Zine keen on Ave. B scene
East Village resident revives old medium to promote arts
BY BOB KRASNER
There was a time when
zines were ubiquitous
and Avenue B was not
the sort of place that invited
tourists.
Zines – defi ned by the internet
as a “self-published unique
work of minority interest, usually
reproduced via photocopier”
– were sold everywhere
from Tower Records to ‘See
Hear’ (a shop in the East Village
dedicated to them), and
Avenue B was the wild west,
despite being on the East Side.
Of course, times have
changed, and Scott Orr is here
to document the present and
the past with his brand new
publication ‘BScene Zine’, a
roughly 5 x 8 rag that chronicles
life and art on and off the
avenue.
Whenever he has time to
spare from his day job as a
writer/editor for a global think
tank, Orr is out loving his
neighborhood.
“There is so much going on
here,” he points out. “There
are seven or eight galleries on
or off Avenue B. I’m in the galleries
all the time.”
Add to that the various
events, occasional celebs and
the rich history of the locale,
Orr has no shortage of material.
LOCAL NEWS
L-R Photography Editor Daryl-Ann Saunders , Founder/Publisher/Editor Scott Orr, J Marketing
Director Jake Henzo
“I have more content every
month than I can put in,” he
notes.
He’s put out fi ve issues so
far, covering local notables
such as the photographer Godlis
and former resident Iggy
Pop with a print run of 120
each, probably making the $5
mag a future collector’s item.
The website gets somewhat
more exposure; although only
recently up and running, it’s
getting about 1,000 hits a
month.
“My goal was to have a central
place for info on art and
events in the neighborhood,” he
explains. “The thing that was
unexpected was that there was
such a demand for it. I found
that there was a great hunger
PHOTO BY BOB KRASNER
for something that brings together
the variety of stuff that’s
happening around the B.”
Living on Avenue B in the
Christodora — Mr. Pop’s former
residence — gives Orr
easy access to the street where
many of his favorite watering
holes and places of nourishment
reside. Networking at
the popular bar ‘Lucky’ or
dining at ‘Il Posto Accanto’
can lead to a chance encounter
that ends up in print, such
as the time that Orr met Fran
Liebowitz in the Italian eatery,
where she posed for pic that
was seen in the last issue.
Assisted by marketing director
Jake Henzo and photo editor
Daryl-Ann Saunders, who
is also a contributor, BScene
is going full speed ahead. Its
publication schedule is “every
month or so,” as the former political
journalist — Orr worked
in Washington for over 30 years
— relishes the fact that “for the
fi rst time in my career, the deadlines
are set by me.”
The one rule he applies is
that “we are committed to not
having any rules,” although he
does have a motto. “Real artists,
real art,” Orr declares.
“No vanity galleries.”
As noted on the zine website,
they “cover art, culture,
business, personalities, music,
poetry, photography, lifestyle
and other topics with an emphasis
on the many galleries
and gathering spots that bring
our artists and art lovers together.”
Orr is clearly enthused
about his mission. “It’s an organic
experience and it’s all
just unfolding,” he muses.
“The sky’s the limit.”
Avenue B fans can follow
the scene on Instagram at @
bscenezine and on the web at
bscenezine.com.
‘What New Yorkers 50+ Deserve’ lays out
fresh blueprint for NYC lawmakers
From ways to fi ght age discrimination
to installing
elevators at more subway
stations,“What New Yorkers
50+ Deserve,” released by
AARP New York, is a groundbreaking
and fi rst-ever policy
guide fi lled with recommendations
to help city offi cials
address these and other vital
issues facing older New York
City residents.
“This book is meant as a
North Star—a model to help the
new administration make sure
that the needs of people 50-plus
are met—because they are often
overlooked,” saidAARP New
York State Director Beth Finkel.
“They helped build our city and
make it the great place that it is.”
“With this guide, the Mayor
and everyone in city government
can help New Yorkers 50-
plus live their best lives,” Finkel
added. “We’re talking about
750,000 New YorkCity AARP
members and who have suffered
during the pandemic due to
their vulnerability to the virus,
housing costs and inadequate
coordination of services among
agencies.”
The 60-page policy book—
the fi rst-ever guide from AARP
NY—contains 80 recommendations
to improve life for the city’s
residents, including empowering
a deputy mayor to lead the
charge to safeguard older residents
and ensure they are aware
of all services available to them.
AARP staff created this blueprint
because a clear and comprehensive
plan for New York’s
50-plus was long overdue. The
policy book also underscores
that the New York City Department
for the Aging receives less
than one percent of the city budget
when 20% of New York City
residents are age 65 and older.
The book draws on AARP research
and policy work, including
“Disrupting Racial & Ethnic
Disparities,” a series of policy
briefs detailing substantial challenges
faced by older New Yorkers.
Older adults are the driving
force in New York City’s
economy, cultural life and civic
engagement. They account for
the city’s biggest volunteer base
and represent the largest voter
turnout bloc. Yet they face signifi
cant hardships. For example,
78% of workers aged 40-65 say
they have seen or experienced
age discrimination in the workplace.
More than half of city voters
age 50-plus are concerned
about affordable housing. A lack
of accessible transportation has
disproportionately affected 50-
plus Black, Latino and Asian
New Yorkers. And 42% of New
Yorkers age 65-plus lack internet
access—nearly double the 23%
of those age 18 to 24.
“What New Yorkers 50+
Deserve” is available online atwww.
aarp.org/nycpolicybook.
22 February 3, 2022 Schneps Media
/bscenezine.com
/nycpolicybook
