Wfuv's Cityscape

Some historians travel far and wide to uncover the fascinating stories that our ancestors have left behind. But, for author Richard Panchyk, the fascinating stories he wanted to share weren’t so far at all. A proud native of Elmhurst, Queens, Panchyk had always been interested in the borough he called home. On this week's Cityscape, we talk with Richard about his new book, Hidden History of Queens. Richard discovered many complex narratives that still run through the veins of his beloved borough. He shares that many authentic structures and locations are eager to share their rich stories, if you’re willing to take a deeper look. From rare Newtown Pippin apples to old Revolutionary War buildings, we learn that Queens has a lot to reveal about the people who once inhabited New York City’s largest borough.

The date September 11 will forever evoke recollections of unimaginable tragedy. Nearly 3,000 people died in the terrorist attacks on that date in 2001. Psychotherapist Edy Nathan was called upon on 9/11 to tend to the emotional well-being of first responders at the site of the terrorist attacks in Lower Manhattan, known at the time as ground zero. Edy joins us on this week's Cityscape to talk about the grief and trauma of 9/11 and how that reverberates in our lives 17 years later. Her newly published book is called It’s Grief: The Dance of Self-Discovery Through Trauma and Loss.

Labor Day weekend is upon us and for a lot of people you know what that means – barbecues with enough food to make your belt buckle burst. Our guest this week knows the struggles of maintaining a healthy waist size all too well. It took Mary Prenon 19 years to achieve her goal of losing 50 pounds. Mary is a former journalist. She now works as the communications director for a Realtor association in New York’s Hudson Valley. Mary has penned a book about her weight loss journey. It’s called I’m Lazy and I Love to Eat.

In a city like New York, you can't walk an inch without encountering one of these -- a bold little feathered creature that'll either stare you down or snatch a piece of the bagel you dropped. On this week's Cityscape, why pigeons deserve more than to be called rats with wings.

At major league baseball games, there are lots of opportunities to interact with the high-energy action. Cheering, doing the wave, getting on the jumbotron, and attempting to catch foul balls have become the standard for fans across the country. New York City resident Zack Hample has made a name for himself as a ball catching phenomenon. Since the age of 12, Zack has accumulated over 10,000 baseballs from major league games in North America. His ball collection not only exceeds that of any other baseball fan in history, but it celebrates many prominent baseball moments. He caught the Mets’ last home run at Shea Stadium in 2008, Alex Rodriguez’s 3,000th career hit in 2015, and Zack snagged the Reds infielder Alex Blandino’s first career home run in May of this year. We caught up with Zack in Riverside Park to learn more about how his childhood hobby of catching foul balls grew to become the famed career he holds today.

Harlem, like most New York City neighborhoods, has seen a lot of change in the last few decades. Burned-out buildings and vacant lots have given way to luxury developments and trendy eateries. But, a new book affords viewers a look at Harlem before the effects of gentrification. It’s called Once in Harlem, and is the work of Japanese-American photographer, Katsu Naito. Katsu is our guest on this week's Cityscape.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, a Bronx filmmaker is working to shine a spotlight on her native Puerto Rico. Known for her stop-motion work, Alba Garcia has turned to live puppetry to focus in on Puerto Rico’s indigenous past. Her upcoming film seeks to revive Taino culture, and create awareness of the devastating impact Hurricane Maria has had on Puerto Rico. Alba Garcia is our guest on this week's Cityscape.

New York City is chock full of history. You literally can even find it tucked away in cracks and crevices. Enter The Tenement Museum on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Historians amassed a diverse collection of historic trash in the making of the museum. They found everything from old perfume bottles to doll heads to tins of aspirin as they worked to convert two historic tenement buildings into a place to tell the story of immigrant life in the 19th and 20th centuries. On this week’s show, a look inside the Tenement Museum’s archive of antique garbage and cast-offs.

In a city known for its cool and unusual places, even the Wild Bird Fund might surprise. It's basically a hospital for sick and injured birds on Manhattan's upper West Side. From pigeons to ducks to owls, the Wild Bird Fund treats all kinds of feathered patients. On this week's Cityscape, we're heading inside New York City's hospital for wild birds.

