Here, at Tudor City View, that percentage will always be ZERO percent. Just another quick humble brag slash reminder that nothing on TCV will ever be spawned by AI.

Generative AI is creativity for goofs, Large Language Models are ruining critical thinking skills, and Conversational AI is just plain evil. Does it seem like I have an opinion? I have an opinion.

But anyways, outside of my head and into the real world of our neighborhood, our population seems to have cleared out for the summer. Hell, my partner and I got right into John’s Coffee Shop for breakfast on Sunday morning (actually, it was only a three minute wait). As such is the emptiness of Manhattan in August, there is not too much to report.

Knock on wood, but I am very much looking forward to an easy August.

To encourage the good vibes and leave you with something positive instead of my anti-AI radicalism, yar be a small positive rant. It’s something that I think is really important: Keeping our neighborhood clean.

To me, this starts with how we think about the way we keep our neighborhood clean. Issues with trash being picked up actually is something that either the buildings or the city should be handling. But keeping everything clean CAN come down to us.

If you see something that can be done, do it. Pick it up, throw it in the trash. Today there was a paper plate left on the ground. I picked it up and threw it in the trash. I saw someone peeling a sticker off the railing over 42nd Street. If everyone contributes small acts of cleanliness, the whole neighborhood will shine.

That said, anything major should be reported to 311 or the Tudor City Association. I think they are actively trying to organize and clean up this area. You can reach out to them here!

Just something to think about when you’re walking around and enjoying the summer and our neighborhood. The more we each invest, the more everyone else will invest, too.

CIVICALLYS

• The Summer Book Talk series is happening on Tuesday, August 18th. The book is The Women by Kristin Hannah. You have time to read it. The moderator is Garret R. Lynch, M.D. and it takes place in the North Park.

• On Saturday, August 8th at 1 p.m. in South Park is a Children’s Gardening Event! It’s free!

• On Sunday, August 9th is the final in the series of Supporting Aging in Our Community. The subject is Dementia 101: Stages and Abilities. Shira Felderbaum Kedem, LMSW, MS will be speaking.

TO DO

• Tonight’s Bryant Park movie is Bridget Jones’ Diary. The park opens up at 5 p.m., movie at 8 p.m. Is it possible to get thrown out of this event? If ever there was a good movie to try to get thrown out of, it’s this one. Probably yelling “WANKER!” every time Hugh Grant is on screen would do it.

• If you want to know what it was like to rock out at a Todd P show in 2007, Parts and Labor & Oneida are playing at TV Eye on Friday, August 7th. Just be prepared for a long subway ride.

• All The President’s Men is playing at the United Palace in Washington Heights on Sunday, August 9th at 3 p.m. It’s gonna seem positively quaint by today’s standards of corruption. Hop over to A train and take it 175th. Easy af.

• Noname is playing at Sony Hall on Wednesday, August 5th. Her last few records have been amazing. I highly recommend getting to this one.

THE TC MANIFEST (PART DEUX)

A gigantic neighborhood swap. Are you familiar with a swap? I will give credit to my partner because I had no idea what one was until she introduced me.

So a swap is like this: Everyone brings a few nice, working things from their home but they aren’t using anymore. Each person brings up to four things, but no clothes or food or anything broken. Then everyone puts their stuff out on a few tables and anyone can go and take something from anyone else.

Think of it as a functional recycling center for things that work. A Neighborhood Swap.

Maybe we do it at the North Park. Maybe we charge a five dollars admission with all the money going to the Greens. And then everyone takes home something. We did one in my building and that is how I ended up with a soundbar that still gets used daily. Some other dude ended up with an Xbox. He kept asking “wait, so I can just HAVE this??”

The answer was yes. And then, anything that is left over gets donated to a non-profit organization.

Hmmmm. Maybe this would be a good first Tudor City View event. It could be epic. I’ll be the person using an Old Navy bag as a hat.

-TCV

My big selfish realization was how important that section of 43rd Street is to me. From sprinting down the block to Grand Central, to seeing all of the adorable children regularly headed to the playground, to keeping my car-dodging skills sharp in front of the Avis store, it’s a pipeline.

I’m glad it’s back but don’t think every time I walk down there I’m not looking up and ready to duck for cover. I don’t trust it and while I appreciate the Mayor keeping us informed and assured, my lack of faith in the builders and building inspectors keeps me on edge.

So, I’ve relied on strong reporting to keep me in the know. Here are some of the best articles I’ve read…

• The New York Times article is a good place to start to understand what actually happened with the building, the renovation, the beams, and the lack of reinforcements.

• Then head over to this Gothamist article, and discover that the build plans were not peer-reviewed.

• This article from HousingWire seems to put the blame on ‘workers’ which is a strange turn of phrase. The article itself says that it’s about the contractor, not office-to-residential, but still… blaming “workers” seems kind of messed up.

• Oh yeah, and the guy who founded the firm involved in the inspections was fired by the city in the 80s for throwing cocaine parties in his office. Marone a mi.

• Another great Gothamist article about how the builder’s finances are a mess. It is not unreasonable to expect 43rd Street to be a disaster for a number of years. Related note: Who the hell is going to want to live there now?

• This New Yorker article is behind the paywall, but is an interesting look at how this might affect the office-to-residential plans. We do need to alleviate the housing crisis, but… well, I have some doubts about the altruism of the people involved.

• And on the same office-to-residential conversions subject, Kimberly Adams interviewed City Comptroller Mark Levine over at Marketplace.

My final thoughts? Keep your eyes on the buildings and trust your instincts when a building site doesn’t exactly feel safe.

Gigantic s/o to my partner who, for the last year, has refused to walk under the scaffolding surrounding the building because “something felt off about it.” Trust your instincts, my dear Tudor City residents.

Stay safe out there!

-TCV

But the due props to this New Yorker article and specifically reading the @BoerumBulletin substack. (Apologies for linking to a behind-the-paywall article) From that article to the badassness of BB, I got the inspiration to try this myself.

Of course, thank you to the early subscribers and anyone who has read it and shared it. In fact, sharing this is the best. It would mean the world if you got it out there because social medias are definitely not what I am good at.

Going forward, I'll still be testing out the final section of this weekly newsletter. This week is a test balloon for manifesting cool stuff in The TC. We’ve got so much already. But when I hear that there used to be a great speakeasy here way back in the day, it inspires me to hope for more. So I’m gonna start with my suggestion. Feel free to send yours in to tudorcityview@gmail.com

Thanks y’alls!

CIVICALLYS

• Woah! First week since I’ve started this that there aren’t any official events going on in The TC. So go make an unofficial one. Leave the phones at home and go hang in the park with a few friends. Thermos of wine optional. Although that last advice is probably not encouraged by the Tudor City Greens.

• Are you having soccer withdrawals? Who wants to start a street soccer league either in the 43rd Street or Tudor City Place cul-de-sac? We can use the trash-bags as goalposts. Email tudorcityview@gmail.com with the subject line “This is a Terrible Idea but I Am IN”. BYO Kneepads.

