Upperwest.com: Dedicated to New York's Upper West Side

Local parents rejoiced at the news last week, first reported by neighborhood blog West Side Rag, that two local schools potentially slated for demolition are going to be spared after all. The Departent of Education has previously proposed that either P.S. 199 on 70th Street or P.S. 191 on 61st Street be sold to developers in exchange for constructing new schools along with new apartments on the sites. But local opposition to the plan was swift and loud, and the DOE announced that it had chosen to instead demolish the School of Cooperative Technical Education at 321 East 96th Street to rebuild it inside a luxury high-rise, local Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal told the West Side Rag.
“We are absolutely thrilled that P.S. 191 and P.S. 199 will be saved,” wrote David Saphier on his blog 199demolition.com. “They are cherished neighborhood institutions and the disruption would have been terrible for kids, the parents and the neighborhoods. However, our joy is tempered by the fact that another amazing school, the High School Cooperative Education has been chosen by the ECF for demolition and redevelopment.”

On West 69th, a familiar brownstone is going on the market. Just across from Lincoln Center, a spot he has played many times, jazz saxophonist David Sanborn is putting his upper West Side dwelling on the market after 25 years. With five bedrooms, two outdoor spaces, a meditation room, and a sky-lit top-floor (which Sanborn used as a studio), the brownstone is selling at $12 million. Sanborn is one of the most successful sax players of our time: he has not only played a major role in the jazz world, but also has influenced R&B, pop and rock players. Of his career’s 24 albums, six have earned Grammys, eight have gone gold, and one has hit platinum. He has worked extensively as a studio player as well, sitting for such big and diverse names as James Brown, Cat Stevens, Little Feat, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, and The Grateful Dead. Shaun Osher, broker with CORE real estate agency, got the listing. He’s one of Sanborn’s friends. The New York Daily News reports why the meditative sax player and his wife would leave such a comfortable haven: “we don’t need this much house anymore.” Emerald Inn Relocates

Many of our fellow Upper West Siders were heartbroken to hear that the Emerald Inn was closing its doors. It was the spot of a regular crowd, an after-work haven where loose ties and tired heels could hang out. A New York Magazine Critic’s pick, this spot served great pub grub (not microwave chicken fingers). But hold on—this is not a eulogy! The owners have found a new location (one where the rent wouldn’t hike to more than $30K a month, hopefully). Don’t stare into the bottom of that mug too long; the Emerald is already up and running at 250 West 72nd!

The parents of Ariel Russo, the 4-year-old girl killed in an Upper West Side car crash on June 4, announced their intention to take action against the city for the wrongful death of their daughter and injury of their mother. The family has announced they intend to file two separate lawsuits for $20 million each.
Ariel and her grandmother, Katia Gutierrez, were on their way to pre-school early Wednesday morning, when Franklin Reyes pinned them against a building having lost control of his car fleeing from police. The New York Daily News reports that after being hit on 97th and Columbus, Ariel was semi-conscious, and despite the police’s repeated requests for an ambulance, help did not arrive at the scene in time to save her. Gutierrez remains hospitalized.
Officials of the Fire Department have stated that a dispatcher left the desk and did not receive the police’s emergency call for four minutes. For this dispatching delay and the resulting death of Ariel, the family seeks $40 million in damages from the city, $20 million for Ariel and $20 million for Gutierrez.
“I did not want to come before the press today,” Ariel’s mother, Sofia Russo read through tears from a statement. “But I have to communicate that my daughter did not live and die in vain.” Russo hopes the lawsuit “prevents this from happening to anyone else.”

The comedian and actor on his first gig, his witty family, and “Whitney”

By Angela Barbuti

If you go to see Chris D’Elia’s comedy show at Carolines this weekend, some of his act will be about dating. It’s not surprising that he gets his material from hanging out with friends at diners late at night. It seems like a no-brainer that NBC casted the former “Whitney” star as the lead in its new show, “Undateable.” The 33-year-old plays a dating coach to his lovelorn friends. When asked if life imitated art, D’Elia replied, “I’m acting.” Besides this new show, he is in the process of cutting a Comedy Central special of his work and has some movies on the horizon. “I’m right where I want to be,” he said.

