Activity #6

Jennifer Rios

Activity #6

In order to complete this activity I decided to walk around my neighborhood of Elmhurst, Queens in order to be able to analyze the area more efficiently. As a neighborhood that consists of a lot of working class people, I knew for a fact that I was going to find many day care centers and evening clinics around my area. According to Dolores Hayden, she believes that, “A ‘good neighborhood is usually defined in terms of conventional shopping, schools, and perhaps public transit, rather than additional services for the working parent, such as the day care or evening clinics” (145). Despite the fact that Hayden makes this classification of what a good neighborhood is, I not only found several day car centers and evening clinics in my neighborhood, but my neighborhood also contains a good amount of shopping areas, schools, and public transportation. Therefore, I was a bit confused as to classifying my own neighborhood into a good or a bad one.

My neighborhood also consists of many people that hold very strong traditional values, which is why I knew for a fact that I was going to find male and women spaces but I was not too sure about finding queer spaces. As I walked from Elmhurst Avenue to Northern Blvd, which consists of at least twenty blocks, I saw male spaces that consisted of barber shops and bars that consisted of entertainment for men by female dancers. Although I have never been inside any of these bars, I can tell that it is a male space because of all the men that constantly go in and out of the bar and who spend time with their other male friends outside the bar. As for females, I saw many hair salons, nail salons, and clothing stores that consisted of a lot of clothes for women.

As I had predicted, I did not find too many queer spaces. The only queer space that I did find were clothing stores for the younger generation of people, which consisted of clothes that could be considered unisex, since they are now being worn by young people who are either male or female, such as nike sneakers. One thing that I did noticed which caught my attention was that many of the hair salons for women had signs outside of the doors saying that the read “Unisex” but it was still pretty clear who the salon was made for when you walked into it. I do wish that my neighborhood consisted of queer spaces more, such as in Greenwich Village, since the gendered spaces seem to be very neutral. I believe that these areas are chosen for queer spaces because of the large presence of the LGBTQ population, which helps break the traditional barriers of gender.

After doing a search for “a gay map of new york”, I saw that there are many places one can go to if one is interested in going to areas that are gay-friendly, such as gay bars and gay friendly hotels. I had no idea that such a map existed and I believe that being able to find such a map so easily on the internet is a great way to start breaking down the barriers that come along with the titles of male and female. I believe that this map is a step closer to have much more queer spaces than those that exist now.

While walking around my neighborhood, I saw something that for some reason has been happening quite often around my neighborhood. I was walking down 90^th street heading towards Northern Boulevard when I saw a homeless man trying to stand behind a tree while he attempted to bathe himself. I have seen this same act on the platform of the 7 train, in parks while children watch in confusion, and in the public bathrooms of Elmhurst Hospital, since they are easy to access. Despite the awkwardness I feel when I see these kinds of private behaviors displayed in public places I cannot help but think that nothing I do can change this since it has been happening more then it should which makes me agree with the statement that, “You can’t change her environment but you can change her mood (145), which supports my belief that nothing can be done to change the fact that this occurs except to deal with it.

Green Flea Market

Oceane Mercadal

Activity 4# (#3)

It was such a beautiful day to visit the Green Flea Market on 77^th Street and Columbus Avenue. The market has sections indoor and outdoor; to be honest the outdoor part is nicer especially on such a nice day. The market was crowded but not to the point people were running into one another so it was nice to sort of wonder around and look at what was being displayed. The indoor part of the market was less crowded and personally less interesting to me. You could find antique objects fancy looking clothes and old ties. People were sort of just wondering around in pairs or parents with their kids. I went with a friend and we had fun trying on the glasses and laughing at one another. People were pretty laid back and just enjoying a good day, which gave the market a very smooth atmosphere and tranquility.

It was strange how the inside part of the market was held in the cafeteria of a high school and you had to walk through the corridor full of students lockers to get to it. It felt like I was back to high for a moment, which was funny. Even though the market was interesting inside the air was a little stuffy and therefore my friend and I spent more time outside. There were homemade soap and candles and of course there was a food and sweets stand, which we had to go to.

My favorite stand out of the entire market was the one with all the spices. It was placed right by the entrance so that as soon as you entered the market you would drawn by the colors and scents. This rainbow of colors was amazing and the way the people held there stand was fantastic. I probably could have just stood there the entire time watch and listen to them explain how to use the spices and what to use them for. The smells were hypnotizing, it was fantastic I loved this stand so much I would have wanted to go home with a sample of each spice so they could perfume my apartment but unfortunately I left empty handed from the market as I had no money on me. This was the down part of my day so one advice I’d give to someone would be to not go to the market with out cash because there will always be something you want to buy and the people are so friendly that you literally cannot resist.

scavenger hunt

oceane mercadal

activity 4 (scavenger hunt) #5

Part of the group scavenger hunt was to ride a train from beginning to end, which I did by riding the 6 local train from the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall to Pelham Bay Park. The ride took approximately 2 hours or so but it was interesting to see the different kinds of people coming on and off the train. I got on the train at around 10am on a Thursday so a lot of people where already at work but I was surprised to still see the train relatively busy.