• There was an attempted mugging a few weeks back. Nothing to get freaked out about, but definitely a reminder that we still live in New York City and you want to keep your eyes open.

TO DO

• Movie Night in Bryant Park this week is The Truman Show. You probably feel like you are living it right now.

• Fuggin’ Rush is playing at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday the 28th and then on Thursday and Saturday. How can you miss this? (I will be missing this) If Rush isn’t your speed, then Phish also has a show there this week. Related note, James Dolan sucks.

• On Thursday night, July 30th, Souls of Mischief are playing at Brooklyn Bowl. Thirty-three years later, ‘93 Til Infinity is still the greatest hiphop song ever recorded. Don’t believe me? Watch Uncle L spell it out here.

• Well although the Mets got mostly-shellacked by the Dodgers and are probably mostly-demoralized, they still have a home stand all week. Tickets are probably cheap.

THE TC MANIFEST (PART 1)

It seems there is a lot of open business space in 25 and 5 Tudor City Place. How much of a pain would it be to convert one of the spaces and set up a community room for arts and music.

Right? Like a place for the kids and the adults to form new bands or write comics or paint. We’d need a lot of soundproofing, for the bands idea, but a Tudor City art space would rule. Apparently there is a building that has a music room in The TC, but sounds like it’s locals only over there.

But seriously, how great would it be to have that sort of a space and let it be of minimal cost. We need more art spaces and our small apartments might not be able to handle the grand artistic visions of the brilliant Tudor City minds.

Hey, it’s manifesting! I’m not dealing with real estate valuations over here. But, a strong community breeds its own success. The more reasons we have to love living here, the more that energy attracts other people. And the best part is, even if it doesn’t attract other people, all of us get to enjoy being around each other.

I am the eternal optimist.

-TCV

First up, just started a Tudor City View account on Bluesky. That’s a thing, right? It’s about as social as I can get. Follow away.

As promised, following up on last week’s delayed rant, I’m going to jump fully into summertime, which would be my personal favorite time to listen to the genre of music I decided to invent.

Yacht Electro.

Everyone has heard of Yacht Rock by now…. even if you haven’t seen the video series that coined the phrase. Although TBH, if you haven’t seen the series, stop what you are doing and spend some time watching the best twelve-episode series ever. One of my favorite memories was watching this whole series with a bunch of drunk Southern Californians on a big screen at a pool party. Way back in the pre-Google YouTube era. I am old.

And not that I am claiming to be the EDM Hollywood Steve or anything, because I can’t weave a narrative thread on Yacht Electro. But to me, it is a sound that definitely harkens back to 2005-ish. The Iraq war was a disaster, people weren’t exactly optimistic about the future of the country and there was a bubble creating irrational exuberance. So possibly people needed something easy to chill with. I’ll stake my claim on these being the foundations of Yacht Electro.

My love of Yacht Rock anthems has more to do with the people I am listening to it with. People who genuinely love and would go to these concerts are more likely on my annoying spectrum. I probably share little in common with. Now, tattoo’d punk rockers going nuts to a Michael McDonald track makes everyone involved infinitely cooler.

Same goes for Yacht Electro. Some Garden State-reject (the movie, not New Jersey) telling me Zero 7 is amazing isn’t gonna be cool. But a bunch of dirtbags listening to “Passing By” on a roof mid-summer is amazing. With the Yachts. the context is as important as what is being played. To me.

So, be around good friends this summer, enjoy yourself, and you can have this playlist in the background. In between listening to Ramones’ tracks.

CIVICALLYS

• It looks like there has been some serious damage again over at 765 First Avenue, the building right across from the UN. There has been a squatter problem there over the last year and the break-in issues have been real. If you see anything illegal, please call the police. If you see anything quasi-legal, like broken windows, locks, glass on the sidewalk, make a 311 complaint. Sorta seems like those owners have abdicated responsibility.

• Sunday, July 26th, is the latest in the Tudor City Greens’ series “Supporting Aging in Our Community.” The talk is about Dementia 101: Adjusting to the Diagnosis and Life Changes. The facilitator will be Shira Felberbaum Kedim, LMSW, MS.

• On Saturday, July 25th, at 1 pm, the Children’s Gardening Event is taking place in the South Park. [Ed. Update: Shira is not the facilitator of the gardening event, per previous version of this post]

TO DO

• The free Bryant Park movie tonight is “Good Morning, Vietnam”.

• The Center for Brooklyn History is hosting a talk called “An Unfinished Revolution: Dialogues on Freedom and Democracy” on Wednesday, July 22nd. It will be hosted by Elizabeth Hinton and the focus is on the essay “Dogma” by Justin Surdyka.

• This Friday, July 24th, Sex Mex is playing at Gold Sounds. The new record is AMAZING and this will be the show of the summer. You’ll be able to tell the kids you were there way back in Summer of ‘26.

• If you feel like getting down to New Jersey, Lucy Dacus is performing at the Stone Pony Summer Stage.

REMEMBER SOME PLACES

The Hallmark Store! I never thought I would be the kind of person who could miss a Hallmark store so much. I mean, it’s just cards, right?! Wing dings and goofy stuff? Yes, but they always had whatever I needed. And most importantly, the people who ran it were really lovely, too.

Spots like that are a glue for the neighborhood. I loved running into neighbors there, laughing at the Valentine’s Day swag, getting a last second gift that cracked me up, or random art supplies. It was helpful. It was ours. And it meant I didn’t have to use Amazon. I was deeply bummed out when it was finally gone and still harbor a deep resentment for that weed store.

I hate that place and will never go in there. I would advise the same, but don’t be mean to the people that work there. They mostly seem totally bored since no one is ever there. I am mostly pointing my ire in the direction of the owners of the building who raised the rent to an unacceptable level. Since they forced it away, they can rot in whatever tax-shelter they hang out in.

-TCV

It’s probably still too early to do any speculation and although I REALLY want to start throwing some wild opinions out there, I won’t. It really doesn’t do any good and I’ll probably be wrong and miss some information. The Times seems to be doing good reporting on what happened. Go there.

I’ll just say that having construction that dangerous and that close to all of our homes, is fucked up. In the least. The videos of the bent columns gave me a weird feeling in my stomach. So a big TC thank you to the people who captured that video inside the building and most especially to the construction workers who are working to reinforce the building so it didn’t actually collapse. They are truly the heroes of this story.

The building sounds secure for now and that is some measure of relief. But oy vey, this is gonna fuck up that block for like another five years.

Here are some resources for you to keep up with the latest on what is happening:

1. Lord I hate twitter but here is where to go to get latest updates from the NYC Emergency Management

2. Here’s the NY Times feed for keeping up on the latest developments.

3. This Gothamist article has some good information about what is happening with the building itself.

4. WPIX 11 will probably have the best TV coverage, considering their proximity to the building.

5. Check the MTA website for any changes to bus schedules.

6. And here’s a Pat Kiernan video from last week. Mostly because we love him.

Welp, a much different opening rant than I had planned this week… it was actually going to be about my new favorite invented summertime genre of music. I will save that for next week.

