News This Week

With every inch of New York being bought up by private Realtors, it is refreshing to know that there is still a street that is city owned – no matter how small. Running from 1st Street, not even reaching 2nd Street, between the Bowery and Second Avenue is Extra Place. According to the New York Times, the city is trying to sell the historic street to commercial developers, while Community Board 3 is urging New York to protect the street from over-modernization.

Also in real estate, the old Wheatsworth Bakery at East 10th Street and the Public National Bank (now apartments) on Avenue C have been declared city landmarks by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, according to The Villager. Both buildings played important roles in the lives of immigrants as they tried to make names for them in the New World.

At 60 Third Avenue, a new restaurant, Apiary, opened with chef Neil Manacle, a student of Bobby Flay. The Times review was not stellar (the mussels were described as stringy) but my experience there proved to be much different. The scallops and shrimp were fresh, tender and succulent. I’m no culinary expert but I know what tastes good. The wine list, as the article points out, is diverse and no one at my table was disappointed with their orders.

Oktoberfest comes to the East Village at Zum Schneider, the German beer garden at 107 Avenue C. From September 27-October 12, join an oompah band while sampling a selection of five Oktoberfest beers

Coming up this week in arts, Wednesday, October 1 at the Bowery Poetry Club is “Living the Sensual Life: An evening of Erotic Open Mic” for $10 at 8:00 pm. Anyone is invited to bring their stories, songs, poems, etc. on anything and everything having to do with erotica. Friday, October 3^rd at 10:00 pm, the club is also hosting Smith Island Asylum ($10 admission). The performance blends forms of media from film to heavy metal to punk and others, telling the story of a woman who lived an unorthodox lifestyle.

At The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza, Stereolab is playing all this week with guests like Van Allen Belt, Atlas Sound, Anti-Pop Consortium, Monade and others. Special ticket offers are available online.

In the spirit of the Jewish High Holy Days, Rabbi Jacobson of the Sixth Street synagogue is looking to attract people, those both lapsed from the Jewish faith as well as non-Jews, to form a “spiritual Starbucks,” so that people can gather, discuss and learn about the religion.