American Girl

What is the theme of Ta Nehisi-Coates’s profile?

Growing up black in South Side. How blackness is a social construct.

Is there an overarching narrative?

Though the article speaks largely of Michelle Obama, it is also about all black residents of south side that grew up like Obama. It takes the idea that all black people grew up impoverished with both parents working and struggling and presents us with an alternative truth, black people growing up in “normal” homes, with a working father and stay at home mother. It presents us with a break in the stereotype.

What surprises Coates about Michelle Obama?

Coates says the he “took her as white” when he saw her in person.

How does Coates contextualize Michelle in the context of his own background growing up in Baltimore?

Michelle grew up in an area where blackness wasn’t a culture, whereas he did. The part of Chicago that Obama is from was mainly black. Many households had one working father and a stay at home mother. They never felt “blackness” until later in life, when they left South Side. Coates grew up in Baltimore, an area that was more integrated between black and white, which made him and others in the area aware of their race and black was viewed more as a culture.

 

Alphabet City Conflict Story Proposal

Alphabet City is a tiny neighborhood in New York that is full of tiny boutique shops and cafes. As I walk around I do not recognize the names of any of the shops as chain restaurants. The only Starbucks coffee shops are on both the far ends of the boundaries of this neighborhood. Many young people move here and I would like to investigate if they feel like this neighborhood is lacking things that the city has to offer. The subway is very far out of the way, large grocery stores are not nearby and the basic shops most of these people are used to going to are not a few steps away.

I talked to a few people who think it is a big issue and they said they were considering leaving because it can be so inconvenient sometimes to live there. They also knew people who were considering leaving. On top of not having these conveniences to offer, they are shooting up the rent prices. So what is truly making alphabet city a desirable place to live anymore? Some people were saying this is the reason they love it there so much its different and unique compared to other parts of the city.

Either way I would love to look into it, go into a board meeting and see if there is any discussion about this. Are they purposely keeping the chain business’ out of the area ? Do the chain business’ think they cannot find business there? Is Alphabet City going to become to inconvenient and an undesirable place for city residents? These are all things I would like to explore.

American Girl

What is the theme of Ta Nehisi-Coates profile?

Nehisi-Coates is writing about Michelle Obama’s different facets of being black and the progression to a society where being defined as black is the overlooked as “the two oceans that define America”. The article has a lot of perspective that supports the theme, exploring the different flavors of the community, threading together her experience growing up in a black neighborhood, and historically black college and so forth with the fight for equality and nationalistic pride.

Is there an overarching narrative?

The overarching narrative is black people being themselves and defining themselves as American as oppose to black. Nehisi-Coates explores her the work of Michelle Obama, and what she has done as a potential first-lady. In the text, it’s most evident in the block quote from Obama’s thesis, defining race as a divider.

What surprises Coates about Michelle Obama?

Coates had a pre-determined image of Michelle being a strong independent black woman who embraces the “angry black woman” front. Instead, he was surprised by her calm approach when discussing her upbringing, and admits to almost taking her for white.

How does Coates contextualize Michelle in the context of his own background growing up in Baltimore?

Coates speaks of his background in an indirect comparison to Michelle, nullifying that racism and segregation is a thing from past decades, and is present in today’s society. By using Michelle’s figure as the first black first-lady. Black culture is not splashing into the scene, already rippling in the American culture, but it’s still treated as something new, and for the writer, growing up in Baltimore, black power was very evident in his community, whereas Michelle was brought up in a community where that was not the central theme of the community because they were almost separated through their self-sufficiency.

American Girl

What is the theme of Ta Nehisi-Coates”s profile?

I think the theme is very historical. Throughout the interview, Ta Nehisi-Coates’ profile on Michelle Obama emphasizes where Michelle came from and how it contrasts as to where she is now.

Is there an overarching narrative?

I believe there is an overarching narrative. The reason is because not only does it reflect on a profile of Michelle Obama, but it also expresses how history has changed in particular neighborhoods over the years.

What surprises Coates about Michelle Obama?

Coates was surprised about Michelle’s personality and its flexibility. One moment, she’s, “slinging bean pies,” and the next moment she is recalling about her old past.

How does Coates contextualize Michelle in the context of his own background growing up in Baltimore?