CIVICALLYS

• The Tudor City Green’s Mini Series on Aging is happening on Sunday, July 19th in the North Park. The topic is “Supporting a Dementia-Friendly Community”

• The July Edition of the Book Club is Happening on July 14th at the North Park. 6 p.m. sharp. The book is Ourika by Claure de Duras. You’ve now got eight days. As always, I believe in you.

• If you want to help or need information about aid for Haitians and Syrian immigrants with temporary protected status, here is where you can go. It’s a city-run website with available resources (h/t to )

TO DO

• Movie nights are starting up this week at Bryant Park. Tonight, July 13th, you can watch one of the most serious period-pieces about high art, Wayne’s World. The grass opens at 5, movie at 8, party peoples.

• Sunday July 19th, at the Central Park Great Lawn, the World Cup Final will be shown. You gotta go through a lottery to get the hook-up. Here’s the plug.

• Before the final, the World Cup semis are happening Tuesday at 3 p.m. with France vs. Spain and Wednesday at 3 p.m. with England vs. Argentina.

• Speaking of plugs, De La Soul, Pete Rock and Hannibal Buress are playing at the City Parks Foundation on Friday, July 17th. This is an “event of the summer” event.

• If you want to get free Shakespeare in the Park tickets, you need to register and get a Public Theatre Patron ID. Here’s the link to do that.

• July 15th begins the Richard Estes exhibit at the Schoelkopf gallery.

BAR OF THE WEEK

The Shakespeare! It’s about a fifteen minute walk from Tudor City, over on 39th between Madison and Lexington, but don’t let the walk dissuade you. It is a solid quiet bar. One side gets rowdy, one side is for pleasant conversation. It features English pub-fare food but they’ve got great wings, which is really all I need in a pub. The bartenders and waitstaff are very cool. And although I’ve never gotten a buyback, their friendliness is always appreciated.

I’ve never seen it too crowded, the side room is always quiet and a great place for a mellow drink, an after-work hang, or a serious conversation. It’s really nice to have a quiet bar that isn’t filled with yelling bozos. Shakespeare is that spot for me.

-TCV

All due praise goes to the work of two of the three founders, Donna & Rona, along with three important folks on the coordinating committee: Dina de La Vega, Olga Jakim and Tigre McMullan. And, of course, all of the wonderful volunteers.

It felt important to me to be able to meet them both and talk to them. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and to remove the parts where the three of us went on tangents about what a phenomenal neighborhood Tudor City is. We all know it already and don’t need to wail on that horse any more.

Please enjoy! And definitely reach out to them if you want to get involved, their contact information is at the end of the interview.

-TCV

TCV: Let me start by saying congratulations on your second annual Art in the Park event. It was amazing. So who are you? And how long have you lived in Tudor City?

Rona: I’m Rona and I have lived in Essex House for eight years. Before that, for 15 years, my husband and I had a studio apartment in Woodstock Tower. And we just decided: Where do we want to retire? Like, why not New York City?

Donna: And I’m Donna and I am Rona’s next-door neighbor about five flights down, four flights down, in the Essex House. I moved in during the pandemic. And I met Rona when my old dog was really sick and I didn’t have a bag and.... she was very kind. We bonded over poop. It’s very beautiful. [laughter]

Rona: There were not many people out on the sidewalks and we walked everywhere a lot and were so lucky to get to know each other.

I love that. So how was Art in the Park this year?

Donna: Awesome. [laughter]

Rona: It was great. It was wonderful. It’s all about the community. It’s about getting artists out of their apartments and meeting each other and they’re wandering around and they sit down with somebody in a different section of the park and all of a sudden they’ve been there for 45 minutes talking to each other. And that’s really what we wanted.

Donna: Now, we were told by the Greens that artists could not sell their works, because the Tudor City Greens are non-profit.

Rona: And we make that very clear to all artists, and they came out anyway!

So it’s a special event… you’ve created a place of discovery.

Rona: Yes, exactly.

Donna: And oh boy, have we discovered a lot of really interesting art. Like one of my favorite most unusual artists is Michiko Kishi. And Kishi makes soft sculpture - soft sculptures out of Uniqlo socks and they’re exquisite. And then she also does stop-motion videos with the sculptures. For the 4th of July, she has an eagle that flies against a patriotic background. It’s unbelievable.

Rona: We do make certain decisions. We make up our own rules about who can participate because we are the ones who decided it was for Tudor City artists. There are a few people who live a few blocks from here and have come to us, maybe they’ve just been here for lunch in the park, and they see the sign because we had a sign up for three months announcing the event to get artists to come to participate and volunteers also.

We ended up being connected with this woman, Chanit Roston. She’s a Holocaust survivor who lives on 44th. And Donna got in touch with her and we went to visit her and explained what we were doing and we went back twice and her apartment’s like a museum.

Whoa.

Donna: She’s in her late 80s.

Rona: And she was a child during the Holocaust.

Rona: She survived in a potato cellar.

Donna: And her paintings are amazing and some of them, and one which I really love that she brought there was her self-portrait as a child and there is paint pouring out of a paintbrush like blood.

Donna: This incredible talent and story. I think she had done an illustrated book for children about Central Park. And she brought a copy and we raffled that off. I think she still has a lot of copies available to sell.

Rona: Yeah. If anybody wants to buy a baby gift, it’s a great baby gift. We are happy to put anyone who is interested in contact with her. Some of the artists, we helped get their art out of their apartments to come down to the park. You know, we have amazing volunteers who helped with that. It’s a lovely community event and the whole feeling is about people helping other people.

What was the genesis? How did you both come to create this event?

Donna: So, we have a neighbor who I used to walk my dog with all the time who’s lovely.

Rona: A lovely neighbor. Absolutely.

Donna: And he has a lovely dog. And he is very quiet - a youngish retiree. One day he showed me a drawing of the dogs from our building and it was unbelievable. It was really beautiful.

I love this so much.

Donna: I just thought: “Gosh, this IT guy upon retirement can make these beautiful images. And thought “Well, then what is hiding behind that door over there?” And then we basically knocked on that door! [laughter]

Rona: Yup! That retiree became an important co-founder of the Art Showcase, although he moved on to other projects this year.

Donna: And it feels like the tip of the iceberg of what we’ve found. One thing I will say is that Tudor City is, I think, not unique but specific in that the apartments are a little bit less expensive on the whole than other places and there’s a lot of smaller ones. So if you are an artist and you need to live somewhere and you’ve been here for a little while, you might be able to afford it.

And that’s why here, maybe, there’s an artist hiding behind each door. I think here some people are more dedicated artists because they can afford to live here, right?

Rona: It’s also, for such a small community space-wise, we’re just a few streets, there are so many studio apartments because of the nature of Tudor City.

This is very true. Friends have marveled at how I live in such a small space.

Donna: And so you have even more people living here than you would in a usual square block. There is this artist who is a wonderful artist, great paintings, but he told me he has 2,000 paintings in his studio apartment.

