For this Park Bench Chat edition of Bar Crawl Radio podcast we talked about the changing nature of the New York City theatre review and how Tik Tok might be dumbing down the craft of the NYC theatre critic. Joining us on a park bench in the "You've Got Mail" Riverside Park Promenade are two NYC Theatre Critics -- David Cote and Zoe Kaplan. David Cote is a playwright, librettist, song writer, actor and director -- and the longest serving drama critic of Time Out New York. His reviews have appeared in Opera News, The Village Voice, The Guardian and The New York Times – and elsewhere. And with us is Zoe Kaplan whose day job is as a Content Marketing Manager.

Earlier, Zoe demystified the world of work for Gen Zers and before that she managed reproductive and hormone health content for OOVA. Zoe writes a theater Substack called -- Not to Be Dramatic.

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NYC's Upper West Siders might know the 142 year-old, block long, many-storied, red-brick building on Amsterdam Avenue at 103rd Street.

Completed in 1883 and designed by Gilded Age architect Robert Morris Hunt – famed for the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. – the base of the Statue of Liberty – the front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art – this building, on Amsterdam and 103rd Street, opened as the Association Residence for the Relief of Respectable Aged Indigent Females. In the late 1960s, it was set to be torn down. BUT – in time – was saved in great part due to the efforts of two of our guests -- and was resurrected as a major youth hostel inviting visitors from all over the world looking to experience NYC up close and personal.

Former Manhattan Borough President and City Council member Ruth Messinger and Bloomington Historial Pam Tice joined us to tell the story of Hunt’s building -- a story that encompasses the history of NYC – both its wealth and inconsistent goal to provide dignity to its citizens.

This BCR program was recorded at 5 Napkin Burger Bar on Broadway and W. 84th St.

Alan Winson

barcrawlradio@gmail.com

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“Stop the Chop” exists to eliminate non-essential helicopters from the skies above New York City – because – according to the "Stop the Chop" website: “Tourist, charter and commuter helicopter flights dramatically reduce the quality of life for millions of people in the metropolitan area. They pollute our environment, pose significant safety risks, harm our children, and make us miserable”

It was a hot, second day of summer afternoon in Riverside Park – at the “You’ve Got Mail” promenade and garden. We sat on a bench and talked with our UWS neighbors about their concerns and questions regarding the Helicopter racket that invades our peaceful moments.

Two experts, on the effects of the copter cacophony on our health and enjoyment of the our city parks, joined us -- Melissa Elstein and Ken Coughlin; both long-time NYC community organizers and environmental activists. Melissa was recently on BCR program #221 talking about “Love Your Street Tree Day” sponsored by the “West 80s Neighborhood Association”

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