The author has a comparison with Michelle Obama’s background in Chicago. As the author grew up in a neighborhood and time where blacks were treated poorly, Chicago had it’s own fight with black segregation. In addition, it seems as if the black community in Chicago was filled with culture.

American Girl by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Please answer the following questions on Ta-Nehisi Coates’ American Girl, a profile of Michelle Obama. Answers are to be uploaded by 6PM on Monday, November 23rd.

What is the theme of Ta Nehisi-Coates”s profile? Is there an overarching narrative? What surprises Coates about Michelle Obama? How does Coates contextualize Michelle in the context of his own background growing up in Baltimore?

Note: Coates has just received The National Book Award for Non-fiction for his new book, Between The World and Me. Do read it!

Englewood’s “Starr” Business

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Entrance to Starr Carpets on the corner of Grand Ave

In the four blocks that comprise Englewood’s shopping center, passersby stop, mesmerized by  massive window displays of intricate patterned rugs and bright carpets.

In a town mostly known for lively restaurants and high-end fashion boutiques, Starr Carpets manages to attract loyal customers with its luxurious style and its works of art.

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Illuminated windows to showcase ornate rugs, which are changed weekly

Mike Nazar prides himself on operating his business on three basic principles: family values, a personal relationship with customers, and guaranteed service.

“I’ve been around for so long that I’ve been able to create great connections with people who trust me and my ability to provide quality products,” he said. “My knowledge and experience makes me a little more unique than other stores.”

This thriving business has provided a comfortable living for Nazar despite the many economic and social changes in the neighborhood. A small town with few home decor options, Starr stands as a premier carpet store since its opening in 1979.  Nazar’s visions and popularity have paved the way for his ever-growing enterprise.

Nazar’s entry into the rug industry began “when troubles started in my country, Iran,” he said. “I left at 18 to pursue my education with the goal of starting my own business.”

His triumphs and prosperity is attributed to his family who helped shape his business as he received guidance and assistance from relatives already in the industry. A financially good deal, it was a perfect opportunity for Nazar to open Starr Carpets in a town where his brother owns the building and he can work with his nephew to continue the family legacy.

Sharum Nazar, Mike’s nephew, said, “My uncle has shown me the ropes to be successful in a competitive business. With the lessons I’ve learned, our company has grown and extended our inventory to include pieces from all major rug producing countries.”

This partnership allows Starr Carpets to specialize in traditional and contemporary wall-to-wall coverings, a carpet covering the entire floor from one wall to another, and hand woven area rugs. Twenty to twenty-five percent of Nazar’s merchandise is bought domestically while the rest is imported from Europe and Asia.

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Together with seven staff members, Nazar is able to customize and design the homes of his clients while keeping up with the latest trends. He is affiliated with interior designers who introduce him to clients from New Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island, and New York City.

“I enjoy walking into my customers’ homes knowing I’ve helped create something beautiful for them,” he said. “They’ll pass this carpet or rug everyday and it’s important for them to love it.”

Sigal Benatar, an Englewood resident, knows Nazar for 16 years and worked with him to carpet her entire house.

“He’s always there to help even if something is wrong with the carpet years later. His prices are fair and he’s an honest man,” she said.

The average 8 x10 rug made with medium to higher end material is sold by Nazar for about $4,000- $5,000 while a lower-end rug is sold for $1,500-$2,500. Carpeting starts at $10 a square foot and can go as high as $175 per square foot.

Prices constantly increase as interior designers direct Nazar towards current trends and market demands along with carpet shows that showcase new colors, patterns, and textures. Sometimes a fuzzy brown carpet might look like it will stay in style but the fashion changes with each season, causing Nazar to be dependent on factories and importers to design new products he can order.

“Once they develop new products, I pick and choose the styles I think can best sell in my shop,” he said. “I order most of my merchandise once a year at these shows.”

Today’s home decor color trends change so rapidly that one day grays and blues are in and then six months later bright yellows are popular, making it hard to predict the style’s longevity. It is Nazar’s job to know what pieces will remain in demand as it takes four to six months to make a hand knotted rug. This is the most difficult part of the job since there are no guarantees customers will go through with pre-orders if something new comes out.

