California's gay marriage ban continues until December

As published on The Examiner August 16, 2010

Original link

According to a court order issued late Monday, California’s ban on gay marriage will continue until at least December.

The decision came from a three judge panel of the Ninth Circuit U.S. court of Appeals. California’s gay marriage ban is remaining in effect until oral arguments are scheduled.

District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling earlier this month invalidating the California law, known as Prop 8, was a huge victory for gay rights supporters. Monday's order puts that decision on hold but there's a clear indication from the Ninth Circuit that there may be a serious problem with the appeal.

The two page order directs Prop 8 supporters to address whether they hav the legal ability to challenge Judge Walker’s decision. The order states, “"In addition to any issues appellants wish to raise on appeal, appellants are directed to include in their opening brief a discussion of why this appeal should not be dismissed for lack of Article III standing,"

In December, the Ninth Circuit will have to determine if Prop 8 supporters will be harmed if Walker's ruling takes full effect, or to put it simply, will supporters be injured if homosexuals are allowed to marry. Supporters of the measure argue that California state law precedents give them the standing right to challenge Judge Walker’s decision.

Lawyers for the Prop 8 defenders argued in their brief to the Ninth Circuit that California courts have “repeatedly allowed proponents to intervene to defend initiatives they have sponsored.”

The lawyers representing the gay couples who are defending Judge Walker’s ruling point to a 1997 Supreme Court decision which casts “grave doubts” on the courtroom rights of ballot initiative supporters.

They claim that Prop 8 supporters lack standing to file an appeal and note that none of the state’s key lawmakers, like Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger or Attorney General Jerry brown, who normally have standing to file suit have done so.

Betel offering late-night menu inspired by Thai hawker food stalls

As published in The Examiner on August 24, 2010

Original link: http://www.examiner.com/ny-in-new-york/betel-offering-late-night-menu-inspired-by-thai-hawker-food-stalls

Betel Chef Adam Woodfield

West Village restaurant Betel, a modern Southeast Asian spot inspired by the Australian take on the hawker food stalls of Thailand, is launching a late-night menu Night Market.

The underground late night menu is inspired by the Asian night markets and is all about serving steamed buns. Starting at 11pm, when the kitchen is closed for dinner, Betel will be serving plates of buns to fix late night, post-cocktail carb cravings.

 And, just like the real night markets of the far East, patrons can test their luck haggling for the price of the buns. Order 3 and it might be $10, it might be free, depends how good the customer’s bargaining skills are.

Betel’s Night Market buns and drinks specials are available for a limited time, through October, from 11 pm until close, everyday. Haggling for buns is welcome every Monday night only.

 Chef Adam Woodfield is showcasing his favorite takes on late night food with his menu of Betel’s signature steamed buns:

• Steamed Pork Belly Buns (3 for $10)
• Steamed Wagyu Buns (3 for $15)
• Steamed Curried Chicken Buns (3 for $10)

Enjoy these buns with drinks at happy hour prices – half price on all cocktails and beer, and select wines for $8 per glass.

Mixologist Mary Zayaruzny offers an extensive list of cocktails, all are made with fresh muddled fruit and seasonal ingredients. Betel’s most popular cocktails include:

• Nashi Citrus Fizz (Three Olive Citrus Vodka, Prosecco, Naghi Pear, lemongrass syrup, lemongrass powder)
• The Blackberry Passionfruit Caipiroska (42 Below Passionfriut Vodka, Lime, Blackberries, Palm Sugar)
• Southeast Julep (Lucas Bols Genever, Crop Organic Cucumber Vodka, Cucumber, Vietnamese Mint, Lime, Palm Sugar).

A little about Betel:
After moving from Sydney to New York City in 2008 Chef Adam Woodfield (Public NYCand Jimmy Liks Sydney) and entrepreneur Luke Fryer sought to create an experience that is at once adventurous, fun and seductive. The Australian natives based their vision based upon the hawker food stalls of South East Asia mixing of bold flavors, elegant style and casual with Sydney’s own strong Thai food culture. The restaurant is named after the betel leaf, which is used in Asian cultures for its range of curative properties.

 *Betel is located at 51 Grove Street, between Bleecker St. and 7th Avenue.

