Swindler of UES Woman Indicted

Philip Leopold, who is charged with grand larceny, forgery, falsifying business records and several other charges, was indicted this week for stealing over $1.6 million from an 85-year-old Upper East Side woman who is nearly blind, has hearing problems and other health issues. Leopold, who is 76, first met his victim about 40 years ago, and he began helping her with her finances, writing out checks for her to sign to pay for her household expenses. In 2002, he convinced her to open a trust and name him and the Bank of New York as trustees, and he gradually began siphoning money into that account until it held $2 million by 2003. He began writing fraudulent checks to himself and forged letters to the bank, requesting transfers into his own accounts. According to court documents, Leopold used the stolen funds to pay for a myriad of expenses, from everyday household goods to several life insurance polices for him and his daughter. He spent $63,000 on storage units in Manhattan and used $882,000 to pay off his personal credit cards. Perhaps most appallingly, he spent over half a million dollars at ShopNBC, a television and online shopping site. He bought thousands of items through home shopping channels, including jewelry, electronics, figurines, coin collections, kitchen supplies and a “multi-color fog maker.” Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said in a statement that the actions the defendant stands accused of are “sadly, not uncommon,” and he encourages anyone who is a victim of or suspects someone they know to be a victim of elder abuse to call the DA’s hotline at 212-335-9007.

Historic Walking Tour

Preservation advocacy group Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts is leading a walking tour of the Carnegie Hill Historic District next Saturday, May 12. The walk will meander through the East 80s and 90s, with tour leader Bernie Cohen pointing out the sights along the way. The district, which was designated in 1974 and expanded in 1993, is the second largest on the Upper East Side and contains within its boundaries many rows of townhouses, freestanding residences and apartment buildings. The area was named for industrialist Andrew Carnegie, whose mansion on Fifth Avenue and East 91st Street now houses the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Participants should meet at the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and East 86th Street at 1 p.m. Advance payment ($15, $10 for members) is required; call 212-535-2526 or visit www.friends-ues.org/events to purchase tickets.

City Planning to Unveil East Midtown Rezoning

The Department of City Planning will be presenting the results of its East Midtown Zoning Study to Community Board 6 this week. The department is expected to present a plan for rezoning that would create an increase of available commercial space by 20 to 30 percent. The “upzoning” would encourage buildings to be made taller (current zoning does not place a cap on height) in order to gain this space increase and also create ways for newer and more modern structures to be built in the area. The region affected would be between East 39th and 59th Streets, between Third and Fifth Avenues. Mayor Bloomberg has made it clear that he wants to see the region revamped and able to attract new business, especially technology companies; he has said that the city should make sure it is doing all it can to attract business to the area. Some neighborhood groups, including the Turtle Bay Association, are wary of the city making fast changes and will be watching the process closely, as will real estate interest groups who support changes that allow for more development.

Mayfair Block Party

The Church of the Holy Trinity, which is known locally as the “dog-friendly church,” is holding a free community block party this Saturday, May 5, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Animal companions are welcome, and there will be special activities for cats, dogs and other pets. There will be toys and treats for sale, a silent auction to win a custom portrait of a pooch, pet horoscopes and training tips. For humans, there will be a health care booth with a doctor and physician’s assistants on hand to check blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels. Kids can play in the bouncy castles, get their faces painted to match their canine companions and participate in crafts. There will also be food from the nearby Genesis Restaurant for sale, as well as beer and wine. The French Cookin’ Blues Band will be supplying the musical vibes for the event. East 88th Street between First and Second Avenues.

Women in Arts Celebrated

The Czech Center and Composers Concordance Records are hosting an evening of art and music by women, “Ladies First,” on Friday, May 18. The opening reception will feature a video installation with interviews of prominent female artists, many of whom will be in attendance at the event. The chamber music concert to follow will feature world premiere works as well as Czech composer Antonin Dvořák’s themes. Audience members can meet the musicians and artists at the after-party. The event runs from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Bohemian National Hall, 321 E. 73rd St. Suggested donation $20, RSVP at ladiesfirstnyc.eventbrite.com.

American Craft Show NYC & Contemporary Art Fair NYC—These simultaneous events bring 200 juried American Craft Artists to show and sell ceramic, fiber, glass, furniture, wearable art and jewelry works, as well as presentations by 100 independent contemporary artists specializing in painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media. Runs through Nov. 21, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 W. 34th St., 212-216-2000, www.javitscenter.com; Nov. 21, 3 p.m.–7 p.m., Nov. 22, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Nov. 23, 10 a.m.–4 p.m, $8–$16.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20

Philadanco—The group blends African-American dance traditions with ballet, jazz and modern styles. Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, Walt Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College, 2900 Campus Rd., Brooklyn, 718-951-4500; 8 p.m., $30.

92nd Street Y—Pianist Charles Rosen and cellist Fred Sherry give an all-Chopin recital. 92nd and Lexington Avenue, 212-415-5500; 8 p.m., $25+.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21

Complexions Contemporary Ballet—The company’s intense physical movements take center stage in three different programs. The Joyce Theater, 175 8th Ave., 212-242-0800, www.complexionsdance.org; times vary, $10+. Runs throughout the week.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22

Driving Miss Daisy—James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave star in Alfred Uhry’s play. The Golden Theater, 252 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200, www.daisyonbroadway.com.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

Next to Normal—A woman an her family struggle to cope with her bipolar disorder in this emotional, Tony-winning musical. Through Jan. 16, Booth Theatre, 222 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200.

BAM 2010 Next Wave Festival—The Brooklyn Academy of Music hosts its annual festival. Now in its 28th year, Next Wave comprises 16 music, dance, theater and opera performances, in addition to artist talks, art exhibitions and more. BAM, 30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, 718-636-4129, www.bam.org; Mon.–Sat., noon–11 p.m., Sun., 1 p.m.–11 p.m., Free.

Gathering to make crafts may seem more suited to the Midwest than to our steel and concrete city. But tell that to the dozens of henna-haired hipsters, Starbucks moms, silver tops and Michelle Obama look-alikes (and a few men) who showed up April 17 at the New York Public Library’s main branch to chat and knit, and cut and paste. According to Rare Books librarian Jessica Pigza, co-host of “Handmade Crafternoons,” these do-it-yourself salons “bring people into the library, build community and provide a space for creativity.”

Pigza, who blogs at The Handmade Librarian (handmadelibrarian.com), calls herself a dabbler, a “dilettante,” but she’s pretty accomplished. She wears dresses, tops and even a cape that she sewed from vintage patterns. By day, she’s in the rare books division, devoted to reader services and fielding remote reference questions by email. But one Saturday a month, she and Maura Madden, author of Crafternoon: A Guide to Getting Artsy and Craftsy with Your Friends All Year Long, co-host a crafting commune.

Photo by Shira Kronzon

By coordinating events and sharing her curiosity about crafts and books online, Pigza is one of many librarians keeping the New York Public Library relevant in a time of flux.

“Jessica has been particularly effective in using blogging to more directly connect with the craft and design enthusiasts among our patrons,” wrote Ben Vershbow, the library’s digital producer, by email.

Her library blog channel Hand-Made (www.nypl.org/blog_series/hand-made; not to be confused with her personal blog) encourages artists and other creative types to tap into the wealth of research material and ephemera at the main branch. Treasures include vintage valentine collections, textile samples, maps, menus and photos.

“It’s an interesting time at the library,” said Pigza, who lives with her husband and their dog in Washington Heights. “There is a lot of open thinking about what we can do.”

Each Handmade Crafternoon is two hours long and moderated by a local craft book author. Esther K. Smith, who wrote Magic Books and Paper Toys, taught attendees to make pop-up paper garland books last year. Kata Golda, author of Hand-Stitched Felt, demonstrated the art of stitched felt mice. At the April 17 session, Madden introduced books from the library’s collection, followed by a show-and-tell session among attendees.

I made a birthday card for my sister, snipping the letters of her name from the bridal magazine pages. My 14-year-old contentedly pressed and pulled cotton into a swirling tornado, which, sadly, got squashed in our bag during the two-mile walk home. The atmosphere was chummy and relaxing (halfway through I was filled with a sense of technology-free well-being). Some of the individual projects were inspiring, especially a knit baby blanket in rich red, orange and gold connected squares.

The last event before a summer hiatus is scheduled for Saturday, May 15. Moderator Natalie Chanin, founder and head designer of Alabama Chanin, will share some of her Southern sewing and sustainable fashion techniques.

Pigza and Madden plan to run the series for at least another season and hope to take the model to branch libraries in the future. It is easy to imagine how craft gatherings sprouting from the main branch to libraries all over the city (and beyond) might connect us to more than just crafts and books.
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May 15, New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwartzman Building, 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, 917-275-6975; 2 to 4 p.m., Free.