Wfuv's Cityscape

The New York Times recently named the South Bronx as one of the 52 places travelers should plan to visit in the coming year. Now, if you're hung up on images of what the South Bronx looked like in the 1970s and early 80s when burned-out buildings and gangs dominated the area, that probably comes as a big surprise. But, the South Bronx has come a long way over the years. It's no longer burning -- it's gentrifying. Take a walk around and you'll discover trendy coffee shops, galleries and boutiques. Public radio station, WNYC, is documenting the affordability crisis and changing neighborhoods across New York City. They're doing this one by one, and kicked things off with Mott Haven in the South Bronx. WNYC associate producer Sophia Paliza-Carre joins us on this week's Cityscape to talk about the project. We're also joined by a Bronx native on a mission to open an independent bookstore/wine bar in the South Bronx. Right now the Bronx doesn't have a single bookstore.

People from all over come to New York City for the various networking opportunities it provides. But what people may not know is that when they ride the subways or check their emails, they’re involved with different kinds of networks. On this week's Cityscape, we're exploring the networks that makeup our city, from bridges to broadband, and how they impact the hustle and bustle that New York is known for.

Rock and roll and drugs have, historically, often gone hand in hand. Many musicians are dealing with, have dealt with, or have died from addiction. The list is long and includes names like Amy Winehouse and Janis Joplin. But, while the lifestyle of a musician can be supportive of addiction, it could also be used to help combat the problem. Enter Road Recovery, an organization that helps young people recovering from addiction and other adversities by harnessing the influence of entertainment industry professionals who have confronted similar crises and now wish to share their experience, knowledge, and resources. Road Recovery co-founder Gene Bowen and board member Simon Kirke are our guests on this week's Cityscape. Simon is a drummer best known as a member of Free and Bad Company.

New York City’s skyline is forever evolving, but the churches that dot the city’s streets are lasting reminders of the Big Apple’s rich and varied religious and cultural history. On this week’s show, we’re talking with Richard Panchyk. He’s the author of Manhattan Churches, which is part of Arcadia Publishing’s Postcard History Series.

Anyone can visit the Statue of Liberty or gawk at the Eiffel Tower, but if the typical tourist hotspots don’t do enough to feed your curiosity or sense of adventure, you’ll want to join us for this week’s Cityscape. We're talking with Ella Morton. Ella is in the business of guiding people to the road less traveled. She is Associate Editor at Atlas Obscura and co-author of the Atlas Obscura book.

When something momentous happens in our lives, we often turn to the written word to share our enthusiasm. For a lot of people today that means a text, an e-mail or perhaps a Facebook post. A new book explores how time and time again everyday folks turn to storytelling, more specifically poetry, to record and respond to what’s happening in their lives. The book is called The Poetry of Everyday Life: Storytelling and the Art of Awareness. The author is folklorist, writer, and cultural activist, Steve Zeitlin. Steve is the founding director of the nonprofit cultural center City Lore in Manhattan. He's our guest on this week's Cityscape.

You might not know his name, or recognize his face, but more than likely you’re familiar with his work. Joel Beckerman is an award-winning composer, music producer for film and television and founder of Man Made Music, a company that specializes in what’s known as sonic branding. They’ve produced sounds for global giants like Disney, NBC and AT&T. We recently caught up with Joel at Made Made Music’s studios in Lower Manhattan to talk about the power of music and sound in our lives, as well as his advice for success.

eBooks and on-line retailers have put a strain on independent booksellers around the globe, but mom-and-pop book shops still hold a special place in the hearts of many people, and a lot of them are holding strong against the competition. Illustrator, writer and New Yorker cartoonist Bob Eckstein pays tribute to the independent bookstore in his new book Footnotes from the World’s Greatest Bookstores: True Tales and Lost Moments from Book Buyers, Booksellers and Book Lovers. Bob is our guest on this week’s Cityscape.

As the holidays approach, shoppers will be on the hunt for a bargain. But, not all of them will just be sifting through the clearance rack. Some will hit the streets of New York City in search of a steal on the black market. On this week’s Cityscape, we’re talking about con men, hustlers, and the black market.

With Thanksgiving coming up, a lot of us are getting ready to spend time with our immediate and extended family. While most people only deal with the prying questions and awkward conversations for a few hours once or twice a year, some endure them every day. On this week’s Cityscape, we’re exploring multigenerational family dynamics at home and in business.