Rona: And they’re all amazing. Like, I would love someone to market him.

Sounds like the kind of Tudor City person I should be interviewing in a future post! [laughter] What I love about what you both have created, whether conscious or not, is that it is an event and a strong and organic reason to bring people of community together to showcase their creativity. What do you think makes Art in the Park unique to Tudor City?

Rona: We try to gather other information and we find out some really interesting things about people, and then we see them in the park during the event and the people who we think should be talking to each other…

Donna: And put them close to each other! [laughter]

That’s community, right? And people...

Rona: It is. We are creating a channel to see people in a new unique way when we’re all just used to kind of bouncing around each other. So for you to have a different visual, a different vibe, that would make sense to be like “these are people who can start to be connected because they might not be connected otherwise,” right? And we don’t—we don’t make a formal connection. They find…

Donna: …each other. It’s very interesting. But we only do this with a few artists. Most participants are placed/situated randomly and make connections on their own!

So I assume you are planning for 2027 right now, but what other ideas have come out of what you’ve done already?

Rona: We had a raffle last year, our first year, and Dina de La Vega, from the organizing committee and Chris Megele, an amazing volunteer, went around and got some gift cards. Essex Wines and Spirits donated wine and City Beer donated beer, and we raffle things off and we raise some money. We have very minimal expenses when we do this. And the [Tudor City] Greens really rely on donations. So anything that comes in we give to the Greens.

So, this year, we expanded the raffle. I got some fabric donated to me from Zuri, an African clothing store in the West Village.

I’m a scrap quilter and I thought “I’m going to make a pillow and it’s going to go in the raffle.” And then we got in touch with artists and said, “Anyone who’s interested, did you know we’re doing this raffling off art pieces? If you want to give a small piece of your art we would love it” And we raised a good amount of money from that! Thirteen or fourteen of the artists donated art that was raffled off.

Well done, congratulations!

Rona: Yeah, thanks. So next year we’re going to grow that.

I love that. Were there any works that really stood out to you in a surprising way? Maybe something that you had not been exposed to that elevated the event for you?

Donna: Michael Pilato was amazing this year. He was the artist-in-residence at the Church of the Covenant… is that what it’s called? Over on 42nd Street next to Woodstock Tower.

I think that’s what it is called. (Ed. Note: It is.)

Donna: So, he has been living there on and off painting a mural. It was the 10th anniversary of the Pulse nightclub.

Rona: The Pulse nightclub massacre. He had this whole genesis of this Pulse nightclub, and then brought into other terrible tragedies.

Donna: There was a part that was Sandy Hook and many others…

Rona: … gun-related shooting things. He made many panels…

Donna: …and created this incredible mural that was, which I think was started elsewhere but he brought it to finish at the church.

Wow.

Rona: And he was leaving the church on the Friday before our event. And last year he participated a little bit because that’s how we learned about him, specifically from this other woman who works with us a lot, Dina De La Vega, who is a member of the church. And so I went in and was blown away.

You will be blown away by this work. This year, he happened to be just taking it down and moving it somewhere, on tour or something, and he was leaving the residency.

Donna: He took it down on the Friday at noon the day before the art showcase.

Rona: The day before, which was the 10th anniversary of the Pulse nightclub tragedy, and we helped him figure out actually how to put it on display with a member of [City Council Member] Kristen Gonzalez’s staff. They helped him finalize his plans about where and how to display it. He displayed it under the underpass of the Tudor City Bridge.

And then he said he was going to take a special kind of photo copy of the mural and put it in the Art in the Park Showcase the next day. We couldn’t display the whole thing inside the park. But on that day, because they closed the stairway on 42nd for soccer, he just reconstructed the original mural outside the park and the whole thing was there and he was just talking to people and telling them all about it. It’s like amazing.

Donna: Non-stop he just kept touring people through it and there’s so much information and it’s like, you gotta look, if you look at this person’s eye there’s a reflection of the bird that, you know, like there is so much detail in this massive mural.

His relationship with some of the mothers of people who were killed at the Pulse Club... and so he somehow he’s bringing this to them for something...

The way you describe it actually reminds me of the AIDS Quilt. Were there any other stories that came out of the event?

Rona: So this woman came up to me. She wanted to look at my quilt and she said, “I love your quilts and, like in my country, like I really love the textiles there.” And I said, “Where are you from?” and she said, “I’m from Turkey. and I do calligraphy. I would love to be part of this, but I don’t live in Tudor City.” I said, “Where do you live?” She said, “You know, I live in that building on the corner of Second Avenue and 41st Street.”

Rona: I said, “You’re in Tudor City. That counts. We count you.” So, I just emailed her yesterday and said, “I just want to make sure I have your email right. I’m putting you on the list for next year.”

I love that so much. I truly believe that Tudor City should be seen as a welcoming and friendly place, like a beacon.

Rona: It’s like she didn’t feel like she was part of this. She absolutely is.

Donna: One photographer, Jay Eckardt, who does some really interesting work using a Holgar camera, doesn’t really live in Manhattan even, but he’s got really good friends and hangs out in Tudor City. Hangs out in the park and he’s totally a part of it. I mean, he hangs out in Woodstock Tower, so that’s as good as living here. [laughter]

Before we conclude, what’s the best way for people to get a hold of you?

Rona: You can reach and Donna and I at berkowitzrona at gmail dot com or donna.nitzberg at gmail dot com. It was a pretty spectacular day and we’re really looking forward to the future.

Well, congratulations again on an incredible event and I’m looking forward to next year as well!

And to be clear, I’m going off the latest news on the Times site. That is probably the best place to go the latest information.

Access to Tudor City is shut off to cars currently and 43rd and 42nd are shut down over to third avenue. Walking back from Grand Central, I was able to walk over to 1st Avenue via 45th street and then up the stairs to get home safely.

There’s also a bunch of people hanging out over on 43rd and 2nd, but that seems like a really bad idea.

Stay safe out here and feel free to post any updates you have in the comments.

-TCV

Well, them fireworks were pretty great on Saturday! Ah sike, I missed it due to family-related Fourth of July partying. Such is the way it goes. I’m not always going to be around for all the happenings.

But I was around for a few of the World Cup games that were happening in New Jersey and being witness to the busing situation was hilarious. For instance, I had never seen a depressed German next to a dancing Ecuadorian before. The annoyance of having the 42nd street stairs closed was sorta mitigated by that.

Back to our local, though. On the reals, I’m still buzzing off of the Tudor City Fest. Such a good time. Besides commenting on how beautiful the weather was, one of the things I heard the most in conversation was asking what the difference is between all of the different Tudor City Organizations.

So I thought I’d make go for it and explain the differences as I understand them.

First up, we have the Tudor City Greens. These are the people who generously donate their time to making sure the parks stay amazing. They are a non-profit and the work is top rate. Anything inside the parks? Talk to Tudor City Greens.

