WFUV's Cityscape

Baseball took his sight, but gave him a life. That's what Ed Lucas says about the sport in a book he penned with his son, Christopher, called Seeing Home: The Ed Lucas Story — A Blind Broadcaster's Story of Overcoming Life's Greatest Obstacles. Ed Lucas might not be as familiar a name in baseball history as Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, but his story is no less remarkable. Ed and his son Christopher are our guests on this week's Cityscape.

Red Hook, Brooklyn is one of those New York City neighborhoods that might fall under the radar. It's a waterfront community that's a more than 20-minute walk from the nearest subway station. Some people might only know it because it's home to an IKEA. But, there's a lot more than a popular furniture store to explore in Red Hook. On this week's edition of Cityscape, we're spending time in Red Hook.

New York City resident Coss Marte went from being a drug kingpin to a fitness entrepreneur. While serving time in prison he lost 70 pounds thanks to an exercise routine he worked up in his cell. Marte is now out from behind bars and operating a fitness bootcamp in Manhattan based on his prison workout routine.  Marte joins us on this week's Cityscape to talk about he how reinvented himself.

In New York City everything is at your finger tips. With so many options for food, music, and culture, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. But instead of taking the classic New Yorker approach by kvetching, this week, we’re settling down to dig into a classic Yiddish tradition: the knish.  Our guest is Laura Silver, author of Knish: In Search of the Jewish Soul Food. We'll also pay a visit to the famed Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery on Manhattan's Lower East Side.

On this week's Cityscape, we're revisiting some of our favorite segments related to cooking and baking as part of WFUV's winter membership drive.  We'll revisit our interview with the makers of the legendary baked goods at Levain Bakery in Manhattan, as well as head back to the iconic Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop in Brooklyn.  We'll also make other stops as we ask you to do your part for member-supported, commercial-free WFUV.

New York City is often considered a cultural hub. It’s known for its music, fashion, and food.  The city and its five boroughs are a blend of international flavors.  This week we’re travelling to Queens — a borough that’s been heralded as the most multicultural place on Earth.  Our guest is Adrienne Onofri.  She’s a tour guide and the author of a new book that features 30 walking tours. It’s called Walking Queens.

Once upon a time New York’s garment district employed hundreds of thousands of workers, and produced most of the clothing made in the United States.  But, thanks to outsourcing and technological advances, the district is now just a shadow of what it once was.  Our guest on this edition of Cityscape has fond memories of the garment district’s heyday.  Leonard Bernstein’s family founded a children’s wear business in 1928.  He took over the company in 1953.  Bernstein’s children now run the business, but the Brooklyn native says he can still hear the hum of sewing machines in his head.  Bernstein is now a published author.  He’s written six books, including a collection of short stories in which he draws a lot from his experiences in the garment district.  The collection is called Death By Pastrami.

The ball just dropped in Times Square, and you know what that means.  It’s time to make and stick to a new round of New Year’s resolutions. A lot of people promise themselves that they’ll kick bad habits, like smoking, or perhaps spend more time at the gym.  But, what about resolving to explore places you haven’t been before?To kick off 2015, this week we’re bringing you a New York City bucket list. Our guest is James Heidenry, author of 100 Things to Do in New York City Before You Die.

The Bronx has been experiencing a development boom in recent years with a number of projects sprouting up across the borough, from new hotels to shopping malls. But, it was only a few decades ago when arson fires, rampant crime and poverty made the borough a national symbol of urban decay.On this week's Cityscape, we’re revisiting the Bronx in different eras.  We'll talk with author Avery Corman about his new memoir My Old Neighborhood Remembered, as well with Photographer Stephen Shames about his new book, Bronx Boys.  

New York City is home to famous art collections like the ones at the MET and MoMA. But there’s something to be said about art that blends into the world around us. Here in New York City, art can be found pretty much around every corner, and even down the steepest set of stairs.  On this week's Cityscape, we’re exploring art scenes that live on our streets and in our underground — from large murals that adorn the sides of buildings to mosaics that help to beautify the subway system. 

For a lot of families this time of year is all about one thing — tradition.  Many families have their own specific holiday traditions.  For some it’s visiting the tree at Rockefeller Center.  For others it’s cozying up around the fireplace to share stories, or sitting around the television to watch a favorite holiday movie. On this week's Cityscape, we’re focusing our attention on family, togetherness and tradition.

When it comes to toys a lot of focus at this time of year is placed on the North Pole, where Santa and his army of elves are busily preparing to deliver gifts to kids around the world.  But, a lot of people much closer to home are equally committed to brightening the lives of children and adults with toys and games.  On this week's Cityscape, we’re talking with folks in the toy industry in New York City.

New York City is the kind of town that people love, hate, love to hate, or simply put up with until they move on to a new location.  On this week's Cityscape we’re taking a look at two books that capture the essence of the New York of today and of a few decades back:  Terminal Bar: A Photographic Record of New York’s Most Notorious Watering Hole and Never Can Say Goodbye: Writers on Their Unshakable Love for New York.  

While the holiday season is certainly a time to indulge in delectable desserts, you will never have a problem satisfying your sweet tooth at any time of the year in New York City.  The Big Apple is full of amazing bakers and other dessert makers.  On this week's Cityscape we're exploring the wonderful world of desserts in New York City, including interviews with some of the city's premier dessert makers.

If you want a good laugh there are plenty of places in New York City to get one. On this episode of Cityscape we're looking at the origins of comedy in New York City, and just where to get a laugh in the Big Apple.We're talking with the creator of a comedy stage show that tells the story of one man's lengthy struggle to make it as an actor in New York City while waiting tables, and hear about the successful efforts to get a street in Morningside Heights renamed after the late comedian George Carlin.