'Soup Nazi' to reopen Original SoupMan in Midtown

Michael Schmelling/Associated Press

By Morgan Rousseau

Published July 14, 2010 Examiner.com (original link)

NEW YORK CITY --- The original "Soup Nazi," Al Yeganeh, will reopen his Original SoupMan shop on 55th street. Yeganeh was made famous in Seinfeld's Soup Nazi episode, in which he was portrayed as a stern ladler of soup who would sometimes fly off the handle and shot, "no soup for you!"

The New York City soup legend opened for business in 1984, at Soup Kitchen International at 259A West 55th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue). In 2004, after his Seinfeld fame rocketed him as a food-culture icon, Yeganeh closed the storefront in pursuit of a nation-wide franchise.

His Original SoupMan brand and frozen soup production business were successful, but on July 20th, he will open his original location. According to the franchise website, all customers visiting the reopened location that day will receive a free T-shirt.

Representatives say the reopened location will still function under the franchise umbrella, but the soups will still be made from scratch, on the premises.

The original location will feature some new additions to the menu, such as asparagus caviar soup and Mexican tortilla soup.

Yeganeh has told media outlets that he plans to make sporadic appearances at the reopened location.

Become an original SoupFan by signing up on originalsoupman.com to order online and stay up-to-date on the menu choices. The site also includes rules for customers in 11 languages.

New York to Allow No-Fault Divorce

By Morgan Rousseau

As published 7/9/2010 on The Examiner.Com (original link)

ALBANY -- New York is about to become the last state in the country to enact no-fault divorce, which means a spouse will not have to cite legal wrongdoing in order to obtain a divorce.

Governor David Paterson (D) is expected to sign the legislation into law soon. This coming 57 years after Oklahoma became the first state to allow no-fault divorce. Some view the benefit of no-fault divorce is in the speediness and simplicity of the process.

As of now, married couples must cite legal misconduct, like adultery, or endure a court-sanctioned one-year separation agreement if they want a legal divorce.

But if Paterson signs the legislation, and supporters are optimistic he will, one party in a marriage can end their union at any time, for any reason.

Those opposed say that no-fault may raise New York’s annual divorce rate, which stands at a low three percent. Others are concerned that the legislation could hurt the spouse with the least income, typically the woman.

Prominent women’s activist Marcia Papas, who runs the National Organization for Women in New York state, told amNY that “women will have to spend more to prove they deserve damages and make it easier for men to walk out for capricious reasons.”

The Catholic Church stands opposed to no fault divorce, saying it sends the message that marriage is a “disposable institution.”

Still, supporters say disputes between couples seeking a divorce will be minimized, as spouses split on irreconcilable differences rather than assigning fault.

Growing Rate of Senior-Aged STDs: Viagra, Healthy Life to Blame

By Morgan Rousseau

Published July 7, 2010

Orginal link to Examiner.com

A new report says the rate of sexually transmitted diseases in older men taking erectile dysfunctions drugs like Viagra is twice as high as men not taking the medications. But doctors say that for men in both groups, the number of STDs is soaring higher than ever before.


According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than six new cases of STDs per 10,000 men over 40 years of age in 2008, which is up almost 50 percent since 1996.

Younger adults still have far more STDs than older adults, but the numbers are growing at a far higher rate in elders. The reason for this development is not yet understood, but more divorces and better health may be contributing to a boost in sexual activity among older people.

The issue of unprotected sex is obviously a problem for senior-aged people who are not accustomed to using condoms. Researchers say that 50-year olds are six times less likely to use a condom than men in their 20s.

Dr. Anupam B. Jena of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston told Reuters, “We are typically unaccustomed to practice safe sex over the age of 50, because the risk of pregnancy is eliminated.”

Zikrayat Releases 2nd Album, Blends Modern with Classic Egyptian Music

LIC's Zikrayat releases second album with performances blending modern sounds and dance with classic Egyptian movie musicals

By Morgan Rousseau

As published on Thursday, May 6, 2010 in the Queens Times Ledger

 

LONG ISLAND CITY -- Zikrayat, the Queens-based musical group that performs new sounds inspired by the golden age of Arabic music and dance, released “Cinematic,” its second album, Saturday. The release was a long-anticipated follow-up to the 2008 Independent Music Award winning album Live at Lotus.