Next is the Tudor City Association. This is the organization that represents all of Tudor City. Think of it as the advocacy organization for everyone who lives here. Before the buildings went co-op, they were all linked together. (More on this in a later post) Now, since each building is responsible for itself, it’s the Tudor City Association that is the glue that binds The TC together… from the social stuff, to the advocacy, and the stewardship.

So what is Tudor City Confidential? Great question! It’s the long-time running blog that is the ultimate resource for the history of Tudor City. Do you yourself a favor and go get lost in k-hole that is our rich history. It’s almost-a-century of great information!

Is that connected to the Tudor City Store? Nope! But the store is its own thing and where you buy the merch.

I’m going to work on a mnemonic song to remember all of the differences with: “Iffff… it’s… the Greens, think of the Park. The Association is where people make their mark…. “

Uhhhhggg, sorry. That’s horrible. I’ll think of a better one and report back in a following week.

CIVICALLYS

• Tudor City Greens are having a show on July 8th at 6:30 p.m. It is called “Dig We Must!” and is taking place in the South Park. The rain date is July 9th at 6:30 as well.

• Looks like there is a private event in South Park on Saturday, July 11th. Best to take your book-reading to the North Park. You can use the free library in the southeast quadrant.

• The Tudor City Greens is doing a Mini-Series called “Supporting Aging Adults in Our Community”. The second one happens on Sunday, July 19th at 5 p.m. It’s called “Cultivating a Dementia Friendly Community”.

• Probably should have listed this last week, but here is where to go to find out about cooling centers in the city. The closest to The TC are on 3rd ave & 50th, The Petco on 52nd & 2nd, and finally at Park & 42nd… 120 Park Avenue. Please remember to check in with your elder neighbors during these heat waves. There will be more this summer.

TO DO

• Tonight, Monday July 6th! The US Mens’ National Team play Belgium in the Round of 16 at 8 p.m. Watch i

• It’s Manhattanhenge again on the 11th. If you see someone standing on a car, yell at them. It is your civic duty as a resident of The TC.

• If you didn’t get tickets to Jay-Z at Yankee Stadium, you’re out-of-luck save for really expensive tickets. But I’m sure you can hear it if you take the train up and hang around outside. Hell, that’s only six bucks round trip and if you buy two nutcrackers, you’ll basically be getting the true NY experience.

• If you prefer guitar wankers with annoying hair, I think Jack White is playing somewhere out in Brooklyn!

• Next Friday, the 10th of July, you can check out the free series in Bryant Park that will feature Avery Wilson. Grab a blanket and chill the f out, y’all.

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK

We’re back to restaurant of the week again! And I have to go for the huge shout-out to the newest Pietro’s spot.

I was super bummed when the spot on 43rd closed down. It was special in there. The booths, the way it felt hidden from the street, the locals, the staff… it was a red sauce experience. I brought two friends from Los Angeles there once and they felt like they’d hit the jackpot of NYC Italian spots.

They had.

And luckily, same family and same crew have reopened up on 2nd Ave and 47th. It’s great to be back. The inside is a bit more visible to the street, which changes the dynamic. However, the food is the same, the staff is still the best, and you can get a damn good Manhattan. Be sure to open your meal with that.

-TCV

Second, Tudor City Fest was last Wednesday. And a great time was had by all. Thanks to the Tudor City Association for bringing people together in a great way.

And finally… a rant! This week, we’re closing in on the Fourth of July. 250 years, eh? Impressive! Sorta? Things are difficult in this country so I’m a bit more selective in what I’m proud of. I’m sticking with the Knicks, the US Men’s National soccer team, New York City, and our home, The TC.

I was enjoying an early evening stroll around Tudor City last week and spent some time on the 41st street overlook. It’s still such a beautiful view even with that dumpster fire of an empty lot. It’s kind of gross now that it is back to what can best be described as a rat free-for-all. So I just kind of stared, still grossed out by its last incarnation: the thinly-applied coat of red, white and blue paint that was meant to convince us to allow a casino in that space.

I mean, really? Poorly-made billboards of Americana that were put in place by people who cheat on their taxes. It was so cheap and so transparent. You might say that it kinda brought out some anger in me.

But then I laughed. That realization had another side to it. The idiotic field of billboards were meant to evoke a comparison between a bunch of greedy people building a casino and the Spirit of the United States. Like, they thought they could fool us or people just passing by. I guess I feel bad for the tourists who thought they were seeing something like the WTC Memorial only to possibly have been exposed to whatever chemicals are still in the ground.

The laughter was a bit of relief because the gift is that this neighborhood, helped by the Tudor City Association and our Murray Hill and Sutton Place siblings, rallied the true American spirit. We stood up to craven billionaires, astroturf campaigns and exploitative morons. We all made sure that there won’t be a casino and all the ancillary misery that comes with it right next door to our homes.

Granted, we do have the fact that when Bo Dietl shows up against you, you are on the winning side of a battle. And of history. I was really proud of the way the neighborhood came together and the people won. When Samuel Johnson said that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel, I’d like to think he was referring to this whole situation.

So a very happy Fourth of July to everyone who did anything to fight the casino, pat yourself on the back, have an extra beer, and know that you are keeping Tudor City a true neighborhood. Although you might not have laid down in front of bulldozers (more on this in a future update), you came together and gave it your all. That’s what I’ll be proud of this year.

CIVICALLYS

• The Tudor City Association was responsible for the great Tudor City Fest. You should definitely take an active role in your neighborhood and donate and/or volunteer: https://www.tudorcityassociation.org. Check out the recap of the Fest last week Here.

• Tudor City Confidential always has the best posts about the history of The TC. This post from last week shows ads from 1939 made me really happy.

• The July Edition of the Book Club is Happening on July 14th at the North Park. 6 p.m. sharp. The book is Ourika by Claure de Duras. We’re giving you some decent heads up here.

• Did you notice any great Tudor City merch at the Fest? Own it yourself! Here’s the Tudor City Store.

• The Tudor City Greens is doing a Mini-Series called “Supporting Aging Adults in Our Community”. The first one was this last Sunday and focused on Brain Health and Aging. The second one will be happening on Sunday, July 19th at 5 p.m. It’s called “Cultivating a Dementia Friendly Community”. I’ll post the continued schedule for the rest of the summer next week.

TO DO

• Here’s a great way to honor the 250th. The New York Public Library is dong a public viewing of an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. It’s happening from July 1st through the 7th and the details are here.

• NYC swimming pools are open! Check out the The NY Parks website for all the information you need to jump in and keep cool. Apparently, it’s a scorcher this week.

• The Fourth of July Fireworks are back where they belong - on the East River! But it sounds like they are more downtown than in past East River times. Can you get to the top of 5, 25, & 45 Tudor City Place? If so, thems are your best viewing option. Otherwise, take a subway downtown or head over to Brooklyn Bridge Park!

• On Friday, July 3rd, the free Bryant Park Concert is The Knights. Or rather Carnegie Hall Presents: The Nights. Show up early and grab some lawn.

• The World Cup continues into the Round of 32. The US Men’s National Team will play Bosnia-Herzegovina at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1st.