Mostly young mothers and their baby got on the train at the Brooklyn bridge where I got on with also a large amount of young adults in their mid late twenties. This is probably due to the fact that the lower east side is mostly known for its youth population. After all that’s where all the good parties are held! Baby strollers took up a lot of the space so when this one old lady got on the train at Bleecker Street she was mad because she could not go through to the one free seat available at the end of the bench. I usually don’t pay attention as I put my ipod and start reading but everyone looks around. This one Asian guy probably in his early thirties kept on looking around to see if someone was looking at him. There was also this one girl who got on at 14^th Street, she was talk, blond, thin, with imposing breasts and botoxed lips kept checking herself out on the train windows making sure her hair was nice and that she had enough lipstick.

From 23^rd Street to 86^th it was mostly people dressed up in business suits or students. They were all pretty laid back just wanting to go where they had to be not paying attention to who was around. Everything was pretty smooth through the entire ride, people minded their own business and there was a large flow of varied passengers. However when the train hit the 125^th Street stop the environment change a little or maybe it was my anxiety. I had never been in the Bronx before but because every one I know keeps saying that it is not the safest place to go too I began to be a little scared.After a couple stops I realized that not much had changed. There was still this wide range of people from the student going home after school to the old lady who probably had to go to her favorite butcher. The only thing that I noticed to be different is that the mothers where not as young as the ones I had seen at the beginning of the ride they were older and of different ethnicity.

The ride was pretty smooth from beginning to end. I was actually lucky that the train didn’t have to be stopped due to traffic even though it would have been interesting to observe peoples reactions. I know I get frustrated when it happens because I get claustrophobic. It’s funny to see how no matter where you are in the city, who you are and how you look people will always be looking at you, they want to reassure themselves by finding the little things they dislike in your physical appearance to make themselves feel better. Through out the entire ride I actually felt I was safe besides for the homeless person that always walks by asking for money or food but that’s in every train so you sort of get used to it.

Trains go through all kinds of neighborhoods but it was interesting to see that even though the 6 train goes from the lower east side all the way up to the Bronx the atmosphere is relaxed and laid back. People observe what is going on but no one is bothered or stressed. I’m not sure if this is because it was the 6 train and brand new but that ride was definitely enjoyable, now I might be completely different on an old broken down 2 train.

activity #3

Bianca Klotsman

Public vs. Private

What is the difference between public vs. private? A private space refers to a space which is designed for the exclusive use of buildings occupiers. A public space refers to an area or place that is open and accessible to all citizens, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or age; A place where there is no fee or paid ticket required for entry. If this is true, then why is the subway referred to as “public transportation” when there is a $2.25 surcharge? In such a crowded city like New York, even public spaces have “private” rules.

For this particular assignment I chose to walk around Soho, which I learned stands for South of Houston. I took the 6 Train from Hunter College down to Spring street. I know that the assignment said to choose a 10 block radius, but Soho which happens to be one of the largest villages in the world, is only about 8 blocks wide and 5 blocks long. The neighborhood is bordered between Broadway and Avenue of the Americas. I walked in and around the cobblestone streets of Canal, Grand, Broome, Spring, Prince, and Houston trying to distinguish the difference between private and public spaces. I chose to walk around Soho because the area is known always being artistic and for its unique boutiques. Technically a boutique should be a public space because it welcomes all customers, but at the same time it is privately owned by an individual. While walking amongst the streets, even the “chain stores” such as H&M, Zara, and Chanel looked as if they were private spaces because of the unique architecture they settled in. Because Soho is so antique, as is the architecture and cobblestone streets, it makes it all the more private because it cannot easily be fixed, therefore being looked out for by the city more carefully.

In the book “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” written by Jane Jacobs, she says "Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody." I thought this was an appropriate quote to use for this blog entry because each part of New York City offers something different for everybody. There is the preppy area of the Upper East side, Times Square known for its amazing lights and tourist attractions, and then you have the trendy young area of Soho for the young and artistic.

activity #2

Bianca Klotsman

As part of a class activity where we had to get to know a classmate and with that assign a place to visit where they have never been before. I live in New Jersey, but come to the city very often, yet I have never been to so many exciting places. After talking about where we have and have not been or seen and have not seen, my partner decided to suggest that I go visit The Museum of Sex located on 27th and 5th avenue. The museum itself is very small but has so much to offer with all of its exhibits clustered into 2 rooms. With some of the exhibits constantly rotating into new and exciting themes and others staying stationary, you will never get bored at this particular museum. When I visited The Museum of Sex there were a few exhibits that caught my attention.