When it comes to luxury living, there’s no shortage of it in New York City. From penthouses with panoramic views of Manhattan to townhouses with historic architectural elements, the city has a plethora of draw-dropping properties to call home. That is if you have the bank account to match. On this week’s show we’re getting an inside view of New York City’s luxury real estate market. Our guests are Manhattan real estate agents Augusto Bittencourt and Jared Barnett.

From disposable coffee cups to worn-out kitchen cabinets to leftover meatloaf, a lot of what many of us throw out each day adds up to a whole lot of landfill. This Spring, WFUV’s Strike a Chord campaign is focusing its attention on reducing waste. Join us for a special panel discussion, produced in conjunction with BronxNet TV, exploring efforts to cut down on what ends up in our waste stream.

New York City is comprised of a lot of concrete and steel, but throughout this great metropolis is a whole lot of green. On this week’s Cityscape, we’re visiting two draw-dropping green spaces – The Lotus Garden on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and Brooklyn Grange. The Lotus Garden is located 20 feet above West 97th Street, on the roof of a parking garage. The New York Times has called it “one of the most lush and tranquil spots in New York.” Brooklyn Grange is a sprawling urban farm atop a former warehouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

From over easy to scrambled to poached to sunny side-up, there are many ways to cook an egg. On this week's Cityscape, we’re serving up an episode focused on eggs, from an egg-themed pop up exhibit on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, to a company that rents chickens so you can have your own freshly laid eggs, to an executive chef who’s putting a modern spin on the classic breakfast egg sandwich.

This summer, for the first time in history, Fiddler on the Roof will be performed in Yiddish in the United States. And that performance will take place in New York City. The National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene is presenting the show at the Museum of Jewish Heritage starting July 4. Our guest this week is Folksbiene CEO Christopher Massimine. We'll also hear from Kolya Borodulin, Director of Yiddish Programming for The Workmen's Circle.  

Nails are a big business in a city like New York. You can’t walk a block without seeing a place to get a manicure or a pedicure. But the industry has come under fire in recent years. On this week’s Cityscape we’re catching up with New York Times staff reporter Sarah Nir, who three years ago, uncovered big problems in the nail salon industry. Her expose shined a light on labor violations and poor health conditions that led to significant change. We'll also bring you other nail salon-related segments.

Philadelphia and Boston often hog the limelight when it comes to Revolutionary War history, but New York City also played a significant role during that era. Our guest this week is Karen Quinones. She brings history to life as the owner and historian of Patriot Tours. Karen joins us to talk about New York City's Revolutionary past, including her new walking tour that explores the role espionage played during that time period.

Growing up isn’t always easy. But, if you’re lucky enough, someone -- a coach, a teacher, a parent, will help you along the way. Our guest this week is Dr. Arthur Langer. He’s the founder of Workforce Opportunity Services, a non-profit organization that works to develop the skills of untapped talent from underserved and veteran communities. Art knows full well the importance of a little support and encouragement from his own experiences as a kid growing up in the Bronx.

In a city that is ever changing, some things have managed to stay the same. On this week’s Cityscape, we’re focusing on two New York City family businesses that have stood the test of time. The Goldberger Doll Company and Moscot Eyewear have both been in business for more than a century.

From the newfound avocado addiction to the cronut craze, New Yorkers are constantly snapping pictures of their food to post on social media sites. Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are full of recipe ideas and perfectly captured table settings. For some people, going out to eat has become less about the food, and more about the spectacle and aesthetic value of the meal. On this week's Cityscape, how social media is impacting the New York City food scene.

David Spampinato, Devin Clementi, and Emmanuel Berbari discuss the Mets hot start. Will this last? Is this team for real? They give their takes on the Yankees recent struggles and how the rotation will hold up and whether or not Giancarlo Stanton's struggles will continue. They finish up discussing Shohei Otani's first bump in the road against the red hot Boston Red Sox.