Jessica Alfieri

writes everything you see here.

• Where They Lost Me

  Jul 7, 2008 tagged as profit, protest, Union Square, Union Square Park

  I’m all for preservation of public spaces, especially when the public space in question is a park (treasured real estate in this city). I’m all for efficiency in construction (which I have yet to see in this city). And I’m all for transparency in planning, disclosure of donations, and partnership with the public in making decisions about public space.

  BUT (and this is a big but) I’m not for demonizing private enterprise.  I’m not for ignoring the recent history of a neighborhood, only to glorify its ancient past.

  And until Wednesday, I had been a quiet supporter of the Save-Union-Square group’s conversation with the city about the future of the park.

  I stood by while they prayed to three little pine trees.  I chuckled while Reverend Billy spoofed an auction to show us just how for-sale the park is.

  

  

  But when I saw the screaming group that gathered to protest at the storefront of Union Square Cafe, they lost me.

  

  Has no one bothered to think about how bad Union Square had become before risks were taken (by private enterprise) and new life was breathed into the neighborhood?

  Or is it just more convenient to cite Emma Goldman’s famous speech at the pavilion? I suppose their messages might jive: would the Save-Union-Square folks also like to take everything by force?

  The park of the 80s was not the center of culture and art that it is today, let alone a place most of us would want to hang out after dark.  The restaurants and other businesses that saw a future in this place brought people back here, and with them, safety in numbers.

  From Wednesday’s fliers:

  Push Back Against Danny Meyer.

  Danny Meyer, Union Square Cafe owner and supposed Mr. Nice Guy of New York City, is the man at the center of the controversial plan to privatize the Pavilion building of Union Square Park.

  I’m not going to say that Danny Meyer is a saint, because frankly, I don’t know enough about him.  But I know that if I had the opportunity to do what he did with Union Square Cafe (and others) I would.

  No, he and other entrepreneurs weren’t rebuilding Union Square all out of the goodness of their hearts: they saw a financial opportunity here. But I don’t think that’s wrong.

  Sure, I wish there weren’t a bank and a Starbucks on every corner, I don’t like what NYU has done to the village, and I often complain and employ that overused G-word (gentrification). I understand preferring the gritty to the “nice”.

  But it shows an incredible lack of context to protest outside one of the restaurants that reignited Union Square life.

  Put another way, you’d also be complaining if the park’s playground spaces were still littered with needles.

  Other coverage: Village Voice, Washington Square Park Blog, Save Union Square

  
  

• Being Tom Waits

  Jun 30, 2008 tagged as Billy's Band, Jazz, New York, Russian, street music, Union Square

  I watched some amazing musicians last night.

  Two of the four members of Billy’s Band drew a fifty-strong crowd at the northwest end of Union Square.

  And even with all the great street [and subway] musicians New Yorkers run into, you don’t see a crowd this big unless six guys in matching jumpsuits are doing back flips set to hip-hop in a prime tourist area.

  Nevertheless, we stood captivated by these two amazing performers, sweating out in the street, across from the Blue Water Grill.

  The band is apparently huge in St. Petersburg, their home town.  And the Russian influences run heavy through their music, along with French and American jazz.

  Billy Novik, the band’s lead singer-baritone, and Anton Matezius, the accordionist, are two absolutely unassuming guys, drenched and sticky in the June heat as we all are, except they’re working their asses off on the bass, tambourine, and accordion, creating a sound to rival a six piece band.  Billy keeps the beat, hitting his base and kicking his tambourine for percussion, while Antos adds lightning to their songs, howling and keeping rhythm on the accordion.

  
  Billy’s Band plays “Temptation” from Jessica Alfieri on Vimeo.

  We all listened, excited to be a part of something that felt so alive. The kind of music that transports you from the muggy street to a French den or a prohibition-era club.

  Still, many onlookers are suddenly taken aback, sending whispers through the crowd, when a rogue roach nearly climbs up Antos’ leg, and then flirts with the bass case full of money. Disaster is averted when a bystander steps in and steps on the bug.

  And the music plays on.

  
  

• Union Square Ain’t Nothing to F*ck With

  Jun 29, 2008 tagged as New York, NYC Parks, Union Square, Union Square Park

  (in Wu-Tang’s words)

  
  on Vimeo.

  These guys might have been helpful at the protest earlier, but they showed up much too late.  Still, it’s a decent theme to adopt (for much different reasons).

  Six hours earlier, we had:

  

  The guy with the purple wig, riding his white stallion.

  

  The First Amendmentress, who regaled the crowd with a constitutional recitation.

  

  Reverend Billy, conducting the crowd.

  

  An army of cyclists…

  

  

  And plenty of passersby who stopped to listen.

  Make sure you come out for the Push Back Picnic (Wed, July 2 at 6:00pm).

  
  

• Still Drying Out

  Jun 16, 2008 tagged as construction, Union Square, Union Square Park

  No need to water the dirt today. Still plenty of lakes around the construction site after Saturday’s monsoon.

  

  And while we’re here, the woodpecker has a new hole to dig. Again, they’re hinting at pipe installation, with the pipeline standing at the ready. Let’s see if it happens.