Bandleader Sami Abu Shumays, a Long Island City resident, composed original music for the album, mixing it with both popular and rare songs and dance instrumentals from Egyptian film musicals of the 1950s and 1960s. The arrangements evoke the sound of mid-20th century Egyptian film orchestras.

According to Shumays, Zikrayat strives to capture the Egyptian small ensemble referred to as “takht” and also capture the texture of the musicals.

“They have a lot of dance music. It’s fun, but it’s sophisticated. We capture that kind of artsy-retro dance,” Shumays said.

Shumays plays violin and also sings backing vocals for Zikrayat. The vocals of Salah Rajab are highlighted by the dance beats of master percussionist Faisal Zedan on “Cinematic,” which also features percussionist Johnny Farraj, oud and accordion player Dimitri Mikelis, nay player Bridget Robbins and bassist Apostolos Sideris.

“Cinematic” is a mix of studio tracks and a few live tracks that capture the sounds of their inspired performances.

“We have this whole variety show inspired by the vaudeville format because we can present different sides — the more classical end as well as dance elements, all in one show,” Shumays said.

Joining Zikrayat in their upcoming performances are musicians Tareq Abboush (buzuq, backing vocals), Salma Habib (vocalist), Rami el-Aasser (percussion) and Zafer Tawil (percussion, oud, violin and backing vocals), and belly dancers Robin “Dameshe” Shumays (Sami’s wife, and Zikrayat’s dance director), Yowalka, Mariyah, Sherine and Jaida.

Zikrayat is set to perform its variety show at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center Friday at 8 p.m., in a multimedia production featuring clips from Egyptian films of the 1940s through the 1960s synchronized to live performances of dance and vocal numbers. The event will feature master dance artist and choreographer Dalia Carella, who will pay tribute to dancer Badia Masabni’s Casino Opera and other Cairo night-clubs of the 1920s and 1930s.

Their LPAC performance promises solo dance pieces alternating with solo vocal pieces, group dance pieces, a vocal duet, instrumental improvisations and more. The show is part of LPAC’s Lab program, which looks to give exposure to emerging artists in New York City.

“What I find exciting about Zikrayat is their ability to address many different audiences across different disciplines,” said Steven Hitt, LPAC’s managing director.

The music and visual performance put on by Zikrayat speak to the Arab and Arab-American community in New York.

“We have an audience of Arabs and Arab-Americans. The younger people have an interest in exploring the culture, while the older people have a nostalgic connection to it,” Shumays said.

However, the music also aims to catch the interest of the belly dance community – which encompasses a multitude of cultures and social groups.

“The belly dance audience is not very familiar with the depth of the tradition, but it is poppy and fun,” Shumays said. “It has an appeal to both audiences.”

The vision for Zikrayat began after Shumays and his wife Robin returned from their honeymoon in Egypt in 2005. The couple purchased a variety of old Egyptian musicals, and promptly fell in love with the genre. After pitching the concept of the group to a few musical acquaintances, Zikrayat was born.

Shumays describes the time period they are exploring as “very ornamented and intricate.”

“My wife’s a belly dancer, and she likes stuff from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s — upbeat music. We reached a point of agreement with the ’50s,” Shumays said. “It’s a period where Cairo was producing many musicals per year. It still had this very complex sensibility regarding melodies, but it was also fun, upbeat and danceable.”

Zikrayat will also join Salma Habib at Joe’s Pub in Manhattan May 23 at 9:30 p.m. Habib is a prominent up-and-coming Arab vocalist in the United States.

“Cinematic” was introduced with a performance by Zikrayat Saturday at Barbes in Brooklyn, where there were also performances by musical groups Shusmo and Falu. There was a simultaneous broadcast on WFMU 91.1 FM on Rob Weisberg’s “Transpacific Sound Paradise” show, which can be streamed from WFMU’s Web site at wfmu.org/playlists/shows/35624.

The album is available for purchase at zikrayatmusic.com and CDBaby.com and on iTunes, and is also available during Zikrayat’s live performances.

Original link: http://www.yournabe.com/articles/2010/05/06/queens_village_times/ent_news/qv_ent_news_zikrayat_cinematic_20100506.txt

Live at the Gantries brings music to LIC waterfront

By Morgan Rousseau

As published on Friday, June 11, 2010 in the Queens Times Ledger

 

QUEENS -- The 2010 season of Long Island City’s performance series Live at the Gantries is kicking off with a sunset show at Gantry Plaza State Park June 13 with a performance by the Long Island City Jazz Alliance, a new collective formed by jazz fans and musicians that live and work in LIC.