• John Zorn’s Simulacrum is playing on Tuesday, June 30th. Going to see live experimental music is a very American thing to do.

REMEMBER SOME PLACES

Lots of great places are gone now. Sometimes I think about them and hope for something better for the future. Sometimes I just want to vent. More importantly, I like being able to give a bit of recognition.

So my personal spot that I really miss is that Chinese Slash Mexican restaurant that used to be next to the Greek place. I miss the ease of jumping over there and making a cuisine decision on the spot. I want a taco! But I also want dumplings! They weren’t super friendly, but the food was good and quick and you got to hang out with a bunch of delivery people. Always felt very New York City to me.

It wasn’t a sit-down spot, but it always nailed it. So the moral of this RSP? We really could use a great Chinese takeout spot in the super-local way.

-TCV

But! This event is sold out. Excitement is building and the weather forecast seems to open up a spot just for our neighborhood.

All is well on this Wednesday June 24th, 2026. The North Park gets closed off around 5, an entire team from the Tudor City Association starts working on getting the party going, and, at around 6:50 p.m., the gates open. People rush in en masse and laugh joyously, drink responsibly, and eat some of the best of local cuisine! It’s magic, I tells yas!

OK, I guess I’m not really just embellishing at this point, but for reals... All this is just to say that the Tudor City fest this year was a really wonderful neighborhood party. I was privy to any number of conversations and the through-line between all of them was that there is a hunger for us all to know our neighbors and our history.

I loved hearing people say to one another “Ooooh, you live in 5? Do you have a view when there are fireworks?” It was a like a coded language that everyone here understands. We all came together with respect for each other: Lovely music, good food, drinks and unity. It’s so unlike those cookie-cutter block parties that are basically just the guy selling Mozzarepas being on this side or that side of the person selling blended smoothies.

So a big thank you to Event Organizer Molly Miller and Association President Michael Gribin. Michael led the way and gave a thoughtful speech about the Tudor City Association and was helped by a whole bunch of other folks who built a party that went off without a hitch. I heard a woman say to a friend “Do they do this every month?”

Check some photos below:

And, of course, here are the sponsors:

All we can ask for… a good time had by all.

-TCV

But can we talk about last Wednesday night in The TC?

It wasn’t just the ideal weather. It was that everyone seemed happy… the kids, the puppies, the squirrels... And it was enhanced by the music wafting between the buildings. My partner and I heard it and decided to walk over to the South Park to see the SouthBay Trio. They were ideal for the evening. I loved all the people on the sidewalk that were stopping and taking it in. And even though they did not perform an Unsane cover, there were a ton of people out enjoying every song they did play.

The Tudor City Greens folks were there and if you feel like donating and missed your chance then, the Venmo is @Tudor_City_Greens.

After hanging out there, we walked over to Malone’s for dinner and to watch the second half of Ghana vs. Panama. And there was a great crowd there - very friendly, not too raucous and focused on the match. I could not have asked for anything more.

The weather is aces, the magic of the parks and the people… followed by jumping out to an pub to watch football? Best. Our neighborhood truly creates incredible moments.

Oh! I apologize for not catching the change of date on the SouthBay Trio show. I will do better and make sure I’m on top of date changes and adjustments.

And then, of course, the Knicks parade was the following day… what a beautiful shit-show zoo the city was. I was gonna go but I woke up at 7 a.m. and apparently downtown was effectively shut down by then.

No biggie, watching on TV was its own really good time.

CIVICALLYS

• This Wednesday, the 24th of June is Tudor City Fest! Did you get your ticket yet? There’s a band, there’s food, there’s drinks! And most importantly, the people who advocate for our neighborhood are throwing it. (Those people being the Tudor City Association, natch)

• Election Day is on June 23rd. Find your polling place here and go and vote.

• The Tudor City Greens have Kid’s Potting Day on June 27th from 1 to 2 p.m. in the South Park. Everyone can learn about our beautiful gardens whilst “participating in a crafty planting activity!”

• Be on the lookout for the first Tudor City View interview this week. It’s with Donna & Rona who were responsible for the Art in the Park event.

TO DO

• World Cup action this week sees the USMNT vs. Türkiye this Thursday the 26th at 10 p.m. EST. We’ve already moved into the next round, so this match matters less than the third round games have in past years, but still, it’ll probably be a good time at the local bars. (Side note: This is the best US Men’s Soccer team I have ever seen.)

• The Big Pride parade is Sunday June 28th! Go rock out down in the Village and celebrate at what will likely be the second most joyous parade of the year.

• Punk Island 2026 is a free music festival on Randall’s Island. Easily the most unique and wild festival of the summer. I always thought the bands at the Brooklyn TransCore stage were the best, but there’s like eight others stages of awesomeness. All the info is here.

• Yo. It’s summertime. Here’s the way to get setup for free tickets to Shakespeare in the Park.

• Slum Village is playing two shows at the Blue Note on Saturday the 26th.

• And speaking of parks, grab some cheese and crackers, grab a seltzer, hide some wine in a thermos and go spend some time in The TC’s parks. Seriously, the livin’s easy right now.

BODEGA OF THE WEEK

45 Deli. There’s a few bodegas around us. And I miss our local on 43rd and Tudor City Place, although it felt really sparse. Convenience. The bodega in 5 Tudor City Place feels like it just belongs to the residents. So I hit up 45 Deli.

The sandwich team are great dudes. The owners are nice. The flowers are inexpensive and can last up to a week and there’s no kratom to be found. Once they started stocking the “Just The Fun Part” snacks, I was all in.

The #20 sandwich is my go-to like “this always works sandwich”. Turkey, Honey Mustard, and Avocado on a wedge. Some Hal’s chips, too, but only if I’m not trying to lose weight.

-TCV

That was an absolutely killer post-season. I haven’t seen our city that joyously unified, maybe ever. Possibly the 2003 blackout? Whatevs, this was way better. The TC seems alight. Even the JP Morgan Death Star building bathed in Orange and Blue made me happy.

There is so much chaos in the world and I really don’t care if that has been one of the drivers that made us more in love with the Knicks and each other. It just feels nice to experience joy with all the other people who live here. Strangers being nice to one another. That’s my shit.

But all due praise to the Knickerbockers. There really isn’t another sports team that unifies New York quite like the Knicks. Orange and Blue bring the people together. Lotta smiles, lotta people giving each other props for just wearing the jersey.

And on those vibes, that unbridled sports joy, last week I wrote about how much I hate the World Cup this year because FIFA sucks and the price gouging is horrendous. Those things are still true, but me thinking I wouldn’t watch the World Cup was bullshit. And totally out the window.

The soccer has started and I am obsessed again. #USMNT haven’t looked better in my lifetime. The only real difference this year is that I’m watching the Telemundo broadcasts on Peacock. Alexi Lalas is an embarrassment to America.

Lastly! And I think I mentioned something about a mission statement. Meh, I’ll get to that next week. No rush, right? Too much celebrating to do.

