42 The Courier SUN • NOVEMBER 20, 2014 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS vschneps@gmail.com Nothing beats a day at the Pouran Spa at North Shore Towers for recharging my batteries. As I recently drove up to the gatehouse off the service road of the Grand Central Parkway, I was struck by the blazing colored leaves on the trees and the fall flowers. I’ve known for years as the publisher of the “official North Shore Towers Courier,” delivered to every door each month, that the co-op is a spectacular place to live. Back when Sandy hit, I did live there for a month because I had no heat at my home — whereas North Shore had new generators that are independent from the rest of the world. Upon moving into the complex, it hit me how well the three towers are run. It started on the sunny Saturday afternoon with the warm welcome from the security guard at the gate, then the doorman who pushed the revolving door to help me enter the lobby. I always check out the mail room to see if The Queens Courier is in its stack, and there it was in the immaculately clean space. As I walked toward the bank of elevators I was greeted by the concierge, who sits behind a desk in the lobby to help the residents of the building. As I emerged from the elevator, I passed the entrance to the Country Club with its firstclass facilities and services. The golf course is kept impeccably, the tennis court’s in perfect condition, the card room is always full, there’s an indoor and outdoor pool with a gym, and a cafe to relax in after you’ve worked out. And members can hear weekly speakers on topics as varied as political campaigns, writers discussing new books, world issues and investment advice. Then, there is the Garden Club, Men’s Club, Camera Club, Book Club, Knitting Club, Hadassah Club... You get the idea. It’s all there without leaving home! As I turned into the arcade, there was Pouran’s Salon, and as I walked to the spa, I passed the dry cleaner and the clothing boutique before stopping at the drug and food store, where I bought some dark chocolate bark embedded with almonds. It’s the only place I know that sells it by the pound. A great treat to bite into for a fast chocolate fix! The sparkling clean arcade has enormous windows that look out on the outdoor pool. On my left was the movie theatre that is being renovated and the entrance to the handsome catering hall. Facing these is a home repair center in case you need a new kitchen, a real estate office if you want to buy or sell, and a Chase bank with an ATM. And then a restaurant/diner for everyone’s tastes — open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers delivery to the apartments. There is even a city bus that seamlessly makes its way around the tree-lined landscaped buildings. It all looks so smoothly operated and that is because there is a superb manager in Glen Kotowski, who came to the Towers from being the commander of the 105th Precinct, the largest in the city. Nothing runs like this massive luxury environment without strong professional leadership both on the board and the staff. No surprise the value of the cooperative apartments at the North Shore Towers has soared. It is a great place to take “a staycation.” Visit and escape into the land of luxury! Controversial ‘Klinghoffer’ opera at the great Met When my friend Carol Nack called and asked if I would like to see the controversial opera, “The Death of Klinghoffer” — and that she would get us the tickets — I couldn’t resist. A friend whom I respect had seen the play that has created a whirlwind of controversy when some groups took out ads in the New York Times demanding the opera not be shown at the premier opera house in the world. They feared it would be spreading the anti-Semitic message that its libretto delivered. My friend said, “I have to decide for myself,” and so I did too. The publicity about the opera brought a massive audience to the Met. The spectacularly beautiful opera house is a treasured place to me, but I felt disgust as I walked out at the end of the opera. The production, first shown in Brussels in 1991, has a libretto by Alice Goodman and the composer is John Adams. It dramatizes the terrorist hijacking of the Italian cruise liner Achilles Lauro and the murder of one of its Jewish passengers, Leon Klinghoffer, told through the eyes of the captain of the ship. I am not a theatre/opera critic but I can report that I disliked both the unharmonious music and the message — repeatedly explaining the terrorists’ justification for their brutal acts and violence. Just the time spent dramatizing the plight of the Palestians sent me the message, “What can you expect? These hijackers lost their land and had good reason to carry out their three days of terror on innocent people.” Interestingly, the program had a message from Klinghoffer’s daughters, Lisa and Elsa. They explained “terrorism can never be tolerated as a vehicle for political expression or grievance.” Unfortunately, they added, “The Death of Klinghoffer“ does all this. And sullied the memory of their dad in the process. I agree. Having seen dozens of operas, I disliked this music and message. I wish I hadn’t taken time from my life to see it! victoria’s secrets tweet me @vschneps Dynamic $1000 off Lumineers $500 off Invisalign DENTAL WORK Free Whitening included the inViSiBle WAy to Some excluSionS Apply StrAighten teeth third generation dentist 175-15 Jamaica avenue, Jamaica 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106 A spectacular staycation setting Towers Country Club Glen Kotowski, GM of NST Mort Gittler, president of NST
SC11202014
To see the actual publication please follow the link above