NY Life – Court by Day, Club by Night

She sings the songs and writes them, too – She’s Max Marie, a NYC-based independent artist whose soulful energetic pop sound is inspired by rock and music from the 80s and 90s. Her next gig is at Georgie’s Downstairs Lounge in The Delancey at 168 Delancey St. where they’re presenting a For The Love Of Music night on Sat., Nov. 19. Max Marie – aka Max Superstar – is on at 7 p.m. She’ll be singing her own original pop rock repertoire of love songs – “Love is Music,” “What I Want,” “Wrapped Around Your Heart” (which is my favorite), and “Life Tonight,” to name a few – and debuting her new single “Pic Up the Mic.” Doors open at 5:30. There’s a $10 cover. It’s a one-nighter. Don’t miss it.

Courting news – Donald Trump may have left New York, but NY’s keeping him, some of his family members, business associates, and business entities bearing his name tied up in litigation in New York courts. In a NY Supreme Court decision recently handed down by Justice Arthur F. Engoron in a case brought by NYS Attorney General Letitia James, Judge Engoron, granted the AG’s motion for a Preliminary Injunction and Appointment of an Independent Monitor. The decision is in an action arising out of a three-year investigation conducted by the AG into alleged practices of fraud by Trump and the other defendants. Trump, according to Business Insider, criticized the decision, saying that Engoron, among other things, was “partisan” – Engoron is a Democrat – and is “refusing to let the case go.” The parties have been directed to appear “in person for a preliminary conference on November 22, 2022.” Stay tuned. On a more hyperlocal note, Allison Greenfield, who is Justice Engoron’s Principal Court Attorney, is a prospective candidate for a Manhattan Civil Court seat.

Grey News – New York’s Park Avenue Armory is not letting go no matter how bad the press they’re getting. The Armory’s still looking to evict the Knickerbocker Greys youth group from their more than 100-year tenancy. Too bad the current board isn’t wise enough or grateful enough to look back to the late 70s when the historic Seventh Regiment Armory was being considered by real estate developers as a possible site for a high-rise to be built over the Armory. At that time, veterans groups, including the Knickerbocker Greys, participated in the successful effort to defeat the development. In the current legal fight, the Armory is continuing in their effort to evict the Greys. However, the Greys have claimed in Civil Court before Judge Hilary Gingold that they were not properly served with notice of eviction proceedings and learned that the matter would be before the court when they were emailed a cover letter without the requisite legal documents and are alleging “improper service” of the lawsuit. The Greys are also claiming that they were unable to access their mailbox in the Armory because of the ongoing dispute which began earlier in the year.

Last week the Armory appeared before Judge Gingold. Because of the alleged improper mail service, the Armory may have assumed that the Greys would not appear and their request for an eviction would be granted. However, the Greys appeared and were given time to get an attorney and the parties are to appear back in court on January 10, 2023, when the Greys are expected to have counsel. According to the New York Sun, during the court appearance, Rebecca Robinson, president of the Armory Conservancy, alleged that, “to her knowledge, the Greys had only been in the building since 2004,” when, in fact, the Sun reported, it “was the group’s [the Greys] 102nd year on-site.” Ms. Robinson, continued, as reported, “[The Greys] knew their lease was temporary,” to which Judge Gingold responded from the bench, “When I hear an entity has been in place for 120 years, I don’t think that’s temporary.” Round Two, Jan. 10.

Another hyperlocal note: Judge Gingold won the three-way primary race in June to fill retiring Surrogate Judge Nora Anderson’s seat and is running unopposed in November. In January, she will be sworn in as Manhattan’s second Surrogate. Rita Mella is Manhattan’s other Surrogate. The judges of the surrogate’s courts serve terms of 10 years if presiding outside of New York City and 14 years if they are located in New York City. The term commences the first day of January after their election.

Transplant donor needed – When you talk Manhattan Democrat politics and the judicial selection process, everybody knows Al Handell. He’s everybody’s favorite. Unfortunately, he’s undergoing dialysis and needs a kidney transplant. Anyone who can help, please contact alanhandell@gmail.com. Thanks.