Live at the Gantries is a series of 10 outdoor free shows featuring some of Queens’ most celebrated new entertainers. After Sunday’s show the performances run weekly, every Tuesday, from June 22 through Aug 18 at 7 p.m. at Gantry Plaza on the Long Island City waterfront.

The series offers up a diverse selection of music, ranging from jazz to classical, power gospel to rock ‘n’ roll and more.

The series is organized and produced by The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Queens Theatre in the Park, and Queens Council on the Arts. All three organizations work together, each contributing resources and commitment to make Live at the Gantries what it is.

Since Live at the Gantries began in 2008, it has drawn an eclectic audience of all ages — a combination of LIC residents and folks from other Queens neighborhoods and boroughs, thanks to a blazing word of mouth.

Rachel Gordon, regional director at the Parks Department, came up with the idea for the series because she wanted to make the most of a beautiful state park in the Queens community. “[The series] brings a wonderful sense of community in the larger sense. Not just a community within a few blocks, but in all of Queens, for the city as a whole,” she said.

Gordon calls Live at the Gantries a “unique series in a unique park that stresses the diversity of Queens.”

She describes the selection of performers as a broad spectrum of diversity. “There is a marvelous array of music, performers and people from different parts of Queens, and people from different parts of the world that come to Queens,” Gordon said.

Chris Henderson has been curator of Live at the Gantries for the past three years. He describes the event as having a relaxed setting with a family-oriented crowd made up of children and young adults. In order to choose the musicians, Henderson assembles a master list of Queens-based musicians from which the performers are chosen.

“I’ve worked around the borough, so I know a lot of the bands in the area. I give [the organizers] a list of the bands. We then collaborate on the right mix of balancing different kinds of music — things that are obscure, things that are popular,” Henderson said.

Jeff Rosenstock, executive director of Queens Theatre in the Park, says the organization has been involved since its inception three years ago. Rosenstock says Queens Theatre in the Park’s goal is to make something unique and “Queens-oriented” happen in LIC at no charge to the community.

“We see Live at the Gantries as a window into the artistic depth of our borough’s emerging and diverse performing artists, as well as an entry into one of the city’s most beautiful locations — Gantry Park,” Rosenstock said.

This year’s line-up includes Opera Collective (June 22), whose name is self-explanatory; Pass Kontrol (June 29), an art collective and band that puts on plays and musical performances; Jia-Yi He (July 6), a Taiwanese harmonica virtuoso; DB Rielly (July 13), a roots musician; Mundoclave (July 20), an Afro-Cuban jazz act; Andy Statman (July 27), a mandolin-and-clarinet maestro; the St. Paul AME Mass Church Choir (Aug. 3); Hiromi Suda (Aug. 10), a classically trained singer who has taken up Brazillian jazz; and a closing performance by Mission: on Mars (Aug. 17), an Indian-flavored fusion band.

Adrienne Patino of Opera Collective says the musical group strives to make opera accessible to the general public, which makes Live at the Gantries a perfect venue.

“Any organization like Live at the Gantries that provides musical experiences to the public is very appealing, and you couldn’t ask for a better setting than our city skyline,” Patino said.

Three out of the 10 members of Opera Collective live in Queens. “Being a rather new Queens resident myself, I love getting to know my borough. This series will allow me to explore more parts of my community. And we strive to make our communities better through music,” Patino said.

Gantry Plaza State Park is a 2.5 acre waterside spot between 49th and 50th avenues along the East River in LIC. The venue offers a perfect view of a skyline sunset, with open seating.

"Our goal was not to re-create another large scale outdoor summer festival, but rather to take some exceptional Queens-based artists, fuse them with a beautiful setting and share it all at no charge with all who wish to attend,” Rosenstock said.

Live at the Gantries is sponsored by TF Cornerstone, Rockrose Development Corp. with additional support from State Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, L Haus, O’Connor Capital Partners and Con Edison.

For more information visit www.liveatthegantries.com.



Original Link: http://www.yournabe.com/articles/2010/06/11/queens_village_times/arts/qv_arts_live_at_the_gantries_20100610.txt