The exhibit called “Action” was about sex and the moving image, which opened in March of 2007. It revealed the way sexual imagery had impacted film, television, advertising, and the Internet while creating the multi- billion dollar porn industry and influencing popular art. Everybody is familiar with the term “sex sells” which is exactly what this exhibit portrayed.

Another exhibit that caught my eye was called “Rubbers” which is fairly new and just opened in February of 2010. It’s sponsored by Trojan and features all different kinds of condoms such as ribbed, flavored, and studded. It also shows the transformation they have undergone from their early linen substance to being able to customize with distinctive sizes, shapes, and textures to enhance pleasure while most importantly promoting safety. My whole experience in The Museum of Sex was very interesting and I definitely recommend a trip there.

Well informed but not asked for opinion...

Oceane Mercadal

Activity 5#

Community Board 5 takes care of the midtown part of Manhattan. Attending a full board meeting was interesting because I got to see that people were actually concerned about the environment we live in. What was shocking though was that the first part of the meeting was public speakers coming to say what they where working on and the second half was the board discussing issues amongst one another. There was no communication with the two parties or even the audience. The public speakers also only had 2 minutes to say what they had t, which was odd. A man was asked to wrap up his speech because he was over time. He was discussing the fact that St Vincent’s hospital needed financial aid rapidly in order to pay the doctors and allow to continue operating patients.

Though out the meeting, the audience got various information about what was going on and how the board was working to making things batter. Like Sherry Arnstein’s article “Ladder of Citizen Participation”, the board meeting I attended was a “one way flow of information- from officials to citizens- with no channel provided for feedback and no power for negotiation.” I was perfectly aware that The Yard on 55th West 21st Street was applying for a liquor license renewal but at no time did I know if the application had been processed or was asked if it would affect me.

In the middle of the meeting 3 public speakers stood next to me and started having a conversation. At first it was annoying because I was trying to pay attention and understand what the board was discussing. When I realized that they weren’t going to stop I turned around and started listening to their conversation instead. They arguing over the fact that one of the public speakers talked about a fuel tank, which was being installed next to a building on 6th Avenue. The 2 oldest men were telling the younger one now what he said was not relevant to the meeting. Tey were basically manipulating him into a therapy of how it did not affect the majority of the people but only the ones living in this particular area. It was interesting to see how their conversation contained 3 different levels of Sherry Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation. They manipulated the man by saying that the tank was probably needed in the area, that it wouldn’t be harmful to the surround or else the company would not have been able to install it in this area. The conversation ranked all the way to citizen control, which consists of citizens taking power and fighting for what they consider important to their community. Like Sherry Arnstein’s article states: “…and be able to negotiate the conditions under which ‘outsiders’ may change them.” Their conversation ended by the 2 oldest men telling the youngest one he should get together with his neighbors and do a petition if they thought the tank was really harmful for them.

Attending this board meeting allowed me to realize that yes, meetings are opened to the public but the people don’t have a saying about what is being discussed. In the end what’s the point of attending the meeting if I’m not going to be able to say something? Might as well not go, wouldn’t make a difference after all weather I go and sit listening to people who don’t know my concerns and not go at all.

Activity 4 Scavenger Hunt #6

Activity 4 Scavenger Hunt #6
Rosedelle A Chery

A “frontier neighborhood” according to James Kunstler, in his book “The Geography of Nowhere” is a place or home that advertises one success. Typically it's a neighborhood that falls along the lines the classic American Dream of homes with white picket fences away from the hustle and bustle of the city. A frontier neighborhood is an area that allows you to get escape from the reality of your work life so you can enjoy the spoils of your labor. For the last couple of years, there has been a massive renovation where I live in Rockaway Beach. The city and construction companies and buildings have turned many of the empty lots into private housings. Rockaway Beach was mainly an area with lots of housing projects and apartment buildings. Now, I feel like they are trying to making it into a mini suburbia. Because we aren’t to close to the city and are near a beach, I think it would be the perfect place for developers to try to turn it into Long Island part 2. I’m not opposed to them building nice houses or a new supermarket, I’m opposed to the ridiculous prices that they are charging for these “beach front properties”. They are trying to turn Rockaway into this luxury area, which is great for business but bad for the residents because no can afford anything anymore. I think that all these new developments will make Rockaway a target area for increase taxes and increase MTA tolls on the two of three exits out of Rockaway. I also believe that there are trying to build unrealistic dreams of this beach side suburbia especially since there are like 3 nursing areas for crazy or senile people right next to the boardwalk. Instead of building more parks or community centers or fixing the buildings that already there, they are building condos and unaffordable homes are not benefiting the people of Rockaway. Like with Coney Island, developers aren’t trying to make update Rockaway, they are trying to change it and run “undesirables” out.