FullSizeRender(3)“You really have to know what the upcoming colors are in order to produce and order your rugs six months in advance,” he said. “You could have produced 20 gray rugs that were on the looms for a year and then the style turns purple, so you’re stuck with these now.”

As the rugs are made in Europe and Asia, Nazar finds a decrease in skilled weavers qualified for production because industrialization causes a desire within younger generations to be a part of the world economy. Working 18 hours a day, in a tight spaced sweltering factory, workers receive minimal wages and are exposed to conditions that threaten their health and cause arthritis from holding small tools and tying knots. “Carpet kids,” are migrating from these countries  to create a better life for themselves, to pursue higher education, and to find jobs, ultimately dropping child laborers 75% from one million to 250,000.

The lack of proficient workers, ephemeral color trends, and internet sales are resulting in a steady decline in area rugs.

“We do area rugs but, today, they’re not in demand,” he said. “Most people are requesting wall-to-wall coverings because things have shifted to a contemporary side.”

Internet sales hurt many businesses but Nazar’s only lost a handful of people, unlike other industries. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Americans are expected to shell out $327 billion on Internet stores by 2016.”  Furthering this claim, a survey done by Home Furnishings Business discovers that of 157 customers, 23.3% bought rugs at Lowe’s or Home Depot, 13.8% online, and only 11.3% at a traditional rug store. Nazar admits, “I’ll lose one or two customers who will buy area rugs online but it doesn’t amount to anything because the internet doesn’t provide service like I do.”

Along with internet companies, competitors like Moosavi Rugs & Home Furnishing, located three blocks away from Starr Carpets, does not pose any competition according to Nazar, who runs his business on relationships and referrals. Nazar opts out of advertising in magazines or social media because he feels his background knowledge and popularity is sufficient.

“I don’t feel like I need to compete with other stores since most of the people I deal with know me personally and come because of me,” he said.

The General Manager of Moosavi Rugs & Home Furnishing, Jose Cabrera, however, believes being around another competing rug store is beneficial and does not take away from his clientele. Moosavi Rugs is in a bigger space than Starr Carpets, allowing them to showcase more merchandise but the store is limited to Tibetan rugs and doesn’t supply carpeting like Nazar does. Its advantage, Cabrera says, is that “We are direct importers, so we sell our merchandise at a wholesale price,” he said. “We can provide our customers with the lowest prices unlike other retail stores who drastically raise prices.” Despite this benefit, a  “Going Out of Business” sign hangs on the front door.

Moosavi Rugs & Home Furnishing has survived for the past 38 years with its foundation in New York City, only moving to Englewood two years ago. But the owner has recently decided to retire due to health issues and he is planning to close the store by the end of this year.

FullSizeRender(1)Although a little friendly competition is crucial in business, Moosavi’s impending closing means that there will be one less competitor in the neighborhood.  Meanwhile, Starr seems to have remarkable staying power.“I’ve been honest and that’s the best way to succeed in business,” Nazar said.

 

 

 

Near the 7 Line: Jin Cheng Restaurant in Flushing

The station’s loudspeaker blares, “This is the last stop on the 7 train. Flushing, Main Street. Please do not forget your belongings, and exit the train.” Inching ever so slowly, the escalators in Flushing station brings their clientele to street level, where aromas of dim sum and tea punctures the air. Riders come far and wide for a taste of Jin Cheng Restaurant’s traditional Cantonese cooking.

RestaurantFor five years, this family-owned business, has been located at 142-38 Roosevelt Ave, between Union street and Bowne Stree. It’s a prime location for the restaurant, having the 7 train only a block away. This contemporary Asian restaurant in Flushing, Queens makes a name for itself by providing exceptional dining service and delicious cuisine. All thanks to the manager of the restaurant, Benny Yeng.

Every morning at 5 a.m., a grey minivan departs from Flushing. Benny Yeng, dressed in an all black blazer with a button down white shirt and handkerchief sticking out of his back pocket, takes it upon himself to pick up employees that live a long way away from Flushing every day. He says that, “I’ve been doing this for about five years now. Driving from Flushing to Chinatown and back again, it’s very tedious and boring but someone has to do it.”

According to the most recent Queens rental market report, Flushing rentals for single bedroom housing have been decreasing by 7.09% since the previous month. Yeng says that he has “to drive in an hour of traffic to just get to them and the ride back would feel even longer. Rent in Flushing and around the neighborhood is so expensive, it’s hard hiring workers within Flushing. If we hired workers within Flushing we would have to pay more.”