The road to reintegration can be difficult for veterans. It can be hard to find a job and a place to live. And some vets come back with physical and/or emotional wounds that need tending to. In this WFUV/BronxNet Strike a Chord special, we’re delving into the challenges veterans can face as they transition from military to civilian life. And we’ll also be hearing about programs that aim to help veterans with that transition. The Jericho Project runs one those programs. Our guests in this program include Tori Lyon, the Jericho Project’s CEO. We'll also hear from Vu Nguyen who served in the U.S. Navy from 2004 to 2008 and now works with the organization, The Mission Continues, and Josh Chrisman, an Army and Army National Guard Veteran who now works with American Corporate Partners.

New York City's Chinatown is known for its restaurants, shops and festivals, but what about gang violence? Rewind to the turn of the 20th century and you'll find the neighborhood was riddled with it. On this week's Cityscape, we're talking with Scott Seligman, author of Tong Wars: The Untold Story of Vice, Money and Murder in New York's Chinatown.

Brooklyn Bridge Park has become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike in New York City. The park offers spectacular views of New York Harbor, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Lower Manhattan skyline. But, not too long ago, the area was an industrial wasteland. A new book explores how the eyesore became an urban wonderland. It’s called Brooklyn Bridge Park: A Dying Waterfront Transformed. Joanne Witty co-authored the book with the late journalist Henrik Krogius. Joanne is a lawyer, environmentalist, president of the local development corporation that developed Brooklyn Bridge Park’s master plan and vice chair of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation. Joanne is our guest on this week’s Cityscape.

The song from the musical A Chorus Line may refer to "one singular sensation," but our guest on this week's Cityscape believes strongly in the power of twos. Yoav Litvin is a New York City-based scientist, photographer and writer. Yoav has spent a lot of time studying the brain, but he’s also spent a lot of time studying New York City’s street art scene. He joins us to talk about his latest project 2Create: Art Collaborations in New York City.

"No soup for you!" It's one of the most memorable television catchphrases of all time. Joining us on this week Cityscape is Seinfeld's Soup Nazi (actor Larry Thomas) and the CEO of The Original Soupman soups, Jamie Karson.

Nely Galán was the first Latina president of a U.S. television network, Telemundo. She went on to run her own independent production company Galán Entertainment. She’s produced over 700 episodes of television in English and Spanish, and in 2008 Nely even appeared on Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump. The New York Times Magazine has called Nely the “Tropical Tycoon.”  She was born in Cuba. Nely’s parents moved to the United States when she was just a little girl. Nely is now on a mission to help other women (and men for that matter) become successful entrepreneurs. She’s out with a new book called Self Made: Becoming Empowered, Self-Reliant and Rich in Every Way. Nely is our guest on this week's Cityscape.

New York City’s Chelsea Hotel has a storied history. The famously run-down hotel on West 23rd Street in Manhattan is in the midst of what appears to be a drawn out renovation. But, it’s the list of who once called the Chelsea home that has garnered it the most attention over the years. The hotel was built during the latter part of the 1800s. And from the beginning it attracted creative types. It’s been a haven for artists, writers and musicians. Among them – Bob Dylan, Jasper Johns, Patti Smith and Leonard Cohen. Even in more recent years, the Chelsea Hotel has housed a vibrant cast of characters. Just ask Nicolaia Rips. She grew up there. The 17-year-old is now out with a memoir about her experiences. It’s called Trying to Float: Coming of Age in the Chelsea Hotel. Nicolaia is our guest on this week's Cityscape.

What if today was the last day of your life? Would you do anything differently? Would you regret having not taken action on something sooner? Our guest on this edition of Cityscape is Kute Blackson, spiritual leader, transformational coach and the author of You Are the One. Kute joins us to share advice on how to unlock your potential and create a life that you truly want to live.

It’s been 15 years since Americans were shaken by the news of hijacked planes slamming into the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. It was a beautiful sunny Tuesday morning when the story started to unfold. Nearly 3,000 people were killed on 9/11, and the needs of families affected by the tragedy were great. That’s where Tuesday’s Children comes in. The organization formed to help kids and families of 9/11 victims heal and move forward. 15 years after 9/11, the group is still in operation and helping youth, families and communities impacted by terrorism and traumatic loss. Terry Sears is the Executive Director of Tuesday’s Children. She's our guest on this week's Cityscape.

What do a dead giraffe, a robot hand and a grand piano have in common? They’re all objects found in the waterways around New York City. A digital journal called Underwater New York publishes stories, art and music inspired by objects discovered in the shadowy depths of the city’s waterways. On this week's Cityscape, we're talking with founding editor Nicki Pombier Berger and editor Helen Georgas.