Author: ruhlwrite

Well-known fact: Ken Jennings won $100,000 yesterday on . Little-known fact: Tony Hightower is the guy who couldn’t give him the right answer. Tony founded TriviaNYC. Tony, Jennings’ “lifeline,” knew he was in trouble because the question — Which Ivy League has eating clubs instead of fraternities and sororities? — tapped into two subjects he knows nothing about: universities and the U.S. education system. “I grew up in Canada,” says Tony. “I’m…

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On the sidewalk, under the tree, there’s a fire-engine-red box with a glass door. It’s filled with books for everyone on the block to borrow. The Little Free Library on the sidewalk. Margarita Soto‘s and Will Bachman‘s children, 9-year-old Samuel, 6-year-old Alejandra and 3-year-old Veronica, are perusing the volumes as if they have discovered buried treasure. Out back, there are three cackling chickens running in circles. The family’s poodle puppy, Machu Picchu, is…

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At day’s beginning and end, it’s black along the patch of 24th Avenue between 23rd and 24th Streets. The scarce shops, shuttered, are slumbering. Luludi Living Art serves as a grow-light. Luludi Living Art glows in the dark. In case you don’t know it — and how could you not if you live in Astoria? — luludi is the Greek word for flower. Luludi’s illuminated front window spotlights plants that wiggle their roots in terrariums, picture frames and moss-covered dogs,…

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Elbow to elbow. When Mariantonia and Guillermo Hung are working in the kitchen, that’s how it is. They say that they love it this way, but even if they wanted more breathing room, they wouldn’t have a choice. Their husband-and-wife fast-food restaurant, Pao & Cha-Cha, is the size of a one-man food cart. Mariantonia says laughter keeps them going. “We have a lot of fun working together,” Mariantonia says as she twirls around Guillermo like a ballet dancer. Mariantonia…

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On top of the office refrigerator there is a jar of Skippy peanut butter that is nearly empty. There doesn’t appear to be any jelly, but by the sofa, there are an acoustic guitar and a big rubber exercise ball that’s give-the-teacher-an-apple red. Steven is the director of the Open School Project. Steven Zimmerman, who has a conservative cap of gray hair and intense brown eyes, is taking his coffee at the yin-yang table. He designed it so it splits down the center in an S curve to become…

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