Studio and two bedroom units are averaging increased numbers by 2.26% and 1.88% respectively, since August 2015, which could be due to the fact of so many immigrants are moving to America from China. Paula Annarumma of PCA Realty says that, “Single-family homes are being pushed further back towards Long Island, while apartment buildings, condos, co-ops and other multi-family housing project are developing.” Housing developers have come to realize that they profit more by building multiple small apartments. As rentals for larger family apartments are rising, there’s also an increase in commercial rent. As reported by New York City’s Multiple Listing Service, a restaurant that is  five blocks away from Jin Cheng Restaurant is going for 266,000 dollars for 1,950 square feet, which averages around 73 cents per square foot. According to the New York City Department of Finance,  Jin Cheng Restaurant has 15,334 square feet and is paying about 350,000 dollars in rent which averages about $4.38 per square foot.

Yeng says, “After driving them back to work, it’s about 7:00 a.m. when the restaurant opens up for food preparations for the day.” Chefs in the back chop away in a methodical rhythm as they sing songs from the radio. There are about four chefs in total, and each chef knows exactly what’s their role in the kitchen. One would be dicing up fresh vegetables while the other cleaning the meats and poultry for the day, another would be in charge of sauce preparations, and last one would be cleaning the utensils. The front of the house gets ready by cleaning each table and chair before the start of the day.

As the manager, Yeng does a final check before opening the doors at 9:30 a.m. Wearing a pure white glove, he surveys the restaurant. Looking for anything out of the ordinary and for dust and dirt. Getting an “A” for health inspection wasn’t an easy task, so he takes his job seriously. Mei Zhang Lam a waitress for the front of the house says that “He’s like a sergeant in the military in the morning. Though I know he’s very particular in things, he does it because it makes our restaurant the best it can be.”

Shrimp and Mayonnaise Benny doesn’t only take looks and decor seriously but also the food. One of the most popular dishes to order is their mayonnaise shrimp from the dinner specials with crunchy walnuts. Imagine lightly battered shrimp to give it a delightful texture, while the sweet and crunchy walnuts that are coated in light sugar and baked before reaching the plate.

 

Lobster and Gluttonous rice                                                 Another popular specialty dish is their lobster with glutinous rice. The rice itself is soaked in a seafood base solution for about 6 to 24 hours before even going into the dish. Depending on the time frame of when it’s ordered, the longer you soak it, the better the taste. The atmosphere is classic Cantonese Chinese with big round tables for families to sit and share a meal.

Corona Laundromat offers 24-hour service to LeFrak City area

Washer and dryer systems are an afterthought in New York City apartments. The appliances, used, at most, once a week, are large, making it difficult to create space for them in congested apartments. Enter, the local laundromat that provides the service at a moderate price in residential neighborhoods.

Along 55th Avenue towards Horace Harding Expressway in Corona, the 55th Avenue Laundromat is squeezed between a construction site and a 24-hour liquor store. Although all surrounding apartment complexes offer laundry service in their respective basements, this laundromat generates enough customers from around the neighborhood to support a strong business. Opened almost three years, it has seen steady growth in its customer base.

Corona is crowded with laundromats that are as busy in the afternoon as coffee shops in Manhattan are in the morning. Over 15 businesses in the area offer a variation of the same service, all looking for ways to differentiate themselves. Some offer tailoring; others offer games to fill time waiting for clothes to wash and dry. Almost all fail to maintain business or remain with the same ownership for more than five years.

The 55th Avenue Laundromat is a monopoly force in the LeFrak City area. They only offer washing services, keeping their niche in the neighborhood specific. Instead of additional services, they are the only laundry offering extended 24-hour service. They offer the cheapest prices at $2 for a small machine and $4.50 for a large machine. Laundry rooms in the apartment complexes close at 11pm and offer machines starting at $2.50. The laundry businesses in the area close at 10pm and not all of them offer $2 machines. Further, for every quarter, the drying machines provide 10 minutes of service. All surrounding laundry services offer machines for 8 minutes per quarter.

Around for over three years in Corona, they are one of the few services that do not offer tailoring as an extension to their business.

