Wfuv's Cityscape

When you think of a doctor, what image comes to mind? For a lot of people it’s a person in a white lab coat with a stethoscope around his or her neck. But, with dramatic advances in health care and technology since the stethoscope was invented 200 years ago, is it still a useful tool? Coming up on this week’s Cityscape we’ll explore that question and delve a bit into New York City’s medical history. We'll learn all about the New York Academy of Medicine, which has been helping to advance the health of people living in cities since 1847, and pay a visit to the oldest continuous dermatology office in Manhattan.

You can't underestimate the value of positive role models in the lives of young people, especially those at risk. This winter, WFUV's Strike a Chord campaign is focusing its attention on mentoring programs in the tri-state region. Listen to this special panel discussion we produced in conjunction with BronxNet Television.

To make it in New York, you need to stand out.  And while there is strength in numbers, sometimes you need to just go it alone.  Be bold.  Make a statement.  Separate yourself from the rest. Enter “One-Food Wonders.” On this week’s Cityscape we’re honing in on eateries that specialize in just one thing, like grilled cheese sandwiches, rice pudding and pickles.

When it comes to New York foods, for a lot of people, pizza tops the list of favorites. No doubt New Yorkers know their stuff when it comes to sauce, crust and cheese.  Pizza has a long history in the Big Apple.  In fact, New York is home to what’s said to be the first pizzeria in America -- Lombardi’s in Manhattan. On this week's Cityscape -- all things pizza, including a look at a new coffee table book that features photographs of pizzerias in all five boroughs, as well as the stories of shop owners, employees and patrons.  

Luke Waters was born in Ireland and had dreams of following in his grandfather's and brother's footsteps by joining that country's police force.  Waters did fulfill his dream of becoming a cop -- only in New York City.  He spent two decades with the NYPD.  Waters details his experiences in a new memoir called NYPD Green: An Irish-Born Detective's Twenty Years on the Mean Streets of New York.  He joins us on this week's Cityscape to share his story.

Gadadhara Pandit Dasa spent 15 years as a practicing Monk in New York City.  He details his experiences in a book called Urban Monk. But, Pandit has since left the monastery he called home on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. He’s now devoting his life to helping others de-stress as a meditation teacher, inspirational speaker and well-being expert. Pandit was first on Cityscape in June of 2014 to talk about life as a monk in the Big Apple.  He’s back this week to share what life is like for him in his new role outside of the monastery.

New York is the most populous city in the United States.  Space is, of course, at a premium.  For a lot of people that means no room for a washer/dryer in their apartment. Enter the laundromat. On this edition of Cityscape, an "ode to the laundromat."

New York City has long been recognized as a food lover’s paradise. From its fine restaurants to its street food, the city has something for every palate. Our guest on this edition of Cityscape is Cathy Kaufman.  Cathy is the Associate Editor of Savoring Gotham: A Food Lover’s Companion to New York City.

For mom and pop shops in New York City, high rents and competition from chain stores and online retailers can be insurmountable barriers. The city has seen many small businesses shutter their doors over the years as a result of these challenges.  Over the past several years, husband and wife photography team James and Karla Murray have been photographing the distinctive facades of mom and pop shops throughout the five boroughs. Their first book of images called Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York came out in 2008.  Karla and James are now out with a follow up book called Store Front II: A History Preserved The Disappearing Face of New York.  Karla is our guest on this edition of Cityscape.

Think back on some of your most impactful “firsts” in life -- a first love, a first big career move, a first tragedy.  They are all moments that undoubtedly helped to shape who you are today. On this episode of Cityscape, New York City is the backdrop for life changing firsts, including first loves, first babies and first cancer diagnoses.

New York is a city that has pretty much everything.  But, taking it all in, well, that could be exhausting, not to mention take a lifetime. Our guests on this edition of Cityscape each have a story about trying to take in some of the “everything” the Big Apple has to offer.  We’ll hear from a guy on a mission to draw every person in New York City, a college professor who walked every block in the Big Apple, and a man who set out to try every slice of regular pizza in Manhattan.

Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal has been called many things over the years. A cesspool, an industrial dumping ground, a blemish. But, our guest on this edition of Cityscape says the 1.8 mile canal is also one of the most important waterways in the history of New York Harbor. Joseph Alexiou is a licensed New York City tour guide, and the author of Gowanus: Brooklyn’s Curious Canal. 

