Cityscape

Superstorm Sandy showed us all how easy it is to lose everything in an instant. Hundreds of people were left homeless from the storm -- highlighting the need for more emergency housing in times of crisis. As part of WFUV's Strike a Chord campaign, on this edition of Cityscape we're highlighting non-profit organizations in the tri-state area that assist people with housing needs in various situations, not just catastrophes like Sandy. We'll talk with a Long Island organization that helps young mothers with nowhere to go, a group that helps heart patients and their families with housing needs, and an organization that provides housing assistance to struggling musicians.

March is National Noodle Month, declared by the National Pasta Association. In this noodle themed edition of Cityscape we'll hear from the family of Shorty Tang, purveyor of a popular noodle dish in 1960s and 70s New York City that still remains in the memories of people who ate it. We'll also learn about where to get the best noodles in the city from Zagat and talk with a Japanophile turned Ramen guru about his upcoming Lower East Side noodle shop.

This episode is guest hosted by Cityscape producer Morlene Chin.

While not as glorified in popular media and guide books as Manhattan or Brooklyn, Queens contributes a whole lot to what makes New York City, New York City. It's home to the city's two airports, the city's only working farm and a whole lot more. On this week's Cityscape, we're exploring what's touted as the most ethnically diverse county in the United States.

New York City’s constantly evolving. But, there are some institutions in the city that have stood the test of time. This year marks the 100th anniversary of at least three of them – Grand Central Terminal, the Woolworth Building in Lower Manhattan and El Diaro – the nation’s longest publishing Spanish language daily newspaper. On this week's Cityscape, we're exploring the history and impact of all three New York City staples.

You might be familiar with the names Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux -- they're the creators of Central Park. But, have you ever heard of John Randel Jr.? This often unrecognized 19th century genius also played an instrumental role in the development of the New York City we know and love today. Learn all about the guy who plotted Manhattan's famous street grid on this week's Cityscape. We'll also talk with a modern-day surveyor in New York City.

Valentine’s Day -- the holiday celebrating love and friendship – is this Thursday.  But, what is it that attracts people to one another?  Relationship experts often say it comes down to having good chemistry. 

This week we talk with author Leil Lowndes about her book on chemistry in relationships, as well as chemistry from entirely different perspectives. We're joined by Doctor Robert Lefkowitz, a professor at Duke University Medical Center and a winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. We also visit Willner Chemists, a nutritional store that has been around for over 100 years.

Spring is still a ways away -- meaning many more days of potentially cold weather. But, instead of complaining about it, we’re doing something about it. We’re devoting this half-hour of Cityscape to thinking warm. We'll warm up with segments on knitting, quilting, hot chocolate and hot yoga.

Each week Cityscape explores the people, places and spirit of New York City in new and unique ways. We journey to fascinating places and meet interesting people, but we wouldn’t be able to do that without support from listeners who appreciate this kind of programming. On this week's edition of Cityscape, we're revisiting some of our favorite segments while asking for your support. Segments include an interview with the woman who runs the troll museum on Manhattan's Lower East Side, an in-studio performance from The New York Holiday Singers, and a look into the city's beer history and culture. **DISCLAIMER** This show was recorded to air on December 15, 2012, but in light of the deadly shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, our fund drive was postponed.

If you could go back to the time before the sprawling skyscrapers of today’s New York City, you’d find a different city, full of horse drawn carriages and men in hats and dark suits. In other cases you’d see that some parts of the city haven’t changed much at all. An architectural photographer recreated scenes from turn of the century photos by climbing, flying and leaning over precarious structures to capture images from the same spot as his earlier counterparts. He presents the old and new photos side by side in a book called New York Then and Now. Evan Joseph is our guest on this week's Cityscape.

A lot of progress has been made over the years to reduce health disparities in New York City, but substantial inequalities remain among New Yorkers of different economic, racial and ethnic groups. On this week's Cityscape, we’re taking a closer look at health issues facing New York City’s immigrant communities.