New York Stories

I just wanted to share this story about the fire at Willets Point. As you guys know, because of the fire, my boyfriend and I were prevented from entering into that region. We had to wait a long time, when it was dark out, before we could venture back in again.

Here is the link.

George is lucky enough to be able to do what he loves for a living: snowboard.  He not only manages a store for Volcom, a company that has been involved in the snowboarding scene for 15 years now, but also runs bus trips to Hunter Mountain on Sundays for OVR Ride, a New York City based company that organizes trips to various mountains.  After sitting down with him to discuss what it takes to be a snowboarder in the city, and what keeps him from moving closer to the mountains, it was easy to see how much love he has for the sport which is what makes him such a good ambassador for it.

watch?v=hIh91ITWoos

1 in 8 Million: Tiffany

Tiffany is a Kansas-bred transplant who’s never given up her out-of-towner zeal for this city. Six years into her own New York Story, Tiffany is now a blogger and the coordinator of the New York City Food Crawls.

Susan Monroy, 50, is a Bronx-born New York housewife and mother.  Her life is far from dull; taking care of five children throughout the years, staying involved in their lives, and starting up her own business making yarn and clothing is no simple task. She looks at her life with joy and optimism as she shares her New York Story.

Radek Wyrwas, 24, Polish-American

link:

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When one thinks of New York, its skyline and skyscrapers are often the first thing that comes to mind. This is the story because this very New York thing, the gruesome details of how our city comes to exist. In addition, I think that a great thing about New York is that one can do anything, be anyone, and there is no such thing as “too late” in New York, which this story shows.

This story is one of the many narratives of being an undocumented immigrant in New York City. The person I interviewed came to the U.S. when he was six, he’s in his third year of college, and he’s majoring in architecture. He has a passion for the arts and uses architecture as an “escape.” Even though he’s faces this tremendous obstacle, he appreciates living in New York and all it has to offer.

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Joseph Roberts: The Sustainability Advocate

Yuri Sandulov: Bridging Nations

For years, the city has tried to transform Willets Point, a hub of auto shops and junkyards, into prime real estate space for apartments and offices. But local businesses, their workers, and the neighborhood’s only resident, Joseph Ardizzone, have stood in staunch opposition. Ardizzone, who attends many Community Board 7 meetings, is frequently sought after by news publications for interviews regarding the ongoing legal battle. But this three year battle has only been a small sliver of Ardizzone’s 78 years at Willets Point.

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