Let’s Hear It for New York
Jay-Z shouldn’t be the only one thankful for this city of ours
By Lorraine Duffy Merkl
“I traveled 3,000 miles for these pumpkin waffles,” said native San Franciscan and former New Yorker Cecile Lozano, who, with knife and fork in hand, proceeded to dig into her breakfast at Sarabeth’s on Madison Avenue.
There have been times when I haven’t wanted to venture into another neighborhood to try “the great new restaurant” simply because it seemed like too much trouble. Sometimes New York, for all the opportunities it offers, can become like a boyfriend you tolerate—in fact, you think you’re doing him a favor by dating him—until someone else comes along and goes after him like he’s the top prize at a church bazaar. Only then do you remember why you liked him in the first place. Read more
Construction in ‘Vacant’ Building
Tenants disturbed by work meant for empty structure
By Dan Rivoli
Among the brownstones and high rises on West 103rd Street between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive, there is one building that appears to be abandoned.
Scaffolding hugs the façade, permits from the Department of Buildings plaster the glass front door and windows are covered in plastic.
But there are actually six tenants living at 315 W. 103rd St. Their home has become a permanent construction site because the landlord apparently falsified a building permit.
Two years ago, Jacob Avid of Dan-Bran Realty LLC bought the building and applied for permits to build a two-story rooftop and rear-yard addition. The permits stated that the eight-unit building was vacant, but it was actually occupied. Read more
Beautiful Bubble
Stephen Duncun (far right) creates a long bubble for onlookers young and old at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. Photo by Andrew Schwartz 
H+H OWNER INDICTED
By Dan Rivoli
Helmer Toro, owner of the legendary H+H Bagels, was indicted and charged with tax fraud Nov. 18.
Outgoing Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said the bagel magnate stole withholding taxes—taxes taken out of employees’ paychecks—and evaded unemployment insurance tax. The tax charges are in connection with H+H Bagels’ retail store at 2239 Broadway and West 80th Street, as well as the company’s wholesale operation.
The district attorney’s investigation alleges that Toro collected but failed to pay $369,318 in payroll taxes. Toro is also accused of creating six shell organizations to get a lower unemployment insurance tax rate by moving a large number of workers between these fake companies. He is charged on two counts of violating labor law.
On May 29, two H+H Bagels stores, including the famed Broadway location, closed for three hours when the state department of taxation seized the business. H+H Bagels was allowed to reopen after paying the liability.
Toro was arraigned in State Supreme Court Nov. 18 and pled not guilty. He surrendered his passport and was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court Dec. 4.
As of Nov. 23, the Broadway outpost was still open.
TRADER JOE’S COMING
By Dan Rivoli
First Whole Foods set up shop in Columbus Square. Now, Trader Joe’s is coming to the Upper West Side.
The specialty food store is planning to open on West 72nd Street and Broadway sometime in 2010.
Trader Joe’s is keeping a tight lid on additional details, such as size of the store or the exact opening date.
This will be the second Trader Joe’s in Manhattan, after the store’s Union Square location. But unlike the Union Square counterpart, the Upper West Side Trader Joe’s will not have a wine shop next door. Under New York State’s antiquated liquor laws, only one license can be given to any business or person.
HOMELESS HOUSING GROWS
By Dan Rivoli
Urban Pathways, the homeless services nonprofit, plans to expand its Upper West Side homeless housing location.
The nonprofit wants to renovate the Cluster House, at 904 Amsterdam Ave. and West 104th Street, into 52 studio apartments.
The Cluster House, celebrating its 20th anniversary next month, is a 48-unit single room occupancy building that specializes in housing homeless individuals with mental illness. Clients share bathrooms and are served food from a commercial kitchen on the premises.
With a new 52-unit studio apartment building, residents can learn to live independent lives, according to Frank Shack, Urban Pathways’ executive director.
“Our clients would be better served by providing studios instead of private sleeping accommodations,” Shack said. “It’s an opportunity to live independently, to prepare your own meals and have private accommodations for bathing.”
The renovation of the building will add an additional three stories on the roof, though the added floors will be set back and invisible from the street. The façade will be unchanged.
Shack said he is consulting the community on this proposal, though the city and community board do not need to weigh in on the project for it to move forward.
BAKE SALE ALTERNATIVE
By Miranda Katz
The city’s recent ban on public school bake sales has forced students to come up with creative new streams of revenue. At the Computer School, on West 77th Street, students are working with Eco Africa Social Ventures to sell handmade Zimbabwean crafts to raise money for extracurricular activities. Eco Africa Social Ventures is a nonprofit organization that supports Zimbabwean female artisans; products include handmade journals, notebooks, bookmarks and ornaments.
“Our partnership with Eco Africa Social Ventures is a win-win,” said Henry Zymeck, the school’s principal. “It teaches students about the spirit of helping others while raising needed funds for their school.”
Man Accused of Assaulting Girlfriend
A man was arrested Nov. 7 for striking his girlfriend with a wine glass at 3:15 a.m. Police said the couple was drinking during a celebration in their apartment, on West 72nd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West, when the two starting arguing. G. Jankevicius is accused of hitting his 35-year-old girlfriend with the glass. Police said she blocked it with her arm, causing a laceration. Jankevicius was arrested and charged with assault.
Apartment Burglarized
On Nov. 6 at 4 p.m., a woman found thousands of dollars worth of jewelry missing from her apartment on West 69th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West. She noticed that the lock on her front door was open when she tried to enter her apartment. Police said a $500 watch, $5,000 earrings and $200 in cash were missing.
Mugged for a Jacket
An Upper East Side teen was robbed on the southeast corner of Columbus Avenue and West 78th Street. Cops said that on Nov. 7, the 16-year-old boy was mugged while trying to hail a cab at midnight after leaving a party at the Apthorp, on Broadway between West 78th and 79th streets. The mugger stole his cash, wallet, cell phone and the $500 Prada jacket he was wearing, cops said.
