), Sam Sadigursky (Clarinet), Dean Sharenow (Drums), Chris Tordini (Bass), Paul Vercesi (Sax)
DAVID YAZBEK
DAVID YAZBEK
NORBERT LEO BUTZ
NORBERT LEO BUTZ
NORBERT LEO BUTZ
SAM SADIGURSKY
DAVID YAZBEK & SAM SADIGURSKY
NORBERT LEO BUTZ
TONY ORBACH & PAUL VERCESI
THE BAND
DAVID YAZBEK & NORBERT LEO BUTZ
54 BELOW
And The Winners of The 2023 Drama Desk Awards Are ………
Ken Fallin’s Broadway: Remembering Angela Lansbury in Sweeney Todd
The Glorious Corner
-
Events3 days agoHappy Memorial Day From T2C
-
Art5 days agoTaylor Swift Exhibition Opens in NYC
-
Events4 days agoTovah Feldshuh Joins The American Popular Song Society In Celebration of Marilyn Maye
-
Broadway4 days agoThe Outer Critics Circle Awards and You Are There Part 2
-
Broadway4 days agoHam4Ham: Some Like It Hot, Parade and Shucked With Special Guests
-
Cabaret4 days agoCabaret, Talks and Concerts For June
-
Broadway4 days agoKen Fallin’s Broadway: Chicago
-
Art4 days agoEvents in June