CIVICALLYS

• Knicks ticker-tape parade is on Thursday. This is a DO NOT MISS Event. Starts 10 a.m. on Broadway and goes north through the Canyon of Heroes. I’ll probably get getting lunch somewhere in Chinatown afterwards.

• Tickets for the Tudor City Fest are HERE. It’s happening on the 24th and it’s gonna be a great evening. Come hang with your neighbors, eat some food, drink some wine, listen to some music. Me? I will be chillin’ on a bench, soaking it all in. Metaphorically. I don’t actually want to get soaked.

• The Summer Book Talk Series is happening once a month this summer. The first is tomorrow, Tuesday, June 16th @ 6 p.m. in the North Park. The book is The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. You got one day to read it. I believe in you.

• Do you have a Tudor City event coming up? Email tudorcityview@gmail.com to get it listed!

TO DO

• The Pride Month radness continues this week. Although I am a Mets fan, the Yankees Pride night is Wednesday, 6/17. That should rule. I’ve always felt the pinstripes could use some color.

• Dance Storytime with Dinita Clark is part of the Lincoln Center’s Summer For the City Events. It’s a free event for everyone to learn the fundamentals of House Dance. Looks like there are two sessions on Wednesday the 17th at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

• World Cup Games are on, every day. It’s kind of bonkers. This is where to go to check your daily matches. Please note I am not sending you the FIFA website. I never thought I would miss Sepp Blatter. If you want the true experience, pick your country and find the corresponding neighborhood in NYC. Head up to Astoria for Greece, Central Harlem for Senegal, or Bay Ridge for Italy. OR NOT. Maybe ignore that last suggestion.

• Smorgasburg is up and running all summer. It’s down near the World Trade in Manhattan on Thursdays and Fridays. That’s probably a bit less bonkers than the one in WIlliamsburg or in Prospect Parks.

• San Pedro, California’s own Toys That Kill are playing at The Broadway on Thursday, 6/18. See you in the pit or wherever the old punks hang out when the band is on.

BAR OF THE WEEK

Strangelove!! OK, this is pretty far from The TC. It’s up on 53rd between 2nd and 3rd. Liberty-spiked residents will think to themselves “53rd & 3rd, eh? Sounds like a good place to have a punk rock bar”.

Right down the street from the inspiration corner for one of Dee Dee Ramones’ best songs, Strangelove is, in fact, a punk rock bar. I had initially thought it was a punk rock cosplay bar, because, what the hell is a bar with great music doing in Midtown? It’s legit. Friendly bartenders, cheap beer, and the music rips… lotsa punk and metal.

Sure, the crowd might not be what you’re gonna find in East Williamsburg, but at this rate, East Williamsburg is starting to look more like Midtown. So it makes sense that we’d get a good bar from some back flow. So, go there. Tip well, and tell ‘em Tudor City View sent you!

-TCV

Bing Bong!

And Goddam! The Knicks are up 2-0, the weather has been epic and the city is bouncing. Friday night was insane. So jump into the fire with us snakes and city-rats and go with the flow. Whole lotta Knicks love is kinda wonderful thing.

There is more beyond basketball, though. If you haven’t been crushed by or lost in the giant soccer display at the 42nd Street CVS, you probably know the World Cup is about to start. My recommendation here is to gather with your neighbors and watch in your homes or various building social areas. You’ll save about a million dollars by not going out.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the beautiful game. I’ve been to more RBNY matches than I can count. Hell, I even saw the Round of 16 match of Spain vs. Switzerland in D.C. the last time the World Cup was in the States. (which would have been 32 years ago. Jeez.) But FIFA has pretty much proven itself to be an agent of Satan and the way that every stadium and agency has jacked up their prices is just gross. So part of me wants to loudly proclaim I will not be watching it. But that ain’t gonna happen. Catch me in the local, rooting for USMNT & Belgium.

It does seem like everything fun gets ruined by people who think that the concept of fun is just an identifier for a new market to exploit. Let’s aim to never let that happen in The TC. Our parks are open, our events are free or reasonably priced, and good people create their own joy.

Not to get too historicals, but we really have to thank the people who laid down in front of the bulldozers in the 90’s for the best parts of our neighborhood. The current awesomeness stands on the shoulders of those who didn’t let Helmsley money buy up our parks. And as such, it’s our responsibility to preserve that for future generations.

Thank you for attending my TED Talk. And, yes, I am aware that this is a Wendy’s.

One thing I’d love for help with: The Restaurant of the Week section. It will evolve into Bar of the Week, Bodega of the Week, Philanthropic Organization of the Week, etc. Kindly send me your recommendations and I’ll be happy to give you credit! The email here is tudorcityview@gmail.com.

Trust me, my taste should not be dictating all of the best spots in the neighborhood. Like I mentioned before, if I only did what I wanted, John’s Coffee Shop would be the “Best of” every week.

CIVICALLYS

• Good stuff going on this week in the Tudor City parks. First up, on this coming Wednesday June 10th at 6:30 p.m. is the SouthBay Trio. Luckily for our memory’s echo… this concert will be in the South Park. The flyer says they’ll be playing all of our favorites so I’m holding out for a cover of “No Chance” by Unsane. Rain date is the 11th if the sky gods don’t bless us on Wednesday.

• On Saturday, June 13th is the ART IN THE PARK SHOWCASE. Taking place from Noon to 4 p.m. with the raffle at 3 p.m. This is in the North Park. It looks like it is not supposed to rain, so that rules. Reach out to donna.nitzberg@gmail.com with any questions.

• The Summer Book Talk Series is happening with a date across each month this summer. The first is on Tuesday, June 16th @ 6 p.m. in the North Park. The book is The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. You’ve got two weeks to get up on that one.

• June 24th will be the Tudor City Fest! This will rule.

TO DO

• Go watch the Knicks LITERALLY ANYWHERE except maybe in front of MSG. Monday and Wednesday night for sure are going to be bonkers around the city.

• Humid Traces at the Ford Foundation Gallery wraps up on June 20th. Definitely get over there to see it.

• During June and July, Criterion and Angelika are showing A David Lynch Retrospective. I mean, Mulholland Drive is one of the best films ever made, but I am very much looking forward to seeing Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces. Inland Empire is phenomenal if you happen to be totally out of your mind.

• PRIDE MONTH is raging. The Brooklyn Twilight Pride March is on Saturday, June 13th. Starts at 7:30 p.m. You’re guaranteed to see lots of amazing eyeglasswear.

• Boriqua!! The Puerto Rican Day parade is Sunday, June 14th. This is one of the epic NYC parades that will roll down 5th avenue from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. But guaranteed we’ll be hearing music bouncing off the bricks all day.

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK

Here’s the best spot for pizza in our hood: The Amish Market. Sure, the market itself is a bit pricey (I am being generous) but those pizzas are fuggin’ delicious. The margherita with some jalapeno toppings? Best.

So yes, it’s a market… but I’m specifically focusing on the pizza. I mean, slices are damn expensive these days so a full small pie for eleven bucks truly does feel like a deal. Not sure about the salads, just going all-in on the pizzas. Those pizzas are very popular on a particular roof deck in The TC. When you see those boxes in the trash, you know a good time was had by all.