Around for over three years in Corona, they are one of the few services that do not offer tailoring as an extension to their business.

The main drive for most of their client base is how well kept the laundromat is. Every hour, a different associate is either wiping down the table that customers fold their clothes on or cleaning dust balls out of machines. “Eighty percent of the time the laundry is spotless… people should be able to come in and get what they pay for,” said Taj Maharaj, an associate at the Laundromat.

Both a Navy Marine and a former student of Lehman College, Maharaj is the overnight associate who supervises the laundry. While weekends bring the highest number of customers, the overnight hours draw more clients during the week. Maharaj acknowledges that many people who live in the neighborhood work graveyard shifts as a second job to make money. Customers who come in at these hours are usually transit and hospital employees who also happen to live in the area.

For those who do not have the time to do laundry, the laundromat offers wash-and-fold services where your clothes are cleaned and folded by end of day. Charging by weight, they start at $11 for 10 pounds of clothes and 90 cents for every extra pound. They get an average of eight bags a day, all done in a matter of six hours.

Their efficiency is predicated on the vast number of machines that are always available for use. They have 20 small washing machines, 12 medium washing machines and four large washing machines lined up on the right side of the store and 40 drying machines facing the washing machines.

“Instead of spending $20 a week on detergent, fabric softeners and spending half my day waiting for laundry, I bring my load of dirty clothes every week.  I save tons of time by spending an extra couple dollars,” said Jesus Mejia, one of the many frequent customers at the laundromat.

Their wash-and-fold service brings in a little less than a sixth of their total revenue, but it is not as cheap as surrounding laundromats that offer the service for 20 cents less. “We don’t use the generic soap to wash clothes. It costs more money to wash the clothes with care,” said Rosabla Benitez, a daytime associate at the laundromat.

There is meter parking offered on the street where the laundromat is located. Most customers who use their services often walk from home lugging their bag of clothes over their shoulders. Charles Hadley, the owner of the 55th Avenue Laundromat and a 20-year seasoned professional in laundry service, wants a parking lot around the area for his business to increase. “You can’t get someone to walk from the corner of Junction Boulevard and 57th Avenue to drop of their laundry,” said Hadley.

Along with the other daytime associate, Benitez handles the wash-and-fold services for most of her shift. Since most of the customers who use the service come during the morning hours, she is familiar with many of them. Most of the clients communicate in Spanish with her, but for those who don’t, Benitez gives off a welcoming energy. Customers feel comfortable leaving their clothes in her hands.

The secret is knowing her clients. “If the people see that you care about their day, they feel safe leaving their clothes with you. I try to remember everybody’s name and sometimes I can tell whose clothes I am washing because of the shirts they own,” said Benitez.

Alba Monegro, a resident from the 57th Avenue apartment complex, goes to the 55th Avenue Laundromat specifically for the dryers. In her home, she has enough space for a washing machine. She hang-dries most of her clothes, but for comforter sets and underwear, she logs her cart into the laundromat knowing that she does not have to spend more than two dollars. “I always take advantage of the deals around the neighborhood. They are the only [laundry owners] who let me use the dryers without washing my clothes in the area,” said Monegro.

Other than spotless maintenance, Hasley does not intend to seperate his business through aesthetic. The 24-hour lighting on the window is enough to generate service.

Other than spotless maintenance, Hadley does not intend to separate his business through aesthetic. The 24-hour lighting on the window is enough to generate service.

The laundromat is the newest around and has a simple business model for longevity. Strong maintenance around the business and long-lasting relationships with customers is the recipe for Hadley’s success in the area. “Keep the machines running, keep customers happy and offer good product at a good price,” said Hadley.

Battle in Black and White

Both Fox’s piece and Bagli’s piece deal with the problem of the Stuyvesant Town housing complexes being inaccessible to certain groups of people.

Fox’s piece is more focused on how initially, the Stuy Town complexes were closed off to black families, even though the complexes were meant for families of average means and for war veterans–groups which included black families. Bagli’s piece is an examination of how the rent prices have skyrocketed and have all but excluded the families for whom the apartments were originally meant for. Though the two pieces look at it from different angles, Bagli’s shows how Stuy Town housing still remains largely inaccessible to the people for whom it was meant.