GUEST BLOG :: Interns explore West End Avenue

As guest blog by intern Jason Crowley

Intern Jason Crowley at the 2012 "Unsung Heroes" awards,
with LW! Dir. of Education Debi Germann

Last month -- on Tuesday June 26 -- the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted unanimously in favor of the Riverside-West End Historic District Extension I. This is the first of three proposed historic district extensions along West End Avenue and Riverside Drive.

LANDMARK WEST! is celebrating this milestone. Join us as we rediscover the architectural treasures of the West End neighborhood with a new guest blog series co-produced by summer interns Zack Bunin and myself, Jason Crowley. 

Zack is a returning summer intern and West Sider; and I'm Jason, the office's newest graduate intern, studying Historic Preservation at Columbia University.

Intern Zack Bunin at the 2012 "Unsung Heroes" awards,
with fellow intern Kate Gilmore.

"Then and Now", a new series
by Jason and Zack : Follow Zack and me as we wander the Avenue and its sidestreets, writing about the buildings we encounter. We'll both do a bit of historical digging and share some of our personal perspectives.  Our goal is to shine a light on the individual buildings that make the neighborhood so special -- every building will surely have an interesting story and make great conversation and lively lunch hour debate! 

Together with Zack, I'll be pealing back the layers of history along West End Avenue, which rapidly transformed from relatively high-class single-family homes to grand apartment houses in the early 20th century. This significant transformation is unique to New York's development history and it will surely be exciting to see what some of the West End's great apartment buildings replaced in this, our "Then and Now" series!

Reliving the 2012 "Unsung Heroes" awards ceremony

On June 12, 2012, LANDMARK WEST! welcomed nearly 200 of its nearest and dearest to our annual awards ceremony, a celebration of the Unsung Heroes of the Upper West Side! "Unsung Heroes" are those individuals and institutions who -- in some way, shape or form -- help to advance the cause of preserving our neighborhood's special architecture and sense of place. In 2012, we paid homage to a band of worthy New Yorkers whose impressive works for historic preservation outlive them, continuing to shape the Upper West Side, our city and impact our quality of life for the better:                        Robert Makla             Dorothy M. Miner                    Norman Marcus             Nancy Spero David F.M. Todd (learn more about our honorees here) LW! has been fortunate to celebrate our Unsung Heroes awards in spaces that are architectural gems, and 2012 was no exception. This year, the stunning Beacon Theatre, an Interior Landmark, set the scene. It's undeniably exotic architecture was complimented by the aromatic Turkish delicacies of Pasha Restaurant. In the company of fa Click here to flip through the program. mily, colleagues, former students, and friendly admirers, LW! honored Bob, Dorothy, Norman, Nancy, and David. Because of their work, this neighborhood -- this city -- is a far better place. Because of them, the West Side is one of the most beautiful, livable, appreciated and beloved places on earth. And who better to deliver this celebratory news than our Master of Ceremonies, Pat Kiernan! Anchor of NY1 and neighborhood activist, Pat dedicated his talents to honoring those whose work shaped the West Side for the better. LW! thanks all who supported this annual tradition, especially those who sponsored tribute pages and ads in our evening's printed program (seen at right). For our friends who were able to join us for this magical night of revelry, may the photos below (and here, in our Flickr album!) serve as a reminder of our whimsical evening. You can also watch our awardee slideshow from the evening on our YouTube channel. For those unable to attend, we hope to see you at another event in 2012. Thank you, all!

Master of Ceremonies Pat Kiernan, center, is joined by event guests and videographers Anthony Bellov and Dayle van der Sande.

LW! Board member Ernie von Simson and President Arlene Simon

See more pictures from our 2012 Unsung Heroes of the Upper West Side Awards Ceremony by visiting our Flickr album!

Spectacular interior of the Beacon Theatre, captured by former LW! intern and photog Andrew Kaplan.

Guests enjoy delicious food from West Side restaurant Pasha.

See more pictures from our 2012 Unsung Heroes of the Upper West Side Awards Ceremony by visiting our Flickr album!

Guests read through the evening's printed program. Click here to take a look for yourself!

See more pictures from our 2011 Unsung Heroes of the Upper West Side Awards Ceremony by visiting our Flick album!

Let Them Be Unsung No More!

For more information on our honorees, the Beacon Theatre 

and Pasha Restaurant, CLICK HERE.

A Penny, a Rabbit's Foot, Whatever Brings You Good Luck!

Preservation Heroes: Awards ceremony sings the praises of our "Unsung Heroes"

The world has many an unsung hero.

In 2011, the Upper West Side has eight more.

The Unsung Heroes of the Upper West Side

Awards Ceremony

Please join LANDMARK WEST! on Tuesday, June 7, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, in the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center (61 West 62nd Street, the extraordinary public space recently transformed by star architects, and our special guests for the evening, Tod Williams and Billie Tsien) as we celebrate the people and projects that—in some way, shape or form—lead the way in preserving our neighborhood’s special character and sense of place.

Click here for information about reserving your tickets.

And the 2011 awardees are…

Exterior Preservation
American Youth Hostel, 891 Amsterdam Avenue, and
Cutsogeorge, Tooman & Allen Architects, a model partnership to restore a West Side architectural gem

Community Steward
Margarita Curet, Amsterdam Houses tenant leader and all-around "Force to Be Reckoned With"

Future Generations
Samantha Deutsch, 5th-grade teacher and partner in preservation education at P.S.145, West 105th St.

Preservation by Design
Milton Glaser, graphic designer of “I [heart] NY,” New York magazine, and LW! logo fame
   
Preservation Advocate
Roberta Brandes Gratz, former Landmarks Commissioner, award-winning journalist, urban critic, and author

Archival A-Team
Office for Metropolitan History: Christopher Gray & Suzanne Braley, curators and chroniclers of New York’s architectural history

To meet the honorees, visit the event website.

Artwork by Ron Barrett, illustrator of the world famous "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs".