Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons

Two are dead and six were wounded in shootings in the Bronx and Queens this past Sunday. These primarily drug-related shootings follow a long streak of summer violence, including a 3-year-old being struck with a stray bullet.

The weekend following the Fourth of July saw seven deaths and 21 injuries from shootings and stabbing violence, reports Gothamist. Seventeen people were shot on the Fourth of July holiday. Between July 2 and July 8, a total of 77 were shot in the City.

Mayor Bloomberg said the Fourth of July traditionally sees a large number of shootings in the City, but this year is particularly out of control. Joe Coscarelli at New York Magazine called the recent shootings “at best a statistical anomaly and at worst a disturbing new trend.”

The Magazine reports the numbers have jumped from last year: “There have been 12 percent more shootings on the year so far, and murders are up to 21 from 18 at this point in 2011 — a jump of almost 17 percent.”

On the issue of whether there is a correlation between heat waves and shooting spikes, a police source recently told the New York Post: “Warm weather means shorter tempers, and the people know that police are doing less stop-and-frisks, so more people carry guns.”

It’s the perfect storm this steamy summer—cops do blame hotter temperatures for the rise in violence, though they also point to recent scrutiny aimed at stop-and-frisk procedures.

Until the recent heat wave, the murder rate was “on pace to be the lowest in years,” reported Business Insider.

—Alissa Fleck

The Philharmonic’s New Yorky Fourth

The New York Philharmonic gives an annual Fourth of July concert, and this year the orchestra gave it three times. I attended on July 3. As usual, the concert was conducted by a Brit, Bramwell Tovey. He is one suave and talented Brit, too. I have always called him “your genial host,” for he talks charmingly to the audience: twitting latecomers, riffing on Kim Kardashian, etc. He has the verbal facility you expect from our cousins. I was shocked to hear him say “For you and I . . .”

The concert began with Three Dance Episodes from Bernstein’s On the Town. I have often wondered why someone who could write so brilliantly in this idiom would ever have bothered with classical music. Tovey and the Philharmonic were really good in the dance episodes, really swingin’. They were not merely fun, they were excellent. I had the feeling they had actually rehearsed.

Now, the Philharmonic is supposed to be good in New Yorky music. But I have to ask: Why should Chinese-born young people who join the Philharmonic be better in this music than Chinese-born young people who join other orchestras? Traditions linger, somehow.

Tracy Dahl, a coloratura soprano from Canada, took the stage to sing “Glitter and Be Gay,” the glittery and gay aria from Bernstein’s Candide. She gave it the old college try. Her heart was in the right place, and so were the notes, mainly. Her E flat had no vibrato, but it was bang on pitch.

Even suaver than Tovey is Gershwin’s Promenade, or “Walking the Dog,” the next piece on the program. The orchestra played it nicely, and this was especially true of Pascual Martínez Forteza, the principal clarinet. “Walking the Dog” gives the clarinet a delicious part.

Tracy Dahl returned for four songs by Gershwin, in which she was superb—both tasteful and heartfelt, both formal and informal, if you know what I mean. Every inflection was right. The arrangements were done by Tovey himself, who also played the piano. In “They Can’t Take That Away from Me,” the singer sings, “The way you sip your tea . . .” Here, Tovey tinkled a bit of “Tea for Two.” As he did so, he gave the audience sort of a proud look. His arrangement for the verse of “Fascinating Rhythm” sounded like Carmina Burana, so help me. Weird but effective.

As a pianist, Tovey may not threaten André Previn’s reputation; he was sometimes stiff and jabbing. But he was creditable. Besides, Previn doesn’t always play like Previn either.

The second half of the program featured ensembles from West Point, as well as the Philharmonic. We heard big-band music and marches. We also heard some patriotic and pro-military statements spoken by the West Pointers. I wasn’t sure this would fly in Manhattan, but it seemed to. The evening ended with John Philip Sousa’s masterpiece, The Stars and Stripes Forever. Let me quote Bernstein, in a humble and discerning mode: “I would give five years of my life to have written that piece.”

It was a long night, but a wonderful one, and this was thanks largely to the manifold talents of Tovey—and also to those of Sousa, Gershwin, Bernstein, et al.

I’ve never been one for backyard fireworks.

I remember all those Independence Days as a kid where my friends would whip out some sparklers, a lighter, and a twinkle in their eye, only for us to act out that scene from Hot Rod and stare at a flickering dud until we lost interest (Language rules restrict me from linking to it on YouTube, where I searched “Hot Rod fireworks” and clicked the third one down). But it didn’t take many major disappointments for me to realize the iridescent box of colors in which the sparklers were contained was an empty promise. I quickly gave up the practice.

“Oh, you bought $400 of Roman Candles? Good idea.”

Macy's Fireworks 2010 - photo by Barry Yanowitz

I guess I was spoiled as a kid, though. Instead of wasting our money on some overpriced birthday candles, my family decided to invest in the Disney Vacation Club– a timeshare, similarly overpriced, that pretty much locks up your vacation destination for the next four decades. Since I was five months old, I’ve not gone on a family vacation outside of Orlando. I used to be like this, now I feel like Charlie bit me. Not until I rebelled and went to college all the way in Tampa did I explore other parts of Florida.

(Now we have a house in Celebration, FL, about 30 seconds from Disney World, and I’ve fallen back into that funky Floridian pattern. Help.)

The reason I have no interest in those sparklers, though, is because Disney does do one thing right, and that thing is fireworks. Music synchronization, laser shows and spherical TV screens fashioned to look like a globe accompany the wonderfully choreographed fireworks, and I make sure to catch at least one show every time I go. Heck, I was just there two weeks ago, staring up at the sky with twinkles in my eyes (literally) and getting my ears blasted by incessant explosions.

Perhaps the only fireworks show that I’ve seen that rivals Disney’s expertise, though, is Macy’s Ignite the Night Independence Day fireworks. And fortunately for us, they’re in two days.

Assuming you aren’t blind –not really sure what you’re doing here if you are– the only flaw to a great fireworks show is an obstructed view. So, fortunately for you, fair reader, I have compiled a list of optimum viewing areas (anywhere with a clear view of the Hudson) for this year’s 36th annual Ignite the Night in hopes of sparing you from a strictly-audible fireworks show on Wednesday, which is not nearly as fun.

The barges that set off the fireworks float along the Hudson, between 18th and43rd St, and this means that any of the following spots are a good spots:

-        The West Side Highway, of course – anywhere on the water along the highway is probably the best place to be. There will be plenty of fellow viewers, and everyone will be watching together

-        Riverside Park – host of Hudson Warehouse’s wonderful Shakespearean plays, the park has plenty of great seats and views of the skies. Some of the walls get pretty high off the ground, though, so I wouldn’t recommend making them impromptu seating

-       Hoboken- Except for some really cool, shape-specific versions, fireworks are, for the most part, enjoyable from all angles, so Hoboken is just as good a spot as any

-        Pier 84

-        You can purchase access to the U.S.S. Intrepid for an Independence Day party and a perfect spot to see the show

-        A friend’s place. Obviously the best, least hectic, and most comfortable. If you don’t have one in the neighborhood, it might be worth making one, even if only to use them for their view.

Bad spots:

According to the Macy’s website, East River Park, Battery Park, Battery Park City, and all piers except 84 are not viewing spots for the fireworks show, so, of course, avoid those.

I recommend checking out the official website, as Macy’s provides a ton of information regarding the event. They’ve even gone as far as creating a Macy’s Fireworks App, which purports to make your viewing as seamless as possible.

I’m thinking I’ll be at Riverside Park.

–Nick Gallinelli

“Macy’s Fireworks will take place on the Hudson River, with barges positioned between 18th and 48th streets providing two miles of public viewing space,” said Macy’s spokesperson Orlando Veras.

State Sen. Daniel Squadron, whose Downtown Manhattan/Brooklyn district straddles the East River, and Brooklyn Council Member Stephen Levin rallied April 2 in an effort to convince Macy’s to move the riverside display back east after a three-year stint on the Hudson.
In a press release, several East Side pols disparaged the merits of the Hudson because it shuts out Brooklyn and Queens and drives people to New Jersey, but in response to tweets posted by West Side Spirit and Our Town, Squadron clarified and said he wanted the display to be on both rivers.

The fireworks “will not be a permanent fixture in any one location,” Veras said in an email. “Exclusively limiting the show to any particular area would greatly hinder the creative freedom that has made it the nation’s best and largest Independence Day display.”

Compiled by Megan Bungeroth & Josh Rogers

By Josh Perilo

With the Fourth of July fast approaching, I was given pause to think about the state of our union and the divisiveness that currently seems to hang in the air. While there are always issues being fought over and differences of opinion in this vast country, right now there seems to be more conflict than ever. It is at these times that a holiday like Independence Day holds the most significance.

So instead of merely suggesting wines that might match well with picnic fare or barbecue, I’ve decided to show my national pride by highlighting wines that are made in America. Not only are these wines made in America, but they are made in the cradle of America, the birthplace of the union: These are wines from the original 13 colonies.

A few places in the original 13 are actually considered world-class areas for growing grapes and making wine. Most, however, are up-and-coming, mom-and-pop operations that are only beginning to experiment in winemaking. At this time, every state in this country has at least one operational winery within its borders. While that effort is commendable, unfortunately there is a reason why only certain parts of the world are renowned for wine. Most of this vino blows.

However, there are some shining lights within the mass of “hobby wineries” that can truly compete quality-wise with other big-name wines from around the world.

Starting in our own backyard, New York has had a long history of winemaking. The wineries of upstate New York have a longer history of growing grapes and making wine than even California. More recent to the fermentation biz, however, is Long Island. Only a handful of decades ago, the areas now inhabited by wineries were potato farms. Now they are home to myriad producers. For a fantastic rosé from this area, go to the South Fork of Long Island and try the Wolffer Estate Rose 2009 ($13.95 at Sherry Lehman Wines, 505 Park Ave. at 60th Street, 212-838-7500). This crisp Merlot and Chardonnay blend has a light, salmon hue and a refreshing acidity that will remind you of a French Provençal-style rosé.

Further south, in the home state of our country’s first Presidential oenophile, Virginia has a burgeoning winemaking community. Thomas Jefferson was a fan of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but the wines here tend to be much more new world than anything that our third president likely drank. For a great example of the type of light, summer reds that are being produced currently in Virginia, go no further than the Veritas Red Star 2008 ($18 at www.VeritasWines.com). This Meritage blend is made up of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin grapes, and the end result is a light-bodied, berry-packed wine that is a perfect stand-in for a Beaujolais Nouveau.

Even further south, in North Carolina, many old tobacco farms are slowly being converted into wineries. It is not uncommon to drive through rural North Carolina and see miles of trellised vines. The attention to quality is also on the rise here. On the grounds of the Biltmore estate in Ashville, one time home to the Vanderbilts, lies one of North Carolina’s highest quality vineyards. The Biltmore Dry Riesling 2009 ($12.99 at www.shop.Biltmore.com) shows a commitment to serious wine production. Made in the style of a typical Australian Riesling, this zesty wine has intense floral and citrus notes that make it a great match with a North Carolina-style (vinegar-based) barbecue pulled-pork sandwich.

Explore the original colonies this summer and you’ll be surprised at what these historic areas have to offer the ever-growing world of wine.

josh@penniessepicure.com