MELLOW JAM FOR THE PEOPLES

Was listening to this last Wednesday on headphones chilling in the park. Really hit the mood.

Zero 7 - Morning Song

Happy Summerings, y’all!

-TCV

So I guess getting a gajillion shots of the Sun dropping down on 42nd street makes sense if you’re from Denmark or Budapest or some shit but if you’re from Brooklyn? My goodness, dear Zoomer, have some self respect and go vape in Prospect Park instead.

And this was only on Wednesday which was… wah-wah.

Also, if I saw anyone standing on top of my car to get a better photo, the rules about yelling at people in The TC would go out the window. Seriously, who does that?? Getcher ass on the ground.

Anyways, all my whining aside, I promised some editorial goals for Tudor City View. Let’s see how these go.

The truth is, I’m a total bozo so keep your expectations low. BUT I do love this neighborhood, want everyone to get along, and hopefully raise up a feeling of community.

1. This starts and end by first and foremost remembering that we are all neighbors and love our community. All else from there is gravy except for my possibly infuriating opinions on what constitutes good music. My favorite concert of 2026 so far has been Sunn O))) So… yeah. Take that for what it’s worth.

2. I will make sure all information is sourced properly, not engage in gossip, and keep an open mind to all sides of issues. These neighborhood things can go off the rails really easily, so I invite you to keep me honest if things (or I) get weird. (very good chance of this happening, fyi)

3. If I get something wrong or make some unfortunate off-color joke, I will call out myself and issue a correction.

4. This will hopefully be fun. At the very least, I’m gonna have fun, not take any of this too seriously and treat this newsletter like I hope we all treat our few blocks of green midtown - everyone who checks in is welcome. Unless their dogs piss in the flower beds. Then, knives are out. (metaphorically, of course.)

5. No AI-generated anything on here. Please expect spelling errors, strange-word-usement-structurings, and fuzzy pictures from an old phone.

That’s some editorial goals. Broad, but clean. Working on the mission statement next. Please expect some evolutions.

CIVICALLYS

• Second weekend of the month will be the ART IN THE PARK SHOWCASE. Saturday, June 13th from Noon to 4 p.m. Forgive the all caps, but I am excited. Get on this and show up for your neighbors. Reach out to donna.nitzberg@gmail.com with any questions. It’s free, but you can always donate to the Greens. Speaking of…

• All due respect to the Tudor City Greens. The north and south parks have never looked better. And if I mention TCG, I have to…

• Shout out the Tudor City Association! It’s about stewardship, people! Get involved with your community at the source.

TO DO

• Go out to a local watering hole and root for the Knicks! Malone’s or Wheeltapper are probably a good choice because Overlook will be crowded af with a bit more of the young bro-y types. Finals start on June 3rd. GO KNICKS!

• Tribeca Film Festival Starts this week and runs through the 14th. Check out the guide here: https://tribecafilm.com/festival/film

• It’s PRIDE MONTH!! Happy happy joy joy to all my LGBTQIA+ folk. I can’t wait for the parade and there’s all sorts of great stuff happening all month. Queens Pride is the unofficial kick off around my household… it’s this Sunday, June 7th.

• The Earth Wind & Fire documentary followed by live performances by Earth Wind & Fire AND The Roots at the Beacon this week?? It’s probably already sold out but I might just go hang out out front and see if the sound emanates out into the UWS.

• Governor’s Ball next weekend! Looking at the lineup… Freddie Gibbs, Fcukers, and Amyl & The Sniffers are all great. I’m sure there are some other killer bands on there, but I’m gonna plead ignorance via age because I don’t know 94% of them.

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK

Pho Avenue. It gets mad crowded for the lunch rush, but after 5 pm, it’s an easy duck-in for a delicious meal. I’m a seasonal eater there. Pho in the winter and Bahn Mi in the summer. Depending on my mood and whether or not I’m a vegetarian that week will determine what I order.

It’s a little sparse to eat in at, aka it’s definitely more of a lunch place, but the folks who work there are nice and always hook up extra red or brown sauce if you need it.

-TCV

The first posting of Tudor City View. Sign up and register to make sure you’re getting this in your inbox every Monday. And if you have anything you want to promote in the neighborhood or you want someone from the neighborhood featured, hit me up at tudorcityview@gmail.com.

And wishing you and yours a very solemn and dignified Memorial Day. Remember those who served while you get drunk and barbecue.

Next week I will outline the editorial goals for this here newsletter. I haven’t really thought of any yet other than to be a loud-mouthpiece for myself in service of this great neighborhood. I do love this oasis in Midtown East.

TO DO

• It’s Manhattanhenge Week! So best to stay away from Tudor City Place and enjoy a nice walk in Sutton Place or down by the river. Thursday the 28th it’s half-henge and Friday the 29th it’s the full-henge. If you’re a real one, you know Wednesday or Saturday are actually the best days to check it out.

• If you enjoy generic throwback rock, Greta Van Fleet is playing at the Bowery Ballroom this week. It might be your best chance for pseudo-nostalgia because Wolfmother moved back in with their respective Moms and Buckcherry is doing a stint at rehab. Yes, again.

• Thursday the 28th, Wycliffe Gordon is playing a free show with no tickets needed over in Bryant Park. Probably a bit more sophisticated of a crowd. But likely not as much dumb fun.

CIVICALLYS

• June 13th from Noon to 4 p.m. is the Tudor City Art in the Park Showcase. Specifically, in the North Park. Although donations to the Greens are welcome, the event is free, there’s a raffle at 3 p.m. and it’s likely to have a good collection of the more interesting peoples that live in the TC. Reach out to donna.nitzberg@gmail.com for any questions.

• Also, I just noticed that the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association referred to us as “Tutor City” in a post about last year’s Art In The Park.

  YO. DO THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE DEALING WITH???

• It’s a bit early, but I’m pretty sure there is a Tudor City Fest happening in June. I’m sure there will be a big announcement and I’ll make sure it is reposted with a ticket purchase link. Last year was pretty damn fun.

• So many of our buildings are doing great work on their flower beds. Make sure your dogs aren’t peeing on them. And if you see someone’s dog urinating in a nice flowerbed, you have my permission to shame them. Maybe try shaming the dog, too?

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK

It’s not just that it’s local or a great diner with delicious food. It’s that the whole staff is like family. It is John’s Coffee Shop on 2nd avenue. Open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and holy smackers, those blueberry pancakes are incredible. I hear the omelettes are epic, but I’m anti-egg. The lunch is equally as awesome as I am partial to the chicken gyros.

Just watch out on weekends. It’s always worth taking a stroll by and seeing how long the line is but some European Tourist Instagram account really blew up that spot so you’ll hear a lot of accents and see a lot of low-tippers on the weekend.

So tip well, and support the local scene! Honestly, with the way I eat there, this newsletter’s restaurant of the week recommendation might always be John’s.

-TCV

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