Homelessness is on the rise in New York City. According to a recent report from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, homelessness is up 11% from 2014. The survey found 75,323 people living on the streets or in shelters in the Big Apple. Mayor de Blasio has been taking a lot of heat for his handling of the homeless situation. But, he recently unveiled a $2.6 plan to help tackle the problem. The 15-year plan would create 15,000 units of housing that would include social services for veterans, mentally disabled people and others in need of assistance. On this edition of Cityscape, we’ll explore other efforts to help combat homelessness in the city, including Councilman Mark Levine’s push to stem evictions, and a program that uses running to combat homelessness.

This is an especially busy time of year in New York City.  Tourists typically come to the Big Apple in droves during the holiday season.  And with all of those out-of-towners comes the opportunity for con artists and hustlers to make some easy money. Our guests on this edition of Cityscape spent years with con artists to uncover their secrets. Trevor B. Milton is an assistant professor in social sciences at Queensborough Community College, and Terry Williams is a professor of sociology at the New School for Social Research.  Trevor and Terry join us to talk about their new book The Con Men: Hustling in New York City.

In the blink of an eye the holiday season is upon us once again. And for a lot of people that will mean more time in the kitchen cooking and baking for family and friends. On this week’s Cityscape, we’re focusing our attention on food, and to some extent, the preparation of it. We'll visit the Museum of Food and Drink in Brooklyn, where some of the exhibits, are, in fact, edible.  We'll also talk with famed food photographer Alan "Battman" Batt who has established a school to train line cooks in New York City.  The school educates unemployed people and places them in restaurants. It's free of charge to students. And we'll check in with Brooklyn resident and classically trained chef Jackie Newgent about her book The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook.

Every day millions of people get to and from their destinations using the New York City subway system. A lot of them are too rushed to take notice of their surroundings. But, not Adam Chang. The freelance art director and designer has been taking the time to uncover the subway’s hidden treasures for his NY Train Project. Adam is cataloging the signs of subway stations on his website. He'll join us on this week's Cityscape to talk about the project. We'll also hear from the author of The Routes Not Taken: A Trip Through New York City’s Unbuilt Subway System, as well as talk with a busker who plays the saw at the Times Square, Union Square and Herald Square subway stations.

Each quarter, WFUV works to raise awareness of a particular issue through our Strike a Chord campaign. Past campaigns have focused on everything from mental illness stereotypes to teen suicide prevention. WFUV and Bronxnet Television teamed up to produce a special panel discussion for our latest campaign focused on family caregivers. When you’re faced with having to care for a sick or disabled loved one, you’re bound to encounter a set of new responsibilities – many of which might be unfamiliar or intimidating. Our panel discussion on the subject features the following guests: Randi Kaplan, Director Caregiver Support Program Montefiore Health SystemChris Widelo, Associate State Director for AARP New YorkMatt Kudish, Senior Vice President of Caregiver Services at Alzheimer’s Association, New York City chapterSharon Corso, a caregiver for her husband who has Alzheimer’s Disease

Central Park has long been a magnet for New Yorkers and tourists alike. Some people are drawn to it because of the peace and quiet it can provide in the often obnoxiously loud city. Others are attracted to its ballfields.  And if you’re a runner, you may appreciate both its hilly and flat terrain. Since its inception, artists have also felt the tug of Central Park. Roger F. Pasquier has put together a book that explores how artists have depicted the park in their work dating back to the mid 1800s. Roger studied art history at Columbia and the University of California, Berkley.  He retired from his career as an ornithologist a few years ago, which freed him up to focus on his book, titled Painting Central Park. Roger is our guest on this week's Cityscape.

Women have played a wide variety of roles during wartime. During World War I, their main role was to work in munitions factories, on farms and other areas to replace men drafted into the military. But, as the years progressed, women got more and more involved in war efforts, including serving as journalists covering the combat. On this week’s Cityscape, we’ll talk with a New York City resident who’s penned a novel that explores the role of female journalists on the battleground and in the newsroom during the Vietnam War.  We'll also attend a retreat that takes an unusual approach to helping female veterans cope with PTSD.

From landmark buildings like City Hall to hidden gems like New York Marble Cemetery in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood, New York is a city of endless discoveries. For one weekend each year, the organization OHNY, which stands for Open House New York, invites the public to explore hundreds of New York City’s most impressive sites. On this week's Cityscape we're talking with OHNY Executive Director Gregory Wessner, as well as checking out a couple of sites featured in this year's OHNY weekend.