You live in LA. How is it different to perform in New York?
In New York, there’s a lot of different kinds of people and I really like that. I perform in LA so much that I see a lot of the same people.

What is the demographic at your shows?

It’s like 18 to 40 year-olds who come to see me. And all different races. In LA a lot of Persians like me. I don’t know why that happened, but that happened.

Persians? Really, why?
Maybe cause I’m hairy.

How do you come up with material?
Hanging out with my friends late night at diners- that’s how I always come up with my material. If I can make them laugh, then I can bring it to the stage. Sometimes it works, and when it works, I add it to the act. And then sometimes, when it doesn’t, I just get mad at my friends.

Tell people who have never seen your act what it’s about.
Different people, different cultures. A lot about dating and ex-girlfriends.

Where was your first stand-up gig?
My first actual show was at the Ha Ha Café in North Hollywood in 2006. I invited some friends. I was so nervous. But it turned out well and then after that, I bombed for a few months and ended up earning my stripes.

When did you first realize that you were funny?
[Laughs] I don’t know; I’m still trying to figure it out. As long as they’re laughing, I’m happy. I thought that things that I thought were funny made me funny. My mom and my dad – and my brother – they’re just so funny, so it’s tough to keep up. I was the butt of a lot of jokes growing up, so that made me stronger in that respect. So I just started to make fun of people. They created a monster, I think.

Your dad is in the business too. Did he want you to go into entertainment?
No, he wanted the opposite. But he came to some shows and was happy about it. I made him laugh, so he was all for it.

Many know you from the show “Whitney.” What was that experience like for you?
It was great. I loved Whitney [Cummings] and all the people who were involved with that show. It was kind of a dream job. It was so close to where I lived and I loved hanging out with the people – they were friends. I knew Whitney before we started doing the show.

You’re going to be on a new show in the fall on NBC.
Yeah, it’s called “Undateable.” I’m the lead and actually, a guy who used to be my opener, Brent Morin, is the co-lead in it. It’s pretty cool that we get to work together.

How did this role come about?
I was doing “Whitney,” and Bill Lawrence, the guy who created “Scrubs” – he does “Undateable” – and he really wanted me for the role. So NBC said, “OK, we’ll have Chris for the role, but if we pick up ‘Whitney,’ then we’re gonna have to recast the role.” But “Whitney” got canceled and the next day they picked up “Undateable.”

It’s about you giving dating advice to guys, right?
I’m trying to get the undateables, dateable.
Does that happen in real life?
I’m acting. No. I don’t know if I’m the dateable one in real life.
Follow Chris on Twitter @chrisdelia

By Jonathan Bowles and Julie Sandorf

At a time when many New Yorkers struggle to make the transition to today’s knowledge economy, no institution is doing more to bridge the gap than the city’s public libraries. The city’s 206 branch libraries have become the go-to places for those who lack the essential literacy, language and technological skills needed to get ahead today. They are helping adults upgrade their skills and find jobs, assisting immigrants learn English, fostering reading skills in young people and providing technology access for those who don’t have a computer or an Internet connection at home.
Yet, the libraries are often treated by city policymakers as if there’s little more to them than children’s story time. The City Council has prevented most of the proposed budget cuts from taking effect in prior years, but city funding for the libraries is still down by eight percent over the last decade. As a result, the libraries are barely open 40 hours a week, fewer than almost every major urban library system. This year, the libraries are literally fighting to keep their doors open. For a mayor who puts a premium on metrics, it’s hard to rationalize the cuts. Over the past decade, the city’s three public library systems have experienced a 40 percent spike in the number of people attending educational programs and a 59 percent increase in circulation.
The City Council should restore proposed budget reductions and give libraries more stability in the budget process by setting an adequate baseline level of funding. With more dependable support, they could be playing an even more pivotal role in restoring New York as a city of opportunity.
Jonathan Bowles is executive director of the Center for an Urban Future. Julie Sandorf is president of the Charles H. Revson Foundation.